RAW LIVE and Discussion Thread - Feb 4th, 2013

[Black Widow]

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RAW Results - Feb 4th, 2013
Location - Philips Arena. One Philips Drive, Atlanta, GA.
Announcers - Jerry 'The King' Lawler, Michael Cole & John 'Bradshaw' Layfield

[Black Widow]

Last week, we almost saw Paul Heyman get fired because a man who looked a lot like Paul Heyman, but who was not Paul Heyman was seen consorting with The Shield. Before Vince McMahon could utter the words that made him famous, but was usurped by Donald Trump, Brock Lesnar returned and he gave Vince an F-5. We also found out which title John Cena would put in the main event at Wrestlemania. What will happen as we move closer to the Elimination Chamber?

We are in Atlanta, Georgia and your announcers are Michael ‘I miss the Omni’ Cole and Jerry ‘Breaking the Hearts of Sports Fans except for 1995’ Lawler.

CM Punk makes his way to the ring and he is introduced as the People’s Champion, after destroying a fan’s sign on his birthday.

CM Punk says that he wants to explain what having a week to sit back and let things digest does to a person. Did he overreact last week? If you thought he overreacted, you never held anything as special as the WWE Championship. He says that nobody in the building has done anything great.

He has been able to watch the footage and think about what happened. He did not overreact. Every action has its reaction. He reacted like any normal person would act. He was screwed. The WWE Championship was stolen from him and is held by someone who does not deserve it. Someone who does not know what it is like to be a champion.

Punk talks about the ‘supposed’ video that show that him and Paul Heyman worked with Brad Maddox and The Shield. Punk has a question for everyone in the crowd.

Punk asks a fan if he saw Punk in the video last week. Punk reminds everyone that he was not in that video. People still point their fat incriminating fingers at him.

Punk asks Michael Cole if he saw CM Punk working with Brad Maddox and The Shield last week. Cole says that Punk was not in the video.

Punk says that if Paul Heyman says that it was not him in that video last week, then it was not him. As ridiculous as that may sound to you, put it up against what they are dealing with, people have bought into a video that Vince McMahon put on his show and on his TitanTron as the gospel truth.

Punk says that was not Paul Heyman. Vince has the money to make it look like Paul Heyman. If Vince wants to make it look like it was him and Paul doing that, the people are going to eat it up.

Last week, Vince was hoisted high in the air and he was dumped on his hip. Vince got what he deserves. Brock broke Vince’s hip and that is what Vince deserved. Punk says that is karma. That is why the people are not going to amount to anything. They do not deserve it.

Punk challenges anyone to come into the ring to prove him wrong.

Punk says that he will get his title back from The Rock. Rock can hold on to the belt to keep up his fancy pants. Punk says that the real champion is here and he is going to grant Rock a rematch at the Elimination Chamber. Today is Day 442 of the . . .

Booker T’s music plays and he starts to talk but Punk interrupts him.

Punk says that this isn’t even Booker’s show and no one wants to hear him.

Vickie Guerrero allowed Booker T to come out and decide Punk’s fate. Instead he is going to let the WWE Universe make the decision.

Booker suggests that Punk should face one of his former Wrestlemania opponents. Maybe Rey Mysterio. Maybe Randy Orton. Maybe Chris Jericho.

Punk calls the WWE Universe a bunch of idiots.

In case you forgot how to download the WWE app, Michael Cole has made a how-to video.

Michael will tell us when we can vote for CM Punk’s opponent.

There is an ‘Epic Announcement’ about the Hall of Fame tonight.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we see Randy Orton’s comments from Raw Active. Randy mentions that he beat CM Punk at Wrestlemania 27 in Atlanta. Punk has a solution to shut up Punk and that is an RKO.

Match Number One: Ryback versus Antonio Cesaro in a Non Title Match

They lock up and Ryback sends Orton into the corner. Cesaro with a forearm to the back. Cesaro with a waist lock but Ryback with a back body drop. Ryback with forearms to the back. Cesaro with a head butt but Ryback with a hip toss and a leg drop for a near fall.

