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It was a very quiet week in WWE as they had been overseas in Europe for nearly two weeks. �Usually, we get at least a few crazy stories from trips like that, but really nothing of note. �The crew flew back after yesterday's shows straight to Detroit where we will have a live, three hour Raw tonight.
Tonight's show was at one point earmarked for the draft. �There are rumblings of the draft being on the three-hour show on 6/11 from Hartford but anything that far out is subject to change. There was talk last week about not even bothering with a draft, given that everyone is on Raw every week anyway and guys like McIntyre, Del Rio, Kane and Show have switched brands back and forth. There is the feeling that some wrestlers need a change of scenery, with Ziggler’s and Orton’s name being mentioned, but the Smackdown house shows need Orton unless they move Punk to Smackdown and make him the star of the show, but then you get the title situation as Punk would have to lose, but if he lost and switched, that would end the Jericho program and that program has life left in it.
Anyway, back to tonight's non-draft edition of Raw, it is the go home show for Extreme Rules. �The only thing currently announced is the contract signing between John Cena and Brock Lesnar for their "Extreme Rules" match. �We know how contract signings usually end up. �Hopefully it's as good as their pull apart brawl two weeks ago on Raw. �And if Brock talks tonight, hopefully it's half as good as his pretaped interview last week where he called out John Cena. �That was the best, most realistic, believable promo we've seen in perhaps 10 years in WWE. �It felt like something straight out of a UFC Countdown Special or HBO's 24/7. �It didn't feel scripted. �It didn't have goofy jokes. �It didn't have him playing a character he isn't. �It was just Brock talking about how he was going to murder John Cena, and you believed every word of it. �Here it is if you missed it.
There's a lot to be said about having Lesnar face Cena in his very first match back with little build, but I'll wait until after tonight's Raw to make my final decision on the match.
Lord Tensai beat John Cena in an Extreme Rules match with the help of David Otunga to close Raw last week. �Tensai has not been clicking with the audience, and personally I think both his character and in ring style are terrible, but by giving him the win over Cena, it's clear WWE is still strongly behind him. �Right now, there is nothing scheduled for him at Extreme Rules. �Unless he gets involved in the main event (which is a strong possibility), I would have him in a handicap match where they can continue to build him as a monster by dominating two guys at once.
The biggest story of Raw last week (from London) was the YES chants. �We've seen very different crowds since WrestleMania. �The crowd two weeks ago in Washington, DC couldn't care less about Daniel Bryan. �The night after Mania and the London crowd loved him. �It's hard to predict what we'll see and hear in Detroit tonight. �It is of course a Supershow, so we should see all the main Smackdown guys tonight including Bryan, Sheamus, Cody, Show, Orton, Kane, DEL RIO (who was traded this past week), and possibly the soon to return Christian.
CM Punk will defend his WWE Title against Chris Jericho in a Chicago Street Fight at Extreme Rules. �I would love to see the rule variations between street fights in different cities. �I also think it's hilarious how many different ways WWE can name the same type of match (Chicago Street Fight, Extreme Rules, No Holds Barred, etc, etc). �Last week Jericho said he earned this title shot by what he's done to Punk. �What? �By losing clean at WrestleMania and then sneak attacking him? �I guess it doesn't really matter. �A small thing to nitpick in an otherwise strong promo. �I'm sure these two will have another good segment tonight.
And with three hours, you can be sure we'll get plenty of goofy matches and segments involved Santino, Brodus, Ziggler, Swagger, Teddy, Otunga, Laurinaitis, Hornswoggle, Truth, and others. �Great.