Monday Night Raw TV report for 10/17/2011

Reported by Ernest Aguilar

Let the Laurinaitis era begin...but for how long? As tonight's Raw emanates from Mexico for the first time ever, what will go down with the new Interim G.M. in charge.

Also, with Triple H back as a wrestler, how much of a whooping will he lay on The Miz & R-Truth (or anyone else for that matter); plus is his new-found partnership with C.M. Punk a lasting one. Finally, since they are in the home-country, the biggest question of the night - Alberto Del Rio: face or heel? All this and much more, so read on to enjoy!

Introduction Segment: Arena Promo/Video Recap

The regular Raw Opening Video plays and the pyro explodes in the Sports Arena, as Raw is live from Mexico City. Michael Cole welcomes us with Jerry "The King" Lawler at ringside. Justin Roberts then introduces Mr. Executive Vice President & Interim General Manager Of Raw, John Laurinaitis. The man makes his way to the ring as footage of last week's incidents involving (former) C.O.O. Triple H are replayed.

After reminding us of who he is, John plays a trick on the Mexican people by teasing Rey Mysterio's return, when really he's in San Diego, California. (So, in hindsight, that means he will show up tonight). Laurinaitis admits he made a mistake firing Jim Ross and following a backlash of uneasy comments, John brings him back.

Ross, to the dismay of Cole, is actually here and walks out. Just before he can sit in his favorite chair, John asks Good Ole' J.R. to step into the ring.

Instead of the commentary booth, however, the Interim G.M. publicly apologizes to Jim, and then Laurinaitis books a match to help settle the differences between Ross & Cole - Michael Cole & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. Jim Ross & John Cena! (I guess the only way to avoid a face-pop for home-country boy Alberto is to team him with probably the most-despised character in the WWE since, well, ever!). Ross & Cole jaw back and forth (with Michael climbing on top of the play-by-play table).

Randy Orton then walks out to the ring and his participation in a 6-Man Tag Match is next!

Commercials.

Match #1: 6-Man Tag - Randy Orton, John Morrison, & Sheamus VS. Christian, Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes, & World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry

Prior to the match, it is official that Randy Orton will take on Cody Rhodes (non-title) and Big Show will face Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship at this Sunday's Vengeance Pay-Per-View.

Orton & Christian begin the match with Randy getting the upper hand quickly following a clothesline, leapfrog/dropkick, & 10-Punch. Orton tags in Sheamus as does Christian with Cody Rhodes. Lockup and shoulder-block by Sheamus. Sheamus dominates over Rhodes with a huge backdrop, which lets Cody get a tag on Henry. On the outside, Randy clotheslines Rhodes hard and The Viper and Intercontinental Champion fight all the way to the back, leaving this to be only Morrison/Sheamus VS. Henry/Christian.

Ads.

Morrison & Henry are fighting now, with Henry head butting John and tagging Christian back in. Back and forth between the two until Morrison hits a springboard crossbody and high calf-kick for a two-count!

The "Monday Night Delight" shoves Christian into the ropes and drives him down with the flip-over uranage. Henry distracts Morrison, which allows Christian to take him down with a Neck/Back Breaker combo and then slap hands with Henry. The World's Strongest Man is in control and then re-tags Christian.

Christian in control until Morrison uses his Par-Cor techniques and tries to tag in Sheamus, but Henry got tagged first and hammers him down to stop the momentum. Morrison gets it back with a reversal and dropkick to the knee. Just as he is going to tag Sheamus, Christian pulls the Irishman off the apron and those two brawl out in the crowd, essentially leaving this as a singles match.

Morrison gives an effort but gets caught off the ropes and dropped right into the World's Strongest Slam finisher from the World Champion and the 1 - 2 - 3!

Winners via Pinfall: Christian, Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes, & World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry

More plugs for the main-event tag-match as well as C.M. Punk VS. The Miz later tonight.

Commercials.

Segment #2: Video Package

Brodus Clay is continuing to be (re)introduced through excellent hilights of his career so far and up close shots of his HUGE body. He also says what he is going to do, and is actually very convincing in his low and intimidating voice.

Segment #3: Backstage Promo

The Interim G.M. is in his office on his cell-phone and is interrupted once by The Bella Twins, who want to remind him of how important (yea, right!) they are to Monday Night Raw, and then by the WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio who questions his booking of the main-event. Laurinaitis informs A.D.R. that the winner of tonight's match will pick the stipulation for the WWE Championship match at Vengeance.

