The only problem during the opening segments was the fact that while the cameras were panning the crowd during the National Anthem, there were at least 2 male fans still wearing their caps!!!! Who do you blame for this?? The kids for not knowing any better or the parents for not teaching them the respect that should be shown during the singing of the National Anthem!
The Gay community is always quick to criticize the comments made by WWE "Performers" or Announcers when it involves a Homophobic remark. I hope us fellow Polocks will stand up to the Rock's comment of him getting more PIE than King Kong Bundy would in a Polish Bakery! We need Ivan Putski to break out the Polish Hammer on the Rock's Candy A$$.

Like I tweeted you last night, he's just another douche rapper of the bunch of hip-hop and reggaeton artists as of late. He's actually from Miami so that's where it fits, however like you said his performance was lackluster and I could care less about him. Same feelings about Mya - dunno anything about her, but MAN does she have a voice.

Also, no Lilian Garcia/Rock segment? With them in the same building? The hell?

Am I the only one recognizing the absence of Dolph Ziggler?

You can tell how far McIntyre has now fallen now that he can't even come out to his own theme music for the tag match when everyone else got to....

the rock is the best

Can there be too much of a good thing? Last night proved that point...way, way too much overexposure. And we rant about Cena!

McMahon out of character was kind of odd. But, he "should" be kissing Rock's arse, because, frankly, I think he needs his presence right now. No HBK, Jericho, Taker, HHH, and Edge leaves a locker room full of relatively new guys, other than Cena and Orton. We've commented on this before, but WWE desperately needs to elevate young talent fast....

....and elevating young talent fast does not come about by handing Cena the title a 10th time when he doesn't need it to get over. I hope for an ADR title run this year...Cena can't possibly hold that title until WM, can he? *rolls eyes*

With Punk uncharacteristically wearing long sleeves (???) and Ryan fighting Kane, I thought for sure that there would be a "fireball accident" to allow for Punk to bow out for a bit....here's hoping Punk re-signs!

Yeah, very weak show. The big problem with the Rock's return is that the WWE needs him a lot more then he needs it, so they're not going to do anything with him that's remotely compromising. And it was pretty boring. Obviously, they weren't going to have Cena confront Rock in the ring, since Cena's be booed, and he can't do anything that's at all interesting (I think it's in his contract). Miz would have been logical... if he still had the title. Honestly, what was the point in having Cena win the title Sunday rather then Monday? Wouldn't it be better if Cena beat Miz in the ME on Raw as a "birthday present"? Wouldn't it be better to advance the storyline of Rock vs Cena with Cena winning the title in front of Rock?

It's funny you mention the Nation of Domination, because I think we're going to see Mason Ryan take over the New Nexus from Punk, just like Rocky stole the NoD. And that's how Punk will be written out. And I'm fine with that, I guess, since I HATE Punk with the Nexus. But jeez, Kane and Big Show aren't looking all that tough after what Ezekiel Jackson and Mason Ryan did on successive nights, are they? Isn't the next logical step to have Ryan and Jackson challenge for the tag titles?

It's staggering how much better Jim Ross is on commentary then anyone else they trot out there....

Did anyone else hear R-Truth drop the f-bomb (to the crowd)?

Last night's Raw was an entertaining show, but like you I was not blown away by the show. I have to admit one of my favorite segments of the night was Kharma destroying Maryse. The crowd popped for Kharma, and she has attacked two heels so I wonder if this means they will make her an anti-hero face.

I really wanted to like this episode of Raw. I really did. So the opening segment lasted 30 minutes. It was the Rock. Yeah, just hearing him spout off his catchphrases alone is sort of boring, but that's okay. It could still turn into a good show.

It didn't. In all, there were four matches. Of those, exactly one ended with a pinfall. One. It was two hours and eighteen minutes long. One pinfall. I know Vince wants it to be more entertainment than wrestling, but the problem is that nothing that happened last night was entertaining.

I'm willing to give Raw the benefit of the doubt that it was so bad because it was a gimmick show, but I don't have many shows like this left in me.

Am I the only person who can remember countless story lines that were advanced by referees specifically not being allowed to unilaterally reverse their own decision. For them to change that on a whim to keep the title on Cena is just annoying. Had Miz been the champion going in (as he should have been), you can bet there wouldn't have been a changed call had Cena won. Like when everyone ignored HHH and Taker's past Wrestlemania match, it's annoying to know there's a history that's just being ignored.

