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| Reported by Earnest I Aguilar Zevallos |
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo/"Michael Cole Challenge"
Following the usual regular Raw video and pyro, Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomes us to Raw. Notice I wrote Lawler, because to kick off tonight's episode is the "Michael Cole Challenge." The creator of said challenge runs happily down to the ring, cheap-shots Jim Ross, and then calls him down to the ring.
Cole tells J.R. he has to complete three challenges and if so, Ross wins and gets his job back, while Michael will quit. (Please, please, please!) The first is an Arm Wrestling match. Cole boasts by taking his jacket off, then delays the challenge numerous times with the usual antics. Third time is the charm, as Ross locks his hand in Cole's and puts it down in about a second. Ross is 1 - 0.
Michael tries to make excuses then reveals his next competition, which the fans will vote the winner. It is a dance competition. Both dance - horribly, however the crowd loves J.R. more judging from the cheers and chants. (This is both sad and funny). Boos for Cole and pop for J.R., so Jimmy is up 2 - 0.
The final event is a weigh-in, although in reverse. The winner is who weighs less. Cole clocks in at 200.00 pounds. J.R. weighs in at 239 pounds, thereby losing according to Michael Cole. He celebrates the win and remaining "the voice of Monday Night Raw" until, Mr. Cult Of Personality C.M. Punk interrupts.
Punk informs Cole that his time is up and this challenge was a waste of time, since we all knew everything that happened, especially Jim Ross being a better announcer. (Kudos!) C.M. takes shots at Cole, Alberto Del Rio, & John Laurinaitis, saying they are all boring and the fans wish they could fast-forward anytime they those people had microphones. Punk states that when he becomes WWE Champion, he will fix this show, even if he does everything himself.
The Interim General Manager of Raw walks out and cheap-plugs his Twitter account and his "caring" for the WWE Universe. He then books C.M. in a tag-team match, partnering him with The Big Show to face WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry.
Cole antagonizes Punk some more and asks for an apology, but The Second City Saint responds with a head butt and clamps on the Anaconda Vice submission, then leaves him laying in the ring and walks back up the ramp.
Segment #2: Backstage Promo
Matt Striker is beside a Hummer limousine that has pulled up, and speculates that arguably one of the greatest superstars is here. However, since Striker never mentioned the name, you know it's not The Rock. Instead, out steps arguably The Rock's greatest rival and friend, the Hardcore Legend Mick Foley! (to a HUGE pop) Matt inquires why he is here and Foley reiterates that he wouldn't miss The Rock's return to Raw for anything, and that tonight is a night neither The Rock or John Cena will ever forget, "right here in Boston, Massachusetts!" (Sweet!)
Commercials.
Match #1: Tag-Team - Sin Cara & WWE Tag-Team Champion Kofi Kingston VS. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes & Hunico
(Note: Jim Ross is back on commentary and I Cody Rhodes has another variation on his music) Prior to the match, Cody cut a small promo via earlier video saying that Randy Orton has "emancipated me."
Cara & Hunico start out, with Sin kicking away and using his high-flying tactics over Hunico, including a Springboard Hurricanrana. tag to Kofi produces an Axe Handle off the top rope and a reverse Monkey Flip. (Picture a Victory Roll but flipping after the roll). Both Cara & Kingston fly off the ropes with synchronizing Cross Bodies onto Cody & Hunico.
Ads.
Back in control is Rhodes with a Rear Chin lock and Front Suplex. Tag to Hunico who dives in with an over-the-top-rope Senton. Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker from Hunico and another hand-slap to Rhodes. He also switches up again with Hunico and they double-team Cara in the corner. Another tag to Cody, who delivers a right forearm to Sin, but Cara reverses an Irish Whip into a Headscissors.
