Alright fans and friends, the new rule (for myself) is that if I can watch a wrestling show within 24-48 hours of its original airing then I will review it.  Anything longer than that and the show loses its impact, and I’m writing 2000 plus words for like 3 people to read.

Lets get on with Raw!

We begin this show as we begin all good things, with the silverback.

Ryback vs. Titus O’Neil.

Titus doesn’t get any intro or music.  That’s probably not a good sign for Titus.  Also the fact that he’s facing a guy who is about to main event three PPVs in a row.  Titus has been on plenty of PPVs in the last year, but only in tag team matches.

O’Neil is actually doing very well though.  He’s a big lanky but strong as hell guy.  One of those guys that you just know is about double how big you think he is, a fact one wouldn’t know until standing in front of him.

Darren provides a bit of a distraction and Titus is able to hit Clash of the Titus.  Its a damn shame this match is against Ryback because Titus is doing really well for himself.  If he wasn’t stuck in the tag team division I’d consider a singles push for him after this match.

The match that he lost of course.  Come on, did we have any question about this?  Meathook, Shell Shock, and Ryback continues to plow though.

Ryback cuts a promo after the match.  I give him credit for remembering so many lines.  Oh come on, everything he says sounds scripted.  But these promos have led to some great catch phrases and if Ryback stays healthy he is going to make a LOT of money.

Back from break and Ryback is still in the ring.  He’s looking for the NXT guys but no one comes out to face his challenge.  Some security comes down and they very obviously look like independent wrestlers.  Well, most of them.  Ryback tosses one of them out of the ring and yeah, these are definitely wrestlers.  The rest of security is too scared to move but you know who isn’t?   Vickie Guerrero.  Vickie comes out and just wants Ryback out of the ring.

Ryback isn’t leaving until he gets a TLC match at TLC.  As Fry says, shut up and take my money!  Yeah, I cant believe I’m thinking its worth it to blow $50 on a PPV being main evented by Skip Sheffield but here we are.

Vickie agrees but wants Ryback to leave the ring and he can air any other grievances later in the night.   Which is some smart booking to ensure fans stay tuned.  I’m all for this match.

We now dramatically remember when Hornswoggle sprayed Rosa Mendes with water last week.  Rosa confronts Hornswoggle and somehow this squirt gun flower prank thing now involves Alberto Del Rio and the Great Khali.  Nothing good will come of this.

The Great Khali vs. Alberto Del Rio.

Del Rio works over Khali’s legs, as expected.  I really just tuned out this match.  I’ve warmed up a lot to Del Rio lately but Khali is still very much Khali.  Hornswoggle bits Ricardo and both men run to the back.  Del Rio then locks on the cross arm breaker and this match is thankfully over.

CM Punk and Paul Heyman confront Vickie Guerrero about the WWE title match at TLC.  I love that CM Punk is this chicken shit heel that still wins every match and can still look dominant.  But he doesn’t want to be put in those positions.

Michael Cole interviews Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns.  The three NXT invaders say they are only in WWE to provide equality and right the wrongs of WWE.  They keep calling themselves a shield of justice.  I smell a name.  I’m also very curious if there will be a lawsuit from Marvel Comics.   Dean is doing a damn good promo here.  I really need to get more familiar with his work.  If he wrestles half as good as he speaks there is a future main eventer here.

This group is officially called The Shield.  I wouldn’t call a lawsuit lawyer if not for the fact that they are dressed like background SHIELD agents in the Marvel Comics Movies.  Hard to say its a coincidence.  Thankfully, it doesn’t matter what name is used these guys are going to get over.

Alicia Fox vs. Tamina Snuka.

Tamina has new entrance music, new ring gear, and gets a last name.  Hey welcome to your one and only push Tamina.  That’s not to say Tamina isn’t a good wrestler.  She deserves many pushes.  But that’s just not how WWE books the Divas any more.  One story at a time, only two Divas get focus.  Screw the rest.

Its a squash and everyone sees it coming.  There is little to no reaction for anything Alicia does, because everyone knows she’s going to lose.  The fans finally pop when Tamina climbs the ropes, and she hits a pretty spectacular Superfly splash for the pin.

Michael Cole announces that John Cena will be out to address the AJ affair.  Its not an affair!  Affair implies one or both of them were in a relationship and cheated.  Even if AJ started this hook up while she was GM, that seems to have been debunked.  For some reason this word choice is really bothering me.

John comes out and says everyone wants to know if she’s a good kisser.  I have a much more non PG question for John about AJ but I’ll try to be polite in here.  Vickie Guerrero comes out with a gift for them.  YAY!  John called me up to let me know he was fresh out of nasty looking bathrobes.  Seriously.  I cant name names but I will say that I’ve been in some nasty ass stores in this town and the bathrobes Vickie brought out look worst than those.

Remember, you cant spell bathrobes without AJ!  (The J is silent in bathrobes.  And invisible.)  AJ comes out and admits to being boy crazy in her past.  You know, the past year.  Lots of people can change quickly!  Just to prove she’s not boy crazy AJ points out that now she can date whoever she wants and do whatever she wants.  So she smacks Cena’s ass.  Well that proves sanity and innocence.

I’m starting to think Vickie’s whole point in this story is to portray the under or unsexed older woman who is jealous of anyone else getting any.  Dolph Ziggler comes out and if they don’t reveal he already poked AJ then its going to turn into he wants to give her a good show off.  Vickie makes a match and I’ll bet the two ladies are at ringside!  Who wants to take the bet?

Wade Barrett joins for commentary for the next match.

Kofi Kingston (Intercontinental champion) vs. Tensai.

