Does Raw have the worst talent in years?

[AmazingRen 0]

After watching Raw last night I realize that the Raw brand has the worst talent in a very long time. Besides Shelton, Shawn, and Angle there's no one on the brand that could put together a 3 to 5 star matches. I would put Jericho in there, but to me he hasn't had a great or memorable match since his Wrestlemania match against Shawn. Raw used to be the show that if you were on their it meant that you were over enough to main event the show. Last night there was a "this match sucks" chant. Shawn is the only one that can have you on the edge of your seat when it comes to cutting an emotional promo. When the daft started we were all saying how Smackdown was getting the bad deal, but now it seems like the Raw brand has been getting the raw (no pun intended) deal.

[Zack Malibu 0]

There are guys on the brand that could easily put on great matches (Tajiri, Chavo Guerrero, Edge, Matt Hardy, Hurricane) but they're saddled by shitty gimmicks, not given enough time or chances to get over, etc. etc. etc. I would bet that if Chavo (I refuse to call him Kerwin) and Tajiri had 20 minutes on a RAW, we'd get an above average match at the least.

[Guest JMA]

Why hasn't Kerwin/Chavo wrestled yet? Is he recovering from something or do they just want to build his character up first?

[Silence 0]

I would bet that if Chavo (I refuse to call him Kerwin) and Tajiri had 20 minutes on a RAW, we'd get an above average match at the least.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If WWE fills it with Chavo/Kerwin restholds and Tajiri's usual spots, it won't be too above average, unfortunately.

 

BTW, Zack, how are you recovering from last night's Raw?

[notJames 0]

I vaguely recall Chavo tweaked something on his last SD! match, but you're right. They're probably building his character first so that the crowds will have something to boo about. Not like what they did with Buff Conway. And you can't even count the stuff they did with him on Heat, because that hardly ever translates to RAW acceptance (i.e. The Heartthrobs).

 

I do, however, like what they're doing with Frankie Kazarian on Velocity. I just hope he starts doing some promos on SD! before giving him a seven-minute match with a JTTS.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I still think 2002 was worse, right after the draft. Who did RAW get that could work in the initial draft? They got Undertaker, the NWO, Big Show, an injured Austin, a green Brock Lesnar, RVD, Bubba Ray Dudley, pre-JBL Bradshaw, etc. It is pretty sad when the the best wrestler out of all your big names is Booker T.

[AndrewTS 0]

I prefer using the name Billy T. Bagwell for Conway's new character.

 

Somehow they'll find an excuse to pair him up with Visc so they can take against the Hearthrobs, with Pat Patterson referring, to see if they can do the gayest match ever.

[Zack Malibu 0]

I would bet that if Chavo (I refuse to call him Kerwin) and Tajiri had 20 minutes on a RAW, we'd get an above average match at the least.

 

If WWE fills it with Chavo/Kerwin restholds and Tajiri's usual spots, it won't be too above average, unfortunately.

 

BTW, Zack, how are you recovering from last night's Raw?

 

I had fun, but could have lived without the Diva Search (duh). I like Conway and don't mind Venis, but they got crapped on instantly, and Conway's new look and music is death. He'll never be taken seriously if they keep it up. I was also happy to see CM Punk and OVW's Chris Cage in the dark match, and everyone marked out for Tatanka.

[Exslade ZX 0]

There are guys on the brand that could easily put on great matches (Tajiri, Chavo Guerrero, Edge, Matt Hardy, Hurricane) but they're saddled by shitty gimmicks, not given enough time or chances to get over, etc. etc. etc.  I would bet that if Chavo (I refuse to call him Kerwin) and Tajiri had 20 minutes on a RAW, we'd get an above average match at the least.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But seriously...who wants to see a 20 minute Chavo/Tajiri match? I don't care if they had the best gimmicks in the world..although I don't know what that'd be exactly.

 

If it was for a reason..like, I definitely wouldn't mind seeing a Chavo/Tajiri match go 20 minutes on SD if it's for the CW title, but I can't imagine these 2 getting 20 mins on RAw, and if they did, I honestly don't believe I'd be that interested. If you wanna go with lower names..maybe a Hurricane/Shelton match or something..but for one, I never really thought Chabo was that good..and the least best out of the SD6

[Downhome 0]

I can't remember the last time that I hated the champs as much as I do right now, when it comes to in-ring work and other factors. For example, I love the character of Carlito, but I almost always hate his matches.

 

The two world champs are horrible also in my eyes.

[Dangerous A 0]

It just seems that Raw right now is as bad as Raw 2002 because you've got guys like Angle working midcard comedy storylines. Flair and HHH, the top heels, are off for who knows how long. They have shit workers like Cena and Carlito holding the top titles. The tag titles mean nothing because the tag champs, Rosey and Hurricane, mean nothing. You've got Jericho, a guy seen by marks as a JTTS as top heel which takes wind away from the main title sail. And as of yesterday, one of the hottest feuds, Hardy/Edge, just came to a screeching halt with a poorly delivered buildup and promo.

 

I'd say it's almost 2002, except they aren't talking about ass cream and necrophilia, just yet.

[Silence 0]

and Conway's new look and music is death.  He'll never be taken seriously if they keep it up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I know. It seems odd how Conway would be better off looking like a French/Canadian sympathizer again than an even more flaming version of Buff Bagwell that WWE recently came up with.

