The Redman Report: WWE Raw 4/3/11: RAW is LONG TERM BUILD.

With Wrestlemania 27 in the bag we’ve had all but 24 hours to digest our lunch before wading back into the kiddie pool that is Monday Night Raw. The Night After the Night Before is usually relatively noteworthy, plus we’ve got Steve Austin and the fallout from Cena and The Rock to look forward to, so here we go.

Opening with JIM ROSS is a damn good start. Thank the Lord Cole isnt back commentating. HHH coming out and I was actually interested in what he had to say shows how great this WM match was. I really enjoyed watching his promo, mainly because he was so bad. That sounds crazy, but what I mean is, by Hunter’s standards, he was repeating himself and fumbling over words and losing his place a fair bit, I noticed, and to me it just made it sound so real. It wasnt him reciting a script, it was Hunter being told “go out there and talk about the match” and him trying to find the words to express himself. More guys need to sound like that.

I could have lived with another half-hour of life without Cole, but never mind. As long as he’s a douchebag heel and not a commentator, I dont care. Another fun promo and swerve, Swagger/King was actually fun for the time they had, and this has to be the first time in history the “referee reverses the decision because the winner wont release the hold/stop beating on the guy” finish has actually made sense.I even enjoyed JR trying to get his hands on Cole.

The problem is that, if this was leading to a final grudge match, either with Cole/King or all four of them, with Cole finally being decisively beaten and taking a break, it would have been fine. But because it was all just an angle to get King and JR off commentary and PUT COLE BACK ON COMMENTARY, it was bullsh*t. I dont know for how much longer I can stand Cole commentating. Its just non sustainable, and its already far outstayed its welcome. They needed to pay it off at WM and they failed, and now there’s no end in sight.

Rey/Orton vs Punk/Cody was GREAT. I really enjoyed this. All four guys have been on a roll lately, I was looking forward to this on paper, but of course you never know with Raw. But this delivered. A good, long tag team match. The Beautiful Disaster was another brutal one. I liked Punk avoiding the kick and basically deadlifting Rey over there too. Fun work and a fun finish, although beating Cody right off the bat SUCKED.

The Austin/TE segment was fine. I didnt hate it. It was pretty funny how the live crowd turned on it, “Stun them all” and Austin selling it was great. I cant watch TE and I really wish I could, all I’ve heard is that it was great /spoilers. Miz interrupting and his bit with Austin was cool, although teasing a match so strongly was weird if (as I assume) he wont deliver on it, especially after Rock has shown people its possible. But Austin’s offense was awesome to watch again nonetheless.

I feel so sorry for Alberto. HIS DESTINY, DAMMIT. Way huge mistake there. Anyway, at least he looked good kicking the crap out of poor Evan Bourne. The MEGA ENZIGURI is still so sweet. But will not be happy until he wins the damn belt. Screw Edge.

So, shocking news but I really liked the Trish match. The first time she worked with Vickie it failed, but here it was great. Vickie is awesome, and Trish was bumping herself around like such a worker. The guys were good too, cool finish.The amazing thing is that I was kind of bummed at no Snooki.

Bryan/Sheamus was fine for whatever time they got, there was some good stuff. I dont usually tap out on the second-last segment like that, but for some reason I did here, I wasnt into it much. However, SIN CARA! That picked me up. Man, he almost botched that dive, good for his career that he made it. Loved his offense too, really looking forward to seeing him work. Sheamus is a good choice for a base.

So, Cena and the Rock. The main thing I took away from it was “JOHN CENA VS THE ROCK IN A MATCH”, which to me is a total and utter success whatever way you look at it. But anyway, some other stuff. Obviously John Cena should have been at least a little upset that Rock cost him the WWE Title in the main event of Wrestlemania. Even I always hate that about him. They didnt plan the segment well because Cena challenged Rock to fight right now, and the crowd went nuts, so then when they made the match for not only not right now, but a YEAR away, the crowd was like “oh” and thus announcing CENA VS ROCK  came off much flatter than it should have done. And Corre running in and being ‘reluctant partners’ fodder was lame, the show should have ended with the first handshake. But honestly, these are minor, show-analysing complaints, because, lets be real, JOHN CENA WILL WRESTLE THE ROCK. Thats all I needed to hear. Only 364 days to go.