 |
| Reported by Earnest I Aguilar |
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo
Raw video and pyro blast the First Mariner Arena, as C.M. Punk walks out to the ring. He takes the microphone and sits down in the middle of the canvas. Punk mocks the "Power To The People" concept, as well as the people themselves in Baltimore, Maryland.
Since he has defeated both WWE Champion John Cena (called it from last night) and Rey Mysterio (called that too), C.M. claims he is the best wrestler and he is the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship. Punk wants the Anonymous General Manager (dang, Stone Cold running over it last week didn't take him/her out!?) to book his match with WWE Champion John Cena at the Money In The Bank PPV (July) in his hometown of Chicago.
The A.G.M. considers Punk's demands and instead of telling him that he is the top dog, A.G.M. makes Punk wrestle in a Triple Threat Match with himself, Alberto Del Rio, & Rey Mysterio.
Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler tell us that we can vote who Brie Bella will defend her WWE Divas Championship against: Eve, Kelly Kelly, or Beth Phoenix. We'll find out after the commercials!
Ads.
Match #1: Single for the WWE Divas Champion - Brie Bella (Champion) with Nikki Bella VS. Kelly Kelly (Challenger)
(Note: Kelly Kelly got 36% of the vote - see told you this was rigged, if any true wrestling fan voted, "The Glamazon" would've gotten it and taken the title back to an actual women's wrestler!)
Highlights:
- Elbow/collar tie-up and Brie pushes Kelly off the apron
- Foot-choke in the corner and on the ropes by Brie. Cover, 1 - 2 - kickout from Kelly Kelly
- Kelly repeatedly slams Brie's head into the mat and jumps on her with a Lou Thesz press and mount-punching
- Impressive swinging-neckbreaker by Brie for a close 2-count!
- Out of the corner Victory Roll by Kelly, reversed by Brie, then countered again by Kelly. 1 - 2 - 3! (Actually a smooth, decent sequence)
Winner via Pinfall & NEW WWE Divas Champion: Kelly Kelly
Postmatch, Kelly celebrates and fake-crys, while delivering a rushed "thank you" speech with Lawler.
Segment #2: Match Voting
We get a highlight promo for Evan "Air" Bourne and then get to pick who he'll face after the ads: Jack Swagger, Mason Ryan, or Sin Cara. (Sin Cara, please!)
Commercials.
Match #2: Single - Evan "Air" Bourne VS. Mason Ryan
(Note: Mason Ryan got 51% of the vote - ok, that was a bit of a surprise, but again proves this is not up to the "WWE Universe". If it was, Sin Cara would be wrestling judging by his pop).
Highlights:
- Evan rolls around and ducks Ryan's first offensive moves
- "Batista" chants break out, poking fun at how much Mason resembles the former WWE wrestler
- Bourne gets out of a shoulder-slam and delivers two high dropkicks before being dropped with a powerful clothesline
- Mason carries Bourne around and gives him two rib-breakers and a fall-away slam
- Evan counters with kicks-in-the-corner and a high-knee to the Ryan's temple
- On the turnbuckle, pushes Ryan down and goes for "Air Bourne", but instead hops over and traps him in an awkward looking small-package. 1 - 2 - Mason kicks out!
- Ryan catches Bourne again off the top and slams him down a Uranage for the 3-count.
Winner via Pinfall: Mason Ryan
Up next, Kane VS. Mark Henry in either a "Body Slam" match, "Arm-Wrestling" match, or "Over The Top Rope Challenge" match. No matter who chooses what, please let this be short and sweet. We'll see following the commercials.
Ads.
Segment #3: Match Voting
(Note: Mark Henry has the stick and reminds us that he destroyed The Big Show at Capitol Punishment. However, there are differences between Henry & Show - when Show walks the Earth, the Earth shakes. When Mark walks it, all the people shake. When you're dealing with "The World's Strongest Man", somebody's going to get their ass kicked).
Match #3: Mark Henry VS. Kane (Arm-Wrestling Match)
(Note: Arm-Wrestling got 52% of the vote, much to Henry's delight)
Highlights:
- Kane & Mark Henry set their right arms on the table, but Henry breaks away quickly
- Same as above, for the second time
- Same as above for the third time
- They finally set and Mike Chioda (the referee) counts them in
- Both wrestler's arms move back and forth with momentum, but Henry slugs Kane over the head with his left hand, thus disqualifying himself.
