9-19-11 Raw results and thoughts

    Coverage and thoughts on the September 19, 2011 episode of Raw

The show starts with CM Punk coming to the ring and he says that this building (They’re in Cleveland) has never been kind to him and mentioned that he had to give up the WWE Title one time and the other Bob Holly punched him too hard and mentions that he was in a war last night. He then admits that maybe he was wrong and Miz & Truth were right about a conspiracy, but not the one they’re talking about. He was about to say more and HHH music played and he came out and punk said he wasn’t done. He says that he’s as beat up as Punk and that they went to war last night, but is still the COO of WWE and talks about how Cena made history winning the WWE Title for the 10^th time and that Alberto deserves the rematch and Punk also deserves the rematch he never got. He then says that in 2 weeks at Hell in a Cell it will be Cena vs. Punk vs. Del Rio in a triple threat cell match. He then tells Punk that if he didn’t believe anything HHH had said he has no problem going back to war with him right now. Punk says he would too and then says that his pride is hurt and that they don’t like each other, but that someone is playing both of them. Punk says he realizes it wasn’t him, but someone higher up on the ladder. Johnny Ace then comes out and says that he says that Punk is in the middle of the conspiracy and tells HHH not to believe anything Punk says. Punk says that Ace thinks he himself deserves to be COO because if HHH lost he would have taken the spot and was behind the whole thing. Ace says that HHH lost control of the show because of Punk and says that Punk works for him. HHH says that he is the COO and Ace works for him. HHH says that he will get to the bottom of this and Ace wishes Punk all the best in his future endeavors and cans him, but HHH un cans him and says that he will do the firing. He then says that somebody will be getting fired by the end of the night. This was a solid opening segment. Punk did a great job on the mic as usual. HHH’s promo was decent too, but I’m not a fan of Johnny Ace.

Sheamus, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne vs. Christian, Wade Barrett, David Otunga & Michael McGuillcutty. The faces win when Sheamus pins Otunga. This was a solid 8 man tag.

HHH is backstage with referee Chad Pennington and he says that he and the other ref’s don’t feel safe in the ring. HHH tells him to have Miz & Truth come into his office if he sees them. Del Rio then come in and flips for being put in a 3 way cell match and H says that if he wants his rematch tonight he can have it and Alberto says that he needs to rest. He then says he prays that Vince come back to run the place. HHH says that he has been in the cell and Alberto will need all the Prayers he can take.

John Morrison vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a pretty short match. It looks like they’re re pushing Del Rio, while Morrison continues to slide down the card.

Time for this week’s guest star Hugh Jackman. He comes out and poses and shakes the fans hands. He then gets the mic and says that he is excited to be on Raw and that the Oscars aren’t in front 15,000 screaming fans in Cleveland. He then promotes his new movie and Vickie Guerrero comes out with Dolph Ziggler and she hits on him and she says that she is his biggest fan. She then remembers to mention Ziggler. Dolph says that he doesn’t appreciate Jackman interrupting his time. He says that this was supposed to be his celebration as being the greatest U.S. Champions in history by winning the 4 way last night. He then says that Cleveland is the town of the underdogs and that the movies aren’t real, but this is as real as it gets (whatever). Jackman says that he loves the underdog and that he will help the biggest underdog in the back beat Dolph. Ziggler says that he can bring out whoever he wants and that that person will wish they never met Ziggler. Jackman then gets a Zack Ryder sign from one of the fans. I wasn’t a big fan of this segment. Ziggler saying that this is “real life” was a joke.

They show The Miz & R-Truth coming to the building and Johnny Ace tells them that HHH wants to see them. Miz then apologizes to Ace for compromising his position.

Sin Cara (not sure which one it is) vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Before the match starts the other Sin Cara came out and the 2 have a stare down. Each Cara poses and then one Cara attacks the other and they do a lot of flips and head scissors and have an unofficial match. One Cara then bails while the other one remains in the ring. I’m not sure why they had Cody Rhodes come out at all if this was going to be a Cara-Cara showdown.

They show Miz & Truth coming into HHH’s office and Miz says that they’re sorry for getting involved in his match last night. Truth then apologizes to him and that they love being WWE superstars. HHH accepts their apologies and then says that since they decided to put their hands on a ref he’s fining them each $250 and then says that since they will face CM Punk & John Cena. This was a decent promo.

They show Teddy Long walking up the entrance ramp. Jim Ross then says that that Long told him that Orton will get his rematch at Hell in a Cell. He then introduces then NEW World Champion Mark Henry! Mark Henry comes out and JR congratulates him on winning the Title and asks how it feels to finally be Champion after 15 years. Henry says that he doesn’t know much about Hell in a Cell, but he gave Orton hell last night and he will do it again. He then says the Title has his name on it and no one will take what he has. He then says that none of the fans ever believed in him and tells JR to apologize for them and then JR will apologize to him. He then says that JR wanted Vince to fire him and that he was injury prone and an overachiever and then he says that the World Title says it all. He then gives JR the opportunity to apologize and JR does. Henry then says that he hates ass kissers. He then pulls JR’s tie and forces him to the mat. Jerry Lawler then comes in and tries to get Henry to get JR go. He finally does and then he grabs Lawler and says that he will take JR’s place. Lawler punches but gets clobbered and Henry gives him the World’s Strongest Slam. Henry then takes apart the announce table, throws Lawler over it, picks him up and gives him The World’s Strongest Slam through the table. There were some fans telling him to get Michael Cole. That was funny. Henry then walks out with the Title. This was a really great segment. They’ve made Mark Henry the 2011 version of Vader! I hope they let him have a long Title reign.

Back from commercial and they show Lawler being helped to the back by a referee and a security guy. Josh Mathews is now on commentary with Cole. I’m glad Josh is getting a chance to do announcing tonight.

Divas Champion Kelly Kelly & Eve Torres vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya. Kelly & Eve win when Eve pins Natalya. Not a bad match.

They show Hugh Jackman backstage with Zack Ryder talking about his internet show and they head for the ring.

They show a trailer for Hugh Jackman’s movie. Boring.

Zack Ryder vs. U.S. Champion Dolph Ziggler. Ryder gets the pin. Jackman punched Ziggler while the referee wasn’t looking because he kicked her out after she slapped Ryder. This was a decent match.

The show a Jack Swagger video package. They show Vickie watching and then Swagger comes in and says that he is more impressive than Dolph is. Vickie then says that she will manage Swagger. Swagger walks off and bumps into Dolph.

They show Cena & Punk backstage and Cena talks about their historic matches and that Punk earned his respect. He then mentions the triple threat cell match and that they will make history again that night. Cena then says that it would be a shame if Punk gets canned. Punk then says that it would be a shame if Cena got canned tonight and that it would be a first if that ever happen to the WWE Champion.

The Miz & R-Truth come out and sing Truth’s music with heal lyrics.

WWE Champion John Cena & CM Punk vs. The Miz & R-Truth. Punk & Cena win when Punk pins Miz. This was a good match. After the match HHH’s music plays and he comes out and says tells Punk that he had a good match then he tells Miz & Truth they’re fired. Miz & Truth head for the back and the show the locker room watching in the back. Scott Stanford goes to interview HHH but Miz & Truth attack him and the other wrestlers break it up. Miz & Truth are then thrown out of the building. Triple H walked off all pissed to end the show. The was good too I thought.

I thought that this was a good show overall. I liked the 8 man tag. The main event tag match was good too and I liked the end of the show when Miz & Truth attacked HHH and got kicked out. The highlight of the show this week was the Mark Henry promo/segment. I really hope they have be Champion for a long time and have him be the unstoppable monster Champion.