Positively Raw 03.08.11: Knockout blows, Stunners, and RKOs…

Hello all and welcome to Positively Raw on this fine and sunny day. Your weekly dose of Raw positivity is coming up shortly, but first I’d like to take this time to discuss current state of one of last year’s top superstars: King Sheamus.

The Rise and Fall of a King?

Over the last week I’ve read the comments online, and I’ve heard the moans from my friend and Sheamus fan The Locker Boy. Apparently Sheamus is down and out. I still disagree, and in fact, I still think that in years to come Sheamus will be one of the top stars in the biz. Yes, he was made to look like a schmuck in a feud against Santino, but in that rivalry, Sheamus was playing a bully, and was only upset due to the interference of the man that would become his next rival: John Morrison. I made it clear in my writing of this column at the time of how I felt about the Sheamus/Morrison feud. I thought it was one of the greatest rivalries of 2010, as the both of them put on a fantastic series of matches. Sheamus lost to Morrison, and in turn Morrison lost to Sheamus. In the process, Sheamus even beat Morrison to become King of the Ring. The final match in the series would be a ladder match at TLC to determine the next number one contender for the WWE Championship. John Morrison won the match, and essentially the feud, and many seemed to think that Sheamus’s credibility was hurt. And now, last week Triple H kicked Sheamus in the crotch, beat him around the arena a bit, and the pedigreed him through the announcer’s table, after which Sheamus would have to compete injured against Evan Bourne in a quick losing effort. Again, people think that his credibility is gone.

I would argue against this though. The feud with John Morrison didn’t harm Sheamus at all. Indeed it actually built Morrison up a hell of a lot and shone the spotlight on someone new. Getting the better of Sheamus was a big deal, for the Irishman is a former two time WWE Champion. Sheamus didn’t even emerge from the feud empty handed, as he was crowned King of the Ring during it, adding another accolade to his already impressive resume. As for Triple H’s ‘burial’ or him last week, it really wasn’t in my eyes. The Game used underhanded tactics, as Sheamus has used himself in the past, to get one over the Celtic Warrior. Fans seem to have forgotten that Sheamus pretty much dominated The Game last year and took him out of action for nearly a year, thus a little retribution to help move things on was what was needed.

Sheamus has not even been on our screens for two years yet, and made his Raw debut about a year and a half ago. He won the WWE title roughly a month after turning up on Raw, which was and is pretty darn impressive, and in his rookie year became a two time WWE Champion. Add King of the Ring to those title reigns and Sheamus really hasn’t had a bad ride. He’s been made to look the fool once or twice, and may have lost a few battles recently, but hell, that’s just allowed them to turn it into a storyline, as made evident this week in his rant after losing via countout to Daniel Bryan. Next week Sheamus will face Bryan for the United States Championship. Some may see that as a step down, but Sheamus did in all honesty bypass the midcard in the first place, and competing for a title is never a bad thing. Sheamus looks as if he’s going to be bringing the intensity next week, and in the US title match I expect to see the full return of the vicious, ruthless, barbaric Celtic Warrior.

On with the show….

1. Cole Stunned

It was announced last week that the Texas Rattlesnake himself, Tough Enough host Stone Cold Steve Austin was coming to Raw, live from his home state in Dallas, Texas. Another fact we knew of the show prior to broadcast was that Michael Cole was to announce the special guest referee for his match against Jerry Lawler at Wrestlemania. Cole took to the ring after having completely disrespecting the previous Divas Title match (he’s an obnoxious heel, it’s what he does). Cole squashed any rumours that the referee may be Alex Riley immediately by claiming that the man he had chosen was a former WWE Champion. Cole stated that the man to be referee would be the man to sign the contract he had in his hands. He then added that this man was an icon in wrestling, and from the great state of Texas. Cole then took things a step further by goading the crowd into chants of ‘Austin’ before laughing at them and revealing that the man he was talking about was none other than JBL. Bradshaw returned for the first time in two years, emerging in his iconic horn-rimmed limousine. JBL lifted Cole’s arm and went on to talk down Texas, and took out his pen to sign just as ….

