2-4-13 Raw results and thoughts

  Coverage and thoughts on the February 4, 2013 episode of Raw

The show starts with CM Punk coming to the ring. He has Justin Roberts get in the ring and has Punk announce him as the people’s champion. Punk asks if he overreacted last week. If the fans think that they’ve never done anything their entire lives. He’s had a week to watch the footage and he acted like a normal person would because he was screwed. The WWE Title was stolen from him and is held by someone who doesn’t understand what it means to be champion. All week people have been asking Punk about the video from last week showing that he & Heyman were in cahoots with The Shield & Maddox. Then he gets out of the ring and asks the fans if they saw him in the video. He wasn’t on the video but the fans still point their fingers at him. Then he asks Cole the same. Cole says he wasn’t in the video. Punk gets back in the ring and says that if Heyman says that wasn’t him in the video then it wasn’t Heyman. The fans have bought into a video that Vince has put on his show as Gospel truth. He says Vince has the cash and is vindictive enough to screw Punk. If Vince wants to paint this picture that Punk & Heyman are in cahoots with The Shield & Maddox then he will. He says the idiot fans are eating it up. Then he mentions that Vince got what he deserved last week. Vince had hip surgery today. Lesnar broke his hip and that’s what Vince deserves. The fans will never amount to anything. They don’t deserve it. If they think he’s wrong they can get in the ring and he will throw them back over the rail. He says the fans are worthless. Vince got what he deserved and in 2 weeks Punk will get back what he was screwed out of. Rock might be champion but the champion is right here. He says that today is day 442 for the longest WWE Title reign in history. Then out comes Booker T. Punk says this isn’t Booker’s show. Booker flubs his line and then says that Vickie made Booker come out and decide Punk’s fate, but he will let the fans make that decision. Booker says that Punk should face his WrestleMania 26 opponent, Rey Mysterio, or the guy he fought at Mania 27, Randy Orton, or last year’s opponent, Chris Jericho. He tells the fans to download their APP and vote for who they want to see Punk face tonight. Punk says Booker’s leaving this to idiots. Booker says the fans will make that decision and he knows Punk can dig that “sucka.” This was a good way to start the show. Punk’s promo was tremendous as usual but Booker T kind of brought it down a bit. Then afterwards Cole & King showed the fans how to download from their APP.

They mention that the next Hall of Fame inductee will be announced later (I read who it’s going to be & it is a very well deserving wrestler)!

We see a video from Randy Orton. He mentions that he beat Punk at Mania 27 in Atlanta. He has the solution to shutting Punk’s mouth, an RKO.

Ryback vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Ryback gets the pin. This was a solid match but why have Cesaro do another clean job to Ryback?

They reshow Cena’s promo from last week that was followed by The Shield attack and then Ryback & Sheamus coming out.

They show a Rey Mysterio video. He mentions that he beat Punk at Mania 26 and took his hair. He knows how to handle Punk.

They show a Shield video package.

Cena is in the GM office. Vickie heard he’s going to the ring to call out The Shield by himself. She asks him if he has a death wish. Cena says he won the rumble, is going to Mania & will be WWE Champion again, but first The Shield needs to be stopped tonight.

They reshow the Trish video package from last week.

Cole mentions that the next inductee maybe the greatest of all time will take his place in the Hall of Fame.

Time for a Chris Jericho video. He says that others call you the best in the world. Tonight we have the chance to see who is the best in the world and tells the fans to vote for him.

Santino Marella vs. Jack Swagger. Swagger wins by submission. This was a squash.

Then Swagger gets in Booker’s face and tells him he’s just getting started. Booker likes what he sees.

World Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Cody Rhodes. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a decent match. I knew Del Rio was going to win. Then Del Rio gets the mic and says that he’s a different person. He used to look down on the fans but he was wrong. Big Show tried to bully him but he wasn’t going to let that happen. He appreciates the fans’ support. They made him open his eyes. Now he is World Champion. Not just for himself but for the people. He tells Big Show that he will pay for attacking Ricardo. If Show thinks what happened on Smackdown was bad, just wait. Then Big Show shows up on the Tron. He says he’s at a hotel. Del Rio says Show is a coward. Show says it would be easy for him to snap Del Rio in half. The reason he left was so wouldn’t tear Del Rio apart. Show says Del Rio stole his title. Finishing off Del Rio in a parking lot doesn’t get him what he wants. He wants a rematch for the World Title at the Elimination Chamber. He tells Del Rio that Booker T knows where he is and if Del Rio signs the contract then Booker will being it to Big Show. Then he tells Del Rio not to even think about trying to find him because if he thought what happened to Ricardo was bad, that’s nothing compared to what he will do to Del Rio. This was good. They’ve been doing a good job with this storyline.

