Official Raw Thread For 3/28/11 - LIVE VIA SATELLITE

[Snowden]

Not seeing this whole Cena heel thing, you guys must be watching a different program than I am.

Yeah, he let the fight between Miz and Rock go. Why? He hates the Miz, but he's also dealt with Rock trashing him for the last month and change, when all he's done is held the torch that, in his mind, Rocky dropped and pissed on on the way to Hollywood.

And yes, he FUed Rock after the match...but that makes him an opportunist, not a heel. He's playing the part of the face, his promo was VERY face heavy, and he acted completely in character. If Cena was to turn heel, he'd wallop Rock over the head with a steel chair or something.

Originally Posted by TheAdamEvansFan I'm back. Just to announce that Thomas Hall/Ryan Clark need to learn how to report the news, not be so fucking opinionated. Your RESULTS for Raw/Impact should be legitly results, NOT OPINIONS. We don't give a fuck if you think CM PUNK is weak. Btw.... I marked out tonight in the last 15 minutes, rest of Raw was shit (cept for Kane dancing, and Christian getting massive pops). I hope to see WWE putting Rock in the role of turning Cena heel. I just wonder what will happen to his young base if they do that.. Or is it that WWE is using Rock to play to the adults/attitude era crowd as a middle man as they did with Randy Orton since Cena is HARDCORE face.

Lol he steals reports from 411mania.com. Like Ryan Clark would actually write some of his own stuff.

[Onyx]

Originally Posted by Snowden Not seeing this whole Cena heel thing, you guys must be watching a different program than I am. Yeah, he let the fight between Miz and Rock go. Why? He hates the Miz, but he's also dealt with Rock trashing him for the last month and change, when all he's done is held the torch that, in his mind, Rocky dropped and pissed on on the way to Hollywood. And yes, he FUed Rock after the match...but that makes him an opportunist, not a heel. He's playing the part of the face, his promo was VERY face heavy, and he acted completely in character. If Cena was to turn heel, he'd wallop Rock over the head with a steel chair or something.

It's called a "soft turn." A chair to the head would be a "hard turn" and there is no way they'd turn Cena heel suddenly right before Mania and have the main even be heel vs. heel. But they would also be fools if they didn't capitalize on this Cena/Rock thing and milk it for all it's worth and try to eventually get a match out of it. And when they do, people will boo Cena out of the building. He will be the heel of the match regardless of whether or not he acts like one, so it makes more sense for them to set the wheels turning for an eventual heel turn or at least set up Cena to play the part of a Tweener of sorts. Personally, I think they might go for a very brief heel turn like they did with HBK when he wrestled Hogan a few SummerSlams ago. HBK went heel just for the feud, got a lot of heat, then was suddenly a face again the night after the match with no real explanation for his heel actions other than his initial superkick that started the feud which he said was because he wanted the match with Hogan. I can see that happening here with Cena doing whatever he can to bait Rock into a match. And of course everyone old enough to grow pubic hair will boo him for it.

[Snowden]

I can see that eventually, provided Rocky sticks around long enough and is willing to wrestle a full match. Just don't know if that's what they were necessarily aiming at here...I think its more of a means to build further heat and anticipation for Rock laying out Cena/costing him the match in some capacity than actually functioning as a means to turn Cena heel though.

Time will tell though, and you're absolutely right in that it'd be silly to turn Cena right before 'Mania. Hence my bemusement when people were calling for this being *the turn.*

Thing is, I think if Cena goes heel, I don't think they'll be able to pull him back. HBK's character was more malleable in that sense than Cena's is...his "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect" shtick wouldn't stick with him being anything less than a babyface (albeit one who gets very non-traditional reactions). IF they decide to actually pull the trigger on him (and you're right, if its going to be against anyone, it'll be against the Rock), I'd wager it'll be a long term move.