…. Glass smashing was heard throughout the arena and Stone Cold arrived. No talking was necessary as Austin stunned JBL and chased Cole from the ring, raising some hell with some Steveweisers. He looked happy enough with how his night had gone down when he glanced down and saw the contract at his feet. Cole sensed what was going through the Rattlesnake’s mind and was almost in tears, screaming ‘NO!’. But there was nothing Cole could do, the crowd chanted ‘Hell Yeah!’ to Austin’s proposition and Austin is to be the referee for Cole vs. Lawler at Wrestlemania, and that’s the bottom line cause Stone Cold signed it!

The Positive – Stone Cold’s going to Wrestlemania! That’s your positive right there! Seriously though, this was a brilliantly played out segment and the crowd on fire for it. They weren’t just hot in their cheers and adulation for Stone Cold, but also in their boos of pure hatred for Michael Cole. JBL’s arrival and brief return (although who knows when the Wrestling God will return again?) was a fun little tease leading into Austin taking over and placing his name on the contract instead, making himself a part of ‘Mania once again.

Austin’s presence on Raw was felt fully and used to capacity, as it was not only teased by Cole at first before he revealed JBL, but the double bluff gave us a couple of stunners aimed at JBL, and also advanced a storyline. Austin being the referee finally gives Lawler a fighting chance, and adds the possibility of Cole receiving a stunner or two in three and half weeks. Swagger claimed afterwards that he’d take care of Austin and would ‘snap his ankle like a twig’. This also adds some tension and possible build in the coming weeks which would also give Swagger a hell of a rub.

The other positive issue here is that WWE seem to be fully, and subtly, celebrating the ten year anniversary of what many believe to be the greatest Wrestlemania, and all around Wrestling show in history: Wrestlemania 17. I mean, you’ve got Triple H vs. Undertaker, a match that took place on that card a decade ago, with the key difference being that Undertaker is now the Dead Man again and not the American Badass this time around. Then you have the inclusion of the main event of that year’s show as Stone Cold and The Rock are both going to appear at Wrestlemania. I can’t wait.

2. Another week, Another punt

Speaking of red hot crowds, the audience were also alight for Randy Orton. Before the first commercial break Randy Orton was seen backstage falling victim to a beating at the hands of Punk and the remaining members of Nexus, much like the beating Punk fell victim to at the hands of Orton and Legacy quarter of a decade ago. Irony rears its ugly head again eh?

Anyway, Punk told Mason Ryan and David Otunga to drag Orton out to the ring during the commercial break, and sure enough when we returned, Orton was down in the ring. The beating continued until Punk decided that he’d had enough and the match between Orton and Otunga could begin, remembering that if Otunga wins, he gets to be at ringside at Wrestlemania, whereas if Orton were to win, Otunga would also be banned. Orton clawed his way up, and told the referee to ring the bell. Otunga immediately took the upper hand, but of course, Orton always has an RKO up his sleeve, and soon enough, Otunga was downed for the three count. An RKO to Mason Ryan later, and Punk could do nothing but watch as Orton went ahead and punted yet another member of Nexus, as he delivered his devastating kick to David Otunga.

