Million Dollar Bust

On RAW earlier this week, Vince McMahon's Million Dollar Mania didn't draw the ratings the WWE expected. In fact, the ratings had FALLEN from the previous episode of RAW. The segments for this giveaway where Vince called the eventual winners were not entertaining, and I even read that people at the stadium chanted "BORRRRRRING!" a few times (one of those chants were actually heard on TV).

It is now rumored that, although Vince will give away another million dollars at this week's RAW, he is unlikely to continue afterwards because of the lackluster ratings.

As for the rest of the show:

Mr. Kennedy defeated Paul Burchill in the opening match. The fight was pretty crisp, and the ending was, ummm, crispier (???) when Mr. Kennedy "Mic Checked" Burchill. After the match, Burchill cheap-shotted Kennedy.

I don't know what to say about this story line. The writers really got screwed when Regal was busted for some kind of positive drug test, as Regal and the disdain the fans had for him would have been able to put Kennedy over during their rivalry as one of the top faces in the industry. Now they're lost with their star-in-the-making, as even THEY don't know what's happening and who is going where at the WWE Draft in two weeks. Hopefully the Burchill-Kennedy feud will be short-lived.

JBL and John Cena, yet again, got it on in the ring. The crowd was very pro-Cena, a rarity these days, and Cena finished the match with a win after stringing together a few signature moves.

I have nothing to say regarding these two clashing again. The announcers tried to bill it like some kind of pay-per-view-worthy, battle of the titans-esque match, but it really was a snoozer of a match till the end. My thoughts: these guys both need to go to Smackdown come draft day for new competition.

Chris Jericho, hosting another "episode" of his talk show "The Highlight Reel", finally managed to turn heel after two months of 'Is He-Isn't He?' crap. He first kicked Shawn Michaels in the nuts while interviewing him in the ring. Jericho then smashed Michaels' face into the TV to end the segment, and I have read that Michaels seriously hurt his eye during that stunt.

I'm legitimately excited for potential fights between these two, as they are both among the most entertaining wrestlers in the WWE. Should be a helluva rivalry.

Umaga and Snitsky defeated Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes. The only thing I feel I need to chime in about is that Holly/Rhodes don't seem to get a big enough pop when they come out. I think people are getting bored with them, and I bet we soon see them drop their titles to Ted DeBiase Jr. and whoever that guy chooses as his partner.

Santino Morella and Carlito defeated Cryme Tyme. No comment... not worth it.

... And finally, the main event of the night: Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy. Triple H often had the upper-hand in the match, but occasionally Hardy fought back and countered with some of his own signature stuff. The intense fight continued outside of the ring. Hardy eventually helped himself up, got in the ring, and beat the 10-count of the ref. Triple H, however, didn't get in the ring on time, as John Cena, Triple H's opponent at the next PPV, pulled him back right as he was going to get back in the ring. Hardy, thus, picked up the win, and he then went over the top rope and took down both Triple H and Cena as they got in each others' faces. All-in-all, a very entertaining main event!

* * * * *

The show, for the most part, wasn't bad. A new rivalry emerged between Michaels and Jericho, while Triple H and Cena tossed more fuel on their flames. Jeff Hardy even notched himself a big main event win, and hopefully that's just the first of many.

Other than those guys, the writers are wisely waiting out the results for the draft, for if they took any big chances now, it could all be erased with one selection on June 23rd. Aside from the paragraph above, I expect everything else to be pretty stale. But, and that's a big but, when the draft happens, expect mayhem to ensue. The WWE is desparate for ratings, and they will probably take some big chances to get them.