We are headed into the last RAW before the Elimination Chamber. And rumors of a possible return tonight? stay tuned. I'm doing this Review less than two hours after getting a tooth pulled. The least you could do is follow along.
HUG IT OUT
RAW started with Paul Heyman. He said tonight is the last time you will ever see him. He said he will never play the victim in his entire life. He sacrificed everything in his personal life to bring us ECW. When he came to the WWE, he put all of his effort into bringing us Brock Lesnar. Then he saw a man he thought could eclipse Bruno Sammartino, main event Wrestlemania and who should still be WWE Champion today, C.M. Punk. Heyman said he can see into the future, and something really bad is going to happen. He said he has become a distraction, and the sins of him will come down on C.M. Punk. Heyman said you would think there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house, but there isn't. He said he won't miss the WWE Universe. Heyman said good bye and looked up.
C.M. Punk came out. He asked Heyman what he was doing. Heyman told Punk he was in his way. Heyman said Vince thinks he had something to do with The Shield, Brad Maddox and Brock Lesnar. But he didn't. Punk said he couldn't let him do it. Punk said the people look up to him and admire him just like he does. He said there were a lot of Paul Heyman guys out there. Paul said if he thinks what Vince did at the Rumble was bad, you don't want to see what he does next. Punk said he needs him by his side when he beats The Rock. Heyman all the sudden got really into the promo. He said Punk is the Best in the World, and he will be by his side this Sunday. The two hugged.
Segment Analysis: That was a good promo from both men. Heyman was definitely on his game again. And you just know something is going to result long term from that promo. That is not going to be some pointless filler segment that the WWE just put out there. Something is up here. Survey Says: 3.5/5
Mark Henry made quick work of The Great Khali. After the match, Henry hit the World's Strongest Slam on Hornswoggle.
Backstage Chris Jericho told Teddy Long and Booker T he should be in the Chamber. He's been a former World Champ and had been in more Chamber matches than anyone. Booker T said if Jericho could beat Daniel Bryan, he can be in the Chamber.
Paul Heyman asked Vickie to add a stipulation to the WWE Title Match. Vince called Vickie's phone. Heyman asked Vince to make it if Rock is counted out or disqualified, he loses the WWE Title. Vince agreed.
The Internet EXPLODES!!!
Daniel Bryan vs Chris Jericho. Jericho started with a couple arm drags followed by an ARMBAR. Bryan reversed it and countered with a knee to the gut. Jericho came back with some kicks but Bryan dumped him over the top. Back in the ring Jericho missed a drop kick off the ropes and went to the outside. Bryan came back with a dive to the outside into commercial. Jericho had control back from break, but he ran right into a Bryan boot. Jericho came back with a couple of shoulder tackles. Bryan tossed him to the outside but Jericho came back but missed an axe handle. Bryan caught him with a dropkick. Jericho countered with a takedown, but Bryan got his knees up to break up the Lionsault. Jericho crotched Bryan on the turnbuckle, but Bryan knocked Jericho off and hit a top rope headbutt for two.
Bryan connected on some kicks, but Jericho caught one and came back with the Walls of Jericho. Bryan countered out of it and went for a No Lock. Jericho countered and went for the Walls again, but Bryan broke it up and hit a kick to the head for two. Bryan hit some more kicks, but Jericho ducked one and went for a roll up that got him a two count. Jericho came right back with a Codebreaker for the win.
Match Analysis: Very good match. Good pacing throughout and a lot of good counters. Would have liked to see them get another 5-10 minutes to really go at it. I think these two are starting the Elimination Chamber on Sunday. Survey Says: 4/5
3MB WAS ROBBED
Slater played some air guitar and Ryback powerslammed him. Sheamus and McIntyre came in and Sheamus hit some punches and kicks. McIntyre tried fighting back but Sheamus came back with his rope punches. Mahal came in as did Cena, who immediately went into CENA MODE. All six men came in the ring, and the faces hit their finishers on 3MB for the win.
Ryback took the mic and said he's been waiting for this day to feast on The Shield. Sheamus says he can't see any reason they can't get their own justice tonight. Cena said it is a bad choice for The Shield to come out to the ring tonight, and they will meet the law tonight.
Segment Analysis: Match was nothing more than a way to get a pop out of the fans. The after match promo sets up a confrontation for later that will keep the fans tuned in. Survey Says: 2/5
They showed Del Rio sliming Big Show on Smackdown. Earlier, Show laid out Alex Riley and Yoshi Tatsu backstage.
Matt Striker came in the ring to interview Big Show. Show immediately knocked him out. Show took the mic and angrily stared, then walked off.
Jack Swagger made quick work of Zack Ryder. He hit a belly to belly on the outside then power bombed Ryder into the corner. He finished the match with the Patriot Lock. After the match Zeb Colter, aka Dutch Mantel, cut a promo ripping today's America. Backstage Booker T said Swagger is in the Chamber Match. Dolph Ziggler said if Chris Jericho is in the Chamber, he should be in it two. Booker said he will fight Kane later to decide the last Chamber spot.
Swing Batter Batter!
Cody Rhodes vs Miz. Miz caught Cody with a kick to the head. Cody hit Miz with a drop down punch to the face then a kick to the gut. Cody then connected with a knee to the face. Miz fought out of a headlock. He faceplanted Cody. He went for his backbreaker/neckbreaker combo but Cody escaped. Miz dropped Cody on the apron. Antonio Cesaro, who was on commentary, tried interfering but Miz took him out. Miz slammed Cody's head on the announce table. Cesaro got back up and attacked Miz. He swung Miz like a baseball bat into the barricade.