Ryback puts Cesaro in the tree of woe and he kicks Cesaro in the chest. Cesaro goes to the floor and Ryback follows and he sends Cesaro back in. Cesaro with kicks to Ryback. Cesaro with a knee to the midsection followed by a European uppercut. Ryback with a Thesz Press and he slams Cesaro’s head into the mat. Ryback misses a charge into the corner.

Cesaro with a clothesline to the back of the head and we go to commercial.

We are back and Ryback with a shoulder tackle and body block followed by a spinebuster. Ryback sets for the lariat but Cesaro remembers that he has to leave the ring and try to get counted out each time. Ryback stops Cesaro on the ramp. Cesaro is rolled back in and Cesaro drops Ryback on the top rope and he drop kicks Ryback off the apron. Cesaro sends Ryback into the ring post and then the ring steps.

Cesaro wants the referee to start the count. Ryback is able to get back into the ring at nine. Cesaro with punches and a kick. Cesaro with a knee drop from the turnbuckles to the upper chest for a near fall.

Cesaro runs into a knee and a back elbow. Ryback with a back body drop and Ryback sets for the lariat and he connects. Cesaro gets to the floor again and he tries to go through the crowd. Ryback pulls Cesaro back in. Cesaro with a boot to the head. Ryback blocks a kick and hits a power bomb.

Ryback with the lariat and now he gets Cesaro up for the marching muscle buster and he connects and gets the three count.

Winner: Ryback

In case you missed it earlier tonight, or last week on Raw, we go back to look at John Cena’s announcement of his opponent at Wrestlemania and the attack by the Shield.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Michael Cole mentions that Rey Mysterio was on Raw Active during the break. Rey says that he should be in the ring with Punk since he beat him at Wrestlemania 26.

We take a look at the Shield. We start with their debut at the Survivor Series when they attacked Ryback. We see some of their comments from their prior comments about WWE Superstars.

John Cena is in Vickie’s office watching the video. Vickie says that she heard a rumor that John Cena was going to call out the Shield. Vickie asks John if he has a Death Wish.

John says that he appears on Raw and he won the Royal Rumble. He says that he will be the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania. The Shield needs to be stopped and they need to be stopped tonight.

It is time to take a look at the person who was announced at the end of last week’s Raw . . . Trish Stratus.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we go to comments from Chris Jericho during Raw Active. Chris says that others call you the best in the world when you are the best in the world. Tonight we can see who is the best in the world.

Booker T has joined Michael and Jerry at the announce table.

Match Number Two: Santino Marella versus Jack Swagger

They lock up and Swagger sends Santino to the mat. Swagger with a knee and Santino with some power walking but Swagger with a knee to the midsection and he goes for Santino’s knee. Swagger with a punch and knees to the midsection. Swagger with punches in the corner but he misses a splash. Santino with punches and then he does a split but blocks a hip toss.

Swagger with knees and then he does the double jump Swagger Bomb. Swagger with the ankle lock and Santino taps out.

Winner: Jack Swagger

After the match, Swagger goes to the announce table and he tells Booker that he is just getting started.

Now it is time to vote for CM Punk’s opponent.

We are back and we are only 62 days away from Wrestlemania. It turns out that Ticketmaster is involved with the Raw Active voting because they are overloaded.

We take a look at what has happened between Big Show, Alberto Del Rio, and Ricardo Rodriguez last week on WWE Television.

Match Number Three: Alberto Del Rio versus Cody Rhodes

Cody with a kick and forearms. Rhodes with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow and Del Rio with a rana and then he sends Rhodes into the air and then to the mat. Del Rio with a kick. Cody with a slap and Del Rio with kicks to Rhodes.

Del Rio with the running step up enzuigiri to the shoulder for a near fall. Rhodes with a kick to the leg and then Cody with an atomic drop to the leg. Rhodes with boots to Del Rio and punches. Rhodes with a head butt and then he charges into the corner but misses.

