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LOOKING AT THE WRESTLEMANIA AND RAW GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

RAW - 02/04/2012
Wrestlemania Thoughts
•Lilian as per usual absolutely nailed America the Beautiful
•D-Bry-Sheamus. Hated it, especially with all the backstage skits that followed that are so passé. WWE needs to realize that in 2012 the backstage over scripted attempts at comedy are not what their audience is paying for. However since they have sixteen writers on staff, I assume these people must justify their salaries somehow. As for Bryan-Sheamus, I have to say I called this finish and I know nobody will believe it, but I did tell a few people that WWE would shortchange this match once they timed out this show with all the filler stuff they like to put on these shows. If Bryan is just demoted down the card and sabotaged from this point forward like Zack Ryder then this was typical WWE. Perhaps it plays into a better storyline for Bryan, but I suspect he becomes another Christian just begging for one more match. As for Sheamus, the crowd might turn on him with a finish like this. WWE needs to realize a guy like Bryan has support whether they want to accept that or not and when you have a guy like Sheamus or Cena squash him, the crowd might turn on them. This is another issue WWE seems not to be able to come to terms with in 2012 that being they can’t control the audience like they could in 1990
•Orton-Kane. I actually thought this was better than expected, but they were put in a tough position after the crowd was shocked following Bryan-Sheamus. BTW the crowd chanting “Yes, Yes, Yes” for the first hour of the show probably doesn’t help Bryan’s cause going forward. The fact that Kane pinned Orton probably means this feud continues for poor Randy
•Cody-Show. I figured this finish was coming and can only hope that Cody moves on to better than a feud with Show
•The Divas match. Not only does Beth get pinned, but they also come out to Eve’s theme music and this is the stuff WWE just doesn’t think about when they are planning out the show. Eve is the girl The Bubble likes better so even though Beth is the champ she is the secondary character. If Eve is the girl you want to push then give her the frigin title! This match was just awkward for me and I felt like the crowd had to play along with it for the polite golf clap. Kelly did pull off a nice somersault off the top rope that she nailed perfectly
•Taker-Triple H. Unbelievable! This match pretty much started at 8pm and I told my buddies that I was with that this match ends at 8:45 including entrances and when Taker pinned Triple H and it was exactly 8:45 they looked at me like I knew more about this business than Vince himself...and they are probably  right, j/k...I think. Back to the match, it was just amazing with great near falls, a phenomenal story and realistic facial expressions from all parties involved. Props to Triple H for losing quite decisively, I just wish he could do it for an up and comer
•HOF segment. I thought this was a great segment and very touching. I felt Edge’s tears as really genuine. Good see to Flair on the WWE stage again, guys like Flair and Hogan look like much bigger stars on the WWE platform
•Team Johnny-Team Teddy. This was what it was, it picked up near the end and the demise of Ryder continues. I truly believe that creative is punishing Zack for getting over on his own. I am glad Laurinaitis won and I wouldn’t mind seeing Teddy back, but I’d write the character off for three months. I wonder if Booker will keep his announcing spot now that Laurinaitis is going to be on both shows
•Punk-Jericho. Fantastic match with a dead crowd until the end. The near falls and twists and turns were a great story. I thought Jericho should have gone over because he really hasn’t gotten any significant wins since he returned, but perhaps this is the end of Chris Jericho’s latest run, but that being said I’m also glad that Punk won, because he’s had the title for a long time now and is bringing credibility back to the belt
•Brodus. I didn’t mind this, but I think I would have liked it alot better if Bryan and Sheamus weren’t short changed. Whenever I saw a filler segment the whole show I thought about how Bryan and Sheamus were screwed
• Flo Rida was just awesome and I liked the surprise of P. Diddy, however MGK needs to know when to keep his mouth shut calling John Cena an underdog and talking about Rock’s ego, I guess he wanted to get booed. Skylar Grey is hot as hell and it didn’t look like she was expecting to get booed. I hear some people complaining that they don’t like the musical acts as part of their wrestling shows, but I feel it’s all a part of the spectacle of Wrestlemania
• Rock-Cena. Great match especially for a guy who hadn’t wrestled a singles match since 2004. Great crowd heat and I heard one respected journalist say this was the type of match made by the crowd and while that might be true, I think Rock deserves a ton of credit for going almost 30 minutes for his first match since 2004. The spot at the end with Rock going off the top rope and Cena reversing that into the AA I thought for sure was the finish. Cena trying the people’s elbow and into the rock bottom was a great finish. This was the story that needed to be told. I bitched about the hype saying Cena was taking the entire build and basically spelled out that he was winning and I’m glad I was proven wrong. Cena needed this loss if the plan is to once again attempt to get him unanimously cheered, but more importantly this was the right finish for his character. He was very sure of himself before the match and his character now goes through a rebuilding process. Let’s just hope WWE doesn’t try to spend the rest of the year making it up to him
•Overall I think this was one of the better Wrestlemania’s and could have been a top five Wrestlemania if Daniel Bryan and Sheamus weren’t short changed and the backstage segments didn’t suck
What needs to happen on this week’s Raw?
•The most important Raw of the year, bottom line. Extreme Rules hype, Wrestlemania fall out. How does Cena handle the loss? What does Rock have to say? What new or returning stars will be debuting? I also hope Punk retaining and Sheamus winning the world title are not lost in the shuffle
Show Breakdown

1. Refreshing change of pace to start the show with the backstage state of the union address type deal. I should officially note that David Otunga is my favorite character on WWE programming right now.

