Is Raw's undercard built up well enough?

[Unknown]

For the past few months, Raw has been very good. It really makes you happy to be a wrestling fan and makes Monday's fun again. Top to bottom Raw has an excellent roster and shows it week in and week out. The thing that I feel raw is lacking is a strong undercard. Sure you've got one of the best feuds in years going right now (Shelton Benjamin/Randy Orton) but other than those two what other IC level superstar has received a good enough build to carry the other end of an IC title feud? The only superstar I could name would be Christian. After the Randy Orton/Benjamin feud, where will the IC title go? If Orton hangs onto the belt he could feud with Matt Hardy (who is in major need of character development as he has lost most of his credibility) or Chris Jericho (who I feel doesn't need the belt at this stage of his career and should be going for the World Heavyweight title). If Benjamin wins, he could feud with Batista or Christian. The WWE has options but not many. Raw has a couple of midcard level superstars who they could push into the IC division including Maven (maybe a heel turn will do wonders for his career like it did for Randy Orton) and Garrison Cade (Is good in the ring and his gimmick with the Coach could be the thing to jumpstart his career. That along with some tights with his name on them as those plain red ones make him look like a jobber). They have lots of superstars but other than Batista and Christian they all have something in common being that they all haven't received any real building that would warrant an IC title shot. The WWE could try and push Matt Hardy maybe by having Kane destroy him and Lita putting both on the shelf but Matt coming back quicker than expected (would make him look stronger) with some sort of mean streak which would cause him to snap every now and then. He could then go into a feud with Christian which would help to get both men over as IC level competitors. The other superstars would need much more work. As good as Raw is, if their undercard begins to collapse, they could be backed into a corner which would cause them to make main event level talent to continue to feud for the IC title so that the credibility doesn't go down. What options do the WWE have left for IC title feuds? How can they build up their undercard so that it can continue to carry its weight on the show?

[Peoples King]

I suppose really you are talking about Raws midcard more then the undercard. You bring up some good points and there is nothing there that I could disagree with. What I think the WWE could do is push the Rhyno's, Tajiri's and Steven Richards into position to take over after Orton and other get elevated to the next level. There needs to be a bit of work done with Cade to get him in as a credible IC contender. Right now RAw has its best looking midcard in a long time. You can see some obvious talents that will carry there own into the future.

One thing I do disagree with you about is Rhyno. Realistically he hasnt gotten any build up at all. He is just Evolutions lacky. He didnt get a match at Backlash and so IMO doesnt come across as a credible contender. The only people there right now are Benjamin, Christian and Hardy who will always be there no matter what because of his work. Christian even for me is that bit above the IC title now and shouldnt concentrate on it. He should have maybe a month of feuding then move on to bigger and better things.

[Unknown]

Yeah, that's basically what I meant by undercard. It's really considered the supporting cast of the show. I call it the undercard becuase I was going to include the tag division along with it but I felt that was pointless as I've opened a thread about it already and also there wouldn't be much to talk about as that division is nonexistent. I agree with you about Batista (you did mean him and not Rhyno right? :) ). I think I used the wrong word for it though. I meant to use credibility. He has credibility but hasn't really been built as a single's superstar or an IC title contender. I agree with you on Christian to a degree. I feel that he can be much more than an IC title contender at this point but because of his past IC title runs where the WWE basically wouldn't give him any kind of credibility as champion I feel he should have one more IC title run before moving onto bigger and better things. He would look more credible as champion with his current angle because he like Orton would have people backing him up which in turn would cause him to be more confident and look more dominant in the ring. He would then be able develop that believability over time that Orton did of being a credible champion and being able to win without cheating when he has to.

[The Kid]

I think that Orton will fued with Edge after the fued with Benjamen but I can't help feeling that that fued will only be a transitional one. I don't really know who it will be that pushes Orton into the main event. Christian appears to be out for a little while but when he comes back, I'd have him go after somebody like Tajiri, but I don't really know what this fued would be based on. I have to say this about the writers, this is alot harder than some people think.

[The_Wolf]

i think raw is built up in nearly every part but i think the tag team division needs probably a bit more attention .weather you would call the tag titles as an undercard but i think thats the only thing needing work. but guys like matt hardy ,rhyno, val, a-trian, richards, test and henry are all guys i guess are in the undercard division. mabye they need to be put together as a tag team or something because they havent been used much. except for matt. i think test/matt or rhyno/richards could work out ok.

