9-12-11 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the September 12, 2011 episode of Raw

The show starts with Alberto Del Rio in the ring saying that he take the fans booing him but he can’t take being disrespected and mentions how Cena gave him the AA last week and the fans mocked. He says that he is the WWE Champion, the man who took out Rey Mysterio and made Edge retire. He then says that he is the guy that beat Punk for the Title and he will teach Cena a lesion at Night of Champions. Bret Hart’s music plays and he comes out to a huge pop! Bret gets the mic and says that he came out to give him some advice because when he looks at him he sees a man that doesn’t know what it means to be Champion. Del Rio then rants more and Bret cuts him off saying that he is all style and all substance. He then says that he should be a fighting champion. Del Rio then says that Bret looks like a hobo with the 1994 jacket and he says that he is the best there is and not Bret. He then says that he will make an example out of Bret tonight. John Cena then comes out to a mixed reaction. He says that he doesn’t agree with Del Rio and that when he sees Bret he sees a WWE Hall of Famer. He then mentions that every time Cena is in the ring Del Rio always runs. Cena then tells Del Rio to split. He then says that he will win the WWE Title at Night of Champions. Del Rio then says they should give the fans what they want and Cena says “Let’s do this.” Del Rio then says that Cena will face Ricardo Rodriguez mentioning that Cena hit him a few months ago and Ricardo will make him pay. Cena says that Alberto is classless and heartless and says that he should defend the Title against Bret Hart! The fans chant “We want Bret.” Johnny Ace then comes out (UGH) and he says that there will be a tag match later tonight and announces Bret & Cena vs. Alberto & Ricardo. This was a mixed bag of a segment. It’s always great to see Bret. Cena’s promo was mediocre at best, and so was Del Rio’s and Johnny Ace’s just sucked. I don’t know why he’s on the show.

John Morrison & Alex Riley vs. U.S. Champion Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger. Morrison & Riley win when Riley pins Swagger. Ziggler did not break up the pin. This was a decent match. After the match the heels bicker.

Josh Mathews interviews Miz & R-Truth and says that HHH granted them their request to challenge Kofi & Bourne. Miz then says that it’s laughable that HHH gives them the match and everything is peachy. He then rags on Punk a bit and says he should change his name to BS. Truth then says that he also wants HHH to resign as COO. They then come to the ring & Truth says that HHH is COO and that spells coo and that 2 time spells coo coo and that is what HHH is. He then rambles more and Miz says that Sunday Kofi & Bourne are gonna get got and Truth says, “And that is Awesome.” This was a weird promo. I have no idea what they’re doing with these guys.

WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz. Miz gets the pin. This was a good back and forth match.

Vickie Guerrero is backstage with Teddy Long and he says that Ziggler will defend the U.S. Title at Night of Champions against Swagger, Riley & Morrison. She complains a bit and they run into Kelly and Vickie calls her a Barbie doll and a pathetic Divas Champion and that even she could beat her. Long then says that he had been looking for some competition for Kelly. Looks like Kelly vs. Vickie later tonight.

They show Bret Hart & John Cena backstage talking about their match.

David Otunga & Michael McGuilllicutty are in the ring and Michael says that he has personality and asks Lawler if he remembers who his dad is. Lawler says that he remembers him and that he’s nothing like his dad and then rags on Otunga. He then introduces his partner. Sheamus’ music plays and he comes out.

Sheamus & Jerry Lawler vs. David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty. Sheamus & Lawler win when Sheamus pins McGuillicutty. This was squash. I hope they don’t have Lawler and a mystery partner and face these 2 guys every week.

Ricardo is backstage doing push ups & Del Rio asks him what he’s doing.

Bret Hart & John Cena vs. Ricardo Rodriguez & WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio. Bret & Cena win when Bret makes Ricardo tap. Alberto walked out on Ricardo during the match. This wasn’t much of a match. Cena then gets the mic and tells Alberto to keep running and that Sunday he will regain the WWE Title.

They had a video package remembering the attack from 10 years ago that John Cena narrated.

Divas Champion Kelly Kelly vs. Vickie Guerrero. Kelly gets the pin in a quick match. Dolph Ziggler was at ringside and Jack Swagger came out and he and Ziggler argued and that distracted Vickie and allowed Kelly to get the pin. After the match Beth Phoenix comes out but Kelly see her coming, kicks Beth and then escapes.

Josh Mathews interviews Mark Henry. Henry says that people wonder why he took out Kane & Big Show and ran Sheamus through a barricade at SummerSlam. He said it was because he has been there for 15 years and that he has not been respected and given a Title match and that Orton will enter his hall of pain Sunday. This was good promo from Mark Henry.

World Champion Randy Orton vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Mark Henry comes out to watch and Orton gets a chair and runs Henry off. Cody sneaks up from behind but Orton catches him. Henry comes back out with a chair and sits on the stage to watch and Orton walks up to him with Cody behind him. Orton goes back to the ring and Cody gives him a jumping kick off the apron. Mark Henry watches from the stage. Mark Henry then comes to ringside for a closer look. Henry then gets on the steel steps and Orton and the ref were distracted and Cody took his “protective” mask off and hit Orton with it for the pin. After the match Henry hit Orton in the back with the chair and holds up the World Title. This was really good stuff. The match was just as good as their match on Smackdown and Mark Henry being at ringside was good too.

Time for the HHH-CM Punk “Final Face Off!” Triple H comes out then Punk does. The fans chant for Punk. Punk says that the world is waiting what they’ll say to each other so Punk will start. Punk says that respects HHH and applauds him for “firing” Nash. He then says that he doesn’t like HHH and HHH doesn’t like him and that Punk always knew that and he said that HHH called him a “pompous internet darling.” HHH says that’s changed a little bit and Punk says that a little bit isn’t enough and says that HHH is just like Vince in that they share the same opinion, which is that Punk doesn’t belong in a ring with guys who fit “they’re image.” He then rags on him more and then HHH cuts him off and mentions that guys like Bret, Michaels, Foley & Rey Mysterio aren’t body builder types and they made it to the top and that Punk doesn’t need to worry about his opinion and what the fans think matter (yeah whatever). HHH tells Punk to get over with the fans if he wants to be a star (Hey Hunter he IS OVER WITH THE FANS DOOFUS)! Punk then says if we’re listening to the fans where are his WWE ice cream bars and he talks about his first “brass ring speech” from 2006 and mentions that he & HHH were on the same team at Survivor Series that year and that the fans were chanting his name. He says that what you see with him is what you get and that he would rather be hated for what is than loved for something he isn’t. HHH says that Punk had a lot of opportunities and that maybe Punk isn’t as good as he thinks (whatever). He then mentions that Cena is a guy that came from nothing and made to the biggest star in this industry and that he gets a mixed reaction but he sells out arenas. HHH says that Punk needs to worry about the fan’s opinion (Vince doesn’t). HHH then says that some like look like future stars but turn out to be nothing and vice versa. HHH & Punk then go back and forth and says that he earned everything that he got and HHH agreed. He then talks more about getting over and says that this is about the 2 of them because Punk made this a personal issue and that he will kick Punk’s ass at Night of Champions. Punk says that he is the best in the world and that he will pin HHH and that his quest doesn’t end till HHH is no longer COO. He then says that this is Phil Brooks talking to Paul Levesque. He was about to say why it is going to be so satisfying to kick his ass but they cut the mic. HHH gave Punk his mic and they cut that one too. HHH then gets a third mic and tells Punk to lay a pipe bomb on him. He offers Punk the mic and he takes and his HHH in the head with it. Punk then walked to the back to end the show. This was better than last week’s “show down.” Punk’s promo was good as always and HHH was not as good. I didn’t care for him saying that he has to get over with the fans when he already is. Overall though I thought this was a good final build promo.

I thought that overall this was better than last week’s show. Having Bret on the show was nice and I thought that they did a good job in building up the Orton-Henry match during Orton’s match with Cody. The HHH-Punk face off was pretty good too I thought. I didn’t care for HHH’s promo saying that the fans’ opinion is what matters since we all know that Vince almost NEVER listens to the fans!! On the whole though the show was much more enjoyable this week!