Tha Raw Report

Funerals, pre-WrestleMania matches, comments and more build up. What more could you ask for from “Raw” just six days away from the big show? Now, I was mostly pleased with “Raw” but the one gripe you’ll get is that Mysterio and JBL wrestled tonight. Isn’t that supposed to happen at WrestleMania?

The opening segment of “Raw” should have been the ratings getter of the night. Well at least the conclusion of said segment. Who better to draw attention to the one match that most people wouldn’t normally care about than Santino Marella? A 25 Diva battle royal would normally be a throwaway, but Santino has actually made it a topic.

I want to take a few minutes and say that with the spoiler given on Opie and Anthony last week (if you don’t know I won’t spoil it) John Cena losing tonight just drives that point further home. He actually somewhat sold an injury. Problem is it’s an injury doing something he’s done ten times before.

Had he never gave Big Show an FU, or Attitude Adjustment or whatever it’s called now, it would have been different, but he’s had Show on his shoulders several times before, and as a matter of fact it’s how he won his first WrestleMania match for the US Championship. He was rapping then though.

We have seen more of the old Shawn Michaels in recent weeks than we did in the late 90’s and I’m enjoying it. I still stand by the fact that I hope Michaels doesn’t end the streak, and also that this might be a 5 star caliber match. From the white suit on “SmackDown” to the promo’s and excessive use of the word hell, the old Shawn is back, at least for now.

Who wasn’t a little disappointed when Taker didn’t pop out of the casket as soon as Shawn opened it? Who was also disappointed when Taker finally did show that Michaels was gone? Even more disappointing was that Shawn wasn’t in the casket. After all of that was anyone disappointed that Shawn was underneath it?

I kept anticipating the normal he’s in the casket and then, Shawn’s gone but he’s going to be underneath the casket since that’s relatively untapped. Then however I thought that it would be better for nobody to be there at all so neither would get the usual “Raw” one up before the PPV. Is it just me or did the DX crotch chop really drive the nail in the coffin the fact that Mr. WrestleMania is back?

Just an aside I decided to throw in just in case someone in the fed reads this so this will never happen again, don’t let Lawler call the show in his gear anymore. His tights with the t-shirts are fine, but no t-shirt just the strap barely covering one nipple, that’s not fine. Now if Lillian Garcia did her ring announcing that way, no big deal. Just not Lawler.

Here’s a homework project for an O-ster out there that pays close attention to wrestling. Christopher Casur however is exempt from this because, he probably knows. Last year prior to WrestleMania I know the WWE did the same build up for MitB. Who won the Money in the bank build up match prior to WrestleMania and who won MitB? That could go a long, long way in deciding who wins MitB.

I don’t personally see Kane winning MitB but then again, I don’t really see why not. I still stand by my Shelton Benjamin or Christian picks, with CM Punk running a close third. Although I did have an idea for MitB, but it’d throw the stipulations out the window, and that would be Kennedy returning and running up the ladder to grab the case and the W.

I still don’t understand why Legacy doesn’t add more members. Sure Rhodes, DiBiase and Orton are good enough on their own, but someone else or the addition of two more members could do wonders for the team. Orton has his own things, and DiBiase and Rhodes appear to be nothing more than lackeys. Change that, and you have the formula for success.

Jericho and Orton are the two best heels in professional wrestling. Randy Orton though has that rare talent to just piss people off. I was watching “Raw” with a few people, and they noted to me, “that he is good and everything but he just pisses me off.” That’s a rare talent, and just another reason he’s a great heel.

Ok, forgive me for being a Triple H hater 99% of the time, and this is no different. I know that there may be, anthropologically speaking a reason for the leader of a group to posture and attempt to intimidate the other group before a fight, but really, come on Trips. Don’t bring a water bottle to fight, and don’t step right out of a limo with your wrists taped.

Next week will be the first “Raw” of the new wrestling year. Hopefully next week the "Tha Raw Report" will chronicle the debut of a new superstar on the rise, and hopefully catch back up with the continuing adventures and return of Charlie Haas. Well it's only six days away so, Happy WrestleMania!

Tha Results:
*Kane def. CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Christian, United States Champion MVP, Finlay, Mark Henry and Shelton Benjamin in an Eight-Man Over-the-Top Rope Battle Royal
*Big Show def. John Cena
*Rey Mysterio def. Intercontinental Champion JBL in a non-title match
*Chris Jericho def. Jerry “The King” Lawler
*Women's Champion Melina, Kelly Kelly, Mickie James, Eve, Gail Kim, Alicia Fox, Tiffany, Brie Bella & Maria def. Beth Phoenix, Rosa Mendes, Layla, Jillian, Michelle McCool, Maryse, Katie Lea Burchill, Nikki Bella & Natalya

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