Del Rio with two clotheslines and then he avoids one and instead of a power slam, Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker. Del Rio with a super kick for a near fall. Rhodes with Beautiful Disaster but he can only get a two count. Del Rio floats over into the cross arm breaker and Cody taps out.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

After the match, Alberto Del Rio says that he is a different person. He used to look down on everyone, but now he knows that he was wrong. Big Show tried to bully him, just like everyone. He was not going to let that happen. That is why he appreciates the support of the fans. They make him open his eyes and now he is the World Champion, not just for him. He is doing this for the people who struggle and fight.

Alberto tells Big Show that he is going to pay what he did to his best friend Ricardo. If Show thinks that what happened last Friday was bad . . .

Big Show interrupts on the TitanTron and he tells Alberto to calm down. Show says that he is in a secured location off sight.

Del Rio calls Show a coward and says that Show has no cajones.

Show tells Del Rio to speak in English. Show says that it is hard for him to control the rage that he has. It would be so easy to snap Del Rio in half. He is not afraid because Del Rio had a stick with him in the parking lot. Show says that he left to keep himself from ripping Del Rio apart.

This is about Del Rio stealing the title from him. Show says that he wants a rematch against Del Rio at the Elimination Chamber.

Show tells Del Rio that Booker knows where he is and if Del Rio signs the contract, he will have Booker bring the contract to him. Show tells Del Rio not to look for him in the hotel. If Del Rio thinks that what he did to Ricardo was bad, wait to see what happens if Del Rio looks for him.

The man who will face CM Punk tonight is Chris Jericho.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rewind: Footage of the tag team champions losing a non-title match to Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio.

Daniel Bryan blames Kane for their loss on Friday. Bryan says that Kane has to do his part as his tag team partner. Kane says that he thought Bryan could take care of himself. Bryan tells Kane not to help him because he does not want to hurt his chances in the Elimination Chamber.

Match Number Four: Rey Mysterio versus Daniel Bryan

They lock up and Bryan with a snap mare and kicks to the back. Bryan gets a near fall but Rey with a bridge. Rey with an arm drag out of a wheelbarrow move. Rey with a drop kick and knees to the head. Rey with a kick. Bryan with a fallaway gutbuster and we see Teddy and Booker talking about something while watching the match.

Rey with forearms but Bryan with forearms of his own. Rey kicks Bryan from the apron. Rey tries for a moonsault but Rey is crotched and put in the Tree of Woe. Bryan with shoulders but he charges into the corner and Rey pulls himself up and Bryan goes into the ring post and then to the floor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Rey with forearms but Bryan with an overhead throw on Rey and then he stomps on Rey’s elbow. Bryan continues to work on Rey’s shoulder and elbow. Bryan with kicks to the chest and shoulder. Bryan sends Rey under the bottom rope and Rey gets up and tries to get back into the ring but Bryan with a baseball slide.

Bryan tries for a suicide dive but Rey with a forearm to the head. Rey with a seated splash and a head scissors. Rey with a rana but Bryan rolls through but you don’t try for a sunset flip on Rey. Rey rolls through and kicks Bryan in the head and Rey gets a near fall.

Bryan is in the ropes and Bryan blocks it and he catches Rey. Bryan applies the No Lock but Rey counters with a rollup. Bryan tries for a power bomb but Rey counters with a rana and Bryan falls into the ropes. Rey hits the 619 and Rey misses the dive from the turnbuckles. Bryan applies the No Lock and Rey taps.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

After the match, it is time for someone to get their ass kicked and their wig split. Mark Henry comes to the ring and Daniel Bryan confronts him on the floor. Henry sends Bryan into the ringside barrier.

Henry goes into the ring and he sees Rey on the mat. Mark picks up Ray and he hits a running spinebuster. Henry puts Rey in the corner and Sin Cara comes to the aid of Rey but Mark catches Cara on a springboard cross body and Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam. Rey with forearms to the back but Henry pushes Rey into the ropes and Rey tries for a cross body but Henry catches Rey. Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam.

Henry says this isn’t enough and he hits the Vader Bomb on Rey and he tells everyone that’s what he does.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Kane is walking in the back. Daniel Bryan asks Kane if he saw what Mark Henry did. He wants to know where Kane was. Kane says that Bryan told him not to go out there. Bryan tells Kane that he owes him an apology. Kane says that there is nothing stronger than their friendship. Bryan asks Kane if he is serious and Kane tells him ‘Hell No’.

