Raw 01.21.08 Review

Sorry for delay.

The first ever wrestling show in HD starts with Micheals vs Kennedy, you can’t go wrong with that.

Match 1: Shawn Micheals vs Ken Kennedy
Just a textbook, smart, entertaining TV wrestling match. There was a nice chain wrestling bout before the commercial break. Shawn teased the sweet chin music on Kennedy but he escaped. After the commercial break there was good back and forth action between the two wrestlers and the ending sequence was really good, logical though. Shawn did the superkick on Kennedy for the 3 count.
MATCH RATING: ***1/4

Vince McMahon gives the pep talk to Orton for the handshake he has ordered for Raw. I prefer that side of McMahon than the HHH feuding one, because we’ve seen him feud with HHH for 10 years now. He can talk with the best of them and this was a nice segment.

Match 2: Beth Phoenix vs Mickie James
This match was a good women wrestling match. Mickie and Beth are the two best female wrestlers on Raw and they proved it right there. Mickie still lost but in a competitive match.
MATCH RATING: **

The little interview with Cody Rhodes, Kendrick and Holly wasn’t really good but at least it was some character advancement from all 3 wrestlers, we don’t get to see them talk much but just little segments like that would be good.

Match 3: Hornswoggle/Finlay vs The Highlanders
SQUASH to put over the Irishmen.
MATCH RATING: NR

Chris Jericho does a wonderful promo in the ring. He’s really dramatic in this one and hell he should be, JBL tried to strangle him on TV live in front of his kids. It was a real nice effort from Jericho, he proved that you don’t have to shout in the mic to make people interested in what you say. He did say to JBL that he made this one personal even though he didn’t want that and that it would be a fight at the rumble.

Jeff Hardy then gets the McMahon pep talk. He doesn’t want to shake it apparently but he says to McMahon that he will give every body something to talk about until their big match Sunday.

Match 4: Brian Kendrick vs Umaga
That’s a really fine squash for me. Umaga got beat for the last two weeks and even before so he had to go in the Rumble strong. Kendrick got enough offence in this one to show that he wasn’t any jobber, but Umaga just killed him with a big samoan drop for the pin.
MATCH RATING: *

Santino did another beautiful line backstage in the girls segment, just watch it he’s hilarious.

Match 5: Hardcore Holly vs Carlito
This one was just to show that the tag champs still exist. It was short and nothing horrible. 3 minutes match don’t mean a lot.
MATCH RATING: ¾*

Match 6: Triple H’s gauntlet chance
Over the top rope match
Triple H is in the ring and Regal announces the first participant, Snitsky, after a little battle, Triple H gets him out pretty easily. Mark Henry is next, he beats up Triple H a bit but nothing to shake up the cerebral assassin, he throws the big man over the top rope, the third participant is; William Regal, he comes to the ring and he tries to battle Triple H. He is able to contain him for a while but HHH does the spinebuster and gets Regal over the top to qualify for the Rumble.
MATCH RATING: *

McMahon comes out and he announces the two participants in the championship match Sunday. They both enter the ring and speak a bit. Jeff says he respects more many people than Orton, by example Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Lilian Garcia, Jordan from the crowd, Billy from the crowd and he goes on and on, until he comes back to the ring and faces Orton in the eyes. Orton extends his hand but Hardy responds with the Twist of Fate to close the show.

Final Review: The go-home show for the Rumble was ok. There was truly one good match, being the opener and the rest was just textbook building for the Rumble. I like how the Championship match is looking to be, it could be a sleeper pick for MOTY if they have enough time. Thumbs Up!