I was trying to find the video of JBL 9/11 thoughts from 9/13/01 smackdown but it is the only one I can't find, his comments were the best

LIke you said Kevin, Punk was the only one selling the effects of his match from the night before. With Cena, Morrison and Miz in a cage match, Mysterio in a Falls Count Anywhere match and Kofi Kingston in a Tables Match, I expected them to at least act a little banged up. To me, it speaks volumes of Punk as a performer who takes pride in his craft. And as much as Miz as improved and Del Rio has shown great potential, to see (for me) the best wrestler and promo guy in WWE as the third heel on Raw is extremely disappointing.

corey i dont think you aint man, but i could probably say you the only one that cares, forget ziggles its all bout the rock baby!

happy birthday to 1/3 of the greatest ENTERTAINERS to ever do it (Rock, Austin & Kurt)

jus glad i was around to witness this man in action, none this cena bs, rock did in 4years whatcena is still takin his whole career to do 9 time world champ, 3 time intercontinental, 5 time tag team.............

I had really no idea who Pitbull was, so I was at a loss. And the 'patriotic' opening was way over indulgent. I mean yeah, hes gone. But its not as if America has saved the day once and for all.

As an Englishman we kinda roll our eyes at the American patriotism and take it with a pinch of salt. I am not ashamed to admit i had a tear rolling down my cheek after Lillian sang the National Anthem and the crowd burst into an explosive USA chant. Combine that with Rock's word's about it and i think WWE did America proud!

I too was hoping Rock and 'Farooq' would have referenced the nation.

Oh, and just because i know you like your mistakes to be pointed out, Rock and Cena will battle it out at WM XVIII next April.

Keep up the great posts.

I can't see how the Divas can hope to compete with Kharma at all. She is at least twice the size of every other Diva, and it means we have to suspend belief in the same way we were asked when Mysterio went toe-to-toe with Big Show or Batista, if they intend for Kharma to have any challenge whatsoever.

WWE would be foolish to allow Punk to leave with so many veterans on the shelf or retired. As I have posted before, a Punk-Christian feud would be brilliant, though they are on seperate shows.

Kev, I am interested on your thoughts on what WWE could do with Punk to keep him?

Just so you know, you were on Raw!! During the DC segment you were on the bottom right corner while Alyssa Milano was talking.

RESPONSE FROM KE: So my stalking of Alyssa Milano was caught on tape. I'm sure that will be used as evidence someday!

A few comments:

Lillian Garcia's rendition of the National Anthem monday night was just about the most beautiful I've ever heard..it nearly had my wife and I in tears. Lillian should get a chance to perform at the Super Bowl or World Series with that voice of hers. All due respect to our current ring announcers..but I really miss Lillian!

Extreme Rules was a PPV that I decided to get, literally, at the last minute Sunday night..and I'm really glad that I did. Generally the matches were all very entertaining, and the Christian victory over Alberto Del Rio was an emotional rollercoaster ride. It may be flat heresy to say, but I think that it delivered more bang for the buck than Wrestlemania did. Anyone care to debate on this?

It was a real treat to watch Lillian Garcia do the National Anthem. I was disappointed Rock didn't say anything about it.

And Rock's "finally the Rock is back... ..... .... home" sounded so contrived considering that's exactly what how he did it when he made his re-entry to the WWE. I used to really enjoy Rock's promos, but they just don't have the feel that they used to. He seems too wound up and not as funny as he used to be. Without Cole's comic relief, Rock's appearance would have really fallen flat, imo.

The way they're using Kharma is great. I was actually fearful of what she might do to Kelly Kelly - and relieved when it turned out to be nothing.

Was it just me, or did Pitbull look like a bald Michael Cole?

IT wouldnt matter if rock is part time cause he would let cena go over at next years wrestlemania. Rock always does right for the business. He let lesnar go over. Goldberg. And evolution at wrestlemania 20.

Seeing JBL with long hair and the mustache took me back.

I wonder if Kharma is going to become protector to Kelly Kelly.

As a die-hard attitude era fan, it hurts my heart to say this, but the Rock needs to go away. I love him as much as the next guy, but if he isn't going to be wrestling, he doesn't belong on the show. He cuts great promos, which is fine when they are preceding or following a match. With him not scheduled to have a match until April of NEXT year, coming out and cutting essentially the same promo every few weeks is going to turn the crowd against him. Of course, that leaves him in a sticky situation because of his promise to "never leave again." It's probably not a coincidence that about the only way the crowd could be on Cena's side in his match is if we're made to loathe the Rock by the time Wrestlemania rolls around.

Booking the match between Rock and Cena for a year in advance is going to end up being a huge mistake. I just hope the Rock's character survives it.

P.S.- If Raw is to remain a PG show, then I really wish Rock would cut out the "pie eating" references. It's just out of place. Half the audience doesn't get it, and the other half stopped finding it funny in 2003.

I am almost positive that the ref who reversed the decision in the Miz v. Cena match was the same ref who restarted the Miz v. Orton tables match. Does anyone else remember?

I think this ref just really hates the Miz.

i love the rock party was fun wich on t.v like ok

I love to see CM Punk vs Mason Ryan and maybe turn Ryan babyface also rumors of Batista returning to the WWE could have a storyline that he reviled as Batista's son .

