IS RAW REALLY THAT BAD?

In the current state of Smackdown vs Raw, I think it's safe to say that Smackdown is winning right now. Smackdown is building characters. It's building new talent just like it did around when the roster first split some years ago. Smackdown built John Cena, Raw then drafted John Cena, and now we got the John Cena we know and---well we got John Cena. John Cena can wrestle. Yes he can. CM Punk did not wrestle those matches by himself. Shawn Michaels did not wrestle those matches by himself. Ever heard that saying, it takes two to tango?

So what is wrong with Raw? What is Raw doing that is not working well enough to get stronger ratings? Is something wrong with Raw? Is Raw doing something wrong? Is there something wrong with us the fans that are burying Raw? First thing we got to understand is that Vince is not running things like a wrestling company. He's running it like an entertainment company. He said it himself . He was talking about when Ted Turner bought WCW, and Ted called Vince and told Vince that, "I'm in the 'rasslin' business." And Vince said something to the fact, "That's good, but I'm not in the 'rasslin' business, I'm in the 'entertainment' business." Once we get that logic in our minds, WWE's booking probably wouldn't bother us so much.

But on the other hand with that being said, some parts of WWE is still wrestling. Like NXT, like Smackdown, like CWC was. Now back to Raw. I watched some of this video with this guy saying that Raw is dead. That Raw has gotten so bad it's dead. One thing we fans got to realize is that we don't know everything, and some of what we think we know, we really don't know. There's a reason Kevin Nash calls us smart marks, or smarks. I watch a lot of shoot interviews involving members of the Kliq, specifically with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall since they do a lot of them. I learn a lot from watching them cause I listen. Why do I listen? Because they were a part of a backstage group of guys that had Vince's ear. Vince listened to them.

I'm going off topic. Anyway, Raw. Is Raw dead? I don't think so. I tune in to Raw and it's looks pretty full to me. I don't see any card board cut outs of fans to fill in the seats. People still go to the shows. So as long as the fans keep buying tickets, Raw is still alive. Is Raw pulling in the numbers they did in the Attitude Era? No, but is the wrestlers from Attitude Era coming through that door? For the most part no. We got to consider that people are not watching TV like they used to. Whatculture's Simon Miller put out a good video on this subject. Simon Miller is not my favorite Whatculture personality, but he made some valid points in it. I'll put the link at the end of the blog. 

So has Raw been as good as it can be? No. Could it be better? Yes. I heard Scott Hall say something recently that was talking about fans and WWE creative, and he was saying that as soon as we think that they don't know what they doing, they show us that they do. So I think that Raw is going to show us soon that they're not as dumb as we think they are. I mean I think it's time for Vince to hand over control to Triple H. Just my opinion. So I don't think Raw is dead. I think Raw is suffering a little, but I wouldn't go straight to death.

~Daniel Richerson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Iz7gVcDb8 (Why WWE's TV Ratings Aren't As Bad As You Think- WhatCulture Wrestling)

MY TAKE: Steve Austin Show feat Ariane Andrew

Before I start, let me say that I do understand that this post may cost me in the fact that I'm just a smark behind a computer that's never been in the business, blah blah blah. Anyway--

I was hesitant to listen to this episode of the Steve Austin Show because of how Ariane sounds. I didn't know how much how I could take listening to that valley girl voice, but I got through it. I liked some of the things she said and some of the things I didn't like. Let's start with the positives. When she talked about the whole Ryback fiasco. She stood her ground on what she tweeted what she did. I liked the fact that she talked about the heat she was getting could have been a good thing because it could've made for a better character. I also like the fact that she said that she presented some ideas that didn't quite get through. I know from following her social media that she was indeed working on her craft. She was doing some house shows or live events for NXT and getting better. I even saw she had a new move she was incorporating in her matches. I was glad that she actually cared enough about the craft to get better at it just in case she got called up to the main roster she wouldn't stink it up. She owned the fact that she was not a wrestling fan but she grew to love the business. She said a key statement when she said something to the fact that if you don't learn to love the business you won't last. I've heard Kevin Nash say something similar to that. So that had me thinking, she kinda gets it.

I even liked the fact that she mentioned that being a heel came natural that it was more fun than being a face. Which I've heard plenty of other people that are or were in the business say.

