7/30/01
I just got done watching Monday night Raw, The return of the Rock. It wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Like we didn't already know he was going back to the WWF.
But, wait I'm jumping ahead of myself let's start of with the start of the show.
I must say when I heard Tazz's music I wasn't really interested but then came Tommy Dreamer and Paul Heyman. Tommy Dreamer was one of my favorite ECW wrestlers and well I guess in a way still is. I hate the fact that they haven't found him a story line yet. Not really a story line but an enemy. They should have left Raven in WWF. Dreamer and Raven are classic in the ring against each other. I couldn't believe they brought him out just to take Michael Cole to the back it wasn't right. Then again, on a higher note, Paul Heyman is back in his rightful spot next to J.R. as head commentators for Monday night Raw. I might not like the guy but he is great at what he does. The show wasn't the same without. I mean if we can't have Jerry "The King" Lawler then Paul Heyman will do. Then we had to listen to Tazz talk about how Booker T would regain the WCW Championship and the Rock would join the Alliance. I knew one would happen and I was right about which one. Luckily, Chris Jericho came down to shut Tazz up but the match was a disappointment. Coming from two amazing athletes in Tazz and Jericho I expected a better match then the little three-second thing we got.
The whole McMahons fighting over the Rock angle was cute, but that's it. Everyone knew what Rock would do, but at least they tried to add a little suspense. But having two different limo show up at Raw not being the Rock was a little depressing more than funny. But Vince kept the people watching which is what he gets paid to do and does very well.
Next, WWF Hardcore Title match, Rob Van Dam v/s Tajiri (two of my favorites in the business today). It was an excellent show of ability on both sides. I wonder if they are trying to keep RVD's his winning streak going. I mean he never lost the ECW Television Title. He was an undefeated champion. It would be cool if they did that again but I'm not so sure the Hardcore Title is the right title. I mean he should be going for higher gold. He is an incredible athlete and performer. Tajiri defiantly has gold in his future as well. These two high-flying, fast-paced, hard-hitting, resilient athletes gave us a very good match. (Not as good as Jeff Hardy v/s Rob Van Dam at Invasion but it was a PPV.)
I'm not really sure about this new Big Show/Billy Gunns team. I mean they have both made a name for themselves in this business but can they pull off being a sound tag team. They will always be compared to the New Age Outlaws. Because, in many minds, they were one of the best tag teams the WWF history. But, then again neither Billy, nor Show were doing very good one their own and they can both use this new angle to bring out their comedic sides as well as aggressive sides. Plus if anyone does good in matching Show for strength and ability, Billy Gunn does.
Now on to Angle challenging Stone Cold Steve Austin (SCSA) to a WWF Title match at SummerSlam. I see this to be a great match. Both men are quick and aggressive in the ring. I've always liked Kurt Angle for his true ability in that ring among other things the personality he brings to his character. Face or heel he makes you feel something. Then there's SCSA, one of my all time favorites, even though I'm disappointed in his heel turn, it had to happen. It also proves to the millions that he can do it all, he still has it. I must admit I loved the whole Austin & Angle w/ Vince McMahon angle, it cracked me up. But, if there was any reason to break it up it was defiantly to put the two of them in the ring against each other.
Next match, Matt Hardy & Lita v/s Hurricane Helms & Torrie Wilson. If any of you know me then you know how much I dig Lita. She's out there every night showing not only the women can wrestle but that some can wrestle just as well as a man. Sorry, ladies but I can't say all. I mean I like Torrie Wilson and all but she's no Lita in that ring. At least she's trying and improving, along with many other female wrestlers. I mean I really like Trish Stratus and I think she's improved so much from when she first came to the WWF. There are others who have amazing ability Jackie, Tori, Molly Holly, Ivory, Madusa and some who could, with work, one day be that good Torrie Wilson, Stacy Keebler, Madesha, Gorgeous George, Daffney, even Terri. Sorry, I got off track. We were talking about the match with Matt and Lita v/s Helms and Torrie Wilson. I liked the fact that the women started off the match but it went a little slow at first. But once it got going it wasn't a bad match all in all. Could have been better. Torrie seemed a little lost at times. And no I'm not talking about how Helms what telling her what moves to do because I know that was for show. But, at the end when Matt had Helms ready for the Twist of Fate and she slid out of the ring. Matt paused long like she was supposed to hit him before the move. Plus she slid in and out of the ring two or three times before she actually hit him with the low blow. I could be wrong, just an observation. It doesn't matter the match ended well, no harm no foul. Just to point it out, now Torrie has a 1/1 win over Trish from the paddle match and a tag team win over Lita from tonight.
