RAW results 11/2/13 (Spoilers obviously)

“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…”

We recap last week's Raw, where the Shield got a taste of their own medicine and promise to address Cena and the rest of the WWE Superstars. Also, The Rock is here to face off with CM Punk 6 days before their vaunted WWE Title rematch...what will come of it?

We start with Paul Heyman in the ring. He introduces himself, and informs us this is the last time we will see him, to much raucous cheers. He laments how we cheer for something like that, how they can cheer for him, who created the phenomenon of ECW and saw the potential of vision and passion in the rookie known as BROCK...LESNAR, to leave. Heyman then met a man who was the epitome of what the WWE should be about, who he believed would carry WWE into the long-term future and should still be WWE Champion, CM Punk. We don't have to be Nostradamus to sense that something bad is going to happen. The Sword of Damocles will fall, and it will not only fall on him, but those around him, including CM Punk. The sins of the mentor will fall unto the protege, and Heyman won't allow that, which is why tonight he is tendering his resignation. Heyman won't miss the WWE Universe, as he's not surprised that they wouldn't shed a tear for someone who's willing to make a sacrifice like he's about to make. He loves Punk, and won't stand in his way. He says, "Good-bye."

Punk's music hits, and he's out with an unreadable expression, as if he's unsure what to make of Heyman's resignation. He seems to be trying to convince Paul to stay. He asks Heyman what he's doing. Heyman says he is in Punk's way. Mr. McMahon believes he paid off the Shield and Brad Maddox, and brought Lesnar to take out Vince himself, but that's mere perception. Punk doesn't accept that, and says there are a lot of Paul Heyman guys out there who need him. Heyman says in the world of the McMahons, perception is reality, and he won't be a martyr, only for Punk to suffer at Vince's hand. Punk says the bad dream will end at the Elimination Chamber, and Heyman will be in the corner of the man who will beat the Rock and "continue" his reign undaunted. Heyman looks inspired and agrees to be in his corner. They embrace like brothers and Heyman almost red-eyed and in tears. The two raise each other's hands in celebration of Heyman's "un-resignation."

Mark Henry's in action next! SOMEBODY'S WIG GONNA GET SPLIT!

~Commercial Break~

Mark Henry vs. The Great Khali w/Hornswoggle & Natalya

We recap Henry's swath of destruction in his return last Monday and his qualifying for the Elimination Chamber. We also learn that thanks to Henry, Mysterio is injured and out of the Chamber.

Khali takes it to Henry early, but Henry backs him into the corner with shots to the chest. Khali blocks a charge with an elbow and takes over with some chops, but Henry blocks one and headbutts Khali hard. Big clothesline to Khali, and a World's Strongest Slam finishes off the Punjabi Playboy.

Winner: Mark Henry
Time: 2:00ish

Swoggle and Natalya in to check on Khali. Henry's still hungry, storms into the ring, and eyes Swoggle like lunch. He grabs the leprechaun and DRILLS him with the World's Strongest Slam! "THAT"S WHAT I DO!" To the satisfaction of purists everywhere, the action gets a big pop from the crowd, even a "One more time!" chant. Next up for Henry: A return match with the Viper this Friday.

~Commercial Break~

Teddy and Booker T talking about Henry's credentials, when Jericho approaches them and wants in on the Elimination Chamber as a former 6-time World Champion and Elimination Chamber veteran. Teddy agrees, but Booker says he needs to approve first. Teddy makes a suggestion, but Booker turns it down and says Jericho must prove himself against Daniel Bryan. Jericho says he's tough, but will take down Daniel "Beard", go on to Wrestlemania, and become a 7-time, 7-time, 7-time World Champion, mocking Booker before waltzing off.

Vickie Guerrero in her office on the phone, before a loud knock and Heyman comes in. Vickie doesn't have time for his BS, but Heyman tells her to make time. He has an idea for a stipulation to the WWE Title match this Sunday, but Vickie would have to run it by Mr. McMahon. Heyman scoffs, saying she runs the show in his absence. The phone rings, and it's Vince, whom Vickie puts on speaker. Paul brown-noses Vince on his recovery, but Vince shuts him up and asks about the stipulation. Heyman says if the Rock should be counted out or DQ'ed, the championship goes back to Punk...and Vince agrees, as long as it's in writing! Both Vickie and Heyman are shocked by the decision...this won't end well.

Chris Jericho vs. Daniel Bryan

Jericho with a pair of roll-ups for a two count each, then some sharp arm drags. Bryan comes back with a wrist lock, but Jericho out and off the ropes, but Bryan puts a knee in his gut, delivers some kicks, then a knee drop for a two count. Jericho back up, wrenches the arm of Bryan, and drops him with a chop. Jericho reverses a whip by Bryan, but gets tossed over the rope. Jericho back in with Bryan in pursuit, Jericho tries the springboard dropkick, but Bryan ducks and Jericho falls to the ringside floor. Bryan revs up and hits a Heat-Seeking Missile, and both men seem to be hurting as we go to commercial...

