Choke's WWE Raw rant & Smackdown Preview 2/17/2014 - 2/21/2014
Posted by: choke Feb 19, 2014 | 1878 views | 4 comments
RAW Rant
I'm still on a bit of a hiatus from watching the shows lately, but that'll change with the WWE Network. From what I read the RAW didn't sound too bad. Did Christian turn heel? It sounds like he did, but I'm curious how it played out on TV and with the crowd. I welcome that change if so. The Shield and the Wyatts have been racking up points leading up to their chamber match. I guess the ending wasn't too bad live, but reading about it, it sounded sort of haphazard. Why are the Shield still interested in jumping Sheamus randomly? This feels really weird trying to write about a show I didnt even watch. It probably feels weirder reading a guy writing about a show he didnt even watch. Moving on.
Smackdown Preview
As always this preview is from www.prowrestling.net and contains no spoilers as I myself have not read them yet. Just predictions. If some of these matches aren't listed correctly, blame them!
1. Daniel Bryan vs Jack Swagger: Bryan will probably come out showing the effects of the attack from Kane on Monday. They could go for a two storyline in one deal by having Kane come out and attack Bryan with Swagger joining in the fray, then Big E coming out for the save? If there's a winner, it'll be Bryan.
2. Mysterio, Goldust and Cody Rhodes vs The Wyatt family: The Shield is not scheduled for the rest of the show, so unless they decide to randomly attack Sheamus again later on in the show, they could come out here. None of the faces here have any interesting angle going on currently unless you count the Rhodes Bros vs Rybaxel "interesting", to which I have no words, so expect the Wyatts to win.
3. Dolph Ziggler vs Titus O'Neil: If a year ago you told me that Dolph would be facing Titus on Smackdown and that Titus would probably win, I'd never believe it. Also a good chance Darren Young could interfere to cost Titus the match, or run in after, but I don't see any real reason to give Dolph the victory at this point considering he has nothing for Sunday and Titus does.
4. Road Dogg vs Jimmy Uso: Since Jey beat Gunn on Monday, I'll say the opposite happens and Dogg takes it. I'm also mainly guessing this because I think the Usos have a good chance to win the tag belts Sunday, and giving each of them a win over the Outlaws followed up by them winning the titles on Sunday just seems a bit excessive. If Jimmy wins I'll switch my pick and say the NAO will retain Sunday. This is my brain on WWE.
5. Sheamus vs Christian: So is Christian the heel and Sheamus the face? I'd like to see them both as heels actually. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ENTIRE WWE AS HEELS. There it is, that's my wrestling league I'm starting when I hit mega millions. Every single wrestler will be a lying, cheating scumbag. Anyway, I was thinking Sheamus would take it, but since Christian is the only guy who lost to Orton, maybe the WWE will make it up to him and give him a win here. Yeah I'll say Christian takes it.
6. Emma vs Summer Rae dance-off: Oh boy. If it's voted on by the fans, Emma will probably win because Santino will be out there with her and the kids and people who generally like to cheer for dance offs love Santino. By the way this clearly wont be the Main event but Prowrestling.net didn't list WHEN it'd happen during the show.
Overall: Looks pretty standard and I want more than standard on the go-home show before a PPV. Some of the matches look like they could be good, but then you have a dance off and a match with Road Dogg. So there's that. 3 jameson shots out of 5 Oh yeah supposedly another match is added as a result of one of the other matches. I'll guess that it's at the end of the show and they book Shield vs Sheamus, Christian, and maybe Bryan so that they can close it out with those major faces and more Wyatt vs Shield action before the PPV. If that happens it probably ends in schmozz with Wyatts/Orton/Cesaro interference at some point.
Rising
1. Titus O'Neil/Darren Young: Well one of these guys is winning a "grudge match" on Sunday. Cue the "is a grudge match a stip match" arguments. Anyway, probably worth rolling the dice with one of these 2 over a guy like say Kofi who probably wont be anywhere near the PPV unless he's wearing a suit and tie on the panel
2. Cesaro: I'm still not 100% convinced this will happen, but they've been giving Cesaro quite a spotlight lately. Is a face turn in the works? If so he'll probably earn some solid points before being shoved right to the bottom of the ladder in a few months like Sandow and Ziggler. But it'll be good while it lasts
3. Santino/Fandango/Summer/Emma: I was pretty ignorant to this developing into an actual feud when someone (Carp?) mentioned it last week. Given the matches over Raw and on Smackdown this week, it definitely seems like it's legit. Fandango has quietly been earning some solid points over the last few weeks and I think Santino will get some soon as well. At least good to keep an eye on the group.
Also: the Chamber PPV would be a good spot for Rusev to come out and do some damage IMO.
Falling
1. Naomi - I included her last week, and am going to again as her timetable restricts her from flying for 4-6 weeks which will probably limit the shows she can be at. It could be worth watching her availability after a month or so if you still believe she could be the next feud for AJ at Mania, but I tend to think her time was going to be for Chamber and they'll go another route for Mania.
2. Mark Henry - I know, I just had him on last week's rising list. At this rate though I just am not sure where they go with him. He got crushed by Reigns on Monday and was still selling the Brock injuries. It's a tough call if he's on your league. Clearly you wouldn't want to just drop him so early, but at the same time, if you don't see the long term plan and he continues to sell the Brock attacks he might keep dropping matches
3. Eva Marie - Wins a match taped for last week's Smackdown, and it doesnt even get aired presumably because it's so bad. Amazing.
Also: Where is AJ?