RAW
Raw comes to you live from Atlanta, Georgia.
Daniel Bryan & Kane d. Randy Orton & Sheamus (C+)
After commercial, Orton got worked over and made the hot tag to Sheamus. Sheamus sets up for the Brogue Kick, but AJ jumped in to break it up. On the outside, Kane takes out Orton. Bryan dodged the Brogue Kick, and Kane chokeslammed Sheamus from the apron for the pinfall at 11 minutes. Overall, a nice tag match to start the show.
Flashback to WrestleMania 27 when Rock cost Cena the WWE Championship.
Michael Cole is in the ring wearing a Team Johnny shirt, and announces that he’s their official spokesperson, while Vickie Guerrero was the official flag bearer. I’m not saluting that, if you know what I mean.
Santino d. David Otunga (F)
Santino hit the Cobra for the pinfall at 2 minutes. Waste of time. Post-match, Teddy Long pushes John Laurinaitis over Hornswoggle, who’s on all fours behind Ace. Santino was going for the Cobra, but The Miz ran in and hit a Skull Crushing Finale on Santino. I guess that was Miz’ “statement” from Twitter. Ace announces that Miz is on Team Teddy, then corrects himself. Idiot.
Excellent video package for the Taker/HHH/HBK ‘Mania match:
Great stuff as usual. HBK and HHH did a DX reunion prior to Raw, laying out Jinder Mahal with a Pedigree and Sweet Chin Music.
Kelly Kelly d. Eve (D)
Eve missed a moonsault, allowing Kelly to score a poor rollup for the pinfall at 2 minutes.
Of note, Maria Menounos suffered two broke ribs while practicing a Dancing with the Stars dance. Right now, the plan is for her to continue wrestling, but things are always subject to change.
Flashback to Survivor Series with Rock & Cena beating Miz & Truth. Rock Rock Bottom’s Cena to close the show.
Christian opens hour two wearing a Team Johnny shirt, scheduled for a match with Punk. Before things started, Chris Jericho came on the titantron and starts a tirade against Punk’s mom. He says she’s clean, unlike her husband and daughter, but that she was pregnant with Punk before she was married, so Punk is a “bastard.”
Back in the ring, the bell never rings but Christian attacks Punk. Punk goes after Christian’s ankle, then slams him into the announce table a bunch of times. He hit a cool GTS, but instead of a knee to the head, it was Christian’s head bouncing off the steel steps. Punk applied the Anaconda Vice as the refs run out to break it up. Punk is screaming “This is you, Jericho!” Overall, another good kick to the Punk/Jericho story.
After the commercial, they announce Christian will miss WM27 with a neck injury. In truth, his ankle injury isn’t yet healed, so he’ll be replaced by Drew McIntyre in the Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy match.
Brodus Clay d. Curt Hawkins (F)
Clay won with a big splash at 1 minute.
WWE.com lists the final inductors for the Hall of Fame Class of 2012, even though they were reported here earlier this week.
Big Show d. Primo (F)
Show won with a chokeslam at 1 minute. Post match, he gave a Epico a chokeslam too. Then, Cody Rhodes’ music hits. Rhodes is at the stage and asks Show not to chase him, since he’ll never catch him. Rhodes says they’ll turn “Big Show” into a verb, so students would pray that they don’t “Big Show” on their finals or that guys don’t “Big Show” with the ladies. “Even better. I’ve got to take a Big Show.” Nice. I might start using that. Cody says he’ll win at WrestleMania. FYI, the IC title is the only belt Show hasn’t won in the WWE.
Lord Tensai promo. It’s still A-Train, which was actually trending on Twitter.
Backstage, Brie Bella is wearing a Team Johnny shirt, while Nikki had a Team Teddy shirt on. Zack Ryder comes in and accomplishes nothing. In the background, Drew McIntyre talking to Abraham Washington, who we haven’t seen in ages. Eve showed walked in as the Bellas left. She asks what hotel Ryder is staying at, and he said he’s staying with Team Teddy. She says she was hoping he would stay at her hotel. He went to kiss her, but Eve stops him and says they can celebrate after Mania.
Backstage, Josh Mathews with CM Punk. Punk says he’s not off limits, but his family is. His sister is off limits and what he said about her is a fabrication, and Jericho said about his mother was a lie. “I’m not a bastard. I’m the best wrestler in the world.”
McIntyre officially announced as the replacement on Team Johnny.
Mark Henry d. The Great Khali (F)
Henry hit a World’s Strongest Slam at 1 minute. Post match, Team Teddy and Team Johnny brawled. Booker T ran in for the save as Henry was going for a WSS on Teddy. Teddy asks Booker to join his team, and he accepts. He celebrates by doing the Spinarooni.
The Rock is out first for the main event. He says he hasn’t wrestled at Mania for 8 years, and over that time, everyone asked him when he was coming back. He mentioned Betty White’s “Civil War Pie” which started trending. He said he knew he’d be back from last year when he Rock Bottom’d Cena at WM27. He says Cena’s accomplished a lot, but has never wrestled anyone like him.
John Cena comes out and says we’re 6 days away. He tells Rock that he has never seen anything like him. “Fruity Pebbles” chant. Since Rock’s been gone, Cena has been thrown to the wolves for the last 10 years. “Let’s Go Cena/Cena Sucks” chant. He says he doesn’t care about the trash talk and promotes his shirt: “Rise Above Hate.” What really angers people isn’t just that he rises above, but that he rises above and wins. He said they know what he knows: “I’m going to win at WrestleMania.”
Cena says he has to win Sunday because life for the Rock goes on after Mania–Rock moves on to GI Joe, while he stays in WWE. “I’ll be god dammed if you come in – a visitor – as good as you think you are, and take my life from me.” Nobody remembers second place, so he has to win. “I have to win this match more than anything in my entire life.” Rock says the people know he’s not a visitor. “This house, this office, your office – The Rock helped build.” It’s more than just the biggest match of all-time, and that he’s come back after all these years to beat Cena. Never before has somebody walked into a WrestleMania to say he’s beat Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and John Cena. “On a professional level, The Rock needs to beat you to become the greatest WWE superstar of all time. On a personal level, I just don’t like you.” In 6 days, Rock will beat Cena and give him the ass kicking of a lifetime. “You know it, The Rock knows it and you can bet your ass that they know it too.” Cena counters with, “it doesn’t matter what you think.” He said he usually says you can’t see me, but at WrestleMania The Rock will see him. “The headline reads what I predicted: John Cena whips The Rock’s ass at WrestleMania.” They both drops their mics and go face to face as we fade to black.
Another excellent segment between the two. The intensity took another step up. I can’t wait until Sunday.
Three Stars of the Show
* CM Punk
** The Rock
*** John Cena
Final Grade: C
The wrestling sucked, but at this stage of RtWM, it doesn’t matter. They’re putting the finishing touches on storylines and wrapping up what needs to be said. It’s great how Cena/Rock haven’t had any physical altercation, just like HHH/Taker from last year. And this year, for that matter. As well as Jericho/Punk and Rhodes/Show. It actually happened a lot this year, and it makes it that much better. Get your popcorn ready. WrestleMania 28 is THIS Sunday. Enjoy the best show of the year.