Tag to Kingston and he jumps in and all over and around Rhodes. Double-Springboard Crossbody for a 2-count (which I think is the first pin of the match, minus the possibility of ones during the break). Hunico broke up the pin attempt, and Cara takes him to the outside with a Corkscrew Splash, however Rhodes takes advantage and drives Kofi down with the Cross-Rhodes Spinning Neckbreaker/Suplex Combo. 1 - 2 - 3!
Winners via Pinfall: Hunico & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes
Backstage, we see The Rock is here and he is walking through the hallways.
Commercials.
Segment #2: Locker Room Promo
Santino Marella is playing/plugging the new WWE '12 video game (and of course with The Rock & John Cena) when The Long Island Iced-Z walks in. Zack Ryder asks Marella to sign his petition for a U.S. Title Shot, and after a short debate between the two of who is better of The Rock & John Cena, Santino signs the petition, via Zack's Broski phone.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
Vickie Guerrero excuses herself into the arena to announce that Christian is unable to compete at "Survivor Series" due to an injury. Guerrero, sorry Dolph Ziggler (who walks out mid-sentence), says that he is replacing Christian, simply because he is better all-around. Ziggler rightfully puts himself over with his mic skills and then what he is going to do to Mason Ryan, who he takes on next.
Ads.
Match #2: Single - United States Champion Dolph Ziggler VS. Mason Ryan
Before the match, John Laurinaitis with Michael Cole at his side, orders J.R. to return to the back and puts Cole back in the seat. (Knew that wouldn't last, unfortunately). Back to the match, which is more important.
Lock up by both and Ryan powers Dolph into the corner. Ziggler right-hands Mason quick but to no effect as Ryan just takes over with his power. Big Boot and Military Press Slam. Vickie gets on the apron and slaps Mason, causing Dolph to be DQ'd.
Winner via Disqualification: Mason Ryan
Ziggler & Vickie high-tail it, but John Morrison tosses Dolph back in the ring to receive a Full Nelson Submission from Ryan. Morrison looks on in the ring.
Backstage, Foley is walking through the halls and Ryder solicits him to sign the petition as well. Foley agrees and in return gets a quick fist-pump lesson and Woo-woo-woo from Zack.
Commercials.
Segment #4: Arena Promo
Mick Foley is welcomes back by ring announcer Justin Roberts and a warm response from the crowd. Foley quotes Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz and declares "there's no place like home." Mick moves on to serious business and talks about The Rock & John Cena. He wants to fix things between the two combatants, so they can team-up again.
He asks John Cena to come out, which he does to a big pop in his home-state of Massachusetts. (Don't forget, he's really from West Newbury!). Cena respects what Foley is trying to do, but Cena says it is not going to happen because they are not friends, simple as that. He asked The Rock to be his partner because he is the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.
Mick back-tracks and concludes that maybe Cena & him are not friends, but he does respect John. Foley recalls how Cena gave props to everyone on the roster, which earns him huge respect and makes him a man in Mick's books.
So much respect in fact, that Foley gives him a "This Is Your Life" tribute, much like The Rock's in 1999. (Great video footage, corny song, and the rest is a carbon-copy of 12 and a bit years ago).
Cena makes fun of most of it, basically saying this is a waste. (Which unfortunately it is). The list of participants Foley brought out were: his Little-League Coach (who berated John for screwing up at a baseball game), his ex tag-team partner Bull Buchanon (who compares his bad life to Cena's great one), and coup-de-grace, John Cena Sr. Senior defends his son, who is holding his head against the ropes in shame and embarrassment. Junior puts an end to it and asks his father to go backstage.
Cena tells Foley that that was not his life, but being in the ring is his life. Mick tries to salvage it by announcing a girl, but instead gets blasted by "If ya smell....!" The Rock marches to the ring, Rock Bottoms Mickster and marches right back out.
John laughs and helps Foley sit-up, while Lawler plugs two matches of Orton VS. Barrett & the tag-team main event.
Ads.
