Welcome to ThunderStruck! It’s time for RAW from Liverpool! Next week I’ll be at the show live, but this week I just have to let my anticipation build as I play this back on DVR! And now we go to the show!
Out comes John Cena after Cole and Lawler welcome us to the first RAW from Liverpool. Mad boos from the crowd for Cena. Nothing unusual here. King calls it controversial. Cena thanks the fans for the warm welcome. You can feel the heel turn coming. He says he knows why the fans are upset and he is too. He says WrestleMania tickets went on sale Saturday and tickets are going fast. He says The Rock couldn’t make it tonight, but he accepted his invite to be his partner at the Survivor Series. Cena says he is angry because the WWE Universe is talking about RAW next week when The Rock finally returns to RAW. He says we should be talking about tonight since it’s the first ever RAW from Liverpool. Cena says Miz and Truth are in a tag team match against John Cena and a future Hall of Famer. Out comes Miz and Truth to interrupt. Miz does his really speech and the fans join him. Miz says he pinned Cena at WrestleMania which is something so many others couldn’t do(he listed names). Miz says he has been replaying last week over and over again and that it is the last time he will ever embarrass them again. Miz says tonight they will leave a lasting impression that he will never forget. Truth talks about the little jimmies. He says nobody will be laughing after Survivor Series and nobody will be laughing after what happens to him tonight. Cena mocks them as they head toward the ring. Cena said his partner isn’t ordinary and builds him up over and over again and calls him the tenth wonder of the world. Miz botches his words when he tells Cena it doesn’t matter who “he is teaming up against.” These guys need to learn the complete art of promos and not get so caught up in the confrontation. Miz says Cena’s time is up and drops the microphone. They both climb into the ring and go after Cena. Out comes Zack Ryder! This guy is getting the push he deserves and it’s awesome! He knocks Miz and Truth out of the ring and does the “woo woo woo” and fistbump with Cena.
Dolph Ziggler vs John Morrison:
I watched these guys in August 2009 have a match in Portland, ME. Morrison was the IC Champ and their match was fantastic. Here we are two years later, and it’s sad to see what they’ve done to John Morrison. Time for the match! This is obviously a non-title match with Dolph rarely defending the US Title. Cole says Morrison is looking to break a huge losing streak tonight. Morrison has taken to twitter about not winning a match since August. Heel turn coming? They lock up and Morrison with a behind arm bar. Ziggler turns it into a russian leg sweep for a one count. Dolph with a ground headlock. Morrison counters and gets a one count. Morrison with a side takedown and another. Ziggler kicks Morrison and then hits an elbow to the back of the neck. He stands him up and whips Morrison off the rope who counters with a baseball slide and a facefirst slam. One count pin attempt. He puts on a headlock and then two stand and grapple until Ziggler gets the upper hand. He goes on the offense and gets another one count. Elbow drop for a two count. He goes for a back suplex and Morrison counters and kicks Dolph in the head and out of the ring. Morrison goes off the ropes and runs into a clothesline from Ziggler who gets a two count. Commercial break. Back from the break and Ziggler is on the offensive with fists to the head and an arm stretch submission locked in. Morrison punches out but gets slammed to the ground by Dolph. Cole and Lawler are bickering. Ziggler rams his knee into Morrison’s skull and does another elbow drop for a two count. Dolph hits a dropkick and gets another two count. Dolph with a neckbreaker. He stomps on Morrison and taunts him. Morrison gets up and drives him into the corner and goes on the offense. Dolph counters with an elbow and gets another two count. Ziggler puts on what looks like a crossface but Morrison stands up. He brings Morrison back to the ground and hits him with more elbows to the neck. He continues to stretch the neck and shoulder with a ground submission. Morrison counters out and gets a two count schoolboy. Ziggler stands up and hits a clothesline with another two count before going back to the neck submission. Crowd is cheering for Dolph. King says it’s 50/50 but he’s wrong. Morrison gets some offense and hits a slingshot and a heel kick. Morrison hits a flying DDT and gets a two count. Morrison goes for starship pain and Ziggler moves and gets a two count sunset flip. Morrison counters and gets a two count. Dolph counters himself and gets another two count. Dolph goes for the zigzag but Morrison throws him off and kicks him in the head and goes for the pin but the ref is distracted by Vicky! Morrison goes after her and Dolph goes for a schoolboy pin and gets a two count as Morrison counters into a pinfall victory! Morrison wins! I’m surprised and thrilled and now we’re looking at a triple threat/fatal four way for Dolph at Survivor Series(Ziggler, Morrison, Ryder, and maybe Mason Ryan even though he’s booked in a match already). Great first match for RAW tonight!
