By Jason Powell

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WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Oklahoma City, Okla.

[Q1] The show opened with a recap of the Undertaker and Triple H segment from last week. A narrator spoke over the highlights and questioned what is going through the mind of Triple H... Pyro went off on the stage inside the arena. The theme song played and the Michael Cole introduced the show along with color commentator Jerry Lawler.

Cole hyped a six-pack challenge with C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho vs. R-Truth vs. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston. The winner of the match gets final entry in the Elimination Chamber match. Lawler hyped Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show in the opening match. There was no mention of whether the title was on the line...

Triple H's music played and he walked out wearing a suit. He said there were rumors going around about what he was going to do last week. He said he wanted to make it clear that he was there to fire John Laurinaitis. He said he was going to wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Hunter ripped on Laurinaitis by calling him a liar, an ass-kisser, and a weasel, among other things. He said those are actually his good traits. Hunter said Laurinaitis flew to Stanford to beg the board of directors for a stay of execution. He said the board asked him not to rule on the matter until after the meeting. He said they may rule on it as early as Tuesday morning. "Whatever," Hunter said.

Triple H turned his attention to The Undertaker. He said he hadn't been seen since he was carried from the ring at WrestleMania 27 because he was unable to walk away on his own. Hunter said he's not ashamed to say that after 20 years in the business, there's nobody else he still gets "that feeling for." He said he gets a rush when the gong hits and Taker walks down the ramp.

"Still, after 20 years, I can stand in the ring with The Undertaker and I am in awe," Triple H said. "I stand before him truly humbled to be in the ring with him." Hunter said that's the only person alive he would say that about. He said Taker pointed at the WrestleMania sign and his silence spoke volumes.

Triple H said he didn't have a rush up his spine, he didn't have butterflies, he wasn't in awe, and he wasn't humbled by Taker. "I felt bad for The Undertaker," Triple said. He said he knows what he did to Taker last year and he chooses to remember The Undertaker in a different light. Triple H played a video that showed Undertaker highlights and said it's how he chooses to remember him.

After the video played, Triple H said that was Undertaker. "I don't want to remember this," Triple H said. He pointed to the video screen and a video showed Taker down and out after their WrestleMania 27 encounter. Triple H said no one will ever compare to Undertaker. He said he's 19-0 at WrestleMania and declared him the most dominant force in WWE history.

"With respect, out of all my heart, I say no," Hunter said regarding Undertaker's challenge. Hunter said he was in the ring with Taker last year and he knows what he did to him. "The Dead Man would not die," Hunter said. "And I know that if we do it again, I know what I have to do, I have to finish it and he knows it too." Hunter questioned whether Taker actually wants him to put an end to it.

Hunter said he respects Undertaker too much. "This is over," he concluded. Triple H started to leave the ring, but his music stopped playing and that stopped him in his tracks.

[Q2] The lights went out and the previously quiet crowd roared in anticipation. The video showed Undertaker sitting on a chair and watching highlights of their match. "This is not over," Taker said at one point. He said his win last year means nothing. "Give me what is mine, vengeance," he said. He said he'll give Triple H one more chance at immortality. A shot of Triple H standing in the ring was shown briefly... [C]

Powell's POV: The Hunter video didn't seem to play well with the live crowd. Granted, what he was saying wasn't designed to be crowd pleasing, but they seemed to lose interest as the long promo went on. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the segment and was really impressed by the Undertaker video. It had some cool clippings regarding the WrestleMania match and wasn't just a typical highlight package. Excellent production work.

A graphic touted that Raw was watched by more viewers than NBC's Fear Factor and Rock Center with Brian Williams...

Powell's POV: Was that a public rib on NBC? That was an odd graphic given that USA is owned by NBC Universal.

1. Big Show defeated Daniel Bryan (w/A.J.) via count out in 6:25. After Bryan made his introduction, A.J. walked out behind him wearing a neck brace. Bryan escorted her to ringside and told her she'd be safe. Big Show took control early, but Bryan came back with a dropkick to Show's knee heading into a commercial break. [C]

After the break, Show went for the chokeslam, but Bryan countered with a choke. Cole called him a submission specialist. Bryan went for a missile dropkick at 6:20, but Show saw it coming and Bryan dropped off the top rope. Show kicked Bryan off the ring apron. Bryan held his knee. Show headed to ringside, but A.J. stood in front of Bryan and pleaded with Show. Bryan jumped up and struck Show's knee from behind.

