GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS – LOOKING AT RAW 1/2/12
By Revin Samuel on 1/3/2012 2:20 PM
RAW – 2/1/12
What the goals should be for tonight’s Raw?
•Royal Rumble promotion. It’s time to hit the ground running for Royal Rumble promotion
•John Cena-Kane storyline. The overall storyline is an intriguing one if WWE can see it through to fruition, although I am not sure what the end game would be. I know WWE loves to script Kane to do long monologues, but last week’s was awful and he needs to be more concise from this point forward.
•Miz was totally made to look like a fool last week and if they ever want him to be taken seriously, his feuds can’t be 50/50 especially as an individual heel. I’ve said it many times, but this guy needs an entourage
•WWE Title defence should be promoted throughout the show as something big and important. WWE is usually pretty good at these during the show promotion and this one should be no different
SHOW BREAKDOWN
- I like that right away, Michael Cole hyped Punk-Ziggler. It happened before anything else including the Raw intro, which makes the match feel really special.
- We then go into an extended video package on Cena-Kane, which was interesting and kind of took away from the hype for the WWE title match, but that’s a nitpick.
- Interesting that in the Raw opening, I saw some Smackdown wrestlers, but I don’t think the Smackdown World Heavyweight Champ was in that intro, probably not a good sign for his title reign.
- Cena once again starting off Raw with some ridiculous comedy ridden promo. This is not a new start for 2012 and I just don’t see why WWE Creative doesn’t get that John’s strength is not comedy. Even if Cena himself is the one deciding this is the best path to go down, WWE should drop the hammer down on this one.
- Cena pandering to the crowd now. Just move on to the next segment.
- Kane kept it concise, big plus.
- I like the in show promotion for Smackdown and the upcoming World Title match between Bryan-Big Show and Cody Rhodes-Booker T. I don’t like the commentary from Vince McCole as calling the babyface World Champ a troll and calling the man who beat Cody Rhodes clean last week over the hill is just asinine especially when Booker looks as good as anyone else in the ring.
- Bryan’s win over Cody story seemed to tell that it was a fluke and I’m not sure I care for that, but Cody also needs some protection since he’s also defending his title on the first Smackdown of the new year.
- Wow R-Truth quacking screams writing team and not pro wrestling storytelling at its finest.
- Love the Royal Rumble flashback promo.
- The second promo for the WWE title match and they are really emphasizing how Ziggler beat Punk last week in his hometown!
- Nice touch to have Lawler say “How can Barrett be smiling after watching that footage”. Barrett’s promo ability as a heel is second to none and he actually comes across as a babyface to me after that Cena pandering promo about wishing all the fans a Happy New Year
- Good win for Barrett over comedy figure Santino
- I’m not sure how much I care for this Miz-Truth story, but it’s an in show backstage story that we usually don’t see from WWE, let alone on the Raw show.
- Miz treated as a total joke last week by Truth, this week by Sheamus and Truth. I almost question whether this is planting seeds for a Miz babyface turn. He continues to get buried week in and week out, unless they’ve given up on him.
- After hearing Truth’s promo post beat down, I realize this storyline is keeping up with what they said last week about Truth beating down Miz every week so I’m finer with this angle looking at it from the standpoint that they are keeping consistency and logic in the story they are telling.
- Great promo from Dolph Ziggler and once again emphasizing the importance of the WWE Title.
- I like the pairing of Ryder and Eve, but I am sceptical that WWE Creative can handle it properly.
- I’m not sure I care for the Punk-Ziggler WWE title match not being the main event of Raw, but I guess it’s understandable since Punk’s quarter hours for the final segments haven’t been doing that well.
- Cute finish to the title match and I like the aspect of John Laurinaitis pulling the top rope down so Punk gets counted out to continue their feud.
- These Royal Rumble commercials are great, but we should begin getting more promotion for it including matches and entrants.
- Looks like we have another cog in the machine diva segment. I think Kelly Kelly might be in for some new theme music.
- Why wouldn’t Kelly just scream to Eve that the Bella’s switched? Kelly made to look like a complete idiot here, but perhaps that’s how WWE Creative likes it since the divas mean nothing.
- I was going to scold the backstage segment between Punk and Laurinaitis after John cut Punk off and Punk took it, but then Punk redeemed by getting use the word “bitch” on Raw, which we never hear and WWE finally setup a match for The Royal Rumble.
- Jericho is out and he is really pouring it on here so I am going to assume he is going to turn on the audience any minute now.
- Interesting segment with Jericho. He looks great and I like this overall just because I trust Jericho knows where it’s going.
- A babyface three on two advantage against the heels main event. WWE in 2012 has so losttouch of what this art form is all about.
- Pretty good showing for Jack Swagger even though he lost. I really thought on that ankle lock spot Ryder would tap and perhaps he should have to build something between Swagger and Ryder.
- Interesting conclusion to Raw. I’m used to this kind of stuff on Smackdown, it’s hokey but I guess we have to sustain disbelief when it comes to Undertaker and Kane stories.
What this show accomplished?
The Good
•Chris Jericho segment – I really enjoyed the first chapter of Jericho’s return, it was something unique and different and with Jericho hopefully having a hand in where it’s going, I trust that they have a plan in place.
•Punk-Laurinaitis-Ziggler – I liked this as well and I am thoroughly enjoying this storyline so far. Laurinaitis timing with the in ring angle was impeccable. Also Punk getting to tell John he is going to “beat him like a bitch” was also something special that we usually don’t get on Raw. Bonus points for the in show promotion of the title match and promoting its importance
•Wade Barrett. Barrett gets 2012 off to a great start with another main event quality promo and a dominating win
•Raw and Smackdown cross promotion. WWE did a fine job hyping the Bryan-Show and Cody-Booker title matches for Smackdown this week that being said they did it at the beginning of the show and probably should have waited till the end
The Bad
•John Cena. I really question at this point if this guy has done more harm than good to the product. Yes, I know the kids love him, but how much of the built in audience has he chased away. His promos and facials this week were downright nauseating
•Kane storyline. I don’t mind this Kane storyline, but it should really be a Smackdown program. I’m not used to seeing it on the A show, let alone as the top program
•Zack Ryder and Miz look like fools. I don’t know what’s up with The Miz, but to me it looks like they’ve given up on him. Ryder also looked like a complete tool this week both in his backstage segment and the main event angle
•Divas. WWE really needs to refocus on this division. I am not sure what is going on here, but all I see is Natalya getting buried on Smackdown, Alicia, Kelly or Eve scoring wins on Beth to the points that they aren’t even upset s anymore and The Bellas bickering back and forth long.
•Royal Rumble push. We got one match announced and a couple flashback promos, but this is The Royal Rumble, let’s announce some participants and get this thing in high gear
What needs to be accomplished for next week?
•WWE started 2012 with an average show in my book and that is just unacceptable. Royal Rumble promotion is key next week, let’s find out some participants and move forward with talking about who wants the main event at Wrestlemania
•The Miz really needs to gain some heat back or just write him off, because right now he looks like he is John Morrison on his way out the door
•John Cena-Kane. Just announce the match already. Another issue with having a team of writers book your pro wrestling, but were not pro wrestling show is that they have to find cute and unique ways to get matches announced. In this case I think they can just announce it and then start talking about it.