So later in the interview she gets asked if WWE calls would she take the call, she said she would accept because she feels "she has something to prove." No problem with that at all. Steve then asked her if some other wrestling organization would offer her a job, she basically said that since she's been in the WWE so going any where else would be downgrading. Now in this same interview she said that she still has an "itch" for wrestling. Obviously it isn't a major itch because she wouldn't work an independent show. To me that's a slap in the face to the performers that has worked for WWE and are now working the independents, like Sean Waltman, Sabu, Lisa Marie Varon, Mickie James, and others. Then you got folks like former WWE "diva" Maria who is not working for TNA. She spent time on the independents and worked on her craft and she got much better. Her promos in ROH were not bad in my opinion, but didn't allow the fact that she was no longer working for WWE take away that itch that was there for wrestling. Don't say you have an itch, but you don't want to scratch it. I don't know that kind of rubbed me the wrong way, She got the training, might as well do something with it, Just my opinion. I do wish her all the best in whatever she decides to do in the future.

~Daniel Richerson

DIVAS ON STRIKE?

I literally just thought of this. The divas complain about not enough TV time. Others complain that the divas don't get enough TV time. Whether they deserve or not...I got an idea.

Go out there and just stand in the ring. Don't do nothing. Then do a Hogan and Kevin Nash. Who ever was supposed to get the win pokes the other diva with a finger and the loser diva takes a bump. After the "match" walk to the back. Strike. I'm mean this would get the fans attention. Like what are these women doing? This goes on for like a month. Then Beth Phoenix gets on the mic and says, "We want more TV time." Drops the mic and leaves. Bam. It will look like a shoot. The means no over acting. Just straight faced real. For Kelly Kelly's sake....she would have to wear a mask. Just wear a mask Kelly, or a bandanna on the face.

I mean nobody cares about the diva TV matches anyway right? Bathroom break people call them. Show fillers, right? Why not make the most of it. Strike. To make it work, it has to look real. If it looks or sounds scripted it wouldn't work.

Thoughts?

Daniel Richerson
Twitter @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

12/05/2011 Raw review plus other thoughts

This is LONG overdue, and I do apologize for that. I hope this blog makes up for it.

Before getting into this week’s Raw, let me talk a little about last week. How epic was the Hot Rod? The man still got it. I hope young wrestlers in and out of the WWE watched and learned from that exchange with Cena. Let me say this, this thing with Cena and the fans, what took the WWE so long? Does anybody agree that this should’ve been done at least a couple of years ago? I say as far back as 2006 after his now infamous appearance at WWECW One Night Stand 2006. Anyway, on to this week’s Raw…

The show starts out with Cena coming to the ring. The usual kids and women screaming and the real wrestling fans booing him. Cena sucking up to the fans. It’s barf material. I’m begging Cena to go heel already. Seems like they’re teasing Cena going for the title again. Three words WWE: Just Say No! Alberto Del Rio has potential to be a better heel, but when Vickie Guerrero gets more boos than you do? Enough said. I would love to see Dolph get a title shot against Punk. Y’all see that match they had a couple of weeks ago? I saw someone online compare Punk to Bret Hart and Ziggler to Mr. Perfect. I can’t argue with that. That match was an instant classic. Why oh why did Johnny Ace become an on air character? I’m begging the fans to start chanting boring when this tool comes out. The first segment felt longer than 20 minutes. Good things that happened: Zack Ryder mention…that’s about it. Yes, I am a Zack Ryder guy. The fact that they even teased Cena getting another title shot had me screaming NO to the television set.

Randy Orton vs Miz ends in a countout. Not like the match was that good anyway. The Miz is a good heel, I give him that. Every time I think about the Miz, I think about his time on the Real World. Miz’s dream came true. WWE had turned him into a major player. Personally, I think Miz still got a little ways to go, but he’s getting better every week.

Michael Cole. WWE took the fact that everybody hated Cole, to turn Cole heel. Even when Cole was the “face” commentator, people hated him. Not because he was a heel or face, but it was because he was and still is terrible at his job. Cole still has his job, and JR has been fired many times. I don’t get the logic to tell you the truth.

