WWE Monday Night Raw Review: 8/27/2012

Here are my thoughts on last night's episode:

Segment 1: That's Some Apology

CM Punk and Jerry Lawler's mini-feud may arguably be the most compelling television the WWE has produced thus far in 2012.  Punk is by far my favorite active competitor right now, but I found myself with a bad taste in my mouth as he began to bury King's Hall of Fame induction and career accomplishments.  That is how it's done folks.  Every young performer should look to Lawler as a prototype for how to convey convincing emotions and come off as a genuine good guy without being corny.  Punk has found himself in his current heel role after a few weeks of adjustment and it made for one hell of an opening segment.  Punk issues a challenge to Lawler tonight.  To prove that he is the best in the world, the WWE Champion has challenged a 62-year-old man to a match.  I find it odd calling the champ a bully, but you don't get much more douchy than that.  The crowd seems to finally be starting to get it as well.  Heels aren't supposed to be cool.  You're supposed to hate them.  Even if you respect them.  And after weeks of teasing, Punk has transformed from one of the WWE's top two most popular performers to it's biggest asshole in one segment.  A win in my book.


Segment Rating: ****

CM Punk, WWE Champion and Master DouchLord

 

Match 1: Ryback vs. Jack (Who?) Swagger

This was the worst match Ryback has had since debuting with his new gimmick.  I'm sure all of the blame will be on Swagger's shoulders.  The All-American American is not having a good year. 


Winner: Ryback

Match Rating: DUD

Swagger is upset that at the ripe age of 30, he realizes his best years may very well be behind him

Match 2: Divas Champion Layla vs. Natalya

This match was as sloppy, if not worse than the one that preceded it.  I've pretty much lost all faith in the champion Layla as of late as it appears she's slacking a bit and a champion should never slack.  I don't care if you're WWE champion or Internet Champion, I feel as if you should bear the standard of whatever your title states.  That being the case, she's far from the best person for the belt right now. 

The post match catfight between AJ and Vickie Guerrero was better executed and far more entertaining.  That is sad to say.  Step it up ladies. 


Winner: Layla

Match Rating: DUD

Segment 2: Hello, My Name is Daniel Bryan

Bryan continues to find more and more ways to carve a niche for himself and remain consistently entertaining with these Anger Management segments.  Most Internet fans more than likely rolled their eyes at the sight of their hero being made such a fool of, but thus is the reason many of you shouldn't even watch WWE television in the first place.  This is an entertainment company (thus the giant 'E' in WWE).  This segment was entertaining.  If you did not find it to be so, God help you because it only served to add to Bryan's persona and offer up another memorable Raw moment that will more than likely be included in many "Best Of" sets in the later years.  I thoroughly enjoyed this.  And don't feel bad for Bryan, because he appears to be enjoying himself also.  The dynamic between Bryan and AJ is proving to have great longevity, with many looking forward to which way the GM will make Daniel's life a living hell each week.  Include me in that group.  Everyone else, I feel bad for.

At the end of the segment, Jerry Lawler accepts CM Punk's challenge.  This should be good.


Segment Rating: ****

Harold: "Just breathe Daniel, breathe"

 

Match 3: John Cena vs. Intercontinental Champion The Miz

Miz and Cena have not had the greatest of matches together, but this is a good start.  They really turned out a very solid back and forth match here, even if the ending was a bit anti climatic.  Miz still looks strong regardless just hanging with Cena, but I'm curious as to what they are going to do with him for Night of Champions since they are playing up this whole Rey Mysterio concussion angle.  Solid match that saw Cena pick up the win after an Attitude Adjustment.


Winner: John Cena

Match Rating: ***

Match 4: Santino Marella vs. Heath Slater

I find this whole thing hard to rate.  The match was OK, but the ending was a bit of a mess for me.  Santino Marella gets distracted big time by Aksana, but still manages to pick up the win here.  Kind of dumb if you ask me, but what do I know.  I was far more interested in my dinner at this point.


Winner: Santino Marella

Match Rating: **

Match 5: Brodus Clay & Sin Cara vs. Damien Sandow & Cody Rhodes

It may not seem like a big deal, but I marked out for the team of Rhodes and Sandow.  Judging by their combined awesomeness alone, I don't think I was alone in doing so.

Seriously, how could you NOT love this!?

Don't get too excited, the above photo is about as far as my enjoyment goes.   Nothing really happened in this match.  There isn't really much to say.  The whole point was to further each feud by giving each some TV time, but in a three hour show there is no excuse for a two minute tag match.


Winners: Brodus Clay and Sin Cara

Match Rating: DUD

Segment 3: The Unintentionally Hilarious Past of Kane

Kane is never really given credit for just how versatile he can be.  His character can be hilarious when used properly, but at the same time, he never loses his menace.  This segment stands as a testament to that.  It was by far the most entertaining comedy bit of the night.  I thought it would have been gold if they went to commercial and when they returned, Kane was still running down the list of misdeeds he's committed, but a hilarious segment nonetheless.


Segment Rating: ****

Match 6: Daniel Bryan vs. R-Truth

The dimension that the anger management segments added to Bryan's character is evident in his match here with Truth.  I really got a kick out of him using the techniques he's learned to try and ignore the audience and focus on his match.  I thought it was brilliant.  Bryan is endlessly entertaining when he loses it on the fans, but watching them egg him on, baiting him and baiting him until he finally breaks, makes it that much better.  This match receives a low score for the lack of wrestling, but that's OK.  The whole thing was a masterful bit of storytelling and thrown together with the anger management bits, it makes for great TV.  Loved this.


Winner: R-Truth via. countout

Match Rating: **

Segment 4: Game Over?

The whole story behind Triple H's possible retirement is much bigger than I think most realize.  In the 2000s, HHH was the single most dominant superstar for the better half of the decade.  In the 2010s, he's a beaten, battered and seemingly, tired veteran with nothing left to prove.  That is what makes his performances in the twilight of his career so great.  Since 2010, he has lost his aura and no longer seems like a legitimate title contender or dangerous competitor.  The most compelling part of it all is, I don't think it matters to him at this point.  Triple H's success has always been attributed to his desire.  His motivation.  His determination to be the best.  At this stage of his career, he's a 13-time world champion and a guaranteed lock for the WWE HOF.  What is his motivation now?  The answer is, he doesn't really have any.  Yes, there is the revenge angle, but that was his motivation going into Summerslam.  Look how that one turned out.  Make no mistake, this is by no means, an attempt to bury The Game, but an overall analysis of his performances in the past few years.  Since 2010, he's lost two matches against The Undertaker, been injured left and right and now has to admit to having his pride robbed from him by the manipulative tandem of Lesnar and Heyman.  This is a story that has been woven before our eyes, yet we've all struggled to see it.  Do I personally think he's finished?  No.  Everything I have stated here is fact.  Fact is, that Triple H is no longer the King of Kings.  Fact is, that he's more vulnerable than ever.  Fact is, is that that IS NOT the way Triple H plans on ending things.  Stay tuned.  The Game will be back.  With a vengeance.  I guarantee it.


Segment Rating: ***1/2

To Be Continued...

Match 7: Dolph Ziggler & Alberto Del Rio vs. World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus & Randy Orton

First off, Dolph Ziggler's mocking of Chris Jericho's entrance was pure genius

A move that Jericho himself, would be proud of

The match itself wasn't anything to look for on the Best of Raw DVD, but it was good for what it was.  With these four in the ring, who would expect anything less.  Not much worth noting.  Just a really solid tag team match.


Winners: Randy Orton and Sheamus

Match Rating: ***

 

Match 8: Zack Ryder vs. David Otunga

Kane completely ignoring Michael Cole was a brilliant idea, but I don't get why he's mixed up with Ryder again out of nowhere.  Perhaps the idea is to show Kane has learned from his Anger Management classes as well and him avoiding hitting Ryder with the chokeslam, was his way of saying he's changed.  Still, I think Otunga would have to disagree.  Either way, I found a completely mute Kane more intriguing than the entire match itself.  I think that says it all.


Winner: Zack Ryder

Match Rating: **



AJ Lee has announced that regardless of the outcome of tonight's main event, CM Punk will defend his WWE Championship at Night of Champions against John Cena.

This picture of AJ's magnificent ass does nothing to further that statement, but who's complaining

The King is making his way to the ring sans glorious entrance attire, signaling that it is now time for our

 

MAIN EVENT

 

Match 9:: Steel Cage match: WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Jerry Lawler

I really enjoyed this match for what it was.  It wasn't the instant classic Lawler had with The Miz a couple years ago, but the story told here was far more compelling.  CM Punk's crusade for respect has made his character far more interesting than he was as a babyface.  This whole match was not meant to steal the show, it was a character exhibition for CM Punk.  It served to show the WWE Universe just how far off the deep end the champ has gone.  The dead crowd made that story a bit harder to understand, but all was clear come the match's finish.  Punk beat the living shit out of Lawler mercilessly just to force Lawler to admit he was the best in the world.  As if under the circumstances, it actually means he is.  This is what respect means to CM Punk.  It's worth more than Lawler's health, his WWE Championship, hell even his own sanity.  It has driven him to new lows, but the results are inarguable.  The WWE Champion has both opened AND closed the show for what could be the first time in 2012.  That is something worth noting here.  Perhaps, with all of Punk's twisted fury, he has began to resonate more with the WWE Universe than ever.  Let's face it.  CM Punk is not a nice person.  He is not John Cena.  But that's what's always been his most endearing trait.  His dark charisma.  He is far and away the best heel of his era and is at home being a total dickbag.  Quite an interesting turn and a magnificent build for the PPV.  The dimension this adds to the feud between him and Cena is amazing.  Cena now has some of the blood of Jerry Lawler on his hands, as much of this could possibly have been avoided had he just told Punk he was the best.  Still, Cena had no idea just how much respect meant to the champion.  Now he does.  Now....things are going to get interesting.


Winner: CM Punk

Match Rating: ***

One has to wonder is Lawler is the only one who will suffer in the coming weeks...

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed the segments involving CM Punk, Triple H and Daniel Bryan.  Other than that, there wasn't much noteworthy about this episode.  Thankfully, each of those segments were good enough to carry this episode to a passable score for me.  As forgettable as this episode was, I can say I find myself looking forward to next week.  That adds half a grade alone. 


Overall episode rating: 6.5/10