WWE Raw 1000 Hype & Discussion Thread (23rd July 2012)

**Epic Andy** · 07-24-2012, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Capone

I agree with this. Triple H already had the guy beat his ass prior to this occasion and was actually selling dat arm for about two months. Having him look like a threat here to Lesnar will make Lesnar's eventual pay off seem much more worth it instead of Lesnar rolling over him again and again. Promo was great and the fans ate that crap up. One of the best segments on Raw outside of Punk's turn on Rock. Lame fanboy booking ftl. I, however, do expect Lesnar to beat the nonsene out of someone Triple H knows.

HBK Appreciation Night is on August 6th, I fully expect Lesnar to incapacitate HBK in some way on that night.

**Eduardo** · 07-24-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by The Natural

The CM Punk stuff is what it is. They could have gone a stupid route and aligned Show and Punk. They didn't. I haven't forgotten that The Rock attacked Cena outside of the constrains of a match because they were mad about tweets and such. Makes sense that Punk would get the ball rolling on a match that he feels is inevitable at this point (and if he didn't presume he would be the Champ that defends against Rock at Rumble, he doesn't deserve the title). The Rock attacked Daniel Bryan without provocation, so it's not like his hands are clean, either. I want to give WWE credit and say that CM Punk hasn't gone full blown heel here. Many hate the tweener word, but maybe we'll see the CM Punk we remember and cared for most: The CM Punk that should not be okay with The Rock getting a title shot without earning it just because he wants to headline WrestleMania again.

I mentioned it in another thread, but I think a lot of people aren't remembering certain lines in Punk's pipebomb worked shoot about how 'Dwayne's a pretty good ass kisser' and 'the fact Dwayne's in the main event of Wrestlemania and I'm not makes me sick' and have just jumped to 'OMG HE'S TURNED HEEL. Sure the Mae Young hand thing is pretty cute, but the real continuity to praise after last night is that Punk still has issues with The Rock, the same issues he had this time last year, only this time instead of mentioning it in a shoot that had bigger targets, he's ramming his knee into Rock's head to get the message through.

WWE could prevent Punk going full blown heel by using this logic that he only attacked Rock because he's pissed that yet again Rock kissed Vince's ass and got himself top spot on a pay-per-view, and potentially a shot at his title when he didn't deserve it. If they wanted him to fully go heel, he'd of pinned Cena straight after the KO punch and not spend minutes weighing up the moral dilemma in his head.

However, I don't have much confidence in them booking Punk as a tweener, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Punk be booked as just another heel from now on.

**The Natural** · 07-24-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by TheSykotic1

Thought I was on my own

My gut reaction was "I don't believe Trips smashing him out of the ring like that for a second," but if I already don't believe that, how am I going to care about a match between them? So I'm glad it happened, even if Stephanie's character came off as obnoxious when it seemed we were to be rooting for her.

Originally Posted by Ed

WWE could prevent Punk going full blown heel by using this logic that he only attacked Rock because he's pissed that yet again Rock kissed Vince's ass and got himself top spot on a pay-per-view, and potentially a shot at his title when he didn't deserve it. If they wanted him to fully go heel, he'd of pinned Cena straight after the KO punch and not spend minutes weighing up the moral dilemma in his head.

Precisely. All it takes is one promo along the lines of, "hey, I dunno WWE Universe. Do you think Rock should get a shot at Royal Rumble just because, or do you think it would be better if he deserved that shot because he was here every week busting his ass to entertain you guys?"

**Jimmy King** · 07-24-2012, 01:05 PM

Not sure if it's been posted yet, but the reason why Austin wasn't there.

RAW 1,000 And Why Stone Cold Steve Austin Wasn’t There – Steve Austin, Broken Skull Ranch

Perfectly justifiable reason for him not being there. He said it best, nobody wants to see him limp to the ring, we want to see him 100% healthy and raise hell like no one else can.

**Flock U** · 07-24-2012, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Ed

Some overall thoughts on the show as I was way too tired to type them earlier this morning.

