Can the WWE continue their streak of good wrestling on 3 hour RAWs? Will they give us one final good push heading into SummerSlam to make it feel like a big PPV? I guess we will have to wait and find out...
Hold On A Minute Playa...
RAW actually started with a match: C.M. Punk vs Big Show. After Big Show shoved Punk down early, Punk went to work with an array of punches and kicks before Show came back with a head butt. Punk tried fighting back after a Big Show slap but was taken down by a shoulder tackle. Punk tried fighting back again but ate a head butt and bodyslam. Punk moved out of the way of a back slam from Show in the corner and hit his high knee. Punk went for the bulldog but Show threw him away and hit a spear.
Suddenly Daniel Bryan came out and went on about being in the WWE Title match. Show hit a sidesalm for two. Big Show went for the Vader Bomb but Punk moved and hit his catapult clothesline. Suddenly Bryan came in the ring and applied the NO Lock on Punk. Show also took out Punk until Cena came out. Cena cleared both men out of the ring. A.J. came out and made a tag match for later.
Segment Analysis: Match was a normal Big Show match. Slow and plodding and not very fun to watch. The outcome was obvious. Big Show can't lose clean and now there is a tag match later in the show that will most likely end with Bryan taking the pinfall. The best part? TWO Big Show matches in 1 night! Survey Says: 2/5
Backstage JTG said it was crazy that he hasn't been on RAW. A.J. thought he was calling her crazy. She told JTG to go to the ring for a match. It ended up being against Ryback. Ryback won in a squash.
Shawn Michaels talked to apparently HHH on the phone, asking why he wasn't there yet and that it wasn't his fight to pick.
R-Truth won a short match against Heath Slater. Afterwards the PrimeTime Players took out R-Truth.
They recapped the Sheamus/Alberto del Rio stuff from Smackdown and how on Smackdown Friday Alberto del Rio will demand Booker T put him back in the World Title Match.
Tensai vs Sin Cara. Tensai missed on a Vader Bomb. Sin Cara hit a hurricarrana sending Tensai into Sakamoto, then Cara hit a til a whril DDT for the win. Afterwards Tensai squashed Sakamoto.
Who Invited Miz Out Here?
Chris Jericho was chosen as Roddy Piper's guest on Piper's Pit. They both said the last time they saw each other they were knocking each other out. Piper said that him and Jericho have a lot in common. They started cheering him when he fought Mr. T and now they are cheering Jericho. And now Ziggler says Jericho can't win the big one. Vickie Guerrero came out to introduce Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler said Piper's act is getting sad. Ziggler said Jericho is heading where Piper is now. He asked how many failed comebacks it took for Jericho to realize he can't cut it anymore. Jericho guaranteed that he would win on Sunday. Miz came out for some reason. Miz said he was taking over the show. Miz tried taking the mic from Piper but Jericho punched him. Jericho then threw Ziggler and Miz out of the ring.
Segment Analysis: The Jericho/Ziggler stuff was good, but what was the point of Miz coming out there? While the promo exchange was good, it was also short and Jericho/Ziggler could have been given more time to let loose on the mic. Why Miz was out there I don't know. Survey Says: 2.5/5
And This Match Makes Up For That Segment
Back from break, all three men were in the ring for a triple threat match. Jericho took out Miz with a back drop and Ziggler with a drop kick. Jericho suplexed Miz but Ziggler caught him with a punch and took control. The heels worked over Jericho. They eventually started to argue and Jericho fought back. He tossed Miz and Ziggler over the ropes. Jericho then hit a dive over the top. Jericho threw Ziggler back in the ring and hit a kick on Miz. Ziggler then knocked Jericho off the apron and into the announce table heading into commercial.
Miz had Jericho in a chin lock back from break. Jericho fought out but ate a knee to the mid-section. Jericho got out of another chin lock. Miz missed his corner clothesline. Jericho hit a springboard drop kick, knocking Ziggler off the apron. Jericho hit a bulldog then a Lionsault. He went for the pin but saw Ziggler coming in and got up to take him out. The three men did the superplex/power bomb spot in the corner. Ziggler hit the fameasser on Jericho but only got a two. Ziggler wait for Jericho but Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale on him. Jericho broke up the pin attempt. Miz countered out of the Walls attempt. Ziggler knocked Miz out of the ring and Jericho hit the Codebreaker on Ziggler. Jericho went for the pin but Vickie put Dolph's foot on the ropes. Miz snuck up on Jericho and went for a pin but Jericho countered out. Jericho applied the Walls on Miz but Vickie distracted the ref while Miz was tapping. Ziggler then came in and hit the ZigZag for the win.
Match Analysis: Very good TV match. Miz seemed like the third fiddle but the action and effort from both men was very good. Surprised to see Ziggler win heading into Sunday. Could Jericho lose twice before leaving? Interesting. The action was great back from commercial. Strong counters and nearfalls. Survey Says: 4/5
Kaitlyn and Layla beat Beth Phoenix and Eve.