It is time to take a look back at what happened at the end of Raw between Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman.

We go to Big Show on satellite and he says that he is not waiting all night. Show wants to know if the contract is there. Room service arrives and Show gives him a tip, next time get a better job.

Match Number Five: Sheamus versus Kane

They lock up and Sheamus pushes Kane. Sheamus with punches to Kane in the corner. Kane sends Sheamus into the corner and misses a punch. Sheamus with punches. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline. Kane sends Sheamus into the turnbuckles and connects with an uppercut and kicks. Sheamus with a kick but Kane with a side slam.

Sheamus kicks Kane into the ringside barrier and they return to the ring. Kane with a punch. Sheamus and Kane exchange punches until Sheamus hits a uranage back breaker. Sheamus runs Kane into the turnbuckles and then hits a knee lift. Kane is sent over the top rope to the floor with a double sledge.

Sheamus with the ‘JBL hopes he would do this to Josh’ forearms but Kane stops Sheamus at five and drops Sheamus on the top rope. Kane misses the clothesline from the top. Kane blocks the Brogue Kick. Sheamus avoids the choke slam. Kane escapes White Noise. Sheamus blocks a tombstone attempt. Kane with a DDT and Daniel Bryan gets on the apron to distract Kane.

Kane grabs Bryan by the throat and Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick when Kane turns around and Sheamus with the three count.

Winner: Sheamus

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Slam of the Week: Brock Lesnar giving Vince McMahon an F-5.

Miz is in the ring for MizTV. Miz says that his guest shocked the world by reintroducing the beast Brock Lesnar to the WWE.

Paul Heyman comes out and he tells Mr. Mizanin to not say another world. At least it looks like Paul Heyman.

Paul says that he is out here to clear his name. He will not let someone like Miz soil his reputation.

Paul offers his best wishes to the Chairman of WWE. Paul says that Vince had hip surgery earlier today. He says that it would behoove.

Miz asks Paul if he really cares about what happens with Vince McMahon after what happened last week.

Paul says that he will spell it out so even Miz can understand. He did not know that Brock Lesnar was in Las Vegas and he did not tell Brock to attack Vince. Paul reminds Mike that he tried to stop Brock.

Miz says that he saw a tape of Paul paying off The Shield and Brad Maddox to keep the title on CM Punk. He also saw Vince McMahon about to fire Paul last week. Miz calls Paul the most committed liar he has ever met.

Paul says that he will not let Miz look good at his own expense. Paul has some questions for Miz. He wants to know if Miz agrees that Punk was screwed out of the title. Doesn’t Miz agree that Punk should be the champion and doesn’t he agree that Punk will stay the WWE Champion after Elimination Chamber.

Paul says that he will answer Miz’ questions as soon as Miz answers his questions.

Vickie Guerrero interrupts MizTV. Vickie tells Miz that Paul is telling the truth. Paul had nothing to do with Brock returning last week. She is responsible. She was negotiating with Brock for a while and she wanted to keep it quiet because of Brock’s track record. Brock is an elite free agent. Resigning Brock was a chance for her to impress Mr. McMahon to allow Vince to make her the permanent general manager. They finalized their deal last week. Vickie says that they had no idea of what Brock would do to Vince.

Paul tells Vickie that he believes her. Paul asks for everyone to have a moment of silence for Vincent Kennedy McMahon . . .

Vickie has an idea. Vickie wants everyone to pray for Mr. McMahon’s well-being.

Miz with a few reallys. Miz says that they are both lying through their teeth. Paul has hated Vince since Vince crushed his little company. Vickie hates the times that Vince pulled the General Manager job from him.

Paul says that Miz is offending him.

Miz calls Paul and Vickie ‘bottom feeders’.

Vickie reminds Miz that she is his boss.

Miz says that it is only a matter of time before Vince fires Vickie and Paul.

Brock’s music plays and Vickie and Paul moves out of the way. Brock does the Brock Bounce before making his way to the ring to confront Miz for what he has said.

