2-19-13 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the February 18, 2013 episode of Raw

The show starts with John Cena coming to the ring. He says the road to WrestleMania is here. It was a year ago they announced that Mania would be in Met Life Stadium. After last night we now know the 2 title matches. Del Rio vs. Swagger and Rock vs. Cena. Then CM Punk’s music plays and he & Paul Heyman come out. Punk asks Cena if he’s positive if he wants to face Rock. Punk says that’s the easy way and he expects Cena to take the easy way out. Punk then says Rock beat him, after Punk had him pinned for a bit and Rock also hit the referee. Punk then says that Cena never beat him. Cena says he won the rumble. Punk didn’t get the job done. It’s not about Punk. Punk says it is because this is about the WrestleMania main event. He was champion for over a year. Cena earned his shot by winning the rumble and got lucky. Rock vs. Cena is a repeat. Rock beats Cena because Cena can’t win the big one. Cena says this is typical Punk. Punk wants Cena to walk away. Cena has something that doesn’t belong to him. Punk tells Cena to get out of the ring & out of his life. Cena says no. Cena admires Punk’s honesty. HE says Punk’s smart enough to know Cena won’t give up his title match at WrestleMania. Cena then says he hasn’t beaten Punk or Rock. Cena says he would like to shut up the critics. SO Cena has a solution. He will let Punk earn a golden ticket. Cena vs. Punk. If Cena wins Punk shuts up & goes away. If Punk wins then Cena doesn’t deserve to main event Mania. Cena says Punk talks business, but he handles business. He wants to face Punk right now to see will get the WWE Title match at WrestleMania. Punk tells Cena he just made the stupidest decision of is life. He will take Cena up on his word but he will do it on his terms. Punk then says that since he was screwed he shouldn’t even be in this position. Punk says they’ll have the match next week. Cena says it’s official. He tells Punk to take the week to rest up and next week Cena will beat him. Then he will go to WrestleMania and beat The Rock & everyone will know that the champ is here. This was a good opening segment. I kind of had a feeling they’d do Cena-Punk for the number 1 contender spot. The problem with this is that they mentioned Cena has never beaten Punk or Rock, so that predictably means that he will beat Punk next week and then beat Rock at WrestleMania for the title.

Matt Striker is with Sheamus. Sheamus says they were supposed to get revenge on The Shield, but he feels like he let everybody down. Ryback paces back and forth. Sheamus tells Ryback they need to adapt & overcome. Is Ryback a machine or a mindless Neanderthal? Ryback grabs Sheamus and then Jericho comes in and tells them they shouldn’t be mad at each other. They have to do whatever it takes to save WWE. The Shield has to be stopped. Jericho says that he’s seen take over attempts happen before, with the nWo & Nexus. Jericho loves WWE & will not wrestle in any other promotion. Then he says there’s no way Vickie can deny the appeal of The Shield facing Ryback, Sheamus & Jericho. He will talk to Vickie to make sure that match happens tonight. Sheamus & Ryback are ok with that. Jericho walks off and then Ryback says, “Feed me Shield.” This was decent. I knew there would be some tension between Sheamus & Ryback. This 6 man match should happen at WrestleMania though.

Sin Cara vs. Mark Henry. Henry gets the pin. This was a squash. Then Henry picks up Cara & was going for a second world’s strongest slam but Khali’s music hits and out comes the Punjabi giant. Henry drops Cara as Khali gets in the ring. Then Henry slides out of the ring. Then he mimics Khali’s dance shtick. Henry says dancing is that Khali is good for. This was ok but I really hope they don’t have Henry face Khali at WrestleMania. Henry deserves way better!

 The Miz vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro in a No DQ match for the Title. Miz wins by submission to win the Title. This was a decent, short plunder match. I’m not sure why they had this match at the PPV if they were going to have it tonight also.

Time for a Jack Swager-Zeb Coulter heel American anti foreigners video. Zeb says there are delinquents who illegally come into the country. That’s drained this country of its resources & productivity. Zeb & Jack will give them a hand out, a 1 way ticket back to wherever they came. If the government won’t do anything about it, they know who will. Swagger says, “We the People.” This gimmick is so fricking stupid!!

