While Floyd "Money" Mayweather didn't do much as the Monday Night Raw guest host, Vince McMahon's 64th birthday made for a refreshing story line.
A 25-minute opening segment with McMahon, along with him being in the main event, might have been enough for viewers to have flipped the channel to the NFL preseason game.
If they did, big mistake.
Let's review:
McMahon (and DX vs. The Legacy):
1. Brett DiBiase is "sorry" for running in during Sunday's title match? REACT: Is he in The Legacy or not? It was implied The Legacy didn't want him in, but he stuck around the entire show.
2. The boos. REACT: McMahon was booed heavily when he announced Randy Orton vs. John Cena would take place in three weeks. The "I Quit, No Interference" stipulation is a good one. Orton stands no chance at WWE Breaking Point.3. The jokes. REACT: Triple H started strong when he said an honest Vince McMahon is "creepy." The birthday jokes, which generated pops for the ages 84, 74 and 70, were funny -- as was the admission of the true age of 64.
4. The clips. REACT: Great McMahon highlights, although it was strange seeing Bobby Lashley in one of them.
5. Vegas additions. REACT: Man, you can tell WWE is PG -- a birthday cake, showgirls, Cirque du Soleil, Elvis and the oily guy. The old WWE would have killed the censors, with the show being in Las Vegas (on a related note, I'm sure the PG WWE is glad Mayweather showed up and it didn't have to use The Godfather).
6. The Legacy attacks. REACT: Set up the main event very nicely.
7. Comical Vince McMahon. REACT: Vince started the "we have two words for ya."
8. DX/WCW DVD plug. REACT: Strange segment, with an expected Jillian (Monroe) singing for McMahon. WWE is pushing the 3 WCW stooges as being Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo and Kevin Nash. From what I know of WCW history, Russo would be the more "accountable" of this trio.
9. HHH's "get busy with your daughter" comment to McMahon. REACT: Funny, and Carlito was utilized nicely as a punching bag for McMahon.
10. DX/McMahon vs. The Legacy and Orton. REACT: If there's any doubt as to Shawn Michaels still having "it," he put that to rest immediately with his flip spot to start the match. This match delivered, especially at the end when DX stepped aside to allow the continued push of the Cena-Orton program. Yes, it may seem strange McMahon is with DX, but he hates Orton even more.
11. The finish. REACT: I slightly marked out when Michaels delivered Sweet Chin Music and Cena the Attitude Adjustment to Orton. Allowing McMahon to then get the pin on Orton made perfect sense. It was a nice birthday present for WWE's boss.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Big Show and Chris Jericho):
1. 55 minutes? REACT: This week's Raw guest host makes his first appearance halfway through the show? That's silly.
2. Saved by MVP. REACT: The verbal sparring between these three got a lift when MVP appeared. Mark Henry was a good tag-team partner choice.
3. MVP/Henry beat Big Show/Jericho. REACT: No surprise on the winner, as MVP/Henry had to win to get a title shot. MVP was in the ring alot, and while the booking was smart, the match dragged until Henry entered. The brass knuckles assist by Mayweather produced a strong finish.
The other matches:
1. The Miz beats Santino Marella. REACT: The Miz is refocused? More like depushed. At least this match was quick. I hope The Miz faces Kofi Kingston by the pay-per-view.
2. Kelly Kelly/Gail Kim/Mickie James vs. Alicia Fox/Beth Phoenix/Rosa Mendes. REACT: The PG rating was pushed at times here, due to the ring attire. Alicia pinning the world champion Mickie? Makes no sense.
3. Hornswoggle beat Chavo Guerrero by DQ. REACT: This boxing match was a waste of time -- although the large boxing gloves of Guerrero were funny. The only upside here was a future Evan Bourne vs. Guerrero program.
Raw's grade: D. If it wasn't for Vince's birthday and the refreshing angle it brought to the show, Raw would have failed this week.
Next week's guest host: It's rumored to be Cleveland's LeBron James. But the show is in Detroit. James would be a huge heel there.
MMA guest host rumor: Won't happen. MMA wants little to nothing to do with WWE.
Michael Vick: After HHH's joke about Vick, the Philadelphia Eagles' chances of being guest host officially went to the dogs (sorry).
Friday's Smackdown: CM Punk defends his world title against Jeff Hardy in a steel cage. Who cares if Smackdown tapes tonight. This match should rule.
LATEST HEADLINES AND MY REACTS
Orton responds to Mr. Kennedy. REACT: These two just don't like each other.
Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash on the WWE Divas: "(WWE) female wrestlers look like a bunch of pissed-off strippers." REACT: If only Slash had seen what the Divas used to wear to the ring.
TNA's Jeremy Borash on Monday's Raw: "The Death of WCW commercial followed by a Hornswoggle vs. Chavo boxing match? Pot? Kettle? REACT: Is Borash defending WCW, Kevin Nash or TNA Wrestling in some fashion? Maybe all three? I'm not sure.
theoutsiderscotthall.com REACT: Watched Scott Hall "interview" Sid Vicious. It was a mind-boggling 10 minutes, although if you made it past the six-minute mark it got better.
