25TH ANNIVERSARY AND ROYAL RUMBLE GO HOME SHOW
JANUARY 22ND
First off, yes I know the Enzo Amore story broke Monday afternoon before the show started. Yes, I have read reports about the accusations. Yes, I have also read the reports about what segments were reportedly changed when he was pulled from the show. Yes, I am sure the issue put many – especially Vince – into a very bad mood.
I’ll discuss Enzo in another piece after I’m caught up.
No, I don’t blame the Enzo news for how bad the RAW 25TH ANNIVERSARY was.
I was really look forward to this. This was the first RAW I have looked forward to in a long time. Like many fans around my age, I have seen every Monday Night RAW. I have never missed a show and watched all when they aired. So, this was special.
Then it wasn’t. Disappointing, disastrous, dud, underwhelming, utterly anemic are just a few words used to described RAW’s 25TH ANNIVERSARY. Were there matches? Sure, if you want to call them that. And how were the legends used?
I can answer that this way: Why were they there? None of them did anything. Brawler, Brother Love, Teddy and a few showed up in Angel’s office, not to be seen again until the end of the show. Jeff Hardy, Ted DiBase and others played poker with the APA. The Godfather introduced his wife to Sexual Chocolate. Jericho put Elias on the list (Pre-Taped?). The Ex-General Managers came out and stood on the ramp. The ladies came out and waved.
At least Christian got on the mic and did a Peep Show introduction.
Of course, DX was given a good amount of time, with Razor, and gave The Balor (Bullet) Club a rub.
Other than that, nothing.
Was the Rumble mentioned? The Woman’s Rumble? If they were, I barely remember.
The Universal Title match was only given the overrun and that was it.
Of course, Vince got his time in, in another waste of an overlong segment.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Complete DUD not worth watching. A RAW 25TH ANNIVERSARY as produced by IMPACT WRESTLING.
RATING: Not Worthy
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ROYAL RUMBLE GO SHOW HOME
JANUARY 23RD
At least Smackdown had its eye on the ball and did some build to the Rumble.
The focus was still on Kami (aka Yep Movement), they started and ended the show, building up to the 2-on-1 World title handicap match by having the main event being AJ Styles facing Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn back to back.
In fact Smackdown did a lot to build up to the Rumble. The women brawled after Liv Morgan beat Naomi, finishing with Beck Lynch throwing people out of the ring. Orton interfered in a match between Nakamura and Corbin by RKOing both of them.
And we had an excellent match between Jay Uso and Chad Gabriel setting up the tag team Championship match at the Rumble.
Plus, the tension between Daniel and Shane continued to build.
Smackdown did what RAW failed to do, put on a wrestling show and build toward the Rumble.
Not a great Go Home show, but decent.
RATING: 6.5
FINAL THOUGHTS HEADING INTO THE RUMBLE:
It really seemed that the WWE was heading upward in their quality of shows heading into the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania Season. RAW was getting better, Smackdown was staying the course.
It seemed that way, until the RAW 25TH Anniversary Show – perhaps the worst Go Home show in history.
At least the Smackdown Go Home Show didn’t drop the ball.
Or did it?
Unfortunately the WWE has dropped the ball Big Time on properly promoting the Royal Rumble.
RAW has spent more time building the Universal Title Match and Smackdown the World Title Match.
The Men’s Rumble feels like an afterthought. We’ve had both Go Home Shows and we still don’t know half the field (officially, announced on TV).
And what about the Woman’s Royal Rumble? Massive Fail. This should be pushed to the stars on a rocket. It should be everything. Yet, they are building it like nothing special and business as usual. This should have the biggest build of any event/match this century.
- Ace Masters
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