8-13-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the August 13, 2012 episode of Raw

The show starts with CM Punk vs. Big Show. Punk wins by DQ when Daniel Bryan comes in. Daniel Bryan’s music hit and he came out. He got in Cole’s & King’s faces and said he deserves to be in the WWE Title match at SummerSlam. This match was ok. I knew neither was gonna get the clean win over the other.

Then Daniel got in the ring and clotheslined Punk which led to the DQ. Then he locks Punk in the No Lock. Then Big Show elbows Punk. Then John Cena comes out and clans house on Show & Daniel. Then he & Punk face off but then AJ skips to the ring. AJ says that Daniel might have ruined this match but he will make up for it later when he teams with Big Show to face Cena & Punk. This was predictable. It was the usual guys going at it/facing off in the ring and then GM comes in and makes a match for later bit that the shows usually start with. At least the show didn’t start with a long winded promo segment.

JTG is backstage with Kaitlyn. JTG says that he not having a match on a 3 hour Raw is crazy. Then AJ shows up and asks him if he thinks she’s not doing a good job as GM. She tells him to get to the ring and she will find an opponent for him. JTG walks off. Then AJ says to Kaitlyn that she knows they’ve had their differences and she asks Kaitlyn if she think she’s unstable. Kaitlyn says there are many words to describe AJ but unstable isn’t one of them. This was weak. It looks like they’re going to have someone says the word crazy every week and AJ will flip out over it. That will get old real fast. I also had a feeling they’d turn JTG’s tweet rant into a storyline.

Ryback vs. JTG. Ryback gets the pin. This was a pointless squash.

They announce that Piper will be hosting Piper’s Pit later in the show and the fans get to decide who his guest will be. Chris Jericho, Dolph Ziggler, or The Miz.

Then they announce that Santino Marella will defend the U.S. Title against Antonio Cesaro on the SummerSlam youtube pre show.

Roddy Piper is backstage saying he doesn’t know who his guest on Piper’s Pit will be. He wants to know who the fans are picking who will be on his show. Then he asks if the other guy in the room is picking. The camera turns to Shawn Michaels. Piper says he would be intimated too if he had to deal with Brock. Michaels is on the phone asking him where Triple H is. Shawn says this isn’t his fight.

Heath Slater is in the ring and says that he’s about to turn everything around. Then R-Truth comes to the ring.

WWE Tag Team Champion R-Truth vs. Health Slater. Truth gets the pin. This was a short and meaningless match. Afterwards The Primetime Players come out. They hit the ring and Truth fights them off but they eventually get the upper hand. Darren picks up Truth and Titus gives him Clash of the Titus. This was ok for what it was.

They show a Mark Henry TOUT from London. This was the best TOUT they’ve had.

They recap the stuff that happened with Sheamus & Alberto Del Rio last week.

Then they go to a Booker T interview from wwe.com. Booker says that Alberto crossed the line on Smackdown. Then he says that the World Title match is off.

Then they show Del Rio’s TOUT response. He says that he has a contract for the title match.

Then they mention that the fans can TOUT what they think about Booker T’s decision.

Sin Cara vs. Tensai. Cara gets the pin. This was short and kind of pointless too. Afterwards Tensai Baldo Bombs Sakamoto then gives him a Senton Splash.

Shawn Michaels asks some guy if he’s seen “him.” The guy says he hasn’t. Michaels tells the guy to let him know if he does see him.

