By Jason Powell

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

[Q1] Michael Cole welcomed viewers to the show as the cameras panned the crowd... The Rock's music played briefly and he appeared on the big screen while standing at an outdoor location. He had some gray in his goatee. Rock recalled John Cena asking from the heart if he would be his partner.

"I saw it and I felt it," Rock said. "Here's the Rock's answer back to you. Hell no." He said Cena has taken shots at him for years. He said that in order for them to be a team, Rock would have to slap the skin on his hand. Rock said he was just as soon slap the lips off Cena's face. Rock said Cena wanted Team Bring It to team up with "the Fruit Loops Troop."

Rock said he started to think about it and listen. He said Team Bring It despises The Miz and R-Truth. He said it's not about what he or Cena want, it's about what The People want. He said the people want The Miz and R-Truth to get their jabroni asses kicked like never before.

Rock said Cena's wish just came true. "For one night, you and The Rock will be a tag team and we will face The Miz and R-Truth at Survivor Series," said Rock. He said Miz and Truth are cowards who attack people from behind. He challenged them to come face to face with him.

Rock said he knows Cena is so happy and all the little kids are running around the house and thanking him on Twitter. "Slow it down, little cowboy, slow it down," Rock said. He said there's another reason he's team with Cena beyond kicking Miz and Truth's ass. He said he wants Cena to witness what the most electrifying man in the world does best - putting boots to asses.

The Rock said Cena should watch "and damn sure learn" how it's done. Rock ran through some of his catchphrases and said he's back. "The Rock, John Cena, Survivor Series," Rock said. "Never before, never again. If you smell what The Rock is cooking"...

Powell's POV: A quality promo. Rock made as much sense out of the idea of teaming with Cena as he could, and there's only so much he could have done to build up The Miz and R-Truth given the way they have been booked.

Cole and Jerry Lawler hyped the show and John Cena vs. The Miz. Cole said WrestleMania tickets go on sale this weekend...

C.M. Punk and Mark Henry made their entrances. The announcers explained that it was announced on the WWE website that Punk had to win this match in order to get a WWE Championship match at Survivor Series. Before the match, they aired footage of the ring collapse spot from Vengeance. John Laurinaitis walked onto the stage and reenforced that Punk had to beat Henry in order to get a WWE Championship match...

1. Mark Henry beat C.M. Punk by DQ in a non-title match in 2:30. Cole said Laurinaitis is a fair man. Punk ended up on Henry's back and hit him with repeated elbows. Later, Punk performed a top rope elbow drop for a good near fall. Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez walked to ringside.

Ricardo entered the ring per Del Rio's orders and pounded on Henry's back. When that didn't work, Ricardo took his shoe off and hit Henry with that. The ref called for the DQ. Punk got hot and dove on Del Rio and Ricardo at ringside. Del Rio fled. Punk grabbed Ricardo and threw him inside the ring, where Henry performed the World's Strongest Slam. Cole said Punk won't get a title shot at Survivor Series...

Powell's POV: Why am I supposed to dislike Ricardo when he's just following orders? They really need to go out of their way to establish Ricardo as a heel if he's going to take all this abuse. Granted, there's something unlikeable about a guy who follows such orders, but he also possesses a sympathetic quality. I assume we're still getting a WWE Championship match somehow, but I suppose they could put them in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match now that Rock and Cena are working a standard tag match.

[Q2] Cole hyped his Michael Cole Challenge for Jim Ross, and Lawler teased The Muppets for after the break... [C] A commercial hyped The Rock for the three-hour Raw in two weeks...

Powell's POV: They are billing the show as "Raw Gets Rocked" rather than as the Rock Reunion that the original advertising teased. In case you missed it over the weekend, they are no longer billing Mick Foley on the WWE or arena website.

Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy were introduced on the stage where they stood behind a podium. Vickie Guerrero and Jack Swagger walked out and complained to them about stealing their TV time. Swagger told them to leave. Piggy told them to make us. Kermit backed down and said they don't want trouble from Swagger or his mother (Vickie). Piggy and Vickie exchanged "excuse me" lines.

Santino Marella came out and told the heels not to pick on his Muppet friends. Santino said Swagger can go to the ring and showcase his skills against him. Swagger closed Kermit's mouth so that he couldn't talk. Santino also announced that Dolph Ziggler would face Zack Ryder in a singles match. Kermit and Piggy did a warped version of Ryder's catchphrase.

Kelly Kelly came out dressed in a Three Musketeer costume (I think) and gave Kermit a kiss. Piggy got pissed. Cole hyped a Divas battle royal for after the break...

Powell's POV: I can't believe the wrestlers have to act like the Muppets are really talking to them. I can't believe I have to write this as if the Muppets are actually talking. I know this is great for fans of the Muppets, but I wonder what the rest of the viewing audience thinks.

