Drawing The Right Conclusions

I've written on this subject before but what bears "peating" bears repeating. (Check out my previous post "Why WWE Isn't Going Anywhere")

Two things provoked me to spend time on this subject again:

1) Members of the Internet Wrestling Community (a term which if you are familiar with me at all, you know I despise) once again proclaiming the imminent demise of World Wrestling Entertainment thanks to low television ratings, pay-per-view buyrates, and poor arena attendance.

2) This video of a shoot interview with Bobby Heenan that I watched a few days ago.

Before we really get the discussion rolling, here are a couple of references that I encourage you to check out either before, during, or after our little discussion as a way to help us all maintain the proper perspective:

- Raw ratings from September 1995 to June 2010

- Revenue reports for 2012 from WWE's Corporate website

Not going to spend a lot of time trying to convince you that WWE is NOT the Titanic sinking fast. I don't think I can put together a more comprehensive argument for that than the one I've already presented in my previous post linked above.

But what I would like to spend time on is what "The Brain" had to say in his shoot interview.

From the reference links above TWO things can be positively determined:

1) Television ratings for Monday Night Raw, currently parked in the 2.7 - 3.0 range, are as low as they were in the company's "darkest days" just prior to the Attitude Era (1995-1997), when they were on the verge of "financial peril" according to Vince McMahon's own testimony.

2) World Wrestling Entertainment is not anywhere close to "financial peril" today. They are consistently turning over a handsome profit in spite of waning interest in the current product.

With these two things in mind, I want to refer to the Bobby Heenan interview where "Brain" emphasizes over and over again the importance of being able to "draw money." For example, after singing the Dynamite Kid's praises as an athlete and a wrestler, the host asks if Dynamite is "the greatest wrestler of all-time." To which Heenan responds, "The greatest of all-time is the guy who draws the most money."

This is just one example. He gives several and it really helped me get a grip on the whole "mark" controversy.

Wrestling fans usually don't mind being called "marks" but I'm afraid few of us understand what it really means. What wrestling do not like is being called "mark" in a dismissive way.

But if the truth be told, if we all had a better understanding of what a "mark" is, we'd have to admit that sometimes, more often than not, we're all a bunch a fucking marks and deserve the type of treatment we get.

I'm not saying "all the time" but most of the time, we wrestling fans draw inaccurate conclusions about how the wrestling business works.

Read that again. The wrestling BUSINESS. And just like any BUSINESS, the one and only, end-all, be-all purpose is to DRAW MONEY.

We all know part of Bobby Heenan's schtick as a legendary heel manager was his "hatred" for Hulk Hogan. Yet during his shoot interview, Bobby goes out of his way to defend Hogan against his detractors.

Why? Because Hulk Hogan DRAWS MONEY.

I applied this logic to myself in this way: once upon a time, I had dreams of becoming a professional wrestler but life, as it sometimes does, got in the way. I had responsibilities that put that dream on permanent hold status.

However, if I had attended a wrestling school at that time (we're talking 1999 or so; shortly after I graduated high school) my goal would probably have been to be the best professional wrestler I could become.

But according to Bobby Heenan, a legend with decades of experience in the business, what is the criteria for being considered the greatest of all-time? DRAWING MONEY.

That's the difference. A mark like me thinks, "I have to be THE BEST" without even realizing what it means to be THE BEST in professional wrestling.

Being THE BEST means DRAWING THE MOST MONEY. That's it. It's literally that simple.

This is why wrestlers develop a certain disdain for fans, or marks. Because a mark will come up to them and say some stupid shit like "You can't wrestle" or "So-and-so is way better than you" without realizing how stupid something like that sounds.

If "So-and-so" is having great matches all across the country, but in high school gymnasiums in front of twenty people, it doesn't matter how fucking "good" he is. The musclebound clod who can barley chain two moves together is the better wrestler because he's the one that's DRAWING MONEY.

Get it now?

I know, I know, it's hard to free ourselves from the mindset of what we see in the ring and how entertaining it is and using that as our basis for comparison. But it's the difference between being a fan, and someone who is involved in the business.

And it's the difference between being dismissed as a mark, and being able to intelligently discuss someone's profession with them.

I'm not saying what takes place in the ring doesn't matter. Of course it does. But that isn't the measuring stick for those involved in the business. Those involved in the business realize that the measuring stick is what perpetuates the business and having a great match isn't it.

What perpetuates the business is DRAWING MONEY.

This is why we see things on our TV that sometimes we don't understand as fans. And it's why we sometimes don't see the things that we would like to see. The people in charge are only interested in DRAWING MONEY and using personnel in the best way to optimize their ability to DRAW MONEY.

In the post linked at the beginning ("Why WWE Isn't Going Anywhere") I mentioned a program that Hulk Hogan was supposed to work in the 80's with Jake "The Snake" Roberts during the height of Hulkamania when Jake was still a heel. The angle was supposed to kick off during Roberts' interview segment The Snake Pit, where he was going to DDT Hogan on the concrete floor.

When Jake did this however, instead of the crowd booing him out of the building for beating up their hero, they cheered. In Jake's own words, this was "the wrong reaction." According to him, when he got backstage, even Vince McMahon said "you've got rotten luck!"

Why? Because as the heel, Jake's desire was to DRAW MONEY by working with the babyface in shows all across the country. Well, if fans were going to be divided when they worked together and CHEER FOR THE HEEL, the angle wasn't going to work and it wasn't going to DRAW MONEY.

Now, a mark might say, "A babyface Jake Roberts versus a heel Hulk Hogan in the 80s would've been AWESOME!" A mark has the luxury to think that way. But the business owner, the bookers, the people in charge have to think about the Big Picture and keep their eye on the goal which is, to DRAW MONEY.

I know I keep beating that horse into the ground, but the point needs to be made. Perhaps ignorance truly is bliss and I'd be better off screaming my head off like any other mark and losing myself in the illusion. But I actually don't have a problem doing that even with a better understanding of the business. I prefer to be informed. I prefer to sound intelligent when I speak about the things I'm passionate about, like wrestling.

Fans of movies, even obsessed fans, like those who love the Twilight series, are not as bad as wrestling marks. They don't call Taylor Lautner "Jacob" when they meet him or suggest that his brothers are better at "morphing" than he is. How ridiculous would that be? How might Taylor Lautner respond to such outright lunacy?

Yet we wrestling marks insist that the PERFORMERS that we watch week-in and week-out humor us when he say shit like, "Chris Benoit deserved to be champion way more than you did" or "Dude, you should've won that last match!" Honestly, no wonder they try to avoid us. That would get old real fast!

