1. This was an interesting way to get around the predictability of CM Punk vs The Undertaker match at WrestleMania while also giving us a pretty good main event for tonight. All of the guys (except for maybe the Big Show) had valid reasons for being in a WrestleMania match with The Undertaker and while we all expect a Punk victory, I’m looking forward to the match.
2. This afternoon when I went on the Active section of the WWE App to take a screenshot of The Undertaker logo, I happened to open up the “In The Ring” section of the app and the guys featured were Randy Orton, Sheamus, The Big Show & The Shield. I thought this was weird at the time since as far as I know Big Show is still a heel but after seeing this Fatal Four Way set up, I can only expect The Shield to run in, give Punk the victory and set up the match between The Shield & Orton/Sheamus/Show.
3. Ryback vs. Mark Henry at WrestleMania – battle of two big guys we forgot about.
4. A good segment from both The Rock and John Cena, very intense and serious compared to their last two feuds. That being said, where the hell do they go from here? They said all they needed to say and yet they still have “34 days” until their match at WrestleMania. I have a feeling this is going to get pretty unbearable for the next month.
5. Incredibly lackluster promo from Triple H. Once again we all pay the price of having part-timers in main event storylines. Triple H’s intensity meant absolutely nothing without Brock Lesnar present to counteract it. I’ve never experienced a PPV build like this and it has to be just as frustrating for the writers as it is the fans.
6. Now here’s what I’ve been waiting for all night, the New Age Outlaws! While unfortunately they didn’t get to squash Rhodes Scholars, damn did they look good! I’m constantly impressed whenever we get to see Billy Gunn or Road Dogg in the ring and honestly, I’d rather see them on a regular basis working with younger talent than having The Rock or Brock Lesnar every 2 weeks or so for only 4 months out of the year.
7. Holy crap its Grizzly Redwood on WWE TV!!!! Wait… no, that’s Daniel Bryan. Gimmick infringement!
8. Seeing Sheamus in this match makes me feel like I wouldn’t mind seeing Sheamus vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Obviously he wouldn’t have the verbal or storytelling ability of a CM Punk or Randy Orton but their match would be stiff and intense.
9. I’m VERY happy we didn’t see The Shield run-in that I expected. CM Punk desperately needed a clean win after the last few months and this was the perfect way to do it. Although Punk is no longer the champion, his 434 day reign as WWE Champion truly is a feat & revisiting that angle to challenge Undertaker’s 20-0 WrestleMania streak makes perfect sense. Punk can gloat that he reigned for 434 STRAIGHT days while Undertaker only had to win 1 match a year. I know Punk has said in the past that he has no interest in wrestling The Undertaker at WrestleMania since the outcome is so predictable but I have a gut feeling that Punk’s pride won’t let him give anything but his very best both in the ring and outside of it so the fans remember WrestleMania 29 as the event where CM Punk faced The Undertaker and not where John Cena faced The Rock.
10. “Old School Raw” wasn’t much more than an old graphics package, music and set but it was a nice change of pace from the typically over-polished Monday Night Raw we’re used to seeing every Monday night. From the red, white and blue ring ropes to the block WWE logos everywhere made me yearn for a simpler time. It was intriguing to see guys like Brodus Clay, Sweet T & Fandango that fit into the over-the-top, old school-style seamlessly compared to those like CM Punk & Randy Orton who would benefit more from a non-PG environment.
