Monday Night Raw report for 04/02/2012

Reported by Earnest I Aguilar Zevallos

24 hours later is an "End Of An Era" and possibly a career-killer for one wrestler. Following what I'm sure is the most talked-about WrestleMania in history, tonight begins anew. 

However, I'm sure some things will also remain the same, such as Undertaker being 20 - 0 and taking his annual sabbatical. C.M Punk retained his WWE Championship in a fantastically-wrestled match over Chris Jericho, so will he continue on the feud with Y2J, or is their a new challenger lined up? (Me thinks so!) 

And finally, The Rock defeated John Cena - CLEAN! This I am quite surprised and pretty puzzled/ticked off at. I could understand if The Rock had won the match with controversy, i.e. a run-in, DQ, etc..., but 1 - 2 - 3 clean is not good. This is a potential career-killer for John Cena. He NEEDED TO AND SHOULD HAVE won that match. 

He is THE company guy that is always there, yet the man that comes back for "Once In A Lifetime" is given the nod. Not cool! Okay, now I'm ranting, so let's just get on to Monday Night Raw and find out all the fall-out and new paths wrestlers will take tonight. Read on, folks!

Monday Night Raw for April 2nd, 2012 - "The Next Big..."

Introduction Segment: Backstage Promo & Welcoming

Raw opens with a shot of all talent (referees included) in a giant locker room. New man-in-charge John Laurinaitis addresses his "employees," wasting no time in gloating his accomplishment from last night's WrestleMania, and booking a Triple-Threat United States Championship match - Santino Marella defending against Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler.

A familiar voice interrupts Big Johnny, asking him what his official title is. The well-known voice is WWE Champion C.M. Punk, who says no matter what Laurinaitis is, to all of them (the locker room) he is still "a giant toolbox!" John retorts by making Punk put his championship on the line against the "World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry. The new era has begun, the era of "People Power", declares John Laurinaitis.

The regular Raw plays as does the pyro exploding in the American Airlines Arena of Miami. Michael Cole greets us and says the John Laurinaitis era has begun, following a wild week of WrestleMania.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

The biggest pop of the night is already in motion, as The Rock makes his way to the ring with adoration from his hometown people. Chants of "you still got it" envelope the arena. "Thank you," says The Rock. He then recaps what he has accomplished in the last 14 months, since February 14, 2011 when he returned to the WWE.

He claims that now since he won last night at WrestleMania, he can truly say "FINALLY, The Rock has come back...HOME!" Rock also wants to thank his rival, John Cena. He goes over some of the moves that Cena hit on him, and then puts over Cena. Rock says that, win or lose, they made history at WrestleMania and did it for the fans. The Rock, also puts over the fans majorly. 

In a quick (and much-appreciated since I am Canadian) cheap shot, The Rock says back in 1995, he was cut from the Canadian Football League (C.F.L.). "Do you have any idea how much you gotta suck to get cut from the Canadian Football League?" 

Rock tells his fans that it is because of them that he can stand before their "People's Champion." He also "guaran-damn-tees" this is "just the beginning." The Rock now has a new vision - that he will walk down the aisle "a jabroni-beating, pie-eating, trail-blazing, eyebrow-raising, one vision in mind, don't need no revamping, The Rock's gonna be WWE Champion!"

The crowd chants "yes" repeatedly. "Team Bring It world-wide, thank you, I love you, that will come true one day...IF YA SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKIN'!"

His music hits and he exits back up the ramp. Cole replays a clip of Cena's promo from last month, where he says that if he lost against The Rock, he lost everything. Cole tells us that Cena will be here tonight and plans to call out The Rock.

Match #1: Triple-Threat for the WWE United States Championship - Santino Marella (Champion) VS. "All-American-American" Jack Swagger VS. "The Show-Off" Dolph Ziggler

Santino makes his entrance, then a break ensues.

Commercials.

Vickie Guerrero is out and introduces her two clients, who will also be competing against each other. Ziggler & Swagger try to corner and catch Marella, but he skids out of it. Dolph kicks him in the gut and "shows off" with sit up at his side. Jack takes and rolls down Santino with a amateur wrestling move. Marella begins to fight back and manages to toss Ziggler over the top before turning around into a clothesline from Swagger.

Ads.

Ziggler & Swagger are in control until Marella finds his "magic" to make a comeback. He soon tries for The Cobra, but Dolph turns him around into a DDT. They double-team the champ again, with Swagger picking him up and Ziggler dropping him with a Fameasser. Following a 2-count by Dolph, Jack starts to pick a small argument and he belly-to-belly suplexes Dolph. Marella then counters a corner splash from Swagger and makes his comeback. He slingshots Dolph into the top turnbuckle and smashes Swagger in the face with The Cobra. 1 - 2 - 3!

Winner via Pinfall and STILL United States Champion: Santino Marella

Post-match, Swagger and Ziggler try to pick on Marella gain, but he makes them look then high-tails it to the ramp, where Brodus Clay is waiting for him. The "Funkasaurus" helps put-off the two, head-butting Ziggler. The two heels back off and Marella & Brodus celebrate with a little dance.

