Tonight on the WWE Raw open discussion thread:
The Elimination Chamber event has passed, and the next stop is WrestleMania. With the dust having settled in “Satan’s Prison,” the World Title pictures for The Show of Shows are finally in place and we will know who will contend for WWE’s top two prizes when WrestleMania comes home on April 7. Alberto Del Rio will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Chamber Match conqueror Jack Swagger, and The Rock will defend the WWE Title against his old foil, John Cena, in a rematch of their epic clash at last year’s WrestleMania. So with the final preparations for WrestleMania beginning Monday, what does this mean for champions, challengers and everyone in between? Well, here are five potential developments to watch out for. (text and photo via WWE.com)
Five-point preview:
1. As a scheduling note, the Best and Worst of Elimination Chamber will be going up tomorrow morning. It’d have been up today, but I attended the WrestleMania announcement press conference, shook hands with Alberto Del Rio and hugged the Big Show. So yeah, report tomorrow. Because YOLO. The Raw report will follow on Wednesday.
2. The Rock is still the WWE Champion! Will he be on Raw between now and WrestleMania? Also, will he call John Cena a gay? THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL.
3. Tonight, Booker T will interrupt each match to assure the people in it that Kofi Kingston can do whatever they do. Kofi will fail to do anything those people do and lose.
4. MARK HENRY
5. If you haven’t been unlocking our WWE Hierarchy-themed badges, make sure you’re doing that. And yes, if I could’ve stopped at Executive Vice President Of Talent Relations And Permanent General Manager Of Both Raw And Smackdown I would’ve. We miss you, Big Johnny.
As always, the 10 best comments something something Raw report. Something something +1. You know the drill.
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Is this happening?
My descent into madness last night:
1. Damnit, Rock’s unveiling a new belt.
2. Damnit, that spinner belt really is stupid, so we do need one.
3. Damnit, not from The Rock.
4. Well, wait a minute, it needs to represent Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Hulk? Alright.
5. Aaaaand it has his “logo” on the sides. He’s still just Attitude Era John Cena.
Definitely should have been Punk who debuted the new belt. Not Dwayne “I only wrestle paperviews part time” Johnson.
I like the belt but wish the Rock didn’t have to eat 30 minutes to show it.
Also, it should have been CM Punk debuting the new belt
The Shield are getting praised as the “New Freebirds.”
The Spinny Belt is dead.
Last night=win.
The weird thing about Raw last night on reflection is that a TON of stuff happened – but none of it felt like it meant anything.
Is it just me (it usually is) or has the WWE belt not actually spun for quite some time? I thought I recalled their gluing that thing down a few years back after Cena lost for the 5th or 6th time.
You’re right. When Rock spun it last night, I thought to myself “That thing hasn’t spun in years– they un-fixed it to make it look extra stupid to prove Rock’s point.”
“Nobody cared about me until I became the Assistant (to the) Managing Supervisor of RAW.”
The next championship belt is just going to be a signed 8 x 10 of the Rock.
The Shield wrestling an actual match on free tv gets a super best from me. Best X 3, one for each member. BELIEVE IN THE BEST!!!!!!!!
And worst too, I guess. After all, Ryback.
I accidentally hit my eight year old nephew in the face with a kickball a couple of weeks ago. Jack Swagger talks like him about 30 seconds after the blow.
I missed the State of the Union because I was on the phone. Aw hamburgers!
Just now watching. I liked what Mark had to say to/ about Kalhi, re: dancing, but I really wish he would have said it after Strongest Slamming him a few times instead of after running away from him. Why did he run away from him? Not only is the the world’s strongest man, but he also has working knees. Kalhi doesn’t stand a chance.
Worst: Mark Henry coming back, participating in the Elimination Chamber, and now building a feud with the Great Khali.
It’s like they are TRYING to ruin his heat.
I wish I could hug Big Show.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon is doing a very lively Vince McMahon.
NO BRAY WYATT. FUCK THIS EVERYTHING
Save_us.markhenry with your dance skills
[25.media.tumblr.com]
Don’t know if I missed this in the discussion before, but I’m guessing Taker isn’t ready for the much-rumored match with Punk. And rather than have some balls and have Creative turn either Rock or Cena heel, we’ll get the triple threat match with Punk/Rock/Cena. Still think it’s lame to go triple threat, but at least Punk will actually get to headline a WrestleMania, and the extra guy in the match will help hide the fact that Rocky has worse stamina than a fat high school virgin on prom night.
