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RAW emanated from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, and Michael Cole were on commentary. This episode of the Raw Review is dedicated to my good friend and former coworker Dan Eberhardt, who made San Diego a less witty place when he left it.

Highlights:

HHH announced combined-brand Super-Raws and Super-Smackdowns.

Kevin Nash was signed by John Laurinaitis to a WWE Contract.

HHH sets the match: CM Punk versus Kevin Nash at Night of Champions, only to report at the end of the show that the match was changed to CM Punk versus HHH.

HHH’s involvement in the recent controversies remains unknown.

HHH confronted John Laurinaitis, sewing seeds of dissention.

The tag team Champions have named themselves Air BOOM!

Natalya is NOT jealous of Kelly Kelly.

David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty have had enough of Jerry Lawler’s derogatory comments.

Match Summaries:

Randy Orton defeated Dolph Ziggler by pinfall.

CM Punk defeated The Miz by Disqualification.

Sin Cara defeated Jack Swagger by pinfall.

Air Boom defeated Otunga and McGillicutty by pinfall.

Brie Bella (actually Nikki) defeated Kelly Kelly by pinfall.

John Cena and Sheamus defeated Christian and Mark Henry by pinfall.

Opening Segment:

HHH’s music hit, and HHH entered the squared circle, dressed in the same suit and tie as last week or two weeks ago. HHH began by saying that it is his job to make sure that the WWE gives the people the very best that it can. So, with that being said, the Superstars of Smackdown will be joining the superstars of RAW to give the fans a RAW Supershow. Those types of announcements are the fun part of the job. The un-fun part of the job is having to deal with the lies…who sent a text, who didn’t send a text, who got in a car accident, who didn’t get in a car accident. Unfortunately, the lies are coming predominantly from his best friend, Kevin Nash. HHH demanded that Nash come down to the ring…but CM Punk’s music hit instead. Punk descended the entrance ramp smiling and applauding, as if he was applauding HHH’s “performance.” Punk continued to applaud HHH in the center of the ring. Punk described HHH’s performance as “Pacino-in-Heat-thespianism.” Punk said he wanted HHH to stop lying and admit that HHH and Nash have been in on it since the beginning. At this point, Nash’s “New World Order” music hit, and Nash moseyed into the ring. Nash admitted that he lied and had his driver call Laurinaitis to tell him that he got into a car crash. Nash had to do it because HHH wouldn’t let him settle things like a man. Nash then reminded HHH that Punk isn’t just insulting Nash, but he’s insulting HHH and also HHH’s wife. Nash then asked HHH what kind of man was HE. HHH responded that he’s the kind of man that does not expect to be lied to by his best friend, the kind of man who takes his friend’s word to be the truth. HHH then asked HHH to leave and not come back. Nash then informed HHH that VP of Talent John Laurinaitis signed him to a pretty lucrative contract, considering today’s economy. Plus, it’s a guaranteed contract; so Nash would get paid whether he’s in the ring or sitting home on his couch. If HHH wants Nash to leave, then HHH would have to fire him in front of everyone. HHH said that he’s not going to fire Nash. At this point, CM Punk began gagging…for way to long to be funny. Punk said that HHH can’t be the bad guy; so Nash is there to do HHH’s dirty work. The Clique is back! Clique is also the noise of the remote controls make when Nash comes on TV, and it’s the noise that Nash’s knees make when he walks. Nash then told HHH to make the match Nash v. Punk. Punk agreed, make the match at Night of Champions. Punk said that HHH needs to check with the board of directors…meaning Stephanie McMahon to see if the match is okay. HHH doesn’t wear the pants in his family, but he does wear Steph’s panties. HHH had his back to Punk and really looked like he was going to turn around and smack Punk. But he didn’t. HHH slowly turned around. Punk and HHH glared at each other as HHH agreed to make the match. HHH then said he had two words for both of them, and he held the mic up. The crowd screamed, “SUCK IT!!”

