After attending last week's show, I'm back this week to give a live review. Brock Lesnar will answer Triple H's challlenge. And our WWE Champ The Rock? He isn't around to build up to the main event of the biggest show of the year. Talk about a great build!
#HEEL
RAW started with a nice Paul Bearer tribute video. After that, Undertaker came down to the ring where an urn was placed. Taker kneeled down and did his pose, but CM Punk interrupted. Punk said he came out here to extend his condolences for Taker's loss, at Wrestlemania. Punk said that to Paul Bearer, Taker will always be perfect. But in four weeks, he will be 20-1. And the night after Wrestlemania, they will be playing a video about him. And 20 years from now, everyone's children and grandchildren will be asking where they were when Punk beat The Streak. Punk walked away as Taker watched on.
Segment Analysis: That wasn't as bad as it could have been. Punk could have been a lot worse but he didn't do anything to disrespect Bearer. So will Taker ever speak in the build to Mania? Or is he silent now? Punk's delivery was strong but we have to hear from Taker eventually. Survey Says: 3/5
During commercial, Kane tried attacking CM Punk. Punk escaped. Kane was tearing apart the back looking for Punk.
Is This A Replay of the WWE App?
Seth Rollins vs Big Show. Show missed a splash in the corner, but Rollins couldn't gain the upper hand. Show threw Rollins to the outside onto Ambrose. Show then threw Reigns into the barricade but The Shield quickly gained the upper hand. Show tried fighting back but Reigns hit a spear. They hit the Triple Powerbomb on Big Show.
Segment Analysis: That segment would have been more effective if they hadn't shown what happened last week after RAW literally right before. That was dumb by the WWE. All building toward the six man match at Wrestlemania.
Vickie Guerrero made Kane vs CM Punk in a No DQ Match.
Who Are These Jobbers??? #Sarcasm
Daniel Bryan vs Dolph Ziggler. Bryan hit a shoulder tackle then a takedown after Dolph tried a leap frog. Bryan hit a couple kicks then a corner dropkick for two. Bryan tossed Ziggler to the outside. He went for his trademark dive but Big E got on the apron to stop him. Dolph had control back from break, applying his headstand chinlock. Bryan fought out and blocked a Ziggler dropkick then catapulted Dolph into the corner. Bryan hit a clothesline but ran right into s Dolph boot in the corner. Bryan countered out of a sleeper. Bryan hit some kicks to the chest then one to the head for two. Bryan crotched Ziggler on the turnbuckle. Bryan went for a backdrop but Ziggler countered mid air for a two count. Ziggler dropped Bryan on the ropes and hit a fameasser for two. Bryan applied a No Lock, but A.J. distracted the ref and Big E put Dolph's foot on the ropes. Bryan went for it again, but Dolph countered into a ZigZag for the win. After the match Big E hit his finisher on Bryan.
Match Analysis: Strong match between both men. They have both been losing lately, but Dolph needed the win more. Could be an early set up for a Tag Title Match at Wrestlemania. No problem with that from me. You knew these two would put on a good match and they did. Survey Says: 3.5/5
Brodus Clay and Tensai came out. Tensai was suppose to fight Fandango, but he refused to wrestle because Tensai couldn't say his name right. Fandango is so bad that I like it.
Brock Lesnar Isn't Down With That
Team Rhodes Scholars did a great mock interpretation of the New Age Outlaws entrance. They said if we aren't down with that, they have two words for us "You're Welcome!" Road Dogg hit a few punches on Rhodes, then Sandow who tried to save Cody. Rhodes hit a Disaster Kick on Road Dogg, then Brock Lesnar's music hit. Brock came out and hit F-5's on both men. Paul Heyman said Brock Lesnar doesn't play games, he hurts people. Heyman said Brock will fight HHH at Wrestlemania. But only if they get to name the stipulations. And he won't know the stipulations until after HHH signs the contract. And if HHH isn't down with that, he was two words for you: Brock Lesnar.
Segment Analysis: I kind of figured that a Lesnar run in was coming, especially with that match happening at the top of the hour. Lesnar naming the stipulations like that gets people talking about what they could be. I honestly don't know. There are lots of possibilities. Lesnar just looks like a bad ass everytime he is in the ring. Survey Says: 3/5
Mark Henry vs Kofi Kingston. Henry dominated early on. Henry hit a karate kick on Kofi who fell to the outside. Henry missed a splash and went right into the ringpost. Kofi hit a clothesline off the steps. Back in the ring, Henry caught Kofi in the air and hit the World's Strongest Slam for the win.