[Onyx]

Originally Posted by Snowden I can see that eventually, provided Rocky sticks around long enough and is willing to wrestle a full match. Just don't know if that's what they were necessarily aiming at here...I think its more of a means to build further heat and anticipation for Rock laying out Cena/costing him the match in some capacity than actually functioning as a means to turn Cena heel though. Time will tell though, and you're absolutely right in that it'd be silly to turn Cena right before 'Mania. Hence my bemusement when people were calling for this being *the turn.* Thing is, I think if Cena goes heel, I don't think they'll be able to pull him back. HBK's character was more malleable in that sense than Cena's is...his "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect" shtick wouldn't stick with him being anything less than a babyface (albeit one who gets very non-traditional reactions). IF they decide to actually pull the trigger on him (and you're right, if its going to be against anyone, it'll be against the Rock), I'd wager it'll be a long term move.

The hope is that Rock will stick around full term. In interviews he seems open to wrestling at least one match which certainly has Vince salivating at the possibilities. To an extent, having Rock wrestle in a few matching might even help his movie career since he is aiming at doing some action roles in the not to distant future (i could be wrong here, I'm going by some hollywood articles I read a few months ago). Since so many people still have visions of Rock wearing tutus and fairy wings, having him kick some ass in the ring before jumping to an action role might help his credibility. Factoring that in, I can definitely see Rock wrestling a match or two.

The thing about what happened tonight is that Cena for so long has been the hardcore babyface. The pure and wholesome kind of character that Hogan was in the 80s/early 90s. Or at least he tries to be. The idea that that kind of a character would duck out of the ring as soon as two men start beating down a man he claims to respect, then jump in the ring and take him out from behind just doesn't make sense to me. If they wanted Cena to stay so squeaky clean, they should have had Cena help rock fend off Team Miz, then have a stare down and possibly then trade some blows. But Cena's tactics were pure heel. I agree with you that this wasn't THE turn, but I think the WWE is planting the seeds for it to happen.

I don't think they could pull Cena back as easily as HBK either, but HBK was pure face (except in Canada) at the time. Cena tends to be hated by half the crowd even before the feud with Rock. Still, the WWE has attempted crazier things and actually succeeded with a few. The true irony in it all is that if Cena did go heel and started doing the things he did in his last heel run, there is a chance that the people who boo him now would cheer him while the people who cheer him now would boo him. Cena might be doomed to never get a straight reaction from a crowd.

[MIZantine Empire]

Originally Posted by ClockShot Anybody find it odd that Wade Barrett and Sheamus, both upper card wrestlers, both gunning for the wwe/whc title (sans sheamus), now both holding the mid card titles?

i like the IC title on barrett..i think it gives some more prestige to the title. i feel bad for big zeke, lol no gold for him...bring back the european strap and give it to zeke, lol jk

[MIZantine Empire]

Originally Posted by Rollermacka OH MY GOD KERI HILSON WILL PREFORM AT WRESTLEMANAIA OMG!!!!! (leans over to the person next to me) "who's Keri Hilson?"

a black girl who would get her butt flaps tongue punched repeatedly by me.

[MIZantine Empire]

Originally Posted by Jura They shouldn't have shown The Rock right before he comes out IMO. What was that all about?

i thought the same thing, cheapened the pop i thought, with how hot that crowd was tonight, he would have got a monsterous ovation if they didnt show him first

[MIZantine Empire]

Originally Posted by Rollermacka Wow, Snookie was HORRIBLE. You could see her gut flop out when her dress came up (I threw up alittle in my mouth)

you kidding me? my pants got instantly tighter. i love me a big bitch..then again i was dropped on my head when i was little

[MIZantine Empire]

Originally Posted by jkman61494 I'm about 98% sure that Super-Cena will vanquish the Miz while kissing and making up with the Rock. BUT The look on his face after giving the FU, and then at the top of the ramp reminded me of a sarcastic smarmy CM Punk. I mean it'd make very little sense to have Miz, Punk, Sheamus, Ziggler AND Cena all heels, so it's so unlikely to happen. But man, that crowd was 90% anti-Cena tonight, and they wrote him as a total heel.

i can see a miz face turn after all this. and i was actually liking cena basically pull the heel move..was a great end segment i thought. miz cut an amazing promo, and was 3rd banana in the ring with that. im pumped for mania

[XL]

Originally Posted by ClockShot Keri Hilson? Never heard of her.

Originally Posted by Cool King Icon? I've never even heard of her.