~Commercial Break~

Jericho with another roll-up for two. Bryan reverses a whip and drills Jericho with a corner dropkick. Jericho reverses a whip, Bryan floats over, and hits a clothesline on Jericho. Jericho counters a charge with the Walls of Jericho, but Daniel rolls out. Jericho drops him with shoulder blocks, goes for a Lionsault, but eats knees from Bryan. Bryan up top, Jericho stops him, but Bryan blocks the superplex and knocks him down. Headbutt connects for a near fall Buzzsaw kick misses, and Jericho tries for the Liontamer, and it's in! Bryan turns it around and attempts the No! Lock, but Jericho counters right back into the Liontamer! Nice sequence! Bryan rolls through again, and NAILS Jericho with a Buzzsaw kick that gets a close near fall! Bryan laces Jericho's chest with more kicks, but Jericho counters the last one with a roll-up for two, then Bryan kicks out...RIGHT INTO A CODEBREAKER! Three count! Jericho's in the chamber!

Winner: Chris Jericho
Time: 10:48

As Jericho celebrates, we see that he is now in the Chamber along with Henry, Orton, and Bryan. Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback feed on, er, face 3MB in six-man tag team action next!

~Commercial Break~

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Sheamus, Ryback & John Cena vs. 3MB (Slater, Mahal & McIntyre)

Slater air guitars and shoves Ryabck. Uh, no, just no, Slater. Ryback press slams him, and Sheamus is in with clubbing blows to Slater. McIntyre blind tags in, and takes the fight to Sheamus, but Drew gets caught in the ropes by the Irishman and it's clubberin' time for McIntyre. Cena in, along with Mahal. Cena hits the Five Moves, but Slater comes in for the save on the AA. Sheamus and Ryback in to even the odds, hitting White Noise, Shell-Shock, and the AA all at once. Cena gets the three count on 3MB!

Winner: Cena, Ryback & Sheamus
Time: 2:36

Ryback on the mic, and he says the day has come for the Shield. Sheamus tells everyone the Shield is here tonight, and questions why they should wait until Sunday to fight. Cena agrees, says the choice to come here and address everyone was a brave, but stupid one. The Shield meets the Sword, Justice meets the Law, he is Cena, they are Ryback and Sheamus. YOU WANT SOME, COME GET SOME!

We go back to last Friday, with Del Rio's Guerrero-worthy pranking of the Big Show, including his new "paint job", which had everyone in stitches. We go to Alex Riley and Yoshi Tatsu (TATSU & RILEY CAMEO!), who rip on Show getting drenched in paint, before the giant predictably shows up and knocks dem boys out! He scowls and walks off.

~Commercial Break~

Show's out, and the laughing's come to a screeching halt as the giant matches to the ring. Striker in the ring, and barely gets a word out before Show KO's him. Show on the mic, and he seems too conflicted and ticked to get a word out, as the audience heckles him. He tries to calm himself...but just seems to grow angrier with each passing second, and just gives up and leaves in a huff, much to the audience's delight.

We recap Bruno Sammartino's historic induction, as well as his rise to fame from Italy to the US, cementing his bad ass status by breaking Stan Hansen's hand, winning the WWE Championship in 48 seconds and going on to hold the longest ever reign (4040 days) in the company's history, as well becoming a box office sellout in Madison Square Garden.

Jack Swagger w/Seth Caulder vs. Zack Ryder

Swagger with a waistlock and a slam to Ryder. He drives Ryder to the corner, but Zack with an elbow and a missile dropkick to Swagger. Forearm and a Broski Boot get a near fall. Swagger rolls outside, Ryder flies out after him, but Swagger catches him and drills him with a belly-to-belly suplex. He rolls Ryder back in and clips the knee. He drives a knee into Ryder in the corner. Ryder gets the knees up on a charge, but Swagger catches himon the Rough Ryder attempt and drills him with a buckle bomb! Gutwrench bomb, then the Patriot Act is in and a bloody-mouthed Ryder taps.

Winner: Jack Swagger
Time: 2:33

Seth (Sev?) Coulter is introduced to us by Swagger as a friend of his. Coulter on the mic, and goes into a spiel about America and how it's lost its way, about how the country was about real Americans like him and Swagger, not about the people crossing our borders, how he knows the truth behind what has changed America for the worse, and how he and Swagger plan to make us see what it should really about, we real Americans, we the people.

