WWE Raw results and reactions from last night (Jan. 2, 2012): Chris Jericho returns
by Geno Mrosko on Jan 3, 2012 9:01 AM EST
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WWE Monday Night Raw last night (Jan. 2, 2012) emanated from Memphis, Tennessee, and featured the big reveal of the mystery return man, which turned out to be the man it was rumored to be all along, Chris Jericho.
Before we get to the reactions to the show, it's time to give a shout out to all you Cagesiders. No one gets comment of the night because you were all on your game last night. I read the entire thread -- all 1,019 comments -- and laughed out loud too many times to count. So let me just say to you guys, thanks for making Monday night's so much fun. You're all wonderful.
If you want full results from Raw tonight, click here for the running live blog. Time to get to reactions from the show:
- We've covered (and will have more to come) Chris Jericho's return and the cryptic videos six ways from Sunday, so there's no need to go into it in this space. Suffice to say, I was initially pissed and then realized how brilliant the whole thing was. Or at least that's my feeling. Others feel a lot differently.
- We're to a point where John Cena's promos have a scale that we can easily access and it essentially tells you the kind of night it's going to be depending on where his particular promo lands on said scale. He goes from dropping a "rare gem" to being "bad but bearable" to "really, he's doing this again?" to "good god, someone please cut his microphone." Last night, he fell in the last category. His pandering to the live crowd is beyond ridiculous at this point and while I understand why it's necessary for the current story arc and fits well with his character, I find it unbearable. It's change the channel heat, not I want to keep watching you fall heat.
- I don't want to sound like the grumpy old man here, but count me out when WWE starts pulling the supernatural storylines that are visually impressive live but just look goofy at home to anyone over the age of 12. And I get it that they can't cater to me all the time, and that age range should be accounted for but the whole deal with Kane trying to pull Zack Ryder into a hole in the ring only to have Cena rush in to make the save before fire started shooting out of the hole was just silly. Plus, it felt a little too much like Kane wanted to have his way with poor little Zack Ryder and Cena rushed in because that just couldn't happen. Maybe my head is still filled with memories of the Katie Vick angle. Sometimes PG really is better, I guess.
- I've said it before and I'll say it again and again and again: the cardinal rule in pro wrestling is that you never, ever bury your talent in a way that connects too deeply with fans. There's a big difference between what Bobby Heenan used to do and what Michael Cole does. Heenan would bag on a guy but it would be funny and it wouldn't kill his heat. Cole gets entirely too personal and last night, live and on the air, he actually asked this question: "How can you take Daniel Bryan seriously as a champion?" We can't, Cole, and that's your fault, dum dum. I'm ready for Vince McMahon's man-crush on Cole to fade away now.
- Speaking of Bryan, he's won with the small package many times throughout his career, enough that it's recognizable when he does it. But needing to get a surprise sneak victory over Cody Rhodes is just bad booking. I like how Rhodes is protected so he still looks strong to defend the Intercontinental title against Booker T on Smackdown but the lack of respect being shown to the world heavyweight championship right now is disheartening. If your world champ can barely beat the IC champ, you're doing something wrong.
Thoughts on the rest of the show after the jump.
- The Miz is getting absolutely destroyed on TV week after week and I'm enjoying every minute of it. It's like they realized his tough guy heel schtick was a lead balloon and just said, "Screw it, let's have Truth punk him out until we figure out a better way to use him." So that's what they're doing. Truth did enough this week to connect with the fans again as a babyface, which was good to see. We can cheer him now for more than just the fact that he's going after a heel.
- By the way, that kid that Truth let get on the mic to say something on Miz? Yeah, that kid blew it. I'm sure they scripted it and he was a plant or a fan who they had something worked out with beforehand but come on, little dude, you could have been famous forever. It's live TV, buddy, they can't take it from you. I would have loved to see that kid pull off something great. Alas, it was not to be.
- Wade Barrett is terrible and I would love it if one of you Cagesiders could write a FanPost explaining to me why WWE is pushing him. You have to be especially devoid of talent and charisma if you take out one of the company's top babyfaces and you still can't get heat. Barrett Barrage? Go upchuck that crap in TNA, where it belongs.
