WWE Monday Night RAW 7/30/2012
The U.S. Bank Arena Cincinnati, OH
The roof is on fire.
Tonight's Raw was in question due to a fire on the Raw set. Thankfully, they were able to get it under control in time to get the fans back into the arena before the show started. I am under the assumption that Vince McMahon paid high dollar to the Fire Marshall to OK the show to go on. And to that I say, THANK YOU VINCE'S WALLET!!!!
I know this is not wrestling related, but this is my blog about stuff I like, and I like Magic Hugs. They're funny. Fronted by Scott Blair, they have mad quite a few videos that make laugh every time I watch them. They even attempted to bring "Suck it" back before being all nostalgic about DX was cool. I hope you find them as funny as I do.
Popping The Crowd's resident cover boy, Dolph Ziggler, has a bone to pick with 'botch specialist' Sin Cara. During their Money In The Bank match during the pay-per-view that shares its name, Sin Cara and Ziggler had a high-risk spot that didn't turn out as planned.
According to SuperLuchas.net, a source within WWE says Ziggler was vocal about Sin Cara working 'stiff' and failed to protect him during a 'The Spanish Fly' maneuver. 'The Showoff' is rumored to be filing an official complaint that will be reviewed by WWE officers.
After watching a video of their spot, it is hard to place all the blame on Cara. Ziggler seems to slip on the turnbuckle after Sin Cara had already committed to the move.
Who do you think botched the maneuver? The video is posted after the jump.
Sorry about the lack of a review last week. I was so irritated with the show that I just didn't think it was worth wasting my time to write. There is no way to sugar coat it, that show was an ABORTION. And as a wrestling fan, I feel insulted by what was presented to us. I will get to more into that later.
I became a wrestling fan on April 5th, 1992 when a friend had me over to watch Wrestlemania 8 at his Dad's house. I fell in love with the athleticism and over the top showmanship of it all. It just connected with me right away. And on that day I also became a die-hard Bret Hart fan during his blood filled match with Roddy Piper. Some kids had Michael Jordan as their childhood hero, I had "The Hitman".
Because CoveritLive are a bunch of assholes and won't allow me to have Livechat follow me on Twitter and I'll livetweet Raw and lose followers who hate pro-wrestling. Oh well.
When did you decide you wanted to be a Pro Wrestler?
From the time I was about seven, sitting in my Aunt's house with my cousin Lance and watching wrestling tapes. Hogan, Slaughter, Hennig...loved it all. Something about the larger than life personas attracted me to it, and I was a massive fan. When I was, let's see...fourteen or fifteen, I had a cable box in my room that could get the pay per view channels in with scrambled pictures. I would sit there and listen to matches based only on the commentary, unable to see the match, and I'd sit there for three straight hours and just listen to what they did. It was during that that I realized I wanted to be a storyteller and get to do some of the same things.
When did you decide you wanted to get involved in wrestling?
I started watching wrestling at 10 years old and when I was 14 my cousin gave me the idea to become a manager, and I realized that that sounded like something I could not only do but something I could give my life to. I fell in love with that idea after that and it became the only thing I wanted to do.
Who were your favorites growing up? Favorite Manager?
My favorite are Ric Flair, the Four Horsemen, and the Hart family. My favorite manager is Jimmy Hart.
Have you gotten to meet many big names since you started? And if so, what was your impression of them?
Since starting I have met and work Kevin Sullivan on a regular basis and he is a very sweet and intelligent man who I have a ton of respect for. I have also met Gangrel once and he was very sweet and great to talk to.
Managers are making a comeback of sorts in WWE, do you see them becoming as prominent as they were in the 80's & 90's?
I'm not sure they will be as big as they used to be but its good to see them making a come back.
Who are you currently managing?
I am currently managing Homeland Security which consists of Triple D and the Native Assassin. They are the AIWF NW tag team champions.
You have Spina Bifida, and you are credited as being the first ever legitimately wheelchair bound manager. How do people react when they first see you come out to the ring?
The fans seem to enjoy seeing me and have been very supportive so far in my career.
Take us through a normal day for you. What kind of struggles come with having Spina Bifida?
