We are officially full speed on the Road to Wrestlemania. Expect the path to it to get a lot clearer after tonight. My guess is that you will get an idea of what the majority of the matches will be after tonight.
Lose To The Shield? Who Cares, KEEP SMILING!
John Cena came out, smiling and happy as ever after losing to The Shield. John Cena said Wrestlemania is taking shape after last night. C.M. Punk came out. Punk said fighting The Rock at Wrestlemania was the easy way out. Punk said Rock beat him fair and square, despite having Rock down for an 18 count and striking a WWE official. Punk said Cena has never beat him. Cena said he wasn’t talking about wins and losses, he was talking about Wrestlemania. Cena said sorry but this one isn’t about him, so Punk will have to sit this one out. Punk said he was Champ for 434 days. He called Cena lucky for winning the Rumble. Punk said Rock/Cena was a rerun. Cena asked Punk what he wants to do. Punk said walk away. Cena said he isn’t going to hand away a golden ticket to the main event of Wrestlemania. Cena said Punk does have a point. He hasn’t beaten Rock or Punk. And he wants to silence those critics. Cena challenged Punk to a match. If Cena wins, Punk shuts up. If Punk wins, he gets to go to the main event of Wrestlemania. Punk said they will do it, next week. Cena agreed.
Segment Analysis: That segment tells me one thing: The Undertaker more than likely can’t go at Wrestlemania. I don’t think they would take only four weeks to build up an Undertaker match at Wrestlemania. My early guess is some kind of screwy finish leading to Punk getting added to the match. Good opening promo. I’ve always said Cena is tolerable when he is serious. Survey Says: 3.5/5
Sheamus was interviewed. He got Ryback’s attention. Sheamus told him to get it together. Sheamus asked if Ryback was a mindless neanderthal. Chris Jericho interrupted and said they have to stop The Shield. Jericho said it starts tonight, when the three of them face The Shield.
Mark Henry: Comedian?
Mark Henry vs Sin Cara. Henry hit a headbutt and then stood on the back of Sin Cara. Sin Cara hit a kick to the head, but Henry caught Sin Cara the second time and hit a running powerslam, then the World’s Strongest Slam for the win. After the match he went to attack Sin Cara again, but Great Khali walked out to the ring. Henry left and mocked Khali’s dance. He said if he wanted a dance he would get a date.
Segment Analysis: Please No Mark Henry vs Great Khali at Mania. Mark Henry was great in the end and his one liner was great. As for Sin Cara, well his career is going nowhere fast. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Why Can’t This Feud Just End?
Miz vs Antonio Cesaro- No DQ. Miz went right to work on Cesaro. He hit a double axe handle on the outside. But Cesaro tossed Miz into the barricade then rammed his shoulder into the ringpost. Cesaro grabbed a chair and kendo stick. He used the kendo stick to hit Miz in the shoulder. Cesaro tried twice to throw Miz into a chair in the corner but Miz blocked it. Cesaro applied an armbar with Miz’s arm in a chair. Cesaro went to drop Miz on the chair, but Miz went for his backbreaker/neckbreaker combo, but Cesaro pushed Miz into the chair. Miz ducked a Cesaro charge and he went into the chair. Miz dropped Cesaro onto the chair set up in the ring. Miz applied the Figure Four and Cesaro tapped.
Match Analysis: Okay match. I just don’t get why this feud can’t end already. Miz shouldn’t take the US Title from Cesaro. Cesaro needs to move on from here. It was a horrible looking Figure Four too. Survey Says: 2/5
Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger gave a promo about immigration. They will give a State of the Union address later tonight.
Kane and Daniel Bryan said they each wanted singles matches, and didn’t want the other to come out with them. Kane said he doesn’t trust snakes like Bryan. Randy Orton was behind Kane and asked if he was talking about him. Orton said Kane has gone from being feared to being Barney.
Vickie told Paul Heyman she had news that will affect Paul Heyman’s life and career.
Poor Dolph
Dolph Ziggler vs Alberto del Rio. Dolph caught Del Rio with a quick drop kick. Dolph hit another kick to the chest but Del Rio tossed him over the top. Ziggler landed on the apron but caught an enziguri kick into commercial. Ziggler had control back from break. Big E landed a cheap shot. Del Rio crotched Ziggler on the turnbuckle then hit a reverse face first suplex off the top. Both men exchanged punches before Del Rio took control with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio hit a kick to the head that got him a two. Ziggler countered an armbar attempt into a swinging neckbreaker for two. Del Rio threw Ziggler into the corner and landed some kidney shots then a backstabber for two. Del Rio drop kicked Big E off the apron, then applied the cross armbreaker to Dolph as Dolph tapped.
After the match, Big E attacked Del Rio. Dolph wanted to cash in, but Ricardo stole the briefcase. Big E chased him to the back. A.J. retrieved the briefcase, but Dolph ate an enziguri kick in the ring.
Match Analysis: They had a better match on Main Event. Too short of a match here. The teased Ziggler cash in was nice, but Dolph has to start getting some more wins soon or people aren’t going to buy him as World Champion. I’m still calling a Wrestlemania cash in. Survey Says: 3/5
Wade Barrett played a trailer for his new movie Dead Man Down. Sheamus randomly interrupted. What was the point of that segment?
Tensai, Brodus Clay and Naomi beat Primo, Epico and Rosa.
WE THE PEOPLE!
Jack Swagger introduced Zeb Colter. Colter said the Bill of Rights gives them the right to voice his opinion. He said the state of our union is pathetic. And it is because of the people living here illegally. They are taking our jobs and our freedom. Jack Swagger is prepared to step up and say no more. Colter said the match at Wrestlemania was a battle for control of the country. Colter ended the promo saying Swagger would win at Wrestlemania.