Randy Orton versus Dolph Ziggler

The two men locked up and jockeyed for position. Ziggler then kicked Orton in the stomach and continued with a series of punches. Orton hit a Nikita Kolof-styled Russian Sickle clothesline out of the corner. Ziggler regained momentum and delivered a series of stomps to Orton’s chest in the corner. Orton then hit a Lou Thesz press and delivered a series of blows to Ziggler’s head. Orton went for the in-the-ropes DDT, but Vickie climbed the ring apron, distracting Orton enough to allow Ziggler to back body drop Orton over the ropes and down on the floor. Ziggler then went down to the floor and delivered the Zig Zag to Orton on the floor. Ziggler made it into the ring first and pressured the referee to quicken his ten-count as Orton lied outside the ring. Orton made it in at nine. Ziggler stomped on Orton several times and struggled to make it to his knees against the ropes. Back from commercial, Ziggler controlled Orton outside the ring, ramming his head into the solid steel steps. Backstage, Swagger was watching the match on a monitor. In the ring, Ziggler earned a near-fall and then cinched in a rear chin lock. Orton broke free, but Z hit him with a shoulder coming off the ropes. Ziggler went to the second turnbuckle, but Orton rushed over and punched him, seating him on the top rope. Orton then mounted the second turnbuckle to set up the superplex, which he delivered beautifully after joining Ziggler on the top rope. Orton earned a close near fall. Orton then got Super-Orton and delivered a series of clotheslines and a power slam with a lot of torque on it. Orton charged Ziggler in the corner, where he was greeted by a knee. Orton then hit a belly-to-back suplex and earned a near-fall. Ziggler then hit a leg drop and earned a close near fall. The two men struggled to reach their feet. Ziggler went to set up a neck breaker, but Orton rolled him up. Orton then catapulted Ziggler into the corner. Orton then lifted Ziggler for a sort of power bomb and then just dropped Ziggler on his back. Orton covered, but Ziggler kicked out at the last possible moment. Orton then set up the RKO as the crowd asked for it. Orton backed into the corner and set up for the punt instead. As he sprinted towards Ziggler, Ziggler greeted him with a super kick and went for the cover. Luckily the ref had no intention of counting to three, because Orton’s kick-out seemed a few milliseconds late. Vickie justifiably chastised the referee. The two men struggled to reach their feet. Ziggler attempted the Zig Zag but Orton dodged it. Orton then hit his in-the-ropes DDT. Orton went for the RKO, but Ziggler cinched on the sleeper. After a few seconds, Orton rolled through, creating space. Ziggler charged Orton, but Orton lifted him straight up in the air. Ziggler landed flush on his stomach and bounced directly up…into an RKO. Orton made the cover and earned the pinfall. Winner by pinfall“ Randy Orton.

(This was an AWESOME match with an even awesome ending. This is the type of work the Ziggler was doing on Smackdown before he got lost in the shuffle on RAW.)

John Cena’s music hit, and Cena came to the ring. Cena leveled several insults towards Alberto Del Rio…nothing really worth repeating. Cena closed with his “You want some, come get some.” At this point, Mark Henry’s music hit, and he came to the ring. Henry recounted his recent exploits and said that Cena was next to join his Hall of Pain. NO matter who wins the cage match for the World Title, they’re next on his list. At this point, Christian came to the ring and advised Mark Henry that he’ll be facing Christian. However, the two of them can focus on that later. For tonight, there’s another task at hand. Christian then pointed at Cena and said that Cena is the thing that Christian hates most: someone who comes out week after week whining just to get their way. Cena then made jokes and then said to the both of them, if you want some, come get some. Christian and Henry then prepared to do battle two-on-one, when Sheamus’ music hit, and he bound into the ring. Christian backed out of the ring, leaving Mark Henry alone against Cena and Sheamus. Henry then slowly backed out of the ring.

Backstage, John Laurinaitis was standing with Charles Robinson saying that he was going to make the four of them in a tag team match. At this point, HHH came in and said that it was a great idea, since HE just made that match. Robinson ducked out of the way. HHH got up in Johnny Ace’s face and warned him to, basically, know his role. HHH reminded him that HHH was his boss, and Ace works for HHH.

