oAo Monday Night Raw thread- 4/16/07

[RedJed 0]

Is this new italian guy's last name an homage to Gorilla Monsoon? Other than that nothing much to say about Raw - was pretty stale and having Cena take out everyone isnt exactly a great way to sell the ppv....I was impressed by the booking to debut this new guy though - I'll give it a chance and see where they go with it, especially if they use the shootfighter background gimmick on him as the weeks progress. Umaga may likely get the ECW belt anyway so might as well shift the IC title to an apparent book on the fly project with this new worker.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Shawn'll pin him next week, tho.

[Guest robrabies]

they also managed to completely bury all three of Cena's challengers for Backlash.

Cena got his ass kicked all match, and only won because Edge speared Orton, HBK superkicked Edge, and then caught HBK w/ a surprise flash FU. How did that bury those 3?

 

3 of the top 4 active main eventers on Raw were unable to beat one man despite a match format overwhelming stacked in their favor. Ref bumps, missed finishers or not, that's still bad booking.

 

It's not against the law to have someone go over clean on Cena if it's a handicap match. If 3 guys can't hit their finisher on him, how are any of them believable as credible threats to the title? How does Michaels have any credibility as his sole challenger?

 

That's

[RedJed 0]

Shawn'll pin him next week, tho.

 

I hope so - the crowd really gave Cena ridiculous heat tonight, and it wont get any better in London next week. They need to just get the belt off him, and they'll get what they want - a loud positive response for him more times than not. That would be a great spot for a title change, and have Michaels hold it or transition it to Edge or even Orton at the ppv. Right now Im fine with any of those guys holding it other than Cena. They might as well throw it to a heel ASAP though to run strong through the summer to be fed to Hunter upon returning. That should probably be Edge. Cena needs to start chasing the title is all I know too.

[Scroby 0]

Jeff Hardy lost to that horrible clothesline?

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

I'm pretty sure next Monday is non-title (WM Rematch).

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Cade's clothesline was pretty solid, the crowd just doesn't care. JR was all "He nails The Clothesline From...Nashville, Tennessee!"

[Guest robrabies]

The fact that people are openly opining for a HHH title win only shows how much Cena has been forced down our throats constantly. If HHH gets it, he shouldn't have a long reign...I'd rather he continue in his role of the past two years. HHH is no better than Cena, we're trading strycnyne for cobra venom. Michaels is a dicey proposition as well. He's over, but he's not much of a draw, but he does deserve one last run for his work the last few years. Honestly, I think Edge is due a 6-8 month reign after Rated RKO has their blowoff at SS, whereupon he can drop the belt at Mania to whomever.

[Mecca 0]

You may hate Cena but he's moving merch and making them more money than anyone else so obviously the majority likes the guy........

[Golgo 13 0]

Cade's clothesline was pretty solid, the crowd just doesn't care. JR was all "He nails The Clothesline From...Nashville, Tennessee!"

 

It looked like Jeff didn't take it at all either.

[Wrestlefreak 0]

The main-event was pointless. Cena sucks, the crowd knew that.

 

I'm not going to the Raw taping next Monday, but I am going to the Smackdown taping next Tuesday.

 

I can't wait!!

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Santino shall now be dubbed Un Due Tre Capretto

 

Im surprised they actually went ahead with it being for the IC title.

[cabbageboy 0]

Why does Cena need the title to move merchandise? Can anyone seriously answer this? The only thing in inventory that is based on him being champ is the idiotic title belt, but they are hell bent on using it regardless of champion. Let's face it, that belt should have been retired forever once RVD buried it last year with that "This one spins!" comment.

 

Last night was more troubling for Cena. Last year Cena was getting insane heat in terms of those booing him. Now he's just getting a more apathetic boo, if that makes sense. It's like he's so ungodly stale now that nobody cares anymore.

 

One moment struck me as funny last night. In Vince's opening promo he said Lashley wouldn't be there tonight. Think about that. Lashley SHOULDN'T be on Raw, he's in theory supposed to be ECW. If they want Lashley on Raw then job the belt off him and put him on Raw full time. In a deranged way I kinda want Shane to win the ECW title so he can get utterly killed in a hardcore match for the belt on ECW, and hopefully get an actual ECW guy back with the belt. Maybe if RVD signs a new deal they could do this, but I'm not holding out any hope.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Y'know what? Cena's going to be boo'd next week in England, too. So what? Is it hurting business? Nope.

 

People need to stop running around like Chicken Little. "Cena's getting boo'd! Job the belt off him!"

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

I kinda hope Cena is champion in July when RAW comes to Calgary, so I can get the chance to boo a face Cena champion.

[AntiLeaf33 0]

I know it was only a dark match, but what the hell was the point of having Punk wrestle Thorne? Aren't they supposed to be part of the New Breed stable? Wouldn't it have made more sense for him to either beat an original or a local jobber?

