WWE Notes On Raw, Latest On A-Train, Plus...

[Guest wrestling365]

Raw was live last night from Baltimore, MD with Chris Benoit and Edge both winning the battle royal, Victoria/Lita over Trish Stratus/Molly Holly, Ric Flair over Jerry Lawler, William Regal/Eugene over La Resistance, and Edge and Chris Benoit both over Triple H to end the show on a cliff-hanger for the World Title.

 

Wrestling365 reader Mark H. was at Raw and sent along the following... I decided at the last minute to go to Raw at the 1st Mariner in Baltimore. I walked up at 7:50pm (show started at 7:45) and got 6th row on the floor behind where the ring bell is, and Lillian sits. Here are a few observations:

 

- Attendance was light... a few thousand I guess... many floor seats were available. Before Raw, Chris Masters won a dark match, looked really good, Christian/Tomko beat Tajiri/Rhyno, Gene Snitsky destroyed his opponent and Shelton Benjamin beat Stevie Richards. Snitsky and Masters were impressive. I was a bit disappointed in Shelton. First time I have seen him live and was expecting more.

 

- I would have liked more matches and more story telling. The Randy Orton lingerie show was pointless in getting him over although the women were hot and hometown girl Stacy Keibler got a huge ovation. The legends match between Flair and Lawler was also a complete waste. Heck, it was Lawler's birthday, they should have had him win.

 

- I consider myself pretty neutral and open minded about who I like, storylines etc...that being said, it was very obvious that a Batista face turn is what the people in Baltimore wanted...or at least, hoping he would beat up HHH. With the proper push, Batista could be a major star. He definitely won me over after seeing him in person.

 

- HHH, Orton and Stacy got the loudest pop for entrances. La Resistance, Edge and Christian got the most heat. For loudest performance ovations, Benoit getting Edge to tap, Batista eliminating Flair, Jericho eliminating Snitsky and the obligatory RKO to HHH were the tops.

 

- No one seemed to care when Maven turned heel on Eugene.

 

- Since I got there late, I couldn't see wrestlers getting to the arena, but I did see many of them leave. Snitsky waved in a gold Hummer, Batista gave us the peace sign, Paul Heyman encouraged the ECW chants, Stacy and Lita waved to everyone. Christy Hemme was very sweet and came over and signed autographs. Lita left with whom appeared to be Danny Doring from ECW. Earl Hebner got the 'You Screwed Bret' chants. That's about all. An excellent main event, less fluff and it would have been an outstanding show.

 

The Smackdown crew were in Raleigh, NC last night before around 3,500 fans with Spike Dudley over Billy Kidman, Chavo Guerrero and Shannon Moore in a four-way match, Big Show over Luther Reigns/Mark Jindrak, The Bashams over Paul London/Nunzio, Jesus over Hardcore Holly, Undertaker over Heidenreich, Miss Jackie over Dawn Marie, Kenzo Suzuki/Rene Dupree over Rey Mysterio/RVD, and Eddie Guererro/Booker T over JBL/Orlando Jordan.

 

Ric Flair vs. Jerry Lawler on Raw was a birthday gift of sorts for Lawler, who turned 55 yesterday. These two last wrestled each other in Memphis during the 80's of course discounting the tag match with Shawn Michaels and Triple H at a house show last year.

 

The lingerie the Diva's wore on Raw during Randy Orton's skit is being auctioned off at WWE.com. Here is the current bidding as of time of writing:

 

- Melina: $452.00

- Christy: $802.00

- Candice: $1001.00

- Stacy: $1516.00

- Maria: $4012.53 (what!?)

 

Chris Jericho, Edge, and Christian who are perhaps one of the tightest cliques in wrestling didn't say a word to each other or even acknowledge each other flying between Jacksonville, FL and Philadelphia, PA this past weekend. According to an observer on a US Airways flight with them, they all sat in different areas of the plane and once they got off, each man left the airport separately. I also read a report over the weekend that Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore did a two- hour autograph signing in character which I got a kick out of. I'm probably not the best person to talk about the importance of kayfabe, but still, its nice to see the business being protected.