King gets the mic and it is time to find out who will face CM Punk. It will be Jericho.

Backstage Daniel Bryan blames Kane for them losing to Mysterio & Sin Cara. He says Kane’s not doing his part as Daniels’ partner. Kane says he thought Daniel could take care of himself. Daniel tells Kane not to hurt his chances in the Elimination Chamber and tells him to remain backstage.

Rey Mysterio vs. Daniel Bryan. Daniel wins by submission. This was a good match.

Then Mark Henry’s music hits and he makes his return (I wasn’t expecting this). Daniel goes after him but Henry sends him into the ring barrier. Then Henry gets in the ring and gives Mysterio a running power slam. Then he drags Rey to the corner but then Sin Cara comes out. He goes for a spring board But Henry catches him and gives him the world’s strongest slam. Then Mysterio got back up and went after him but Henry gave him the world’s strongest slam too. Then Henry gives Mysterio a Vader bomb and shouts, “That’s what I do!” Then he throws Cara out of the ring. This was good. It was a nice surprise to have Mark Henry back. It looks like they might have him be in the elimination chamber. I’d be cool with Del Rio vs. Mark Henry at WrestleMania if they do that.

Kane is backstage and Daniel runs up to him. He asks Kane where he was. Kane said Daniel told him to stay backstage. Daniel says Kane owes him an apology. Kane says Daniel’s words hurt and nothing’s is stronger then they’re friendship. Daniel asks if Kane really means that. Kane says no.

They reshow the Heyman evaluation that was followed by Lesnar giving Vince an F5.

Big Show is on his phone with Booker. He finds out that Del Rio has signed the contract. Someone knocks on the door and it’s room service. The guy looks for a tip and Show tells him, “Next time get a better job.” This was decent.

Sheamus vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Kane. Sheamus gets the pin. Daniel Bryan came to the ring and asked Kane where he was. Kane grabs Daniel by the throat. The referee broke that up. Then Sheamus gave Kane the Brogue Kick for the pin. This was a solid match. I liked how they were countering each other’s maneuvers.

Time for Miz TV. Miz is in the ring and he welcomes everyone. His guest shocked the world when he reintroduced Lesnar. Then Heyman comes out and tells Miz not to say another word. Miz hasn’t introduced him yet. Heyman will introduce himself. He agreed to be on Miz TV to clear his name and he won’t have Miz give him a bad reputation. Heyman offers his best wishes to Vince. He mentions that Vince had hip surgery today. Miz says he & the fans aren’t buying what Heyman’s saying. Heyman will say this so even Miz can understand. Heyman never knew Lesnar was in Vegas. He’s sorry that Lesnar attacked Vince. He tells Miz not to be obsessed with Miz TV & mentions that he tried to calm Lesnar down. Miz says that he saw the video of Heyman with Maddox & The Shield. Heyman might be the most committed liar Miz has ever met. Heyman says how dare Miz invite him on his show and try to make himself look good at his expense. Heyman asks if Miz agrees that Punk was screwed out of the WWE Title and should still be champion. Miz says Heyman is changing the subject. Heyman will answer Miz’s questions just as soon as Miz answers his. Miz says Heyman’s crowding him. Then out comes Vickie Guerrero. She says this bickering has to stop. She says Heyman is telling the truth. He had nothing to do with Brock returning. She did. She was negotiating with Brock for awhile but never said anything because she knows Brock has a controversial record. She also says that she resigned Brock so Vince would make her Raw GM. Last Monday Lesnar & Vickie finalized their deal. She had no idea Lesnar was going to lay out Vince. She feels bad and then cries. Heyman believes Vickie and suggests that we have a moment of silence for Vince. Vickie has 1 better on Heyman. Let’s all Pray for Vince’s well being. Miz says really a few times. He says they’re both lying. Heyman’s pissed at Vince for shutting down his company & Vickie has an issue with Vince because he keeps saying she might be regular GM and than he yanks it from her or something like that. Miz says they live off the success of people’s misery. Vickie says she’s Miz’s boss. Miz says when Vince recovers he will can them both. Then out comes Brock Lesnar. He & Miz have a stare down & Heyman tells Miz to back down. Miz hits Brock and then Brock throws Miz and the Miz TV set out of the ring. Miz comes back in and goes after Lesnar but Lesnar gives Miz an F5. Heyman tells Brock no more & that Miz is sorry. This was a solid segment. Heyman was really good on the mic as usual. Miz was ok here too & I was ok with Vickie’s promo. Lesnar coming out & giving Miz an F5 was good.

