WWE RAW Coverage: More Drama

Night of Champions’ main event draw created a crap storm for this week’s RAW.

Paul Heyman’s appearance to start the show didn’t help either.

In all seriousness, how can the WWE justify a draw in a pay per view match for the company’s most prestigious title?

They can’t.

Absent of logic, all it does is push aside an inevitable encounter that needs some sort of conclusion. The only problem is the WWE knows the matchups between CM Punk and John Cena are a cash cow.

That means their final confrontation won’t have a storybook ending. Instead, it’ll probably end when one of them can’t stand anymore.

As far as this episode of RAW goes, the show continues to drag in a three-hour time slot. There just isn’t enough quality storyline to facilitate an edge of your seat, rock-em, sock-em 180-minute show.

The fact that talented performers the likes of The Miz and Antonio Cesaro seem to have started their own angles with Ryback and Brodus Clay doesn’t exactly fill the fan base with confidence in the weeks ahead.

Could that change? Of course, especially if creative can write a decent storyline for Dolph Ziggler, Damien Sandow, Cody Rhodes and several other young stars that are worthy of attention.

Matches:

Rey Mysterio and Sin Chara vs. Primo and Epico w/Rosa Mendez: A fast-paced encounter between four talented performers. A double 619 from Mysterio and a Top-Rope Senton from Chara earned the face team the win. After the match Mysterio and Cara were decimated by the Primetime Players.

Divas Champion Eve Torrez vs. Beth Phoenix: A quick match that was mediocre. There wasn’t much wrestling, just counters and posturing. Torrez won with a rollup.

Heath Slater vs. Brodus Clay: Interference from United States Champion Antonio Cesaro wasn’t enough, as Clay hit the splash for the win.

Santino Marella vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Vikki Guerrero: Good combination of Marella’s antics and Ziggler’s technical prowess. Ziggler won with a pair of Zig-Zags.

Wade Barrett vs. Justin Gabriel: Barrett is not Davey Boy Smith. He’s not William Regal either. He’s a bore. This match was an old-school punch and kick fest, but with no style or emotion. The best parts of the match were the spots by Gabriel. However, Barrett’s Roaring Elbow-type finisher was solid. For that reason alone, he’s worth keeping an eye on.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston and R-Truth: Excellent match with good spots, brawling and technical proficiency. Bryan and Kane were also entertaining, robbing their team of momentum with random acts of selfishness. Bryan eventually won with the No-Lock, but the drama within the team continues.

Randy Orton vs. Tensai w/ Sakamoto: Tensai is not over, but he worked well with Orton here. WWE’s Apex Predator was pushed to the limit and when he hit the RKO on Tensai, the crowd went bananas.

Damien Sandow vs. Zack Ryder: These two have so much potential and a feud between them could be great for the mid-card. Both are athletic and can play their roles well, which was indeed the case here. Ryder was solid and hit his moves when they counted and Sandow is a heel’s heel. His pandering is hilarious, but his arsenal of moves is anything but a joke. Sandow won with his Neckbreaker finisher.

WWE Champion CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena and World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus: Del Rio [especially with his stellar kicks] and Sheamus were stellar in this match, but the rivalry between Cena and Punk are what the crowd really wanted to see. Ironically, Sheamus and Del Rio did most of the heavy lifting. In the end, Sheamus took out Del Rio with a Brogue Kick, while Punk was pinned by Cena after an Attitude Adjustment. However, Punk clearly had his foot clearly on the bottom rope before the count of three.

Looks like the drama between Cena and Punk is far from over.