Monday, 17 September 2012 - Tonight’s WWE RAW opens up with the pyro going off from the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Michael Cole welcomes us to RAW. We go to the ring and out comes Paul Heyman as CM Punk’s music plays.
Heyman hits the ring and introduces himself. He talks about witnessing history at Night of Champions as CM Punk successfully defended the WWE Title against John Cena. The crowd boos. Heyman admits the finish was controversial and says everyone is talking about it. Heyman calls out referee Chad Patton and here he comes.
Heyman shows a still on the big screen of Cena pinning Punk with the bridge. Patton agrees that he made the right decision last night. Heyman says he and Punk commend Patton for making the right decision. Heyman says a fan uploaded footage to YouTube of the pin but says Cena had it removed earlier today. Heyman airs the footage and we see mobile phone footage of Cena pinning Punk. Heyman starts talking about Punk when the music hits and out comes John Cena.
Cena comes out and tells Heyman to shut up. He agrees with Patton’s decision. The crowd starts chanting Cena sucks. Cena says last night was an epic battle. He has his ankle taped tonight because it’s as big as a football, he says. Cena wonders how Punk earned respect last night when he retained the title on a tie. Cena goes on and says he wants the rematch tonight. Heyman says Punk would love to respond to Cena’s face but he’s not here yet. Heyman says he’s the voice of the voice of the voiceless so he can answer for Punk. They’re interrupted by Alberto Del Rio’s music. He comes out with Ricardo Rodriguez to the stage.
Del Rio tells Cena to quit crying and talks about the Brogue Kick being re-instated right before his title match last night. Del Rio enters the ring and says if anyone deserves a rematch, it’s him. AJ Lee’s music hits and out comes the RAW General Manager to the ring. AJ says she’s going to make a super main event – CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio vs. Sheamus and John Cena. AJ says the match will determine who gets a rematch. She skips off as Heyman follows her around the ring arguing. AJ skips off.
- Back from the break and Michael Cole is wearing a “Long Live the King” t-shirt. Cole talks about what happened to Jerry Lawler last week. Cole shows us the Tout video that Lawler did from the hospital last week. Cole announces that Lawler is back home in Memphis. Cole says Lawler is watching tonight and says we will have footage later of Lawler’s return home. Lawler will have an exclusive interview on RAW next Monday night.
- Justin Roberts introduces John Bradshaw Layfield and out comesthe former WWE Champion. JBL joins Cole for commentary. Jim Ross is introduced next and out he comes as the third man.
*Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara vs. Primo and Epico
Rey hits a double 619 and leaps from the apron onto Primo and the floor. Cara hits a splash on Epico from the top for the win.
Winners: Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara
- After the match, Cara and Mysterio are celebrating when they’re attack from behind by Titus O’Neil and Darren Young. They beat them down and hit their finishers as the crowd boos. Titus takes a mic at ringside and he’s pissed about losing the #1 contendership last week. Titus says from now on they will do the taking. Young botches his part of the promo and they walk off leaving Cara and Rey in the ring.
- Back from the break and Cole announces that The Miz will debut his MizTV segment tonight and his guest will be Booker T.
*Beth Phoenix vs. Eve Torres
Beth turns it around in the corner with a splash and a kick. More back and forth until Eve rolls Beth up out of nowhere for the win.
Winner: Eve Torres
- Eve taunts Layla with the Divas Title after the match. Layla stands up and they face off at ringside before Eve walks off.
- They show footage from SmackDown where Tyson Kidd and Brodus Clay got into it with United States Champion Antonio Cesaro.
*Brodus Clay vs. Heath Slater
Slater takes advantage and drops Clay for a close 2 count. Slater goes to the top but Clay headbutts him in mid-air. Clay hits a splash for the win.
Winner: Brodus Clay
- Cesaro leaves with Aksana as Clay brings kids in the ring to dance with him, Cameron and Naomi.
- Here comes WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz. The ring is setup like a typical talk show segment. Miz talks about getting his own talk show as he walks to the ring. There’s an upside down WWE logo, some chairs and couches. Miz compares his show to Piper’s Pit, The Highlight Reel and The Cutting Edge. He says Roddy Piper, Edge and Chris Jericho were never as charismaticor controversial as him. Miz talks about winning at Night of Champions and introduces his guest – SmackDown General Manager Booker T.
