The Official UKFF RAW thread (part 2)...

[Chili]

9 minutes ago, TheScarlettChad said:

So... anything you lads liked on this show? 

It was the first full episode of WWE TV I've watched for about 6 or 7 years. I didn't enjoy much in ring wise because I've grown away from the product and it's style. I enjoy the less aggressive production aspects that new problematic fella they brought in provides over Kevin Dunn's work, Pat McAfee is a bit too much, I'm not not keen an aggressive bro jock bellowing for hours, but he seems to bring some joy out of Michael Cole. Cena's promo was great. Jacob Fatu could be a tasty big name so long as he doesn't cock his push. Rhea Ripley is really over and looks the business and Jey Uso getting that YEET bit over like the YES chant is delightful. The Rock, I'm not arsed, nice to see Kevin Owens. Hogan got treated well, really hope his investors saw that before Hogan asked Jimmy Hart to not come out with him again because they obviously didn't like Jimmy waving that flag or something. The ring mat looked horrible. Won't be watching next week, but I can see why they're hot at the moment and the appeal. The more people that feel and are over the better. Fella who cut the opening promo was alright though, they should use him on TV more.

Edited January 7, 2025 by Chili

[Supremo]

11 minutes ago, TheScarlettChad said:

So... anything you lads liked on this show? 

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn becoming WWE's Clark Kent and Superman, where you never see them in the same place at the same time, always just missing each other, is the level of brilliance you can always expect from those two.

[NeverYield]

Anyone want to play a drinking game and take a shot anytime Ula Fala is mentioned

[TheScarlettChad]

2 minutes ago, NeverYield said:

Anyone want to play a drinking game and take a shot anytime Ula Fala is mentioned

You'd be absolutely pissed

[digforvictory]

1 hour ago, DavidB6937 said:

What does this even mean? Are we referring to every bad booking decision ever as "very Vince"? Or just everything that you don't like? Vince didn't book or write everything in WWE history before he left by the way.

HHH and co are more than capable of booking their own crap.

Jesus, calm down man.

I mean I thought I explained it in the original post but just to reiterate having Rock come out and shit all over the big story from last year making it feel all a bit pointless,  having  not just wrestlers but champions sat in the crowd to wave at the camera like they were nobodies, the heavy emphasis on celebs, the Undertaker coming out to fist bump Rhea Ripley,  that all felt very late era Vince.  Particularly the way Vince would book these big milestone shows, like that infamous Raw anniversary show a few years ago.

I'm more than aware Triple H can book his own crap wrestling show. 

Edited January 7, 2025 by digforvictory

[DavidB6937]

1 minute ago, digforvictory said:

Jesus, calm down man.

I mean I thought I explained it in the original post but just to reiterate having Rock come out and shit all over the big story from last year making it feel all a bit pointless,  having  not just wrestlers but champions sat in the crowd to wave at the camera like they were nobodies, the heavy emphasis on celebs, the Undertaker coming out to fist bump Rhea Ripley,  that all felt very late era Vince. 

I'm more than aware Triple H can book his own crap wrestling show. 

I'm calm. I just think people referring to it all as going back to the dark ages and all very Vince-like is a really OTT reaction to what was obviously a random packed launch show to them. 

If it all remains the same for weeks to come and the crowds start losing interest then people are right to get concerned. 

There have been plenty of celebs and random appearances in the HHH era. That's just a WWE thing. They love showing that shit off.

As for champions they couldn't fit everyone in and they have other shows to build to as well. And let's be honest if you're debuting on Netflix you're not leading with Gunther when you've got all those other names at your disposal.

[NeverYield]

Jim Cornette in absolute turmoil in the States...

The cold open using industry terms, Rock turning up like nothing ever happened between himself, Cody and Roman, and Michael Cole calling Seth Rollins Colby Lopez... that's the bit I don't get, don't really care about the other stuff, seen the cold open get some peoples backs right up but I thought it was a cracker, but cole calling seth by his name on air is a bit bizarre 

Pacing of the show a bit long for me, entrances need to be a bit shorter but I get why they are doing it, overall a bit of an anti climax to what I was expecting but I did enjoy it, roman and solo was a hoot with all the run in chaos and mcafee and cole losing their shit, punk and drew a decent watch, and the production value of the show was brilliant. 

Be interesting to see what a normal raw will be like going forward, and this was a bit of a 'thank you netflix' fest, but all in all I did enjoy the show.

[WyattSheepMask]

51 minutes ago, TheScarlettChad said:

So... anything you lads liked on this show? 

Those new referee jerseys, phwoar! Got to get me one of those.