Teddy and Booker agree backstage that Swagger has been dominant and agree that he will be entered into the Chamber. Dolph, along with AJ and Big E., object to Swagger being entered in. Booker wonders why Ziggler even cares, given he chickened out. Ziggler insists he doesn't

The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes

Antonio Cesaro on commentary for the match. Cody with a headlock, but Miz pushes him off, trips him up, and drills him with a boot for two. Cody counters with a kick of his won, and drills Miz with knees, dropping him for a two count. Cody with a neck vice, Miz fights out with clotheslines and a flap jack. Neckbreaker countered by Cody, shoving Miz to the corner. Miz tossses Cody over the ropes. but Cody lands on the apron. Miz slides through and drops him on the apron face first. He jaws off to Cesaro, who goes to hit him, but Miz boots him. Miz catches Cody with a boot and throws him in the ring, but Cesaro rams him into the ring post for the DQ.

Winner: The Miz by DQ
Time: 3:04

Cesaro beats down Miz, and giant swings him again and again into the barricade! Someone's been drinking their Swiss Miss!

We're reminded that the Rock will be here tonight to address the new stipulation for his rematch with Punk, and The Shield will also be here to address the WWE Universe.

~Commercial Break~

Tensai & Brodus Clay w/The Funkadactyls vs. Epico & Primo w/Rosa Mendes

Doesn't quite look like Tensai has re-embraced his "Hip Hop Hippo" roots yet. Tensai with a headbutt to Primo. Brodus tags in. Primo's Meeting of the Mind fails big time, but kicks Brodus and tags in Epico, who gets caught with the SHEE-plex, baby! Primo misses an elbow, Brodus hits the headbutt on Epico, Tensai tags in for the senton, nails it, and gets three!

Winners: Tensai & Brodus Clay
Time: 1:30

Tensai looks to outshine Brodus in the post-match dance-off, but Rosa objects. Naomi and Cameron toss her out, Naomi with a nice-looking fake-out dive, and Cameron with the basement dropkick to take out Rosa! And now we dance!

~Commercial Break~

The Shield out now, to some surprising cheers! Ambrose says the Shield is here to protect us from the atrocities like how Cena threatened the Shield. Rollins questions how Cena and company believe they can stop the Shield with words, The Shield do it with actions. They call out Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback, to no answer. Ambrose says Cena couldn't do it with half the roster, and he failed, just like he fails every time he gets up in the morning and exists. Cena believes he can smile the day away, do and say what he wants, but that's not the world we live in, that's what is called the John Cena problem. Reigns says he's been the problem for the past decade. Rollins says this Sunday, a decade of injustice ends. They call out Cena one more time, then the lights go out...Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus are in the ring! They beat the Shield down and out of the ring! Ambrose and company try to retreat, but Cena's group pursues them through the stands and drives them off to raucous cheers from the crowd.

Cole and King hype the six-man tag match for this Sunday, and then recap Heyman's "resignation", which segues into Punk coming out and convincing him to stay with the company and rescind his resignation. We're reminded again that the Rock will address us about the stipulation of losing the title via countout or DQ against Punk this Sunday.

ALBERTOOOOO DELLL RIIIIIOOOOOO is in action next!

~Commercial Break~

Damien Sandow out now, and tells us the abyss of the Grammys are behind us, and we are now in the mecca of Country Music, which is NOT a good thing. It's all about dead dogs, pickup trucks, and ignoramuses getting their hearts broken, and it's shameful how we listen to that rather than to Beethoven and Mozart. He's not here to agitate us, but to save us from our self-imposed stupidity. YOU'RE WELCOME!

Non-Title Match: World Champion Alberto Del Rio w/Ricardo Rodriguez vs. Damien Sandow

Sandow starts off quickly with knees and a Russian leg sweep into the Cubito Aequet. Del Rio fires right back with clotheslines and a take down that leads to a thrust kick for a near fall. Sandow back up, but Del Rio cinches in the Cross Arm Breaker, and Sandow taps out quick.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Time: 1:19

Del Rio on the mic, lauding Big Show for his "best promo of his career." Del Rio agrees with Show's silence; it's not about parking lots, buses, or anything else, it's about Sunday. When Show loses, he can take his huevos and go anywhere, even Mexico, but Del Rio is going to Wrestlemania.

Wade Barrett is in action next, but Bo Dallas ambushes him backstage and assaults him for getting jumped the week before by Barrett! Officials finally managed to pull Dallas off as Wade holds his shoulder in pain.

~Commercial Break~

Non-Title Match: IC Champion Wade Barrett vs. Kofi Kingston

Kofi starts with some kicks early, which only ticks Wade off from his early assault by Bo Dallas, as he delivers an elbow to Kofi and drills him with some knees. Kofi fires back with some clotheslines, a dropkick, then a unique cross body onto Barrett's back for a two count. Kofi with a slingshot kick in the corner, then a regular cross body for a near fall. Barrett counters a whip into the Winds of Change for a near fall. He readies the Bull Hammer, but Kofi ducks, goes for Trouble In Paradise, but Wade ducks to the outside. Kofi follows, but Barrett blinds him with the apron skirt and blindsides him with the Bull Hammer to get the three count.