Tonight, we will here from the new World Heavyweight Champion, Sheamus!

Commercials.

Match #2: Single - Lord Tensai (with Sakamoto) VS. Alex Riley.

The debut of Lord Tensai, decked out in full-on robe and cloth/head dress/helmet covering his head, is now. Tensai, a.k.a. former WWE Wrestler Prince Albert/A-Train squashes the former major play for The Miz, finishing him off with a double-handed chokeslam/sit-down powerbomb. No cover is made, but the referee declares him the victor anyway.

Winner via Referee Stoppage: Lord Tensai (with Sakamoto)

Post-match, Tensai spits liquid up in the air and then clamps on a claw-hold atop Alex's head.

Up next, C.M. Punk will face Mark Henry for the WWE Title!

Ads.

Cole recaps another Cena promo from 30 days ago, this time where Cena was in an empty arena claiming that no one remembers second place.

Match #3: Single for the WWE Championship - C.M. Punk (Champion) vs. "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry

Lock up and Henry shoves Punk on the mat in the corner. Punk comes back and feels him out, now using his "legs as weapons", describes Cole. The "Second City Saint" kicks and chops away at his opponent. He also hits two drop kicks, which don't drop Henry. On the third attempt, Mark throws him stomach-first to the mat. Henry dominates the bout again and even attempts a second-rope splash, but Punk rolls avoids it. As Henry stutters on his feet, C.M. flies through the air with a rope-clothesline but Mark "wakes up" enough to counter with a clothesline of his own.

Commercials.

Back from break, Punk is poised on the top turnbuckle and comes down right into the boot of Henry. "The World's Strongest Man" clutches Punk's shoulder with a nerve-hold. The crowd's encouragement helps C.M. break it with a sit-down jaw-breaker and then moves out of the way of a corner-splash. 

The "Straight-Edge Superstar" lights up Henry with many chops and kicks, then gives another shot to the back of the head. Punk ascends the top-rope and mimics the late-great Randy "Macho Man" Savage with an elbow drop. A high-knee is it, but as C.M. drags Henry out of the corner in bulldog format, Mark counters and chucks Punk over the top rope. Punk is too hurt to climb back in, so referee Mike Chioda gives him the 10-count.

Winner via Count-Out: Mark Henry (Punk still retains championship)

Post-match, Henry wins but is displeased at not getting the title, so he slams Punk on the floor with the World's Strongest Slam. Laurinaitis now walks out and informs Punk that he will be defending his championship like this on a more consistent basis. 

Ever the opportunist, Chris Jericho comes out through the crowd and totes about their match from 'Mania. He then wants to celebrate, to he takes a bottle of Jack Daniels and pours it all over the "Straight-Edge Superstar," all while taking shots at his lifestyle and family. He then smashes another bottle over the back of C.M's head. Jericho surveys the damage.

Ads.

Segment #3: Arena Promo

The new World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus is out to cut a promo. Just as he starts, he is rudely interrupted by two we have not seen in a while. Ricardo Rodriguez announces his boss, Albertoooooooooooo Del Riooooooooooooooo, and the Mexican Aristocrat drives into the arena. Del Rio congratulates Sheamus on his 18-second win, then declares challenge to take the championship from him.

Sheamus is all too happy to oblige to delivering a Brogue kick. Before he can, Del Rio makes it known that Laurinaitis has granted him a match for this Friday's Smackdown (read the report after this week on wrestling-online.com), and if he wins, Alberto will get a future W.H.C. shot. Prior to continuing, the microphone cuts off, so Del Rio goes to switch it, and then turns right around into a Brogue Kick.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan with A.J. is staring at the screen of Sheamus, and Josh Matthews attempts to have a chat. Bryan says absolutely nothing and Matthews walks off.

Commercials.

Match #4: Single - Cody Rhodes VS. Kofi Kingston

Cody corners Kingston and then clotheslines him. Rhodes runs at Kofi but receives a double-boot in the face and a springboard crossbody for a 2-count. Rhodes flips out of a back drop and hits the Disaster Kick. Just as he sets up Kingston for the CrossRhodes, Big Show's music hits and he walks out with his Intercontinental Championship. Show airs clips of him beating Cody for that championship last night. Rhodes turns right around into a Trouble-In-Paradise spin-kick, and Kingston gets the duke!

Winner via Pinfall: Kofi Kingston

The last clip of last week's Raw ending with John Cena quickly airs and Cole keeps speculating what John will do.

Ads.

Segment #4: Locker Room Promo

Mark Henry is tossing his furniture around when Abraham Washington walks in. He proposes for Henry to stand "next to the man with the master plan." Washington gives him a card and tells him to think about the potential guidance.

Segment #5: Arena Promo

Eve walks out to the stage and takes pride in her "WrestleMania moment" where she manipulated Zack Ryder and then promptly kicked him below the belt. The only man that Eve won't manipulate is General Manager Laurinaitis and she plugs "people power."

Commercials.

