10-1-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the October 1, 2012 episode of Raw

 The show starts with CM Punk & Paul Heyman coming to the ring. Punk mentions Cena attacking him last week with a pipe when his back was turned. He says that that’s the actions of a scared man. Then he says that he was in the back looking for a doctor and he ran into Mick Foley. He says that Foley gave him a disrespectful look. He says Mick is also a coward. Then he mentions kicking Foley and he showed him that he is the WWE Champion. Punk asks Heyman if Foley would have nothing bad to say to Cena, or his friend Dwayne. Heyman says no. Then Punk tells the fans that these are rhetorical questions. Then he asks if Foley would say anything bad about Steve Austin either. Heyman says no. Then he says that the fans are showing him the same disrespect that Foley showed him. Then he says he thought about not facing Cena in the cell. He says that he thought about Foley said to him last week. Then Punk says that Cena-Punk at hell in a cell still won’t happen. Heyman says he & Punk would like to move on to another most relevant piece of business. They reshow Heyman “proposing” to AJ from last Monday. Heyman says he’s sure the fans noticed the same thing that he & Punk noticed. That being that AJ never said no. She did however violate an edict from the board of directors. Then he takes out a memo from the board saying that AJ’s actions were juvenile and she can’t touch anyone again. Heyman then says that AJ must be removed as Raw GM immediately. Heyman then says that he will lead WWE. Since he has GM experience. Then Vickie Guerrero & Dolph Ziggler come out. Vickie says that Dolph almost had his MITB case taken from him because of AJ. Then she says that she has also been the victim of AJ’s actions. They reshow AJ slapping Vickie from 2 months ago. Heyman asks when did this become about her. She says Dolph will be the World Champion. Heyman asks when did this become about Vickie. Vickie then says that she is THE Vickie Guerrero and he client is Dolph Ziggler. She then says that Dolph will be future World Champion. Then Heyman says that when the future catches up to the here and now that Vickie should let him know. Then Heyman tells Vickie to go through the proper channels like he did. Dolph then says that AJ is the sole reason for all the conflict on Raw. Then Dolph says that Heyman & Vickie should be co general managers. Then AJ Lee skips to the ring. She says that the board of directors have placed her on probation. She says she knows she wasn’t supposed to touch anybody but she figured she could make an excuse for Heyman. She says that she’s been given a coach to help her in her development as GM. Daniel Bryan comes to the ring screaming no. He says he came out to apologize because it’s obvious that AJ’s mental issues have been compounded by the fact that he dumped her at WrestleMania. He can’t blame her because he is one hell of a catch. He says that he is handsome, a former World Champion and has a great beard. And now he is the tag team champions. Then he holds up the tag title and screams, “I am the tag team champions”. Then Kane comes to the ring. Kane says that everyone has forgotten to mention a very important fact about AJ Lee. She is a phenomenal kisser. Then he says that everything Daniel said was true except for 1 thing. Kane says that he is the tag team champions. Kane & Daniel shout that to each other. Punk says he is the best in the world. Dolph holds up his MITB case and chaos break out. Then AJ screams for everyone to stop. Then AJ says that this is her show. Probation or not she is still the GM and what she says goes. Then she says that Punk & Dolph will face Kane & Daniel later tonight. Then AJ skips around the ring and up the ramp as everyone in the ring still argue. This was too long. Punk & Heyman cut good promos as usual. Then when Dolph & Vickie came out it was bearable. Having Daniel Bryan be AJ’s executive coach is going to be probably be more of what they gave us with AJ & Daniel but I have a feeling it will be overbooked. The Kane-Daniel Bryan storyline is very hit and miss. Having 1 scream to the other constantly about how that 1 person is the tag team champions is getting old. I thought this segment was really overbooked.

Number 1 Contender WWE Tag Team Title Tournament – First Round. Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Primo & Epico. Rey & Cara win when Rey pins Primo. The Primetime Players came out in suits and they had steel chairs and sat on the stage to watch the match. This was a good match.

They mention that Sheamus & Big Show will have a debate later tonight. Booker T will be the moderator and the fans can tweet their questions. I have a feeling that is going to really long and painful!!

Brodus Clay vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro gets the pin. This was a short match. Cesaro lifted up Clay for the Neutralizer. That was impressive.

They show Kaitlyn backstage and AJ shows up with her new coach. Christopher J. Stevenson (I thought Daniel Bryan was her coach). Then she tells Kaitlyn that she will be back in the ring very soon. Then AJ talks about how they were friends and then she started going with Daniel Bryan. AJ then mentions that Kaitlyn warned her with dating him. She hopes Kaitlyn can forgive her. Then AJ laughs like a maniac and says she isn’t sorry at all. Then she skips off. Then Kaitlyn asks the guy who he is. This was awful. The AJ character has really gotten old.

Zack Ryder vs. Intercontinental Champion The Miz. Miz gets the pin. This was a decent match. I knew Miz would win.

