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RADICAN'S TAKE
RADICAN: Raw is falling off a cliff and Ryder thinks it's funny! Aug 11, 2009 - 4:45:33 PM
In case you haven't noticed, Raw hasn't been so great since the implementation of the special guest host each week. The formula just doesn't work and while taking a glance at the recent PPV buyrates that were released, WWE needs to focus more on building their PPVs than promoting the outside ventures of guest hosts.
The only time the formula worked well was when Shaq was the guest host of Raw, but that's no surprise since he's a big wrestling fan, but WWE has bungled that move as well by promoting a match between Shaq and Big Show on Raw that isn't even going to happen at SummerSlam.
Besides the downward spiral of the overall Raw product, WWE has done their best to make sure the talent on the undercard means nothing. Triple H buried a bunch of a talent after losing a handicap match to Legacy. Heck, HBK doesn't even watch Raw anymore because he's too busy flipping burgers.
Speaking of HBK, imagine any other talent on the roster not named HBK or Triple H appearing in that segment last night on Raw. How bad do you think Triple H would bury that segment and the talent involved backstage? Yeah, that's a big shovel you got there Triple H.
HBK is coming off an epic match with Taker at WrestleMania and they build his return by suggesting that he's spent all that time away from the company flipping burgers? I thought WWE wrestlers were SUPERSTARS last time I checked. If HBK is flipping burgers, what does that mean Batista is doing right now after surgery or Edge?
I got a lot of emails in support of Mark Henry after he pinned Randy Orton on Raw several weeks back in the main event. Well, he's tagging with Hornswoggle now, so it turns out that was another example of counter-productive programming of the undercard.
What about the rest of the new talent brought to Raw via the trade? Evan Bourne? He's been buried in his feud with Jack Swagger. Jack Swagger? He's stuck in a mid-card feud with MVP. Mark Henry? Uh, see the above.
The worst part of Raw lately is the endless recycling of the same feuds we've seen over and over again on Raw and PPV in the top tier of the roster. John Cena vs. Randy Orton, Triple H vs. Randy Orton, John Cena vs. Triple H, Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H.
WWE is about to pay the piper for not paying attention to their developmental territory for many years. There's talent on the undercard on Raw, but most of them are already branded as mid-carders. It's not a function of them not taking the ball and running with it, but instead it's a case of creative burying them.
WWE had something with The Miz-Cena program that was built for several weeks, but Miz got buried the first time he set foot in the ring with Cena and it got worse from there (see: Bourne-Swagger as well for another example of hot talent being squashed).
It's time for a change in philosophy for Vince McMahon. He needs to start doing things different since it's clear by the latest PPV numbers that things aren't working. When TNA's Bob Ryder is making fun of you on Twitter, it's time to reconsider things.
Contact Sean at PWTorchSean@gmail.com. Listen to the Radican Audio Showcase each and every week at PWTorch.com/members with co-host Derek Burgan.
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