By Jason Powell

Dot Net Members will be listening to my member exclusive audio review of WWE Raw later tonight. Join us on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership now via Prowrestling.net/amember/signup.php. You are also encouraged to download our free iPhone, Android, and Kindle Fire apps.

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Portland, Oregon

[Q1] The show opened with footage of John Cena's promo from last week... The opening theme music played... Pyro was shot off on the stage... Michael Cole introduced the show from ringside. Jerry Lawler hyped that The Rock would appear live...

Powell's POV: It's good to see they didn't waste any time in reminding viewers that The Rock would appear while stressing the live part. It would have been nice to hear some mic work from Punk and Bryan, but I like when WWE shakes up the usual opening promo segment by going with a match right out of the gate.

C.M. Punk came to the ring. The announcers narrated footage of the Punk vs. Daniel Bryan match and the general manager squabbling from the live Smackdown special. Justin Roberts was about to introduce Bryan when he was interrupted by Chris Jericho's entrance music.

Jericho walked to the ring. "Expecting somebody else, Punk?" Jericho asked as his jacket lit up. Jericho said he knows Punk has a big match, but what he has to say is more important. Jericho said he thinks Punk is an amazing performer and he's one of his favorites, "but you're not as good as I am." Jericho said Punk isn't the best in the world at everything he does and he knows it.

Jericho said he never had to call himself the best in the world. He said the people said it for him. The crowd booed loudly. He said he's part of a special breed of performers that toured the world that honed their craft before they got to WWE. He said they cared more about having the best match than backstage politics.

Jericho recalled developing a reputation for having a bad attitude with the powers that be. He said he didn't care because he knew he was the best. He said Punk is like him in that he's a maverick who went against the grain and became more than anyone thought he could. "In translation, that just means you want to be me," Jericho said.

Punk said he knows how good Jericho is and the people also know how good he is. Punk said the problem he has is Jericho insinuating that he stole from him. Punk said he's never done that in his life. Punk recalled watching Bret Hart saying he was the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. "Did you give that to him when you were like two years old?" Punk asked.

Jericho encouraged the fans co laugh it up. Jericho said it's typical smarmy, sarcastic, never take anything seriously Punk. Jericho said Punk has to take him seriously because he's different. Jericho said he's proven for the last 22 years that he's the best in the world. Jericho told the fans that they can boo, but they know it's the damn truth.

Jericho boasted about beating all of the legends, having classic matches, winning titles, etc. The fans chanted for Punk. Jericho said they could chant all they want, but he's showing them evidence that he is indeed the best in the world at what he does. Punk said Jericho's words scream superiority, but his body language screams inferiority.

"Are you trying to prove to me that you're best?" Punk asked. "Are you trying to prove to the people that your'e best? Or are you trying to prove to yourself that you're the best?" Punk said Jericho looks at him and sees a person that overcame everything he did, but he ultimately accomplished more by becoming "the man" more than Jericho did. Punk accused Jericho of having a Napoleon complex.

Punk said he's the best wrestler in the world. He said he was born this way and this is who he is and what he does. He said Jericho leaves to write books, host radio shows, appear on game shows, etc. Punk said that he's swimming with sharks while Jericho is off dancing with stars.

"When I was dancing with stars, Punk, and killing it on The Tonight Show and becoming a bigger star than you ever were, all I could think of is one thing and that is you ripping me off." Jericho said that all of the January 2 vignettes, the best in the world verbiage, and the flashy jacket is just window dressing.

[Q2] Jericho said he returned for one reason and that was to beat Punk for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania and to shove down his throat while proving that he's the best in the world at what he does. The crowd booed.

"Well, that's all you had to say," Punk said. He said Jericho merely had to grab him and say best in the world vs. best in the world at WrestleMania. Punk said most people point at the sign at this time of the year, but he's going to point at his title. He said he doesn't need Chris Brown, and Jericho doesn't need Mickie Rourke.

Punk said the only thing they need is the two of them in a ring in "what could be the greatest wrestling match in WrestleMania history." He said that when Jericho sees him celebrating, it won't be the end of the world, it will just be the end of Jericho's world.