Wrestling IS unique in the sense that you watch the PERFORMERS put on their SHOW right in front of you. And many times, they'll interact with you IN CHARACTER during the PERFORMANCE (all this emphasis is deliberate, by the way). So it is easy to lose yourself in the illusion probably more so than any other form of entertainment, which is I love it and believe wrestling to be the single greatest form of entertainment in the world. The fact that there are so many marks in the world is proof of how this industry has excelled at what they do.

I would rather go to a wrestling event than to a "real" sporting event. I would rather go to a wrestling show than a Broadway show. I would rather go to a wrestling show than go the movies. Wrestling, when done right, is the end-all, be-all of entertainment in my opinion.

But we have to realize that these men and women are simply PLAYING A ROLE. And once the performance is over, they're real people with real names, families, hobbies, interests, etc. I'm sure just like any performer they appreciate fans who love their performance. But when the line between PERFORMANCE ART and REALITY become blurred that's when things get creepy.

Can a wrestling fan express an opinion about what he believes will DRAW MONEY? I think so, obviously. I do it here every week. But I've increasingly tried to keep my opinions out of the realm of a blind mark's rantings and instead, take the approach of someone whose goal is to perpetuate the product by DRAWING MONEY.

So go ahead, you marks, book your own shows, speculate, rant and rave about the things you hate and the things you'd like to see! No harm in that. But do yourself a favor and at least try to sound intelligent. Try to understand how the business works if you're going to comment on it. We'll never understand it fully as fans because we're not in it. But we can all make an honest effort.

For example, just to apply all this wisdom to the current WWE product, I think they've done a good job recently of booking their top talent like Ryback, and some of the midcard talent like Damien Sandow and Antonio Cesaro. But I do think they haven't done as well with the divas' division or their tag teams. I believe there is money to be made there and they are doing themselves, the performers, and the business a disservice by not focusing more on these areas and booking a better product. That's not a blind mark's ramblings. That's looking at it realistically from the standpoint of what's best for business and DRAWING MONEY.

Would I like to see WWE throw caution to the wind and book whatever would be "cool?" Sure I would. But I understand that it's important to keep someone like John Cena on top. He DRAWS MONEY. Maybe not the bucketfuls that others have drawn in the past. But he provides a steady source of income and I can see how a business owner, would be hesitant to risk that by changing his character.

That doesn't mean I don't think there are better ways to use John Cena and still DRAW MONEY. I certainly believe that there are. So I'll rant about that. That's not being a mark. That's just being a fan.

So to tie all this together, how has this knowledge changed me? Am I still The Smartest Man Not Currently Involved In Wrestling (trademark, Sonnnnnnnn!)? Of course!

I've been changed in this sense, were I to enter a wrestling school today with visions of fulfilling my dream, my goal would still be the same. I would still want to become the greatest wrestler I could be, but instead of asking my instructors to "teach me to be a great wrestler," I would ask them "teach me how to draw money."

That's the secret to success in professional wrestling. For some, it's having great matches. For others, it's finding the right gimmick. For others still, it's a combination of the two, or something entirely different altogether. But the goal remains the same.

So quit making yourself look stupid. Be a mark, but know what the fuck you're talking about. And that'll help you draw the right conclusions.

That's the last word for now, phreaks and phalluses. Until next time, and I mean this...........DISCUSS!!!!!!!!

[The Smartest Man Not Currently Involved In Wrestling is mentioned regularly on his two favorite wrestling shows, The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast and Turnbuckle Throwbacks. Follow him on Twitter, @DansLastWord.]

Review In The Raw 12-10-12: Do not adjust your sets. You HAVE see this all before.

Segment 1. Dolph Ziggler: A Career Retrospective

- How eerily symbolic was Dolph's little demonstration? He does all the work to climb the ladder of success, only to get completely overshadowed by the two big men and be sent toppling back to the ground. Welcome back to reality, Dolph!

- Still not crazy about the way they're booking Sheamus. I wrote a post entitled "Where Have All The Good Guys Gone?" for SPINEBUSTER.com (back when they were still up and running) and may have to recreate it here. The gist of it though was, why does WWE expect us to cheer for hypocritical babyfaces who act like heels? Sheamus is a terrific example of this. He tries to come across as a noble warrior and a hero, yet his entire babyface run has been built on sneak attacks and Pearl Harbor jobs. I have nothing against a babyface employing such tactics, but only if they're honest about it the way "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was. As a fan you were never surprised when he took a short cut to win a match because that's who he was. He was The Rattlesnake. D.T.A., you stupid piece of trash et cetera, et cetera!

Anyhow, before I dwell too long on this subject, just keep that little nugget of truth in the back of your mind because you're going to see it play out as a recurring theme in tonight's show.

- Here's my problem, the purpose of this segment was soley to sell tickets and pay-per-view buys for TLC. As a fan, I don't want to see Sheamus win so why would I want to watch? I wouldn't mind seeing Big Show retain the belt but they already had a very good wrestling match at Hell In A Cell that Show won. Are they really going to top that beating each other with chairs?

I don't want to see Cena win Dolph's MITB briefcase. The only way Dolph will win is if there's interference of some kind so why would I want to watch a match that Ziggler will carry only to end up with a shitty payoff? I don't.

- This is what you call a good ol' fashioned FAIL! To his credit, Big Show was strong on the mic.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 2. Wade gets got.

- Vickie Guerrero is a very good performer. Say what you want about being tired of her but I'm not. She gets a reaction and that's what you want in a wrestling show.

- Normally I wouldn't mind R-Truth getting a "flash" win over Wade Barrett like that but on the Raw before a pay-per-view? Wade is the one that has been built strong on Raw in the weeks leading up to his match at TLC with Kofi. Why have him lose now? This could've been done a couple of weeks ago if you wanted to throw Truth a bone and give him a cheap win. Not a deal-breaker, but a poor decision for sure.

If they were going to have Wade lose, at least follow it up with a backstage interview where he blows off the loss. Or have him attack R-Truth to exact a measure of revenge. ANYTHING just to make him look strong on the way out. Again, if the idea is to sell the pay-per-view, methinks they be going about it all wrong.

- Remember what I said about supposed white meat babyfaces acting like heels? We had another example in Kofi taking a cheap shot on Wade. Kofi, you're the champion. You're the good guy. Why would you jump someone who a) just had a match, b) just lost said match, and c) is at the challenger's disadvantage on Sunday? And why the hell should I be cheering you for doing it? I'm not. Go to hell, Kofi. Or Ghana, West Africa. Whichever's closer.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 3. AJ is a pervert.

- Just when I thought WWE was going to listen to its audience and let the John Cena-AJ romance angle die of natural causes, here they are trying to revive it again. We hate John Cena. We love AJ. We don't want someone we HATE macking on someone we LOVE.

I understand the logic behind trying to keep Cena "in the mix" by involving him with those who are relevant, but I think there are better ways to do that than by forcing an angle on their fans that is clearly going nowhere.

