Credit: JRSBARBQ.com
Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry, here are the highlights…
On The RAW Crowd in Tampa: The big and lively crowd in Tampa really helped create a fun atmosphere for Monday Night Raw. I’ve said it many times but the live audience can enhance or detract from any live show. WWE mic’s the live audience expertly which allows the viewers to get the most out of the audio the fans produce. That’s been a problem for me with UFC for years because, as a fan, they’ve had huge crowds that “sounded” as if they were average sized. Good job Tampa.
On Cm Punk’s Performance: @CMPunk had a stellar night on Raw as the WWE Champion stood out in multiple segments of the broadcast. Punk’s TLC match with @Ryback22 was excellent and so well timed to occur during half time of the #Bama vs. #NotreDame National Championship Game. I was impressed by both men’s performance and willingness to be physical. Ryback is really coming along in the development of his persona and presentation.
On Paul Heyman: Paul Heyman @HeymanHustle fits Punk like a glove and provides the “Voice of the Voiceless” with an alternative mouthpiece and harkens back to the days when ‘wrestling managers’ were so important to the progression of many great, wrestling villains. Heyman is an artisan at ringside and on the mic.
On Rock vs. Punk: The closing segment involving @TheRock and Punk was the unofficial kickoff to the road to WrestleMania in my estimation which will be preceded by a stop in Phoenix for the Royal Rumble and in New Orleans for the Elimination Chamber. I felt the chemistry between the two stars and their verbal interaction had an Attitude Era feel.
I find it somewhat humorous that some fans and pundits are actually keeping score as to who got the better of the other during their extended ‘conversation’ as I felt that the true winners of the ‘debate’ were the fans. How one can accurately judge such a subjective piece of business such as we heard is a head scratcher to me but I’m certainly not saying that folks don’t have a right to their opinion. Bottom line, and the good news, is that people cared enough to have an opinion.
Most resonating statement in the final segment, in my view, was Punk saying that he was “Going to kick your ass” to Rock. That’s what it’s still all about…kicking one’s ass.
You can read the full blog by clicking here.
