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| Reported by Ernest I Aguilar |
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo
A recap montage plays the events mentioned above of last week and then the regular Raw video plays with the pyro blasting in the arena. Michael Cole & Jerry "The King" Lawler welcome us to the show and run-down two main matches on the card tonight: Rey Mysterio VS. Alberto Del Rio VS. R-Truth in a #1 Contender's Triple-Threat and Alex Riley VS. The Miz.
WWE Champion John Cena marches down the aisle looking very serious tonight. He takes the microphone and tells us there is major unrest in the WWE Universe. Cena reminds us about C.M. Punk's verbal jousts and subsequent suspension, which means he won't face John for the WWE title at "Money In The Bank." Instead, we have the Triple-Threat match.
Cena says that while he & Punk don't agree on everything, including walking out with the WWE Title, John defends "The Straight-Edge" Superstar's right to voice his opinions and questions his suspension. He questions where the WWE is going with their "laws", reminding us that Daniel Bryan was fired (then brought back) for being too aggressive, and speculation that fans have their signs taken away at events.
The crowd starts chanting "First Amendment", which means "Freedom of Speech" for Americans. Cena wonder's what's next if they take away the Constitution.
The Champ says that the Anonymous General Manager will not interrupt him, however John will get answers from the man who makes all final decisions - including C.M. Punk's suspension - Mr. Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
John says he will have a public "chat" with Vince and declare his desire to wrestle Punk for the WWE Title at "MITB" PPV, as previously scheduled. Cena puts down the microphone and walks to the back.
Up next is Tag-Team Diva action, with Eve & WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly.
Commercials.
Match #1: Tag-Team - The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie) VS. Eve Torres & WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly
(Note: Michael Cole tells us that Brie Bella will get her re-match with Kelly Kelly for the Divas Title at "MITB")
Highlights:
- Bella 1 & Eve start out with a elbow-collar tie-up
- Clothesline and Standing Moonsault by Eve
- Bellas trade tags and double-team Eve, working on her left arm with stomps and locks
- Eve fights her way out of an arm-lock and delivers a Flatliner to a Bella
- Tags in Kelly and the Divas Champ flys onto a Bella with a nice Lou Thesz press (even better than Orton's!)
- Kelly catches the Twin in her Tornado Headscisscors and a "Stinkface", followed up with a Bulldog for a 2-count
- Eve cuts off the other Bella and Kelly finishes the match with her version of the Fameasser for the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: Eve Torres & WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly
Segment #2: Video Promo
Much like last week, a highlight package on Tough Enough Winner Andy Leavine is shown, emphasizing his "Silent Rage" persona, with comments from WWE Legends and Trainers Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Steve Keirn, & Dusty Rhodes.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
R-Truth is talking his usual craziness on his cell-phone when Scott Standford comes in and interviews him about tonight's #1 Contender match. R-Truth maintains his "X-Files" (cheap plug on a great show everyone should watch!) conspiracy theory, saying his should still be the #1 Contender.
However, he has good news & bad news for those people - while he just saved 15% on his car insurance by switching to Geico (another cheap plug), the bad news is that The Truth will hurt someone and they will "get got!"
Alberto Del Rio walks in, to which Truth calls him "Senior Jimmy", saying that it ain't right and fair. Alberto just says that it is his destiny to win the Triple-Threat match and become WWE Champion, and that R-Truth already knows that.
Ads.
Match #2: Tag-Team (Non-Title) - Vladimir Kozlov VS. David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty (WWE Tag-Team Champions)
Highlights:
- Marella & Otunga begin with collar-elbow tie-ups and a fierce right-hand punch from David
- Cobra attempt by Santino, but "A-List" rolls out of the ring and then tags in McGillicutty
- Kozlov trades with Santino and hammers away on Michael with corner-shoulders, kicks, and body slams
- Vladimir gets a Powerslam reversed and a quick tag back and forth for the New Nexus Members
- Kozlov reverses a Double-Suplex attempt and takes down both Champs with one of his own
- Santino comes back in and cleans house with punches hip-tosses and a headbut
- Cobra time! Santino nails Otunga with his finisher, but McGillcutty gets him from behind with a Swinging Neckbreaker for the win!
