by WWE Raw made its debut on Netflix tonight, and for all intended purposes, hit a homerun! Here are my thumbs up and thumbs down from the night but with only 3 fingers pointing down and 10 pointing up, it is easy to see how much I enjoyed this one!
Thumbs down – Too much talk early on
They had one match in the first 90 minutes of the show. This was the Battle of the Bloodline sandwiched in between interviews with The Rock, HHH and John Cena. This is a special night so they were able to get away with it this week, but there is no chance this can become a trend of next to no wrestling for 90 minutes to open a show. The must get away from that quickly and I’m sure they will.
Thumbs Down – Was pot smoking really needed to get Jey Uso over?
Travis Scott had to smoke a joint just to accompany Jey Uso to the ring tonight? Listen, I’m a realist and I’m not here to lecture anyone about their personal choices or habits, to each his own. But, Netflix or not, there are still a lot of children watching this show and smoking weed is now going to be seen as cool and associated with Jey Uso. I’m just not sure that’s the look this product needs or wants.
Thumbs Down – The red lights on the seats.
The camera work tonight was INCREDIBLE, I cannot say enough great things about the new angles and extreme level of HD. But, the red lights on the seats looked awful and made half the arena appear to be empty. If you had on a dark shirt, your seat appeared to be empty and outshined by the red light. Poor choice.
THAT’S IT! The rest of the show was absolute money and let’s talk about that now!
Thumbs Up – The opening video
The cold opening with HHH doing the voiceover for a 3:14 long video that gave everyone the chills needed to start such an epic night. Also, if you look closely enough, a subtle dig at Ric Flair in the video as well. Give it time, but I don’t think that was done accidentally.
The in ring HHH promo tonight was just okay, nothing great, but that video of the opening will see over 500k in views, if not several million by tomorrow morning. Incredible!
Thumbs Up – The Rock returns as a babyface
The Rock is so much fun as a bad guy, we know this, but for a night like tonight, he needed to be a face and was. I still see him showing up at the Rumble and starting some beef with Reigns, but for tonight, him as a babyface and getting the crowd pimped just felt right!
Thumbs Up – Rhodes continues to hang around the bloodline even when he says he wont anymore.
Cody Rhodes coming down to save Roman Reigns from a Kevin Owens beatdown was something no-one saw coming. However, Rhodes having beef with Owens right now kind of makes it make sense. Despite that, we’re sold on Cena vs Rhodes for Mania, but this puts Roman and Rhodes in the ring together, albeit briefly tonight and the crowd popped. Trust me again, that was not done by mistake, give it time and a rubber match between the two at WrestleMania is still not out of the question.
Thumbs up – Roman Reigns is back in charge!
As for the Reigns over Sikoa storyline, and Bloodline vs Bloodline, let’s hope that has now runs its course. Where Reigns goes from there is anyone’s guess, but he proved tonight he can fight on a non PLE and also open the show, not always close it. Reigns is the MVP of WWE when they ask him to be it. He never misses.
Thumbs Up – It appears to be Cena vs Rhodes at WrestleMania
Unless something changes with The Rock, John Cena winning the WWE Royal Rumble and going on to challenge for Rhodes for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania makes all the sense in the world. If you don’t go Reigns vs Rhodes III, or The Rock, then you can only go Cena. No one else but maybe Randy Orton for that slot would make any sense. Cena mentioned winning and facing Cody Rhodes in his promo for a reason tonight, let WWE judge the crowd reaction. It is the same reason he mentioned Paul and allowed the fans to boo it. Everything is done on purpose folks, everything!
Thumbs Up – Ripley defeats Live Morgan to win back her belt.
Ripley winning back the RAW Women’s Championship makes sense and feels a few months past due. It will give this show a special feel and open the door for either Becky Lynch or Charlotte Flair to return, if not both, and challenge her at WrestleMania. ( again ) The Undertaker giving her the fist bump afterwards was the perfect way to honor the legend while giving Ripley that marquee moment as well. I’d expect them to have a rematch at the Royal Rumble and then be done for good.
Thumbs Up – Uso picks up the win!
Despite the doobie smoking Travis Scott at the start, Jey Uso needed a big win on a big stage and got one tonight over Drew McIntyre. Drew will be off to Smackdown and now Jey can continue what has been a herky jerky but always wildly over singles push. Uso has put plenty of men over and now it was time for him to get the marquee win he needed.
Thumbs Up – Hogan cuts it short and doesn’t embarrass himself further
Hulk Hogan has been around long enough to know when to get the heck out of dodge when the walls are caving in. The Screaming Liberal California fans weren’t ready for the Trump supporter tonight and made their voices heard. Hogan was wise enough to keep it short and get out quick. He had no chance.
Thumbs Up – Rollins vs CM Punk earns five stars!
It was the mat classic we all wanted. These two just have that “it” chemistry. As for Punk, he has been money with both Rollins and McIntyre since he returned to WWE. I have to give it to Punk, he really is that damn good and has appeared to turn over a new leaf since his return.
Thumbs Up – The show in general.
From the new ring, to new announce desk to new camera angles, I absolutely loved it and give it a giant THUMBS UP!
