-The energy in the building was electric from the moment I stepped foot inside the Allstate Arena for Raw this week in Chicago. It was something. I've seen many shows at this venue and this is the loudest I've heard it in 15 years. Obviously, a very good sign for WWE as WrestleMania and big year ahead looms.
Point, Cody. Point.
-Cody Rhodes was great in the opening segment. He was likable, not over the top with meta stuff, but direct and focused in a way that very much created a deeper audience investment in him winning the championship from Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. The collective WrestleMania sign-pointing schtick was a little much, but the crowd ate it up.
-Holy crowd pop, Batman. The roof blew off the building when The Rock surprised everyone and appeared on the show. The reaction to him and Cody in the ring together was one of enjoyment and excitement. Rock not saying a word and leaving Cody in the ring was the right call to get some heat, but it's clear he's not going to last long as a heel. The star power and charisma is just too much to overcome.
-Ricochet vs. JD McDonagh was an excellent WWE television match. It won't be anything that stands the test of time, but they had the crowd biting on nearfalls and big spots all throughout. A strong way to follow-up a major segment with major stars to open up the show.
An unhinged masterpiece
-Now, how about that CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins segment? The show was full of really great stuff, but this was next level. Punk and McIntyre needling the other felt personal and unscripted. Even if it wasn't, they delivered on the vibe they've worked to create in regards to their feud. Both had legit burns on the other and it made for a dramatic and enjoyable interaction to watch. Seth Rollins entering the fray was fun too. He looked every bit of Punk's equal out there and did it without the over the top Rollins gimmick that we see regularly. Not only was this entertaining, but it hyped the McIntyre vs. Rollins WrestleMania match, teased Punk vs. Drew and Punk vs. Rollins in a big way, and showcased a different style of Raw promo segment than we've seen in a while. Thumbs way up.
-I guess we're still doing this Candice LeRae heel turn? Look, the Chicago crowd was ready and willing to bite on everything they were being fed. They weren't in on this. The match was what it was, but the central issue is LeRae as a heel. Why?
-It's really fun watching guys play their roles so well on television and Gunther really has found his groove in that regard. During his backstage interview segment he showed a dismissiveness for Sami Zayn that was tremendously unlikable, but he accomplished that emotion in a way that protected Zayn as an underdog. If Gunther sells the "Zayn can't win" story too arrogantly or too comedically, it would severely undercut that story. He walked the line perfectly.
-Eh, not much of a match between DIY and New Day, but Judgement Day got a much needed heel heat segment in breaking up the match and leaving everyone involved laid out. Judgement Day has been straddling the babyface/heel line for the last few weeks -- especially with Rhea Ripley getting the reactions that she's gotten recently. This helped reset them as true heels heading into WrestleMania.
-Andrade is Andrade, folks. He's clearly a guy that can work matches and have those matches be entertaining, but he fails to connect on a deeper level than that. The match with Giovanni Vinci was fine, but nothing more. Regarding Andrade, you could put that on a t-shirt at this point.
Becky drowning in Ripley tidal wave
-Sorry, Becky. Based on the audience reaction this week, it's nearly impossible to see her as someone ready to be universally cheered as a conquering champion at WrestleMania. Not against the Rhea Ripley tidal wave. Ripley was very over. The live audience popped big for her in a positive way and was stocked with fans carrying signs, wearing t-shirts, and cosplaying like her. They tried to make it work. Becky interrupting Dominik was a smart Jedi mind trick to ensure Lynch got cheered -- the punch to Dominik helped in the same way, as did Becky talking about being a mother. In the end, though, it's still all about Ripley. Still, the segment gave the match a mini jolt that it needed. Overall, the hero babyface winning will be a tough putt for Lynch to land at WrestleMania.
-Man, someone was thinking! Bronson Reed vs. Sami Zayn was such a smart match. Zayn fought from underneath the entire time to cement his underdog status, but then didn't win. Not only does this give Reed a big win, but it further drives home the doubt in Zayn surrounding beating Gunther at WrestleMania. The match accomplished a lot and was entertaining at the same time.
Gable? Really?
-Ummm, is Chad Gable really the person that should be giving advice on how to beat Gunther. He has virtually zero credibility against jobber opponents let alone someone like Gunther. A bit of a curious road to go down in terms of framing Zayn going into WrestleMania.
-There wasn't much to the Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match and we obviously know why -- the entire thing existed to set up the big Cody/Rock angle at the end of the show. Jey Uso was over strong and the crowd very much enjoyed doing the arm dance entrance thing he does. Good for Jey to get the win here.
The Rock that WrestleMania needs
-Ok, finally. The Rock decimating Cody Rhodes into oblivion. This was a tremendous segment. First, the artistry of it all was masterful. The rain outside really enhanced the danger of the attack and was a perfect addition even if it wasn't planned. The Rock looked like a damn maniac. That was important. He was The Rock that this year’s WrestleMania needs. For the first time in this new heel run, it didn't look like he was playing the part of a bad guy. It looked like he was unhinged and bad in a real way. They didn't pull any punches and allowed blood and curse words to drive home the seriousness that they wanted this to provide. In the end, this got heat on The Bloodline, which helps both the tag team main event on night one of WrestleMania and the night two title match between Cody and Roman Reigns. Just stellar stuff.
Subscribe to Brass Ring Media on YouTube HERE.
Become a Brass Ring Media member HERE.