By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
October 27, 2008
Upcoming PPV: Survivor Series (fourth-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the sixty-first 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 Hvt. Champion BATISTA vs. CHRIS JERICHO vs. SHAWN MICHAELS (30 weeks w/ 4 weeks hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-A fuming Chris Jericho rabidly complained about losing the World Title at Cyber Sunday, claiming that it took an army for Batista to defeat him; he announced that he wanted a rematch next week.

-Mike Adamle came out and decided that the rematch would be a Steel Cage Match. Then Orton walked to the ring, claimed that he would leave WWE if the McMahons didn't fire Adamle next week, and demoralized Adamle with personal insults. Adamle slapped him in return.

-Michael Cole interviewed Batista in center ring, asking him how it feels to be champion again. Batista said that it feels great and thanked the fans. Cole then asked him about the Steel Cage Match, and Batista showed no sign of concern; in fact, he was excited about it.

-JBL cut a short, but effective promo railing against Shawn Michaels for costing him money by not counting to three when he was the referee at Cyber Sunday (because JBL would have been next in line for a shot if Jericho retained the title).

-Before the main event got underway, JBL brawled with Shawn Michaels backstage. After throwing HBK through a light fixture and random metal backstage items, Layfield hurled him through a door. The match seemingly became a Handicap Match.

-Michaels eventually made it to the ring, and he and Batista managed to win their match when The Animal hit the Batista Bomb on JBL for the win.

Analysis:

Chris Jericho reacted well to his title loss, but his character has suffered—not necessarily from losing at Cyber Sunday, but mainly from looking so weak on last week's Raw. With so few main event heels on Raw, that isn't a good sign. If Jericho is perceived as weak and Randy Orton's still largely inactive, babyfaces like Batista and the newly arriving John Cena will have only each other as threats to the title. Orton, Jericho, and JBL have all suffered as somewhat ineffective heels (with Orton being the true exception since he's on a wrestling hiatus due to injury).

The story with Orton and Adamle is intriguing, with the ultimatum being clear. Could this mean a change in GM or a negotiation with Orton? Maybe it can also mean that Orton can earn a new position as a decision-maker alongside or instead of Adamle for a while, or maybe Orton could leave Raw and head to Smackdown after quitting. There are some interesting choices that WWE can try with this one. As for JBL, he may very well be looking into a feud with Shawn Michaels. The reasoning is legitimate: He is angry about how Michaels indirectly cost him a title shot, and therefore money. The point about money makes complete sense; it truly is what Layfield lives for. Now the question is whether Chris Jericho finishes his amazingly long rivalry with HBK or whether it quietly fades away and transitions into a JBL-HBK storyline.

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
Batista: Great Khali, Undertaker, MVP, Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Edge, CM Punk, John Cena

REY MYSTERIO & EVAN BOURNE vs. KANE & MARK HENRY (12 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Mysterio talked to Todd Grisham about breaking through limitations. Evan Bourne met up with Rey to talk about their match; Rey wished him luck.

-Rey Mysterio and Evan Bourne faced each other one-on-one. The match ended when Rey Mysterio countered Bourne's victory roll pin for the three count. Both men stood in solidarity after the match, shaking hands.

-Suddenly, Kane entered the ring and attacked Mysterio. He got the better of Rey and started clawing at Mysterio's mask, but that's when Evan Bourne jumped in to help.

-Mark Henry then showed up, attacking Bourne. Kane chokeslammed Rey while Henry hit the World's Strongest Slam on Bourne. Both monsters stood over their proverbial prey as the segment came to a close.

Analysis:

Great dynamic between Mysterio and Bourne, almost a mentor-protégé relationship, but with a ton of mutual respect and admiration. Their match felt like a test Rey was giving to Evan in order to see how far he's come already. The result of the veteran finding a way to counter the exciting newcomer was well done. Also, it makes narrative sense for Mark Henry to get involved against Evan Bourne after Cyber Sunday. After all, Bourne is the one who beat out Henry for a shot at the ECW Title. Bourne's impressive popularity probably fueled the flames of jealousy in an uncompromising Mark Henry. Now we can see the smaller, faster, more agile entertainers compete against the larger, stronger, more destructive heel monsters.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 4.5 [up 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Rey Mysterio: Chavo Guerrero, Finlay, MVP, Edge
Evan Bourne: Mike Knox, Chavo Guerrero
Kane: Shelton Benjamin, Chuck Palumbo, Chavo Guerrero, Miz & Morrison, Mark Henry
Mark Henry: Undertaker, Kane, Tommy Dreamer

World Tag Team Champions TED DiBIASE & CODY RHODES (w/ Manu) vs. CM PUNK & KOFI KINGSTON (4 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-CM Punk and Kofi Kingston defeated Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes for the World Tag Team Titles this week after Punk nailed the GTS on DiBiase for the win.