I will never underappreciate a shot at Rock’s stamina. +1 to you.
Any chance the new belt gets added to WWE 13 with the title being bought by Take Two? Would that halt all alterations? Cause it’d be cool if they added it.
Until then the belt will the Attitude Era one. Because the spinner one is shit.
I like the new belt, honestly. If I had it my way, the Undisputed Title belt from 2002-2005 would be brought back, but WWE is rarely a backward-looking company (except in the case of the IC belt). It will be interesting to see how it looks on future champions, sort of how the spinner always kind of looked silly on Orton, HHH, and Punk.
The Cajun crowd cheered for Cena/Rock over Punk/Rock, albeit slightly.
You guys deserve to eat burnt food.
Watching 2007 D-Bry and he’s coming out to “The Final Countdown.” So much love for that man.
Naturally, the whole crowd are singing along.
I miss when all the belts kinda looked similar
EXCUSE ME!!!!! I’m a supervisor now! I’m the boss that isn’t a boss but is still a boss…….wait….
at least the title isn’t as bad as that…..thing Jeff hardy wore in TNA during his first heel turn
I have a bunk bed so I call it C.M Bunk
This got a giggle out of me. And I rarely giggle.
WWE writers you are so sometime-y. You do great things like Jack and Zeb, thats good they are clearly the bad guys, they are going to make insane and stupid statements about how a millionaire snuck across the border. But then you have the Rock, you know that character Ric Flair was playing in the 80s and 90s, the Jet flyin’ guy out to steal your gife/girlfriend. Thats the Rock he’s the jerk. CM Punk is the everyman. You just had Wade Barrett promote a movie so obviously Face/Heel dynamics don’t matter. Please change you jerks who are fortunate to have a great job
They really earned their pay didn’t they?
Monster Mark Henry, who destroyed the WWE’s upper midcard last night, is afraid of a dancing comedy wrestler.
Cesaro taps to the shittest figure four ever in less than figure four minutes.
Tease a cash-in of MITB, doesn’t happen.
Tease a Jericho heel turn, doesn’t happen.
McMahon and Vickie bully poor Heyman for backing his client/friend.
Bryan taps. Orton/Kane and the audience naps.
And dancing fat guys.
Zzz.
Generally I agree, except:
–Henry wasn’t afraid of Khali. He just wasn’t going to waste his time with him.
–The Internet *always* think Jericho is doing something he’s not really doing. I don’t think they teased a heel turn at all.
Well WWE just uploaded their Harlem Shake video to youtube.
It’s more horrible then I could have ever imagined. There’s not even a mid-carder in sight.
Ricardo is there!! What are you talking about??!!?!?
Oh my, I thought you were kidding. That is really bad. Oh my.
I also love how the only female there is being obstructed from view.
than I* (it’s 4.37am)
I was wrong last night. John Cena wasn’t crowned an Alicorn Princess; the Rock was crowned one tonight.
Except one difference: The writers, composers and voice actors for MLP:FiM, knowing that this is forced upon them, put together a moving episode full of great songs and warm moments trying to assure their fans that nothing is changing and everything is going to stay the same.
On Raw, The Rock spent yet another main event verbally masturbating and WWE assured their fans that nothing is changing and everything is going to stay the same.
I need a freaking drink.
that title belt is ugly as sin. how the hell are they going to change the bulls on the side when another dude wins the belt* from dwayne.
*IT’S NOT A TITLE ANYMORE!
Get out a screwdriver? It isn’t that hard.
Drunk JBL is direly needed on commentary for slow build nights like tonight.
Cole: “Why did CM Punk blindside John Cena? Why, Punk, Why!?!”
JBL: “Well, ‘at bassard musta put ketchup onna hot dog.”
Cole: “What are you…”
JBL: “SHADDUP YOU TOAD!!”
Wrestling commentary always works better when there’s a touch of conflict between the announce team. The Cole/Lawler incestous circle jerk makes them both twice as insufferable as they actually are.
+1
Is it a coincidence that the new WWE Title Belt looks like home plate?
“Finally, The Rock has come… home.”
If WWE gets into the baseball metaphor game, I’m gonna lose it… in a good way.
