Monday Night Raw
Louisville, KY
December 6, 2010
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler & CM Punk
Reported by: David Stephens of Wrestleview.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart and join me because it is time for Monday Night RAW!!!
Video Recap of Jerry “The King” Lawler v. The Miz from last Monday Night
Lawler and CM Punk are at the commentary booth. Michael Cole appears at the top of the entrance ramp and says that with great remorse he would like to try and explain his actions from last week. He says that he doesn’t know why he did what he did, but he won’t apologize for the way he feels about The Miz. He says that he is the only one who has supported Miz since he came into the company. Watching him win, was like watching his own son win. So, from now inside the ring, he says that he regrets his actions from last week. Lawler is not cool with anything going on right now. He says that he thinks he might need to get into the ring and finish what he started last week. Cole says that the way Lawler responded makes him realize that Lawler is just responsible as he was for what happened last week. Cole says that as broadcast journalists, they are supposed to break the news, not make the news. Last week, Lawler just had to be in the spotlight just one last time. Cole says that Lawler stole The Miz’s moment from him. The more Cole thinks about it, the less he thinks he owes Lawler an apology, and the more Lawler owes him one.
*GeneralMail Alert
CM Punk reads the email as Cole is in the ring. and I quote… I am ordering a cease and desist on any physicality between Lawler and Cole, any violation of this will result in termination. What I would like right now, is for Jerry to get into the ring and shake hands with Michael.
Cole puts down his mic and holds out his hand. It takes Lawler awhile, but he finally makes his way into the ring. Ultimately, after much hesitation, Lawler shakes Cole’s hand. As Cole goes to walk away, Lawler doesn’t release the grip. Jerry says that there may be no physicality allowed, but there is someone in the back who has something to say to him.
Orton’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells Cole that he would like to send a message to his favorite Superstar, the Miz. Orton doesn’t blame him for cashing in the case, because if the roles were reversed, he would have done the exact same thing. With disgust on his face, Orton admits that he and The Miz are a lot alike. Orton says that regardless of his injured knee, he is going to take back the WWE Championship from the Miz… tonight!
The Miz’s music hits and he makes his way out to the entrance ramp with Alex Riley who for some reason is still holding the Money in the Bank Briefcase. Miz says that Orton sounds like everybody else who underestimates him. He notes that they were both in the same money in the bank ladder match, but the difference is that The Miz actually won. Miz says that there is no chance that Orton will win back the Title tonight, because the GM informed him that he won’t be defending against Orton until the TLC PPV.
Orton says that the only problem with that plan, is that this time Miz won’t have seven guys to run down to the ring to help him. Riley says that Orton thinks he is clever, so tonight he is challenging him to a match! Orton accepts. The Miz says that the GM has also given him the choice of what kind of match they will have at the PPV. Orton says that there is still one thing he can do, injured knee or not… Lawler pushes Cole forward, and Orton gives Cole an RKO!
****Commercial****
Josh Mathews has joined the commentary booth.
Nikki Bella walks up to Daniel Bryan’s locker-room. Bryan and Brie Bella exit. Brie says that since Bryan has a mixed tag match tonight, she volunteered to be his partner. Nikki is totally jealous, like omg.
Ted Dibiase & Maryse v. Daniel Bryan & Nikki Bella
Ted and Bryan start things off. Nikki decides to head down to the ring as well. Bryan goes for a side headlock. Bryan leap frogs over Dibiase, hits an arm drag and locks on an arm bar. Ted escapes and hits a high fall away slam. The Divas enter the match.
Brie goes for a roll up, but Ted runs in to break the count. Bryan kicks him out of the ring. The referee makes Bryan back off, meanwhile Nikki rolls into the ring for her sister. Maryse gets hit with a quick roll up and this match is over.
Winners via Twin Magic: Daniel Bryan & The Bella Twins
After the match, Dibiase is yelling at Maryse. She puts her hand up in anger, and walks towards the back. Bryan looks puzzled as both Bellas raise his arm in the air on the entrance ramp.
