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WWE RAW REPORT: LOTS OF TALKING ABOUT WRESTLEMANIA; FINALLY, THE ROCK BRINGS IT; JERICHO TAKES IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL; CHANGES IN THE 12 MAN TAG MATCH

By Richard Trionfo on 2012-03-26 23:08:39
We are live from Atlanta, Georgia and your announcers are Michael ‘Schiavone’ Cole, Jerry ‘Can I get a match on Sunday’ Lawler, and Booker ‘Forget Bullying, how about a silence campaign’ T.

Match Number One: Randy Orton and Sheamus versus Kane and Daniel Bryan with AJ Lee

Bryan and Orton start things off and Bryan has AJ come onto the apron for the pre-grappling kiss. They lock up and Orton with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Bryan with kicks to the leg but Orton with a back body drop. Orton with the Garvin Stomp but Bryan with kicks and a European uppercut. Bryan flips over Orton but Orton with a clothesline and Orton gets a near fall.

Sheamus tags in and Bryan runs to tag in Kane. They lock up and Sheamus with a clean break. Kane with a knee and uppercut. Sheamus escapes a slam and he clips Kane and connects with a running knee lift. Kane with a back elbow. Kane with a drop kick to Sheamus and he gets a near fall. Kane with an Irish whip and he runs into a boot. Sheamus goes up top for the shoulder tackle and he connects but only gets a one count.

Sheamus goes after Bryan and that allows Kane to connect with an uppercut that sends Sheamus to the floor. Bryan with a running knee off the apron and we go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus punches Bryan to get out of a side head lock. Bryan with kicks in the corner but Sheamus pushes Bryan away. Bryan goes for the running drop kick into the corner and Sheamus moves and Bryan crashes and burns.

Orton tags in and he hits two clotheslines. Bryan misses a clothesline and Orton with a power slam. Orton gets Bryan and puts him in the ropes for the IEDDT and he hits it. Orton stares and then he turns for the RKO with the push ups but Kane pulls Bryan out of the ring.

Orton punches Kane and they fight on the floor. Orton sends Kane into the ring post. Bryan with a baseball slide to keep Orton on the floor. Bryan kicks Orton against the ringside barrier. Bryan tags Kane back in and he kicks Orton in the ribs. Kane with an elbow in the corner followed by an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner for a near fall.

Kane with a reverse chin lock and knee. Kane with an Irish whip and Orton with a boot but Kane with a side slam for a near fall. Kane goes up top for the clothesline and he hits it. Kane sets for the choke slam but Orton is able to recover and hits a drop kick.

Bryan and Sheamus tag in and Sheamus with double sledges and forearms to Bryan followed by a uranage back breaker. Orton and Sheamus punch Kane and send him over the top rope with a double clothesline.

Orton tries for an RKO to Kane on the floor but Kane sends Orton into the post. Sheamus sets for the Brogue Kick but AJ gets into the ring and distracts Sheamus. Sheamus misses the Brogue Kick and gets caught in the ropes. Kane with a choke slam while the referee deals with AJ and Bryan gets the three count.

Winners: Daniel Bryan and Kane

It is time to take a look back at last year’s Wrestlemania when Dwayne decided to get involved in John Cena’s match against Miz to help Miz retain because of what happened the week before.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Michael Cole is in the ring with a Team Johnny shirt. It looks like someone is campaigning for a spot of the team on Sunday. Michael says that he is the official commentator for Team Johnny at Wrestlemania. Michael brings out the man who he feels will be the general manager of both shows, John Laurinaitis.

John introduces the official flagbearer for Team Johnny and it is Vickie Guerrero. John introduces his team captain, and the man who can make the most wicked cappuccino, David Otunga. Otunga steals from Wade Barrett and Chris Masters.

Booker T gets on the announce table and he introduces Teddy Long.

Teddy comes out and does the Teddy Dance. Teddy introduces his team captain, Santino Marella.

Match Number Two: Santino Marella with Hornswoggle and Teddy Long versus David Otunga with John Laurinaitis and Vickie Guerrero

Santino with a side head lock but Otunga with a shoulder tackle. Otunga with a shoulder tackle and he poses. Santino with a drop toe hold into a front face lock. Santino with punches and a forearm. Otunga with an Irish whip and Otunga with a clothesline to the back of the head. Otunga takes the flag and he wastes time, allowing Santino to recover.

Hornswoggle comes into the ring and waves the blue flag. Otunga takes the flag and he Angles himself with the flagpole. That allows Santino to get the win with the cobra.

Winner: Santino Marella

After the match John comes into the ring and he argues with Teddy. Santino gets behind John and Teddy pushes him over Santino. Santino was about to hit Laurniaitis with the cobra but from out of nowhere, Miz comes to the ring and hits the Skull Crushing Finale.

