7-16-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the July 16, 2012 final 2 hour episode of Raw

The show starts with CM Punk coming to the ring. He says that he loves Las Vegas. He mentions that it was a year ago when he dropped a pipe bomb in this city. He talks about how he said he was the best and he’s proven he is the best in the world. He’s beaten everyone including Daniel Bryan even though there was a confused referee. Then he mentions Raw 1000 next week. He says that he thinks about the first episode of Raw because of a guy on that show who looks, talks and acts like him and wouldn’t have been on that first episode. Let alone standing in the ring during his 8^th month as WWE Champion. He says he plans on being WWE Champion next Monday. Then Big Show’s music plays and he comes out. Show says that Punk’s story was really touching. He says that he was inches away from winning MITB. He says that the case was in his grasp but Cena was in the right place at the right time when the handle broke. Show says that if he won he would cash in the contract right now. Punk says that Show walked out, beat the crap out of everybody, tore up ladders and then lost. Punk says Show has everything it takes to be champion. Punk says Show has the size and strength but he lost. Then Punk says that he is half Show’s size but has everybody’s respect, while Show has his big contract and no one respects him. Show says the fans don’t even respect themselves. Show says that if Punk left WWE the fans wouldn’t care. Show says that he knows the fans don’t respect him but he could care less. He tells Punk that he isn’t special. Punk says he is the WWE Champion and Show isn’t. He says that Show is an underachieving guy who happens to be a giant. Show says that after he knocks Punk out and loses to him, Punk could very well lose the title to John Cena. This was a decent opening segment. Thankfully it didn’t go as long as last week’s. Punk never mentioned who the Champion was on the first episode. It was Bret Hart but I think he was in the 4^th month of his Title reign then.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs. The Primetime Players for the Titles. Kofi & Truth win when Truth pins Titus. This was solid match. AW is all pissed at the referee.

AJ is backstage and Daniel Bryan shows up. AJ says she called the match down the middle. She says she’s sorry if he didn’t like the outcome. Daniel says that he’s sorry for the way he’s been since WrestleMania. He says that he got so caught up in looking to beat Punk for the WWE Title that he made her a scapegoat. Then he says that he can finally admit how he feels. Then Eve shows up and mentions Daniel ditching her in the tag match last week. She says that the Board has made a tag match for tonight. Herself & a partner of her choosing vs. AJ & Daniel. She walks off. Then AJ asks Daniel what he was going to say. He says he will tell her after the match. Then he kisses her on the cheek.

Zack Ryder vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a squash. Afterwards he locks the arm breaker on Ryder again, but then Rey Mysterio makes his return. He runs to the ring and Del Rio kicks him for a bit. They go back and forth and Rey hits flying head scissors followed by a 619. Del Rio rolls out of the ring all in shock. It was cool to see Mysterio back.

Heath Slater talks about all the legends he’s faced as his favorite Raw moments. Then they show a dressing room door and a legend will be coming out next.

Heath Slater is in the ring. He says he knows a Raw legend is about to come out. He says he’s not stupid. Then Rikishi comes out. I don’t know if I’d call Rikishi a legend.

Rikishi vs. Heath Slater. Rikishi gets the pin. This was a squash too. I don’t know why they have Slater as the guy who jobs to old timers. Afterwards the lights go out and when they come back on his sons The Usos are in the ring. They do the old Too Cool bit.

Eve Torres comes to the ring for the mixed tag match. She says, “ladies and gentlemen, my tag team partner for this evening.” Cue “Awesome” and the Miz comes out.

Daniel Bryan & AJ vs. The Miz & Eve Torres. Daniel & AJ win when AJ pins Eve. Eve got an inside cradle but Daniel reversed it. Afterwards Daniel says there’s something she used to say to him. Something he was too stupid and scared to say back. But now he realizes that things won’t be right till he says what it is. H tell AJ that he loves her. Then he says that last week he admits that he asked her a question because he wanted to become WWE Champion. But this week he doesn’t want anything except this. Then he gets on his knee and asks AJ to marry him. He places the ring on her finger. Then he hold the mic up to her. She’s all choked up and says yes. Then they kiss. Then they and the fans chant yes. Where are they going with this? Daniel was good with his promo but this storyline is a bit much.

