By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW BLOG
JANUARY 29, 2012
KANSAS CITY, KS.
LIVE ON USA NETWORK

-Michael Cole introduced the show saying last night's Royal Rumble was "exciting," and then they shifted immediately to John Laurinaitis's status in the company. Uh, shouldn't they lead with Sheamus winning the Rumble, or C.M. Punk retaining his title, or something having to do with an actual wrestler or title (other than the G.M. job title)? Cole did mention Sheamus's win as Laurinaitis walked to the ring, but it felt secondary.

-Laurinaitis kissed up to fans and smiled and tried to win them over in a transparently phony manner. He stumbled as he ran through the matches he booked for the show, which included C.M. Punk vs. Daniel Bryan, another short-notice, underpromoted WWE Champ vs. World Champ match. There was a time where we all thought they'd keep those champions and titles apart for so long they could headline a WrestleMania and set records with the butyrate, and now it's "just another Raw main event" given away with less than two hours' notice.

-Punk ripped apart Laurinaitis with a barrage of putdowns that again seemed get a little close to crossing over into creating sympathy for Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis is so weasely that it doesn't, but Punk really just goes on and on.

-The crowd boos Daniel Bryan saying he's a vegan and he doesn't even eat meat. Does Punk want to declare what straight edge means he doesn't do and see if people bond with him over that? Punk asked Bryan if he doesn't eat meat, what does he eat? What does that even mean? Bryan took exception. Punk said they're long-time friend and they shouldn't let Laurinaitis divide them and instead they should have a great match. It is pretty cool, knowing their background before WWE, that they're going to have a Raw main event that is WWE Champ vs. World Champ. Another scenario they probably never dreamed of being possible. Punk offered a handshake. Bryan paused, then shook.

-Sheamus was his usual gregarious self when he walked out. He didn't tip his hand regarding which champ he'll choose to face. He did a nice job selling that it's a big deal he won the Rumble. I still like, from a long-term standpoint, that someone unexpected and underhyped won the Rumble. It makes every future Rumble feel less predictable, and Sheamus has been getting nice crowd response and has been "kept strong" in recent months on TV. The Rumble is a good way to expand the list of true top tier wrestlers, and Sheamus had floated downward since his early rise to main events as a heel against John Cena.

-The Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett hype is the most promotion they've given to a Smackdown match during Raw. Interviewing Barrett from his luxury suite is a great touch to establish his "I'm better than you" persona.

-Orton's clean, decisive win over Ziggler establishes the pecking order. Ziggler's long-term top tier push is another full cycle of feuds away at least, probably a few.

-Great freeze-frames from the Rumble including Eve reacting with horror to Kane lifting Zack Ryder for the tombstone and Cena going up for the chokeslam. Cena, though, even makes corny faces when going up for chokeslams. He needs to dial back about 15-20 percent and it'll be more believable and less cartoonish.

-Laurinaitis glad-handing backstage workers was hilarious. They acted like he had never been nice to them before. When he asked William Regal how his son was doing, and Regal said "daughters," that was perfect.

-It's impressive that a PPV event could have higher social media interaction than anything on free TV or basic cable. I'm not shocked like I am when TNA trends during PPVs, but it's still impressive.

-The hype for the WWE channel on YouTube is probably confusing a few viewers who think that is the "WWE Network" that has been pushed the last couple months with those flashy videos. This is potentially confusing for the marketplace.

-Hey, they did have Punk bring up what being Straight Edge means (no alcohol, no drugs - not counting caffeine, apparently - and no smoking). Punk asked Bryan to explain to people what being "vegan" means. Bryan said it means you don't believe in the slaughter of animals for food, and then he got slightly hysterical in saying every time people bite into meat they should hear cries of agony from the animals. Punk said unlike Bryan, he doesn't consider himself a role model for being "straight edge.") This was clearly an attempt to portray Bryan as a heel for being sanctimonious. I wonder if PETA will enjoy the overly simplified version of why people are vegan, considering they just gave him an award. Also, just to be accurate, Bryan described a vegetarian. Vegetarian's don't eat meat; a vegan diet also excludes eggs and dairy. Generally, vegans object more to the way factory farming conditions treat animals while they're alive more than objecting to the slaughter of animals for food, but that's another subject entirely.

-Jerry Lawler seemed amazed someone could live without meat and eat only vegetables Cole added that they eat fruit, as if bread, rice, beans, guacamole, cereal, soy milk, Oreos, french fries, Coke, soy cheese pizza, spaghetti, chips & salsa, Pad Thai, Taco Bell bean & rice burritos, etc. count as "vegetables" and "fruit." (You can follow my Facebook Page showing my vegan meals at: http://www.facebook.com/myveganwholefoodmeals if you're curious what this vegan eats, and it's hardly just bananas and salads! Daniel Bryan's Twitter page also has pictures of vegan meals he eats on the road and cooks at home.)