Other than post-Wrestlemania episodes, this was the first full episode of RAW that I’ve watched in what must be nearly 20 years. It was fine, the in ring stuff was fine, but there’s no way I could’ve watched this live. So much time between anything happening, Rollins was out there for nearly 10 minutes before Punk made his entrance. 
Cena’s promo was great and Hogan getting the reaction he deserved was also a highlight 

Seen some people having a hissy about the advertising on the ring apron, conveniently ignoring that AEW has Draft Kings on the mat most weeks and that New Japan have had advertising plastered all over the ring for decades. Honestly, I barely even noticed it outside of the first couple of minutes

Edited January 7, 2025 by WyattSheepMask

[Hannibal Scorch]

2 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

I'm calm. I just think people referring to it all as going back to the dark ages and all very Vince-like is a really OTT reaction to what was obviously a random packed launch show to them. 

If it all remains the same for weeks to come and the crowds start losing interest then people are right to get concerned. 

There have been plenty of celebs and random appearances in the HHH era. That's just a WWE thing. They love showing that shit off.

But that’s like, their opinions man. I don’t think anyone said it’s gone back to the darkest timeline, but I would say the entire product does feel to have been on a slight downward trend since Mania, and people are still enjoying it far more then pre 2020. 

That said, while you’re right that cameos have been a feature of every era (not just HHH’s) of WWE, can you say the amount last night wasn’t overkill? I can’t honestly think of any episode or PPV where they focused on celebs as much as last night. But happy to be proved wrong.

2 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

As for champions they couldn't fit everyone in and they have other shows to build to as well. And let's be honest if you're debuting on Netflix you're not leading with Gunther when you've got all those other names at your disposal.

Come on, they couldn’t have had Gunther/Priest on the first Raw? Bron? Tag Title match? Also, why not Gunther? He’s a world champ, give him the rub of a match on the debut on Netflix, let people get to know him who don’t know him.
 

But we know why. They had to give the Rock a large, pointless segment. They had to do skits with celebs, they had to have Jay Uso yeet for 10 minutes, Hogan try and sell a beer and the Undertaker ride a hog for no reason. 3 hours, 4 matches. SNME was 2 hours and had 6 matches. 3 of them title matches! There was room for Bron or War Raiders to defend for sure. 

[Mr_Danger]

It was the first full Raw I’ve seen in years and much like the realisation I came to with football I realised I don’t like watching it very much unless I’m emotionally invested in it. The WWE main event style is very samey, and it’s not until the break down towards the go home do I get really gripped. Roman matches have been the same for ages but when that schmoz hits they’re still pretty thrilling. I was drained by the main but it was a very good match that I was pretty tuned out for.

At its best WWE is like the best of Marvel where your still fully in to it come the pay off, at its worse it’s Michael Bay’s Transformers where it’s just all flashing colours and no shits are gave. 

[SuperBacon]

Cba to watch the whole thing but very much enjoyed Punk as always.

Netflix and Phil. 

[The King Of Swing]

I just lurk on this thread to know what's going down, but reading that Hogan was booed out of the building has put a smile on my face.

[Lorne Malvo]

Watched the first half hour but all they've done so far is wank themselves off about how great the WWE is without actually showing me why. I'll watch the rest tomorrow.

Mostly posting because Triple H is the absolute spit of Jimmy King off of Emmerdale now.

"Lawsuit? What lawsuit?!"

 

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

33 minutes ago, NeverYield said:

Jim Cornette in absolute turmoil in the States.

Good. Hopefully that mega snow storm has buried him. 

[DavidB6937]

28 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

But that’s like, their opinions man. I don’t think anyone said it’s gone back to the darkest timeline, but I would say the entire product does feel to have been on a slight downward trend since Mania, and people are still enjoying it far more then pre 2020. 

That said, while you’re right that cameos have been a feature of every era (not just HHH’s) of WWE, can you say the amount last night wasn’t overkill? I can’t honestly think of any episode or PPV where they focused on celebs as much as last night. But happy to be proved wrong.

Come on, they couldn’t have had Gunther/Priest on the first Raw? Bron? Tag Title match? Also, why not Gunther? He’s a world champ, give him the rub of a match on the debut on Netflix, let people get to know him who don’t know him.
 

But we know why. They had to give the Rock a large, pointless segment. They had to do skits with celebs, they had to have Jay Uso yeet for 10 minutes, Hogan try and sell a beer and the Undertaker ride a hog for no reason. 3 hours, 4 matches. SNME was 2 hours and had 6 matches. 3 of them title matches! There was room for Bron or War Raiders to defend for sure. 

We might all be bored of The Rock or Undertaker etc but we weren't necessarily the main audience for last night. I said mostly negative and underwhelming things about the show in my original post but just because I didn't enjoy it, it doesn't mean I don't necessarily understand the approach at least.

I'd absolutely hope that it won't be like this every week but I get it for a debut Netflix show from a business perspective. 

If it fails and it's the start of a downward spiral for them then it was clearly the wrong approach. I guess only time will tell with that.