tominator89 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Good storytelling will accomplish that. Finally, something that has been planned for a while that actually makes sense when it happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stress Truck Report post Posted February 22, 2005 The one thing I didn't like about it was the little promo at the end. It was awkward and sort of unneccessary. Signing the contract and posing over HHH would have been just as effective. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 OK, I just saw the end of Raw now and it was fucking awesome. That thumbs down thing was absolutely classic. I don't even watch Raw regularly anymore, but I still marked the fuck out for it. Batista's clever subtleties are something that haven't been seen in the WWE since The Rock was at his peak. If they could string together a few Raws that are even close to as good as this one, the ratings would climb a very significant amount. Batista may not be the next Austin or Rock, but he's the closest thing the WWE's had in a long time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dandy 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 It just hit me tonight how we kind of have a "new age" Rock and Austin (hear me out) in the WWE right now. They said Cena and Benoit could have a rivalry like Austin and the Rock, and I immediately thought of how they are pushing Cena's character as anti-establishment with "banned" merchandise, and Batista as a well-dressed, cool customer. I don't think they are carbon-copies or anywhere near as good at this time, but I think they are giving them a hint of those characters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Evolution Report post Posted February 22, 2005 As cool as the Batista turn was, it kinda makes me not look forward to watch him kill Triple H at Mania. I saw Triple H get his just desserts on free television and I saw Batista hold the belt up in the air like a champion (granted it was not his, but you get the point.) Seeing Triple H get beat up like that kinda killed things for me a little. I think Triple H has to get the better of Batista leading up to WrestleMania. It was nice to give the Penn State fans what they wanted, but I tend to agree. After Batista gave the thumbs down, Triple H should've realized what that meant and headed for the hills, reacting with Flair as Batista signed the Raw contract and handed it over to a smiling Bischoff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 As cool as the Batista turn was, it kinda makes me not look forward to watch him kill Triple H at Mania. I saw Triple H get his just desserts on free television and I saw Batista hold the belt up in the air like a champion (granted it was not his, but you get the point.) Seeing Triple H get beat up like that kinda killed things for me a little. I think Triple H has to get the better of Batista leading up to WrestleMania. It was nice to give the Penn State fans what they wanted, but I tend to agree. After Batista gave the thumbs down, Triple H should've realized what that meant and headed for the hills, reacting with Flair as Batista signed the Raw contract and handed it over to a smiling Bischoff. No way. They've had way too much of that lately, and nothing pisses off the fans more than watching the face stand at the edge of the ropes while the heel slowly backs up. The turn needed to have impact, and that impact came when HHH got powerbombed through the table. This was where Batista officially became a face, and he needed to take the offensive and do something. They've still got over a month until the actual Wrestlemania match, and that's plenty of time to make us hungry to see Batista beat the shit out of HHH again. Besides, the payoff that everyone wants to see is Batista winning the title which has plenty of drawing power whether he's hurt HHH already or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UseTheSledgehammerUh 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Wow that would've been the fucking lamest payoff ever. It was perfect tonight. Triple H got destroyed into a table after a 7 minute promo being a dickhead. And then Batista went full babyface and did the "Im coming to be the champ" line. Cena and Batista = Austin and Rock ? I see it. We'll see how far they can run with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeDirt 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Let's just all pray that between now and Mania Batista doesn't tear a quad or something. Who knows what they'd do then. They really need to book Batista strong at Mania. I'm talking like kicking out of a pedigree, doing his version of hulking up, spinebuster, powerbomb, new champion. This is the closest thing they've had in a long time of something getting REALLY big. Get Batista on all the late night talk shows going into Mania, that's for sure. And DAMN does Smackdown seem like a B-Show right now. Teddy Long has to go out there and say "well, I didn't get Batista...but our title match will still be good I promise!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UseTheSledgehammerUh 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Um, actually, Teddy might not even be the GM to get to say that. THAT could help things, with a shake-up... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeDirt 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 The HBK/Orton segment tonight definitely planted the seeds for Orton to go out and challenge Undertaker to a match at Wrestlemania, too. Kind of got lost with all the stuff that happened later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shadow Behind You Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Yeah because the 6th President/General Manager to run Smackwon would really "shake things up". It's not who is "running" the show it's their complete lack of focus and direction that kills Smackdown. Who could be left? I mean... Vince McMahon Stephanie McMahon Paul Heyman Kurt Angle Theodore Long and yet Bischoff has been in charge since Flair lost control and it was handed to him in 2002. Yes Austin shared duties for a year but ultimately he was in charge since he showed up. Thats one major reason Smackdown continues to look weak is by the revolving door of General Managers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 God knows I wouldn't have been able to sleep nights knowing Shawn wasn't going to get his job back from Edge! Maybe I'll be wrong and Angle will appear to cost him the match. EDIT: Referring to the Street Fight next week Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UseTheSledgehammerUh 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Carlito becomes new GM. Fucks with Cena on the road to WM. All odds against him. Watch that powerbomb on wwe.com, listen to the commentary by King and JR from the time Batista puts the thumb down to the powerbomb. What a classic sequence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stress Truck Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Um, actually, Teddy might not even be the GM to get to say that. Honestly, the Long character while fun and one of the more entertaining GMs, has been one of the "worst" in storyline standpoint. He has clear biases and doesn't even try to hide them. You could tell they were setting up an out on Long as GM from the very beginning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeDirt 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Teddy just doesn't do much for me as GM. But how much sense would it make storyline wise to just make Carlito the GM? Maybe they'll do the "you get 30 days to do better than him" or something, who knows. If they could get Austin or Foley to do it that could really help Smackdown out a lot, but that'll never happen. Anyways, RAW should be interesting leading into Mania. Hopefully Smackdown can keep up. P.S - I see Edge beating HBK next week after Angle interferes...that's really what should happen, as HBK is going over Angle at Mania anyways, and Edge could use another big win (I could see him being a Backlash opponent for Big Dave). PPS- Check out the receding hairline on Chris Masters. Wow, I wonder if he juices? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest hhheld_down Report post Posted February 22, 2005 my girlfriend just started watchin RAW about eight months ago, and while she was watching, she wasnt really paying alot of attention (eugene's character was the only thing she really payed attention to over the summer) to the show, she marked the fuck out tonight when batista put hhh through that table and did the thumbs down. it was the first time i heard her get soo loud and for WRESTLING, something she didnt care for a while back and that for me made the moment all the more special. afterwards she couldnt believe how excitted she got for that one moment. it was really great Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
strummer 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 they're already hyping next week's show due to sweeps. Didn't work last year as ratings actually went down with all the announced matches Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brighty 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Um, actually, Teddy might not even be the GM to get to say that. Honestly, the Long character while fun and one of the more entertaining GMs, has been one of the "worst" in storyline standpoint. He has clear biases and doesn't even try to hide them. You could tell they were setting up an out on Long as GM from the very beginning. every GM has had clear biases that they've not even tried to hide. Steph gave Undertaker PPV title shots when he'd done nothing to earn them, Heyman screwed with Benoit, making him #1 in the Rumble just because he hated him, Angle stripped Cena of the US title for no reason, screwed around with Eddie, and gave JBL a PPV title shot because he stopped some Mexicans crossing the border, Bischoff had his nose up Evolution's ass for a year straight, and Austin screwed with Jericho on multiple ocassions. Long is no different. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Open the Muggy Gate 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 I've got that ending on tape... 5 times watching it later, I'm still marking out. That was the best ending I've seen on RAW since Randy Orton getting kicked out of Evolution. Evolution 2003-2005 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Don't know if this has already been suggested, but why didn't the wwe bring Masters in as a protege/partner of Simon Dean? Both of them have dead-as-dirt gimmicks, why not pair them together and see if they worked well together. Plus, as a tag team they could hide much of Masters' flaws. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dandy 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 While watching the video again on wwe.com, I also saw an exclusive of Stevie Richards receiving medical attention for his nose. Is that Kanyon in the background? Sure looks like him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheFranchise 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 No, but if you listen, Triple H manages to get himself into a first aid room extra on WWE.com. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dandy 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 You don't have to listen too close. That was probably what was airing on Raw at the time. So who do you think the guy was backstage if not Kanyon? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dandy 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Nevermind. I watched it again and didn't look at Stevie's nose the whole time. It was just Rosey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheFranchise 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 I thought it was also Rosey, but he looked thinner than usual. I don't watch his matches too closely, it seems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 Teddy Long needs to be replaced, but it needs to be a solid choice who can and will fit the role full time. From there, Teddy needds to just go back to being a manager. I wouldn't be surprised at ALL to see WWE stick him with Batista now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slimm44 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 I would have loved to see Edge and Christian win and reform for a longer period of time. Then at least there would be another legit tag team. The Con-chair-to was great to see even though they missed it brought back the great memories of what a tag team used to be Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChick 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 God knows I wouldn't have been able to sleep nights knowing Shawn wasn't going to get his job back from Edge! Maybe I'll be wrong and Angle will appear to cost him the match. EDIT: Referring to the Street Fight next week Yeah, I think that'll happen, actually. But rest assured that if there is a clean win, it's Shawn winning. And I'm not even saying that because of anything to do with Shawn. HBK has a match at WM already, so obviously he needs to look strong while Edge will be in some throwaway match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted February 22, 2005 What did HHH mouth when Batista did the thumbs down? I want to say "you motherfucker", but I'm not sure Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stress Truck Report post Posted February 22, 2005 God knows I wouldn't have been able to sleep nights knowing Shawn wasn't going to get his job back from Edge! Maybe I'll be wrong and Angle will appear to cost him the match. EDIT: Referring to the Street Fight next week Yeah, I think that'll happen, actually. I sort of doubt it. WWE seems to be intent on running a major Wrestlemania feud based on no face to face interaction and no direct promos at each other. Come Monday, they'll be over a month into it. Of course, they'll continue occasionally mentioning each others names as sidebars to other promos, just so fans don't totally forget. While, yes, I'm interested in the feud, part of me is really sort of intrigued by this concept. It would be interesting to see if they could continue a total non-feud and still get a hot match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
