Final Royal Rumble thoughts: I know there is a high level of disappointment in the overall show last night, but I have to disagree with the majority. The World Title match may not have been the best or given enough time, but look at how the match was set up. It was booked terribly. What sense does it make to have two slow huge guys with one small fast guy? Going into the match, you knew Bryan was going to keep his title. Aside from that, I would have to say that Big Show worked his ass off to put on a good performance with Bryan while Henry sort of hung around on the sidelines. It was a good match for what they were given to work with. Our two filler matches were unncessary. The Divas match was better than the Brodus/McIntyre match in terms of performance. I understand not wanting Brodus to lose in the Rumble to look weak, but leaving him off the card would have been a better idea. Kane/Cena is apparently building to something bigger, so I’m okay with Kane going over as the indestructible heel in this situation. Ziggler and Punk had the match of the night, even with John Laurinaitis’ involvement. The Rumble match had the surprise entrants, featured the top stars(some even from the beginning until almost the finish with Truth and Miz), and had a quality finish between Jericho and Sheamus. I wasn’t disappointed. I’ll give the show a 7 1/2 out of 10 for quality, and I’m a guy that usually enjoys shows more than others. Now, it’s time for Raw!
I’m watching the show live tonight and putting this together as the show goes on. I hope you don’t mind the extra results detail along with my “awe-inspiring” analysis(see sarcasm).
The road to WrestleMania 28 begins tonight in Kansas City, MO! We open Raw with John Laurinaitis coming to ringside and slapping hands with the fans. Nothing odd about that. JL talks about making mistakes and how nobody is perfect. He says he is confident that he will be the permanent GM of Raw. JL puts over Triple H as one of the greatest of all time. Kiss ass much? JL talks about the Elimination Chamber pay per view and botches his words as he introduces the participants in the Raw match being Kofi, Punk, Ziggler, Jericho, Miz, and R Truth. Jericho gets the biggest pop on the list. Beth vs Eve and Kofi vs Miz is announced for tonight. He also announces Dolph Ziggler will take on Randy Orton. He books Daniel Bryan against CM Punk in a champion vs champion match.
CM Punk interrupts. I’m very glad that Cole is no longer major heel. His character isn’t half as horrible as it was when he was always complaining. Punk does the hey hey goodbye chant for JL. JL just smiles through it. Lawler gives us a goodbye as Punk tries to sing it with everybody. He gets in JL’s face and says goodbye clown shoes. I’m loving this! JL says Punk owes him an apology for thinking he would screw him at the Rumble and he didn’t. Punk says he owes him nothing and he’s a liar. He says he came to see his dimwitted face one last time before he is fired by Triple H. JL defends himself and says he has taken Raw to new heights. JL says he wants to put their differences aside and start new. He extends his hand to Punk. Punk says JL must want to go to sleep. Daniel Bryan interrupts.
Bryan says no one cares about their personal problems and puts himself over as World Heavyweight Champion. Bryan says Punk isn’t much of a challenge. Punk says he is the best wrestler in the world. Bryan says he’s a vegan and doesn’t eat meat. Punk asks him what he does eat. Bryan says he will take Punk’s pipebomb and stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. Punk just wants to give KC a show tonight with Bryan and the best wrestling match in the world.
Sheamus comes out! It’s about damn time we see this guy on Raw! Sheamus puts himself over as the winner of the Rumble after apologizing for breaking up the love-fest. Sheamus wishes Punk and Bryan good luck in their elimination chamber matches defending their titles, as he will be facing one of the champions at WrestleMania. He also wishes Laurinaitis good luck in getting his ass kicked by Triple H. Punk and Bryan shake hands in the ring.
^Best opening segment possible after the Royal Rumble. I enjoyed all of it and featuring your two champions and Rumble winner with the GM on the hot seat was a great way to start the show! The fans seem excited as well by the Laurinaitis review and the Punk/Bryan match.
Randy Orton is out next for a match with Dolph Ziggler. Wade Barrett is interviewed on the balcony up above with Josh Matthews while Orton comes to the ring. Looks like this Barrett/Orton rivlary is far from over. Matthews continues to interview Barrett during the match. Ziggler and Orton put on a decent match with one another. Vicky seems totally irrelevant to me for Dolph’s character. The guy has the best matches on tv and doesn’t need a manager. Orton hits a big superplex near the end of the match and only gets a two count. Orton starts to hit his signature moveset and Dolph applies a sleeperhold. This match really has my attention. Ziggler hits a fameasser and Orton kicks out. Barrett is shown watching intently. Ziggler goes for a backstabber and gets bounced back as Orton clotheslines him to the outside. They brawl and Orton tosses him back in the ring. He hits his signature DDT and calls for the RKO! Orton hits his finisher and gets the three count for the victory!