Winner: Wade Barrett
Time: 4:35

Wade shouts for Bo Dallas to come out and face him now post-match.

~Commercial Break~

Tag Team Champion Kane vs. Dolph Ziggler w/AJ Lee & Big E. Langston

C.R.A.J's in the house! Dolph with rights to Kane, but Kane fires right back with some uppercuts and drops Ziggler for a two count, then a suplex for another two. Kane off the ropes into a sharp dropkick from Ziggler. Kane to the corner, and Ziggler delivers some rights, only for Kane to uppercut him, then flapjacks Ziggler to the mat. Ziggler retreats to the outside as we go to break...

~Commercial Break~

Ziggler with a sleeper hold, but Kane snapmares him out of it. Kane with an uppercut and a corner clothesline, but Ziggler gets a boot up. Ziggler up top, but Kane knocks him to the floor. Out by ringside, Langston wards Kane off and distracts him, which allows Ziggler to ram Kane into the barricade. Back in the ring, Ziggler hits Kane with a neckbreaker off the ropes for two. Ziggler with a series of eight elbows for a near fall. Kane counters a cross body, but Ziggler floats out and hits his jumping DDT for another near fall. Kane hits a big boot for a near fall. Kane hits a clothesline, but Ziggler counters into the Zig Zag for a CLOSE near fall. Ziggler tries again, but Kane grabs the ropes and shrugs him off, nailing a sidewalk slam for a two count. Kane up top for the clothesline, AJ tries to distract him. Kane flies off, Ziggler dodges, but Dolph knocks AJ off the ropes into Big E., who catches her. The distraction allows Kane to goozle and drill Ziggler with the chokeslam. Three count! And the Chamber is complete!

Winner: Kane
Time: 10:16

The Rock addresses the WWE Universe...FINALLY... next!

~Commercial Break~

Kane, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, Jack Swagger, Chris Jericho, and Randy Orton are all in the World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender Elimination Chamber Match! 6 former World Champions, 1 opportunity to reach the top again at Wrestlemania!

We go through a history of the Elimination Chamber, the last big step on the Road to Wrestlemania, and how no one ever leaves the Chamber the same as they came in...

IF YA SMELLLLLL...The WWE Champion comes out and the crowd is going nuts for the People's Champion, as per usual! Rocky waits for the crowd to die down a bit. The Rock says it is a special night, tonight's show is sold out, and FINALLY...THE ROCK HAS COME BACK...TO NASSHHHHVILLE!

Nashville is a very special city to the Rock. He asks us why, and says it's storytime. When he was 15, he and his family moved to Nashville. He signed up for McGavock High School (cheap pop!). He was big for his size, and got no play from the girls because they thought he was an undercover cop. He got to hang out in the bar, though, and got drinks. Then, not Jeff Jarrett or Willie Nelson, but a CRACKHEAD came into the bar, offering a beat-up Blue Thunderbird for $75. Everyone but the 15-year old Rock wisely ignored him, and he took up the offer. When he was driving, he heard a sound in the back, and it turned out to be another crackhead, whom the Rock told to get out of his "new ride." He figured the car was stolen, but instead of taking it to the cops, he left it at a Burger King and walked right back to Tootsie's Bar. He then mentions his very first match at the Nashville Fairgrounds

Punk's music hits, and he and Heyman out now, and Rock makes a Twilight joke about Punk and Heyman's hug from earlier. About the stipulation, he simply says "Bring It" and calls down Punk to the ring to get his ass whipped all around Nashville. Punk and Heyman head to the ring. They stop for a moment, Heyman says "I've got your back" and Punk charges into the ring, hammering on Rock, but the Rock with rights to Punk, who reverses and delivers some rights of his own. Rock reverses a whip into the spine-"on the pine"-buster, but Heyman trips him up on the People's Elbow attempt, and Punk drops Rocky with a Go To Sleep, before absconding with "his" WWE Championship. Punk on the mic, saying storytime is over for the Rock, and every time he decides to bring it, Punk will do what he just did now and TAKE it. He raises the championship in the air as Rocky struggles to get to his feet and we fade to black.

End show.

CM Punk and Paul Heyman- A Match Made in Heaven

May I just say how freeking awesome Ambrose was now that he's finally getting to make in ring promos.

good to see the return of dutch mantel . shame ziggler didnt get in the chamber as he should be in the main event regularly but there you go....other than that good show overall particularly jericho and beardan

On The Sheild segment did anyone else think Taker when The lights went out?

