Monday Night Raw TV report for 02/06/2012

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

With many developments from last week, some old and some new - including the WWE Championship match announced for Elimination Chamber, and the return of the one and only Undertaker - what will happen tonight as we continue on the Road To WrestleMania? 

How will "The Deadman" respond to Triple H's pat on the shoulder and subsequent walk-out? Also, what is the status of Raw General Manager and Vice President Of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis - safe or FIRED!? 

And since Raw emanates from Oklahoma, is a Jim Ross sighting on the cards? Speaking of cards, how about some matchups between the Chamber participants? Only one way to find out - read on!

Monday Night Raw for February 06, 2012 - "Challenges, Monsters, & Copycats - Oh My!"

Introduction Segment: Arena Promo

After a video recap of last week's events (which made use of some footage of Undertaker & Triple H's WrestleMania XXVII match), the pyro blasts in the arena and Michael Cole welcomes us. He & Jerry "The King" Lawler run down two main matches - a Six-Pack Challenge with all members of the WWE Championship match to determine who enters the Elimination Chamber last, and Daniel Bryan VS. The Big Show (yet again!).

"It's time to play the game." Triple H now makes his way to the ring and takes a microphone in hand. The Chief Executive Officers says that last week he was just about to fire Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis. "The Game" informs us that "Big Johnny" is up in Stamford, pleading for to keep his employment. HHH says that the Board may make a decision as early as tomorrow, but for now, not to do anything about it. 

Triple H moves on and speaks about The Undertaker. He puts over the veteran of 21 and half years, saying that anytime he has faced him or seen "The Deadman," HHH was always in awe & humbled to share the same ring. However, since last WrestleMania when 'Taker had to be carried out on a cart following their contest, HHH does not feel the same way. 

He doesn't want to remember The Undertaker as a broken man following a match, but instead as the dominate force he has been in the WWE since 1990. (A video package plays of Undertaker's career highlights). Triple H declares that he wants to recall The Undertaker that way, not the exit he had after last year's WrestleMania. (Highlights of that play too).

The "Cerebral Assassin" declines the challenge for this year's 'Mania, since now HHH knows what he has to do to finish off The Undertaker. He claims he saw The Undertaker's limits last year but does not want to be the guy to push him past. Triple H respects him too much and it is over.

His theme music begins to play and then is abruptly cut off, followed by the lights blackening in the arena. Suddenly, a video is on the Titantron of images over and over again from the results of their match from last year. In the montage, Undertaker is sitting in a chair, proclaiming "this is not over, give me one more chance of immortality."

Commercials.

Match #1: Single - Big Show VS. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (with A.J.) (Non-Title)

Big Show backs Daniel into the corner and begins to punch away. Bryan tries to fight back with a few kicks, but Show head butts him down and then gives him a scoop slam. He throws him into the corner and runs into him with a back splash, but as Show ran from the ropes again, Daniel cuts him off at the knee with a low drop kick. 

Ads.

Bryan now has Show locked in a half-crab submission, but Big rolls over and kicks him off. Show nails a few clotheslines and then spears him off the running of the ropes. 1 - 2 - Bryan kicks out! The 7-Footer signals for the chokeslam, and gives it a try until Bryan manages to clamp on a guillotine chokehold. 

Show simply chucks him off but the World Champ catches his leg and drives it into his shoulder. Stiff kick-to-the-head, 1 - 2 - Show powers out! Bryan goes to the top but hops to the apron instead. For that, he eats a big boot from Show.

On the outside, Daniel is holding his knee and A.J. pleads for him, until Bryan chops his knee from behind. Bryan ducks a running Show, who just about crushes A.J. between him and the steel steps/ring post. Daniel looks on and then decides to get A.J. to safety to the back, receiving a count-out in the process.

Winner via Count-Out: Big Show

Post-match, Bryan claims that the first time Show ran over A.J., it was on purpose, since this time he managed to stop. Daniel claims that protecting A.J. is more important than winning any match, except for the Elimination Chamber, when he will still be the World Heavyweight Champion.

Commercials.

Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler replay a segment from last week - which we didn't see, otherwise I would've been all over it!) This involved a very special person greeting John Cena. 

This person is another one of my favourites: NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Carl Edwards!!! (My favourite driver from the series). He spins into the arena in his Cup Car (sponsored by Fastenal) and then invites Cena to start the NASCAR Daytona 500 on February 26th. Cena of course says yes quickly, and the tow friends make more pleasantries and plug their upcoming events.

Segment #2: Elimination Chamber Montage

A video explaining the aspects of the Elimination Chamber is aired, featuring past Chamber match highlights. (Actually well-done, and much like the Royal Rumble ones, makes it seem very, very important).

Ads.

Segment #3: Arena Promo

The legal adviser David Otunga is in the ring and he has something to say. He puts over John Laurinaitis as the perfect boss and prays that the WWE Board of Directors does the right thing and keep Mr. Laurinaitis in his current position. Speaking of positions, Otunga gets down on one knee and prays, ala Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow (another of my favorite sports star and actually very good man).

