WWE Raw Report 3/4/2013

This match was a really solid effort, all four men brought their A-game, and performed as such. It would have been better if they had ten minutes to add to it, as it was rushed, and for a match of this importance, it should have had time to build. CM Punk got the win, and he’ll face The Undertaker, as he should. That will be an amazing match and what should likely be the last Wrestlemania of The Undertakers career. The US Champion faced off with Ryback in a match he couldn’t possibly win. Ryback has basically been involved in losing the big match since his fight with Punk at Hell in a Cell. The only way to keep him relevant and in any feared, is to feed him wins, on Monday Night Raw. Tonight it was Cesaro’s turn, and he did so with a solid in ring effort. I’m beginning to think that Cesaro might be the next big star on the WWE roster. He put over Ryback and did so with a solid effort and continues to look every bit the part of the next big thing. Gong…..it’s the return of The Undertaker. Well, we hear his theme, but return to find CM Punk and Heyman making their way to the squared circle. It’s time for Punk to explain to us how he should be the man to end the Streak at Wrestlemania. Punk is the best in the business, especially since his heel turn. He captivates an audience maybe second to only The Rock, but Punk does so in a completely different manner. Soon the ring would get more crowded as Randy Orton, The Big Show, and Sheamus would all come to the ring and make their case for why each should face The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Finally, RAW GM Vickie Guerrero who looked like Pavarotti in a wet suit comes down and announces a four way match, with the winner to face The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Punk carried the segment as Show, Orton and Sheamus fail in comparison on the microphone. The Big Show feels like man without a gimmick right now.View the list »
The Phenom Returns

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Another Monday Night, another RAW Report. This week, the WWE kicked RAW old school style, and I can’t lie, it was glorious. Old graphics, old stage setup it was everything from the glory days of RAW. It was a solid episode that helped build towards Wrestlemania 29 and showcased some former talent, and featured the return of the Phenom.

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From the opening video package with Mean Gene, it was clear this was not the same old, same old on Monday night. Any teaser that features Ryback, Dustty Rhodes, Mae Young and the New Age Outlaws obviously is setting the stage for something outside the norm. Cole and Lawler would dressed old school, which is nice. Not sure where they dug up “The King’s” red blazer but it was a sight for sore eyes.

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  • Gong…..it’s the return of The Undertaker. Well, we hear his theme, but return to find CM Punk and Heyman making their way to the squared circle. It’s time for Punk to explain to us how he should be the man to end the Streak at Wrestlemania. Punk is the best in the business, especially since his heel turn. He captivates an audience maybe second to only The Rock, but Punk does so in a completely different manner. Soon the ring would get more crowded as Randy Orton, The Big Show, and Sheamus would all come to the ring and make their case for why each should face The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Finally, RAW GM Vickie Guerrero who looked like Pavarotti in a wet suit comes down and announces a four way match, with the winner to face The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Punk carried the segment as Show, Orton and Sheamus fail in comparison on the microphone. The Big Show feels like man without a gimmick right now.
  • The US Champion faced off with Ryback in a match he couldn’t possibly win. Ryback has basically been involved in losing the big match since his fight with Punk at Hell in a Cell. The only way to keep him relevant and in any feared, is to feed him wins, on Monday Night Raw. Tonight it was Cesaro’s turn, and he did so with a solid in ring effort. I’m beginning to think that Cesaro might be the next big star on the WWE roster. He put over Ryback and did so with a solid effort and continues to look every bit the part of the next big thing.
  • This match was a really solid effort, all four men brought their A-game, and performed as such. It would have been better if they had ten minutes to add to it, as it was rushed, and for a match of this importance, it should have had time to build. CM Punk got the win, and he’ll face The Undertaker, as he should. That will be an amazing match and what should likely be the last Wrestlemania of The Undertakers career.
  • This seems somewhat familiar to us all. Once again, it’s almost Wrestlemania and The Rock and Cena are going toe to toe in the middle of the ring, with microphones. Gems like, “Sweet Honey Boo-boo Harlem Shake” and “Ice cycles on the People’s Nipples” by the Rock had the fans clapping and cheering. John Cena is playing the broken man. His loss at WM 28 sent his life into a tailspin, both personally and professionally etc. He needs redemption. So in what was supposed to be Point/Counterpoint, we got some decent back and forth, and anytime you get two of the best in the world in the ring like this, it’s going to be special. Even if it’s the 20th time. The Rock has the fans, Cena has the heart. Solid segment, we’ll see it again, and again.
  • I like HHH and always have, but this seems beyond forced. Let’s be honest, Brock was accidentally busted open last week, and they are utilizing that fact full tilt. This could have been more intriguing if Lesnar had been in the building. In the end it was just HHH, past his prime, spending ten minutes in the ring, doing four minutes work.
  • I like The Miz, and his losing to the Miz tonight isn’t what bothers me. It seems like the WWE has no clear idea of what to do with him right now. He’s with AJ and Big E, a group that seems just placed together for no reason. He carries around the money in the bank briefcase but even when he does cash in, he’ll be misused. It seems like the lack of a current plan for some of the midcard talent is hurting the WWE right now.
  • So we almost saw his debut tonight, but the ring announcer couldn’t “Let the A’s breathe” so Fandango took his balls and went home. Oh for shame, the world was so looking forward to this gimmick angle getting over. Repackage this kid already. While you’re at it, do something with Tensai, Mark Henry and Broadus Clay. See Dead Weight at the bottom of the article.
  • Not sure what the point of this match was, I mean, you’d think even if this was just to build more heat for Swagger and Jeb, they’d at least built something up to it backstage before the match. Nope, this was filler, ladies and gentlemen and it wasn’t good. It was nice to see Jim Duggan, Dusty Rhodes and well, to some smaller extent Sgt. Slaughter, but they were also just out as filler, and this whole “match” never got started. I guess this is punishment for his non alcohol DUI.
  • There are some huge guys right now in the WWE who are doing nothing. It looks like Mark Henry and Ryback might be facing off at Wrestlemania, and that’s fine. We’ve got Broadus Clay, Tensai, Big Show and Mark Henry who have nothing going for them and nowhere seemingly to go from here. Add the Great Khali to the mix and you have a bunch of limited big men who are taking minutes away from the more talented roster.
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, Las Vegas MMA Examiner

Dan Rose has been covering the sport of mixed martial arts for more than a decade. He's traveled the world reporting on events, doing interviews and shooting photos for sites like Sherdog.com, MMA Magazine, NHBSpot.com and MMAValor.com. Dan has run a successful radio show as well, interviewing...

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