****Commercial****
Video recap of John Cena on RAW last week
Punk says that they have questions for Wade Barret who is live via satellite from his hotel room. Instead, it is David Otunga in the hotel room. He says that Wade is on his way to the arena. Wade says that he won’t explain what they are going to do to Cena, despite Mathews asking, because that would give away their plan. A knock is heard at the door. Otunga ends the interview saying that his food is here. The bell boy comes in with his food. Otunga tries it, but says it is cold and kicks the guy out saying he won’t pay. There is another knock at the door. Thinking it is the guy trying to get the bill signed, Otunga opens it. John Cena appears, and punches Otunga in the face. Husky Harris tries to make the save, but also ends up laid out after the brawl ends.
****Commercial****
David Hart Smith v. Tyson Kidd w/ ?
Smith punches Kidd in the face and then whips him into the ropes. Tyson flips over the top rope to avoid a whip, but gets clotheslined in the face. Smith is backed into a corner, and Tyson begins to unload with kicks. Kidd pushes Smith to his knees and applies a back choker. Smith escapes from the hold and hits a brutal slam! Cover attempt, but Kidd kicks out. They exchange a few blows and Tyson heads back to the ropes. He runs at Smith and catches him with a quick roll up! This match is over!
Winner via being awesome: Tyson Kidd
After the match, Smith charges at Tyson. Kidd’s bodyguard, who was never identified made the save with a power slam in the ring.
In the back, Wade is talking to Nexus. They are all telling Wade how nervous they are. Otunga runs into the room asking if anybody saw what just happened. He tells Wade that Husky is hurt and his plan didn’t work. Wade says it wasn’t the plan, but the execution. Wade says that he will be going out into the audience and explaining the John Cena situation. Otunga says that he better say everything right, or there might be a mutiny. Wade scoffs and walks out of the room.
****Commercial****
Tag Team Championship Match
Mark Henry & Yoshi Tatsu v. The Uso Brothers v. Santino & Kozlov v. Nexus (Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater)
Yoshi and Gabriel start the match off. They exchange several kicks, and then chops. Yoshi bounces into the ropes with a spinning wheel kick and goes for the cover. Gabriel kicks out. Slater gets the tag. Yoshi whips around with a dragon toss and grabs an arm bar. Slater is able to escape, and Henry gets the Tag. Henry is plowed into, as one of the Usos come into the match. Yoshi grabs him with a side headlock, but the Uso is strong enough to push into the corner and tag in his brother. Uso connects with a scoop slam, and then hits a bouncing elbow. He goes for another, but Slater is able to grab for the tag. Slater hits his finisher, and this match is over!
-No! This is elimination style!
Slater and Uso are in the ring. Hard slam from Uso and cover attempt. Slater kicks out. Slater is sent into the ropes and hit with their finisher. Kick out made by a Gabriel save. Kozlov tags in off of Slater. He clears the ring of everyone. Kozlov hits his finisher and Uso Brothers are eliminated.
-The Usos are eliminated.
Tamina doesn’t follow, but stays with Santino! In the ring, Gabriel is working on Kozlov’s leg. Gabriel tries for a cover, but Kozlov kicks out. Justin is able to kick Santino towards the corner. Slater tags himself in. Santino tries to comes over, so Nexus double teams. Eventually, Kozlov gets to Santino! The crowd is going crazy. Santino jumps out of the corner, but gets caught by Slater. Justin is tagged in. Slater holds him as Justin hits him with a leg lariat. Gabriel locks on a headlock. Santino almost powers out, but gets covered by Justin. Santino kicks out.
****Commercial****
Back from the break, Kozlov is in the ring and tags in Santino. Santino runs in and raises the roof to take out Gabriel. A couple of old school punches and a nice uppercut from Santino! Cover attempt, but Gabriel kicks out. Slater runs into the ring, as does Kozlov. They tumble to the outside and the referee yells at them. John Cena appears from under the ring, and distracts Gabriel. Santino starts to pump up the cobra! He connects!! This match is over and we have NEW Champions.
