Detailed 7/30/12 WWE Raw Recap
Finally… the Starman has come back… to Gerweck.net. And what a night to return as Chris Jericho recently sent out a tweet (and a Tout video) that the Raw set has caught on fire and the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati has been evacuated. I hope everyone is alright and this should provide for an interesting start to the show tonight.
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The live crowd is in their seats as we are welcomed to the 1001 episode of Raw as the announce team acknowledge the fire that broke out earlier in the evening during a pyro test. We are then treated to a video package of what went down last week during the 1000 episode, which included the return of DX and the Rock, the Miz becoming the Intercontinental Champion and AJ turning down Daniel Bryan’s hand in marriage to become the GM of Raw. Also, the Undertaker made an appearance, Paul Heyman accepted Triple H’s challenge for a match against Brock Lesnar and CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against John Cena and took the Rock out with the GTS.
CM Punk’s music hits as the WWE Champion comes down to the ring with a fresh haircut and a microphone. Punk talks about how everyone wants their WrestleMania moment and last week, he had a Raw moment. Punk says how the way Raw ended last week left a bad taste in his mouth after hearing how Jerry Lawler say he turned his back on the WWE Universe. Punk makes his way over to the announce table and sits on top to turn his attention to Lawler. Punk says it was Lawler that turned his back on him as he is still the WWE Champion and the Rock is a delusional movie star that showed him a lack of respect. Punk says the Rock made it seem like he was invisible in the ring last week and then acted like he was going to take his championship at the Royal Rumble. Punk says the Rock is fortunate that he didn’t drop the Rock on the spot for what he did.
Punk then questions the fact that the Rock has yet to respond to what happened last week, yet when he was in his feud with John Cena, you couldn’t shut him up. The Rock has been silent and Punk says he knows what that means. Punk then goes on to say that the end of Raw should end, with the focus on the WWE Champion and the best wrestler in the world. Punk is then cut off by Big Show’s music. Punk returns to the ring as Show makes his way down the entrance ramp and Lawler is at a loss for words. Big Show says the end of Raw 1000 was all about him as he was the one that cost Cena the WWE Championship and made him the first man to cash in the Money in the Bank contract only to lose. As a matter of fact, had he not interfered, Punk would have tapped out to the STF and Punk is still champion because of him. Show then makes a vow that he will be the next WWE Champion. Punk begs to differ and says the only one who has been winning between the two of them is him.
John Cena’s music then hits as he takes down the Big Show and makes him retreat to the floor. Punk again stands by and appears to be invisible as the new GM, AJ Lee, is introduced. AJ comes out wearing a business suit and announces that tonight’s main event will be the Big Show against John Cena, with the winner going on to face CM Punk at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship. Speaking of SummerSlam, we will revisit what went down between Brock Lesnar and Triple H that lead up to their match at SummerSlam as we head into a commercial break.
The announce team talk about what just went down and want to know if the WWE agrees with what CM Punk said and told them to send out their Touts. We then see Daniel Bryan outside of AJ’s office door but walks away before knocking.
Match 1: Santino Marella vs. Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio comes to the ring without a car for tonight’s match due to the fire that happened earlier in the day. The bell rings and Del Rio quickly takes Santino down with a clothesline and begins to lay the boots to him. Del Rio continues on the assault but Santino is able to counter and sends Del Rio out to the floor with a dropkick as we head into a commercial break. We return to the match to see Del Rio in control and is showing an aggressive streak. Del Rio works over Santino’s arm but Santino finally counters with a back drop. Santino then pulls out the cobra but Del Rio takes Santino out with a boot before tossing him through the ropes and into the ring post. Del Rio then makes Santino tap out with the cross arm breaker for the submission victory.
After the match, Del Rio grabs a microphone and says he defeated the US Champion like it was nothing. Del Rio then says Santino, Sheamus and all of the fans are beneath him. Del Rio then says unless it is for a World Championship, he will not compete. Thus, he will not be competing until SummerSlam. Backstage, Daniel Bryan is still standing outside of AJ’s office and the announce team hype tonight’s main event between the Big Show and John Cena for a shot at the WWE Championship as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the show to see Brodus Clay and the Funkadactyls in the ring. The are interrupted by Vicki Guerrero who wants them to show them how to dance. Vicki dances like a spastic Marsha Brady before she is interrupted by Damien Sandow. Sandow talks about a crime that took place last week as video is aired with DX taking Sandow out. Sandow then attacks Clay and takes him out with a chop block. Sandow then breaks Clay’s necklace and leaves Clay lying in the ring.