Daniel Bryan made his entrance with A.J., John Laurinaitis, and David Otunga heading to ringside with him. Jericho headed to the back. Punk focussed on Laurinaitis. Bryan used the distraction to attack Punk, who came back and threw Bryan to ringside... [C]

Powell's POV: Damn! That was a strong verbal exchange from Punk and Jericho. I like the way they slowly chipped away everything and made it about which one of them is better than the other. I was hoping for a change of pace with a match to open the show, but I'm not complaining after that mic work.

1. C.M. Punk fought Daniel Bryan (w/A.J.) to a no-contest in a champion vs. champion match in 10:15. The match was joined in progress after the break. Santino Marella and Teddy Long were on Lawler's side of the table, while Laurinaitis and Otunga were on the Cole side. They bickered while Punk and Bryan fought inside the ring.

Bryan took a bump to the floor and feigned a knee injury. Punk wanted to go for a move, but A.J. was in the way. Bryan used the distraction to go on the offensive before the commercial break. [C]

Powell's POV: I hate the way they have the two champions in the ring, yet the commentary is focussed on the general manager feud. It feels so counterproductive. Punk and Bryan will be in title matches at WrestleMania, while the general manager match (whatever it turns out to be) will be perceived as a mid-card attraction at best. WWE has dropped the ball on this countless times, but I'm amazed that they keep finding new ways to diminish the value of a champion vs. champion match.

After the break, Bryan had Punk locked in an abdominal stretch. Lawler put over how good the match has been and showed a couple of highlights from during the break. Punk came back with some kicks. Punk slammed Bryan and hit a top rope elbow drop. Punk sold abdominal pain and then signaled for his finisher.

[Q3] Otunga climbed onto the ring apron. Punk knocked him off, but Bryan recovered. Otunga got on the apron again, but Santino took him out with The Cobra. Laurinaitis pulled Santino down. Teddy and Laurinaitis jawed. Bryan tried to leave with his title belt, but Sheamus ran out and hit him.

Sheamus slid Bryan back inside the ring. Punk hit the GTS on Bryan. The ref was ready to count the pin, but Laurinaitis entered the ring and stopped him. Punk was hot. Laurinaitis begged off. Long entered the ring and shoved Laurinaitis to the mat, which drew a smile from Punk.

Punk headed to the ramp while Long, Laurinaitis, Santino, and Otunga bickered in the ring. Jericho ran out and attacked Punk from behind. Jericho picked up Punk and slammed him onto the steel grating on the stage. Punk screamed in agony while selling the slam. Jericho locked Punk in the Lion Tamer until a couple of referees ran out. Jericho released the hold and then picked up the title belt to gloat... [C]

Powell's POV: The champion vs. champion match was entertaining, yet it felt unimportant. Fortunately, the Jericho attack on Punk was effective. It says a lot about Punk's popularity that he's getting the vast majority of the cheers over the usually popular Jericho. I suppose it helps that a lot of the hardcore fans who would cheer Jericho are also into Punk. I just hope that WWE eventually follows up by giving us a true winner in a Punk vs. Bryan match after WrestleMania.

After the break, the announcers recapped the Jericho attack on Punk. They played up the bodyslam on the grating and the toll that the Lion Tamer took on Punk's back...

Backstage, Josh Mathews said Punk was being treated by a trainer. He said it appeared Punk was more angry than hurt...

The announcers hyped the Undertaker vs. Triple H match, and then a video package recapped their match from last year... The announcers hyped a WWE website audio interview with Shawn Michaels... Lawler hyped John Cena vs. The Miz...

Powell's POV: I like the little touch of Lawler emphasizing how vicious the slam on the grating was. Punk did a good job of selling it, and Lawler really put it over by questioning whether Jericho was trying to sell it. Most viewers wouldn't have thought twice about that slam had it not been for the way Punk and Lawler sold it. The video featured comments from Rock, Cena, Pat Patterson, Punk, and others. Meanwhile, the Taker vs. Hunter video piece was excellent. WWE's production crew really shines during WrestleMania season.

[Q4] [C] 2. Kelly Kelly pinned Nikki Bella (w/Brie Bella) in 1:30. They read a tweet from Kelly, who said Eve is no friend of hers. Brie tried to check on her sister at one point, but Kelly kicked her. Nikki rolled up Kelly, who rolled through and bridged while scoring the pin...

