There's only 13 days to go until Wrestlemania 29 and things are looking very interesting for tonight's Raw from Philadelphia, PA. Rock is back after a few weeks out to publicize GI Joe worldwide, so will he and Cena face off in the ring once again before their match? How will Triple H react to the fact that his career is on the line against Brock Lesnar? What mood will Alberto Del Rio be in after Jack Swagger breaking Ricardo Rodriguez's ankle? And most importantly, what will CM Punk try to do to try and distract The Undertaker with the urn, as he goes for the streak in less than 2 weeks. Keep it here for live updates!
Previously/Tonight on Raw video package.
CM Punk's music hits and Punk and Paul Heyman come on the ramp, Heyman holding the urn, and both make their way to the ring. He says that people say that the Undertaker is unstoppable at Mania and the urn is a fragment of his spirit. But punk says that 'they', whoever they are, are wrong. He says that 20 times Undertaker was challenged and 20 times he was successful and he should have just retired last year with the shot of him, HHH and HBK. But Undertaker spoiled it by pointing at the sign, which he feels is his sign, for Wrestlemania. He says that Undertaker's return was a mistake, against any other may, he would reach 21-0, 30-0 or even 50-0... but Punk isn't just any guy, he's the 1 in 20-1. So Punk is now waiting for Rest in Peace as he's never rested or had any peace.
Undertaker's gong hits and darkness falls across the arena. The gong hits again, the lights go up and Undertaker's in the ring and attacking Punk. Punk drops the urn but Heyman manages to collect it and run up the ramp with it. Punk then manages to escape the ring and head up the ramp. The guys stand at the top of the ramp, both looking shocked and exhausted as Undertaker gives the cut throat sign to them from the ring.
Rock & Cena face a Hall Of Fame Q&A panel later tonight. But up next, it's Fandango and considering his actions on last week's Smackdown, he might actually wrestle this week.
Fandango is making his usual extravagant entrance and starts to say his name, but is interrupted by pyro and Chris Jericho rushes down the ramp and attacks Fandango, expected after his interference in last week's match on Smackdown. Fandango then manages to escape before he's attacked any further. Jericho was set to be taking on Dolph Ziggler later on but Dolph is coming out now and it looks like we have our opening match.
Match 1 - Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler (w/AJ Lee & Big E. Langston)
Great opening match. Jericho gets the win with the Liontamer submission.
WINNER - Chris Jericho
After the match, Big E. Langston attacks Jericho and leaves him down on the mat. Fandango then reappears and beats down on Jericho some more. Jericho manages to try and get some offence in but Fandango overpowers him and then manages to hit his legdrop on Jericho, which Cole calles the Coup De Grace. Nice name for the move, shame about the wrestler.
Later tonight, a No Holds Barred preview of Lesnar vs. Triple H.
13 days to Wrestlemania promo.
Sheamus backstage with Matt Striker and they show all that happened between the three of them on last week's Smackdown. Striker asks whether the team have managed to patch up their differences, but before he can answer, The Shield invade and attack Sheamus. Randy Orton then tries to help, but he gets overpowered as well. Big Show then shows up and seemingly single-handedly take the Shield out and throw them out of the interview area. Orton and Sheamus look on from the floor up at Show, clearly thinking about what just happened.
Mark Henry is making his way to the ring, he'll be in a 2-on-1 handicap match next.
Back from break and Henry's opponents are in the ring, The Usos.
Match 2 - Handicap Match - Mark Henry vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
The Usos start off with some impressive offence for a near fall. But in the end, Henry hits the World's Strongest Slam on one of the Uso's.
WINNER - Mark Henry
After the match, Henry proceeds to give the other Uso the Slam, then gives the first Uso the Slam, then another Slam to the Second Uso.
Up next, it's champion vs. champion as Alberto Del Rio will be taking on Antonio Cesaro.
Antonio Cesaro is now making his way to the ring. They then mention the on the WWE app, Ryback demanded to Vickie Guerrero that he wanted a 3-on-1 handicap match against 3MB later, which Vickie has granted. Ricardo just about manages to make it out, leg protected and all and introduces Alberto Del Rio. Alberto helps Ricardo down to ringside for this.
Match 3 - Antonio Cesaro vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez)
Zeb Coulter appears on the stage and later on, with both wrestlers grounded after a superplex, Swagegr apears from the crowd and attacks Ricardo again, dragging him by the cast around rigside until Alberto sees him off through the crowd, causing a count out.
