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LOOKING AT "VINCE MCMAHON IS IN THE MAIN EVENT BECAUSE HE IS IN THE BRAND'S TOP PROGRAM" EDITION OF RAW

Note: I am still messing around with the format of this report.  I think I like this one better, so it may be the new way I do the Raw recaps.

By the time Raw was over last night, I knew two things for sure.  One was that there was a PPV this Sunday.  The other was that all of the locker room talk that I have heard saying that Vince McMahon feels that his feud with DX is the brand's top storyline is 100% true.

Starting with the first point I have to say this.  They did a much better job  of selling Sunday's PPV last week than they did last night. Yes, they mentioned it enough, but there just seemed to be a lot more passion and conviction on last week's show and if they would have followed that up, it would have left a stronger impression in my mind.  With Cell and TLC matches, I still expect the PPV to do a solid buy rate but with a stronger push last night it could have been a lot better.

As for the "top" angle, it is really boring me to see Vinnie Mac in the top spot.  Used correctly, he is a great character.  Overused incorrectly, he grates on me pretty quickly.  We are at that point.  In fact, we have been at that point.  It's time to end this feud and let the wrestlers wrestle and the old guys watch Vince.

Overall, last night's show had its ups and downs.  With the new fall TV season about to start, WWE creative would be well served to get out of summer mode and start working a little harder to product quality, must-see TV shows or I can foresee some ratings erosion as the season goes on. 

The Angles: This wasn't an angle, but Lilian Garcia did an amazing job to open Raw.  She was off the charts, as she usually is.  I also think that the company did a strong job of paying tribute to the tragic events 9/11. ... Wow, there's nothing like Vince patting himself on the back by pointing out his place in the walk of fame is there?  Yeah, he does deserve it but jeez, it came across as kind of masturbatory to me. ... Roddy Piper coming out was a cool surprise.  As anyone who has been a fan for, man I don't even want to say it, over 25 years knows, Piper is a legend in the business and an all time star in New York City. ... Uh, Jeff Hardy throws paint on Johnny Nitro and he doesn't even get attacked by the champ?  Damn, that's sad.  It was also pretty dopey.  Why the hell would Hardy be backstage painting anyway?  Stuff like this is why WWE creative keeps driving fans away. ... Cryme Tyme.  Why?  Shouldn't attempts at humor actually be funny?  This just came across as so bad to me.  It was lamely trying to make fun of racial stereotypes and was just dopey.  This is one of those things that I can't believe someone in the meetings doesn't have the guts to say, "This is really, really bad."  And Vince wonders why he can't get the ad money that his TV ratings should warrant.  Look in the mirror Mr. McMahon.  You will see the reason why there. ... I have to say I was really shocked at the lack of reaction that Trish Stratus got from the crowd.  Given how hard she has worked over the years for the company, she deserved more from the fans than she received, or more accurately didn't receive.  Their reaction to her, or lack thereof, was kind of embarrassing.  I expected better from a NY crowd, especially given how animated they were for most of the evening. ... The McMahons attacked Triple H to set up their match.  They closed Triple H in a car door.  Whatever.  I am just so sick of this feud and want it to end.

The Matches: Ric Flair vs. Umaga was too short to even comment on and had too much of a lame finish to even talk about.  It's just a shame that at this point in his career, Flair is fodder but hey, when you need to earn a check and can't leave on your own terms, that's how life is.  The Kane-Umaga stuff that followed was cool.  I liked the tossing of the ring steps to the floor.  It had a high impact kind of sound and looked impressive.  I can't say I am looking forward to this feud, but Kane has a lot of fans and is a good guy so he deserves his spot. ... The Highlanders and Roddy Piper vs. Spirit Squad was all about one thing, the return of Piper.  Aesthetically, it wasn't pretty but it served its purpose of putting over Piper and setting up Sunday's match. ... The six man was a good bout that did a strong job of focusing on the issues between the men involved.  It was one of those rare circumstances where they used one match to successfully promote three PPV bouts.  Plus, the crowd was just totally off the hook during thie match. ... Super Crazy vs. Chris Masters was one of those "the only reason that this is happening is because Masters has some jobs to do as pennance" matches.  If there was another reason for it, I have no idea what it was. ... Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James was fine for what it was.  Trish got to have her last Raw match, for now anyway.  I don't know if she will ever be back, but I can't say I would take a bullet if I had to be right by saying she wouldn't.  The match was fine for what it was. ... If Triple H vs. Vince McMahon made you look forward to Sunday's match, you are a better fan than I am.  To me, it was just plodding, unbelievable and dull.  Watching a grandfather wrestle is fine when it's Ric Flair or Terry Funk.  When it's Vince McMahon, no so much.  I was hoping when he booked himself in the main event, it was to, oh I don't know, LET THE WRESTLER GET OVER, or at least pull a heinous heel move to make me want to see him "get his" at the PPV.  Instead, a senior citizen beat up a middle-aged guy.  That sure does say a lot about WWE right now.  

The Questions:

Was anyone else as embarrassed as I was by the goof in the front row, wearing the DX shirt, who was laughing during the moment of silence that opened the show?

Did anyone else notice that three supposed Scotsmen came out to the music played by the Emerald society?

And, WWE does know the difference between Scottish and Irish, right?

How funny is it that Piper said he was happy to be with The Highlanders and yet he didn't even know what their names were?

Was anyone else thinking that Piper-Highlanders skit was about to turn into a Three Stooges movie?

And, who knew that right after I typed that, Jerry Lawler would make the same comparison?

Other than the Spirit Squad Johnny, what kind of goober wrestles with visor on?

If Mick Foley isn't coming back any time soon, why is he getting mentioned in the promos by Melina?

Why would anyone in MSG even react to Edge's dis on the Yankees when they are, quite frankly, the standard of excellence in sports?

How funny was it that by throwing paint on Johnny Nitro, Jeff Hardy actually made the guy look the way he used to when he wrestled for WWE at the end of his first run?

Isn't it wild listening to the pro and anti-Cena fans go at it during matches?

Did you notice the fan in the second row with the replica belt over his shoulder?

Who brings a fake belt to wrestling matches anyway?

Shouldn't someone tell Jerry Lawler that the "longest running series" means in actual time, not episodes?

Why would the dopey guy in "the hood" hang up the phone if he thought he was going to get mugged?

I mean, wouldn't it make more sense to say where he was and ask the person on the other end to call 911?

What is the point of Vince and Triple H make veiled references to H's marriage to Steph when they never actually follow it up?

Was Chris Masters standing in the ring the first time all night the crowd was quiet?

And wasn't it nuts that the crowd went from totally insane to dead in the course of one Chris Masters match?

Did you notice that Trish got no reaction coming out?

Is it because the fans were killed by Chris Masters or because they hate anyone who leaves the company?

Why were Mickie James and Trish hugging after all the issues between them in the past?

Did you notice that Vince has a lot more gut now than he ever did before?

And, what was him wearing that weak ass shirt anyway?

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