Posted by Neil Borenstein on August 12, 2008
Just under one week remains before “The Biggest Blockbuster of the Summer,” and the WWE had one last opportunity on Monday to build toward the matches being promoted by the RAW brand. What would take place between the two men that managed to win the World Tag Team Championships last week but still have a first-time-ever, one-on-one battle scheduled for SummerSlam, John Cena and Batista? What would World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender John Bradshaw Layfield have in store to try and psych out the man with the strap, CM Punk? What would unfold in the “Adamle Original” scenario pinning Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston and Women’s Champion Mickie James against the duo of Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix? All of this and much more was answered in last night’s final RAW before this Sunday’s SummerSlam.
THE GOOD
• DiBiase and Rhodes quickly regain the World Tag Team Titles: In my opinion, it was a poor decision for John Cena and Batista to be teamed together and take the World Tag Team Championships away from a talented young tag team on the upswing in Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. For too long, the tag team division in the WWE has been an utter joke and the belts have been used as a tool to hype bigger singles feuds that simply don’t need that kind of extra build. When it happened last Monday, it came off as a pointless and completely unnecessary move for an already much anticipated battle between Cena and Batista at the expense of a team on the rise. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Professional Wrestling | Tagged: Batista, Beth Phoenix, Cena, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Cryme Tyme, Jamie Noble, JBL, John Bradshaw Layfield, John Cena, JTG, Kane, Kelly Kelly, Kofi Kingston, Mickie James, Mike Adamle, Monday Night RAW, RAW, Rey Mysterio, Santino Marella, Shad, Simply Priceless, Ted DiBiase, The Highlanders, William Regal, World Tag Team Champions, World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Neil Borenstein on August 5, 2008
Shane McMahon’s announcement last week of Mike Adamle being named the new general manager on RAW sent shockwaves through the entire wrestling universe. The decision to make Adamle the head of RAW was questionable, at best. However, a strong possibility existed that viewers would tune in anyway despite skepticism just to see exactly how bad, or perhaps surprisingly good, Adamle would turn out in his new role.
THE GOOD
Intermingled Intercontinental and Women’s Championships picture: Plenty of development took place with both the Intercontinental Title and Women’s Championship picture on RAW. Kofi Kingston and Mickie James were scheduled to defend their respective belts against their current rivals, Paul Burchill and Katie Lea, in two singles matches.
Kingston defended the IC belt first against Burchill in a good match between the two wrestlers. There was some solid action and little interference on the part of Katie Lea. Kingston retained the title after hitting Trouble in Paradise on Burchill and covering for the 1-2-3. Following his win, Katie Lea entered the ring and got in Kofi’s face. She attempted to distract the IC champ, but he moved out of the way when Burchill, who went sailing out of the ring, charged at him. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Professional Wrestling | Tagged: Batista, Beth Phoenix, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Cryme Tyme, Intercontinental, Intercontinental Champion, Intercontinental Championship, Jamie Noble, JBL, John Bradshaw Layfield, John Cena, Katie Lea, Katie Lea Burchill, Kofi Kingston, Layla, Mickie James, Mike Adamle, Monday Night RAW, Paul Burchill, RAW, Santino Marella, Simply Priceless, Shawn Michaels, SummerSlam, Ted DiBiase, Jr., William Regal, Women’s Champion, Women’s Championship, World Heavyweight Champion, World Heavyweight Championship, World Tag Team Champions, World Tag Team Championships, World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE | 2 Comments »