Brock gets in Miz’ face and Miz pushes Brock and Brock with a clothesline and then he throws Miz to the floor. Brock throws a few chairs onto Miz and then Brock throws the couches around. Miz hits Brock from behind but Brock with a knee and an F-5. Paul tells Brock to stop.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of the F-5 on Miz.

Bo Dallas says that he accomplished more than he ever thought last week. He eliminated the Intercontinental Champion and then beat him on Raw. Bo says that this dog has a bite.

We see footage from Raw when Bo defeated Wade. Then we see Wade beat the smile off Bo’s face on Smackdown.

Match Number Six: Randy Orton versus Wade Barrett

Barrett punches Orton and kicks him in the corner. Orton with a Thesz Press and punches to Barrett. Orton with European uppercuts. Barrett with an Irish whip into the corner but Orton with a clothesline. Barrett goes to the floor and Orton sends Barrett into the apron. Orton with a belly-to-back suplex onto the ringside barrier.

They return to the ring and Orton gets a near fall. Orton with the Garvin Stomp to Barrett. Barrett clotheslines Orton and then he connects with a knee. Barrett with a suplex and he clotheslines Orton over the top rope to the floor.

Barrett sends Orton into the apron and then they return to the ring and Barrett gets a near fall. Barrett with elbow drops. Barrett with a reverse chin lock. Orton blocks a back heel kick. Orton with two clotheslines and he avoids one from Barrett. Orton with a power slam. Barrett rolls to the apron and then Orton sets for the IEDDT and he hits it.

Orton looks around and he gets ready for the RKO push ups. Barrett rolls to the floor. Orton sends Barrett back into the ring. Barrett with the Blackpool Slam for a near fall. Barrett with a front face lock and he gets Orton up for Wasteland but Orton escapes. Barrett avoids an RKO. Barrett misses a boot into the corner and Orton with an RKO for the three count.

Winner: Randy Orton

We go to commercial.

We are back and if you thought Fandango was dead . . . you would be dead wrong. Now he looks like Frankie Kazarian and sounds like Alberto Del Rio.

Match Number Seven: Chris Jericho versus CM Punk in a Wrestlemania Rematch Match

They lock up and Punk with a kick and chop. Jericho chops back and connects with a back elbow. Jericho kicks Punk and chops him. Jericho with a suplex and he drops a fist to Punk’s head and gets a near fall. Punk with kicks to Jericho. Punk with a knee to the midsection and he gets a near fall. Punk with a wrist lock and turns it into a key lock.

Punk wants the referee to ask Jericho if he wants to continue. Jericho backs Punk into the corner and he punches Punk. Jericho with a chop but Punk with an Irish whip. Punk runs into a boot from Jericho. Punk sets for a tornado DDT but Jericho pushes Punk to the mat and Jericho clotheslines Punk over the top rope to the floor and then Jericho with a baseball slide and Punk almost hits the announce table a second time.

Jericho goes for the springboard drop kick but Punk knows what is coming and he drops Jericho’s throat on the top rope and we go to commercial.

We are back and Punk with a belly-to-back suplex and then he drops a leg to the back of Jericho’s neck. Punk gets a near fall. Punk with a cravate but Jericho punches Punk and chops him. Punk with an Irish whip and Jericho sends Punk to the apron. Punk misses the springboard clothesline when Jericho moves.

Jericho with a shoulder tackle or two. Jericho is sent over the top rope to the apron but Jericho goes up top and he hits a double sledge. Jericho with a bulldog and then he tries for the Lionsault but Punk gets his knees up. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Punk sends Jericho to the turnbuckles. Jericho avoids the running knee into the corner. Jericho punches Punk on the turnbuckles and Jericho hits a super rana.

Jericho gets a near fall. Jericho tries for the Lionsault again but Punk gets to his feet and he gets Jericho on his shoulders and Punk tries for the Go To Sleep but Jericho counters and tries for the Walls of Jericho. Punk with a near fall on an inside cradle followed by one from Jericho. Punk with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall.

Punk goes for the running knee into the corner and he connects. Punk with a short arm clothesline and then Punk struggles to get to the top turnbuckle. Punk sets for the elbow drop but Jericho moves. Jericho with the Lionsault but Jericho is unable to make the cover immediately after the move and that allows Punk to kick out.