Daniel Bryan vs Jack Swagger was already started back from break. Bryan had control over Swagger. Bryan hit a couple kicks but Swagger came right back with a clothesline. On the outside Bryan hit a dropkick, but he missed his knee off the apron. Swagger rammed him into the barricade. Bryan fought out of an armbar but Swagger hit a running knee then a Swagger Bomb for two. Bryan started a comeback with a boot to the face then a clothesline. Bryan hit a suicide dive to the outside. Bryan hit a dropkick off the top for two. Bryan hit a handful of kicks, but Swagger caught one of them and hit a slam. Bryan applied the No Lock but Swagger got his foot on the ropes. Bryan missed a charging dropkick into the corner. Swagger started working over Bryan’s ankle. Swagger applied the Patriot Lock and Bryan tapped.
Segment Analysis: I’m really liking this new Jack Swagger. It’s different. It’s fresh. And Swagger and Colter are making this work. That was also a good match too. I’m looking forward to Swagger and Del Rio getting into a real feud. Should be some interesting TV. Survey Says: 3.5/5
WE’RE GONNA FIGHT!!!
Vickie Guerrero was in the ring with Paul Heyman. She said she was naming a new Assistant to the GM of RAW. It was Brad Maddox. Maddox said it was for his loyalty to the show and him exposing Heyman’s allegiance with The Shield. Vickie and Brad argued over Assistant or Assistant To, like on The Office. Heyman asked if this was his cue to throw up.
Vince appeared on screen. He reminded Heyman of what he said last week, where he said he would do anything to get the stipulation added to the WWE Title Match at Elimination Chamber. Vince said he could fire him, but that would be too easy. Vince said next week, they are gonna fight.
Segment Analysis: Odd segment. They’re really hyping up next week’s show as being big. This is all leading to HHH/Lesnar I would assume. Don’t know what the Brad Maddox stuff will lead to other than him being on TV. Survey Says: 2/5
The Shield Still Looking Strong?
Six Man tag. Ryback went to work early but Jericho tagged himself in to get Ryback under control. Jericho caught Ambrose with an elbow than a crossbody. Jericho tagged in Sheamus and Ambrose tagged in Reigns. The two brawled. Sheamus caught Reigns with some axe handles then a running knee. Sheamus hit White Noise. He was getting ready for a Brogue Kick but Rollins pulled Reigns out of the ring. Sheamus instead hit Ambrose with the Brogue Kick.
Back from break Reigns had Sheamus in a headlock. Rollins came in and him and Ambrose both hit dropkicks. Ryback eventually go the hot tag. Ambrose distracted the ref. Reigns hit another Spear but Rollins only got a two. The heels took their turns working over Ryback this time. Reigns ended up missing a Splash. Ryback tagged in Jericho. Jericho hit a running bulldog then a Lionsault on Ambrose. On the outside Reigns threw Ryback into the ringpost. Jericho applied the Walls on Ambrose. Sheamus took out Reigns and they brawled. With the ref distracted, Rollins hit a springboard knee to the head on Jericho. Ambrose pinned Jericho for the win.
Match Analysis: Another good match from The Shield. That was a good spot from Rollins at the end. You have to wonder if they are maybe teasing a Ryback heel turn down the line. Problem is he is still somewhat over with the crowd. Good match. Not like last night, but the action was solid. Ambrose is a great seller. Survey Says: 4/5
Kofi Kingston vs Damien Sandow never started. Sandow took out Kofi until R-Truth came back to make the save.
Kane vs Randy Orton. Kane hit an upper cut to Orton and he fell to the outside. Kane still had control back from break. After a couple of punches Kane hit a DDT for two. Orton fought back with a clothesline and a dropkick, but Kane caught Orton with an upper cut again. Orton came back with a powerslam but Kane hit a sidewalk slam. Orton ducked Kane’s top rope upper cut. Kane fought out of the middle rope DDT and dropped Orton on the rope. Daniel Bryan came out to distract Kane, allowing Orton to hit the RKO for the win. The break up continues.
Still Looks Bad
Rock was introduced by the Lafayette Marching Band. He did his usual introduction stuff. Rock said he is going to Wrestlemania as WWE Champion, but not with the Spinner Belt. He said when the Title was introduced eight years ago, it was cool. He has respect for the Title. But it should never look like a toy and never spin. Rock introduced the new Title: It had a giant WWE logo with two Brahma Bull logos on the side. Rock wondered who he wanted to fight at Wrestlemania. Before he could say who, John Cena interrupted. He stood on the stage until C.M. Punk came out and hit him from behind with the spinner belt. Punk walked off as Cena sold the belt shot to close the show.
Segment Analysis: I still don’t like the new Title design. Just doesn’t do it for me. The same could be said about that last segment. Not a strong way to end the show. Didn’t help that the crowd was dead for most of the night as well. I still think the Triple Threat is more likely at this point than Punk/Taker, but that is just me. Survey Says: 2.5/5
OVERALL
Like last week, I thought it was an average show. The best match of the night was the six man tag. Shield continues to look strong which is a good thing. I liked the opening promo segment between Punk and Cena. I continue to like Jack Swagger’s new gimmick. Much better than his All American gimmick. Its different and fresh. The Dolph tease cash in was well done, but they need to start giving him some wins so people can take him seriously as World Champion eventually. I liked the wrestling on the show for the most part. I wish Cesaro/Miz would just end already. And Mark Henry was great tonight mimicking Khali and with his dance partner line. I’m giving the show a 6.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
