Raw VS SmackDown!

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

Raw VS SmackDown!

04/06/04-05/06/04

By iB ([email protected])

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Ah, the joys of moving house... sorting shit out, lugging boxes, yard-cleaning, trying to fit big shit through openings not meant for them... But when you're unpacked and in your nice new house, it all seems worth it.

 

Last week on Raw, it was announced that Triple H and Shawn Michaels would go one-on-one... Hell in a Cell!

 

Also, there's... not a lot happening in the title picture. Will that pick up this week?

 

On SmackDown!... Well, decent development for some pretty bad-mediocre shit. Let's hope that the show is somewhat decent this week, as it almost was last.

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Classy, respective Memorial Day video package.

 

4/10

 

This is a Memorial Day "Special Edition" of WWE Raw for the 04/06/04 here in Australia and the 02/06/04 in, well, Canada, where we are LIVE from the in Montreal, Quebec - Your announcers are Jim "J.R." Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler

 

Yes, Triple H and Shawn Michaels will be going at it in a Cell at Bad Blood!

 

And Randy Orton takes on Shelton Benjamin one-on-one, non-title... Er, I don't know how wise that is...

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World Tag Team Championship contest scheduled for one fall: Chris Benoit & Edge (Champions) VS La Resistance

 

What better a way to start off Raw than with the Rabid Wolverine!

 

Ok... First with the very interesting crowd responses... Even though La Resistance are from "the Province of Quebec", the possibility of the crowd rejecting them was definitely there. But that entrance pop was massive, both in heat and face pops.

 

It had to be hard for them... I mean, there were La Resistance, despicable heels but from Canada... Montreal. And then there was Edge, face from Toronto. And the World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit, face, loved the world over, from Edmonton, Alberta. I guess the 'hometown hero' cliche won over.

 

And in that, it was a nice choice for an opener, from a wrestler standpoint alone. The match wasn't bad either - Benoit and Edge actually carried the heels for most of the match for the main stuff, but there wasn't exactly a lot of highly-technical stuff here. Conway is above average and Grenier is still sucking. A chant for Sylvain? I actually would've rathered the Conway chant.

 

Fast-paced and energetic, a good opener and the crowd were amazing. Nowhere else would we have seen La Resistance being almost molested in a crowd of adoring fans. Benoit and Edge needed to drop those belts, and what better a time and place than now and here?

 

4/10

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Randy Orton - still better on the mic than in the ring

 

And that he is. Orton has pretty much got the gimmick downpacked now, and while this promo wasn't anything out of the ordinary, it pretty much did the job and hyped the VS Shelton Benjamin for later.

 

2/10

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Mr. Bischoff, oh my!

 

Don't ask what got it that title.

 

Nice HHH/HBK hype here, using Regal for it aswell.

 

Eugene is still having everything under the Sun done to him get the crowd on his side, and it's working for sure. Even as Eric was chastising the Coach, there was no way that anyone could believe he'd gone 180, but that he had something up his sleeve. A Coachman apology for last week obviously carries some excess baggage too.

 

Good content, delivered well.

 

3.5/10

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WWE's new Cool Colour of the Night us into an

 

"I'm sorry"

 

Some nice Eugene pops there too. I'm fucking loving this guy.

 

The same goes for Coachman as Bischoff. And the fact that he actually went beyond the call of duty in that apology furthers that.

 

Kane was interesting here - it was possible for him to actually embrace Eugene, but he would've just been contradicting himself had he done that.

 

Good way to set up a Eugene/Kane match for later on, which could have been and was interesting.

 

4/10

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... And the match is made

 

Ok, just who's fucking side is Regal on? I mean, one week he's trying his best to get Eugene off his hands, but the next he's pissed-off and trying to protect him.

 

If I didn't know that Kane VS Eugene was the evening's main event, I would have been wondering why it was being so heavily-hyped throughout the show. And the match leaves everyone thinking "Oh no, Eugene's in trouble!", when in fact it won't be so.

 

1.5/10

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

 

I rated Chavo Guerrero's new music but not Victoria's. So I'll give her a 4/10. And maybe the dancing will go on for a while.

