WWE Raw Thoughts, Ryder, Classics, & More - June 17, 2011

Welcome to the "they wanted Ryder" edition of The Wrestling List.

Monday night's Raw was a three hour affair from Long Island, NY. Hot crowd and they popped huge for Austin. It think it is fair to say that there were more long term hardcore fans there than there is in other cities. That is usually fair to say anytime they get into that area. Austin hosted the WWE All Stars special edition of Raw as the general manager. I enjoyed it for the most part. More than I have in recent weeks. Austin was fun. I liked the exchange with him and Miz. Going with other segments later on, it was about time that we got an Austin/Punk segment. Really good stuff there too. They played off of each other really well. Austin has been pushing Punk on Twitter lately. It can't hurt to have guys like that in your corner when your contract is about up. Punk may be leaving here soon as he seems ready to get out of there which would be big time bad for WWE. Sticking with Austin, I liked the GM segment with him where he destroyed the computer. The threats from him were funny and then we got the payoff on it. The main event had John Cena taking on CM Punk. Wow, what a loud crowd during that and they were vocal against John Cena. Cena just isn't going to be liked in that New York area it seems. It's been that way for over five years now and doesn't appear to be changing. Funny thing is that they used to pop huge for him when he was in the rapper gimmick. Different character though completely. John Morrison returns….sort of. He was ready to take on Truth by word of Austin. Then, he is found laid out in the back. Speaking of Truth, he is great as a heel. One of the best things on the show and the "little Jimmy" thing is just hilarious. Christian and Randy Orton had another face off but Christian backed off. Then, the threat was made that they couldn't touch or Orton would be stripped of the World title. How does the Raw GM have that kind of power? I don't know. Maybe I missed something on how they explained that but I didn't hear it. Great to see Rowdy Roddy Piper on the show. Piper's Pit was the host of the back and forth words between Riley and Miz. After words got exchanged, Austin made a match with Miz and Piper. $5,000 on the line. Riley as the special ref. He helped Piper get the win and Miz loses the money.

Other notes from Raw. Did you hear those "we want Ryder" chants? If you didn't, how did you miss them??!! WWE should have brought him out or done something with him during the show. Three hours and you have a crowd begging for him. Surely, you could put him on the show somewhere. Isn't it amazing that this guy has gotten himself over online with his videos? It shows the power of the internet cause the guy is getting reactions despite hardly being used on TV. His videos have been getting attention for months now and WWE is going to have to look at doing something with him. Definitely good with the comedy. Chris Jericho took to Twitter to rip on WWE for not using him on Raw as well. He has a lot of supporters from big names in the business. Wondering when WWE will decide to listen? I wondered how much offense that Sin Cara would get with a live show and the answer was the finish. Poor guy.

A strange thing happened recently at the Smackdown tapings. Vince McMahon apparently decided to play a rib on Mark Henry. The bigger rib may have been on the fans in attendance. Henry was sent to the ring. He kept waiting for his opponent who never came out. This went on for a LONG time. According to the live report, it went for about 30 minutes. Henry eventually got furious and went to the back demanding to know what was going on. It appears that Vince played a rib on Henry. However, the fans stayed and stayed and stayed waiting to see another match. It would leave a sour taste in my mouth especially for me knowing that I travel usually a couple of hours to see a show. I could have put that on my travel time and get home earlier instead of waiting on this match to never happen just so a joke could be played.

Jim Ross posted on his Twitter lately about taping a new set of roundtable shows for WWE Classics On Demand. The addition to the panel was Kevin Nash. Apparently, there is a show done on the nWo. That has to be an interesting discussion and Nash is a good storyteller and talker. Should be fun to watch.

I'm happy to see the lineup for this month for WWE Classics On Demand. Specifically a house show from MSG from April of 1989. The event is one of the WrestleMania V rematches of Hogan and Savage. Very nice. Like the rest of the lineup as well and looking forward to watching it.

I mentioned lately how intriguing it was that Mick Foley was talking a lot about WWE as of late on his Twitter considering he has been with TNA. Well, it appears that he is gone from TNA and his exit was put into the storyline last week on Impact. Foley gave his thoughts on TNA in a column recently about what he didn't like about the company and all. I assume we'll see him back in WWE before too long.

Another guy is done with TNA and that is Tommy Dreamer. He finished up with the company this past weekend with the Basebrawl shows in Marion and Memphis. He posted on Twitter about how it started to rain in Memphis just as his music started to play for his last match entrance. He definitely pondered the timing of it with the rain delaying the show at that very second.

The next TNA PPV, Destination X, is going back to its roots. I think you'll be very happy with the main event. I know I am but I also worry about anything that company does lately. I would post the spoiler of the main event but they might take my Twitter away from me. Oh, I think I've said too much. Yep, there goes Twitter. Seriously, what is wrong with that company? I just don't get it.

That is all for today. Wishing you a great weekend!! Take care and God bless!!