Hey, thanks!

That's what I'm thinking. I'm cautious to say that anybody is the next anybody (I'll own up to it and admit that I thought John Morrison was the next HBK a few years ago), but a lot of people seem to be clamoring for more over-the-top characters, instead of a bunch of Firsty McLastnames. The Wyatt Family certainly has the opportunity to maintain a certain level of mystique in WWE, and I hope they're treated with the same level as mystique as a guy like The Undertaker.

That's an awfully pessimistic view to take. People change, societies change. I'm sure you'd agree that there's plenty of room for improvement when it comes to the perception of women in the media. In fact, my first article on the site was actually about that (http://www.wwenews.net/where-are-the-heroines/). However, media doesn't have to be used in a negative way. Decades ago, many minority groups were portrayed in horrifically offensive ways, but society changed, and the media reflected that. There's no reason to assume that such a movement is impossible with gender equality.

If women are portrayed as equally compelling characters, society will respond. Randy Orton is popular in part because he's eye candy for the ladies, but plenty of men like him too because they enjoy his work. There's no reason why women wrestlers shouldn't be treated this way. If the Divas had storylines that were compelling to both genders, the perception of women in the industry would be much better. The men would enjoy the storylines, with the added bonus of finding the performers attractive. People don't go to the bathroom during Divas matches because women are wrestling. They go to the bathroom because they're conditioned to understand that Divas matches are inconsequential and boring.

As for the article, I think AJ & Kaitlyn is the biggest money feud the division has right now, and I hope it doesn't end at Payback. Like you said below, they've done an okay job heating the feud up at the last minute, but WWE could get a lot more mileage out of it.

Hey, thanks! Glad we only had positive things to report, and 100% agreed. As long as Jerry actively wants to do it, I think it'd be a great call. I'll probably always watch his future matches (if they ever happen on television) with some degree of worry, but as long as people who know more about Lawler's well-being than I do say he can still go, I'll fully support it. It'd be great to see one more in-ring performance from him in WWE, at least so his last WWE match isn't the tag team match an hour or so before his heart attack.

Thanks! Got it just for the occasion, and he recognized it, of course. I'm hoping Lawler inducts Kaufman into the Hall of Fame someday soon.

Agreed. Although I'm guessing WWE will do a breakup angle with Team Hell No, I hope they don't. I'm a big fan of tag teams that split amicably and have each other's backs in the future. Kofi & R-Truth did that recently, and it was a great continuity nod. I think an Ambrose/Bryan feud would do wonders for both guys. It would help Bryan bring out his crazy side and would get Ambrose more over as a heel. Not to mention, they seem to work well together.

Glad to see Andy Kaufman on this list! I don't think you can have a valid "celebrity wing" without him. We hate most celebrity involvement nowadays, but he was integral in showing that cross-promotion, when done right, has a valid place in wrestling. I really hope we see Lawler induct him someday soon. I'm a big fan of Kaufman's work in and out of the ring, and the guy was a noted lifelong fan of wrestling. His work should definitely be introduced to this generation of fans (and workers), and I hope the Hall of Fame can do that.

I don't understand the idea of basing Hall of Fame qualifications based on kayfabe accomplishments. It's been said over and over that it's not a "legitimate" Hall of Fame, in that there's no formal voting process or anything, and such a system would be problematic anyways, since wrestling is fixed.

I hear the same argument as to why a guy like Koko B. Ware shouldn't be in. "What did Koko ever win?" It doesn't matter! It's a fixed sport! If they gave Koko a 20 year winning streak, it wouldn't guarantee an induction. His entertainment value and longevity in the minds of the fans are why he deserves to be in, not what his character was scripted to do. People remember Koko fondly when they remember his era. I'd put down money on Santino getting an induction down the line, and people will be furious about that, but he's one of the most memorable characters of this era.

As for Owen, not only is he beloved backstage and by fans, he's especially deserving of honor because he literally died performing. Whether you blame his death on the bookers for pushing the idea, the riggers for making a faulty harness, or Owen for agreeing to it, it is undeniable that he died trying to entertain the fans. Any death in the business is tragic, but a senseless accident that cut a great performer's career tragically short shouldn't preempt him from a non-kayfabe Hall of Fame induction. I know WWE would honor him more often if not for the ongoing legal problems, and I know they'd love to give him a Hall of Fame induction. He certainly deserves it, not for any scripted accomplishments, but for the character, and WWE knows it.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

I used to do the Tough Enough blog and I've done a few Raw blogs in the past, and the biggest criticism I got was that I was too sarcastic and focused more on that than on the coverage itself. So I tried to dial it down a bit here and make sure I covered the whole show. Are there any specific areas that could've been improved or that were particularly enjoyable?

It was 2 in the morning on a school night by the time I got to the Big Show segment, so I know it got a little terse by that point, but I didn't expect to write over 3000 words.

Again, thank you. I have no intention of replacing Kendra or anything like that, but I'd be happy to fill in whenever she needs me. I'd love to do a regular blog again, but I also love whatever free time I have between helping with the site and school. Kendra puts a lot into her work every week, and it takes a lot of commitment.

Your support is what makes writing these blogs worth it. I know I was checking the comments religiously just to see what you all thought. The comments made me want to write a blog every week, so when an opening that piques my interest becomes available, I'll definitely consider it.

You guys finally got what you've wanted for years. John Cena finally got a heel turn.

*ba dum tish*