Monday Night Raw TV Report 10/31/11

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

On a Raw without Triple H, with the Muppets, and the mega return of The Rock (live or via satellite?), what will go down for
tonight's show from the home of this years WrestleMania? Only one way to find out...read on!

Introduction Segment: Video Satellite Promo

Michael Cole welcomes us to Raw from Atlanta, Georgia, and we waste no time as The Rock appears on the Titantron to answer
the week long question whether he will tag-team with John Cena at Survivor Series. Rock puts over Cena and his heart for
having the guts to do so, and then promptly responds "hell no!"

However, The Rock says he started to listen to his people, Team Bring It. (via Twitter of course!). Rock says that he switched his mind, as he wants to kick Miz & R-Truth's ass, the loud-mouths they are. So, Cena gets his wish and The Rock will tag-team with him for one-night only.

The Rock tells Cena to watch him in the ring that night, as it will be a lesson for what's to come at WrestleMania XXVIII. The Rock, John Cena, at Survivor Series. Never before, never again...if ya smellllll what The Rock is cooking!

Cole & Lawler hype up the announcement by The Rock and then tell us that Cena will face The Miz in a WrestleMania Rematch.
(Starting those already?!)

Match #1: Single - C.M. Punk VS. World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry (Non-Title)

The stipulation for this match states that Punk must defeat Henry to get a WWE Title Shot against Alberto Del Rio at
Survivor Series. (This was said again by John Laurinaitis, who came out on stage).

The combatants stare each other down then Henry just pounds away on Punk immediately. Harsh Irish Whip into the corner, but C.M. kicks away and dives off the second turnbuckle, locking on submission with elbows from behind on the 400-pounder. Mark
gets out of hit, but Punk uses what he knows best - kicks and a Springboard Clothesline.

The World Champion is down and C.M. flies off the top rope with an elbow drop. 1 - 2 - shoulder up by Henry! The WWE Champion
and his personal announcer Ricardo Rodriguez appear at the ramp. All of a sudden, Rodriguez jumps in the ring and pummels
away on Mark Henry! This causes a disqualification and Punk is not going to get his title-shot!

Winner via Disqualification: World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry

Post match, The Second City Saint is livid and he suicide dives onto Alberto, then chucks Ricardo into the ring so he can
receive the World's Strongest Slam from Henry. Punk chases Del Rio up the ramp.

Up next, the guests for tonight's Raw The Muppets.

Commercials.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

Miss Piggy & Kermit The Frog themselves appear on the stage and are excited to be hear, that is until Vickie Guerrero & Jack
Swagger interrupt. They trade insults back and forth (this is really bad and pointless) when Santino comes out to inform Jack
they will be wrestling together, and while Swagger thinks he has a back-up-plan with Dolph Ziggler, he is wrong. Marella
tells The All-American-American that Dolph will also be in a match, taking on Zack Ryder. "Woo, Woo, you know it!" shout
Piggy & Kermit.

Kelly Kelly walks out, smooches Kermit (much to the dismay of Miss Piggy), and wonders down to the ring for her upcoming
Divas Battle Royal.

Ads.

Match #2: Divas "Halloween" Battle Royal (All of them, minus WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix - who is on commentary) (#1
Contender's Match for the Divas Title)

This will be a mess, so in the end...Eve wins and again will challenge for the Divas Championship.

Post-match, Natalya & Beth try to intimidate Eve, but her buddies Alicia Fox & Kelly Kelly back her up. They stare them down.

Segment #3: Backstage Promo

Beaker the muppet is given an assignment to deliver a special drink to Santino. He literately runs into Christian, who dumps the drunk on the floor, but is ran off by Sheamus. We also find out that Beaker is related to Sheamus through a
conversation about the family reunion. (Alright?)

Commercials.

