3/12 Powell's WWE Raw Live Coverage: The Rock in concert, John Cena raps, Shawn Michaels and Undertaker confrontation, WrestleMania 28 build continues

By Jason Powell

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WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Cleveland, Ohio

[Q1] The opening video opened the show... Michael Cole introduced the show and hyped that there were 18,289 fans in the sold out Quicken Loans Arena... Jerry Lawler stood in the ring and hyped that tonight would feature the first ever rap and rock concert on Raw. He noted that they were in the shadow of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

Powell's POV: Let's just say I'll be a lot more excited when Guns-n-Roses enters the HOF next month along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Lawler introduced John Cena, who came out sporting his old school look as the old Thuganomics entrance theme played. Cena wore a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey and was greeted with way more boos than cheers this week. Cena said Rock wanted him to write his song tonight, but he wouldn't be his mouthpiece. He said Rock is like LeBron James in that he took his talents to South Beach.

Cena begged for a week when Rock doesn't choke. He said Rock might be G.I. Joe this summer, but right now he's a joke. He continued rapping and said he thinks Rock and Dwayne Johnson are both jackoffs. He said Rock won't be making more movies because he'll be having surgery just like he had on his boobies.

Cena continued to the non-PG rap by saying he might be kung pao chicken, but Rock is a Miami friend chickenshit. He also rapped that he would put his nuts in Rock's face. He dropped the mic and headed backstage. "That was attitudinal to say the least," quipped one of the announcers.

Powell's POV: The first thing that jumped out at me was that Cena looked ridiculous. I know it's a throwback look, but it just didn't work for me in 2012. WWE has thrown PG out the window. Some fans will be giddy over Cena's rap based on that alone. It was quick and relatively painless aside from Cena looking like a dork by wearing his old gear. He felt like he was playing a character, whereas he normally comes across like he's being himself even while playing his current persona.

Cole hyped that Rock will rebut Cena in the form of a rock concert later tonight. The announcers also hyped Undertaker and Shawn Michaels before they were interrupted by Vickie Guerrero doing the "excuse me" routine. She eventually introduced Dolph Ziggler for the first match...

1. Sheamus pinned Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) in 11:50. Back and forth early. Sheamus took control and went for his forearms shots to Dolph's chest, but Ziggler took a powder at ringside and the show went to break. [C]

[Q2] After the break, Sheamus was back in control and hip-tossed Ziggler to ringside. Sheamus followed and Dolph slid under the ring. As Sheamus bickered with Vickie, Dolph emerged and dropkicked Sheamus from behind.

During the match, they went to Josh Mathews, who interviewed Daniel Bryan and A.J. in a luxury box.Mathews said people took offense to Bryan telling A.J. to shut up. Bryan said no one has the right to judge their relationship. A.J. was in full Elizabeth mode while she nervously said Bryan wasn't rude to her. Bryan ended the interview.

Meanwhile, Sheamus regained control back inside the ring. Ziggler caught Sheamus in a near fall at one point and countered a lot of his offense. Ziggler hit the Fameasser at 11:05, but Sheamus kicked out. Sheamus came back with the Brogue Kick and scored the pin...

Powell's POV: It was nice to see a good, long opening match on Raw during WrestleMania season. It was far more competitive than I expected going in, but I like the idea of having Ziggler work with Sheamus, as Dolph makes everyone he works with look good. I also enjoyed the luxury box interviews in general, plus Bryan and A.J. did a nice job of establishing their personas in a short amount of time.

The announcers hyped the 12-man tag match that is official for WrestleMania. Lawler said the general managers will be able to pick the wrestlers for the match and the winner controls both brands. They said viewers would hear from Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis after the break... [C]

Highlights aired from Smackdown of the Big Johnny vs. Teddy Long match... Laurinaitis headed to ringside and joined the announcers on commentary for the mixed tag match... Introductions for the mixed tag match took place. Aksana did the Santino walk along with him during their ring entrance.