- Dolph Ziggler's promos are gradually getting better and better. We're getting to a point that WWE can't justify having him challenge for titles but never win any. And I'm talking about the two big belts, not the Intercontinental or U.S. titles. If you can talk with the best of them and work better than the rest of them, you should be a champion. Ziggler is a million times better than Bryan, I don't care how many independent love darlings tell me differently. This guy came back from being saddled with a gimmick as a member of the Spirit Squad for god's sake. He deserves a title run just for coming back from that.
- CM Punk said "bitch" last night. I think that means he's edgy, guys.
- Why again is Mark Henry still working matches if he's hurt? It's clear they're protecting him from doing anything worthwhile. Why keep making him drag himself out on TV each week? Is this Vince building him up and then gradually bringing him back down for no apparent reason? Because that's what it looks like. There was a time when Henry would walk around the ring and the crowd would react to his presence. Now? We know no one is going to get their wig split. Except maybe his.
- When's the last time there was a three on two handicap match in favor of the babyfaces? And they still managed to find a way to make Cena look heroic. Oh, WWE, you're so consistent.
This was a pretty average show overall. Jericho's return was odd but good and Punk vs. Ziggler was good until the smoz finish. Cena was especially bad and the entire ordeal with Kane was a little too campy for my tastes. I'll give the show a C.
But that's enough for me. Now it's time for you Cagesiders to sound off with all your thoughts from last night's show in the comments section below.
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I was upset about the Kane fireball thing
because they blew up Hornswoggle’s home.
by hfl2013 on Jan 3, 2012 9:08 AM EST reply actions 9 recs
lol my first reaction was
“oh no Little People’s Court!”
Maslow's theory of higher needs does not apply to Patrick Willis. He only has two needs: tackling people and finding people to tackle.
I think you nailed it on the head with Cena's promos
When he referenced the whole ‘lady parts’ thing, I really did cringe.
And lost in the whole Jericho thing
We’re still without Brotus Clay. I get that Creative can’t think of anything to do with him, but would putting him in some squash matches on Raw be such a bad thing? Trent Baretta would love to make an appearance on Raw even if it was only for a minute.
And also, CM Punk-Johnny Ace is slowly but surely becoming Austin-McMahon. Nothing can ever top that feud and Punk is very different from Austin in a lot of areas, but the slow build up to a Punk-Laurinatis match is working great IMO.
I liked the fireball in the ring
I am a fan of the old gimmicks like this, and there getting few and far between, with good reason of course, but they did a good job with it i find.
by Thats It For you! on Jan 3, 2012 9:29 AM EST reply actions
—Punk’s beetch line was great. Starting to like him again… a little.
—Ziggler looked like a world champion. Great thing about wrestling this year has been seeing Storm, Roode and Ziggler turn into LEGIT main eventers. Ziggler is slowly gaining more confidence as well.
—Jericho…was…great. He knows what he’s doing, which is why he’s my favorite of all-time. There is certainly a heel turn on the horizon. (I am sooo glad it was not Undertaker. I would’ve just fast-forwarded had it been him.) I still think the “she” from the promos is going to be Vince.
—Kane-Cena is OK. Not great, but honestly, I don’t think the writers could’ve done a better job. Its just not an interesting fued.
"Kane-Cena is OK. Not great, but honestly, I don’t think the writers could’ve done a better job. Its just not an interesting fued."
Simple, but its the best way to put it. It really just seems like a timekiller for Wrestlemania which I can live with for now. I’d like to see how Monster Kane is with someone else after this Cena stuff is done.
I blame Kane/Cena on the Rock.
Cena has to feud with somebody, and it’s got to be the only person in the locker room with a more outlandish gimmick than him.
Miserable writing.
Freelance Writer at PC World
Follow @KenTheGreat1
One Time, I Interviewed Dana White at UFC 86 & It Was Totally Cool
by McKinley B. Noble on Jan 3, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
- I really dug the Cena/Laurinitis interaction, and I liked the ‘bitch’ part. Because you don’t hear that sort of thing on WWE television anymore, it had more weight than it would have in the past. This is one of the underlying good things about PG: when they go into PG-13 territory, it means something. During the Attitude era, calling someone a ‘bitch’ would have been nothing.
- I don’t mind the Kane/Cena feud so much. Like hfl2013 said, it’s just something to pass the time until Cena/Rock at Wrestlemania. I would like to see Kane actually affect Cena in some way, though, so this all means something. I’m not saying he has to turn, but there should be some sort of change so this wasn’t all for naught. Maybe a precursor for him turning at Wrestlemania? Probably not.
