WWE RAW Review: Cesaro gets closer to the big picture

The match between John Cena and Antonio Cesaro is in no way a small feat. It mirrored in many ways, the main event bout between CM Punk and John Cena on Raw a year ago. It mirrored that match in the kind of atmosphere that was created and it was one of those gems of a match where you have to admit that Cena can wrestle outside the five moves of doom.

While Cena tried his hurricanna and countered the Giant Swing brilliantly with a DDT, it was Cesaro whose moves reigned supreme and left a lasting impression. It was also great to see Cena take all of those moves with gusto. In the past two years, CM Punk was the only wrestler who made Cena take off his cloak of invincibility and wrestle a great match. Daniel Bryan came close with his championship feud and eventual victory in a career defining moment against John Cena at Summerslam. Both Cena and Punk got elevated to the marquee guy status with their sheer hard work and their hard fought victories against Cena in seemingly great matches. Hence, coming out victorious against Cena in a ‘This IS Awesome’ caliber match is probably the best way to know that you are crucial to the company.

Cesaro did not win last night but he was the one who dominated much of the match and was entertaining with everything he did. He was not even given a heel treatment by being showered with boos. Instead his recent surge in drawing cheers from the crowd only escalated further with this match against the company’s biggest marquee guy.

The result of the match might have triggered many to say that Cesaro was buried.

No, he wasn’t.

Cesaro left the lasting impression of a man everyone needs to be aware of, with his unique style of wrestling and his remarkable power. His tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, European uppercuts and the way he decided to suplex Cena from the apron to the ring was just magnificent.

A victory against Cena straight after his victory against Orton would have been a bit too much. A victory against Cena is supposed to mean something. It means that you are the next force to be reckoned with. It means that Cena wouldn’t be stupid enough to only try his five moves of doom on you. It means a lot more and if overdosed, it might end up looking like the aborted push of Lord Tensai or Tensai or Sweet T.

Cesaro’s performance last night proved that he is moving closer and closer to the big picture. But he’s not entirely there yet. It’ll take some more time but when the right moment comes it is going to be as magical for him as his other two fellow indy stars who left an indelible mark in the WWE.

Cesaro was not buried last night. If anything, it all seemed like he has finally arrived and he will be going places. And it just seems right.