Positively Raw 03.29.11: Last Stop on The Road to Wrestlemania

Welcome to the least negative place on the whole of the World Wide Web, this ladies and gents, is Positively Raw!

This week’s Raw was the final stop for WWE’s flagship show on the Road to Wrestlemania. This is pretty much the last chance for the company to persuade us to tune in to their biggest spectacle of the year, especially seeing as this week’s Smackdown is likely to be lighter than usual edition.

With Wrestlemania 27 just a mere few days away now, speculation and rumour is running rampant over which match will be the true Main Event at the Granddaddy of Them All – as in the final match to close the show. For weeks, rumours ran amuck claiming that it would indeed be Triple H vs. The Undertaker in the closing match. Many on the internet were distraught by this news. Now, it is being reported that it will indeed be the WWE Championship Match of John Cena vs. The Miz that will go on last. Again, we have ourselves some negativity streaming to us via our screens and comments sections, claiming that ‘actually it should be ‘Taker and HHH on last’. WWE won’t be able to win it seems. Maybe they should just put Snooki on last…..

Jokes! I was joking! Honest!

In all honesty I don’t mind which match goes on last, as I don’t think it makes much of a difference. If I had to choose one, I’d have to got with The Miz vs. John Cena, as in my opinion that match has had the better build, and being for the title, should be more important. Last year’s Streak vs. Career was in my mind just a little different from Streak vs….. well, The Game. Nothing against Triple H, but he’s not exactly going anywhere if he loses. I also think that it’s wrong to assume that if Cena/Miz goes on last, that it’s a forgone conclusion that Cena will win. The Miz is here to stay after all.

I Came To Play!

1. Punk’s Homecoming and a Wounded Viper

Raw, live from Chicago kicked off with CM Punk kicking back in the ring. The hometown hero was actually sitting down in the ring, soaking in the cheers and adulation, the praise being showered upon him from his people, the people of Chicago. Within a minute, Punk turned the crowd slightly against him, as he claimed that he didn’t actually care about anyone, be they a member of Nexus, or from Chicago. He stated that he can always get help from others though with a click of his fingers. Punk went on to cut a promo discussing and showing his actions against Orton last week, and about how he will defeat Orton at Wrestlemania. As the Straight Edge Superstar was about to leave though, The Viper emerged with a bandaged knee, selling Punk’s assault of a week ago. There were no more words. Just actions. Orton gained the upper hand on Punk, hitting his patented DDT through the ropes. He then set up for the Punt, Punk was in prime position. The Viper began to strike… and fell down. His leg wouldn’t support him to run across the ring. He was no longer The Viper, but in the words of Michael Cole, was now a ‘Dead Duck’. Punk capitalised on this, ambushing the leg of Orton some more, before putting The Viper to sleep, making him Go To Sleep.

The Positive – I’ve gone on and on and on about how red hot this feud has been. From the beginning until now, we’ve seen Orton punt each and every member of the new Nexus back to developmental, one at a time. Punk is now alone, but last week he gained the upper hand for the first time since the feud began back at Royal Rumble. This week, CM Punk continued that trend, by again targeting the same knee, Orton’s punting knee, thus gaining a huge advantage ahead of their showdown this Sunday. Orton was great here too, in that he really seems to know how to sell a leg injury (remember how his leg had been taken out back when The Miz cashed in Money in the Bank?), and it looked pretty convincing when he fell down after putting weight on it. This should lead to what was already predicted to be a great match also containing some great storytelling this Sunday in Atlanta. Although much of the Chicago crowd were still in support of their fiendish hometown boy, Punk still remained ever the villain, ever the heel, and did seem to turn at least some of them. I can’t wait to watch this match at Wrestlemania.

2. The Dead Man, The Game, and The Heartbreak Kid

We all knew going into the show this week that ‘Taker and Triple H were due to go face to face ahead of their upcoming Wrestlemania (possibly Main Event) match. Much like when both men returned on 22.2.11, Triple H’s entrance began as soon as ‘Taker had stepped into the ring. There would be no water spitting for The Game though, as ‘Taker used his mystical powers to turn lights on and off to dim the arena at that very moment. We were in for a surprise though, as before The Game or The Last Outlaw could even utter a word, the familiar sound of Sensational Sherri hit and HBK Shawn Michaels arrived, fireworks and all to the delight of everyone.

The Heartbreak Kid apologised for interrupting (and we forgave him immediately), but said that he couldn’t miss this. He cut a promo about Undertaker, about Triple H, and about this epic encounter. He then, facing The Undertaker, asked ‘Just what makes you think…’ after a brief pause for dramatic effect turns towards Triple H, before finishing with ‘…makes you think you can do what I couldn’t?’. The Game responds by telling HBK that he had gone soft and only cared about stealing the show, win or lose. Triple H on the other hand only cares about winning. ‘Taker eventually began to speak, and while facing his upcoming opponent, and talking to him, made some rather harsh comments that stung poor old HBK who was now standing in the background. Shawn decided to turn up some Sweet Chin Music, but Undertaker proved once again that he well and truly has HBK’s number by catching, and reversing the move into a near Chokeslam. Triple H made the save for his best buddy, before asking Shawn to tell ‘Taker why exactly Triple H was going to beat Undertaker. Unfortunately, Shawn Michaels was shaken and embarrassed. He said nothing, and left the ring in silence, while Undertaker grinned and sarcastically tipped his hat towards The King of Kings.

