Mark Out Moments: Monday Night Raw - The Final Raw before Wrestlemania 27, The Rock and John Cena's first in-ring interaction, and Shawn Michaels makes a surprising return


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Mark Out Moments: Monday Night Raw - The Final Raw before Wrestlemania 27, The Rock and John Cena's first in-ring interaction, and Shawn Michaels makes a surprising return
Mar 29, 2011 - 09:35 AM


Mark Gessner is best known to readers as the Dot Net MMA contributor. He has been covering UFC and Strikeforce events for the site for several months. He also follows pro wrestling closely and has been blogging about it in the Dot Net Members' Blog section for many months. His pro wrestling blog makes its transition today to the actual website.

- CM Punk opened the show and proved again Monday night why he is in the upper echelon in today's wrestling business. He is in the top three on both the mic and in the ring. He is one of the only people in the business who could make a match that we've seen before in recent history feel like it is two years in the making. He planted seeds during his short stint as a commentator and continues to bring up an angle that took place in September of 2008.

- The wrench attack last week was just what this match needed to make Orton look like there is a chink in the armor of the man who took out all the members of the New Nexus with ease. Orton had sent more people to Florida than and MLB team that plays in the Grapefruit League via his punt kick so it makes sense to attack the leg. Basic booking executed to a T.

- I liked Edge's attempt at filling the logic gap as to why he couldn't make contact with Del Rio on Smackdown but was having a tag team match against him tonight. Funny line about the anonymous GM being someoene Edge has always liked.

- The match between Edge and Christian vs. Del Rio and Brodus Clay did what it needed to do to further the angle. You saw minimal contact between Edge and Del Rio during the match and the post match attack was well done.

- While many people might be upset that Clay jobbed again, I am not one of those people. He almost had to in this match if someone was going over clean. Christian has been booked strong since returning from his injury and appears to be next in line for a title shot. While the eleven people who saw Clay on NXT may have seen his potential, the vast majority just see him as a big guy who is Del Rio's backup. He's not in a position where he needs to be protected. It was a rookie losing to former Tag Team Champions and one of the best teams of all-time.

- The hype video for Hunter vs. Taker was excellent with flashbacks to former 'Mania victories by the Undertaker and video of opponents Hunter has destroyed.

- It sucks to see that Santino and Kozlov have taken the places of Kofi and either Christian or Diesel against The Corre from the rumored card that came out a few weeks ago. Kozlov is not good in the ring and Santino is a comedy act with a terrible finisher. This is the same wrestler who won the Diva's Battle Royal two years ago as Santina.

- The match was what it was. I question why Gabriel did the job to Santino rather than Slater? Gabriel has upper card potential, Slater is a soon to be defunct Superstars level talent with out the Nexus or Corre.

- What happened to Kevin Nash? He got one of, if not the biggest crowd pop at the Royal Rumble and many were predicting a match with Big Show or the two teaming up against The Corre and/or Nexus and now all he is doing for Wrestlemania weekend is a party on Friday and will be at the Hall of Fame on Saturday. In what capacity for the H.O.F. is still unknown at this point. The Corre going over Kane, Show, Kofi, and Diesel would be a much more prestigious win rather than presumably pinning either Santino or Kozlov.

- The Undertaker and Triple H face-off along with the surprise return of Shawn Michaels was epic. The infusion of HBK tonight added another level of hype and intrigue into a match and angle that has been treading water since the 2/21/11 videos that resulted in the return of Hunter and Taker. All three were excellent on the mic and made this feel like this could and most likely will be the main event for the biggest show of the year.

- The purpose of Swagger vs. King was to build up anticipation one last time before Sunday where King will finally get the chance to kick Cole's ass. Swagger was protected by looking dominant for the opening minute before King brought a chair into play. And, the segment closed out with another chicken-shit move by Cole with throwing his drink in Lawler's face from the Cole Mine.

- The Morrison and Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus and Ziggler seemed to be a time filler match. Nothing memorable but was a way to promote two matches on the card Sunday and continue the storyline that Sheamus has been on a winning streak since become the United States Champion.

-Randy Orton showed good intensity in his locker room interview with Scott Stanford. Good line about Orton having anger management issues. While Stanford is not Mike Adamle bad with interviews with Jeff Harvey or Jamaican us crazy on commentary, he has had a weird obsession with Orton and seems to ask random ass questions while interviewing him that are insulting to the intelligence of viewers. Who cares about his bus and why would he not work his 'Mania match?

- The Snooki and Trish bar angle was just to generate publicity for Wrestlemania on TMZ, Perez Hilton, MTV, ect... While Snooki, J-Woww, and (groan) Angelina may have fought housemates and people at bars on Jersey Shore, they all seem completely out of their element on wrestling shows. If they're fans and want to bring in mainstream publicity, that's great. But, stay out of the ring and scripted fights. (Yes, I realize their fights on the show are more than likely scripted)

- Congrats on the long awaited induction into the Hall of Fame for the Road Warriors. They have been rumored to be part of every HOF class since Wrestlemania 22 in Chicago.

- Phenomenal final segment to the go-home edition of Raw. The Rock was excellent in giving his history with the city of Chicago, the dream portion of his promo, and his line about Cena's shirt making him look like a homeless Power Ranger was funny.

- Say what you want about Cena's pandering promos and his being forced down our throats week after week, his promo was spot on this week. Questioning what Rock's real issue with him was good and he continued to not let the overwhelming amount of heat he got from the crowd affect him.

- Miz felt like a third wheel in this segment which is not a good thing for your WWE Champion going into Wrestlemania. The best part of his promo was Miz reminding Cena and the audience that he has owned Cena all month long so the thought of him walking out of Wrestlemania will his championship is not a stretch.

- Cena giving Rock the Attitude Adjustment to close out the show really gives you a feeling that The Rock will be back at some point for one more match. The only other option is Rock costing Cena the title which I don't think the babyface Rock will want his last 'Mania moment being a heel move.

Thank you all very much for clicking the link that brought you to my first ever "Mark Out Moment" review. If you have any thoughts, questions, comments, or critiques, feel free to email me at kliq4life28@gmail.com or tweet me at Twitter.com/MarkGessner. I'll be back on Wednesday with my preview and predictions for Wrestlemania 27.

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