Official RAW Thread for 1/21/08: The HD Era is Here - Higher Def, Same Old Booking
 

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After seeing both Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton both carried out on gurneys following Hardy's death-defying Swanton Bomb on the WWE Champion last week, it looks like Mr. McMahon has seen enough. The Chairman had ordered these two bitter rivals to put aside their differences for one night tonight and shake hands in the middle of the ring.

Hardy and Orton's rivalry has grown increasingly personal and violent in the last few weeks. Will this Chairman-ordered attempt at a one-night truce prove successful or only fan the flames of Hardy and Orton's mutual hatred less than a week before they battle for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble?

After finding himself in a most unfamiliar position – on his back, in a neck brace and strapped to a gurney – Orton may be taking Hardy’s vow to “take him out” a lot more seriously.

After all, the legend-killing WWE Champion is used to sending opponents out on stretchers and not being carried out on one. But after Hardy crushed him with a breathtaking – and borderline suicidal – Swanton Bomb from 30 feet in the air on Raw last Monday, Orton knows two things: The Intercontinental Champion is a man of his word and will do anything – including harm himself – to avenge the self-proclaimed “one-man dynasty’s” attack on his brother Matt. Who knows to what extremes Jeff Hardy will go to take Orton’s WWE Championship at Royal Rumble on Jan. 27? (WATCH)
Path of Self-Destruction

However, some observers wonder whether Hardy did more harm to himself than Orton. The WWE Champion could have suffered more serious injuries from the Swanton Bomb, but somehow managed to walk away with only head and back trauma.

The extent of Hardy’s alleged injuries last Monday are unknown; he reportedly staggered out of the medical facility before he could be evaluated. Maybe he was being reckless – or perhaps he didn’t want Orton to learn about his injuries. Either way, Hardy’s behavior made the jaws of even his closest associates – and most diehard fans – drop.

Still, is Hardy more consumed with vengeance and injuring Orton than winning the WWE Championship? His messages to Orton in the last few weeks have been loud and clear and he could be living in the sadistic champion’s head after using legend killing-esque tactics against him. But he could have severely injured – and eliminated – himself from his golden opportunity at Royal Rumble, and that would have brought an ear-to-ear grin to Orton’s face.
Order of Protection

Making rivalries personal has been one of Orton’s favorite tactics. As illustrated by his wars with John Cena, the Rhodes family and Shawn Michaels, among others, the third-generation Superstar likes to get inside his opponents heads, turning them crazed and self-destructive. Was Orton hoping that Hardy would wipe himself out of the WWE Title picture while attempting to avenge his brother Matt?

Less than a month ago, Orton and Hardy’s scheduled match for Royal Rumble was solely about the WWE Championship. Now, it is about so much more. Maybe Mr. McMahon shouldn't being ordering a handshake between Hardy and Orton; it may not be possible for these two. Perhaps – for both Superstars’ safety – they should be kept as far apart from one another before the Rumble. If not, WWE officials may want to have some more gurneys on standby.

woo hoo raw is war startin soon; nitro has sucked so far; all hogan and da bisch

I'm tuning in because I want to see what gynomastia looks like in HD.

The bumbangfest called WWE creative...in HD!

I've seen shots of the set on a WWE.com video. It reminds me of the SNME set. I didn't get a very good look though.

http://www.prowrestlingscoops.com/rawset.jpg

Here is the new set.

Wow...

Oh and damn forums troubles keeping me from making said topic. :mad:

OMG SPOILER ALERTS

pwnd.

pwn this.
























I got nothing.

USA HD would be sweet to have...

I have USA HD

UFC Best of 2007 on Spike. Good commercial fodder.

Also, best swimsuit moments on ETV.

MLK Tribute

Here is the token MLK video.

gotta have it

Good ol' MLK.

OMG EVERYTHING IS SO CLEAR!

So Orton's robot face is even MORE robotic!?!?!?!

Wow this promo about last week is awesome

It's like Hardy is really Swantoning himself into my living room.

IT'S HD!!!

now we get to witness shit in clear color... yay

The flatline in it was sweet too

Holy shit the video montage is fucking awesome now

its.... sooooooo new

The intro is bigger bah gawd!

sweet

LOL

Handshake tonight

I like the new set

lol official handshake

HANDSHAKE!!!!!!!!!!

new set is fucking sweet. looks like a PPV set.

I CAN SEE HBK'S BALD SPOT ALREADY!

why doesn't Kennedy does his own introduction anymore? :(

HD shows Kennedy tripping on the apron

Battle of the spray on tans, first one to drip wins.

Love the new set and wow tpww is fucking working atlast

who in the crowd would go for the shirt after HBK's wiped himself with it?

someone lookin to sell it on ebay... come onnn

Kennedy and Michaels to open up. Nice.

I'll be in and out.

Kennedy looks to be cut already,..kinda

I wish I saw baldy in HD

talking about HBK, not you BDC

Do you guys get HD without having to buy a whole new box for it? Lucky gits if so, we have to pay! Fuck it, its good enough for me.

Wow HBK is shedding mid ring

"And Kennedy is ripping HBK's hair out."

Just let nature take its course.

Weak reverse atomic drop

the 1-2-3-4-5 kick!

I'm gettin bored already... darn it WWE

I demand Jericho's entrance in HD

Oh look, adverts. Time to drink more beer i think.

PlaxInno Burress.

Temporary name Inno?

tyson griffin vs. frankie edgar on spike

For now, kinda like PlaxInno though

Me to. Was hoping it would start off with Y2J being pissed at JBL.

"Hmmm the crowd is chanting 1-2-3-4-5 and HBK is stomping in the corner...I best turn around"

Loving the match.

The set just gives raw a whole new feel.

Talented, brash, cock, and orange upstart

This RAW has a big time feel starting out with HBK/Kennedy and new set...don't worry they'll fuck it up

Next thing you know we'll get midgets wrestling and a womens match...

HBK should just shave most of his hair off and become the new Missing Link.

what a heterosexual thing to say

elbows on the knees

funny bone! knee to the funny bone!

BLAMO

there goes Kennedy's momentum

sigh

boo yeah

Right result in the end

Kennedy should have grabbed the bottom rope

in yo face kennedy kennedy

poop bag high def

handshake.... OF DOOOOOOM

"a conscience decision" lol

Gladiators is in HD, he looks old...real old

but Gina looks goooooooood

this is gay

So is this HiDef show on a totally different USA channel? Or the same old one?

Propecia, Rogaine is shit.

I should be doing something interesting like playing the Wii, or the 360

Yo, the new set is tight.

well USAHD if you have it, I think only on Direct TV, cause Cablevision/iO doesn't have it

Sick Lesnar UFC promo.

I could see them calling every spot, though, tbh.

And they say "kennedy is talking trash" lol my ass.

Need to be more discreet, this is HD!

And plus there weren't that many parts in that match where they couldn't have just been improving it instead of calling it. ugh.

I like the UFC promos with his WWE entrance

HD Nipple slip please!