- Geno was right, Cena’s promo to open the show was the same thing he’s been saying for a long time now, and it was terribly dull.
- Santino is awesome.
- Wade Barrett needs a damn gimmick. “Tough guy” isn’t a gimmick.
- Jericho!
Jon, William Regal called and wants to "tough guy" you in the little jimmy...
In the body of other posts, I am often admittedly high and tend to not want to edit a lot.
by willlinn on Dec 2, 2011 12:01 PM PST
if Wren gets Arenado from Colorado, I’ll give him a BJ.
by Scott Coleman on Dec 19, 2011 9:45 PM PST
by Klemson Krash on Jan 3, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Being British isn't a gimmick?
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 3, 2012 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
I thought Punk’s ‘bitch’ was pure trash. Not so much the word, but his setup. It’s like WWE didn’t want to take any heat from some random women’s coalition about promoting beating up women, so they used the female dog definition. That is something a little kid would do.
I agree with Geno’s comment about Punk trying to be edgy. Look at me, I used a naughty word. I’m so tough.
I thought Punk’s line was the worst part of the whole show.
by Manolo Has Pizzazz on Jan 3, 2012 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
I'm with you
I immediately thought of playground threats. Plus the you’re going to want to sue me ‘cause I’ll be in jail and you know why… awkward delivery by Punk. But it got the point across, I guess.
by King Oskar on Jan 3, 2012 6:58 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
So, I take it I'm the only one who liked Kane attempting to drag Ryder into hell?
I guess as a child of early ‘90s WWF, I can’t help but dig it.
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 3, 2012 10:17 AM EST reply actions
If it was anyone but Kane (Undertaker included)
I would have hated it more. Kane’s really the only one that can even come close to getting away with it these days, but I’m not much for that type of stuff
Jericho – Awesome
Cena/Kane – As it was said before, it’s filler. Supernatural angles don’t work on us older people but I can imagine a kid being really into it.
Bryan – I don’t know if they are just on cruise control with him until they figure out how to use him.
Miz/Truth – I never liked Truth yet his segment was very entertaining.Miz’ character works best as the arrogant douche who is a coward.
CM Punk is becoming “family friendly edgy” a term I normally reserve just for Jim Rome. Hopefully he won’t become as annoying.
Dolph Ziggler is great, he could really be a top heel.
I have made my feelings known before but honestly, Wade Barrett sucks elk balls and his finisher is the worst.
LOOK AT ME I’M TOUGH AND BRITISH is not a gimmick. Steal money, kick a child do something that will make you get some heat.You threw Randy Orton down some stairs, cool, now throw Hornswoggle in an oven. Don’t come into the ring and say “I’m tough” and then beat up the comic relief. It doesn’t matter how much you squash Santino, it won’t make you look any better
Greatest lover ever during the day, Trainyard Sleeper at night.
What if Barrett beats Hornswoggle to the point that he can’t talk again? I think we all win.
by King Oskar on Jan 3, 2012 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And if he kicked a kid..
He would have to say it wasn’t his fault
by marcbjr2 on Jan 3, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I don’t dislike him. I see him much like a prospect with mixed results in the minors that I keep waiting to break out. But sooner or later, they have to do it. I think it’s fair to say Barrett did really well in A-ball (Nxt into start of Nexus), had some moments in AA (later half of Nexus), then fell on his face in AAA and got demoted back to AA. Perhaps not all through his own doing, but those are the breaks.
I like him, just not the way they're packaging him right now
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 3, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
I completely agree on Ziggler they should move him over to Smackdown & either have him face Bryan @ Wrestlemania or put the strap on him before if Orton comes back before then & face Orton at WrestleMania
Loved Jericho’s comeback since he’s going to be a heel
Truth has been a better face then I thought he would be so far. I was pissed that they were taking him out of the heel role
The Legend
One thing that needs to be said is how great Santino is on the microphone
Yes, he’s the hokey character but he does it so well. His delivery of his promos is incredible and he killed me with his “pop quiz hotshot” last night. Kinda wish people would respect him a bit more since he’s probably one of the best in the company at delivering a promo.
Also regarding Bryan...
Why not book him as a blood and guts champion who gets beaten down by the big guys of Smackdown (Show, Henry, Orton, Barrett) and then at the last moment he pulls off submission. Play up the fact he’s undersized and an underdog.
by Matthew Roth on Jan 3, 2012 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Don't know.
