WWE Raw Storyline Tracker
By Robin Scannell, PWTorch Specialist

Episode - November 28

(1) Piper's Pit with John Cena

Raw opened with a Piper’s Pit segment where Roddy Piper spoke about the importance of fans. When the fans cheered, he felt good and did good things; when the fans booed, he felt bad and did bad things. Piper said that Cena doesn’t know if the energy is important. Cena came out and said he didn’t know what Piper was talking about.

Piper said the names of some Hall of Famers, to compare their fan reaction to Cena’s. Cena said that the mixed reaction is what makes the energy in WWE so special.

Piper said that the booing is getting louder and that Cena is losing it, and that he will be the loser of the biggest WrestleMania in history. Cena mentioned the good things he does and pointed out his t-shirts slogan “Rise Above Hate,” and that he knows he can beat The Rock.

Piper gave Cena his Hall of Fame ring and says that Cena has to get this off his chest. Piper slapped Cena asking if he feels the energy. Cena give Piper’s ring back and left the ring. The announcers then discussed whether the boos were getting to Cena.

Reax: A lot of people really liked this segment, others didn't like it at all, and I just had a couple of problems with it. I feel that the seeds should have been planted that the boos are getting to Cena in Chicago or at MSG. That hasn’t been done, though, as Cena isn’t affected by the boos. I think the segment would have been more effective if they could have actually referenced times where Cena was slightly rattled or that there was some evidence that the boos were getting to him.

Having said that, Piper making Cena confront the boos should lead to some character evolution for Cena, even if it doesn’t lead to a heel turn. Also, in acknowledging the boos, I would expect them to become more prevalence in the coming weeks. I’m not sure how this will lead to Cena having a match at the TLC pay-per-view, though.

***

(2) C.M. Punk vs. Alberot Del Rio

Backstage, Del Rio said to Laurinaitis that Survivor Series was a temporary setback and that he’ll walk out as the WWE Champion. Punk said that Laurinaitis is spineless and Del Rio is boring, then made a joke about Otunga and Jennifer Hudson. Punk said that he wouldn’t lose his title. After the match, Otunga suggested Punk was threatening Del Rio, so Laurinaitis added the stipulation that an intentional DQ of Punk would result in the title changing hands.

Later, in a backstage interview, Punk said that Laurinaitis is clearly dealing from the bottom of the deck and that Launinaitis could kiss his ass.

During the main event, Del Rio exposed one of the turnbuckles, distracting the ref, allowing Del Rio to get a chair. He threw the chair to Punk, who threw it back, and then fell on the floor (a la Eddie Guerrero). The referee nearly disqualified Del Rio, after turning around. However, Punk rolled up Del Rio for a nearfall. The match ended when Punk hit the GTS on the exposed turnbuckle, while the referee was distracted, for the three count.

After the match, Ricardo was annoyed at what had happened and Punk hit the GTS on him, too. Punk celebrated to end the show.

***

(3) “Ice Cold” Miz / John Morrison’s Curtain Call

During John Morrison’s entrance for a Falls Count Anywhere match against The Miz, The Miz attacked Morrison with a pipe. Miz went to the ring, and Morrison soon followed, wanting to fight, despite his injury. Miz won the match via referee stoppage after knocking out Morrison by throwing him into the WWE logo, and then hitting the Skull Crushing Finale on the stage.

After the match, Miz walked to the ring and said that last week it was R-Truth, this week it was John Morrison, and “we’ll see” who would be next week. Lawler called Miz “ice cold."

Reax: It’s unclear why Miz wasn’t allowed to pin Morrison; it’s not really any different to any other match. The referee doesn’t stop every match after Big Show hits his knockout punch finisher, or after any other wrestler’s finisher. Also, a knockout is determined by a ten count usually, so the referee, if anything, should have given Morrison a count of ten. None of this would come into it, though, if Miz were allowed to pin Morrison as he was about to do. It seems that WWE wanted a referee stoppage because they seen it as “more dramatic.” However, it just brings up questions they can’t answer, which takes away from the finish.

Despite this, an evolution of Miz's character was needed. If him being "ice cold" and ruthless is that next step, I'm interested in seeing where this goes next.

As for Morrison’s expected departure, I was never a fan of his mic work, but I feel he’s easily good enough to stay in the company. He and Dolph Ziggler had a very good match at the last pay-per-view. I hope we see him return at some point.

***

(4) Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

Dolph Ziggler defeated Randy Orton in a good 12-minute match. Before the match started, Dolph had an inset promo playing up his new show-off gimmick. Wade Barrett was on commentary and Ziggler was able to get the win when Barrett distracted Orton from the ring apron.

***

(5) YouTube Vignettes

A new vignette was advertised on Raw this week. Similar to the first one, the boy referenced the Bible, saying "The power cometh as a thief in the night, to claim what others have taken. Those who are unjust, destruction will come upon them and they shall not escape. The second day of 2012 is coming, and it will be the end of the world as you know it." Instead of the words “It begins,” the word “Second” was stressed. There was a girl in the background of one of the scenes.

Reax: Last week's vignette referred to Isiah 26:20-21, this week's refers to 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” The two obvious choices are Chris Jericho and The Undertaker, although I wouldn't bet on one over the other at this point.

***

(6) Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry

Michael Cole interviewed Cole in the ring, calling Bryan a hypocrite. Bryan said that he has earned some respect but then Cole said he couldn’t respect Bryan for cashing in on an injured champion. Bryan said he was a hypocrite, and that his plans changed when Henry tried to end his career. He saw an opportunity and took it.

Mark Henry came out to the stage and said Bryan should be ashamed and that Teddy Long should be too. Henry said that Bryan couldn't beat him, even if he is on one leg. Bryan kicked Henry's injured leg as he went backstage and said that they'll find out tomorrow.

***

Other Stories

- Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox defeated The Bella Twins in a short match. Beth Phoenix and Natalya jogged around the ring at one point.

- John Laurinaitis delayed Brodus Clay’s debut once again, saying that he’ll seem him next week. Otunga inquired about Clay and Laurinaitis said that the longer he waits the more dangerous Clay will be.

Reax: The one problem with this is that this isn’t the only thing that was promised that didn’t happen. It would be more effective if WWE routinely delivered on promises, then the contrast of Clay never debuting would create a sense of intrigue. Nonetheless, it does look as if WWE is going somewhere with this. It did seem like Clay was set to face Morrison last week, until he tweeted about it.

- Zack Ryder defeated Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) in a short match.

- Another Kane vignette aired with a burning mask. The words “Kane Resurrected” were shown at the end.

Feel free to email any comments to scannell.torch@gmail.com or follow me on twitter @robinocracy for my thoughts on Raw and non-wrestling related things.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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