Raw VS SmackDown!

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

Raw VS SmackDown!

07/05/04-08/05/04

By iB ([email protected])

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

*Note: It has come to my attention that I've been too giving with the snowflake ratings. To quote someone to a degree, "Those things shouldn't be given out like candy." So from now on, they won't be. Good luck SmackDown!.

 

Yeah, I'm back folks. Missing in action last week due to the damn Sasser Worm. It's gone now, hopefully for good.

 

After next to no hype last week that was apparently so needed, Raw brings us Chris Benoit VS Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship.

 

As for SmackDown!, well, we have Eddy Guerrero and Rob Van Dam facing off against the Dudley Boyz, who have no reason for being in the title picture whatsoever. What else for that show? Er... I'm sure that it'll suck, anyway.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Great video package to kick us off, and more hype here for the main event than the whole of last week. Sure, some shots were ripped off the WrestleMania XX video package at the start of the show, but that's alright.

 

***1/2

 

This is WWE Raw for the 07/05/04 here in Australia, 03/05/04 from the country that the show is coming from, and more specifically, we are LIVE from the America West Arena in Tucson, AZ - Your announcers are Jim "J.R." Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

 

Tonight, Chris Benoit defends the World Heavyweight Championship against Chris Benoit!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Six-man tag team match scheduled for one fall: 3/4 of Evolution in Triple H (what the fuck!?), WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton and Batista VS Shelton Benjamin, Tajiri and Edge

 

3 months ago, would have anticipated seeing Triple H open the show?

 

Nice, fast-paced opener here. When you have six guys like this open up, you can't go wrong. Well, much.

 

Every member from each team has beef with Evolution in some way - Edge with Orton, Tajiri with Trips and Benjamin with... well, Orton too. They played off eachother well, and helped to develop interesting feuds which would last quite a while.

 

Each guy on the face team was made to look good as an individual in at least one way - apart from what the three can do when needed (I'm guess I'm talking about Edge there, which is somewhat of a praise), Tajiri spraying Batista with mist, Benjamin going apeshit on everyone and everything and the Edge victory. Edge VS Benjamin seems to be a goer for Bad Blood at this point, so naturally, giving him the win over the IC Champ is a wise decision.

 

Nice work.

 

***

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Look who's here

 

WWE, if you're going to push Garrison Cade, why not put him in the ring rather than associating him with the cheap heat master backstage?

 

It's nice to see Vince McMahon once in a while. You know, when he's not taking up PPV time by putting himself in a match with his daughter.

 

*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Miscellaneous bits

 

Pretty average SmackDown! Rebound (1/2*). Then again, a pretty average SmackDown!. And now Raw Rebound on SmackDown! on SmackDown! this week, unfortunately. Because it's a damn good show.

 

And that stupid Eddy Guerrero work is being shilled on both shows now?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Three draws for next week

 

Definitely some excellent choices made here. Tajiri is not directly feuding Batista, nor Benjamin with Triple H nor Edge with Orton. Much.

 

I figured that Edge/Orton for the IC Championship would end up being booked for Bad Blood, but now, thankfully, it seems as though we're getting Benjamin/Orton.

 

The feuds aren't direct, but Evolution are a unit - you mess with one, you mess with the lot, an excellent element in feud development. Out of this, Bad Blood isn't looking bad from this point.

 

*3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Scheduled for one fall: Rob Conway w/ Sylvain Grenier VS The Hurricane w/ Rosey

 

A decent match, but that's about all that can be said - good workrate from two good workers, but the focus wasn't on giving us a good match, instead on setting-up for next week, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

I don't know when the hell Eugene VS Rob Conway was announced, but there it is. Anyway, this week's Eugene/Regal segment helped to further what you know will happen next week, and I'm looking forward to it.

 

3/4*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Squash scheduled for one fall: Kane VS Steven Richards

 

I didn't think that WWE would be so blatant in using Stevie as a jobber, but there you are.

 

I did like the way that Kane ran backstage to tend to what needed to be, but hey, that's not part of the "match".

 

Wow, what a DUD.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel

 

Nice promo by Jericho before the, well, promo. I marked out hard when I heard his announcement regarding the title picture... at least, I would've if I was watching the show live. Nothing more was mentioned tonight about it - had it been nixed or what? I fucking hope not for the long-term. We'll see what happens next week.

 

Matt Hardy v1.0's the guest this evening, and I love how he's getting the time to actually talk - when he turned a couple of weeks ago, it was done very well, but by him getting time on the mic, it really gets the fans back on his side.

