Gonna do things a little different tonight, we'll do a play by play on blog and do a segment by segment look at the show.
CM Punk/John Cena Opening Segment
Wow, what can be said about this segment?? I mean, CM Punk with the megaphone was outstanding. This promo was more of an obvious worked shoot. The only thing I wish Punk had've done is made more references to "The Real World" that has been talking about WWE ever since Punk cut that promo. Jim Rome, Colin Cowherd, among other personalities have all been talking about this. Punk was 100% right that WWE really only gets a mention when someone dies. It's true. Cena came in and to his credit, added to the segment, he didn't take away from it. He could've very easily come out, done the whole "Super Cena" routine and catered to the kids. But he brought the intensity and seriousness that the segment called for. I was already going to buy this PPV, but if I was on the fence, this promo would've convinced me to buy it.
John Cena vs. The New Nexus (Handicap Match)
Rumors were swirling this weekend that Zack Ryder's run-in last week after the tag match was a step in the direction of Ryder taking over Otunga & McGilliutty & creating his own stable. Considering Cena is the main focal point of this match, I wouldn't expect any continuity from that last week to this week. I'm shocked this match lasted past a commercial break. Why would I assume they'd give the Tag Team Champs a legit showing against Cena when they don't care about the division?? You wanna know what else I'm shocked by? That Cole & Lawler's announcing isn't killing me right now? They're properly selling the importance of the match Sunday. I also liked Cole calling the top rope Rocker Dropper a "Wild leg drop". Haha. That match could've gone WAY worse than it did, I'll give it a B- grade. Considering I thought it'd be an F going in, that's a hell of a score. The Tag Champs were made to look legit & Cena made a believable finish to the match. I'm sure this won't be the last we see of Cena though tonight, since we're in his hometown.
These live contract negotiations could be a lot of fun. Punk with an open mic is obviously a good thing, but let's not underestimate Vince on the mic when he'll also obviously be able to say whatever he wants. Orton & Christian is almost an afterthought for the MITB PPV, but they don't have any type of matches except classic matches, so this PPV has the makings to be the best PPV not named WrestleMania. I will have a PPV Preview with my predictions sometime Saturday afternoon.
Someone explain to me why it took 15 years for Mark Henry to be made to look like a credible force? This is the first push he's gotten that's actually sustained and made a visible impact. I love how Vince called Dolph & Drew "two of his fastest rising superstars". Dolph maybe has gotten a sustained push, but what exactly has Drew done since he was drafted to RAW? I'm a HUGE Drew McIntyre fan. He's got the best entrance in the WWE, he's a solid wrestler, and a very believable heel. I hope Vince meant what he said. Unfortunately that's not gonna start tonight as I fully expect Big Show to squash them.
Kelly Kelly vs. Melina
Poor Melina. She used to be the best female worker in WWE, bar none. Now's she's subjected to forgettable matches against Kelly Kelly. The "highlight" of this match was how terrible the Bella's are on the mic. Holy crap that was brutal. Although Kelly did look genuinely offended by the proactive comment. I'm sure Justin Gabriel will be getting an earful from her tonight. I wish him luck in that conversation. I almost said earlier that Big Show & Mark Henry will be the worst match of the night on Sunday. I forgot there was a Divas match. That's unfortunate. This match gets an F.
Money in the Bank Ladder Match Promo
I'm gonna try to not make my prediction known now, as I'm gonna save it for Saturday. I have it narrowed down to 2, but I'm leaning towards 1. The Miz is absolutely correct in saying he's still the future of the WWE. There is one man, whether we hate his guts or not, that can say the Miz is the most dedicated wrestler, outside of the ring, and it mean something. That man is John Cena. He is tireless in promoting the company and in his charity work. But yet just today he said The Miz was the most tireless man the company and his work outside the ring is second to none. That's high praise. I hate that Swagger's MITB run is considered a joke now. It's not his fault he was thrusted into the title picture way too quickly and booked horribly as a champion. R-Truth managed to make Michael Cole snort on live TV. That was absolutely hilarious. "That briefcase is gonna get got!" I might pick R-Truth now just based off that promo. Hahaha! Great promo Alex Riley.... Um, yeah. Del Rio gets cut off, obviously this went longer than it was supposed to. This promo started well and ended in a train-wreck. That's possible when you have 8 guys talking. Oh wait, 7 guys... Where the hell is Rey Mysterio?!?
6 Man Match (Swagger/Miz/Truth vs. Riley/Bourne/Kingston)
If only more RAW matches got the time this match got when there's a storyline involved. This was a great way to promote the match. Everyone got solid offense in and Del Rio comes in and cleans everyone out at the end to look strong even though he wasn't in the match. I'll have more about this match on Saturday when I preview the match, but I will say I think it was smart to let Riley win the match. He was probably the only one in the match that didn't look like he had a credible chance to win. But now he's got the momentum heading into Sunday. A well executed build for the ladder match, I'm very much looking forward to it. This match gets my Match of the Night honors and an A grade. Well done.
The Big Show vs. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre
Big Show got a new shirt. Good for him. This was a squash as I assumed it would be. And to my point earlier about the differences in Dolph & Drew, they were very careful to protect Dolph as Drew took the beating. That was definitely NOT by coincidence. I love how Drew somehow took the worst of that runaway train named Mark Henry, but yet no one cares how he's doing. Man, they REALLY don't care about him. I mean there was OBVIOUS padding for Show and Henry, but I'm pretty sure Drew took a legit bump into the lighting grid.
Vince McMahon & CM Punk "Negotiate"
A tweet from Zack Ryder after Vince pointed to a sign bearing his likeness. "Vince McMahon knows I exist." Haha! It took 2 lines for CM Punk to make fun of McMahon for being a Cena homer. I love it. And then Punk scores another home run with the Ice Cream bars line. That was outstanding. Make that 3 for 3 with the Chaperone comment. Punk is on fire. Oh wait, let's keep going, 4-4 with the shots to The Rock. HAHA! This is as good as I hoped it would be. I absolutely love how Punk made it quite obvious with those "provisions" that there isn't a chance in hell he's re-signing. Oh man, if CM Punk somehow stays with the company, "The Voice of the Voiceless" needs to be on a t-shirt immediately. The way that Punk is MASTERFULLY towing that line of face and heel right now is something I don't that I've ever seen before. This is incredible TV the way that he has the crowd in the palm of his hand. Cena comes out and doesn't ruin it again. I gotta give him credit for stepping up his game in this storyline. He's done things the right way.
Oh my god. Can I call it the most brilliant promo of all time?! I mean, "You are the New York Yankees!" How does that not resonate?! That was the most outstanding analogy of all time! CM Punk absolutely just talked them into the building on Sunday and he just talked them into buying the PPV on DirecTV and anywhere else you can order it. I'm literally at a loss for words, and that is how a solid storyline should be. Leave me wanting more and not able to decide what's going to happen next. I will leave it at that. See you all on Sunday.
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