2. Eve won a Divas Battle Royal in 2:45 to earn a shot at the WWE Divas Championship. Beth Phoenix sat in on commentary. The costumed participants were Eve, Rosa, Aksana, A.J., The Bella Twins, Natalya, Kaitlyn, Alicia Fox, and Kelly Kelly.

[Q3] It came down to Natalya against Eve, Kelly, and Alicia. Alicia and Kelly were eliminated, and then Eve pushed Natalya through the ropes and to the floor to win...

Powell's POV: Quick and mostly painless. At least no one intentionally eliminated themselves this time around.

More Muppets madness with Beaker and Professor Bunsen Honeydew. Beaker was sent out with a container that Christian took from him. Sheamus showed up and scared Christian away. Sheamus told Beaker that he can't make the family reunion this year. Sheamus straightened Beaker's hair to look like his own...

Powell's POV: A near chuckle for the expected meeting between Sheamus and his Muppet twin.

Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne came to the ring. Cole said they would be facing Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett after the break... [C]

3. Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett defeated Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston in a non-title match in 5:30. Cole boasted about Atlanta being a good town for him because he won his match at WrestleMania in the city. There was a cool spot early with Kofi trying to perform a springboard move only to have Cody kick the ropes to trip him up.

Late in the match, Barrett set up Bourne for his finisher, but Bourne countered with a DDT. Cody had to break up the pin attempt. Later, Evan went up top, but Barrett recovered, grabbed him, and hit Wasteland for the clean pin.

[Q4] After the match, Christian ran out and attacked Kofi Kingston. Cole said Christian had formed some type of alliance with Barrett and Rhodes in the past. Sheamus ran out and cleared the heels from the ring...

Powell's POV: The tag champions also lost to The Miz and R-Truth on Smackdown, so that's two non-title matches in a row.

Statler and Waldorf were shown in a luxury box. One couldn't hear the other, so the one that could hear remarked that they've gone from Stone Cold to stone age...

Backstage, C.M. Punk accused John Laurinaitis of sabotaging him so that he would have to jump through hoops. Laurinaitis said he'd give Punk his title match as long as Alberto Del Rio agreed to give it to him. Punk said that was fair enough and slapped Laurinaitis on the back. Laurinaitis was texting and kept right on texting...

Cole hyped Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show for after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: Punk was a little too easy going with his acceptance of Laurinaitis's ruling. After all, why would Del Rio agree to give him the match? Perhaps the idea is that Punk has a way to make that happen. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I expected better from Statler and Waldorf. I really can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually hope we get more from those two.

A Brodus Clay vignette was shown. He's the fall of humanity. The video package said he will be on Raw next week...

4. Big Show defeated Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match in 13:50. Show opened with some chops that the crowd gasped over. Del Rio came back later with a sleeper. Cole put it over by talking about how the sleeper will take down anyone regardless of their size.

[Q5] Show powered up and flipped Del Rio over to break the sleeper. Show continued to sell the sleeper by coughing while leaning on the ropes. There were dueling "Let's go Big Show" and "Del Rio" chants that didn't last long. Lawler stressed that Big Show isn't 100 percent following the ring collapse. Show sent Del Rio to the floor leading into the break. [C]

Powell's POV: Was Kevin Dunn scoping out chicks for after the show? There was a cool back and forth exchange and just when Del Rio was about to finish it off with a kick, we got a shot of a female fan in the crowd.

Del Rio continued to get in plenty of offense after the break. However, Big Show caught Del Rio with a knockout punch and pinned him clean. The announcers stressed that Del Rio had Big Show on the ropes the entire match.

Afterward, C.M. Punk's music played. He walked by Big Show and they stopped and looked at one another. Show smiled. Punk headed to the ring and sat down next to Del Rio and woke him up by dousing him with water. Punk told him he was going to apply the Anaconda Vice until Del Rio agreed to give him the WWE Championship match at Survivor Series. Del Rio yelled that Punk has his match.

Powell's POV: There you, Punk had a way to get his match. For those keeping score at home, the tag champs and the U.S. Champion lost non-title matches on Smackdown, and the WWE Champion and the tag champions lost non-title matches on Raw. Way to make those champions strong, WWE.

Backstage, Fozzy and Gonzo were talking about how easy it would be to become WWE Champion. Vickie Guerrero, Jack Swagger, and Dolph Ziggler showed up. They pulled Gonzo's arms and they stretched so that they could wrap them around his head. Gonzo asked how they knew he needed an adjustment...

The announcers hyped John Cena vs. The Miz as a WrestleMania rematch...

[Q6] [C] A WrestleMania commercial hyped that tickets go on sale on Saturday...

Powell's POV: Dot Net reader John Banelis reports that Mick Foley is still being advertised for the Boston show in local advertising that aired during the Raw show. I thought it might be a dated listing, but he said the ad lists the show as "Raw Gets Rocked" rather than "Rock Reunion."

