Powell Editorials WWE Raw Hitlist: MVP steps up, various thoughts on the post-draft debuts of The Miz, Matt Hardy, The Colons, The Brian Kendrick, and Big Show, plus Kofi Kingston, Vickie Guerrero, and Batista By Jason Powell Apr 28, 2009 - 12:12 PM Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing Dot Net Members are currently reading an update on the Jeff Hardy contract situation. You can gain instant access to this story and all the perks of membership for only five bucks per month by visiting the Dot Net Members' Signup Page. WWE Raw Hits MVP: A strong first night for MVP on the Raw brand. He was featured prominently when he interrupted Randy Orton's first promo as the new WWE Champion, and he had a decent match with Orton later in the show. Shane McMahon stole some of his thunder by interfering in the match, but it was obvious that the match would feature a cheap finish because they wouldn't have Orton lose on his first night as champion, nor would they have MVP lose the match when they're trying to elevate him. I'm still a bigger fan of the heel version of the character and I'm not a fan of The Rock-like "Ballin'" elbow drop, but there's no denying that this was a strong start for MVP on the Raw brand. Vickie Guerrero: The week off television did her some good as I was getting burned out on her antics. I assume she was off last week because they didn't want to fly her to the UK, but I hope they'll give her a week off here and there to keep her character fresh. Kofi Kingston vs. The Brian Kendrick: I'm not a fan of having Kendrick lose on his first night on the show, but I'm also hopeful that WWE will elevate Kofi this year, so no complaints. The match was fun while it lasted. Now how about giving these two more time so they can deliver a memorable match? Sadly, I came away with the feeling that Kendrick is going to be a jobber to the stars. I hope I'm wrong. Matt Hardy: Nice whining promo. As I mentioned last night, Hardy could stand out by being a whiner because no one else is really playing that role in WWE right now. I don't know if he'll wrestle every week while he's nursing the broken hand, but I hope they keep him active on the show. The Miz: Great promo. I was hopeful at the time that Miz would cut this promo for weeks while Cena took time off to sell the Big Show attack. It would have been a fun weekly build to Cena's return and the fans would have popped huge when Cena finally came out and accepted Miz's challenge. Unfortunately, Cena returned at the end of last night's show. If nothing else, Miz can point out next week that Cena came out later in the show, yet didn't accept his challenge. This was a fun debut on the Monday night show for Miz and I loved the shot he took at Cena's movie bombing. WWE Raw Misses Batista vs. Big Show: Slow, boring match with a really weak finish. Batista earned his spot at the WWE Title because Big Show was stupid? Way to send him into Judgment Day with momentum. As for Big Show, I was hoping that WWE would do something big to followup on the spotlight stunt. The still-shot photos were okay, but this is one stunt I would have actually shown on free television repeatedly. If Show is going to be the No. 2 heel on Raw, then they have to make him look like a monster and not make him look like a dope who is so easily distracted that he gets himself counted out. For that matter, it's hard to take him seriously as a monster when he's puckering up for Vickie. Carlito and Primo vs. Jamie Noble and Chavo Guerrero: Yuck. One of the reasons the Colons received no reaction is that they appeared earlier in the show for the Superstars taping. It also doesn't help to have them face a makeshift tag team that consists of two wrestlers the fans see as jobbers. Horrible Raw debut for The Colons tag team. Santina: Enough! It was cute during WrestleMania weekend, but the comedy character has overstayed its welcome. HELP SUPPORT DOT NET! BECOME A MEMBER AT OUR CHARTER RATE OF JUST $5 A MONTH - GET THE FIRST LOOK AT EXCLUSIVE INSIDER DOT NET NEWS, TONS OF EXCLUSIVE AUDIO SHOWS, MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, START YOUR OWN BLOG, AD-FREE MAIN LISTING: SIGN ME UP (or MORE INFO) GOT AN IPHONE OR IPOD TOUCH? THEN BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR NEW FREE iPhone APP: (click here!) (or SEARCH "pro wrestling" in iTunes App Store) FOR MORE BREAKING WWE & TNA NEWS AND COMMENTARY, VISIT OUR AFFILIATE PWTORCH.COM (click here!) FOR MORE MMA & UFC NEWS AND COMMENTARY, VISIT OUR AFFILIATE MMATORCH.COM (click here!) CLICK TO RETURN TO DOT NET MAIN LISTING OR SELECT A LINK BELOW FROM THIS CATEGORY Powell Editorials Latest Twelve Articles Powell's TNA Impact Hitlist: Dixie Carter's speech to the talent crew, hype for Hulk Hogan, the build for A.J. Styles vs. Daniels vs. Samoa Joe, Team 3D vs. Matt Morgan and Hernandez, Tara vs. Hamada WWE Raw Hitlist: Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne host Raw, Chris Jericho vs. John Cena vs. Big Show, Sheamus destroys Jamie Noble, The Miz vs. Evan Bourne, vintage Michael Cole Powell's TNA Impact Hitlist: Hulk Hogan footage, Desmond Wolfe vs. Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe has a brain, Eric Young renames the toy belt, Matt Morgan vs. Rhino, World Elite get new warmup gear, Team 3D vs. Motor City Machine Guns WWE Raw Hitlist: John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels announced for Survivor Series, Kofi Kingston shines, John Cena makes Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes look like losers, Hornswoggle can't read WWE Bragging Rights Hitlist: John Cena vs. Randy Orton in an Iron Man match, Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Batista vs. C.M. Punk four-way, Raw vs. Smackdown tag match, The Miz vs. John Morrison Powell's TNA Bound For Glory Hitlist: A.J. Styles vs. Sting for the TNA Title, Kurt Angle vs. Matt Morgan, Ultimate X match, Mick Foley vs. Abyss, Bobby Lashley vs. Samoa Joe, ODB vs. Tara vs. Awesome Kong