Match #2: Single - Eve Torres (with Kelly Kelly) VS. Natalya (with WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix)

(This could actually be a decent match!) Lockup by both Divas and Natalya powers Eve into the corner. Eve fights out of the corner until she gets clotheslined by Natalya. The Hart-Dungeon grad dominates over Eve with an abdominal stretch & face-slam.

She then slams Eve's head face-first into the turnbuckle and attempts an over-the-shoulder powerslam, but Eve reverses into a Reverse DDT and a moonsault Splash from the top. Eve covers and receives the 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Eve (with Kelly Kelly)

Ads.

Match #3: Single - C.M. Punk VS. The Miz

Mr. Cult Of Personality is out first to a HUGE OVATION. Miz & R-Truth cut their rap promo, while C.M. sits in the ring amused. Miz then gets on the mic and reminds Punk of the beat down they laid upon him at "Hell In The Cell."

He asks what hurts more - Punk not getting a WWE Title shot for a long time, or the fact that Miz/Truth eliminated Triple H from power, something that Punk couldn't do. Truth finishes with "at Vengeance, vengeance is going to get got!"

Triple H then marches to the ring, still in a suit, but strips off the coat jacket and enters the ring. He and Punk face-off against Miz & Truth as we go to a quick break.

Commercials.

Back from break, C.M. Punk & The Miz are in the ring alone now and circle the square. Leg sweep and quick STF submission by Punk, but Miz reaches the ropes. (Truth yells at the ref to break the hold). Lockup and headlock from C.M., followed by a waist lock slam and quick cover. Miz reverses a headlock into his own and takes Punk down to the mat.

Both run off the ropes and Punk hits first with a leapfrog & dropkick, sending Miz to the floor. Punk follows with a suicide dive and rolls Miz back into the ring. Punk misses his knee-in-the-corner and tumbles over the turnbuckle. As Truth looks to capitalize, HHH cuts him off and stares him down.

Punk slingshots Miz on the top-rope and flies with a top-rope Clothesline. Stiff kick and 2-count from Punk. Miz punches back and gets control, stomping away on C.M.

The Second City Saint gets his leg gripped by Truth, which invites Triple H into the ring. Referee Scott Armstrong holds The Game back and Truth/Miz double-team Punk. This helps Miz to power-over and dissect Punk, including a top-rope Double Axe Handle. A bit later, another try with this move, but C.M. counters with a Spin Kick.

As they are both getting up, Miz quickly tosses Punk to the floor and Truth hits him with a bottle of water. Triple H chases Truth to the stage, until John Laurinaits returns, and briefly stops the match. He tells Triple H that there is an "immigration problem" and he has to leave. Triple H obliges, but not before knocking Truth down with a right hand. (Okay, this is taking it a little too far - seriously, immigration now - more on that in "Bogus" section!)

Ads.

During the break, HHH is escorted out of the arena with the Interim G.M., David Otunga, & "customs officials." Back in the ring, Miz has Punk in a vicious headlock until Punk kicks his way out and clotheslines over Miz, followed by a swinging neckbreaker. He nails his high-corner-knee and another clothesline.

Punk then flies himself off the top rope and does so again a la the late great "Macho Man" Randy Savage. R-Truth tries to get involved again, but Punk soon sends Miz into Punk, then rolls up the awesome one for the W!

Winner via Pinfall: C.M. Punk

Post match, "Awesome Truth" put the boots to the Straight Edge Superstar until referees run down and Miz/Truth surrender. They have a change of heart and quickly run back to finish off Punk, with Truth hitting the jumping flatliner and Miz the Skull-Krushing Finale.

Commercials.

Match #4: Single - "The All-American-American" Jack Swagger (with Vickie Guerrero & WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler) VS. "Long Island Iced-Z" Zack Ryder

Preceding this bout, Vickie Guerrero cuts a promo putting herself over in Mexico and announces that her clients will face "Air-Boom" for the WWE Tag Team Championship at Vengeance. Dolph puts himself over (well, too, by the way) and Jack attempts to sing America's National Anthem. This before he is cut off by "Woo Woo Woo!" Zack Ryder arrives (to a barely-heard reaction/pop).

Quick match with Zack countering a corner move from Swagger and then guiding him to the canvas with the Roughrider jumping leg lariat. The ref counts the fall, 1 - 2 - 3!

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

Post match, Dolph & Swagger size up Ryder as he celebrates until Mason Ryan runs down and reminds Ziggler they have a match next.

Ads.

