WWE Raw Storyline Tracker
By Robin Scannell, PWTorch Specialist

Episode - January 30, 2012

(1) Laurinaitis’s Job Evaluation / C.M. Punk vs. Daniel Bryan

To start Raw, John Laurinaitis came to the ring, shaking hands, and said that although he has made mistakes, he has done a good job. He said that he expected to be named the permanent general manager later on. He announced many matches including Daniel Bryan against C.M. Punk.

Punk then came out and sang the “na na na goodbye” song. Laurinaitis said Punk should apologize. Punk refused, saying that he was only out to see Laurinaitis one final time before he was fired.

Daniel Bryan ended up coming out and said that no one cares about their personal problems and that Punk won’t be much of a challenge. Bryan said he’s a role model as he’s a vegan. Punk and Bryan then agreed to have the best wrestling match in the world.

Reax: Like other people, I cannot stand two people that clearly don’t like one another agree, although were once friends, agree to have a good wrestling match. It doesn’t make any sense.

Later, backstage, Punk and Bryan spoke about veganism and straight edge. Punk said the difference between them is that he doesn’t claim to be a role model.

Reax: Punk did used to claim that, though, back when he led a "cult" and shaved people’s heads and converted them to being straight edge.

Bryan and Punk’s match began with a handshake, referencing the Code of Honor, and was very good, ending only when Chris Jericho ran out and threw Bryan, who was outside of the ring, into the rail and then hit the Codebreaker on Jericho. As Jericho first attacked Bryan, it was announced that Bryan won by DQ and celebrated.

Throughout the night, backstage, Laurinaitis tried to be friendly and shake hands with numerous people. William Regal was asked about his family, and Regal replied that he has conjoined twins that he keeps in the attic. At one point, Laurinaitis suspected Otunga of trying to get his job, showing his growing anxiety about his job evaluation.

In the ring, Laurinaitis said that ratings are up and he rated himself highly in his self-evaluation. Triple H came out and said he took his job and used it to make himself a star. Laurinaitis said he’d do anything. Triple H played up that Vince used to make people join a certain club. Laurinaitis used lip balm and got on his knees, causing Hunter to laugh at him

Hunter said the Board says he can come back and run Raw whenever he wants. He was about to wish Laurinaitis well in all his future endeavors when Undertaker’s bell tolled. Undertaker came out and circled Hunter in the ring. Taker looked towards the WrestleMania logo and did the throat-slash gesture. But, Hunter patted Taker on the shoulder before walking to the back.

Reax: Even if the Board of Directors wanted an evaluation of Laurinaitis’s job, there’s no reason why they would want it in the main event segment of Raw.

Also, Laurinaitis was wrong on his ratings claim. If he’s a heel and therefore supposed to lie, then the lie only works if people know he is lying. Most people wouldn’t have known this. Also, the announcers can hardly correct him and say, “Actually, I think you’ll find the ratings are lower,” not that they would, if he claimed something else, though.

My personal position of Taker-Hunter II (or technically III) is that I’m not that excited about it. I thought their previous match was very good, but I’m not sure what they can add this time to make the match any better. I suppose putting Hunter’s career on the line would be better than nothing though. This was well done, though.

***

(2) WrestleMania Build

In addition to Undertaker’s return, Sheamus came to the ring in the opening segment and said that since he won the Royal Rumble, he could choose to face either champion. Sheamus also directed one of his classic Irish lines at Laurinaitis.

Also, both on Raw and at the Rumble, video packages about John Cena and The Rock aired.

***

(3) John Cena vs. Kane

Beth Phoenix defeated Eve in less than one minute in a WWE Divas Title match. Kane then cut a promo on the Titantron, saying that if Cena had embraced the hate, Zack Ryder wouldn’t have been hurt. He also said that Cena needs to embrace to hate to beat him and The Rock. Kane came to the ring, approaching Eve, drawing Cena out to make the save. Cena attacked Kane and tried to put him through the announcers’s table, but Kane managed to escape and run away through the crowd.

***

(4) Elimination Chamber Build

Laurinaitis announced the WWE Elimination Chamber match as featuring C.M. Punk, Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, R-Truth, and Chris Jericho.

***

(5) R-Truth vs. The Miz

With Kofi Kingston in the ring, The Miz came out and bragged about his performance in the Royal Rumble and how he’ll win at Elimination Chamber to go on to headline WrestleMania. Kingston defeated Miz in the match that followed, with R-Truth was on commentary. R-Truth said that he speaks to Little Jimmy and not about him.

***

Other Stories

- Josh Mathews and Wade Barrett were in a luxury skybox for Randy Orton’s match. Orton defeated Ziggler in a good match as Barrett answered questions.

- At the Royal Rumble, Brodus Clay defeated Drew McIntyre in a short match. On Raw, Brodus Clay squashed Tyler Reks in a short match.

Reax: The announcers made a joke about Funkasaurus vs. T-Reks that I found humorous. Hopefully the act develops a little next week, as nothing much has changed since Clay’s debut. With these two victories, Clay is now 7-0. Sadly, there was no development to what happened with Clay and Regal on Smackdown a few weeks earlier.

Current Feuds Active this Week (# weeks)

Raw

John Cena vs. Kane (8)
R-Truth vs. The Miz (6)
C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho (1)
Undertaker vs. Triple H (1)

Smackdown

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett (12)

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

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