Analysis:

I honestly think this is probably the best case scenario here. Punk and Kingston needed something, and now they have titles to work with and defend. They can also start showing more of a friendship toward one another and grow together as characters who must work together to keep their championship. On the other hand, DiBiase and Rhodes aren't great characters. They have a boatload of potential, but nothing is being done with them. They also make a good example of how holding the titles doesn't necessarily do anything for people. It's a combination of reputation and personality.

And this isn't a criticism on how WWE hasn't allowed DiBiase and Rhodes enough time to talk because WWE has given them plenty of time. The problem is that nothing stands out as personally unique about them beyond their families' histories. DiBiase should develop a character similar to his father's, but he should make it unique to himself. The same could be said for Cody Rhodes. Now that they've lost the World Tag Team Titles, maybe WWE can try to use an internal conflict between them as a springboard to propel new directions for their characters.

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

Previous Feuds
Ted DiBiase, Jr.: Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes, Cryme Tyme
Cody Rhodes: Santino Marella & Carlito, Ted DiBiase, Jr., Cryme Tyme
CM Punk: Elijah Burke, John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero, Morrison & Miz, Batista, JBL
Kofi Kinston: Shelton Benjamin, Paul Burchill, Santino Marella

JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. CRYME TYME (6 weeks w/ 2 weeks hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

Nothing happened this week for this feud. And with Miz and Morrison busy with an upcoming match against DX, it's unlikely that this feud will continue…at least for now.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): n/a

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

JBL vs. CHARLIE HAAS (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-JBL was busy in the main event, while Haas dressed as Beth Phoenix this week. It looks like this one's likely over.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): n/a

Previous Feuds
JBL: Chris Jericho, Finlay, Triple H & Orton, John Cena, CM Punk
Charlie Haas: n/a

KELLY KELLY vs. JILLIAN HALL (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-This week Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle, and Mickie James teamed up to face Jillian Hall, Layla, and Katie Lea Burchill. The match saw Kelly deliver her finisher on Katie Lea for the win.

Analysis:

As the heel divas made their entrance, the thinness of their characters really stood out prominently. If Jillian is the one who's leading the pack, it speaks volumes about the heel divas currently on Raw simply because Jillian has adopted the role of heel jobber since she was drafted to the Monday night brand. Layla had been involved with the now nonexistent Noble-Regal feud, but she acted really awkwardly in that one. And as for Katie Lea, she could make a really strong heel, but there's no narrative direction for her at the moment. What ever happened to Paul Burchill, anyway?

The babyfaces have much better star power. All three of them make better characters than the heels at this point, with Kelly Kelly building a nice reputation as the months pass. She seems to have a great personality and is slowly advancing with her in-ring efforts. Mickie James and Candice Michelle are serving as the more veteran divas here, and both are playing their parts well. The major problem is that WWE isn't making their heel divas fierce enough. They don't stand out from each other, and they aren't threatening in any way to the babyfaces. Beth Phoenix, Raw's most effective heel diva, doesn't even seem to be part of the women's division because she almost always finds herself involved with Santino segments instead of women's matches.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5

Previous Feuds
Kelly Kelly: Mike Knox, Miz, Layla, Victoria
Jillian Hall: n/a

Intercontinental Champion SANTINO MARELLA vs. HONKY TONK MAN & RODDY PIPER & GOLDUST (1 week)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Santino took some verbal shots at the Honky Tonk Man, Roddy Piper, and Goldust, who were all sitting on commentary at ringside.

-After a brief fight with Charlie Haas (who was dressed as Beth Phoenix this week), Santino found himself being attacked by the veterans, who laid him out after the Honky Tonk Man crashed a guitar over his head.

Analysis:

This feud is purely entertainment-based. There isn't much to say about it, but WWE is doing their jobs well if the segments entertain viewers. The question left from Raw this week is whether this was a one-time thing after Cyber Sunday or whether more of this can be expected in the coming weeks on television.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5

Previous Feuds
Santino Marella: Austin, Maria, Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly, Roddy Piper, Kofi Kingston
Honky Tonk Man: n/a
Roddy Piper: Santino Marella
Goldust: n/a


CONCLUDED FEUDS

(1) Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels?
(2) Miz & Morrison vs. Cryme Tyme
(3) JBL vs. Charlie Haas


POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) Shawn Michaels vs. JBL
(2) Randy Orton vs. ?
(3) DX vs. Miz & Morrison
(4) Charlie Haas vs. Santino Marella


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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