 

Jazz is a wise choice for an opponent here - Molly is a good alternative for the upcoming Victoria/Gail Kim contest, but Jazz is another heel who could very easily be pissed at Victoria's new attitude, despite the whole Jazz/music thing.

 

There was some nice stuff in here - before Jazz's small absence, her matches consisted of simple "jezebel" offense and severe-looking submission, but both women here delivered some high-class wrestling, and is the best womens match seen on Raw in a while.

 

4/10

 

Up next, it's Benjamin/Orton!

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Wow, Raw is USA. Another nice video package.

 

3.5/10

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Non-title contest scheduled for one fall: WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton VS Shelton Benjamin

 

I was a bit skeptical coming into this one for the sole purpose of thinking that they were going to give away what could be a great PPV match-up right here, but considering that Bad Blood has other drawing elements, it's ok I suppose.

 

If this was a preview of Bad Blood, I'm excited. I felt pretty average coming in, because I figured we'd get another Orton/Edge, as well as ruining the Bad Blood match.

 

This one had a lot of energy in it, without a doubt. Orton's weird style can definitely work with Benjamin's. You might say that Orton was actually carried through the match, but I think that it was great workrate from both.

 

Even though it was given a fair length, it wasn't incredibly long. There was a lot of fun stuff in there and still manages to leave fans wanting more for the PPV.

 

Benjamin winning was a given, and uses the 'He did it now, can he do it then?' mentality in reference to their IC title encounter at Bad Blood.

 

And it looks like Benjamin's got that Modified Powerslam as his finisher, which can be used terrifically in grueling matches to pick up the win.

 

5/10

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Oh, Stacy!

 

Nice subtle promo for the Raw Diva Search. I'm sure that seeing Stacy like this will encourage thousands of women to enter ([/sarcasm]?), and if I somehow won that contest (no, I am not a female), I would piss away that quarter mil to take Stacy somewhere nice for one evening to make her never walk again.

 

2/10

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An evening with The Game

 

Ok, not really.

 

I loved how this one was set-up. You know, the quiet while the crowd and audience wait for something to happen, and all of a sudden, hey, it's Triple freaking H!

 

One of his best verbal promos in a while: Short and to the point. There was no beating around the bush and no big threats either. He addressed their past encounters and that this would be their final one - inside a Cell.

 

This would have been more fitting for the last segment of the pre-PPV Raw than here.

 

5/10

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Eugene is asked to be fetched

 

Yes, it's just that...

 

No rating just yet...

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Scheduled for one fall: Matt Hardy v1.0 w/ Lita VS Lance Cade

 

Where's the Coach?

 

Definitely glad that Matt's getting a Raw match here, no strings attached.

 

The match wasn't too bad itself. Nothing by way of terrific wrestling or anything, but it had some nice action and made for nice filler. Matt overdid the v1.0 gimmick a bit, but it was ok. Nice little sequence for the ending.

 

I'm sure that this is just building to Lita's turn.

 

2/10

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A clump of segments

 

Eugene and Eric Bischoff converse

 

Another successful outing in getting viewers behind Eugene - even after Bischoff admits to knowing what would happen to Eugene, Eugene forgives him, and his goodwill and affection is being taken advantage of.

 

Nice hype for Kane VS Eugene soon too.

 

3/10

 

Another "Remember the Heroes" video package

 

Yes, about the same as I previously rated it.

 

Hey, the Highlight Reel's almost here!

 

'Tour of Defiance'

 

It's interesting to watch these to see if there will be any stupid fans saying stupid things. Unfortunately, nothing overly-stupid. Looked like a fun tour.

 

1.5/10

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Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel

 

Ok, not that I have a problem with Trish Stratus and Tyson Tomko out here getting heat, but Trish is just so fucking annoying on the mic. But somehow, hearing her talk makes me want to fuck her more.

 

Pretty standard stuff on the mic too and overselling of the powerbomb through the table.