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:On The Sheild segment did anyone else think Taker when The lights went out?

yes for a breif second but then back to disappointing reality

Yep, and then utter disappointment when they went back on to reveal Cena and Ryturd.

I'm not the only one who doesnt rate Rycack then.

Any reason why Randy Boreton wasn't on Raw?

Mr H wrote:I'm not the only one who doesnt rate Rycack then.

My fave thing is watching it with my 7 year old son who takes great pleasure in trash talking me when Ryback and Cena clean house of the Shield.

Ryback.. you know what it is, he's not intimidating.
Look at some of the other one-man wrecking machines of the past. Sid, Vader, Goldberg, Brock Lesnar. Whatever their actual fighting background, they all had that "I'll-rip-your-head-off-and-spit-down-the-hole" look. Ryback is just a gym rat. Muscles don't make you 'ard.

Hero wrote:Yep, and then utter disappointment when they went back on to reveal Cena and Ryturd.

Though following on from the subject of uneconomical booking on last weeks podcast, Cena, Sheamus + Ryback vs 3MB was a very effective way of putting over those 3 guys without wasting much star power.

I think for me it's the breathing that irritates me the most, I just wish he stopped doing that (over-breathing rather than just breathing at all)

I agree on Ryback. I don't get the badass impression like I get off Brock Lesanar, even before he went to UFC. Like, look at Lesnar last week. Just his whole persona screams of a man who can and will destroy anything. And when he was telling Heyman to get back in the corner by just pointing at him and not saying a word. Lesnar still is for me, the biggest thing WWE have to offer along with CM Punk. The fact they have signed him now has made my year already. Would love him to take the streak from Taker and retire him once and for all.

On Raw itself:

-Heyman and Punk are gold
-Jericho and Bryan's match was brilliant. Jericho is still one of the best ring workers and all round performer in the company. Him and Bryan could have a great feud.
-Tensai and Brodus I don't know what to think. TBH i do find it hilarious how Tensai was built up to be a monster and now is dancing around the ring.
-I really don't care for the Rock now. He was my all time favourite, but he isn't 'The Rock' that I used to know and I generally cringe when he comes on screen now. Much prefer having brock back
-Really hope the Shield go over Cena, Sheamus and Ryback. Its a bit of a weird feud but the Shield were superb last night. I think I actually prefer Rollins out of all 3. I like him on the mic especially last night and has a unique look. Anyone fill me in on what he's like in the ring?

Rollins is a fantastic wrestler, he's getting compared a lot recently to Jeff Hardy which I can understand as he's one that is willing to take a bump where you think he should be broken in two and he has that alternative look but I think he's a more skilled all round wrestler than Nero.

I do wonder how the 3 on 3 will go down now at EC being that for the past two weeks the faces have come out of it in the acendancy and that usually means the heels win, but I can't see how they will have the Royal Rumble winner and 2 of their other biggest faces who both have had several PPV losses in the past few months losing.

[quote="Hero"]Rollins is a fantastic wrestler, he's getting compared a lot recently to Jeff Hardy which I can understand as he's one that is willing to take a bump where you think he should be broken in two and he has that alternative look but I think he's a more skilled all round wrestler than Nero.

I do wonder how the 3 on 3 will go down now at EC being that for the past two weeks the faces have come out of it in the acendancy and that usually means the heels win, but I can't see how they will have the Royal Rumble winner and 2 of their other biggest faces who both have had several PPV losses in the past few months losing.[/quote

Cheers Hero, loved Rollins in the last ppv, especially that bump he took.

My feelings exactly on the EC 3 on 3. Sheamus/Cena/ryback and the 3 main faces of the company. I can see them winning although I don't know where it will put the Shield. In fact, I don't see where this feud will go. I can see the 3 faces winning and that being an end to it with Mainia coming up. Cena in the main event, Sheamus probably in the WHC title match and Ryback in a fairly big match also.

I agree with everyone on Ryback - can't stand him. He shouldn't be anywhere near a main event......also, has anyone noticed how he keeps sniffing all the time - really annoying.

Also agree on the comments made about the Rock, I am not enjoying him as much at the moment I am finding him a little cheesy. Maybe its because he is dissing Punk and not Cena but I am not feeling it this year

Loving the Shield, I think they are great. I just hope WWE don't man sausage it up as with the Nexus. Also loving Jericho (as usual), its a treat to have him around at the moment

Each week with the Rock it seems like he's auditioning for X Factor, so this week he regals us with a tale of buying a car of a crackhead when he was 15, this the same kid that had $8 or whatever it was the other week, that was dedicating his victory to his cancer stricken mom, to Martin Luther King, to God, to the people.
How many 'yeah I'm a still one of the common folk' cards can he play?