JTG vs Mason Ryan:
Back from commercial and Cole announces Team Orton vs Team Barrett for Survivor Series. Out comes Mason Ryan and we get a video package hyping Mason Ryan and the fact that he’s from Wales. I hate the push big guys get. HATE IT!!! The lock up and Ryan throws JTG to the ground twice in a row. Shoulder block takedown on JTG. He whips him into the corner and misses the splash. He flies out of the corner and hits a clothesline. He puts JTG over his shoulder into a submission and then drops him. He puts JTG in the other corner and shoulder rams him over and over. Another clothesline in the corner. He throws JTG across the ring. JTG counters with a kick and a punch and Ryan comes back with a big boot. This squash is annoying. Overhead press slam on JTG and a full nelson Masterlock that he turns into a slam. Quick victory for Ryan. I’m sick of this push already.
The Bellas are shown talking and Ryder comes up and brags about teaming with Cena again. The Bellas do the woo woo woo with Ryder and he tells them to call him when they walk away. Cole announces again that we’ll hear from Kevin Nash tonight. Can’t wait for that. Commercial break. Back from commercial and Cole says the Michael Cole challenge will not take place this week. He says Jim Ross will not be here tonight because he couldn’t get on his flight and gives the fans a ridiculous story about JR having too much bbq sauce. He says the MC Challenge will take place next week if JR shows up.
Alberto Del Rio vs Kofi Kingston:
Del Rio mounts a huge offense but Kofi counters and dropkicks Del Rio outside. Kofi goes to dive outside and Del Rio moves. Del Rio throws Kofi back into the ring. Del Rio gets a two count pin attempt. He locks on an armbar and then hits Kofi in the back over and over. Kofi counters out with fists but Del Rio hits multiple headbutts and shoves Kofi in the corner. Kofi kicks him and hits a flying crossbody for a two count. Kofi misses a spinning kick and Del Rio throws him into the corner. He works the left arm more and puts on his submission cross armbreaker and Kofi taps out. Fast victory for Del Rio and a good way to put him over as your legitimate WWE Champion. He applies the armbreaker again after the match and refuses to let go. Out comes CM Punk. The two stare at each other and we go to a commercial. Del Rio says Punk stole his title match by forcing him into it like a coward. Crowd chants for Punk. Del Rio says these people don’t matter and they are a joke and pathetic just like Punk. Del Rio says no one cares about him. Del Rio says he is the WWE Champion and not a joke. Del Rio said Punk needs to cancel the match or he is going to force him to. More Punk chants from the crowd. Punk says my bad and says he didn’t know he needed to politely ask for a title shot. He apologizes for not knowing. Punk said Del Rio became champion twice, once with a lead pipe and once after cashing in MITB on a vulnerable Punk. Punk says being a cheapshot artist works, and that’s why he did it to Del Rio. Del Rio says Punk will treat him with the respect he deserves. Punk says Del Rio is one dimensional on the microphone. Punk says Del Rio has nothing interesting to say besides talking about his destiny. He says people fast forward Del Rio on DVR and don’t miss a damn thing when he talks. Punk says Del Rio is going to listen to him. He says Del Rio is a helluva competitor but Punk is going to win the WWE Title and make it interesting again. Del Rio says being the champion makes him the best in the world. Del Rio asks Punk if he is going to cancel their match, yes or no. Punk says let me think about it. The crowd chants GTS and Punk says he’s still thinking. Punk says no. Del Rio goes after Punk and pummels him. Punk fights out of a cross armbreaker and Ricardo breaks it up. Punk gives Ricardo another GTS as Del Rio runs way. I’m wondering how long it will be before Ricardo turns on Del Rio for allowing him to get beat up week in and week out. Punk sits down in the ring and stares at Del Rio at the top of the ramp.
