2/4 Powell's WWE Raw Live Coverage: Paul Heyman appears on MizTV, Brock Lesnar followup, Bruno Sammartino added to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2013

By Jason Powell

Dot Net Members will be listening to Jason Powell's audio review of WWE Raw later tonight. Join us on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership via the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Atlanta, Ga. at Philips Arena

[Q1] Raw opened with footage of The Shield attacking John Cena last week. The narrator questioned how three of WWE's top superstars would respond to the savage beatdowns. Focus shifted to the Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman segment, where it was revealed that Heyman was paying The Shield. Brock Lesnar's return and F5 on Vince was also shown...

C.M. Punk's music played and he headed to the ring without Paul Heyman. Punk said he wanted to explain what having a little more than a week to digest does to one's perspective. Punk questioned whether he overreacted last week. He said if you think he did then you've never held anything like the WWE Championship. He doubted that the people in the building have ever accomplished anything in their lives.

Punk said he acted like a normal person would act because he was screwed. Punk said the WWE Championship was stolen from him and is currently held by someone who doesn't deserve it, somebody who doesn't pay the price, and doesn't understand what it means to be champion.

Punk said people have asked him all week about the video footage that "supposedly showed" that he and Heyman colluded with Brad Maddox and The Shield. Punk said he had a question for the fans. He went to ringside and asked a guy in the front row if he saw him. "No, you did not see me," Punk told the fan before giving him a chance to answer. Punk went to a woman and asked the same thing and answered for her.

Punk said the fans didn't see him, yet they still point their fat incriminating fingers at hime. He asked Michael Cole, who said, "You were not in the video." Punk said there you have it. "If Paul Heyman says if that was not him in that video...it was not him, it was somebody else," Punk said. He noted that as ridiculous as that might sound, people bought in hook, line, and sinker into a Vince McMahon video.

Heyman said it wasn't Heyman, it was Paul Giamatti or CGI. Hilarious. Punk said Vince doctored a video and all of the fat, stupid, and lazy fans are going to eat it up. Punk brought up the F5 that Vince took and Punk said he got what he deserved. He said Vince got what he deserved. "That's karma, folks," Punk said. He said the fans haven't done anything great in life because they don't deserve it.

Punk challenged anyone who disagrees to enter the ring and said he would knock them back onto the other side of the guardrail where they belong. Punk said he is the real champion and boasted that he was going to grant The Rock a rematch at Elimination Chamber and Rock will get what he deserves. Punk tried to claim it was day No. 442 of his title reign.

Booker T's music played and he walked onto the stage. Punk said no one wants to hear from Booker. "This isn't even your show, hit the bricks," Punk said. Booker stumbled over his words a bit and then composed himself. He said Vickie Guerrero allowed him to come out and decide Punk's fate. Booker said he's going to leave it in the hands of the people.

"Are you drunk?" Punk asked. Booker said Punk would face one of his past WrestleMania opponents. He listed Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, and Chris Jericho as the options. The fans chanted Y2J. Booker told the fans to download the app and vote for who they want Punk to face. "These people don't even have smart phones, they're not going to download anything, they're a bunch of idiots," Punk said...

Powell's POV: Strong heel mic work from Punk. I loved the way he was going after the fans and how it played into the fan voting. The Paul Giamatti line was a classic. I get a kick out of the way Punk continues to say he's granting Rock the rematch. It plays into his claim that he's still the champion and his streak is still play, but it could also be used if they wanted to add him to the WrestleMania main event or just set up a television match between him and Rock, as Punk could claim that he never exercised his rematch clause.

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler spoke at ringside and they actually set up a tutorial video on how to download the WWE app. They also teased an "epic announcement" regarding the WWE Hall of Fame...

[Q2] Ryback made his entrance...

Powell's POV: How f'ing stupid do they think their fan base is. You should spite them by downloading the free Prowrestling.net app! Or do both. Just be sure to download the free Dot Net app now that WWE has shown you how to download an app on your phone. Maybe next week they can show us how to insert WWE DVD's into our DVD players. Did you download the free Prowrestling.net app yet?

A graphic boasted that WWE Raw as the number one show on cable last Monday... Cole and Lawler thanked the fans for making Raw the number one show on all of cable last Monday. Footage was shown of Randy Orton being interviewed by Matt Striker. Orton made his pitch to encourage the fans to vote for him to face Punk...

1. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro vs. Ryback in a non-title match. Ryder hung Cesaro up in the tree of woe and then kicked him rhythmically while the fans chanted "Feed Me More" briefly. Ryback had the edge in early offense, but Cesaro caught him with a clothesline to the back of the head going into the break. [C] There was some back and forth action after the break.

[Q3] Ryback back body dropped Cesaro and then knocked him down with a Meathook Clothesline. Cesaro rolled to ringside. Ryback went out and rolled him back in. Cesaro caught him with a boot to the face, but Ryback caught him on a second try and slammed him down. Ryback performed a second Meathook Clothesline and finished him off with Shellshocked...

Ryback beat Antonio Cesaro in a non-title match in 9:45.

Powell's POV: Cesaro gets good matches out of Ryback, but I hate the way they keep having the U.S. Champion lose non-title matches that never seem to lead to a title match. They were doing a better job of protecting the secondary champions for a bit, but now we're right back to them being fed to the top guys on a seemingly weekly basis.

Footage aired from last week of John Cena announcing that he will challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29, only to have The Shield attack him. Footage was also shown of Sheamus and then Ryback attempting to make the save... Cole teased an in-depth look at The Shield for after the break... [C]

Chilli of TLC fame was shown in the crowd seated behind Cole and Lawler... Footage was shown of Rey Mysterio stating his case for facing Punk to Matt Striker. Mysterio recalled taking Punk's hair in a mask vs. hair match. He said he knows Punk's weakness...

Powell's POV: I like the way they are having Orton, Mysterio, and presumably Jericho make their case for facing Punk later in the show. It makes it feel less trivial than the usual "vote on our app now that we've told you how to download it step by step match of the night."

Cole set up the video footage of The Shield...

Backstage, Vickie Guerrero told John Cena she heard a rumor that he was going to the ring to call out The Shield. She said there was a movie called Death Wish and asked if that's what he has. Cena said there's a show called Raw and a guy called John Cena won the Royal Rumble, is going to WrestleMania, and will become WWE Champion, but he thinks The Shield needs to be stopped. He said they will be stopped tonight...

Cole and Lawler spoke at ringside and set up a recap of Trish Stratus being named to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2013 from last week...

Powell's POV: No dog barking included. They are doing a much better job with the Hall of Fame this year. It seemed like they made the announcements last year and forgot about it. I suppose there is still time for them to make the same mistake, but so far they have named the inductee one week and then recapped the announcement the following week.

[Q4] Cole said you may have heard it on ESPN earlier today, but one of the greats will be taking his spot in the Hall of Fame later tonight... Lawler hyped fan voting for the C.M. Punk match...

Powell's POV: Can we please get a Punk promo in which he mocks the fans for being so dumb that they need a WWE tutorial to show them how to download an app? It would fit in very nicely with all of the fan hating he was doing earlier in the show. By the way, the guy who was trying to lead a "boring" chant during Punk's promo should be taken backstage and forced to watch the tutorial video repeatedly.

Footage aired of Jericho making his pitch to face Punk. He built it around their best in the world claims and said he wants to find out which one of them really is...

2. Jack Swagger vs. Santino Marella. Booker T sat in on commentary. Swagger dominated the match and put Santino away with the ankle lock. Cole said Swagger told him earlier in the day that the ankle lock will now be called The Patriot Act. Swagger went to ringside and asked Booker if he's impressed. Booker said this is the Swagger he's been looking for since day one and Smackdown is heating up...

Jack Swagger defeated Santino Marella via submission in 1:25.

Lawler announced that the voting is open for the WWE app poll that will determine which wrestler will face Punk. Cole said they would have the results after the break... [C] A generic ad for Main Event featuring The Miz was shown... A WrestleMania video was shown. We are 62 days away...

Cole boasted that there are a record number of votes coming through and it's caused technical issues. They opened up voting on the WWE website as well...

Powell's POV: What website/app worth a shit would experience technical issues caused by too many users at once? Wait, never mind.

Footage aired of the Alberto Del Rio and Big Show drama from Smackdown. Show punched out Ricardo Rodriguez...

[Q5] 3. World Hvt. Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Cody Rhodes in a non-title match. Cole noted that Rhodes and Damien Sandow decided to dissolve their tag team. Cody has a mustache comb t-shirt that says "Groomed For Greatness." Nice. Lawler boasted during the match about the power of the WWE Universe causing the app to be overloaded.

