It's the last RAW before Wrestlemania. All of the big stars are there. And the regular roster too. Expect a promo heavy show. One last hard sell job for Wrestlemania.
MY EYES! AND EARS!
RAW started with John Cena in his way too bright yellow shirt. Cena took in all the boos. He said he stands in the middle of a house divided, full of Cenacrats and Rockpublicans. He said it is no secret him and Rock don't like each other, but he respects him for being a global superstar. Last year he would have questioned Rock's allegiance to the WWE, and then Rock would crap on him and his personal life. But those childish games are over. The Rock has done every single thing he said he was going to do. This Sunday he steps into the ring with who he believes is the greatest WWE Champion of all time. The Rock is the great one but he will fall. Rock's time is up and his time is now. Cena said he had to deal with his Wrestlemania loss for a year. He watched Rock usher in a new era with a new WWE Title. Cena said at Wrestlemania he will end The Rock's era. Rock will experience failure and have to deal with the fact that the Title made for him will be defended by Cena. Boring chants broke out in the crowd. Cena said holding that Title will show that he is better than The Rock. Cena ended by saying "The Champ is here."
Segment Analysis: Well, that did pretty much nothing for me. The WWE will continue to tease the Cena heel turn, but I don't think it will happen. Booking wise, it makes sense for Cena to turn. Nothing about that promo was great. And you could tell the crowd didn't care for it. Survey Says: 2/5
YOU'RE A PHONY!!!
Big Show, Sheamus and Randy Orton defeated 3MB again. The Shield came out afterwards. Ambrose said to enjoy the win now, because at Wrestlemania they will leave them with nothing to celebrate. They'll be on their backs wondering what went wrong. Seth Rollins said they finally manged to convince everyone they are on the same page, but justice never lies. And they know the truth. Reigns said they aren't a team. They are phony, and the whole world will believe in The Shield after they win at Wrestlemania.
Segment Analysis: Okay promo. Nothing really stood out. The Shield tried to place doubt in the minds of the faces and the fans that they are united. Its a tough call to say who is winning Sunday. Someone, probably Randy Orton, is turning heel. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Jack Swagger cut a promo. I apologized but I missed some if it due to my TV. Alberto del Rio then said Swagger can say what he wants because the Constitution gives him the freedom of speech. And tonight he has the opportunity to shut Zeb Colter up.
Build? For The Tag Titles???
Daniel Bryan vs Dolph Ziggler. Bryan catapulted Ziggler into the corner then hit a handful of kicks. Bryan hit a flying clothesline then some more kicks. Ziggler connected on a kick to the knee then a neckbreaker. Dolph charged at Bryan in the corner but Bryan leap frogged him and applied a submission hold in the ropes. Big E distracted Bryan on the outside, allowing Dolph to hit a Fameasser in the ring for two. Back from break, Dolph had his headstand headlock applied. Bryan fought out by backing Ziggler into the corner. Bryan hit some more kicks but Dolph shoved him into the corner. Dolph missed a splash and fell victim to more kicks and finally a shot to the side of the head. Bryan missed a headbutt dive off the top. Dolph applied a sleeper hold. Bryan applied one of his own that Dolph broke with a jaw breaker. Both men collided mid air with crossbody blocks.
A.J. started skipping around Kane, distracting him. Big E took out Kane. Bryan hit a dropkick on Big E, but Dolph rolled up Bryan to pick up the win. Big E took out Bryan in the ring. Kane tried to make the save. He went to chokeslam Big E, but Big E broke the hold and hit his finisher. Dolph and Big E along with A.J. posed with the Tag Titles.
Segment Analysis: Another solid match between Dolph and Bryan. Can't complain with those two in the ring. Big E continues to be built up as impressive before he even debuts in the ring. I might have saved that chokeslam break for Mania, but ti worked here nonetheless. Good final sell here. Survey Says: 3.5/5
I Love You Man
Shawn Michaels came out. He said you can't have Wrestlemania without Mr. Wrestlemania. He said the Brock Lesnar/HHH match hits close to home and has a lot of history. HBK said when HHH put his career on the line, he had a lot of doubts and questions. HHH came out. HHH said before he went any further, he knows what he is doing. HBK said there situations couldn't be more different. Shawn said that he fought someone who he knew he had respect for. When he lost, his opponent was heart broken just like he was. But HHH's opponent doesn't have an ounce of respect for him. Brock Lesnar respects no one, just like HHH doesn't for him. Brock does it for money and to wreak havoc. HHH said he loves him like a brother, but if he is here to talk him out of it then he better save his breath. HBK said he is not here to talk him out of it, he is here to tell him he better kick Brock Lesnar's ass. And he will be in HHH's corner.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came out. He said his client has two words for him, but not the ones HHH and HBK are looking for. Heyman said Lesnar is going to beat him into retirement at Wrestlemania. And HHH is going to have to live with the disappointment. He will disappoint Vince, because he can't fight his battles anymore. He will disappoint the Board, because he can't fulfill the duties of COO anymore. He will disappoint his wife, but she is probably used to that. Heyman said HHH should have walked away, and now he won't be able to after Wrestlemania. He will crawl away with his tail tucked in between his legs. And at Wrestlemania, HHH will commit career suicide.