Winners & NEW Tag Team Champions: Santino & Kozlov
After the match, they celebrate and Tamina comes into the ring. She gives Santino a great big kiss and the three flaunt their trumpets!
****Commercial****
Sheamus’ music hits and there is a throne set up in the middle of the ring. Sheamus comes down to the ring, and is in what I can only imagine as Celtic Royalty garb. Sheamus says that he is the best of the best. So it doesn’t matter if they make fun of him, because he will be the greatest High King in history!
John Morrison’s music hits and he has a microphone. Morrison makes fun of his attire. He tells him he should get some elves, and gnomes and half man half goat things. Morrison walks over to a child and gives her his glasses, all whilst not skipping a beat. Sheamus cuts him off and tells him that he is just jealous. Morrison says that as far as he is concerned, their record is 1 and 1.
Sheamus tells him the bottom-line is that he is the king, and Morrison is not. So, from here on out, he should refer to him as King. Sheamus tells Morrison to get down on his hands and knees and bow to his king. Morrison says that no, he isn’t going to do that. He says that this business has few guarantees, but he has one. John Morrison will never bow down to King Sheamus. Sheamus pushes him and tells him to get on his knees. Morrison gets an angry look on his face and punches Sheamus. He grabs the scepter that Sheamus was carrying and drills him with it. Morrison throws Sheamus into the throne, and he tumbles out of the ring!
****Commercial****
Melina v. Natalya
LayCool has joined in on commentary, making this unlistenable. Melina is caught up in the air with a multiple pump suplex. Cover attempt, but Melina kicks out. Melina then gets the upper hand with a cover attempt of her own. Natalya kicks out. Melina puts on a leg scissors and contorts it into a side cross. She begins to roll with it. Natalya survives and doesn’t tap. Natalya hits a fierce clothesline on Melina, and then gets the Sharpshooter. This match is over.
Winner via Sharpshooter: Natalya
After the match, LayCool run into the ring and attack Natalya
****Commercial****
In the back, Alex Riley is talking to The Miz. He tells Miz he’ll win tonight. Miz says that it is absolutely vital that Riley beats Orton. Because it is a reflection of his character. Miz says that everyone was talking about his Title win this week, so it is a must win.
Orton’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
****Commercial****
Randy Orton v. Alex Riley w/ The Miz
Orton is strong on the attack at first, but Riley heads right for the knee of Orton. Randy is able to hit a suplex, but he can’t capitalize because of his knee. Both men get back to their feet and start exchanging blows. Orton hits an inverted atomic drop, and follows up with a snap scoop slam. Orton picks Riley up, and hits his suspended DDT. Orton is stalking Riley and looking to finish. Miz runs into the ring and hits the skull crushing finale. Referee calls for the DQ.
Winner via DQ: Randy Orton
After the match, Miz grabs a mic and says that he is going to show Orton what kind of match they are going to have. Miz grabs a table from under the ring, and sets it up on the inside. Orton is lifted to his feet, but has enough composure to fight his way free. Miz is lifted off his feet, but quickly scurries out of the ring. Orton stares him down, and then looks at Riley. Orton lifts him up and powerbombs him through the table.
****Commercial****
Wade is in the ring to address the John Cena situation. He tells him that there is no point in attacking members of Nexus, because it is only him that can get him rehired. That being said, he’d like to call Cena out to the ring right now. Cena appears from the crowd, and makes his way into the ring. Nexus comes out onto the entrance ramp.
Wade warns Cena that if he so much as threatens him, he’ll have him thrown out of the building. The crowd cheers for Cena. Wade says it doesn’t matter about the cheers, because he’ll never rehire Cena. Cena says that Wade is just dumb. It doesn’t matter if he gets rehired. He just wants to make every day a living hell for the Nexus. Wade asks what assurances Cena could make if he did rehire him. Cena says that there are so many things he could do in the WWE. If Wade doesn’t rehire him, then all he will do is continue to make their lives hell.