They just keep putting him in regular matches and letting Cole go to town on him.
Greatest lover ever during the day, Trainyard Sleeper at night.
Combined with a slow-burn heel turn where he slowly gets more arrogant and begins to cheat to stay on top?
I wouldn't even say cheat
but definitely more arrogant totally ignoring that he’s getting the shit kicked outta him on a weekly basis.
by Matthew Roth on Jan 3, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
I'm on board with the blood and guts champ who slowly turns heel because he starts bragging about beating everyone
even though he’s barely pulling it off and often times getting lucky. I’d love to see that from Bryan.
Oh and y’all know I love me some Santino Marella. Probably as big a mark for him as anyone else on the roster.
Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.
It would work only if they gave him an extended run
Like he would have to beat the top guys all by those desperation submissions and then talk so much shit about how he’s the best. Basically like Jericho’s return heel turn of being the best in the world at what he does. But as the guy who gets the shit kicked outta him constantly and then wins.
Doh
Based on his over-the-top celebrations of late and the way he was making out with the belt, perhaps the seeds are being sown for this. And he was a bit of a smart ass during the segment with Show & Theordore R. Long during last week’s Smackdown.
That's the problem with a heel turn, though.
PPV crowds aren’t going to turn on DB because of how much they like him. It’s one thing when the character is fluid, but the WWE hasn’t bothered to let Bryan have a character to begin with.
Freelance Writer at PC World
Follow @KenTheGreat1
One Time, I Interviewed Dana White at UFC 86 & It Was Totally Cool
by McKinley B. Noble on Jan 3, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
Agree with most everyone, the Barrett Barrage should be something left in the garage… or TNA..
Cena is what Cena does… I hope it builds to something more than an Anakin/Luke Skywalker thing… Embracing the dark side… well… it will give him someting more than he has going into WM… However, I think the cloud over Cena needs to lift… Fan cheer their heads off for the Rock. I love the Rock but the Rock doesn’t love the WWE.. He loves the paycheck. His “I’ll never leave” speech was garbage and I don’t believe anything he says. Cena is the face and everything he says is true… he’s there day in and day out.. I hope he doesn’t turn heel just because everyone thinks he should…
Jericho has left me unfullfilled… I don’t like an episode of raw leaving me not so much wanting more as just a feeling of emptiness… I guess that’s a way to bring yourself back… the dancing around and whatnot and dropping the mic instead of speaking into it… but really.. after all the promos, I expected something else… i don’t know what and I will continue to watch to see what happens but… I just felt emptiness which never makes me happy.
Daniel Bryan is the most unfortunate person in the WWE. He is to the title what Rey Mysterio was… The little guy who made it… Except he made it in a less heroic way… a much less dramatic way… and the title will be taken from him because the WWE doesn’t know how to book him. He is leading the Smackdown brand (or should be) and I really hope they build the reverse David vs. Goliath match for WM (not Royal Rumble) that should happen between Show and Bryan… I am not familiar w/ Bryan’s past work but hearing he works as a heel would be fine with me… as long as they do something with him… Show as a heel works better for me though.
Truth can be AWESOME…. If used it less comedic, more terroristic role… He can be a face by beating the snot out of Miz… but he needs to use that same approach to Cody Rhodes and the other mid card heels. I think there’s something to the character that will really connect w/ the fans… not to mention, he’s not half bad on the mic (as long as they get better plants for him in teh future)
Santino gets funnier every time I watch him… I actually think he can be a good wrestler too but w/ the comedy schtick, it gives him soemthing to do while we don’t mind him jobbing out to people in the process… he makes us laugh and he is so good natured about it all. Love the guy
If Punk/Lauranitis results in Johnny Ace wearing the title belt, I will ban WWE from my TV for a year. I get in my car, drive to Conneticut (or wherever he is) and kick him right square in his “lady parts” and then take my beatdown like a man. I am excited about seeing them in the ring as Johnny is getting better every week and we see Punk seething because of it… I kinda dig it.
Speaking of dig it… I will not be watching Smackdown but I really hope Booker can stick in the ring… I’ve listened to his commentary and it makes my ears bleed. Let’s get Santino on the play by play… I would probably pee my pants listening to him all night…
Last rant. Michael Cole is garbage. You can hear Jerry Lawler at points just want to set down his headset and punch the dude square in the jaw. Cole needs to be relegated to smackdown and Ross needs to be on Raw. Also, Cole vs. Daniel Bryan… if that happens, It will permanently cement Bryan to mid card status. just sayin.
