Dot Net Mailbag: More feedback on Monday's Raw with thoughts on Sheamus, the DX vs. Hart Dynasty match, maybe old school wrestling isn't such a bad thing (Powell responds)

You are encouraged to send a paragraph or two of comments on any pro wrestling or MMA-related topic to dotnetjason@gmail.com.

First, let me say I enjoyed Raw a great deal last night! The past
two weeks of Raw episodes have been really good shows in my eyes.
That being said, when I looked at several sites this afternoon all I keep
seeing is complaints about Sheamus and the so-called burial of the Hart Dynasty.

If Sheamus had gotten the Mike Knox treatment, booked well on ECW then overshadowed on Raw and Smackdown, then everyone would say how WWE blew it. As soon as Sheamus became linked to Triple H, he has become public enemy number two behind Drew McIntyre. That is not fair to Sheamus or any other wrestler who befriends Triple H.

The Hart Dynasty is clearly an internet fave if only because of the name value. Of the three of them Nattie is the best promo and Tyson Kidd has the most potential to become a main event or upper mid card talent. David Hart-Smith is gonna be "future endeavored" the minute that team breaks up. As a matter of fact, I think WWE would do better by just releasing him and having Teddy Hart, an actual HART, team with Tyson.

The bottom line is just because the Harts lost to DX doesn't mean they're buried. It was great to see them in the ring with a team that wasn't Cryme Tyme, who they lost to several times, for goodness sakes! I find it funny that Sheamus is an example of nepotism when all the Harts have jobs simply because their relatives success. Isn't that nepotism?

Jay Pope

Powell responds: I don't get the feeling that too many people are complaining about Sheamus getting the main event push. Some fans may have favorites they'd prefer to see in that role, but it seems like the overwhelming majority of people are happy to see some new blood in the main event mix. As for the Hart Dynasty, I still believe WWE could have done more with their DX match and the act in general. There's a backstory and a history between DX and the Harts that WWE barely acknowledged.

Finally, as Konnan told me in a Dot Net Member exclusive interview a while back, he felt that Teddy's maturity issues would prevent him from clicking in the WWE locker room. Teddy is a talented performer, but he's also proven to be his own worst enemy at times. WWE officials are aware of that reputation or I'm guessing he'd already be under contract.

***

So the Raw Thanksgiving special has come and gone, and WWE was able to craft an entertaining show for the first time in quite awhile. I could come on here and complain about the DX stuff or how bad Michael Cole and The King were, but instead I want to praise.

For years we have heard from the Vinces and Bischoff that old school booking is a thing of the past. That good vs. evil no longer works and that people want shades of grey. I have to admit that I myself was convinced. I thought guys like Roddy Piper and Jim Ross were foolish old men who refused to step into the new millennium. Well, watch the closing angle of Raw last night.

As the lights dimmed and the spotlight lit up the ring, I felt different. My cynical side that said Sheamus wasn't ready slowly began to slip away and was replaced by goosebumps as John Cena made Shamus a threat with one promo. By the time Jesse Ventura grabbed the mic and started comparing Cena to Hulk Hogan (without saying as much), I was hooked. I felt the frustration Jesse had that he never got the chance to be that guy. It was booking 101. Build a monster for the champ and make it seem like the champ has no chance in hell. I have seen it 1,000 times before, but you know what? It still worked.

I don't know where it will go from here. I am sure Sheamus will not win and most likely will be feuding with Evan Bourne after TLC or something like that, but for a brief moment in time, he was Andre The Giant. He was King Kong Bundy. He was Earthquake. He was the unstoppable force that Cena had no chance of getting past. It was simple, it was silly, and it was fantastic. Please WWE, don't forget those last moments of Raw.

Oh, and if you get time, make Cole watch the battle royal and listen to Vince. I had to get my shot in there.

Dan Phelps
MNRshootingfromthehip.com