^I was talking to Mike Lightning about gem matches earlier and how they can be found here and there more on Smackdown and Raw than on pay per views. This was that sort of match for me. These two are highly capable of putting on terrific matches and nothing slowed them down in this one. Even Vicky sitting there at ringside had little to no affect on the match. Something tells me Ziggler will dump her character soon as she really isn’t needed to put over his heel gimmick.
Backstage segment #1: Laurinaitis is shown backstage kissing ass to some of the random crew, William Regal, and Curt Hawkins. And then another commercial break. Really? First of all, I’m predicting Laurinaitis will somehow keep his job. He shouldn’t, but I can see it happening and everybody being pissed off. Maybe Triple H will start his storyline setup with The Undertaker tonight? Just an idea.
Dude Love…erg I mean Brodus Clay is up next taking on Tyler Reks. Here comes another Brodus squash! Clay makes quick work of Reks and picks up another victory. Apparently Brodus Clay is the next Bill Goldberg. No. I feel like WWE must have big plans for this guy as he isn’t being booked to lose at all. Sad. Who would’ve known Snoop Dogg’s former bodyguard would be a dancing WWE Superstar?
Backstage segment #2: Punk and Daniel Bryan exchange words. Punk says most people don’t know what a vegan is. Bryan explains and says he doesn’t think many people know what straight edge is either. Punk explains it and says he doesn’t claim to be a role model, just the best wrestler in the world.
CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are up next! Punk and Bryan put on a solid five minutes loaded with great technical wrestling and then we get a commercial break. The two continue the back and forth action. Punk hits the running high knee and then the running bulldog. He calls for the GTS but Bryan counters out and runs to the outside. Punk hits a baseball slide and goes for a dive but gets caught by a Bryan forearm. Bryan hits a huge missile dropkick for a two count. I love Michael Cole calling this one neutral because of his hatred for Daniel Bryan and his lack of cheering for Punk. Bryan misses a kick to head and Punk goes for a school boy and gets a two count. Punk goes for another rollup but only gets two and gets kicked in the head by Bryan. Bryan gets a two count as well. Punk hits a flying elbow after knocking Bryan off the top rope. Punk goes for another GTS but Bryan counters into a pin attempt for two and then goes for a labell lock but Punk counters into a slingshot and a kick to Bryan’s head. Out comes Chris Jericho who grabs Bryan off the apron and throws him into the barrier. Jericho comes in and hits a codebreaker on Punk. Bryan wins by dq as Jericho hit him before going after Punk.
^Speaking of gem matches(outside of the finish, that is)! This could have easily been the main event of any pay per view in 2011 and outshined all of them. Awesome match! This should make guys appreciate the indy circuit that much more for developing stars like this. I understand Jericho starting his feud with Punk this way and I’m okay with Punk and Bryan not having a clean finish. It should really be saved for a pay per view the next time these guys go at it.
Mike Tyson is announced as the celebrity inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2012. I liked him better in Hangover than I did as the guy who knocked Shawn Michaels out after what as expected to be his last match at WrestleMania 14. Years later he knocked out Jericho if I remember right. Good for Vince and his publicity though, and congrats to Iron Mike as you know he’s a huge wrestling fan.
R-Truth is out next to ringside. Dude is dressed fancy. Commercial break. Truth is on commentary for the Kofi Kingston/Miz match. I’m looking forward to this one now that Kofi is back in the upper card picture. Miz cuts a promo and says Kofi got a huge ovation for doing a handstand(E P I C). Miz says he was the number one entrant and lasted over forty five minutes. Miz says he will beat Kofi and he will win the Elimination Chamber to go on to headline WrestleMania. Truth talks trash about Miz and moving on to the Chamber as Miz and Kofi go back and forth. Truth says Miz looks angry. Cole asks about little jimmy. Truth says he is real. Cole says he is trying to understand him. Truth tells him to stop worrying about him. Miz hits a kneeling DDT on Kofi and gets a two count. Truth is absolutely hilarious on commentary. Truth tells Cole little jimmy is looking right at him. Cole asks where he is and Truth says he is looking right at him. Kofi hits trouble in paradise on the Miz and gets the pinfall victory!
