1-14-13 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the January 14, 2013 20^th Anniversary episode of Raw

The show starts with Vince McMahon in the ring. He welcome’s everyone to the 20^th anniversary of Raw. There’s been a lot of entertainment over the years. According to Neilson over billion viewers have watched Raw. That’s because of 1 reason, because Vince is a certifiable, iconic genius and because of the fans. Tonight history will be made when Cena faces Dolph tonight in a steel cage. Plus The Rock will have his concert. Vince hopes everyone enjoys Raw. Then out comes Big Show. He says the celebration and the fans will have to wait. He wants talk about what happened on Smackdown. Vince doesn’t like being told what to do, or being called by his first name. Show calls him sir and says they need to address…Vince mentions Show no longer being World Champion. Show wants to talk about Smackdown. Vince says to roll the footage. Show says they don’t have to. Vince says the fans in Huston and all over the world needs to take a look at this footage. They reshow Del Rio beating Big Show for the World Title in the last man standing match from Smackdown. Show says he wasn’t prepared for that type of match. He says maybe Booker T is trying to make a hero out of Latinos. The fans boo and he says he’s trying to make a point. Show says that Booker envies him because he has an iron clad contract and that Booker & the fans are inferior to him. Show says that Vince should strip the inferior Del Rio of the title. Then out comes Ricardo Rodriguez and he introduces the new World Champion Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio tells Show that for someone who talks about being a giant, Show comes off very small. Del Rio remembers when Show picked on Ricardo. When Show gets picked on he whines about it. Del Rio says that rather than complain to Vince, Show should do something about it. Have Del Rio vs. Big Show tonight for the World Title. Show says no. The fans chant Si. Show says this is what he is talking about. He wasn’t ready on Smackdown and he isn’t ready now. Del Rio says Show is bigger & stronger than he is. He tells Show to show some cajones “Perro.” Show says if Del Rio thinks he will waste his rematch tonight, then Del Rio is delusional. Show will fight Del Rio when he wants to. Show says the rematch should happen at the Royal Rumble. Show chooses the battleground. When it’s all said and done people won’t be talking about Rock, Punk, or who won the rumble. They’ll be talking about Big Show. Show says that at the Rumble he will knock Del Rio out. Del Rio says something in Spanish. Big Show tells him to translate. Del Rio calls Big Show a fat jackass. Show complains that the World Champion is insulting him and the fans are ok with that. Del Rio says that he & Ricardo have a preasant for Show. Show tells Ricardo if he throws water on his suit, he will break Ricardo’s spine in half. Ricardo pours confetti on Show. Then Show goes after them but Del Rio gives Show a Rana followed by an enziguri. Vince then says, “Ladies and gentlemen the New World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio.” This was decent but a bit long. I knew they would announce Del Rio-Big Show for the rumble here. Also why does Cena need to be in a cage match Dolph since he beats Dolph EVERYTIME!?

They show clips of the Raw Bob Barker hosted.

Randy Orton vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Barrett gets the pin. This was a good match and I like that they had Barrett get the clean pin.

Eve Torres is walking backstage. Booker T comes by. He says that he talked with Vickie. They both agreed that if Eve gets DQ’d or counted out then she will lose the Divas Title to Kaitlyn. Eve says she is sure there must be something they can do. Eve goes to make out with Booker. Booker & Long laugh & Eve slaps Long. This was weak. That stip was added because Eve is leaving WWE after tonight, so she’s most likely going to lose. This was lame.

They show Kane & Daniel Bryan. Daniel doesn’t get why they need a second evaluation. He says they should say to Shelby whatever he wants to hear so they can get out of there. Shelby comes in. They have a group hug. Daniel says they’ve beaten this anger problem and asks if they can go. Shelby has 1 more question. He asks Daniel what he likes about Kane. Daniel says that Kane is tall, can light things on fire with his arms and is a good dancer. Shelby then asks Kane what he likes about Daniel. Kane says that Daniel is agile, has a great beard and isn’t afraid to admit that he wears women’s clothes. Shelby has 1 more surprise for them. In come Cody & Sandow. They’ll purposely provoke the champs and then the champs are supposed let it roll off their backs. Cody & Sandow question Shelby about that. Sandow says Shelby should figure out what he’s trying to accomplish. Cody doesn’t know which is worse, Kane & Daniel as a team, or Shelby as a therapist. Cody & Sandow ask if Shelby is a reel doctor. Sandow says the champs would be better off with Dr. Phil. That causes Shelby to flip out. Then Kane & Daniel go at it with Cody & Sandow for a bit and send them off. Then Kane, Daniel & Shelby scream yes. Was this segment totally meaningless? YES! I’m hoping that’s the end of Dr. Shelby and this anger management now that Kane & Daniel are buddies!