Segment Analysis: I thought that was slightly above average. They tried too hard with the emotion card again with HBK and HHH. Paul Heyman once again did a good job talking for Brock Lesnar. Adding HBK to HHH's corner actually makes me think HHH is more likely to lose. Have HBK there to see his last match. That is just me though. Survey Says: 3/5
Wade Barrett defeated Zack Ryder. Miz watched on and did commentary.
Santino tried pulling an April Fools joke on Vickie and Brad Maddox. Vickie put him in a match instead with Mark Henry. Henry made quick work of Santino. Ryback came out. Henry said he knows he's mad because he didn't break his bench press record, but they have a no contact clause. Henry said tonight, all they will do is smile. Ryback pushed Santino into Henry, then press slammed Santino over his head and threw Santino onto Henry on the outside. I hope this match only goes about five minutes.
CM Punk said he was getting into The Undertaker's head. It doesn't matter how he does it, but after this Sunday he will be the one to end The Streak.
Zeb Colter vs Alberto del Rio. Swagger went after Ricardo at ringside as Zeb grabbed Ricardo's crutch. Del Rio hit Swagger through the ropes with a dropkick. Zeb hit ADR with the crutch. Del Rio grabbed it, but Swagger attacked ADR from behind and they attacked ADR. The World Title build got as much build time as Henry/Ryback and the IC Title. Shows you what the WWE thinks about it.
That's It?
Rock said the connection between him and the people is the only reason he is standing in the ring right now. He said this Sunday is about the will of the people. And it is the will of the people to see him curb stomp John Cena's ass all over Wrestlemania. He said if the people will it, they can change the world. Maybe instead of visiting this town, he could live in this town. Rock said he should be President. Rock said when the bell rings this Sunday, his time is never. It isn't about redemption or passing the torch. The only time Cena gets that torch is when he burns it, rolls it sideways and sticks it up his ass. Rock said Cena can't beat him.
Segment Analysis: So unless something changes between now and the end of the show, you don't even have the guys in the main event of Wrestlemania in the same ring together on the last RAW before Mania? That is just bad booking. Two opposite promos do nothing. It is lazy booking and proof that the WWE can't expand on what they did with these two last year. Survey Says: 2/5
Didn't You See The Entrance Going Up???
Antonio Cesaro vs Chris Jericho. They exchanged some chops before Jericho hit a dropkick. Jericho hit a suplex, but Cesaro caught him with an uppercut. Cesaro hit a headbutt, but Jericho knocked him off. He hit a hurricarrana off the top. Fandango made his entrance going into commercial. Back from break Cesaro had control over Jericho. Cesaro threw Jericho into the barricade. In the ring, Jericho fought out of a headlock but went right into a sit down bodyslam. He hit an elbow in the corner. Jericho started his comeback. He hit a top rope axe handle then a running bulldog and Lionsault. Cesaro countered a Walls attempt into a gut wrench slam. Jericho came back with a crossbody. Fandango walked to the ring with his scorecards. Jericho dropkicked him. Jericho applied the Walls in the ring and Cesaro tapped. Fandango attacked after the match and hit two top rope leg drops.
Segment Analysis: Okay match between these two. That was the most the crowd has been into the show for quite some time. Like it or not, the Fandango character is getting over as a heel. Now he jsut needs to look like he belongs in the ring this Sunday. If that happens, this gimmick definitely has some legs. Survey Says: 3.5/5
The Bella Twins defeated Cameron and Naomi. It went on way too long.
Cheap Heat 101
The Undertaker came out. He said the pain waiting on CM Punk at Wrestlemania will last an eternity. It was Punk who decided to make it personal, and for that, he will suffer. Defeating Punk is no longer good enough, he will now have to pay the ultimate price. Taker said in his current state of mind, the Streak may end Sunday. But Punk will never live to talk about it. Suddenly the druids came out. Then Paul Heyman dressed as Paul Bearer. Taker started attacking the druids until Punk attacked him. He hit him multiple times with the urn. Punk then took the top off the urn and dumped the "ashes" of Paul Bearer onto Taker.
Segment Analysis: Well, if you thought CM Punk had any chance of winning this Sunday, that just went right out the window. Punk ends the last RAW before Mania standing tall means he probably loses Sunday. They tried their best to get some cheap heat on Punk, but it didn't work. It'll be interesting to see how the crowd reacts on Sunday. Survey Says: 2.5/5
OVERALL
Man, it just seems like the WWE is putting very little effort into this Wrestlemania. Nothing about this show at all felt special and important. It has been that way for quite some time with this build. The last couple of RAWs before Wrestlemania had some great promos, but this one just seemed like everyone was in auto pilot. The Rock and John Cena DIDN'T EVEN INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. How can you have that on the last RAW before Mania. It shows the WWE doesn't know what to add to their program. Adding Shawn Michaels to the corner of HHH adds a little more intrigue to the match. If this was a build to a B-show PPV it might have been fine, but not Wrestlemania. An average show at best. At least they did a good job with Jericho/Fandango and the Tag Titles. I'll give the show a 5.
I'll be in the NJ/NYC for Wrestlemania starting Friday. I'll be on Twitter all weekend.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
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