Winner via Disqualification: Kane
Post match, both brawl back and forth, with Mark having the upper hand, and driving the table into Kane right shoulder. More fights on the outside and Henry rams Kane's spine into the steel post. He begins to tear apart the announcer's table and gives Kane "The World's Strongest" fall-away slam through the desk. "You suck" yells are directed at Henry as he oversees what he has done to Kane.
Commercials.
Segment #4: Video/Arena Promo
A montage of R-Truth's recent downward spiral is shown, talking about conspiracies, especially the finish to last night's match he had with John Cena at Capitol Punishment.
The "Little Jimmy" hater saunters down the ramp and also rips on Baltimore people. He then goes over who would've screwed him out of his WWE Title - the A.G.M., John Cena, or "Little Jimmy". He picks on any kind of Jimmy until another wrestler who felt he got screwed out of title interrupts.
Christian, who lost his World Heavyweight Championship match, calls "Power To The People" a joke and the people themselves a joke. He blames the fans and the referee. Christian displays footage of his foot under the bottom rope, thereby being screwed out of the title. R-Truth & Christian argue about who deserves title-shots more and who "Little Jimmy" is.
Awesome! Not the above, but The Miz! He walks out to the ring and complains about his loss to Alex Riley. Christian can't compare the two, since The Miz's was just a one-on-one match and the other two were title matches.
All three trade "really's, Riley's, Randy's, & Jimmy's" back and forth until Teddy comes out. Teddy Long, the General Manager of Smackdown, books a main-event 6-Man tag-team match with The Miz, Christian, & R-Truth VS. Alex Riley, Randy Orton, & John Cena! (He can do that? This is Monday Night, not Friday!)
Ads.
Match #4: Single for the WWE United States Championship - Dolph Ziggler (Champion) VS. Kofi Kingston (Challenger) (2 Out Of 3 Falls)
"Excuse Her!" Vickie Guerrero introduces the new WWE United States Champion - "Perfection, Dolph Ziggler"
(Note: "2 Out Of 3 Falls" wins with 51%" - finally, a legit choice!)
Highlights:
- Kofi aggressive early, kicking Dolph all around and out of the ring
- Quick cover for a 2-count by Kingston
- Big suplex and another 2-count for Kofi
- Neckbreaker reversed into a backslide pin by Kingston, only for 2 though
- Dolph ducks a running Kofi and Kingston ends up outside the ring
- Commercials.
- Back from ads, replays show that Dolph hit the "Zig-Zag" on the outside and pinned Kofi
Winner via Pinfall of Fall #1 - Dolph Ziggler
- Ziggler is pounding away on Kofi and nails him with a very nice high dropkick
- 1 - 2 - Kingston kicks out!
- Reverse armbar locked in by Dolph
- Kofi fights his way out before being driven into the canvas with a Fameasser. Close two-count!
- Kingston counters a clothesline attempt by Ziggler and pins Dolph with reverse-Russian-legsweep cradle
Winner via Pinfall of Fall #2 - Kofi Kingston
- Dolph kicks Kofi in the knee and swings him down with a neckbreaker for another 2!
- Dropkick attempt caught by Kingston and he slingshots Dolph into the turnbuckle
- Kofi is fired up with chops, dropkicks, and a jumping double-foot-stomp. 1 - 2 - kickout by Dolph!
- Ziggler ducks and rolls-up Kofi for another close two, complete with the holding of the tights
- Big back-splash by Kingston. 1 - 2 - kickout by Dolph!
- Dolph crawls to the timekeeper's area and grabs his United States Championship
- Kofi meets him with "Trouble In Paradise" and rolls Ziggler back into the ring
- 1 - 2 - fingers on the rope by Ziggler! (pin broken)
- Ziggler tries again to escape by the timekeeper's but Kofi pulls him back, only to be bashed with the microphone. DQ'd.
Winner via Disqualification of Fall #3 and the match - Kofi Kingston, however Dolph Ziggler keeps his title to the DQ ruling.
Post match, Kofi lays Dolph out again with the "T.I.P."
Replays are shown of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's gig last week as guest General Manager, and then we see the options for the next match, which I'll tell you after the commercials!
Ads.
