Taker Retuns To Raw (WWE RAW EP 976 Reviewed)

RAW would begin with the Interim General Manager, John Lauranaitis who would announce that he would be looking forward to his performance review. He also announced that he was confident that he wpuld be named the permanent GM of RAW. He then announced the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship. CM Punk would defend his title against Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, R-Truth and Chris Jericho. He announced that Beth will take on Eve for the championship, Kofi would take on The Miz, Randy Orton would take on Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan would take on CM Punk. Punk would then interrupt him. Punk would go round singing nah nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah, hey heeey hey good by clown shoes. Punk would go on to point out Lauranaitis's flaws, Lauranaitis would offer Punk a chance to clean the slate, Punk would tell Johnny that offering that hand to the best wrestler in the world would get the GTS. D-Bry would come down bragging about his victory at Royal Rumble, and he would insult Punk, saying he wasn't much of a challenge. Sheamus would come down to remind everyone that he won the rumble and that he had the right to challenge either the WWE Champion or The World Heavyweight Champion. He finished by reminding Lauranaitis that he would be Fired and that Triple H would be that man to do so.

Backstage Lauranaitis would be sucking up to his talent, patting them on the back and shaking there hand. He would then talk to Otunga, Otunga said that he had done everything he could to influence the decision.

Lauranaitis would come down to the ring at the end of the night to have his performance reviewed. John would talk about the review he gave himself, Triple H would then interrupt and say that Lauranaitis made himself a star rather than be a GM. Lauranaitis said as Triple H looked to say he need to replacement, and said he would do anything. Triple H said that he should apologize, which he did, but the fans decideed it wasn't good enough. He suggested that he fights in a gauntlet match, but then suggested to have John kiss his ass, John got to his knees and put chap stick on, Triple H just laughed. Triple H was just about to fire Lauranaitis when Taker's entrance began. Lauranaitis left the ring while the Triple H and Taker stood face to face again.Taker would then stare at the Wrestlemania sign, before doing a cut throat taunt Triple H, simbolizing he issued the game with a challenge, Triple H would pat Taker on the back, meaning he does not wish to challenge him.

I was so looking forward to Johnny getting the boot, but was surprised to see Taker so soon. I wasn't happy with the silent challenge, as it was the same thing from last year. I thought the game would accept the challenge, as Taker stated that he wants the Game to end his streak and so Lauranaitis would stay on RAW, as Triple H still had one personal reason. I now think that Taker is going to keep issuing the Challenge to Triple H, and he will have his streak ended this year, by the game, so he can retire.

Wade Barrett would watch from his sky-box the match between Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler. A match between Randy and Barrett would take place. Barrett said that he would finish the job this Friday. Dolph would win the lock up getting a few shots in, Randy would counter an Irish whip, but Ziggler would hold onto the rope to show off. Randy would take control with a headlock take over. Dolph would battle back with an elbow, reversing Orton running towards him and followed up with a dropkick. Randy would battle back reversing a sleeper hold, Randy picked up momentum, until another dropkick by Ziggler had Randy down again/Ziggler continued to show off, Ziggler went up top, until Orton knocked Ziggler's leg, having Ziggler on the top turnbuckle. Orton would hit a superplex but only getting a 2 count. Rabdy again picked up some momemtum, with his signature combo. Ziggler countered with a sleep hold, however Orton would escape, After various 2 counts by both competitors, Ziggler hit anther sleeper hold, Orton would again counter. Orton would hit Ziggler with the RKO after a spike DDT for the win.

I am not an Orton fan, I prefer Orton as a heel, but I will give him gratitude in this match. Ziggler is always very impressive in the ring. This match good, but I thought it was shorter than previous matches involving Ziggler and D-Bry. I have two theories for this, 1) Fatigue from last night. 2) More time for the Lauranaitis possible getting fired segment.

Funkasaurus would take on Tyler Reks. Brodus would dominate Brodus, until Reks began coming back with strikes,  this only pumped Brodus  up who would finish Reks with the What the Funk.

