[Lucky]

Yeah, the IC title been in the dumper for awhile. Kofi got it and we had some hope of it being built back up but I don't think much has been done yet. And I thought Jericho was going to rebuild it before Kofi and we know how that went. It doesn't have very far to fall, and it wouldn't be the first time they put it on Santino.

That being said I'm still kinda curious as to whether Adamle just continues to be bad on the mic or if he was hinting at something because last night it sounded to me like he said 1 person would walk away with 2 titles, not 1 team with 2 on its individual members. And in chat many others seemed to be thinking the same thing. So I think there's a real chance we get Santino, IC and Women's Champion, or Beth Phoenix, Women's and IC Champ. So I think one of the titles is going to be made into comedy at least.

But the IC title hasn't truly meant something in a loooooooooooooong time.

[Eric O'Mac]

I'm not denying that it SHOULD have credibility, but it doesn't, and it hasn't for a while. Hardy and Jericho RARELY defended their titles, and Jericho consistently didn't even bring it to the ring with him. Who was the IC Champion before Jeff Hardy? Umaga, who was a good choice for the IC Title, but before him, it was....Santino. Yes, the joke in the ring is already a former IC Champion.

I'm not arguing against you MKid, I agree with you 100%. IC Title should be used to feature up and comers who are on the verge of the main event. The WWE, sadly, does not see it our way at all. If they did, Santino would be relegated to being Beth Phoenix's manager of sorts, and the IC Title would feature guys like Kofi, Noble, Regal, Burchill, and the matches wouldn't be complete squashes or 4 minutes long either. If they wanted the title to have credibility, they would do that or a variation - while I'm personally loving the Bethtino thing, and I wouldn't mind Santino as IC Champion because he is damn entertaining, there are other things I'd like to see as well with the IC Title to increase it's credibility. But history has shown us that there is a fat chance of that happening. If it does, I'll be overjoyed.

[National Champion Chris Cole]

I don't see why Raw can't do with the IC Title what Smackdown has been able to do with the US. Make it matter. Defend it at least once a month preferably 2-3 times. We consistently get 1-2 quality matches a week I don't see why we don't throw the IC belt into the mix for the guys that are being asked to carry those matches week in and week out.

[Mikey]

Aug 5, 2008 13:30:38 GMT -5 Lucky said:

But the IC title hasn't truly meant something in a loooooooooooooong time.

Since either Orton's reign in '03-'04 to be exact. I almost said Shelton's reign in '05 but then remembered they didn't do anything with him after he lost the title.

[Moreofabreadguyanyway]

I hated Adamle as GM. I really think that the only way to make him interesting is portraying him as an incompetent boss whose stupid decisions create more chaos on RAW than from before he was hired and RAW was leaderless. WWE's basically portrayed him as Teddy Long with a stupid buzzword for his ideas (Adamle Original). Adamle is still awkward on the mike and there could have been dozens of other better choices for the stereotypical wise and fair GM.

[National Champion Chris Cole]

Was Adamle awkward on the mic or did he make mistakes on purpose to keep up that aspect of his character?

Overall I think he did a decent enough job.

[DevSop]

Because 75% of the time the WWE "Braintrust" doesn't realize they have a show on Friday nights and the road agents/guys in charge of actually putting together the show realize they have more flexibility with what they're allowed to do. Brian Kendrick is starting to get over again on Smackdown because no one actually realizes he's on Smackdown. If he was trying this same routine on Mondays, Batista/JBL/Cena all would have squashed him or laughed at him already, see Noble.

The US title is allowed to have more meaning because Smackdown isn't Raw. Raw has been for the longest time only about the main event guys (HHH, Cena, HBK, Orton, Edge, etc.) Their tag teams are their to let the main event beat in handicap/disgruntled partner matches or to break up at the first signs that they have potential as gelling. The IC belt is there, well I don't have a fucking clue why they have an IC belt. And the woman's title gets to stay on a wrestler for 7-8 months of the year and sometimes it looks like there is potential in the division, and then December/January rolls around - Playboy comes calling - and some talentless whore winds up getting a WrestleMania match either for or defending the belt.

I love Monday Nights.

[Riot Act]

Considering how most of us have been bitching about Punk's title reign thus far, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the way he lost last night yet. Seriously, when does anyone ever get pinned after a submission? Especially after having upwards of 30 seconds to recover from said submission and then getting pinned in such a "flukey" manner?

[Lucky]

I just don't care anymore. Truth is that losing a handicap match is arguably the strongest he's looked since becoming champ. He SHOULD have lost that match. Two former World Champs in a handicap match? Even with them fighting each other he was at the clear disadvantage in never getting a break.

Of course I contend that he SHOULD have allowed one of them to pin him quickly. He wasn't going to get Summerslam off so its in his best interests to face 1 guy than 2. Fighting to win the match was one thing as maybe he hopes he gets a less challenging opponent if the two of them are eliminated, but waiting out the 10 minutes was never in his advantage. As they say, in a 3 way the champ is at the disadvantage. And really, who knows what Adamle would have given him if he won? There's a real "devil you know" argument to be made to doing the JOB.

But you know why this was Punk's best week? Because for the first time since he won that title he ended the segment standing on his feet, not layed out by someone. In a loss he was booked as capable when the odds were stacked against him, where for most of his run he's been booked as a guy in way over his head and surviving by luck.

[bdoriginal]

Aug 5, 2008 10:56:42 GMT -5 derfsucks said:

I didn't hate the main event ending as much as everyone else just because I thought it was a foregone conclusion that either 1) Dave was turning on Cena with a walk-off, or 2) Dave and Cena would wind up fighting with each other. I liked how Batista kept looking over at Cena and rubbing his jaw while decimating Priceless, too.

Forgive the snarky smarkiness, but how long have you been watching WWE? Conservatively, since about 2005, Batista and Cena individually have been booked as being able to defeat the tag champs of any brand. Hell, both Cena's Tag Title reigns, and Batista's last two both come in "guys facing each other at the PPV have to team up) matches. Even Benoit was booked as capable of beating tag champs by himself when Edge walked out on him in 2004.

If anything, the way Raw ended was the predictable ending. I mean I'm pretty sure your average fan has been conditioned "Cena is unstoppable. Batista is unstoppable. They will kill any man you put in front of them as long as no one interferes."

Like I said, snarky and smarky on my part, but how can anyone go into that match expecting anything other than what we got? Hoping, yeah, but expecting?

[National Champion Chris Cole]

I'm with bd. The title switch was the more obvious and much lazier booking for that match.

[creepy]

Ditto. I just knew something screwy was about to happen, but nope, same old lame.



Way to make Burchill look like a complete pussy, E. Liked that guy.

[Mr. Dashbee]

Aug 7, 2008 15:16:09 GMT -5 creepy said:

Ditto. I just knew something screwy was about to happen, but nope, same old lame.

Way to make Burchill look like a complete pussy, E. Liked that guy.

Their booking of Burchill has always been insane. He and Regal? Gold. But making him a pirate? Stupid. But he owned that gimmick, and made the most with it. Gave him a hot valet? Awesome. Job him ou tlike a little punk? Dumb.

I'd rather he be over on Smackdown where he would have a chance.