With this new stipulation where Rock loses if he gets DQ'd or counted out. I have a feeling Lesnar could be used by Heyman for Punk to win but Lesnar F5's Punk when the ref is not looking at the match and Rock gets the 3 count and then you have 2 WM main events with Rock vs Cena and Punk vs Lesnar

I think that'll be the case too, I'm leaning to Punk being double-crossed by Heyman.

For the go home episode of Raw before a big PPV i think they did everything needed to be done.

The Smackdown elimination chamber match is what im most looking forward to on Sunday, it has the potential to be a cracking match. 6 decent wrestlers, no great kahli, im looking forward to it. Chris Jericho for the win! #SaveUsY2J

The Rock's promo at the end sucked, it really wasn't great, however it wasn't on par with Cena's pre royal rumble promo. CM Punk and Paul Heyman were both brilliant as per throughout the night.

The shield were class, the one thing that bothered me was Dean Ambrose hair, that random hair that was sticking out onto his forehead. But all joking a side they did a great job, really really hope they win on sunday.

Finally the Daniel Bryan, Y2J match was class. Not as good as there 2010 match of the year contender on NXT though!

Hero wrote:I think that'll be the case too, I'm leaning to Punk being double-crossed by Heyman.

It seems as if they're heading that way, that promo they cut together is just crying out for a swerve turn by Heyman. If we do get Punk v Lesnar then where does that leave the Undertaker and Triple H for Wrestlemania? Facing each other again?

The Undertaker! Triple H! Never before! Never again! Once in a lifetime!

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:

Hero wrote:I think that'll be the case too, I'm leaning to Punk being double-crossed by Heyman.

It seems as if they're heading that way, that promo they cut together is just crying out for a swerve turn by Heyman. If we do get Punk v Lesnar then where does that leave the Undertaker and Triple H for Wrestlemania? Facing each other again?

The Undertaker! Triple H! Never before! Never again! Once in a lifetime!

End of an era part 2

I don't understand why The Rock is playing the "common man" angle, it's not going to work when he's a multimillionaire movie star. He can easily still be a top face with being the man all men want to be and the woman all want to be with.

Unfortunately I think The Rock hasn't cut many good promos since his return, perhaps being away for so long has weakened his natural prowess on the microphone.

Hopefully they forget about including HHH and Taker until next WM. Give some of the upper midcarders more exposure.

Divas title match
Kingston vs Cesaro vs Miz vs Swagger (US title)
Barrett vs Dallas (IC title)
Jericho vs Ziggler
Henry vs Sheamus
Ryback vs Big Show
Bryan vs Kane (or a tag team title match)
Del Rio vs Orton (WHC)
Punk vs Lesnar- Shield interfere?
Rock vs Cena (WWE title)

Those two main events will still draw a lot of people

I was sensing that they were building up to Heyman turning on Punk and a Punk v Heyman war of words.

My only alternative as a swerve would be for Brock to screw Rock and then set up:

Cena v Punk (WWE Title)
Rock v Brock

It would give Rock and Brock a massive MW match and also allow Cena a big WM win for the title without the worry of Rock being around after Mania.

I like Ryback, he's just stuck at the moment with being the monster who is also the good guy, not helping him get any legitimacy as he's made to chum up with Cena and Sheamus. They need to test him with something big soon. He hasn't been unleashed as a main event monster figure yet.

I found that whole segment and this whole faces vs. The Shield feud very underwhelming. My overriding memory being that reigns loves to shout. Only Cena benefits from the whole thing, everyone is dragged down.

Also, I think The Rock is playing his role as acceptably as he can. He can't be the character he once was, he appears now as a more attritional figure, older and with more experience.

Jericho vs. Bryan was such a tease to a wonderful feud they could have. Submissions matches and much more.


Think it was pretty much as good a show as you can expect. Protected booking on most parts, good matches and having the elimination chamber 'trials' has given direction to the matches. That 6 man match is the most exciting on the card for Sunday.

Main highlights of the show for me were the Jericho/Bryan match and the Zeb Coulter promo.

Jericho's managed to be involved in match of the night two weeks in a row, and I was glad to see Bryan work more aggressively.

The Coulter promo was extremely edgy, he sounded like a typical commentator on Fox News. The anti-immigration undertones of his stuff will mesh well in a feud with Del Rio, so I can see Swagger winning in the chamber on Sunday.

I agree with Chris about the Shield. Their promo was ok, but I expect more from them.

Also, are they building towards some sort of feud between Teddy Long and Booker T? There's been some subtle hints on Smackdown over the last couple of weeks, and it wouldn't surprise me if something develops towards WrestleMania

That's what they're gonna do with the wrestlers who aren't being used in the lead up to Mania, the standard multi man tag feud that disappears after the match! Teddy vs Booker, perfect call Nakatomi!