Powell's POV: A good finishing sequence to another short Divas match. Are the Bella Twins trying to kill their sex appeal with their ring gear?

The announcers hyped Big Show and Sheamus vs. Mark Henry and Cody Rhodes for later in the show. They added that Cena would face Miz after the break... [C]

An ad for Smackdown focussed on the Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus match at WrestleMania. In other words, no match was hyped for the television show... A Rock DVD commercial aired...

John Cena made his entrance. He stopped on the stage, wiped his brow, and said, "What a day it's been," presumably in reference to the travel issues caused by the Daytona 500 delays. He looked at someone behind the camera and said, "You grew a beard."

The Miz came out with a mic in hand and said he's worked too hard to be treated "like this." He said WWE calls on him to represent the company in all forms of media. "But yet my name has yet to be called upon for WrestleMania," Miz complained.

The Miz got upset and told the fans to shut up. He said the fans would love it if he wasn't on WrestleMania. He said he would rectify "this crime" and prove to everyone that he is WrestleMania worthy and that he is WrestleMania. "And I'm going to do it by beating the man that I beat at last year's WrestleMania," Miz said before calmly delivering his catchphrase...

[Q5] 3. John Cena beat The Miz in 4:05. The dueling Cena chants started and the "Cena sucks" chants won this battle. Cena jumped out to an early advantage. Miz came back with the Reality Check for a near fall. Cena came back with a clothesline and shoulder blocks. Miz cut him off with a DDT for a near fall.

Miz followed up with a clothesline in the corner. He went to the top rope and Cena avoided a move. Cena came back with his usual offense. Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment and locked in the STF. Miz tapped. After the match, Cena was watching the referees tend to Miz when The Rock appeared on the big screen. Cena smiled.

Rock was warming up backstage when he stopped and looked into the camera. He waved his hand in Cena style and then pulled his hand down as if he was pulling down a shade, and the camera went dark along with his hand movement. Back at ringside, a smiling Cena slapped hands at ringside...

Powell's POV: A good promo from The Miz prior to the match. It gave his character a purpose going into his millionth match with Cena, and his delivery was strong. Cena showed really good energy during the match by running the ropes before hitting some of his usual moves. The Rock appearance on the big screen was cool and served as a nice reminder that he's still going to appear.

Ring introductions took place for the tag title match...

Powell's POV: Dot Net correspondent Fred Davis reports that Triple H came out during the commercial break and hit Miz with a Pedigree.

4. Primo and Epico (w/Rosa) defeated Kofi Kingston and R-Truth, and Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) in a Triple Threat to retain the WWE Tag Titles in 8:35. Fast-paced action to start with the wrestlers hitting rapid fire moves. R-Truth covered Ziggler for a throwaway two count.

[Q6] Kingston and Swagger tumbled over the top rope to the floor, where all of the other wrestlers were. Cole noted that the ring was empty. [C] After the break, the teams were back in the ring and/or at ringside. Cole said Punk had X-rays taken and nothing was fractured.

Swagger went on a roll with some near falls. He put the ankle lock on Epico, but Kofi caught him with Trouble in Paradise. Primo followed up with the Backstabber on Swagger, and Epico recovered to make the pin. Kane's music played. He came to the ring and roughed up Dolph and Primo. R-Truth tried to fight Kane, but he took a chokeslam...

Powell's POV: It took a while, but Kane finally has heel heat in my living room. How dare he interrupt Rosa's post-match jiggling routine?!? The match was just thrown out there, but it was entertaining.

Backstage, John Laurinaitis and David Otunga were talking about the Oscars. Teddy Long walked into the room. Laurinaitis tried to kick him out. Teddy said the rumor is that Laurinaitis won't be running Raw. Johnny said he heard a rumor that Teddy has been fired as general manager. Teddy said it's no rumor that Laurinaitis is a horse's ass. The fans chanted "horse's ass"...

The announcers hyped Sheamus and Big Show vs. Henry and Cody, and The Rock's appearance for later in the show... [C] Lawler hyped the WrestleMania theme song by Flo Rida...

Powell's POV: Is there a female rapper named Ida Ho?

