RAW Review September 12, 2011
RAW emanated from (I think based on CM Punk’s tweet about the airport) Ottawa, Canada. Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, and Michael Cole were on commentary.

Highlights:
Bret Hart told Alberto Del Rio what it means to be a World Champion.
CM Punk – HHH debate ends with Punk hitting HHH with the microphone.
Mark Henry cost Randy Orton a match against Cody Rhodes.

Match Summaries:
John Morrison and Alex Riley defeated Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger by pinfall.
The Miz defeated Kofi Kingston by pinfall.
Sheamus and Jerry Lawler defeated Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga by pinfall.
John Cena and Bret Hart defeated Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez by submission.
Kelly Kelly defeated Vickie Guerrero by pinfall.
Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton by pinfall.

Opening Segment:

Alberto Del Rio was already in the ring when the show began, with his music playing. Del Rio told the crowd that it was okay that the crowd booed him, but he cannot stand being disrespected. He even had some words for Ricardo Rodriguez, who then decided to zip it. The crowd vociferously “WHATTED” Del Rio as he complained that he was laughed at by the crowd after Cena delivered the AA on him. Del Rio put Mysterio out of action. He beat CM Punk at SummerSlam, and he retired Edge, and he’s going to beat Cena at Night of Champions. Del Rio said that he is the greatest of the great. At this point, Bret Hart’s music hit and Bret Hart came down to the ring in cargo shorts, since he noted on Twitter a while back that he was not able to find jean shorts anymore. Hart grabbed the mic. Hart did not come out to disrespect Hart. He came out to give Del Rio some advice and some education. Hart sees the world title on him, but he sees a man who does not know what it means to be a champion. Hart told Del Rio that beating up on an already-crippled wrestler does not make him a champion. Hart said that Del Rio is all style and no “stubstance.” Hart said that a world champion is someone who wrestles every night and leaves it all out there every time. Del Rio is a long long way from that. Del Rio then said that Hart looks like a “bump” and a “homeless person” with a 1994 jacket and disgusting shorts. Hart looks like one of the illegal Canadians that he hires to clean his house.

(Um, Bret is the man, and the Bret Hart sunglasses that a coworker gave me for my birthday two years ago are a prized possession of mine…but I would not hire a cleaning person who looked like or dressed like Bret…so I don’t know what Del Rio is talking about.)

Del Rio iterated that he is the best there is…not Bret, and tonight he’s going to make an example of him. At this point, John Cena’s music hit, and Cena sauntered to the ring and entered to a chorus of hearty boos from the discerning Canadian crowd. Cena said he disagreed with Del Rio because he looks at Hart’s style and sees a WWE Hall of Famer. Tonight is the first time that Cena has come to the ring and Del Rio did not run away. Cena then told him to drive off in his 2006 Ferrari 130 Spider and then made a comment that Del Rio has no idea what that means because he just rented whatever. Cena told Del Rio to his face…he will beat Del Rio for the WWE Championship this Sunday. Del Rio asked, “Why wait?” Del Rio said to give the people what they want. John Cena versus Ricardo Rodriguez. Del Rio said that Cena hit Rodriguez in the face a couple of weeks ago, and Rodriguez wants to make Cena pay. Of course, Rodriguez was begging Del Rio to shut up. Cena then suggested that Del Rio put the WWE Championship on the line against Bret Hart. Johnny Ace then came out and did his SuperDave Osborne imitation, deciding that the four men would wrestle in a tag team match.

Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler versus John Morrison and Alex Riley
Ziggler and Morrison locked up to start the match. Ziggler and Morrison traded opening moves until Morrison catapulted Ziggler into the corner and then hit a kick to Ziggler’s head off the turnbuckle, earning a near-fall. Morrison then launched at Ziggler but speared the ringpost. Ziggler commenced a series of vicious stomps and followed it up with a neck breaker and a standing jumping elbow drop. Swagger repeatedly asked to tag in, but Ziggler refused. Swagger eventually tagged himself while Ziggler was down near the corner, and Swagger was greeted by an energetic A-Ri who got the better of the opening exchange, punctuating it with a Spinebuster. Riley then hit a sort of Rock Bottom on Swagger after clearing Ziggler. Swagger then applied the ankle lock, but A-Ri rolled out of it, sending Swagger into the ropes, knocking Ziggler down to the floor. A-Ri then hit an F-5 on Swagger and made the cover. Ziggler could have intervened but paused and allowed the three-count to be completed. Winners by pinfall: Alex Riley and John Morrison.

Post-match, Vickie frustrated-ly asked Ziggler why he did that to Swagger. Ziggler said that Swagger was a loser and that Vickie only needed him. Swagger then saw the replay of how he lost and was none-too-pleased.