Originally Posted by dronepool Who the hell is that chick?

Originally Posted by Rollermacka OH MY GOD KERI HILSON WILL PREFORM AT WRESTLEMANAIA OMG!!!!! (leans over to the person next to me) "who's Keri Hilson?"

I guess you guys aren't up on popular music/culture.

[DaVe]

dayum, that hache/taker/michaels segment was pretty sick. absolutely loved the smirk and hat tip by taker at the end.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

So did Hulk Hogan basically kill the idea that Jimmy Hart was going to be in Jerry Lawler's corner? Or is that a suprise for the ppv itself?

[JimmyMess]

The HBK/Trips/Taker segment was the TITS along with Rock/Cena/Miz.

I loved the show. Rock still looks like he has the quickness.

[Cool King]

Originally Posted by XL I guess you guys aren't up on popular music/culture.

Nah, I'm not really "down" on what the "kidz" are "in to" these days.

[Cool King]

Mostly because it's all shit.

[jkman61494]

I felt Miz could end up being a face from this, but after last night I am just not feeling it.

I still feel it's a fantasy to have Cena go face, and we're all going to end up disappointed at WM when he and Rock have a bromantic hug or shake of the hands when they fend off team Miz. A lot of us felt he was going to go heel at Survivor Series, only to get "fired" yet UNfired in two weeks.

But for the first time since he was a midcard rapper, they've now paved a road for him to go heel. I still have reminders of when CM Punk inched towards turning heel with Jeff Hardy 2-3 years ago.

And I REALLY hope they get rid of this stupid Johnny Cash theme. Someone mentioned how hot the crowd was tonight, but they were largely DEAD when Taker came out. The song makes no sense being that he's not feuding with Kane or Barrett, and it's just a slow boring song. Any fan that's not a hardcore viewer doesn't even get it. Just bring back the original at WM please.

Lastly, we all talk of Cena going heel, but what of the possibility Michaels does? HHH pedigrees Taker, he's about to win while HBK at ringside, comes in, and kicks his friend, takes the mic and says "If I couldn't beat Undertaker, no one will."

[jasean21]

Keri Hilson is top ten sexiest chicks out now..... seriously would lick her ass

[The Fraze]

Originally Posted by Lock Jaw Gotta say, Cena owned The Rock on the mic tonight. Good for him.

This makes me so incredibly angry. Cena's promo was good, but it only seemed like he owned The Rock because it was written that way. I fucking hate that it had to be that way, but it had to be. The Rock is not in the match. It's Cena vs. The Miz. So they had to limit The Rock's rebuttal to cue The Miz and not have The Rock verbally own the number one contender.

It had to be this way because Cena had to get the edge last night leading into Mania to further his feud with The Rock, as well as with The Miz. Cena's promo and hitting the FU on The Rock now justifies The Rock getting physically involved in Mania's main event. I'm having a hard time recognizing that I'm a fucking adult and wrestling is not real. Because the end upset me so much. I felt like I was thirteen again and what happened was real and not something that had to happen as part of the "show."

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Did you guys see the part where Cena kicked the Rock's ass? I BET HE DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMING

[NormanSmiley]

just one asshole's opinion but the thing that annoys to no end after watching last night is Cena smiling at everything.

he has no ability to create a moment. on his entrance he still does his bs routine instead this would have been the time to put all his mannerisms aside to show how serious of a promo he was about to cut.

digressing the promo was atrocious. that was word for word a nerd speech trying to talk a bully out of kicking his ass promo. could have swore Ronald Miller used the same speech against the jock in can't buy me love

then when he finally does FU the rock the crowd boos the shit out of him creating the opportunity for him but..he smiles all the way up the ramp and does the dudley pose at the tron.

maybe its not his fault maybe creative wants to see how the heel tease would go , but...Cena needs to work on not thinking everything is so damn cute and funny it kills him ever being taken seriously

[Supreme Olajuwon]

So you're saying you HATE John Cena because he can't make himself into a believable heel?

[thejamminone]

I thought the show was good also.

[One Eight Sven]

It would seem to me that if Cena is already hated by so many people, the last thing they should do is completely alter his character and make him totally evil. Work with what you got.

