RAW 1000 thoughts

Apologies (for those who do bother to read this) for my absence and lack of blog. Haven't been well at all and was struck down with a short virus (not man-flu I assure all the doubters). I am however, back and ready to share some more crap with y'all.

So, I go to one of the more obvious subjects I could cover this week. The 1000th episode of WWE's flagship TV programme Monday Night Raw. This won't be a comprehensive, detailed entry by any means, rather a few points and some thoughts and feelings. If you're looking for a review or breakdown, I ain't the guy to do it sorry.

WHAT WORKED:

• Vince McMahon NEEDED to open the show...simple as that. No-one else would have done the job.
• D-Generation X's opening segment was a nostalgia fest. Gave me goosebumps to see such a huge part of pro-wrestling's history re-assembled. The New Age Outlaws looked like they could at least have one more run.
• Jim Ross being a part of the broadcast team and having his contribution recognised. Should have called the main event though (if not the entire show).
• Mick Foley resurrecting the Dude Love character...if only for a brief dance segment.
• Mae Young's 'son' appearing. Such a ridiculous yet memorable Raw moment brought back to life.

DX were in the house, albeit with Chyna noticeably absent and X-Pac kept pretty stum

• The IC Championship match. WWE remembered that although it was about celebration and commemoration, there's still a job to be done and The Miz/Christian match was a corker.
• Slick being the reverend for Daniel Bryan and AJ's wedding. How they made it through the segment is, in itself, a miracle.
• The Rock being given free reign on Punk and Bryan in yet another fantastic promo from The Great One.
• The reformation of the APA in the Heath Slater vs Legends segment. Meanest Clothesline From Hell I have ever seen in my life.
• Sean Mooney appearing back on Raw.
• Triple H, Stephanie and Paul Heyman blurring some reality lines and delivering a stormingly powerful segment. Lesnar vs Helmsley should be off the hook if it all pulls off. Intensity personified at SummerSlam.
• The Undertaker's return. I may be extremely biased, but it was so important to have the Deadman there on the show (and compete), making him the ONLY man to have wrestled on the first and 1000th episode. 
• The hectic finish to a solid WWE Championship match, the inclusion of The Rock in the outcome and the begging for more.

Undertaker can lay claim to being the only WWE Superstar to have competed on both the first episode of Raw and the 1000th.

WHAT DIDN'T:

• The Brodus Clay squash match against Jack Swagger. Now the undefeated streak has ended, they could have spent some time here.
• The Daniel Bryan/AJ wedding was one of the more stale WWE marital madness segments.
• AJ being announced as the new permanent Raw GM was a HUGE deflating moment in the show. Really expected the return of a legend or authority figure to set the wheels of excitement going. Think they've dropped the ball here.
• Could have done with some more Legends being used overall. There must be a ton who still have good relationships with WWE that can be brought back. Not that there was anything wrong with those ones who were used, they just seem to always pull the same ones out of the hat.
• The social media plugging was insane and I understand we live in a social media-frenzied world but really? Non-stop.
• Bret Hart should have been utilised more as a referee maybe than as a ring announcer. Just a thought.
• Really hoped WWE would have had a new championship belt for their major title. The spinner was crap in 2005 and it's just got the tacky, worthless, childish feel to it that it always has...just with seven years of history attached.

So as you can see. The good outweighed the bad. Maybe the bad wasn't too bad at all and was me being pernickety. I don't know. Overall, I really enjoyed Raw 1000. It'll be interesting to see how WWE tackles and maintains momentum on a three-hour Raw every Monday now that the landmark episode is out of the way. Time alone will tell if it all works out.

What did you think of Raw 1000? Leave me a comment or follow me on Twitter @markabraham89 and tweet me your thoughts.