[Q3] David Otunga was introduced as the captain of Team Johnny. Before the match could start, Laurinaitis stood up and said he changed his mind. He said it would not be a mixed tag match. Rather, it would be a handicap match. Mark Henry's music played...

2. Mark Henry and David Otunga beat Santino Marella in a handicap match in 1:35. Aksana stood on the ring apron even though she wasn't in the match. Teddy Long came out moments after the bell rang. Teddy helped Aksana off the apron. Meanwhile, Otunga worked over Santino in the ring. Long and Laurinaitis bickered again. Laurinaitis bumped into Long, who responded by pushing him over.

Henry tagged into the match and hit the World's Strongest Slam on Santino. Henry covered Santino and scored the clean pin. Afterward, Henry held Santino, while Otunga slapped him. Kofi Kingston ran out for the save, but Henry cut him down and slammed him. R-Truth ran out to help, but he was also worked over by Henry and Otunga. Laurinaitis climed inside the ring with a mic and introduced Henry as the newest member of Team Laurinaitis....

Powell's POV: It was nice to see Henry looking like an ass kicking monster again. He roughed up all of the babyfaces who came out. A good segment in terms of building up the 12-man tag match.

A video hyped The Miz's appearance on USA Network's "Psych." The show airs on Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. CT...

Cole and Lawler spoke at ringside about the Cena rap. Cole described it as "attitudinal" for the third time tonight. Lawler hyped that Rock would respond with a live rock concert later tonight on Raw...

Powell's POV: They've done a good job of consistently hyping that Rock will appear live on the show. They didn't do a good job of that in Boston, as I think a number of fans in the building (and presumably at home) were questioning whether Rock was only going to appear on the big screen rather than in person.

A graphic noted that Maxim Magazine listed WrestleMania host city Miami as the No. 1 party city...

Powell's POV: You were robbed, Boise!!!

Video footage aired from "Extra" that featured WrestleMania hype and an appearance by The Bella Twins and Alicia Fox...

Backstage, Zack Ryder told Eve that he felt something he's never felt in his life when she kissed him. He said she hasn't responded to him all week. He questioned whether she was playing him. She said he was playing himself. She said they could be friends with benefits and asked if he wanted to grab dinner. Ryder excitedly agreed.

Beth Phoenix walked into the picture and complained about "Extra" not featuring her. She brought up host Maria Menounos and teased visiting her on "Extra." Zack checked out. Beth praised Eve for the way she has Ryder wrapped around her finger. She questioned whether she would mind if she did the same. Eve said she would mind...

[Q4] Backstage, John Laurinaitis was on the telephone when The Miz entered the room. Miz questioned whether Laurinaitis was going to make him a member of his team at WrestleMania 28. Laurinaitis hung up the show and scolded Miz for interrupting him. Miz introduced guest star James Roday from "Psych."

Miz claimed Roday was wondering why he's not in WrestleMania. Laurinaitis said Miz would be in if he wins his Raw match. Laurinaitis asked Roday to be the guest ring announcer. Miz questioned who his opponent is, and Johnny told him he would face C.M. Punk. Miz didn't look pleased, but he told Roday he could win...

The announcers hyped the return of Brodus Clay and a graphic touted "Funkasaurus in da house." The announcers said he was up next... [C]

Powell's POV: I didn't expect to see Brodus back before WrestleMania 28. I wonder if he'll be a member of Team Teddy. I'm not sure why they'd bring him back now unless he's going to be at WrestleMania or they want to build up his opponent somehow.

3. Brodus Clay (w/dancers) beat Jinder Mahal in 0:30. Brodus did his dancing entrance with two dancers. Jinder jumped him to start the match, but Brodus came back strong. He suplexed Jinder and splashed him for the win...

Powell's POV: Well, they didn't bring Brodus back to make his opponent look good. I thought there was a chance that someone would attack him and put him out until after WrestleMania while making themselves look strong in the process, but I assumed that wouldn't happen as soon as Jinder was revealed as his opponent. Why not put Brodus in the 12-man tag match? He pumps up a good portion of the crowd with his entrance alone.

