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RAW emanated from somewhere in the U.S….I never heard them say which city, but I heard them say that next week will be in Boston. Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole were on commentary.

Highlights:

CM Punk was reinstated by Mr. McMahon.

John Cena will be fired if he loses the WWE Title to CM Punk.

Alberto Del Rio won the #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match.

Re-patriated Sgt. Slaughter made his return to in-ring action.

Zack Ryder made intentions known to Otunga and McGillicutty.

The Miz snapped after his loss to A-Ri, but it looked too much like R-Truth beating on John Morrison.

A superstar earned a pinfall with a backslide.

Match Results:

Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres defeated The Bella Twins by pinfall.

David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty defeated Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov by pinfall.

Jack Swagger defeated Sgt. Slaughter by pinfall.

Alberto Del Rio defeated Rey Mysterio and R-Truth by submission in Triple Threat Match.

Alex Riley defeated the Miz by pinfall.

Opening Segment:

RAW began by resetting the Cena versus Truth Tables match, CM Punk’s involvement which led to Truth’s victory, and then CM Punk’s entrance-ramp rant against the WWE up until the point when he said the WWE would be better-off once Vince McMahon is dead (leaving out the part about Triple H, Stephanie, and Johnny Ace).

John Cena came out to the ring and summarized the events of the past week, stating that CM Punk was suspended and that now a triple threat match would choose a new #1 contender, and CM Punk was going to be swept under the rug and all of his accomplishments were to be ignored. Cena said that that was bullshit, and Cena believes that Punk needs to be in the main event in his home town. Even though Punk’s diatribe was at Cena’s expense, he found nothing wrong with what Punk had said. A portion of the crowd began chanting “First Amendment.” Cena stated that it could have very easily been him that could someday be a victim of the WWE like Punk was. Cena said he wanted answers…not from the anonymous GM, but from Mr. McMahon…not a political whitewashing answer but an open, frank explanation in the center of the ring. Cena also went on the record and stated that he wanted to face CM Punk for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank.

Did You Know: Last year, WWE hosted an event at the Arene de Nimes, a Roman stadium build in the First Century AD, and it is the oldest functioning stadium in the world.

(Because of that nugget of knowledge, this edition of the RAW Review is dedicated to Professor Jan Gadeyne, Roman Art and Architecture professor at several universities in Rome and is a legendary professor among students who study abroad there, and the Facebook groups devoted to him prove this. He taught me about that Stadium in Nimes in 1995, and I ended up meeting him for lunch in October 2010 by Largo Argentina in Rome. Cheers, Professor!!)

Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres versus The Bella Twins

Eve hit a Standing Moonsault after mocking the Bellas and then ended up outside the ring. One of the Bellas hit an arm breaker on Torres as she came into the ring through the ropes and then continued to work on her arm. After tagging, more softening up of the arm ensued until Torres rolled up a Bella for a near-fall. Bella regained control with an arm-bar. Torres then reversed the momentum by hitting R-Truth’s finish. Kelly kelly was tagged in and hit her Lou Thesz press and punches. After a butt-wiggle, Kelly Kelly hit a very sloppy Hurricanrana on a Bella and then delivered the Stinkface. Kelly Kelly then hit Cena’s running bulldog, but the two-count was broken up. Kelly Kelly then hit a standing leg drop to the back of a Bella’s head, earning the pinfall. Winners by pinfall: Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres.

Next, a video package updating Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine. Commentaries by Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, and Leavine himself. The package focused on the “Silent Rage” name and what it means for Leavine.

Backstage, R-Truth was on the phone with Flo (who works for Progressive Insurance) talking about how he couldn’t get a discount on his car insurance even though he’s a homeowner and a safe driver. Truth had good news for all his fellow conspiracy theorists, that he saved 15% on his insurance by switching to Geico (even though he was on the phone with Progressive). The bad news was that R-Truth is going to hurt somebody tonight. When Truth turned around, Alberto Del Rio was there. First, it was Little Jimmy, and now it was Senor Jimmy! Del Rio said that it wasn’t about conspiracies…it was about destino, and Del Rio was going to win and become the #1 Contender…but Truth already knew that.

Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov versus WWE Tag Team Champions David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty

Marella began by flexing in the center of the ring. Marella and Otunga locked up twice. Marella faked a kick, and Otunga flinched. Otunga then delivered two serious right hands to Marella. In the corner, Santino went for the Cobra, but Otunga scurried out of the ring. McGillicutty was tagged in and was atomic-dropped by Marella. Marella tagged in Naturalized U.S. citizen Kozlov who continued dominating McGillicutty with a series of power moves until a distraction from Otunga opened the door for a chop block by McGillicutty to Kozlov’s knee. After some double-teaming, Otunga was in control of Kozlov. The New Nexus tried a double suplex on Kozlov, but Kozlov suplexed the two of them. Marella was tagged in and delivered two niiiice hip tosses and continued with a diving head but on McGillicutty. Marella hit the Cobra on Otunga, who was not the legal man and then fell out of the ring. McGillicutty capitalized on the opportunity with a spinning
neck breaker and the pinfall. Winners by pinfall: Otunga and McGillicutty.

