| 
GOT AN IPHONE, IPAD, IPOD TOUCH, SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB, OR ANDROID PHONE?
THEN BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR NEW FREE APP
(or SEARCH "pro wrestling" in App Store or Android Marketplace)
|
|
Kester's WWE Raw Rundown: A disappointing show featuring CM Punk getting screwed, Daniel Bryan and Kane hugging, and an undercard that is in desperate need of some attention
Sep 18, 2012 - 04:42 PM |
By Ryan Kester
CM Punk and John Cena
CM Punk appears to be heading into the zone of wrestlers getting screwed over by referees, and I kind of hope that doesn't hold up. Punk talking about respect and being a jerk is great, but when he has a credible thing to complain about it hurts his act considerably.
It's fairly obvious that the end game is still Cena getting a rematch for the belt in a Cell and I am looking forward to seeing that develop. I just hope WWE focuses more on the feud between the two men rather than giving legitimacy to Punk's talk that he's being screwed in some capacity.
Daniel Bryan and Kane
Bryan and Kane did their best, but they didn't have as strong of a reaction as they have been getting as of late. I hope that's because they were before a somewhat limp crowd rather than a sign of the act losing steam, as they are easily one of the most entertaining aspects of WWE's current product.
I enjoyed seeing the Primetime Players drop their silliness. Back when I covered NXT for the site, I noted that Titus seems perfectly at home in the intense heel persona, and I hope this is a sign that WWE is getting back to that and away from this "millions of dollars" and terrible entrance music crap. The Players, if they keep up what they did last night, could be a fun foil to the over the top antics of Bryan and Kane.
Undercard
Something that became blatantly apparent to me last night, WWE has plenty of fresh faces or fresh directions for their existing characters in the undercard, but they are not telling stories with them at all. WWE is simply putting those same guys out every week and having them wrestle throwaway matches and then they wonder why things aren't sticking.
It's a shame to see this as I genuinely enjoy a few of the acts. Barrett is now a rare pure striker in wrestling, and he seems more comfortable with that role than he did with his previous style and lackluster finisher. Damien Sandow can work a crowd into a frenzy if they would only give him a feud, and Ryback has shown a lot of potential yet has been relegated to jobber killing for the past few months. Of the names listed, only Ryback seems ready to go into a program, yet this one is merely with a jobber that also happens to hold a belt. WWE has capable talent at their disposal, and it's frustrating to see them squander it and produce such lackluster television when they could be booking consistently solid shows if they only tried.
Overall Show
Last night's show was boring. WWE didn't want to try telling too many stories right after a PPV, and I can respect that, but it made for pretty poor television.
If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @TheRyanKester.
RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE:
READ OUR INSIDER NEWS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE! BECOME A MEMBER FOR JUST $7.50 A MONTH (or less with a year-long sub) - GET THE FIRST LOOK AT EXCLUSIVE INSIDER DOT NET NEWS, TONS OF EXCLUSIVE AUDIO CONTENT, MEMBER MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, START YOUR OWN BLOG, AND VIEW THE SITE WITHOUT ANY ADVERTISING: SIGN ME UP (or MORE INFO)
RELATED ARTICLES FROM MGID AFFILIATE SITES...
Kester Editorials • Latest Five Articles
|
| Kester's WWE Raw Rundown: Curtis Axel is the latest Paul Heyman Guy, Ryback promises to send John Cena to a medical facility, and The Shield continue to dominate |
| Kester's WWE Extreme Rules Rundown: Brock Lesnar knocks out Triple H, Ryback breaks a wall with John Cena, and The Shield walk away with two championships |
| Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Rundown: Bully Ray and Sting negotiate a stipulation, Joseph Park smashes D-Lo Brown, and Kenny King retains his X Division Championship |
| Kester's WWE Raw Rundown: Brock Lesnar and Triple H meet in a cage, Ryback attacks John Cena's ankle, and The Shield suffer their first loss |
| Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Rundown: Aces and Eights gets overexposed, Abyss makes a triumphant return, and James Storm gets assaulted backstage |
| Kester's WWE Raw Rundown: Ryback tries to find his heel footing, Jack Swagger goes on the warpath, Brock Lesnar breaks some things, and more |
|
|
|
MEMBERSHIP INFO
Become a Dot Net Member right now for $7.50 a month or $66 a year ($5.50 a month avg.). Get exclusive audio, first-look insider news, Forum access, member blogs, more...
CLICK FOR SIGN-UP INFO
|
The Current Must-Read List |
 |
| • 5/23 Dot Net Weekly Audio Show Set List: Paul Heyman's newest client, Triple H's head trauma, WWE and the NFL, TNA's Zema Ion and James Storm medical notes, big Memorial Day edition of WWE Raw |
| • 5/23 Dot Net One Shots: The Dot Net staff give their quick thoughts from the previous week in WWE, TNA, MMA and indie wrestling |
| • Dot Net Interview: Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks on WWE interest, improved relationship with TNA, DGUSA triple shot in Florida, never felt at home in ROH |
| • 5/22 Kester's WWE Main Event Live Coverage Review: Alberto Del Rio vs. Big E Langston and The Uso Brothers vs. 3MB |
| • Powell's 5/20 ROH Wrestling TV review: Kevin Steen vs. Adam Cole, Jay Lethal vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander vs. Rhett Titus and Cliff Compton |
| • British pro wrestling legend Mick McManus dead at age 93 |
| • WWE News: WWE attempting to form a partnership with the NFL |
| • 5/21 WWE Smackdown taping spoilers: Detailed report on the taping for Friday's television show (spoilers) |
| • 5/21 WWE Smackdown taping spoilers: Full coverage of the taping for Friday's television show (spoilers) |
| • 5/21 WWE Main Event taping spoilers |
 |
ACCESS PREVIOUS MUST-READ ARTICLES
 |
| • 05/18 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: WWE Smackdown audio review - Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton, and Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, and Big Show, announce team distractions, Chris Jericho vs. Antonio Cesaro, and more |
| • 05/16 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: The Dot Net Countdown show featuring Will Pruett and Jake Barnett on the best and worst of this week! |
| • 05/14 Prowrestling.net All Access Podcast: Powell's WWE Raw audio review - Brock Lesnar and Triple H, The Shield vs. John Cena, Daniel Bryan, and Kane, Dolph Ziggler update, final hype for Extreme Rules |
 |
CLICK FOR FULL LISTING OF ALL PODCASTS
|
Latest from Our Affiliate Site |
|