CM Punk versus The Miz

Miz paused at the entrance ramp and grabbed the mic. Miz said that Punk is worse than Cena. Miz was speaking his mind long before Punk was dropping pipe bombs. Punk may say he’s the best wrestler, but Miz is the most must-see champion in the history of the WWE. When the match began, Punk cinched in a side headlock. Punk hit a shoulder block off an Irish whip. The two men then locked up once again, and Punk pushed Miz towards the corner before Miz turned it around. Miz took a cheap shot, but Punk kicked him. Punk then delivered a snap-suplex and punctuated it with a boot to the head. Punk mounted the top turnbuckle, but Miz took his feet out from under him and then delivered a series of stomps. Miz, bouncing off the ropes, delivered a boot, earned a one-count, and then followed it up with a series of knees to the back. Miz then hit an old-school knee lift. Miz danced around Punk and delivered a couple of punches. Punk then delivered some kicks. Miz took control with a low DDT from his knees and followed up with a near fall. Miz then cinched in a rear chin lock and slowed the pace of the match. Punk battled to his feet and then delivered a couple of standing knees to Miz’ chest. Miz then hit his backbreaker-neck breaker combination and earned a near-fall. Miz backed up into the corner and delivered his running sit-through clothesline, pausing in the ropes for effect to taunt the crowd. Miz landed a double axe-handle from the top ropes and earned another near fall. A confident Miz mounted the top ropes again, but was greeted by a punch to the stomach from Punk. Miz then hit a boot to the head on Punk after bouncing off the ropes. Miz once again cinched in a rear chin lock. Punk powered to his feet and went for the GTS, but the Miz hit a flapjack (I think that’s what that move is called), earning a near fall. Miz then measured Punk and delivered a boot. The two men then traded blows in the center of the ring. Miz was able to turn Punk and land the neck breaker, earning another near fall. Miz again cinched in the chin lock, but Punk head-butted Miz and then delivered a series of hard shots to Miz’ head. Miz then rammed Punk shoulder-first into the steel post, sending him careening to the outside. Back from commercial, Miz had another rear-chin lock cinched in on the Miz, but Punk escaped it with a side suplex. Punk then delivered a series of kicks to Miz and hit him with his hip after whipping him into the ropes. Punk delivered his running knee into the corner, knocking the Miz down. Punk hit a clothesline off the top ropes. Punk went for the GTS, but Miz got down and attempted to apply the SKF. Punk dropped to his knees and then rolled through the SKF. Miz got to his feet and charged Punk, but Punk administered a double-overhook backbreaker, earning another near-fall. Punk slowly made it to his feet and climbed the top turnbuckle. Miz then charged him and attempted a superplex, but Punk blocked it. Punk then head butted Miz down to the canvas. Punk dropped a Macho Man elbow from the top ropes. Punk then measured Miz and lifted him for the GTS, but he noticed R-Truth rushing to the ring. Punk dropped Miz and then lifted R-Truth for the GTS, but the Miz kicked Punk’s knee out from under him. The referee signaled for the bell. Winner by disqualification: CM Punk.

Post-match, Miz missed with a clothesline and Punk hit Truth with one. Punk rammed Miz into the barricade and then threw R-Truth into the ring, hitting the GTS on him. At this point, Kevin Nash slowly came to the ring. As Punk glared at him, Miz hit Punk from behind, and the Awesome Truth continued softening up Punk. Nash then delivered his trademark Powerbomb. Nash then stood over Punk.

Sin Cara versus Jack Swagger

The two men locked up, and Swagger bullied him into the corner. Cara hit an enziguri on Swagger when Swagger refused to let go of his foot. Cara then drop-kicked Swagger. Swagger rolled out of the ring. Cara faked a move and then did a nice jump into Swagger from the ring apron. Swagger, back in the ring, hit his weird running Vader Bomb and followed it with a leg drop. At this point, Vickie came out to scout Swagger as a talent and descended halfway down the entrance ramp. Cara did a nifty move to end up sunset-flipping Cara, earning a near fall. Swagger hit a big shoulder block on Cara and earned a near-fall. At this point, Dolph Ziggler came down and admonished Vickie, saying that he was the only man she needed. Ziggler then climbed the ring apron and told Swagger he was a loser. Swagger reached for him, but this enraged Ziggler as Ziggler backed off the apron. Cara then hit a kick to Swagger’s head, off the ropes. Cara hit a big DDT on Swagger. Sin Cara then hit a Senton Bomb and followed it up with a lionsault, earning the pinfall on a prone Swagger. Winner by pinfall: Sin Cara.

Post-match, Ziggler demanded that Vickie come with him up the entrance ramp, but Vickie appeared to have misgivings as she looked at Swagger as she backed up the ramp.

(This is definitely leading towards a Ziggler-Swagger feud…but where will Vickie end up? Is there a face turn in Vickie’s future? Cuz, honestly, without a true face GM like on Smackdown, her heel talents are being thoroughly wasted.)
Air BOOM versus Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga

McGillicutty and Bourne began. The two men locked up. Bourne hit a Steamboat-esque arm drag take down. McGillicutty shortly thereafter attempted a cover that had no chance of succeeding. The two heels did some double-teaming on Bourne and controlled the match while the King talked smack about them on commentary. For the entirety of the match, the King railed the former Nexus members for not “showing him” anything and for not “bringing it.” Michael Cole at one point chastised the King for not offering the team any tips or advice, to which the King replied that he would have if they had asked him. Back in the ring, Bourne eventually made the hot tag to Kingston, who just took over the match. The event unceremoniously ended with a Trouble in Paradise on McGillicutty and the pinfall. Winners by pinfall: Air Boom.

Post-match, Otunga and McGillicutty confronted the King about all the recent smack-talking (since I doubt they heard his commentary of the current match). King stood up to confront the two. King said that what he said had nothing to do with them losing that match. Otunga grabbed his headset and threw it back in his chest. Nothing further really happened. (If the WWE is going to revive the role of managers, could that role be in store for The King??)

Kelly Kelly versus Brie Bella

Kelly began with some forearms to the head of Brie. Brie kicked Kelly in the back and then stood on her hair while she tried to lift her up. As the action continued, the Glamazon and Natalya were watching on a monitor backstage, asserting that the two of them should be in a match and that the Bellas are just as much a part of the problem as Kelly. If the people knew good divas, then Natalya and Phoenix would be in the ring…but Natalya’s not jealous. Back in the ring, Kelly Kelly landed outside. Eve, who accompanied her, got hit by Brie from behind when she went to attack Kelly. (In the replay, it did look like she was attacking Kelly…not helping her.) Kelly then clotheslined Brie and tended to Eve. While Kelly tended to Eve and the referee paid attention to them, the Bellas did Twin Magic, and Nikki climbed into the ring. Kelly went to grab a seemingly hurt Bella but was greeted with a fresh Bella and a face buster and a pinfall. Winner by pinfall: Brie Bella (as Nikki Bella).

WWE showed a niiice video package on rising face Alex Riley. Good stuff.

WWE aired the world premier trailer of Inside Out, starring HHH and Michael Rappaport. Um, it actually looked alright. Rappaport plays a good neurotic, and HHH seems well-disposed to play the quiet strong guy.

Mark Henry and Christian versus John Cena and Sheamus

Sheamus and Christian began. Christian slid under Sheamus’ legs and uppercut-slapped him. Sheamus followed it up with a Davey-Boy-Smith-esque Powerslam. Mark Henry was tagged in, and the two giant’s faced each other. Sheamus and Henry traded blows, and Henry’s Soul-Glo went spraying around from the impact of Sheamus’ punches. Sheamus delivered a series of useless downward punches to the meaty part of Henry’s back and then was greeted by a Henry clothesline. Henry tagged-in Christian, who capitalized on a vulnerable opponent by stomping on him and cinching in a front facelock. Sheamus tried to power forward to his friendly corner to make a tag, but Christian prevented this. Henry was tagged-in again and delivered a shoulder block to Sheamus’ mid-section in the corner. Henry then stood on Sheamus’ chest. Christian came back in and kicked Sheamus’ injured ribs. Christian mounted the top turnbuckle, but his offensive maneuver was stopped cold by Sheamus, who delivered the Irish Curse Backbreaker. Both men struggled to make it to their feet. Sheamus made the hot tag to Cena who immediately began Super-Cena-ing with the standard two shoulder blocks off the ropes, suplex-ish forward slam, and five-knuckle shuffle. As a dazed Christian made it to his feet, Cena was lying in wait to lift him for the Attitude Adjustment. Christian managed to avoid Cena’s attempt to lift him. Cena charged the corner but was greeted by two Christian boots. Christian attempted a DDT, but Cena pushed him off. Cena then pushed Christian into the corner and hit a Stinger Splash on him. Cena followed it up with an authoritative power slam. Cena immediately charged Mark Henry with a forearm, knocking him off the ring apron. Cena whipped Christian into the corner and followed close behind, but Christian hit a nifty little back kick. Christian mounted the second turnbuckle and jumped off for a cross body press, but Cena caught him mid-air and this clean-and-jerked him into AA position. Christian grabbed the top rope to avoid this. Cena then applied the STF, but Mark Henry broke the maneuver with a boot to the head. Henry then clotheslined a charging Sheamus. Henry then jumped through the second rope down to the floor, like Del Rio. Sheamus then hit a flying shoulder block from the ring apron. Inside the ring, Christian hit a spear on Cena and earned a near-fall. Christian then tried to set up the Kill Switch. Mid-set-up, Sheamus hit Christian with the Brogue Kick, and Cena finished Christian off with the Attitude Adjustment. Winners by pinfall: John Cena and Sheamus.

Backstage, HHH was watching the match on the TV monitor. CM Punk came in and said that Laurinaitis told him that HHH wanted to see him. HHH said that he spoke with the Board of Directors. Punk cut him off and asked if HHH resigned. He then asked if HHH was getting a divorce, since he married into the family and made his millions. HHH then informed him that his match with Nash was cancelled. At Night of Champions, CM Punk was going to go one-on-one with HHH!!!! The two men glared at each other, with both men refusing to blink or flinch.

In the ring and seemingly impervious to the goings-on backstage, Cena and Sheamus congratulated each other and continued their celebration. Jim Ross reset the end of the main event tag team match. More to follow on Live Super Smackdown tomorrow!! And the credits began to roll.

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Source: wrestlingtruth.com