THOUGHTS ON WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW AFTER MONEY IN THE BANK

 

KARRION KROSS

On Monday night, WWE Raw had a few big moments on its show. One of the big moments was the debut of Karrion Kross, the current NXT Champion. Kross faced Jeff Hardy and was dominant during the match. Kross lost the match after he backed Hardy in a corner, climbed the ropes to rain down hammer fists and Hardy stacked him up with his feet on the ropes to get the pin on Kross. While most wrestling pundits may look at this moment as negative, I think this was a smart move by WWE. Kross is the NXT champion at the moment so he won't be back on RAW for a while and he needed a way out. With a loss to Jeff Hardy, Kross can go back to NXT, lose his title because he's distracted by the loss to Hardy, and when he comes back to the main roster, he can wreak havoc until he gets a rematch with Jeff Hardy. 

Other Thoughts: 

JOHN CENA

John Cena started the show and told the audience he was back because of the WWE Universe and because "Roman Reigns is an a$$hole." The match between Cena and Reigns will be EPIC. Reigns is the ultimate dominant villain and Cena is a superhero that's a legend. The match will happen at Summerslam but I don't expect Cena to be pinned or submit. Since Cena said at Money In The Bank he will make multiple appearances, the match at Summerslam will probably end with outside interference. Cena is now the WWE's new Undertaker. He'll show up and help get talent over but he's still their biggest star.

GOLDBERG

Goldberg returned on RAW and he challenged Bobby Lashley for the WWE World title. Lashley defeated Keith Lee after Lee accepted Lashley's open challenge. Many fans want to see Brock Lesnar vs. Lashley but I don't believe Brock Lesnar wants to come back yet. Lesnar may be happy at home with his family. Both Lashley and Reigns are copying Brock's gimmick so he may see no need to return. Goldberg will be a great opponent for Lashley to have on his resume since he's an icon in wrestling. 

WWE Monday Night Raw pulled out all the stops. WWE is pushing towards Summerslam and with John Cena and Goldberg, they really want to give fans their money's worth. 

THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. "MR. WONDERFUL" PAUL ORNDORFF

Paul Orndorff, one of pro wrestling's biggest stars of the 1980's passed away on Monday. He was 71 years old. In May, his son Travis, announced that Orndorff was dealing with dementia. The man known in the 1980's as Mr. Wonderful, was one of the best and toughest wrestlers of his generation. 

Orndorff started his career in 1979, and for over 20 years he was one of the best wrestlers in the world. He worked in many different territories including Memphis, Mid-South Wrestling, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Georgia, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Paul Orndorff wrestled some of the best superstars of the 70's and 80's including Jerry Lawler, Ted Dibiase, Buzz Sawyer, Ernie Ladd, The Junkyard Dog, Dusty Rhodes, and Ric Flair. By the time he signed with the WWE (then the World Wrestling Federation at the time) in 1983, Orndorff was a hot commodity in pro wrestling. 

On January 23,1984, Orndorff debuted for the WWE on the same night that Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik for the WWE World Championship. Orndorff and Hogan's career would intertwine from 1985 through 1986. Orndorff or Mr. Wonderful, as he would be known, would team with Rowdy Roddy Piper against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T at the inaugural Wrestlemania in 1985. By 1986, Orndorff was one of Hogan's biggest challengers for the WWE World title. Their feud lasted for half a year and culminated in a cage match on NBC's Saturday Night's Main Event. The Hogan-Orndorff feud is one of the most notable and profitable feuds in WWE history. 

Orndorff would leave the WWE in 1988 and move on to other territories such as the UWF (Universal Wrestling Federation) and WCW (World Championship Wrestling) but his career would never reach the same heights. By 1995, Paul Orndorff would retire due to injuries sustained throughout his career. He became an agent and trainer at WCW. 

Paul Orndorff was one of the toughest men in professional wrestling. His feuds with Jerry Lawler, Ted Dibiase, and Dusty Rhodes made him a star. His feud with Hulk Hogan in 1986, made him a superstar. Thank you Mr. Orndorff. You've created a legacy that will never be forgotten. 

THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. RICHARD DONNER AND THANK YOU

CHRISTOPHER REEVE AND RICHARD DONNER

Richard Donner, the prolific director of the Lethal Weapon franchise, and The Goonies passed away on Monday July 5th. He was 91 years old. Richard Donner was important to me because he directed one of my favorite movies, Superman: The Movie. As a child, who wore glasses and was awkward, I could relate to Clark Kent. But I could also fantasize about having the powers of Superman. Mr. Donner had a long history in Hollywood before he made Superman.

Before he directed the Superman movie, Mr. Donner worked in television. During the 1960's and 1970's he directed some of the best TV shows of the era including, Route 66, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, Gilligan's Island, Perry Mason, and The Wild Wild West. 

In 1961, Donner's debut feature, X-15 starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore. He followed it up with Salt and Pepper with Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. In 1976, Donner directed, The Omen, a supernatural film and he transferred to films full time. The Omen would be the film that caught the attention of Ilya and Richard Salkind, the father-son producing team that were working on a live-action Superman film. 

In December of 1978, Superman:The Movie debuted in theatres starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, and Marlon Brando. The film had a budget of 55 million and grossed over 300 million at the global box office. It won a special Oscar for its visual effects and was nominated for three Academy Awards. Superman: The Movie would be the beginning of the modern superhero cinematic universes we see today from Marvel and DC. 

After a dispute with the producers, Richard Donner left the sequel to Superman II and Richard Lester took over as director. Donner moved on to direct other projects that have become pop culture classics like The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and The Lethal Weapon franchise with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. 

Richard Donner was one of the most prolific and amazing directors of the 20th century. Thank you Mr. Donner, you've created a legacy that will never be forgotten. 

Class Dismissed,
The Professor