*OFFICIAL* Raw Discussion Thread: 30th January 2012

[Fluttershy]

Monday Night Raw - 30th January 2012

Punk still on top
Two weeks ago, when John Laurinaitis claimed that he would screw CM Punk out of the WWE Title, it seemed as though we were destined to have a new WWE Champion: Dolph Ziggler. Things changed last week on Raw when Laurinaitis discovered his job was under review from Triple H which led to Laurinaitis foregoing his previous plans. At the Royal Rumble, despite some minor controversy regarding referees, CM Punk managed to retain his WWE Championship against the Show Off. However, was that enough for Laurinaitis to keep his job? Or will the COO, Triple H, look back on some of the Interim General Manager's more questionable decisions in the past? And what is next for CM Punk - will we find out his opponents for the Elimination Chamber in 3 weeks time? Find out this week on Raw Supershow.

Also On Raw
Despite stiff competition, Sheamus emerged victorious in the 2012 Royal Rumble match giving him a ticket to Miami and the main event of Wrestlemania 28. The question now is, which title will he choose to wrestle for. Could we find out this week on Raw? Sheamus last eliminated Chris Jericho, who put up a valiant effort but in the end fell short. After promising the "end of the world as we know it", Jericho will be disappointed with the outcome. For weeks he has left WWE fans bemused by his actions: will we finally get an explanation this week on Raw? Also at the Royal Rumble, Kane and John Cena fought to a double countout, but the damage was done after the match when Kane delivered the tombstone piledriver to a wheelchair-bound Zack Ryder. Expect Cena to come out looking for vengeance this week on Raw.

[Awesome]

The shocked look on the referee's face is pretty funny.

"Huh? What are you doing?!" 

[RyPrax]

Chris Jericho posted on his Twitter that he will speak on RAW tonight. He wrote: "I've got something to say.... #raw"
Five minutes later, CM Punk wrote: "I wonder if anybody has anything to say tonight?". Both comments were then re-tweeted by WWE.

[chappers]

Sounds good, this could be one of the best feuds in recent memory

[Adampro123]

I'm interested in seeing where or if Ziggler really goes from here. not many faces on Raw for him to feud with. Cena,Punk and Truth and thats it.

[chappers]

If MitB is coming back at mania (I hope so), I think Ziggler or Rhodes are a lock to be in that and could easily challenge for a chance to win it.

[RyPrax]

If MitB is coming back at mania (I hope so), I think Ziggler or Rhodes are a lock to be in that and could easily challenge for a chance to win it.

Cody's likely facing his brother.

[chappers]

I just read that in the other thread, if he gets in the match though I feel he has a good chance. Also if those two are going to face each other I want Dusty Rhodes to ref.

[Adampro123]

Depending on who faces who when it comes to the next MITB winner i think Rhodes, Ziggler and Barret would have to be the favorites. I don't see any mid level faces winning it anytime soon.

[chappers]

Depending on who faces who when it comes to the next MITB winner i think Rhodes, Ziggler and Barret would have to be the favorites. I don't see any mid level faces winning it anytime soon.

I'll agree and if they pushed Swagger and McIntyre they could be with those three.

[Adampro123]

Ziggler vs Orton VIII is confirmed for tonight.
Ortons beat Ziggler 6 of the 7 times they have faced i hope Ziggler finds a way to take this one beings i thought he looked pretty wreak losing to Punk like 4 times last night.

[RyPrax]

Depending on who faces who when it comes to the next MITB winner i think Rhodes, Ziggler and Barret would have to be the favorites. I don't see any mid level faces winning it anytime soon.

Is it wrong of me to think that Kofi might have a chance?

[Leonardo Lunchbox]

Yes now shut the hell up.

[Adampro123]

Opening segment with Johnny,Punk,Bryan and Sheamus was great. Especially the Punk and Bryan stuff. Bryan is working so well on the mic and im really enjoying his heel turn.

Orton vs Ziggler i didn't enjoy much. The whole match was pretty much Orton on top and they bartely even paid attention to the match because most of it they were cutting to Josh Matthews talking to Wade Barret. Also not sure if i like Zigg's new hoodie he comes out in. These guys have put on much better matches and could have been way better but this was all about to put over Orton vs Barret.

I don't like Ziggler losing here though could have been someone else since like i said i thought ziggler looked pretty weak after punk beat him like 4 times last night.

Johnny asking Regal about his family and regal saying he keeps his daughters locked away i thought was pretty funny. then Johnny walked up to Hawkins and said "how ya doing Curt?" and hook his hand. i was shocked he even knew Curt Hawkins name.

Clay over Reks I didn't even watch to be honest. i fast forward it on my DVR it was just gonna be the same old stuff from Clay and i wasn't in the mood for it.

Great backstage segment with Punk and Bryan

Punk vs Bryan was great! an early contender for MOTY if you ask me even with the weak finish of Jericho getting involved.  I thought they shoulda played up more on Bryan always being called the best in the world throughout most of his career in the indies and how Punk kind of ripped that off.

Of course this starts the build for Jericho vs Punk which should be great. but i must admit after what i seen from punk and Bryan on this night i would prefer seeing these 2 in a major program and them facing off at mania and after seeing how well Jericho worked with Sheamus at the rumble i would like to see him face Sheamus.

Kofi vs Miz was good. but the announcing kind of took away from it. Was glad and a bit shocked to see Kofi cleanly beat Miz. this is very good and it looks like Kofi is gonna start getting a push i guess Prax's statement about thinking Kofi could win MITB doesn't sound so crazy right now. though it's only one week so we'll see where it goes but the WWE is low on mid card faces so they need to build Kofi back up.

Beth beating Eve in like less than a min was nice...then even like tripled Beth's air time.lol. i honestly didn't pay much attention to the Kane/Cena stuff because im just so disinterested in it and neither of those guys do much for me.

Johnny and Triple H stuff was good. I'm guessing Johnny kept his job somehow though? maybe we'll see.

Taker coming out was a shock because i didn't expect it so soon i thought it would be closer to mania. taker looked kind of weird out there his hair looked fake.lol. I'm not sure what the story is they are playing on. Triple H patting Taker on the shoulder and walking away from him. What it reminded me of was like 2 kids being friends and one grows out of something and the other ask him to play and the one who grew out of it just walks away from him like "grow up" or something like that. I don't really understand especially since Triple H was the one who challenge taker earlier this year.

Overall i feel like i have to say it was a great Raw but not all around.

[Rhymin' Greiman]

The vibe I'm getting from the whole Taker thing is this may be a weekly ordeal for Taker.  I'm guessing each week he'll confront someone and maybe stalk them the following week until he realizes nobody has the balls to face the streak.  Then a 2-3 weeks before Wrestlemania he finally gets a challenge that could very well sell some tickets.... like, for example... Lesnar.

Probably wrong, just throwing it out there.  I mean let's face it, nobody really wants to see Triple H vs Undertaker for the third time.