Also agree its set up for Swagger to win. Instead of coming back as a patriotic face against Cesaro, he's come back as an over zealous heel American to face the sympathetic foreigner

I thought other than Ambrose the Shield segment was pretty poor. I like Ambrose and his mannerisms, Rollins wasn't anything special and Reigns shouldn't be allowed to speak. When he kept on screaming it was awful, I hope they don't just feed them to these three overated guys at Elimination Chamber, Cena, Sheamus and Ryback has to be a culmination of my three most hated guys on the roster right now (if you put Orton and Mysterio there you'd have a Survivor Series team). I really want Shield to beat them on Sunday

Henry looked impressive again. The strength of Cessaro was brilliant just swinging Miz like a bat.

Can anybody see Shield trying to attack Punk to get Rock DQ'd and Vince coming out to revoke the ruling. Reckon Punk could whinge on the Raw that rules are rules and he should be the champion and then ends up getting entered into a triple threat with Rock and Cena at WM

I reckon vince will come out just before the match starts and order for the chamber to be lowered thus then stopping anybody interfering in the match and stopping heyman and punks plans.

After watching RAW my immediate thoughts were that Lesnar will be involved with Punk's match somehow. However, I was dubious of Punk when he was hugging Heyman as he had a glint in his eye that made me think he was just playing along with it.......

I was thinking Lesnar would be involved in the Rock/Punk match too when Heyman wanted a stipulation, I (wrongly) assumed he'd ask for a No DQ stipulation, obviously the plans for the match call for this stipulation to be added, I just don't see where yet

did seem odd that heyman was almost crying over his love for punk.

could the 3 faces beat the shield but then have a brutal beatdown after the match, where the 2 other members of the shield return and lock the winner in the chamber (or however many of sheamus, cena and ryback survive the match. youd think atleast one will be eliminated) shield can look strong for destroying a combo of cena or ryback or sheamus.

gazzyD wrote:I thought other than Ambrose the Shield segment was pretty poor. I like Ambrose and his mannerisms, Rollins wasn't anything special and Reigns shouldn't be allowed to speak. When he kept on screaming it was awful, I hope they don't just feed them to these three overated guys at Elimination Chamber, Cena, Sheamus and Ryback has to be a culmination of my three most hated guys on the roster right now (if you put Orton and Mysterio there you'd have a Survivor Series team). I really want Shield to beat them on Sunday

Henry looked impressive again. The strength of Cessaro was brilliant just swinging Miz like a bat.

Can anybody see Shield trying to attack Punk to get Rock DQ'd and Vince coming out to revoke the ruling. Reckon Punk could whinge on the Raw that rules are rules and he should be the champion and then ends up getting entered into a triple threat with Rock and Cena at WM

I can see this happening.

Crimey wrote:I don't understand why The Rock is playing the "common man" angle, it's not going to work when he's a multimillionaire movie star. He can easily still be a top face with being the man all men want to be and the woman all want to be with.

Unfortunately I think The Rock hasn't cut many good promos since his return, perhaps being away for so long has weakened his natural prowess on the microphone.

The promos have been cringe worthy at times

I honestly never thought I would say this about The Rock, but i agree with what has been said, he really is paling in comparison to his former years.

The story promo from last week was akin to the same crap that Cena spouts on a weekly basis and it was really dull and boring. I feel he has been drastically overshadowed by Punk to the point where I really hope Punk gets the belt back on Sunday.

Rock is more like an afterthought now and the fact he only ever really appears at the end of Raw, never building stories throughout irks me.

I never had a problem with him returning at first, but now i do because I feel he isn't bringing anything to the product at all. His promos are stale and he doesn't even have that "connection" anymore, I don't even like watching his matches as I find him slow and lethargic.

The Shield are were it is at for me right now, I absolutely love those guys. I thought Ambrose on the mic was spectacular and really think he can shine if cut loose. I do think I am in the minority though because I think Roman Reigns is brilliant.

Would be good to see them getting a few more matches under their belt soon, but I don't know what will happen to them after the inevitable squash at this sunday's PPV.

Don't see the point in feeding them to Cena and don't know where the outcome will come this sunday, unless Sheamus and Ryback accidentally cost each other the match and they have a one on one at Mania. Cena can't lose if they want to build him as this superhuman to overcome The Rock...but The Sheild losing does them no favours after get beatdown two weeks in a row.

Looking forward to the Chamber to see where these stories are heading.

Kinda like to see Lesnar back up the Shield at EC.

The yearly farce that is Cena in February. Worst time to feud with him, it's always a quick dead end story and a defeat.

I think The Rock is working. He's a new Rock, older guy who respects his audience more. It's doing wonders with the US crowd and as such is putting CM Punk over as a great heel. The people love The Rock and his sentimentally counteracts Punk far better than outright cocky Rock.