Time for some brutal honesty here: I fastforwarded through all the "Happy birthday Rock" garbage; The Rock was totally undeserving of all that considering he hasn't been there in over a decade; and last but not least, The Rock is nowhere EVEN CLOSE to as good at cutting promos and talking trash as he used to be. In fact, if you listen to him closely, you will realize his current style of cutting promos is limited to stridently elongated voiced conceited verbiage. I'm sorry but how many more stinking times are we going to have to sit through "theee most electrifying superstar in aaaaa (ten minutes later) aaaaaaaall of sports entertainment", "finn (ten minutes later) nnnally the rock has come back" "And the Rock will do such and such like nooo (ten minutes later) oo ooone else caan and then all the people will chant the Rock's name: Rocky, Rocky, Rocky", "the people's ........(ten minute pause with eyes closed).... champion,", etc., etc., etc., etc. It's not going away either because live audiences are worshipping him at his every word but at least I've gotten this off my chest. I know it's about respect and all but like dang. That whole show was just unacceptable. The Rock was once a a trash-talking and retorting god. What on earth happened? He really hasn't out-retorted anybody since he's come back. As I recall, he ended up kissing up to Cena for the most part and remaining quiet while the Miz spoke to him like a dog. And quite frankly, I think Cole could have murdered the Rock in a trash-talking contest if he wanted to, but is told to hold back by the powers that be.

That's my brutal honesty for the day. And all that said, doesn't the Rock have the world's best smile? His teeth are absolutely flawless. The Rock is a good guy and despite what I said above, I have tremendous respect for the brilliant character he put together in the attitude era. You could tell that celebration really meant a lot to him but WWE RAw was not the place for it.

Thank you god Michael Cole interrupted. Commentary-wise, I wasn't doing cartwheels. The show was a trainwreck with Ross out there on commentary all night long and without the drama added by Cole. What exactly excites people about Ross on commentary anyways? 3 faces doesn't exactly add to the show. Yea, back in the day, Ross got very fiery and had a lot of catchphrases for "Stone Cold, Stone Cold, Stone Cold" but that's all outdated and he doesn't even do it anymore.

Kharma is intriguing. Her character puts a unique spin on things because it's kind of a reverting back to the pre-Sunny/diva days when women, or at least heels, were portrayed as grotestque ogres; HOWEVER, with the twist that Kharma is actually a face. IT'S BRILLIANT! All the characteristics of a heel in thee most extremist of ways, but the spin on it, in that her actions are that of a face. Totally throws off the WWE universe. That instant reaction to boo because of her image, body language, etc., etc., etc., is completely derailed by who she actually attacks.

I'm sorry but I'm in love with R-Truth as a heel. As you said Kev, those faces he made were brilliant. He should come down to the ring with a really angry, gangster version of hip-hop as opposed to his previous light-hearted version of hip hop.

The fact that they took the belt off the Miz disgusts me. He was doing phenomenally as a rising star and really becoming seen as a threat and then what does the WWE do? Drops the ball. I'm sorry but going down strong wasn't enough for me. I was actually loving Raw with Miz as the face of the show. it was fresh and different. He's not the typical type of heel. As an example, Mason Ryan is like Batista all over again.

u suck rock

Kevin hit the nail on the head. I was also thinking, why would The Rock care about being the WWE champion, and how does that make the Wrestlemania match bigger? Anyone who knows the business knows that Rock winning the match doesn't make sense for business anyway. Is the WWE really going to have Rock beat Cena, a man whom they've put so much into and then leave after Wrestlemania? I highly doubt it, which is why I'm just enjoying seeing The Rock back, but I'm not paying for Wrestlemania. Even though it's all a work everything about The Rock losing to Cena is wrong.

I don't see the guys with hats as a problem or a sign that they were raised wrong. Comon it's a wrestling show and you're jacked up for it. Caught up in the moment maybe? and the fans were rocking.

As for the show i'm happy the Rock saluted the troops and Garcia singing the anthem was great.

Punk should turn babyface in a fued with Ryan and the Nexus can just break up for all i care. It's played out now. You could even involve Beth Phoenix in the fued to help Punk turn face although with his skill on the mic i doubt he'd need any help.

Morrison is better than the Miz and if WWE ever puts a title on him (Major title) then i think the world will see this and the Miz's days of calling Morrison: "Janetty" will be reversed.

R Truth is looking better as a heel but i still wish he'd stomp Cole for burying him week in and week out.

The opening exchange of the Cena/Miz match must have been a reference to Tough Enough...the routine being exactly the same that they've have been drilling the contestants on. Showing how its done?

The idiots in the audience chanting 'USA! USA!' in celebration of Osama's death is why the rest of world hates us. It was embarassing to watch.

@vaselinepete

the rock is very weak, he came after a decade of silence and targets cena so as to get back his reign, tough luck rock, cena is wwe face, if rock was man enough y ddnt he challenge cena for a match? instead cena had to! and rocky opted for wrestlemania! why not now, your time is over rock! the people are confused, but the fact is Cena is boss!!!!!!!