WWE Tag Team Champion Kane vs. Damien Sandow. Kane gets the pin. This was ok but short. I’m not sure why they had Sandow lose cleanly.

Justin Roberts introduces the first 2013 Hall of Fame inductee. Out comes Mick Foley. The fans chant Foley. Foley thanks the fans, right here in Huston, TX. Then The Shield’s music hits and they come out through the crowd. They get in the ring and then Ryback comes out. They triple team him but he fights them off. Then they get the upper hand. Then out comes Randy Orton. He goes after The Shield but they get the upper hand. Then out comes Sheamus and the faces clean house on The Shield ending with Ryback shell shocking Ambrose. This was a decent segment. I liked that there wasn’t much talk and more action. It looks like they might have Ryback, Sheamus & Orton vs. The Shield. They should have a 6 man war games match in the Elimination Chamber.

Josh Mathews comes in and mentions Ryback & The Shield are on a collision course. Ryback mentions that every time he’s face Punk The Shield has helped Punk out. Ryback doesn’t care about conspiracy theories. He also won’t, or can’t rest till he gives back to The Shield what they have taken from him. “Feed me Shield.”  This was solid.

Time to have a look at some of the most outrageous gimmicks throughout the 20 years of Raw. They show Terry Funk as Chainsaw Charlie, Repo Man, Doink, The Goon, Duke the Dumpster, Man Mountain Rock, Gilberg, The man’s man Steven Regal and others.

Kaitlyn vs. Divas Champion Kaitlyn Eve Torres. Kaitlyn gets the pin to win the Title. This was a solid match. I knew Kaitlyn was winning the belt since Eve is leaving.

Josh Mathews is backstage with Brodus Clay. Josh wants to have a look back at what Punk had to say about him last week. They show Punk’s comments. Brodus says he shucks and jives because he can afford too. He says that the pipe bomb will blow up in Punk’s face. This wasn’t much.

They show pieces of the Donald Trump-Vince McMahon contract signing from March, 2007.

Brodus Clay vs. WWE Champion CM Punk. Punk wins by submission. This was decent.

Afterwards Punk says that he just came out here to do what he comes here to do every Monday night. A little bit later Rock will do whatever he does. The fans are entitled to who think is more entertaining, but they’re not entitled to their own facts. He says it’s a fact that this is the most important title in the world. It’s a fact that the title belongs to Punk. It’s also a fact that he has been WWE champion for 421 days. Rock will come out and sing and entertain, if people find what Rock does entertaining, but at the Royal Rumble, no matter whose opinion, it is a fact the he will remain WWE Champion. He is the best in the world. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. Good promo as usual from Punk.

They show some more Raw clips. This time of Austin’s beer truck and Austin pouring cement into Vince’s corvette, Vince throwing Bischoff into a dumpster, Crime Time wrecking JBL’s limo, Austin in the zamboni, Kofi wrecking Orton’s car, Vince “blowing up in the limo and more

Mick Foley is on his cell phone and in comes The Rock. Foley offers Rock his hand. Rock says he’s not there to shake his hand. Then they hug. Foley says that he “Finally” made it into the WWE Hall of Fame. Rock says Foley wants to say something like, “Finally The Rock (Foley says & Sock) Connection have come back to Huston. Rock does his usual bit and says Foley is a Hall of Famer. Then Vickie Guerrero comes in tells them to shut up and this is her show. Vickie asks Rock if he has anything to say. He doesn’t That’s what Vickie thought. She walks out. Foley says he thought he was gonna do his usual bit to Vickie. Rock brings up his concert and congratulates Foley on his Hall of Fame induction. This was a solid backstage bit. It was cool The Rock & Mick Foley together.

Sheamus vs. 3MB in an over the top rope challenge. (Why are they having this match again?) Sheamus eliminates Jinder, then Drew. Then Slater threw Sheamus over the top but Sheamus landed on the apron. He tried to pull Slater over but Drew & Jinder helped Slater eliminate Sheamus. Afterwards Sheamus yanks Jinder out of the ring. Heath was on Drew’s shoulders. Sheamus Brogue Kicks Drew to his knees, then he Brogue Kicks Slater. Then he Brogue Kicks Drew again. This was pointless. I don’t know why they had this match again. They have Slater win but Sheamus Brogue Kicks them all anyway. Next!

