WWE Raw (Mon 3rd March 08): Getting Back To Business

On June 24th 2007, when one Chris Benoit, a legend in the wrestling business, and a WWE veteran at the time, killed his 7-year old son Daniel, and his Wife Nancy, before hanging himself on a weights machine at his home in Atlanta, the proverbial hit the fan. Once the dust had eventually settled on the confusion, the bitterness, and the mourning process it became clear that the steroid controversy would rage on for many months, even years to come. With that in mind WWE and it's fans slowly turned back to the matter at hand: wrestling.

As a result of the Benoit tragedy, the main storyline at the time, and one that WWE were ready to pick up and run with, was axed. Vince McMahon, who had been 'blown up' when his Limo exploded, broke kayfabe by appearing on Raw in an empty arena to deliver the news of the three deaths. The storyline, in what must have been a ridiculous hurry, was re-hashed, and we learned that Mr. McMahon had an illegitimate son. The to-ing and fro-ing went on for weeks until we finally were let in on the secret. Thats right, MISSTTEERRRR .....KKEEENNEEDDD...oh, wait....

As the steroid allegations came raining down like Benoit-fallout, many of the company's top guys were suspended under the WWE's 'Wellness Policy' (read: "keep your nose clean, Vince, Policy"), including the man who was allegedly lined up to be McMahon's son: Mr. Kennedy. So, what do we get? The 3 foot tall, bleach blonde, bearded leprechan, and then WWE Cruiserweight Champion (no, seriously), Hornswoggle.


you can actually see the company circling the drain in Vinnie's eyes...

Fast forward some eight months and here we are on the road to Wrestlemania. It is only now, almost a year since the death of Benoit, that the WWE is beginning to get back to business as usual. On Raw this week it was announced (SHOCK) by JBL the midget-beater, that Hornswoggle in fact is NOT Vince's son, but is the fruit of (Belfast's own) Finlay's loins. This of course has lead to the type of classic bad blood match that must be included somewhere on the undercard at each years mania.

[As a sidenote, Sky Sports 1, and World Wrestling Entertainment cannot be held responsible for any damage incurred to viewers eyes this past Monday as a direct result of Finlay's jumper choice.]

Could it be that now Ken Kennedy is keeping his mouth shut and his little blogging fingers still about his participation in aquiring steroids online ('absolutely not...oh wait, THOSE ones...let me explain') that he is going to get the mega-push that creative felt he was due, or will he continue to pay his dues to the higher mid-carders while the storyline is put to rest in that big old Wrestlecrap vault alongside 'The Katie Vick Incident', Mae Young and Mark Henry's...baby...and many, many more. Time will tell...


"roids...what roids?!"

In other news, business as usual seems to be returning to the comeback kids, as Chris Jericho and Trips look set to make their long awaited heel turns. It's a no-brainer to me that the fans love to hate these two men more than they love to love them, and it was great to see Jeff Hardy (the fan's babyface) plant Y2J with a Twist of Fate on the Highlight Reel. Only one thing remains to be done before the year can progress though, get Jeff in a programme to drop the I.C. belt before it becomes permanently lodged to his waist. The rainbow-haired warrior needs to shatter the glass ceiling and hit main-event status soon, or it may never happen.

HHH's turn (if indeed there will even be one) seems to be taking on a far more subtle approach though, and I find myself doubting if the writers will get him over as a heel when week after week he's laying out, and being laid out by whiter-than whitemeat babyface Mr. Cena. It wouldn't be a surprise to hear the 20-30 male demographic (the one that makes up most of WWE's viewing percentage) backing HHH even more, and pouring the heat onto John, especially when I'm almost sure he's due to pick up the WWE Championship again.

The road to wrestlemania's going to be an interesting one...