[Guest jonnymack]

I think the problem I have with Cena is he's being shoved down my throat as this invincible hero. WWE is steadfastly refusing to acknowledge the fans desire to see Cena without the belt. I thought it was bad enough when he made HHH tap at WM, but when they decided to have HBK tap at WM I blew a gasket. There is no one that will beat Cena but they need to have the title move around to keep Cena fresh. Have him chase someone around and maybe people will start giving a s*it about him. Ditch the marine gimmick and let him get a little darker, hell maybe even a heel turn - that would be awesome to let him play off the heat he has.

 

Unfortunately, they won't. If Cena doesn't lose the strap at Backlash I'll just stick to WWE 24/7 until he does. I just can't take it anymore with that guy.

[razazteca 0]

You may hate Cena but he's moving merch and making them more money than anyone else so obviously the majority likes the guy........

The whole European market hates Cena just move him down to IC level and let him keep the belt for the next 2 years let's see if he can build any new midcarders. SCSA has a new movie out lets give him the smoking skull belt back for a couple of months then give it to Edge for the long term.

[Guest robrabies]

You may hate Cena but he's moving merch and making them more money than anyone else so obviously the majority likes the guy........

 

Such a tragically misguided post.

 

You don't have to have the title to move merchandise. Furthermore, the amount of airtime that Cena hogs by constantly ME every PPV could be used to build up several challengers to the belt and/or champions who could move more merchandise collectively than he could individually. Plus, what happens if Cena suffers an injury that puts him out 6 months? Not only due you have no credible challengers, you'll have a second rate champ who is just holding the belt, and who won't have the respect of the crowd.

 

The champion is only as good as the challengers that he's booked against. If they aren't credible, then he isn't interesting.

[DokDoyle 0]

They've given Santino a back story and it's not bad:

 

http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/articles/3689750/marella

 

 

 

MILAN, Italy— An earth-rattling applause erupted inside DatchForum Monday night after Italian native Santino Marella accomplished the impossible at the country’s first-ever Raw: Marella defeated Umaga for the Intercontinental Championship (with help from ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley), and became the first-ever walk-on competitor to unseat a WWE title holder.

 

In what can only be described as an underdog story reminiscent of the “Italian Stallion” Rocky Balboa, Marella overcame insurmountable odds in a No Holds Barred Match with one of sports-entertainment’s most savage Superstars. Handpicked from the sold-out DatchForum crowd to respond to Mr. McMahon’s open challenge, Marella stunned both the WWE Chairman and Umaga with his speed, agility and toughness. However, it was Lashley’s assistance that proved to be the crucial element Marella needed to walk out of the ring with Intercontinental gold strapped around his waist.

 

Taking full advantage of the No Holds Barred stipulation declared by Mr. McMahon, Lashley subdued the 350-pound Samoan with a steel chair to the skull, followed by a thunderous spear that bulldozed Umaga off his feet. The ECW World Champion then pulled a dazed Marella across the sapped Samoan Bulldozer. As referee Chad Patton slammed his hand down on the canvas for a third time, the arena exploded in a three-minute, ear-shattering ovation. Chants of “Santino” reverberated throughout the DatchForum as Lashley raised the awestruck newcomer’s arm in the middle of the ring.

 

After the match, WWE.com caught up with Marella in the locker room area. Still covered head-to-toe in sweat, icing his bruised body and fighting back tears of joy, he was simply astonished at what had just taken place.

 

“It’s unbelievable,” he said, clutching his title, barely able to muster a syllable without bursting into tears. “I’m speechless.”

 

Marella may call his victory and the circumstances surrounding it unbelievable; others might label it fate. Though born in Calabria, a city located near the “toes” of Italy’s boot shape, Marella spent most of his adult life thousands of miles away in Canada, returning to Italy a few times each year to visit his father Francesco and other family members residing in Milan. The lure of a career in sports-entertainment had sent him packing for the United States, where he vowed that he’d one day break into the pinnacle of the industry that fascinated him — World Wrestling Entertainment. He never envisioned, however, that his latest trip to his home country would allow him to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a WWE Superstar.

 

On Raw Monday night, Santino Marella not only achieved his personal goal, he rewrote history in the process. His triumphs have proven to his family, his homeland and the world that through the power of desire, a touch of happenstance and, of course, with a little outside help from Bobby Lashley, anything in life is possible.

[Corkscrew_Senton 0]

Wait, so Cena got booed in Italy? I thought Cena only got booed in smarky cities! Maybe all those years of Italy being an ECW stronghold are coming back to bite Mr. Cena in the BUTT

[k thx 0]

Or as we say in Portsmouth. Beard.

Awesome.

 

FWIW, I'm not a fan of Alexiev as a worker, but I never like MMA gimmicks. Hopefully he'll be able to do well in the role.

[Guest robrabies]

Wait, so Cena got booed in Italy? I thought Cena only got booed in smarky cities! Maybe all those years of Italy being an ECW stronghold are coming back to bite Mr. Cena in the BUTT

 

Or maybe Cena's character is so goddamned dry and stupid (along with his jingoistic Marine gimmick) that no one but idiot children and women who think he's attractive will root for him.