- The tag team fatal four-way was basically a formality.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 4. "CO-DY'S MUS-TACHE!" CLAP! CLAP! CLAP CLAP CLAP!

- Surprised to see Cody back so soon from injury but whoever put the match together did it right. Cody looked tremendous in picking up the win for his team.

- Also give props to whoever had the idea to book the Usos so strong. It always gives cause to us old-schoolers to get optimistic about a resurgence in tag team wrestling when we see a match like this. However, with makeshift teams like Rhodes Scholars, Mysterio & Sin Cara, and Team Hell No in the top spots, not sure there's room for teams like the Usos even though they are clearly over with the fans.

Not that the Usos need to win the Tag Team Titles or anything. But just having them featured more often in matches against the top teams or even Primo and Epico, would be a refreshing break from the norm.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 5. That wave looks familiar. Where have I seen it before?

- Opening narration. Mysterious rogue group attacking members of the roster. And now the princess wave. What else is WWE going to admit that TNA has done right?
It's a great gimmick for a heel ladies' champion. While we're on the subject so is that "photo shoot" routine Eve did at the end of her match with Alicia Fox.

My question is, why can't these ideas be given to a woman who can actually wrestle? I realize Beth Phoenix isn't the glamor puss that Eve is, but she can at least put on a decent match. You mean to tell me these gimmicks wouldn't have worked just as well for her? Maybe Eve is just that ambitious and she's coming up with these things herself but if not, creative needs to quit catering to these Runway Rejects and start investing in women who can actually deliver a payoff once it's time to get in the ring. I still say there's a untapped market of young female fans longing for real female athletes that they can look up to.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 6. More symbolism can't silence the fans.

- Just like the example of Ziggler's ladder toppling over, how about WWE Champion CM Punk having to hobble out on crutches? His entire reign as champion has always seemed a bit hobbled.

One thing that can't be denied though is that CM Punk is over with the fans. He got a resounding ovation with his line "working more days than anyone else." The fans believe it because they see it. In spite of his and Paul Heyman's attempts to insult the fans and play the heel role, I think the fans are smart enough to appreciate that he's in his comfort zone now. I didn't like him either when he was trying to be "Cena Lite" as the babyface champion because it clearly wasn't what he was good at. But fans appreciate a performer playing their role well whether it's as a heel or a face. And right now, fans are appreciating CM Punk.

- Was it just me or did it seem like they cut him off to soon? His promo just seemed to end awkwardly. Still, it was good, and I liked that he started building toward his match with The Rock. That is one I would pay money to see.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 7. Somebody change the CD. It's skipping.

- Sheamus vs. Dolph. It's Sheamus vs. Dolph. Sheamus vs. Dolph. This is why they make such a big deal anytime two Superstars are in a match and HAVE NEVER FACED EACH OTHER ONE-ON-ONE BEFORE. Because even they know that they keep giving us the same matches on TV over and over and over again.

Not that Sheamus vs. Dolph is a bad match. It's always good. But how many damn times can we watch it just to see the same fucking result??

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 8. The Diesel Effect.

- It happened twice tonight. The babyface kicks out of a move that should've beaten anybody. The crowd's response? "BOOOOOOOOOO!" The Superman shit just needs to go away already. Especially now that kayfabe is dead. Fans know the only reason Sheamus gets to kick out is because he's the "good guy" and they recognize when a move should win a match, especially when someone like Ziggler is working his ass off.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 9. Midget porn.

- Have to give credit where it's due. The segment with Vickie, Hornswoggle and Khali was funny.

- The Shield's Joker-esque "manifesto" was okay. I hate seeing things that have the potential to be great, come up just a little short of that. Still, it accomplished the goal of adding to The Shield's reputation.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 10. Pretty sure even the radio knows Zack Ryder's no longer relevant.

- Once upon a time, Zack Ryder would've gotten a HUGE ovation in New Jersey. Now? Crickets. I guess it's possible for him to become relevant again if he's given another push. Just not sure if the stars will ever align the way they did for him a year ago when he was on a roll with his internet show and making backstage cameo appearances. Not that I'm a mark for Zack Ryder. It's just a shame that all the work he did to get himself over was sacrificed on the altar of the WWE's Golden Nugget.

- The fans clearly could've cared less about this match and it damn near put me in a coma as a result. Not that the action was bad. But you can't just throw two guys in the ring that nobody cares about...and expect people to care about it!

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 11. Brad Maddox screws AJ (not as hot as it sounds)

- I realize that if dogshit could shit, it would shit this match. But if this had lead to a backstage segment in which Vince tells Maddox that if he wants to be in the spotlight so badly he could have a match at TLC against AJ, I would've marked out hard core!

Sadly, that didn't happen. But at the time, I was optimistic. I hope there's a lot more of Brad Maddox in the future because he's a character that hasn't been done in a while so it's fresh. And I find him to be a charismatic performer.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 12. CHAMPION VERSUS CHAMPION!!!! (And no one cared)

- Not that Kofi vs. Cesaro was a bad match. It was a good match. And I'm glad Cesaro won clean as fuck. But the Intercontinental Champion faces the United States Champion in a one-on-one showdown...and it's just some throw-in "Who cares?" match to fill time?

I'm sorry but that just pisses me off! How about we make some money, build a story behind a match like this, and make the product special instead?

Now that Wade Barrett AND Kofi Kingston both lost on the go-home show before a pay-per-view in meaningless throw-away matches, why should I care about who wins the Intercontinental Title? It's like the past three weeks they've spent building up that encounter to mean something was just pissed away.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 13. Michael Cole can't hide his hard-on (hey look, three "H's")

- Regardless of everything that was wrong with the way the Cesaro-Kofi match was booked, I have to give props to first of all Michael Cole for actually selling a new talent on commentary, and the WWE for having the right guy win. Must've been a Triple H hire.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 14. Colonel DAMN Sanders

- This is a great example of what's wrong with a three-hour show. This Miz TV segment was very good for everyone invovled. But it should've been happening on next week's Raw. Instead, next week, Team Rhodes Scholars is probably going to have another match that they'll either lose or win that will devalue either themselves or one of the other tag teams.

Again, I understand why the show is three hours. But if we're talking about making the product special and making money long term, I just think stretching things out a little further, making it last a little longer, is the smarter approach. But what do I know, right? I'm just a goon with a keyboard.

- That being said, it was a decent segment. Team Rhodes Scholars handled themselves extremely well. Very happy for Cody Rhodes.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 15. I'm here to show the world! Here I am again! Yoo-hoo, here I am again!

- Dolph Ziggler did a fine job on commentary but this was his third appearance in the arena. It just felt like overkill.