The announce team hype a tag team match tonight where Dolph Ziggler will go against Chris Jericho. We see footage of what has gone down between the two a couple of weeks ago where Jericho took Ziggler out with a Code Breaker. This past Friday on Smackdown, Jericho continued to one up Ziggler by feeding him to Sheamus and tonight, Jericho will team with Christian to take on Ziggler and the Miz.
Daniel Bryan finally enters AJ’s office where he says she embarrassed him last week by leaving him at the alter. AJ tells Bryan to shut up as she is no longer her bride to be but her boss. AJ then brings up the people backstage in white coats and wonders if he just wanted to marry her to have her committed into a mental institution. Bryan says they were his groomsmen as AJ tells Bryan that he will be in a match against Sheamus and when Bryan asks if it’s a title match, AJ just says “no, no, no, no, no.”
A video package on the Triple H/Brock Lesnar saga is aired where Stephanie McMahon got involved and slapped Paul Heyman in the face, which got Heyman to agree to the match on Lesnar’s behalf. Lesnar and Triple H then went at it where Hunter knocked Lesnar out of the ring. These two will meet at SummerSlam.
The announce team then give a Twitter poll on what kind of match will take place between Sheamus and Daniel Bryan tonight. The options are No Holds Barred, Falls Count Anywhere and a Street Fight. Josh Mathews meets up with Sheamus in the back and says it doesn’t matter to him and likes that AJ left it up to the fans to decide, however, the rougher the better.
Footage of the arena fire is aired once again. Daniel Bryan then comes out to the ring as we see footage of what happened last week during his wedding. Bryan gets on the microphone and flips on the crowd for chanting “Yes!” and says he is the only one that can say it. He is then cut off by Sheamus’s music and we are set for the second match of the night. Jerry Lawler stands up and reveals what type of match the WWE Universe picked and it will be a street fight.
Match 2: Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus (Street Fight)
The bell rings and the two go at it with a series of kicks and strikes. Sheamus picks up a quick near fall after hitting a backbreaker and continues on the attack. Bryan trips up Sheamus and takes control of the street fight but Sheamus comes back and levels Bryan with a back elbow. Shemus drops a series of knees onto Bryan for another near fall before Bryan rolls out to the floor. Sheamus follows and sends him into the guard railing a couple of times before giving Bryan a backdrop onto the entrance ramp. Bryan begins to make a comeback on the stage and hits a series of kicks before dropkicking Sheamus off the side of the stage. Daniels follows with a leaping knee to the face that drops Sheamus as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Bryan has Sheamus in an armbar in the middle of the ring. Sheamus fights his way out but Bryan quickly takes Sheamus out to the floor with a dropkick. Bryan goes after Sheamus, who catches a flying Bryan and sends him into the guard rail with a fallaway slam. Sheamus then hits Bryan with his signature chest pounds before suplexing Bryan onto the floor. The fans begin to chant for tables but Sheamus grabs a steel chair and a kendo stick instead. Bryan quickly clears the ring of the items before being clotheslined out to the floor. Sheamus begins to make his way out to the floor but Bryan nails Sheamus with a kendo stick. Bryan comes into the ring and continues to beat down Sheamus with the stick before heading out for the chair.
Bryan sets the chair up in the corner but Sheamus knocks Bryan down and begins to nail Bryan with the kendo stick. Sheamus finally misses and Bryan counters and kicks Sheamus into the chair to pick up a near fall. The match heads out to the floor where Sheamus tackles Bryan down and nails him in the back with a chair. Sheamus begins to rearrange the steps and tries to sends Bryan into them but Bryan counters and sends Sheamus shoulder first into the ring post. Bryan puts the bottom steps in the ring as the two begin to fight over the kendo stick. Sheamus wins the fight and sets up for the White Noise but Bryan is able to break free, however, Sheamus follows with a Brogue Kick to pick up the pin fall and win the Street Fight.
We join the announce team who recap what went down at the start of the show with CM Punk as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the show to see Daniel Bryan still laying in the ring and is screaming into a microphone that he isn’t leaving the ring until he gets a doctor. Bryan is saying he hurt his neck as the referees are trying to get him to leave, but Bryan refuses to. More footage from earlier in the broadcast is recapped where AJ Lee made the match between the Big Show and John Cena to become the new #1 contender to the WWE Championship. Back in the ring, Bryan is still saying his neck is hurt as Kofi Kingston’s music hits and makes his way to the ring.
