Raw VS SmackDown!

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

*Would've had this up here earlier, but the 'net was being a bitch - pretty much what everyone says.

 

Raw VS SmackDown!

18/06/04-19/06/04

By iB ([email protected])

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

 

Hasn't been that bad of a week, but school's been pretty hectic. I've been up to my face in assignments and exams, but am managing to stay on top of them. Let's see if WWE manage to relieve some academic pain with their two offerings this week.

 

We're hot off the heels of Bad Blood (show-wise), and if you haven't checked out my take on the show, do so. Entertaining stuff, even if a huge abundance of great wrestling wasn't overly evident. But, Shawn Michaels and Triple H worked their asses off in Hell in a Cell with the heel coming out the victor, Chris Benoit remains the World Heavyweight Champion as expected, but not a whole lot else dramatically. If you didn't see the show, Eugene's still kicking ass and taking names.

 

The backlash is tonight.

 

SmackDown! have been slowly improving of late. Will the pace continue?

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

 

New No. 1 contender

 

Interesting segment to kick us off. We know right away that there's a new No. 1 contender, but they're going to have to deal with Kane first.

 

2/10

 

This is WWE Raw for the 18/06/04 and the 14/06/04 in their respective hemispheres, LIVE from the Nutter Center in Dayton, OH - Your announcers are Jim "J.R." Ross & Jerry "The King" Lawler

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

 

A mutual agreement?

 

Excellent choice to open us up right after Bad Blood. Great way to get the Dayton crowd hyped, with Michaels and Triple H selling their injuries well, and with one of the greatest colour play-by-play announcers of all time looking over it.

 

Some might have thought it was unbelievable for Shawn Michaels and Triple H to reconcile after such a feud and a Hell in a Cell, but ironically, the Hell in a Cell that was going to be over-hyped on Raw no matter what could have actually worked the other way.

 

I actually expected them to shake hands. But alas...

 

Kane's interference after Bischoff's helped in retaining his monster heel (excuse the pun) status intact, pinned by Benoit or not, however.

 

Michaels' heavy bleeding kicked copious amounts of ass, and is no doubt setting up for a one-on-one at SummerSlam. It's simple: Kane felt threatened that one of them was going to be announced the new No. 1 contender over him, so he laid out the face.

 

And Triple H remains the despicable heel.

 

6/10

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

 

WWE's Cool Color of the Night brings us...

 

(Obviously a non-title) Mixed tag team match scheduled for one fall: WWE Womens Champion Trish Stratus & Tyson Tomko VS Matt Hardy v1.0 & Lita

 

You notice how much Matt Facts have begun to suck lately?

 

Hey, not so bad for a mixed tag match. Trish and Lita (mainly Lita) are still sloppy, but aren't actually botching spots lately - they delivered us some pretty fast-paced one-on-one action while they were in there.

 

Matt and Tyson were the highlight though - they worked together quickly also to give us some pretty entertaining wrestling, Tyson continuing to show us that he can hang.

 

Nice opening match for the gimmick, and surprising to see the competitors work that well together.

 

2.5/10

 

Eugene on the fucking Highlight Reel!

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

 

Trips... just Trips

 

Back to normal - you'd think that Hell in a Cell would something to him, but... nuhwhtvr...

 

Eugene VS Triple H next week is going to make the marks piss themsevles. It is jus such a one-sided thing. Whatever the result may be, it'll be fun.

 

The segment gave us something to look forward to next week while continuing Eugene's little push, and subtlely hinting at a Chris Benoit match for The Game.

 

2/10

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

 

Tag team Flag Day Flag match scheduled for one fall: Rosey & The Hurricane VS La Resistance

 

The worst match of the night. I haven't a whole lot to say about this one at all other than that it had nothing to watch for, not even an athletic spot from Rosey. Very plain.

 

The flag gimmick is ridiculous anyway - it was just there for Sylvain Grenier to get to sing the Canadian National Anthem in French... Again.

 

Oh well, at least he got through it.

 

.5/10

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

 

Here are some Miscellaneous Bits for ya!

 

Diva Search pandemonium!

 

I'm liking how this has been treated... It's not pretending that the wannabe Divas should have any wrestling talent whatsoever, is a new concept and got quite a video package given to it.