Josh Mathews is backstage with Cena. He says that the cage match might benefit Cena. Cena says it’s 20 years of Raw and they should be talking about Rock, Austin, Taker, Michaels, Triple H, etc. Then he does his usual corny bit and he says that Dolph will do what the World Wrestling Federation did 10 years ago and that is get the F out. This was corny. I don’t know why they always have Cena cut these idiotic promos! They’re NOT funny!

Out comes The Miz. He has a special guest on Miz TV. A Hall of Famer and it will be AWESOME! He asks the fans if they want a hint. Miz gives a Whoooo. So Ric Flair will be a guest on Miz TV next. That will not be awesome!

Back to the show & Miz is in the ring. He talks about the cutting edge, the highlight real and Piper’s Pit. Then he welcomes everyone to Miz TV. His guest needs no introduction. He is the only 2 time WWE Hall of Famer (so far). Out comes Ric Flair. Miz says Flair has done everything on Raw. Had a classic match with Mr. Perfect, started evolution, was in a TLC match and was in musical chairs. He asks Flair what his favorite Raw moment is. Flair says it’s very well known the night after he retired after losing to Michaels, his retirement send off from that Raw was the best night of his life. Flair says the company just keeps getting bigger. Then he mentions that some guy said that the day Ryback brings down The Shield will be a great moment. They both say really, Flair says whoo and struts. Miz says that was awesome. Then they both whoo. Miz says that was a magical moment for him. He mentions that some of the WWE super stars have their own unique voices. They show catchphrases from Sandow, Road Dogg, Michael Cole, Chris Jericho, DX, R-Truth, Val Venis, Miz, Punk, Kan & Daniel, Vickie, Austin, Booker T, Funaki, Goldust, Flair, Ron Simmons, Hurricane, Lance Storm, Cena, Ryback, Miz, Vince, Edge & Christian & Zack Ryder. Miz says those catchphrases were good but there’s 1 missing. This guy can say this catchphrase perfectly. Then they hint at all the catch phrases. Flair then says his limousine riding jet flying kiss steeling wheeling dealing bit. Then out comes Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro doesn’t rely on catchphrases as a crutch. He says that Flair & Miz embody America like nobody else does. A failed reality TV star who is more focused on fame where his guests is the 16 time World Champion who mad 10 million and spent 30 million trying to maintain his illusion of past greatness. Cesaro says no matter how great Flair once was he has nothing to show for it right now, except for a bar tab that he can’t pay. Then he says the four fingers are now a symbol of Flair’s 4 Ex wives. Miz will pay Flair’s bar tab and will give Cesaro the receipt right now. Cesaro is going to be the bigger man and walk away. Then Flair chops Cesaro and then Miz give him the Skull Crushing Finale. Then Flair hints at locking Cesaro in the Figure 4 but he lets Miz do it. Miz has Cesaro in the Figure 4; Flair struts around and then drops a knee on Cesaro’s face. Then the elbow drop Flair’s jacket. This was a mixed bag segment. Miz TV is usually dull. I’m beyond tired of Flair. However, I liked Cesaro mentioning Flair’s unpaid bar tabs and how the 4 fingers now mean Flair’s 4 ex wives.

They show the Steve Austin-Mike Tyson showdown from March, 1998.

WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Cody Rhodes. Daniel wins by submission. This was a short match. So they had both Cody & Sandow lose to each tag champion cleanly before they challenge for the titles. That doesn’t make sense.

They show Matt Striker interviewing Eve on WWE App. Eve says that she is the victim and doesn’t need WWE. She quits.

AJ & Big E are backstage. She says the romance and passion have been her favorite Raw moments. She brings up Edge & Lita. They show the Edge-Lita wedding from June 2005 when Kane came from under the ring. Then AJ brings up when Triple H & Stephanie renewed their wedding vows. Big E says those were all great, but this 1 almost made him shed a tear. They show the Daniel-AJ wedding when Vince named AJ Raw GM. AJ says that was the best moment of her life and it got taken. She lost everything because of Cena. Then Dolph comes in. He hugs AJ. Then he tells Cena that he will feel the pain that he has caused them. Tonight Dolph proves to Cena that he is just too damn good. When he wins tonight it will be the greatest show stealing performance in Raw history. “Show…off.” This was idiotic.

