By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
November 3, 2008
Upcoming PPV: Survivor Series (third-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the sixty-second 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 (5 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Todd Grisham interviewed Batista backstage. The new World Champion said that Jericho had reason to make excuses at Cyber Sunday, but he won't have any excuse after losing the Steel Cage Match later in the show.

-Jericho met with Shane backstage to pry the big announcement out of him. Shane spilled the beans by telling him that the World Heavyweight Champion would defend the title against John Cena at Survivor Series.

-Chris Jericho pulled out a surprise win against Batista in the Steel Cage Match when he managed to ascend one of the walls and fall to the floor.

Analysis:

There's a great story to be told here. Heading into this match, Batista exuded overconfidence. He made it seem like he was going into a cakewalk during interviews and promos. Jericho, who before blamed various things in his Cyber Sunday loss (especially the special guest referee choices), now has a strong argument that he deserves the title because when everything is fair, he prevails. WWE may have just saved Jericho's character and reputation after it was on the verge of descending into the scary territory that is irrelevance. It was a tactical move on WWE's part because a Jericho-Cena title match has more fire behind it than a Batista-Cena match if it's going to have almost no build with Cena presumably absent until his big debut on PPV.

Plus, this is a means to protect Batista from a pinfall or submission loss to Cena for the title at Survivor Series. Furthermore, even if Batista-Cena did go down as the official PPV match, Cena would eventually have to face some kind of heel force. If Jericho didn't immediately get his credibility back, the only heel worthy of a competitive shot would be Randy Orton, and an Orton-Cena feud would steal Orton from a storyline that could get really interesting in the coming weeks—whether it be against Shane McMahon; CM Punk; Ted DiBiase; or DiBiase, Rhodes, and Manu. By the way, does this mean there's going to be a re-match for the World Title by Batista before Jericho heads into Survivor Series to defend his title against John Cena?

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 9

Previous Feuds
Chris Jericho: Randy Orton, JBL, Jeff Hardy, Money in the Bank, Shawn Michaels
Batista: Great Khali, Undertaker, MVP, Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Edge, CM Punk, John Cena

SHANE McMAHON vs. STEPHANIE McMAHON (1 week)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Orton kicked off Raw by announcing that he would sit at ringside until the McMahons addressed his ultimatum from last week.

-Stephanie and Shane arrived at the arena, but after contemplating the situation, Stephanie suggested that Shane take care of it himself.

-Before Shane could make any decision when he was face-to-face with Orton mid-ring, Mike Adamle walked out to announce that he's resigning as the GM of Raw because the position corrupts and because he doesn't want to have anything but a neutral disposition.

-Shane then revealed that Orton has been medically cleared to compete for weeks now; he just hasn't told anyone. So, Shane booked Orton-Punk for later in the show.

-CM Punk won his match against Orton thanks to a disqualification by Ted DiBiase, who attacked Punk mid-match. Surprisingly, Orton then blindsided DiBiase by delivering his punk kick straight to DiBiase's temple, knocking him out cold.

-In the back, Rhodes and Manu caught up to Orton to ask what had happened, and Orton explained that DiBiase deserved a kick to the skull since he ruined his match with Punk. When Orton dared Rhodes and Manu to do something about their anger, they backed off.

-Mike Adamle met with Stephanie backstage, who began to immediately compliment him on his speech. He put all the blame of his failures as GM on her and Shane because he said that they always changed what he had proposed and differed from each other.

-Shane McMahon told Stephanie that he had another major announcement but refused to tell his sister what it was.

-Stephanie met up with Shane again, informing him that she wants to be in the loop; he agreed. Then they talked in a way that suggested that Mr. McMahon is indeed dead.

