While RAW was pretty good for a taped show last night, there was one downright miraculous happening that took place on the flagship telecast. No, it wasn't either of the big-ticket main-event level matches. I'm convinced John Cena and Chris Jericho could work a 3 star match in their sleep, although if Inception has taught us anything, it's that if Cena and Jericho were to work a match in a shared-dream, then it would be 55 stars and feature Matrix-like battle sequences, including everyone in Jericho's subconscious trying to lock Cena in the Walls of Jericho (FOR REAL, not the glorified Boston crab Jericho uses nowadays). I also think Miz is becoming one of the elite workers in the company, a guy like Cena who may not be the flashiest or the technical darling, but who gets the WWE style and how to pace a match like no other. Also, Orton has seemingly found his niche as a babyface worker, so that match wasn't surprising.No, the miracle last night was that they made me care about The Great Khali. Seriously, it was the first time I really cared about him since his appearance in The Longest Yard remake starring Adam Sandler. It was simple yet effective. The Nexus, knowing that Cena's SummerSlam team was falling apart at the seams, tried to poach the most formidable and sizeable member, The Great Khali, by playing into his sensibilities of trust and respect. They told him what no one on the roster has really ever told him before that I can remember anyway - they respected him. For the longest time, Khali was either some mute monster who lumbered around the ring trying to "strike fear" into the hearts of opponents who didn't really seem like they were trying to be afraid or a joke of a character who just made out with fat chicks and later on, Divas. By just giving him a few minutes of very rudimentary character build, a single interview segment, they made Khali more compelling a character in one taped episode than they have in the years he's been with the company to date.
This doesn't make Khali any less of an embarrassment in the ring. However, there's no way to uninvolve him in this angle without going to TNA levels of shoddy booking and cutting corners, so you have to make the best of the opportunity. Right now, the WWE is doing just that. It also proves that any character, from the supremely talented and interesting like The Miz, to slugs like Khali, can be effective if given the right opportunity to shine. It's not rocket
Simple most of the time is better. Or I should say, before you try to do complex (RUSSO!), you gotta master simple. Right now, the WWE is succeeding with uncomplicated builds and booking, and it's paying off for them in spades.
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