Positively Raw 05.10.11: Fast Approaching Over the Limit

Welcome once again to Positively Raw. In last week’s Comment Section, the proceedings were kicked off by one Spence Mallard, who had the following to say:

I just got one question (that won’t even get posted):

Why not a positively iMPACT?

Well Spencer, first of all your comment did get posted, and secondly your question was somewhat answered by later commenter by the name of Darth Mortis who responded with:

Apply as a writer, and do it.

Darth is right, if anyone out there would like to start a similar column for Impact, I would encourage them to apply to 411. Positively Raw was my own idea, and the great bosses here on the site liked the idea and allowed me to run with it, so I’m sure they’d be only too happy to receive more positive content. I don’t write an Impact column for two reasons. First, I just don’t have the time, and second, living in the UK, I’m running 5 days behind as far as TNA goes. That also means that I find it hard to ever consider TNA in collaborative columns such as Wrestler of the Week, as the last I’ve seen of Impact is out-of-date already. If anyone is interested, pester Larry with an email including an example column, and to add a little push, I’ve even come up with a name for the potential column – A Positive Impact!

But then, I can’t help but feel a little as if we are forgetting another major wrestling show. What about Smackdown? I guess we could also do with a column named Smack Some Positivity Down – and we all know that Smackdown could sure use it right now after the internet pretty much exploded after Randy Orton’s title win last week. So, for one week only, I will address Smackdown in a positive light.

The End of a 5 Day (or 2 day, depending on whether you read spoilers) Title Reign

To start his first Smackdown as World Champion, Christian came out to share his feelings on winning the big one after 17 long and treacherous years. Captain Charisma thanked his buddy Edge, and us, the WWE Universe for our support. Newly turned heel Mark Henry interrupted the emotional moment though to stake a claim for a title shot, and was soon followed by The Great Khali who also wanted a chance at the Gold Belt. Randy Orton then made his way out, and stated that he too would like to throw his name into the hat for a possible title shot now that he was a member of the Smackdown roster. The entire hubbub brought out the General Manager Theodore Long, who decided to allow the live audience the choice of who would become Number One Contender. The Florida audience overwhelmingly sided with The Viper, and it was made official: Randy Orton was the number one contender and would face Christian…. that night! Later, when asked if he had maybe been a little unfair on Christian, Teddy Long replied that fair or unfair didn’t matter, but what did matter was giving the fans the best, most unpredictable show possible.

In the Main Event, Randy Orton challenged the new World Heavyweight Champion Christian. The two had a solid back-and-forth contest that saw both men hit their signature moves, many near falls, and a pretty quick pace maintained throughout. It would then be as Christian was leaping from the ropes for the umpteenth time of the match that Orton would have Captain Charisma scouted and would counter with an impressive RKO. Christian was out for the count and Randy Orton was crowned the NEW World Heavyweight Champion. Orton celebrated briefly before leaving, at which point a dejected and disappointed Christian slowly got to his feet and left, the crowd chanting his name.

The Positive – Wow, there was certainly a huge reaction to the news of this title switch, many feeling that Christian got shafted big time. The fact is, Teddy Long on the show claimed that he wanted Smackdown to be unpredictable, and that it certainly was (if you hadn’t read the spoilers of course). Christian’s title win at Extreme Rules felt like the happy ending of a fairy tale, as Captain Charisma’s hard work and efforts over the years had finally paid off. For that magic moment to come crashing to a halt just days later was not something I’d have seen coming, and I doubt many did. The earliest most, if not all would have predicted Christian to have lost the title would have been at Over The Limit. The positive here is that it created great, exciting television. The match was fantastic, and really could have been won by either man. It also had a proper finish, and I’m sure many more would complain if a match as spectacular as the one that Orton and Christian put on had been abruptly ended by say a Mark Henry interference.