Daniel Bryan is walking backstage. He bumps into Kane. Daniel says that last night Kane gave him an uppercut rather than hugging him. He doesn’t feel comfortable teaming with Kane. He went to Vickie and asked for a singles match with Jack Swagger. Kane says that he will go to Vickie and ask for a singles match too and he doesn’t want Daniel out there. Daniel says fine. Kane says he hates snakes. Orton comes by & asks if they were talking about him. Kane says that he doesn’t like snakes and if they get too close he will stomp on them with his boot. Then Orton says that Kane would have him worried at 1 point but after the sessions with Dr. Shelby Kane is more like Barney the dinosaur than the big red monster. Daniel found that amusing. This was typical Kane-Daniel Bryan. Orton being there was to set up a match with him & Kane later.

Vickie is on her phone & Heyman is there. She wants to congratulate him (sarcastically) on putting in those stipulations for the Rock-Punk match last night. Rock still managed to win. Vickie has some dramatic news that will affect Heyman’s career. She will tell him in the ring. Heyman says that he doesn’t like surprises. Vickie knows. This was ok.

World Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a good match but Dolph lost cleanly again! Why have Dolph face the champion that he can cash in on in a non title match again? Why not cash in MITB if this match is happening? Afterwards Langston clotheslines Del Rio and then gives him his finisher. He tells Del Rio it’s over for him. Then Dolph gets the MITB case and was going to cash in but Ricardo took the case and ran up the ramp. Langston went after him and Ricardo dropped it. AJ gets the case & gives it to Dolph but Del Rio gave Dolph an enziguri.

Wade Barrett is in the ring. He says he is a top WWE super star. He’s also about to become a movie star too. He recently starred in some movie that’s coming out in March. He wants everyone to see the trailer to see why the Barrett Barrage is coming to Hollywood. They show a trailer for the movie. Back to Barrett. Then Sheamus shows up on the Tron. He says Barrett isn’t the star of the film. Then Sheamus says if Barrett has anything to say he can feel free to respond. They’re “Out of time.” This was a completely pointless segment. Why have Barrett in the ring to promote a movie and then have Sheamus come on the Tron?

Brodus Clay, Tensai & Naomi vs. Primo, Epico & Rosa Mendez. Brodus, Tensai & Naomi win when Brodus pins Primo. This was a meaningless squash.

Time to show highlights of a Press Conference from earlier today, announcing that WrestleMania 30 will be in New Orleans.

Jack Swagger & Zeb Coulter are in the ring for a “State of the Union speech” God help me! Swagger says last night he not only conquered the chamber but he put the weight of the country on his shoulders. Tonight is about the state of the union and who better to give a speech about that then Zeb. Zeb says the Bill of Rights give him & Jack the right to voice their opinions. We might not like it but that’s what Americans do or whatever. He blames the millions of people illegally living in this country for the crappy shape it’s it. It’s time they put a stop to it. There’s a big problem in this country and it needs to be fixed. People need to say no more. Last night Swagger won the right to challenge for the World Title but this is more than a World Title match. It’s a battle for the safety of the country. Zeb says Del Rio came to this country to reap the rewards of the mother land. Swagger will win the World Title and reclaim America. Jack Swagger being World Champion will make America a proud country to live in or something like that. Swagger than says we the people. This was painful! This whole gimmick is completely idiotic! People need to say no more? I say no more stupid crappy ass storylines!! This is just beyond idiotic!!

WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Jack Swagger. Swagger wins by submission. This was a solid match.

Paul Heyman & Vickie Guerrero are in the ring. Vickie has a huge announcement that could drastically change Heyman’s career and his whole life. Tonight she will name a new assistant for herself. Brad Maddox. Maddox comes out and thanks Vickie. This is a reward for his loyalty and his services to this company and to Raw for exposing the relationship between Heyman & The Shield. Vince is so happy with Maddox that he gave him the opportunity if the life time naming him assistant manager. Vickie says he is the assistant to the managing super visor. Heyman says he doesn’t care what either one of them have to say. Then Vince shows up on the Tron. He tells Heyman that’s not his surprise. Heyman is pleasantly surprised to see Vince. Vince says when Heyman opens his mouth he lies. Vince then mentions what Heyman requested last week. Heyman says that out of the goodness of Vince’s heart he granted it. Vince says everyone knows he doesn’t have a heart. If he did it would be black and cold. Then they show last week when Heyman said he would do anything. Vince says he had that put in writing. Anything means anything. He can fire Heyman right now, but that’d be too good for him. He’s 2 weeks removed from hip surgery and next week he will get in the ring. Heyman will be there too. Vince & Heyman will have a fight. Heyman has the “Oh crap what am I gonna do” look. This was a bit weak. Maddox is Vickie’s assistant? LAME! Vince was typical Vince here. Heyman was good as usual but this segment didn’t work for me.

Chris Jericho, Ryback & Sheamus vs. The Shield. The Shield win Ambrose pins Jericho. This was a good match.