[Q3] Moments later, Show stopped just short of creaming A.J. again. Bryan grabbed her and escorted her up the entrance ramp. Show reentered the ring and the referee counted out Bryan to give Show the win. Show wasn't pleased with the result.

Bryan had a mic on the stage and said Show just proved that he intentionally ran over A.J. on Smackdown. He said protecting the woman he loves is more important than anything. Bryan said he will still be Daniel Bryan, a vegan, and the World Heavyweight Champion after Elimination Chamber...

The announcers hyped that Chris Jericho would appear on the show and vowed to break his silence. They also hyped the six pack challenge... [C]

Powell's POV: The Show vs. Bryan match was fine for what it was. Obviously, the goal was to put heat on Bryan and drive home that he's using A.J. to avoid Show. The Jericho tease is something that WWE should have delivered in advance if he is truly going to deliver a real promo.

A WrestleMania 28 video aired. We're 55 days away... The announcers showed footage from last week of Carl Edwards spinning out in a car outside the arena. Edwards invited Cena to be the honorary starter of the Daytona 500 on February 25. Cena said he would be there...

Powell's POV: That's bigger than a WWE sponsored car. A nice coup for Cena and WWE, as I'm sure they will get some WrestleMania hype out of the deal. Here's hoping Cena embraces the hate and dares the drivers to turn right before throwing the flag down and storming off. He might get more publicity out of that move than M.I.A. did for flipping the bird during the pretentious old lady's performance at the Super Bowl last night, but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.

At ringside, the announcers spoke about the NASCAR announcement and then set up an Elimination Chamber video package... At ringside, Cole said there have been seven world title changes in the 13 Elimination Chamber matches that have taken place over the years...

Powell's POV: How many of those seven title changes diminished the title matches at WrestleMania?

[Q4] [C] David Otunga came to the ring and stuck up for John Laurinaitis. He invited the fans to join him in praying that the WWE Board of Directors will make the right call. Otunga struck the Tim Tebow pose. Justin Roberts announced that Triple H had booked Otunga in a match...

2. Sheamus pinned David Otunga in 2:05. Otunga worked the match in his regular clothes. Cole said Otunga is 20-0 in legal cases. The announcers stressed that Sheamus will announce which title he's challenging for after the Elimination Chamber match. Sheamus dominated early. Otunga had a flurry of offense, but Shemaus put him away with the Brogue Kick and scored the pin...

Chris Jericho was shown walking backstage with a scowl on his face. The announcers said he was coming up next... [C]

Powell's POV: A predictable one-sided win for Sheamus. That was expected and fine, but I could have done without the announcers cheese ball use of legal terms. The Tebow pose feels a few weeks late.

Lawler thanked Nickelback for providing the shitty music that wannabe rocker chicks and people with poor musical taste enjoy for Elimination Chamber...

Chris Jericho made his entrance. We got the light jacket, but no more smiling. Jericho announced that the end of the world as you know it has arrived. He said the end is here for people who claim to be something they are not. He said that by reappearing on Raw, he has made every other performer obsolete.

[Q5] Jericho said everyone in WWE is a Chris Jericho wannabe. He said they have stolen his thoughts and ideas. He said there is a locker room filled with Chris Jericho wannabes and said the arena is also filled with them. He pointed to various fans in the crowd and called them wannabes.

Jericho boasted that he manipulated the fans without saying a word. He called out Miz for wearing a suit and talking slowly and said he did it first. He said he did flashy moves like Kofi Kingston before he did. He also spoke about R-Truth, Dolph Ziggler, and Vickie Guerrero.

C.M. Punk was the worst culprit according to Jericho. He said Punk calls himself the best in the world, but he's nothing more than a Jericho wannabe. He said Punk knows deep down that Jericho is the best in the world at everything he does. "And I don't have to write it on the back of a t-shirt," Jericho said. Jericho said this is the end of the world as you know it because he is coming back to claim what is his.

