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CALDWELL'S TUESDAY CHAT w/GREG PARKS: Raw & Smackdown discussion - WWE Title match build-up, Batista-Hardy slugfest, Taker-Jericho on free TV?
Nov 10, 2009 - 1:39:07 PM |
James Caldwell: This is Torch assistant editor James Caldwell joined by Torch specialist Greg Parks for a chat today on last night's WWE Raw and Friday night's edition of Smackdown sponsored by Big Dave's Molasses. First, Greg, what are your thoughts on last night's Raw - thumbs up, thumbs down? What stood out?
Greg Parks: I'm going to cop out and say thumbs-in-the-middle. Ricky Hatton did a nice job hosting, and there was some stuff to like (building Alicia Fox up, Evan Bourne winning, the main event, a Sheamus squash), but there was stuff I didn't like (the rut they're in with DX and the guest hosts, Cena's backstage segment with DX, and the Henry vs. Orton match).
JC: I agree it was a tough show to rate. I was going to offer you the "indifference" route with thumbs up/down. But, I think you hit on the main points. I think one to add to the "pro" column is Kofi Kingston's continual growth in terms of receiving focus and attention working with a recent champion and constant main eventer. To me, that put it to a slight thumbs up, despite the overwhelming problems with the build to Cena vs. HBK vs. Hunter at the Survivor Series PPV. I'm not sure what's worse - Cena's character not really caring about the title defense, Hunter leading DX in a game of duck, duck, goose with Hornswoggle, or HBK being presented as a complete lackey with the PPV sales pitch being "Maybe the real HBK will show up and wrestle! Order now!"
GP: Yeah, it's kind of strange the way the build for that match has been thus far, but maybe they'll kick it into high gear next week.
JC:And I totally see that happening, as WWE seems to think they can just flip the switch the week before the PPV and the audience will be completely enthralled with the final week of hype that they will order the PPV. WWE has the star power with Cena, HBK, and Hunter to perhaps pull that off, but I strongly disagree with the strategy over the long haul, especially when asking folks to pay $44.95 next year.
GP: The new price is outrageous and completely counterproductive, by the way, but that's another story for another day, I guess.
JC: Yeah, I don't see that sticking. I just don't. Hopefully someone will realize it's a mistake or WWE will figure out a way to add value to these off-brand PPVs besides throwing out gimmick matches with no context, TNA-style. Anyways, back to Raw. What did you think of the hype for the traditional Survivor Series matches? WWE threw those out on their website Monday afternoon. Did they do an adequate job of selling the audience on the matches and, more importantly, the wrestlers in the matches?
GP: I guess that did - it was a curious decision to reveal them all on dot com, but when you have guys from each brand in each of the matches, it's tough to have the matches come organically out of something that happened on a show, since they're only allowed on THEIR show. In that regard, it made sense to announce them on the website beforehand, rather than on TV and seemingly out of nowhere.
JC: I see what WWE's strategy was on Raw - focus on the issues with Orton vs. Kofi and Miz vs. Jack Swagger (who are on the same team) instead of trying to over-complicate the matches by heaping everyone together on the show. Perhaps we'll get a giant brawl on next week's show, then all of the Smackdown wrestlers on Team Miz and Team Morrison will be scrapped. But, that's neither here nor there. ... How are you liking the Kofi-Orton program thus far with the involvement of MVP, Henry, and Legacy on Raw this week in the VIP Lounge?
GP: I think I may have said this in my Raw report last week, but I like MVP and Henry separately, but together as a team, they just don't do it for me. I don't think it's helping Kofi a ton. I do like his program with Orton and Legacy though, despite it appearing that Michael Hayes wrote the interview segment this week.
JC: Oh snap, as Kofi would say. Wait for his new line of "Oh Snap" merchandise. But, yeah, Undertaker shows up on Raw and Michael Hayes books the VIP Lounge. But, yeah, it was typical WWE dummying down a feud into racially-driven storylines. Educating the youth of America one half-brained storyline at a time.
GP: Great, another stupid catchphrase. I can't wait. On the storyline, I'm not saying that was their intent, but Randy doesn't need to do that to get cheap heat. He's one of the best heat generators in the business.
JC: True on Orton. Let's jump to Smackdown talk. What stood out to you from Friday's show? And, feel free to vent about Batista taking a stroll through the park with Matt Hardy.
GP: That match was just...not good. I'll be kind this week. I don't know if it's "heel Batista" and his offense that bored me (if so, I'm not looking forward to the rest of his run) or what, but they just did not click in the ring. Still, the show got a thumbs up from me thanks to the Jericho mic work and the plugging of the IC Title match a week ahead of time.
JC: Regarding Batista-Hardy, was did Hardy appear to not be in good enough shape to be a good "dance partner" for Batista to help carry the match?
GP: I don't know about that - Hardy may not visually be in great shape, but that doesn't necessarily mean he can't hang with someone like Batista. I guess I would need more information, because "being in good enough shape" is just too general a term to be able to answer the question sufficiently.
JC: I'll clarify that down to (a) does he appear to be improving cardio-wise to have a long-form match with Batista and/or (b) does he visually appear to be in good enough shape to where he can get the audience to buy into him as a serious act where the audience isn't going to sit on their hands bored with what's happening in the ring?
GP: Well, throughout history, there have been acts who have been out of shape yet have had the crowd's attention, so I don't think that's an issue. He has a gut, but he's not out there looking like a trucker or anything like that (nothing against truckers of course). I don't even know if Batista, despite APPEARING to be in good shape, is in the kind of cardio condition needed to carry a long match without numerous rest-holds, so I don't know whether to "blame" it on Hardy or Batista. Again, I don't have info on the kind of shape they're in as far as that goes.
JC: It was more of a group effort, then. I think we spent enough time talking cardio today. Reminds me I need to go for a run. Anyways, you talked about Jericho's mic work with Undertaker and WWE announcing the IC Title match ahead of time. Does Dolph finally get the brass ring or is he stuck with another loss in an IC Title match? Also, what do you think about WWE giving away Taker-Jericho on free TV first-time-ever?
GP: I really don't think Ziggler can lose another one, unless they focus the story around that fact, and that never works to get someone over. I'll wait to see about WWE actually giving away Taker and Jericho for free; hopefully, it'll end like Kingston and Orton did last week on Raw, if it even gets that far. That's one of the few matches WWE hasn't run into the ground. While they're giving it away for free, at least they're advertising it ahead of time to maximize viewers.
JC: Good points. Jericho vs. Taker is a WrestleMania match waiting to happen. Imagine Jericho's promos on The Streak. That'll sell PPVs alone, no matter what Raw is doing. I'm with you that I hope they don't give it away; or at least not enough to where it would water down a potential WM26 match if Edge isn't ready for a return. Greg, any final thoughts on Smackdown happenings before we wrap it up?
GP: Just that I agree with you about Taker vs. Jericho at WM - that would be a great idea. Other than that, I'm set for this week.
JC: Excellent. Thanks as always for the chat, Greg! We'll catch your report on Smackdown this Friday night.
GP: All right, James, I'm out.
[Art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]
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