Winners via Pinfall: WWE Tag-Team Champions David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty
Post match, the man who should've been on Raw from his hometown of Long-Island three weeks ago, New York makes an appearance. "Woo, woo, woo - you know it!" is what Zack Ryder declares out on the stage.
(Note: That is all he did, but got a good pop, unfortunately definately not the reception he would've received from his home arena. I do hope this leads to something as he can be a big star IN the ring)
Commercials.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Scott Stanford is now interviewing The Miz, and asks how he might beat Alex Riley tonight. "The Awesome One" one says that there is an opportunity for a WWE Title shot, but thanks to Riley, he isn't getting it. The Miz declares that he brought Alex Riley in and tonight to the WWE, and tonight, he will take Alex Riley out of the WWE - because "I'm The Miz, and I'm awesome!"
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Evan "Air" Bourne is with WWE Hall-Of-Famer Sergeant Slaughter, who is hear to lead the people in the "Pledge Of Allegiance." Jack Swagger interrupts and says it should've been him, since he's the "All-American-American." After some unflattering banter between the two, they agree on a match, so it will be Sergeant Slaughter VS. Jack Swagger later on Raw.
Ads.
Match #3: Single - The "All American American" Jack Swagger VS. Sergeant Slaughter
Highlights:
- Lockup and punches in the corner by Swagger
- Sarge fires back with punches and chops of his own, quickly applying the Cobra Clutch submission, which Jack fights out of
- Big clothesline and middle-rope jumping-corner-splash by the "All-American American"
- 1 - 2 - 3!
Winner via Pinfall: "All-American-American" Jack Swagger
Post match, Swagger locks on his Ankle Lock submission, until Evan "Air" Bourne runs down the ramp and saves Sarge. Both faces then recite the "Pledge Of Allegiance."
Commercials.
Match #4: Triple-Threat (#1 Contender Spot to the WWE Championship) - Alberto Del Rio VS. R-Truth VS. Rey Mysterio
Highlights:
- Alberto goes right right after truth, pummeling away on him in the corner, as does Mysterio
- Del Rio takes down Rey with a big boat, as well as R-Truth
- Alberto in full on control, working over Mysterio, until he misses a dive through the ropes
- Truth catches Mysterio with his Cyclone Flying Elbow for a close 2-count!
- On the outside, Truth throws Del Rio into the barricade and rolls Rey back into the ring, and chucks him into the turnbuckle
- R dives from the ring apron onto Alberto with an Axe Handle, then goes back to Mysterio in the ring
- A nice spinning Sidewalk Slam gets another near-fall for Truth!
- Del Rio enters again and tries his hand at Mysterio, who instead comes back with a Headscissors
- Both Alberto & Rey perform a version of the "Doomsday Device" on R-Truth, with Del Rio holding Truth on his shoulders and Rey coming down on Truth with a Crossbody off the top-rope
- Ads.
- Back from commercials, big Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker for a 2-count by Del Rio onto Mysterio
- Run into the tunrbuckle countered by a Drop Toehold from Rey onto Alberto
- R-Truth now controlling Rey and tries for a Suplex to the outside
- Alberto hooks Rey from behind and Truth capitalizes with a Sunset Flip on Del Rio, who German Suplexes Rey; all for another near-fall!
- Del Rio hits R-Truth with Carlito's former finisher, the Backstabber, for a 2-count!
- Rey gets a close-one with a kick-to-the-head but Truth breaks the pin attempt
- Scissors Kick to Rey, but Del Rio saves the match, interrupting Truth's cover
- Del Rio runs into the ringpost, allowing Mysterio to hit R-Truth with the 619 and top-rope "Rocket-Man" body splash combo
- As Rey is getting the pin counted, Alberto comes back in and locks on his Cross-Armbreaker submission to Rey
- Mysterio taps and Alberto Del Rio is the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship!
