8-20-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the August 20, 2012 episode of Raw

 The show starts with Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman coming to the ring. Heyman says he understands how the fans feel because last night when Lesnar faced Triple H it was a most uncomfortable match to watch. Heyman says that he sat at the announcers table 11 years ago and saw Triple H tear his quad and Triple H finished that fight. He says that a torn quad couldn’t stop Triple H but Brock could. Heyman mentions that Brock made Triple H tap. He says that means Brock made Triple H quit on his own family, company, friends, fans and the fans. Heyman says that Brock made Triple H suffer and forced him to the canvas and left him a beaten battered shell of a former man. Heyman says he doesn’t feel sorry for Triple H and neither should the fans. Heyman says this was a fight that Triple H picked and told the referee that he wanted it to be a fight to the finish. Heyman says it wasn’t the finish Triple H was looking for. Then Heyman asks Scott Armstrong to come to the ring because Brock wanted to talk to him. Heyman says Armstrong is being paged by Lesnar. Armstrong comes out. Heyman says Lesnar would like to speak with him. Armstrong reluctantly gets in the ring. Heyman mentions that Triple H told Armstrong that the match was going to be a fight to the finish. Heyman says that last night Brock had 2 words for Triple H. Tap Out. Then Heyman says that Lesnar has 2 words for Armstrong. Lesnar pats the referee on the head and says, “Good job.” Heyman says that Brock Lesnar is the new king of kings and the conqueror of the WWE Universe. This means that the fans are now subjects to the new lord and master of WWE, Brock Lesnar. This was a really good way to start the show. Paul Heyman cut a great promo as always!

Time for a TOUT for CM Punk. He says that tonight he will pick his next opponent since he had to defend the WWE Title twice last night.

They showed wwe.com interview with Kofi. He talked what a great match they had. Then R-Truth come in and pours Gatorade on “Little Jimmy.”

WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth (who came out with brawling buddies) and Sin Cara vs. Cody Rhodes, & The Primetime Players. Truth, Kofi & Cara win when Cara pins Cody. This was a solid match. Cody attempted to pull Sin Cara’s mask off again. That led to Cara pinning him.

Matt Striker interviews AJ Lee. Enter the returning David Otunga. He says that AJ might need some Harvard educated legal council. He says he will file a law suit in the blink of an eye if anyone calls her crazy. AJ gets the flipping out look from hearing “crazy.” AJ tells him to offer his services in the ring tonight against an opponent of her choosing. Then Striker mention Punk’s TOUT. AJ says she likes it and that Punk can chose whoever he wants. Pending her approval. She skips off. This wasn’t much. The AJ character is now in super overkill mode!

Ryback vs. Mike Spinner & Andy Tavares. Ryback wins by DQ when Jinder Mahal comes in. Jinder locks Ryback in the Camel Clutch but Ryback powers out and nails a sit out stunner. Jinder rolls out of the ring. Then Ryback picks up the 2 jobbers and gives them the marching double Samoan drop. Then Ryback & Jinder jaw jack. This was pointless.

Chris Jericho is backstage and Dolph Ziggler comes by. He says that Jericho finally won the big one and says they need a rematch tonight. Jericho says he knows how to win the big one, but does Dolph. AJ skips in and she grants the rematch. Then she says that if Jericho loses his contract is terminated and if Dolph loses, the Money in the Bank case goes to Jericho. This was strange. They’re once again saying that Dolph can’t win a match and they’re cramming the AJ character down the fans throats. They’re also giving us a rematch ON FREE TV the night after SummerSlam!!

Alberto Del Rio is walking backstage and knocks Ricardo’s phone out of his hand.

Alberto Del Rio comes to the ring. He says he should be standing in front of all the peasants as the new World Champion. He says that last night he got robbed by the referee & by Sheamus. Then they show a still shot of Del Rio’s foot on the rope. Del Rio says he’s not going to stand around and not do anything. He demands another World Title match with Sheamus right now. Cue AJ’s music and she comes out. She says that she has no authority over the World Title seen, but she can put him in a match right now. She says this match will give Booker T to consider as to whether Alberto will get a World Title rematch. She says to say hello to this man. Cue Randy Orton’s music and he comes out. This was awful! There is WAY too much AJ on this show! Also the referee for the World Title match admitted he messed up. So why does AJ have to book Del Rio in a match just so Booker T can decide if Del Rio gets another World Title match!?

