Its Shawn Michaels Appreciation Night, at least off camera. Can't we just have 3 hours of HBK matches instead of a regular 3 hour RAW? It would probably end up being a better show.
I Didn't Invent the Time Machine for Financial Gain!
After a video recap of last week's show and pyro (with nothing starting on fire), A.J. came out. She announced Big Show vs Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan vs John Cena for later. C.M. Punk interrupted. Punk said he's man enough to admit when he makes a mistake. He said he was out there to apologize to A.J. because he lost his emotions last week. He said she does not deserve to be dis-respected just like he does't deserve to be dis-respected as WWE Champion. She accepted, and said she's bound to fall on her face sometimes like she did last week by making the Triple Threat Match at SummerSlam. He asked her to cancel the match. A.J. said the decision stands. He asked if this was revenge for rejecting her. Punk continued to make his plea until Cena interrupted.
Cena said Punk has become one of those guys, complaining for respect every week. Cena said he has to fight every day for respect. Cena said it is Punk's fault for the Triple Threat match. Punk said Cena is the guy who turns his blind eye to the facts. Punk said Cena put his hands on him last week when he went flying into the announce table. Punk said he saved Cena last week because everyone knows Cena can't hit an AA on Big Show. Cena said at SummerSlam Punk doesn't even have to be pinned. Punk said to check Grey's Sports Almanac, because he beat Cena last year at SummerSlam.
Big Show came out but A.J. stopped everything and said she waan't going to let things get out of hand. She told Cena and Show to save their energy for their matches. Punk said he should wrestle and be in the main event. A.J. said it was up to the WWE Universe to vote: Miz, Kane or Rey Mysterio.
Segment Analysis: Decent opening. I'm starting to agree with people that say A.J. is turning into a "plain jane." Something should happen soon. It was a decent opening promo. Punk is trying to come off as a heel even though he's getting cheered still. He makes good points but is doing his best to come off as a whiner in the process. Nothing ground breaking but nothing bad. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Hey Rey, Nice Gut
The fans voted for Rey Mysterio with 47% of the vote. Rey took down Punk with a leg lock. Rey hit a few kicks on Punk's leg. Punk side stepped a charging Rey and he went right into the ring post. Punk applied a head lock. Rey fought out but Punk hit a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Punk hit a backdrop and went to the top, but Rey drop kicked him off to the outside and hit a senton on Punk into commercial.
Back from break, Punk hit a superplex on Rey for two. Punk applied a body scissors. Rey got out of it by biting Punk's hand. Punk threw Rey outside the ring. Rey caught Punk with a hit to the gut and a kick to the head for two. Rey hit a kick to the jaw. Punk caught Rey in the GTS position but he fought out. Rey hit the 619 and he went to the top, but Punk lifted his knees and Rey went right into them. Punk hit the GTS for the win.
Match Analysis: Good short ten minute match. The two have had better matches but this one was still good. You can tell Rey is still getting back into shape. You can see his gut through his singlet/shirt he is wearing. Punk wins and Rey seems like a guy that is just lost in the shuffle with no real direction. Survey Says: 3/5
A Wade Barret return promo aired.
Alberto del Rio walked into A.J.'s office. She said he had nothing planned for him. Alberto del Rio said he was glad she didn't do anything crazy. A.J. asked him what he called her. She said he has a match, next.
Grand Theft Auto=Face
Christian was out to fight Del Rio. Del Rio was still getting out of his suit and Ricardo was out of breath. Del Rio pulled Christian out of the ring and threw him into the ring post. Del Rio worked over Christian's arm. Christian fought back with a couple punches and a top rope cross body for two. He went for the Killswitch but Del Rio stopped it, but Christian countered with a pin attempt for two. Del Rio caught Christian with a kick and went to the top but Christian moved. Christian went for the Spear but Del Rio hit a super kick. Christian went for the Killswitch again but Del Rio threw him away. Ricardo distracted Christian. Del Rio pulled off his boot and hit Christian in the head with it. Del Rio applied the cross arm breaker for the win.
Backstage, Sheamus took Alberto del Rio's car.
Segment Analysis: Match was short but good. Poor Christian is back to a no entrance mid carder. Del Rio looks strong again in victory but it is the same with him every week. And apparently stealing a car is cool. Go ahead kids. Live it up! Survey Says: 2.5/5
Sorry Big Show, Black Doesn't Slim You Down
Orton/Big Show. Orton went right at Show with some punches. Show took down Orton then walked on him. Show hit a headbutt then an elbow. Show applied a headlock. Orton fought out. Show shoved him in the corner but Orton caught him with a boot to the head. Orton finally took him down with a drop kick. Orton went for the RKO but Big Show caught him with a chokeslam for two. Orton rolled out of the ring. Show pulled him back up but Orton dropped Show on the ropes. Show hit a shoulder tackle on Orton and knocked him back out of the ring.
Show went for another chokeslam but Orton kicked his way out, but Show shoved him right back outside the ring. Show went to throw Orton into the post but Orton shoved him into it. Orton went for the RKO, Big Show countered and speared Orton. Both men were counted out. Show threw Orton back in the ring. He went for the KO Punch but Orton ducked and hit an RKO.
Match Analysis: Big Show never can lose clean apparently. I get that they didn't want either man to lose clean but sooner or later people will get tired of Big Show, like me. He's in the WWE Title match despite not winning anything recently. I would rather have Orton in it. Big Show needs to stop being protected in matches against people that aren't John Cena. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Ryback beat Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks, a repeat of every match they've had the last month.
