The SmarK RAW Rant – 04.08.13
Live from East Rutherford, NJ
Your hosts are Michael Cole, JBL & Jerry Lawler
John Cena is out to make poopy jokes and celebrate his new title. It’s a big night, so he offers to do a little dance for the fans, including a couple of kicks and maybe a heel turn, nyuk nyuk. But regardless, tonight he’s putting the title on the line, and that brings out Mark Henry. The crowd immediately gives him a “Sexual Chocolate” chant, which mystifies Cena. Booker T comes out to overturn the matchmaking, noting that Henry has to beat Cena before he can get a title shot. Why would you screw your audience over like that?
Daniel Bryan v. Big E Langston
Big E catches Bryan with a uranage in the corner and then pounds away on him. Bryan comes back with the kicks, which has the super-smark crowd delighted, but Ziggler runs interference and allows Langston to chuck Bryan over the top and finish with the unnamed finisher at 2:18. Boy, they’ve sure got their finger on the pulse of THIS crowd. *
Intercontinental title: The Miz v. Wade Barrett
Barrett pounds on Miz in the corner, but a sunset flip gets two. Miz gets the punches in the corner, with the crowd booing the shit out of him, and hits the chinlock. Wade drops an elbow for two and now he goes to the chinlock. Miz tosses him and follows with a double axehandle, but gets caught by Barrett on the apron as we take a break. Back with Barrett hitting the bossman slam and dropping an elbow from the apron to the floor, which gets two. They slug it out and Miz makes his comeback, with the neckbreaker getting two despite a botched spot that the crowd is all over. Miz with the corner clothesline and double axehandle for two. Barrett escapes the figure-four, but Miz DDTs him for two as Barrett’s lip swells up rapidly. Miz escapes the Wasteland and gets another figure-four, but Wade makes the ropes. Miz charges and hits boot, and they fight on top, which results in Miz going down. Big elbow and Barrett is the champion again at 13:44. That is probably the biggest babyface pop Barrett is going to get in his career. Epic title reign for Miz. Just epic. ***
Meanwhile, Sheamus wants a match with Big Show TONIGHT, but then he’ll owe Vickie & Brad a favor.
Meanwhile, Randy Orton sucks up to Booker T backstage because he also wants Big Show TONIGHT. Booker is pretty sure he can overrule Vickie on that one.
Alberto Del Rio v. Jack Swagger & Dirty Uncle Dutch Zebekiah Colter
This ADR thing is just not working. And if you can’t get over as a giant star in front of this coked up Jersey smark crowd, it’s hopeless. The crowd desires something, but I can’t put my finger on it. Twizzlers? Maybe, everyone loves licorice. Del Rio puts Swagger on the floor and follows with a tope and the crowd still wants something. Dirk Diggler? Could be, Boogie Nights is one of my all-time favorite movies too. Back in, Swagger clips the leg to take over and the crowd praises the virtues of zippers. They really are a useful fastening device! Swagger with the anklelock, but Del Rio fights out as these two boring dweebs have managed to kill a molten post-WM crowd single-handedly. We take a break and return with ADR getting a backbreaker and the crowd continuing to be bored. Low kick gets two. Swagger counters the armbar into the anklelock, as Cole notes that it’s tortuous just to watch this. I agree. Del Rio counters into the armbar and Swagger taps at 11:41. Thank god. *1/2 But Del Rio’s knee is shot, and you know what that means…
MONEY IN THE BANK: Alberto Del Rio v. Dolph Ziggler
FINALLY. Ziggler goes for the leg as the crowd goes BATSHIT. Fameasser gets two. Dolph misses a charge and Del Rio comes back with the enzuigiri, drawing a HEEL reaction! That gets two. Del Rio gets the armbar, but Ziggler wrenches the bad leg to break, and the Zig Zag gives Dolph the World title at 2:00. And holy shit what a pop that got. That crowd was SO HAPPY to see Dolph cash that thing in, ou couldn’t help but cheer along with them. Thank god they can finally retire that poor briefcase now. Great moment.
The Undertaker, complete with personalized graphics, is out to talk about Wrestlemania…but the Shield interrupts. Oh my. Kane and Daniel Bryan quickly save and the crowd goes even more insane. So the Shield backs off and I would presume Taker is working Extreme Rules.