Match #3: Single - The Great White Sheamus VS. "The All American-American" Jack Swagger (with Vickie Guerrero)
Lock up by both wrestlers and big side-headlock takedown from Sheamus. Shoulder-block from Sheamus, but a waist-lock courtesy of Swagger. Clothesline now from the 2-Time WWE Champion and another one over the ropes.
Commercials.
Returning from the break, Sheamus has Jack tied up in the ropes and hammers away on his chest. Suplex for a 2-count from Sheamus. Swagger ducks another Clothesline attempt and chop-blocks his knee instead. A Butterfly-Lock is gripped by Swagger, which Sheamus fights out of, but ends up in a Belly-To-Belly-Suplex. 1 - 2 - Sheamus kicks out!
Jack throws Sheamus into the ropes, but he comes back again with another Clothesline and begins to get "fired up." Two hard closed-forearms smashes, knee-to-the-face and big over-the-shoulder powerslam for a near-fall.
Sheamus goes for the Celtic Cross Crucifix powerbomb, but Jack wiggles out of it, and clubs Sheamus from behind. Swagger jumps off the middle rope with the Swagger Bomb and clutches on the Ankle Lock. Sheamus fights out of it and hits the Irish Curse Back breaker, then nails The All-American-American with the Brogue Kick for the W!
Winner via Pinfall: Sheamus
Backstage, Zack is now getting the Bella Twins to sign his U.S. Title petition. Alberto Del Rio interjects and the Bellas fall all over him. He says that he will throw the biggest party money can buy after defeating C.M. Punk at Survivor Series, but Ryder opposes and tells the girls to party with him instead. The WWE Champion walks off, as do the Bellas, while The Long Island Iced-Z is left wondering what he said.
Ads.
Match #4: Single - Natalya (with WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix) VS. Kelly Kelly (with Eve Torres & Alicia Fox)
Legsweep and 1-count for Natalya early, then she pushes Kelly into the corner to kick away. Kelly avoids a running shoulder and gives Natalya a stink-face, but Phoenix distracts Kelly. This allows Natalya to sweep her up and attempt a Sharpshooter submission, but Kelly reverses into a Small Package. 1 - 2 - 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Kelly Kelly (with Eve Torres & Alicia Fox)
Commercials.
Segment #5: Locker Room Promo
John Laurinaitis is supposedly talking to Brodus Clay on his cell phone and informs the big man that he will debut next week, as there is not enough time and it has to be a big debut. (Okay, they're really killing his momentum, so they better make use of him well). Alberto Del Rio walks in and basically informs Laurinaitis that he is great and will be WWE Champion longer than he will be General Manager.
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Striker is now with "Awesome Truth" and asks them if they are overshadowed by the talk of Cena & Rock. Neither respond to Matt's questions, instead just glaring at him and walking off.
Segment #7: Backstage Beat-down
C.M. Punk is walking backstage and gets assaulted from behind, from Del Rio. He lays the boots to his challenger before referees step in to break it up.
Ads.
Match #5: Tag-Team - WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) & World Heavyweight Champion The World's Strongest Man Mark Henry VS. "The World's Largest Athlete" The Big Show & C.M. Punk
Del Rio & Big Show start it off, with Show over-powering Alberto. Two big slaps and scoop slams from Show, then tags in Punk, who jumps in and stomps away on Del Rio in the corner. Suplex for a 2-count from Punk and arm-lock to tag in Big Show. Alberto backs away and switches with Mark Henry, who elbow-collar ties with Show three times. Show attempts a scoop slam but Henry just falls on him, and tries a pin. 1 - 2 - kick out from Show.
Mark tags Del Rio again, who kicks away at a downed Show, then re-tags Henry to do more damage. Show begins to fight back with punches to the gut of Henry and head butts, but Henry doesn't go down until Big forces him with a shoulder-block. Show signals for the Weapon of Mass Destruction knockout punch, but Henry turns around to tag in Del Rio. Alberto yells at him for doing so to send us into a break.
Commercials.
