WWE Monday Night Raw
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
August 22, 2011
Commentators: Jerry “The King” Lawler, Jim Ross & Michael Cole
Report 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!!!
Ricardo Rodriguez is in the ring and introduces the WWE Champion, Alberto Del Rio. “My name is –”, Cena’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Cena says that everyone knows who Del Rio is, but he wants to reintroduce himself. Cena says that he is the guy that is going to take the Championship off Del Rio, and hurt him bad. Cena mocks him for coming out in rented cars every week. He says that there is only one person that can go toe to toe with him in the WWE, and Del Rio isn’t CM Punk.
Punk’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Punk says it is no surprise that Cena wants yet another Title shot, but it is Punk that should have that match. Del Rio chimes in, but Punk tells him not to interrupt. Punk reiterates that he has no problem with Del Rio cashing in the Money in the Bank; after all he did it himself. Punk says he does have a problem with Nash taking him out. Is it really such a surprise that he insulted Stephanie McMahon to her face and then Nash receives a text to take him out? Punk announces that he is cashing in his rematch clause. Cena claims that he is cashing in his own rematch clause. They argue back and forth until HHH’s music hits.
HHH says that rematch clauses aren’t Money in the Bank briefcases; you can’t cash them in whenever you want. That decision is made by the COO. HHH announces that tonight’s main event will feature CM Punk v. John Cena. The winner will face Alberto Del Rio for the Undisputed Championship at the next PPV!
****Commercial****
Alberto Del Rio v. John Morrison
They trade jabs to start off, and then Morrison pounds on the back of Morrison. Rio regains control and throws Morrison back first into the turnbuckle. Del Rio locks on an arm bar and then whips Morrison into the ropes. John ducks a clothesline, and attempts a cover. Del Rio kicks out. Morrison is thrown to the outside of the ring as we go to commercial.
****Commercial****
Back from the break Del Rio goes for the cover. Morrison kicks out, but is immediately caught in a modified headlock. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker leads into another cover, but Morrison kicks out. A slam from Del Rio sets up a cover, but Morrison kicks out. Morrison is grabbed in a headlock and then thrown into the turnbuckle. Morrison gains a reprieve by throwing Rio out of the ring. Rio reenters but is hit by a flurry of kicks that sets up a cover. Rio kicks out. Morrison is kicked in the gut and hit with a belly to belly suplex into a bridging cover. Morrison kicks out. Roll up from Morrison is kicked out of by Rio. Morrison hits a hurricarana for a close near fall, but Rio manages to kick out!
The two trade kicks and Morrison hits the Flash Kick. Morrison leaps for Starship Pain, but Del Rio moves out of the way. Del Rio locks on the Cross Arm Breaker, and this match is over!
Winner via Cross Arm Breaker: Alberto Del Rio
After the match, Del Rio follows Morrison to the outside and locks on the cross arm breaker for another 10 seconds.
****Commercial****
Nikki Bella w/ Brie v. Eve Torres w/ Kelly Kelly
Eve is thrown to the outside of the ring and Brie tries to get in some cheap shots. Back in the ring, Eve does some Booty popping and hits the standing moonsault. Nikki kicks out, so Eve heads to the top turnbuckle. Eve is knocked off the top rope, and Nikki tries for a cover. Eve kicks out and follows up with a neckbreaker. This match is over.
Winner: Eve Torres
After the match, Brie enters the ring to help her sister, but Kelly hits her with the K2! Beth Phoenix and Natalya appear on the entrance ramp, applauding.
****Commercial****
Vickie Guerrero makes her way onto the entrance ramp and introduces her next potential client, Jack Swagger.
Jack Swagger v. Alex Riley
They lock up and Swagger gets behind Riley on the mat. Riley hits a Spineuster and Dolph Ziggler comes down to ringside. Dolph tells Vickie that she doesn’t need any other clients because he will one day be World Champion again. Their arguing leads to Vickie being accidentally knocked to the ground. Swagger rolls out of the ring to confront Dolph and ends up shoving him. Swagger reenters the ring , but gets caught with a rollup. This match is over.
Winner via Roll Up: Alex Riley
****Commercial****
HHH makes his way down to the ring and introduces Kevin Nash. Trips says that he wants to be completely transparent. The text that Nash got wasn’t from him. Nash says that he understands, he was even going to come out here tonight and apologize to Punk, but not after all the crap that HHH said last week. HHH says that he can’t call people out because he doesn’t work here. Nash says that is exactly the reason that he isn’t going to put up with Punk’s comments. HHH says that he can call out Punk, but not in this company. He asks Nash to leave.
Punk’s music hits and he walks down to the ring. He says that Nash claims he stepped over the line, but Nash knows a thing or two about crossing lines. Punk says he is done talking, he just wants to kick Nash’s ass. HHH separates the two of them from fighting. Punk takes a shot at HHH’s wife again, which leads to HHH saying that he promised the Board of Directors that he wouldn’t get involved in anything physically. That being said, he warns Punk not to forget that he is still the same man he has always been. Nash takes a cheap shot at Punk, and then exits the ring with HHH.
****Commercial****
HHH is in the back with Nash and says that he can’t be putting his hands on Superstars. Nash says that after putting on the COO suit 4 weeks ago, HHH has changed.
