Post by akkountent on Dec 28, 2006 9:53:11 GMT -5
I'm not a marketing nut for the WWE trying to get people to attend the 12-28 RAW house show tonight at the Continental Airlines Arena, but if you're a WWE fan and you don't have plans I would seriously consider attending. I attended the 12-27 RAW house show in Rochester, NY last night and I must say it was probably one of the best house shows I've attended in a very long time. It seemed like everybody gave it their all, and it was not your normal house show where most of the matches consisted of rest holds or lame attempts at trying to get the crowd involved.
Here's a quick recap of what I saw and what you'll probably see tonight if you attend (matches are in order):
*SPOILER ALERT- IF YOU ATTEND*
Cryme Tyme defeated WGTT (Shelton & Haas) - this was actually the worst match of the night; plenty of missed spots by Cryme Tyme & Haas w/ Shelton carrying most of the match. Too many rest holds, even for a house show. I was real surprised Cryme Tyme were over as much as they were and how much the Rochester crowd hated Haas & Shelton. Horrible finish saw Cryme Tyme win w/ a reverse of a rollup attempt by Haas w/ them grapping the top rope right in front of the ref w/ both wrestlers feet below the bottom rope.
Vladimir Koslov defeated Val Venis - this is the match I was most looking forward to mainly because of Koslov. He came out to Ludvig Borga's old music (I tried to start a chant; people around me were looking at me like I was insane...I guess there were no fans from '93 near me). Total beatdown by Koslov and he looked and acted exactly like Borga and used a torture rack / backbreaker maneuver for the victory. Val was really over w/ the crowd and he stayed in the ring a long time after the match holding his shoulder. Strange thing; I know at house shows wrestlers really take a long time exiting the ring and thanking the fans, but it's almost as if Val was wrestling his last match and thanking the fans because he took several bows and "thank you fans" type signals. He really should be used more on TV for getting some heels over; give him a Diva valet and let him run w/ something sexual.
Murdoch & Cade defeated Highlanders - this may sound strange but this was actually a great match. Murdoch practically carried the entire match; I totally underestimated him as a wrestler. The action was really hot the entire time; think of a great RAW TV tag match, but w/ the wrestlers given more time. Funny spot saw Cade & Murdoch cheat and Rorry yell "you bastards!" from the apron - almost like Braveheart; the entire arena laughed. Finish saw Cade & Murdoch take out Rorry w/ their version of "Total Elimination" using clotheslines.
Champ Mickie James defeated Victoria in a Title match - just as good as their TV match a few weeks ago, if not better. I almost dare compare this to the Woman's Title match at WM 22. I thought the crowd would die down but they were really into it from the get-go. Mickie took a big beatdown only to get somewhat of a cheap rollup-type victory. I can see her losing the Woman's title soon, but the problem is that there is no one else to take on (perhaps a returning B. Phoenix).
Champ Jeff Hardy defeated Carlito & Johnny Nitro in an I-C ladder match - 3rd biggest pop of the night occurred when the Fink announced this as a ladder match. Hardy's reaction was huge. This match did not disappoint; good storyline action in the ring before Hardy went out and got the ladder. Big spots came when Hardy did the leap-frog legdrop over the ladder from the top rope; Carlito performed a sunset-flip powerbomb from the top of the ladder to Nitro and Nitro performing a picture-perfect dropkick onto Hardy from the top rope. Better than a TV ladder match, but not quite as good as a PPV ladder match, but still exceeded my expectations. Typical ladder match finish saw two ladders side by side w/ Hardy tipping over Nitro's ladder; crotching him on the top rope.
*Intermission*
Maria came out and plugged RAW and a couple of other things. 4th biggest pop of the night occurred when Maria asked members of the crowd to kiss to get free t-shirts and two girls in the front row went at it. Viscera came out and wanted a kiss, only for Hacksaw to come out and challenge him. Quick match saw Hacksaw about to get squashed only to have Eugene come out and distract Big Vis to allow Hacksaw to get the schoolboy/rollup victory. Crowd was amused but somewhat confused as everybody thought Eugene was a heel. Hacksaw also looked confused after the match. 5th biggest pop of the night came when Hacksaw got on the mic after the match and gave a round of applause to the troops in Iraq.
