RAW Retort – We are the hounds that hunt the wolves

The WWE started RAW in a beautiful way with a tribute to Angelo Savaldi. He was a fantastic man who saw all of the biggest changes in the wrestling world and trained some of the best in the industry, including Jack Brisco, while being a minority partner in the WWF (WWE). Vince McMahon narrating the video tribute says a lot of the respect he had for Savoldi.

Strange happenings in the ring

The way Triple H and Steph acted in the ring was very strange compared to how they had been treating the WWE Superstars leading up to this point. Obviously, they were up to something when they created the Handicap Match at the end of the show, but it was very different from everything they’d been doing the past couple of months. We’ve been complaining about how things have become so similar lately, I guess they were ready to shake things up.

ADR proves his lack of creativity

I truly do not understand why the WWE continues to push ADR when all he manages to do is bore the fans with the same couple of kicks and then his one submission hold each week. The man is uninspired, doesn’t seem to care that he’s not putting on a good match week in and week out, and doesn’t try to get any better. The fact that he’s World Heavyweight Champion only further hurts the title’s validity. It’s so sad to see how far it has fallen. It is also terribly sad to see anyone who’s forced to work the ring with him. Other than the Divas, ADR is almost always the lowest part of every show.

Prime Time players are out matched

I was really impressed with how both Young and O’Neil worked the ring against Rowan and Harper. They didn’t have a chance against the much bigger and more talented wrestlers, but it was nice to see how both Young and O’Neil have worked hard on their ring skills and are really starting to look like solid wrestlers, rather than two guys who look great, but really have no chance to carry on great matches. Their improvements have not been missed, and hopefully they will continue to improve as they have. As for Rowan and Harper, those two big men could really be forces to be reckoned with when they develop solid characters and storylines.

Miz is pissed

The strange occurrences continued with Big Show punching Miz out so easily. Yes, Miz verbally accosted Big Show, but he only said what is true, and what others have already said. Is Big Show already starting to get out of his blubbering ways and move on to a more professional giant? And what of Steph? I don’t know if you noticed, but Steph broke one of the biggest rules in the WWE, she went to the ring with a cheat sheet written in the palm of her hand.

The Rock was beaten up all over the internet for doing such a thing, you would think that Steph would know better than to do something like that, even if she was in trouble and couldn’t remember her lines. She’s a McMahon and can handle herself in the ring better than almost anyone else, and she should have known better than go to the ring with anything written on her hand, even if it was only her shopping list.

Viper strikes

I was actually very impressed with the work between RVD and Orton. Those two men are from very different generations of wrestling, and very different styles. Yet they put on a top quality match. All what was being said about Orton getting boring in the ring over the past couple years; he’s stepped things up and really changed his outlook and work style. Maybe Orton was much worse off while he was going through his divorce than we all thought as he had a couple of issues and a Wellness Violation, as well as just not being interesting or at all exciting. I’m glad he seems to be doing so much better.

A little slice of Brie

I loved how Brie stood up to Orton about her boyfriend Bryan. Watching them on total Divas has shown only a small part of their relationship, and they’re just wonderful together.

AJ taken down a notch

Steph really intimidated AJ when dressing her down backstage. It was lovely to see heel Steph at her best.