By Chris Shore and Marvin Hermanstyne

Chris Shore and Marvin Hermanstyne hang out around the DotNet water cooler and discuss the topics of the week. Today, they discuss the NXT Season One Rookie's attack on Monday Night Raw.

Shore: As if there is any question what there is to talk about this week Marv, let's get right too it. All eight NXT rookies from season one came out on Raw last Monday and attacked everyone and everything at the ringside area. When the dust settled, CM Punk, Luke Gallows, Matt Striker, Jerry Lawler, Justin Roberts, and untold security guards and personnel were laid out, and the entire ringside area was destroyed.

John Cena was left lying in the ring after taking several clotheslines, a Daniel Bryan kick, finishers from David Otunga and Wade Barrett, and finally a perfect 450 splash from Justin Gabriel. Cena was placed on a backboard and stretchered out. I haven't seen carnage like this since the nWo days. The readers got my initial response along with Jason Powell's and Rich Twilling's immediately after the show in audio, so tell me, what were you thinking at 11:10 EDT Monday night?

Marv: This was a decade long flashback in the making. I really enjoyed the last fifteen minutes of Raw because the show overall was one huge clusterfudge. Even though we got a blast from the past, the ratings still didn't show up overall. We didn't get that final quarter hour and overrun rating, but considering the second hour was a 3.3, it really didn't much impact the viewers. It's improved from an storyline sense, but if they had did this little by little during the show, it would of gotten more eyeballs to see. I'm pretty sure people were flipping the channels throughout the show and NO one saw this coming. Where do you see this angle going for the forsaken future?

Shore: Based on commercials I have seen, this appears to be a Raw only angle. That is a terrible mistake, and based on that assumption, I think this is going to end poorly. This needs to be stretched across as many shows as possible to have maximum impact, and it doesn't look--right now--like that is the plan. Let's break this down a little. One of the things that many people have pointed out is that Michael Cole was the sole man to escape from ringside. Best I can tell, Serena made it out okay too.

So many have speculated that perhaps he is involved with the angle, perhaps as the leader. There was also some speculation in the audio recap and in the forum that perhaps Chris Jericho or another superstar is the behind the scenes leader. As I watched the replays on Tuesday and Thursday, I think it is very clear that Wade Barrett is the guy who is leading this group. They looked to him for the go ahead to get in the ring with Cena, and he was directing the beat down. That creates a whole different storyline than if a star is in control. What do you think? Is this Barrett's vehicle, or is their a "higher power" as it were?

Marv: Because it looks like an Raw only storyline, I don't see anyone "high" running this rookie faction. If they were attacking guys from both brands, I would have a different opinion. After what I saw, I thought this may go all the way to Survivor Series, but this may die as quickly as Summerslam. Besides Bryan and Barrett, I really couldn't care less about everyone else because they all scream mid-card to me. And beating down Cena means ZERO because he'll just bury all of them one by one if not all eight at once....it's freaking Cena. So don't expect much unless they make him extra weak, which isn't going to do any favors for kiddie and pre-teen fans.

Shore: If you are right about Cena, and I pray that you are not, that would be an injustice that many old school fans would not hang around after. I really mean that. That could be a big win for TNA. If however, you are wrong and Cena doesn't just own them in the next week or two, then a lot of things could happen. Let's start with the most obvious. Wade Barrett won the right to have a PPV title shot, and Randy Orton is hurt, apparently pretty badly hurt. If he can't go in the Fatal Fourway, does Wade Barrett take his place?

Marv: Barrett would be good to replace Orton and possibly pull off a major upset to win the WWE title. They rolled the dice with Sheamus, and he's one of the top heels in the WWE. It will definitely give the RAW brand a fresh champion as opposed to the same old guys exchanging the belts. Edge doesn't need the belt, Sheamus and Cena can feud without the belt, and Barrett could be a nice champion --- from a transitional standpoint. Otherwise, if they pull Orton out, throw Jericho in the match, have him win the belt and Barrett can chase him for it. It may not sound like the most logical choice, but if they want people to take the rookie faction seriously, put the belt on Barrett. Bryan can feud with Truth for the US title to add some spice to that title picture. What do you think?

Shore: See, this is the biggest problem with it being a Raw only show. What happens to guys like Morrison? I mean, I know his gimmick is a little stale right now, but are there that many people that want to see Barrett over him? I think with this playing out like it did, they have to be in the main event scene. And I don't see them putting all the titles on the rookies, so one title is all they need to chase right now. A lot will be explained this week if they give us some promos and tell us what the "N" arm bands mean and who's running the group. Let me ask you this, do you think this is the way to get guys like Michael Tarver or Skip Sheffield over? Or are those guys doomed no matter what?

Marv: Sheffield has potential, but I can easily see him as the next Mike Knox. Tarver is just as helpless as the Detroit Lions organization. The man has NO "swag", and while everyone was kicking ass on Monday, he did little to nothing and screamed like anyone really cared. Just put a muzzle on him and forget about it. As far as explaining themselves, that will be hard to do considering that this week's Raw is a go home show and they ONLY have two matches for this card, so they really have to beef this card up or no one will care to buy this PPV. As far as your boy Morrison, when they put the US title on Truth, that confirmed that he was an afterthought on this show...

Shore: Well Johnny boy has been hurt too. Let's hope his being a pro on the second season of NXT is a step in the right direction. Speaking of which, do you think this angle helps or hurts the new class?

Marv: To be honest, it could go both ways. It helps because season two has better personalities and generational stars so it could be some entertaining TV. It hurts because if this class doesn't bring any ruthless aggression like the last class, the ratings will suffer. I know you are tired of me talking about ratings, but it makes a big difference on what they want to do for the future. Football season will be here before you know it and if the want a third season, this class better kick some ass. The pros hazing the rookies on Tuesday didn't do any favors because they looked so weak. Titus O'Neal and Percy Watson does ZERO for me and they could easily be 2 people that will get the boot early in my opinion. Kaval and two of the three multi-generational guys will be in the top three.

Shore: I want to see everybody in the ring before I make any real calls. Do you think the first class will have any interaction with this class?

Marv: Eh, it depends on how this storyline goes. I'll doubt it, but if the show starts tanking again, they could always pull a Vince Russo and throw the season one guys in get a hot shot effect. I'm pretty ho-hum about NXT in general because I do want to see some good angles, but it just seems that it will be a repeat of season one with some slight change. The only thing I can see happening to spark some interest in the show is a full fledged, Michael Cole heel turn or MVP turning heel on Percy Watson after he gets eliminated and bring it over to Smackdown. Thoughts?

Shore: I think they did a huge disservice to the new class with this angle. The attention will be all on the old class and what they are doing on Raw. Remember, most people don't know these eight guys. There's no way the average fan is going to spend time trying to learn 16 new guys. It's just too much. And, that's a lot of guys to put on the roster. People are going to be cut in the next few weeks, that's the only thing I see coming out of this right now, lots of talent cuts. Alright, I'll let you out of here on this one, what do you see happening on Monday?

Marv: That's a very good question. The guest host does nothing for me, they have to throw together matches to fill up the card for the PPV, and we have the NXT guys explaining themselves. Unless they put the secondary titles on the line in Fatal Four Way PPV and the rookies actually do another beat down angle, this episode of Raw may be just as bad as this week's edition. Only time will tell with this fly by night booking of the WWE...

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