Miz says Booker must be honored to be his first guest and this must be the best moment of his career. Miz asks Booker why he’s against him. The crowd starts chanting for Booker. Miz asks why he had to defend against three competitors last night. Miz then asks why Booker did what he did with the Brogue Kick. Miz says Booker misses the spotlight. Miz says Booker’s time is over. A “boring” chant breaks out next.
Booker says it’s time for Miz to get a new guest. Someone who’s used to beating multiple competitors at once. The music hits and out comes Ryback to a nice reaction. Ryback hits the ring and Miz exits. Ryback starts tossing a couch and chairs out of the ring and destroys the MizTV set. Ryback grabs the other couch and throws it out at Miz. Ryback music hits as he chants feed me more.
- We go ringside to Michael Cole, JBL and Jim Ross. They show us last week’s Tout video from Jerry Lawler again. Cole reminds us thatLawler is back home in Memphis and everyone says hello to him. Still to come is footage of Lawler arriving home earlier today.
- CM Punk and Paul Heyman are backstage talking when Josh Mathews walks up. He asks if Punk is looking forward to teaming up with Del Rio. Punk calls him an idiot and says he’s not looking forward to teaming with anyone. Punk asks after last night, what does he have to do toget respect.
*Santino Marella vs. Dolph Ziggler
Santino makes a comeback and hits his usual moves. He goes for the Cobra but Vickie pulls it out of the ring. Santino turns around to a leg drop from Ziggler. Ziggler with the Zig Zag for the win.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
- After the match, Vickie comes in the ring and shoves the Cobra in Santino’s mouth as we go to commercial.
*Wade Barrett vs. Justin Gabriel
Barrett rakes Gabriel’s face and levels him with a huge right forearm for the win.
Winner: Wade Barrett
- Back from the break and Subway Jared is backstage with Kofi Kingston and R-Truth. There’sa birthday party for Subway. Jared gives them subs including one for Little Jimmy and they walk off. Damien Sandow comes in and has an idea for a sandwich named after him. Jared gives him a meatball marinara instead and he walks off. Ryder comes in and proposes a WWWYKI sub. He gets an Italian BLT instead and walks off. Jared turns around to Ryback. Ryback says feed me more and leaves with two subs.
- Sheamus is backstage talking with John Cena. Cena talks about how they need to make a statement tonight and do more than just win.
- Daniel Bryan is backstage yelling that he’s the tag team champion. We see Kane in another part of the building telling everyone that he’s the tag team champion. We go to commercial.
- Back from the break and we see footage from earlier today where Jerry Lawler got off the plane in Memphis. Cole hypes the interview for next week.
*WWE Tag Team Title Match: Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
Kane chokeslams Truth as Bryan comes in and applies the No Lock for the win.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
- After the match, Bryan grabs both title belts and yells that he’s the tag team champions. He gets in Kane’s face. Kane grabs both belts and yells that he’s the champions now. Bryan tells Kane the people want them to hug. They hug it out once again and Bryan snatches his belt back. They start yelling about who’s the tag team champions.
*Randy Orton vs. Tensai
Orton hits the mat and readies forthe RKO. Tensai blocks it but misses a splash in the corner. Orton comes right back with a big RKO for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton
- Heyman and Punk are chatting again when David Otunga walks up with Del Rio. Otunga says they want Punk to follow Del Rio’s lead tonight. Heyman says Punk follows no one’s lead. Del Rio whispers to Otunga. Otunga says it looks like Punk sleeps in a cardboard box on a street. Punk whispers to Heyman now. Heyman reminds them about Survivor Series last year when Punk beat Del Rio for the WWE Title. Punk tells Del Rio he’s looking forward to teaming tonight. Del Rio says it will be an honor and walks off.
*Damien Sandow vs. Zack Ryder
Sandow gets up and hits Ryder with his neckbreaker finisher for the win.
Winner: Damien Sandow
*Sheamus and John Cena vs. CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio
Cena calls for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Punk tries to kick him. Cena grabs it and goes for the STF. Del Rio makes the save but gets a Brogue Kick from Sheamus. Punk takes out Sheamus. Cena hits the AA on Punk for the win.
Winners: John Cena and Sheamus
- After the match, Sheamus and John Cena embrace in the ring before Cena leaves and goes up the ramp. Punk and Heyman argue with the referee about the count as we go to replays. Replays show that Punk had his foot on the bottom rope but the referee missed the call. The referee tries to leave but Punk gets in his face. Heyman gets in between them but Punk won’t give up. Punk follows him up the ramp and yells that his foot was on the ropes. Punk follows the referee into the back and RAW goes off the air. >> Comments 217