Ryback vs. Jack Swagger. The match never officially started when Swagger went right after Ryback. He gives Ryback the Doctor Bomb followed by the Swagger Bomb. Then he goes for an Ankle Lock but Ryback shoves him off. Swagger tries again but Ryback pushes him off. Then he clotheslines Swagger. Then he gives him a series of power bombs. Then Swagger rolls out of the ring. This was a typical Ryback squash even though the match never started. Feed Ryback more.

They show a John Cena TOUT. He says that he has a huge announcement for tonight. Whatever.

Vickie Guerrero comes out and introduces Dolph Ziggler. Dolph comes out with the MITB case. He says that every MITB contract has been successfully cashed in and that means he will be the next World Champion. He says it’s only a matter of time before he cashes in on Sheamus and he will be the greatest Champion ever. Better then Bret, Austin & Rock. Then Chris Jericho comes out. Before Jericho can speak Dolph says that this isn’t about Jericho. Dolph says this is his moment. He says that Jericho never won MITB. Then he asks when was the last time Jericho won anything. Dolph says that all he’s heard since Jericho’s returned is that Jericho is the best in the world at what he does. Then Dolph says that what Jericho does is lose. He says that no one has been given more chances than Jericho. He says Jericho’s been costing along for so long he has everybody fooled. Jericho’s all hype. Then he asks when was the last time Jericho won a match. Dolph asks if it’s possible that Jericho’s losing his touch and can’t win the big one. Then Jericho gives Dolph a Code Breaker. Dolph cut a good promo here but got buried AGAIN anyway! It looks like they’re turning Jericho face. Jericho vs. Dolph could be good. If they don’t make Dolph look like a jobber again. I’m hoping they don’t have Dolph lose the MITB case to Jericho!

They show TOUTS from fans giving their favorite Raw moments.

They show a graphic for the Daniel Bryan-AJ wedding for next week. Then they mention that DX will reunite and that Brock Lesnar will respond to Triple H’s challenge. Then they mention that The Rock will be there too. They really have next week’s show loaded up.

Brodus Clay comes to the ring and does his bit.

Then they show that because of a fan poll the Intercontinental Title will be defended next week. The other titles were the U.S. & Divas Titles.

They announce that on Smackdown Daniel Bryan & AJ will be on Christian’s Peep Show.

Brodus Clay vs. JTG. Brodus gets the pin. JTG got some offense in surprisingly. The match was short though.

WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Big Show. Punk wins by DQ when Show shoves the referee. Afterwards Show continues pounding on Punk. He was going for the WMD but then Cena came out. Show left the ring. Cena gets the mic and says that his announcement is…Show cuts him off and says that Cena’s gonna announce that he’s cashing in the MITB case right now. Show mentions that the WWE Title is the spinner belt that was made for him. Show says that fans don’t respect Cena or themselves. Then he tells Cena he will never have an easier title win then he will right now. Cena then says he is giving Punk a week to defend the Title. Cena says that he will cash in the MITB case next week. Then Cena hits Show with the case. Punk & Cena face off. Cena holds up the case & Punk holds up the Title. This ends the show. This was good. I’m really hoping to God that they don’t put the belt back on Cena!

This week’s show was easily better than last week’s. The opening segment with Punk & Big Show was decent and the Punk-Show match was solid too. Cena coming out and saying he was cashing the case next week was ok too. Hopefully they won’t put the title back on him. There were some solid matches on this week’s show. There were also a few squashes. Daniel Bryan proposing to AJ wasn’t too surprising. They’re rushing it a bit with the wedding happening next week. They really have a lot set for next week’s show. Overall I thought this week the show was not great but horrendous like last week’s show was. We’ll see how the first 3 hour Raw will be. I’m not getting my hopes up.