RAW Retort – We are the hounds that hunt the wolves

The WWE started RAW in a beautiful way with a tribute to Angelo Savaldi. He was a fantastic man who saw all of the biggest changes in the wrestling world and trained some of the best in the industry, including Jack Brisco, while being a minority partner in the WWF (WWE). Vince McMahon narrating the video tribute says a lot of the respect he had for Savoldi.

Strange happenings in the ring

The way Triple H and Steph acted in the ring was very strange compared to how they had been treating the WWE Superstars leading up to this point. Obviously, they were up to something when they created the Handicap Match at the end of the show, but it was very different from everything they’d been doing the past couple of months. We’ve been complaining about how things have become so similar lately, I guess they were ready to shake things up.

ADR proves his lack of creativity

I truly do not understand why the WWE continues to push ADR when all he manages to do is bore the fans with the same couple of kicks and then his one submission hold each week. The man is uninspired, doesn’t seem to care that he’s not putting on a good match week in and week out, and doesn’t try to get any better. The fact that he’s World Heavyweight Champion only further hurts the title’s validity. It’s so sad to see how far it has fallen. It is also terribly sad to see anyone who’s forced to work the ring with him. Other than the Divas, ADR is almost always the lowest part of every show.

Prime Time players are out matched

I was really impressed with how both Young and O’Neil worked the ring against Rowan and Harper. They didn’t have a chance against the much bigger and more talented wrestlers, but it was nice to see how both Young and O’Neil have worked hard on their ring skills and are really starting to look like solid wrestlers, rather than two guys who look great, but really have no chance to carry on great matches. Their improvements have not been missed, and hopefully they will continue to improve as they have. As for Rowan and Harper, those two big men could really be forces to be reckoned with when they develop solid characters and storylines.

Miz is pissed

The strange occurrences continued with Big Show punching Miz out so easily. Yes, Miz verbally accosted Big Show, but he only said what is true, and what others have already said. Is Big Show already starting to get out of his blubbering ways and move on to a more professional giant? And what of Steph? I don’t know if you noticed, but Steph broke one of the biggest rules in the WWE, she went to the ring with a cheat sheet written in the palm of her hand.

The Rock was beaten up all over the internet for doing such a thing, you would think that Steph would know better than to do something like that, even if she was in trouble and couldn’t remember her lines. She’s a McMahon and can handle herself in the ring better than almost anyone else, and she should have known better than go to the ring with anything written on her hand, even if it was only her shopping list.

Viper strikes

I was actually very impressed with the work between RVD and Orton. Those two men are from very different generations of wrestling, and very different styles. Yet they put on a top quality match. All what was being said about Orton getting boring in the ring over the past couple years; he’s stepped things up and really changed his outlook and work style. Maybe Orton was much worse off while he was going through his divorce than we all thought as he had a couple of issues and a Wellness Violation, as well as just not being interesting or at all exciting. I’m glad he seems to be doing so much better.

A little slice of Brie

I loved how Brie stood up to Orton about her boyfriend Bryan. Watching them on total Divas has shown only a small part of their relationship, and they’re just wonderful together.

AJ taken down a notch

Steph really intimidated AJ when dressing her down backstage. It was lovely to see heel Steph at her best.

Not a good day for The Shield

Dancing cobra

I think putting Santino and Fandango in the ring together was a brilliant idea, but I don’t think they made the most of it. There was so much more personality, creativity, and fun they could have put into that match but they didn’t. I worry that they’re spending too much time on the Corporate Evolution, and not enough time with the rest of the storylines.

Punk goes home

Punk almost stole the show, and for those in the arena, I’m sure he did. The fans in Chicago were so over-the-top in love with Punk that he could have said and done horrible things, and they wouldn’t have cared. Heyman worked the segment well, but in reality, it was all Punk. If Axel and Ryback hadn’t slapped Punk down, the fans would have been too happy with Punk and the whole segment wouldn’t have had any tension or reality to it. I was quite impressed with everyone involved with the segment, and when I was sure that Ryback hadn’t hurt Punk by putting him through that table, I was kind of impressed with him as well.

Too many Divas, not enough match

I really don’t know why they put all of those Divas in that match if only four of them stepped in the ring. I didn’t even know Tamina was down there until I saw her carrying AJ away from the ring. I think Tamina is someone who’s needed on the Divas roster and should be putting in more time on TV, but maybe I’m biased because some of the men in her family on the WWE roster, or actually all of her family members who are on the active roster, are male and were in the main event.

It’s time for us to be seeing what Tamina could be doing in the ring these days. I also have to say that Brie looked crisper and more polished in the ring than I’ve ever seen her. I’m not saying she’s suddenly a great wrestler, and we didn’t see much from her, but what we did see looked better than she’s ever looked before.

The Shield as solid as ever

Or at least they came across as if they were solid as ever. It didn’t appear as if they were at all worried about what was to happen to them later in the show. As usual, those three men sold on the mic better than most on the roster. It makes me think the WWE should be looking to the Indies more and more, rather than creating their own Superstars as McMahon is so fond of doing.

Bryan almost steals the show from Punk

It’s so unusual that two Superstars whip the fans into such frenzy lately. It really hasn’t been since the likes of Taker, HBK, Austin, The Rock and even Triple H were active on a regular basis that the fans have been driven so wild by Superstars twice in the same show. Then again, if anyone could bring the fans to such a level after Punk did the same in his hometown, it would be Bryan.

The Shield crumbles

I don’t know what the plan for The Shield is, but I sure wasn’t expecting them to take a digger to Bryan and his merry band of underdog Superstars! I cannot get over the great work in this match, and how much everyone put into everything they did during the more than twenty minutes they worked that ring. Young, O’Neil and Ziggler carried themselves beautifully. Ryder and R-Truth each had a few moments to shine, and the Uso brothers looked better than ever. Kofi and RVD both sold their earlier injuries while adding their particular spice and feeling to the overall match. It was Gabriel who didn’t add anything to the match, but he really is low man on the totem pole in this group, and not everyone could look stellar in the match.

I love that Bryan finally was able to get over The Shield, and that it was a cousin who gave Reigns his first pin-fall loss on WWE TV – other than NXT, of course. I loved how the WWE swapped things around after so many weeks of Bryan ending RAW in a heap. So, is this a turn in the right direction, or just a slight glitch for the Corporate Evolution? Only time will tell.