In recent weeks, Monday Night Raw has been filled with terrible short matches and long interview segments that made me change the channel. The biggest news from a week ago was the Big Show squashing Brodus Clay, Kofi Kingston and R Truth.
To open the show this week, Michael Cole interviewed John Cena in the middle of the ring. Cole blamed Cena for the tear that Show has been on in recent weeks, while Cena argued that everyone suffers through hard times. Cole ended things by calling Cena overrated and proclaiming his hope that Show will put an end to his misery at the pay-per-view.
Laurinaitis came out and told Cena that he is allowed to pick his own opponent for tonight, much like Show did a week ago. Laurinaitis said that he was retired, so he was out of the talent pool for opponents, but everyone else was available. Cena said that his opponent would be a man he has scouted for years, Michael Cole.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
This was a very good match between two of the best young stars in WWE today. The world heavyweight champion, Sheamus, had the advantage for most of the match, but a distraction from Vicki Guerrero turned it around for Ziggler. Ziggler remained in control until Sheamus connected with a Brogue Kick to get the pin.
After the match, Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez attacked Sheamus on the ramp, eventually leading to a cross arm breaker.
Sin Cara vs. Hunico
The only person in WWE that can probably help make Sin Cara look good is Hunico, and he did just that. It was a quick match that saw Sin Cara get the victory in his return to Raw.
Ryback vs. Stan Stansky and Arthur Rosenberg
This match was held just to introduce Ryback (Skip Sheffield) to the Raw audience that doesn't watch Smackdown. Ryback gets the easy victory against his opponents in this handicap match.
CM Punk vs. Kane
This match featured two of the three men competing in the WWE championship match at the next WWE pay-per-view. Both men had the advantage during the match, but the finish didn't come until Daniel Bryan attacked Punk from behind, allowing Kane to attempt the choke slam. Punk countered and AJ ran down to the ring, distracting Bryan. Punk attacked Bryan on the floor but returned to the ring and met the choke slam from Kane, ending the match.
R Truth and Kofi Kingston vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks
The tag team champions picked up the easy win in this match after Kingston connected with Trouble in Paradise on Hawkins.
John Cena vs. Michael Cole
Cena was introduced first and Laurinaitis came out next to announce that it will be a no-disqualification match if Cena can defeat Tensai first.
John Cena vs. Tensai
This was the usual Tensai match that saw him get the upper hand throughout. Tensai continually landed high-impact moves on Cena, but couldn't get the pin. Cena fought back, landed the Five Knuckle Shuffle and the AA to get the win.
John Cena vs. Michael Cole
With Cena waiting in the ring, Cole tried to run away through the crowd, but was chased down by the former world champion. Cole grabbed a microphone and tried to convince Cena to let him go. He got right in Cena's face, which led to countless slaps to the chest of the "Voice of the WWE." Cena made Cole apologize to Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross, before spilling JR's barbecue sauce all across the body of Cole. As Cena went to connect with the AA on Cole, Tensai attacked and knocked him out. Cole crawled to the body of Cena and attempted the pin, but got just a two count. Cena countered an attempted attack with a fire extinguisher to hit the AA and get the win, ending the show.
For WWE WrestleMania history articles and more, go here.
More from this contributor:
CM Punk's WrestleMania history
Rey Mysterio Suspended 60 Days
CM Punk and Steve Austin at WrestleMania 29?
Hobson Lopes has been a fan of professional wrestling since watching SummerSlam 1992 with his father and can be followed on Twitter @HobsonLopes.