The announcers hyped MGK's "Invincible" as one of the WrestleMania theme songs. MGK was shown in the crowd. He never met a tattoo gun he didn't like...

Shawn Michaels made his entrance and was introduced by Justin Roberts.

[Q5] Michaels entered the ring for a promo and was greeted with "HBK" chants once his music stopped playing. HBK said Undertaker and Triple H will be locked inside Hell in a Cell in three weeks and it will be the end of an era. Shawn recalled telling Triple H that he would be special referee. He said it didn't look like Triple H was aware of that info.

Michaels said he got some info he wasn't aware of either. He played video footage of Triple H talking from last week about how people say HBK couldn't get the job done against Taker. Shawn said no one has walked up to him and called him a loser, a failure, or implied that he couldn't get the job done.

Shawn said there has been one person who has been absent. He said that person is here tonight and they can get it out of the way. "Undertaker, let's settle this," Michaels said. The lights went out and the gong sounded for Taker's entrance. The crowd roared in approval.

Token The Goldfish's POV: Thanks, Taker, for the long entrance so that baldy was able to find time too feed me.

Once Taker was in the ring, Shawn spoke about their history. He said they always had the utmost respect for one another and mentioned how special their two matches were. Shawn said he thought Taker would be the last person to talk behind his back. He said he thought Taker would have the guts to say it to his face.

Taker grimaced and then questioned what it was that Shawn wanted him to say. "That you're a failure, a loser, or that you couldn't get the job done?" Taker asked. Taker said Shawn needs to stop and think whether he's repeating his words or whether he's repeating words that were chosen for him by Triple H.

Shawn said Taker is 19-0, yet he's still in search of validation. Michaels said he and Taker both know that Triple H beat him within an inch of his life. Shawn said that's why he told Triple H that he knows who is going to win. "So it is," Taker said. He said that whatever happens at WrestleMania, he's prepared to accept the outcome. "But what I'm not prepared to accept is you sticking your ego in this," Taker said.

"Our two matches at WrestleMania, the match last year with Triple H, it's all been destiny." Taker mistakenly said that April 21 will be the end of an era. He said that what can't happen is for the outcome to not be "pure." He said that if the outcome isn't pure, "I promise you that there will be hell to pay."

HBK said that Taker calls it destiny, but he calls it irony. "Isn't it ironic that the guy whose career you ended could quite possibly be the guy who counts your shoulders to the mat," Michaels said. "Isn't it ironic that I'm the guy who could possibly turn you into a loser, turn you into a failure, and show you you couldn't get it done. Isn't it ironic that I could still be the guy who could still end the streak."

Shawn tried to walk away, but Undertaker grabbed him by the arm. He said he will beat Triple H in the Cell and the Streak will continue. He said he will officially end an era. Taker told Shawn that if he doesn't do the right thing, he will "officially end you." Shawn pulled his arm away and they glared at one another. Shawn patted Taker on the arm, smirked, and left the ring.

As Shawn made it to the top of the stage, Triple H walked out. Shawn stopped and they both looked at Undertaker standing in the ring. Shawn headed backstage, and Hunter remained there. Hunter looked at Taker and smirked before giving him a DX crotch chop to end the segment...

[Q6] [C]

Powell's POV: Another kick ass segment to hype the Hell in a Cell match. I've enjoyed the hype for this match as much as any match in recent memory. I can't say enough good things about it. They did a good job in past weeks of explaining why Shawn could side with Taker, only to do an exceptional job of teasing that Shawn may side with his longtime DX partner. The smirk and chop from Hunter was all that needed to be said, as it leaves viewers to wonder whether Shawn and Hunter are working together or if Hunter is just playing mind games with Taker. I just hope they can somehow keep the hype this good for two more weeks.

Highlights aired of Chris Jericho pinning C.M. Punk in a tag match from last week's show...

