This week’s Monday Night Raw had all the hallmarks of something special and, for large parts, the WWE delivered.
A ‘night of legends’ included a sit down Royal Rumble chat with Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan and some of the most important tag teams from years gone by stepped back in the four-sided ring to round on a couple of pretenders to their legacies.
We also saw the Rumble’s main event continue to motor towards its conclusion and a tantalising Wrestlemania showdown (which we both predicted and wished for in this column in recent months) near fruition.
Amongst the raucous excitement at Dallas, there were some negatives. An oh, so (or should that be U-so?) promising middle card remained stagnant as the company’s top tag teams and under studies continued to lock horns with no progression to storyline or meaning.
That aside, however, we saw the second coming of Sting and Daniel Bryan continue his tour de force since returning from injury. Both are very pleasing indeed.
His appearance in John Cena’s handicap match against Seth Rollins, Big Show and Kane swung it in the face’s favour but it is his defiance of HHH and the prospect of his match against the CEO one of the most exciting billings in Wrestlemania history.
A la John Barnes’ famous rap, the crowd went bananas at the sight of The Stinger and the WWE must take credit for the way they’ve used him since his first appearance at Survivor Series.
Sting is the franchise’s delightful enigma. He is tantalisingly being dangled in front of the WWE Universe, sparring with Helmsley from a distance with maximum annoyance to the Authority, biding his time until he is unleashed.
We might have to wait a little longer until Sting runs free in the WWE, but it will surely be worth the wait.
MOVE OF THE WEEK –JBL’s clothesline from hell
The returning tag legends segment may not have been delivered as it should, but it certainly didn’t disappoint. The New World Order, New Age Outlaws and Acolyte Protection Agency all in a ring together can’t help but please most fans.
Add to that a booming clothesline from hell from JBL and we’re more than content.
TWEETS OF THE WEEK
Was an honor to be in same ring w great legends and friends @wwe Ron, @RealKevinNash @SCOTTHALLNWO @WWERoadDogg @TheRealXPac @RealBillyGunn
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) January 20, 2015
#WWE #Raw EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: @JohnCena comments on getting a little help from @Sting in last night’s #HandicapMatch! http://t.co/hlKdN5rFyk
— WWE (@WWE) January 20, 2015
Life is about being #Thankful and The Big Guy has never been more thankful. Thank you Sting and John Cena! Beers on The Big Guy! #FeedMeMore
— The Big Guy (@Ryback22) January 20, 2015
TRIBUTE OF THE WEEK
Not a usual part of this column but one that cannot be ignored this week.
Before the madness of MNR, we had a poignant tribute to the life of Martin Luther King as part of Martin Luther King day that celebrates the civil rights leader’s birthday and remembers all of those involved in the movement.