- The match was standard John Cena vs. Big Show fare. Not terrible, but again, when it's been done so many times who gives a flying shit?

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 16. What do you know? Less IS more!

- The loudest ovations of the night came for the people we saw the least during the show. Team Hell No came out to a HUGE pop. And then of course, the fans worked themselves into a frenzy for Ryback, who the company continues to handle well.

If the philosophy is, sell the main event, then WWE is doing a good job because they have certainly done that.

Last Word: PLUS +

FINAL TALLY: 7 PLUS, 9 MINUS

After two weeks of breaking even, we've had a first mostly negative Raw in a month.

My chief points of praise:

- Ryback and Team Hell No are hot enough that even though they haven't done a great job of building up The Shield, they've done enough with the babyfaces to get people to care about TLC and probably order it.
- Some of the young heels like Sandow and Antonio Cesaro continue to be booked strong. At least on Raw.

My chief complaints:

- Too many matches that we've either seen way too many times before or don't care about.
- Illogical booking that did nothing to build interest in upcoming pay-per-view matches like Kofi Kingston vs. Wade Barrett.
- Three hours results in way too much filler being needed which results in throw-away matches or segments that could've been used more effectively on a future show. Thus, resulting in a show that is mostly bad.

It's not like WWE isn't doing anything right. But when you have to sit through three fucking hours just to get half a good show it's a little maddening because we've all got better things to do with our time. I really don't need that much wrestling. I can be just as satisfied with a show that's an hour and half and gets me to care about the product to the point that I might actually order the upcoming pay-per-view.

Because I love wrestling, I don't always need to be sold on a pay-per-view. But speaking strictly from a fan's perspective who is deciding on what to do with his dollars during the holiday season, I just feel like interest in TLC could've been generated more efficiently with this particular episode of Raw.

That's the last word for now, beanbags. Until next time.....DISCUSS!

[Our intrepid author is mentioned regularly on his favorite wrestling shows The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast and Turnbuckle Throwbacks. Follow him on Twitter, @DansLastWord.]

Review In The Raw 12-03-12: Tell Me A Lie

[Author-has-his-period Note: I realize this is a couple of days old but I have a life, dammit and if Raw was as "must see" as The Miz thinks he is, which he isn't, maybe I would get this shit out a little quicker. Just be thankful I was able to get through the show at all to bring you this review.]

Segment 1. Team Hell No vs. Prime Time Players, Part One.

-If the selling point of this first segment was supposed to be the wrestling, then it failed miserably.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 2. The Shield jumps Team Hell No.

-Clearly Darren Young blew an opportunity on commentary last week the way Michael Cole (Vince McMahon) kept deriding him for not saying much both last week and this week. Don't be surprised if you see Titus break out first.

-At least the tag champs didn't job. I like that Shield got some air time right off the bat and looked ruthless and strong.

-Sheamus and Cena's backstage segment was ridiculous and not in a good way.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 3. AJ gets lucky with Tamina (not as hot as it sounds)

-These two should not be wrestling already. With proper build, this could've been made a pay-per-view series. Not that I really care to see it because AJ can't wrestle for shit but still, do we want to make money here or not?

-Giving credit where it's due, at least they were smart enough to include AJ on the show and seeing her back in her wrestling gear was almost enough for me to pardon this atrocity. Almost.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 4. Paul Heyman and CM Punk in-ring promo. Miz interrupts.

-Paul Heyman clearly knows his endgame before he starts speaking. That's why he's so damn good, folks. He's not out there just rambling and it shows.

-Punk is clearly so much more comfortable being the heel and this whole respect angle, while getting a little monotonous, makes sense and has the legs necessary for a heel champ to run with (now if only Punk still had legs to run with, OHHHHHHHH!)

-I honestly got excited at first when Miz came out because I honestly thought that would make for a good match-up. But I quickly got over it after he started speaking. Miz was AWWWWWSOMMMME as WWE Champion but has been anything but that since his feud with Alex Riley.

-The best in this segment came prematurely which is never a good thing.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 5. Entrances galore and some wrestling.

-The Cena-Sheamus vs. Show-Ziggler tag match started around the one hour mark and all I could think was, "This should be the main event. If the show ended here it would be perfect. But no, there's still TWO MORE HOURS TO GO!!"

-That being said, the action was good and the crowd was hot for this match.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 6. Ziggler shows off how great he is at getting pinned.

-It's like we're getting house shows on Raw each week. Nothing wrong with this finish for the sake of popping the live crowd, but for the rest of watching at home, why the fuck would I want to order a pay-per-view when clearly Dolph Ziggler is utterly INCAPABLE of beating John Cena? Again, we here to make money or not?

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 7. Forget apprentice, I'll be his concubine!

-I am in mad man love with Damien Sandow. It's not just that he's a great character. But he has bought into this character completely to that point that we all believe he is this snobby intellectual douchebag. THAT, my friends, is a great heel!

-Glad he got the best of Santino.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 8. Because Brian Maddox was on it.

-Sandow beats Santino and somewhere in the universe, Killer Kowalski remains at rest.

-Thought they had forgotten about this guy but I'm glad they didn't because he's pretty freaking entertaining! Who knew?

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 9. Anybody know where I can find two Mexicans willing to wrestle for money?

-When I first saw that it was going to be Sin Cara vs. Del Rio I thought, "Damn, I need to mow my grass tomorrow!" No, actually I thought, "Who gives a flying burrito?"

-But The Man With No Face and The Man With No Originiality actually put on a pretty damn good match.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 10. Cue the trumpet, Ricardo!

-It's almost as if ADR is being built the same way Randy Orton has been over the past couple of years. Despite not doing anything particularly meaningful, he keeps winning. This should serve him well in the future. Whether or not serves wrestling fans well, the jury's still out on that. Still, it was a good match.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 11. NO CHANCE IN HELLLLLL!!!!!!!! (Of saving this segment)

-Vince came back for this?

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 12. "WTF? MF'N Viper's in the MF'N ring?! I'm calling in Shield!"

-Orton is really in a sweet spot in his career and regardless of whether you love him or hate him, he can make a moment virtually at any time. Him coming out as Maddox opponent was pretty cool and it made sense that he squashed him.

-I hope they aren't done with Maddox and Shield attacking Orton gives me hope that they are not.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 13. Hey, WWE Universe, we REALLY want to know what you think this time!

-Everybody's pretty much decided for themselves that Ziggler's briefcase being up for grabs means he's losing. But if The Shield can keep Cena from beating Punk, it can keep Cena from beating Ziggler. I'm pretty sure Cena's out of the title picture until WrestleMania. So relax.