Was it the greatest Raw ever? No. The set up of the show was never going to allow for matches to impress to their fullest because this was a nostalgia show where they wanted more time to nod to the past rather than give matches extra minutes. That set this wasn't a waste of three hours, it's probably the most entertaining 3 hour Raw they've ever done, the segments with the legends in put a smile on my face and were well done, and they set up a few bits and pieces for Summerslam and beyond. Brock/Triple H is a main event I'm very much looking forward to and Punk's reign stepped up last night and became interesting for reasons other than 'Punk puts on good title matches'. I'm expecting a rematch between Cena and Punk at Summerslam, but I'm not sure off Show's role in it all. Ideally I'd love Rock/Punk at Summerslam, but if they're saying Rock's title match is at Royal Rumble, idk I think they might just wait for that. Nice swerve on the new GM, I feel like that's a good move, AJ's over and the love triangle thing was getting a little stale, this way they can showcase AJ every week in ways that aren't 'let's just make her Diva Champion'. Still didn't make sense why she agreed to marry Bryan in the first place - crazy lady!

My only disappointment in the show was Austin not being there, to me he's Mr Raw, and it didn't feel right without him being there alongside McMahon, HHH, HBK, Bret, Taker, Rock, Cena and Punk. As nice as it was to see Lita swerve us all by beating Slater, I'm not sure that's going to be a moment we're going to remember in a few years time, Austin coming out to Stunner him was the finish to the storyline that everyone wanted. I hope the people that gave Rock shit for missing Raw anniversaries to make films are either going to drop their butthurt complaints over Rock, or give Austin exactly the same shit for missing Raw 1000 because he was making 'Grown Ups 2'. Double standards ftl. Not even via satellite.

Oh and forget Ed's commitments to WC staffing, when I'm gone from this place, surely the thing I'll be remembered for is 'he called the return of Mae's hand'

Spoiler:

sorry but there is a big difference between Austin making movies instead of appearing at a wrestling show and Rock making movies.instead of appearing at a wrestling show. BIG difference

**Sykotic** · 07-24-2012, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Flock U

sorry but there is a big difference between Austin making movies instead of appearing at a wrestling show and Rock making movies.instead of appearing at a wrestling show. BIG difference

Agree with this, Austin isnt looking for world title shots and stealing the spotlight from the guys who as Punk will say next week 'bust their asses week in week out'

**Eduardo** · 07-24-2012, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Flock U

sorry but there is a big difference between Austin making movies instead of appearing at a wrestling show and Rock making movies.instead of appearing at a wrestling show. BIG difference

Please explain this big difference in one guy choosing a movie gig over wresting and another guy choosing a movie gig over wrestling, because I'm not seeing it. FYI, I never once moaned that Rock left for hollywood, I was never one of those guys, those guys do my head in.

However there is a difference in Austin not showing up because he's sidelined with a knee injury that he's only just revealed - hence I'll withdraw my complaints about Austin not being there.

**Saint B** · 07-24-2012, 02:13 PM

WWE did great with the Rock/Punk seed. Those two great egos talking trash to each one would make the show interesting again, hope they don't get Cena involved in it otugh. WWE needs Cena because is his best merchandise seller, kids love him and he's on the top of the card always because they need him for the money that those kids will make spend, even if half of the audience doesn't want him around. Let's just hope that he is involved in some meaningless feud when this big feud between Rock and Punk takes place.

Being a Rock fan since late 98, when he bring me into wrestling i'm loving this... in the past wrestlemania i just wanted Rocky to win because he represented what we liked back then against what we don't like now... now I'm hoping that The Rock wins at the Rumble to whoever has the title and lose it at the main event of Wrestlemania to CM Punk. That would made a fun road to Wrestlemania, will make Rock to stay regularly on the show for about two months and put CM Punk as the top guy in the business.

**Ant** · 07-24-2012, 02:18 PM

I agree with Ed on people missing the inuit hints at Punks pipebomb promo of last year and how, two years in a row now, the major summer angle has always been revolving around CM Punk (which is why personally Austin/Punk will start next year imo)

Logically speaking though Rock has already beat Cena (the "current" MITB holder) at Wrestlemania so technically he has already beaten the number one contender.

**The Natural** · 07-24-2012, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ant

Logically speaking though Rock has already beat Cena (the "current" MITB holder) at Wrestlemania so technically he has already beaten the number one contender.

Money in the Bank isn't #1 Contender status, it's a shortcut to ignore the prerequisite of being #1 Contender. But I wouldn't deny plausibility if someone said Cena was #1 Contender for other reasons.