Segment #5: Arena Promo
Since Ricardo Rodriguez is out of action, Justin Roberts announces Alberto Del Rio this time. Del Rio maintains that his "accidental" running over The Big Show, and then destroying him again at Capitol Punishment, is no accident, but destiny. Much like tonight's match against Rey Mysterio and C.M. Punk for the title contendership.
Commercials.
Match #5: Triple-Threat For The #1 Contendership to the WWE Title - Alberto Del Rio VS. C.M. Punk VS. Rey Mysterio (Falls Count Anywhere)
(Note: "Falls Count Anywhere" received 66% over "No Dq" & "Submission")
Highlights:
- Mysterio goes for quick counts on both and then follows up by kicking Del Rio and Punk in the thighs
- Rey tosses Alberto into C.M., who throws him over the ropes to the outside
- C.M. Punk and Rey Mysterio are now wrestling, with Mysterio missing a 619
- Punk Sunset Flips Del Rio over the ropes and gets a two-count on the floor mats.
- Mysterio flies off the apron with a seated-senton and also gets a near-fall
- Ads.
- All three are now in the ring, with Mysterio getting double-teamed by Punk and Alberto
- Jumping armbreaker by Del Rio for a two-count on Punk
- Mysterio off the top-rope with a Hurricanrana and sets up both wrestlers for a 619
- Alberto gets out of it and Punk catches Rey-Rey out of the move
- Tower-Of-Doom by all three, with Rey taking the worst of the suplex/powerbomb combo
- Del Rio covers both but only gets 2-counts
- Rey ducks a running-shoulder by Alberto but then gets slammed into the turnbuckle by Punk
- Mysterio kicks Punk with both feet, rolls off the top-rope with a rolling senton (ala The Sandman) and dives right out of the ring onto Alberto with a Suicide Dive
- Mysterio misses a Springboard Cross body
- Corner Enziguri by Del Rio onto Punk (who rolls out of the ring) and Mysterio takes advantage by finally hitting the 619 and Missle Splash
- Just as he gets the cover, Punk chucks him into the ring post and pins Del Rio himself
Winner via Pinfall and #1 Contender for the WWE Championship: C.M. Punk
Post match, Punk grabs the microphone again and says that July 17 will be the most historic day in both C.M.'s career and the WWE because he will defeat John Cena for the WWE Championship. He then is up front with everyone and informs us that is contract with WWE is over on July 17, so come Monday July 18, Punk will be gone - with the WWE Championship! (Interesting - Montreal 1997 all over again? Nah!)
Ads.
Match #6: Single - Daniel Bryan VS. Cody Rhodes (No Count-Out Match)
(Note: "No Count-Out" got 51% of the vote, over "Paper Bags" and "Collegiate Rules". Didn't we just see this basically same idea with the previous match?)
Highlights:
- Kicks and closed-fists, with elbows by Cody Rhodes to begin
- Bryan tosses Rhodes over the top and then launches himself with a Suicide Dive
- They wrestle up the ramp with Daniel giving Cody a suplex on the cold steel
- Rhodes ducks a couple of kicks but is ran in the ring Bryan and taken down with a Missile Dropkick for a quick 2!
- Daniel runs up the corner but then into a knee-to-the-gut from Cody
(Note: at one point, Cody's lip is busted open and referee Jack Doan puts on medical gloves and makes sure Rhodes is okay to continue - nice detail for protection purposes and to make this seam more "real")
- Stomps by Cody and slingshots Bryan into the turnbuckle and locks him into a small-package
- Daniel reverses the pin combo into one of his own and gets the 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Daniel Bryan
Post match, Bryan applies The Labell Lock submission until Ted DiBiase Jr. runs out and saves Rhodes. They double-team Bryan with Cody delivering the Alabama Slam and Cross-Rhodes to Daniel. Rhodes then places a paper-bag over Bryan's head.
Commercials.
Segment #6: Arena Promo/Dance Competition (really?!)
Vickie Guerrero says that just like Dolph Ziggler winning the U.S. Title, she will win this Dance-Off. She dances a little and then kisses Matt Striker (in the ring already).
We now get her "opponent": Michael Cole! (again, really?)
I have no words to describe Michael Cole's dancing, other than you had to see it to "get it." Nonetheless, Cole wins based on the loudest boos, according to Striker.
Vickie slaps Cole and tells him she is the winner.
(This was seriously pointless, and that's me being nice)
Ads.