The other positive is that it creates plenty of intrigue and excitement for Smackdown in the coming weeks and months. Yes, we’ve all seen Orton as Champion plenty of times before, but now he will most likely have the crowd split. There are many possibilities for a big main event storyline to take place on Smackdown over the summer months. An obvious choice would be to have Christian snap, turning heel on Orton in a bid to regain the title he once held for a matter of days. Orton as the babyface Champion would then be forced to fend off assault after assault from the former Champion who we all know can play a good heel. Another option, and my personal favourite would be to keep Christian face, and to turn Orton into cocky, arrogant, Legend Killer Orton circa 2004. Have Orton become a complete dick, using tactics such as forcing disqualifications in the first ten seconds of a title match, and turning around and brashly justifying it by saying ‘I’ve been the Champion enough times to know that you do anything to hold onto the title. Christian you’re nothing but a rookie after 17 pathetic years in this business’. They could have this story between the two build up and up over several months until Summerslam when Christian would eventually regain the title to what would be a huge ovation.

I’m only speculating of course, which is part of the fun of being a wrestling fan. With many possibilities, I can’t wait to watch more Smackdown throughout 2011.

The Truth Hurts!

1. The Truth Will Set Rey Free

During the opening segment of Raw (discussed below), R-Truth interrupted The Miz, who had interrupted Rey Mysterio, who had interrupted Alberto Del Rio, to make his case for being the number one contender. Truth announced that John Morrison had been hospitalised as a result of his attack last week, and that Morrison had even had surgery (all of which is semi-true). When the Raw GM chimed in, he – or she – stated that they saw three worthy contenders in the ring and that those three would face off in a triple threat number one contender’s match later in the evening. R-Truth was the man who hadn’t given a good enough plea, as he was the one left out of the festivities. Truth was later seen leaving, and broski Scott Stanford tried to gain an interview on Truth’s thoughts. Truth began to get that crazy look in his eyes once again, and went off again about how parents want there little ones to be able to sing along to ‘What’s Up?’. Truth went on to state that he was a conspiracy victim – maybe he could ask Chris Jericho for some advice? – and before leaving the building, forced Scott to say ‘What’s Up’.

Had Truth really left the building though? It seemed not, as after the main event triple threat match, R-Truth returned to take out Rey Mysterio with his finisher to end the broadcast.

The Positive – R-Truth continues to grow and grow as a heel week after week. He has the psychotic promo down to a tee, including talking t himself, and the bug-eye look. Out of all off the challengers that started the show, R-Truth had the lesser argument, even if his went on longer. With Morrison now out for a couple of months due to his actual neck surgery, Truth needs a feud to keep the heat… and who better to gain heat from the Rey Mysterio. It makes sense too, at least in the mind of a crazed heel such as R-Truth. Truth’s biggest complaint is that he never accomplished anything due to keeping the kiddies happy with his rap song, and we all know that Rey Rey is a big favourite with them kiddies. So in Truth’s head, I’d expect he is merely lashing back out against the children who held him back with their wanting to sing ‘What’s Up?’. It also keeps Rey from being put into a recycled feud with Alberto Del Rio, and instead places him into a fresh one against Truth.

To add a footnote, it’s also good to see that Truth currently enters to no music at all, as that adds to his current train of thought: That the music held him back.

2. King Cole Strikes Again

Michael Cole took to the ring on Raw yet again this week to announce his retirement from in-ring competition. Undefeated and all. This didn’t sit well with Jerry Lawler, who after nearly six months now, hasn’t been able to exact his true vengeance upon the ‘voice of the WWE’. Jerry challenged Cole to one final match at Over the Limit. To goad Cole into it, Jerry even offered to put his Hall of Fame ring on the line (Cole having mentioned being a future hall of famer during his retirement speech). Cole declined to begin with, and once back in his Cole Mine, began to talk about how King couldn’t stay out of the spotlight, before bringing up Mother’s Day. Cole mentioned how his mother and him had spent the day watching Wrestlemania 27 on repeat, before asking King how he had spent mother’s day. Cole then sarcastically apologised for his insensitivity at having brought up the subject what with Jerry’s mother having passed away in February. King tried to infiltrate the Cole Mine, but Jack Swagger emerged to take Lawler out. After the commercial break, Swagger took on Kofi Kingston for the US title. The title looked to be in the grasp of Swagger, but Jerry Lawler returned, causing a distraction to which Kinston took advantage, winning the match. King then took Swagger out, throwing him over the barricade, and turning his attention to Cole. Cole locked the doors of his fortress, but King struck anyway, throwing his announcer’s chair over the top onto Cole, and then grabbing Cole’s tie through one of the air holes and repeatedly pulling Cole’s face into the glass wall. Referees finally managed to pull King away, and Swagger got up and aided Cole in getting out. King informed us that he was not fired, having only touched Cole’s tie, and not Cole himself, to which Swagger responded that he was accepting King’s challenge on behalf of Cole.