Match #5: Single - WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler (with "The All-American-American Jack Swagger & Vickie Guerrero) VS. Mason Ryan (Non-Title)

Return into a lockup by both and then Mason totally governing this contest. Big Scoop Slam and Boot from Ryan. Ziggler rolls out of the ring and Vickie goes to protect him, even slapping Mason! (Oops!) This infuriates the big man and he just over-powers and pounds on Dolph, until referee Charles "Little Naitch" Robinson calls for the bell. Ryan has been DQ'd.

Winner via Disqualification: WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler

Postmatch, Mason continues the brutalization, topping the Champion off with a powerslam.

Segment #4: Backstage/Arena Promo

In the locker room, Jim Ross second-guesses the main-even until John Cena gives his usual pep talk and puts over Ross as the "greatest voice the WWE has ever had." (Sincerely, very true!). This motivates Good Ole' J.R. and he wants to get his hands on Michael Cole. In the arena, Cole runs-down J.R. and goes to get ready.

Commercials.

Match #6: Tag-Team - WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & Michael Cole VS. Jim "Good Ole' J.R." Ross & John Cena

Cole wants to start and wants J.R. to as well. That happens, as does a hard punch from Ross onto Cole. Michael quickly backs out and in comes Alberto. Cena is tagged in and both trade back and forth maneuvers in one-upsmanship's, including to very nice leapfrogs by both men.

Hiptoss and headlock from the WWE Champion, which is reversed into a Backdrop and a headlock of his own, followed by a backdrop of Del Rio's. A.D.R. manages most of the match until Cena counters and tries an S.T.F. Submission, but Alberto fights out and tilt-a-whirl backbreaks him. Smacking Enziguri and a cover by Del Rio, but Cena gets the shoulder up at 2!

Del Rio misses a top-rope Senton Splash and this allows John to "fire up" and rule the Mexican Aristocrat. Alberto weasels out and quickly tags in Cole. Michael pleads for mercy to no avail, because Cena drops him with the A.A. and lets Jim Ross force Cole to tap-out hard to an Ankle Lock Submission.

Winners via Submission: Jim "Good Ole' J.R." Ross & John Cena

Post match, as Cena & Ross celebrate, Del Rio tries a sneak attack, but John is ready. He delivers another Attitude Adjustment, this time to Alberto on the floor. (And interestingly, although expected, receives boos from the crowd).

Cena then begins counting "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7" until he decides to run-down the WWE Champ more, incorporating a steel ring step shot-to-the-head on the skull of him. John sits on the steps and starts again "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10." Cena gets in the ring and makes the obvious announcement of a Last Man Standing Match. Cena says "this Sunday, vengeance will be mine!"

Alberto is fallen on the mats and Cena poses to a pop now for the crowd to close the show.

End Of Raw.


Reporter's Rumblings - By Moe Tapp

By and large, a very average Raw tonight, which is disappointing considering it is the "go-home" show before Sunday's Pay-Per-View. On to "Excellent/Bogus" then my Vengeance predictions.

Excellence: Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton & Sheamus/Christian's respective brawls during their match - great way to keep the intensity believable and going between the two pairs of rivals.

Brodus Clay's build. They are basically repackaging this dude and he has the soft-spoken, yet fearful demeanor when talking in the clips. Again, he could be a big star (no pun intended!).

C.M. Punk VS. The Miz - awesome match and storytelling all-around. Zack Ryder winning again! Mason Ryan face-turn working well. Great wrestling between Cena & Del Rio and I like the way they booked Cena to make the announcement of the stipulation - didn't just say it right away but constructed a small suspense for it.

Bogus: Laurinaits was nothing special tonight. I was wrong after all on Rey's impending appearance. The "immigration" gig - seriously that would not happen in real life, way to "out there" for believability.

Cole getting in the ring and back into it with J.R. - I hope this was only a one-off, won't look forward to writing about them each week antagonizing each other every week. Alberto's lack of promo/mic time. Seriously, he's an great talker but lately has been relegated to just backstage short promos - what gives!?

Predictions: Randy Orton/Cody Rhodes, Sheamus/Christian, & Triple H/C.M. Punk/Miz/R-Truth - Triple Non/Screwy Finish; "Air-Boom" & Dolph/Swagger for the WWE Tag-Team Championship - "Air-Boom" to retain; Beth Phoenix keeps her WWE Divas Title and Eve turns on Kelly Kelly (or vice-versa); World Heavyweight Championship - Mark Henry holds on, barely; John Cena to be the new WWE Champion (again) - I can't see him losing this type of match whatsoever.

And I'm spent! (Great line from a great movie!). That's all for tonight and let's see how I did for the old guess & check regarding Vengeance this Sunday. (Hopefully better than my NFL picks!). Until next week, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers & Wrestling Fans!