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JR's Blog: J.R.s Las Vegas RAW Thoughts.."Psycho Viking"..Bo Dallas..@IAmJericho..Get JR's at WWEShop.com & @americansoda

Posted: Jan 30th 2013 By: mikeiles

Rainy day in Norman...good day to nap, damn flu, and then to prepare to head to Florida for NXT and the next tryout camp. Enough with the travel log info and onto Monday's Raw thoughts...

RAW highlights for me while watching at home included:

@CMPunk opening the broadcast PO'ed and totally embracing and refining how to be a legit antagonist on a sports entertainment, TV program.

Punk turning the tables on new, WWE Champion @TheRock while discussing the 'rematch' for the WWE Title at the Elimination Chamber was strategically spot on. Great psychology.

Loved the fact that Punk wasn't 'hawking' his merchandise and seemed to purposely 'dress down' for the night staying in complete character as the badass that he actually is.

Anxious to see Punk-Rock at the next WWE PPV simply from a strategic standpoint as in what new, nuances will be added to the outing and how big a step forward will the two stars take in their sure-to-be show closing performance.

Not a great night for the IC and US Champions, both lost, but @AntonioCesaro, United States Champion, still is a shining star that hasn't approached his WWE peak while IC Champion @WadeBarrett provided @TheBoDallas a signature victory on WWE's flagship broadcast.

Loved that Bo wears a black glove much like his WWE HOF family members, Grandpa Blackjack Mulligan and Uncle Barry Windham.

The return to WWE for whatever the over discussed term of his contract may or may not be for @IAmJericho has been a shining light beginning on Sunday at the Rumble and Monday on RAW. Chris Jericho can make whoever he competes with better which is an artform that isn't in abundance in today's mat world. Great 'get' by WWE.

Not a surprise that @JohnCena wants the WWE Title at WM29 however it puts the individual IE Cena in a tough spot having to talk around why he did not select the other championship opportunity. I'm really curious to see how Cena navigates the Road to WrestleMania 29 because winning the WWE Title, at any cost, one could assume, would be John's only objective.

Dramatic conclusion to Raw with the in ring confrontation of Mr. McMahon and @HeymanHustle which I knew would be a highlight of the night but I never dreamed it would become THE highlight of the broadcast. Great, organic chemistry between two men who have had plenty of experience 'debating' the other over the years. My black hat is off to both as it was the show closing moment that Raw needed and it delivered. The shocking return of Brock Lesnar was something that I did not expect to see Monday night and I certainly did not foresee the "Psycho Viking" F5'ing the Chairman of the Board. Freighting moment, in my view, taking all elements into consideration.

So RAW left the air with many unanswered questions which is what an episodic, soap opera based, action adventure program should do.

Enjoyed @JCLayfield being added to the broadcast team in Vegas as he brings a needed antagonist element to the broadcast mix that complements @MichaelCole and @JerryLawler well. The announcers essentially 'calling a spade a spade' on some of the sillier segments from Vegas was refreshing.

Keep those orders coming at WWEShop.com and in UK @americansoda in Manchester.

The Q&A's are updated here at the site and i invite you to follow our adventures on Twitter @JRsBBQ.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.