GEORGE LOOKS AT SOME RECENT WWE STORYLINES
by George Papoulias 8/23/2003 12:10:00 AM
“Thoughts on Some Current WWE Storylines”
All in all, I thought this past Monday’s Raw was probably one of the more entertaining shows I’ve seen in quite a while. First thing I want to get off my chest is my befuddlement for all the bad reviews that the Bischoff/Linda angle received, even by Percy Pringle.
I thought it was a very entertaining and well-done segment. Bizarre? Yes. Done in poor taste? Don’t necessarily agree with that. Well done? Yes. Bottom line is that WWE needed to do something to hype up the match at SummerSlam this Sunday between Shane and Bischoff, and Bischoff sexually harassing his mother in her own house, is a very strange yet effective way to do it. Besides its not like we were watching a grown man hump a corpse. Okay, Bischoff made some sexual comments about a woman in her mid to late 50s. So? For those of you that criticized that storyline for the sexual content, think of some of your favorite flicks and don’t tell me that a single one of them doesn’t include any lewd material. Also, the way Eric was harboring bitterness toward Shane for WCW being handed to him from right under his very nose and then letting it die was very clever. It adds more spice to the feud and like I’ve said many times before, it goes to show you that there are still endless storyline possibilities that could be derived from the WCW name. Furthermore, after constantly seeing Vinnie Mac kissing and publicly making out with every single woman other than his wife, it was rather a refreshing change to see Linda being romanced by another man herself. Besides, who would’ve ever thought six years ago, that we be seeing a WWE segment with Eric Bischoff kissing Vince McMahon’s wife?
Kane tying up RVD in the back and then gagging him was also beautifully done. It was the action of man whose suppose to be sadistic and destroy anyone who crosses him. It was the actions of a REAL heel. Yes, real heels don’t have to constantly talk for 50 minutes. The best thing about the RVD/Kane angle was that while RVD was being tied up with Kane grabbing the gasoline, you were at the edge of your seat just wondering what was going to happen next. That’s the mark of good programming. The only part that stumped me about the whole scenario was Kane saying that he won’t burn RVD because he’s tired of doing what “they want him to do.” Huh? RVD is the fan favorite in this feud yet Kane won’t burn him because that’s what “they” want him to do? Vinnie Mac might want to clear that up for the future.
While I do essentially hate the new Lance Storm character, I couldn’t help but laugh when he told Goldust that the most rebellious thing he ever did was returning a video rental without rewinding it. So basically the morale of the story is while Lance is being made to look like an ass, his new gimmick might deserve a little bit of a chance (okay, maybe not).
Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel has so far been a very well done segment. Every week he continues to prove that he is arguably the best talker in the company and is also very charismatic. Though Nash dwarfs him, Jericho makes Nash look like an idiot in verbal dialogue, and is also a great catalyst for HBK getting attacked by Evolution. I personally wouldn’t be disappointed if he walks out of the Chamber with the gold.
Speaking of Nash, what was the deal with his new hair color? I know he has an upcoming move role and all, but now he looks like my grandfather (wrestles like him too).
The La Resistance angle was another thing that I popped HUGE for. Rob Conway attacking the Dudley Boyz with the American flag just as everyone was having another Yankee Doodle Dandy moment was unexpected and perfect timing. Oh by the way, for those of you that were offended by the “how many innocent people have you killed?” comment in reference to the “soldier” need to lighten up, because I could very easily turn around and say that I get offended by our nation unnecessarily attacking other nations.
Going back to the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday night, I brought up a potential dispute to this match when chatting with Dave Whitaker about his recent column. That being that WWE may have been better off letting HHH and Goldberg go at it one-on-one instead of hastily throwing four other guys into the mix and making it an elimination chamber match. Though I don’t believe that the WWE’s SumerSlam hype has been poor, I can see why this match probably won’t be as anticipate as planned. Up until Stone Cold’s announcement, it was almost common knowledge for a little while that HHH and Goldberg were going to finally got at it at SummerSlam. Then out of nowhere, this match turns into an elimination chamber match with Nash, HBK, Jericho and Orton all involved? I do understand the WWE’s fear of a HHH/Goldberg match bombing, especially when factoring HHH’s groin injury. However, I feel that a HHH/Goldberg match could’ve been a huge draw and Goldberg vs. HHH at 65 % match might’ve been more entertaining than six guys randomly thrown into a Chamber match. I hope I’m wrong.
Note to JR: Though you’re one of the more prominent play by play men in the industry, you don’t need to literally have a heart attack every final five seconds of Raw before a big PPV when hyping it up. It sounds like the paramedics are about to show up on the scene.
Comments, compliments, death wishes?
Let me know:
gpap14@hotmail.com
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