In the body of other posts, I am often admittedly high and tend to not want to edit a lot.
by willlinn on Dec 2, 2011 12:01 PM PST
if Wren gets Arenado from Colorado, I’ll give him a BJ.
by Scott Coleman on Dec 19, 2011 9:45 PM PST
haha..completely agree with jerry lawler trying to punch out cole at times.
Cena is the face and everything he says is true… he’s there day in and day out.. I hope he doesn’t turn heel just because everyone thinks he should
there is something about this statement that makes you think about whether we hate Cena for the right things or not. I mean i simply dislike him because he is not stone cold or HBK in the ring..and to be fair if one had to rate entertainers from WWE..he would be among the top ones. Being the alone at the top can be quite tough, which was never the case with attitude era stars.
Great point...
I just feel bad for Cena. He has carried the company (whether we love him or hate him) and he plays his character incredibly… He went from a dude answering Vince McMahon’s challenge for someone to step up (against Kurt Angle, almost beating him) to a rapper dude w/ thuganomics to a cabinet fighting champion (complete w/ spinner belt) (with a couple heel/face turns in there) to a face who was WAY over… but then in 2005 for whatever reason, started getting boooed. It started then and hasn’t ended… He has fought with every major star WWE has thrown at him. He’s been forced into Nexus, played a stale character for a long time even though he’s tried to keep bringing something new… I don’t know. He’s there through thick and thin and even though he made movies (mostly crappy), he’s still in the WWE. He loves the fans, i truly believe it and I feel like he’s getting an unfair shake. I love getting the freshness back on him w/ Piper and Kane and I just hope this makes him a better face in the end.
In the body of other posts, I am often admittedly high and tend to not want to edit a lot.
by willlinn on Dec 2, 2011 12:01 PM PST
if Wren gets Arenado from Colorado, I’ll give him a BJ.
by Scott Coleman on Dec 19, 2011 9:45 PM PST
by Klemson Krash on Jan 3, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think he’s getting an unfair shake… his character is stale, he’s not a great wrestler, he’s lost all the edge he had as Basic Thugonomics Cena. Now admittingly he just goes by the script he’s given so the blame properly rests with creative but he desperately needs something new.
Right now he’s basically Real American Hulk Hogan post-WWE pre-nWo.
Punk’s ‘bitch’ comment was brilliant simply for the fact that he looked genuinely pissed off at Johnny Ace interfering 2 weeks in a row and the crowd bought it. Completely bought it. You might be joking Geno but that comment wasn’t said to be edgy. It was to be real. This is meant to be the ‘reality era’ after all right?
What scares me most
is that in NYC at least they’re promoting a March 18th house show with Cena/Kane in a Last Man Standing match. So for right now their feud is set to run for 2+ months??
I'm planning on getting tickets to that show
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 3, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
This:
“I don’t want to sound like the grumpy old man here, but count me out when WWE starts pulling the supernatural storylines that are visually impressive live but just look goofy at home to anyone over the age of 12.”
And I will be the grumpy old man. It’s 2012. Kane’s been around how long? Everybody already “knows” AND knows it’s BS. FFS, grow up.
Gillberg...Gillberg...Gillberg...
Too late for that
Your candy-ass potions don’t work any more. I just eat straight cardboard.
Gillberg...Gillberg...Gillberg...
by GoForthAndDie on Jan 3, 2012 5:40 PM EST up reply actions
No, no, and no
"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.
AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest | 1st place- 2012 AAOP Contest
by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 3, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
It's good to know Geno hates the Cena/Kane storyline too.
The whole angle is so indefensibly stupid, and the fact that it’s building to what is bound to be a legendarily terrible Cena/Kane match makes it all the worse.
So did Kane just sit under there all night? Do they have iPads in hell?
by 8bitDan on Jan 3, 2012 2:37 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
he was playing cards w/ horny.
In the body of other posts, I am often admittedly high and tend to not want to edit a lot.
by willlinn on Dec 2, 2011 12:01 PM PST
if Wren gets Arenado from Colorado, I’ll give him a BJ.
by Scott Coleman on Dec 19, 2011 9:45 PM PST
by Klemson Krash on Jan 3, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
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