Winner via Submission & #1 Contender to the WWE Title: Alberto Del Rio
Post match, Alberto celebrates as only he can, with a huge smile on his face and gloating in front of the fans.
Ads.
Segment #6: Arena Promo
"Perfection" time! Dolph Ziggler, the United States Champion, saunters to the ring with Vickie Guerrero in a snazzy white suit. In the ring, which is decorated in American colors and paraphernalia, you have to "excuse her!" Guerrero orders everyone to stand up and sing "Happy Birthday" to Dolph Ziggler, since he is the U.S. Champion and today is America's official birthday.
She vocals a rendition of the cliche tune (which actually was pretty decent - I have heard worse!), then asks Dolph if he has a wish.
Ziggler says he has no wish, but will tell the crowd a few points. He puts himself over as the "greatest sports-entertainer in his prime." Dolph informs us that all is needed for Monday Night Raw is the United States title and "Perfection!"
His former challenger disrupts the festivities and claims that without Vickie in his corner, Dolph can't beat Kofi Kingston. Kofi pushes Ziggler, who backs into Vickie and she lands rear-first into the cake! They fight to the back as Vickie realizes what she just sat in and walks away humiliated.
Up next is "Teacher VS. Student" - Alex Riley VS. The Miz!
Commercials.
Match #5: Single - The Miz VS. Alex Riley
Highlights:
- Elbow-Collar tie-up into the corner
- Punches-in-the-corner by Alex Riley
- Big clothesline from Riley
- Outside, Riley rams Miz's head into the barricade
- Miz counters with a kick-to-the-gut and stomps away on a grounded Alex
- Front-Facelock by Miz
- Viscous DDT from Miz for a 2-count!
- Running-knee-to-the-face from "The Awesome One" and a near fall!
- Huge Flapjack drop from Miz!
- Inverted DDT this time and a 2-count for Miz!
- Ads.
- Live again, A-Ry is too, taking Miz down with a Spear and mount-punches, and then a Spinebuster
- Powerbomb/Piledriver attempted by Riley reversed into a back bodydrop by Miz
- Knee/Neckbreaker combo from Miz is reversed into a Backslide and the 1 - 2 - 3! A-Ry wins!
Winner via Pinfall: Alex Riley
Post match, The Miz cannot believe it (great facial expressions) as Alex Riley celebrates. He then runs back into the ring and tears apart his former protege, slamming Alex Riley around the ring and on the outside of it.
Pressing Riley's head against the steel steps, Miz yells to him "I made you, you're nothing, nothing!" Miz smashes A-Ry's head into the commentator's table and chucks him over it. Referee Charles Robinson ("Little 'Naitch!") orders Miz out of the area. Miz walks away, looking somewhat satisfied with his destruction.
Outside the arena, a limousine rolls to the arena and Mr. McMahon himself steps out of the car.
Ads.
Segment #7: Video Promo
The same "Raw Replay" that aired at the top of the show is played again, reminding us for the nth degree of what's going on.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Vince McMahon struts to the ring, as only he does, and does a quick Hulk Hogan pose. He tells us that C.M. Punk deserved to be suspended and he did what was right for us. McMahon then says that Punk wanted all the top-star treatment, which he did not get. Bottom line, he deserved suspension. Just as Vince is going to leave the ring, John Cena cuts him off and confronts him in the ring.
The WWE Champion questions the bosses motives and his belief in the First Amendment. Cena remembers the "fighting McMahon" and that he would take down anyone who gets in his way. He wonders what happened to that Vince, since Punk says a couple of things that got under McMahon's skin and now he's suspended. John inquires about the real size of Vince's "grapefruits", implying they may be now "Peach Pits." Cena says that he still wants to fight C.M. Punk, but if Vince doesn't feel like fighting, maybe it's time to "hang it up, old man!"
McMahon retorts with the real reason he suspended C.M. Punk: he did not want to take a chance on Cena. Punk has beaten Cena before, and Vince did not want to lose his WWE Title to another wrestling organization and be embarrassed - he's gone through that before already.