 

As for the Lita/Kane video which was included here... well, I was criticizing Lita in it until I realised that I couldn't actually pinpoint something that she was doing wrong. The subtle usage of that strap binding her was a nice effect (as was Matt's bolt from the ring), and it looks like Hardy/Kane for Bad Blood, a match that neither man can afford to lose, presuming that we're not getting the Undertaker/Kane blow-off at SummerSlam.

 

Did slickass Christian and his posse look, well, slick tonight (*** for the threads). When first seeing this, it didn't seem like Jericho'll be in the title picture after all, you know, presuming that it's Christian/Jericho signed for Raw's next PPV. Their most recent PPV encounter was what really makes this seem over-the-top giving them another match, and the no-hype Raw opener post-Backlash also helps. I don't know if they can keep the feud fresh and the psychology abundant enough in the match to make it worth anything.

 

Yeah, that's what I thought alright before the announcement a little later on.

 

**3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Matt reaches his damsel in distress

 

I didn't mention it in above, but I liked Lita calling out where she was, and where she was.

 

Can someone tell me again why exactly Kane has this infatuation with Lita, and why he hasn't got mic time before kidnapping her? Anyway, at least here they didn't use the old "Matt thinks he's safe but Kane jumps him from behind".

 

*3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Non-title contest scheduled for one fall: WWE Womens Champion Victoria VS Gail Kim

 

I actually didn't mind this one - there wasn't a huge amount of high spots attempted, thus Gail wasn't given the opporunity to fuck up as much. Just a nice flowing match.

 

At least there was no bad mini-promo from Molly and/or Gail this week. And was Gail winning with that submission improv or what?

 

*3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Eugene begins to surface

 

Excellent segment here - it showed Eugene playfully using the ring while William Regal spoke seriously to Dr. Tom (you know, the real one *wink* ).

 

Here, we really see what the go is with Eugene - he's damn good in the ring, and can work in more styles than one.

 

The music added aswell, even if it obviously wasn't live with it - and I nearly pissed my pants when I saw that Triple H waterbottle.

 

The fans are really going to eat Eugene up now... you know, in a good way.

 

Hi Vince!

 

**3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Bisch speaks pre-main event

 

Do you really think that Tyson Tomko warrants a Y2J/Christian Steel Cage match? Well, if not, their feud might just come close to it.

 

I like this announcement for two reasons:

 

1. It'll be a damn good blow-off.

2. It could be a damn good blow-off match.

3. It's looking more and more likely for Jericho challenging for the title soon.

 

I'm also nearly wetting my pants at the proper prospect of Jericho up there.

 

Thanks Uncle Eric!

 

**3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

World Heavyweight Champion contest scheduled for one fall: Chris Benoit, World Heavyweight Champion (I love that) VS Shawn Michaels

 

Alright, where to start? From the start, I s'pose.

 

Reminded of WrestleMania XX here (their brief wrestling at the start of the match) - the fast-paced stuff, bordering on scientific, with the Crossface being attempted early. Nice stuff.

 

I liked how the match continued this way - Benoit was working more Shawn's style here, and it clicked - through to near the end when they started taking it home. There wasn't a period dedicated to 8 minutes of rest-holds, which they actually deserved - they kept going, the crowd were hot for it and so was I.

 

Progressing, we get to near the finish - that first finisher is attempted. And I'm not talking about the Crossface early on, I'm talking about the attempted Headbutt. This wasn't right at the end, but this when business started picking-up, meaning the swift, gripping stuff at the end that leads to either a retaining champion or a new champion.

 

I loved the construction of the match as a whole - it didn't really try to outdo anything like at Backlash, it was just fast and entertaining throughout, keeping to it's own, as well as excellent psychology from their WrestleMania, Backlash and Raw encounters. The finish was drawn-out, and the crowd were holding their breath wondering if they were getting a new champion.

 

Alright, I'll be the first to admit that the ending sucked dick as far as a clean match goes - and not to suck WWE's, but it was actually some good planning. There's an 85% chance of Benoit/Trips at Bad Blood, and onto SummerSlam. Even if the whole 'alliance feud' thing has been a bit overdone lately, it's acceptable. We still got an excellent match, let alone a worthy main event (to say the least), and the championship picture remains fresh and entertaining at this point.

 

****

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Overall, a damn good show this week. I'm anticipating Eugene's official television in-ring debut next week. Despite nothing of note, the womens division isn't even looking too bad. Great usage of Evolution, as well as the IC Championship in that.

 

Definitely anticipating next week, with five matches already announced, all with something to offer. Let's hope it helps ratings aswell.