[Q7] Highlights aired of the Eve and John Cena drama from last week...

Eve walked to the ring and was booed loudly and then the "Hoeski" chants started. She told the fans to go ahead and judge her. "I am a woman living in a man's world," Eve said. She said she tells men what they need to hear and they love it. She said there's not a man in the world who wouldn't love to be used by a woman like her.

Eve said it's not her fault that men can't resist her, her beauty, and her charm. She said they crumble at her feet like little puppies begging for her affection. She said men shouldn't blame her for her natural strengths, they should blame themselves for their weaknesses. Eve blew a kiss to the crowd and got more heat before leaving the ring...

Powell's POV: Bow wow. I don't know where they are going with the Eve story, but she's shown a good range of emotions over the last month. She has more heat than we've seen any female other than Vickie Guerrero get in a long time.

At ringside, Cole asked Lawler if he could resist Eve if she threw herself at him. He had to think about it before answering yes... Backstage, Kelly said Eve is like a totally different person. Eve laughed at her and walked away, leaving Kelly and Alicia Fox to look at each other for no reason before watching Eve walk in the distance...

A shot aired of Big Show and Sheamus walking backstage... The announcers set up the trailer for Edge's movie "Bending The Rules"...

An ad for Friday's WWE Smackdown hyped the return of Randy Orton in a match against Daniel Bryan... The announcers talked briefly about the match and then turned their attention to the G.M. dispute. The said they both heard rumors that leadership changes could be on the horizon... Introductions for the tag match took place...

[Q8] Cody took the mic before the match and mentioned the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight on May 5. He set up another embarrassing Big Show video with Mayweather punching Big Show in the face at No Way Out back in 2008 and beating him at WrestleMania. Even Cole questioned why Cody would taunt Show...

5. Sheamus and Big Show defeated Mark Henry and Cody Rhodes in 1:00. Cody tagged out to Henry. Show knocked Henry down and then chased Cody, who ran up to the entrance area. Sheamus tagged in and nailed Henry with the Brogue Kick for the in...

Cole hyped another big announcement from the WWE Board of Directors for 9:00 a.m. CT on the WWE website. Lawler assumed it pertains to the general managers...

Powell's POV: All the work they put into building up Henry as the badass monster is quickly being erased now that he's being jobbed out on both shows. Shame on him for getting hurt. Seriously, I hope there's more to the story than that.

A video featured John Cena's promo from last week and hyped WrestleMania 28... Lawler said the wait is over and viewers would hear from The Rock after the break... [C] A graphic noted that The Rock has more Twitter followers than John Cena...

Michael Cole hyped that Shawn Michaels will return to Raw next week in Boston...

The Rock's music played and he came to the ring to a huge ovation. Rock held out his arm. He told the crowd to look at his arm and noted that it was covered in goosebumps "because this, this feels so damn good." The crowd roared. A "boots to asses" chant broke out and Rock pointed to the slogan on the shirt he was wearing.

"Trust me, we're going to get into some chants all night long," Rock said. "Now this may come as a shock to a lot of people, but I'm not here every single week. I was here every single week for years and years. That was my job and I loved it. You see The Rock is born and created here in the WWE.

"And I also know that if it wasn't for the WWE and for all of you, The Rock would never exist. When I came back and said I was back and I was never going away, I meant it. Now did it mean that I was going to be back at every single Raw, every night, and every single Smackdown? No, that's not what it meant and that's not what was ever expected."

[Overrun] Rock said someone in the back could take it literally if he wanted to. "Because unlike you and you know who I'm talking to, I respect the audience's..." The crowd interrupted with a Fruity Pebbles chant. "Damn, I love that chant," Rock said.

"Unlike you, I respect the audience's intelligence because they know that I was born in this business, and they know that my heart and my soul is in this business, and they also know that I am standing in the middle of this ring right now for no other reason than I love the WWE. And I will always be apart of the WWE, and the WWE will always be apart of me.

"John Cena, you know, for years I used to think that you were a phony. For years, I thought there was no way that the guy who graduated from private school all of a sudden because the Doctor of Thuganomics. He was from the streets. He was from the hood. Yeah."