Backstage, Josh Matthews interviewed R-Truth and the Miz. They took the mic and went for a little stroll and talked some more of the anti-Triple H rhetoric. R-Truth busted out with a “Ninja, Please!” Then, on the entrance ramp, he said that C.O.O. spells coo, and that doubled spelled coo-coo, and that’s just what Triple H is.

The Miz versus Kofi Kingston
The Miz took control in the early action with an elbow to the head, a series of punches, and a headlock. Kofi gained momentum with a monkey toss, and then the two men careened over the top ropes and down to the floor, where Evan Bourne and R-Truth measured each other and helped out their teammates get to their feet. Back from commercial, Miz had a headlock cinched in on Kingston. Miz earned a near fall after a swinging-leg DDT. The Miz rammed Kofi into the corner, but Kofi stemmed the momentum with a double-stomp to the Miz’s chest. The two men battled back and forth, then Kofi landed a twisting cross-body press from the top ropes. Miz then hit the neck breaker portion of his neck-breaker / backbreaker combo, but Kofi turned the backbreaker into a backslide. After the Miz swept Kofi’s leg out from under him on the top rope, Miz hit a devastating neck breaker. The Miz then measured Kingston and unceremoniously administered the SKF and earned the pinfall. (The quick end to the match makes me wonder if Kofi was hurt on the previous neck breaker move) Winner by pinfall: The Miz.

Backstage, Vickie was talking to Teddy Long. Per their conversation, it became obvious that Ziggler would be defending his U.S. Championship in a Fatal Fourway match at Night of Champions. Vickie was not too pleased about this. Then, Kelly Kelly got Vickie’s attention, and Vickie said that Kelly Kelly is a terrible Diva’s Champion and that she couldn’t wait for Beth Phoenix to beat her in Buffalo on Sunday. Beating Kelly Kelly is so easy that even Vickie could do it. That statement gave Teddy Long an idea, and he made a singles match between the two of them. Vickie was ultimately not too happy about having to wrestle Kelly Kelly.

Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga versus Jerry Lawler and Sheamus
Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga took turns telling off Jerry Lawler and telling him that they do, in fact, have personality. Lawler maintained that they do not have any, and then he announced his partner, Sheamus. Otunga began the match by overpowering Lawler. The two former Nexus members cut off the ring and double-teamed the WWE Hall of Famer. Lawler eventually made his way to Sheamus, tagging him in. Sheamus just began putting a squash match-like beat-down on the two men, punctuating the beating with a brogue kick on each of them. Sheamus then hit a Celtic Cross on McGillicutty and earned the pinfall. Winners by pinfall: Sheamus and Jerry Lawler.

Backstage, Ricardo Rodriguez was drinking an aphrodisiac and eked out three pushups.

Bret Hart and John Cena versus Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez
The crowd chanted “Thank You Bret” as the competitors made their preparations for the match. Cena began by using his Kool-Aid red shirt to simulate a bullfighter’s cape, and Rodriguez charged at him and missed a few times. After a nice back body drop, Rodriguez scurried into his corner and into Del Rio. The referee signaled that a tag had been made, and Del Rio was not too thrilled about that. Del Rio entered the match by scurrying out of the ring and making Cena give chase. By re-entering first, Del Rio was able to put a boot to Cena’s head and stem his momentum. Del Rio then delivered several punches and a kick to Cena. Cena then regained momentum and hit a Stinger Splash and a drop kick. When Cena tried to get Del Rio into the AA, Rodriguez grabbed Del Rio to make the save. The referee signaled that a tag had been made, and a very reluctant Rodriguez re-entered the action. Immediately, two Super-Cena shoulder-blocks, a slam, a five-knuckle shuffle, and an AA. Cena then tagged in Bret Hart, who came in and applied the Sharpshooter to Rodriguez, who tapped immediately as Del Rio looked on from the entrance ramp. Winners by submission: John Cena and Bret Hart.
Post-match, Cena leveled more threats at Del Rio as he backed up off the ramp. As Hart’s music hit, he climbed all four turnbuckles to receive pops from the crowd.

In honor of 9/11, John Cena narrated a commemorative about the ten-year anniversary of 9/11. As part of the promo, the Houston Smackdown on Tuesday 9/13 was reset as an example of a resolute American family…and it was. I remember feeling inspired when I saw it ten years ago. Great to hear Vince’s inspiring words again. Great to see Bradshaw from the APA.

Kelly Kelly versus Vickie Guerrero
Kelly Kelly hit a Lou Thesz Press, a butt-slap, and a sloppy bulldog. At this point, Jack Swagger came down and Ziggler told him to get lost. Swagger punched Ziggler, and this distracted Vickie and allowed Kelly Kelly to roll her up for the pinfall. Winner by pinfall: Kelly Kelly.

Post-match, Ziggler and Swagger argued while Vickie stood between them. On the other side of the ring, Beth Phoenix tried to sneak up on Kelly Kelly, but Kelly Kelly was hit her as she was trying to enter the ring. This bought Kelly Kelly the few seconds she needed to get out of the ring and taunt Phoenix by holding her Diva’s Championship up high.

