By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
October 6, 2008
Upcoming PPV: Cyber Sunday (third-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the fifty-eighth edition of Raw Storylines and Feuds.

For those wondering about the Intrigue Level system that I employ, you can refer to the numbers as follows:

10 (excellent), 9 (great), 8-6 (very good, good, pretty good), 5 (decent; has its good and bad qualities), 4-3 (needs work, poor), 2 (bad), 1 (terrible)


World Heavyweight Champion CHRIS JERICHO vs. SHAWN MICHAELS (27 weeks w/ 3 weeks hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Jericho opened Raw with a promo, declaring that he was put in charge for the night since Adamle had a high-profile meeting with Shane and Stephanie. Jericho booked Cade vs. HBK in a No DQ Match and said that he was washing his hands of Michaels.

-Batista interrupted Jericho's promo as the new number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship to ask for a date for their title match. The meeting ended when Batista made a statement by giving Jericho an unexpected spinebuster.

-During a commercial break, Jericho announced that Batista would have to put his number one contention status on the line as he faces JBL in a rematch from No Mercy.

-Todd Grisham interviewed HBK in the locker room, and Michaels said that Jericho wasn't going to be competing tonight, yet he was being forced to.

-Jericho met with Randy Orton, telling him that he's going to put him to work.

-Michaels beat Lance Cade in his No DQ Match after repeatedly driving a chair into Cade. After the match, HBK picked up the chair and continued the attack on Cade's motionless body.

-In the main event, Batista defeated JBL again to become the number one contender despite Jericho being the special guest referee, Regal being the timekeeper, and Randy Orton being on commentary.

-After the match, Adamle announced that at Cyber Sunday, the fans would get to choose the special guest referee for the Jericho-Batista World Title Match: Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, or Steve Austin.

Analysis:

If you want to get an idea of how Raw's being written at the moment, just take a look at all the story points listed above and compare that number to the other feuds on this list. The majority of the show's focus—whether justified or not—is being placed at the very top of the roster. That's not a criticism as much as it is an observation. The strategy may ultimately become very useful and beneficial. Just a few notes here:

Immediately following Michaels's match against Lance Cade, he looked to be trying to get a sense of what he was capable of. As he stood idly in the corner with his shoulders awkwardly raised to give him a deliberately unstable posture, it seemed like he wasn't so much surprised with his actions, but he did seem like he was trying to process them. The resumed assault on Cade as Michaels returned to mercilessly beat his opponent with the steel chair proved that he's decided in his own mind that this is the only way he can deal with things.

As for the main event, I'm not sure why the announcers had to exaggerate the threat level with Regal as timekeeper and Orton as a guest on commentary; those positions should have nothing to do with the results of the in-ring action. Oh, and why did Adamle have to meet with Shane and Stephanie McMahon on a Monday night during Raw? Couldn't they find a better time during the week beyond the two hours that Adamle works on the air to hold a meeting? It's just a little stretch of logic there. The rest of the show was really solid, and it will be interesting to see if Michaels continues to go after Jericho despite Batista being the clear number one contender.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 10 [same since last week]

Previous Feuds
Chris Jericho: Randy Orton, JBL, Jeff Hardy, Money in the Bank, Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels: Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Ric Flair, Batista & Jericho

REY MYSTERIO vs. KANE (9 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Kane and his tag team partner from ECW, Mark Henry, defeated Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy after Kane delivered a chokeslam to Hardy for the victory.

Analysis:

Nothing new here. This feud lost a lot of steam since No Mercy because nothing new is happening. It's slightly surprising that WWE isn't doing anything different with this Kane-Mysterio feud, but it's even more surprising that they are continuing the Henry-Hardy rivalry, which seemed to have gotten stale a few weeks ago.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6 [down 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Rey Mysterio: Chavo Guerrero, Finlay, MVP, Edge
Kane: Shelton Benjamin, Chuck Palumbo, Chavo Guerrero, Miz & Morrison, Mark Henry

CM PUNK vs. TED DiBIASE (1 week)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Ted DiBiase faced Kofi Kingston one-on-one. The match saw DiBiase soundly defeat Kingston after hitting his modified Russian leg sweep for the victory.