Analysis:

As mentioned above, the Randy Orton storyline is intriguing despite its nonexistent stature. And by that I mean that Orton's involvement in various types of issues with people is entertaining, but he doesn't officially have a feud with anyone yet. He could have one with Shane McMahon; seeds for that rivalry had been planted long ago. He could also start a feud with CM Punk based on the backstory those two share—a backstory that stretches over two months. Or he could possibly pick a new fight with Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and Manu. The combinations seem innumerable at the moment, especially if you consider the fact that DiBiase may have his own issues with Rhodes and Manu as the faction fracture begins to take root.

The hint of an internal, familial rift in the making was strong this week between Shane and Stephanie McMahon. First, of course, was the hint that things have not been coinciding properly when Mike Adamle blamed Stephanie for changing his plans and for accusing her and Shane of administrative differences even between each other. When she then pressed Shane about telling her his next big announcement, he refused to do so. He simply met her question with a line about how she can trust him. The environment is rich in fuel for a rivalry here, but I'm sure WWE will gradually drag it out to enhance the drama. It's a good move.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6

Previous Feuds
Shane McMahon: n/a
Stephanie McMahon: n/a

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. JBL (2 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-JBL threw his proverbial (white cowboy) hat into the ring for the General Manager spot on Raw when talking to Shane. He also requested a World Title match, of course, which was denied by Shane, who came up with another idea: JBL vs. Undertaker.

-The Layfield-Taker bout ended when JBL tried to escape the ring. Shawn Michaels appeared and threw him back in, which allowed Undertaker to deliver the Tombstone Piledriver for the victory.

Analysis:

This feud has some potential based not only on the obvious talent involved but also on the storyline's premise. Last week JBL publicly blamed Michaels for directly causing him a loss of money. Of course, Layfield highlighted how important money is to him, which perfectly fits his character's ultimate motivation. At the same time, the argument JBL made was pretty fair: If Michaels had counted to three as referee in the Jericho-Batista match at Cyber Sunday, Jericho would have retained the title and given JBL his promised shot at it. And if JBL won the title match that Jericho promised him, he could theoretically win the World Title and therefore increase his reputation as well as his wallet. It's a bit of logic that you have to go out of your way to follow, but it does make sense. We'll see how this one progresses next week when there will ostensibly be more time devoted to it.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6

Previous Feuds
Shawn Michaels: Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Ric Flair, Batista & Jericho
JBL: Chris Jericho, Finlay, Triple H & Orton, John Cena, CM Punk

WWE Champion TRIPLE H & SHAWN MICHAELS vs. JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ (1 week)

Summary Quick Shot:

-Triple H and Shawn Michaels collectively came to the ring in DX gear for their matchup against Miz and Morrison. Michaels stopped Triple H from completing the standard DX opener by expressing mock concern over what their opponents said about them on ECW.

-Michaels showed Triple H clips from The Dirt Sheet last week. DX soon fought back, though, by airing high school pictures of Miz and Morrison since they brought up the fact that they were in high school when DX started.

-The match ended very decisively when Michaels hit Sweet Chin Music on The Miz, which was immediately followed by a Pedigree, allowing DX to pick up the win.

Analysis:

There really isn't anything to note here. This was almost certainly a one-time event that WWE won't return to. Shawn Michaels can now begin his upcoming feud with JBL on Raw while Triple H continues the escalating rivalry he has with Vladimir Kozlov over on Smackdown. Not sure where this leaves Miz and Morrison though.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): n/a

Previous Feuds
Triple H: King Booker, Umaga, Jeff Hardy, Orton & JBL, Randy Orton, John Cena
Shawn Michaels: Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Ric Flair, Batista & Jericho
John Morrison & The Miz: Yang & Moore, Dreamer & Delaney, CM Punk, Finlay & Hornswoggle

REY MYSTERIO & EVAN BOURNE vs. KANE & MARK HENRY (13 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Rey Mysterio teamed with Kofi Kingston (because Evan Bourne injured his ankle on ECW) to face Kane and Mark Henry. The match ended without a finish when Kane viciously threw Rey to ringside.