John McClane's POV: Welcome to the party, pal.

Rhodes got a near fall, but Del Rio put him away with the Cross Arm Breaker. After the match, Del Rio cut a promo in which he said Big Show tried to bully him like he bullies everyone. Del Rio said he wasn't going to let that happen and that's why he appreciates the support of the fans. He said the fans made him open his eyes. He said he's the champion not just for himself but for the fans.

Del Rio said it's for the people who work every day and struggle to put food on the table. He said it's the same people who are bullied by people like Big Show. He said Show is going to pay for what he did to Ricardo. Big Show interrupted via the big screen. Show said he's not in the arena, he's at a hotel. Del Rio said he's in a hotel room because he's a coward and he has no cojones.

Show told him to speak in English. Show said it's hard for him not to snap. He said it would be easy for him to snap Del Rio in two. He said he did Del Rio a favor by leaving. He accused Del Rio of stealing his World Hvt. Championship. Show said finishing off Del Rio in a parking lot or in the ring in Atlanta doesn't get him what he wants.

Show said he wants to face Del Rio at Elimination Chamber. He told him to sign the contract and have someone bring the contract to him. Show said Del Rio better not even think about trying to find him at the hotel...

Powell's POV: A flat pandering promo from Del Rio. They're trying too hard to have the former rich guy suck up to the people who are trying to put food on the table. It's a necessary move, but it just feels too forced for my liking.

Lawler stood up and said the fans caused a power outage with their poll. The voting was completed and the winner was Jericho with 57 percent. Orton had 30 percent and Mysterio had 17 percent...

Cole hyped MizTV with Paul Heyman. Lawler said John Cena will call out The Shield during the show... [C] Footage aired from Smackdown of Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara beating Team Hell No in a non-title match...

[Q6] Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Kane were bickering over whose fault it was that they lost the non-title match. Bryan said Kane isn't doing his part as his partner. Kane said he thought Bryan could take care of himself. Bryan said he would prove it. Bryan said he didn't want Kane to ruin his chances of getting into the Elimination Chamber match, so he ordered Kane to stay backstage no matter what...

4. Rey Mysterio vs. Daniel Bryan. Cole noted that Booker T is keeping an eye on former champions for the Elimination Chamber match. Bryan charged at Mysterio in the corner. Mysterio used the ropes to pick himself up, causing Bryan to go through the ropes, into the post, and to the floor. [C]

Late in the match, Mysterio went for the 619, but Bryan avoided it and locked him in the No! Lock. Mysterio countered into a pin, so Bryan had to release the hold. Mysterio came back with the 619, but he missed when he tried to Drop the Dime. Bryan applied the No! Lock and got the submission win...

Daniel Bryan defeated Rey Mysterio in 8:35.

After the match, Mark Henry's music played. Henry came to ringside and threw Bryan down. Henry entered the ring and slammed Mysterio. Henry dragged Mysterio the corner for the Vader Bomb. Sin Cara ran out and dove onto Henry from the top rope, but Henry caught him and put him down with the World's Strongest Slam.

Henry went back to the corner for the Vader Bomb, but Mysterio recovered. Henry shoved him into the ropes and performed a World's Strongest Slam. Henry performed the Vader Bomb on Mysterio. "That's what I do!" Henry yelled...

[Q7] Lawler hyped Punk vs. Jericho for later in the show... A Rock video was shown to hype the new WWE Magazine... [C]

Powell's POV: A strong return for Henry. I'm happy they held him out until after the Royal Rumble and last week's Raw when he may have been lost in the shuffle with all of the other returns. This made an impact. If Del Rio retains at Elimination Chamber, then Henry becomes my favorite to win the Elimination Chamber match.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan was angry with Kane because he didn't come out to help with Mark Henry. Kane said nothing was more powerful than their friendship. Bryan asked he really meant it. "Hell no," Kane replied with a laugh...

Cole and Lawler set up a video that recapped the Paul Heyman, Vince McMahon, and Brock Lesnar segment from last week... At the desk, the announcers spoke about the footage. Lawler said Vince was so injured that he had to undergo hip replacement surgery...

Powell's POV: I don't know whether Vince had hip replacement surgery or if they were embellishing for the storyline, but he did legitimately undergo hip surgery. The surgery was planned before he took the F5. I am surprised they didn't show footage of the surgery to add to the realism.

