Heath Slater: Ruler of the Jobber World

Those of you that watched Monday Night Raw last night go to see the OMRB Heath Slater break his recent losing streak, with a victory over returning legend (I use legend loosely in this case) Doink the Clown.

Photo Coutesy of WWE.com

Granted Slaters momentum did not last long as DDP slapped him with a Diamond Cutter shortly after his win.  On a side note, DDP's Diamond Cutter is a million times better than the RKO!

Prior to last nights victory, Slater was marred in a 10 bout losing streak.  His last win before last night occurred on the May 17th episode of Superstars in a match with Alex Riley, who could be the "face" equivalent of Slater as far as jobbers go.

Slater's losing streak went as follows:

May 20 - Over The Limit - Lost in the Pre-Show Battle Royal which was won by Christian

May 23 - NXT - Lost to Percy Watson

May 24 - Superstars - Lost to Zack Ryder

June 1 Smackdown - Lost to Sin Cara

June 6 NXT - Lost in a tag match with Johnny Curtis to Justin Gabrel and Tyson Kidd

June 11 - Raw - Lost to Vader

June 15 Smackdown - Lost to Brodus Clay

June 22 - Smackdown - Lost to Zack Ryder

June 25 - Raw - Lost to Sid

June 28 - Superstars - Lost to Kane

*Also in the middle of that span, Slater was punked by Roddy Piper, Wendi Richter and Cyndi Lauper

As much as I have disliked the OMRB from the beginning of this NXT time, I have to say that I have enjoyed his recent stuff.  His current storyline of jobbing to the legends has been entertaining.  Even though he is losing in squash matches, he is on TV.  Which says that someone in the back must be high on him.

Personally, I do not think he is great on the mic, (granted he has been better recently but you can tell that his pre-legend match promos are 100% scripted), I also do not think he is very good in the ring.  Luckily for Slater I am not the one booking the shows.

I have heard rumors that there is supposed to be a big pay-off at the end of this storyline, so I am assuming on the 1000 episode of RAW we will find out.  

Until then I suggest that you enjoy your winning streak Heath, as I figured it will be short lived.  (I wouldn't be surprised if it did not end tonight on the Live Smackdwon Great American Bash)

As a final note, With his win on Monday Slater improved his 2012 match record to 5-24.

Friday Night Power Rankings Week 4

RAW

1. CM Punk - Last Week 1

2. Chris Jericho - Last Week 5

3. Kane - Last Week 8

4. Dolph Ziggler - Last Week 4

5. Zack Ryder - Last Week 9

6. John Cena - Last Week 2

7. Jack Swagger - Last Week 7

8. R-Truth - Last Week NR

9. Brodus Clay - Last Week NR

10. Johnny Ace - Last Week 3

SMACKDOWN

1. Randy Orton - Last Week NR

2. Big Show - Last Week NR

3. Cody Rhodes - Last Week 5

4. Daniel Bryan - Last Week 1

5. Sheamus - Last Week 2

6. Mark Henry - Last Week 4

7. Hunico - Last Week 8

8. Drew McIntyre - Last Week 10

9. Justin Gabriel - Last Week 9

10. Tamina - Last Week NR (First Female to enter Power Rankings)

IMPACT

1. Bully Ray - Last Week 2

2. Robert Roode - Last Week 1

3. James Storm - Last Week 3

4. Jeff Hardy - Last Week 4

5. Alex Shelley - Last Week 9

6. Garrett Bischoff - Last Week 8

7. Matt Morgan - Last Week NR

8. Magnus - Last Week NR

9. Samoa Joe - Last Week NR

10. Eric Young - Last Week NR

These are the final weekly rankings for January.  There is a possibility of a monthly ranking coming within the next few days, but do not hold you breathe on it.  I am not guaranteeing anything.  I may keep my focus on the Royal Rumble.

Post Raw Evaluations

*Will Mick Foley retaliate against Johnny Ace for this attack last week?
NOPE.  Foley was only to be found in a brief segment with Zack Ryder and Eve.  I feel that the WWE may have missed out on a change to use Foley.  I know Punk/Johnny Ace is the bigger feud developing, but Foley can get into the mix.  Foley stills gets a good reaction so why not use hime?
*How does Zack Ryder respond after losing his title?
He responded by getting his back broke!!!! Kane destroying Ryder was fine by me, I understand they are developing him back as that monster heel.  Thats cool by me.  However a broken back for Ryder?  I don't understand this.  Now Ryder will be written off of TV for a while, just after being finally put on TV.  Maybe while out he can figure out a few ways to develop his character more.  Ryder was heading in the right direction, I just hope the the powers the be do not bury him.  He deserves better.
*Will we finally see the Divas Champ in 2012?
Apparently only on Superstars this week.  Beth taped a match for the internet show.  This is only helping further bury the divas division.  Maybe they need to take a look at TNA and see how a women's wrestling division in a major promotion is supposed to be.
*Will Kofi be used?
Another NOPE.  I can see him not being used simply because everything last night was geared torwards the Rumble.  Hopefully things get better for Kofi.
*Who will the man from Planet Funk destroy this week?
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!! My odds on favorite Heath Slater was the lucky one last night.  Also interested to see where this thing with Brodus and William Regal is heading.  Could be interesting and a great way to get Clay's career off to a great start.