 

2/10

 

Eugene on the fucking Highlight Reel!

 

It's the WWE Rewind! After Tomko loses his opener, he's shown losing again!

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

 

Lita takes a test

 

Yes, WWE are making Lita pregnant. I just hope it's not handled as horribly as the *shudder* "Katie Vick" episode.

 

Segment delivered quite believably. Lita should stick to this.

 

It looks like Jeff's coming back, Lita's turning heel, Kane's gonna be a PIMP DADDY~!

 

2/10

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

 

Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel

 

Probably Eugene's best segment yet.

 

Eugene's usual little quirks get top marks, to cheat, just a little bit. Face Jericho is great as a positive role model for Eugene, for whom Nick Dinsmore continues to deliver kick-ass to answers to questions well, if that makes sense.

 

Evolution were very interesting here... Flair, Orton and Batista were good lackeys, but Triple H really stood out as the prick taking advantage of Eugene's disability.

 

Watching his reactions to the presents given to him was gold, as was Jericho watching it all happen, and Regal's facial expressions.

 

Great hype going into next week, and passable for the evening's main event.

 

Excellent, exellent work.

 

8/10

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

 

Stacy, you'll be pregnant someday too... Do you still have my number?

 

Very soap opera.

 

Yeah, but Lita does it well quite well, remember?

 

...

 

I love you Stacy.

 

2/10

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

 

Tag team contest scheduled for one fall: Stacy Keibler & Nidia VS Molly Holly & Gail Kim

 

I perplexed for a bit over why this was even on the card.

 

It pretty much sucked - the mixed tag was better, this one failing in delivering that fast pace and wrestling quality.

 

At least Nidia got on the show and we got to see Stacy Keibler, even if she looks like a giant next to every other Diva. The match was obviously building Gail Kim as another strong contender for the Womens Championship, with her arsenal of submission actually making an impact for a change.

 

1/10

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

 

SmackDown! Rebound

 

Pretty much the same each week now. Nice covering.

 

2/10

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

 

Hell in a Cell revisited

 

This was so heavily hyped that I thought they'd give us the whole match if it hadn't been for time constraints.

 

Nicely put-together little video, but over-hyped.

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

 

Six man tag team elimination match scheduled for one fall: Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho & Edge VS 3/4 of Evolution in Ric Flair, Randy Orton & Batista

 

Very satisfying main event.

 

I liked how Jericho was introduced more to Evolution here - he was taking them to school a bit to kick it off before they got some cheap shots in via the numbers game. Edge's tag in was the same - he's cleaning house and uses his two partners, obviously including Benoit, who hasn't been legally in yet, to clear the ring so that the faces can reign supreme before out commercial break.

 

When we came back, I was interested in the Benoit/Flair one-on-one action - the exchange of both of their patented chops, as well as, like Jericho, Benoit falling briefly to the numbers advantage of Evolution.

 

The Edge/Flair action was nice too - those two work very well together as far as psychology goes. We get Orton and Edge briefly, who are familiar with eachother, before the World Heavyweight Champion's in the ring - legally.

 

I loved his intense work when he was in, as well as Jericho coming in to attempt to help when things looked dangerous.

 

After a short Orton run, it's Flair's turn again. Benoit played the face in peril tremendously here, selling the armbar like a motherfucker. Both Flair and the newly-tagged-in Batista continued to have Benoit as the face in peril, and well, before Benoit can administer that awesome narrow show to tag Jericho in, who's turn it now is to try and combat Evolution. All three faces here did a great job working together to eliminate the biggest man in the match with a finisher each.

 

Flair and Orton did the face in peril well for Jericho too. Something I've noticed about Orton is that he always manages to make submission look vicious as hell. When Edge got that tag, he was taking care of Orton rather nicely, ending in that superplex before Trips came down to help his team and possibly set up something for the future.

 

Some nice action leading to Benoit being tagged into the match. Benoit and Orton brawling on the outside got heel heat and face heat on the respective teams well with Flair tapping-out to the Walls of Jericho to a distracted referee, also allowing Orton to eliminate the face in the ring with the RKO. Very nice heel work.

 

More nice Benoit/Flair work with the psychology there still. The faces are tired now and it's showing with Flair and Orton having the upper-hand on both of them, but they still manage to put up a fight.