Post-match, the unbelievable happened. Zack Ryder came out to the top of the entrance ramp. Woo Woo Woo. You know it!! He directed this at the New Nexus. That was all he said, though, end of segment. They could have and should have done more with him in this spot.

Backstage, Miz was reminded that he has never defeated Alex Riley. Miz stated that he should have been in the triple threat match for the #1 Contendership, but Riley cost him that opportunity. Miz vowed to end Alex Riley tonight.

In the dressing room, Evan Bourne stood with Sgt. Slaughter, and Slaughter said he would lead the crowd tonight in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jack Swagger then came in and said that Swagger should be the one leading the crowd in the Pledge…not someone who sided with Iraq during the first Gulf War. Slaughter admitted he made a mistake, as Swagger’s parents made a mistake when they did not use birth control. Swagger then said it would be a mistake for Slaughter to accept a challenge from Swagger for a match tonight. Slaughter accepted.

WWE reset Jack Swagger’s Money in the Bank victory from Wrestlemania 26. Great highlights.

Jack Swagger versus Sgt. Slaughter

The two locked up, and Swagger hit a knee lift and followed up with several shoulders in the corner. Slaughter delivered a series of chops and went for an early Cobra Clutch, but Swagger frantically avoided it by backing into the corner. Swagger then delivered his awkward looking running Vader Bomb and secured the pinfall. Winner by pinfall: Jack Swagger.

Post-match, Swagger applied the ankle lock, but then Evan Bourne came out and made the save by delivering a big boot to Swagger’s mouth. Slaughter then led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Alberto Del Rio versus Rey Mysterio versus R-Truth

Del Rio started by assaulting R-Truth with a series of punches. Del Rio then turned his attention to Rey. Rey ran to the corner to attack Truth, but Del Rio cut him off with a dropkick. Del Rio then hit his flying one-leg kick in the corner on Truth, knocking him senseless. Del Rio then ran at Rey, who dodged, and Del Rio went through the ropes and down to the floor. Truth hit a power move on Rey and scored a close near fall. Outside the ring, Truth dominated Rey until Del Rio attacked Truth. Truth hit Del Rio and then threw him shoulder-first into the barrier. Truth dragged Rey into the ring and scored a near-fall. The workrate slowed for a moment as Truth stalked Rey and Del Rio lied outside. Rey was whipped chest-first into the corner, with big impact. Truth scored another near-fall and then chatted with the referee, seemingly about the count. With Rey down, Truth stepped onto the ring apron and then delivered a double axe-handle to Del
Rio by the barrier outside. Truth then came back in the ring and delivered a nice spinning sidewalk slam on Rey, earning a near-fall. Del Rio came in, hit Truth, and then turned his attention on Rey. Rey then hit a hurricanrana on Del Rio after bouncing off the ropes. Truth then hoisted Rey onto the top rope and delivered a couple of punches before standing on the second rope. Del Rio, from behind, hit Truth and then hoisted him on his shoulders. Rey hit a cross body on the elevated R-Truth, and the three men laid in the ring. After returning from commercial, Del Rio had Rey on the ropes and seemed to be choking him. Truth was on the ring apron. Del Rio whipped Rey into the ropes and Rey hit him, but then got caught in a side winding backbreaker. Rey was then in the corner, and Del Rio ran to him, but a Mysterio drop toe hold caused Del Rio to hit his face on the second turnbuckle. The three men battled along the ropes, and Truth delivered
two serious right hands to Del Rio. Truth then did a sunset flip over Rey and Del Rio, and when Del Rio landed on his back, Rey was launched across the ring. Truth scored a near fall on Del Rio. Truth then turned to Rey and hit a face buster on Rey, but the fall was broken up by Del Rio. Del Rio then hit a code breaker on Truth, but Rey broke up the count. Del Rio attempted a sunset flip on Rey, but Rey rolled through and delivered a kick to Del Rio. Truth then worked on Rey, hit a big scissor kick, and scored a near fall broken up by Del Rio. Del Rio then went for a spear but totally missed and went straight through to the steel post. Rey then hit Truth and landed him in 619-receipt position. Rey nailed the 619. Del Rio tried to prevent Rey from launching his top-rope flat splash, but failed. Rey hit landed it nicely. Del Rio came in and disturbed the count by applying the arm breaker to Rey, who tapped out as R-Truth was regaining his
wits. Winner by submission: Alberto Del Rio.

WWE reset the 2005 Money in the Bank Ladder Match, which Edge won.

Dolph Ziggler, dressed like Sonny Crocket, came out with Vickie Guerrero to the center of the ring, where Vickie demanded the crowd sing Happy Birthday to Dolph, since he was the U.S. Champion and it was the U.S.’ birthday. Dolph then took the mic and said that the fans are so lucky to be seeing the greatest superstar in his prime. Forget the WWE Title, and as long as Dolph has the U.S. Title, then all you need is Dolph to make Monday Night Perfection. At this point, Kofi came out in a florescent green t-shirt. Kofi said that, without Vickie at ringside, Dolph cannot beat him. Dolph told Kofi to beat it and put his hand on Kofi. Kofi then pushed Dolph into Vickie, whose arse landed directly on the cake. After more commotion, Vickie’s face ended up in the cake, and Dolph fled the scene. This segment was a waste of everyone’s time. It wasn’t even that funny to see Vickie all caked-up.