-Quotebook - Jerry Lawler: "How would you like to be a defenseless banana and have your skin peeled off and eaten alive!"

-You could tell that was a genuine and meaningful handshake before the Bryan-Punk match began. They knew this was a special moment in their careers.

-That move where Bryan keylocked twisted Punk's arm and stomped on his elbow was vicious looking.

-That was a very nice example of what makes Bryan a special wrestler. It's one of the best extended chances he's had yet to show how compelling his chain wrestling and innovative submission style can be, not to mention his kicks and suplexes.

-When Punk yelled out "Best in the World" before leaping off the top rope, I felt a Chris Jericho run-in was likely.

-It's good to see that Cole is migrating toward praising Bryan since it made no sense to try to turn Bryan heel while also having top heel character Cole ripping into him.

-Bryan was funny in his gleeful celebration of having a "win" over Punk when all he did to win was get thrown at ringside by Jericho causing Punk to be be DQ'd.

-Mike Tyson getting into the WWE Hall of Fame will be seen as controversial given his past, but between being a guest on "Ellen" and starring in "Hangover" he's pretty much worked his way back into the mainstream at a level where WWE should escape any controversy for inducting him into the "Celebrity Wing" of the HOF.

-At least The Miz got some mic time before losing to Kofi Kingston decisively. Miz doesn't appear to be positioned for a top tier spot at this year's WrestleMania. He's still in the bull pen as a long-term top tier star, but this is not his time to hold that spot consistently, obviously. It's good to see Kingston get a good win headed into being in the Elimination Chamber. It's a sign Evan Bourne's suspension (and possible release) frees him up to get a renewed push as a singles babyface.

-R-Truth had some great retorts to Cole while he was on color commentary during the Miz-Truth match. "I don't talk about Little Jimmy, I talk to Little Jimmy" was probably the best, and his delivery was 80 percent of what made it work.

-The positioning of Beth Phoenix vs. Eve so late on the show suggested that John Cena and Kane would be involved, given that Eve was in the match.

-When Lawler said that might have been a record short Divas Title match, yes, it was just 30 seconds, but it wasn't that far off from average, I bet, for one-on-one Divas matches on Raw.

-Kane saying that Cena's only chance to beat Rock at WrestleMania is to "embrace the hate" was the most overt mention to date of Cena's approach to Rock perhaps being influenced by Kane.

-When Kane made a move toward Eve, and before Cena came out, how bad did that make Lawler look? At least they got to the Cena run-in quickly. I know they don't like to draw too much attention to things like that, but they could have had Lawler throw off his headset and begin to head to the ring when Cena charged out. Then it'd make Lawler look good, while also creating a scenario where he didn't actually have to get involved. Or they could have had him take a chokeslam before Cena got out there. Fans love Lawler, and Kane chokeslamming him would intensify his heel persona.

-Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox snickering behind Laurinaitis's back after he tried to nod and smile at them backstage was well played.

-Best Fan Sign: "We Want More Characters like Funksaurus." He held it up in the front row right on camera. When I see Brodus Clay, I think Earthquake Ferris came along 25 years too soon. Imagine what Vince McMahon could have done with Ferris that Verne Gagne didn't have the vision for.

-Can you imagine anyone you'd less rather have give you a job evaluation than Triple H? I know he's supposed to be the babyface here, but man does he come across as a unlikeable.

-Laurinaitis was pretty funny when he said he'd do anything to keep his job. Of course, Hunter seized that and said "that leaves a lot up to interpretation."

-Laurinaitis dropping to his knees and putting Chap-Stick on his lips was a great image, too. Triple H's response had the crowd laughing. It's good to know that Triple H isn't lowering himself to Vince McMahon's level.

-Quite the cliffhanger… what was Undertaker looking at in the crowd. Was it Sting in the rafters? (Sorry, I couldn't resist starting those rumors. Seriously, though, what if he was looking up at Sting and the assumption he wants Triple H is all wrong and just a swerve… Just saying…)

-Seriously, the staredown was well done. Triple H patting him on the shoulder in a patronizing manner was intriguing. What was Triple H saying with that? Will he accept or not. Oh, and is Laurinaitis actually fired? Triple H didn't quite officially say it.

-They packed that show with some pretty big happenings. Sheamus felt like a bit of an afterthought by the end, but I suppose at best he's in the fourth-from-the-top match at WrestleMania, with Taker vs. Triple H (or Sting!!!), Rock vs. Cena, and Jericho vs. Punk all rightfully getting more attention during the show. It's not like they entirely ignored Sheamus, either.

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