WWE Tag Team Championships
David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty v. Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne
Kofi and Michael start things off. Kofi gains control and is setting up for the Boom, Boom Drop. Otunga pulls his partner out of the ring to make the save. Kofi follows after, but Michael hits him from behind. Back in the ring, Otunga gets the tag. He hits a stereo splash with Michael, and then goes for the cover. Kofi kicks out. Slam from Otunga sets up a cover. Kofi kicks out. Michael gets the tag and hits a nice dropkick. Kofi is held in a side headlock, and then slammed to the mat. Kofi hits a head scissors and tags in Bourne. Otunga comes in off the tag as well. Bourne hits a hurricarana and several high kicks. Michael runs in to help Otunga, but Kofi sends him to the outside of the ring. Kingston kicks Otunga in the skull and Bourne leaps for the Shooting Star Press. This match is over!
Winners & NEW Tag Team Champions: Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne
****Commercial****
Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne are showered with Champagne by Zack Ryder and others to celebrate their victory.
John Laurinaitis runs up to HHH in the back and says that Kevin Nash has been in an accident. He gives him the name of the hospital and says that he can handle things here on RAW. HHH runs off to a get a car.
****Commercial****
Santino Marella’s music hits, but before he can make it into the ring he is jumped by The Miz & R-Truth. They grab mics and Truth says that Lil Jimmy just got got. He says that the Powers that Be are sitting at a conspiracy table. He also yells at the crowd for their chants of what. Truth says that since HHH took over, the company is no longer about Truth and The Miz. Speaking for the first time, The Miz says that he actually agrees with Truth about the conspiracy. Just months ago he beat John Cena at Wrestlemania, but now the only way he can get screen time is by picking fights with Jared from Subway. Miz says he is sick of seeing guys like Santino on RAW, when he hasn’t even won a match in five years. Truth says he and Miz are going after the conspiracies. Truth’s, “What’s Up” music begins to play. He cuts new lyrics that are aimed at telling the crowd that they suck. The Miz acts as his hype man.
****Commercial****
Winner faces Alberto Del Rio at Night of Champions
CM Punk v. John Cena
Cena throws his shirt out to the crowd before the match, but they throw it back to him twice. Punk and Cena roll around on the mat with Punk liberally applying head scissors. Punk hits a shoulder block and teases the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Cena rolls out of the way and hits shoulder blocks of his own and goes for the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Punk converts it into a cradle, but Cena kicks out.
****Commercial****
Back from the break, CM Punk attempts a GTS, Cena escapes and then sets up for the AA. Punk grabs onto the ropes and then leaps at Cena with a springboard clothesline. Cover attempt, but Cena kicks out. Punk goes for the GTS, but Cena attempts to counter into the STF. Punk initially blocks, but gets caught in the hold. Punk gets his foot on the rope after about 20 seconds. Punk throws Cena into the ring post, and then hits the GTS! Cover, but Cena kicks out!
Punk scales to the top rope and is looking for the elbow drop. He takes too much time, and Cena rolls out of the way. Cena heads to the top rope himself to set up for the leg drop. Cover attempt, but Punk kicks out. Punk starts to pound on the side of Cena’s face with his elbow. He hits a running knee to the face and goes for the cover. Cena kicks out. Out of nowhere, Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment, but Punk kicks out! Punk gets to the top rope and hits a flying crossbody. It hits, but Cena rolls through and tries to get Punk up onto his shoulders. Punk scurries off and hits a kick to the face. Punk lifts Cena up on his shoulders, but Kevin Nash appears on the entrance ramp. Nash says that this isn’t over yet. Cena uses the distraction to hit the AA and pick up the win.
Winner via Kevin Nash Distraction: John Cena
Immediately after the match Alberto Del Rio gets into the ring and attacks John Cena. John Laurinaitis gets into the ring to pull Rio off. Del Rio attacks Cena again and then separation process continues several more times until Rio hits Cena with the Title and knocks him out of the ring.
David’s Thoughts
It was a decent segment to open RAW, even if Alberto Del Rio does come off as an afterthought when in the presence of Cena and Punk. But, considering how he won the belt, I suppose it is a logical angle.
Morrison/Del Rio served its purpose. Morrison obviously still has some kinks to work out in terms out in terms of fluidity coming off of his injury, but it wasn’t enough to detract from the match.
Eve/Nikki was interesting. The neckbreaker was a nice touch. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like the women’s matches have been getting more time as of late. I’m actually ok with that because for the first time in, I don’t know how long, I’m actually enjoying their programs.
I suppose I would be disappointed if I was Dolph and Vickie was offering to expand her client base, BUT I actually like the idea of her having a stable. Hopefully they can all get along. Who am I kidding?
I may be one of David Otunga’s only fans, but I actually do like this change in Tag Champs .The fact is that after 3 months as Champions, they really didn’t do much with the belts. Maybe the commentators are correct and the new champs can reignite the division.
The Miz/R-Truth segment was absolutely bizarre. It started with conspiracy talk and ended by singing to the crowd that they suck. However, this is actually an interesting combination. The Miz really hasn’t done anything of note the past couple weeks, so this partnership should add some fire to his character. Plus, Truth is better in tag situations then he is in a single role.
Cena/Punk was much more formulaic then any of their previous meetings, but the match itself wasn’t the focus of the main event. The Nash interference was incredibly predictable, and no doubt is setting up for Nash/Punk in the future. Punk will win their meeting and go on to face the winner of Cena/Rio. At least, that’s where this all seems to be going.
Not a bad RAW by any means, just lacking the excitement of the past couple of weeks. The “surprises” they infused into the show were less than stellar. Despite the main event, the real story of the show may very well be the changing of guard in the Tag division. Only time will tell.
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