The Positive – This is going to be one of, if not the biggest match at Wrestlemania. I’ve previously mentioned enjoyment of the unique build towards the match, as in the two men have had no physical contact at all, but the inclusion into the equation of Shawn Michaels has really turned it up a notch. It all makes sense too, as HBK is of course great friends with The Game, and of course had those two epic matches with Undertaker at the last two ‘Manias.

All three men threw valid points and arguments into the pot on Raw, but what I loved about it the most was how Shawn Michaels evolved during the segment from happy-go-lucky and excited at the beginning, to being crushed and defeated at the end of it. Shawn has always been renowned for his ability to play off of emotions well, and he did so once again on Raw, as it was clear that DX had some sort of plan in place to ensure Triple H victory over The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Only, what with being reminded by The Undertaker at how he had failed in ending the Streak, and had lost his career, and after failing to even hit the Superkick on the Dead Man, and needing Triple H’s help in not getting slammed, HBK had obviously been shaken and hurt throughout the segment to the point that he just needed to leave. And in leaving, he left us with questions going into Wrestlemania, such as ‘Will HBK turn up?’ and ‘Will he and Triple H band together against The Phenom?’ – I’m looking forward to seeing these questions and more answered on Sunday night.

3. THE Rock, THE Miz, and THE John Cena

Finally…. after six long weeks, The Rock has come back to Raw live and in person. Back from the last commercial break, we saw The Great One backstage about to make his way to the ring. His music hit, the roof blew off, and out came The Rock live in Chicago. Rocky gave a promo ripping on John Cena again, and by introducing us to his way of life, ‘Team Bring It’. After hitting many of his iconic catchphrases, John Cena arrived, and at last we had ourselves John Cena and The Rock in the same ring, together. Cena was heavily booed by the masses in Chicago, but went on to deliver a fantastic promo. This was Cena’s best since his fake retirement speech back in November after Survivor Series. John talked about how this is what he wanted, for The Rock to come back. Cena admitted that he was one of the millions and only wanted to see The Rock back in the ring. He then continued by calling The People’s Champion out on a few things, such as The Rock having a problem with Cena’s brightly coloured t-shirts, and Cena’s love of rap music. But most of all, the thing that Cena could not believe was that The Rock detested Cena for his target audience being children. This makes Cena angry, and The Rock came back with more catchphrases, leading to John Cena actually seeming like the more mature man. Things were about to kick off… it was electrifying… it was…

‘AWESOME!’

The WWE Champion, The Miz arrived before any physicality could take place and cut an epic promo of his own, calling The Rock out on not being able to actually fight as that would jeopardise his Hollywood career. The Miz even ‘guaran-damn-teed’ that he’s beat The Rock down in an instance. Before long, The Miz and his Vice President of Corporate Communications Alex Riley were beating The Rock down, while John Cena simply watched from the outside. Rocky fought back though, and brought it, laying the Smackdown to Riley, sending him flying from the ring. The Rock nailed Miz with a DDT and hit the most electrifying move in all of entertainment, The People’s Elbow on the WWE Champ. The Rock ejected The Miz from the ring, but turned right around into an Attitude Adjustment courtesy of John Cena. And thus, John Cena stood tall at the end of the Road to Wrestlemania, with both The Miz and The Rock down.

The Positive – This was a great segment to end Raw with. It was heavily hyped, and it delivered. The Rock cut yet another well-put-together promo, as you’d expect to hear from The People’s Champion. Although I am questioning how this ‘Team Bring It’ gimmick is any different from Cena’s ‘Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect’. John Cena then made some serious and well validated points, and actually looked to finally hold his own on the microphone during this feud. It was great to hear Cena finally admit that yes, he caters to kids, and he’s proud of it. It was also great to hear the crowd response of high-pitched cheers and low-pitched jeers. Even better was seeing The Miz, who is still a newcomer to the Main Even picture, look right at home, and cutting a promo on The Rock that was not at all out of place, but that in fact was just as good as any Rock promo (and I stand by this statement).

The best part of this segment though: we finally got to see The Rock lay the Smackdown and hit a People’s Elbow! Oh, The Rock is back. As for Cena’s sneak attack and AA to end the show, I’m happy with that too, as Cena showed some attitude towards The Rock, and stands tall going into ‘Mania, while all the controversy and mayhem has left us all wondering just what will happen at Wrestlemania, which is exactly how a ‘go-home’ show should leave us. Will The Rock be involved in Cena and The Miz’s match? Will The Miz retain? We find out at Wrestlemania. Enjoy it folks, I know I will!

Stay Positive!