Backstage, Mark Henry was interviewed by Josh Matthews. Henry said that he’s done all the things he’s recently done because of fifteen years of being looked over and of being disrespected. Henry promised that on Sunday, Orton was going to enter his Hall of Pain.

Randy Orton versus Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes came out with his baggers who distributed paper bags to many of the fans. Orton began the match with a side headlock that he refused to let go. Orton then hit a very high back body drop. At this point, Mark Henry appeared on the entrance ramp. Orton came out with a chair, and Henry left the visible area. Rhodes tried to sneak up behind Orton, but Orton leveled him with several punches. Back in the ring, Orton delivered a series of Austin-like kicks to Rhodes’ midsection and followed it up with several punches to Rhodes’ head in the corner. Orton was firmly in control of the match at this point. At this point, Mark Henry came back out and sat himself on a steel chair at the top of the entrance ramp. Orton came partially up the ramp to meet him. Rhodes greeted Orton with a knee to the head as he turned around. Back from commercial, Rhodes had the advantage and hit an arm breaker on Orton. Rhodes then elbowed Orton’s shoulder and kneed it before cinching in an armbar. Rhodes then continued with stomps on Orton’s head and a hammer lock. Orton then regained the momentum with a big slam. Mark Henry then came down to the ring and repositioned his chair closer to the ring. Orton Continued his assault on Rhodes with one eye on Henry. Orton tried to DDT him through the ropes, but Rhodes blocked it. Rhodes went for the cross-Rhodes, but Orton reversed it, put Rhodes in the ropes, and DDT’d him. Orton turned his attention to Henry, and Rhodes used this opportunity to hit Orton in the head with his mask. Rhodes then administered the Cross-Rhodes and earned the pinfall. Winner by pinfall: Cody Rhodes.

Post-match, Henry entered the ring, chair in hand. Henry leveled a shot on Orton’s back. Henry then demanded that the Championship be handed to him. Mark Henry posed in the center of the ring with the World Heavyweight Championship and then stood over Orton, taunting him.

HHH and CM Punk confront each other.
CM Punk is fascinated that the world is waiting to see what the two of them will say to one another. Punk began by saying that he respected HHH, especially because of him firing Kevin Nash last week. Just because he respects him doesn’t mean he likes him. And Punk knows that HHH doesn’t like him either. Punk said the fact that HHH’s perception of him has only changed a little bit is a huge problem. HHH is too similar to Vince McMahon in his outlook that someone who looked like Punk doesn’t belong in the ring with someone who looked like HHH. HHH cut him off dropped some non-body-builder names like Rey Mysterio and Bret Hart. The two men then had a debate about the body-builder fetish. Punk wanted HHH to acknowledge that the bias existed. HHH wanted Punk to stop using it as an excuse. HHH said that it’s about the people’s opinion…not HHH’s opinion. HHH said that Punk has impressed him recently, but not for the first five years when Punk bitched incessantly about being held back. Punk then brought up the ice cream bar issue. Punk then brought up his first Pay-per-view when the fans in Philadelphia were chanting his name…not DX’s name. Punk then said he’d rather be hated for who he is than loved for who he’s not. HHH then said that Punk cannot say he has not had opportunities…MITB, multiple championships, etc. Maybe Punk is not the best in the world. HHH then said that Cena started from nothing and made himself the biggest name in wrestling. HHH said that it’s the peoples’ opinion that matters. People ask HHH his opinion sometimes, and he tells them what he thinks. HHH is right sometimes, and sometimes he’s wrong. Punk said that if we’re listening to the people, then listen to the people tonight. HHH said that, yeah, they’re cheering for him tonight, but a year ago…not so much, and Punk knows that. All of the hard work and sacrifice is just part of the business and what is needed to be done to get over. But all of this is going around in circles. Ultimately, this isn’t about business, this is personal because Punk insulted him. HHH said that he’s going to kick Punk’s ass, man to man on Sunday. Punk said great. He’ll kick Punk’s ass, and Punk will kick HHH’s ass, and ultimately, Punk will pin HHH in the center of the ring. Punk then said that ultimately this isn’t about CM Punk and HHH, this is an issue about Phil Brooks and Paul Levesque. At this point, the microphone went dead, and this made CM Punk irate. Un-microphoned, the two men continued to yell barbs at each other. HHH then gave Punk his microphone, which was still working. As soon as Punk began, the mic went dead. Again, Punk was irate. HHH then called from ringside and asked for another microphone to give to Punk. He offered the microphone to Punk and told him to lay the pipe-bomb on him. Punk hesitated, took the mic, and then hit HHH with it. While HHH was down, Punk sarcastically gave the DX symbol and then left the ring. And the credits began to roll.
Follow me on Twitter @VanillaMandarin

Source: wrestlingtruth.com