John tells Miz that he is now on Team Johnny.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look back at the night that the challenge was made for Sunday’s match.

It is time for a Hell in a Cell video package for Triple H and Undertaker.

Match Number Three: Eve Torres with pose and Beth Phoenix versus Kelly Kelly

Kelly with a double leg take down and jackknife for a near fall. Eve with a series of kicks and then she slams Kelly’s head into the mat. Eve sends Kelly into the turnbuckles and Beth yells at Kelly while Eve chokes her. Eve climbs to the turnbuckles and chokes Kelly until the referee warns her.

Eve gets a near fall. Eve with a quarter nelson and chin lock while trapping the other arm. Eve with a knee to the midsection but Kelly with the screaming twisting head scissors and Eve is sent into the turnbuckles. Kelly punches Eve but Eve pushes Kelly off and to the mat. Eve goes up top for the moonsault but Kelly moves and Eve was about a foot too far away. Kelly with a La Magistral for the three count.

Winner: Kelly Kelly

It is time for another John Cena and Dwayne Johnson video package with footage from their match at Survivor Series.

CM Punk is walking in the back and we go to commercial.

Match Number Four: Christian versus CM Punk

Before the match starts, Chris Jericho appears on the TitanTron and he says that Punk claims to be the best in the world but it isn’t true. He is going to be Punk at Wrestlemania and become the WWE Champion. He is going to expose Punk as a fraud. We know that his father is an alcoholic and his sister has substance abuse problems. Jericho says that he found out some information about his mother. It turns out that his mother turned out to be a decent person. He did find out one piece of information. Jericho mentions that Punk was born before his parents got married. Jericho says that Punk is a bastard.

Christiana attacks Punk from behind and the referee tries to pull Christian off Punk before the match starts. Christian throws Punk to the floor but Punk kicks Christian and he sends Christian repeatedly into the announce table. Punk with a round kick to the head and then he connects with elbows to the head. Punk moves the steps and then he drops Christian on the steps instead of the kick for the Go To Sleep. Punk applies the Anaconda Vice and the referee tries to get him to release the hold but the bastard is not going to release the hold until four referees do the job. Punk reapplies the Anaconda Vice.

Punk is restrained by the referees and the medical staff checks on Christian.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Lawler and Cole talk about what we just saw Punk do to Christian. Cole suggests that Christian may have reinjured his neck.

Match Number Four: Brodus Clay with the Funkettes versus Curt Hawkins

Brodus does the shimmy and Hawkins charges at him but Clay with a clothesline. Hawkins dives for the knee and then he punches and kicks Clay followed by a bulldog for a near fall. Clay with a head butt to the midsection and then he punches Hawkins in the midsection and then goes for the million dollar knee lift and the T-Bone Sheeeplex and the splash for the three count.

Winner: Brodus Clay

Time for another John Cena and Dwayne Johnson video package. This time it is John Cena’s comments to Dwayne from last month.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to talk about the Hall of Fame and the people who will be doing the inducting is on WWE.com.

We see footage of what Cody Rhodes did to Big Show last week on Raw.

Match Number Five: Big Show versus Primo with Epico and Rosa Mendes

Show with a kick and forearm to the back. Show with a chop followed by a biel. Show with a punch to the midsection followed by an Irish whip. Primo with a boot but Show with a chop when Primo comes off the turnbuckles. Show with a choke slam and the three count.

Winner: Big Show

after the match, Rosa yells at Big Show and Epico tries to attack Show, but that was a mistake and Epico gets choke slammed.

Cody Rhodes comes out and he tells Show that he is not going to catch him. They have their time on Sunday . . . at Wrestlemania. He asks Show if that word scares him. The night when the biggest stars shine on the biggest stage and Show fails every time. They are going to take Show’s name and make it a verb. People are going to pray that they don’t ‘Big Show’ on their finals. People will hope that they won’t ‘Big Show’ with the ladies. Cody says that he will retain his Intercontinental Title on April Fool’s Day. On that day, Show will be the biggest fool of them all.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the newest Lord Tensei video package.

Nikki and Brie argue about the participants of the twelve man tag match. Zack mentions that he is on Team Teddy. Zack tells Nikki that she needs to change her face and Brie walks away because Zack made a stupid comment.

Eve asks Zack which hotel he is staying at. Eve tells Zack she was hoping that he would stay at her hotel because after Wrestlemania it will be time to celebrate.

Josh Mathews is about to interview CM Punk but Punk interrupts and he says to ask Christian how he feels. He is not off limits, but his family is. Jericho can call him whatever he wants and claim to be the best in the world. Punk has commented on his father’s issues and his father is in a better place now. Punk says that his sister is off limits and not true. He says that what he said about his mother is reprehensible and he is not a bastard. He is the best in the world.

We go to commercial with Great Khali and Mark Henry walking in the back.

