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| Reported by Ernest I Aguilar |
With the events of last week's "Raw Walkout" as it is being named, will tonight's WWE production be like the NBA and canceled, or will the wrestlers & C.O.O. Triple H come to some sort of agreement for the betterment of the fans? Only one way to find out and that's watch and read on...
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo
A video recap of last week's No-Confidence vote with the Superstars and Triple H is aired, complete with inserted footage of the examples they pointed out to the C.O.O. A live shot of the arena in Oklahoma City tonight, sans any WWE personnel, is first shown, as is an almost empty backstage area. The man in charge then walks out of his locker room and straight to the ring, to a huge pop.
"The Game" takes the microphone to cheers from the crowd and says that he and the fans showed up. He tells the people that the "walkout" last week was something he had never seen before, but the Superstars didn't actually walkout on Triple H, they really walked out on the fans. the C.O.O. informs us that the wrestlers are here, they're just outside in the parking lot forming a protest of not wrestling until he steps down.
HHH asks the crowd what he should do and contemplates leaving to boos. He won't though, as quitting is not in his vocabulary, as is not coercion and blackmail. Instead, the wrestlers can "pucker up" declares Triple H and he will fight for the good of Monday Night Raw to put on a show tonight, even if that means wrestling a broomstick for two hours.
(He then buries the competition by saying that wrestling a broomstick is a lot better than half the roster backstage).
Either way, we're getting an episode of Raw.
One of the men who was absent from the walkout last week makes his way to the ring. John Cena says that there is a reason to his no-show of the walkout and keeping quiet for the week on his decision of confidence or no-confidence.
After running down the list of people who he has worked for, (including Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Vickie Guerrero, 56 Celebrity Guest Hosts, and even Mike Adamle), Cena decides...to stay. Why? Loyalty. John reiterates his motto of that word and puts over the fans as his loyalty, whether they love him or hate him.
Sheamus now joins the debate and reminds Hunter of their history together. He says he tried to make a name for himself by taking out "The Game" but instead Sheamus has earned respect for HHH because Triple H took him on like a man during their feud 18 months ago. Sheamus does not want to be a part of the losers in the parking lot, but a part of Monday Night Raw.
A "Cult Of Personality" has entered the arena (okay, overused again I know - but I just love it!), as C.M. Punk intertwines himself. He puts the blame of this mess on himself, as he says that he made "walking-out" look cool, however there are differences between Punk's walkout and the current one. The Second City Saint goes through the reasons he walked out and then says that he dealt with everyone personally he had a problem with. C.M. asks "what do we do now?"
Triple H says "we do what we do on Monday Night Raw - we shut up and fight!" He books Sheamus VS. John Cena, with himself as the referee. He also appoints Punk the commentary, complete with Triple H's blazer and a table full of "pipe bombs" and he even gets to ring the bell! It's official, leading to...
Match #1: Single - Sheamus VS. John Cena
Cena & Sheamus circle around the ring and lockup, with Sheamus taking Cena down via a side headlock. Cena does the same to send us into a first break.
Commercials.
Back from break, John is attempting an "Attitude Adjustment," but Sheamus reverses into a suplex. 1 - 2 - kickout by Cena! Hard Irishwhip (no pun intended) and another cover for the near-fall. Just as the match picks up, "No Chance In Hell" is blaring on the speakers and the former Boss himself interrupts. Vince McMahon power-walks to the ring and basically cancels the match.
Winner: No Contest via Interruption
Segment #2: Arena Promo
McMahon thanks all who stand-up for what they believe in and tells Triple H (who is now left alone in the ring with Vinny) he believes in him. Vince loves what HHH is doing with Raw, but does remind him that the 50+ in the back don't.
McMahon tells Triple H that he has met with the Board of Directors and they are concerned financially for the well-being of the WWE. If the "walk-out" continues, then there is potential for cancellation of everything from live-events to Monday Night Raw, to even WrestleMania!
