According to Meltzer.....

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

They have 3 RAWs until Summerslam. I don't think they'd (re)introduce anyone (besides Eugene) into the mix in that short period of time. They already have storylines built for all those above and that makes more than enough matches at SS. Benjamin and Michaels can be saved for the "Fall Season" at those PPV pushes.

[Guest tangerine]

I would imagine with the Crowded scene, They hold off Shelton's return until after Summer Slam.

 

Benoit/Orton

Trips/Edge

Jericho/Batistia

Eddie/Kurt

JBL/Taker

Booker/Cena

Dudleys/SSP Duo

Le Resistance/Tajiri and Rhyno

Mysterio/Knoble/Spike/Chavo

Shawn/Kane

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I will say that the 2nd last RAW leading up into Summerslam is in San Antonio, so the HBK/Kane match is starting to sound a little more plausible.

[strummer 0]

Found this on another board. The poster got in from PWI's Elite Subscription News:

 

Apparently the two Raw matches at Summerslam are:

 

Eugene vs. Triple H

 

World Heavyweight Championship

Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton

 

Credit: PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson

[4hartthreat 0]

Found this on another board. The poster got in from PWI's Elite Subscription News:

 

Apparently the two Raw matches at Summerslam are:

 

Eugene vs. Triple H

 

World Heavyweight Championship

Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton

 

Credit: PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson

Makes perfect sense in my opinion.

 

As I said, Eugene vs. Trips is by the far the most built up match possible for SSlam on either show.

 

And Orton has been improving and they obviously want him to be a major player. Well there is no better way to groom him for that position than a World Title match against Benoit at Slam. I would look forward to seeing how this match-up would work out.

 

I hope this report is true. And I think it is.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Both Orton and Eugene are mid-carders, to elevate them into the main event within just 3 weeks is silly. Orton going from IC champ one week to World Title contender in the next completely blurs the line between divisions. It doesn't make sense at all.

[Dangerous A 0]

Eugene shouldn't be elevated into main events until they somehow drop the whole retarded act. He is a comedy act that pops crowds and even that is now dying with each week.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Both Orton and Eugene are mid-carders, to elevate them into the main event within just 3 weeks is silly. Orton going from IC champ one week to World Title contender in the next completely blurs the line between divisions. It doesn't make sense at all.

I hate it when people talk shit.

 

Eugene and HHH has been building for a long time now, so don't give me this 3 weeks to build it bullshit.

 

Randy Orton is not a midcarder, he is a upper mid-carder. And yes it is possible to build a very good fued with Benoit in 3 weeks.

[NoCalMike 0]

Eugene shouldn't be elevated into main events until they somehow drop the whole retarded act. He is a comedy act that pops crowds and even that is now dying with each week.

True Dat! All it is going to take really, is for that one rogue group of smarky fans in the crowd to start a "Eugene sucks" chant, and when the marks smell blood they will sheepishly join in with the chant like clockwork, and when the viewers witness that, you can bet it will catch on like wildfire, and see ya later Eugene. Really now, why does anyone expect the Eugene character to work on the main event level?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Eugene and HHH has been building for a long time now, so don't give me this 3 weeks to build it bullshit.

 

"HHH manipulates Eugene" has been building for a long time now and concluded with HHH beating up Eugene. Eugene wasn't a player, he wasn't a main eventer; he was a device. He was used to make HHH look "bad". The storyline that went on before and the storyline that (would) go on now are two different entities. The transition between the two and the believibility of Eugene in a role beyond that of a tool would take longer to build than 3 weeks. To make the fans believe that "Ooooh that nasty HHH is going to get it now!" would be very hard to do when the one who will be "giving it" is retarded.

 

Randy Orton is not a midcarder, he is a upper mid-carder. And yes it is possible to build a very good fued with Benoit in 3 weeks.

 

The IC title is a midcard belt. Orton held it for 7 months and only recently lost it. In the last few PPVs (starting with Armageddon), with the exception of the last one, Orton was in the middle of the card. There needs to be a buffer feud against a high-ranked wrestler to logically put him in the place of a Main Eventer. Which is why Benoit/Orton after Benoit loses the title on RAW "makes sense" because it 'elevates' Orton rather than having Orton magically "elevated" (granted, I don't like it, but it flows better than Orton jumping up so far in rank in a short period of time).

[tpww7 0]

It was also reported that Orton is not only challenging, but winning the belt at Summerslam.

[Dark Age 0]

!!!!!!

 

That better not be true.

[algrim 0]

This I gotta see, just to see the look on people's faces.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

That would be terrible. Unless they start the build Monday, that leaves 2 weeks for the buildup. Is 2/3 weeks sufficient to build the feud + a major title change coming this soon after the huge match w/ HHH? And that's ignoring the fact that he's just not ready to be the champ.

 

That'd be a bad move.

[Dark Age 0]

I think it's a joke. It's all a big joke. Isn't it? ISN'T IT?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Eugene and HHH has been building for a long time now, so don't give me this 3 weeks to build it bullshit.