At the hotel, Big Show said he wouldn't wait all night for the contract. Room service arrived and left him food. Big Show asked the man if he wanted a tip. His tip was to get a better job... Sheamus made his entrance...

[Q8] [C] A generic ad for Smackdown focussed on Alberto Del Rio... Footage aired of The Shield...

As Kane made his entrance, Cole said they had breaking news on the Elimination Chamber match. He said Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Daniel Bryan are in the Elimination Chamber match...

5. Sheamus vs. Kane. It was quiet early since the fans didn't have any incentive to dislike either wrestler. Sheamus hit an impressive backbreaker. He went for the forearm shots and the crowd came to life, but Kane cut off the shots. Daniel Bryan came to ringside and bickered with Kane, who grabbed him by the throat briefly. Sheamus floored Kane with the Brogue Kick and got the pin...

Sheamus beat Kane in 3:50.

Cole hyped that John Cena would call out all three members of The Shield later in the show. Lawler hyped MizTV with Paul Heyman for after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: A predictable outcome for Kane and Sheamus given the Kane and Bryan saga. I wonder if they are having all these issues now just to set them up as singles guys for the Elimination Chamber match. In other words, they could be back on the same page shortly thereafter.

Footage aired from last week of Brock Lesnar taking Vince out with the F5...

The Miz hosted MizTV in the ring. He started recapping what happened last week with Heyman and Lesnar, but Heyman mercifully cut him off. "Stop, stop, stop," Heyman said. He referred to Miz as Mr. Mizanin. He said he agreed to appear on the show to clear his good name. Heyman said he wanted to send his best wishes to Vince McMahon.

Heyman said he tried to stop Brock Lesnar last week. Miz recalled seeing the footage that showed Heyman was paying The Shield and Brad Maddox. Miz also recalled Vince being on the verge of firing him. Miz said Heyman is the most committed liar he's ever seen.

[Q9] "How dare you," Heyman said. He said Punk was screwed and asked Miz if he agreed that Punk was going to mop the floor with Rock at Elimination Chamber. Miz said Heyman was changing the subject. Heyman said he would answer all of Miz's questions just as soon as he answered his. Miz told Heyman that he was crowding him. He suggested he take a step back.

Vickie Guerrero interrupted with her "excuse me" routine and said the bickering has to stop. Vickie entered the ring and said Heyman was telling the truth. "Paul Heyman had nothing to do with Brock Lesnar returning last week," Vickie said. "I did." She said she was secretly negotiating with Lesnar and she kept it quiet because of his controversial track record.

Vickie said Brock was the most elite free agent available and she saw it as her chance to impress Vince McMahon so that he would promote her to the position of permanent general manager. She said she had no idea what Brock would do to Mr. McMahon. She said she felt awful and started to cry on Heyman's shoulder.

"Vickie, if it means anything to you, I believe you, Vickie," Heyman said. "I really do." Heyman called for a moment of silence for Vince McMahon. Vickie interrupted and said she has one better. Vickie asked everyone to pray for Mr. McMahon's wellbeing. "Really?" Miz asked a few times. Miz said they were lying through their teeth.

Miz said Heyman has hated Vince since he "crushed your little company." Miz said Vince has dangled the carrot of permanent GM in front of her only to pull it away. Heyman said Miz is offending him. Miz said he doesn't care. He called them both bottom feeders. Miz said it's only a matter of time.

Brock Lesnar's music played. Heyman grabbed Vickie and fled while Miz prepared for a fight. Cole said Lesnar has every right to be on Raw because Vickie signed him to a contract. Lesnar entered the ring. Heyman stood on the ring apron with a concerned look. Miz stared ahead showing no fear, while Brock slowly walked toward him.

Miz shoved Lesnar, who responded by clotheslining Miz. Lesnar tossed Miz to the floor and then threw two director's chairs at him. Lensar picked up a chair and threw it to the floor (other side of where Miz was lying). He picked up a second couch, but Miz attacked him from behind. Miz threw pucnhes at Brock, who responded with knees to Miz's gut and an F5.

"No more!" Heyman pleaded. "He's sorry. He's sorry. No more. He apologizes. He's sorry. It's okay. It's okay." Lesnar and Heyman left the ring. Footage was shown of Lesnar roughing up Miz. On the stage, Heyman could be heard telling Lesnar, "I understand"... [C]

Powell's POV: If you're not completely annoyed by Miz as a babyface, then you have to like the way his character didn't back down from Lesnar. If you're like me, then you enjoyed watching Lesnar throw furniture at Miz and put him down with the F5. Heyman continues to be brilliant. As I've said before, he's not the puppet master of Lesnar. Rather, he looks like he's terrified of what Lesnar will do next, which makes Brock seem like a huge badass compared to countless wrestling monsters who were always portrayed as if they had someone pulling their strings.