[GoneFishing]

Originally Posted by jkman61494 But man, that crowd was 90% anti-Cena tonight, and they wrote him as a total heel.

Funny story, a friend of mine that hasn't seen raw in a while asked me "Why is everyone booing? Did Cena turn heel?"

[Jordan]

That was one of the biggest Raw's of all time. Just awesome.

[NormanSmiley]

Originally Posted by Supreme Olajuwon So you're saying you HATE John Cena because he can't make himself into a believable heel?

I'm not sure on that point yet supreme. i thought as rapper cena he was a laughable heel so he hasnt had the chance to prove otherwise yet.

i don't hate cena as is he just playing a character on tv but i do hate the pandering to the crowd. a good face or heel can own the crowd and make it go to them, Cena i do not think has the ability for that.

anytime in the past X amount of years i've been a witness to the super cena trainwreck i only can recall his biggest pops when he is ass kissing the crowd

[Jordan]

WWE needs Jim Ross back, Cole missed a lot of great opportunities last night to put over the matches going into Wrestlemania. I can only imagine how well JR would have put over Orton/Punk's altercation from last night. Cole either said something stupid that didn't make sense or nothing.

I love the new character but I really hope they take him out of the booth and push him as a manger or GM, and get Jr to come back to work with Matthews and King to train Matthews.

I haven't actually disliked Cole on commentary this much in over like two years, last night he just pissed me off as a professional. I guess I wish Matthews would have stepped it up more as well.

Jr. just knows what to say, he has so many analogies and metaphors for any situation because he spent his life in wrestling and working with and listening to the best announcers of all time. He had Gordon Solie, Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, and Jerry Lawler to work with more many many years... probably more legends that I am forgetting as well. Matthews has what it takes to be the best but he should get the experience of working along JR as double lead announcers and King can do commentary, it would teach Josh so much.

[Jordan]

Also I bet the last three matches at Wrestlemania will look like this...

The Undertaker vs The Game

The King vs Michael Cole - Jr. on commentary

Rock vs The Miz - Jr closes the show

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Surprised they didn't save Kane dancing about with Santino for Wrestlemania. Maybe Corre are going over in that match.

HBK is definitely getting involved in the Streak match.

[Jordan]

I mean't John Cena vs The Miz

[Jordan]

I hate how they turned Kane a dancing babyface after he awesome run as a bastard recently. He's fucking awesome, I wish they would he kept him as a main event son of a bitch instead of a Big Show lovin Santino dancin, Kozlov kissin babyface every fans buddy big man.

[glanville6]

great show live. very fun raw to be at. Edge and Christian!

[Rock Bottom]

If Cena doesn't go heel the WWE and Cena need to pull their heads out of their asses about his audience. A face is not "some people like it, and some people don't, as you can hear tonight," total bullshit. Rock is going to do a lot more damage to Cena's image as a face. Unless he is really making supermillions and can sustain it, turning is necessary.

This is the perfect opportunity.

I have to give Cena credit though. He kept his composure well. He didn't get a reaction like that since ECW One Night Stand.

[Jordan]

The only way Cena goes heel is if The Rock stays, but I think that The Rock would be the better heel in this fight, Cena is so much more honest than The Rock, The Rock is kinda like CM Punk as an inspiration type, but I don't think that Reverend Rock pull it off in my eyes last night, Cena owned.

[Nark Order]

[Nark Order]

Originally Posted by The Fraze This makes me so incredibly angry. Cena's promo was good, but it only seemed like he owned The Rock because it was written that way. I fucking hate that it had to be that way, but it had to be. The Rock is not in the match. It's Cena vs. The Miz. So they had to limit The Rock's rebuttal to cue The Miz and not have The Rock verbally own the number one contender. It had to be this way because Cena had to get the edge last night leading into Mania to further his feud with The Rock, as well as with The Miz. Cena's promo and hitting the FU on The Rock now justifies The Rock getting physically involved in Mania's main event. I'm having a hard time recognizing that I'm a fucking adult and wrestling is not real. Because the end upset me so much. I felt like I was thirteen again and what happened was real and not something that had to happen as part of the "show."

[Cool King]

[Cool King]

[Tb1]