OAO Raw Thread 6/23/08

[Chazz 0]

Why do the champions get to take the belt with them didnt Lashley have to forfit the ECW title when he got drafted to Raw?

 

Good point. I forgot all about that.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Trying to apply logic to wrestling leads to nowhere good.

 

Lashley had to leave his belt...but Cena got to bring his when he was drafted to Raw.

 

The correct answer is because all of the titles are up for grabs on the ppv and they're going to sell it on the basis that anything can happen to the titles.

 

In theory if Batista and Kane and Cena win...all the titles will be on RAW or if Edge, HHH and Show win they'll all be on Smackdown. And if Show wins they'll probably just make him part of the ECW roster and give no further explination.

[Enigma 0]

Lashley had to forefit his belt because he was feuding with McMahon and he used it as an excuse to yank it off Lashley. End of story.

[Obi Chris Kenobi 0]

This money thing really has dragged on. I thought it was going to lead to something cool, but no, it really hasn't.

 

 

What exactly did you think giving away money to fans was building to, storyline wise?

 

Is this my fault? I didn't think it would lead to the stage falling apart, though, if it spawns a decent storyline who am I to complain. I'll be watching more then the last few weeks as there's something to watch to find out where it all leads. Don't get me wrong, Jericho/HBK has been pretty interesting if a bit odd.

 

EDIT: One thing about the winners of the money - they don't sound very happy/excited. its like "Gee thanks, half a million cool", in fact not even that, think I only remember one of them actually even saying thank you!

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Why do the champions get to take the belt with them didnt Lashley have to forfit the ECW title when he got drafted to Raw?

See my signature.

[Thanks for the Fish 0]

I guess were're going to see a shit load of title changes at NOC to account foe the clucterfuck that took place tonight. I figure Edge will retain against Batista since Undertaker is on the verge of a return. Since HHH has been sent to SD, I guess that leaves Cena regaining his vanity belt. Since an ECW talent exchange with RAW is about to take place, I guess Finlay and Hornswoggle will take the WWE tag belts from Mix and Morrison, but the US and ECW titles are in a strange situation. If Big Show beats Kane, that leaves a Smackdown guy holding the ECW title, so unless he ends up sticking to ECW, that leaves that belt in a strange position. Also, is Chavo officially ECW or is he still a SD guy? If so, if he beats Matt Hardy, an ECW guy holding a SD title, that leaves the title still in ECW, thus technically giving RAW the IC belt and the US belt. However, Jericho hasn't had the IC belt with him in 2 weeks so maybe the belt has been silently cast-aside in favor the the US belt? This draft special made my head hurt.

 

I'm thinking the Kane to Raw move was made to set up moving all of ECW to Raw tapings. Basically Teddy Long will make a talent exchange agreement with Vince in order to be able to go after the brand title or something. I think Miz and Morrison will keep the titles but be seen as SD! wrestlers as part of the agreement to break the talent exchange contract with SD! Maybe there could be some sort of talent swap that would send Chavo, Miz and Morrison to SD! permanently for 2-3 SD! wrestlers and release from the talent exchange contract.

[bob_barron 0]

Why do the champions get to take the belt with them didnt Lashley have to forfit the ECW title when he got drafted to Raw?

See my signature.

 

As Enigma said, they stripped Lashley b/c he was feuding with Vince and that was a way to fuck with him

[2GOLD 0]

 

So the money was all just a lead up to ANOTHER crappy Vince storyline that goes nowhere, benefits no one but Vince and does nothing but waste even more time than the money thing did.

 

Wonderful. Great. Glad to see the boredom is going to lead to more boredom. I was getting worried they might be thinking of being entertaining.

[PILLS! PILLS! PILLS! 0]

So the money was all just a lead up to ANOTHER crappy Vince storyline that goes nowhere, benefits no one but Vince and does nothing but waste even more time than the money thing did.

 

Wonderful. Great. Glad to see the boredom is going to lead to more boredom. I was getting worried they might be thinking of being entertaining.

 

The money thing was supposed to lead up a significant increase in viewership. It was unsuccessful. Lemons from lemonade. Or not.

[Dandy 0]

Yeah, I think they envisioned the ratings going up significantly, and they would continue to do the money giveaway. Its insignificance in the ratings made it a situation where they needed to stop wasting a million per week. This was a way to do it.

 

Of course, they also could have just advertised that this was the final week of giving away the money, it had the single biggest payout of the contest, etc., but they also wanted to start a big angle.

[bob_barron 0]

Yeah, I think they envisioned the ratings going up significantly, and they would continue to do the money giveaway. Its insignificance in the ratings made it a situation where they needed to stop wasting a million per week. This was a way to do it.

