Review: McMahon at The ND [Comedy]
Pro wrestling is often mocked for the same characteristics that make it a visually compelling show: flamboyant costumes, improbable storylines, headache-inducing pyrotechnics. But sometimes the silliest things are the most satisfying, and WWE’s weekly RAW brawl attracts viewers who follow the action like it’s a well-scripted soap opera (which, of course, it is).
So how could live wresting possibly get any funnier? With The New Movement’s Chris Trew, Tami Nelson and Mikey Felton teaming up to provide blow-by-blow commentary and fascinating “stats” while local improv troupes Spirit Desire, Ghost Prom and The Control Group take over to narrate commercials. The result? Instant insanity.
With a live stream of RAW broadcast on the big screen at The ND (at 501 Studios), Trew, Nelson and Felton provided their own account of the action, starting things off by setting up an elaborate backstory for the Kane / Bret “The Hitman” Hart rivalry dominating this week’s show. Did you know that Hart’s bitter hatred of Kane stems from a cruel prank involving stolen shampoo? Or that dry bagels can drive a leggings-clad man to madness? Neither did we, but we’re glad The New Movement was there to clear things up. From the Diva match to the closing 5 on 5 Elimination Tag Team bout (re-dubbed “White Trash vs. Nerds”), the commentary took wild turns, in perfect sync with the on-screen action. Commercial breaks, usually the low point of any show, became storylines and devices for games in the hands of expert improv crews. The audience completely lost it when Milo Smith, as CM Punk, gave an impassioned speech about his pent-up sexual frustration, culminating in a flashback shot of a shirtless Santino getting blased by a beer hose.
While wrestling events tend to bring out certain audiences, McMahon succeeded in making RAW accessible to haters and hardcore fans alike, presenting the action in a way that made it easy for first-time viewers to get in on the action without worrying about catching up. Stay tuned to The New Movement for info on the next McMahon RAW event, and check them out at Fun Fun Fun Fest this November.