Vince then informs Triple H that the B.O.D. has "relieved" him of his duties for running Raw, however, not even a McMahon family member will take charge. The will be an interim General Manager and his name is....Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. This is interim, because the B.O.D. is still looking for a completely unbiased and independent permanent manager. (Didn't we have this already with the laptop?) Laurinaitis walks out to huge "you suck chants" and another break.
Ads.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
John Laurinaitis is at the garage entrance of the arena, welcoming all the Superstars back to work. John Morrison says the decision sucks and Christian sucks up, so the Interim G.M. books a match between the two and continues to shake hands of the wrestlers.
Match #2: Single - John Morrison VS. Christian (accompanied by Jack Swagger, United States Champion Dolph Ziggler, & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes)
Before the bout, Jim Ross (to a big home-town pop), Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Michael Cole (to big boos) return to the commentary booth. Also, both Morrison & Christian are in street clothes. "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson & all referees are also back.
Slap by Christian and run-off-the-ropes which is countered by a shoulder-block from Morrison. Mount-punches from "The Monday-Night Delight" and a back-drop off the top rope. John misses a "Starship Pain" corkscrew moonsault and gets distracted by Ziggler, which allows Christian run into him with the Spear. 1 - 2 - 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Christian
Post match, all three outside participants deliver their finishers to Morrison and Christian, Ziggler, Swagger, & Rhodes stand pleased with their beat down.
Michael Cole & Jim Ross give us two new matches for tonight, which are WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. C.M. Punk and Randy Orton VS. World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry (Again for both, come on man!)
The World's Strongest World Heavyweight Champion walks out on stage and then we go to break!
Commercials.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
John Laurinaitis is on the phone getting the opinion of his significant other when Triple H walks in. Laurinaitis sweet-talks "The Game", which goes no where, as HHH only responds with "have you ever tried to pick up your teeth with broken fingers?" (Oooohhhhhh!)
Match #3: Single - World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry VS. Randy Orton
Prior to the match, Henry cuts a promo and reminds us of his confrontation with the Big Show from last Friday's Smackdown! (Read the report on wrestling-online.com!) He then says that he went through all the punishment and pain courtesy of the Big Show and he's still here. So, at Vengeance, vengeance is Henry's. Randy Orton finally makes his entrance to begin the contest, after another break.
Ads.
Orton quickly reverses a toss into the corner and takes Henry down with a high dropkick. Mark takes control again after a missed jumping knee drop and props Randy on the turnbuckle. He clobbers "The Viper" off the top-rope to the outside with a right-hand but chucks him back in the ring.
Powerslam from Mark for a close near-fall!. Henry goes for a jumping sit-down splash but Orton dodged the bullet as Ross says, and begins to fire up. He gets Henry weak enough to hit the Slingshot DDT and then an R.K.O. Before he can though, Cody Rhodes distracts him. This allows Henry attempt a World's Strongest Slam but Orton jumps out of it and does hit the R.K.O. 1 - 2 - stopped! The Intercontinental Champion comes back in and stomps on Orton to break the pin and cause a DQ.
Winner via Disqualification: Randy Orton
Post match, the generation Superstars fight until Henry recovers and helps Rhodes out by laying Orton down with the W.S.S. Rhodes then slithers in the ring and drives Randy down with the CrossRhodes. He finishes Orton by covering his head with a paper bag, proclaiming "cut the head off a viper and all the venom goes with it. Randy Orton humiliated, would you like a receipt with your paper bag?" Rhodes then laughs maniacally and leaves the ring.
Commercials.
Match #4: Diva Tag-Team - Rosa Mendes & Tamina VS. Eve Torres & Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly is aggressive with punches and kicks in the corner. A cartwheel back kick/elbow smash and headscissors on the ropes until the ref has to pull Kelly away. This allows Rosa to tag in Tamina, who takes over for a bit until she misses a splash and faces off with Eve.