 

Of course, they also could have just advertised that this was the final week of giving away the money, it had the single biggest payout of the contest, etc., but they also wanted to start a big angle.

 

I think they should've just said that this was the last week giving away the money, since the big angle is stupid, and won't go anywhere, like all the big angles they do.

 

When is WWE going to realise that the ratings for RAW don't really matter

[PILLS! PILLS! PILLS! 0]

When is WWE going to realise that the ratings for RAW don't really matter

 

When they hear it from Bonnie Hammer.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Why do the champions get to take the belt with them didnt Lashley have to forfit the ECW title when he got drafted to Raw?

 

Because they said so. Also Vince was just being a jerk to Lashley last year.

[NyqZoo 0]

This was probably the plan all along. They hoped to get a bigger audience with the giveaway and then pull a big mystery angle to keep those new viewers interested for another few weeks. Something needed to be done, you can't expect the would-be people that tuned in just for the money to stick around after its over.

[Dandy 0]

Good point.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

I was hoping they would have had Jericho win a match, declare that whoever Raw got in the draft would be his NOC opponent, and then D`Lo Brown would get drafted. Can't win them all though.

[Dandy 0]

That would have been cool.

[KingPK 0]

I really, really don't get the announcer switch. Smackdown should see good things with JR and Foley (though Foley is still honing his style), but Raw is going to take a MASSIVE hit in quality with Cole and Lawler. They sucked as a team in '99 and they'll still suck now.

[King Cucaracha 0]

I really, really don't get the announcer switch. Smackdown should see good things with JR and Foley (though Foley is still honing his style), but Raw is going to take a MASSIVE hit in quality with Cole and Lawler. They sucked as a team in '99 and they'll still suck now.

 

It's the new thing. Doing things that people don't see coming, whether they make a lot of sense or not.

 

Anyway, I missed the big 'accident' since I switched off after the battle royal. Good job they'll replay it on every show for the next month.

 

Say what you want about the angle, but unlike the Million Dollar giveaway it's not neccessarily going to make me switch Raw off. It had one entertaining moment, last night when Khali yelled at the wrong number guy. At least paralysed McMahon might double that. I just hope they don't stay serious and decide to play it for laughs, like how the limo explosion was turning into right before they aborted it.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

There is a red username reading this - I am FREAKING OUT.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Ratings news (but no number) from F4Wonline:

 

The final two hours of Raw did somewhere in the range of 5.8 million viewers, which is an increase from 5.2 million last week. Of course, the WWE press release only gave credit for Million Dollar Mania as swelling the ratings, and not the draft, which has always been a big ratings draw in the past.

 

Actual rating should be available shortly. It may not be up by that much, because they specifically only compared the final two hours and the press release specifically avoided a mention of the rating itself.

[Thanks for the Fish 0]

The most ridiculous decision last night was jobbing(squashing) Kofi Kingston to JBL in a throw away 3 minute match. Why not AAE or Delaney?

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

At the very least I enjoyed seeing Kofi do that thing with the ropes.

[Scroby 0]

The most ridiculous decision last night was jobbing(squashing) Kofi Kingston to JBL in a throw away 3 minute match. Why not AAE or Delaney?

Yeah, that wasn't a squash.

[Enigma 0]

Raw: 3.4.

[Jingus 0]

I really, really don't get the announcer switch. Smackdown should see good things with JR and Foley (though Foley is still honing his style), but Raw is going to take a MASSIVE hit in quality with Cole and Lawler. They sucked as a team in '99 and they'll still suck now.

ditto

Anyway, I missed the big 'accident' since I switched off after the battle royal. Good job they'll replay it on every show for the next month.

Ditto.

Yeah, that wasn't a squash.

Looked like one to me. Bradshaw beat the hell out of him, Kofi only got in some token offense, and then he sucked up his first pinfall loss in less than three minutes and broke his undefeated streak. And man did Bradshaw beat the HELL out of him. Ever notice how Bradshaw always seems to hit harder when he's facing some jobber or rookie who wouldn't be allowed to fight back?

[Scroby 0]

Didn't Kofi already lose to Shelton?

[Caliban 0]

JR was NOT a happy bunny earlier today. Taken from his blog (jrsbarbq.com):

 

As many of you know, I was “drafted” to Smackdown Monday night in the “random lottery”. Obviously that means I will be leaving Monday Night Raw and my long time partner Jerry Lawler.

 

I am not happy about this surprise development.

 

I also contemplated calling it a career Monday night and not going to Houston to tape SD.

 

After speaking with my wife and thinking on this matter until 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, I have decided to do the right thing for the fans who care and the talent who care and begin my new assignment.