Time for Piper’s Pit. Piper & Jerry Lawler are in the ring. Piper mentions Dolph having MITB and saying that Jericho can’t win the big one, Miz made a movie and now the fans get to pick who’s on Piper’s Pit. Piper’s confused and then he & Lawler check the Tron. Chris Jericho got the votes. He comes to the ring. Piper says that last time he saw Jericho Mickie Rourke punched his lights out. Jericho says that last time he saw Piper he was punching his lights out right before that when he fought the 3 Hall of Famers at Mania. Then he thanks the fans for being on Piper’s Pit. Piper says they have something in common. Piper says that when he fought Mr. T. the fans cheered for him and now the fans are cheering Jericho. Piper says he doesn’t care what Dolph or Miz has to say. What the boy in the red shirt says matters. Then Vickie Guerrero comes out and does the excuse me bit and Piper’s talking at the same time. Vickie brings out Dolph. Dolph asks Piper how long he’s been doing the same old bit. He says it’s not fun, ground breaking or nostalgic. It’s just sad. Dolph says this isn’t about Piper. Then he asks Jericho how many come backs it will take till he realizes he can’t win the big one. Then Dolph says that after SummerSlam Jericho can hang up his light bright jacket because his career will be finished. Vickie chimes in and Jericho tells her to shut up. Then he says that he hasn’t forgotten Vickie slapping him on Smackdown. Jericho says that he will beat Dolph at SummerSlam and that is a guarantee that he will never eeeeeverr go back on. Then The Miz comes out. He does his really bit. Then he says that he & Dolph can actually win the big ones. Dolph won MITB and Miz won in the main event at WrestleMania 27 and 3 weeks ago he won the Intercontinental Title. Miz says he’s taking over the show and says Dolph can be his guest. Then he says Piper & Jericho can get out of the ring. Piper tells Miz no. Then Jericho tosses Miz out of the ring and then he clotheslines Dolph out. This was a weird segment. Piper sounded like he had no idea what was going on. Jericho was decent here and Dolph was too. Miz saying he can win the big one, well he hasn’t been winning anything lately.

Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Intercontinental Champion The Miz. Dolph wins when he pins Jericho. This was a really good match. Jericho had Miz in the Walls and Miz tapped but Vickie distracted the referee. Then Dolph gave Jericho the Zig Zag for the 3 count. This was the highlight of the show so far!

CM Punk is backstage and Eve shows up. She congratulates Punk on “the new CM Punk.” Punk says there’s no new him. He’s the same he’s always been. He says he is fighting for the respect he deserves. Eve says that no one believes that especially Cena. Punk says he will tell Cena that himself. Not a bad backstage segment.

They show Shawn Michaels walking backstage. John Cena comes by. Michaels says he’s distracted and walks off. Then Punk comes by. Cena asks if Punk will stab him in the back. Punk mentions that he’s not “that guy” that Cena accused him of being. Punk says he won’t stab anyone in the back. He will do what he can to make sure that Cena or Show don’t walk out of the PPV Champion. Punk says that it will be all about him.

A Wade Barrett video package is shown to hype up his return. These have been well done.

Divas Champion Layla & Kaitlyn vs. Eve Torres & Beth Phoenix. Layla & Kaitlyn win when Kaitlyn pins Beth. This wasn’t much.

Time to recap the Triple H-Brock Lesnar rivalry.

They show the parking garage and Lawler says Triple H will show up.

WWE Champion CM Punk & John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan & Big Show. Punk & Cena win when Cena pins Daniel. This was a good match but I wasn’t crazy about Cena getting the clean pin on Daniel for the second week in a row. Both teams had friction. Show sat at ringside. Then Punk stood by the ramp. Daniel got a roll up for a 2 count then Cena hit the AA for the pin. Afterwards Big Show slides back in the ring and then Punk hits Big Show with the belt. Then Punk offers Cena his hand. Cena doesn’t shake it and Punk walks to the back.

Punk is backstage and Josh Mathews asks if Punk has any explanation. Punk says Cena went into business for himself. He mentions that Cena didn’t shake his hand and that is a sign of disrespect. Then he says that at SummerSlam he will teach Cena & everyone about respect. Good promo from Punk.

Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman are backstage.

Christian vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. Brodus Clay came out and Christian got a roll up on Sandow for a near fall. Then Sandow hit the Neck Breaker for the win. This was a solid match. I had a feeling Brodus would come out.

Shawn Michaels is still walking backstage and he bumps into Brock. Brock stares him down and Michaels walks off.  

Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman come out for the contract signing. Heyman says that he stands before everyone with great humility as Brock’s advocate. Heyman mentions that Hunter had a flight delay and Lesnar believes that story. That’s because no one wants this match more than Triple H. Heyman says Hunter needs this match because it is the most personal fight of his career. He says that Hunter’s dignity is on the line when he faces a fighter with ultimate credentials Brock Lesnar. He thanks the fans for their irrelevant opinion. He shows some document saying they won’t be responsible for what happens to Hunter. Heyman says that on Sunday this won’t be a wrestling match. This will be a merciless beating at the hands of Brock. Heyman says that Shawn Michaels didn’t take Heyman’s word for it. Heyman asks if HBK is in the arena. Brock says he is. Then Heyman says that if Michaels still thinks Triple H can beat Lesnar he is welcome to come out and tell them. Heyman says HBK isn’t coming out and Heyman doesn’t blame him because there is no shame in being afraid of Brock. Then Michaels’ music plays and he comes out. Heyman says he will accept Shawn’s signature. Shawn looks at Brock & Heyman as the fans chant let’s go Texas. Then Triple H’s music hits and he comes out. Triple H & Brock intently stare at each other. Then Hunter signs the contract. Heyman tells Brock this is just a contract signing. Than Brock signs it. Then he & Heyman walk out of the ring. Brock taunts Triple H as he goes up the ramp. This was good. Heyman was great with his promo as usual. I like that this contract signing wasn’t a lot of back and forth talking that follows up with a brawl like these segment usually wind up being.

Time for some TOUTS from the fans about Booker T calling off the Sheamus-Del Rio World Title match. The first likes Booker’s decision. The second guy says the match should happen. The third guy agrees with Booker. Then the final video had 2 guys. One guy agrees with Booker and the other guy doesn’t. This TOUTING is really idiotic.

Shawn Michaels & Triple H are backstage. Michaels says that he has something to get off his chest. He says that he has been in the ring with some of the toughest guys like Triple H & Undertaker but Brock is on another level. Hunter asks if Shawn thinks Hunter can’t beat Brock. Michaels says that he will be in Triple H’s corner but Triple H has to beat him. Triple H says he’s got this. Michaels isn’t sure and walks off.

Matt Striker asks Big Show how the match will be affected at SummerSlam. Show says that Punk took a cheap shot and we’ll see what will happen Sunday.

Then a horn honks. It’ Michaels honking at Heyman. Then Brock pulls Michaels out of the car through the door window. The screen goes to black as Brock “attacks” Shawn and Shawn groans. This was good too. I like how they had the screen go to black. Good touch there.

Back to the show and AJ, referees & other wrestlers are at the sight of the attack. The windshield is shattered. Triple H asks AJ where Michaels is. AJ says Brock took him.

Brock comes to the ring carrying Michaels on his shoulders. He throws Michaels in the ring. Then he gives Michaels the F5. Michaels tries to get up and then Lesnar locks the arm breaker on Michaels. Then Triple H runs out but Heyman tells him that if he takes 1 more step Lesnar will break Michaels’ arm. Hunter is torn about what to do. Brock then “breaks” Michaels’ arm. Then Hunter hits the ring and Brock runs off. Michaels lies on the mat selling the injury and tells the medics not to touch his arm. Then Brock & Heyman come back out on the stage. Triple H rips his shirt off and tells Brock they don’t have to wait. Brock stands on the stage with a smirk to end the show. This was really good. They did a great job here building up to the Triple H-Lesnar match! Michaels was great selling the “broken arm” too. This was the other highlight of the show.

I thought this week’s show was decent overall. They did a great job with the final hype for the Triple H-Brock Lesnar SummerSlam match. Michaels, Triple, Lesnar & Hunter were all really good here. The Punk-Show match at the start was ok but I knew there wasn’t going to be a clean finish. Then having Cena come out and then AJ announcing the tag match was predictable. Punk & Cena vs. Daniel & Show was good. I wasn’t surprised that Cena & Punk and Daniel & Big Show had friction during the match. I wasn’t crazy about Cena pinning Daniel clean for the second week in a row. Ryback-JTG, Sin Cara-Tensai, Truth-Slater & the Divas tag match were all pointless. Christian-Sandow was solid. The Piper’s pit segment was weird. Piper sounded like he had no idea what was going on. Jericho & Dolph were good here tough. Miz was ok also but I wasn’t really into this bit. The Triple Threat match however was really good. Jericho took the pin to further the story that he can’t win the big one. I thought they did a decent job building to the Jericho-Ziggler match and the build for the WWE Title match was solid too. I’m hoping they don’t yank Sheamus-Del Rio off the PPV. The TOUTS from the fans about that were idiotic. They also announced Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs. The Primetime Players for the WWE Tag Team Title at SummerSlam. On the whole I thought this was a decent show.