Justin Roberts then announces that Triple H has informed him Otunga will be competing in a match right now. His opponent - the 2012 Royal Rumble winner, Sheamus!

Match #2: Single - David Otunga VS. "The Great White" Sheamus

From the get-go, Sheamus dominates this bout until David kicks him in the knee and drives him to the canvas with a DDT. He pushes him into the corner and stomps away. Right after he takes his shirt off, Otunga turns around into a Brogue Kick from Sheamus, which gives the Irishman the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: Sheamus

Commercials.

Segment #4: Arena Promo

Chris Jericho is out in all his lighting glory. He is supposedly going to speak, and he does! "The end of the world as you know it has arrived" proclaims him. He says that by reappearing on Raw, he has made every other performer in this company obsolete, since everybody is just a Chris Jericho wannabe. The end of copy-cats, liars, etc...and he also points to the crowd, telling them their wannabes. He rips on Miz, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, and Dolph Ziggler, saying they stole different aspects of Chris Jericho. 

The worst offender according to "Y2J" is WWE C.M. Punk, mainly for telling people that he is "the best in the world." That is something Jericho did first, citing accomplishments such as being the first-ever Undisputed Champion, eliminating 28 others at the Royal Rumble - including home-town hero Randy Orton - and when he had dominated the WWE, winning every championship one can. He has earned his legacy and legend of the right to be called "The Best In The World." Jericho is back to claim what is his.

Before he can continue, the WWE Champion interjects. C.M. Punk has his "pipe-bomb" in hand and meets Chris in the ring. "The Cult Of Personality" says nothing, drops the microphone, holds up his WWE Championship, and leaves to adoration from the fans. Jericho demands him to talk to him but Punk just continues to walk.

Ads.

Match #3: Tag-Team - Wade Barrett & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. VS. The Great Khali & Randy Orton

Orton & Rhodes start off. Cody kicks away and punches Randy, but Orton reverses an Irish Whip into a high back elbow. Scoop slam from Orton and he tags Khali. Barrett is also in, but The Great dominates and then slaps Orton to trade.

Barrett stiff-kicks "The Viper" in the gut and then delivers a swinging neckbreaker. Wade & Cody double-team Orton in the corner and Rhodes now in. Orton and Rhodes trade blows until Randy reverses a bulldog attempt into a back drop. Quick powerslam from Orton onto Barrett and then he face-plants the Intercontinental Champion with his Slingshot DDT. As Orton is gearing up for a potential R.K.O., Khali blind-tags Randy and soon chops down Cody for the 1 - 2 - 3!

Winners via Pinfall: The Great Khali & Randy Orton

Post-match, Orton is not too pleased with the outcome. They get in each other's faces and Khali tries to chop Orton too, but "The Apex Predator" ducks it and takes down the big man with an R.K.O.

Segment #5: Video Package

Cole & Lawler put over WrestleMania XXVIII and John Cena VS. The Rock. They then air a retrospective on John Cena's controversial career. (Also, very well-put together and emotional).

Commercials.

Match #4: 8-Diva Tag-Team - Tamina, Alicia Fox, Kelly Kelly, & Eve Torres VS. The Bellas (Nikki & Brie), Natalya, & WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix

Eve begins against The Divas Champion. Head lock from Eve, but Phoenix tosses her off the ropes. Torres somersaults over Beth but Beth quickly catches her leg and gives her a hard clothesline. 1 - 2 - Eve kicks out. Big scoop slam by Phoenix and then she harsh-tags a Bella, who turns around into a Samoan Drop courtesy of Tamina. She goes to the top rope and gives the Bella a Superfly Splash (just like her father, Hall-Of-Famer Superfly Jimmy Sunka) for the win!

Winners via Pinfall: Tamina, Alicia Fox, Kelly Kelly, & Eve Torres

Segment #6: Office Promo

Triple H is on his cell-phone when the Interim General Manager of Raw walks in. John Laurinaitis makes nice and then informs HHH that he asked the Board Of Directors to send the other one-and-only Shawn Michaels to Raw next week. 

And since he still can for at least another 12 hours or so, he also booked John Cena VS. Kane in an Ambulance Match for Elimination Chamber. HHH makes goes along with the ideas, but insults Laurinaitis and then orders him out of his office.

Ads.

Segment #7: Backstage Promo

Josh Matthews asks John Laurinaitis what his thoughts on the decision by the Board Of Directors will be tomorrow morning. Laurinaitis basically puts himself over and puts Triple H down in short.

Match #5: Six-Pack Challenge - R-Truth VS. Dolph Ziggler VS. Kofi Kingston VS. Chris Jericho VS. The Miz VS. WWE Champion C.M. Punk (Non-Title)

All are in the ring and all men except for C.M. Punk go after Jericho right away. They quickly break up into pairs of two and three know. Truth & Kofi are double-teaming Dolph and Miz & Punk are going at it themselves. Punk kicks away at Miz while Jericho climbs back in the ring only to get clobbered by Truth. Punk misses his high knee and flies over the ropes. 