 

SmackDown! have one more show before Judgment Day, and it looks like it's going to be a stinker. Bad Blood is over a month away, and I'm looking forward to it a helluva lot more.

 

Oh, how times change.

 

****

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

*Looks to the sky*

 

Guerrero family tragedy

 

Ok, I appreciate the fact that they're going the whole hog with this thing, but it's just STUPID. How the hell can JBD causing Lori Guerrero a heart attack be passed off as credible build? It's just a blatant example of how stale the title picture is on this show right now, and what the creative team need to do to attempt to rectify the problem. Which they're not.

 

I did enjoy seeing the House Show footage, and the actual segment was done well.

 

Yeah, I'll admit that I liked seeing Cole and Tazz concerned, as well as Tazz actually not be on JBD's side.

 

What a great start.

 

*

 

This is WWE SmackDown! for the 08/05/04 here, and the 06/05/04 up over, taped 04/05/04 from the TCC Arena in Tucson, AZ - Your announcers are Michael Cole and Tazz

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Non-title contest ccheduled for one fall: WWE U.S. Champion John Cena VS Damaja w/ Doug Basham

 

I swear, each week it's "Alright John, you're facing ______. You know the drill."

 

How was this match? Well, just like Cena's match has been every other week for the past few months or so. Damaja didn't get the chance to really make it especially boring, due to the fact that he only got his standard offence in.

 

No bait-and-switch, so at least there was something different about one of the competitor's matches.

 

*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Booker T goes inter-arena to hype his Judgment Day. Match.

 

Yeah, I don't expect a winner there either.

 

This segment and it's other was actually pretty boring, but I like the premise - Booker is looking for some way to beat the 'Taker, showing that he can't do it fairly.

 

Again, I like that they're going away from a simple backstage segment for this feud, but this, despite making sense for a change, is a bit, well, stupid, and I don't like what it could be getting at.

 

*1/2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

WWE Cruiserweight Championship contest scheduled for one fall: Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. w/ Chavo Guerrero Sr. VS... Jacqueline

 

Excuse me, but... What the fuck is this?

 

The match, first of all. Well, we only have one actual cruiserweight in it, so there's a point or two deducted already.

 

Secondly, it... Why? Jacqueline can't even work North American now, let alone adapt to being a cruiserweight. She's not a cruiserweight, so... she gets the Cruiserweight Championship.

 

And she gets the win via a low blow!?

 

There was not much to say about the match itself other than, well, nothing clicked - it was a stupid decision anyway.

 

As for later on, Judgment Day is looking 99% a rematch here. Go figure.

 

There are two people to blame for this travesty:

 

1. Hardcore Holly stiffed Matt Cappotelli on the weekend House Shows, thus he couldn't be the contender, as was planned.

2. Stephanie McMahon directly made the call after Holly stiffed Cappotelli.

 

"Hmmm, ok... Well, the original contender is unable to contend, so... *Thinks, if possible* I know! Fuck Paul London, Billy Kidman and SmackDown!'s other cruiserweights challenging for the Cruiserweight Championship, let's let a woman that isn't even a cruiserweight do it!"

 

Fucking morons.

 

1/4*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Kurt Angle makes the "match"

 

To be honest, the main reason that I liked this segment was to see the looks on Nunzio's and Johnny Stamboli's faces when told who their opponent was. Oh, and to hear some of the FBI's music.

 

I'm wondering how long they're going to milk Angle's injury for... Hopefully, he'll be healed and up & running for SummerSlam. Hopefully.

 

*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

2-on-1 Handicap squash scheduled for one fall: The Undertaker VS Nunzio and Johnny Stamboli

 

Hmmm. The one without the numbers is the one doing the squashing. And look at the two guys getting given squashes on both Raw and SmackDown! this week.

 

What did you expect? A minimum of wrestling, but the match served it's purpose - to hold Nunzio and the Bull down for something that 'Taker probably won't get much out of anyway. Is that now a third finisher for the 'Taker?

 

Seriously, I'd much prefer the Undertaker on Raw - sure, it would fuck the SmackDown! title picture up by a loss of a main eventer when they really need them, but it would work better for 'Taker. And even with him, SmackDown! isn't improving.

 

What continues to ruin things, though, is that they couldn't even give him his original gimmick back. Speaking of which... I didn't mind the finishers post-match, even if they did unnecessarily put the proverbial nail in the proverbial coffin, excuse the pun/s, but what the fuck was with the Undertaker using the Last Ride?

 

1/2*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Booker T is in the graveyard

 

What a creative segment title.

