The Annual WWE Draft Show

Raw emanated from NC State University, or as Josh Matthews stated at one point later in the show, the University of North Carolina State. Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Josh Matthews began the commentary, with Booker T joining the announce team later in the show.

Draft Results:

John Cena to Smackdown!
Rey Mysterio to Raw.
Randy Orton to Smackdown!
Mark Henry to Smackdown!
Sin Cara to Smackdown!
Big Show to Raw.
“The Essence of Excellence” Alberto Del Rio to Raw.
John Cena re-drafted to Raw.

Match Summary:

Smackdown! wins Battle Royal, specifically Kofi Kingston and Big Show.

Eve defeated Leila by pinfall.

Jim Ross defeated Michael Cole by Disqualification.

Kofi Kingston defeated Sheamus by pinfall.

Randy Orton defeated Dolph Ziggler by pinfall.

Rey Mysterio defeated Wade Barrett by pinfall.

The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, and CM Punk defeated John Cena, Mark Henry, and Christian by pinfall.

Highlights:

- R-Truth brilliantly cements his heel turn into place.

- John Cena drafted to Smackdown and then re-drafted to Raw.

- CM Punk and Randy Orton will have a Last Man Standing Match at Extreme Rules.

- Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler versus Michael Cole and Jack Swagger will be a Country Whippin’ Match, i.e. a belt match or strap match.

- Out of both major title matches and five competitors, Christian is the only Smackdown contestant.

- Smackdown v. Raw Battle Royal

Raw began with the Battle Royal already in full-swing, as the entrances took place prior to going on-air. All the Raw superstars donned bright red Raw shirts. Smackdown superstars donned bright blue t-shirts. Kozlov, Sheamus, and Evan Bourne eliminated Kane. Big Show and The Great Khali battled. With help from three teammates, Big Show eliminated The Great Khali. Vladimir Kozlov was eliminated, followed by Ezekiel Jackson, Heath Slater, Chris Masters, Wade Barrett, and Ted DiBiase. Sheamus was in a dangerous predicament upside-down outside the ropes, but he showed some Heartbreak-Kid-like agility to worm his way back into the match. Mark Henry and Brodus Clay eliminated each other. After Yoshi Tatsu was eliminated by The Big Show, Drew McIntyre tried twice in vain to Future-shock DDT Sheamus. Ultimately, McIntyre eliminated Sheamus. Raw then broke for commercial.

Upon returning to air, it was four against four: Drew McIntyre was eliminated by Evan Bourne. Santino faced The Big Show and prepared the Cobra, which was blocked and then reversed, knocking Santino to the floor in a funny exchange. Mason Ryan eliminated Cody Rhodes. Daniel Bryan was eliminated by Kofi Kingston.

In the final four, it was Big Show and Kofi against Mason Ryan and Evan Bourne. After an exciting series of near-eliminations between Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne, Ryan and Bourne attempted to work together against The Big Show. Bourne jumped from the top rope onto Ryan’s shoulders in order to get some extra height on an attempted cross-body to The Big Show. Big Show caught him and summarily eliminated him from the match. Mason Ryan, the lone Raw heel, was left alone against two Smackdown faces. Ryan was summarily dispatched. Winners: The Big Show, Kofi Kingston, and the Smackdown brand.

#1 WWE Draft pick: John Cena to Smackdown.

Cena came out, and Michael Cole seemed displeased about Cena leaving Raw, claiming that Cena was a Raw institution for the past six years. Cena donned the blue Smackdown t-shirt.

After returning from commercial, the WWE touted its i-phone app called Slingshot, citing its popularity as the #1 game among youth in six or seven eastern European and Middle Eastern countries.

John Cena interview backstage:

Cena delivered a bad promo. It’s a bit much for Cena to say that his being drafted to Smackdown is the biggest draft move in WWE history.He spoke too fast and made some forced sci-fi movie references, since Smackdown is on the Sci-fi channel. He said something about the date Han Solo was encased in kryptonite, and I think he said something about the scientist from Back to the Future wanting to go back in time to 4/25/2011 to watch Cena get drafted. The one good part of the promo was that he used The Rock’s diction when saying that “finally he was going back…to Smackdown.”

Cole teased a main event match in which he would decimate Jim Ross. Cole needs to stop teasing his “matches” as main events. Since the viewers did not know what the real main event was, they might have thought (like I did) that Cole really was going to be in the main event.

R-Truth promo from the top of the entrance ramp:

After a great recap of R-Truth’s heel turn from the previous week, prepared with typical superlative quality, visual effects speeding-up and slowing down the action, and sound effects that emphasize the impact of moves delivered by Truth to Morrison, R-Truth appeared at the top of the entrance ramp. There was no music.

Truth delivered a classic speech that cemented his heel turn and really turned the crowd against him. His speech would have impressed political speechwriter and speech analyst Dr. John Shosky.

Truth shocked the crowd in the opening. When he yelled, “Raleigh, North Carolina!!!!” the crowd seemed to cheer for him. Instead of his usual “what’s up!” Truth followed with “SHUT UP!!” Classic.

Truth paced his promotion perfectly. Truth built-in pauses to accommodate the crowd punctuating his speech with numerous chants of “WHAT!” His promo was seamless and flawless.

Truth got progressively more angry with the crowd. As the chants of “WHAT” continued, Truth warned them, “Y’all gonna stop with that WHAT!” Later, seemingly frustrated, he yelled, “Y’all pissin’ me the hell off.” This frustration seemed natural, but it was delivered so well that it had to have been pre-planned.

Truth personalized the message to everyone in the audience. Truth did not mention “the fans” or “the WWE Universe” as many superstars have done. He mentioned “you.” Truth did not want to blame the entirety of WWE fans for his several years of difficulty. He blamed each fan individually. He attacked each fan individually, and this really turned the crowd against him. R-Truth blamed “you” for John Morrison wanting to challenge him. He blamed “you” for R-Truth being pressured into accepting the challenge. Truth lost the match because of “you.” Truth wasted ten years of his career trying to get “you” to like him and rap with him.

Truth used an example of an individual fan. The example of “Little Jimmy” was classic. R-Truth pretended to talk to an imaginary fan named Little Jimmy. Little Jimmy tried to follow Truth along with his rap but sounded way too dorky while he was trying to copy R-Truth’s “What’s Up!?” Was Little Jimmy putting titles around Truth’s waist? Nope.

Truth clearly and emphatically told the crowd about his decision to abandon them. After wasting ten years of trying to get the crowd to rap with him, Truth decided to give the crowd the boot. Sayonara. Arrivederci. See ya later-bye bye. DEUCES! R-Truth then told the crowd, Don’t boo me. Boo yourself!” Classic! Simple, effective, and I don’t recall anyone ever telling the crowd to boo themselves.

Truth described the positive aftermath of his decision. Since giving “you” the boot, Truth has felt MARVELOUS!! For the first time in his life, the Truth has set him free. This would not be a half-bad tag line going forward as a heel.

This great promo was then cut-off at the appropriate length by John Morrison, who attacked Truth from behind and bumped him down the entrance ramp. Referees separated the two men. Truth was staggering when Morrison broke free and lunged at Truth again, partially connecting with no move in particular. Referees again separated the two men. End of segment.

A teaser showed for next week’s Raw from Miami. It will be The Rock’s birthday celebration…the biggest birthday celebration in the history of television. And we’re invited.

Another Awesome Kong promo aired. This time, she flicked the head off the blonde doll. Then, it zoomed in on her face…obscene purple eye shadow included. Her name in WWE will be KHARMA…and her promo demonstrated that this name includes “HARM” in it.

Eve v. Leila.

After re-capping the couples-therapy-beatdown that Michelle McCool administered to Leila, Eve and Leila fought for a draft pick. There was no crowd reaction for this match. Then, Michael Cole distracted the crowd from the match by announcing that he had to go backstage to stretch before his match with JR. Eve pinned Leila while practically no one was watching. Winner by pinfall: Eve.