 

Sources in Japan tell me that A-Train (Matt Bloom) is expected to sign a deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling before the end of the year. I also hear he got engaged over Thanksgiving, so life after the WWE isn't that bad after all. Congrats and best wishes to him...

[SuperJerk 0]

it was very obvious that a Batista face turn is what the people in Baltimore wanted...or at least, hoping he would beat up HHH. With the proper push, Batista could be a major star. He definitely won me over after seeing him in person.

Once again, the WWE accidents themselves into a potential gold mine and isn't sure what to do with it. If Batista/HHH was the plan for WM21, and not HHH/Orton II, I'd say they were booking geniuses.

[dubq 0]

What the hell is "Wrestling365"?

[Guest wrestling365]

What the hell is "Wrestling365"?

 

Have to be careful not to shill here.

 

Wrestling365 is a daily ezine I put out with various wrestling news-bits. Mostly stuff I found out that you'll read first before any where else. PM me for details if you want...

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

See people, if you go to a live show, that is the kind of report you need to write. No, "I saw Chris Benoit, DUDE!"

 

There is no marking out on this board, thank you.

[Guest M. Harry Smilac]

If Batista/HHH was the plan for WM21, and not HHH/Orton II, I'd say they were booking geniuses.

Well really it's just logic, but for the wwe it would be genius so you have a point.

 

Batista=Main Eventer

Orton=Tag team champion like his father

[Vyce 0]

See people, if you go to a live show, that is the kind of report you need to write. No, "I saw Chris Benoit, DUDE!"

 

There is no marking out on this board, thank you.

THANK YOU.

 

You will also notice that this individual wrote this report refraining from placing exclamation points after every sentence.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

- Melina: $452.00

- Christy: $802.00

- Candice: $1001.00

- Stacy: $1516.00

- Maria: $4012.53 (what!?)

 

I know plenty of people that like Maria and think she should have won... I guess they want her panties too.... I don't know how to explain that...

[Black Lushus 0]

yeah and people thought I was stupid for thinking they should put the strap on Batista....at least give it to him once, see if it works...it's GOTTA be better than Orton...I mean how anti-climatic is WM gonna be when Orton wins the title?

[Guest wildpegasus]

A-Train to New Japan? Yes!

[SuperJerk 0]

The lingerie the Diva's wore on Raw during Randy Orton's skit is being auctioned off at WWE.com. Here is the current bidding as of time of writing:

 

- Melina: $452.00

- Christy: $802.00

- Candice: $1001.00

- Stacy: $1516.00

- Maria: $4012.53 (what!?)

Typo?

[JoeDirt 0]

Well there's the solution to the WWE getting fewer PPV buys. Just auction off the divas panties after every show...

[Guest Trivia247]

it was very obvious that a Batista face turn is what the people in Baltimore wanted...or at least, hoping he would beat up HHH. With the proper push, Batista could be a major star. He definitely won me over after seeing him in person.

Once again, the WWE accidents themselves into a potential gold mine and isn't sure what to do with it. If Batista/HHH was the plan for WM21, and not HHH/Orton II, I'd say they were booking geniuses.

Like it was said of the PLO...

 

 

the WWE never misses an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

[Art Sandusky 0]

I don't think Orton's not meant to be in a main event role, but they really needed to wait longer to pull the trigger on a title run for him. Then again, you have to wonder if Batista would be in the great position he's in if Orton hadn't been seperated from Evolution, allowing Big Dave to assume a more prominent role.

[Fökai 0]

it was very obvious that a Batista face turn is what the people in Baltimore wanted...or at least, hoping he would beat up HHH. With the proper push, Batista could be a major star. He definitely won me over after seeing him in person.

Once again, the WWE accidents themselves into a potential gold mine and isn't sure what to do with it. If Batista/HHH was the plan for WM21, and not HHH/Orton II, I'd say they were booking geniuses.

Like it was said of the PLO...

 

 

the WWE never misses an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

 

EDIT: Nevermind. The random stabs at booking Orton/HHH instead of Batista/HHH are just too illogical to pick apart.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Buying used or supposedly used lingerie is wrong on so many levels. It's a good cause, assuming the money goes to charity, but still. Vince could of written a check.