-The Great Khali made a sudden and surprising appearance. Khali felled Kane with a swift chop to the head before attacking Mark Henry, which allowed Mysterio to hit the 619 in what was some unlikely teamwork.

Analysis:

Khali's transformation might be more entertaining than you'd think. He's going from a lumbering giant heel monster character to a lumbering babyface that's willing to defend other people. Generally, there should be criticism regarding an explanation for why a character is making such a drastic change in attitude and alliances, but this case might be an exception. WWE could have Runjin Singh provide a small reason, but it almost doesn't matter because Khali's taken a step back from being a relevant heel on any show for months. His ineffective status has practically forced the change. Plus, his old gimmick had been exhausted anyway.

The good news is that becoming a babyface means that Khali can actually show a new side of himself; in fact, he could acclimate to the role a lot more naturally. Whereas his heel position required him to just look angry and beat up babyfaces, this new act can incorporate more of his personality—and it could be very entertaining to see Khali attempt to be more personable. It also opens up a lot of options for him: He can continue with the kiss cam, interact with babyfaces backstage in a friendly way; and stand up for other faces the way he did on Raw. Oh, as for the Rey-Kane feud, nothing particularly compelling happened this week except for that Khali appearance.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5 [up 0.5 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 (5 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-During the Orton-Punk matchup, Ted DiBiase interrupted to attack Punk. Orton then took the opportunity to punt DiBiase in the head.

Analysis:

Too little is known at this point. When will DiBiase return? What will his condition be? Will he continue his feud with Punk when he comes back or will his focus now be on Randy Orton? Would that change his status as a heel? What about his alliance with Rhodes and Manu? Has that faction officially split? Questions mark uncertainty, but they do fuel intrigue.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 8 [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

KELLY KELLY vs. JILLIAN HALL (4 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-In a huge 16-diva tag team matchup on Raw, Kelly Kelly, Mickie James, Tiffany, Michelle McCool, Brie Bella, Candice Michelle, Eve, and Mae Young teamed up to face Jillian Hall, Lena Yada, Katie Lea Burchill, Maryse, Beth Phoenix, Layla, Victoria, and Natalya.

-The match ended when Beth Phoenix rolled up a distracted Mae Young to earn the victory for her team.

Analysis:

It's a little curious that WWE threw Mae Young into the mix when they had so much talent in the ring in such a large and unusual television matchup. One of the interesting points was that Beth Phoenix and Michelle McCool stood out as the leaders (and champions) rather than having the focus on Kelly Kelly and Jillian. That should tell you that a change in narrative plans might be required; nothing seems to be happening with this Kelly-Jillian rivalry.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 4 [down 1 since last week]

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

Intercontinental Champion SANTINO MARELLA (w/ Beth Phoenix) vs. WILLIAM REGAL (w/ Layla) (2 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Santino Marella sat on commentary as an eight-man over-the-top Battle Royal determined who would face him in an Intercontinental Title match next week. William Regal picked up the win by sneaking back into the ring and capitalizing on an unsuspecting DiBiase.

-Santino expressed some wariness about Regal's underhanded tactics.

Analysis:

Interesting dynamic with multiple feuds playing a role here. We saw some of the residual tensions of the Noble-Regal rivalry as well as new rifts between former World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. A potential Santino-Regal feud has some built-in intrigue since they both share individual mic skills. Also, expect Layla and Beth Phoenix to take part in the action too. A Regal/Layla-Santino/Beth mixed tag match is probably inevitable. It will be interesting to see how WWE handles the heel-heel dynamic with this one.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5

Previous Feuds
Santino Marella: Austin, Maria, Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly, Roddy Piper, Kofi Kingston
William Regal: Mr. Kennedy, Jamie Noble


CONCLUDED FEUDS

(1) Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
(2) Miz & Morrison vs. Cryme Tyme


POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
(2) Randy Orton vs. Shane McMahon
(3) Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes & Manu
(4) Shane McMahon vs. JBL
(5) Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes
(6) Charlie Haas vs. ?


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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