It comes across like the ending of a Jerry Springer episode though, like there's a moral to each story that he's teaching us. I'm waiting for the line 'Be good to yourself...and each other' at the end.

I can see the reasoning that a sentimental Rock is a better foil for Punk, but I don't think that's the case. A cocky Rock would have wound Punk up and Punk it would mean that Punk can retort better. At the moment, it seems to be a one-sided fight, and it made Rock's rise to the title seem inevitable.

I think The Rock has lost his edge, there are two possible reasons for this:

1. Being away from the WWE for so long means that he has lost that prowess he had for promos, they don't flow as naturally and he doen't quite have the quick wit of yesteryears.

2. As his film career these days lies mainly in family films (Fast Five excluded), he can't be as edgy because he is worried that his image will be ruined.

I'm not sure which one I find more convincing, but if it is the second one I think The Rock and WWE are making a huge mistake. People don't like Dwayne Johnson because he's a caring, lovable hero, they like him because he's cocky, because he's edgy because he is charismatic. At the moment, his promos are none of those things. They're boring, they don't suit the character, they're delivered poorly and they do nothing for The Rock's (or Dwayne Johnson's) persona or any of the feuds he's in.

I think he's probably lost a bit of his edge, but I would say he's probably purposefully lost some of the edginess. Different 'era' and standards, different age of himself and his fans, different stars to put over.

The Rock of 10-15 years ago wouldnt give Punk a chance to talk over him and he'd also give him fair ammunition to retort. Punk is too beloved a figure to give ammo too cos people would just side with him. You cant really side with Punk when hes attacking the sentimental Rock and just taking his belt cos he wants it (I mean physically, not winning the belt).

Its also not cool to be a face, hes not a darling of the IWC these days and hes going against their current hero. His main goal is the mainstream fans, talking about how great the company is and coming across as a loveable figure.

Those mainstream fans need to buy into hating Punk quickly, they already love The Rock, so its easier to have him attacking bitterly rather than just retorting. If either outspoke the other it would weaken positions. Rock has a Wrestlemania feud to uphold, Punk is trying to garner heat and needs to be hated not laughed at.

People liked him for what he was, but that was a long time ago now. If he came back as that Rock, he would be a caricature of what he was. Like how Austin can come across as doing a SCSA gimmick rather than being Stone Cold.

The product is also a lot different, more suited to his newer image. Crack dealers being spoken of on Raw shocked me a little bit, not because its particularly worrying but merely cos WWE hides from these kind of references. He's 40 years old too, that changes perspective of him and his own outlook.

The last comment is objective. I like his promos, they seem genuine. They are delivered well (watch any other face on WWE for comparison) and they do much for this new Rock, as well as putting over Punk as a bitter heel.

Most notably, the audiences are loving it. He is connecting at every show with the people there. It is slightly American, they love that kind of hero, the man they have seen rise up who is still the common guy too. Everyone there wants to be his best buddy. They liked him for what he was, and they still like him for what he is. The Rock has grown up and so have they.

I may be in the minority but I actually like Ryback. The intensity he brings is great and you can almost feel the adrenaline rush as his music hits and he comes down. Also love his moveset.

Probably just me though...

My kids absolutely love him, probably more than any other wrestler at the moment. I get why he's there and can understand his appeal, I just find him very one dimensional and he just looks gassed so quickly in a match.

Shot 21 LCFC wrote:I may be in the minority but I actually like Ryback. The intensity he brings is great and you can almost feel the adrenaline rush as his music hits and he comes down. Also love his moveset.

Probably just me though...

I love Ryback too. I was a fan of Skip as well.

I can see why people would like Ryback, and I think the way the character is presented is quite good but he's atrocious in the ring. I hate watching him, it's embarrassing. The whole stomping thing before he hits his finisher, the same tied routine every single time, no matter who he faces, he even did the exact same thing in the Rumble.

I'd much rather watch Sheamus than Ryback who is actually a good wrestler, can cut a decent promo and can adapt his style enough in the ring that I don't want to switch over.

I think Ryback & Sheamus are presented very differently.

Ryback has been presented as an animal that can inflinct physical damage with brute force.

I've never really thought of Sheamus as someone to be feared of because of his size. Which could be because of the commentaters being so poor.

nasisillmatic wrote:

Shot 21 LCFC wrote:I may be in the minority but I actually like Ryback. The intensity he brings is great and you can almost feel the adrenaline rush as his music hits and he comes down. Also love his moveset.

Probably just me though...

I love Ryback too. I was a fan of Skip as well.

Nope i agree with everything there Shot. Im a huge fan of him.

I also like the random shouts like "wake up!" and "stupid!".