2. As Rock comes out I am thinking to myself how much the show is going to miss him going forward. Great reaction in Miami for the hometown boy!

3. Love the “You still got it” chant.

4. Great promo from The Rock and he left us with a nice question mark.

5. Nice flashback segment to a month ago noting what Cena said about having to beat The Rock. Cole asking the question “Has Cena given up?” gives away the answer. Also Cena calling out The Rock doesn’t really excite me.

6. The day after Wrestlemania and it’s time to begin the separation of Dolph from Jack and Vickie.

7. Good to hear a “Let’s go Ziggler” chant and hopefully WWE listens as they didn’t handle him well during Wrestlemania season.

8. I really don’t like Santino, but the crowd seems to be with him so fun match. I like the fact that it looks like they are possibly beginning to tease dissention between Dolph and Jack.

9. Brodus finally looks to be involved in a storyline, which is a good thing.

10. I like WWE acknowledging the competition in Japan.

11. The Daniel Bryan chant probably isn’t going to help Daniel Bryan’s cause as Vince will just want to control the crowd and therefore Bryan will be watered down or have the reins pulled back.

12. Lord Tensai looking good and good to have the man formerly known as A-Train back in the WWE.

13. Loving these flashbacks to everything Cena said leading up to The Rock match. This is what needs to happen for the betterment of the Cena character.

14. BTW didn’t Cole say we’d hear from Sheamus next before Lord Tensai’s debut? Did they pull an audible on that hearing the “Yes” and “Daniel Bryan” chants?

15. Great reaction for Punk. This crowd is red hot tonight and a smart crowd. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a “Sexual Chocolate” chant in this match directed at Mark Henry.

16. And I think I hear the “Sexual Chocolate” chant, but maybe I’m hearing things because I’m looking for it.

17. The crowd is making this Punk-Henry match extremely entertaining.

18. I see a man in a Macho Man costume in the front row! This crowd is loving this match.

19. Mark Henry wins via count out. Interesting booking decision. Are they going towards a Henry-Punk feud?

20. “I would never drink and drive”, LOL tremendous line by Jericho.

21. Great violent beat down by Chris Jericho and something this feud definitely needed to get Jericho back on track.

22. Well here’s Sheamus after all and I hear the boos. This is what happens when WWE tries to control the audience.

23. Good to see Alberto back and I guess they are switching into an Alberto-Sheamus feud. Poor Bryan.

24. WWE’s micromanaging and over scripting is just embarrassing here as both Del Rio and Sheamus have to ignore the chants. Why doesn’t Vince just come out and tell the crowd they are extras like in TNA.

25. Funny crowd chant of “Si”.

26. Ah Vince must be losing his mind in the back hearing the “Daniel Bryan” chants throughout the show. He probably can’t wait to get out of Miami and to a crowd that doesn’t remember what happened last night.

27. I’m shocked we got to even see Daniel Bryan even if it was backstage.

28. Bret’s banging his head against the wall seeing Rock try and pull off that sharp shooter.

29. Nice payoff to the Big Show-Cody feud. I hope that’s the end of it.

30. I like the commercial for Wrestlemania in New York next year.

31. I’m not sure I need to see the return of Abraham Washington, but at least it’s a storyline for Mark Henry.

32. The Eve promo was completely useless.  It doesn’t appear Zack is going to one up her anytime soon.

33. Cole handled the hype for the Cena call out better this time saying that many say it hit him hard while other say he’ll rebound. It’s getting wrestling back to basics when you put the focus on wins and losses.

34. If this isn’t more sabotage I don’t know what is. They have Eve come out and cut a promo mocking Ryder and Ryder comes out in the very next segment against The Miz. This company...

35. Imagine how hot this crowd would be for Ryder if WWE didn’t completely bury him for getting over on his own.

36. And Ryder loses again to I’m sure many smiles backstage. Miz is winning again at least that’s good for him, however will see how long it lasts.

37. Good to see a plug for Smackdown and two key matches.

38. They say the definition of insane is when you keep doing the same thing over and over again without success...this is what I think about when I hear a crowd massively booing John Cena and WWE looks for pockets in the crowd where they are cheering him to pan to. How long has this been going on now?

39. “You’re a loser chant”, and John not taking ownership of it. The crowd has made this show.

40. Cena stops to hear the “We want Lesnar” chant.

41. I love this crowd. Brock is back and this definitely changes up the landscape!

42. BTW WWE needs to rehire Tazz just to say “Here comes the pain”