Match #5: Single - The Miz VS. "Long Island Ice-Z" Zack Ryder

Miz mocks Ryder for a few seconds but Zack takes exception and clobbers him with a forearm. They fight on the outside and then Ryder puts him back in the ring to stomp away in the corner. Miz counters with a smacking boot to the face. Miz now gains control and punches away before clamping a rear chin lock. 

Miz runs at Ryder, who counters with double-knees and begins to build momentum. He smashes Miz's face with a facebuster and then the Broski Boot in the corner. 1 - 2 - Miz kicks out! Ryder attempts a neckbreaker but Miz reverses it, tosses him shoulder-first into the ring post, and then he falls prey to the Skull Krushing Finale.

Winner via Pinfall: The Miz

Up next, John Cena will be calling out The Rock!

Ads.

It is officially announced that Sheamus will take on Daniel Bryan, plus Randy Orton squares off against Kane again this Friday on Smackdown.

Segment #5: Arena Promo

John Cena is out to address everyone. He is all business tonight with a straight-up serious look on his face. (Note: crowd booing big-time). "I never thought of losing. But now that it's happened, the only thing to do is to do it right. That is the obligation to those who believe in me. We all take defeats in life," Cena opens quoting famous & legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

Cena owns up to the fact that he talked a lot leading up to WrestleMania and he meant EVERYTHING in this past year. He never thought he was going to lose. Cena says a true champion "retains the will to win even through their most disappointing loss." Cena lists the ways that people wondered how he would react. Miami nicely (note sarcasm) chants "you're a loser" over and over. Cena still will not last out at the WWE Universe though, because he is a man and owns up to admitting defeat. He says it clearly, "last night at WrestleMania I lost to The Rock." 

Cena assures all that it will not be his last moment, and he wants to wipe the slate clean. He is not going to "call-out" The Rock. Loud "we want Lesnar" chants, but instead Cena invites The Rock to show respect to him. Cena does consider him a champion and "the greatest WWE Superstar in this industry."

John reiterates that he put his heart and soul into last night and respects The Rock. He publicly acknowledges that The Rock was the better man at WrestleMania, and wants to congratulate him on his victory.

Instead, one of the worst-kept secrets makes his return to WWE. As one former commentator (Tazz) used to say, "here comes the pain!" Brock Lesnar, former WWE Champion and UFC/MMA competitor walks out to a HUGE pop on stage. He walks around and down the ramp. The crowd is beyond thrilled to see the grappler come back, even enticing a "holy s**t" chant.

Brock poses down Cena (who is actually clapping at his return. Cena goes to shake his hand but instead gets a massive F-5. (Tornado Fireman's Carry drop). Lesnar says nothing and poses for the fans. Cole declares "the anomaly has returned to Monday Night Raw," closing the show.

End Of Raw.

Reporter's Ramblings - By Moe Tapp

That was an AWESOME Raw. Beginning to end, it was hot all night and I really can't think of any "boguses," so I'm just going to review my positives on this episode.

The crowd - wow! I have not heard a crowd that (pardon the pun) "electrifying" throughout an entire show. They MADE Raw.

Promos from The Rock and Cena. The Rock's was great because it wasn't his usual stick of jokes and what not. I felt he genuinely gave "love" for Cena and the fans. Cena's was great because I didn't think he would truly go "good-guy," and accept defeat. I thought he might've taken a slight edge and lashed out, just a little. So, good on the surprise.

Brock Lesnar - again, not the best-kept surprise, but all he had to do was walk out and he received the second-biggest pop (of course The Rock gets the top) of the night. The camera showing some of the fans reacting was great work too. Definitely intrigued by this new feud (and why Lesnar "picked" Cena), but let's not rush it - please, please, please, hold off on the match for a while, perhaps until SummerSlam.

Lord Tensai - actually liked they took bit of a different route and not just completely had him squash Alex Riley (although poor Alex, how far has he gone down the proverbial ladder!). Instead, he put on a decent bout, showing a lot of his dominating moves. Glad also they brought back a classic submission - THE CLAW! It's "THE CLAW!" (find that movie reference!)

A quirky one, but tells you the talent of this superstar. Loved Dolph Ziggler's selling of Brodus Clay's head butt. He flew up into the air and landed hard back on the steel ramp. That was beautiful!

Lastly, the fact that Undertaker, Triple H, & Shawn Michaels did NOT appear tonight. And quite honestly, I hope they don't for a long while. I say this because the way they ended their match at 'Mania, with Undertaker winning, them him & Shawn helping a brutally beaten HHH to the back, ending with a group hug on the stage, really hammered the "End Of An Era" storyline. 

That was the most excellent part of WrestleMania beacuse I felt that it closed the "Attitude Era" for good, and they can move aside and truly let the "new/young blood" rule the WWE for years to come. It signaled to me that Triple H, Shawn Michaels, & The Undertaker are all at peace with their careers and what they have accomplished & contributed, respectively, to this magnificent business.

All in all, great way to start a "new year" in WWE and I look forward to next week's Raw already! Until then, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!