I spend a lot of time at home on my computer and watching TV I also work shows every weekend and spend time with friends and family. My biggest issues seem to be transportation because I do not drive right now so I take the bus a lot so getting around is hard. My other big issue is public facilities being wheelchair friendly. Able bodied people think the ADA solved all our problems but that's just not the case sometimes.
Do you ever get physically involved at ringside?
I have just now started to get physically involved and I love doing it. I feel like I'm officially a member of the roster.
You were featured in an issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, how did that come about?
I was given Frank Krewda's contact information by a co-worker and I emailed him giving him my story.
Any funny/strange stories from your time in the business?
Well last weekend was the second time that I've taken a bump while in the business. My youngest sister said seeing me get beat up would be funny and I had my Dad and step mom in town so I decided to give my sister her wish and let her see me get beat up. So one of the guys that my team was going against decided to throw me out of the chair in front of my family. Well my other sister Dani was not in on the act and when I flew out of the chair it freaked her out and she almost threatened to beat someone up. That was pretty funny.
Wrestling as a whole is down right now. What do you think needs to change to help it grow to where it was in the late 90's?
Good question well back in the 90's in was very unpredictable and there were no rules maybe (even though I like that they are safer now a days) it needs to stop being so predictable and safe. think outside the box just as they did in the 90's.
Any upcoming shows you would like to plug?
The AIWF Northwest is putting together their first Internet Pay Per View, getting together with EQ Pro Wrestling, SCW, and BCW from Portland Oregon and putting on a show at the B & I in Tacoma Washington. 5 dollars to watch the show online if you can not make the show and all the money goes to charity. EQPW also does three shows a month at the B & I Saturday's at 2 pm.
WWE Monday Night RAW 7/2/2012
The Laredo Energy Arena Laredo, TX
This review is once again brought to you by Vodka, helping me forget shitty wrestling shows since I was a teenager.
All the Raw Main Eventers verbally spar to open the show
If they want to begin Raw with a bunch of talking, this is how you do it. We had Punk, Cena, Bryan, Jericho, and Kane all trading insults. Usually we only get two guys in the ring talking back and forth, by adding more personalities to the mix it was far more entertaining than the days of Cena and Orton boring the crowd in the first 10 minutes of the show. I refer to those days as the "Dark Ages". Big Show then comes out and we have a brawl on our hands. Big Show ends up standing tall like a good heel should.
Am I the only one who already knows that Cena is going to win MITB and cash it in for a match with Punk at Summerslam? Not only would it be face vs face, but it would be a rematch of last years SS main event. And could this possibly be where Cena finally turns heel? Just think about it, Cena becomes the first man to not successfully cash in the breifcase and snaps on Punk.
I doubt they will do this, but how awesome would it be? Cena is beyond stale and the hardcore audience has been begging for him to 'Go to the Darkside' for years. Time to pull the trigger in my book.
I enjoyed the shit out of this segment. Just a really good way to open the show.
Eight Man Tag: Christian, Santino, Kofi Kingston, and R-Truth vs The Primetime Players, Cody Rhodes, and David Otunga
It's good to see R-Truth back from his injury. I was starting to think they were just going to go back to ignoring the Tag Division. Glad that's not the case, but I still see "Trouble in Little Jimmy's Paradise" dropping the belts to The Primetime Players, probably at the Pay Per View in an unadvertised match. Dark Ages indeed...
Finish: The Primetime Players and Rhodes both leave Otunga during the match (Can you blame them?). Then out comes Brodus Clay to make sure Otunga doesn't take off too. Otunga then suffers the Cobra to end it.
Winners: Christian, Santino, Kofi, and Truth
Post Match: Christian hits Otunga with the Killswitch, followed by a Big Splash from Clay. They then dance with a bunch of kids '95 Shawn Michales style. I hate children.
Alberto Del Rio vs Sin Cara
Del Rio destoyed Sin Cara before the match could begin. Can you say burial?
Winner: No Contest
Paul Heyman responds to Triple H's challenge
So Brock will be at the 1000th Raw (AKA 999th episode in reality) to give Triple H his answer.