[Q10] The announcers spoke about the Lesnar segment and once again noted that he is under contract...

6. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton in a non-title match. Footage aired of Bo Dallas saying he's an underdog with a bite. Ugh. There was an ugly spot with Barrett trying to clothesline Orton over the top rope before Orton was ready to take the move. They lost the crowd for a bit while Barrett controlled the offense.

The fans eventually rallied behind Orton, who dropped Barrett with the RKO for the win. "Randy Orton just beat the Intercontinental Champion," Lawler said. "That was impressive." A monotone Cole said Orton is building momentum for the Elimination Chamber match... [C]

Randy Orton beat Wade Barrett in a non-title match in 5:00.

Powell's POV: Just read whatever I wrote earlier about Cesaro losing non-title matches to top guys who are apparently considered too good to go after secondary titles. Good lord. Can't someone else put Orton and Ryback over? Why won't they protect their secondary champions? Meanwhile, Bo Dallas was somehow annoying during the ten seconds of camera time he received. The cliche line and his big cheesy smile were too much.

Fandango lives! A new vignette showed him saying his name and then his usual graphic was shown... Lawler said that made him want to see more of Fandango. Cole said Atlanta is probably his favorite city in the United States. Lawler seemed baffled by that statement. Cole reminded him of their WrestleMania moment...

Ring entrances too place for C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho...

[Q11] 7. C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho. Once again, no Heyman with Punk. Jericho slide kicked Punk under the bottom rope and got a Y2J chant. Jericho went to the ropes, but Punk recovered and pulled Jericho down neck first over the top the rope. [C]

After the break, Jericho regained control, but Punk avoided the Liontamer. Jericho caught Punk on the ropes and hit him with nine punches and followed up with a top rope huracanrana. Punk came back with a knee in the corner, a clothesline, and then went to the top rope. Punk got cocky by smiling and playing to the crowd, giving Jericho time to roll out of the way of the elbow drop.

Punk came back with a good kick and got a two count. Punk applied the Anaconda Vice. Jericho fought his way to the ropes to break the hold. Punk held the hold until the referee's four count. A "this is awesome" chant broke out. "Oh, first it was overrated," Punk said. "Sit down, marks!"

Jericho came back briefly, but Punk caught him in position for the GTS. Jericho slipped out and locked Punk in the Walls of Jericho. Punk struggled and eventually reached the ropes to break the hold.

[Q12] Punk ran Jericho through the ropes and shoulder first into the ring post. Punk got Jericho up and put him away with the GTS for the 1-2-3. After highlights were shown, a trainer and a referee were tending to Punk as he was rolling out of the ring...

C.M. Punk defeated Chris Jericho in 15:00.

Powell's POV: A very entertaining match with both guys getting good offense and Punk acting more arrogant than usual with the way he played to the crowd. The right guy went over considering the Elimination Chamber match.

At ringside, Cole and Lawler introduced Bruno Sammartino's Hall of Fame video. The footage featured clips of Vince McMahon, Sr. saying Sammartino was completely dedicated to wrestling and he wanted to be the best. There were also comments from Mike Tyson, George Steele (out of character), Rocky Johnson, John Cena, William Regal, Gene Okerlund, and others. "It is with great pleasure that we induct the Living Legend into the WWE Hall of Fame," the narrator concluded...

Back live, there was a Bruno chant. Cole said Bruno was his hero growing up, and Lawler said there's never been a more deserving superstar to enter the WWE hall of Fame. Lawler congratulated Sammartino... The announcers hyped Cena calling out The Shield... [C]

Powell's POV: A great Hall of Fame video that really built up Sammartino as a huge deal even for younger fans who aren't familiar with him. The announcers and even the narrator went above and beyond in that regard. It was really cool to hear the Bruno chant afterwards.

Backstage, Matt Striker asked C.M. Punk where his head is at right now. Punk said he's mad because Rock is walking around with something that belongs to him. Punk said he proves that he's the best in the world every minute of every day and he will prove it again at Elimination Chamber...