Damien Sandow comes out He tells the uninformed half wits that today is President’s day. A day that he holds near and dear to his heart. He talks about how the “Sandow family” were part of different President administrations. Sandow says he will save the fans from their self imposed ignorance. “You’re Welcome.”

Then Sandow attacks Kofi Kingston, they go at it for a bit and then Sandow gets the upper hand. Cue R-Truth’s music and he returns and goes after Sandow. He throws Sandow in the ring and kicks him twice before giving him the Axe kick. Then he clotheslines Sandow out of the ring. This was a decent segment.

Josh Mathews is with 2 people who are in the G.I. Joe movie with The Rock. Then they show the trailer. What’s with WWE showing trailers for movies tonight? First Wade Barrett and now The Rock.

Randy Orton vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Kane. Orton gets the pin. This was a solid match. Daniel Bryan came out. That distracted Kane and Orton hit the RKO for the pin. It looks like they’ll be splitting up the Kane & Daniel Bryan team.

The local marching band is on the entrance ramp. What is this?

Then The Rock comes out. He says last night Punk did everything he could to beat Rock and showed what a human piece of garbage he is. Rock says he beat the best in the world twice. That allowed Rock to wake up in New Orleans so he walk down that aisle and in the ring, proudly hold the title. They’re live; the whole world knows “Finally The Rock has come back to Lafayette.” 48 days till WrestleMania. Rock’s going to Mania as champion but isn’t going with the spinner belt. He’s been around a long time and was born in this business. He has respect for the WWE Title. When the spinner belt came out 8 years ago it worked. There were some fans who thought the belt was cool. To him the WWE Title should never look like a toy and should never ever spin. He gives it to some guy and says to make sure it goes in the Hall of Fame. When you see the WWE Title, as a super star or a fan the title should be inspiring. He puts over Bruno, Hogan, Bret & Austin as being some of the greatest champions. He unveils the new WWE Title. It looks pretty good. It has the Brahma Bull logo on the sides. Rock figures the fans love the title. They cheer. Rock wanted to make something prestigious and also flat out bad ass. Rock asks who he will face at WrestleMania. Punk or Cena? There is 1 man he wants to face. A guy who brings out the very best in The Rock. For professional & personal reasons that man is…Then Cena’s music hits and he comes out. Then Punk comes out and hits Cena in the back of the head with the spinner belt. Then Punk looks at Rock and throws the belt down. Then he points to Rock’s new belt and says he wants it. Punk walks to the back as Cena lays on the ramp and Rock stands in the ring to end the show. This was good. Rock was his usual charismatic self here. I liked that Cena came out and never spoke. Punk hitting Cena with the spinner belt was good too. I’m glad they finally got rid of that belt. Rock was so right when he said that the WWE Title shouldn’t look like a toy. I’m really hoping the Cena-Punk match goes to a no finish and we Rock-Cena-Punk for the title at WrestleMania.

I thought this was a mixed bag show this week. The opening segment was good but it felt predictable. Cena saying he never beat Punk or Rock most likely means that he will beat them both but maybe they’ll surprise us and have Punk in the title match too. The end was good. I liked Rock’s promo. Cena coming out and not speaking was good and Punk hitting Cena with the spinner belt and then saying he wants the new title was really good also. Jericho, Ryback, Sheamus vs. The Shield was good. Sandow attacking Kofi followed by R-Truth making his return was solid. The “State of the Union” bit was down right terrible! Daniel-Swagger was a solid match though. Orton-Kane was solid too and I was ok with Daniel coming out and costing Kane the match. Looks like they’re gonna split up that team. The Sheamus-Wade Barrett segment was a total waste. The Vickie-Heyman-Maddox segment with Vince showing up on the Tron was kind of weak. Maddox as Vickie’s assistant really doesn’t work for me but we’ll see where they go with that. I’m not sure how the Vince-Heyman “fight” will be or what will happen. Cara-Henry was a squash and so was the 6 person tag. Del Rio-Ziggler was solid but why have Dolph lose cleanly in a non title match to the champion that he can cash in on AGAIN? The post match bit with Ricardo taking the case and then dropping it on his way to the back, followed by AJ giving Dolph the case and then Del Rio giving Dolph an enziguri buried Dolph even further. Whenever he does cash that in I’m not sure anyone will take him seriously as World Champion. Miz-Cesaro was a decent and short plunder brawl but I’m not sure why they put the U.S. Title on Miz here rather than having him win it last night at the PPV. Overall I thought this week’s show was hit and miss.