WWE Raw Recap: Go John Laurinaitis, Go!

This past Monday€™s Raw was significant on many levels. We saw the first appearance of Triple H following his epic loss to The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 28; we saw the under-utilised duo of R-Truth and Kofi Kingston capture the equally wasted WWE Tag Titles over Primo and Epico; and we witnessed "Mr. Yes" himself, Daniel Bryan, crowned number one contender for CM Punk€™s WWE Title. However, for many, the point of greatest interest was that this was the first Raw in many months that 10 time WWE Champion, John Cena, was not berated with rapturous €œCena sucks€ chants. Yes, there were background jeers, but on the whole, a battered and bruised Cena was warmly welcomed by the Drayton Ohio crowd. Even when Cena got the better of The Rock in his home state of Massachusetts, on an edition of Raw, prior to Wrestlemania, there were still loud choruses of €œCena Sucks€. So how has the Doctor of Thuganomics turned things around? Enter Mike Tyson€™s heir to title €œbaddest man on the planet€ Brock Lesnar. Who better to get Cena back on track than a man potentially more boo-able than Cena himself? With Lesnar assaulting amiable announcer Josh Mathews, and demanding Raw€™s name be changed to €œMonday Night Raw starring Brock Lesnar€, he successfully managed to make himself a target of vociferous hate. . .something that many of today€™s heels fail to do. And by de facto, Cena was the benefactor. The jackpot was the pairs€™ showdown at Extreme Rules. In a match the that echoed memories of Rocky Balboa vs Ivan Drago from the 80€™s classic Rock IV, Brock €“ who resembles Drago in many ways €“ obliterated Cena for much of the encounter. . .a sight that must have triggered sympathy from some of Cena€™s more ardent haters. But in the end, just like Rocky and in true underdog style, Cena gathered himself, delivered the Attitude Adjustment, and picked up the 1-2-3! And subsequently, a possible new chapter in the career of John Cena began. After a rousing victory speech, he was cheered out of the arena, and down the aisle on Raw. Cena being cheered is good business for the WWE €“ he€™s the company€™s number one baby face. Now with an intense feud with the much maligned General Manger Mr. Laurinaitis, and the much mocked heel Lord Tensai developing, Cena has the opportunity to consolidate his re-endearment to the WWE universe. We will have to see what happens, and whether the boo boys are gone for good, but in the meantime, Go Jonny Go!