WINNER by count-out - Antonio Cesaro
Del Rio is angry and takes it out on Cesaro after the match, giving him the Cross Arm Breaker. They then replay Swagger's actions from earlier.
They now recap the opening segment with CM Punk, Paul Heyman & The Underatker.
Later tonight, it's the Hall Of Fame Panel Q&A featuring The Rock & John Cena. Kane & Daniel Bryan are making their way to the ring, they'll be in a tag team match next.
Rock apparently won a Kids Choice Award last night.
The Prime Time Players are in the ring for their match with Team Hell No, who make their way to the ring.
During this match, Big E Langston, AJ Lee & Dolph Ziggler are on the stage.
Match 4 - The Prime Time Players (Darren Young & Titus O'Neil) vs. Team Hell No (Kane & Daniel Bryan)
Decent little match here, Kane getting the with for his team after a chokeslam on Darren Young.
WINNERS - Team Hell No
The Shield will be appearing later tonight, properly this time. But up next it's a preview of the No Holds Barred match between HHH and Lesnar.
They now have a video package recapping last week's finale of Raw with HHH, Heyman & Lesnar.
HHH's music hits and he makes his way to the ring. He acknowleges the retirement stipulation and that Lesnar has the capability to end people's careers. But he has fought in the ring every time as if his career and life was on the line. He has some advice for Lesnar, that he should feel that his career and life is on the line as well. Hunter is going to Wrestlemania to kick Lesnar's ass.
Hunter leaves the ring, only to be interruptted making his way up the ramp by Wade Barrett, who's signalling to Triple H to leave. Triple H replies with a kick to the groin and Wade is rolling about on the floor as Triple H continues his trip up the ramp and to the stage. I'm guessing that Barrett will be in a match next.
Wade Barrett is in the ring, still recovering from HHH's kick as his opponent comes out, who is The Miz. They then recap the IC Title match from last week's Raw with the sneak victory for Wade.
Match 5 - Wade Barrett vs. The Miz
Really good match here, Miz getting the win with the Figure Four Leglock on Miz, forcing Wade to tap out.
WINNER - The Miz
Kane & Bryan backstage disagreeing about focusing on AJ, Dolph & Langston at Mania. They both feel that the other hasn't got over AJ. Kaitlyn is in the locker room and says that all 3 of them have been messed around by her crazy antics. During this time, AJ has been stood behind them in the locker room and as soon as Kaitlyn mentions crazy, AJ manically attacks Kaitlyn, beating her up pretty bad. Kane & Bryan have to throw her out of the locker room themselves.
Hall Of Famers do a Q&A with Cena & Rock later. But up next, The Shield are in 6-man tag action.
Superstars for Sandy Relief charity appeal mention now. WWE is always good with charity work.
The Great Khali, Zack Ryder & Justin Gabriel are in the ring to take on The Shield, who, as ever, make their way through the crowd to the ring. They also recap the Shield's attack on Sheamus & Orton before Big Show helped out his team.
Match 6 - The Great Khali, Justin Gabriel & Zack Ryder vs. The Shield (Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns)
Quick little match. The Shield win with Rollins covering Gabriel for the win.
WINNERS- The Shield
After the match, Khali comes in and tries to attack The Shield, only to be given a triple powerbomb by them. Sheamus and Orton then come out and come down the ramp and Big Show appears from the crowd to the ringside. They then get in the ring and beat down on The Shield who flee and regroup through the crowd.
The Q&A session with Rock & Cena is up later.
They now recap the Jericho match from earlier, with Langston & Fandango attacking him. Jericho is now walking out of Vickie's GM room, saying that he's set up Fandango vs. Chris Jericho for Wrestlemania.
Damien Sandow's music hits and the Rhodes Scholars make their appearance, doing a heel promo on the Philadelphia crowd and introducing their girls, the Bellas. They'll be facing Brodus Clay & Tensai (Sweet T) next.
Back from break, with the end of Tensai & Clay's entrance.
Match 7 - Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow) (w/The Bellas) vs. Brodus Clay & Tensai (w/Naomi & Cameron)
The Bellas & The Funkadactyls get in another cat fight around the ring. Tensai tries to break them apart with Sandow which allows Cody to hit the Beautiful Disaster kick on Clay for the win.
WINNERS - Team Rhodes Scholars
GI Joe Retaliation promo.
Up next it's the 3-on-1 handicap match with Ryback taking on 3MB.
3MB are in the ring and Ryback makes his way to the ring next.