DX & Ric Flair defeated RKO & Kenny - 2nd biggest pop of the night as Rochester is definately a DX town (they reunited here in Rochester on RAW in June). This match was announced as a no-DQ match, but after an initial 10-min brawl that saw HHH pummel Edge all over the arena, everybody went to their respective corners and treated it as a regular tag match the whole time. The crowd was white hot the entire time, even while Flair was receiving a beatdown. Kenny looked pretty good and delivers a great dropkick. HBK didn't see action as HHH and Flair did everything. Finish saw Edge & Orton abandon Kenny as HHH pumped up and got out the "equalizer" sledgehammer, only to have HBK superkick Kenny and get the pin. Flair went to the back as DX celebrated w/ the fans at ringside and all along the aisle for about 10-15 min, if not longer as Kenny lay motionless in the ring. Just as DX started to head back behind the curtain, Kenny started to get up, only to have HHH do a curtain call and nail Kenny w/ the sledgehammer; creating a big pop and more celebrating w/ the fans. HBK and HHH spent a considerable amount of time celebrating w/ one fan at ringside in particular, and I wouldn't find out why until after the main event.
Champ John Cena defeated Umaga via DQ in a Title match - Estrada got on the mic and received major heat; everybody in the crowd chanted his name. Biggest pop of the night was for Cena (which I couldn't believe since he was booed out of the building when RAW was here in June). It was so loud that it was almost Hogan-like and I had a headache the rest of the night. Again, I had meager expectations about this match but it turned out to be highly entertaining. Cena got an early advantage but Umaga then gained control when he did the Fatu thing (Cena tried to hurt Umaga's head, but forgot that you can't hurt a Samoan's head). Then it started to veer into Luger/Yoko SS '93 where it was back and forth with Umaga hitting some big suplexes and almost getting the pin and Cena hanging on. Flurry at the end saw back and forth action w/ Cena finally able to lift up Umaga and lock on the STF only to have Estrada come in for the DQ. Not a disappointing finish after a great match; crowd was standing the entire time. Estrada want nuts during the match, carrying on a ringside, giving everybody cigars from his box when Umaga looked to end it (even Fink got a cigar). After the match, Cena got on the mic and thanked everybody for the great night, and then told how especially great it was for him considering how his brother (who he hasn't seen in years) was sitting at ringside and how he's going to raise hell w/ his brother tonight in Rochester.
All in all, it was a great night that exceeded my typical house show expectations. I've been to alot of shows in western NY (PPV, TV & house), and this was one of the best that I've seen come through here. I don't know if it was the crowd (the arena was 3/4 full - about 7,000 - 8,000), the wrestlers, or both but it really was quite entertaining, and if you get the chance, go out and at least see this house show. After 2006, I had low expectations of the WWE product going into 2007, but after seeing the potential last night, things do look promising IF the writers and creative people continue to put on solid shows.
Here's a quick recap of what I saw and what you'll probably see tonight if you attend (matches are in order):
*SPOILER ALERT- IF YOU ATTEND*
Cryme Tyme defeated WGTT (Shelton & Haas) - this was actually the worst match of the night; plenty of missed spots by Cryme Tyme & Haas w/ Shelton carrying most of the match. Too many rest holds, even for a house show. I was real surprised Cryme Tyme were over as much as they were and how much the Rochester crowd hated Haas & Shelton. Horrible finish saw Cryme Tyme win w/ a reverse of a rollup attempt by Haas w/ them grapping the top rope right in front of the ref w/ both wrestlers feet below the bottom rope.
Vladimir Koslov defeated Val Venis - this is the match I was most looking forward to mainly because of Koslov. He came out to Ludvig Borga's old music (I tried to start a chant; people around me were looking at me like I was insane...I guess there were no fans from '93 near me). Total beatdown by Koslov and he looked and acted exactly like Borga and used a torture rack / backbreaker maneuver for the victory. Val was really over w/ the crowd and he stayed in the ring a long time after the match holding his shoulder. Strange thing; I know at house shows wrestlers really take a long time exiting the ring and thanking the fans, but it's almost as if Val was wrestling his last match and thanking the fans because he took several bows and "thank you fans" type signals. He really should be used more on TV for getting some heels over; give him a Diva valet and let him run w/ something sexual.
Murdoch & Cade defeated Highlanders - this may sound strange but this was actually a great match. Murdoch practically carried the entire match; I totally underestimated him as a wrestler. The action was really hot the entire time; think of a great RAW TV tag match, but w/ the wrestlers given more time. Funny spot saw Cade & Murdoch cheat and Rorry yell "you bastards!" from the apron - almost like Braveheart; the entire arena laughed. Finish saw Cade & Murdoch take out Rorry w/ their version of "Total Elimination" using clotheslines.