Back from the break, Punk & Del Rio have apparently wrestled and are struggling to get tags. Del Rio makes it first and Henry comes in to stomp away on Punk. Alberto back in now and works over C.M.'s left arm. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a 2-count! Frequent ins & outs by the heels and they dominate The Straight-Edge Superstar for a while.
Punk comes to life again, trading punches with Alberto and delivers a Calf Kick and Flying Forearm. Rolling Neckbreaker on Del Rio and kick to Henry, who also gets one from Show. However, Henry catches C.M. off the ropes and drives him into the canvas with the World's Strongest Slam. Henry also takes out Big Show as Del Rio lays over Punk to get the count.
Winners via Pinfall: WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & World Heavyweight Champion "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry
Post-match, Alberto clamps on the cross-armbreaker to further hurt Punk before their match this Sunday. He & Ricardo then walk up the ramp, happy with their work, as Big Show tends to Punk and looks frustrated. (A side note: I think this is the first time in a while Rodriguez wasn't touched at all and walks out of a match clean!)
A replay of ending to "This Is Your Life" is aired as is the ongoing slogan of Raw Gets Rocked.
Ads.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Of all wrestlers that get some air-time (and I do like him, just surprised), Santino Marella puts over Boston as the town where he put his career back on the map since the Royal Rumble 10 months ago in January.
That is until Kevin Nash walks out and puts the boot to him. Nash recalls his own experience at that Pay-Per-View, saying he got the biggest ovation of the night and blew the roof off. However, he still wasn't hired by his good buddy Triple H. As Nash says though, "I'm here, and your not." He then jackknife powerbomb's Marella and walks to the back.
Randy Orton is shown warming up in his locker room for the match with Wade Barrett.
Commercials.
Match #6: Single - Wade Barrett (with Hunico, Jack Swagger, Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes, & United Champion Dolph Ziggler) VS. Randy Orton (with Sheamus, WWE Tag-Team Champion Kofi Kingston, Mason Ryan, & Sin Cara)
Before the bout, Wade cuts a short promo declaring Randy the past, while he is the present & future. He will de-venomize The Viper. Randy is out now and both wrestlers have their "Survivor Series" teams with them.
Ads.
Bell rings and Randy kicks and punches away on Barrett quickly. Clothesline and suplex. Stomps from Orton, but an Irish Whip is countered and caught in a Swinging Side Slam from Wade. 1 - 2 - Randy kicks out! Mounting punches and another hard Irish Whip into the corner.
Stomps in the corner and a grounding Rear Chin Lock. Orton eventually reverses into a big backdrop, clotheslines, and a Powerslam. "The Viper" is zoning in, Slingshot DDT, and he's getting ready for the R.K.O. Rhodes quickly enters and hits Orton from behind, causing a DQ.
Winner via Disqualification: Randy Orton
Post-match, all members of each team brawl, with Sheamus hitting a Brogue Kick on Ziggler, and Orton delivering an R.K.O. to Hunico. Mason Ryan chucks Hunico over the ropes onto the rest of Team Barrett. The 10 foes stare each other down.
Up next, Raw Gets Rocked!
Commercials.
Segment #9: Arena Promo
The biggest ovation of the night goes to The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment. The Rock saunters out to the ring and soaks in the adoration of the Boston crowd. First, The Rock goes over his day, starting at 3am. Everything that led up to this moment didn't matter. This moment is him being able to say "FINALLY, The Rock has come back to Boston!"
The Rock puts over the biggest Survivor Series of all-time this Sunday, but that's not right now. Right now is what drives The Rock, such as moments like this. He also calls himself "The Most Electrifying Man in TWITTERtainment," arguing that the only thing that is trending is "Boots to Asses," which the crowd follows promptly up with a chant. (That is the slogan on the back of his "Team Bring It Captain" black sleeveless shirt). Right now though, The Rock does not want to wait for 6 days. He is going to deliver an awesome ass-whooping to Awesome Truth.
