So it's just a week away, Raw is 1,000 episodes old and WWE are planning a big bash to celebrate it in style. At least that's the theory anyway. Let's take a look at Raw turning one tousand episodes old and see what we can really expect from what we already know will go down on the night.
So first up is the issue of John Cena cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase against C.M Punk on the card. I doubt that this match be a highlight of the night, yet when I heard news that Cena wasn't the intended winner in the first place I had to question the outcome of this encounter. You see my minions, WWE originally intended for Chris Jericho to win at Money in the Bank. They then wanted Chris Jericho to be the first winner to be unsuccessful in cashing in the WWE Championship shot. Yet because of their twisted logic, they changed plans and thought the instead, we'd like to see another John Cena vs C.M Punk match. Wrong.
WWE bumped the Punk vs Bryan match at Money in the Bank from the last spot because they didn't think that the audience would go home satisfied or the pay per view would have a feel good ending because someone didn't cash in their shot. So what about all the other Wrestlemania's and Money in the Bank events where the winners haven't cashed in their cases on the night they won them? I don't seem to remember feeling hard done by because I didn't see a new champion crowned. It's madness.
Anyway, I really hope WWE have the sense to book Cena to lose this match. Then if what Punk said about a brand new WWE Championship belt are true, Punk could ditch the spinner belt and unveil a brand new one. A brand new belt would go down a treat and mark Raw and it's 1,000 episode perfectly. As would a new Raw set if WWE have the forsight to shake things up a little.
If Cena triumphs on Raw then I'd love to see the Rock march to the ring, Rock Bottom Cena and pin him to capture the gold. At this point in time I'd rather see anyone as WWE Champion than Cena. He sucked the life out of the Championship once, surely WWE won't allow him to do it again.
We now know that the show will kick off with yet anothe DX reunion. Yawn. Hopefully it won't won't just be Triple H and Shawn Michales. Hopefully WWE will bring back X Pac and Road Dogg (Who both work for the company backstage anyway) and Billy Gunn (Who will be featured on WWE 13) for a proper reunion, maybe even Chyna will put in an appearance. What would be perfect would be for Brock Lesnar to interrupt the party, because we know he's going to be there to answer Triple H's challenge anyway, destroy DX and then accept Triple H's challenge.
Speaking of DX, has anyone noticed that since Wrestlemania 28, Shawn Michaels seems to jumping at any chance to get back on TV? I don't know about you, but I can begin to smell a Shawn Michaels return. Just saying.
After months of waiting, the permanent General Manager of Raw will be revealed. Let's hope WWE have the foresight to go with someone who can carry the storyline foward. Someone who fans can either take to or hate. Witht he rumours that the Undertaker will return on Raw's 1,000 episode then maybe WWE will bring back the Deadman as GM. It'd be better to have him back in that role than not at all. Saying that, Johnny L could also be announced as GM, reigniting the feud with Cena after he loses to Punk. Fingers crossed that it's none of the McMahon family.
WWE revealed that Christian would defend the Intercontinental Championship, yet didn't mention who against. How can we get exocted about a match that we don't know one half of. If WWE are planning to surprise us then it hadn't better be with a legend facing Christian, when the spot of challenger on the biggest episode of Raw ever could go to someone who needs the push.
Pre Show. It's new for Raw I'll grant you that, but do we really need more wrestling on You Tube? How about you bring out the 1,000 Episode of Raw on DVD and put the pre-show on that? Or even better, book whoever you're planning to put on the pre-show on the main show and give them some spotlight. It's bad enough Charlie Sheen will be there, let alone burying talent yet again on the most important TV ever.
WE all know that wedding ceremonies never end well, so are WWE really expecting us to believe that Daniel Bryan and A.J will marry each other? Hopefully this will lead the long awaited C.M Punk heel turn, when he attacks Bryan at the altar and carries A.J away. If that's not happening then you can bet your life that something will make a calamity out of two outstanding talents. WWE likes to let its superstars know who is in control.
Finally we come to the biggest waste of time yet. A legends reunion. Boring. Seen it, blocked it out, don't want to go there again. How many more times can WWE wheel out Bret Hart, Mick Foley, Sgt Slaughter, Jim Duggan, the Million Dollar Man plus whoever else it has up its sleeve before they realize they bring these guys back so often we expect it now? If WWE were to bring back people we haven't seen in years, like Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, then fantastic, but the same old shit again? I think I can hear the WWE creative scraping the bottom of the barrel.
The one I'm excited to see is the Rock. He still has the mic work to his advantage and he's still coming off of his victory at Wrestlemania 28. I'm inclined, after his tweets about coming for the WWE Championship and his statement the night after 'Mania 28 to say that Raw will go off the air with the Rock as WWE Champion. That would be different. If WWE wanted to reignite the Rock/Cena feud then what better way for the Rock to dump the spinner belt in favour of a more traditional one?
WWE could have broken ground here. Inroduced a new face to lead the company foward. Given the up and coming talent the spotlight instead of the golden oldies. Yet it's done what it always does. Fallen back on the past in hope that it will benefit the future.
The eyes of the world fall firmly upon WWE when Raw hits 1,000, and they will be watching. WWE need to get this right. Because if they can't get such a huge occasion right with so much prior planning, then what hope is there for the rest of the year?
Onwards and Upwards...