James Roday made his entrance to serve as the guest ring announcer. He delivered a "finally" line. It sounded like a Rock line, though he did have to miss his last scheduled appearance due to an emergency appendectomy. He did an over the top ring announcer bit, and hyped Miz as being "Cleveland's own." Roday also introduced Punk, who got a big pop despite working against Miz in his hometown...

4. C.M. Punk defeated The Miz in a non-title match in 6:15. They cut to commercial less than a minute into the match. [C] After the break, the announcers said Miz was still in control and they stressed that he needed a win in order to earn a spot on Team Laurinaitis. They said it was "really his last shot" to be part of the show. Punk came back and applied the Anaconda Vice. Miz tapped out.

[Q7] After the match, Chris Jericho appeared on the big screen. He clapped for Punk and then said he found out a dark secret about Punk. He said that Punk has boasted about being Straight Edge, but he's never explained why. Jericho said Punk's father is an alcoholic. He said Punk is terrified of ending up like him.

Jericho said Punk will end up just like his father because it's in his genes. Jericho said he found something that gives Punk nightmares and terrifies him. "Isn't it ironic that the same alcohol that you crave is the same thing that ruined your childhood?" Jericho asked. "Is that the reason why you have all those tattoos? Was the pain of wanting to drink so bad that you needed the pain of a needle to take it out of your mind?"

Jericho said he's going to be the person who makes Punk drink. He said he's going to take Punk's title, his claim of being best in the world, and his bravado. Jericho said he's going to leave Punk a broken man, and then Punk will take drink after drink. Jericho said he's going to be what his father was - "a pathetic, damn drunk."

Punk sold Jericho's words in a manner that told the crowd that they got to him. He held his hand up to block the camera at one point as he was leaving the ring. He slowly walked back toward the entrance area... [C]

Powell's POV: An interesting twist. I didn't expect them to go down that road. It positioned Jericho as an unscrupulous heel, and made Punk look sympathetic for once. Very nicely done with Jericho playing mind games with Punk, and Punk doing a nice job of showing that the words affected him.

A David Otunga legal commercial (vignette) was shown. It listed his Twitter address and said that he doesn't get paid unless you do. The narrator stated that if you have a Twitter account, you have a lawyer in David Otunga...

5. Randy Orton pinned Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) in 8:30. Highlights aired of the Kane and Orton feud. Orton was in control of the offense when the show cut to break less than two minutes into the match. [C]

[Q8] Swagger made a comeback and applied the ankle lock, but Orton kicked him off. Orton went right back on the offensive with a superplex. Orton also hit his middle rope DDT and then the RKO for the clean pin.

After the match, Kane's ring post pryo went off and Orton acted started. Orton looked around for Kane as Lawler asked, "Where is he, where is he?" Moments later, Cole set up a replay of the "attitudinal rap" of John Cena. Lawler hyped The Rock in concert for after the break... [C]

An ad for Smackdown hyped Christian hosting The Peep Show with special guests John Laurinaitis and Teddy Long...

Powell's POV: We've had more wrestling on the show tonight than I expected. The outcome of the Orton match was never in question, though I expected more of an angle involving Kane. Orton and Lawler did a good job of selling the pyro explosion, but they had Cole move on to setting up the video too quickly. By the way, C.M. Drunk is trending on Twitter, and WWE even acknowledged it on their official Twitter page.

After the break, Cole hyped that Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, and Triple H have agreed to be in the ring next week on Raw in Philadelphia. They also hyped John Cena vs. Mark Henry for next week's Raw...

Powell's POV: Man, I hope that's not the only reason they had Henry look so dominant tonight. They definitely needed to build him up either way, but I really hope they didn't just build him up to have Cena tear him down again.

The Rock made his entrance with a guitar in hand. The ring was set up with a chair, a sheet music stand, a table with water, and a microphone. Rock played to the crowd and received a good ovation. Rock teased the crowd a bit before eventually delivering the "Finally, The Rock has come back to Cleveland." The cameras showed a lot of women freaking out.