Miz is then tossed over and R-Truth follows him with a flip dive. Dolph tries to slingshot Kofi, but Kingston lands on the ropes and launches himself over with a huge splash. Ziggler is the lone man in the ring and shows off with a Ric Flair-esque strut, but he gets nailed by Punk for a quick 1-count.

Commercials.

Back live, R-Truth is being helped to the backstage area now with referees and trainers. We are told because of the rope-flip he took (and landed hard on the floor mats), doctors are not allowing R to continue. (Concussion?) 

Meanwhile in the ring, Dolph and Miz and measuring Punk with Ziggler hitting him with a splash in the corner. Miz misses his move in the corner, which allows C.M. to take over and catch both opponents with a neckbreaker/DDT combo. 1 - 2 - Miz kicks out! He clamps on the Anaconda Vice on Ziggler, but Kingston breaks it up. C.M. soon catches Kofi in a position for the G.T.S. but Kofi grasps the ropes for leverage. Punk just tosses Kingston over the ropes and Jericho re-enters.

He and Punk stare down & jaw at each other until both are assaulted by Ziggler & Miz. A double-clothesline takes down both Miz & Jericho. Dolph is up on the top rope but cut off by Punk, who along with Jericho & Miz, bring him down with a Tower Of Doom. Jericho and Miz cover both Ziggler & Punk respectively, and referee Mike Chioda decides to double-count, but only to 2!

Dolph & Punk are dumped out and now a re-energized Miz is all over Jericho. He goes for the S.K.F. but Jericho ducks and Kofi nails Miz with the Trouble-In-Paradise spin kick. Jericho and Kingston now wrestle. Springboard cross body from Kofi and he jumps around all over "Y2J." Roll-up for a near-fall by Kofi. Jericho ducks and hits a back elbow, but misses a Lionsault. 

Kofi attempts the T.I.P., but Jericho reverses into a Walls of Jericho until C.M. breaks the submission. He tosses Jericho over the ropes and delivers a G.T.S to Dolph. 1 - 2 - NO, Jericho pulls Punk out and chucks him over the announcer's table. Jericho sneaks in and covers Dolph, complete with foot-on-the-rope, for the W!

Winner via Pinfall: Chris Jericho (he is now the last entrant in the Elimination Chamber)

Post-match, Jericho mocks C.M. Punk by holding his WWE Championship and sitting down in the ring. 

Segment #8: Backstage Promo

Eve Torres is backed up against a container in the locker room, crying and panting, while the monster Kane is in front of her. The Big Red Machine tells Eve that he is afraid for her because John Cena has not fully embraced the hate yet. He is also afraid of anyone who gets in his path. But for the first time ever in his life, "I am afraid of me!"

End Of Raw.

Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp

Much better episode this week. A definite up and better way to start off a new month! On to the nitpickings:

Excellence: Opening promo with Triple H - loved the way he put over the Undertaker and I truly felt he was being very sincere with his words. Also, the Undertaker's rebuttal was done very well and different than usual, so this has made me intrigued just a little for this match if it happens. 

Big Show/Daniel Bryan - actually a great match and good ending to continue their storyline. I wasn't really sure about him being a heel (especially as the World Champ - always seemed like the underdog face you want to root for) but he knows how to make it work as a cowardly, you-know-what, particularly on the mike. 

Chris Jericho & C.M. Punk - looking forward to this showdown. Jericho's explanations made sense and Punk's response was perfect, because he all he had to do was hold his title up and he had the crowd eating from the palm of his hands, as the cliche goes. Quality sign of a very over wrestler, as both these men are. 

For the match itself, the Divas 8-tag was actually okay and glad it was Tamina who picked up the win. She should be in the championship hunt for sure, considering she too can actually wrestle! 

Loved the John Cena highlight package because that also builds him even more so and gets us believing in him for his match at W.M. XVIII. 

Laurinaitis doing what he did was the usual and fine. 

The main-event well put together and great ending. Liked that Jericho "retaliated" by mimicking Punk's sit-down move in the ring with the WWE Championship.

Bogus: No J.R. in Oklahoma!? 

Sheamus/Otunga match - should've just been a pure squash with no offence from David. Khali/Orton VS. Rhodes/Barrett - could've been saved for Smackdown and leave time for my next point - Jack Swagger. 

Why has the United States Champion not been on two consecutive episodes of Raw? Every champion in the company should be on the show for the week, even if it's just a backstage segment, to promote themselves and the title! Otherwise, they'll be forgotten about. 

The ending - came out of nowhere and really, it wasn't much to it, so I think it could've been inserted shortly after the Divas tag match instead. The closing of Raw should've been Chris Jericho with the WWE Championship.

As I said above though, an improvement from seven days ago, so keep it up again for next week! Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online.com readers and Wrestling Fans!