He says that if he does rehire him, then the attacks on Nexus would stop, but the attacks on Wade will continue. But either way, he will make Wade’s life a nightmare. Wade says that sounded like a threat and calls Nexus down to the ring. Cena takes his shirt off. Nexus refuse to come down to the ring. Wade continues to yell for them. One by one, they head to the back. Cena charges at Wade! They crash out of the ring and Cena throws him into the steel steps twice. Cena then attempts to AA him throw the announce table, but Wade is able to run away.
In the back, Wade finds Nexus. He asks them what the hell just happened. He says that when he gives an order, they follow it. Otunga says that he may not be the leader any more. Slater, Gabriel, and Harris walk up behind him for support. David says that unless he rehires Cena next week on RAW, he is gone from Nexus!
Raw Thoughts
I like Justin Gabriel’s arm bands.
Tonight was a really strong Raw, and I wasn’t expecting it to be one. Every match had a purpose, and told a story. Just a great wrestling show tonight from the WWE. Otunga is a brilliant character, but more on that in a bit.
Very strong open to the show tonight. Cole and Lawler were used to near perfection in a bid to add momentum to The Miz’s Title reign. I’m starting to have pause because they are sure doing a lot to try and legitimize Miz as Champion, and I really don’t think it is necessary. Just have him do his thing, it has worked so far. All of the enhancement stuff isn’t making him stronger.
I guess that Lawler pushing Cole towards Orton counts as incidental contact?
I have to give a lot of credit to the Daniel Bryan & Ted Dibiase match tonight. It had stories in it on multiple levels, and it was a fun match. I used to not really care for the Bella Twins, but there is something about their Twin Magic which I am really starting to like.
I called that Otunga will lead a mutiny! I know it is going to happen, and it going to be amazing. I can’t explain why I love him so much as a wrestler. My brain says awful wrestler, but my heart says hero. I just can’t escape it. I’m going to make another David Otunga prediction – he will be a World Champion in the WWE at some point. Write that down, because it’s the truth.
David Otunga must have teleported from the hotel room
I was one of, if not the first, to call that Santino and Kozlov should and would, win the Tag Team belts. I’m proud to say I was right! That was pretty awesome.
John Morrison had a very cool moment tonight. I found it to be a “big feeling moment” when he handed the little girl his sunglasses to a little girl while he was speaking.
I’ve gotten literally no thoughts about the Divas match. Oh wait, here’s one – don’t put LayCool on commentary any more. Thanks…
Riley v. Orton was meh.
Match-urity
That is today’s word of the day for wrestling fans. Yes, I made it up. I was watching TNA’s Final Resolution last night (I’m not pigeonholed into watching only the WWE product) and found this word springing to the top of my mind. During the Generation Me and Motor City Machine Guns match, I couldn’t help but see the difference between the two tag teams. On one hand, seasoned talent like MCMG that understand how to work a match, and on the other, guys like GenMe that are very talented, but relatively fresh in the ring. They seek to be innovative, without necessarily striving to be clean or tell a story.
Now, this certainly isn’t just a TNA word. Oh no, match-urity can apply to all promotions. Anyone who watched parts of NXT Season 3 will undoubtedly agree that it was severely lacking match-urity.
So what is match-urity? It’s a gauge of the maturity level of match, hence the really clever word combination. To help explain what gives a bout match-urity, I implore all to follow these tips:
-ask yourself if a move is really necessary, or just fluff
-make sure a move injures your opponent more than yourself
-try and wrestle with at least some degree of believability
-don’t flip just to flip &
-even if it’s a picture book, tell a story
Those are just some first identifiers of the match-urity level of a match. Send me an email and let me know what you guys think should factor into match-urity.
I do read every single e-mail you guys send, and really appreciate hearing your thoughts. Send me some e-mails, and have a safe week everyone!
– David Stephens
Follow me on Twitter! @davewrestleview
So that’s RAW…. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I’m always up for reading your thoughts and do my absolute best to reply to every message I get. Send them over to me at david@wrestleview.com. (there were a lot of great ones that I didn’t get a chance to respond to this past week, and I hope to reply to them this week so sorry if you were one of them!)
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