The Miz & R-Truth stroll out, microphones in hands. "Really, really, really, Rock" inquires The Miz. Truth tells Rock that he is delusional to think he can do something to them, and every time they are on this show, Raw gets AWESOME!
Miz informs The Rock that they don't care about anything Rock does, they just want to leave him a "beaten, quivering mess." So, while tonight Raw Gets Rocked, this Sunday Rock gets beat, and that's THE TRUTH!
The Rock's comrade for Sunday enters the discussion now. John Cena makes his way to the ring and the four face-off. Without looking at each other, The Rock & Cena cheap-shot each other (as they only do best), but John tells Rock that if his ego gets in the way, Cena bitch-slapped Rocky will be trending world-wide.
Miz is sick of this, especially since it is over-shadowing himself. Little Johnny & Little Rocky can go back and forth for all the Little Jimmies, but they will see them Sunday. The Rock holds out his arm and stops Truth/Miz from leaving. (The crowd keeps chanting boots to asses.)
The Rock and Cena take down Truth & Miz, with Rock Rock-Bottoming both Truth & Miz. The Rock walks up the ramp as Cena glares at him from the ring. The Rock mocks Cena's you can't see me hand sign, with Cena smirking, and the commentators pondering if they can co-exist on the same team to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp
Much like last week, great show, perhaps even better. Awesome (no pun intended!) build for the go-home show to a major Pay-Per-View and I am really intrigued, which is a good sign of creativity in the storylines. On to the usual critiques:
Excellence: C.M. Punk speaking the truth in his opening promo. That's all it was/is. Mick Foley being the surprise out of the limousine. Great pop for the Hardcore Legend and hasn't lost his touch with the microphone.
Rhodes & Hunico winning - wasn't much to the match, but nice to see them get a much-need "W" to up their respective pushes. Dolph Ziggler on the microphone, he really is great at it and still keeps reminding me of a current (late-great) "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig - which is positive!
Zack Ryder's backstage quest for the U.S. Title petition - anything this dude does is entertaining (although he should've wrestled as well tonight! Hey, here's a q - who is more popular now in Long Island - Ryder or Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy?).
Sheamus/Swagger - just a great, technically-sound match. Kevin Nash's promo - short, sweet, and straight forward to the point.
Rock/Cena/Miz/Truth - knew that was going to be last tonight and that whole segment proved why. Best one of the show and these 4 have AWESOME (okay, pun intended that time!) chemistry. Excellent way to close and leave wanting more.
Bogus: Zack Ryder NOT wrestling. Opening segment with Cole/JR - unfortunately me thinks this ain't the end AND it was pointless to begin with! No payoff or ending in sight. Ugh! 2 weeks without Brodus Clay's debut - like I wrote above, killing momentum of him, so they better have him on next week and have him debut BIG!)
Divas match & endings to Ziggler/Ryan and Barrett/Orton - predictable and actually quick, boring matches. Commercial break between the Show/Punk/Alberto/Henry match, then coming back to complete opposite wrestlers in the middle of the match and not even showing us what happened - bad consistency and just plain not good!
"This Is Your Life" - again, been there & done that - no need to rehash and kill the magic that was the original. I must give props to Cena though, for saying how (I'm guessing most) we really felt watching that segment.
Finally, my Survivor Series Picks
Mark Henry to retain the World Heavyweight Championship over The Big Show
C.M. Punk def. Alberto Del Rio, and becomes new WWE Champion to put a spark back in the title and those segments
Team Barrett wins against Team Orton, they are stronger and need the "W" more for reputation (all individually)
Divas Championship - Beth Phoenix keeps it
Miz & Truth prevail against The Rock and Cena, after the latter's ego explodes and costs them the match somehow
Overall, another great effort and way to go out on top for a Raw before Survivor Series. Definitely interested and hyped now about next week. Until then, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans & Wrestling Fans!
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