Primo and Epico beat the Prime Time Players. The Players tried leaving but Kofi and Truth came out to prevent it. At least the tag team division is getting some time.
Damien Sandow attacked Brodus Clay during his entrance and injured his left leg.
Backstage, A.J. told Daniel Bryan he is facing Kane at SummerSlam.
Kelly Kelly defeated Eve.
ARE THEY GONNA FIGHT? No.
Shawn Michaels came out. He thanked the WWE Universe for letting him be a part of the 1000th episode of RAW. He said there is no way he would miss RAW in his hometown. Shawn said everyone backstage is talking about the clash between HHH and Brock Lesnar. Lesnar and Paul Heyman cane out. Heyman said it isn't surprising that everyone wants to know HBK's opinion on the match since he is the best in ring performer in WWE history. Lesnar, however, isn't showing up at SummerSlam to entertain. He's showing up to fight. HBK told them that Heyman and Lesnar have gone somewhere they shouldn't have with HHH by attacking his family. HBK said he thinks Lesnar will lose to HHH, and that he will be in the corner of HHH at SummerSlam. Lesnar said the only reason HBK thinks HHH can beat him is because he wasn't been in the ring with him, until now. HHH came to the ring. They stared each other down. Lesnar smiled. He told HHH he would see him at SummerSlam, but he would see HBK before then.
Segment Analysis: So the point of that was, what? Lesnar just stood there and did nothing and it seemed like a wasted date for Lesnar. Sounds like Lesnar may attack HBK later in the show. If HBK is at SummerSlam, he could either help Hunter win or make him lose. But that segment really acomplished nothing for me and was a waste of HBK. Survey Says: 2/5
Sheamus touted with his stolen car.
A-Ri On RAW? Yeah, It Is a 3 Hour Show
Alex Riley vs Dolph Ziggler. Riley had the upper hand with an arm drag and arm bar before Dolph took control. Dolph caught Riley with a drop kick. Riley fought back and hit a hip toss/suplex combo. Dolph ducked out of the way of Riley and Riley went right into the corner. Dolph hit a neckbreaker. Jericho got up and started recording a Tout which distracted Dolph, and Riley scored a roll up pinfall victory.
Segment Analysis: At least they are continuing the program and adding to it. Jericho finally gets the better of Dolph. Lets just hopes this match happens at SummerSlam. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Mid Card Champion=Jobber
Miz vs Kane. Kane hammered away at Miz with punches in the corner. Miz caught Kane with s chop block and started working over Kane's leg. Kane caught Miz with a couple of upper cuts but Miz came right back with a drop kick to the leg. Kane came back with a drop kick. Kane charged at Miz in the corner but Miz moved. Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale but Kane backed him into the corner. Kane hit the chokeslam for the win.
Match Analysis: There's a reason we didn't vote for one of these guys to face C.M. Punk earlier in the show. Match had very little heat to it. No one has a reason to care for these guys. Survey Says: 2/5
Sheamus returned Del Rio's car a mess. Ricardo made Del Rio clean it.
A Main Event Wrestling Match? Two Weeks In A Row?
Main event time. Bryan started flipping out on the fans and yelling at them at ringside. Back in the ring Cena took down Bryan and applied a head lock. Bryan fought out of the head lock and applied an armbar. Cena escaped and chased Bryan around the ring. Bryan drop kicked Cena off the apron and then hit his flying knee drop on Cena off the apron. Bryan worked over Cena with some kicks and a drop kick in the corner. Bryan caught a charging Cena with a drop toe hold in the corner. Bryan connected on a knee to the back for two. Cena fought out of an arm bar and went into CENA MODE. Cena went for an AA but Bryan countered into a guillotine. Cena backed Bryan into the corner. Bryan caught Cena with a kick to the head for two. Bryan hit a headbutt from the top rope for two. Bryan hit a bunch of kicks but missed one and Cena applied the STF. Bryan countered into a NO Lock attempt, but Cena countered out and connected with an AA for the win.
After the match, C.M. Punk came out and raised the WWE Title in front of Cena. Cena suddenly tossed Punk out of the way as Big Show came out. Cena went for an AA but Punk knocked Show down. Punk took a head set and said maybe it is his fault people have been dis-respecting him because he let people walk all over him. Punk said that RAW ends once again with the WWE Champion standing tall. Punk went back in the ring and went for a kick but Big Show caught him with a KO Punch, and then landed one on Cena too. Show stood tall with the WWE Title to close RAW.
Segment Analysis: The match between Bryan and Cena was good. My only concern is that they are turning Bryan into a jobber for the stars. Hopefully he doesn't turn out that way. The angle to close the show was almost the same thing they do with Big Show every time they want to push him. Big Show is not winning the WWE Title at SummerSlam. Survey Says: 3/5
OVERALL
I thought this was an average episode of RAW. There was a lot of wrestling, which is a good thing. But the action wasn't as good as last week. The second hour also contained a lot of filler. I would be interested to see how the ratings are affected. I didn't get the Lesnar/HHH/HBK segment. Why waste a Lesnar appearance on that? All of that could have been accomplished with just Paul Heyman. HBK being in Hunter's corner adds some interest. Lesnar should still go over. I don't know where this C.M. Punk angle is going. Hopefully it leads to something bigger down the line. Despite the show being average, it is good to see the WWE letting guys work in the ring and give them longer matches. It is exactly what needed to happen with the transition to 3 hour RAWs. I'm giving the show a 5.
And remember kids, taking someone's car and just saying you were going for a joy ride will always work in court.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitte @JCWonka
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