 

Interesting, mainly to see what would be done. Judging by the hand coming out of the grave, it just can't be WWE being so stupid as to not realise that the Undertaker has risen. I'm guessing that they're getting at another Undertaker VS Undertaker match, which would be stupid for so many reasons.

 

Still, it was good storytelling.

 

*3/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Eddy Guerrero speaks... Well, not really

 

Why the fuck would Eddy blame himself for what "happened"?

 

I still don't think that an interview where the interviewee doesn't speak because of something that should never have been done in the first place counts as proper hype.

 

No rating.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Torrie Wilson VS Dawn Marie

 

I can't believe that this was hyped before it happened. Actually I can.

 

This is obviously leading to a Cena/Torrie alliance, as well as that possible Dawn/Dupree alliance. I can't say that I have a problem with it, just as long as we don't get mixed tag team matches every week, which is more than likely.

 

A nothing match, as to be expected - a minimal of proper wrestling (ability, at least), and was pretty much only hype for Cena/Dupree. Pretty much because of the alliance thing, which is... yeah, still hype...

 

I did like the post-match brawl, as it gave the feud build some time of it's own as well as giving Dupree some heat for the first time. Cheap heat at the end there.

 

1/2*

 

But it continues! That's not cheap heat! Still, I doubt that being powerbombed through the announce table even warrants a trip to the hospital.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

John Bradshaw DiBiase is here - via the 'TRON~!

 

Obviously good due to the fact that JBD was in his new natural environment, furthering his awesome gimmick transformation.

 

But unfortunately, we're getting the same stuff EVERY week. It's masked as being fresh and new (cheap) heat, and even though I loved Bradshaw's vignette from New York City last week, apart from playing off the "heart attack", it's the same old, same old.

 

*1/4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Heyman tries to reason

 

Apart from loving seeing Heyman as a personality, a plus right away, this wisely set up two divisions at once. But fucked one over.

 

Done well, good planning. So it seems.

 

**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Tag team contest scheduled for one fall: The Dudley Boyz in Bubba Ray and D'Von VS Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio

 

A decent main event - of course, nothing like we were given over on Raw, but it was fast-paced, high energy, and quite entertaining.

 

I really liked the way that Van Dam and Rey worked as a team here, damn well. The Dudleyz also worked well as a team, but wouldn't you expect that?

 

Van Dam had a grudge with the Dudleyz, and Rey was the token face partner. Things worked rather well.

 

It's feasible for the other guys to go down here, because Eddy was a Raging Bull, with a steel chair, no less. This helped to finally separate the tag team division from the title picture a bit, which is the least that could be done.

 

This could help the tag team division out a bit - Van Dam and Rey could be a permanent team, and these new heel Dudleyz could take the belts from Rico and Haas early to feud with RVD and Rey, possibly giving us a Haas/Rico feud for the future, which could work. I'm jumping the gun here a lot.

 

I'd like to see a little three-way team action with the Dudleyz, RVD/Rey and Haas/Rico. The former two have a reason, and the latter, if they get the belts taken from them, wanting them back is their motive. I wouldn't have minded seeing them appear here too, because it would've further helped the tag team scene, just Rico and Haas wanting challengers, working as a team, thanks to Haas bringing up the rear, and showing that Rico is no damn pussy.

 

But they'll probably just end up wrestling a boring-as-fuck match against the Brothers Basham.

 

Of course, this would continue to hurt the cruiserweight division, and the fact that both can't be worth something at the same time (which they can) sucks, but what are you gonna do?

 

**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Overall, another bad show. Sure, the tag team division at least seems to be getting it's act together, and the title picture next week maybe too, based on Eddy's pure rage. Rage from his mother's heart attack when a HAND TOUCHED HER.

 

The cruiserweight division is sucking copious amounts of ass, when there was so much promise for what could've been done with it.

 

One week left until Judgment Day... It'll be interesting to see if things can turn around for the PPV in one show. Things could've been so much better.

 

I'm hoping, and the chance is there - just - but my faith level isn't high.

 

**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Of course Raw takes the win this week. Strong hype for the most part going into a PPV over a month away, wrestling that didn't hold the show down and an awesome main event. And look what we've got to look forward to next week!

 

If the ending of this week's SmackDown! had been three weeks ago, I'd have more hope that I do - can they do this in a week?

 

This week's winner of Raw VS SmackDown! - WWE Raw, defeating SmackDown! by **!

 

'Til next time,

Beau

 

Feedback 1 ([email protected]) and 2 ([email protected]) of about 4. Archives. DVD Collection.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Scott Keith this ain't....and I'm not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing.

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

Lol... Well, thanks for the reply.