No music for Tensai, Kofi and Wade are setting up a match – probably at a PPV.  Yeah, things don’t look good for our far east villain.

Tensai is doing well though.  Some great power moves and taking his opponent apart.  He just cannot get over.  Speaking of getting over, no one wants to call Kofi the Wildcat.  Its not happening.

Kofi “finally realized Wade doesn’t want a fair fight.”  Well on behalf of the WWE Universe we’re thrilled Kofi understands how a heel works.

I thought this match was over but Tensai blocked Trouble in Paradise.  Then he stuffs a flip kick and dumps the champion down.  For a minute there it looked like Tensai with the huge upset.  But no, Kofi kicks out at 2 and a half.  He regroups on the floor and sends a Trouble in Paradise that connects from there.  One dive in the ring later and Kofi really earned this one.

Wade comes in the ring and hands Kofi the belt, then walks away.  Today he hands the title, but at TLC he’ll be taking it away!

Daniel Bryan tries to teach Kane the whole red state blue state thing.  Doesn’t matter though, Kane wins and will face CM Punk later tonight.  Which leaves Daniel Bryan free for another match and its a big one.

Daniel Bryan vs. Rey Mysterio.

There are two types of matches that air and cause me to forget I’m writing.  Really good ones and really bad ones.  Great Khali has already wrestled.  So this is a really good match.

Match of the week, almost without any doubt in my mind.  And its the first show of the week.  Counter for counter.  Moves not usually seen in WWE.  And while Bryan is playing the heel role, it is not a good guy vs bad guy match.  It is just a great wrestling match.

Daniel has had to wrestle at the WWE Superstar style for so long its easy to forget that he is one of the best wrestlers on the planet.  This is as good as his matches against CM Punk.  Rey comes off the top for a splash and gets the pin on the tag team champion.

Alberto and Ricardo talk backstage.  Rosa sweet talks Del Rio.  An all new power couple is forming.  I wonder if Vickie will have a problem with this one too.

Josh Matthews interviews Dolph Ziggler.  Not much, just setting up this:

Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena.

No Vickie or AJ at ringside right now.  Cena is working pretty well on the ankle.  John is actually moving a bit faster than expected.  Maybe even faster than Dolph.

This is one of those matches with that weird feeling that something else is coming.  Dolph gets in a few moves but nothing spectacular.  John gets all the trademarks in but is selling way too much.  All the internet rumors say John is getting Dolph ready for a World title run but can he do that AND make Ziggler look good?  So far, no.

Ziggler gets a sleeper hold on and John doesn’t sell it in the face.  Then Super Cena breaks it and goes right into an STF.  Sure, Dolph got to the ropes but I’m not feeling like a champion is being formed.

Dolph hits a great dropkick and it is so far, and by far, the move of the match.  Wait, strike that.  Because this next move made me actually say, if he pulls this off I may just shit myself.  John goes for an AA but Dolph barely lands on his feet.  Zigs comes right back with a Zig Zag and for a moment I thought he was about to cleanly pin John Cena.

Now John is taking Dolph seriously, hopefully all of the fans start to as well.  Its time to build him up!  Lets give him the clean win!  And…. John rolsl out of the ring grabbing his ankle.  Oh what the hell?

Dolph tries to expose a turnbuckle.  AJ runs out to stop him.  Vickie runs out to stop AJ.  Dolph tries to hit John with the MITB case but Cena ducks and hits an AA for the win.

Apologies, its Cena’s knee.  Really looked like his ankle last week.  Well whatever knobby muscle it is that hurts, AJ is looking more than willing to take it into her healing… well, take your pick.

Sheamus vs. Antonio Cesaro (US Champion)

I’m shocked at how similar these two men are.  Tall, non Americans, who love a good fight and can kick some ass, but are also quite skilled.  Its a surprisingly good match and just when I get really into it, Antonio is knocked out of the ring.  And Big Show comes out. Something is up.  Here we go, this is enough distraction for Antonio to get counted out.  Well, at least Sheamus didn’t get an easy win over Antonio.  Then Sheamus challenges Big Show at TLC.  Show is holding a chair.  I bet’cha it will be a chair match!

Big Show takes apart the chair with his bare hands.  Now its the TLpartsofC match!

Damien Sandow vs. Zack Ryder.

Alright, I have no doubt on this match.  Zack will get in minimal offense.  Damien will get a very definitive win, and look good doing so.  And… go.

I was wrong on two counts.  One, Zack got in more offense than I expected.  Still lost.  But he got in more.  Second, I did not expect Zack’s Ghostbusters themed tights.  And those are amazing!

Kane vs. CM Punk (WWE Champion, with Paul Heyman).

Let me think here, and maybe I’m just getting tired and snarky as the show winds down.  The Shield, and or Ryback will interfere and decide the course of this match.

Well, no Ryback but as soon as Shield appears Kane loses any and all momentum in the match.  Kane turns to these three and Punk answers that with a GTS for the pin.

Shield come forward and circle Punk.  CM Punk backs up and gets ready to fight out, but the Shield attacks Kane instead.  Punk takes off, because screw Kane, and the speculation for a connection between Shield and CM Punk continues.

Daniel Bryan runs out to save Kane but there’s just too many people.  Ryback comes out to take out Shield and CM Punk takes off through the crowd.   Ryback starts to fight off and CM Punk returns to take out the number one contender.  Again Ryback tries to fight off but Roman drops him with a spear.  Now all three are on him and there is no coming back for the silverback.

CM Punk is either doing a great job of looking confused, or maybe he really doesn’t have any connection to the Shield.

This story came out of no where and its already one of the most captivating in all of wrestling today.