All this promotion for the WWE Network, I hope it doesn’t go out like the XFL. Remember the promotion for the XFL? Yeah…

Of course I got to talk about Mr. David Hudson…ahem, Otunga…ok that’s done.

Big Kev, Big Sexy, Kevin Nash. I will admit. I am a fan. I am a mark if you will. I’m a mark for the Kliq as a whole. I don’t think a day goes by when I’m not holding up the wolf pac sign. I’m not kidding. I am also a fan of the Kevin Nash and Triple H storyline. You got two professionals that know what they can do and can’t do in the ring, and they make it work.

I can’t wait for Bryan Danielson to get his just do in the WWE. The man can work in the ring, and yet gets treated like a second class nobody on television. Plus he’s a verbal punching bag for the verbal diaretic known as Michael Cole. So Bryan getting the title has now turned into nothing more than proving Cole wrong which is not what it’s supposed to be about. Have Bryan kick Cole’s teeth down his throat, turn Cole into a manager, and bring JR back. Turning Cole manager may seem like a crappy idea, but look at it this way, we would hear and see him less. Cole is trying to be what Jerry Lawler was during the Attitude Era, and for some odd reason, WWE seems to think it’s working.

Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres get no reaction what so ever. The Divas ask for more time. They beg for more air time. Get a reaction from the crowd for a change, and you might get more time. Personally, I think WWE is sleeping on Alicia Foxx, as wrong as that reads. Blog on the divas coming later this week.

This “Social Experiment” thing on Raw has Vince McMahon written all over it. It’s that stupid. I said before I’m a Zack Ryder guy, but are we the fans supposed to believe Zack has a legitimate shot against Cena? If WWE would’ve had Cena lay down and let Ryder get the win, I wouldn’t have been mad. But WWE had to stick to the same old stuff. Using what would actually work? Seems farfetched, I know...

Zack Ryder is nothing but a money maker for the WWE that gets no respect. Zack had everyone in Madison Square Garden chanting his name. And how does the WWE repay him? Having him face not only John Cena, but Mark Henry. Remember, this is the same Vince McMahon running the show that said on tape, “The crowd loves DX, so I was going to love DX.” Now it seems to be, “The crowd loves Zack Ryder, so I’m going to screw Zack Ryder.” It’s not right. It’s not good business.

Noted after I typed the paragraph above, Zack Ryder gets the win the help of Cena. I guess I’m supposed to be satisfied, but it seems to me WWE has a tendency to wait until the fans are ready to riot to finally give them what they want.

The classic nWo theme plays over the speakers, and Kevin Nash walks to the ring with the sledge hammer. Yes I did hold the wolf pac sign as it happened.

Santino Marella. The only question I got is why? Why is he still around? What is he good for?

If Kevin would’ve hit Cole with the sledge hammer—never mind.

Dolph is money in that ring. No doubt in my mind that Dolph will be in WWE or World title hunt very soon.

Did Brodus Clay show up on Raw? I must’ve missed it if he did.

Did Johnny Ace just say that he’s mister excitement? Excite…what?!?

Miz is trying way too hard to be psycho. I see what he’s trying to do. I sorta like it, but he’s trying too hard. Let it come natural. Brian Pillman—by the way, the fact that he’s not in the Hall of Fame is ridiculous—loose cannon character was real. It looked and felt real. Miz on the other hand looks and sounds phony.

CM Punk, as always, was money on the mic. I love the fact that Punk comes out and shoots.  When Punk says he’s the voice of the voiceless, he’s right.

So this week's, December 5, 2011, edition of Raw was average at best. Was nothing spectacular in my opinion. I mean the vignette with the kid and the desk and that whole thing, is interesting. Kane coming back in the mask in what I’m assuming is one last run, is cool. Cena helping Ryder get his deserved and WAY past due US Title shot was cool as well. I am interested to see where this Cena and the fans thing is going.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to follow me on this blog. Leave your comments below sharing your thoughts and opinions. Share this with all the wrestling fans, dirtsheets, independent wrestling companies, etc that you’re connected with.  Read the last blog. Follow my other blog. Friend me on FaceBook. Follow me on Twitter. Follow me on Dailybooth. Follow me on Tumblr. Subscribe to me on YouTube.  And I’m out.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty