WWE Monday Night Raw
Bridgeport, Connecticut
September 17, 2012
Commentators: Jim Ross, Michael Cole and John Bradshaw Layfield
Report by: David Stephens of Wrestleview.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart and join me because it’s time for Monday Night RAW!
CM Punk’s music hits, but it is Paul Heyman who struts down to the ring. He introduces himself to the crowd and says that last night he saw history being made as CM Punk successfully defended his Championship against John Cena. He admits that the ending of the match was broiled in controversy, so he’d like Chad Patton, last night’s referee, to come down to the ring and explain his decision.
Patton makes his way into the ring, and via a picture supplied by Heyman, reaffirms his Night of Champions decision. Heyman commends him for that bravery and then shows footage from a fan’s cell phone. Because it was a draw, Punk retains his Title.
John Cena’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells Paul to shut up. He says that he agrees with the referee and Heyman. Cena says that he doesn’t have a problem with the decision, but he has issue with the fact that the PPV ended in a draw. Cena wanted the match to continue. Cena says that Punk has always clamored for respect, but doesn’t think that by retaining by a tie Punk earned that respect. Heyman disagrees.
Cena says that respect is earned by beating anyone on any given night, not by attacking someone with a Title belt after a draw. Respect is being able to hold your head high after a definitive decision. Cena’s ankle is injured tonight, but he wants a rematch nonetheless.
Heyman says that CM Punk will tell Cena to his face… when he gets here tonight. Heyman says that he speaks for Punk because he is the voice of the voice of the voiceless.
Alberto Del Rio’s music hits and he walks out onto the ramp with a neck brace wearing Ricardo Rodriguez. He says that Cena needs to stop complaining because he too deserves a rematch.
AJ’s music hits and she comes down to the ring. She announces that Cena & Sheamus v. Alberto Del Rio & CM Punk will be tonight’s main event. That match will help determine if anyone deserves a rematch, and who that #1 Contender might just be.
****Commercial****
Michael Cole updates the audience on Jerry Lawler and also announces that he will be interviewing him for RAW next week. Justin Roberts introduces JBL as he once again joins in for commentary tonight. As does… Jim Ross!
Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara v. Primo & Epico
Cara and Primo start the match. Cara hits a nice leaping arm drag. Rey gets the tag and gets on his knees for Cara to leap and hit a crossbody. Cara gets the tag again and hits a double kick with Rey. Cover, but Primo kicks out.
****Commercial****
Rey puts Epico in position for the 619 and Cara puts Primo right next to him. Rey runs and connects with the 619! Rey leaps out of the ring with a seated senton on Primo. Cara is the legal man and hits a Swanton in the ring from the top rope and picks up the win.
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara
After the match The Prime Time Players run down to the ring and attack the victors. They grab mics and declare themselves the rightful Tag Team Champions and say that they will take what they want.
****Commercial****
Eve Torres v. Beth Phoenix
Eve flips over the back of Beth put is met with a hard clothesline. Eve pushes Beth into the corner and scores a roll up.
Winner: Eve Torres
After the match Eve flaunts her Title in front of Layla, who was on commentary for the match. (I probably should have mentioned that before but.. eh… Divas…)
****Commercial****
Antonio Cesaro joins in for commentary during the next match.
Brodus Clay v. Heath Slater
They exchange blows back and forth. Slater tries to get in a bit of offense but it is short lived. Slater leaps from the second rope only to get swatted away. Clay hits the Splat and this match is over.
Winner via Splat: Brodus Clay
****Commercial****
Miz TV
Miz walks down to the ring and flaunts his stature as the most must see WWE Superstar. His guest tonight is the GM of Smackdown, Booker T.
Miz asks Booker T why he is against him. Why did Booker T put Miz against 3 other guys last night? Miz brings up a couple of other questionable decisions and says that he thinks Booker misses the spotlight. It makes Booker insane that his time is over.
Booker has the mic and says that Miz likes to talk, but it is time for Miz to get a new guest for his show. It’ll be someone that thrives on beating multiple opponents at the same time.
Ryback’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. Ryback starts to freak out and tosses the set everywhere and out of the ring.
****Commercial****
Josh Mathews walks up to Heyman and Punk in the back. He asks Punk about teaming with Del Rio tonight. Punk goes off on a mini diatribe about wanting respect.
Santino v. Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero
Santino pushes Ziggler down to the mat as the match begins. Ziggler is unhappy and hits a dropkick right to the jaw. Santino power walks the ropes and then goes for a cover! Ziggler kicks out. Santino connects with an arm drag. Ziggler takes back control and stop the cobra from emerging. He tosses the fabric across the ring. Ziggler connects with a couple of punches. Santino starts to fight back and dodges a clothesline. Santino hits the headbutt and goes to look for the cobra. Vickie pulls it out of the ring. . Ziggler hits the Zig Zag and this is over.
Winners: Dolph Ziggler & Anti-Cobra Activists
****Commercial****
Wade Barrett v. Justin Gabriel
Gabriel starts the match of fast with a series of kicks, but Wade moves out of the way and punches right back. Justin rolls out of the ring and Wade follows after to bring him back in. Wade pulls Justin’s side against the steel post. Back in the ring, Wade goes for a cover. Gabriel kicks out. Another cover off of a punch, but Gabriel kicks out. Wade locks on a side headlock as the crowd chants *We Want Nexus*. Justin gets free and kicks him in the gut. Justin hits a nice springboard moonsault and goes for a cover. Wade kicks out. Wade tosses Justin high up into the air and goes back to work the neck area from behind. Wade pulls Justin into a forearm and this match is over.
Winner: Wade Barrett
****Commercial****
Kofi Kingston is in the back and walks up to R-Truth who is talking to Little Jimmy. Truth wishes Kofi a Happy Birthday. Kofi says it isn’t his birthday. Truth says that he knows, but it is Subway’s birthday! Jared appears and offers them sandwiches. Damien Sandow gets a Meatball Parm. Zack Ryder and then Ryback also get sandwiches.
In the locker room, Sheamus is speaking to Cena. Cena seems disinterested by Sheamus’ tale.
****Commercial****
WWE Tag Team Championship
Daniel Bryan & Kane v. Kofi Kingston & R-Truth
Kofi and Bryan start the match. Bryan hits a shoulder block but gets met with an elbow. Kofi tags in Truth who rakes the arm. Bryan responds in kind and then goes to tag Kane. Instead he shouts no in his face. Truth tags Kofi. Kingston flies in with a crossbody and goes for the cover. Bryan kicks out and Kane gets the tag. Kane misses a punch and Kofi kicks him into the corner. Kane tosses him to switch positions and unloads with punches. Kofi is lifted off the mat and head-butted. Kofi connects with a couple of kicks. He sends Kane out of the ring and then tosses a charging Bryan right over and into him. They argue on the outside.
****Commercial****
Kane and Truth are in the ring as we come back from the break. Kofi tries to employ his weak strikes. He flies off the top with a crossbody. He prances around the ring and hits the Boom Drop. Kane catches Kofi in a chokeslam position to counter the Trouble in Paradise. Kofi runs away but flies off the second rope directly into a right fist. Kane signals for the chokeslam, but Bryan tags himself into the match. Truth comes in and is able to wear down Daniel Bryan. Kane comes in off a tag to make the save. He leaps form the top rope and connects with a rolling clothesline. Kane hits a Sidewalk Slam. Kane puts his hand up for a chokeslam and again Bryan looks to tag in but Kane stares him down. Kane grabs him, but Bryan pulls his neck down on the rope. Truth goes for a cover, but Bryan runs in to make the save. Kane hits a chokeslam out of desperation. Bryan tags himself in and applies the No Lock. This match is over.
Winners & STILL Tag Team Champions: Daniel Bryan & Kane
****Commercial****
Randy Orton v. Tensai
Tensai uses his power to knock Orton down to the mat. He lifts Orton high up into the air and slams him down to the mat. He lifts Orton back up and applies a bear hug. Orton falls to the mat so Tensai hits him with a series of knees to the back. He continues the slow attack. Orton hits an RKO out of nowhere and this match is over.
Winner via RKO: Randy Orton
****Commercial****
David Otunga is with Alberto Del Rio in the back and approaches Heyman and Punk. He tries to speak for Rio and says that he’ll be taking the lead in tonight’s match. This does not go over well. Punk reminds Del Rio via proxy of the time he defeated Del Rio.
Damien Sandow is in the ring and starts to educate the crowd on some new vocabulary words.
Zack Ryder’s music hits and he says that he has some vocab for Sandow… Shut. Up. Now.