Punk with a round kick to the head for a near fall. Punk applies the Anaconda Vice and Jericho tries to get to the ropes and Jericho gets to the ropes and Punk has to release the hold but he waits until four to do it.

Jericho with a shoulder to the midsection and then Jericho goes up top but Punk kicks Jericho’s leg and Jericho gets crotched. Punk gets Jericho on his shoulders for the Go To Sleep. Jericho blocks it and he puts Punk in the Walls of Jericho. Punk struggles to get to the ropes and he succeeds.

Punk cannot get Jericho on his shoulders. Jericho tries for the Walls but Punk is able to send Jericho into the turnbuckles. Punk sends Jericho shoulder first into the ring post and then Punk hits Go To Sleep for the three count.

Winner: CM Punk

It is now time to announce that Bruno Sammartino will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

We go to commercial.

We are back and CM Punk is walking in the back and Matt Striker apologizes for bothering him. Punk yells at Striker. Striker asks Punk where his head is at. Punk says that he is not mad at the Rock filming commercials. He is mad that Rock stole his title. Rock might have the belt, but he is not the champion. Punk says that he will prove at Elimination Chamber that he is the best in the world.

John Cena is in the interview area. Josh Mathews asks John why would he call out the Shield alone. Cena says that he called out the WWE Champion. He has been in a funk for a while but he is back. That is why he is going to the ring to call out the Shield. There is a time to smile and laugh, but that time is gone.

Last week, the Shield pushed . . . and he is pushing back.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Big Show is finishing his dinner and he is on the phone with Booker wanting to know if the contract is on the way. There is a knock at the door. Show thinks it is the person with the contract.

The person has the contract and he wants to tell Show something. Show signs the contract and he says that he knows that this guy is his biggest fans. Show says that he does not do birthday tweets or photos. Show opens the door and Alberto Del Rio is waiting outside.

They fight in the hallway and Del Rio gets in a few shots but Show with punches and kicks. Show throws Del Rio onto a table in the hallway. Show kicks Alberto as they fight by the elevator. Show takes the leg of a table and he is going to use it but Del Rio sprays the contents of a fire extinguisher in Show’s face.

The elevator opens and Del Rio tries to make up a story and he gets on the elevator.

Brad Maddox is in the ring and he says that last week Vince McMahon exposed the truth that he was manipulated by Paul Heyman to help him at Hell in a Cell. Paul preyed on his because Paul knew that he was an up and coming superstar. Now everyone knows the truth.

Brad says that he is an innocent victim. He is a wronged man and he did the only thing he could do. He gave Vince the footage that proved that Paul Heyman was lying about him and the Shield’s involvement with CM Punk.

Brad says that he is the hero of this story. As the hero, it will be him and not John Cena who will call out The Shield and teach them about justice.

Brad tells Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns that Justice awaits them. He wants them to come on down.

Dean has a mic and he thanks Brad for the invitation but he does not need one. Brad is just a rat scurrying under the floor board looking for scraps.

Brad reminds them that they were not the only ones to take money from Heyman.

Seth asks Brad if he understands the concept of justice. Justice is the Shield putting a fame hungry weasel like Brad the beating that he deserves.

Reigns says that last time it was business, but this time they will enjoy this.

Dean says that maybe Brad Maddox doesn’t believe in the Shield.

Reigns, Ambrose, and Rollins attack Maddox. Reigns with a short arm clothesline. They get Maddox ready for the Cerberus power bomb and they hit it.

John Cena makes his way to the ring. Cena is coming through the crowd instead of from the back.

Ryback’s music plays and he comes from another part of the crowd.

Sheamus joins the party through the crowd. They stand at the ringside barrier and the Shield go up the ramp.

Randy Orton leads a group of wrestlers to keep The Shield in the ring.

Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback play the part of the Shield surrounding The Shield in the center of the ring.

All six men battle in the ring. Ryback, Cena, and Sheamus are in control and Rollins and Reigns get into the crowd. Ambrose finally joins them and they leave.

We go to credits.