After the match, McCool attacked Leila, but Leila turned the tables on her. Leila threw McCool into the barricade, then rammed her head on the ring apron, then threw her over the announce table. Leila was in tears and said that she was “sick of this.” McCool either sold an arm injury or was really injured when being thrown over the table.

#2 WWE Draft pick: Rey Mysterio to Raw.

JR, donning a Sooners #7 jersey, warmed up for his match.

After commercial, Cody Rhodes was interviewed about Rey Mysterio being drafted to Raw. Rhodes has a going away present for Mysterio: a new mask that will be put on him at the hospital. In the hospital, Mysterio can hurricanrana someone into the nurse’s station or 619 someone into an OR while they are having open heart surgery. Not bad, Cody.

Kofi Kingston v. Sheamus

The match began with Sheamus’ power moves, a near fall, and a clothesline. Kofi reversed the momentum after Sheamus delivered a spear to the steel ringpost. Kofi, from the top rope, delivered a towering cross-body press. Kofi whipped Sheamus into the corner, and Sheamus bounced out of the corner with a clothesline à la Nikita Koloff and the Russian Sickle. Sheamus missed a Brogue kick. Kingston connected on Trouble in Paradise. 1-2-3. Winner by pinfall: Kofi Kingston.

Prior to Smackdown’s draft pick, it showed all the Smackdown and Raw superstars sitting on different halves of a backstage room, watching the telecast. Smackdown heels and faces alike cheered Kingston’s victory, and Raw heels and faces alike looked dejected.

#3 WWE Draft pick: Randy Orton to Smackdown.

Randy Orton came out to the top of the Ring entrance. A Smackdown t-shirt was thrown to him. He looked at it, then looked at the size tag. He then looked irritated, as clearly the shirt was too small. Orton proceeded to hold the shirt up instead of stretching himself into the shirt. Before cutting away, Orton re-examined the size tag. Yup, still too small. After they cut away for a recap of last week’s action involving Michael Cole and JR, when the camera returned to Orton, he then had a Smackdown shirt on.

Michael Cole v. Jim Ross.

Cole and Swagger came out, acting like goofs. JR came out, and he looked pretty trim. Cole just continues to look ridiculous in that ill-fitting singlet. Cole spent the first three minutes of the match making fun of JR’s weight, even though he looked great. JR tried to force the action, stalking Cole just as Drago stalked Apollo Creed. Then, as if Cole had not already wasted enough time, Cole went down to the floor to grab JR’s cowboy hat from the timekeeper, brought it into the ring and wore it, and then stomped on it. Swagger then toweled-off Cole, and Cole did one push-up. JR eventually got a hold of Cole’s ill-fitting singlet and threw him down to the mat. Swagger brought out a small stool and placed it in the corner, allowing Cole to regroup. When Cole got serious, he ran to JR and then tried to lift him for a bodyslam, like Hogan did against Andre. Same result. JR then got on top of Cole in a Lou Thesz press position and rained
blows upon Cole’s face. Outside the ring, Swagger attacked Lawler. Cole emerged from JR’s punches with a bloody, fat lip. Swagger then entered the ring and applied the ankle lock to JR. Winner by disqualification: Jim Ross.

After the match, Cole had Swagger take off JR’s belt. Cole lashed JR with the belt four or five times…gingerly at first but then with more umph as he went along. Jerry Lawler then entered the ring, clotheslined Swagger over the top rope, grabbed the belt, folded it, and proceeded to lash Cole with it. A terrified Michael Cole slithered out of the ring.

The GM’s e-mail alert sounded. JR and Lawler’s tag team match at Extreme Rules versus Michael Cole and Jack Swagger will be a “Country Whippin’” match.

The Miz’ interview backstage.