[Guest NYR10]

Wait, so Cena got booed in Italy? I thought Cena only got booed in smarky cities! Maybe all those years of Italy being an ECW stronghold are coming back to bite Mr. Cena in the BUTT

 

Or maybe Cena's character is so goddamned dry and stupid (along with his jingoistic Marine gimmick) that no one but idiot children and women who think he's attractive will root for him.

 

Last time I checked, you didn't have to be a fucking critic who discects every aspect of wrestling to be a fan. Women and children are just as much of fans as anyone else. Furthermore, you guys are totally ignoring the fact that this Raw took place in Italy and the majority of the fans back in the states love the guy. You're picking out every single flaw that you can find in Cena and not recognizing anything good that he has done. He's great in gimmick matches and he's the reason that the WWE fanbase has grown beyond the average american male.

[Scroby 0]

I know it was only a dark match, but what the hell was the point of having Punk wrestle Thorne? Aren't they supposed to be part of the New Breed stable? Wouldn't it have made more sense for him to either beat an original or a local jobber?

Your right, but I sorta realized that the WWE will do a lot of random matches when they're over seas.

[iggymcfly 0]

Oh my god, I can't believe people are still defending Cena. I quickly checked some Raw results tonight (the show didn't even cross my mind until Tuesday because Cena's killed so much of my interest) and I couldn't believe how bad the booking was. They basically had Cena go over all three challengers at once while the entire crowd booed him. Seriously, how can anyone want to see this? He's got no credible challengers and is booked 10x stronger than Stone Cold or The Rock ever were in their primes. They just couldn't be beaten one-on-one cleanly. Cena can't be beaten by anyone ever.

 

Also, this "he sells merchandise" thing is probably the stupidest argument I've ever heard in my life. As if all we should want as fans of the show is for it to make money, not for it to actually be good. When you listen to the radio, do you say "they should really play Lil Bow Wow more, all the children and young women seem to like him". Of course not! You want to hear music that's actually good. As fans, how much merchandise someone moves should not even be a concern.

 

And even if you do look at it from a business standpoint, that still doesn't justify this reign. The Rock moved way, way more merchandise than Cena ever did and was also 100x more interesting as a character, yet throughout his entire career, he held the title less than a year total. Meanwhile Cena's held the title for 21 of the last 24 months and people are still saying he shouldn't drop the belt? He's had it forever! He's dominating the title scene more than anyone since Hulk Hogan. Isn't "dominating more than anyone in 20 years" way, way overkill for a mediocre face that moves a little bit of merchandise.

 

Finally, the litmus test for a babyface champion isn't just "moving some merchandise" and getting 50% of the fans to cheer you. Anyone can do that. Al Snow and Jeff Hardy both moved a lot of merchandise, but neither one got close to the WWE title. And when you're looking at the WWE audience, especially in the markish cities this board seems to use to make their point, over half of the audience is going to cheer the babyface regardless. Make Cena the face and Orton the heel and they'll cheer Cena. Make Orton the face and Cena the heel and they'll cheer Orton. The fact that only half of the audience is cheering for Cena regardless of the fact that's he's been pushed to the moon for the last two years means either (1) he's really unpopular or (2) he's really stale and the fans are really sick of his character. Either one should be grounds for a heel turn.

 

Honestly, I think the real problem is that the WWE bookers and writers aren't even trying any more. They don't care if Cena's popular, they don't care if the feuds are ever based on anything, and they don't care if the television shows have any more storyline to them than the house show matches. They just want to crank out a few hours of copy and then get home for dinner. The fact that anyone's still willing to eat it up and try to defend every BS thing they do as a "smart business move" is beyond me however.

[muzz 0]

I love random title changes.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

3.7, which means the ratings are dropping ever so slightly from week to week in the post-WM period.

[King Cucaracha 0]

The Hurricane sold merchandise too and nobody wanted him as World Champion.

 

Also, I'm still shocked that Johnny Nitro used the Rude Awakening as his finisher against Eugene. Nothing like a Rude Awakening as a finisher.

[Corkscrew_Senton 0]

Honestly, I think the real problem is that the WWE bookers and writers aren't even trying any more. They don't care if Cena's popular, they don't care if the feuds are ever based on anything, and they don't care if the television shows have any more storyline to them than the house show matches. They just want to crank out a few hours of copy and then get home for dinner. The fact that anyone's still willing to eat it up and try to defend every BS thing they do as a "smart business move" is beyond me however.

 

HOME RUN! This is what I've been saying for a few weeks now. WWE has its fanbase that will never, ever stop watching. Those people will buy PPVs of ANYTHING. So they have this guaranteed fanbase that's always going to be there...and right now, that's all that's there. So I'd say it's time for them to take a risk. Try something new. They did it with Steve Austin, a character who cussed, drank, beat the shit out of people and got over for the first time by blaspheming with his Austin 3:16 promo. It paid huge dividends, and it didn't steer away the existing fanbase.

 

So what I'm saying is, trying something different isn't going to drive away the already-watching fans, so if it fails you've still got those folks. But if it doesn't fail, you can bring in new fans again.