[Black Widow]

In one of the most brutal attacks ever against Mr. McMahon, Brock Lesnar broke The Chairman’s hip with an F-5 on last week’s Raw. The attack came just as Mr. McMahon appeared ready to fire CM Punk’s associate, Paul Heyman, for his ties to The Shield and Brad Maddox. Lots of questions were swirling in the WWE Universe when Raw went off the air last week. Here are five reasons to tune in tonight at 8/7 CT on USA Network.

1. Who is next in Brock Lesnar's sights?

After Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H at SummerSlam, he said in a Tout that he accomplished everything he set out to do and he was never coming back to WWE. Why did Lesnar resurface in WWE last week? Is there something new he is hoping to accomplish in 2013? If he’s willing to attack The Chairman, is anyone safe? Lots of questions remain about what the former UFC Heavyweight Champion might do next.

2. How will The Chairman respond to Lesnar's attack?

Certainly, Mr. McMahon is not one to simply forget what Brock did to him. It’s a safe bet that there will be repercussions after The Chairman recovers from his injury … or maybe even sooner. But since Lesnar is not currently a contracted WWE Superstar, Mr. McMahon can’t fire him. So how will The Chairman get retribution?

With a roster of Superstars at his command, could Mr. McMahon employ their services? Will action come as soon as Monday, or will the boss bide his time before he unleashes holy hell on Lesnar for what he did? Regardless of how big or bad Lesnar is, Mr. McMahon is certain to find a way to even the score.

3. Is Paul Heyman on borrowed time?

After an incriminating video left Paul Heyman squirming about his ties to The Shield and Brad Maddox, Mr. McMahon appeared poised to fire him last week … until Lesnar came calling. Although Heyman appeared shocked at what Lesnar did to Mr. McMahon, he certainly didn’t do anything to stop things. Heyman, an admitted liar, may have found a way to hide his ties to The Shield and Maddox for months, but how could he possibly talk his way out of his latest predicament with The Boss?

4. What will The Shield do next?

With Lesnar and Heyman on The Chairman’s least favorite list, The Shield can’t be far behind. At Royal Rumble, Mr. McMahon was very explicit about keeping The Shield away from the WWE Championship Match. If they interfered, Punk was to be stripped of his title. When the black-clad group seemingly jumped The Rock, Mr. McMahon was ready to take action … until Rock demanded the match not end that way.

When The Shield first surfaced in WWE, they claimed to stand for justice. Now that the gig is up, what will they do next?

5. Will CM Punk stick with Paul Heyman?

Say what you want about CM Punk, his 434-day reign as WWE Champion is something very few Superstar have, or ever will, accomplish. Even WWE Champion The Rock gave The Second City Saint props for such a lengthy reign. But now that the cat is out of the bag so to speak about Heyman’s dealings with The Shield and Brad Maddox, will Punk stick with Heyman? If Punk wants to reclaim the WWE Title from The Rock at Elimination Chamber, will he start to distance himself from Heyman … or completely cut off all ties? Punk’s next move ought to be interesting.


WWE.com

[LG]

Interesting that in the new opening video it does appear that Brock, Rock, and Undertaker is in it. All of the superstars listed in that video are indeed current superstars. Looks like Taker is fixing to return for sure. I can hear it now, there is one man to put a damper into CM Punk's world and it's the Undertaker--DONG!

[Konan]

Lesner isn't going to be there, but Triple H will

[Black Widow]

I'm hoping Undertaker returns soon, Triple H will definitely be there tonight

[Black Widow]

I hope Its CM Punk vs Chris Jericho tonight

[LionDen]

Thank you Ryan for the coverage :) A bit upsetting Rock was not there considering he is champion.

[Wong Fai Hung]

Thank you Ryan for the coverage :) A bit upsetting Rock was not there considering he is champion.


This^ however it's not a shocker that he wasn't there either.

[LionDen]

This^ however it's not a shocker that he wasn't there either.

I agree but I said when he won it the only way I would remotely respect him having it is if he went to every RAW before he lost it and now I have no respect for him having that belt.

[Wong Fai Hung]

I agree with LionDen 100%