RAW Retort – We are the hounds that hunt the wolves

Not a good day for The Shield

Dancing cobra

I think putting Santino and Fandango in the ring together was a brilliant idea, but I don’t think they made the most of it. There was so much more personality, creativity, and fun they could have put into that match but they didn’t. I worry that they’re spending too much time on the Corporate Evolution, and not enough time with the rest of the storylines.

Punk goes home

Punk almost stole the show, and for those in the arena, I’m sure he did. The fans in Chicago were so over-the-top in love with Punk that he could have said and done horrible things, and they wouldn’t have cared. Heyman worked the segment well, but in reality, it was all Punk. If Axel and Ryback hadn’t slapped Punk down, the fans would have been too happy with Punk and the whole segment wouldn’t have had any tension or reality to it. I was quite impressed with everyone involved with the segment, and when I was sure that Ryback hadn’t hurt Punk by putting him through that table, I was kind of impressed with him as well.

Too many Divas, not enough match

I really don’t know why they put all of those Divas in that match if only four of them stepped in the ring. I didn’t even know Tamina was down there until I saw her carrying AJ away from the ring. I think Tamina is someone who’s needed on the Divas roster and should be putting in more time on TV, but maybe I’m biased because some of the men in her family on the WWE roster, or actually all of her family members who are on the active roster, are male and were in the main event.

It’s time for us to be seeing what Tamina could be doing in the ring these days. I also have to say that Brie looked crisper and more polished in the ring than I’ve ever seen her. I’m not saying she’s suddenly a great wrestler, and we didn’t see much from her, but what we did see looked better than she’s ever looked before.

The Shield as solid as ever

Or at least they came across as if they were solid as ever. It didn’t appear as if they were at all worried about what was to happen to them later in the show. As usual, those three men sold on the mic better than most on the roster. It makes me think the WWE should be looking to the Indies more and more, rather than creating their own Superstars as McMahon is so fond of doing.

Bryan almost steals the show from Punk

It’s so unusual that two Superstars whip the fans into such frenzy lately. It really hasn’t been since the likes of Taker, HBK, Austin, The Rock and even Triple H were active on a regular basis that the fans have been driven so wild by Superstars twice in the same show. Then again, if anyone could bring the fans to such a level after Punk did the same in his hometown, it would be Bryan.

The Shield crumbles

I don’t know what the plan for The Shield is, but I sure wasn’t expecting them to take a digger to Bryan and his merry band of underdog Superstars! I cannot get over the great work in this match, and how much everyone put into everything they did during the more than twenty minutes they worked that ring. Young, O’Neil and Ziggler carried themselves beautifully. Ryder and R-Truth each had a few moments to shine, and the Uso brothers looked better than ever. Kofi and RVD both sold their earlier injuries while adding their particular spice and feeling to the overall match. It was Gabriel who didn’t add anything to the match, but he really is low man on the totem pole in this group, and not everyone could look stellar in the match.

I love that Bryan finally was able to get over The Shield, and that it was a cousin who gave Reigns his first pin-fall loss on WWE TV – other than NXT, of course. I loved how the WWE swapped things around after so many weeks of Bryan ending RAW in a heap. So, is this a turn in the right direction, or just a slight glitch for the Corporate Evolution? Only time will tell.