Overall a solid RAW.  Not nearly as good as last week.  I am looking forward to getting the Rumble over so we can get on the "RTWM" and get into the best story's of the year.

Post Raw Evaluations

*Whats next for John Cena and Kane?

I really liked the story development this week.  Cena is starting to embrace the hate.  It was nice to see Cena start to show some more emotion.  Whether or not Cena ultimately turns heel or not doesn't matter to me.  As long as he can change things up I am happy.  We are starting to see some more layers to the Cena character, and that is thanks to Kane.

*What does Chris Jericho have planned next?

First off, Jericho's segment in Johnny Aces office was brilliant.  As far as the main event goes.  After they announced that he would team with Punk and Bryan, I knew that he wouldn't wrestle.  I did not know how he was going to get out of it though.  I assumed that he simply wouldn't take the tag when it came his way.  However, what happened was better yet.  After getting tagged it by CM Punk, Jericho did the same routine that he has done the last two weeks.  Prancing around and getting the crowd all hyped.  But this time after doing it for a short period, he tagged Daniel Bryan in and left.  Simply Brilliant.  

*What will happen with the New Tag Team Champs?

Air Boom got their automatic re-match and were unsuccessful.  I was glad that they let Epico and Primo keep the belts.  I like the tag team.  Hopefully they can continue to develop the division.  The Uso's need more TV time and it would be nice to see Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins get some time to develop into another quality team.

*Will Zack Ryder be able to defend his US Title vs Jack Swagger?

Once again I think WWE dropped the ball.  I hope there is more to this and after watching the few segments following the match I think there may be.  I understand playing up the Ryder is hurt angle, but why are we sacrificing the US title for it.  Ziggler brought some prestige back to the title and Ryder was not hurting the belt.  I am not saying that Swagger will not be a good champion, however Ryder needed to have the title longer.

*Who does the Funkasauras get to destroy next?

Apparently I picked the wrong jobber this week.  I totally forgot about JTG.  In JTG's defense he did last longer than Tyson Kidd.  I see more jobbers ahead for Mr. Clay as he is developing the character even more.

Overall I feel the show was a very good one.  The touches of Foley were great.  The crowd seemed to be eating it up.  They are doing a good job of developing feuds.

Pre-Raw Thoughts and Questions

I am going to try to do a weekly entry with my Pre-Raw thoughts and questions.  Hopefully I can accomplish this.  If I can not do it weekly then I plan to do it as often as possible.

*Whats next for John Cena and Kane?
Will they continue to let Kane beat up on Cena until the Royal Rumble?  Personally I feel like this should happen.  Some may say it will get old, however to continue to build Kane's character back to where it once was, I think this is needed.  Plus we all know that Cena is going to win at the Rumble.  He has to have some momentum heading on the Road to Wrestlemania.

*What does Chris Jericho have planned next?
I believe the silent treatment will continue.  I believe it has to continue because Jericho is trying to get heat and up to this point I don't think it is working exactly like he has planned.  The University is still cheering for Jericho.  Sooner of later the boos have to start coming.....Don't they?

*What will happen with the New Tag Team Champs?
For those of you who may not know, Epico and Primo won the Tag Team titles over the weekend at a house show.  As interesting as this is, it is not something totally new.  The WWE has down it in the past, albeit not any time recently.  I am interested to see how they write this into the show.  I look for Air Boom to get a re-match tonight.

*Will Zack Ryder be able to defend his US Title against Jack Swagger?
I do not think Ryder will be on Raw tonight, simply to play up the attack from Kane last week.  However, I believe that this could be a mistake.  Finally they were bringing some creditability back to the US title and now it gets but on the back burner just because Ryder somehow gets caught up in the Kane/Cena feud.  It would not surprise me if they stripped Ryder because he is unable to defend in his scheduled match.  I hope this does not happen, but it would not surprise me.

*Who does the Funkasauras get to destroy?
Since returning last Monday, the man from Planet Funk destroyed Curt Hawkins on Raw and then Tyson Kidd on Smackdown.  He will definitely be on Raw tonight, but who is his victim?  My bet is Tyler Reks.