3MB v. R-Truth, Zack Ryder & Santino
AKA “six guys without a Wrestlemania payoff”. Ryder is so low down the totem pole now that even this crowd won’t cheer him anymore. Ryder quickly gets caught in the heel corner and worked over, as Drew grabs an armbar, but Ryder comes back with a neckbreaker and makes the hot (?) tag to Santino. Cobra time, but Drew blocks it, only to see it slip loose and hit Slater for the pin at 3:32. Our crack announce team gives so little of a shit about this match that they don’t even acknowledge the winners and just immediately throw to a video package about Wrestlemania weekend. ½*
Randy Orton v. Sheamus
So this is another bait-and-switch, as they ran a Twitter vote during the commercial to see which guy would face Big Show (won by Orton handily) and then the GMs came out and changed the match to this instead, with the winner facing Show at some indeterminate point. So they trade some stuff and the fickle crowd turns on the match immediately, singing the “Ole Ole” song for some reason. Big fans of Ole Anderson, I guess. The guys seem really frazzled by the reaction and exchange chinlocks while the crowd ignores the match and chants for JBL and whatever else comes to mind instead. We take a break and return with this bizarre trainwreck dragging on, as they slug it out and the fans DO THE WAVE. Sheamus gets the forearms and the crowd just jumps right to “End this match” and “Randy Savage” for fuck knows what reason. Orton’s pissed off look is great. Sheamus counters the RKO into White Noise and sets up for the big kick, but it misses and now Big Show comes out for the DQ at 16:00 and beats both guys up. “Thank you Big Show!” ***** for the crowd alone. I get the feeling New Jersey might never get another TV taping again, though. Show absolutely beats the shit out of Orton as the heel turn seems further and further away. For either guy, I guess.
Fandango v. Kofi Kingston
I was just thinking this should be Fandango squashing some geek, and who’s a bigger geek than Kofi at this point? Fandango does some dancing while the crowd sarcastically hums his theme music at him. And Jericho runs in for the DQ before this can go any further. That might be a good thing for everyone concerned. Jericho beats on him until he’s nearly out cold, but Fandango still corrects the ring announcer’s pronunciation of his name from his deathbed. That draws a legit babyface reaction.
Meanwhile, Paul Heyman feels like last night was actually a win for Brock Lesnar.
Tensai, Brodus Clay, Naomi & Cameron v. The Rhodes Scholars & The Bella Twins
Frankly I’m shocked they managed to get this one in without cutting it here too. We’re joined in progress with Tensai missing a charge and Sandow hitting the ELBOW OF DISDAIN for two, but Clay gets what I presume is the hot tag and suplexes him for two. The faces sandwich and double splash him for the pin at 1:00 or so. Thankfully the miscarriage of justice has been corrected. However, I’m STILL waiting for the British Bulldog v. Berzerker match advertised on the Wrestlemania VIII box.
John Cena v. Mark Henry
Cena slugs away to start, but Henry pounds him down and yells demoralizing things at him, which is awesome because I was just explaining to my wife about how he does exactly that. Splash misses while the crowd is busy humming Cena’s theme song. Cena shoulderblocks Henry to the floor, but Henry is having none of it and tries to slam Cena through the table instead. Cena escapes and runs Henry into the stairs for the countout at 3:14. This does not go over well. ½* So I’m guessing Henry doesn’t get his title shot. Henry lays him out afterwards, but now Ryback comes out to continue their feud. He chases Henry away and offers a mean look at Cena, but just helps him up instead…and then turns on him for GIGANTIC babyface pop. So there’s your first feud for Cena.
The Pulse
If I might channel JR for a moment, this show was a trainwreck crashing into a dynamite-filled outhouse and then getting eaten by Godzilla. But if you’re going to flame out as spectacularly as this awful show did, at least do it in front of a crowd as awesome as this one was. However, WWE is incredibly lucky that they had a super-duper-smarky crowd to save this one because otherwise this would have been one of the worst shows in recent memory. Call it a fascinating social experiment this week and hope for the best next time, I guess.
The Fans were humming Fandango's theme song as they were leaving too!! Best Crowd Ever!
ReplyDeleteCena already used the heel turn joke in an interview recently, but it still made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteCha cha! La la la la laaaaaaaaa! cha cha! la la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaa!
ReplyDeleteArda Ocal
ReplyDelete@arda_ocal
2m
“@PatLaprade: Wow! People are honking Fandango's music with their car in the parking lot!! @arda_ocal @WWE Awesome!” #ILoveWrestling
Retweeted by Lance Storm
I've never been a fan of Barrett, but he honestly showed me something tonight. His Cactus elbow was nice.
ReplyDeleteWhich was the better crowd? This crowd or Miami from last year?
ReplyDelete"Could be, Boogie Nights is one of my all-time favorite movies too."
ReplyDeleteSmark Rant of The Best Movie Ever or gtfo.
" Fandango does some dancing while the crowd sarcastically hums his theme music at him."
Fucking telling you guys...this guy IS MONEY.
I kind of got the feeling Scott was no-selling the crowd, but whateves.
ReplyDeleteIs there some kind of unwritten rule in WWE about how if you win MITB, you'll probably get cashed-in on at least once?