Backstage, Cody Rhodes was hitting on Kaitlyn. Damien Sandow came in and said he had two much more suitable companions and introduced the Bellas. Vickie came in and said she made another match for the Rhodes Scholars against Sheamus and Randy Orton.
Ryback made quick work of Heath Slater. He hit a Shell Shocked on Drew McIntyre after the match, then Henry hit a World's Strongest Slam. They both hit their finishers again and stared each other down.
Why Bother Having Mid Card Titles?
Alberto del Rio vs Antonio Cesaro. Del Rio hit a hurricarrana then a splash off the top for two. Del Rio went to the top but Cesaro knocked him off and his head hit the turnbuckle. Cesaro worked over Del Rio with some mat work. Del Rio fought out a headlock and hit some clotheslines then a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio hit a kick to the head that got a two count. Del Rio went for a cross armbreaker but Cesaro countered. Del Rio got Cesaro in the ropes and hit some punches to the back then a backstabber. Del Rio jumped off the top but Cesaro caught him with an uppercut that only got a two. Cesaro went for a German suplex, but Del Rio countered into a cross armbreaker. Cesaro topped.
Match Analysis: Okay match, but the WWE seriously needs a complete overhaul of their mid card. Why bother having the Titles if the Champions are going to lose every week? People don't care about the Titles if the wrestlers holding them don't look competitive against top talent. Del Rio beat the Intercontinental Champ and U.S. Champ in two weeks. Just dumb. Survey Says: 2/5
A video promo aired hyping Rock/Cena. Get ready for a lot of those with the WWE Champ not around the next two weeks.
The Rhodes Scholars Reunion Tour Is No Good
Orton/Sheamus vs the Rhodes Scholars. Orton worked over Sandow then tagged in Sheamus, who hit a battering ram. Sandow tagged in Rhodes who ate a punch to the face then a rolling senton for two. Sheamus went off the ropes but Sandow pulled the ropes down and then clotheslined Sheamus on the outside. The Rhodes Scholars took their turns working over Sheamus. Sheamus hit a clothesline and made the hot tag to Orton. He immediately went in ORTON MODE. Sandow saved Cody from the middle rope DDT. Orton took out Sandow but Cody shoved Orton into the ringpost. This time the heels worked over Orton. Cody went to the top rope but Orton crotched him. Orton hit a superplex off the top. This time Orton made the hot tag to Sheamus. Sheamus hit his rope punches on Sandow then White Noise. Cody tried to block the Brogue Kick but went right into an RKO. Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick on Sandow for the win.
Match Analysis: Okay tag match. Basic stuff with the faces picking up a win heading into a big match at Wrestlemania. Surprised to see no Shield run in. Poor Rhodes Scholars. It is pretty obvious that the WWE has no idea what to do with them. They deserve much better. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Promoting A Mid-Card Title???
Chris Jericho came out and introduced Miz. Wade Barrett interrupted and said his movie debuted in the Top 5 this weekend. Miz made fun of Wade Barrett. Barrett said he can do anything from shooting to Shakespeare, and that he turned down dozens of offers from Hollywood because he is the Intercontinental Champion. Miz said the only reason Barrett is promoting his movie is to distract everyone from the fact that he hasn't won a match in weeks. Jericho mocked him and Barrett suggested he shut his mouth before he dropped him. Jericho said that he helped Barrett come into the WWE. And that while Barrett may be a two time IC Champ, Jericho is a nine time IC Champ. Brad Maddox came out and said Barrett will defend the IC Title next week against the winner of the next match between Jericho and Miz.
The Jericho/Miz match already started back from break. Jericho hit an axe handle off the top on Miz, but Miz came right back with a kick to the face. Miz went for his backbreaker/neckbreaker combo, but Jericho countered out and hit his running bulldog. Jericho went for the Lionsault but Miz got his knees up. Jericho blocked Miz's corner clothesline and went for the Walls of Jericho, but Miz countered out. Miz went for a Figure Four but Jericho countered and eventually locked in the Walls. Miz got to the ropes. They brawled a bit outside and Jericho sent Miz flying right into Wade Barrett at the announce table. Barrett took out both men. Miz and Jericho threw Barrett into the announce table. In the ring, Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale and Jericho hit the Codebreaker.