 

Loved seeing Jericho's appearance, and he seems to do things like this for the sole purpose of getting heat on other guys. I commend him for that, and makes the fans wonder if he can overcome the size odds at Bad Blood. Yes, the match will happen.

 

3.5/10

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Kane is ready

 

Seriously, this mystified me for WWE... but I absolutely loved it.

 

(Segment lengths lower ratings)

 

5/10

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Scheduled for one fall: Kane VS Eugene

 

Coming into this, there was the obvious mentality of whether or not Eugene could himself against something like Kane.

 

And yes, he did. I loved some of Eugene's counters and some his offense. When you're concentrating on a face like this, and such as Eugene, you don't think that it might just be standard offense from the little guy to the big guy before the big guy overpowers and wins it.

 

Neat little ending there - and it still stands that Eugene defeated Kane.

 

3.5/10

 

This was a tremendous way to link Benoit/Kane hype, especially seeing as Benoit and Eugene are now "friends". Benoit got the heat on Kane this week when he probably won't next week, and Eugene is getting the rub by being endorsed by the Champion and getting the main event slot.

 

4/10

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Overall, the show didn't live up to it's heavily-hyped "Special Edition" title, but it was still good. Simple Womens Championship build, lacking for the title picture which might be made up for last week, satisfactory for Hell in a Cell which, again, hopefully will be made up for next week, and good hype for Benjamin/Orton, and I'm expecting next week to be a hype show, and a damn good one. The announcement of Jericho/Tomko will obviously be there (please - no stupid additions that match, or a Steel Cage) - let's hope that this one is a small card with more match attention. If we get Heat filler, I'm gonna be pissed.

 

5.5/10

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Well, I almost didn't get SmackDown! done, which rendered all of above worthless. But, after much heckling, the 'net's hooked-up on dial-up until Broadband's available through satellite, so here we go.

 

As far as suspense and thrills go, a nice opening package - at least the undercard is getting attention like this, even if the match won't exactly spectacular.

 

3/10

 

This is WWE SmackDown! for the 05/06/04 for the Aussies and the 03/06/04 for those closer to the action, taped 01/06/04 from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, the home of what should (could) be a great SummerSlam in a couple of months - Your announcers are Michael Cole & Tazz

 

Tonight, Booker T takes on the Undertaker in the main event, Eddy Guerrero is in action and there's some kind of bikini contest in there too...

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An entertaining opening segment that's hard to title

 

The only real highlight of the Book's mic work here was getting him over as more of a heel. He's still a fan favourite for a lot, but with continuing mic work like this, he shouldn't have much trouble getting that hardcore heat soon enough.

 

Cena entrance pops rock my socks. A nice little back-and-forth that could see Booker challenging for the U.S. Championship come the Great American Bash.

 

This continues to get the face heat on Cena too - Angle disliked him, but "hates" him now after he knocked him out of his wheelchair. That gets the heel and face heat on both guys, respectively, and would really help /and give attention to this possible Cena/Booker U.S. title match.

 

4/10

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Non-title contest scheduled for one fall: WWE Champion Eddy Guerrero VS Danny Basham w/ Doug Basham

 

Makes sense - Eddy beat one Basham last week, now time for the other.

 

While I highly doubt that it will actually do anything for them in the long run, what with them being boring and all, it's good for them to be in the ring with the Champ in consecutive weeks.

 

The match only passed because Eddy carried it. I mean, I'll give Doug his dues for flowing with it well, but yeah, that and some nice tactics from Eddy that we haven't seen in a bit made this passable. Well, passable filler at least.

 

2/10

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SummerSlam isn't far away

 

This/these clip/s and SummerSlam press conference hype makes me think that this year's show's going to kick major ass. I mean, you didn't see this last year.

 

No rating.

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Mordecai actually sounds quite normal

 

If anything, he sounds less scary because of that.

 

I'll admit, he delivered the promo well and it was believable. The attire is great and all, but I just don't see anyone really taking him seriously.

 

I'm not holding my breath for anything great in the ring either.

 

2/10

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Rico and Charles rate Jackie's apparel

 

Is this going to happen every week?

