Black Widow
08-03-2008, 09:39 PM
WATCHING WWE TV in the run-up to SummerSlam has been an odd experience.
There are some things that are simply awesome, some that are frustratingly close to reaching that level - and some that leave you scratching your head asking 'is this meant to be a joke?'
Mike Adamle being announced as the new Raw general manager fits firmly into the latter category - but more on the least charismatic man in wrestling later.
First we want to big up the three fantastic feuds that will almost certainly be battling it out for a coveted SunSport Golden Robe Award at the end of the year.
All regular readers know just how much we love Shawn Michaels, but this week it was his opponent's turn to shine.
Even without HBK in attendance on Raw, Jericho brilliantly continued his Mick Foley style heel turn - turning on the fans by claiming they turned on him first.
It just whets the appetite further for Michaels’ comeback next week, and over on Smackdown their ratings are also guaranteed with another legend returning.
There are a lot of plot holes in Edge's failed romance with Vickie Guerrero - we're not sure who the baddie is and it makes no sense why The Undertaker would now want to help the woman who made his life a misery.
But like any great soap opera there has been something strangely gripping about their marriage and impending divorce.
And of course it means we get the classic that will be Undertaker v Edge at SummerSlam in a Hell In A Cell clash.
Then there's John Cena v Batista.
Of course, as Cena said on Raw, a one-on-one clash between these two should have been saved until WrestleMania.
But SummerSlam is supposed to be the second biggest wrestling show of the year and after the fan reaction to the teasing of their problems it makes sense to do the angle now.
The only strange thing about these three bouts is that NONE are for the title.
Instead SummerSlam's supposed showcase contests are actually CM Punk v JBL and/or Kane and, even worse, Triple H v Great Khali.
But WWE found a way to take our mind off the complete lack of decent championship action - and his name is Mike Adamle.
Raw was totally built towards the naming of a new GM by Shane McMahon and we were hoping for a big hitter like Eric Bischoff or Shane himself.
Instead we got easily the worst announcer in WWE history and a guy who probably doesn't even know the correct names of most of the roster he's now in charge of.
The fact he's been stinking up ECW with his commentary every week means half the current Raw audience will hate him and the other half won't have a clue who he is.
We were prepared to give him a chance but when, in his first act as GM he made Cena v Batista for SummerSlam, Adamle achieved quite a feat.
For the first time ever the announcement of a match wanted to make us see it less.
So our tip to all wrestling fans is make sure you watch Raw and Smackdown in the run-up to SummerSlam for all the great storylines and matches, just be prepared for the odd enforced coffee break.
the sun.co.uk
There are some things that are simply awesome, some that are frustratingly close to reaching that level - and some that leave you scratching your head asking 'is this meant to be a joke?'
Mike Adamle being announced as the new Raw general manager fits firmly into the latter category - but more on the least charismatic man in wrestling later.
First we want to big up the three fantastic feuds that will almost certainly be battling it out for a coveted SunSport Golden Robe Award at the end of the year.
All regular readers know just how much we love Shawn Michaels, but this week it was his opponent's turn to shine.
Even without HBK in attendance on Raw, Jericho brilliantly continued his Mick Foley style heel turn - turning on the fans by claiming they turned on him first.
It just whets the appetite further for Michaels’ comeback next week, and over on Smackdown their ratings are also guaranteed with another legend returning.
There are a lot of plot holes in Edge's failed romance with Vickie Guerrero - we're not sure who the baddie is and it makes no sense why The Undertaker would now want to help the woman who made his life a misery.
But like any great soap opera there has been something strangely gripping about their marriage and impending divorce.
And of course it means we get the classic that will be Undertaker v Edge at SummerSlam in a Hell In A Cell clash.
Then there's John Cena v Batista.
Of course, as Cena said on Raw, a one-on-one clash between these two should have been saved until WrestleMania.
But SummerSlam is supposed to be the second biggest wrestling show of the year and after the fan reaction to the teasing of their problems it makes sense to do the angle now.
The only strange thing about these three bouts is that NONE are for the title.
Instead SummerSlam's supposed showcase contests are actually CM Punk v JBL and/or Kane and, even worse, Triple H v Great Khali.
But WWE found a way to take our mind off the complete lack of decent championship action - and his name is Mike Adamle.
Raw was totally built towards the naming of a new GM by Shane McMahon and we were hoping for a big hitter like Eric Bischoff or Shane himself.
Instead we got easily the worst announcer in WWE history and a guy who probably doesn't even know the correct names of most of the roster he's now in charge of.
The fact he's been stinking up ECW with his commentary every week means half the current Raw audience will hate him and the other half won't have a clue who he is.
We were prepared to give him a chance but when, in his first act as GM he made Cena v Batista for SummerSlam, Adamle achieved quite a feat.
For the first time ever the announcement of a match wanted to make us see it less.
So our tip to all wrestling fans is make sure you watch Raw and Smackdown in the run-up to SummerSlam for all the great storylines and matches, just be prepared for the odd enforced coffee break.
the sun.co.uk