Cena makes fun of McMahon's embarrassment worries and then puts over the "Money In The Bank" Pay-Per-View big-time, saying if he was a fan, then what would happen to the WWE Championship if Punk walks out? What would happen to Cena in the hostile environment of Chicago, Illinois? (Punk's hometown). Can Cena overcome C.M. Punk's last match? Does the kid who rode on the side of John's car (Punk) from WrestleMania 22 (great inside reference) got a "set" and do something crazy.
Cena tells Vince it's not embarrassing, it's the match of the year. John wonders what Vince would do if he said something to embarrass Vince, will he get suspended. Vince is getting angry and tells him not to piss him off, don't be Hogan! (Cheap shot!). Cena orders Vince to give the people what they want and which is the match VS. Punk. Vince says he doesn't give a damn what the people want, because this is his company, and he does what's right for the company and even the people. Vince asks Cena if "we're good?"
Cena is holding the WWE Championship and looking at it. He gets the theory that everyone is replaceable - Hogan, Michaels, Austin - but that John has busted his ass for him. He defends Punk's right to face him for the title, but if Vince isn't willing to go for it, then that's not what Cena signed up for. He tells Vince that if he just kicked Punk to the curb, then "you've already made it meaningless." Cena hands over the WWE Title and proceeds to the back. (End the show there!)
Vince stops and orders him to wait - he's got something. He walks right up to Cena on the stage, face-to-face, and informs him that the match is back on. However, if C.M. Punk does beat John Cena and walks out of Chicago with the WWE Championship, then Vince will march right down that ramp, into that ring, and say to John Cena "YOU'RRREEE FIRRREEED!" End of show.
Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp
Wow. What an ending. In general, an average Raw with only Alberto Del Rio becoming the new #1 Contender, Zack Ryder's appearance, & The Miz's match/post match beatdown of Alex Riley (along with Alex getting another win and become a fast-rising baby-face) standing out, other than the opening and conclusion - which was the best. Credit for both segments go to Cena and really made/was the focus of the show, and this opinion piece.
Both of his promos tonight are the ones that Cena needs to keep delivering. These are the more mature and serious ones that make fans like me, who have watched for almost 15 years (and those who have watched longer), appreciate and "hold" us on to his words.
The absolute excellence of John's verbal jousting with Vince was truly making me (and everyone in the arena I'm sure) interested and care about the "Money In The Bank" Pay-Per-View. Without saying the actual event by name, he basically compared this upcoming show to the 1997 "Survivor Series" in Montreal and the infamous screwjob (as did Vince too). And for those of us who understood that subtle point, it meant a lot considering the circumstances during that era, which are similar to now.
While I won't, mainly because I don't want to spend the money and will still know what will happen (John retains) being "smartened up", I guarantee you that tonight's Raw will generate just a few more buys in the "MITB" PPV than normal, for just pure inquisitiveness to those out there who wonder what will truly happen on live Pay-Per-View to the WWE Championship and John Cena.
The only negative I thought of was near then end. I believe they should've ended the show with Cena walking out and Vince holding the WWE Title. My thought was then this could've produced even more buzz, especially since next week's Raw is in Boston, near-by hometown of Cena.
A quick scenario could be: all the fans that are scheduled to be in attendance next week could "protest" either by standing outside the arena or having a "picket/riot" of some sort to bring Cena back and/or entice Vince to make the match VS. Punk at "MITB." (Which while could have some logistical issues, I think they could've still pulled off decently and safely - hey they can rig almost anything!).
Other than the above one criticism, the new-found "work/shoot" promo in the last two weeks definitely has wheels spinning and people talking. And I will have to wait over 10 days to find out, since I will be on vacation next week. (Sorry folks, that also means no Raw Report for July 11!). In any case, I hope they keep this storyline and type of story telling going and truly that C.M. Punk doesn't end up leaving.
Until July 18 - which will be after "MITB" and another interesting and BE EXcellent!
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