Pro Wrestling Chronicle

The build to Wrestlemania continued last night and for the first time it seemed like they were lost on how to continue the Cena/Michaels storyline. In fact as a whole other than forwarding one huge storyline and planting seeds for another this was a nothing happening RAW.

- Randy Orton gets the last spot in Money in the Bank by beating Carlito and Ric Flair in a triple threat match. I like that this match pushed ahead two different storylines. One could assume we will see Carlito vs Ric Flair at Wrestlemania based off Carlito giving Flair the Backcracker and causing him to be eliminated. What impressed me the most was the pop Randy Orton got afterwards from the Baltimore crowd. I think in the feud withe Edge, Orton is the guy who should be turned face because Edge is the guy with a lot more heel momentum. Speaking of which…

- The tease towards a Edge/Orton match continues. Edge set up Orton in a backstage segment with Vince McMahon where they booked a Lashley vs Orton match for the ECW show tonight. A lot of people thought Edge/Orton would’ve been a great Wrestlemania match but the WWE is doing the right thing by holding off. Create big dissension at Wrestlemania and then the night after, Edge turns on Orton. You can use that match to prop up a couple buyrates for the May and July pay per views. The slow burn to this feud has been perfect.

-The dissension between Cena and HBK continued this week but for the first time in the build it didn’t really move beyond what we already know. Coach booked the tag champs in a 3 team gauntlet match. The tag champs ran through The World’s Greatest Tag Team, Cade/Murdoch, and MNM in about 20 minutes…effectively killing all those teams. At the end all the teams came out after the champs and Cena grabbed a chair to fend them off. He was supposed to swing at Michaels, who would duck, and Cena would hit Cade, but the timing was way off and it just looked horribly awkward. The fans are anticipating the night Michaels gives Cena the superkick so anything until that point is wheel spinning.

-The Rock returned to Raw to cut a promo about the Hair vs Hair match. A short 5 minute promo showed once again why he was one of the most popular wrestlers to ever step foot in a WWE ring. He hit all his trademarks and despite being on tape and not interacting with the crowd he had them in the palm of his hand the whole time.

- Last but not least we had the contract signing for Lashley w/ Donald Trump vs Umaga w/ Vince McMahon. This segment was played perfectly by everyone involved. It also proved why the WWE is the leader in this business. There were so many little subtle camera shots, and facial reactions that it built the match up more than a couple 15 minute promos could have. Trump and McMahon’s exchanges were filled with the proper amount of ego and bluster. Before they could go any further Austin made his way to the ring and took center stage. He was on as well, telling Donald that he didn’t care how much money he had he’d kick his ass if need be. Trump, to his credit, looked somewhat scared but trying to remain steadfast. McMahon was the next target and Austin asked him if he had a problem with bald people. Vince looked at Austin and then looked at Lashely who gave him a death stare. McMahon then did the trademark gulp and avoided the question. After Austin finished McMahon and Trump confronted each other in the ring and it ended with Trump pushing McMahon over the table and on to the ground. He then casually walked away.

Again- this was a perfect segment in getting across the match and they did it without anyone cutting a big long promo, having a pull-apart brawl, or having someone go through the table. It was produced in a way that only WWE can do and it’s why they are the only game in town.

The show was focused but not especially tight segment wise. It’s still amazing to me that the people who are responsible for some of the horrid Raw’s of last year are the ones writing these shows. A middle of the road type Raw but really the first one that hasn’t been great since before the Royal Rumble