The Positive – Did you really want this feud to end with Cole having won? I didn’t think so! Michael Cole is the most hated man in WWE right now, which is most likely why this has been dragged out for so long. With King’s Hall of Fame ring on the line, and with it all having gone on for so long now, I can see this thing finally coming to an end at Over the Limit. King can finally get his revenge, and the crowd I’m sure will love every second of it – their reaction to King smashing Cole’s face in on Raw this week proves as much. And, for what it’s worth, I actually found this segment pretty entertaining.

3. I should be the number one contender because…

Alberto Del Rrrrrio drove into the arena at the start of the show to say that although his destiny to become World Heavyweight Champion was stolen from him over on Smackdown, he would fulfil his destiny on Raw and become WWE Champion. Del Rio wanted to be the new number one contender to John Cena’s title. This brought out Rey Mysterio who argued his own case, and a little back-and-forth argument ensued until The Miz arrived and made mention of how he was actually named WWE Champion last week. Then of course, R-Truth also made his own claim to be number one contender until the anonymous Raw GM declared that Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio and The Miz would be competing in a triple threat match to determine the next challenger for Cena’s gold.

During the night, Alex Riley had wanted to prove himself worthy to The Miz again after having failed The Awesome One the week before. Riley challenged John Cena to a match and lost in decisive fashion, with The Miz watching from the ramp towards the end of the contest.

Alex Riley’s night wasn’t over yet though. The Miz, Del Rio and Rey put on a fast-paced rollercoaster of a triple threat main event match. Just as Rey looked to be picking up the win by pinning Alberto, Alex Riley made the save, pulling Del Rio from underneath Rey, and The Miz capitalised, rolling up Mysterio for the victory. John Cena then emerged to inform the new number one contender that their match at Over the Limit would be an I Quit match.

The Positive – First of all, the ongoing storyline between The Miz and Alex Riley is slowly building towards something, and although Riley may have been essentially squashed by Cena, he still looked as comfortable as ever in his role. The fact that Riley was able to assist The Miz in winning the match stretches out the lifespan of this pairing for now. With The Miz as top contender again, and an I Quit match set, it looks as if the Miz/Cena feus is likely to climax at Over the Limit in two weeks in what I’m sure will be an exciting match to watch. As for the triple threat match on Raw, what was not to like. The three different styles brought by the competitors meshed together well, giving us quick paced action, and some pretty impressive manoeuvres. Rey brought his high flying agility, Del Rio brought his technical ability, and The Miz brought the rough, aggressive brawling to the table. It was quite a main event, and not only went on to set up Cena/Miz for Over the Limit, but also possibly Mysterio vs. Truth. The opening segment was also handled very well, with the six men involved all bringing their A game to the promo – the fifth and sixth men being Ricardo Rodriguez and Alex Riley. Hell, who knew that Ricardo could dropkick like that? His facial expressions were also top-notch and near Will Regal standards. Overall, I was left thoroughly entertained.

Before leaving you all for another week, allow me to quickly throw in one last positive:

4. Zack Ryder appeared on Raw

Zack Ryder appeared on Raw briefly this week and was on screen with John Cena, seemingly teaching the Champ the art of fist-pumping.

The Positive – Zack Ryder was on Raw again! And was featured alongside the biggest star in the WWE to boot! Maybe WWE will be picking up the ball that they’ve so far dropped with Long Island Iced Z after all!

That’s all folks! See you next week, and Stay Positive!