-Tag match turned into a four way is fine but this whole segment just seemed like a waste.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 14. Fatal four way, Part One

-So WWE goes with the ACTUAL result this time and puts Antonio Cesaro's U.S. Title on the line. Not sure what that says about the WWE Universe's opinion on the two secondary champions; if they're protecting Kofi's title or they just care more about Cesaro's.

-Good action in Part One of this match. I like the fact that Kofi & Truth are forced to wrestle each other.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 15. Fist-pumping like a champ

-After this match was over I had a flashback to the early 90s when Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Curt Hennig, Marty Jannetty, and Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) were battling over the Intercontinental title and their matches outshone anything that was going on with the WWF title. Just goes to show when you book a belt to matter, it fucking matters.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 16. Lie to me and tell me they didn't just do this.

-I actually don't have a problem not ending Raw with a match as long as whatever they do instead is compelling. But this segment almost felt like WWE just gave up knowing that viewership was going to drop off for the last hour.

-Ryback finally making an appearance was an excellent handling of his character. I actually think to this point, WWE has done a decent job with Ryback.

-The whole lie-detector test thing with Miz and Punk was just kind of meh. I blame Miz because he just did not come with anything strong to answer Punk's verbal barbs. And even though storyline-wise this all made sense, it's now been wasted on a match that isn't even going to happen.

Last Word: MINUS -

FINAL TALLY: 8 PLUS, 8 MINUS

Raw breaks even again. The show "felt" worse than what it actually was as a whole. And I'll explain that by addressing....

My chief points of praise:

+ Intermediate titles continuing to be booked strong.
+ Damien Sandow. You're welcome.

My chief complaints:

- The Miz. Ruining two segments in the same show? Really? Really?
- Three hours is still way too fucking long.
- Poor booking choices. I realize WHY they almost have to do things the way they do, but that doesn't mean I have to approve of it.

To elaborate on that final complaint, booking AJ vs. Tamina this early in their angle, Ziggler constantly getting pinned clean by Cena, The Shield, while used, coming across as almost an afterthought. We get it, they attack people; let them speak, let them do something meaningful. It's hard because if you use up their legs too soon, you have three guys left with nothing to do. So while taking a slower approach makes sense for the current format, it doesn't necessarily make for compelling TV.

That's the last word, except for this: apparently there's some confusion as to how to post comments. Below this paragraph and the blurb that follows you should see the words "No comments" or "Comments" with a number in front of it. Click on that and the option should pop up. I need your participation here, people. Come strong like the marks I know you all are. You have opinions now make them heard! In other words.......DISCUSS!

{"Handsome" Dan Lopez is a regular mention on his two favorite wrestling shows The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast and Turnbuckle Throwbacks. Follow him on Twitter, @DansLastWord.}

Review In The Raw: 11-26-12, Shield Your Eyes

Did Raw build upon a mostly positive show last week? Let's find out...

Opening Narration.

-People can bust on WWE for ripping off TNA all they want, but the fact is, this is a good idea. Almost every other popular "weekly, episodic" tv show does a recap at the beginning of the show to bring viewers up to speed. It makes it feel more like a tv show and let's face it, that's what Raw is. I know purists like to entertain dreams of WWE returning to its roots and becoming a rasslin' show again, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. So, for the way WWE is trying to present their product, I think the opening narration is a smart move.

-Furtherance of the John Cena-Dolph Ziggler feud taking place on Smackdown this past Friday is alluded to. As an adult, I groan at this because I just don't care enough to watch every second of WWE programming. But as a kid, I was such a hopeless devotee, that I think I would have LOVED having this much wrestling to watch and would have kept up on it religiously. Still not sold on this approach by WWE. I think a less-is-more approach with a better overall product would result in a greater overall viewership, but I can't say that I don't see the logic in doing things this way either.

Segment 1. Ryback def. Titus O'Neil. Ryback refuses to leave the ring.


Old-school type match in which the singles star goes over the tag team specialist. I don't have a problem with it.

Titus is so horribly green it's disgusting. But he makes a strong showing.

-"Feed Me More" chant, and Ryback, really starting to get over.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 2. Ryback attacks security. Vicki gives him a TLC title match against Punk at next PPV. Hornswoggle, Rosa, ADR & Khali backstage.

-Nothing wrong with the Ryback-Vicki segment other than illogical booking. How does Vicki Guerrero have the authority to book pay-per-view title matches when she's just the Raw (whatever title they're using now)?

-The backstage segment with the also-rans was to set up for a match between Del Rio and Khali. This is the kind of thing that I can do without and lends credence to my argument that a three-hour Raw is just way too long.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 3. ADR def. Khali clean with Rosa watching backstage. Punk and Heyman confront Vicki backstage.

-Not sure where the Rosa, ADR angle is going to lead but again, this isn't the kind of thing that I think needed to be part of this show.

-The whole concept of a fan poll deciding Punk's opponent is another concept that old-school fans can't stand but it's actually a good idea. Whether or not it's legit is always going to be a question, but social media is more important right now than TV ratings and WWE is doing its best to stay at the head of the pack, even posting a graphic during the show of their "Social Media Ranking." Even if it is bogus, it keeps fans involved.

Think about how often you check Twitter or Facebook throughout the day. Not that a non-wrestling fan will suddenly watch wrestling because a related topic is trending, but if you can show investors and stockholders that millions of people on social media are talking about your product, that makes your product relevant and marketable to advertisers and sponsors. So criticize all you want, wrestling fans, it's smart business.

-All that being said, this segment really wasn't needed.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 4. Cole interviews Ambrose, Rollins and Reins. They call themselves The Shield.

-Not crazy about the name. But loving the gimmick and the concept behind it. Why? BECAUSE IS MAKES SENSE. We're always complaining that storylines don't make sense anymore, and with good reason. This one does. Ambrose has already confronted Mick Foley about something similar, the "purity" of wrestling. And their declaration of protecting what amounts to the "old-school" way of doing things is an extension of that.

-It is clear that Ambrose should be the leader of this group. He has a natural gift for speaking. I say, give them guns and make him The Joker! As a rogue group, they should be able to get away with pushing the envelope a little bit.

-I don't see them getting over as individuals with this angle unfortunately, but it's a nice way of making three guys the WWE Universe is probably not at all familiar with seem important right off the bat.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 5. Fandago vignette. Tamina def. Alicia Fox.

-Vignettes are such an effective way of debuting someone. It worked for Damien Sandow. Whether or not a dancing gimmick is the best way to go, I'm not exactly sure. It'll draw some heat initially which will be good for him and he can always change things later. I have no complaints.

-Tamina's outfit looked like she was trying to hide her period. And the match was terrible. Fans can't help but pop for the Superfly splash though.

-I don't have a problem with this segment because I realize the importance of furthering both characters, I just wish it had been a part of a two-hour show instead. The fact that I had to watch this on top of everything else just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 6. Another replay of Cena-Ziggler-AJ. Vicki gives Cena & AJ a "gift." More gross make-out stuff. Ziggler interrupts.