Segment Analysis: Not much to the match, but I would check out Cesaro's attack of the Miz at the end. It was a great thing to watch. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Tensai and Brodus Clay defeated Primo and Epico. They danced after.
BELIEVE!
The Shield came out. Dean Ambrose said they were here to shield the WWE from atrocity. Seth Rollins said that no one accomplishes anything by threatening the Shield. They do it by action. Roman Reigns said if they want them to come get them. Ambrose said it was a typical empty threat. Rollins said Cena failed again just like he does every day. Ambrose said Cena lives in his own little world, and that has been the problem for the last decade. Cena laid the groundwork for everyone to believe in the system. Ambrose told the faces to breathe in as much fresh air as they could, because this Sunday is the end for them. The lights went out and Cena, Ryback and Sheamus came out and everyone brawled. They brawled into the crowd as the Shield escaped.
Segment Analysis: Good promo from The Shield. The part where Ambrose and Rollins ripped into the "Cena Era" and said how bad it was for the last decade was good. The end makes you believe The Shield is going over Sunday, but you never know. Good exchange from all men involved. Survey Says: 3/5
Three Matches, Almost All The Same
Damien Sandow came out for his match against Alberto del Rio. Sandow ripped on country music. Sandow attacked with a quick leg sweep and his elbow of disdain. Del Rio came right back with a kick to the head then the cross armbreaker for the win. After the match, Del Rio said the time for talking is over. Big Show can go wherever he wants, but Del Rio is going to Wrestlemania.
Wade Barrett was walking to the ring when he was jumped by Bo Dallas. Barrett came to the ring to fight Kofi Kingston. Barrett had the upper hand earlier with some kicks. Kofi fought out of a chinlock. He hit some axe handles then a splash on the back for two. Kofi caught Barrett with a kick to the face then a crossbody for two. Barrett ducked a springboard off the ropes and hit a sideslam for two. Kofi ducked the Bullhammer Elbow. Barrett ducked Trouble in Paradise. Barrett then pulled the apron ove Kofi and hit the Bullhammer Elbow for the win. Short match. Not enough to amount to anything. Weird to see Bo Dallas attack Barrett backstage and then do nothing during the match.
Ziggler vs Kane. Kane took Ziggler out with an elbow then a suplex for two. Ziggler surprised Kane with a dropkick. After a few kicks in the corner Kane fought back with some upper cuts. Ziggler bailed on a chokeslam attempt. Back from break Kane fought out of a headlock. Kane knocked Ziggler off the apron with a right hand. Big E distracted Kane and that allowed Ziggler to throw Kane into the barricade. Ziggler hit a bunch of elbows in the ring. Kane fought out of a headlock and went for a Tombstone, but Ziggler countered into a DDT. Ziggler missed a corner splash and walked right into a boot for two. Kane went for a couple corner clotheslines but missed a sideslam. Kane countered a sleeper but Ziggler came back with dropkick for two. Kane hit a sideslam. He missed his clothesline off the top after a distraction by A.J, but Ziggler went off the ropes and right into A.J. Ziggler looked back at A.J., who was caught by Big E. Kane hit a chokeslam for the win.
Match Analysis: The last match between Ziggler and Kane was decent, but the other two were just too short and basic to mean anything. WWE needs to just have longer matches between two guys and not have so many short filler matches . Survey Says: 2.5/5
KIDS: Don't Do Crack!
Rock came out. He said Nashville is special to him because in 1987 his family moved to Nashville. He said the girls thought he was an undercover cop. Rock said when he was at a bar a crackhead came in and asked if anyone wanted to buy a car. Crackhead wanted $75, Rock paid him $40 but he heard something in the back. Rock decided to ditch the car at 2 a.m. Rock said there are two takeaways from this story: Don't buy a car from a crackhead and don't be The Rock at 15 years old. He said to be The Rock at age 25, when he took control of his life and had his first match.
C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman came out. He said the last time they were out there they were reenacting a scene from Twilight. Rock said he is going to beat his Punk ass at the Elimination Chamber and if he walks down the ramp he will do it all over Nashville. Punk walked down the ramp. He made it seem like he was going to walk away, but Punk went into the ring. Punk gained the upper hand, but Rock came back with a spinebuster. Rock went for the People's Elbow but Heyman tripped up Rock. This allowed Punk to hit the GTS. Punk walked up the ramp with the WWE Title. Punk said every time Rock wants to bring it, he is just going to take it.
Segment Analysis: I don't even know what The Rock was trying to get across with the opening part of that promo. It just wasn't funny to me. I don't care if there was a Nashville connection. Seemed unnecessary. The last brawl was okay. It just confirmed, if you had any doubt, who is winning on Sunday. Punk looks strong to make people believe he has a shot to win Sunday. Survey Says: 3/5
OVERALL
Again, just like last week, I thought it was an okay show of RAW. I liked it a little bit more than last week. Bryan and Jericho had a good match and Kane and Ziggler was decent as well. The Shield's promo was good. The opening promo with Heyman and Punk is what has me intrigued the most. That has to be leading to something down the line. Whether it is one of them turning on the other, there just has to be something else involved in that promo. The wrestling was a little bit better overall than last week. I'm giving the show a 5.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitte @JCWonka
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