Flashback from RAW last week with the muppets. That was a much better show than I thought it would be.
Jack Swagger vs Santino Marella
We get a recorded promo from Swagger who reminds us all that he was once a WHC and says he lost last week to a muppet. Out comes Santino, cobra sleeve and all! They lock up and Swagger gets Santino on the ropes. They break and Swagger does a waistlock slam. Swagger hits Santino with a right hand and then stomps him repeatedly. Swagger with knees in the corner to Santino. Santino counters but falls victim to a powerslam. Swagger yells and then gets a two count. Swagger with another slam and then stands on Santino’s neck. Swagger with a double arm stretch and Santino powers out but gets dropped. Swagger jumps and stomps on Santino again. Santino stands up and mounts an offense only to be countered by Swagger. Swagger locks in an ankle lock and Santino taps out. Quick victory for Swagger. I guess this is what WWE does when they run out of ideas; have the same guys go at it week after week and let them exchange victories. Who wants to bet that Ziggler beats Morrison next week in Boston?
Kelly Kelly’s Maxim Cover:
Jerry Lawler announces that Kelly’s Maxim spread will be out next week. Out comes Kelly Kelly in a red dress. She says when she started in WWE five years ago she was just a kid. She said she’s grown up and had her ups and downs but never given up and always strived to be better. She says she is thhrilled to be this month’s Maxim Cover Girl! Out comes Beth and Natalya who mock Kelly and her thank you speech. Kelly says she wouldn’t interrupt either of them if they were on the cover of National Geographic. Beth says a diva is more than just a pretty face and a bucket full of perkiness. Beth and Natalya say Kelly is going to cry now and they taunt her. Out comes Eve and Alicia Fox. Beth and Natalya leave the ring. Eve says this is Kelly’s moment and asks if the fans are ready to see the cover. The unveil the cover with Kelly sitting on a red Chevy in a white two piece. Nice.
John Laurinaitis/Kevin Nash Promo:
John Laurinaitis introduces his newest Superstar signing, Kevin Nash. Out comes Nash to nWo music. Let’s see this guy botch some more on the microphone! We get another replay of two weeks ago. I swear I’ve seen this more than Henry and Big Show breaking the ring. Nash thanks JL for bringing him back. He says he doesn’t owe anyone an explanation to anybody besides Triple H. Nash says in 1995 he watched Triple H walk into the company and he should’ve buried him then. Nash says because of what Shawn Michaels wanted, he let Hunter into the clique. Nash said Triple H won him over and they had a real friendship. Nash says he got the biggest pop of the night at the Rumble in 2011 and says he offered Triple H to put the band back together and Triple H never gave a response. He says Triple H betrayed him. Nash says he’s still the best their is and that he’s still got it. He says he could become a World Champion. Nash said he contemplated his attack on Triple H for six hours. He says Kevin Nash just showed everyone how to play the game. Music hits. Although he kept his words straight, he still bores me and the story still seems stupid to fuel this rivalry.
What Nash SHOULD HAVE said: “On any given night, I can jack-knife one of these guys and botch it so badly that I could legitimately break their necks. That’s why WWE only lets me use the move on small guys who weigh nothing like Punk, and older guys like Triple H who are on the back half of their careers. Oh damn, maybe I should realize how ridiculous and boring this all sounds and go away now.” – Just my take.