-Cena's involvment in this angle has made almost everyone else lose their appeal. Sure, AJ is adorable but her lack of chemistry with Cena just makes it feel like her presence is wasted. And Vicki always has heat but it looks like not even she believes in her "crusade" to expose Cena and AJ. Dolph so far, has been able to maintain some conviction but he started to lose it this week when he made the feud with Cena to suddenly be more about AJ than about furthering his career.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 7. Some football player gets a Spinner Belt. Wade Barrett on commentary while Kofi Kingston def. Tensai.

-Along with the constant reference to Vince and other Superstars visiting a U.S. miliatry aircraft carrier, the short video featuring the football player is just more intelligent PR by WWE.

-Wade Barrett is so good on the mic, I find it hard to believe that he won't be a top heel someday.

-Unfortunately, Kofi is over but Tensai made an excellent showing and could possibly build on this if they decide to use him in something worthwhile. I think he impressed the fans by kicking the crap out of Kofi.

-I really like the way the Intercontinental title is being showcased as something important.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 8. Daniel Bryan and Kane backstage. Kane revealed as winner of the fan poll.

-Bryan is still crazy over. This segment was funny. I just wish they could turn these segments into more success for these two wrestlers in the ring. I realize they're tag champs, but both of them ended up losing tonight in mediocre fashion.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 9. Rey Mysterio vs. Daniel Bryan, Part One.

-In case you didn't catch it on Monday, this is the FIRST TIME EVER these two have wrestled a singles match against each other. UGH! Overkill much?

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 10. Rey wins (of course). ADR, Ricardo & Rosa backstage.

-The match was decent by WWE standards, but when you realize how much more these two are capable of, it just fell a little flat. Bryan looked like he hadn't even broken a sweat when it was over. And why does the WWE Tag Champion who is over like mad have to fucking lose?! Just a disappointment on every level.

-Can't say much about the Del Rio, Rosa angle except that what I care most about is how it's going affect Ricardo and I'm not sure that's a good thing.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 11. Yet ANOTHER replay of AJ-Dolph-Cena. Ziggler vs. Cena, Part One.

-Cole almost reluctantly acknowledges Cena's "torn meniscus" as Cena runs full speed to the ring and then executes a leapfrog without favoring the limb at all. At least the jorts are gone.

-Dolph Ziggler may be the new Shawn Michaels. He just needs to develop HBK's refusal to do jobs.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 12. Ziggler can't even beat a hobbled Cena.

-When Cena suddenly aggrivates his "injury" hitting the ropes I groaned thinking Ziggler would win but only because Cena was hobbled. Not sure how I let that thought even enter my brain because of course, Cena can't lose no matter the odds or how hurt he may be. Silly me!

-I realize Cena's over. And despite the "Cena Sucks!" chants, the crowd popped huge when he won. But when Ziggler countered the AA by hitting the Zig Zag, I don't think Cena's reputation as a "Superman" would've been hindered at all had he just eaten the pin. It was a brilliant counter and Ziggler's best move, yet Cena still kicks out. Dolph, on the other hand, gets caught in an Attitude Adjustment, or in layman's terms, a fireman's carry takeover, and 1-2-3, the match is over! It just made Ziggler's winning streak disappear because no matter what kind of a roll he was on, he still can't beat even an injured John Cena, meaning he's not in the same class as The Rock or....well, gee, I guess that's it actually.

I understand that he's supposed to be this era's Hulk Hogan, but the way I look at it, you can give Cena marks in the Raw crowd the cheap pop, then give the Cena marks in the next crowd the cheap pop again by having him continue to go over every single time. OR, you can have Ziggler win the match, and show everyone that John Cena IS human, that he can lose, and help everyone get behind the illusion and suspend their disbelief and actually generate some interest in a future match between the two at say, TLC, when fans will actually have to PAY TO SEE IT. I don't know, it makes sense to me but when has that ever mattered to WWE when it comes to booking their Golden Nugget?

-Very good match. Fantastic showing by Ziggler. All spoiled by a cheap Cena win and Cena trying to swallow AJ's face afterward in a revolting display. Hopefully WWE has realized the utter lack of chemistry between these two and will put this angle out of its misery. This article by PWMania gives me some hope.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 13. Sheamus def. Antonio Cesaro by countout. A pay-per-view match worth caring about.

-What an excellent, physical match! It's just a shame that neither of these guys are as over as John Cena. The crowd was clearly more involved in the previous match. I think these two eventually won them over though with some hard-hitting action.

-The finish wasn't going to generate much of a pop, but it was the right call. Cesaro is too good to be jobbing to main event guys in non-title matches. And Sheamus needed another good showing but also needed to win. This way, both purposes are accomplished.

-I like the build for Big Show-Sheamus. Their match at Hell In A Cell was very good and this has turned into an old-school championship series that I actually wouldn't mind seeing through to its final resolution.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 14. Damien Sandow gets his token win over Zack Ryder. Josh Matthews interviews Paul Heyman outside CM Punk's dressing room.

-This is the point in the show when I start wishing it was still two hours.

-Sandow, whose recent stint as a tag team foil for Team Hell No I wasn't particularly fond of, is back to singles competition again which is great BUT...this Wednesday he's going up against The Golden Nugget on Main Event, John Cena. Now, why should ANYONE with ANY SENSE AT ALL think Sandow has a snowball's chance in Hell of actually winning? Honestly, they wouldn't! But that hardly matters. The Universe will tune in anyway just to see their "hero" make his monkey faces and resort to his standard "drop the town name to get the cheap pop" antics.

BUT...WWE has to at least make some kind of effort to make Sandow look like a threat. So of course, they give him a token win against a token jobber who used to be somebody once upon a time, Zack Ryder. I was surprised at the pop Ryder got when his entrance music hit. Maybe that's a sign that the character is not completely dead and could still enjoy a resurrection should the right opportunity present itself.

-As much as I understand the logic in booking this match, I don't think it accomplished the goal because Sandow barely beat Ryder, which if I were him, wouldn't exactly fill me with confidence in my chances of beating Cena.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 15. Shield interview replayed. CM Punk vs. Kane, Part One.

-Glad they replayed the Shield interview. It honestly felt like it had happened LAST week by this point in the show!

-Apparently, in some more investigative reporting done by PWMania, CM Punk wrestled the wrong opponent in this match. According to this article, Daniel Bryan actually won the fan poll.