Back from break and before the next match starts Sheamus comes out for commentary.

Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio. Orton gets the pin. This was a solid match. Ricardo got on the apron and Sheamus rand Ricardo off. Orton looked at Sheamus and then Del Rio gave Orton a back stabber. He went for the pin and Sheamus put Orton’s foot on the rope at 2. This distracted Del Rio and then Orton hit the RKO for pin. The match was solid but a little overbooked.

They show a wwe.com interview with CM Punk. He says that there was no controversy. The controversy is that he had to someone twice. He says that he mad Big Show tap out but then he had to beat him again. Punk says that AJ doesn’t want him to be champion. Then he says that he has been champion for 9 months and like it or not everyone needs to respect it.

They show a TOUT from Antonio Cesaro & Aksana celebrating his U.S. Title win.

They show a video package recapping the SummerSlam Fan Fest.

Brodus Clay comes to the ring and does his bit. Then they reshow Damien Sandow attacking Brodus’ leg from 2 weeks ago.

Brodus Clay vs. Damien Sandow. Sandow gets the pin. This wasn’t much. Brodus dominated most of the match. Then he missed a splash in the corner and Sandow rolled him up for the pin. Afterwards Brodus gave Sandow a T-Bone Suplex followed by a big splash. Then Brodus does his bit again. This was idiotic.

They show Shawn Michaels “at his ranch” with his arm in a cast. We’ll hear from him next.

Time to hear from Shawn Michaels. Cole asks for Shawn’s thoughts on Triple H’s career possibly being over. Michaels says he thinks he knows what’s going through Hunter’s head. Shawn says that you can prepare for the end of you’re a career. You can say the end is near. You can do everything that people say you should do, but there’s nothing that prepares you when that day just comes right at you. He says that it happens in front of thousands of people and millions on PPV. He says he knows what Hunter’s feeling and that last night could have been the end of a great career. Shawn says Hunter’s a man of honor and integrity. Something Brock & Heyman wouldn’t know about. He says that Triple H gave everything he had because that’s the kind of guy he is. Shawn then says that him being around was a distraction for Triple H. Then he mentions that he told Hunter that he knew where his heart was, but he didn’t tell him the truth. He says it isn’t easy to look your friend in the eye and tell them that you think it’s over and time has run its course. Shawn says Hunter has nothing to be ashamed of and is 1 of the greatest super stars to ever live. Shawn says that he will always respect and he and all the will always love him. Then Shawn says on behalf of the fans, “Thank you for a job well done.” This was a good promo. I thought Michaels did a good job here selling the possibility of Triple H’s career being over.

Time for David Otunga to have his return match. He will face Big Show.

Big Show vs. David Otunga. Big Show gets the pin. This was a squash.

They show a wwe.com interview with Big Show. He says that the title match was a handicap match. He says he got double teamed. Show asks when he is going to get a 1 on 1 match.

Kane & Zack Ryder vs. Daniel Bryan & Intercontinental Champion The Miz. The match ended in a no Daniel Bryan hopped over the barrier and ran away through the crowed. Miz left too. Then Kane choke slammed Ryder. Then Kane took the time keeper and threw him into the barrier. Then Kane got back in the ring and gave Ryder a Tombstone. 

Time for a wwe.com interview with John Cena. The guy asks him if Punk is the best in the world. Cena says that he hasn’t seen like this during his time in WWE. He doesn’t blame the referee and says that he will get Punk tomorrow.  

Matt Striker interviews CM Punk. Punk says he is still champion but now the next question is who will he face now. He thanks AJ for letting him pick his opponent. He picks John Cena. He says that he commands respect when he walks into a room and tonight he will demand respect from Cena.

Divas Battle Royal for a Divas Title match. Layla watches from ringside. In the Battle Royal are Eve Torres, Natalya, Tamina Snuka, Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendez, Aksana & Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn wins. That was surprising. This was terrible. The Divas division is totally meaningless. I was surprised that they had Kaitlyn win however. Will WWE even if remember about this?