[Peoples King]

Yeah I meant Batista when I said Rhyno. Hang on....... we'll edit it that in a moment.

The WWE tag scene at the moment is just shocking. There are very few real tag teams. The Bashams, the Duds, La Resistance are the only TRUE tag teams in the WWE at the moment. Putting the belts on Edge and Beniot worked for a bit but the WWE should have droped that a week or two ago. Now the belts are just meaningless. When you look at the Raw roster you see plenty of prospects for building tag teams that can be taken seriously. Right now they have no choice but to team singles stars with singe stars but if they wanted, they could handle it well. Booker T and Golduest are a prime example of single stars that were handled well and could make the transition to being a serious tag team.

Right now The Superhero's are the second in line on Raw as a true tag team but they need some work done on them. The spotlight is always on Hurricane and for a tag team to be a success it needs to be on both men equally. Look at the Raw roster and you see plenty of guys that can slot into a tag team, Chris Nowinski once he returns, Chuck Palumbo who is a tag team specialist, Jon Heindenreich could go into a tag team and be thought of as credible, Mark Henry once he returns, Rodney Mack, Steiner, Stevie, Test, Val Venis. I mean thats alot of names and potentially alotr of really strong tag teams. I can see at least three teams that would be talented as hell in that pack.

Somebody mentioned Christian, he is reported to miss just two weeks of action. I dont think Christian and Tajiri in a feud togeather would benefit either party. Right now Christian needs to be in a serious top level feud with a big name. Its too easy just to let Christian slip down the pecking order after the Chris Jericho fued is done. Stick Christian in the IC title hunt for a month or two then bring him out feuding with maybe HBK or someone of that caliber.

The Raw roster is unbelievable but it just isnt beng handled properly. Rhyno, Tajiri, Matt Hardy, Steven Richards, Val Venis and others need to be given more spotlight and given more time to shine.

[Unknown]

I think that Orton will fued with Edge after the fued with Benjamen but I can't help feeling that that fued will only be a transitional one. I don't really know who it will be that pushes Orton into the main event. Christian appears to be out for a little while but when he comes back, I'd have him go after somebody like Tajiri, but I don't really know what this fued would be based on. I have to say this about the writers, this is alot harder than some people think.I think that the feud with Orton is over and done with. Edge seems to be heading towards the main event instead. I think the best thing for Tajiri to do right now would be to go back to SD and help revive the dead cruiserweight division. I'd make him a heel as his angle was very entertaining with Akio and Sakoda and I' d like to see it continue. As for Christian, as I said before, the most logical step would be for him to go into a feud with Matt Hardy. A feud with Matt would help to get Matt over because at this time, he is beyond stale. This feud could also end up making both men contenders for the IC title as they would be able to produce an excellent matchup together.

As for Val Venis, I would put him in a tag team with Johnny Nitro. I'd revive his Chief Morley gimmick and have him align with Bischoff once again. It would give the tag division another team (call them the Bischoff Administration), would give Val a spot on Raw, and would make Bischoff look more dominant.

A-Train, Chuck Palumbo, and Tajiri should have never been brought over to the Raw brand as SD obviously needs them more.

[Chazz]

I honestly think that Orton will probably feud with Edge after he is done with Benjamin. It just looks like it is going to happen because the two of them started something and have not finished it. I don't agree with it, but I think it is what will happen.

Honestly, Raw has a good crop of mid-carders that could really put the prestige back into the IC belt that he hasn't had in a long time. I would like for Orton to drop the belt to Benjamin. Myabe not at Bad Blood, but at Vengeance or even SummerSlam. Problem is, who is going to challenge Benjamin? The only heel mid-carder left is Christian, and I honestly feel he is ready for more. Hardy is a face, so having Benjamin face him would not make sense. I like the idea of Val going back to his Chief of Staff Morley gimmick and it would give Benjamin another heel to face. Albert and Palumbo need to be in the tag team division because neither man is good at singles competition. Another guy to move up would be Steven Richards. The guy can play the heel role very good and has the talent to be a credible mid-carder.