Match #3: Tag-Team - WWE Tag-Team Champions "Air-Boom" (Kofi Kingston & Evan "Air" Bourne) VS. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes & Wade Barrett

Cody & Evan start out, with a wrist lock by Rhodes. Stiff knee and punch from the I.C. Champ, but Bourne ducks a clothesline,
knees Rhodes, and tags in Kofi Kingston. Huge calf-kick and a few other kicking moves from Kofi, but Cody cuts him off the
ropes literately.

Barrett now in and works over Kofi with big slams and punches. he re-tags Cody and the masked man stomps away on Kingston in
the corner. Modified abdominal stretch is applied by Rhodes and he works over Kofi more until the high-flyer takes him across
the ring with a Monkey Flip.

Bourne is tagged back in and kicks away on Barrett. A great sequence of a Hurricanrana attempt by Bourne, which was reversed into Wasteland from Wade, but then re-countered by "Air" into a DDT. Things break down until Bourne is cut off the top-rope, which allows Barrett to hit Wasteland again for the 1 - 2 - 3!

Winners via Pinfall: Wade Barrett & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes

Post match, Christian enters the fray and helps to lay a beat down on the Tag-Champs. To their rescue is Sheamus who pulls
out Christian and attacks Cody Rhodes. Barrett escapes, but the statement is made by the Irishman. He helps Bourne up and the
three pose in the ring.

Up in the sky box, is the two reviewer muppets, I believe.

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Raw Interim General Manager John Laurinaitis is on his phone when C.M. Punk walks in. Punk asks him about the controversial
decision, and wondering if it is fair and impartial. Laurinaitis tells C.M. that he can have the match, as long as Alberto
agrees to it. Punk agrees.

Ads.

Segment #5: Video Promo

The last hype package for Brodus Clay airs, as it is revealed he will "re-debut" next week on Raw.

Match #4: Single - WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. The Big Show

Big Show controls early and delivers many blows to the mid-section and chest. Head butt from Show and more chest-chops. Big Show just dominates this match for the most part. Del Rio eventually counters out of the corner and grasps a sleeper hold on the World's Largest Athlete. Show fades to one knee but gets back up and tosses Del Rio over the shoulder. They fight for a
while on the outside but Del Rio gains dominance in the ring with vicious kicks. Another submission is locked in to wear
down Show, but Show gets out of it again.

Both men down and the ref begins the count until the wrestlers begin the on their knees slugfest. Big gets the better of it
and pushes Del Rio to the outside.

Commercials.

Back from break, Alberto now has a leg-lock submission, but Show fights out again. More kicks while Show is on his knees and
Del Rio drives him down with a DDT. 1 - 2 - tossed kick out from Show! Alberto runs into and attempts the kick-in-the-corner,
but Big just swats him away with a huge right-hand Weapon Of Mass Destruction for the knockout.

Winner via Pinfall: Big Show

Post match, C.M. Punk walks down, grabs a bottle of water, and sits beside Alberto in the ring. He dumps the water on Del Rio
and proceeds to ask him a question. First though, he tells the WWE Champion that he is going to grip on an old favorite of
his, the Anaconda Vice. The submission is clamped until Del Rio said yes, so the match is booked - Punk VS. Del Rio at
Survivor Series for the WWE Championship!

Segment #6: Backstage Promo

Gonzo & Fozzie are chatting it up about the wrestlers and Gonzo claims he can be a wrestler. This is until Dolph Ziggler &
Jack Swagger tie him up with his own stretchy arms.

Ads.

Segment #7: Movie Promo

The plug for the Muppets Movie airs. (Meh)

Match #5: Single - All-American-American Jack Swagger (with Vickie Guerrero) VS. Santino Marella

Swagger starts with a couple shoves and then hammers away on Santino. Harsh whip into the corner but Santino comes alive
with a hip-toss and head butt. Beaker is back out and gives Marella the energy drink, which Santino conveniently spits
into Swagger's face and rolls him up.

Winner via Pinfall: Santino Marella

Commercials.

