The Blaze Effect
Brandon Blaze
Alright, so Raw just happened, and we're about to run this shit DOWN for you right now. First off, I just want to say Raw's new theme song, top notch. Love that shit, they made such a great choice with that. So let's hope theme song ain't the best part of the show shall we? Let's get int things..
Alright, so after that little intro, we see Undertaker walking down the hall, clearly pissed about what happened last week with Goldberg, as he burst into Vince's office and finds Austin and Vince talking. Austin and Taker throw some jabs at each other, these two looking very heated and at this point I was thinking they was going to brawl in the office. But Vince stopped him and told Austin to get ready for tonight. Then boy I thought Vince was about to get it, but he was able to calm down Undertaker by letting him know that Goldberg isn't here yet, but he will be later tonight. Which Taker then leaves the office. Pretty good opener to keep things HOT from week. Fans seemed into it as well, so that's always a plus.
Buff Bagwell & Val Venis w/ Sunny vs. Scott Norton & Lance Cade
In a match that never should have happened, Buff and Val pick up the W over Scott and Lance. The fans really wasn't into this match, and I don't know if it's because it only last like five minutes, or if it just was horrible, but really just doesn't seem like a match you want t have. But at least it went on early in the night, giving them time to save the show.
After that, we have Vince in the ring, he pretty much said he has found the next big thing in wrestling, and out comes Mark Henry, who is clearly back from OVW after being down there for a bit. Hopefully he's improved a little from when he was first on the roster. Crowd seemed like to give him a mixed reaction, some happy to see him, some not so much, and even some don't seem to give a damn as well. Only time will tell how his career will be now, and if he really will be the next big thing.
Dean Malenko vs. Steven Richards
Well this kind of hurts the arugment earlier that the fans weren't into the Buff/Val vs Scott/Lance match for being short, as this one was short as well, and honestly they seemed a lot more into it. They both seemed to do a great job at keeping the fans interested, even for a quick little match between the two. Dean Malenko getting in really most of the offense but Richards selling of the beat down really sold it for the fans. Now after that match. we see Raven standing on the stage, and tells Stevie to come home, saying joining him is the only thing that will happen him and he needs to do it now. But he doesn't seem to want to take the time to listen to him. Good stuff here, I look forward to seeing where this goes with the two.
Alright so then next on the list of things we see Chyna in the ring, talking about her Playboy Magazine, not even seeming to want to talk about her lost the other night at Thunder. After showing off a bit, we get Scott Steiner coming out. so I already knew this was about to be golden. Boy was I right. He hits on her, ask her about being with a real man which gets her to stay to watch his match......and then....he wins by countout against William Regal. Chyna does talk Scott Steiner up, and seems to have some ideas. I'm hoping so, because I need more of these two together. This seems like a pairing that can knock it out of the park. After wards, The Big Bad Booty Daddy follows her to the back, and well I guess we'll find out soon enough what happens with them two.
Randy Orton & Mark Jindrak w/ Debra vs. Nick Dinsmore & Rodney Mack
After some great stuff, we're back to having a horrible horrible match, like just wow. I was glad it was over. That's all I'm going to say. Orton & Jindrak won, that's all that you need to know.
Now, we get Hogan and talks about DDP, bringing up WCW and how DDP called himself the People's Champion but list off the people he couldn't even beat when it mattered. He even said he was the real star of WCW, but then Jericho came out. Talked about being their when Hogan was, and even goes as far as blaming Hogan for WCW dying. Who knew that Hogan was the one who had the AOL/Time Warner Merger happen, that bastard. But this pisses off Hogan as Jericho leaves and Hogan is left standing there very very pissed off. Good stuff, could be a good feud if this happens.
No idea why Jericho left, as he had a match up next with Goldust, which was pretty good, they really got the crowd into it. Some good stuff with King, Jim Ross, and Bobby Heenan talking about what just happened with Jericho and Hogan, helping build that up. Jerchio can be made into a million bucks if this story is booked right. Afterwards, Jericho enters himself into The King of the Ring. He doesn't care who he has to beat, but he hopes to get his hands on Hogan to get him to SHUT THE HELL UP! and promises things will never be the same.......AGAIN! so good shit good shit.
So it seems The Filthy Animals, Konnan and Rey Mysterio are coming soon, the fans couldn't seem to give one single fuck about it, but I'm interested in seeing what they can do once they arrive. So I'll hold off some judgement for now.
Ric Flair w/ David Flair vs. Fit Finlay
Thank GOD that David isn't in this match, because it actually pretty good. Flair picked up a good win here, while Jim Ross thinks this team can be the team of the future, while Bobby Heenan throws out facts that David is holding Ric back. I really really hope they are going somewhere good with this.
We see Austin getting ready for his match that's coming up here rather soon, fans giving a nice little pop when he's seen which comes as no surprise. He's one of the most over guys in the business right now.
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Hollywood Hogan
Talk about giving away a big match on free TV. But in a shocking turn of events, DDP was able to beat and pin Hulk Hogan, which I did NOT see coming, but i got to say it was a nice surprise. Hogan clearly thrown off by the comments Jericho made earlier. Good stuff, but would've saved this match for a PPV, or at least not have it have a winner. Afterwards. DDP says he's going to walk in to King of the Ring as a challenger, but walk out as the CHAMP and make Austin FEEL THE BANG! So that should be good, hoping to see how far they are willing to push DDP.
Now we hype up Austin vs Perfect, which is another pretty huge match but, at least I feel this one is worthy of TV. These two probably had the match of the night, really stole the show with some great action. Perfect even almost pulled off the shock win, but in the end Austin got the W and his hand raised. Both he and DDP looking strong on their build towards King of the Ring. Afterwards. Austin cuts a promo on DDP, building up their match a bit more. These two really are about to tear the house down. Stunner vs Diamond Cutter, damn I'm ready.
Raw then ends with a nice brawl with Undertaker and Goldberg which saw Undertaker jump on Goldberg the second he got out of the limo, these to brawl and have to be held part but that doesn't work as Goldberg and Taker both knock out the people trying to hold them back, but Taker got a bit more distracted during all of this, which led to an amazing looking spear into the limo's windshield. Goldberg talks his trash while Undertaker has to be attended to as Raw goes off the air.
Overall, a better show than last week, a few things that I feel should have not really taken place, some because it was bad, some because it's free TV. But overall the show was pretty good, I'd have to give it a 6 and three quarters out of ten. I really look forward to what they bring to the table next.
side note: OMB, I saw your comments about why you did some of this, but remember this is in character, so "Brandon Blaze" would not see any of that, since in kayfabe and in this world, none of that would even be said anyway. So don't take offense to any of it, I get what you're doing, I've booked some big matches before on free tv as well. I just gotta stay in the character of a wrestling journalist
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