Backstage we have David Otunga and John Laurinaitis. Otunga asks JL if he ever thought about hiring permanent legal counsel. David asks if Brodus was supposed to debut tonight. JL says he can’t waste his talent in Liverpool. Punk comes into the picture. Punk says he can’t help him and nice tie. He says nice try on tryng to get the match at Survivor Series cancelled, but the match will happen and he will become the new WWE Champion. Punk asks Otunga if he has something to say. Otunga says he doesn’t see the WWE Champion as someone who looks like they work at a gas station. Punk says it’s almost as good as asking if you want regular or unleaded, and then punches Otunga in the face. As he attacks Otunga, Del Rio comes into the picture and beats on Punk. JL yells at Del Rio to stop and referees come in to break things up. Punk is laying in popcorn. Anyone got a good joke for that? Interesting once again to see JL try to play the face GM role.
Miz/Truth vs Cena/Ryder:
No microphones in hand as Miz and Truth come to the ring. Zack Ryder comes to the ring first, followed by Cena. This Cena/Ryder friendship has me wondering about a future feud between these two. Cena and Truth start out the match. Truth gets knocked down and tags in the Miz. Cena mounts an offense on Miz and hits a corner splash and a clothesline for a one count. The crowd chants we want Ryder. Miz tags in truth but Cena doesn’t tag Ryder. Truth steps to the outside after pushing Cena. Miz and Truth game plan and Truth gets back in the ring. Cena tags in Ryder. Truth kicks him in the stomach but gets whipped off the rope. The two go back and forth and Truth gets facefirst slammed and thrown to the outside by Ryder. Commercial break. Miz and Ryder are going back and forth and Ryder hits a missile dropkick from the middle rope for a two count. Double team by Cena and Ryder on the Miz. Truth might have a legit concussion after his fall to the floor when Ryder tossed him out of the ring. Truth and Miz double team Cena. Truth gets a two count and then puts Cena in a headlock. Truth gets another two count and locks in another headlock. Cena powers out but Truth kicks him and hits him with a front flapjack. Truth tags in Miz who goes to work on Cena. Miz knocks Cena down and beats him against the bottom rope. Miz with multiple knees to Cena’s chest. He tags in Truth and Truth puts Cena in a double arm stretch. Cena counters out but Truth with an elbow drop. Truth tags in Miz and they miss the double team on Cena who makes the tag to Ryder. Ryder goes on the offense on Miz. Cena comes in the ring and puts on the sunglasses as they double team Miz and Truth. Ryder misses his finisher and gets knocked down by Truth. Truth and Miz do a double knee to Ryder’s head and Truth applies a chinlock. Ryder elbows out and misses a dropkick. Truth with a two count. Truth and Miz with another double team on Ryder. Miz punches Ryder to the ground and stomps on Ryder. Crowd with more let’s go Cena/Cena sucks chants. Miz with fists to the back of Ryder’s neck. Ryder tries to tag Cena but Miz stops him and Ryder gets a two count rollup. Miz does his patented corner clothesline. Miz taunts Cena with a you can’t see me hand wave. More double team from Miz and Truth. These guys function so well as a tag team. Truth with lots of offense on Ryder and another ground headlock. The two connect with double clotheslines on each other and Ryder makes the tag to Cena and Truth with a tag also. Cena does his vintage moveset on both Miz and Truth. He calls in Ryder and they both do five knuckle shuffles on the Awesome Truth. Cena goes for an AA but Miz counters and kicks Cena in the head. He goes for the pin and Truth holds Cena’s leg down as Miz scores the pinfall! Truth and Miz pick up the victory! This main event was definitely a solid tag match, but it could’ve used more action and less ground submission beatdown on Ryder throughout. RAW goes off the air with Cena saying that’s just one to Miz and Truth.
This show wasn’t bad for a taped RAW. I liked the diva segment despite the lack of any wrestling from the ladies tonight. I enjoyed Punk’s mic work as usual and the buildup to his match with Del Rio. The tag match was a little slow for me, but it helps add to the element that Cena can be beated in creative ways. For me, the highlight of the night was the first match we had. Ziggler and Morrison BOTH belong in the main event scene for the type of action they give us week in and week out. That’s all for this edition. I’ll have my Smackdown Analysis out on Saturday morning and my WW3 piece out on Sunday! Until next time, you’ve been ThunderStruck!
www.facebook.com/thunderstruck11 – ADD ME!
email [email protected]
