9-5-11 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the September 5, 2011 episode of Raw

 The show starts with CM Punk in the ring cutting a promo saying that he is different and outspoken. He mentions how being different makes him a target and that he will face R-Truth tonight, but he would rather kick Kevin Nash. He says that while he is different Nash is painfully the same. He mentions that he doesn’t buy the tension between HHH & Nash and Punk calls him out. After waiting a bit the nWo music plays and Nash comes out on the stage and says that he does whatever he wants. Punk says that he has more excuses than nick names and mentions all the gimmicks he’s had. Nash says that he leaves Punk lying every time they face off and that HHH did Punk a favor by taking Nash out of the match. Punk mentions that 1994 was the last time Nash had any meaning. Nash walks to the ring and Punk says he will keep fighting no matter how many times Nash takes him down. HHH’s music plays and he comes out and Punk says he’s not done talking. Nash says that Punk is a cancer and that HHH should get rid of him. HHH gets in the ring and says that he would, but he found out the truth because he called the Staples Center and showed him some security film or whatever and that someone went into his office right after Nash got the text to take out Punk. This makes ZERO sense! Nash says that he lied and he made WWE cool and exciting again (yeah right). Nash says that WWE isn’t big enough for him and Punk and that one of them has to go. HHH says that he doesn’t like Punk but he’s never lied to him and Nash gets all pissed thinking he’s gonna pick Punk over him. Nash asks if this is all about him pushing him last week and asks what he is going to do if he touches him and he shoves him and then HHH punches him. He then tells Nash that he is fired and walks out. Punk then wishes Nash good luck in his future endeavors. This was a really idiotic segment. Nash sent himself the text? Why would he have to text himself? None of this makes any sense! This is getting dumber every week!

Nash is in the back and gets in his car with Johnny Ace and they exit the building (for now).

WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne vs. Jinder Mahal & Great Khali. Kofi & Bourne win when Bourne pins Mahal. This was a short match that was ok for what it was.

Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez arrive to the arena.

Eve Torres vs. Beth Phoenix to see who will challenge Kelly for the Diva’s Title. Kelly & Natalya are on commentary. Beth get the pin. This was also a short decent but short match. The commentary was painful. After the match Natalya attacks Kelly and she & Beth are standing in the ring while Eve & Kelly are laying on the floor.

Drew McIntyre & Christian are backstage and Drew says that he can see that Christian is a victim of injustice. Christian mentions that he deserves one more Title match. Alberto & Ricardo then show up and Del Rio says that he wants to talk to Christian Drew walks out & Alberto tells Christian that he expected to see him with the World Title and that is because of Cena. Christian says he gets what Alberto says and says that if he was going to take out Cena that it would be on his terms and not Del Rio’s. Alberto then mentions that Cena pinned Christian last Monday and that he lost to Randy Orton the next night and then says that they could be having this discussion with both of them as Champions.

The Miz & R-Truth come to the ring and say that there is a conspiracy and Miz says that HHH is in over his head as COO and is worried about his friends more than the most talented guys on the roster, so he will do his job for him. He says that they will challenge Kofi & Bourne at Night of Champions and Miz rags on their team name. Truth then says that Punk is about to get got.

CM Punk vs. R-Truth. Punk gets the pin. This was a good back and forth match. After the match HHH comes out Punk gets a mic and says that he doesn’t buy him punching Nash. HHH says that he doesn’t care and says that he changed that match at Night of Champions and says that he wants to hurt Punk bad after he insulted the McMahon family and made the match No DQ. He says that he might can him after the match. Punk says that he likes No DQ and he will agree to it if HHH agrees to resign as COO of WWE if Punk wins. HHH accepts. I don’t see HHH losing.

Curt Hawkins & Tyler Rex are backstage talking to Wade Barrett and Alberto & Ricardo come in and Hawkins & Rex walk out. Alberto says that Cena beat him in 5 minutes. Barrett says that Del Rio doesn’t need to bother with his pep talk and to watch what he does to Cena tonight.

David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty are in the ring and Jerry Lawler comes out and says that he never said they weren’t good wrestlers, but that they have no personality and he then introduces his partner, Zack Ryder.

They then show a Zack Ryder video package focusing on his youtube videos.

Jerry Lawler & Zack Ryder vs. David Otunga & Michael McGuillicutty. Lawler & Ryder win when Ryder pins Otunga. This was a decent but short match.

Alberto is backstage talking to Dolph Ziggler and tells him that he heard that Vickie might dump him because he lost to Orton last week. Dolph says that he heard Del Rio is afraid of Cena. The Bellas come in and Del Rio says to give him a few minutes. He then tells Dolph that she is looking for Jack Swagger not to be a client but for him to fight for her.

World Champion Randy Orton vs. Heath Slater. Orton gets the pin. This was a squash.

Cena & Ryder are backstage being filmed for Ryder’s youtube video. He gives Cena sunglasses and Cena says what idiot would where those in doors and then he tells Ryder he is just messing with him. This segment was alright and thankfully very short.

John Cena comes to the ring and cuts a promo and says that Del Rio always avoids Cena. Ricardo then comes out and announces Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio come out and says that Cena doesn’t get it and that he’s trying to give him a fighting chance. He then mentions that he didn’t take Cena out like he did Mysterio because he wants to give him a fair fight. He then says that he wasn’t at Raw last week because he is trying to protect him. Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler & Christian then come out and beat down Cena and then Alex Riley, Sheamus & John Morrison come out to even the odds and the faces clean house. Teddy Long then comes out and says that HHH gave him the authority to intervene if he has to and he makes an 8 man tag team elimination match. I don’t get why they have Cena & Sheamus teaming up like they never feuded before and having them be all buddy-buddy. I guess they want us to forget that too.

John Cena, Sheamus, John Morrison & Alex Riley vs. Wade Barrett, Christian, U.S. Champion Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger in an 8 Man Tag Team Elimination match. Swagger makes Morrison tap. Vickie Guerrero then comes out to watch. Swagger makes Riley tap. Sheamus pins Barrett. Sheamus & Christian run into the crowd, then onto the stage and get counted out and the refs broke up the brawl. Cena pins Dolph. Cena makes Swagger tap for the win. Winner – John Cena. This was a good match even if the finish was predictable. After the match Del Rio comes out but Cena gives him an Attitude Adjustment.

I thought that this was a weak “super show”. They opening segment with Punk, HHH & Nash was painful to watch. The Punk-Truth match was really good and so was the 8 man elimination tag. Overall though this was not one of the better Raw episodes.