RE: "ole ole": apparently Generico could pass for Sheamus' cousin, so maybe a few smart fans started the chant for the hell of it, and then the crowd just joined for the fun of it.
ReplyDeleteI would never have him wrestle on TV then unless it was in a smart city.
ReplyDeleteRAW is ALWAYS better after Wrestlemania. Why people would pay $70 to see Rock shake Cenas hand than get the good stuff, with a hot crowd for free baffles me...
ReplyDeleteOh I'm not talking about the reaction, this crowd isn't indicative of anything...as a performer he's money....he will one of the greats if he stays motivated
ReplyDeleteMiz's entire title reign featured nothing but *** matches. He really is the second coming of Ric Flair!
ReplyDeleteTaking a look at the live thread. It would be so nice if Disqus has a "show all comments" feature.
ReplyDeleteMiami didn't do anything half as creative as humming Fandango's theme.
ReplyDelete...agreed, it's a horrrrrrible gimmick but he's giving it everything he's got.
ReplyDeleteI may never get Fandango's theme music out of my head.
ReplyDelete...and I hope that sticks with future live crowds.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it came through how impressed I was by the Fandango thing. It was pretty great.
ReplyDeleteNever cashed-in on:
ReplyDeleteRVD, Mr. Kennedy, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Jack Swagger, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler. A firm majority.
The Fandango segment was the best on the show.
ReplyDeleteI can't help it man, I fucking love the kid he's got my birthday. I am ALL IN on Curtis...and so is he. He's the hungriest guy we've seen in a long damn time. And the gimmick...I dunno it makes me laugh it's different at least...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Johnny Curtis didn't cry over spilled milk.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, he did. Well, good on him anyway.
^^^
ReplyDeleteFandango correcting the pronunciation of his name while selling the beating reminded me of Rock raising the IC tile in victory while being stretchered out.
ReplyDeleteHe is the broomstick you mean
ReplyDelete...as long as they don't turn him "goofy" like the WWE has a tendancy to do, then it's a fine gimmick. There's a brutal streak in him (as we saw with the Jericho beatdown) I'm happy to give him a chance, he worked an okay match at Wrestlemania. Prefer they repackage this "dancing shit" at some point but for now, whatever gets him over...
ReplyDeleteI could swear I heard a "Fuck You Disqus" chant during Raw...
ReplyDeleteTaker's personalized 'bottom-third" is great. Other guys need them as all, they're very SMNE
ReplyDeleteThe crowd's reaction to that Orton/Sheamus match was one of the greatest things I've ever seen. Vince must have been shitting a brick.
ReplyDeleteHe is the Eggman.
ReplyDeleteSomeone in the crowd had a sign that said something like "Bret gives this 4 out of 10," and all I could think of was that it was someone from the BoD.
ReplyDeleteI loved how HHH was obviously bumped to the post production world of Smackdown with a rushed graphic after the Sheamus/Orton match. I have no doubt Rock's "injury" is for the same reason, they didn't want him out there (or he didn't want to).
ReplyDelete" this show was a trainwreck crashing into a dynamite-filled outhouse and then getting eaten by Godzilla."
ReplyDeleteBrilliant
They need to have Raw in new jersey every week from now on. At least until they drop the 3 hour bullshit.
Orton and Sheamus are the ones that should be shitting a brick....
ReplyDeleteMy first ever RAW live. I am buzzing........going to be a great flight back to Australia.
ReplyDeleteHave to mention the heat rock was getting for the no-show and even the stills of triple h were getting boos!
That was the first thing I thought of when I saw that.
ReplyDeletehums FAN DAN GOO's music
ReplyDeleteARE YOU SERIOUS!?
ReplyDeletethats hilarious!
Shame no one thought to start a "Botchamania" chant.
ReplyDeleteIve been screaming that since forever!
ReplyDeleteCouple more crowds like that and Vince will be doing Raw from the Impact Zone....
ReplyDeleteEh, fingers to point at the creative team on those two as well. Not just Orton's fault. Sheamus on the otherhand, is a train going nowhere though...
ReplyDeleteDude get some sleep then update on the plane lol...sounds awesome
ReplyDeleteWWE: the land of anti-bullying where they have the most notorious locker room bully in recent history chastising a male for dancing
ReplyDeleteHm, I stand corrected. It just feels like a lot of past-MITB winners have been cashed in on.
ReplyDeleteThose two might be headed to US and IC title reigns in the near future...
ReplyDeleteCha cha! La la la la laaaaaaaaa! cha cha! la la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaa!
ReplyDeleteWhat was up with the RVD chants?
ReplyDeleteEh, it was probably just a one-shot deal.
Man thats gonna be a long flight dude.
ReplyDeleteI hate that flight from LAX to Sydney.
BTW- theres a lot of you Aussies on here.