This is pretty much non-news. I figured that is when Lesnar would make his return. But in order to get some heat back on this feud they need to have Lesnar make it personal. And I think the perfect way to do this is to have Brock destroy Shawn Michaels. And if not HBK, then another one of Hunter's Klique buddies.
The issue between these two has been deflating ever since Brock broke Triple H's arm. They need to go big, and go big soon. And if they are holding off until July 23rd to have Lesnar back on TV, there won't be much time to get it done. And just imagine the sympathy that a guy like Michales could invoke by being taken out by Lesnar. Or even Sean Waltman for that matter. We will just have to wait and see.
Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guererro vs Sheamus & AJ
AJ is looking good tonight, or is it just that she looks good in comparison to Vickie? I know that Guererro gives my buddy Chris Berg huge boners, but he's gay so what does he know? #Burn
As for the match, it was just a collection of Ziggler selling dirt to the homeless. What's new?
Finish: Ziggler takes a Brogue Kick to the outside, and AJ hits Vickie with a Shining Wizard to get the win.
Winners: Sheamus & AJ
Heath Slater vs Doink The Clown
I don't remember Doink ever wrestling in Walmart sneakers. I guess you learn something new everyday.
Finish: Slater with a Neckbreaker gets the duke.
Winner: Heath Slater
Post Match: Out comes Diamond Dallas Page!! He throws up the Diamond sign with Slater before hitting him with the Diamond Cutter.
Page still looks great considering he was already in his fourties when he was on top in WCW. I wouldn't mind seeing him have one more run, unless he plans on putting over David Arquette again. In that case he can die in a fire. #FuckYouBealer
No Disqualifacations: The Big Show vs Kane
Where have I seen this before? Oh yeah, at least three times a year since 1998. Silly me.
Finish: Show Chokeslams Kane onto a chair to get the win.
Winner: The Big Show
Remember when Kane returned as a monster heel and was terrorizing everyone in sight? Yeah, I don't either.
Tyson Kidd vs Tensai
Finish: Tyson Kidd with the quick roll up.
Winner: Tyson Kidd
Post Match: Tensai smacks around his follower.
This wasn't much of a match, but the fact that they're building Tyson Kidd has me thrilled. They guy is a fantastic wrestler who should've been pushed two years ago when they split up The Hart Dynasty. They had a chance to build up both him and DH Smith back then, but ended up releasing Smith and sticking Tyson on Superstars. They had something with both guys, and I don't know WWE has waited this long to capitalize on Kidd.
Back from the break Tensai destroys Kidd in the lockroom
How long has it been since we saw a good old locker room beat down? Too long is the answer. It seemed fresh and I have to say I liked it. It reminded me of back in 1988 when Randy Savage attacked Hulk Hogan in the lead up to wrestlemania 5. We need more segments like this, I am so tired of seeing the grey hallways in the backstage areas.
CM Punk & John Cena vs Chris Jericho & Daniel Bryan
Great match to end Raw, and when is the last time I said that? I mean go figure, you put a great match at the end of Raw and people respond, it's not rocket surgery. I hope with Raw going three hours in two weeks that they will remember this. I am so worried that WWE is going to stuff those shows with so much filler that is will ruin the pacing of the show. Whenever they've done three hour shows in the past they've done just that.
But I can't praise this match enough. It was a far cry from being Cena vs Cole II.
Finish: Cena & Jericho brawl to the back apparently to watch an advance screening of No Hold Barred on Blu Ray. This leaves Punk & Bryan to fight it out in the ring. Before long, out comes AJ who searches out, and sets up a table. She then procedes to threaten to commit tablecide, as she climbs the ropes and stares down at the table below. Daniel Bryan then tries to talk her down, followed by Punk. AJ then plants a wet one on Punk, before pushing him off the apron into Bryan, causing both men to go through the table. AJ looks to be happy with her actions as the show goes off the air.
Winners: No Contest
Final Verdict: This was a pretty damn good episode of Raw. I can't really complain too much about any segment on this show. I was entertained throughout, and that's all we can ask for, right?