Torres attempts a pin after a clothesline and somersault splash. Rosa breaks it up and Kelly dives off the apron onto Mendes. In the ring, Torres counters Tamina with a kick and flies off the top-rope with her moonsault finisher to well, finish.
Winners via Pinfall: Kelly Kelly & Eve Torres
Segment #5: Arena Promo
The new Interim G.M. walks out and gets on the microphone in the ring. He quickly books John Cena to challenge Alberto Del Rio for the WWE Championship at Vengeance. Laurinaitis then asks Jim Ross to come into the squared circle to do the moral and ethical thing.
Laurinaitis calls Ross "a redneck Oklahoma ingrate" for walking out on Triple H last week. He then promptly fires Jim in front of the hometown crowd. John walks up the stage, as Ross shakes Lawler's and some fans' hands. He takes a bow at the top of the ramp. (Knew that was coming, as J.R. is never treated well in his hometown.)
Ads.
Match #5: 6-Man Tag-Team - Mason Ryan & WWE Tag-Team Champions Air-Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan "Air" Bourne) VS. David Otunga, Jack Swagger, & WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler (accompanied by Vickie Guerrero)
Bourne & Ziggler start out, with the smaller of the two getting an early advantage. Bourne quickly slaps hands with Kingston and he goes at it with Dolph. Ziggler tries to get a break on the outside, but Mason throws him back in with a Gorilla Press Slam. Kingston baseball-slides Ziggler back to the outside so he can tag in Bourne and Evan can launch himself off the top-rope with a High-Body-Splash.
Commercials.
Swagger and Kingston are now wrestling, until Kofi quickly tags in Ryan. He dominates the "All-American-American" with an over-the-shoulder toss into two corners. Kingston now in again and gets pushed off the turnbuckle by Jack, who switches up with Otunga. David hammers away on Kofi and tags in Dolph.
"Perfection" points to Ryan & Bourne (as to say "watch this") and tries a neckbreaker on Kofi, which is reversed into a Backslide pin for 2! Smacking dropkick from Ziggler and then a tag to Swagger. Jack controls until Kingston counters with a Flapjack drop. Tags to both Ziggler and Mason. Ryan punishes Dolph all around the ring including an almost cover following a big boot-to-the-face.
Otunga breaks up the pin and the match breaks down with all competitors going after each other. Ryan clears the ring and finishes off Ziggler with a Spinning Powerslam/Uranage combo. 1 - 2 - 3!
Winners via Pinfall: Mason Ryan & WWE Tag-Team Champions Air-Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan "Air" Bourne)
Ads.
Segment #6: Video Promos
Another hi-lite package of Brodus Clay airs, as does the world-premiere trailer for John Cena's new movie, The Reunion.
Match #6: Single - WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. C.M. Punk
Ricardo Rodriguez introduces his charge, who rolls out in a beautiful red 2012 BMW. Break before Punk comes out.
Commercials.
C.M. Punk now out and the match begins. They play "cat/mouse" around the area and then lock up, with neither getting an advantage. Shoulder-block and waistlock by Punk, who then aggressively stomps away on Del Rio in the corner. Alberto takes a breather on the outside then climbs back in and beats Punk to the punch, literately.
Headlock by the Mexican Aristrocrat until C.M. reverse with a backdrop and locks in a leg-scissors submission. Punk soon misses his knee-in-the-corner and tumbles over the top-rope. John Laurinaitis walks out and orders the match to stop, so he can change it up.
Winner: No Contest via Executive Stoppage
Laurinaitis then re-books the match into a Tag-Team one - Punk/Del Rio VS. two men he re-instated: The Miz & R-Truth! The newly re-hired works walk out and Truth cuts a rap promo before a break.
Commercials.
Match #7: Tag-Team - C.M Punk & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. R-Truth & The Miz
Truth & Del Rio are wrestling as we come back. Del Rio is all over Truth, until Truth reverses fortunes and pounds down on Alberto. He tags in Miz who also works over Del Rio. Alberto soon counters with a kick and tags in Punk. C.M. controls over Miz, including a nice side-Russian legsweep for a 2!