Guess Who Took The Pin Here
Tag Match time. Cena and Bryan started. Punk tagged himself in. Punk took down Bryan with a shoulder tackle then a hip toss. Cena then tagged himself in and Bryan refused to tag in Show. Cena took down Bryan then Bryan tagged in Show. Show took control over Cena. Cena tried fighting back but Show took him out mid air. Show still had control back from break. Big Show hit his back splash in the corner. Show applied a bear hug but Bryan tagged himself in. Bryan charged at Cena in the corner but missed.
Punk tagged himself in. He hit a neckbreaker on Bryan but Show broke up the tag. Punk went to make a tag but Cena wasn't there. Show then applied a bear hug on Punk. Punk fought out with elbows but went right into a back drop. Show hit a bodyslam and seemed ready to go for a KO Punch but Bryan again tagged himself in. Show walked over to the barricade and just stood there. Bryan hit some kicks but Punk caught him with a clothesline and both men went down. Punk refused to tag Cena. Punk went into CENA MODE and did his offense. Cena tagged himself in during the You Can't See Me. Cena then hit a high knee and bulldog. Punk left and Cena hit the AA on Bryan for the win.
Post match Punk came back in the ring and took out Big Show with the WWE Title. Cena turned around and saw him and both men stared each other down. Punk offered a handshake but Cena refused and Punk walked away.
Match Analysis: Just an okay match. You knew Bryan was taking the pin here, and they have to be careful to not have him take too many more losses going forward. We still don't know where exactly Punk is heading with his character. The mock tags grew old after a while. Not much to it. Survey Says: 2.5/5
Christian vs Damien Sandow. Sandow hit an elbow drop early for two. Christian hit some punches then a shoulder tackle and elbow from the top. Christian went for the Unprettier but Sandow went to the outside and tossed Christian into the steps. Brodus Clay came out to distract Sandow. Christian tried a quick roll up but Sandow kicked out at two. Sandow then hit a neckbreaker for the win. At least they are continuing with the storyline here and appear to be fully behind a Sandow push.
Brock Lesnar found HBK backstage. Lesnar just smiled and Michaels walked away.
A Calm Contract Signing?
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came to the ring. Heyman talked about how HHH wants this match more than any in his career. Heyman said how HHH is fighting for the WWE and his family. Heyman said the contract prevents Brock from being held responsible for what happens Sunday. Heyman says not everyone agrees with his opinion, including HBK. Lesnar asked Shawn Michaels to come out but Heyman said he won't be coming out, because he's afraid of Lesnar.
Shawn Michaels came out. Heyman told Michaels to sign the contract for HHH. Michaels stared at Lesnar and eventually Hunter came out. HHH signed the contract and Lesnar did then threw it at Hunter.
Segment Analysis: Um, okay? Nothing really happened there. HHH was late but nothing resulted from it. Heyman was great on the mic building up everything, and it just lead to that. If that was suppose to build up their match at SummerSlam, it didn't do a great job of it. Very confusing. Survey Says: 2.5/5
First Grand Theft Auto, Now Kidnapping?
Backstage Shawn Michaels told Hunter that him alone will have to beat Brock. Matt Striker went to interview Big Show. Suddenly, cars were screaching in the background. Heyman cut off Michaels. Lesnar pulled Michaels out of the car and the camera cut to black with a beat down sounding like it was happening.
Back from break, the window of the car was smashed in and HBK was gone. Lesnar then took HBK to the ring and hit an F5. Lesnar applied the Kimura lock on HBK. HHH ran out but Heyman told him to stop otherwise Lesnar would break HBK's arm. Hunter stopped, but Lesnar did it anyways. Lesnar stared on from the ramp to end the show.
Segment Analysis: Well, I guess HBK isn't in Lesnar's corner anymore at SummerSlam. And I'm assuming this match is some kind of No DQ match? The HBK beatdown was expected but it just didn't come off well on TV. Why bring back HBK to the ring? And the feud has been all over the place. Not a good final sell. Survey Says: 2/5
OVERALL
Not a very strong sell heading into SummerSlam. The show was largely below average, and that is putting it nicely. None of the final builds to end the show for any of the feuds did anything for me. Lesnar/HHH is just all over the place. The WWE Title feud seems second fiddle to everything again. If we were suppose to be talking about C.M. Punk by the end of RAW, it didn't happen. The triple threat was good and that's about it. The whole first hour just seemed like filler. The wrestling, despite the triple threat, lacked compared to everything in recent weeks. Daniel Bryan is getting dangerously close to jobbing too much. Not a good final sell for SummerSlam. Show gets a 3.
SummerSlam Preview Thursday. And remember kids, always wear your seatbelt. Otherwise, former MMA fighters will pull you out of your car and kidnap you.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
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