Miz is annoyed at all of the non-Miz-related WWE news topics that are buzzing about, including R-Truth and including The Rock’s mail-suspended, school-closing greatest birthday in the history of birthday-tainment. Miz will find a way to win his Triple Threat match at Extreme Rules…because that is what he does. If The Miz is drafted to Smackdown, Miz predicted that Raw would lose so many viewers that it would be cancelled within one month.

Randy Orton (with a beard) v. Dolph Ziggler

After some back-and-forth, Orton ended up on the floor outside the ring and was thrown over the barricade. Orton made it back into the ring just prior to the 10-count. Orton hit an Angle Slam. Near fall. Orton backbreaker, and then the pre-RKO fist-on-mat pounding commenced. Vicki distracted Orton for a moment to protect Ziggler. Orton moved toward her. Ziggler attempted a roll-up. Two-count. RKO. Winner by pinfall: Randy Orton.

Before Smackdown’s draft picks were announced, CM Punk came to the top of the entrance ramp to promote their match at Extreme Rules. Punk declared that the “RKO-from-outta-nowhere” won’t save him this time because there will be no rules in their Last Man Standing match. Orton said that he will miss many things about Raw, but he will not miss Punk’s ramblings. After their match, Punk won’t be talking, walking, eating, drinking, or even moving…only sleeping.

#4 and #5 WWE Draft picks: Mark Henry and Sin Cara to Smackdown.

Wade Barrett v. Rey Mysterio

Barrett manhandled Mysterio with power moves early on, but Mysterio countered with his more agile antics. Bouncing off the ropes after an Irish Whip, Mysterio jumped off the second rope into a pretty cross-body press. After landing a from-the-top-rope hurricanrana that resulted in Barrett being bounced into perfect position to receive the 619, Mysterio 619’d Barrett and then executed his stylish top-rope splash, securing the pinfall. Winner by pinfall: Rey Mysterio.

#6 and #7 WWE Draft picks: The Big Show and Alberto Del Rio to Raw.

Big Show came to the top of the entrance ramp and was delivered a t-shirt that was appropriately sized for him. Backstage, an irritated Alberto Del Rio mumbled something to Ricky Ricardo that at Extreme Rules. El Gran Brodus Clay asked, “Sir, what about me?” Del Rio gave him a classic look that seemed to say “What, are you kidding me? Who cares about you?” Del Rio then mumbled something about his destiny being fulfilled, no matter where he is.

The announce team announced that the WWE Draft will continue tomorrow at noon on WWE.com.

Teddy Long came out and announced the Main Event, with the final draft pick on the line.

CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, and The Miz versus Christian, Mark Henry, and John Cena.

Christian and The Miz started the match. Miz rolled out of the ring when Cena was tagged-in. Cena suplexed CM Punk, executed a nice hip-toss, and tagged Mark Henry. Mark Henry executed a series of power moves, including standing on Punk’s chest by the ropes. Del Rio was tagged in and rained punches down on Christian. After kicking Christian in the left arm, he tagged the Miz. Kick to the face. Two count. Raw heels continued to work on Christian, who they successfully isolated. A desperate Christian tried an Unprettier on the Miz, who avoided it. Miz then delivered his Miz-styled clothesline into the corner, where he sits through the second rope. Del Rio was tagged in and looked like he was setting up Christian for a superplex, but Christian turned this into a from-the-top-rope DDT. Cena and Miz were tagged in at the same time. Vintage Super-Cena. Series of shoulder blocks, suplex. Before Cena could attempt the five-knuckle shuffle,
however, Mark henry shoulder-blocked Cena and left him in the ring, vulnerable to The Miz. Outside the ring, Mark Henry delivered a military press slam to Christian. Inside the ring, Skull Crushing Finale. Winners by pinfall: the Raw Heels.

Final WWE Draft pick of the evening: John Cena re-drafted back to Raw.

Cena landed the five-knuckle shuffle on the Miz. Cena hoisted up The Miz and threw him down to the arms of his Raw-heel teammates, and the credits began to roll.

Source: wrestlingtruth.com