Match Number Six: Great Khali with Teddy Long versus Mark Henry with John Laurinaitis

John gets on the apron and Mark tells Teddy to get off the apron and Khali punches Henry and connects with elbows in the corner. Khali with a chop to Henry. Khali with a chop to the head and Khali raises his arms. Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.

Winner: Mark Henry

After the match, John rolls Teddy into the ring and Mark Henry is in Teddy’s face. John signals as only John Laurinaitis can and Team Johnny comes to the ring. John wants them to block the ramp. Team Teddy comes to the ring and they are not very successful in the first wave. The second wave is not successful either. Out next is Kofi Kingston and he is able to springboard into the ring but Henry catches Kofi and hits the World’s Strongest Slam. Teddy begs for mercy and Henry gets Teddy up for the World’s Strongest Slam but Booker T comes into the ring and he kick and punches Henry. Booker with a scissors kick.

Teddy gets a mic and he thanks Booker for saving him. Teddy asks Booker to join Team Teddy on Sunday. Booker thinks about it and he joins the team. Now is the time on Raw when we Spinaroonie.

We go to footage from last week when John Cena beat Mark Henry and then Dwayne gave Henry a Rock Bottom.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for Dwayne to make his way back into Atlanta.

At Wrestlemania 20, he competed in what most people thought would be his final Wrestlemania match. People asked him when would he come back to wrestle at Wrestlemania again? He says that he knows that he is coming back, but he doesn’t know when. Every Hollywood starlet is throwing themselves at him to have him try some delicious pie, but they ask when is he coming back.

For seven years, he did not know when he was coming back. That was until last year when he went down to Georgia. He delivered the Rock Bottom heard round the world. That was when he knew the wait was over. The next night, in this building, the match was set. History was made because of the fans.

In six days, he returns to the grandest stage to do what he does best. He says that is proud to say Finally.

Dwayne says that there was only one man the people wanted to see him face at Wrestlemania. That man is John Cena.

In the last Wrestlemania that he competed, it was John Cena’s first. He has transcended the industry and became one of the biggest stars. John has never faced anyone like him. He is going to . . .

John Cena’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring.

John asks Dwayne if he hears that. He says that is exactly what is going to happen at Wrestlemania. It is nothing new to him. The thing that is skittish is that he will never see anyone like him. John says that Dwayne will never see anything like John Cena. For a year, he has listened to the best trash talk from the best trash talker. Dwayne brought his mom into this situation. He is here, just like he is every week . . . with a smile on his face.

He says that Dwayne is not the first one. There was a ten year gap for Dwayne. There was one person who got fed to anyone who wanted to make a name. It was him. How many people have talked trash about John Cena.

Cena listens to the crowd with their dueling chants.

He says that just like you cannot deny the electricity when Dwayne enters the arena, you cannot deny the passion when John gets into the ring. He says that he can name that tune in five notes. Let’s Go Cena . . . Cena Sucks.

Those are words that he has heard for years. An audience divided. Sometimes an audience hostile. John mentions that people have turned their back on the WWE Universe. John says that he is the one person who does what his t-shirt says. He rises above. He rises above and he wins.

He says that is what gets them. People throw their best at them, but he rises above and he wins. There are some who hate that, but they know what he knows. John says that he is going to win at Wrestlemania. He knows that they hate it, but they know that he will win at Wrestlemania.

John throws out some truth. He has been an active member of WWE longer than Dwayne. Dwayne has come back at the top while Cena was here when there were times when it was not popular to be in the company. He beats the company drum and he says that it is something that he loves. For ten years of doing this, people know that he means it when he says that he loves it.

That is why he has to win at Wrestlemania. After Wrestlemania, Dwayne will be starring in G.I. Joe. After Wrestlemania, John says that this will still be his life. For the past year, they have said a lot of stuff. He says that Dwayne will not come in here as a visitor and take his life. John says that he is just getting started. Nobody remembers second place so that is why he cannot lose.

Dwayne tells John that he knows how important this match is to him and that it is important to him as well. The people know that Dwayne is not crapping on the WWE. He helped build this house. They know that Cena never had an opponent he could not overcome until this year. They know that it is more than just the biggest match of all time. They know that the People’s Champion has come back to beat Cena. It drives him. Never before has a man been able to say that he has walked into Wrestlemania and beat Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and John Cena. On a professional level, he needs to win to become the greatest WWE superstar of all time.

On a personal level, he just doesn’t like Cena. In six days, he will tell John to his face that not only will he beat him, he will give him the ass kicking of a lifetime. John knows it, he knows it, and they know it too.

John says that it doesn’t matter what Dwayne thinks. He is going to put this in terms that Dwayne can understand. On April 1st, Dwayne will see him with his hand raised high over Dwayne’s carcass. The headline will read that John Cena whipped the Rock’s ass at Wrestlemania.

We go to credits.

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