Match #6: Single - The Long Island Iced-Z Zack Ryder VS. United States Champion Dolph Ziggler

Circling around the ring, the two lockup and Dolph gains over with a head lock. Shoulder block by Dolph and they trade ducks,
leapfrogs, and armdrags. Roll-up by Zack but a kick out from Ziggler. High dropkick from Dolph and he takes control. Ryder
soon counters with shoulder blocks and clotheslines. Second-turnbuckle Missile Dropkick and Slingshot Crossbody to the outside from Ryder.

Ads.

Dolph back in control with a submission and vicious takedowns. Jumping elbow for a near fall! Dolph measures Zack for a move
attempt, but Ryder catches him and slingshots Dolph into the turnbuckle. Big Flapjack from Zack and the momentum is gaining.
Running boot in the corner, 1 - 2 - kick out from Ziggler!

Double-knees to the jaw and Zack covers for the 3! Or does he?
Dolph's foot was under the bottom rope, which the ref notices and continues the match. A Zig-Zag attempt is countered by
Zack holding onto the ropes and then a Roughrider Leg Lariat helps Ryder get the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: "The Long Island Iced-Z" Zack Ryder

Commercials.

Segment #8: Video Recap

A history of the Triple H/Kevin Nash drama airs. It also announced that John Laurinaitis has signed "Big Sexy" to a contract and he will be on Raw next week.

Segment #9: Arena Promo

Michael Cole rips on Jim Ross, who is not at Raw. That's all I'm saying.

Segment #10: Backstage Promo

Miss Piggy is admiring John Morrison's abs and Hornswoggle comes into show her a tattoo he has of Miss Piggy. All he wants is a
kiss, but all he receives is a punch to the gut courtesy of Piggy. Cody Rhodes comes back and also bags Kermit.

Match #7: Single - The Miz VS. John Cena

This match got started following the commercials. Lock up and headlock takedown from Cena. Fisherman's Suplex and high
dropkick courtesy of Cena but Miz runs from a shoulder block and gives Cena a stiff boot-to-the-face. Miz pounding away on
Cena and kicks him for a near fall! (As usual, the crowd is split with "Let's go Cena" and "Cena sucks" chants).

Typical match between the two, with Miz in control for most. Cena eventually head butts Miz off the ropes and dives off the
turnbuckle with a leg drop lariat. 1 - 2 - Miz kicks out! Attitude Adjustment attempt is countered into a DDT from Miz. 1 - 2 - Cena kicks out! Cena sends Miz over the top rope and throws him into the barricade. A man in a Scream mask briefly
strangles Cena and Miz tosses Cena into the ring.

Miz goes for the S.K.F. but John reverses into the S.T.F. submission, which Miz quickly taps out to.

Winner via Submission: John Cena

The Scream Outfit dude is back in, only to immediately receive the A.A. And to know one's surprise, the masked man is R-Truth. Cena smiles and laughs, putting on the mask and taunt R-Truth to close the show.

End Of Raw.

Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp

This was actually a decent show with lots of wrestling (always a plus) and even the Muppets skits (most) were somewhat okay.
Onto the nit-picks:

Excellence: Rock's opening promo - enough said. Ending to Punk/Henry - in the many years (14 1/2) I've watched wrestling,
I’ve always wondering when someone would intentionally it their own team mate to get the opponent disqualified. Comedy
segment with Beaker, Sheamus, & Christian.

Tag-team with "Air Boom" & Cody/Wade - odd pairing of the latter but great chemistry for the match. Brodus Clay's video package and impending debut next week - interested to see what they do with him.

Alberto/Big Show - great story-telling match and use of different ways Del Rio got Show down and kept him down. Sweet finish too with Del Rio selling the right handed punch. Ryder/Ziggler - great technical bout. Cena/Miz, somewhat clean finish and clean show close.

Bogus: Divas Battle Royal/Michael Cole all night - enough said. Some of the Muppets segments. Swagger/Marella didn't have anything big. Laurinaitis didn't do much either.

All in all, a pretty good Raw, as you can see by my limited "Bogus" feature tonight. Until next week, which is from London, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans & Wrestling Fans!