They show a Brock Lesnar TOUT. He says there’s nothing left for him to conquer. He says he’s leaving WWE and is never coming back.

They show a Wade Barrett video package.

Vickie Guerrero is backstage. She tells Dolph that he has to win for her. Dolph says he might never get another World Title match if he loses the Money in the Bank case. He says this is the biggest match of his life. Vickie keeps screaming that they have to win. Dolph says they will win. This was kind of weak.

Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler. Dolph gets the pin. This was a really good match. I knew Dolph would win this since Jericho will be going on tour with his Fozzy band. Afterwards Jericho snatches the MITB case and hits Dolph with it. Then he gave Dolph a Code Breaker. Dolph wins and they STILL BURY HIM!! What is wrong with this company!?

CM Punk comes to the ring. He goes to the announce table and says he saw Lawler sitting there. He says that after defending his title at SummerSlam he was gonna talk about his next opponent and then he remembered that Lawler said that Punk turned his back on the fans. Punk tells Lawler to admit that isn’t true. Lawler says at the time he thought Punk did. Then Punk asks him to have the respect to apologize to him. Then John Cena comes out. Punk gets back in the ring. Punks says that Cena heard him earlier saying he was going to call him out but Cena had to come out and steel the spot light. Punk says that since WrestleMania he’s been taking a back seat to Cena, Triple H and Dwayne. He says he has out of respect. Then he says that respect is a 2 way street. He says he is the WWE Champion and that fans ask him why he isn’t in the main event. Punk says his match is always the main event and that he lets Cena go on last out of respect. Then Punk mentions last year’s MITB & SummerSlam and how he beat Cena at those shows. Then Punk mentions that he beat Cena last night (even though he pinned Big Show). Punk says that he will beat Cena again. He says that all the times Punk has beaten him it hasn’t matters. Punk says everywhere he goes he sees the C-Nation. Punk says Cena can challenge Punk for the title at Night of Champions if Cena admits that Punk is the best in the world. Cena says that Punk has been champion for 9 months, which means that’s how long he hasn’t been champion. Cena says that through all the ups and downs their relationship is built out of 1 word. Not champion but the word Punk has been mentioning, respect. Then Cena that his merchandise represents who he is. Cena says he isn’t going to call Punk the best in the world because he Cena has to believe that he is. He says he believes in the fans and wants the fans to believe in him. He mentions that he believed he’d beat Rock. Cena says that he champion for 380 days and never demanded anything from anyone. Cena says that Punk has been champion for 274 and all the fans remember is that Punk blew a kiss to Vince when he left town. Cena says he’s not her to stoke Punk’s ego. Cena says that Punk can pick whoever he wants to defend the title against but it won’t be him. Then Cena mentions that Night of Champions is in his hometown. Cena says that if Punk beats Cena in Cena’s hometown that will defy his existence. Cena tells Punk not to demand respect from the fans. Then he says if Punk doesn’t pick Cena to defend the title against at Night of Champions then Punk has no respect for himself or for the title. Then Cena walks up the ramp. Punk then turns to Lawler and tells him to come in the ring apologize to Punk. Lawler gets in the ring. Punk says Lawler went a bit too far and owes Punk an apology. Lawler says this is a misunderstanding but he apologizes. Punk says he’s not finished. He says if Cena won’t say Punk is the best in the world he wants Lawler to say it. Lawler says he has spent a lot of years at that announce table. Punk tells him to tell the fans what they know. Punk again tells Lawler to say that Punk is the best in the world. Lawler says he can’t say that. Then Punk gives him a roundhouse kick. Then Punk gets the belt and kneels over Lawler and looking at the fans to end the show. This was really long. I thought Punk’s promo was good and Cena was ok here too but this was a really long winded segment!

I thought this was really weak show overall. It just seemed to drag on. Paul Heyman’s promo at the start of the show great and I enjoyed the Jericho-Dolph match too. However I hated that they had Jericho lay out Dolph. Why do they feel the need to bury the guy!? The AJ character is really old too! Orton-Del Rio was solid but a little bit over booked. The 6 man tag was solid. The Divas battle Royal was crap. The Cena-Punk promo was decent but was too long. On the whole I thought the show was long and dragged on a lot.