Rock said he realized that Cena isn't a phony. He said Cena is that guy who came out and ran him down last week. He recalled Cena saying that he has to go through people to talk to him. The Rock said Cena has his cell phone number. However, he said he doesn't want to talk to him because he would rather slap him in the face with a piece of kung pao chicken.

"You see, John, you're not a phony and I don't even think you're a bad guy," Rock said. "But what you are is a kung pao bitch." The fans chanted kung pao bitch briefly. Rock recalled Cena saying that he was going to fight for all the people in the back who would love to be in professional wrestling. Rock said that resonated with him.

Rock said he grew up in the business and he was always taught that there was no one who was every going to fight for him. He said that's how they learned and that's how they got better. He said no one was fighting for him when he was climbing the ladder. He recalled working as "a babyface" and being booed mercilessly. Rock ran through some classic names such as Randy Savage, Mick Foley, and Roddy Piper and questioned whether Cena thought anyone fought for them. Rock said he fights for The People.

Rock said he fights for the people who are sick and tired of having a king pao bitch shoved down their throats every night. Another kung pao bitch chant started. "By the way, Portland, right now, trending worldwide, king pao bitch," Rock said with a laugh. Rock said the people are not tired of being entertained and that's what he lives for.

The Rock said that he innovates and breaks new ground when he gets together with The People. He said that when he came back and said Cena looked like a big fat bowl of Fruity Pebbles, and suddenly Cena's "monkey ass" is on the side of cereal box. He said that when he said he was going to stick his boots up Cena's lady parts, the fans chanted it and it trended worldwide. "Boom, you're welcome, bitch," Rock said.

Rock led the crowd in chanting "Lady Parts" and then "Rocky." The fans followed along on command. He said Cena's big moment of the year was changing his jean shorts to camouflage. He said the camouflage is working because "we can't find your balls whatsoever." Rock said they were going to make history again. "Cena's missing balls, trending worldwide," Rock said. The fans chanted "Missing balls."

John Cena's music played and he came out to major boos. Cena said it was too much fun and he wasn't going to miss out. Cena said only Rock could call him kung pao chicken. He said he wasn't there to swing from The People's Strudel "or whatever you're calling your penis nowadays."

Cena recalled Rock saying he's the guy who runs him down when he's not there. Cena said that was only half right because he runs him down when he is there. Cena said he liked The Rock, but then he met Dwayne Johnson. He said Dwayne Johnson is an egomaniacal see-through son of a bitch who wouldn't give a damn if the company closed its doors tomorrow.

Cena said he doesn't need notes for his promos on his wrist (Rock did have notes on his wrist). He said Rock may be looking at a guy who doesn't have balls, but he's also looking at a guy who is going to beat the hell out of him at WrestleMania. Cena left the ring and then stopped. "Oh, oh, carry on, continue trending," Cena said.

The fans continued to chant Rocky. "It's like you, John," an intense Rock said. "It's like you to come out, run your mouth, and walk away before I slap your lips off your face." Rock said The Rock and Dwayne Johnson are the same man. Rock said Cena isn't tough. Rock said the only thing that matters is that on the biggest stage of WrestleMania, he and The People are going to kick Cena's candy ass all over WrestleMania. Rock threw the mic aside and paced in the ring, and then played to the crowd...

Powell's POV: Great intensity when Rock and Cena were together in the ring. I'm surprised they had Cena come out tonight since he had the promo time last week and this was Rock's rebuttal. It made Rock look weak to stand there and listen to Cena talk shit and then walk away unscathed regardless of what Rock said afterward. I'm also surprised that Cena pointed out that Rock had the talking points (presumably) on his wrist, though it's not like you couldn't see it on television, which makes it fair game.

Rock's promo was entertaining, but he didn't go for the jugular like Cena did. With Cena getting to come out and talk smack before heading to the back, a lot of viewers will come away feeling as though he won this battle. That's not a bad thing, as Rock dominated their past verbal exchanges and he was the one getting the overwhelming majority of the cheers even after Cena interrupted him. Quite simply, Cena needed this one more than he did. Even more important is that I can only assume that viewers are looking forward to their next verbal exchange. I know I am. I'll have more to say in Dot Net Members' audio later tonight.

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