Match #7: 6-Man Tag-Team - R-Truth, Christian, & The Miz VS. Alex Riley, Randy Orton (World Heavyweight Champion) & John Cena (WWE Champion)
(Note: "Elimination" rules receives 79% of the voting, over "One-Fall-To-A-Finish", and "20-Minute Time Limit")
Highlights:
- John Cena & The Miz begin with a tie-up and headlock/wristlock combo
- Cena runs Miz down with a Bulldog for a quick 1-count
- Randy Orton tagged in and works over Miz with a power clothesline and high kneedrop
- Miz counters with a kick-to-the-head and boot-to-the-face
- Christian gets the slap and comes in to hammer away on his Smackdown rival
- Foot-choking by Christian to Orton
- Neckbreaker for a two-count by Christian
- R-Truth enters the ring and locks in a Sleeper submission to wear down Randy
- Orton reverses with a big backdrop and then goes for an R.K.O. on a freshly-tagged Christian but is reversed himself into the Inverted DDT
- Christian measures "The Viper" for a Spear but is caught with a Powerslam and Alex Riley is now tagged in
- Riley pounds away on Christian and takes both Miz & R-Truth off the apron
- Alex goes for a DDT on Christian but gets cutoff by Miz, who double-stomps Riley with Christian until Cena fends them both off
- This allows Miz to hit Riley with the "Skull Krushing Finale" on A-Ry and Christian covers for the 3!
- Great camera shot of The Miz sickly satisfied with taking out Riley
Eliminated via Pinfall: Alex Riley
- Miz is now mount-punching Orton as we come back from commercials
- Miz is waiting to run into Orton in the corner but finds a harsh forearm clothesline instead
- Randy tags in a fresh Cena and Cena goes to work all over the Miz with his usual shoulder-blocks and Spin-Out Backdrop
- Miz wiggles out of the Attitude Adjustment and hits John with a knee and neckbreaker combo for a close 2-count!
- Miz tries a dive off the top-rope but gets caught in the STF, however R-Truth saves The Awesome One from tapping out
- Frequent tags between Christian & R-Truth
- R-Truth drives Cena into the mat with a Suplex-Facebuster for another near fall!
- R-Truth tags in Miz, who soon gets taken out with the A.A. from Cena
Eliminated via Pinfall: The Miz
- R-Truth now in and works over Cena
- Christian tags in and hits Cena with the Inverted DDT
- Off the top-rope, Christian misses a high splash!
- Orton grabs the tag-rope and is looking for the desperate high-five
- He gets it and gets into his "zone"
- Slingshot DDT by Orton on R-Truth and Orton sets up Truth for the R.K.O.
- Christian tries a distraction but gets shoved out of the ring and Truth eats an R.K.O. for his walk
Eliminated via Pinfall: R-Truth
- Immediately, Christian runs through "The Viper" with a Spear and a 3-count!
Eliminated via Pinfall: Randy Orton
- As Christian gloats, Cena is behind him and traps Christian in the STF after Orton gets a revenge R.K.O.
Eliminated via Submission: Christian
Winners via Elimination of their opponents: Alex Riley, World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton, & WWE Champion John Cena
Post match, Cena celebrates with Orton looking on and the two shake hands in a sign of mutual respect between the champs. They pose and Cena also takes pictures with members of the U.S. Armed Forces at ringside to close the show. End of Raw.
Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp
I think this was just an average episode tonight. Other than C.M. Punk becoming the #1 Contender and facing John Cena at July's "Money In The Bank" Pay-Per-View, nothing special really happened. It will be interesting with his announcement of the contract expiration to read about what will go down backstage in just under the next 4 weeks. Who wants to call another Montreal? (I highly doubt it).
Speaking of calling stuff, 86% on my "Capitol Punishment" picks. And I'm definitely happy with the results, especially Dolph Ziggler with the U.S. Title. Now get him away from Kofi and let him start a fresh feud - perhaps Sin Cara and/or Evan Bourne?
Please?
Otherwise, really not much to say tonight. Loved the amount of wrestling/matches on the show - definitely not a promo-filled one, so more time for in-ring action! However, the premise of the show with it being "voting" by the Universe, wasn't into and couldn't "feel it" tonight. Same with next week's "Raw Roulette", same idea, different name. Ah well, at least Shawn Michaels will be back - what's he up to in Sin City? We'll find out on June 27.
Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers & WWE Universe.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.