[starvenger 0]

Buying used or supposedly used lingerie is wrong on so many levels. It's a good cause, assuming the money goes to charity, but still. Vince could of written a check.

I'd love to see someone explain that to their wife.

 

Also, it makes RD Reynolds' purchase of Katie Vick stuff seem like a bargain in comparison...

[Placebo Effect 0]

Buying used or supposedly used lingerie is wrong on so many levels. It's a good cause, assuming the money goes to charity, but still. Vince could of written a check.

I think the money goes right in Vince's pocket. If it actually did go to charity, they'd surely make mention of it all over the auction site.

[NYU 0]

it was very obvious that a Batista face turn is what the people in Baltimore wanted...or at least, hoping he would beat up HHH. With the proper push, Batista could be a major star. He definitely won me over after seeing him in person.

Once again, the WWE accidents themselves into a potential gold mine and isn't sure what to do with it. If Batista/HHH was the plan for WM21, and not HHH/Orton II, I'd say they were booking geniuses.

Like it was said of the PLO...

 

 

the WWE never misses an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

 

EDIT: Nevermind. The random stabs at booking Orton/HHH instead of Batista/HHH are just too illogical to pick apart.

Hasn't anyone else considered the possibility that could be building for HHH/Orton/Batista at WrestleMania?

 

It worked well for them with HHH/HBK/Benoit last year - I could see them trying to go for it again. And this time, these three guys actually have an interweb of history between them.

 

I'm not saying it would be GOOD, but it does seem to be logical.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Buying used or supposedly used lingerie is wrong on so many levels. It's a good cause, assuming the money goes to charity, but still. Vince could of written a check.

I think the money goes right in Vince's pocket. If it actually did go to charity, they'd surely make mention of it all over the auction site.

Something's not right about telling the Salvation Army Santa that the donation came from selling used panties on the Internet.

[Vern Gagne 0]

More likely than not it's Vince who's buying the panties.

[Guest Anglesault]

- Melina: $452.00

- Christy: $802.00

- Candice: $1001.00

- Stacy: $1516.00

- Maria: $4012.53 (what!?)

 

I know plenty of people that like Maria and think she should have won... I guess they want her panties too.... I don't know how to explain that...

Maria was the most attractive of all the Diva contestants.

 

And she's not losing her hair.

[Guest LooneyTune]

Wait...thats 4 THOUSAND?! I thought it was hundred. Jesus Christ, what kind of sick perverts would spend 4,000 on some whores dirty panties?

[Guest DeathBecomesYou]

Wait...thats 4 THOUSAND?! I thought it was hundred. Jesus Christ, what kind of sick perverts would spend 4,000 on some whores dirty panties?

It's obvious isn't it? When you think of sick perverts, only one man comes to mind...

 

[Black Lushus 0]

it was very obvious that a Batista face turn is what the people in Baltimore wanted...or at least, hoping he would beat up HHH. With the proper push, Batista could be a major star. He definitely won me over after seeing him in person.

Once again, the WWE accidents themselves into a potential gold mine and isn't sure what to do with it. If Batista/HHH was the plan for WM21, and not HHH/Orton II, I'd say they were booking geniuses.

Like it was said of the PLO...

 

 

the WWE never misses an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity

 

EDIT: Nevermind. The random stabs at booking Orton/HHH instead of Batista/HHH are just too illogical to pick apart.

Hasn't anyone else considered the possibility that could be building for HHH/Orton/Batista at WrestleMania?

 

It worked well for them with HHH/HBK/Benoit last year - I could see them trying to go for it again. And this time, these three guys actually have an interweb of history between them.

 

I'm not saying it would be GOOD, but it does seem to be logical.

as long as it's HHH doing the job again, I can deal with that...

[Guest Mordecai's Cathedral]

Sources in Japan tell me that A-Train (Matt Bloom) is expected to sign a deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling before the end of the year. I also hear he got engaged over Thanksgiving, so life after the WWE isn't that bad after all. Congrats and best wishes to him...

Yay! I can't wait to see him in action!

 

Congratulations on his engagement as well.