I don’t know what to think about the new title… not as bad as some people suggest.
It’s better than the Spinner…but not by much. It still looks like it was market tested by Toys R Us shoppers.
The giant text is the part that’s fucking me up
I’m calling it now – Fandango’s moveset is going to involve a lot of jazz hands…and it will be GLORIOUS.
His finisher needs to be called “All That Jazz”…just sayin’.
Dancing With The Scars
Or the Jazzercisor.
Tango De La Muerte
I felt this same way when they replaced Nickelback’s Ode to Balls Being Out with TONIGHTZ THE NIGHT
And I’ll feel the same way when they replace WWE Champion The Rock with WWE Champion John Cena.
Did I blink and miss Big Show tonight? Or did they refuse to let him out there until he finally set that damn bucket down?
Out of curiosity, does anyone here actually watch Smackdown on a regular basis? I skip it altogether, but I was discussing how it used to be the stronger of the two brands around 2008-2009.
The Smackdown tag team division in particular, around the time Rey Mysterio and Edge were feuding with Benoit and Angle.
I only watch Smackdown when it has a live Tuesday showing.
Since they quietly ended the brand split, no.
I watch it every week. I feel like they’re going through a bit of a valley in terms of quality. It has been a much better show than Raw regularly in the past though.
3 hour RAW makes Smackdown even less appealing. I didn’t even realise the likes of The Rock showed up on Smackdown until I saw a preview of Elimination Chamber before the PPV.
Oh and I meant 2002 re: Benoit/Angle/Mysterio/Edge. God I feel old. I downloaded all of the Wrestling Observers matches of the year from 1980-2009 and their match @ No Mercy is on there, hence why I brought it up.
Don’t forget about Los Guerreros to complete the Smackdown Six. A Truly legendary time in WWE.
There used to be like 2 quality MOTY caliber matches every week, while Cena was busy tagging with Billy Kidman.
Smackdown has been better than Raw consistently for about a year now.
I record it every week and usually watch it in about 45 minutes. Always a few matches that make it worth it, mostly Cesaro related the last few months.
My head is still really cloudy from all of that. And I watched the last segment on mute!
That Raw reminded me a lot of the worst RAWs from the Attitude Era. The episodes where it was lots and lots and lots of talking, eight matches for which none save the main event went over three minutes and by the end you feel tired. And those were only two hours!
So yeah, that was really terrible!
Final count on TIHWDI unless I missed one: 7. 11 remains the watermark.
I still say this Punk/Cena/Rock match ends with a Ceen heel turn.
Any chance next week’s Punk/Cena match is interrupted by a thunderous DONG?!
Leave Val Venis out of this.
+HELLO LADIES
Ha! At this point, I would actually be happy with that. I just want something unexpected and interesting to happen in the next 5 weeks.
@FINT, +choppychoppyyourpeepee
+1 to Frightened Inmate Number Two
If Punk had introduced this belt, would we feel differently?
About the belt? Not really, it’s ugly.
About WWE? Yes, because they’d be letting a guy with a historic streak introduce it instead of a part-timer here to promote his movie.
Nah, I still don’t like the front of the belt. Besides the logo, it’s too open.
If Rock really wanted to get the crowd excited, he should have brought out Ned Beatty, and then raped him.
There is no name plate on the new belt. therefor the side plates must act as them.
So what was Cena coming out to say?
Choo-choo-choose me?
Did you know?
That belt was originally the design for what was supposed to be the XFL championship rings
Ha! +1.
+NoKickoffScrambleAtMidfield
+ouch
Typical CM Punk, coming out here to confuse Cena with the facts.
What a slow start on the “road to Wrestlemania.” I was bored out of my mind with everything except the 6-man tag…and that included a Bryan and Cesaro match.
(not against each other, mind you)
I was thinking how cool it woudl be if Punk showed up tonight still calling himself the champion and carrying around one of the old WWF Title belts. Then I got my hopes up when Rock was getting rid of the spinner and unveiling a new belt. Then my eyes got shat upon.
He should have done this from the beginning.
Now I have to go watch 24 hours of NOVA to counteract this programming.
The only way the belt works if it instead of a nameplate, the side panels can be removed to show the wrestlers logo. John Cena is his U Can’t C Me logo. CM Punk is an Straight Edge X. etc.