Kofi comes out with R-Truth and tells Bryan that he knows he has been having a bad few weeks and to do everyone a favor by leaving the ring. R-Truth tells Bryan that they have business to handle and to get out. Bryan stands up and begins to talk to Little Jimmy and punts him out of the ring. R-Truth leaves the ring and holds Little Jimmy and wants to know what’s wrong with Bryan. Bryan says Jimmy doesn’t exist and he is out of his mind. The men in white begin to come down towards the ring as Kofi tries to tell them that R-Truth is fine. AJ comes out and says it’s not R-Truth that needs help, it is Daniel Bryan. AJ continues to say that Bryan needs to undergo an evaluation and tells them men to escort him from the ring. The men walk with Bryan up the ramp and Bryan stops to stare at AJ before finally leaving and we head into a commercial break.
The announce team announces that Mr. McMahon will be on Smackdown this week to name a new GM. A few Tout videos submitted by fans are aired and the announce team ask for more videos as to find out who the WWE Universe thinks is more unstable, AJ or Bryan. AW comes out and brings the Prime Time Players with as we then head into the next match of the night.
Match 3: Kofi Kingston vs. Titus O’Neil
The match starts as O’Neil grabs Kingston to counter a high risk move and takes him down with a backbreaker. O’Neil continues on the attack and barks a bit as AW shouts out some words from ringside. O’Neil showboats a little too much as Kingston counters with a tornado DDT. Kingston uses his speed and explosive offense to take O’Neil off his feet before hitting the Boom Drop. R-Truth and Darren Young begin to go at it as AW takes off his show and throws it at Kingston. The distraction allows O’Neil to slam Kingston down to the mat to pick up the pin fall.
CM Punk is backstage and is talking with John Cena who admits that he took advantage of the Big Show’s involvement and says Cena would have done the same thing. Punk then says he has no issue with Cena and respects him, but he doesn’t care who wins between him and Big Show tonight.
We return to the show and Michael Cole apologizes for the remarks that AW made during the last match. Heath Slater is standing in the ring as we see footage of what took place between him, Lita, APA, and all of the legends that he has lost to. Slater says since the legends went back to the retirement home, he can get his career back on track. Slater then challenges any current superstar to come out and take him on. His request is answered by Randy Orton.
Match 4: Heath Slater vs. Randy Orton
A returning Randy Orton does his usual poses and soaks in the cheers from the crowd. The bell rings and Slater goes on a quick burst of offense but Orton takes him down with a couple of hard clotheslines and a quick slam. Orton then hits his signature DDT and an RKO to pick up the pin fall.
Daniel Bryan is talking with a doctor and is going under an evaluation. All of the questions are responded to with yes answers before Bryan begins to go off on a yes tirade. The announce team then hype the tag team match as we head into a commercial break.
Match 5: Chris Jericho & Christian vs. The Miz & Dolph Ziggler
The match starts and it’s Christian squaring off against Ziggler. Ziggler takes Christian down and Miz begs to be tagged in, and gets in a few shots before quickly returning to his corner to tag Ziggler back into the match. Jericho is tagged in and Ziggler tags Miz back in as the two go at it. Jericho works over the Miz in the early going before taking Jericho down with a big boot. Ziggler is tagged back in and Jericho takes him down with a axe handle before tossing him out to the floor. The Miz is also sent out to the floor as Christian dives from the top rope and takes both of them out as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the action to see Miz in control of the match over Jericho. Jericho fights his way back and takes Miz down with a back drop before making the tag to Christian. Ziggler is tagged in and Christian takes him down with a few quick moves before hitting an elbow from the middle rope. Christian then rolls up Ziggler for a near fall but a distraction by the Miz allows Ziggler to take Christian down with a dropkick for a near fall. Miz is tagged in and boots Christian in the face for another near fall before he continues wearing the former Intercontinental Champion down. Christian is finally able to counter and tosses the Miz out to the floor and begins to crawl towards Jericho but Miz drags Jericho off the apron.
Ziggler is tagged back into the match and continues wearing Christian down and picks up a near fall of his own. Ziggler continues to wear Christian down and takes him down with neckbreaker. Ziggler then botches a move but gets right up and continues on the attack until Christian counters with a slam. Ziggler and Christian make the tags to their partners as Jericho takes both Miz and Ziggler out. Jericho hits Miz with a Lionsault but Ziggler breaks up the pin attempt. Christian then takes Ziggler out with a spear but Miz sends him into the ring post. Jericho then tries to the Walls of Jericho but Miz fights out. Miz sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale but Jericho counters and Christian hits Miz with a thumb to the eye to allow Jericho to hit the Codebreaker to pick up the win.
After the match, Ziggler takes out Jericho with the Money in the Bank briefcase and stands there and smiles as Vickie Guerrero stands ringside and claps. The announce team then recap the pyro fire before we head back to the Daniel Bryan evaluation. The doctor is giving Bryan a Rorschach test and the final picture Bryan thinks it is a spaceship before seeing a goat face. Bryan wonders if Charlie Sheen put the doctor up to this before Bryan says he is the one that is winning.