Match 8 - Handicap Match - 3MB (Jeath Slater, Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre) vs. Ryback
After inital offence, Ryback over powers them all and manages to hit the double Shellshock on Mahal & Slater, pinning slater for the win.
WINNER - Ryback
A weightlifting competiton has been set for Henry & Ryback for Smackdown.
The recap Swagger breaking Ricardo's ankle from last week and their interaction again from earlier.
AJ is skipping around backstage, she'll be taking on Kaitlyn in what's likely to be a feisty match, next.
They now confirm that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be inducting Bruno Sammartino into the Hall Of Fame the night before Wrestlemania.
AJ makes her way to the ring, followed by her opponent, Kaitlyn, who has new entrance music it seems. They then replay AJ's attack on her from earlier.
Match 9 - AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn
After a few minutes, the girls are outside and Kaitlyn attempts a Spear on AJ, only for AJ to dodge it and Kaitlyn to hit the wall. AJ lies down in the ring as Kaitlyn fails to make the 10-count and gets counted out.
WINNER by countout - AJ Lee
Methinks another Wrestlemania rematch is in the works.
Anyway, up next, it's the Q&A session with WWE Hall Of Famers and The Rock and John Cena.
Now confirmed, it's Orton, Big Show & Sheamus vs. The Shield at Wrestlemania 29.
Jerry 'The King' Lawler is in the ring to introduce the Q&A. The Hall Of Famers & superstars are introduced first, with the panel consisting of Booker T, Mick Foley, Dusty Rhodes & BRET HART!!! Rock and Cena will be arriving next.
Back from break and the final two are introduced, firstly the WWE Champion, The Rock, followed by his challenger at Wrestlemania, John Cena.
Mick is the first to ask a question and said that the lot of weight was lifted off his own shoulders when Rock beat Cena last year as he didn't want Rock's last match to be a loss with Foley at Mania 20, and asks if he able to cope with the regret of losing another match at Wrestlemania. Cena is saying no matter what it's about redemption. He brings up Donovan McNab, one of the best quarterbacks for the Philly Eagles, but hated by the fans as he never won the big one. If he loses, his legacy will be that he never got the victory at the big one. He can handle failure, whereas Rock cannot, at least, not yet.
Rock replies saying that he's had hardships in his younger days and he's always tried to overcome all that has been put in his way. He was the youngest WWE Champ at the time and lost in Philly at Mania 15 to Steve Austin, but came back from those failures and became the man that will beat Cena in 13 days.
Bret Hart's question is up next. He's friends with both and can see that last year, he could see bad blood between the two of them at last year's show and asks what changed. Rock says that Cena and Rock both took one hell of a beating and Rock respects Cena's effort even though he lost. Cena then says that he felt that Rock wasn't showing dedication to the business, but after everything from Mania, he's seen his love for the business and either way, they'll both have respect for each other by Wrestlemania 29's end.
Booker T asks why Cena is so sure he will beat The Rock at Wrestlemania. Cena's reply is he has to. That's all he's got. Rock isn't impressed by that answer and asks him to tell the truth, which Cena elaborates on saying that Rock didn't beat Cena at Mania 28, Cena beat himself with bad choices that day. He says that people evenly love and hate him but Rock is the only one that clouded his decision, when he wanted to give Rock his own finishing move. This year, he won't make the same mistake twice. He knows he's better than The Rock and Rock knows that Cena is better than him.
Rock says that if he had Rock beat, he would have beaten him, but Rock managed to cope with everything. He then quotes Ric Flair... 'To be the man, you have to beat the man', Rock says that Cena's not the man and never will be.
Dusty says the gloves need to be off, it's about winning and losing, with no guarantees in this business. So he asks what the guys really want. Cena wants to win the big one and dominate the Rock, Rock looking on at the sky and that he belongs in the company and is better than the Rock, which will haunt him for the rest of his life. Rock says that if he wants to prove him wrong, then do it at Wrestlemania, or perhaps he could prove him on right now. Cena takes off his shirt and the guys go face to face in the ring. Cena does the 'You Can't See Me' and attempts an AA on Cena, only to be reversed into a Rock Bottom from Cena. Rock heads up the ramp and Cena looks on from the floor of the ring as Raw goes of the air.
An interesting end to this week's Raw, seemingly taking the foot off the pedal a bit tonight before the final push to Mania. Next week is the final Raw before the PPV, hailing from the nation's capital, Washington DC. Who will look to have the right momentum going into the Showcase of the immortals? Make sure you're next week to see. Until then, though... ASHLEY OUT!!!