Head to Head: Return of the War?

Ok, so here is how this is going to work. Lisa and I sat down, and watched television from 9-1127 this evening. Many things were said, some of which cannot be repeated here, since my boss reads this at times. But either way, this is what went down hour by hour, minute by minute.

9:03- We start off by giving TNA the benefit of the doubt and letting them have at it first. I'm already disappointed, as the first thing I'm seeing is an out of shape Hulk Hogan and a poorly used Abyss. They're cutting a promo, it doesn't matter what about since this is TNA and its all going to change by next week anyways, and they're doing the main event right off the bat. WHY IS THIS BEiNG DONE FOR FREE!?!? The match is god awful from what I see here, and then the lights are out and Sting attacks Hogan, thus I would assume making him the heel. Lisa makes the brilliant observation that, and I'm quoting now, 'This is sad and pathetic. I'm actually embarrassed FOR them. It's like someone is pulling the cork out of the funnell and the Hogan and Flair Legacy is pouring out the bottom and running down the drain.' Hogan is busted open and I'm in flip mode, especially since they just remade the Main Event for later tonight, the exact same match but with no dq. What a f'ing waste...

9:15- I DVR'd RAW, so I'm starting from the beginning, which isnt all that far ahead anyways.Undertaker and Shawn Micheals are cutting a great promo, certainly bringing me more and more into thier feud leading to the big event, just a few weeks away. Man, my beer even tastes better when Monday Night Raw is on. It's going to take a serious amount of commercials to get me back into TNA.

9:35- Well, the promo is over, and with commercials on, I'm heading back to TNA. I really wish I wasn't. Dixie Carter is playing Vagina McMahon, getting in Sting's face, cutting a promo, and Sting puts his hands on her. Isn't there something in the Bible that says no go on that one, Stinger? I feel so bad for Tazz, he is totally being WASTED here, with no real production, he needs direction to move his commentary, and TNA can't provide that direction, especially with Mike Tenay on the stick with him. It looks like AJ Styles is trying to get heel heat Punk Style, since he's growing out his chest hair. WTF is that all about?

9:41- Chris Daniels, Kazarian, and Doug Williams is a pretty good match. I'm only watching this because RAW has a Divas match on that's just faces and heels and doesnt do a thing for the storyline. Shannon Moore does a run in on Doug Williams, and gets a decent pop. I guess he's back to being the Prince of Punk, but I hope that something actually gets done with him this time. He's a decent enough worker, he just needs time to expand his own personal brand. Dixie came on the mic to say Sting is wrestling a mystery man tonight. #$@! she is terrible on the mic.

10:00- RVD just beat Sting. Do I care? Kinda. Am I supposed to? Absolutly. Does the fan base care in TNA? Certainly, it's someone new for them to slowly ruin.

10:03- So because of Sting, I missed Miz Show taking on Morrison and Truth in a Mania Preview. I'm kinda ok with that, since I would rather see what the four of them can bring come the end of March. Lisa doesnt like Miz Show or these 'mashup' tag teams. She feels it should be real teams, like Legacy, Hart Dynasty, or Cryme Tyme.

10:14- Still on RAW. Legacy vs Orton is awesome and is definetly making me give a hoot about DiBiase vs. Orton at Mania. I have to think, and this could be a spoiler alert but, Rhodes is going to turn on DiBiase and act as Randy's underling. But that's just me.

10:17- I accidently flipped to TNA and JESUS, I wish I hadn't. I jsut caught a glimpse of Erik Young, whom I interviewed in Hamilton wayyyyy back when he was Showtime, and he's taking on X-Pac and I dont give a flying !@#*. They look terrible, and I can't get back fast enough.

10:19- Legacy won the match, and from what I saw, it was awesome. Josh interviews Batista backstage and he says he wont run in on Cena's match later. Yeah, RIGHT. We also get a look at Triple H, and he's looking pissed on his way down to the ring.

10:26- I have totally gone thru commercials to keep watching for Triple H. Hunter's promo is great, but I know the real story. He 'faded into obscurity'? I'm certani it had something to do with taking the fall for something that ended kayfabe for some, and took him to the sin bin until he was ready to run with the big dogs. Either way, this is a great build for what should be a very entertaining match at Wrestlemania.

10:38- Still on RAW and Santino Marella is making me piss myself laughing. This is a guy that should be on commentary somewhere.

10:40- Flipped to TNA, but it's Hogan backstage, bitching and complaining.

10:44- MitB Qualifying Match with Evan bourne and William Regal. This is honestly great, some high impact tosses from Regal and a great finish. Christian is on commentary throughout the match, but he's not as entertaining as he has been in the past. I almost miss the old E&C days.

10:47- Hogan is complaining STILL, and says that this is his second chance. Brooke is crying and saying how she doesn't want him to go out there. First off, isnt this like his fourth or fifth chance? If we count his intial run in the WWWF, his run in the AWA, his big run in the 80's, his WCW run, his attempt to run the XWF, then his TWO returns to WWE, we actually clock in at 6. So I wasn't that far off.

10:51- Laura Diakun is pretty.

10:53- Wrestlemania Recall is up, and it's the rehashing of one of the worst Mania Moments ever, the Goldberg/Brock Lesnar debacle, which ended in stupidity, stunners and suds of an alcoholic sort. Stone Cold hosting next week should be solid.

10:57- Am I alone or is anyone else watching this McMahon/Hitman promo and wondering why The Hart Dynasty wasn't involved in the storyline or even saving Bret when he was getting jumped.

11:01- I have flipped to Impact one last time, and I can't watch anymore of it. We all know wrestling is pre scripted, at least most of us do, but we don't need our faces rubbed in it. Hogan fighting Flair fails to create any sort of illusion to the needed effect. I honestly dont understand why Larry Zybysko isnt doing color, and getting yelled at by Tony Schiavone, let alone being allowed on television for FREE! WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD YOU HAVE FLAIR FIGHT HOGAN, WHEN BOTH ARE RETIRED, AND PEOPLE WOULD PAY FOR THIS ON A PAY PER VIEW! This reeks of WCW and the Hogan Goldberg angle at the Georgia Dome.

11:04- Next week looks awesome, and I have ZERO interest in whatever SPIKE Tv is giving us next week for Impact. Austin is going to be on, and no one can trump that unless you can somehow get Bill Alfonso to come in and manage RVD, maybe even start an Extreme Faction. I'll still pop for ECW, I'm a mark for Philly.

11:21- I loved this whole gauntlet thing. Good way to build Cena into a viable threat to Batista, in case it wasn't already there. Batista did hit a very weak spear, but he made up for it with a great Batista Bomb. batista needs to be going in strong to the pay per view, Cena has to be the one chasing him.

Overall, I thought tonight's RAW was incredibly better than what I saw from the 'competition', and I use that term very carefully. TNA didnt come across as doing anything overly new, they didnt have much more than what was already expected and that was all Hogan's fault. The fact that he let RVD coming to his show slip, was a massive mistake. I didnt see Jeff Hardy, but then again, I didnt watch the whole show and his being there may not have even ended up on camera, since again, I didnt watch all of it. I physically couldnt. It was that $%@#ing terrible.

I would tunr into RAW next week if I was you. Austin's coming to town, and you know someones gonna have some 'esplaining to do...

Jeff Goodridge is a freelance writer and a lifelong wrestling fan. His girlfriend loves the Undertaker but HATES The Miz. Guess he's doing his job.