****Commercial****
Damien Sandow v. Zack Ryder
Back from the break, Ryder sends Sandow over the top rope. Ryder flies out over top. Sandow applies a side headlock and chokes the life out of Ryder. Sandow drops him headfirst out of a Russian Leg Sweep. Sandow goes for a cover, but Ryder kicks out. They start to exchange blows in the ring. Ryder is pushed into the corner and met with a couple of elbows. Ryder fights back and sets up and connects with the Broskie Boot. Cover, but Sandow kicks out. Sandow responds by hitting his finisher and this match is over.
Winner: Damien Sandow
****Commercial****
John Cena & Sheamus v. CM Punk & Alberto Del Rio
Punk looks to start the match against Cena, but quickly leaves it to Del Rio. Punk starts to conference with Heyman outside the ring. Del Rio is sent towards the corner. Cena hits a monkey flip followed by a back body drop. Sheamus gets the tag and throws Rio towards the corner. He starts to unload on Rio. Sheamus hits a rolling Samoan Drop.
Cena gets the tag as does Punk. Cena knocks him to the ground so Punk holds on to the ring apron to try and resist the clutch of Cena. Cena lifts him up for the AA, but Punk scurries off. Rio gets the tag as Punk holds back Cena. Punk comes back in but the tag is again quickly exchanged to Del Rio. Sheamus gets the tag from Cena and places Del Rio on the apron to brutally club him. Sheamus brings him back in the ring and hits the Celtic Cross. Sheamus looks for the Brogue Kick, but Punk distracts. Del Rio tries to sneak in a cover, but Sheamus kicks out.
CM Punk gets the tag and starts to work on the legs of Sheamus. He takes him down to the mat and applies a surfboard variation! Sheamus counters and tries a pin. Punk kicks out and tags in Del Rio. He continues the control of Sheamus. Sheamus responds by hitting a brutal backbreaker. Punk and Cena both get the tags. Cena starts his 5 moves of doom. Punk tries to kick Cena but gets put in an STF. Del Rio makes the save, only to get clobbered by Sheamus and knocked out of the ring. Punk charges and knocks down Sheamus. Cena hits him with an AA and picks up the pin! Heyman is furious as Punk’s leg was clearly on the rope.
Winners: John Cena & Sheamus
After the match CM Punk follows the referee all the way up the ramp complaining about his foot being on the rope.
David’s Thoughts
Heyman makes perfect sense as the voice of the voice of the voiceless. I kind of adore that moniker.
Remember a couple years ago when commentators and the like were not allowed to refer to referees by name? That’s over apparently.
AJ’s outfit was much better tonight. It was simply, her. It worked for her character and included the bit of spunk that she has been missing as the GM.
I never appreciated how good Rosa Mendes looks until tonight. Guess that’s what happens when I fall asleep during the Diva matches 99% of the time. I’m a fan.
Prime Time Players are starting to grow on me a tiny bit, but man they still gross me out. And they’re sloppy.
I’m ready for Brodus Clay to move on to better opponents. Antonio Cesaro is a step in the right direction.
They put a bit of production into MizTV, so I expect to see it again. Much like Clay, it will be refreshing to see Ryback in a real feud.
I like Wade’s facial hair. I suppose I should have gotten a bit more about him out of this match, but that’s what I’m left thinking.
Daniel Bryan and Kane are undoubtedly silly. You don’t hug in a Championship match, but hey it works. They are the epitome of successful sports entertainment. They really make the show enjoyable to watch.
Randy Orton straight up bores me. I legitimately fell asleep during his match last night. Which is a shame cause I missed the whole flipping off the fan incident, but it was a nice little nap so I’m not too upset. Speaking of which, I’m so over his utilization of the RKO out of nowhere to win a match.
Woo Woo Woo. Ryder made it onto RAW. Didn’t win a match or anything, but hey he was there.
CM Punk yelling at the referee was hysterical. The fact that he kept saying he knew that the ref didn’t see it but was still mad was great. At least a rather boring RAW ended with a laugh.
I’d be remiss not to mention JBL & JR filling in tonight. They did an admirable job filling in for Lawler.
It’s a great cause and all, but I’m already tired of the pink.
David Stephens
Follow me on Twitter!@TheDaveStephens
The Teacher’s Lounge (Saturday)
“The Teacher’s Lounge” is a weekly podcast archived every Saturday on the Wrestleview Radio Network featuring hosts David Stephens and “Mr. V” Anthony Valvo. The show reviews all of the news from the week, tosses out Gold Stars and Detentions, PPV previews and special guests. Past Interviews include: Colt Cabana, Hernandez, Sara Del Rey, CZW Owner DJ Hyde, Shane Douglas & more!