Segment Analysis: Hey, anytime the WWE does something to build up a mid-card match I have no problem with it. I really hope Miz gets fazed out somehow. I would much rather see Jericho vs Barrett and not have the Miz involved. But I really hated Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler ripping on the segment earlier on. That is just stupid by the announcers. Hopefully the WWE is trying to bring some credibility back to the Intercontinental Title. Survey Says: 3/5
All These Damn Mexican Jumping Beans...
Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger came out. He said the people are programmed to cheer for Sin Cara because he has a nice entrance and bounces around the ring like a Mexican jumping bean. Colter called Sin Cara a thief because every night, there is a Sin Cara sneaking across the border trying to take something that belongs to an American. Colter said Del Rio helped make us aware of the problem. Sin Cara dropkicked Swagger out of the ring and then hit a dive off the top. He caught a charging Swagger in the head with a kick, but Swagger caught him with a boot diving off the top. Swagger stomped Cara's ankle then applied the Patriot Lock for the win. He wouldn't let go but Del Rio came out to make the save. Del Rio applied the cross armbreaker but Colter saved him.
Segment Analysis: I thought Colter went on just a little bit too long in his promo this week. He's still doing a good job getting his points across, but it needs to be short. The audience doesn't like to listen to the promo when it goes on. Nice little brawl between Del Rio and Swagger. Need to start building up this match a little bit more. Survey Says: 3/5
Halle Berry did a mock promotional bit for the movie. David Otunga called and said he accidentally gave her phone number out. Kane called Halle and asked why she didn't return his fan letters. Halle hung up then set the ring post off with fire.
I Hope CM Punk Melts The Urn Into A Necklace
Main event time. As Kane was walking back from placing the urn down, Punk caught Kane with a dive. Kane came back with a clothesline and threw Punk into the barricade. Kane dropped Punk head first on the barricade. Kane started taking apart the announce table, but Punk hit Kane in the gut with the ring bell. Kane hit Punk with a TV monitor. Back in the ring, Punk knocked Kane off the ropes and hit the Macho Man Elbow for two. Punk hit two running high knees, but blocked the bulldog and tossed Kane over the ropes. Back from break, Kane ran into a Punk boot in the corner. Punk set up a chair in the corner, but Kane tossed Punk into it.
Back on the outside, Kane threw Punk into the barricade and tossed multiple chairs into the ring. Kane went for a chokeslam, but Punk countered into a DDT onto a chair for two. Punk hit Kane in the gut then back with a chair. He mocked Taker's "finish him" pose but Kane blocked him and went for a chokeslam. Punk came back with a kick to the head. Suddenly, the Undertaker's gong went off and Punk became distracted. Kane hit a chokeslam and picked up the win.
After the match, Undertaker came out and along with Kane did a kneel down salute to Paul Bearer. CM Punk came back into the ring and hit Kane with the urn. Taker came into the ring but Punk bailed. Punk took the urn and mocked Undertaker's pose on the ramp to end the show.
Match Analysis: Surprised to see the show last as long as it did. Two weeks in a row the Punk/Taker build ends the show. Punk is playing a great heel in the build so far. Taker definitely looked slow walking down to the ring. Makes you wonder how good of shape Taker is actually in. Good ending to a pretty good RAW. Survey Says: 3.5/5
OVERALL
I thought for the most part that was a good episode of RAW. Looking at the top matches, they did a good job of establishing Punk/Taker for Mania. They didn't cross any lines with CM Punk's interactions with Taker and mentions of Paul Bearer. With Brock Lesnar/HHH, they once again did a good job building Brock up to be a badass. And they put in a good hook to the match with HHH having to agree to whatever stipulations Lesnar and Paul Heyman make. And as far as Rock/Cena? We got one five minute video package. To me, the less the better. But for other fans, having that little time to promote your main event may not be a good thing.
I LOVED the attention the WWE actually paid to the IC Title this week. Having Barrett potentially face Jericho at Mania is good for Barrett and the IC Title. I doubt Ryback/Mark Henry actually happens on Smackdown. Eventually, The Shield vs Big Show/Sheamus/Randy Orton match will have to be made. Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan put on a good match. There were a lot of things to like about RAW this week. I'm giving it a 7 again. Two weeks ago Punk/Cena brought my rating that high. This week, it was a combination of things.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
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