The Positive – This may not be the main event of Wrestlemania, but Randy Orton and CM Punk are doing a tremendous job in the build. For proof of this just go back and listen to the amount of noise the crowd has made anytime Punk and Orton have had any kind of interaction with one another over the past few weeks. I expect it to be deafening next week when Raw comes from Orton’s hometown of St. Louis. Of course the story being told here leads us back to Orton costing Punk his World title a few years back when the heel/face dynamic of the two of them was reversed. Now that Punk is the heelish leader of a stable, it’s great to see him dishing out his measure of revenge against Orton in the style that Orton cost Punk in the past. The action is top notch, and it’s safe to say that Orton’s RKO is one of the most over moves there is. The crowd literally explode whenever he hits it, and the punt causes them to go molten. Having punted each member of Nexus each week after defeating them, Orton is ensuring that they cannot and will not interfere in his ‘Mania match, because despite what the GM rules, of course they’d still happily turn up ‘illegally’. This way, we’re looking likely to get Punk vs. Orton one on one… A match we’ve been waiting years for. Over the next couple of weeks I’m highly intrigued to find out whether Mason Ryan can make it past Orton and into Punk’s corner, and what other tricks Punk has up his sleeve. I’m also wondering whether any other Nexus members, or even new members will return or debut along the road.

3. Cena The Miz delivers a knockout blow

On Twitter, John Cena claimed that on this week’s Raw he’d deliver a ‘knockout blow’ directed towards The Rock. The Miz meanwhile claimed via his Twitter account that he was boycotting Raw. Cena arrived for the closing segment of the show, and commented on how he thought The Rock making fun of him was funny, and mentioned about how he had struck a nerve with the People’s Champion. John stated that as The Rock didn’t appreciate the rapping, he was going to answer back through the medium of… Hip-Hop. Cena then hipped about The Rock not showing up, and hopped about how last week he had stayed at home reading from a teleprompter. He even revealed what should be The Rock’s next t-shirt, one that states ‘I Bring It via Satellite’, a mock up of Rock’s current ‘I Bring It’ design.

When Cena was finished, he put the microphone down and began to leave to his music, but turned around and was given a proper ‘knockout blow’ by his upcoming Wrestlemania opponent and WWE Champion The Miz. Seems boycotting was merely a ruse, that cunning Champion. Cena tried to get up and was met with another shot to the head courtesy of the Champion and the title belt. The Awesome One then went on to deliver a captivating promo, pointing out to Cena that a pattern has developed in that whenever Cena focuses on mocking The Rock, The Miz always gets the best of him. The WWE Champion then turned his attention to The Rock watching at home, telling The Brahma Bull that he’ll take The Rock’s eyebrow, his 46 catchphrases, his sunglasses, his father, and his grandfather, turn them sideways and stick straight up Rock’s candyass! Because he’s The Miz and he’s… spotted Cena getting up. The Miz then hit Cena with a Skull-Crushing Finale, but wasn’t done there, as in a total act of defiance towards both Cena and The Rock, The Miz performed his version of The People’s Elbow on Cena – The most Awesome move in sports entertainment.

….’AWESOME’!

The Positive – There are still complaints of The Rock and Cena overshadowing The Miz and the WWE Championship. Once again The Miz has proved that that is not and should not be the case. For the third or fourth week in a row, The Miz is once again standing tall over Cena, and this time, to make sure he’s the centre of attention, The Awesome One has sent a direct and personal message to The Rock by ripping off The Rock’s catchphrase and stealing his move to use on Cena. The Miz is now officially a main event threat, and could well retain at Wrestlemania.

Cena’s speech/rap/hipping hopping was great to see again also, as it hints at the type of attitude we’re to see down the road leading into Wrestlemania and potentially further if Cena and The Rock are to face off eventually. This story has truly evolved into something that sees Cena hating on Rocky for no showing live, while The Miz turns things around so that all eyes end up on him. I also noted how when Cena made his entrance, the cameras showed us many women in the audience excited to see Cena, which in a way turns the adult male audience even more anti-Cena.

I’m also loving the use of social media to fuel this feud, as let’s face it, Facebook and Twitter are everyday functions for many of us these days, and are allowing a new level of fan interaction. It’s also great advertising for the show, as you get Cena’s claim to deliver a knockout, or Miz’s statement of boycotting and it hooks you in.

That’ll be all for this week folks. Watch out for me in this week’s Fact or Fiction column! Until then Stay Positive!