Three for three
So we were pretty damn pumped for this week's episode of Raw. Not hard to see why. We're hot on the heels of both our insane backstage experience and CM Punk's incredible promo. All is very good in wrestling land right now, leaving us eager for another fix.
Raw didn't disappoint. Oh no siree. It went one better, in fact: it excelled.
That was fucking nuts, y'all. In the good way. I've long maintained little point scripting promos to appeal solely to the Internet audience. TNA tried it and failed. But I'll be damned if Vince, John and their crew didn't just pull it off.
In under 12 minutes, WWE referenced Montreal in '97, "Bret screwed Bret", WCW, Austin/McMahon, Brock Lesnar's departure and armchair bookers on the internet without saying the words. Hell, they openly discussed Hogan, the revolving door of top babyfaces, buy-rates and corporate expectations vs fandom desires! What's truly magnificent is that every sentence uttered was easily digestible for newer/casual fan thrilling as fuck for us old-schoolers. stareyednight got as much out of it as I did.
Cena's performance was brilliant. Even the "smart marks" were cheering him, as well they should: his character stepped up and earned the right to be the face of the company. Story-line or no, I was proud of him for dropping the "meaningless" belt and holding to his principles. Then, unselfishly, he put Vince over by swallowing nervously about the final announcement. Which makes you want to buy the pay-per-view; if John's nervous, maybe he won't win! We can't miss it!
The lion's share of the praise, though, has to go to Vince. Question his decisions all you like, but there's few better on the stick than Vincent Kennedy McMahon. He wasn't a billionaire baddie tonight, he was a businessman standing by his principles. Vince didn't turn heel on John, he lost his temper with a smart-mouthed employee. A morality shift may be in the works, but it didn't happen tonight and that adds to the hyper-realism of the promo. Used sparingly, Vince is an undeniable in-ring asset.
But so is Punk, as he proved during the live Brisbane show this week.
(Eat that, Dwayne.)
I'm left wondering where this will all lead. John will retain at Money in the Bank, of that I'm pretty sure. Will he then feud with McMahon over the soul of the WWE? Will Vince align with, say, Alberto Del Rio as his preferred "corporate champion"? Or is Punk's departure just smoke-and-mirrors and we'll see him feud with McMahon, becoming the much-needed tweener the company so sorely lacks? Damned if I know, but I can hardly wait to find out... which means more money for WWE.
That's how you promo, kids.
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
Raw didn't disappoint. Oh no siree. It went one better, in fact: it excelled.
Click to viewThat was fucking nuts, y'all. In the good way. I've long maintained little point scripting promos to appeal solely to the Internet audience. TNA tried it and failed. But I'll be damned if Vince, John and their crew didn't just pull it off.
In under 12 minutes, WWE referenced Montreal in '97, "Bret screwed Bret", WCW, Austin/McMahon, Brock Lesnar's departure and armchair bookers on the internet without saying the words. Hell, they openly discussed Hogan, the revolving door of top babyfaces, buy-rates and corporate expectations vs fandom desires! What's truly magnificent is that every sentence uttered was easily digestible for newer/casual fan thrilling as fuck for us old-schoolers. stareyednight got as much out of it as I did.
Cena's performance was brilliant. Even the "smart marks" were cheering him, as well they should: his character stepped up and earned the right to be the face of the company. Story-line or no, I was proud of him for dropping the "meaningless" belt and holding to his principles. Then, unselfishly, he put Vince over by swallowing nervously about the final announcement. Which makes you want to buy the pay-per-view; if John's nervous, maybe he won't win! We can't miss it!
The lion's share of the praise, though, has to go to Vince. Question his decisions all you like, but there's few better on the stick than Vincent Kennedy McMahon. He wasn't a billionaire baddie tonight, he was a businessman standing by his principles. Vince didn't turn heel on John, he lost his temper with a smart-mouthed employee. A morality shift may be in the works, but it didn't happen tonight and that adds to the hyper-realism of the promo. Used sparingly, Vince is an undeniable in-ring asset.
But so is Punk, as he proved during the live Brisbane show this week.
(Eat that, Dwayne.)
I'm left wondering where this will all lead. John will retain at Money in the Bank, of that I'm pretty sure. Will he then feud with McMahon over the soul of the WWE? Will Vince align with, say, Alberto Del Rio as his preferred "corporate champion"? Or is Punk's departure just smoke-and-mirrors and we'll see him feud with McMahon, becoming the much-needed tweener the company so sorely lacks? Damned if I know, but I can hardly wait to find out... which means more money for WWE.
That's how you promo, kids.
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF