WWE Raw Reaction 9/3/2012

Last night's episode of Raw was a landmark for the entire year, hell the entire decade thus far.  Finally, they've managed to shift the focus almost COMPLETELY onto the next generation of stars.  Whether it's because talent like CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz (who was just awesome on commentary), AJ, Sheamus & Alberto Del Rio are all supremely talented or if it's just plainly out of necessity, remains to be seen, but do we really care to argue that point anymore?  Last night's episode was fantastic!  That's right, I just used the word fantastic.  I hate that word, but I'm hard pressed to find a better way to describe what was one of my favorite shows of the year PPVs included.  

CM Punk, Best In The World

The symbolism in this photo is dumbfounding

CM Punk continues to be the most compelling and unpredictable performer in the entire industry and is far and away, the biggest reason to look forward to Raw every week.  Again, he was the focus of 80% of the episode and again, he delivered.  I'm not sure if I've ever even seen another superstar integrate himself into the beginning, middle and end of one show without feeling like I was being force fed.  He is just that good.  The WWE Championship has perhaps benefited the most and that's the true win here.  The champion is finally being presented as the most dangerous competitor in the company again. 

It's safe to say these days are over....

Seriously, when is the last time you were legitimately surprised by the OPENING of an episode...oh, and don't even get me started on the finish.  For God's sake they closed the show with Punk hitting the GTS on Cena using a car, only to hoist his WWE Championship in the air as he got inside said car, ONLY to have it revealed that the driver is PAUL FUCKING HEYMAN!

For fucks sake, I have no words for this....how can you accurately describe absolute joy?

Me Love WWE!

Let's Hug it out Bro...

Kane and Daniel Bryan's feud has resulted in some solid matches, but through these Anger Management segments, they've both given us some of the most memorable and entertaining segments in WWE history.  I can't express enough how fun it is to watch these two work together...

Who would have thought two grown men hugging in tights would result in some of the year's best television

 

Some other thoughts

• AJ has yet to disappoint me as GM and she deserves credit because things could have gone horribly wrong. 
• Antonio Cesaro no-selling the Cobra made my night.
• The Divas division is finally seeing some new faces.  Kaitlyn is....so hot.
• John Cena and Alberto Del Rio bust their ass and went way out of their way to give us a hell of a match.  This should be commended considering the whole thing was just a set up for CM Punk owning the shit out of Cena.  Match Rating: ***3/4
• Zack Ryder and Heath Slater are both still on TV.  It's sad that that's worth noting, but it is and I'm glad to see Slater didn't get the shaft after his nostalgia act ended.
• Dolph Ziggler defeated Randy Orton!!  Yet another PPV worthy match wasted on TV, but who's complaining.  Match rating: ***1/4
• Jack Swagger's walkout was a good idea.  The guy could use some time off.  Hopefully, he comes back totally repackaged an even better than before.
• Sad to see the Jinder Mahal/Ryback feud sizzle out.  Someone must have pulled the plug.
• Chicago is by far the best audience since Miami post Wrestlemania.
• Where the hell was Christian?

Final Thoughts

Just an amazing episode.  It was by far my favorite Raw this year after the 4/2 and 1000th episodes.  Hopefully you DVR'd it if you haven't seen it.  This was one of those shows where everything just worked even though they took a ton of risks.  Episodes like this stand to show why Monday Night Raw is a grown man's soap opera.  A soap opera that turns us all into giddy little fuckers.  Loved it.


Overall episode rating: 9/10