Punk's music played and he walked onto the stage wearing a new t-shirt. Punk smiled and headed to the ring with a mic in one hand and his WWE Championship belt in the other. Jericho, whose jacket was lighting up, scowled at Punk as he entered the ring. Punk slowly approached Jericho with the mic in hand and the crowd went from cheering to interested silence as they stared at one another.

Punk teased speaking only to drop the mic without saying a word. Punk held up the WWE Championship belt. He turned his back to Jericho and then stopped. Punk smirked and held up his arm as if he was waiting for something. Punk smirked, nodded knowingly, and left the ring.

"You're not going to say anything, huh?" Jericho asked. "You're not going to say anything, wannabe? Look at me when I'm talking to you, wannabe"...

The announcers hyped Randy Orton and The Great Khali vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes for after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: Jericho just reverted to the character he was playing at the end of his last WWE run...only he has a jacket that lights up. I didn't care for the way the announcers immediately shifted focus to the throwaway tag match. WWE would never do that after an Undertaker vs. Triple H or John Cena vs. The Rock setup segment. By doing so, they left me with a feeling that what happened between Jericho and Punk is less significant than what the true top guys are doing.

The announcers hyped the Smackdown version of the Elimination Chamber match briefly. Cole said four of the six competitors would be in the upcoming tag match...

The announcers hyped Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan for Friday's Smackdown...

3. Randy Orton and The Great Khali beat Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes in 3:40. Orton did the bulk of the work for his team. He slapped Khali's chest to tag him in at one point. Orton checked back in and performed his signature spots.

[Q6] Khali tagged himself into the match. Orton was pissed. Cody went for his finishing kick, but Khali caught him with a chop and pinned him.

After the match, Orton and Khali exchanged words. Khali grabbed him by the throat and shoved him into the ropes. Khali went for a chop, but Orton ducked it and dropped Khali with the RKO. Orton posed and the camera crew was sure to get a shot of him with the WrestleMania sign in the background...

Powell's POV: The story the announcers told was that Orton is a loner and will be in his element in the Elimination Chamber match. Cody did the majority of the work for his team. Barrett's role was extremely limited. Am I the only person who was left hoping for a punt kick to Khali's skull?

The announcers discussed The Rock and John Cena's war of words on Twitter and then set up the latest John Cena video... Cole hyped Rock vs. Cena for WrestleMania 28... Lawler hyped the six-pack challenge match for later in the show... [C]

Powell's POV: They conveniently left out the part where Rock either accused Cena on Twitter of engaging in homosexual acts while in college or was just using homophobic lingo. They also left out the part where Cena responded and accused Rock of being homophobic. Did GLAAD stop caring once WWE humored them with the Be A Star campaign?

A graphic showed that The Rock has more Twitter followers than John Cena... At ringside, the announcers spoke about the Twitter feud and read a Cena tweet. Cena mocked Rock for saying "when I left WWE" during his video, and said that's something he will never say. Cena also said he will not lose at WrestleMania...

Highlights aired from last week of the Kane drama from last week...

[Q7] 4. Eve, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, and Tamina defeated Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and The Bella Twins in an eight-Diva tag match in 1:35. Beth slapped one of the Bellas across the chest to aggressively tag her into the match. Tamina finished off one of the Bellas with the Superfly splash. Beth smiled at ringside afterwards and even Natalya was thrown off by it...

Powell's POV: Apparently, the agent who did the last tag match didn't check with the agent who booked the Divas match, as they both featured hard slaps as tags. Oops.

Cole hyped The Rock's appearance on The Tonight Show for later tonight. A snippet of the interview aired and left viewers wondering what Rock was referring to when he said he had a wardrobe malfunction in WWE...

Backstage, Triple H was on the phone talking with someone about the John Laurinaitis situation when Big Johnny walked into the room. Laurinaitis said the board was professional and were a bunch of nice people. He said he would accept whatever decision the board had for him.