Rock said the fans have broken a record. He said this was the largest sellout crowd WWE has ever had in the city of Cleveland. Rock thanked the fans and they roared. Rock showed the goosebumps on his arms again. The fans chanted Rocky, but he told them to chant Cleveland for the record they set, and the crowd complied.

[Overrun] "Speaking of sellouts, anyone see my boy Marky Mark, I mean, John Cena out here tonight?" Rock asked. He mocked Cena's look and said the guy they know now is the guy who looks like what the end result would be if Vanilla Ice banged a Teletubby. "I guess he wanted some of that teletang, I don't know," Rock said. Funny.

Rock did the bit with the big screen, which showed Vanilla Ice plus a purple Teletubby and equals a photo of Cena. Rock said tonight isn't about a two-minute rap. He said it's something special. He said everyone knows that Cleveland rocks. Rock started strumming the guitar. He read his lines from the sheet music stand.

Rock started with a version of "Jailhouse Rock" with his own words, including Cena has a menstrual cycle, and that he's an Eminem wannabe, and "Cleveland Rocks" instead of "Jailhouse Rock." The fans roared after the song was over. Rock smiled and thanked the fans.

Rock said he had a true story. He sang a new song about punching Cena, who had to go to the doctor and begged for a rectal exam. He asked if the fans wanted to hear some gossip. He said it was a true story about Cena and Eve. "This is what you didn't see on Raw, but The Rock said," Rock said.

"Rock saw Cena making out with Eve, grabbing on her thigh and tugging on her weave, Cena was having the time of his life, I guess he didn't tell her that had a wife." He also mentioned a "divorce lawyer right up the block, and we're dancing because Cleveland Rocks."

The next verse had a joke about Cena having lady parts. Rock was all smiles as he performed the song and the live crowd appeared to be standing and enjoying it. Another "Rocky" chant broke out. Rock said he told the fans they were going to have fun tonight.

Rock asked if there were any real, grown men who are John Cena fans. There were plenty of boos. Rock found a few in the crowd. "I'm not going to mess with you," Rock said. "It's hard enough being you, so I'm not going to mess with you." Rock then asked the fans whether he should mess with them. They cheered.

Rock sang: "Doesn't really matter how hard you try, never in your life will you ever taste pie. I know you love Chewbacca and Frodo too, but you're a walking virgin and you're 42." Awesome.

Rock asked where the ladies are. Rock said he loves the ladies and he wanted to sing a special song to a special lady. He sang: "Rock's getting some wine and a dozen roses, and she's going to meet my holy moses, getting with the Rock is the bomb and if you don't believe me ask Cena's mom... Cena's mom can barely walk, and we're dancing because Cleveland Rocks."

The Rock put the guitar down and said there was only one way to end the night and the concert. He said the song was for The People. He did the millions and millions bit and some of his catchphrases and built up to the song. Queen's "We Will Rock You" started playing and Rock had his own lyrics, which were anti-Cena and they appeared on the big screen. He encouraged the crowd to chant "Cena sucks" as part of the chorus.

Rock stood on the second rope and thanked the fans again for setting a record. The Queen song kept playing as he spoke about kicking Cena's ass at WrestleMania 28...

Powell's POV: The Rock's singing was funny at times, but he seemed to lose his place a couple of times during the Queen song and it didn't come off as well as it should have. Overall, though, the live crowd seemed to enjoy it. The musical battle wasn't for me. It was a little too silly and brought things down a notch after some intense segments from Rock and Cena in recent weeks. This felt like the calm before the storm, as I assume we'll be right back into tense mode with only two editions of Raw to go before WrestleMania 28.

Overall, it was a strong show with memorable segments involving Taker and HBK, and Punk and Jericho. If nothing else, the lighthearted Rock segment and Cena's rap weren't so strong that they overshadowed those segments for a change. I'll have more to say about the show later tonight during the Dot Net Members' audio show, as well as in the WWE Raw Hitlist on Tuesday. Thanks for watching along with me.