Shots of the Great American Ball Park is aired in Cincinnati before we head back inside the US Bank Arena. Tout videos of the fans talking about who is more unstable between AJ and Daniel Bryan. The fans seem to think AJ is more unstable and Jerry Lawler seems to disagree.
Match 6: Tensai vs. Tyson Kidd
We see footage of Kidd defeating Tensai last month on Raw. The bell rings and Tensai quickly takes Kidd down and crushes him in the corner. Tensai continues to work over Kidd with a nerve pinch but Kidd is able to escape and nearly picks up a pin fall. Kidd continues to use his speed to get in some offense, but Tensai slams him down and hits a back splash to pick up the pin fall. After the match, Tensai continues to destroy Kidd as the referee pleads with him to stop. Tensai chases the referee out of the ring and the referee reverses his decision and awards the match to Kidd via disqualification. The rest of the referees come out and try to hold Tensai back. This causes Tensai to take his agression out on Sakamoto and he knocks him down to the ground.
Back to the evaluation, the doctor says Daniel Bryan is 100% sane and says he is free to go. The doctor leaves and the lights go red as Kane comes into the room. Kane says he is Bryan’s anger management therapist and tosses him into the wall a few times before walking away and we go into a commercial break.
A video package recapping the Triple H/Brock Lesnar saga is aired. CM Punk’s music then hits and joins the announce team for tonight’s main event, which will take place next.
Match 7: The Big Show vs. John Cena (#1 Contender’s Match for WWE Championship)
CM Punk apologizes to Jerry Lawler for his comments earlier and says he is out there to make sure there isn’t a John Cena slant at the announce table. Punk also says he doesn’t care who wins as either match would be huge. The bell rings and Show takes Cena down with a big blow. Show continues on the attack as the fans start a “Let’s go Cena/Cena Sucks!” chant. Show tries to go for a big chop but Cena counters and jumps on Show’s back and puts him in a sleeper hold. Show then breaks the hold by crushing Cena in the corner but Cena is quick to get back on Show’s back for another sleeper hold. Cena finally drops Show down to his knees before dropping him to the canvas. Cena goes for a quick cover but Show powers out that sends Cena out to the floor as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Cena fighting back and goes for a shoulder block but it doesn’t even move the Big Show. Show continues to manhandle Cena and begins to jaw with Punk telling him to shine his title up for him. Cena uses the opportunity to get a breather and takes Show down to the mat. The two are slow to get to their feet as Cena begins to mount a comeback until the Big Show catches him and locks him in a bear hug. Cena fights out with a few well placed elbows and goes for a body slam, but can’t get Show up and Show falls on Cena for a near fall. Big Show signals for the chokeslam but Cena is able to counter with a DDT. Cena is unable to follow up, though, as Show takes him down with a side slam. Punk gives his respect to both men in this match as Show climbs up to the middle rope and goes for a corner splash but Cena rolls out of the way.
Cena then knocks Show down with a shoulder block and a back drop. Cena then hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Show is quick to get up and takes Cena down with a chokeslam. Cena kicks out of the pin attempt and rolls all the way out to the floor. Show follows Cena out to the floor and rolls him back in but Cena rolls back out. Show again follows Cena out and Cena is able to send Show into the ring post. Cena then tries to charge at Show but Show sidesteps him and Cena goes over the announce table and takes out CM Punk. Cena manages to get back into the ring before the count of 10 as Show has a look of disbelief on his face. Show then goes for the WMD but misses as Cena picks up Show for the Attitude Adjustment., however, Punk runs in and nails Cena from behind before knocking Show out with a kick to the head.
Punk grabs a microphone and says nobody is the winner of the contest and calls them both losers before leaving the ring. As Punk walks to the back, he walks past AJ. AJ says Punk is wrong and says they are both winners. She continues to say that Punk will defend the WWE Championship against the Big Show and John Cena in a Triple Threat Match. Punk comes back out and calls her crazy and that she is a bad GM. Punk then yells at her to show him some respect as the WWE Champion as Raw comes to a close.
Quick Results
– Alberto Del Rio defeated Santino Marella by submission.
– Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan by pin fall in a Street Fight.
– Titus O’Neil defeated Kofi Kingston by pin fall.
– Randy Orton defeated Heath Slater by pin fall.
– Chris Jericho & Christian defeated the Miz & Dolph Ziggler by pin fall.
– Tyson Kidd defeated Tensai by disqualification.