[Guest JMA]

Raw's talent isn't that bad, there are just circumstances that prevent any good matches from happening:

 

1: There are some legitimately bad or green wrestlers on the roster.

 

2: The wrestlers who are good are either unmotivated, injured, or not on TV.

 

3: The show focuses more on storylines than actual matches.

 

What they need to do is cut some of the dead weight (Snitsky, Vis, Tomko), change some gimmicks (Hurricane, Danny Basham, Conway, Val), and push some new faces (Hardy, Edge, RVD, Benjamin). But perhaps the most important thing to do is test guys out on house shows, find out which of them have chemistry with each other in the ring and on the mic, and put them into an angle or feud together. I can't stress that last point enough.

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

There is nothing wrong with Hurricane's gimmick, it makes him stand out way more than being a guy with long hair and green jeans ever will, he's just been used as a nobody for so long that he needs to get off the show and back to Smackdown where he can work with other cruisers.

[cabbageboy 0]

Yeah but what storylines? What exactly is going ON on Raw that we need all this exposition? Jericho/Cena, ok we got that. Next. Michaels/Hogan, check. Maybe now this Matt/Edge thing. This isn't really enough stuff to excuse all the blathering and talking.

 

Going to the show live isn't really that bad though. There's always some Heat matches and stuff that keeps you interested, despite all the talky crap.

[justcoz 0]

There is nothing wrong with Hurricane's gimmick, it makes him stand out way more than being a guy with long hair and green jeans ever will, he's just been used as a nobody for so long that he needs to get off the show and back to Smackdown where he can work with other cruisers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think the whole point of having him on Raw was because the character was the baby of Brian Gerwitz. There is nothing wrong with the gimmick but it's time has passed and the only reason to not drop it is because he's still moderately over and produces merchandise sells. I just don't see the point in having a comic book super hero gimmick when he spends his time mostly doing jobs and he's never been booked into a feud with an "evil arch nemesis". Creative "didn't have anything" for Raven, Kanyon aka Mortis or more recently Nova (which would have been perfect and ten times better than Simon Dean) when they could have all been used as a villain to Hurricane. Hell, bring back Doink. Just do something. Hurricane hasn't had one fun or meaningful program barring the skits with The Rock.

 

I see a good talent that could be groomed for a main event position minus the gimmick. Helms is a hip hop freak supposedly, that could transcend into a feud with Cena and possibly getting good matches from Cena. I don't hate the gimmick, it's just the fact that if creative isn't going to do anything with it, just let the talent move on.

[Exslade ZX 0]

Flair and HHH, the top heels, are off for who knows how long.

And that's a good thing right...? I mean, that IS what everybody wanted.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Conway's new S&M gimmick owns you all. All he needs is a gimp to accompany him to the ring and a bridle and whip.

[Silence 0]

Conway's new S&M gimmick owns you all. All he needs is a gimp to accompany him  to the ring and a bridle and whip.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

WWE already did that with the Bashams and Shaniqua. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time that WWE's rehashed old ideas/characters.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

They weren't buff enough (pardon the pun). Conway needs to wag his index finger as his opponents periodically throughout the match and maybe give them the *Snap snap* treatment that black chicks on Ricki Lake do.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I don't mind Buff Conway.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Garrison Cade as the gay cowboy and Rob Conway S&M Superstar would be an awesome team.

[Guest JMA]

There is nothing wrong with Hurricane's gimmick, it makes him stand out way more than being a guy with long hair and green jeans ever will, he's just been used as a nobody for so long that he needs to get off the show and back to Smackdown where he can work with other cruisers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Being a super-hero mark (and even a Green Lantern mark like Helms), I did like the Hurricane gimmick for the first few years. I just think it's time for Helms to be pushed seriously and not used as a midcard comedy wrestler. He could be a real asset to Raw with the right gimmick.

[SuperJerk 0]

There are guys on the brand that could easily put on great matches (Tajiri, Chavo Guerrero, Edge, Matt Hardy, Hurricane) but they're saddled by shitty gimmicks, not given enough time or chances to get over, etc. etc. etc.  I would bet that if Chavo (I refuse to call him Kerwin) and Tajiri had 20 minutes on a RAW, we'd get an above average match at the least.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't see why being over or having a good gimmick are conditions for putting on a good match. Not being given enough time certainly is a facotr, but I don't get why you think the other two are necessary.

[TheFranchise 0]

A whiney cheating heel gimmick isn't going to go out and put on a ***** masterpiece is he?

 

He'd have to cheat, low tactics, etc, that take away from a good match.

 

Restholds, for example.

[SuperJerk 0]

A whiney cheating heel gimmick isn't going to go out and put on a ***** masterpiece is he?

 

He'd have to cheat, low tactics, etc, that take away from a good match.

 

Restholds, for example.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If cheating means you automatically have a bad match, I guess I can throw my Ric Flair DVD away.

[Boon 0]

Flair and HHH, the top heels, are off for who knows how long.

And that's a good thing right...? I mean, that IS what everybody wanted.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm on the record as saying it's a bad thing.

[Guest jm29195]

Garrison Cade as the gay cowboy and Rob Conway S&M Superstar would be an awesome team.

 

 

Obviously that's why they've resigned Tatanka- he's gonna be part of the WWE Village people 05- they should rehire hire Kanyon as Chris 'Man at Work' Champion and let them be a faction.....