 

Quickly-alternating tags after this as everyone was getting a shot, with Benoit nailing some of his trademarks that we know and love. Before Edge was eliminated, it looked as though he wasn't sure what to do, giving out back body drops left, right and centre, and he didn't exactly go out looking awesome.

 

The ending made the World Champion look good, managing to combat the two remaining members of Evolution, Triple H and using his two trademark submission maneuvres to make him look like a bad motherfucker and end a terrific match.

 

7/10

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

 

Good show this week. Nothing spectacular this week, just good. As a whole, satisfying lower and midcard wrestling quality was capped-off by such a main event.

 

Nice subtle build towards SummerSlam and Vengeance. Edge will be turning on Benoit soon, no doubt, to set up a Vengeance match. Immediate hype is heading towards Vengeance, while what could come after that as well as other subtle stuff (subtle for what it could result in) are bringing us towards what looks to be a big SummerSlam in August, the way it should be. The build and the show, I mean.

 

Good wrestling, good hype organization - impressed.

 

5/10

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

 

Nice method of getting viewers pumped for the show with a collection of little pieces. Why? I don't know, I just remember that. But I honestly can remember whether or not we got an opening package.

 

Tonight, we hear JBD's side of the story!

 

This is WWE SmackDown! for the 19/06/04 and the 17/06/04, taped 15/06/04 in the same hemisphere as the second date comes from, more specifically from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL - Your announcers are Michael Cole & Tazz

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

 

Tag Team Championship contest scheduled for one fall: The Dudley Boyz VS Rico & Charlie Haas w/ Jackie Gayda (Champions)

 

Not such a bad opener.

 

I really liked some of Haas' mat work - he was taking it to the Dudleyz in that aspect. Rico's martial arts background came into play aswell, which is always enjoyable to see.

 

Bubba and D'Von were great as heels here in ethics. They did whatever it took to win, getting them the victory and helping for their feud with the Undertaker.

 

Pretty formulaic tag match, construction-wise - but a good choice for an opener to get the crowd pumped, as well as helping out for the Dudleyz' current focal point.

 

2/10

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

 

Paul Heyman gets on the STICK~!

 

Awesome promo. As usual, Heyman delivered it with fire and determination, as a true heel should. He covered what's going to be happening at the Great American Bash well, and it looks as if we're going to be in for a surprise or two.

 

4/10

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

 

It's the Champ!

 

More main event hype for the Bash

 

Eddy's charisma was what made this promo work, because he was pretty much just working off of Bradshaw's CNBC firing. You know what? I wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing was a work. That nazi walk was so pointless and 'just to get heat' anyway.

 

2.5/10

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

 

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

 

Even when they get mic time, they're still boring as hell.

 

Despite the match being an extended squash, just watching Eddy wrestle with Danny going with what he had to offer made it entertaining filler.

 

This has to blow-off this Basham mini-feud - Eddy took it to Danny, took it to Doug, beat Danny and then took it to them both.

 

2/10

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

 

The Doctor's in the house

 

Despite Cena turning into a generic rapper by playing to the crowd so much now, he's still great in promos such as this, using his attire and natural charisma well. He made for an entertaining promo with his assessments of Kurt Angle and Luther Reigns.

 

I think that this is more subtle build for SummerSlam, with both Angle and Cena at odds, and the GM wanting to get that U.S. title from around his waist.

 

3/10

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

 

Backstage shenanigans

 

Seeing non-wrestlers backstage hanging and delivering/helping to deliver "dope rhymes" was funny as fuck. But it showed their distaste for Kurt Angle, and their opposite feelings for John Cena.

 

Let's put Funaki in a match against Luther, shall we?

 

3/10

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

 

Kenzo Suzuki w/ Hiroko Niizuma VS Spike Dudley

 

I honestly couldn't give a shit about this for two reasons. The first is that Suzuki can't work, the second being that even if he could, he's still making Spike Dudley look weak.

 

Nothing to see here, unless Hiroko actually turns on him and is an ally with Spike Dudley. But still.

 

.5/10

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

 

John Bradshaw DiBiase - In His Own Words

 

Wow - this was the greatest promo that I've ever seen Bradshaw give. Not that he's given a whole lot, but he's had some highlights since turning into Ted DiBiase for the 21st century.