Out comes Jim Ross. He will be doing commentary for the Cena-Dolph steel cage match next.

John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler in a steel cage match. Cena gets the pin. This was a good match but Cena beat Dolph cleanly AGAIN! AJ Climbed the cage, Big E came in to hi Cena with the MITB case but Cena ducked & Big E hit Dolph. Then Cena gave Dolph the AA for the pin.

Time for The Rock concert. He says it’s been an amazing night and is honored to end the night with this concert. Rock talks about his first time on Raw. He looked like a beast. Then they show a Rocky Maivia pic. He says he looked like an escaped mental patient looking to audition for the backstreet boys. That pic shows that you can overcome anything. Tonight is about the present. 20 years if Raw and the return of The Rock concert. The first song is a rendition of Heartbreak Hotel. He will sing it to someone who really deserves it. He sings his rendition of Heartbreak Hotel ragging on Paul Heyman. He points out a special guest, Dust Hill from ZZ Top. Rock gets his guitar and asks how the ladies doing tonight. His favorite curve on a woman is her smile. There’s a special woman he wanted to sing a song to tonight. He wants to bring her out. He asks Vickie Guerrero to come on out. Out comes Vickie. He mentions how nice Vickie looks. He says he wants to sing a song to her in Huston. A song from Eric Clapton. Of course he ragged on her too. Vickie flips and Rock sings her out. He mentions how horrible Vickie looks. He wants to call out someone right here, right now. Rock want to call Punk. Rock wants to tell Punk something man to man. He tells Punk to come on out. Out come Punk & Heyman. Punk raises the title above his head. Rock says for 421 days no one has been able to stop Punk. Heyman has Twinkie t**s (That was awful). Last week on Raw Punk said that facing him would be like boxing with God. The fact is Punk is not God. But as God his witness Rock will beat Punk for the WWE Title. Punk storms to ringside and he & Rock go at it as referees attempt to pull them apart. Arn Anderson & Jamie Noble come out to break it up too. Then Punk tells Rock to just bring it. The show ends with the intense stare down with Rock by the ramp and Punk by the announce table. The concert part of this was corny but The Rock-CM Punk pull apart was good.

I thought this week’s show wasn’t as good as last week’s. There was a lot of talking and not much wrestling. This was all about the 20^th anniversary of Monday Night Raw and I thought this show was fine for what it was. The Vince-Del Rio-Ricardo-Big Show segment to start the show was a bit long. The Rock concert was kinda hokey but I liked the pull apart braw with him & Punk. Having Flair on Miz TV didn’t really work for me but I liked Cesaro coming out & mentioning Flair’s unpaid tabs and ex wives. Cena-Dolph was good but why have Cena win again? It makes no sense. The Kane-Daniel Bryan-Cody Rhodes-Damien Sandow-Dr. Shelby bit was idiotic. I’m hoping that’s all for the Kane-Daniel Bryan anger management issues. It also made no sense to have Sandow lose cleanly to Kane or to have Cody lose cleanly to Daniel since they’re challenging for the tag team titles. Both matches were really short & weren’t necessary. The backstage bit with Booker T, Teddy Long & Eve was weak too. Kaitlyn-Eve was actually pretty solid. I knew Kaitlyn was getting the title since Eve left after tonight. AJ & Big E bringing up all the “wedding ceremonies” followed by Dolph’s promo was idiotic. I knew Dolph would lose to Cena cleanly again! Cena’s backstage promo was the usual crap we get from him. Sheamus-3MB was pointless too. The Foley-Rock-Vickie segment backstage was decent. It was cool to see Foley & Rock in the same segment. Orton-Barrett was good and I liked that they had Barrett get the clean win. The brawl Sheamus, Orton & Ryback against The Shield was good too. I liked how they came out and surrounded Foley and then having Sheamus, Orton & Ryback come in to set up the brawl was good. They should have Ryback, Orton & Sheamus vs. The Shield in a war games Elimination Chamber match. They can have dissention between Sheamus & Orton, that can cost them the match and that could lead to the Sheamus-Orton WrestleMania match that’s been talked about. Ryback’s promo after the brawl was ok too. Brodus-Punk was decent but short. Punk’s promo afterwards was good. So overall I thought this week’s show wasn’t as good as last week’s. This was all about the 20^th Anniversary of Monday Night Raw and it was ok for what it was.