 

"HHH manipulates Eugene" has been building for a long time now and concluded with HHH beating up Eugene. Eugene wasn't a player, he wasn't a main eventer; he was a device. He was used to make HHH look "bad". The storyline that went on before and the storyline that (would) go on now are two different entities. The transition between the two and the believibility of Eugene in a role beyond that of a tool would take longer to build than 3 weeks. To make the fans believe that "Ooooh that nasty HHH is going to get it now!" would be very hard to do when the one who will be "giving it" is retarded.

 

Randy Orton is not a midcarder, he is a upper mid-carder. And yes it is possible to build a very good fued with Benoit in 3 weeks.

 

The IC title is a midcard belt. Orton held it for 7 months and only recently lost it. In the last few PPVs (starting with Armageddon), with the exception of the last one, Orton was in the middle of the card. There needs to be a buffer feud against a high-ranked wrestler to logically put him in the place of a Main Eventer. Which is why Benoit/Orton after Benoit loses the title on RAW "makes sense" because it 'elevates' Orton rather than having Orton magically "elevated" (granted, I don't like it, but it flows better than Orton jumping up so far in rank in a short period of time).

The HHH/Eugene story is not over. The beatdown was simply the end of one stage of their dealings, and the beginning of another.

 

The crap about Orton/Benoit "blurring the divisions"is just that- crap. This isn't Pride where there are clearly defined mid card and upper card barriers in WWE shows any more. The only things to consider when planning out a ME match at a PPV are: 1.) Will this make money? 2.) How will this fit in with our long term plans? Since SS will have 4 matches that could be "draws" (UT/JBL, HHH/Eugene, Benoit/Orton, and Eddie/Angle) they don't even have to worry from a financial aspect either. Now is the PERFECT time. Orton's been playing with the big boys for a WHILE now (since Unforgiven 03, really), and is as a solid a choice for number one contender as any you're likely to find. I'd say if it's THAT big of a deal give him a clean pin over benoit in the weeks leading up to SS to give him Main Event credibility. He's obviously being built as the next top guy of the company, and the fans obviously buy into it. The only reason not to would be that Orton would likely outpop Benoit, which isn't going to happen in Canada anyway.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

It was also reported that Orton is not only challenging, but winning the belt at Summerslam.

...

 

AWESOME!

[Dark Age 0]

The only reason not to would be that Orton would likely outpop Benoit, which isn't going to happen in Canada anyway.

Yeah, right. Sure. You in your make believe world where Benoit isn't over. Here's a newsflash for you, bub:

 

HE'S VERY FUCKING OVER!

 

End of story.

[Lightning Flik 0]

I'd just like to say that an easy way to have Orton face Benoit is for Orton vs. HHH next week (after the Iron Man), and have Orton win. You know, have them play the "oh, you'll do as your damn told" storyline, except Orton doesn't and goes on to win.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The only reason not to would be that Orton would likely outpop Benoit, which isn't going to happen in Canada anyway.

Yeah, right. Sure. You in your make believe world where Benoit isn't over. Here's a newsflash for you, bub:

 

HE'S VERY FUCKING OVER!

 

End of story.

It's not that Benoit ISN'T over, it's that Orton is REALLY SUPER OVER. Really, Orton's outpopped the last two guys he's feuded with: One, even though the angle had racial overtones, and the other has been the WWE's golden boy "next big star" since forever.

 

Honestly, you put Orton against Benoit in any city in America and you'd get a 50/50 crowd.

[Dark Age 0]

Maybe I missed SUPER OVER ORTON! He's got some 'Lets Go Orton' chants. That's it. They haven't been deafening, or really loud chants. He hasn't got monster face pops. He's getting SOME face heat. Some. Benoit would outpop him, and the fans would be behind Benoit. Maybe it would start with some fans behind Orton, but Benoit has a knack of winning people over during the match.

 

Though you don't want to believe it Z, Benoit is the most over guy on Raw. More over than Edge. More over than Orton, Triple H, Eugene, Kane. The only guy who is MAYBE more over is Jericho.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Maybe I missed SUPER OVER ORTON! He's got some 'Lets Go Orton' chants. That's it. They haven't been deafening, or really loud chants. He hasn't got monster face pops. He's getting SOME face heat. Some. Benoit would outpop him, and the fans would be behind Benoit. Maybe it would start with some fans behind Orton, but Benoit has a knack of winning people over during the match.

 

Though you don't want to believe it Z, Benoit is the most over guy on Raw. More over than Edge. More over than Orton, Triple H, Eugene, Kane. The only guy who is MAYBE more over is Jericho.

Nah, you're speculating. There's really as much reason to cheer for Benoit as there was to cheer for Edge (and less than there was for Shelton).

 

Hell, Batista killed him to a face pop last week, and while it WAS in his hometown, they never announced that. Not everyone was cheering for him because of that. They were cheering because Benoit is just really bland chaarcter wise. in the ring he's tremendously intense, but still got outpopped by guys like HBK.