^I’m thrilled to see Kofi back in the upper card working one on one matches. His talent has always been there and I think it’s time for his push to the top to get started.
Backstage segment #3: John Laurinaitis is backstage with David Otunga. Otunga tells JL he has done all he can to influence tonight’s decision. JL asks if Otunga is after his job. Otunga says he is happy with his position as JL’s legal counsel.
^I love the buildup that we’ve been getting all night, but I still think we’re being tricked and that JL will keep his position. My personal dream scenario would be JL getting fired and Mick Foley being announced as the new GM of Monday Night Raw. I suspect it would lead to Foley setting up a match for WrestleMania where Foley would have to step down from the position eventually and then JL would be brought back. Just a theory.
Up next we have Beth Phoenix taking on Eve for the Divas Championship! Eve looks “distraught” because of what happened to Zack Ryder at the Royal Rumble. Beth attacks Eve and hits a glam slam for the quick victory. Kane’s music hits and he is shown on the big screen. Kane taunts Eve and blames everything on Cena not embracing the hate. Kane says Cena can’t beat him or The Rock until Cena embraces the hate. He says he will continue to beat on Zack Ryder until Cena gets that message. Kane tells Eve he is going to use her to pass the message along. The pyro goes off and Kane’s music hits. Kane is behind Eve and gets in the ring with her. Cue John Cena’s music. Cena runs down to the ring and brawls with Kane. Cena slams Kane into the ring steps and bangs his head over and over on them. Cena picks up the steel steps and hits Kane with them. Cena looks angry and charges Kane with the steps again. He does it again and then tosses the steps. Cena goes over and pulls the cover and tvs off the announce table. Cena hits Kane with the microphone and says we’re going to have a party. Embracing the hate much without realizing it storyline? Kane escapes the attitude adjustment from Cena and runs off through the crowd.
^Good continuation of this rivalry as we move towards the Elimination Chamber. The rumor of a specialty match makes me hope it’s last man standing or fight to the death(see sarcasm). People are going to start liking Cena more and more as he becomes more aggressive. You can already see it just by looking at how the fans cheered at what he was doing to Kane.
It’s time for John Laurinaitis’ job evaluation. JL is out first to lots of boos. JL gives himself a self assessment of his evaluation and starts to build himself up before being interrupted by Triple H. They shake hands. Triple H says this is simple and to forget the numbers. Trips says he thought JL might do a good job because he’s spineless and gutless and not swift. Triple H says JL was worse than anybody else. JL says he was not trying to make himself a star like Hunter says. Hunter is smirking through this whole segment and pointing out how JL has tried to make himself a star. Trips says JL let personal decisions cloud his judgement and JL interrupts and JL says he will do anything to save his job. Trips tells him if he apologizes to the fans and they accept his apology that he can keep his job. JL tries to apologize. The crowd boos. Trips asks the fans if it was good enough and they say no. He says he was sure JL was lying. Trips suggests a gauntlet match. Triple H suggests the kiss my ass club for John Laurinaitis. JL says he doesn’t need to prove his loyalty. Triple H tells him he does. JL takes out the chapstick and gets on his knees. Triple H calls him a freak and can’t believe he was actually going to do it. Triple H is about to fire John Laurinaitis! It’s about damn time. Triple H announces that the board has put him back in charge and says it warms his heart to wish him well in all of his future…interrupted by The Undertaker’s music! The Dead Man comes to the ring and stares at Triple H before staring up at the WM 28 sign. He gives the arm across the throat to Hunter and just stares him down. Hunter pats Undertaker on the shoulder and walks out of the ring. Does this mean Triple H is going to refuse the match? Undertaker will find a way to get under his skin and make it happen.
^I suppose this means Triple H will leave JL in charge through WrestleMania until after his match with the Undertaker. Great ending for Monday Night Raw to see a staredown between these two! Triple H looked pissed and you know Taker/HHH part 3 will be epic on April 1st.
Great Monday Night Raw to start the Road to WrestleMania! Anybody that complained about a mediocre Rumble can’t be disappointed with the Raw that we were handed tonight! Welcome back Dead Man! Solid matches and promos all night long and no complaints from yours truly! I’ll be back Friday with Smackdown and start working on February’s specialty columns. Until next time, you’ve been ThunderStruck!
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