(Vickie is useless right now on RAW because she needs an actual face GM to work angles with. An anonymous GM does not provide the foil that Vickie needs to get her riled up and scheming.)

WWE reset last year’s 2010 Money in the Bank pay-per-view, won by the Miz.

A video package highlighted Alex Riley’s desire to be in the WWE, along with Riley’s refusal to take verbal abuse from The Miz, followed up with his victory over The Miz at Capitol Punishment.

The Miz versus Alex Riley

The two men locked up twice, and A-Ri took the early advantage with punches in the corner. The two traded punches, and then A-Ri hit a nice clothesline on the Miz and threw Miz outside the ring, where he rammed Miz’ head into the barrier. A-Ri threw Miz back into the ring, and Miz recovered in time to take advantage as A-Ri entered the ring. Miz landed some good shots and earned a near-fall. Miz then followed it up with a front face lock and some knees to the head. Miz then hit a strong DDT on A-Ri, but A-Ri kicked out of the cover. Referee Charles Robinson had to pull Miz off of A-Ri who was in the ropes. Miz then measured A-Ri and delivered a great knee-lift, earning a near-fall. Miz then hit a big move and earned another near-fall. Miz then measured A-Ri, who was slow to get up. A-Ri then fought back with punches and shoulder blocks to the mid-section. Miz then hit an inverted DDT and earned a near-fall. Miz then slowed the pace down
again. Back from commercial, A-Ri reversed a hold and hit an upper-back breaker on the Miz. The two men struggled to their feet. A-Ri hit a spear on Miz and delivered a series of punches. Spinebuster by A-Ri and a near-fall. A-Ri then measured Miz. A-Ri attempted the Impaler DDT, but Miz reversed it with a back body drop. Miz then whipped A-Ri into the corner and hit his running, sit-through-the-ropes clothesline. Miz then went for his backbreaker-neck breaker combo, but A-Ri reversed the neck breaker portion into a backslide and earned the pinfall. Winner by pinfall: Alex Riley.

(I believe that this is the first time since Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair in May 1984 that a backslide was used for a pinfall.)

In the post-match, Miz looked distraught for a while. After composing himself, he then delivered a beating to A-Ri both in and out of the ring. Miz whipped A-Ri’s back into the barrier outside. Miz rammed his shoulder into the steel steps. Miz then grinded A-Ri’s head into the steel steps, yelling that he made A-Ri. Then, he dragged A-RI by the announce table. Miz’ frustration, betrayal, and misgivings about the beat down looked a lot like R-Truth’s beat-down of Jon Morrison. Miz then delivered a big boot to A-Ri, sending him over the announce table. Miz then slowly backed off.

Outside the arena, Mr. McMahon arrived to the arena in his limousine.

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler reset CM Punk’s comments one more time, and then Mr. McMahon came out to the ring to a mixed reaction. Vince began saying that he doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, but he’ll say why he suspended Punk. McMahon said he deserved it. It wasn’t about the comments about his family…he has a thick skin. His contract was about to expire, and Punk had made demands such as wanting limousine service, first class flights, DVDs, commemorative cups, and the like, but Punk was not worthy of those things. So, he was suspended. Punk was just that…a Punk. At this point, McMahon began to leave the ring…when Cena came out.

Cena was not satisfied with McMahon’s answer. McMahon used to believe in the First Amendment. McMahon had defeated Ted Turner because he was a fighter. Now CM Punk said a couple of things, and McMahon went and suspended him. Maybe the grapefruits have now turned into peach pits. If McMahon doesn’t want to fight anymore, then maybe he should just hang it up.

McMahon countered that the real reason for the suspension was that he did not want to take a chance on Cena. McMahon didn’t want to take a chance that Punk could beat Cena at Money in the Bank. McMahon did not want Punk to win the WWE Championship and walk away with the title to another promotion, an act which would embarrass McMahon and the WWE. Cena won’t guarantee that he’ll beat Punk, but Punk had earned the right to the match. The people want the match. Give the people what they want. McMahon said he didn’t give a damn what the people want. McMahon knows best what the people want. Moreover, McMahon cautioned Cena not to become another Hogan. Many superstars came before Cena, and many will come after him.

Cena said he gets it…that everyone is replaceable. Cena acknowledged that McMahon was so worried that Punk will make the WWE Championship meaningless. Cena then did the unthinkable and handed the WWE Championship back to Vince McMahon and stormed off. McMahon called Cena to stop and then chased after him. McMahon relented and told Cena that he hated the fact that this came between them…Cena could have his match…but if Punk wins the WWE Championship, then McMahon will walk down the aisle and tell Cena…You’re FIRED!!!

McMahon left the entrance ramp, and Cena stood there nonplussed, perhaps questioning his power move to secure the match he wanted. And the credits began to roll.

Follow me on Twitter: @VanillaMandarin

Source: wrestlingtruth.com