 

It has been explained to me that the WWE’s Smackdown tenure on My Network is a high priority within the corporation. Allegedly, my presence is needed in that effort.

 

Many are speculating about when I learned of this development…the same time those of you were watching at home. I should have detected something with the demeanor of certain individuals either thru their plastic, poker faces or the perceived smirk that I thought I might have seen on some of their faces during the day.

 

As far as going to Connecticut each week to do Smackdown post production, that’s not going to happen. Either Mick Foley can handle it or the WWE can install a DSL line in my home to facilitate the work.

 

I will miss working with the King as the wrestling biz is one in which a guy can count his legit friends on one hand…even after a 30 plus year career. King has been like a brother to me….albeit an “older brother”. We will remain friends no matter that our team has been corporately imploded.

 

I believe that I have been strongly loyal to the WWE no matter the hands that were dealt to me over the years. In my tenure there I have earned a good living of which I am thankful. I will fulfill my commitments that I have made because unlike many in the business, my word is still my bond.

 

I can’t predict how long my Smackdown tenure will be, but I can promise that no matter how long or short it is that I will do my utmost best while sitting at ringside. I am not the kind of man who will “phone in” a damn thing.

 

My sincere thanks to all of you who have supported me on RAW over the years. I hope I was able to provide you a memory or two. Hopefully, we can create new memories now on Smackdown.

 

Based on my professional experiences, I look at each broadcast as potentially my last, which helps keep me motivated. So with that said we begin another chapter in my crazy life in the unpredictable world of ‘rasslin.

 

I still plan on attending RAW in my home market of OKC next Monday and I hear that tickets are still available. Any one have any extras?

 

 

 

 

And then, a few hours later, it appears J.R. is trying to take a more positive view on things:

 

Changes in one’s life take some adjusting to especially at my stage of the game. This week I received an unexpected change in my professional address. Within hours of writing an emotional blog, I am positively moving on. I am going to do all I can to make Smackdown the best program the WWE produces. Working side by side with Mick Foley should be fun. It will be entertaining I assure you. Mick is a great friend and a man I greatly respect. The Smackdown roster is loaded with exceptional talent and the WWE wants the brand to grow and I intend to do all that I can in my role to facilitate that growth.

 

The abruptness of the “trade” shocked me. I most likely responded in a non professional way in the eyes of some fans. That’s their prerogative and each has the right to their opinion, As do I. Not to be cliche, but wrestling has been great to my family and me. I owe it to the business to “man up” and to kick ass on Smackdown. That’s my plan. My emotions are what they are and I will not apologize for my candor or honesty. My feathers were ruffled…poor me. I still bring bona fide passion to every broadcast and fully expect to deliver come show time. As I write this I am in the midst of some travel delays, but I will definitely be in Houston and will be looking forward to “business picking up”. I will practice what I have preached and feel that after sleeping on this major change all things happen for a reason. Life is good. My tank has been re-fueled. Let’s have some fun. For those of you that were offended by my earlier rant I apologize. For those that think “old J.R.” can’t get the job done, I suggest you sit back and watch. I wish my good pal The King and Michael Cole great success but my professional priority is to help Smackdown kick ass. In more ways than one, “the game is on”.

 

 

[Golgo 13 0]

Yeah, Kofi already lost to Shelton and the loss to JBL was nowhere near a squash.

 

Oh. During the battle royal I was looking for Matt and Jeff to throw away their shirts and start working together to at least spare ECW a little humiliation.

[cheetoe 0]

After thinking about the Draft results, I am kinda thinking that HHH is going to retain and carry the WWE belt to Smackdown, while Edge is going to drop the World Title belt to Batista to carry over to Raw. @ new main event level programs to kick start the new rosters... Batista vs Cena and Edge vs HHH. I dont see HHH dropping the belt so soon, as it might be percived as a "transitional" title run and i doubt his massive ego could handle it. You also have Jerhico/Batista and Orton/Batista for RAW and MVP/HHH and Hardy/HHH for Smackdown... barring other pending storylines such as the Young Gun stable and La Familia that could have an affect on the title scene.

 

In a perfect world it seems like a great oppourtunity for HHH to elevate some people and create some new stars on Smackdown. UT could factor into the main event on either brand once he returns. Taker/Orton, Taker/HHH, Taker/Cena would all be entertaining. Raw would make the most sense but who knows...

 

I hope they continue to intergrate the ECW wrestlers on to the other shows because there is some talent there that shouldn't be wasted. Matt Hardy has lots of guys to work with there in Morrison, Kingston, Benjiman, and whoever else might pop up on that roster, but it's a shame that no one would see those matches.

 

Also, am I the only one that smells a possible heel turn for Punk and a fued with Mysterio?