By Jeremy Maes, Torch Team Contributor

WWE Heat review
November 23, 2003
Taped 11/17 in Beaumont, Tx
Report by Jeremy Maes, Torch Team Contributor

It’s Sunday, the Wolverines are the Big Ten champions after easily pushing aside Ohio State and it’s time for HEAT. On to the show, which begins with Steve Austin’s speech from Survivor Series. Just as convincing tonight as it was last Sunday.

(1) Hurricane & Rosey defeated Jeremy Lopez & Michael Koch. Once again the genius announcers never distinguish between the poor jobbers but they did receive a graphic stating their names, so that is progress. The match gets underway and turns out to be a traditional jobber match in the fact that the faces have the upper hand at first then the jobbers control the offense on the smaller of the two faces, Hurricane, until he makes the heroic comeback and tags in Rosey. Rosey cleans house on the jobbers and finishes off, I think, Michael Koch with a moonsault from the second rope.

Talking Points: Yep, you read that correctly, Rosey performed a second rope moonsault . I enjoyed this match quite a bit. Good psychology by all involved and Rosey is developing nicely. He moves smoothly in the ring for someone his size. I am not saying he should be a main-eventer but he definitely needs to drop the S.H.I.T. gimmick even if it means he becomes a full-fledged superhero. Bringing back these two jobbers as a part time tag team jobber squad would also not hurt. Sure Michael Koch was lumbering and looked lost but the make of the team worked.

(2) John Heidenreich defeated Jared Steele Well, this made the show grind to a halt. This was a basic big man squash match that showed no athletic promise whatsoever. Big John won with a twirling sidewalk slam.

Talking Points: Seeing Heidenreich’s name on the HEAT graphic kind of scared me. Has anyone else realized how similar it is in spelling to the Third Reich? On top of that he is a tall, white guy with pale blonde hair? I did not catch his eye color but if they are blue I smell a Nazi angle coming our way. Just in time I say. It has been a while since the WWE has had some sort of really tasteless historical angle.

Recap #1: The entire Matt/Lita/Molly/Bischoff/Christian angle from RAW I admit I marked out when Matt Hardy’s new and improved graphic came up on Monday night. At the same time I was hoping he would not acknowledge the fact they were dating but merely friends. Once that went out the window I was hoping for a Lita heel turn as she joined her heel boyfriend. Well, I got none of my wishes. Matt turned on Lita and she was fired. But wait, in steps Christian and he gets her job back since he was on Team Bischoff. Molly looked good in the segment continuing her strong championship run while Lita played her part well also. I just do not think they need the men in the women’s angles. Let the women stand or fall on their own merits. One quick comment though, does anyone else find it funny when there is a big dramatic angle on live television and you can either see, hear or both, someone in the crowd cheering or applauding? Maybe it is just me, but I laugh every time.

(3)Maven defeated Masada This was a very good competitive match that afforded both men ample opportunities for displaying their talents. Maven controlled the majority of the offense with takedowns and holds but showed a good amount of aggression in certain spots. Maven got the hard fought victory after a top rope jumping DDT.

Talking Points:This was another very good match. Maven definitely looks like he belongs in the ring now and can defiantly carry his own end of the action. He has improved his physique making himself look sleek and athletic without the use of pharmaceuticals. Masada would make a great tag-team partner for Sean O’Haire over on Smackdown. He already presents himself in a professional way and with a little better workout routine would slide in nicely in the tag-team. Besides, O’Haire is doing nothing right now.

Recap #2: Evolution/Goldberg and Kane Just basic stuff here recapping the events of RAW. I like the fact Kane appeared at the end of the show and disrupted the beating Goldberg was about to take. Then he also shows up on Smackdown eulogizing the Undertaker. It makes Kane a much bigger deal being allowed to jump show to show without having to be traded. Hopefully, Triple H will figure this out and when he tries jumping he will trip, fall and not be seen again for months.


(4) Trish Stratus defeated Gail Kim Trish won with her top rope springing bulldog. One giant gaffe and one “finally” spot highlighted the match. First the “Finally” spot. Gail tried clotheslining Trish but as she swung Trish did her slinky, bend backwards deal. Normally the other competitor stands there like Trish disappeared but not this time. Gail quickly pounced on the stretched out Trish with her backside crumbling Trish to the mat. The gaffe of the match was actually very scary. Gail was poised outside the ring and audibly calling for Trish to stand up. Once Trish did so Gail tried to slingshot in to her from the outside of the ropes. Unfortunately for Gail she slipped and crashed shoulder first, narrowly rolling her head out of the way. Making matters worse, she split the backside of her shorts much to the delight of the announcers and the crowd who whooped and hollered.

Talking Points: This is the kind of match I like to see on HEAT. Trish Stratus is a top tier performer and merchandise seller for the Raw Brand and warrants as much television time as possible. Gail Kim has cooled off, well she never really caught fire at the beginning, but she also has been a prominent part of Raw recently. More matches like these can only help the HEAT ratings.


End Points: This was a very good edition of HEAT. It moved by at a brisk pace making the hour-long program feel more like a 30-minute edition. I happened to like all of the jobbers for a change enough to welcome them all back next week and they even received their own graphics presentation. Now if only one of the two announcers would call them by name things would be much better off. The Gail Kim/ Trish Stratus contest is just the type of match that should main event every episode of HEAT. By featuring two regular RAW performers, or four if they want a tag team match, gives the show a different personality. Raw stars are not supposed to be on the show I know but if they are the main event it gives them quality show time as well as giving HEAT a lift.

Jeremy Maes welcomes any comments, oversights and opinions you have to share. Drop him a line at jeremymaes@yahoo.com or if you are a VIP Member, as you should be by now, he can be reached at Jmaes through the messenger service! Also, his Lounge articles are posted sometime every Wednesday. Make sure and check it out. Until this Wednesday, have fun!

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