Monday, 27 August 2012 - Tonight’s WWE RAW opens with a look back at CM Punk and John Cena from last week where Cena issued the challenge for Night of Champions. We see Punk’s attack on Jerry Lawler.
- After the RAW intro video, we’re live from the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michael Cole welcomes us to RAW and he’s joined by Jerry Lawler. Cole talks about CM Punk attacking Lawler. Lawler takes off his headset and enters the ring.
Lawler talks about what he said atthe end of RAW 1000 about Punk. Lawler says he misspoke. Lawler says he apologized to Punk last week but this week, he’s the one who wants the apology. Lawler waits as the crowd chants for Punk. The music finally hits and out comes the WWE Champion.
Punk can’t believe that Lawler wants the WWE Champion to apologize for doing his job. Punk says he didn’t turn his back on anybody and beat the crap out of The Rock because he deserved it. Punk says Lawler turned his back on WWE when he slandered the champion. Punk says he kicked Lawler in his stupid head last week because of his lack of respect. Punk says that’s what he does. He will put down anyone who disrespects him. Punk says he is sorry. He’s sorry that all it takes to get into the WWE Hall of Fame is to beat a bunch of nobodies from Memphis and get in a slapstick with a Hollywood comedian. Punk rips into Lawler some more. Punk says Lawler is jealous because he’s never been WWE Champion. Punk says Lawler finally got his WrestleMania moment and couldn’t beat Michael Cole. Punk goes on and says he’s sorry about the man Lawler has become.
Punk taunts Lawler now and asks him if he wants to fight. Punk says Lawler is just a commentator while he’s the best in the world. Punk says he would embarrass Lawler. Lawler says he came out here for an apology, not a fight. Punk taunts him some more. Punk promises one thing – Lawler will leave embarrassed tonight, either because Punk does it or because he backed down from a fight. Punk tells Lawler to think about it and leaves the ring talking about respect. Lawler says he will think about it and heads back to the announce table. We go to commercial.
*Ryback vs. Jack Swagger
Ryback starts the “Feed Me More” chants and hits a big clothesline. Ryback scoops Swagger for Shellshocked and the win.
Winner: Ryback
- Cole speculates on Triple H, who will speak later tonight. Also tonight, John Cena vs. The Miz in singles action. Lawler says he’s still thinking about facing Punk as we go back to commercial.
*Natalya vs. Layla
Natalya comes back in and they go at it. Layla with another roll up. Layla with the kick to the back of the head for the win.
Winner: Layla
- After the match, Vickie comes in the ring and tells Layla to be gone. Layla stares her down before exiting the ring. Vickie talks about AJ Lee making the Chris Jericho vs.Dolph Ziggler match at last week’s RAW where Jericho had his contract terminated. Vickie isn’t happy about the stipulation of Ziggler’s contract being on the line. Vickie calls it an abuse of power and says it’s unfair. She says nobody on the roster has the guts to speak up to the General Manager except her. Vickie tells the Board of Directors that it’s time to put RAW back in the hands of an adult, someone like her. Not some mentally deranged child like AJ. AJ's music hits and out she comes. AJ is all smiles until she smacks Vickie out of nowhere. AJ tackles Vickie and they go at it. Vickie escapes and runs away while AJ looks on and goes back to smiling.
- Cole and Lawler go back to talking about Triple H. We get a video package of Triple H’s days with DX.
- Back from the break and we see footage from last week where Daniel Bryan is in an anger management class. Bryan raises his hand and says he doesn’t have issues like the rest of the losers here. A little kid comes in wearing a goat mask and Bryan gets upset. Bryan says he is handsome and wonders who set this up. Bryan calls the kid a brat and yells at him to take the mask off. It turns out the kid is the teachers kid and is playing a goat in his school play.
- Cole looks at some tweets from actor Dominic Monaghan, tonight’s Social Media Ambassador and star of WWE Studios’ The Day. Cole also shows a tweet from CM Punk where he says he will let Lawler have the first punch if he agrees to fight him. Cole asks Lawler what his decision is. Lawler stands on top of the announcers table and gets a small chant from the crowd. Lawler says the nobodies he beat in Memphis include names like Jesse Ventura, Superstar Billy Graham, Dutch Mantell, Harley Race and others. Lawler goes on and brings up Andy Kaufman. Lawler says he knows he’s not the best in the world but he doesn’t think Punk is either. Lawler says he’s never backed down and he’s not going to start tonight. Lawler says damn right he will fight Punk tonight and the crowd pops. Lawler heads to the back to get ready as we go back to commercial.
