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I missed RAW live last night (I was at a movie), but man am I ever glad I set my VCR!
This was one of my favorite RAWs of the last five years! Yeah. That good. Here's why (in no particular order):
1) Shelton Benjamin. I've known for a while that this guy was a main-event waiting to happen, and last night he took a BIG step in the right direction. A couple of people have mentioned a logic gap in that Benjamin beat HHH while "bigger" guys haven't. Keep in mind, though, in "kayfabe," HHH has only known about Benjamin being on RAW for about a week and probably never expected to be fighting him. Lack of preparation + Hungry young kid looking to make a name for himself = Upset.
2) The return of the Manbeast. As much as I was disappointed that Lance Storm got squashed, this is an excellent thing for Rhyno. Personally, I would rather have seen him beat A-Train in that match, as A-Train has pretty much reached as high as he's ever going to get on the WWE ladder (while Storm is capable of so much more), but I'll take what I can get. Rhyno looked phenomenal, even though it was a very short match.
3) Tajiri and Lance Storm = Disgruntled? Tajiri has now faced the wrath of Eric Bischoff after being mutilated by Kane (after he won, but still). Storm is fed up with the WWE crowds who, even after he tried his damnedest to win them over, still think he's boring. With the rumors of an ECW faction beginning in the near future, these two are starting to look like logical candidates to join up with Mr. Heyman's band of hardcore merry men.
4) The Highlight Reel. I forgot how much I missed face Jericho. I usually hate catchphrases, but when he got the "Filthy dirty disgusting brutal bottom-feeding trashbag ho" thing rolling again, I was loving it (badabababa). As has been said numerous times on this forum, something about heel Trish makes her sexier than she was as a face. There's something very attractive about the "bad girl," I suppose. Excellent segment.
5) Johnny Nitro. As much as I'd rather see him wrestling, John Hennigan looks like he could be the first Tough Enough champion to really "break through." Maven Huffman will never rise above being "The first TE Champion." Nidia Guenard (though she may win the Women's Title) will never be a top five Diva. Linda Miles and Jackie Gayda are valets for life. John has a lot of the necessary tools, and some in-ring exposure will make him a star.
My one beef with the show is that they put Austin on it. I can't believe - with the allegations going around about him - that he got TV time last night. That's a tasteless move on WWE's part. That segment would have worked just as well if it were Foley or Michaels who came into Bischoff's office to give him that pep talk. Hell, the pep talk was unnecessary. The stuff where he's walking to the ring was buildup enough.
Anyway, I loved last night's RAW and, for the first time in a long time, I am genuinely excited to see what happens next.
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