 

He covered pretty much everything - he covered the way that he perceives American society in it's current state, which took up quite a bit, Baghdad, Eddy Guerrero (same old), and even managed to speak a bit about the Bullrope match set for the Bash.

 

Indeed, he delivered it all with speed, gusto, interest and crowd interaction - but what did he forget? He forgot to even talk about his CNBC firing.

 

5/10

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

 

Mordecai has a promo

 

This guy is still not getting over. The gimmick is just not cared about, and this promo gave us nothing of note, apart from maybe his environment.

 

1/10

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

 

Squash scheduled for one fall: Sho Funaki VS Luther Reigns

 

What did you expect? Funaki was getting something of a go there a while back, but certainly not now.

 

Just a squash, and in this environment, Reigns doesn't even get to show us proper wrestling. He'll remain as Kurt Angle's lackey, at least for this point in time.

 

Putting a non-wrestler over a talented wrestler is proof that talent counts for nothing in this company.

 

DUD

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

 

Raw Rebound

 

Raw's music helps with these. As usual, it covered the show's main points well.

 

2/10

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

 

Torrie Wilson hypes that PPV

 

She is really fucking annoying on the mic.

 

What the hell was this? It was nothing but blatant hype that you'd expect in a magazine advertisement.

 

1/10

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

 

Booker and Rene

 

Booker blaming his inability to win on all but himself is a nice heel tactic. His usual mysterious charisma made the promo watchable, as did Rene Dupree, who is looking well, showing that even though they're both heels, they both want that U.S. title and have been thrown together for the main event, and it's up next.

 

Subtle Rob Van Dam weed jokes pwn.

 

2/10

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

 

Tag team contest scheduled for one fall: Rob Van Dam & WWE U.S. Champion John Cena VS Booker T & Rene Dupree

 

Four guys, talented in their own styles is going to give you a nice main event, and we got one.

 

This entire match was a boost for the U.S. title hunt - all of the competitors have a past pace and can work well together when needed. The psychology was their, thanks to their history, and they delivered no technical wrestling masterpiece, but a main event that helped the division that it was centered around and gives the Great American Bash a bit of anticipation.

 

I liked how Van Dam and Cena worked together as a team - Van Dam's a martial artist and Cena's a fast-paced, energetic North American who can kick ass in the ring, and that helped for standard and not-so tag team work from the face team.

 

There's one week left, and it looks as though this Fatal Four-Way will be the only thing to look out for at the Great American Bash, unless WWE can make the Bullrope gimmick interesting.

 

Undertaker's interference ran two angles together nicely - you think it's just Booker, who he's had past beef with, but not at all - he's a bad motherfucker now that he's under Heyman's power, and I think it'll take the fans a while to accept that.

 

Thankfully, he didn't make the main event competitors look weak either.

 

3.5/10

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

 

Overall, decent. I'm liking this continual build and familiarity-increase for the U.S. title division, and even though the main event got nothing much at all immediately given to it, Bradshaw's promo won't be forgotten and could ultimately help it out.

 

As for the only other announced match on the card, the Dudleyz' winning tag team gold and the Undertaker starting his heel turn when both him and his opponents are allies keeps things a bit interesting, even if the latter part probably isn't intentional.

 

Not as impressed as I was with Raw, but nothing offensive.

 

2.5/10

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

 

Raw still gets the win this week, and you know why(.) They're looking better heading into Vengeance when it's still about a month away. Sure, they've just come off of a satisfying outing with Bad Blood, but with better booking, SmackDown! could have done with Judgment Day, making their fair amount of time count more. They're steady there, but there are only three matches, and the rest is going to have to be throw-together, which will ultimately hurt it.

 

Having seen the SummerSlam card, it makes sense for SmackDown! progressing towards the event, but moreso for Raw.

 

Fuck Bruce Prichard.

 

This week's winner of Raw VS SmackDown!: WWE Raw, defeating SmackDown! by 2.5/10!

 

'Til next time,

Beau

 

Feedback ([email protected]). Archives. DVDs. Forums.

 

Next week, I might be debuting a whole new format for these things. We'll see.