Analysis:

Here is a great example of a budding rivalry with a lot of potential between two guys that could really be huge stars in the future. This feud really began last Friday night on Smackdown during the debut episode on MyNetwork TV when Punk teamed with Carlito and Primo to face DiBiase, Rhodes, and Manu. Although Kofi Kingston and Cody Rhodes will likely find a place here, the real issue seems to be relegated to Punk and DiBiase. This is WWE's chance to put a lot more development on DiBiase, who's slowly establishing himself on Raw while being associated with a strong team and while wearing the World Tag Team Championship around his waist. His character is still a little thin, and these encounters with CM Punk can help bring more out of him. It would also be nice to hear him speak more in promos, interviews, backstage scenes, etc.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6.5

Previous Feuds
CM Punk: Elijah Burke, John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero, Morrison & Miz, Batista, JBL
Ted DiBiase: Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes, Cryme Tyme

JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. CRYME TYME (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-As Kelly Kelly faced Jillian Hall one-on-one, Miz and Morrison argued exhaustively with Cryme Tyme on commentary. The matched ended when Kelly scored a win with a victory roll pin. And that's when the bickering stopped.

Analysis:

WWE just let these two teams fly on commentary with arguments, jokes, clichés, etc. At many points, it was almost impossible to comprehend what was being said since all four guys were talking at once. However, it was funny to see Michael Cole legitimately cracking up as he sat between these guys on commentary. Despite how messy this segment was, it was different, so WWE should be credited for that.

It's unusual to hear so much arguing and fighting on commentary. This segment and the video montage of clips from their respective internet shows two weeks ago make this feud stand out from the others. And when the primary storyline on Raw—Jericho vs. Michaels & Batista—is so powerful, it's important to have innovative midcard rivalries. It's also still really interesting to see Miz and Morrison participating in a completely separate feud over on ECW.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7 [up 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
John Morrison & The Miz: Yang & Moore, Dreamer & Delaney, CM Punk, Finlay & Hornswoggle
Cryme Tyme: Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes

Women's Champion BETH PHOENIX vs. CANDICE MICHELLE (6 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

Nothing happened between Beth Phoenix and Candice Michelle this week. In fact, Candice was conspicuously absent.

Analysis:

After Candice's loss at No Mercy and her absence this week on Raw, this feud could easily be over.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): n/a

Previous Feuds
Beth Phoenix: Candice Michelle, Mickie James, Maria, Mickie James, Melina
Candice Michelle: Melina, Beth Phoenix

JAMIE NOBLE vs. WILLIAM REGAL (10 weeks w/ 2 weeks hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-As Regal and Layla watched from ringside, Jamie Noble and Mickie James lost to Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix when the Glamazon caused a distraction, allowing Santino to roll-up Noble for the win.

-After the matchup, Regal tried to attack Noble, but Noble launched him over the ringside barricade. Regal and Noble then brawled until a referee and Mickie James broke things up.

Analysis:

The post-match attack between Noble and Regal was probably the best thing for this feud. Until this week, it was extremely weak. WWE has the basis of a storyline here, but the people involved, all of whom are incredibly talented at their craft, aren't being used properly. This week's rage, particularly on Regal's behalf, is an encouraging sign. But the future potential for this feud as it grows from here desperately relies on how well the Raw writers follow up on it next week. There should be some kind of explanation for why Regal blew up after the match. Did I miss something? He tried to attack Noble, and Noble managed to fling him over the railing. Then Regal became incensed and attacked Noble viciously, a major deviation from the calm, cool demeanor he had before the match began.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 4.5 [up 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Jamie Noble: Hornswoggle, Vickie Guerrero, Chuck Palumbo
William Regal: Mr. Kennedy


CONCLUDED FEUDS

(1) Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels?
(2) Batista vs. Santino Marella
(3) Rey Mysterio vs. Kane?
(4) Beth Phoenix vs. Candice Michelle

POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) Chris Jericho vs. Mike Adamle
(2) Jamie Noble & Mickie James vs. Santino Marella & Beth Phoenix
(3) Santino Marella vs. Roddy Piper or Goldust or Honky Tonk Man
(4) The Great Khali vs. Johnny Knoxville
(5) Kelly Kelly vs. Jillian Hall


Thanks for reading, everyone. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to email me at newthtorch@hotmail.com. I greatly appreciate all the feedback that I receive, and I will respond to every email. Please insert a word in the subject line that deals with a wrestling topic or write something such as "WWE," "feud," or "Val Venis" so that I know it's not junk mail.

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