Laurinaitis announced that Shawn Michaels will be at the show next week. Hunter said HBK is hunting in the middle of nowhere. Laurinaitis said Michaels will be at the show next week because that's what the people want. Laurinaitis announced that John Cena will face Kane in an ambulance match at the pay-per-view. Hunter eventually kicked Laurinaitis out of his office. Hunter started texting when Laurinaitis left the room... [C]

Powell's POV: An ambulance match? I actually preferred the no disqualification, no count out match that was advertised on the arena website as being the stipulations for Cena vs. Kane. It will be fun to see HBK again next week and to see whether there are any teases for him serving as the special referee for Triple H vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania.

An ad hyped Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton for Smackdown...

At ringside, the announcers hyped that the WWE Board of Directors ruling regarding John Laurinaitis would be announced at 9:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday morning on the WWE website...

Powell's POV: WWE officials beleive Big Johnny equals web traffic? It's wise of them to drive people to their website, but I'm not sure how effective this will be.

The announcers set up the Undertaker and Triple H video from earlier in the show with Taker saying it's not over...

Backstage, Josh "Stalker" Mathews popped out out of nowhere and asked John Laurinaitis what he expects the ruling to be. Laurinaitis brought up Triple H rejecting Taker's challenge. He said he's not sure whether the Board of Directors wants someone who is perceived as cowardly running Raw...

Justin Roberts listed the rules of the six-pack challenge. R-Truth made his entrance... [C]

[Q8] A graphic and the announcers hyped the return of Shawn Michaels for next week... Ring introductions continued for the main event. Cole hyped a WWE Magazine interview with Triple H explaining how to win an Elimination Chamber match...

Hunter's Elimination Chamber POV: You start by marrying the boss's daughter...

5. Chris Jericho defeated C.M. Punk, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero), and The Miz in a Six Pack Challenge in 12:25 to earn final entry in the Elimination Chamber match. The bell rang and most of the wrestlers immediately put the boots to Jericho, who accused them all of being wannabes earlier in the show. Jericho ducked to ringside and stayed there while the other five fought inside the ring.

Truth flipped over the top rope toward Miz, who stepped aside and watched Truth crash to the floor. Truth landed hard and was writhing in pain with his face under the ring skirting. The match continued and they cut to commercial a short time later. [C]

Highlights aired of the Truth spot. Cole announced that doctors determined that Truth could not continue.

[Overrun] Cole reset the show at the top of the hour. There was a double pin spot with Jericho covering Ziggler, while Miz covered Punk. The ref counted for both men, but neither got a pin. There was an awkward exchange with Kofi not really hitting Jericho, yet knocking him down twice. He followed up with a sloppy dropkick. The crowd was flat at this point, but they reacted when Jericho missed a Lionsault.

Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise, but Jericho countered with the Walls of Jericho. Punk broke it up and threw Jericho to ringside. Ziggler rolled up Punk for a good near fall. Ziggler went for his finisher, but Punk countered with the GTS and went for the cover. Jericho pulled Punk to ringside and threw him over the announcers' table. Jericho covered Ziggler and got the pin with his feet on the ropes. Jericho will now have final entry in the Elimination Chamber match.

Jericho grabbed the WWE Championship belt and posed with it. Jericho took a seat and had the belt over his shoulder. He looked down at Punk, who was recovering on the floor, and smiled. A female screaming could be heard as Jericho posed with the belt.

They cut backstage where Kane was in a terrified Eve's face. Kane said that Cena will be in a better place once he embraces the hate. He said if he doesn't get there soon, he's afraid for Eve, Cena, and anyone who gets in his path. Kane said that for the first time in his life, he's afraid of himself...

Powell's POV: The Truth injury appeared to be legitimate given how hard he crashed to the floor. Miz was never in position and it just looked like the timing was off. The match itself was nothing special until they got to the last minute or two and then things really picked up. Jericho going over is the logical move and it was fun to watch him mock Punk by sitting down in the ring with the belt.

Overall, this was a decent show, but it was nowhere near as hot as last week's Raw. Hunter's unnecessarily lengthy promo seemed to suck the air out of the building early on. Eve needs to hire a security team, and Kane somehow strikes me as appearing older with the mask than he did without it. I'll have more to say tonight in audio. Thanks for watching along with me.

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