Time for the Sheamus-Big Show World Title Debate. Booker comes to the ring. I’m dreading this segment!! Booker says that in 4 weeks the World Champion Sheamus will face Big Show for the first time at hell in a cell. Then Big Show comes to the ring. Then Sheamus. Booker thanks both of them for joining him for this. Then he says the fans have been sending out tweets and TOUTS. Then Booker says that for the opening statement Big Show will go first. Show starts to thank Booker but then he says there’s no reason for it. He says he will beat Sheamus, rip his leg off and become World Champion. Sheamus’ turn. He says who he is and he is the World Champion. He thanks Booker for hosting this debate in Oklahoma. He asks Show not to rip his leg because he will need it to kick his teeth in. Time for Booker to read a tweet. What does each guy find the most challenging about the other? Sheamus says he’s never ducked a fight. He says he’s never faced a stronger more impressive guy then Big Show. Sheamus says that he hopes this match will last more than 45 seconds. Big Show says Sheamus isn’t taking him seriously and that he will take the Title from Sheamus. Next tweet, who has the more dangerous move the WMD or the Brogue Kick? Show says that his WMD has won him many matches and titles. Then he says to ask Cena and Orton. Sheamus says that Daniel Bryan beat Show in 45 seconds and became World Champion. Show breaks his podium. Sheamus says that we need to see a TOUT. He says that he promised his cousin Rey Mysterio Sullivan. They show a TOUT from Sheamus with a Mysterio mask. Booker says this is a serious debate (yeah right). Show says Sheamus isn’t taking this seriously. Then Sheamus asks Show how it feels to lose the World Title to Daniel Bryan in 45 seconds only for Daniel to lose it to him in 18 seconds. They drop their microphones and stare each other down. Then Show takes his jacket off. They continue intently starring at each other and then Big Show walks up the ramp. This was as bad as I thought it would be. This whole “debate” was completely meaningless and idiotic! There was a lot of back and forth non sense talk that’s not even worth remembering. What I want to know is why is Sheamus the new Cena!? His promos have been more and more cartoon like almost every time he speaks! The only thing that I agreed with here is when Big Show said that this “debate” was ridiculous.

Ryback vs. Tensai. Ryback gets the pin. This was mostly a squash. Ryback dominated most of this.

Damien Sandow & Cody Rhodes are backstage. They talk about their team name. Sandow says that they would never let the fans pick a name for their team. Then they bring up the debate. Sandow mentions that Sheamus came to the ring without pants. Then they mention that they will be great tag champions. Unlike Sheamus who is a Neanderthal. This was ok. I like this team. Cody & Sandow work well together.

Beth Phoenix vs. Divas Champion Eve Torres. Eve gets the pin. This was a decent match.

AJ & her coach are walking backstage. They bump into Wade Barrett. Barrett says he is glad that someone is here to show her how to do her job. Then he says that he doesn’t have a match tonight. Then he tells AJ that since she’s on probation he is going to be blunt with her. He says that she’s doing a horrible job as GM and half the time he doesn’t know what she’s thinking. He tells her not to let her personal issues and relationships get in the way of doing her job. Barrett walks off. Then AJ says to her coach, “I think you’re intimidated.” Wade Barrett’s promo was good here. That was the only good thing about this bit.

Santino Marella vs. Heath Slater (with Drew McIntyre & Jinder Mahal). Santino wins by DQ when Jinder & Drew come in. Afterwards they beat down Santino. Slater grabs the “cobra”. Then Drew gives Santino the Future Shock DDT. Then Slater gets the mic. He asks Santino how he likes this. Then Drew & Jinder shove the sock cobra into Santino’s mouth. Then Slater says they has something we all need to hear. Drew takes the mic and says that he is still the chosen one. Jinder says that he is the Maharajah. Then Slater says that he is the one man band. The match was your typical Santino comedy match. The post match promo from the heel trio was ok but nothing great. Last time they beat down Brodus and this week it was Santino. If/when they attack a third guy then we can have that guy team with Brodus & Santino for a 6 man.

World Champion Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a really good match. Cody Rhodes was on commentary. Cody went after Sheamus but Sheamus threw him in the ring. Then he gave Cody & Sandow a double Brogue Kick for and then covered Sandow for the 3 count.

