WWE RAW Review: A Show That Started Out So Well...
RYBACK VS ZIGGLER I dont think Ziggler has won a match cleanly since I started writing this column. Its frustrating to write every week about how Ziggler lost another match. Ryback VS Ziggler was a great match though. The whole first half of the show is such a huge juxtaposition to the second half. During the first hour, you had intensity and great matches, the second half of the show was mainly filler and recaps. I enjoyed Ziggler against Ryback because Ziggler is the kind of guy who can help elevate Ryback. If you would have told me back in June when I went to a Smackdown taping and watched Ryback take down two local jobbers, that he would be super-over and having great Raw matches, Id have punched you. Needless to say, hes doing it though. Ryback works better when he has someone who can legitimately sell his limited offense. Honestly, hes got a marching Samoan drop, a weird powerbomb, and a clothesline. Its not an impressive arsenal. But when you get a guy who flips when hit with that clothesline, you spit out your chips, yell HOLY $#&@, and high five your friends. Thats what made last nights match great. Sure, Ziggler lost (AGAIN!) but at least the match was once again great. Im still confused as to what they want Ziggler to do at Wrestlemania or who they are going to have him face. MOVIE PROMO SEGMENTS Ill mention this here and clump all of these segments together because, if not, the column would be 8,000 words. The WWE has a few movies coming out and wants you to go see them. They are willing to waste at least 15 minutes of air-time during their premium show to get you to watch those movies. Also, they are willing to dig up old clips/bits theyve done to promote those movies. Seriously, loosely tying the Oscars to showing a clip of John Cena and JBL doing A Few Good Men impression was horrible. I dont care about Dead Man Down. I might care if I hadnt had it shoved down my throat for two weeks now. Youve got Sheamus and Wade Barret feuding because you have a movie coming out. If we promise to see your movie, will you make it stop? CM PUNK PROMO This was a by-the-numbers CM Punk promo. These are the same points hes been making for weeks now. Not a bad promo, but still, more of the same. I think more than anything, Punk is going for shock value by referring to himself as God. Im not a huge fan of that. When he dropped the Boxing with God pipebomb on The Rock, I loved it. It fit the promo well and showed Punks confidence. Now, hes just referring to himself as God to get the already up-in-arms Right Wing even more up-in-arms.