Okay, what's with the whole Debra's cookies thing, we get it they're bad, so what? I think Debra should be more aggressive, she's the wife of SCSA. I mean look at the other wives Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley(w/ Triple H), Linda McMahon(w/ Vince McMahon), and Sarah(w/ Undertaker) all strong, aggressive women with the exception of Linda on certain occasions. Debra could be an in your face women easily, she has the ability to be a heel as well.
WCW Championship Title match Kurt Angle v/s Booker T. This was a very good match. It shows their different personalities very well. I mean I could even tell when Kurt Angle was going to come back when he was down because Booker let him breathe. Angle is one of those guys you have to stay on in the ring and Booker doesn't do that. Which is why I think Austin and Angle will have an awesome match at SummerSlam. Austin will stay on Angle's butt all through the match. Any way, I knew Austin would get involved but I didn't expect the locker room to come out before the match began. That's a point to the McMahons for getting one by me. What else is there to say I enjoyed the match and how enraged Kurt Angle became after the match with Austin and Booker both running from him. But, again with the whole Debra thing. If it was one of the other wives Angle would have been smacked right in the face. Please stop making her the weak one. Or at least give her credits in other area's. Like Steph is known as the brains behind the bronze.
Edge & Christian (E&C) v/s Lance Storm and Chris Kanyon. E&C are some of my favorites on the mic. Here lately they haven't gotten to say very much and I'm disappointed. Lance Storm is good and all but he's no E&C. No matter who his tag team partner is. Chris Kanyon is a great athlete but there are a lot of wrestlers better than Kanyon, who deserve that belt. Of course Storm and Kanyon had to cheat to win but it's still a win. On another note I thought the "boring" chants the crowd was into during this match was very disrespectful and uncalled for.
Billy Kidman v/s X-Pac title against title match. X-Pac won, it sucks, the end. I mean not much more to say X-Pac is a good wrestler with a lot of ring ability but that's it. He doesn't interest the fans any more at all. Kidman should have won the match. He still has farther to go in this industry. When he's in the ring you can't keep your eyes off him.
There are certain entertainers I love to see interviewed and the Dudleyz happen to be one of them. They always give a good performance on the mic as well as in the ring.
Now to my favorite match of the night, which was strange, because here lately the main event hasn't been my favorite match of the night. But, it was tonight. Two of my all-time favorite tag teams in wrestling history.
The Undertaker & Kane w/ Sara v/s The Dudley Boyz Before the match they told Taker if he brought Sara out she would go through a table and they tried their best to make it come true. But in the end it was Bubba's turn to get wood. This match was marvelous. Then again these four mean very seldomly disappoint. I must say pinning DDP against Taker was one of the smartest decisions made. Not for size or strength but for wit and attitude. DDP is just the right size to somewhat over power Sara (yet letting her defend herself believably) but at the same time needing back up to take out Taker. But, the alliance doesn't have a team to match Taker and Kane, no one does. What will DDP do? When will we see more of WCW's wrestlers? Now on to the topic of the night, the return of the Rock. It wasn't all it was built up to be. I knew after he rock bottomed Vince that Shane was next. I said at the beginning of the night that he would leave out the end of the night saying, "Finally, The Rock has come back to the WWF. If you smell what The Rock is cooking!" and he did.

All in all on a 1-10, I'd give tonight's show a 6 1/2.

That's all for this edition of "Precious Words" and this is your columnist, Precious, saying good night everyone and don't forget to tune into Smackdown on Thursday where hopefully we'll get to hear what the Rock's really got to say. I should have another column put up Friday if things go right.