Time for the JR Appreciation segment. Michael Cole is in the ring and he says JR is the most respected commentator in WWE History. He says that when JR calls a match he makes special. For some reason JR comes out from the back. Cole congratulates JR. He says it has to great for him to be in his hometown and calling the action on Raw. Before JR can speak CM Punk & Paul Heyman come out. Punk takes Cole’s mic and tells Cole he doesn’t need it. He tells Cole to take his seat where he belongs. The fans boo and Punk tells the fans to tell them how he really feels. He then says to not give him shoes to fill because he will fill them. Then he says that JR is the best announcer and he respects him. Punk says the fans respect JR but JR doesn’t know the first thing about respect. Punk says he is the best in the world and he deserves respect. He says that the fans twist and turn whatever he says but it was the fans that turned on him. Then he tells JR that he respects him, which is why he will help Punk teach the fans about respect by telling them that Punk is the best in the world. JR says that he’s glad Punk didn’t come out to embarrass him because Punk has been making a jackass of himself every week. Punk says that he showed JR respect and JR didn’t return it. Then Punk asks JR what happens if he disrespects him like he did Foley last week. Who will come to JR’s rescue? Then Punk says “Stone Cold.” Punk says 316 meant Austin got his hands on a guy. Now it’s the number of days he’s been WWE Champion. Punk says 316 belongs to him. Then Punk rags on JR a bit. Then Punk tells JR that he can say this whoever he wants but the point is JR is going to say that Punk is the best in the world. JR says that he’s not going to see it. JR says that he has been blessed to call some of the greatest matches involving the best in the world. He called WrestleMania main events like Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels and Taker-Triple H. JR says that they never asked to be called best in the world. They all earned that. Then JR tells Punk that he should accept Cena’s challenge for hell in a cell. JR says that if he does then he will call punk the best in the world but until then they have nothing to talk about. Punk rips JR’s hat off and stomps on it. Punk says he doesn’t run from fights and that he’s beaten Cena before. He then says that inside this ring men fight. He says he’s never run from anything and he never will. Then he says that JR should run because he is in the ring with him. Punk then tells JR that if he put up his hands and fights he will knock JR into next week and won’t be doing commentary anymore. He then tells JR to fight or leave. JR goes to leave the ring but Punk grabs his arm. Punk says he won’t let JR go back to the announce table and do his job. Then Punk says that JR doesn’t get to do what he loves anymore. He tells JR that he won’t be doing anymore commentary tonight. Then he tells JR to walk up the ramp slowly and in shame. He says that if JR doesn’t he will put him in the dirt. JR walks out and Punk says that JR isn’t a Hall of Famer. He’s a joke. Cue Feed me More and Ryback comes out. Ryback & JR get in the ring. Ryback stares down Punk intently. The fans chant Feed me More. Then Punk leaves the ring and he backs up the ramp while Heyman tells him that he is still the best in the world. Then Punk holds the title over his head and shouts that he is the best in the world. Then Heyman tells Punk that he gets paid to fight. This actually was pretty good. They didn’t really do the usual “give JR the business in his home town” bit like they usually do. Punk’s promo was really good as usual. Then having Ryback come out and stare down Punk was good also. That was a nice follow up from last week. I know some might say that Pun k backing away from Ryback makes Punk look like a typical WWE heel coward but I don’t really see it that way. I think it puts Ryback over more as a credible talent.

WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This match was decent but short. Ricardo Rodriguez was on commentary.

AJ is in the GM office with her coach. He tells her to learn how to admit when she’s wrong and not make decisions because of personal issues. Then she says that maybe she should do something special like make him the referee for the main event tag match. Then she says that a coach isn’t worth anything if he wasn’t a player. Then she tells him to get out of her arena. He leaves. Then AJ tells herself that she doesn’t need a coach. This was weak.

Before the next match starts AJ Lee comes out in referee gear. So she made herself the guest referee.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. WWE Champion CM Punk & Dolph Ziggler. Kane & Daniel win when Kan pins Punk. This was a solid match. At 1 point Daniel had Punk in the No Lock but Punk got his foot on the rope. Heyman pointed it out. Then she motioned for Heyman to get up on the apron. When he does she kicks him out of ringside. Then Vickie got on the apron and slapped AJ. Then AJ kicked her out too. Then Dolph took his Money in the Bank case and left too. So Punk was on his own. Then Kane choke slammed him for the 3 count. After the match Kane & Daniel Bryan do the “I am the tag team champions” bit to end the show.

I thought this week’s was hit and miss overall. The opening segment was long. Punk & Heyman were good on the mic but I felt like the segment was really overbooked. It was pretty much the “everyone who’s had anything to do with AJ out here” segment. The main event tag match was solid. I wasn’t really into AJ being the referee but thankfully they didn’t have her make a bad call. The debate was a total waste. Punk coming out during the JR appreciation segment was good. Punk again cut a really good promo and I liked that they followed up with Ryback. I don’t think they should put the title on Ryback this soon but I thought this was a good follow up from last week. The AJ segments with the coach weren’t that good. The first segment with Kaitlyn was awful. The second one was a bit better because Barrett’s promo was good. The third one in the GM office was meaningless. Sheamus-Sandow was really good. That was the highlight of the show for me. Rey & Sin Cara vs. Primo & Epico was good too. Ryder-Miz was a decent match but I knew Miz was going to win. Brodus-Cesaro was decent too. I was impressed that Cesaro managed to lift Clay up for his finisher. Santino-Slater wasn’t much of a match. This was more about Slater, Mahal & McIntyre being a unit. Kofi-Del Rio was decent too. Ryback-Tensai wasn’t much. Beth-Eve was also decent. So on the whole I thought this week’s show was hit and miss.