They go to the promo box. Bo Dallas says he accomplished more than he expected. He eliminated Barrett in the rumble and then beat him on Raw the next night. Barrett might think Dallas is the underdog but this dog has a bite

Randy Orton vs. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett. Orton gets the pin. This was a good match but how come they had Barrett lose to Orton again? How often are they going to have this match?

They show a hype video for Fandango. It looks like we’ll be stuck with this idiotic gimmick after all.

Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk. Punk gets the pin. This was a really good match.

Time to find out who the next 2013 Hall of Fame inductee is. Bruno Sammartino! Finally! Michael Cole said that ESPN & wwe.com had mentioned this. He also said that Bruno is 1 of the greatest of all time. I agree. This was a really nicely done video package. Bruno is more than well deserving & I’m glad he is finally going to be in the Hall of Fame!!

CM Punk is backstage. Matt Striker wants a word with him. Punk asks what he wants. Striker wants to know where Punk’s head is at. Punk isn’t upset that Rock is filming commercials. He’s mad at Rock for walking around with the WWE Title. Rock might have the belt, but he isn’t really the champion. Punk has proved that he is the best in the world at the elimination chamber he will do it again. Good promo from Punk.

John Cena is backstage. Josh Mathews asks him why he would call them out alone. Cena says that last week he said that he will face the WWE Champion. He says last week The Shield pushed. Tonight he pushes back. This was 1 of Cena’s better promos. It was short. Him saying that the time for laughs stops was kinda odd coming from him though.

Big Show is in hotel room eating. He’s also on his phone asking where the contract is. Someone knocks on the door. It’s a guy with the contract. The guy tells him to hold on. Big Show says he’s reading the contract. The guy keeps trying to tell him that he should know something, but Show signs the contract. Then he opens the door & Del Rio is standing in the hallway. Big Show attacks him. He breaks a leg off of a table but then Del Rio gets him with an extinguisher. Then he says Big Show’s not so tough. Then 2 guys come out of the elevator. Del Rio says he had some bad Mexican food. This was good but the Mexican food line was lame.

Brad Maddox is in the ring. He says that last week Vince exposed the truth that Heyman paid him off. Heyman preyed on him because he knew he was an honest hard working up and coming super star. Now everyone knows the truth. He’s glad that it’s all out there. He is an innocent victim. He did the right thing when he gave Vince the footage showing Heyman was lying about being aligned with The Shield. Maddox says he is the hero of this story and as the hero it will be him, not Cena who is gonna teach The Shield about justice. He tells The Shield that justice awaits them. He tells them to come on down. They come out through the crowd. Ambrose says they don’t need an invitation. He says Maddox is just a rat. Maddox says he’s not the only 1 who took money from Heyman. Ambrose says no one said justice was free. Rollins says that justice is giving Maddox the beating he deserves. Reigns says that last time it was business. Tonight they’ll just enjoy it. Ambrose says they feel that Maddox doesn’t believe in The Shield. They get in the ring. Maddox goes after them but they get the upper hand & give him the triple power bomb. Then Cena’s music hits & he’s in the crowed. Cue Ryback’s theme & he’s in the crowd too. Finally they play Sheamus’ music who is also in the crowd. The Shield goes to head up the ramp but Orton and others come out and prevent them from leaving. The Shield gets in the ring and are surrounded. Cena, Sheamus & Ryback get in the ring & the brawl starts. The Shield retreats and goes back through the crowd. Cena, Sheamus & Ryback stand in the ring to end the show. This was good. Maddox’s promo was alright. I liked having Cena; Sheamus & Ryback come out through the crowd. I was also ok with Orton and company coming out and preventing The Shield from escaping. The brawl was good too.

I thought this was a good show overall. Punk’s promo at the start was good but I thought Booker’s promo was weak. The end was really good. They should have Cena, Ryback & Sheamus vs. The Shield in the elimination chamber match in a war games type setting (3 vs.3). There were a lot of solid matches on here too. Mysterio-Bryan was good and Mark Henry returning was a nice surprise. The segments with Big Show in the hotel room were solid too. Big Show was good here. I like the Del Rio-Big Show fight in the hallway, but Del Rio saying he had some bad Mexican food was weak. Del Rio-Cody was a decent match but a bit short. Santino-Swagger was a squash. Kane-Sheamus was solid too. Cena’s backstage promo was good and short. The Miz TV segment was well done too. I also like the Bruno Sammartino video package. Jericho-Punk was really good. Ryback-Cesaro & Orton-Barrett were both solid but I don’t get why they had both Cesaro & Barrett lose cleanly. On the whole though I this was a good show this week.