I wish the matches between Brodus and jobbers would last a lot longer. As Brodus only appears to use 5 moves, I wanna see what else this guy can do. The match was like his previous matches.

Backstage CM Punk and Bryan would have a segment where Bryan would quickly summarize what a vegan is and Punk would summarize what Straight Edge is, he then would finish that unlike Bryan, he didn't claim to be a role model, but he was the best wrestler in the world.

The match between Bryan and Punk would begin with D-Bry taking control with a dropkick. D-Bry continued the pressure with strikes, CM Punk would return strikes and gain control with submission holds. Bryan countered a leg drop and delivered numerous strikes. Punk would gain control throwing D-Bry over the top rope, however D-Bry would still be in control, as D-Bry threw Punk into the timekeeper area, D-Bry would still have control in the ring. Punk countered a headlock into a back suplex. This gave Punk the oppening to build up some offense. D-Bry would make a comeback, flipping over Punk, but both men would hit a cross body knocking both men down. Bryan would take control of Punk with a dropkick to the back of Punk's arm. D-Bry would go to the top rope, this gave Punk the oppening to hit a top rope Huracarana, which allowed him to build up some offense and attempt to hit the GTS, Bryan reversed and escaped the ring, Bryan would take control with forearm to an attempted suicide duve by Punk. Bryan still retained control, despite numerous roll-ups by Punk. Punk would counter with a headbutt and hit  a diving elbow. Bryan would counter the second GTS, into a roll-upo immediately following up with the lebell lock, to which Punk escaped. Jericho would drag D-Bry out the ring and throw him into the barricade, he then hit
Punk with a codebreaker.

What a match, absolutely the best match of the night. Shame it ended the way it did. But I guess this allows Jericho to be a new rival for Punk and D-Bry to continue bragging.

Mike Tyson would be the next inductee in the 2012 Hall of Fame.

I don't like these celebrities who have a small dosage of WWE TV time, and get inducted into the Hall of Fame. Don't get me wrong, Tyson was an absolute star in Boxing, that is what he should be inducted into, Boxing, he wasn't a wrestler.

R-Truth would be on commentary for the match between Kofi vs The Miz. Miz would come down bragging about how he lasted 45 minutes in the Rumble and that he would headline Wrestlemania.

The match between The two began very technical, The Miz however caught Kofi and began dominating him with strikes, and preventing Kofu from building up momentum.Kofi finally reversed and hit a huge massive cross body. The two would reverse each others signatures and finishers. Kofi avoided Miz's corner splash and followed up with the trouble in paradise.

This as well was a very decent match, Kofi gradually picked up some offense after Miz dominated, rather than a quick comeback for the win.
Eve would take on Beth, however Eve would be looking over her shoulder during her entrance, to see if Kane was about. Eve would strike Beth in the corner, Beth would deliver a clothesline, after the referee pulled Eve off of her. Beth immediately went for the Glam Slam for the win.

Post match Kane put out a message, saying that Kane would continue his assault on to Ryder until Cena embraces the hate, and that Cena cannot beat Kane or The Rock. Kane then entered the ring, Cena ran down to her aid, they both pummeled each other to the outside, Cena would seem to gain the edge after throwing Kane into the stairs. Cena would then pick up and hit Kane with the stairs 3 times.Cena then cleared the announce table and set Kane up for the AA, however Kane would escape the hold and retreat through the crowd.

This seems an awesome rivalry, but is obviously going to end at Elimination Chamber, Cena will win and then go to Mania against the Rock. WWE obviously have abandoned the idea of having the WWE title on the line for this. As this was a promotion for the rivalry, and was a short match.


Overall I would rate RAW 9/10


1) Taker Return
2) WWE YouTube Channel announced!
3) CM Punk vs D-Bry
4) Miz vs Kofi
5) R-Truth funny commentary
6) Triple H return
7)Lauranaitis Chap stick
8)Cliffhanger 
9)Orton vs Barrett match announced