My take is, it's wrestling. Who gives a shit if they fix the outcome of a poll?? The outcomes of the matches are fixed! But my question is WHY? What difference would it have made if Punk wrestled Bryan or Kane? Do they honestly think we are so stupid that we simply CANNOT BELIEVE that a man of average size like Bryan couldn't beat CM Punk? They obviously don't think we believe that Bryan can beat ANYBODY the way they have him lose EVERY. SINGLE. MATCH.

How hot would the crowd have been for an all-out war between Punk and Bryan? They could have played up Punk's "relief" at not having to face Kane. His smugness at feeling like Bryan would be an easy win. And you know the crowd would've been rabid in their support for Bryan beating the champ! So you have Bryan trap Punk in the "No Lock", the crowd's going crazy thinking Punk's about to tap, and Shield intervenes just like they did.

Not that the match with Kane was bad, but a Punk-Bryan match has the potential to be so much better and is the hotter ticket the way Bryan is over. Worst part is, you have the guy WHO THE FANS ACTUALLY WANTED TO SEE lose a meaningless match to Rey Mysterio!

It's as if WWE is going out of their way to make Daniel Bryan NOT MATTER. As I've said countless times, he's a survivor and he's make the best of it, but he's got to be fuming on the inside. I'm just a fan and this situation's got me pissed off. He deserves better than the treatment he's getting.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 16. Punk defeats Kane with the help of the Shield. Ryback to the rescue.


-As if Bryan's mistreatment wasn't bad enough, WWE rubs salt in the wound by sending him out to save his partner to yet another huge pop, only to get beaten down for his trouble.

-As much as I maligned the booking of the match, it was another step in the right direction for Shield. According to their interview, having the WWE Champion wrestle the winner of a fan poll would be considered an injustice, thus prompting them to get involved. Again, it makes sense. And they were able to get the best of Ryback yet again.

-Speaking of Ryback, this angle has been very good for him. The crowd knew who they wanted to see come out and save the day and it wasn't John Cena (Thank God!). And the pop when Ryback did appear on the scene proved it.

Last Word: PLUS +

Final Tally: 8 PLUS, 8 MINUS

So from a mostly positive show last week, to merely breaking even this week. A couple of side notes: no Randy Orton this week, and no Brian Maddox. Don't be surprised if that angle is just conveniently no longer mentioned. My chief points of praise are:

+ The Shield. Not just because I'm a big fan of stables. But I am a big fan of stables featuring talented workers that are booked well.

My chief complaints:

-Sorry Dolph, but AJ's not trash, your angle with her, Cena, and Vicki is trash!
-Although there was plenty of action, aside from Sheamus vs. Cesaro and Kofi vs. Tensai, it was pretty lackluster.
-Gross misuse of the talent, especially Ziggler and Daniel Bryan.

As optimistic as I was last week, I am equally trepidatious heading into the rest of this week. WWE hasn't completely fallen off the porch but Granny's rocking chair is getting awfully close to the edge. They don't need a major overhaul. Some things are still going in a positive direction. Just the way certain talents are being handled needs to be corrected immediately.

That's the last word for now, rejects. Time for you to put in YOUR two cents. Don't let my wealth of wisdom and disarming charisma rob you of your manhood (or womanhood for that matter). Speak your mind. Let's get a discussion going. And tell your friends to check out the blog and make their voices heard as well. Until next time....DISCUSS!

{Our beloved author is mentioned regularly on his favorite wrestling show, The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast. Follow him on Twitter, @DansLastWord.}

Reviewed Raw 11-19-12: CM for "Celebrate Me"

[Dicko Author's Note: I'm hoping to make this a recurring post in which I review WWE Monday Night Raw. But for now, just enjoy this one.]

Segment 1. Ryback's in-ring promo. Vicki Guerrero interrupts. Ryback def. Tensai.

A good showcase for Ryback who needs to continue to be booked strong.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 2. Kofi Kingston vs. Wade Barrett, Part One.

The conspiracy to keep a belt on Kofi continues. Wade's post-Survivor Series promo was excellent. Spoke like he actually cares about the Intercontinental title.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 3. Barrett def. Kofi. Brad Maddox video package. Punk, Heyman & Stryker backstage.

I was surprised at how well Cole and Lawler sold for Barrett, even pointing out his strategy. Classic example of winning a crowd with wrestling. Match started slowly but with Barrett dominating in ruthless fashion. Then the fast-paced finish really got the crowd back into it. Crowd pops for a Barrett win. Excellent build to an eventual title match.

Don't know what the payoff is in the Maddox angle but the video package was well done.

Striker's pornstache nearly distracted from the entire backstage segment with Punk and Heyman.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 4. Kaitlyn def. Aksana.

These girls are both sloppy but the action came across as stiff. I was more impressed with Aksana's character. I have yet to be impressed with Kaitlyn. Not a terrible effort. At least it was mercifully short.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 5. Antonio Cesaro def. Brodus Clay. R-Truth on commentary. John Cena, Make-A-Wish video package.

I don't really care about Brodus Clay losing because I don't believe the character had any real longevity to begin with. He can still lose and be given the occasional push now and then. Cesaro on the other hand, has a very bright future. I think he has impressed crowds enough with in-ring performances like this one to be taken seriously and I like that they're taking the time to build toward something with R-Truth even though he sucked on commentary.

Although we're all tired of John Cena, this video piece was excellent PR for the company. More wrestling promotions, meaning TNA, could learn from this.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 6. Vicki, AJ & John Cena in-ring. Dolph Ziggler attacks Cena. Cena gets "injured."

Vicki still has legitimate heat. AJ still gets a big pop. That's what makes this situation eerily similar to the Cena-Zack Ryder-Eve Torres angle from a year ago. Ryder was the trendy Superstar who seemingly came out of nowhere and suddenly developed a cult following. Cena was out of the title picture at the time, so I guess it was easy to stick him in a program with a guy who was already over. That way the fans are guaranteed to be emotionally invested. Unfortunately it didn't work out to well for Ryder so I'm not terribly optimistic for AJ's future. She's a talented actress but not a great wrestler though so, the way I see it, she doesn't have much a future anyway. Hopefully Ziggler avoids any negative blowback from his involvement in this angle and ends up in perfect position for cashing in his MITB contract.

Basically, this angle shouldn't be happening. I think there are better ways of putting this talent to use rather than sacrificing them all on the altar of WWE's Golden Goose and Cena and AJ's make-out session was just gross.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 7. ADR vs. Randy Orton, Part One

Del Rio really needs a gimmick change. It's like he's doing "The Darn Amigos" and nobody cares. Randy Orton, on the other hand, has reached that point in his career where he is now a "Money Guy." You put his name on the card, I think fans are going to show up and go home happy to have seen him regardless of what else happened on the rest of the show.