Truth gets tagged and worked over again by Punk and Del Rio is now in. Headlock by Alberto is countered into a Jawbreaker from Truth. Miz tagged back in and kicks away on the WWE Champion. Del Rio kicks back and quickly tags in Punk. The Champ then collects his title and Rodriquez to vacate the match and stumble up the ring, faking an injury. Punk is now left alone in 2 on one situation.
The Straight-Edge Superstar answers the challenge, with fierce punches on Miz, until Truth kicks him from behind. Big "C.M. Punk" chants from the crowd to help him get going. Rear chin lock with scissors by Truth, which Punk tries to fight out of but to no avail. Standard 2-1 match style until Punk starts to come back, including bulldogging and clotheslining both Miz & Truth.
Punk dives off the top rope with an elbow, a la' the late great "Macho Man" Randy Savage. A "Go To Sleep" attempt until Truth comes in and breaks it up. Both pound away on Punk, causing themselves to be disqualified (a recurring theme tonight).
Winners via Disqualification: C.M. Punk & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio
Post match, the beat down continues until Punk's former nemesis comes to the rescue. Triple H runs down and helps "The Second City Saint" to assault Miz & Truth and clean house, sending them retreating through the crowd. HHH & Punk pose for the crowd and are more/less side-by-side.
Backstage, John Laurinaitis and David Otunga talk over the re-hiring of Miz/R-Truth while watching on screen and Laurinaitis books another tag-team match, this time for Vengeance. It will be Miz & R-Truth VS. C.M. Punk & Triple H!
In the ring, Punk & Triple H shake hands and continue posing for the fans to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp
What started off as an interesting and really great opening tinkered off, going back to average pretty much when Vince McMahon showed up and did the inevitable of firing Triple H's C.O.O. responsibilities and hiring interim John Laurinaitis.
Then Raw went into it's usual mode and really wasn't that "out of the ordinary" from then on. The elaboration on tonight is below, however inverted from last week - unfortunately a bit more negative analysis.
Excellence: The opening promo/segment with Triple H/C.M. Punk/John Cena/Sheamus. All 4 had great chemistry, stated their reasons for being out in the arena clearly, and just wanted to get back to business - wrestling! Simple.
The "potential" hiring of a permanent Raw General Manager - being a positive man, I'm going to hope they actually make a big deal and find a big name for the position a lot sooner than the previous 2001 Space Odyssey "laptop" version. (There's a helluva reference!) Look for this in Bogus too, albeit a different reason.
World Champ Mark Henry's promo - man still makes me believe everything he's saying and that he will legitimately hurt someone and do anything to keep the Championship.
6-Man tag - just some great wrestling from all competitors who know how to do so well.
Bogus: Vince McMahon back - too soon. Should've been a big deal, plus just for fun, they should've let the Sheamus/Cena match go on for a while - it was actually pretty good!
All other matches than the 6-Man were either too short (Christian/Morrison), done too much (Henry/Orton, the switch-up main event, Kelly/Eve teaming), or just too "standard" and sub-par (the main event) - in other words boring. Miz/R-Truth back - for all they did at "Hell In The Cell," there should've been a lot more build to the their comeback than just showing up complete with wrestling gear right away.
Jim Ross getting "fired." Again done too much and expected, which is unfortunate. Michael Cole's commentary all night - also way too heelish and just annoying/overacted/overdone.
Finally, John Laurinaitis as Interim G.M. Also predictable, boring, and again done too much with the "heel" role. I also have a feeling he will end up being the permanent G.M. anyway, as much like the "laptop anonymous one" they will probably forget about finding a replacement and just hire him anyway. NO ZACK RYDER!!! What the on two consecutive weeks following his push beforehand?
As you can read, was not a huge fan of this week's episode. So here's hoping they fix the points mentioned in "bogus" and produce a better show next week.
Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online readers/fans & wrestling fans!
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo
A video recap of last week's No-Confidence vote with the Superstars and Triple H is aired, complete with inserted footage of the examples they pointed out to the C.O.O. A live shot of the arena in Oklahoma City tonight, sans any WWE personnel, is first shown, as is an almost empty backstage area. The man in charge then walks out of his locker room and straight to the ring, to a huge pop.
"The Game" takes the microphone to cheers from the crowd and says that he and the fans showed up. He tells the people that the "walkout" last week was something he had never seen before, but the Superstars didn't actually walkout on Triple H, they really walked out on the fans. the C.O.O. informs us that the wrestlers are here, they're just outside in the parking lot forming a protest of not wrestling until he steps down.
HHH asks the crowd what he should do and contemplates leaving to boos. He won't though, as quitting is not in his vocabulary, as is not coercion and blackmail. Instead, the wrestlers can "pucker up" declares Triple H and he will fight for the good of Monday Night Raw to put on a show tonight, even if that means wrestling a broomstick for two hours.
(He then buries the competition by saying that wrestling a broomstick is a lot better than half the roster backstage).
Either way, we're getting an episode of Raw.
One of the men who was absent from the walkout last week makes his way to the ring. John Cena says that there is a reason to his no-show of the walkout and keeping quiet for the week on his decision of confidence or no-confidence.
After running down the list of people who he has worked for, (including Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Vickie Guerrero, 56 Celebrity Guest Hosts, and even Mike Adamle), Cena decides...to stay. Why? Loyalty. John reiterates his motto of that word and puts over the fans as his loyalty, whether they love him or hate him.
Sheamus now joins the debate and reminds Hunter of their history together. He says he tried to make a name for himself by taking out "The Game" but instead Sheamus has earned respect for HHH because Triple H took him on like a man during their feud 18 months ago. Sheamus does not want to be a part of the losers in the parking lot, but a part of Monday Night Raw.
A "Cult Of Personality" has entered the arena (okay, overused again I know - but I just love it!), as C.M. Punk intertwines himself. He puts the blame of this mess on himself, as he says that he made "walking-out" look cool, however there are differences between Punk's walkout and the current one. The Second City Saint goes through the reasons he walked out and then says that he dealt with everyone personally he had a problem with. C.M. asks "what do we do now?"
Triple H says "we do what we do on Monday Night Raw - we shut up and fight!" He books Sheamus VS. John Cena, with himself as the referee. He also appoints Punk the commentary, complete with Triple H's blazer and a table full of "pipe bombs" and he even gets to ring the bell! It's official, leading to...
Match #1: Single - Sheamus VS. John Cena
Cena & Sheamus circle around the ring and lockup, with Sheamus taking Cena down via a side headlock. Cena does the same to send us into a first break.
Commercials.
Back from break, John is attempting an "Attitude Adjustment," but Sheamus reverses into a suplex. 1 - 2 - kickout by Cena! Hard Irishwhip (no pun intended) and another cover for the near-fall. Just as the match picks up, "No Chance In Hell" is blaring on the speakers and the former Boss himself interrupts. Vince McMahon power-walks to the ring and basically cancels the match.
Winner: No Contest via Interruption
Segment #2: Arena Promo
McMahon thanks all who stand-up for what they believe in and tells Triple H (who is now left alone in the ring with Vinny) he believes in him. Vince loves what HHH is doing with Raw, but does remind him that the 50+ in the back don't.
McMahon tells Triple H that he has met with the Board of Directors and they are concerned financially for the well-being of the WWE. If the "walk-out" continues, then there is potential for cancellation of everything from live-events to Monday Night Raw, to even WrestleMania!
Vince then informs Triple H that the B.O.D. has "relieved" him of his duties for running Raw, however, not even a McMahon family member will take charge. The will be an interim General Manager and his name is....Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. This is interim, because the B.O.D. is still looking for a completely unbiased and independent permanent manager. (Didn't we have this already with the laptop?) Laurinaitis walks out to huge "you suck chants" and another break.
Ads.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
John Laurinaitis is at the garage entrance of the arena, welcoming all the Superstars back to work. John Morrison says the decision sucks and Christian sucks up, so the Interim G.M. books a match between the two and continues to shake hands of the wrestlers.
Match #2: Single - John Morrison VS. Christian (accompanied by Jack Swagger, United States Champion Dolph Ziggler, & Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes)
Before the bout, Jim Ross (to a big home-town pop), Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Michael Cole (to big boos) return to the commentary booth. Also, both Morrison & Christian are in street clothes. "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson & all referees are also back.
Slap by Christian and run-off-the-ropes which is countered by a shoulder-block from Morrison. Mount-punches from "The Monday-Night Delight" and a back-drop off the top rope. John misses a "Starship Pain" corkscrew moonsault and gets distracted by Ziggler, which allows Christian run into him with the Spear. 1 - 2 - 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Christian
Post match, all three outside participants deliver their finishers to Morrison and Christian, Ziggler, Swagger, & Rhodes stand pleased with their beat down.
Michael Cole & Jim Ross give us two new matches for tonight, which are WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. C.M. Punk and Randy Orton VS. World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry (Again for both, come on man!)
The World's Strongest World Heavyweight Champion walks out on stage and then we go to break!
Commercials.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
John Laurinaitis is on the phone getting the opinion of his significant other when Triple H walks in. Laurinaitis sweet-talks "The Game", which goes no where, as HHH only responds with "have you ever tried to pick up your teeth with broken fingers?" (Oooohhhhhh!)
Match #3: Single - World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry VS. Randy Orton
Prior to the match, Henry cuts a promo and reminds us of his confrontation with the Big Show from last Friday's Smackdown! (Read the report on wrestling-online.com!) He then says that he went through all the punishment and pain courtesy of the Big Show and he's still here. So, at Vengeance, vengeance is Henry's. Randy Orton finally makes his entrance to begin the contest, after another break.
Ads.
Orton quickly reverses a toss into the corner and takes Henry down with a high dropkick. Mark takes control again after a missed jumping knee drop and props Randy on the turnbuckle. He clobbers "The Viper" off the top-rope to the outside with a right-hand but chucks him back in the ring.
Powerslam from Mark for a close near-fall!. Henry goes for a jumping sit-down splash but Orton dodged the bullet as Ross says, and begins to fire up. He gets Henry weak enough to hit the Slingshot DDT and then an R.K.O. Before he can though, Cody Rhodes distracts him. This allows Henry attempt a World's Strongest Slam but Orton jumps out of it and does hit the R.K.O. 1 - 2 - stopped! The Intercontinental Champion comes back in and stomps on Orton to break the pin and cause a DQ.
Winner via Disqualification: Randy Orton
Post match, the generation Superstars fight until Henry recovers and helps Rhodes out by laying Orton down with the W.S.S. Rhodes then slithers in the ring and drives Randy down with the CrossRhodes. He finishes Orton by covering his head with a paper bag, proclaiming "cut the head off a viper and all the venom goes with it. Randy Orton humiliated, would you like a receipt with your paper bag?" Rhodes then laughs maniacally and leaves the ring.
Commercials.
Match #4: Diva Tag-Team - Rosa Mendes & Tamina VS. Eve Torres & Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly is aggressive with punches and kicks in the corner. A cartwheel back kick/elbow smash and headscissors on the ropes until the ref has to pull Kelly away. This allows Rosa to tag in Tamina, who takes over for a bit until she misses a splash and faces off with Eve.
Torres attempts a pin after a clothesline and somersault splash. Rosa breaks it up and Kelly dives off the apron onto Mendes. In the ring, Torres counters Tamina with a kick and flies off the top-rope with her moonsault finisher to well, finish.
Winners via Pinfall: Kelly Kelly & Eve Torres
Segment #5: Arena Promo
The new Interim G.M. walks out and gets on the microphone in the ring. He quickly books John Cena to challenge Alberto Del Rio for the WWE Championship at Vengeance. Laurinaitis then asks Jim Ross to come into the squared circle to do the moral and ethical thing.
Laurinaitis calls Ross "a redneck Oklahoma ingrate" for walking out on Triple H last week. He then promptly fires Jim in front of the hometown crowd. John walks up the stage, as Ross shakes Lawler's and some fans' hands. He takes a bow at the top of the ramp. (Knew that was coming, as J.R. is never treated well in his hometown.)
Ads.
Match #5: 6-Man Tag-Team - Mason Ryan & WWE Tag-Team Champions Air-Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan "Air" Bourne) VS. David Otunga, Jack Swagger, & WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler (accompanied by Vickie Guerrero)
Bourne & Ziggler start out, with the smaller of the two getting an early advantage. Bourne quickly slaps hands with Kingston and he goes at it with Dolph. Ziggler tries to get a break on the outside, but Mason throws him back in with a Gorilla Press Slam. Kingston baseball-slides Ziggler back to the outside so he can tag in Bourne and Evan can launch himself off the top-rope with a High-Body-Splash.
Commercials.
Swagger and Kingston are now wrestling, until Kofi quickly tags in Ryan. He dominates the "All-American-American" with an over-the-shoulder toss into two corners. Kingston now in again and gets pushed off the turnbuckle by Jack, who switches up with Otunga. David hammers away on Kofi and tags in Dolph.
"Perfection" points to Ryan & Bourne (as to say "watch this") and tries a neckbreaker on Kofi, which is reversed into a Backslide pin for 2! Smacking dropkick from Ziggler and then a tag to Swagger. Jack controls until Kingston counters with a Flapjack drop. Tags to both Ziggler and Mason. Ryan punishes Dolph all around the ring including an almost cover following a big boot-to-the-face.
Otunga breaks up the pin and the match breaks down with all competitors going after each other. Ryan clears the ring and finishes off Ziggler with a Spinning Powerslam/Uranage combo. 1 - 2 - 3!
Winners via Pinfall: Mason Ryan & WWE Tag-Team Champions Air-Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan "Air" Bourne)
Ads.
Segment #6: Video Promos
Another hi-lite package of Brodus Clay airs, as does the world-premiere trailer for John Cena's new movie, The Reunion.
Match #6: Single - WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. C.M. Punk
Ricardo Rodriguez introduces his charge, who rolls out in a beautiful red 2012 BMW. Break before Punk comes out.
Commercials.
C.M. Punk now out and the match begins. They play "cat/mouse" around the area and then lock up, with neither getting an advantage. Shoulder-block and waistlock by Punk, who then aggressively stomps away on Del Rio in the corner. Alberto takes a breather on the outside then climbs back in and beats Punk to the punch, literately.
Headlock by the Mexican Aristrocrat until C.M. reverse with a backdrop and locks in a leg-scissors submission. Punk soon misses his knee-in-the-corner and tumbles over the top-rope. John Laurinaitis walks out and orders the match to stop, so he can change it up.
Winner: No Contest via Executive Stoppage
Laurinaitis then re-books the match into a Tag-Team one - Punk/Del Rio VS. two men he re-instated: The Miz & R-Truth! The newly re-hired works walk out and Truth cuts a rap promo before a break.
Commercials.
Match #7: Tag-Team - C.M Punk & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. R-Truth & The Miz
Truth & Del Rio are wrestling as we come back. Del Rio is all over Truth, until Truth reverses fortunes and pounds down on Alberto. He tags in Miz who also works over Del Rio. Alberto soon counters with a kick and tags in Punk. C.M. controls over Miz, including a nice side-Russian legsweep for a 2!
Truth gets tagged and worked over again by Punk and Del Rio is now in. Headlock by Alberto is countered into a Jawbreaker from Truth. Miz tagged back in and kicks away on the WWE Champion. Del Rio kicks back and quickly tags in Punk. The Champ then collects his title and Rodriquez to vacate the match and stumble up the ring, faking an injury. Punk is now left alone in 2 on one situation.
The Straight-Edge Superstar answers the challenge, with fierce punches on Miz, until Truth kicks him from behind. Big "C.M. Punk" chants from the crowd to help him get going. Rear chin lock with scissors by Truth, which Punk tries to fight out of but to no avail. Standard 2-1 match style until Punk starts to come back, including bulldogging and clotheslining both Miz & Truth.
Punk dives off the top rope with an elbow, a la' the late great "Macho Man" Randy Savage. A "Go To Sleep" attempt until Truth comes in and breaks it up. Both pound away on Punk, causing themselves to be disqualified (a recurring theme tonight).
Winners via Disqualification: C.M. Punk & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio
Post match, the beat down continues until Punk's former nemesis comes to the rescue. Triple H runs down and helps "The Second City Saint" to assault Miz & Truth and clean house, sending them retreating through the crowd. HHH & Punk pose for the crowd and are more/less side-by-side.
Backstage, John Laurinaitis and David Otunga talk over the re-hiring of Miz/R-Truth while watching on screen and Laurinaitis books another tag-team match, this time for Vengeance. It will be Miz & R-Truth VS. C.M. Punk & Triple H!
In the ring, Punk & Triple H shake hands and continue posing for the fans to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp
What started off as an interesting and really great opening tinkered off, going back to average pretty much when Vince McMahon showed up and did the inevitable of firing Triple H's C.O.O. responsibilities and hiring interim John Laurinaitis.
Then Raw went into it's usual mode and really wasn't that "out of the ordinary" from then on. The elaboration on tonight is below, however inverted from last week - unfortunately a bit more negative analysis.
Excellence: The opening promo/segment with Triple H/C.M. Punk/John Cena/Sheamus. All 4 had great chemistry, stated their reasons for being out in the arena clearly, and just wanted to get back to business - wrestling! Simple.
The "potential" hiring of a permanent Raw General Manager - being a positive man, I'm going to hope they actually make a big deal and find a big name for the position a lot sooner than the previous 2001 Space Odyssey "laptop" version. (There's a helluva reference!) Look for this in Bogus too, albeit a different reason.
World Champ Mark Henry's promo - man still makes me believe everything he's saying and that he will legitimately hurt someone and do anything to keep the Championship.
6-Man tag - just some great wrestling from all competitors who know how to do so well.
Bogus: Vince McMahon back - too soon. Should've been a big deal, plus just for fun, they should've let the Sheamus/Cena match go on for a while - it was actually pretty good!
All other matches than the 6-Man were either too short (Christian/Morrison), done too much (Henry/Orton, the switch-up main event, Kelly/Eve teaming), or just too "standard" and sub-par (the main event) - in other words boring. Miz/R-Truth back - for all they did at "Hell In The Cell," there should've been a lot more build to the their comeback than just showing up complete with wrestling gear right away.
Jim Ross getting "fired." Again done too much and expected, which is unfortunate. Michael Cole's commentary all night - also way too heelish and just annoying/overacted/overdone.
Finally, John Laurinaitis as Interim G.M. Also predictable, boring, and again done too much with the "heel" role. I also have a feeling he will end up being the permanent G.M. anyway, as much like the "laptop anonymous one" they will probably forget about finding a replacement and just hire him anyway. NO ZACK RYDER!!! What the on two consecutive weeks following his push beforehand?
As you can read, was not a huge fan of this week's episode. So here's hoping they fix the points mentioned in "bogus" and produce a better show next week.
Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online readers/fans & wrestling fans!
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