“I think you’re overrated,â€- Michael Cole to John Cena in RAW’s opening segment.
Cole’s character is annoying. The whole “slanted†broadcaster nonsense is old but Cole had a few decent one-liners. John Cena was the one who saved the opening segment with some routine promo though, continuing to lay the emotional groundwork for this feud. But it would have been so much better if Big Show came out and cut another promo. His work last week was some of the best of his career.
The in-ring work isn’t going to sell a Cena/Show angle, but the promo can.
Makes zero sense that Show wasn’t on this week’s RAW.
Matches:
World Champion Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler w/Vikki Guerrero: Physical and athletic opener. These two match up well and early on, the match was a back and forth one. Ziggler nearly won with a Top-Rope Rocker Dropper, but Sheamus fought back and hit the White Noise and followed it with the Brogue Kick for the win. After the match, Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez attacked the champion.
Sin Cara vs. Hunico w/Camacho: Fast-paced encounter. It’s like the last six months flew by and this feud just restarted on a whim. Hunico sold his tail off here and Cara won with his Head Scissor/Drop Toe Hold Combo.
Ryback vs. Arthur Rosenberg and Stan Stansky: Wow, after their boy-band promo, you wanted them to get their asses handed to them. A massive double clothesline and a double Samoan Drop variation was all Ryback needed for the win. It’s time this guy gets some real competition. At this point, Ryback is the Brodus Clay of Smackdown, with a bit more talent. The Goldberg chants by the fans were completely warranted.
WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Kane [Non-Title]: Daniel Bryan was ringside for this match. Punk was flying all over the place through the early goings of the scrap. Kane stood his ground, but Punk kept coming hard, landing kicks and all his signature holds. Again, Kane continued to fight back, but Punk got the upper-hand after he hit his top-rope Elbow Drop. After AJ and Bryan got involved, Kane took advantage and hit the Chokeslam for the win.
WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks: For two guys who caught a massive beating last week, the champions looked no worse for the wear, aside from some bandages. Kingston hit the Trouble in Paradise for the win.
John Cena vs. Lord Tensai w/Sakamoto: Cena had to defeat Tensai in order to earn a no DQ match with Cole later in the show. Tensai was tough in the early going and Sakamoto kept it that way with some well-placed kicks on the outside. Cena stayed in the match though and in typical “You Can’t See Me†fashion, nailed his signature moves and the Attitude Adjustment on the super heavyweight for the win.
John Cena vs. Michael Cole: After Cole tried to run out of the arena, Cena had some fun. After he pulled all of Cole’s clothes off, Cena slapped him on the chest and back in a way that would have made Scott Norton squeal. If that wasn’t enough, Cole got covered in BBQ sauce and then sprayed with a fire extinguisher. Amid all the tomfoolery, Tensai nailed Cena with the Chokebomb, which almost enabled Cole to get the win. Naturally, Cena kicked out and hit the Attitude Adjustment for the win.
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