BUT...the reason for that is because he's a winner. Sure, he may lose from time to time, but he's never gone on a real lengthy losing streak the way some other guys have, Ziggler most notably. So yes, he has the great look, the cool gimmick, the cool move, he's got decent charisma and is a pretty good worker, but most importantly, he has the respect of the fans. This is where WWE really needs to re-evaluate the handling of their talent and strongly consider bringing back squash matches even for top level talent and not just debuting monsters. And by squash matches, I mean against local talent or journeymen vets who are no longer worried about getting a push. If that did that, perhaps they might a few more "Money Guys."

I appreciated the psychology behind Del Rio getting DQ'd in the first fall.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 8. Orton def. Del Rio.

The crowd really came alive toward the end of this match and I attribute that to their respect for Orton and the excellent psychology employed throughout the match.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 9. Great Khali squashes Primo & Epico.

I don't understand this. At all. There seems to be some effort finally being put into rebuilding the tag team division and you sacrifice two very good workers to a sideshow freak? Khali may be an attraction in the carnival sense, but he's not a good worker the way Andre the Giant was. Andre knew psychology. Khali just knows how to be a big guy. Regardless of what their future plans are for everyone involved in this segment, this was an utter failure in every way.

Hornswoggle's involvement is just more dung heaped on the pile.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 10. The Miz def. David Otunga.

They're not a little late for a Miz face turn, they're a lot late. This turn should have come at WrestleMania. What has the Miz done since his involvement in that Team Laurenitis vs. Team Teddy Long fiasco? Provide horrible color commentary? The last eight months have been a waste of a solid talent.

That being said, I believe Miz will make a great face as long as he doesn't change his character and become a pandering John Cena clone.

This was a good showcase for both guys. I don't have a problem with Otunga losing to someone like Miz at this point in his career.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 11. Sheamus-Big Show, dueling microphones. Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow, Part One.

We're entering the third hour so every segment is going to have to really impress me because at this point I'd much rather be doing something else.

I don't understand why Sheamus is being such a whiny bitch. I felt like they finally "made" him at Hell In A Cell with his show-stealing performance against Big Show and now it's like the crowd is back to hating him. Griping to referees isn't helping, I'm sure.

The verbal sparring match between he and Show started out verrrrrry slowly but eventually got heated only then they kept stepping on each other. "You listen to me!" "No, YOU listen to ME!"

First part of the match was nothing spectacular.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 12. Sheamus def. Damien Sandow. AJ, Tamina & Vicki backstage.

Good showing for Sandow even though he lost. He controlled most of the match, just got careless and Sheamus was able to pull out a win. Sheamus fired up at the end but I think he could've done more with that comeback to really get the crowd on his side. They didn't pop like they did during Orton's comeback win. Perhaps they're couldn't get off their seats because all their asses and feet had fallen asleep after sitting for over two hours.

Sheamus has "Money Guy" potential but I'm afraid they're still just pushing him too hard and there's something about his character that comes across as unlikeable.

It's nice to see Tamina re-packaged. I think she's one of the better female wrestlers on the roster. This segment is penalized though by the fact that it's tied to John Cena.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 13. AJ, Layla walking backstage. AJ confronts Dolph then attacks him. Cena tries to rescue and gets beaten up.

Strong showing by Dolph but Cena's involvement just feels so contrived that the whole angle is falling flat for me.

Last Word: MINUS -

Segment 14. Sin Cara & Rey Mysterio vs. Team Hell No, Part One with Prime Time Players on commentary.

I'll bet Darren Young was wishing he had taken Monday night off the way Michael Cole was raking him over the coals! Titus O'Neil on the other hand, held his own on commentary. I was impressed.

This is a match-up of four "Money Guys." For all his botcharifficness, Sin Cara has been built up well since Day One and he wins consistently. Go figure. You book a wrestler as a force to be reckoned with and the fans actually take him seriously!

Can Daniel Bryan be any fucking hotter? He has really proven to be a survivor the way he has found something to keep himself relevant despite the company's best efforts to bury him and take everything away that got him over.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 15. Tag match, Part Two.

PTP get involved and one of the teams gets DQ'd as a result (can't remember which). Decent match. Nice way to bring some attention to the tag team division.

Last Word: PLUS +

Segment 16. CM Punk's celebration. Ryback interferes gets jumped again by Rollins, Ambrose and Reins.

The focus of this angle is the WWE title and I like that. Punk and Heyman had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands. They're not trying to be liked. They're trying to be hated and so far, they're succeeding. Heyman even went so far as to turn the Attitude Era and ECW heel by current WWE Universe standards.

I think Punk was given a raw deal as a babyface champ. I think he could've been booked much better than he was. But I also feel like he's much more comfortable in this role.

Not sure where this is leading for Ryback's young attackers but even if they end up like the Nexus did, they could still bounce back from that the way Ryback, Barrett, Bryan, and Heath Slater all have.

Last Word: PLUS +

Final tally: 11 PLUS +, 5 MINUS -

Yes, I am regarding this as a MOSTLY GOOD episode of Raw. My chief points of praise are:

+ Plenty of in-ring action with good psychology for the three hours.
+ Handling of the secondary singles titles. Making them seem important.

My chief complaints would be:

- John Cena being shoehorned into an angle with AJ, Vicki, and now Dolph.
- Meaningless squash of a good tag team for the sake of a Khali push.

That's just for this show. My chief complaints about WWE's product as a whole are the fact that at the 2-hour mark I'm done. Three hours is just WAY too long for a wrestling show. Two matches featuring the secondary singles champions seemed a bit redundant. One of those matches could've easily been moved to next week. The Khali squash of course, was a waste of time. And honestly, I can do without this whole Cena-AJ angle. Just give Cena some time off for crying out loud! His elbow injury was the perfect excuse to just give him a break until the Royal Rumble. I realize he's the company cash cow but so many fans are tired of him that getting him off our TV for awhile might make those that do hate him, hate him a little less and appreciate him more when he does come back.

My other complaint is, there are still FIVE MORE SHOWS TO GO! If this were the only WWE show for the week, I would be looking forward to how they're going to follow it up. The talent was left, for the most part, in a good position to further storylines and characters. But now, who knows what will have happened by the time next Monday rolls around?! Who knows what wrestlers will have lost unnecessarily just for the sake of filling time?

Anyhow, I'm rambling. I wish I could've kept this review shorter, but it's a three hour show? What can I do?

The WWE is not in a bad place right now with the established talent working with a lot of new faces. The overexposure however, is continuing to squelch my enthusiasm and I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I am looking forward to how things develop for next week though.

That's the last word for now, scrubs. Until next time, remember, you're feedback is important so leave a comment and tell your friends to check out the page and get involved as well. Now.....DISCUSS!

{Our intrepid author is a regular mention on his favorite wrestling show, The Shining Wizards Wrestling Podcast. Follow him on Twitter, @DansLastWord.}