The Raw is War Workrate Report
A weekly look at what worked and didn't work on Raw is War
by
Oliver Postlethwaite
Monday, August 23rd, 1999
This is my last Raw report for who knows how long. I love watching Raw but there's
just not a lot left I have to say about it. I like writing about wrestling and
that's not what the WWF is all about. As much as Raw impresses me with its production
and dedication to the success of the company, I get about as much of a kick out of
Nitro with all its flaws because seeing guys like Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero,
Juventud Guerrera, Dean Malenko and Psicosis makes me remember why I ever started
writing about Raw in the first place - the wrestling. The esteemed Phil Rippa takes
over starting next week! Go Phil!
What Worked
Jim Ross stepped up to the plate and took a dive for our viewing pleasure. As
cool as he sold all this and made it all more than just another above average
Hunter Hearst Hemlsley promo, if it means we get Michael Cole behind THE STICK
for even one more week then fuck you JR! Mankind gives 3H a title shot in the
same way that Mick procured his first title victory which qualifies for deep
psychology in the WWF because it wasn't rammed down our throats by the barkers.
Match of the night goes to Gangrel vs. Rock because I'm a mark for a hot crowd.
Everyone was into this latter day squash with an angle thrown in to make us all
say, "Who cares?" Jeff Hardy (I finally figured out the best way to remember
who is who because Jeff looks like Jeff Jarrett if you squint and he doesn't dye
his hair) stole the show and became an indy legend by hitting the Rock with a
move so far out of his own league that it made him just as much of a man for
taking it. I hope this was one of those deals where Gangrel gets a push for being
a pro and making the Rock look like a king. And then all indy wet dream hell
breaks loose when Christian Cage and Sexton Hardcastle start a feud with the
Omega brothers.
Chris Jericho was all over my TV set last night but the best thing he did was
steal half a move from Tatsuhito Takaiwa and demonize his happy go lucky WCW
catchphrase. I like the Fink as Ralphus but he just doesn't have the same
range.
Crash and Hardcore Holly rule and had a good little Memphis brawl but you
never want to let yourself get too interested in anything like this because
they inevitably cut away to something more interesting like Billy Gunn's
ass.
Jeff Jarret is Randy Savage with Mark Henry as Medusa. DLo has a great new shirt
which was the first step in Maiva's big push so get excited! Jarrett was pretty
good on THE STICK this week and I was almost into seeing the final nail in the
coffin of wrestling with Chyna winning the title but those guitar shots were SO
much better.
Viscera is Mable and Mideon isn't. very. good. but I like booking that helps
out everyone involved and not just the super stars. X-Pac layed down in a
perfectly acceptable manner because Viscera is a VERY FAT man which guarantees
that at least 40 people will be popping for him the next time he's in your town.
The Val Venis Zellers promo.
What Didn't Work
Road Dogg and Al Snow had the same match they always have before Ray Traylor
runs in. This is the cheezy British Bulldog Matilda angle ALL OVER AGAIN but
this year it's cool because we're all marks and don't even know it.
The stills from Shane McMahon vs. Test looked way cool but Test sucks STICK and
you just know that Stephanie is going to hit him the nuts as the big payoff to
the feud.
This match is one ROUND?
TBS (get it?) & Undertaker are real sucky bad asses.
Ollie