 

Face it, Orton would out pop him. The WWE fans just buy into him too much not too.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Though you don't want to believe it Z, Benoit is the most over guy on Raw. More over than Edge. More over than Orton, Triple H, Eugene, Kane. The only guy who is MAYBE more over is Jericho.

No, you're just delusional.

 

Believe what you want, Dark Age, but HBK, HHH, Eugene, and Orton all get better reactions week after week.

 

[Dark Age 0]

Most people in the arena knew that Batista was from the area, hence the face pop. Regardless, there were still 'Chris Benoit' chants and he got a big pop for his entrance.

 

If HBK is more over, why did Benoit get MUCH bigger reactions at WM, Backlash and Bad Blood? The pay per views, you know, the shows that count?

 

Why did Benoit get as much a face reaction as HBK when they faced each other for the title in 'HBK Country'? The same as earlier this year when they went one on one. Why did Shawn get booed when he superkicked Benoit at the contract signing? Why did Benoit outpop Shawn at almsot EVERY SINGLE SHOW?

 

Yeha, Triple H get's a bigger reaction. That's why the fans were bored shitless at Bad Blood. Or why they were completely behind Benoit in all the matches they have had. Note the 'Lets Go Benoit' as opposed to 'Triple H Sucks'. In other words, the heat is on Benoit, not H.

 

You must be joking with Eugene. Once they pushed him near the main event, the fans have rapidly lost interest. Remember those 'Eugene Sucks' chants? They were NOT what WWE wanted. Eugene was supposed to sympathetic in that instance, instead the crowd shit all over him.

 

Benoit = Most over face on Raw

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Most people in the arena knew that Batista was from the area, hence the face pop. Regardless, there were still 'Chris Benoit' chants and he got a big pop for his entrance.

 

If HBK is more over, why did Benoit get MUCH bigger reactions at WM, Backlash and Bad Blood? The pay per views, you know, the shows that count?

 

Why did Benoit get as much a face reaction as HBK when they faced each other for the title in 'HBK Country'? The same as earlier this year when they went one on one. Why did Shawn get booed when he superkicked Benoit at the contract signing? Why did Benoit outpop Shawn at almsot EVERY SINGLE SHOW?

 

Yeha, Triple H get's a bigger reaction. That's why the fans were bored shitless at Bad Blood. Or why they were completely behind Benoit in all the matches they have had. Note the 'Lets Go Benoit' as opposed to 'Triple H Sucks'. In other words, the heat is on Benoit, not H.

 

You must be joking with Eugene. Once they pushed him near the main event, the fans have rapidly lost interest. Remember those 'Eugene Sucks' chants? They were NOT what WWE wanted. Eugene was supposed to sympathetic in that instance, instead the crowd shit all over him.

 

Benoit = Most over face on Raw

I didn't hear a Benoit chant.

 

Perhaps they were drown out by Batista chants?

 

Face it, if he can't out pop a midcard heel (home town or otherwise) he'd get out-popped in a second by a guy who's already been doing it for the past few months to everyone.

 

Benoit's heat is a bit less than Goldberg's was last year. Benoit doesn't have the small minority booing him (well, most of the time ), but he also doesn't get the pop upon entrance that Goldberg did.

[Dark Age 0]

Eh, whatever. We are just gonna have to agree to disagree. I think what you're saying is completely untrue, but I can't be bothered getting in an argument that will go nowhere.

[Exslade ZX 0]

You must be joking with Eugene. Once they pushed him near the main event, the fans have rapidly lost interest. Remember those 'Eugene Sucks' chants? They were NOT what WWE wanted. Eugene was supposed to sympathetic in that instance, instead the crowd shit all over him.

 

Benoit = Most over face on Raw

Ummm...the Eugene sucks chants were what they wanted. The only time they chanted Eugene sucks was when he did heel things...like they were supposed to. That actually proves just how over he is..after doing one thing, such as hitting a face with a chair, the whole arena begin to chant badly at him..

[Dark Age 0]

No, he was supposed to be sympathetic. He wasn;t supposed to be booed. We were supposed to feel sorry for him. Plus the Eugene Sucks chants came when he tagged in, he did nothing 'bad'.

[Exslade ZX 0]

No, he was supposed to be sympathetic. He wasn;t supposed to be booed. We were supposed to feel sorry for him. Plus the Eugene Sucks chants came when he tagged in, he did nothing 'bad'.

So when he hit Benoit with the chair...the fans were supposed to chant...?

 

Why Eugene Why? :/

[Guest wildpegasus]

It was also reported that Orton is not only challenging, but winning the belt at Summerslam.

...

 

AWESOME!

That's real cheap heel heat you know. I'm ashamed of you. You gotta work harder for your pops than that otherwise you won't get any real satisfaction behind it. You're better than this. Pick yourself up out of the gutter and try harder my boy. I know you got it in you. Motivate yourself. Listen to some motivational music and than when you're ready come back and post to the best of your abilities. I won't accept less from you.