Champ Mickie James defeated Victoria in a Title match - just as good as their TV match a few weeks ago, if not better. I almost dare compare this to the Woman's Title match at WM 22. I thought the crowd would die down but they were really into it from the get-go. Mickie took a big beatdown only to get somewhat of a cheap rollup-type victory. I can see her losing the Woman's title soon, but the problem is that there is no one else to take on (perhaps a returning B. Phoenix).
Champ Jeff Hardy defeated Carlito & Johnny Nitro in an I-C ladder match - 3rd biggest pop of the night occurred when the Fink announced this as a ladder match. Hardy's reaction was huge. This match did not disappoint; good storyline action in the ring before Hardy went out and got the ladder. Big spots came when Hardy did the leap-frog legdrop over the ladder from the top rope; Carlito performed a sunset-flip powerbomb from the top of the ladder to Nitro and Nitro performing a picture-perfect dropkick onto Hardy from the top rope. Better than a TV ladder match, but not quite as good as a PPV ladder match, but still exceeded my expectations. Typical ladder match finish saw two ladders side by side w/ Hardy tipping over Nitro's ladder; crotching him on the top rope.
*Intermission*
Maria came out and plugged RAW and a couple of other things. 4th biggest pop of the night occurred when Maria asked members of the crowd to kiss to get free t-shirts and two girls in the front row went at it. Viscera came out and wanted a kiss, only for Hacksaw to come out and challenge him. Quick match saw Hacksaw about to get squashed only to have Eugene come out and distract Big Vis to allow Hacksaw to get the schoolboy/rollup victory. Crowd was amused but somewhat confused as everybody thought Eugene was a heel. Hacksaw also looked confused after the match. 5th biggest pop of the night came when Hacksaw got on the mic after the match and gave a round of applause to the troops in Iraq.
DX & Ric Flair defeated RKO & Kenny - 2nd biggest pop of the night as Rochester is definately a DX town (they reunited here in Rochester on RAW in June). This match was announced as a no-DQ match, but after an initial 10-min brawl that saw HHH pummel Edge all over the arena, everybody went to their respective corners and treated it as a regular tag match the whole time. The crowd was white hot the entire time, even while Flair was receiving a beatdown. Kenny looked pretty good and delivers a great dropkick. HBK didn't see action as HHH and Flair did everything. Finish saw Edge & Orton abandon Kenny as HHH pumped up and got out the "equalizer" sledgehammer, only to have HBK superkick Kenny and get the pin. Flair went to the back as DX celebrated w/ the fans at ringside and all along the aisle for about 10-15 min, if not longer as Kenny lay motionless in the ring. Just as DX started to head back behind the curtain, Kenny started to get up, only to have HHH do a curtain call and nail Kenny w/ the sledgehammer; creating a big pop and more celebrating w/ the fans. HBK and HHH spent a considerable amount of time celebrating w/ one fan at ringside in particular, and I wouldn't find out why until after the main event.
Champ John Cena defeated Umaga via DQ in a Title match - Estrada got on the mic and received major heat; everybody in the crowd chanted his name. Biggest pop of the night was for Cena (which I couldn't believe since he was booed out of the building when RAW was here in June). It was so loud that it was almost Hogan-like and I had a headache the rest of the night. Again, I had meager expectations about this match but it turned out to be highly entertaining. Cena got an early advantage but Umaga then gained control when he did the Fatu thing (Cena tried to hurt Umaga's head, but forgot that you can't hurt a Samoan's head). Then it started to veer into Luger/Yoko SS '93 where it was back and forth with Umaga hitting some big suplexes and almost getting the pin and Cena hanging on. Flurry at the end saw back and forth action w/ Cena finally able to lift up Umaga and lock on the STF only to have Estrada come in for the DQ. Not a disappointing finish after a great match; crowd was standing the entire time. Estrada want nuts during the match, carrying on a ringside, giving everybody cigars from his box when Umaga looked to end it (even Fink got a cigar). After the match, Cena got on the mic and thanked everybody for the great night, and then told how especially great it was for him considering how his brother (who he hasn't seen in years) was sitting at ringside and how he's going to raise hell w/ his brother tonight in Rochester.
All in all, it was a great night that exceeded my typical house show expectations. I've been to alot of shows in western NY (PPV, TV & house), and this was one of the best that I've seen come through here. I don't know if it was the crowd (the arena was 3/4 full - about 7,000 - 8,000), the wrestlers, or both but it really was quite entertaining, and if you get the chance, go out and at least see this house show. After 2006, I had low expectations of the WWE product going into 2007, but after seeing the potential last night, things do look promising IF the writers and creative people continue to put on solid shows.
