Honestly, when I think about it, I just can't see how they could do that drawn-out trolling and then also give Jericho ample time to tear the crowd a new one. He lulled them into "WTF" mode and I just don't think it translates well to doing the heel promo right on the spot. I much prefer the idea of him coming out next week and trying to act all babyface again on the way to the ring before then turning on that next crowd.

I would have just cut the crowd pumping a couple minutes shorter (right about when the WTFs started) and then delivered the heel promo. As it is anyone with a brain knows he is turning heel. There are lots of smarks in the crowd who will realize he is turning heel which could mix his reaction next week. I mean people were chanting Y2J well before he came out so I think a sizeable portion of the audience next week will be expecting the heel turn. Had he stopped the cheese a couple minutes earlier I think it would have been more epic and less predictable.

Really enjoyed this raw. Cena promo and tag match at the end sucked, but the rest was good.

Jericho was fun to watch. Of course I would've wished that more were to happen, but it's a good start for a heel run, but instead of getting booed right from the start he also got an ovation that he deserves. His appearance really didn't fit the videos, so they obviously have something in mind (I hope).

Actually that Jericho segment was perfect the way it was. Any heel promo he could have given would have been less offensive to the crowd then going in there, getting them to cheer him and then just walk out. That's genius!

This, loved the segment.

After sleeping over it I guess the Jericho segment wasn't that bad. It works well if they turn Jericho heel next week but I still don't like that segment in a vacuum.

It would be cool if Punk opens Raw next week talking about John Laurinaitis and the RR match and Jericho comes out to interrupt him, makes fun of him and the crowd and gets heat. We can then get a solid Punk/Jericho feud that leads all the way to an epic match at WM where Jericho wins the title. At the same time Rock beats Cena, sticks around for a few months, feuds with Jericho and wins the title.

Yeah same here. I still don't have any faith in the "universe" sticking with it or Vince/Creative but I will give Y2J the benefit of the doubt for now.

However anyone saying that was a great episode is just being a contrarian imo. It featured a lot of aids aside from Punk/Zigs and even that was no-sold by Cole and Lawler. Actually 3 of the major champions/belts were buried a little more. Brodus trolling is old. Cena opening was lolbad. Divas and Santino were aids. Miz was aids, main event was throwaway garbage and remember the live crowd got Cole vs. Lawler in a match to boot!

Cena/Kane still makes zero sense and lol @ Cena not being in the main event when he was in the main event off this episode. Giving them credit for unintentional comedy is a pretty big stretch as well but at least we can make Hornswoggle dungeon jokes for a few weeks.

This says it better. Just felt like like killing for time in what should have been more epic or something. Interested to see Best and Worst today at least!

Just rewatched the Jericho return and the pop was pretty huge. Assuming he is going mega-heel, who is she?

Only name I can think of it possibly being is steph

Rewatching the Jericho segment removed from the hype/expectations and knowing what he's up to, it's pretty hilarious. Great work.

He basically pulled off a commentary on how WWE shoves faces down the audience's throats until they can't take it anymore and turn on them, but he did it in 10 minutes when it took Cena like 3 years.

that could actually work really well in a feud with punk...

Yeah, that is my thinking. After like a minute it was clear to everyone he is turning just because of the way the promos were set up. He was already getting boos by the time he started walking up the stage.

At least Corpus Christi next week isnt a really smarkish city afaik but the way crowds work now mean its not going to have as strong a face reaction and wont be able to crush them in the same way he could have done last night imo.

Currently living in Corpus I can confirm that it is not smarky at all. The last event I went to was Cena country, so if Jericho comes out and cuts a heel promo on Punk or someone he will def get booed.

Corpus Christi is just a terrible name for a city.

I went to Corpus Christi elementary school growing up (melbourne, australia)

I believe it translates as "whale's vagina".

Maybe part of the crowd did get the whole "We might have just gotten trolled" hence part of the booing at the end

Best/Worst contains some really good insight into what the hell was happening and what a lot of us were feeling. And he leads off with it because, come on, there isn't anything else that should have led it off.

http://withleather.uproxx.com/2012/0...r-20-minutes/2

Oh man what I wouldn't give for a brawl to break out in the ring in the opening segment of next week's Raw and instead of a Holonaminutplaya or Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim General Manager of Monday Night Raw, we got Mr. Belding coming out and going "Hey hey HEY WHAT IS GO-ING ON HERE!?"

Exactly my thoughts. He stands in the ring and everybody is waiting for him to start talking, but instead he just drops the mic and does a ridiculously over the top victory lap around the ring, plays with the camera and then leaves. Just hilarious.

Bryan's "OMG I'm A World Champion, I can't belive I have this belt" schitck is gonna get old.

Which might very well be the point of it. It's at least possible that he's going to turn heel rather soon. He's not over enought to be a top face right now, but he might draw a lot of heat as a cowardly heel that "stole" the championship.

**** that. They need to push Bryan as someone who might be quite small, but look how much it ****ing hurts when he knees you in the face over and over again.