The cameras focussed on fans who were dressed in costume, including one fan who was dressed like Hulk Hogan. "That's scary," Lawler said regarding the Hogan costume... The announcers set up footage from The Muppets movie...

Animal (Muppet, not Road Warrior) was introduced as the guest time keeper, and he rang the bell repeatedly...

5. Santino Marella beat Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) in 2:35. Beaker showed up at ringside and handled Santino a Muppets energy drink. Santino drank it and ended up spitting it in Swagger's eyes. Santino rolled him up and scored the pin...

The announcers hyped the main event... [C]

Powell's POV: Remember this moment if Santino misses time due to a Wellness Policy violation. Muppet fans are probably loving this. I enjoy the Muppets in small doses, but I definitely prefer them in their own world rather than on Raw. This show can't end quickly enough as far as I'm concerned.

[Q7] 6. Zack Ryder defeated Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) in a non-title match in 8:50. Cole pimped Twitter and how he was a trending topic last week. Ryder dominated the first couple of minutes and the show cut to break. [C]

Late in the match, Ryder pinned Ziggler, who had his leg under the rope. The referee realized what happened and restarted the match (unlike the Bound For Glory main event). Ryder hit the Rough Ryder and scored the clean pin in the middle of the ring. Vickie screamed over the result at ringside...

The announcers hyped an update on Triple H for after the break... [C] Another Raw Gets Rocked ad aired...

[Q8] A video recapped the Triple H and Kevin Nash saga. At ringside, the announcers said Triple H will be out of action for at least five more weeks. Jerry Lawler recapped the WWE website story that Kevin Nash has been re-signed by John Laurinaitis

Powell's POV: That's back to back non-title losses for Ziggler on Smackdown and Raw. The good news is that Ryder was definitely over with this live crowd.

Michael Cole stood on the announcers' table and said Jim Ross wouldn't be there because he was suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. He pulled out diapers and said Ross could wear those. He questioned whether Ross would show up next week. "I guess that just Depends," Cole said. Get it?...

Back in the luxury box, Statler and Waldorf said the only thing worse than listening to Michael Cole is...nothing...

Backstage, Miss Piggy was into John Morrison's abs. He said he had plans, but he had a friend who would go out with her. Hornswoggle entered the picture and showed off his Muppets tattoos. He planted a kiss on Piggy, who karate chopped him. Kermit showed up, and Hornswoggle ran off. Cody Rhodes showed up and put a paper bag on Kermit's head...

Powell's POV: John Morrison appeared on Raw and didn't lose. It's a miracle!!! Is Raw running long or did creative just never get around to figuring out what the Michael Cole Challenge is all about?

The Miz made his entrance. Statler and Waldorf talked about John Cena being next. Statler did the "You Can't See Me" bit... [C] An ad for Smackdown questioned whether Mark Henry will give Big Show another match...

John Cena made his entrance just two minutes before the top of the hour. Cena looked into the camera and said he's the guy who is there every night. He winked and headed to the ring...

[Overrun] 7. John Cena defeated The Miz in 8:55. Lawler said he thinks Miz and Truth have a chance to win at Survivor Series. Cole thought he was crazy. Lawler said he doesn't know if they can coexist. Cole continued to take jabs at Ross by wishing him the best in his future medical endeavors.

Cena dominated the offense. He hit (kind of) a top rope leg drop and went for a cover, but The Miz kicked out. Cena expressed a look of surprise. Cena picked up Miz for the Attitude Adjustment, but Miz avoided it and DDT'd Cena for a near fall of his own at 7:45.

Cena backdropped Miz to the floor and then ran him headfirst into the guardrail. Someone dressed in a Scream killer costume grabbed Cena, who responded by punching the person. They went back inside the ring, where Cena applied the STF and got the submission win.

After the match, the guy in the Scream costume entered the ring and was immediately greeted with an Attitude Adjustment. Cena removed the mask to reveal it was R-Truth (as if his painted jeans didn't give it away). Cena put the mask on and did the "You Can't See Me" bit over R-Truth. Cena played to the crowd to end the show...

Powell's POV: Boy, it's a good thing Cena managed to get The Rock to help him fight off R-Truth and The Miz since he can't do it himself. Oh, wait, never mind. Overall, the show did very little for me. The Muppets are fine in their own world, but they don't belong in the WWE universe where the wrestlers have to pretend like they are real. Yes, that's what makes the Muppets work on their own shows and movies, but it wasn't a good fit here.

The heels who need wins the most don't get them, and several champions are on non-title losing streaks. The Rock's promo wasn't so electric that it stood out as truly memorable by his standards even two hours later. WWE hyped the three-hour Raw, but there was no hook to keep viewers watching next week. I'll have more to say about the show in Dot Net Audio on Tuesday. Thanks for watching along with me, and enjoy the rest of your Halloween.

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