 

Good just to admire Jackie's beauty, but is this leading to Haas switching to the other team/coming out?

 

1.5/10

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Cruiserweight Championship contest scheduled for one fall: Chavo Guerrero Sr. (Champion)

 

Ok, the problem that I'm having with Chavo Sr. as Cruiserweight Champion is the fact that we're not getting cruiserweight matches.

 

As North American, this wasn't so bad - but this is what is supposed to be the cruiserweight division, and if we're not getting cruiserweight matches, then...

 

It's good that Funaki's getting on television, and I didn't know better, I could see a shot for him. If I didn't know better.

 

And those women... There was but none under 30. Unlike next. Apart from Sable.

 

1.5/10

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Summer Breakout Bikini Contest

 

Better than I'd anticipated. There was actually a reason to be having this and the Divas add a nice touch to SmackDown! when they're not ordered to troll around taking up wrestling time, as they did when the show meant something.

 

Fun to see how they'd use their given objects and, well, to see them themselves. Sable's bottoms weren't bad, were they?

 

A nice touch was added here at the expense of nothing, but this is just another example of how fucked up the ass the cruiserweight division is right now. That aside, WHY THE FUCK ISN'T JAMIE NOBLE WRESTLING IN THE CRUISERWEIGHT DIVISION AS A CRUISERWEIGHT? It's beyond comprehension...

 

Jackie winning added something to Haas & Rico as a team, and Torrie didn't win for a fucking chance (even if she did get the loudest pops, as expected), which was good because winning for her would mean nothing.

 

Not bad as a whole.

 

2.5/10

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Not a bad Raw Rebound for yes, a not bad Raw. But these things should really cover more of what occurred in the show.

 

3/10

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The Great American Bash main event's stipulation is announced

 

It's lucky that this was hyped throughout, or else people would've switched over knowing that JBD had no fresh material yet again for the week.

 

Seeing as this PPV isn't gimmicked, this main event is, well, kinda stupid. And by that I mean a stupid concept to think about. It should be good for match psychology and to make things more entertaining if it works, but this could increase the chances of John Bradshaw DiBiase as the new WWE Champion, something that's just in the back of our minds.

 

This has too much content to be another Biker Chain match, so who knows, it might be passable. But it is, well, kind of stupid.

 

2/10

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Scheduled for one fall: Booker T VS The Undertaker

 

Pleasantly surprised. I was expecting not a lot heading into this rematch, but while it was no technical work of art, it was fast. It wasn't just a whole lot of non-athletic moves done quickly, either (which would make it... athletic?) - it had some semblance of psychology thanks to Judgment Day and Booker's distaste for the Undertaker.

 

You don't often see such fast matches (at least not on this show) that don't involve cruiserweights (not on this show) or pure wrestling (again). But this was a nice little main event, definitely giving Judgment Day (the whole freakin' PPV) a run for it's money, and the unclean ending can be excused.

 

Quite an interesting little promo here... If the Undertaker were to join Paul Heyman, the Dudley Boyz and, well, Paul Bearer, we might have ourselves quite a faction with Paul E. as manager, but that would demote the Undertaker's "lone rider"-type gimmick. But he's still using the Last Ride and his gimmick sucks now the way it's been redone as it is, so does it matter?

 

But that won't happen. The Undertaker will fight for justice, resulting in his match with the Dudleyz at the Bash, but you have to wonder what that'll do for them.

 

Delivered beautifully as always by Paul Heyman.

 

8/10 - match and promo package

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SmackDown! continues to improve just that little bit. The Divas were a nice touch, some nice filler and a satisfying ("satisfying" and "satisfactory" just convey such different feelings) main event, as well as decent build, even if it is for not-so good programs, but despite that, Raw does it better this week.

 

3/10

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The winner of Raw VS SmackDown! for this week: WWE Raw, defeating SmackDown! by 2.5/10!

 

Overall, Raw still gets the win. With a promising show lined-up for next week (just a guess), aswell as build and match quality this week, SmackDown! can't beat it, despite something of a better show than it has been previously.

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'Til next time,

Beau

 

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