Today's Topics: Raw, Weak Summerslam title matches, Why competition is good for Vince McMahon

Rich: Raw was a solid show Monday. I like that Mike Adamle is not a clear cut babyface or heel. Despite his ineptitudes, he is a confident authority figure and is not going to be anybody's bitch.

Chris: Well, after several "Adamle Originals" I am still not convinced. I will give the devil his due and say that he didn't suck, but he didn't impress me either. I'm with Jason when I say I hope his angle doesn't lead to several gimmick matches.

Rich: The Adamle Originals got tired very quickly. I hope we see less of Adamle so his appearances mean something. He does not have to drop something huge every time he is on camera. How much of a wuss was Michael Cole? He was actually praising Adamle by the end of the first hour.

Chris: Did Cole even comment on his ass getting kicked last week? If he did, I missed it. Of course, Cole had Vince McMahon going ape shit in his ear last night so who knows what he could have said. Speaking of an Adamle Original, is it just me, or does it look like both major brands have throw away matches for their world titles at one of the Big Four PPVs?

Rich: Cole said nothing about the attack. As for the title matches, you nailed it. This was my lead off topic in Buy or Sell earlier in the week. I think it is ridiculous that C.M. Punk is being treated as a midcard guy. His match will be forgotten moments after it ends. Do not put a title on a guy if you are not going to make him the top guy. Punk deserves to be looked at as a top guy. Triple H is always going to be a top guy so his title match being a throwaway is less of a concern.

Chris: It is less of a concern as far a legitimizing Triple H as a star, but it hurts both titles to put them up in matches that have no weight. No one thinks JBL or The Great Khali have actual chances of winning. I know we all know the matches are scripted. But what makes wrestling great is the possibility that anyone could win the title because it is scripted. Boxing and MMA have favorites in the ring all the time who are expected to win. Anything could happen, but often doesn't. That doesn't hurt those sports because they are competitions. With wrestling, the matchups have to be legitimate before anyone is willing to "suspend belief." These matches water down championship matches and I for one, hate it.

Rich: Khali will not win his match but I would not say JBL has zero chance of winning. I always think the world champion(s) should be the top guy(s) on the show. It is the job of the creative team to book as many people as possible that the fans will see as a true top guy. You do not put someone there and hope they get over. You do not put someone there and book them as inferior or transitional. I hope Punk gets a definitive win at Summerslam.

Chris: If he doesn't, his credibility as champion could be damaged beyond repair, at least for this run. He needs a solid, clean win to stay over as champion. Otherwise, fans will not care what happens because they realize he is a transitional champion. I don't get why they hate that belt so much. It was destroyed the last eight months on Smackdown and now they have it on Punk but only because he is "lucky." I don't get it.

Rich: Another thing is that Raw is still Vince's show and we all know every creative decision goes through him. It is like they keep dipping their feet in the water but are afraid to dive in. Punk can go in the ring, he is a very good talker, and the fans are into him. They could book him to win competitive matches; that is fine, but to have the announcers and other wrestlers doubting him is counterproductive.

Chris: I said it to you before and I will say it again: Vince needs competition to do anything other than the status quo. WCW made him get edgy and the Attitude Era was born. He needs something to push him to push the right characters. Otherwise it has always been, and will always be, a slow process for stars to get to the top legitimately. MVP or Jeff Hardy will be the next WWE Champion. Why? Because Smackdown has competition in the other networks and Raw. They need to be the best, so they take the most chances.

Rich: Competition definitely breeds creativity. I could see MVP becoming the next WWE Champion but Hardy has a ways to go. I think he will be champion within a year but I think MVP will be first. You know what I just thought of? Hulk Hogan was the WWF Champion at Wrestlemania I and to close out Wrestlemania IX, an eight year span, which seems like forever. Triple H was the champion at Wrestlemania 16 and if he is champion going into Wrestlemania 25, that is a nine year span. He has been around forever! On top of that, they still call Jeff Hardy young, and he wrestled at Wrestlemania 16 too.

Chris: Hunter always manages to stay fresh somehow. It may be his influence, but he is not on top for that reason only. He is way over whether heel or face. I see MVP as a younger Rock. He has all the mic skills in the world and good to great talent in the ring. If he learns how to get the most out of people, he'll be gigantic. Looks like Adamle better find an original that outshines Smackdown and quick!

Rich: Raw will be fine and Smackdown becoming what it is, along with ECW emerging as a solid hour, WWE has the potential to put forth five hours of pretty good programming every week. I hope so because I will be watching regardless!

Chris: I certainly hope so as well. Wait. You watch five hours of wrestling each week? Why? It's not like it's your job or anything... OK, I'm going back to work now.

Rich: I watch five hours of live WWE programming. I watch TNA and DVDs too. I love it though. Just like Matt Striker, I am a wrestling nerd. Have a good one.

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