WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for Feb. 12

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John Cena vs. The Miz

Result: John Cena defeated The Miz via pinfall

Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars

While it was a shame to see the stretch of Raw starting with a match end, the match itself wasn’t terrible. In fact, it was a little better than most of what Cena has been doing in this latest stint on Raw. His match with Finn Balor two weeks ago was goofy as hell, and the triple threat last week was just okay.

But, as I’ve said a lot lately, better still doesn’t necessarily mean good. The pacing of the match with the commercial breaks was awful. Half the segment after the promo was The Miz locking in a sleeper hold. I’m guessing it was a subliminal message of sorts to tell the viewers that it was nap time?

The other thing working against this match was that it really doesn’t matter in the long run. First off, there’s no way John Cena misses WrestleMania if he’s healthy – this isn’t 2016, after all. He’s not winning the Chamber, though, so entering first, last, or anywhere in between is irrelevant. The MiZ ain’t winning it, either, so his entry is meaningless.

The Figure Four/STF stuff was pretty bad. Cena has literally never made the STF look good, and The Miz is so hit or miss on the Figure Four it’s basically a crapshoot. Cena “crotching” himself on the top rope to make the leg work meaningful was the most awkward, I-don’t-want-to-do-this stuff this side of Kelly Kelly running the ropes.

The Miz going for a super Skull Crushing Finale was the worst decision in wrestling since trusting Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Was there any doubt that it would turn into the super AA instead? I spent half the time Miz was climbing the ropes trying to figure out if a super Skull Crushing Finale was even possible.

So Cena wins, Miz enters first, and with any luck, Miz will eliminate Cena who enters second.