Powell's POV: It's fun to see something a little different with Punk. The way he hammed it up while standing on the top rope only to have it cost him is a new wrinkle. He's doing a good job of making it seem like he's hellbent on getting his title back at the pay-per-view.

The Rock was featured in a video that recapped his WWE Championship win...

Backstage, Josh Mathews asked John Cena why he would call out The Shield alone. Cena said last week he would challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania even though it seems impossible. He said him breaking out of his slump and winning the Royal Rumble also seemed impossible. He said The Shield pushed last week, and this week "I push back"... [C]

[Overrun] A graphic noted that WWE did 1.5 billion views on Youtube last year. Okay, that's pretty damn impressive...

Big Show was still eating at the hotel and was complaining on the phone to Booker that he doesn't have all night. A guy who looked like an indy wrestler showed up at the door with the contract. Show tried to rush the guy out by saying he doesn't do birthday parties or autographs.

When Show opened the door, Alberto Del Rio was standing there. Show beat up Del Rio in the hallway and tossed him onto a hallway table that broke. Show continued to get the better of Del Rio until Del Rio sprayed a fire extinguisher at him and then slammed the extinguisher into Show's shoulder.

Del Rio yelled at Show in Spanish. An elevator door opened. Del Rio told two men on the elevator that his friend had some bad food. He told them to keep walking. Del Rio got on the elevator and the door closed to end the segment...

Powell's POV: I hope every wrestler was scouting that segment. Apparently, you can knock out Big Show with a shot to the shoulder. The big man has a weakness after all. Hokey.

Brad Maddox stood in the ring and Paul Heyman preyed on him because he knows he's a hard working, honest, up and coming superstar. He said the fans now all know the truth. Maddox said he's happy that it's all out there. "I am an innocent victim," Maddox said. "I am a wronged man." He said he did the only thing he could do when he gave Vince McMahon the footage that proved Heyman was laying about his and The Shield's involvement with Punk.

Maddox said that in a very, very real way he is actually the hero of the story. "It's going to be me and not John Cena...who's going to teach The Shield about justice," he said. "So Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, justice awaits you. Come on down, boys."

The Shield's entrance music played and they entered through the crowd. Dean Ambrose had the mic and thanked him for the invitation, but he said they don't need one. He said Maddox isn't a hero, he's just a rat. Rollins questioned whether Maddox even understands the concept of justice. He said justice is them giving Maddox the beating he deserves.

Reigns said last time it was all business, but tonight they were going to take the time to enjoy it. Ambrose said they get the feeling that Maddox just doesn't get The Shield. All three members hit the ring and put the boots to Maddox. The crowd was flat, even as they hit the Triple Powerbomb.

John Cena's music played. Reigns rolled his eyes and Rollins appeared to be licking his lips. The Shield noticed Cena entering through the crowd and acted like they were taken aback. Ryback's music played and he was also entering through the crowd. Rinse and repeat with Sheamus.

The Shield members tried to head up the ramp, but a group of wrestlers walked onto the stage to block their exit. The Shield headed back to the ring. Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus climbed onto the ring apron and paused for effect, but they didn't get the big reaction one might expect.

The babyface trio hit the ring and fought with the Shield members. The cameras were jerky and all over the place during the brief fight. The Shield members quickly fled the ring and left through the crowd. Cena's music played as he, Sheamus, and Ryback glared at the three Shield members from a distance as Cole closed out the show...

Powell's POV: Wow, that was an odd way to close the show. The crowd was dead for everything Maddox said. You can't blame them. It's not like he has done anything to generate heat. He's been beaten quickly by everyone he's faced, and it's not like he acted noble in ratting on Heyman, Punk, and The Shield, so the fans had no reason to get worked up either way. He was just a rat getting what he had coming to him, yet the fans weren't going to cheer for The Shield either.

I thought the crowd reaction might pick up once the babyfaces made the Dallas Page entrance. They did to some extent, but this was not the hot ending that one might have anticipated it being if you were told before the show that the night would end with a Shield vs. Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback fight. The whole thing felt flat, though I don't think anyone was really damaged in the process.

Overall, it was another up and down show. It didn't drag as much as last week's overloaded comedy show, but it didn't have enough hot moments that left you excited about the direction at the the end of the night either. Not a terrible show, but not the hot followup edition it could have been given where things left off last week with Lesnar and other storylines. Thanks for watching along with me tonight. I'll be back on Tuesday with the WWE Raw Hitlist.