10-22-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the October 22, 2012 episode of Raw

The show starts with Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandown in the number 1 contender tag team tile tournament finals. Cody & Sandow win when Cody pins Rey. This was a good match. I liked that this started the show. Afterwards Kane & Daniel Bryan show up on the Tron. They congratulate Rhodes Scholars. Then Kane says the question is will Rhodes Scholars win the tag titles. They both say “hell no.” Then Kane says he’d like to perform a trick for Cody & Sandow. He performs the “now you see him, now you don’t” trick by pulling Daniel Bryan behind him. Then Kane’s pyro goes off.

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Michael McGuillicutty. Kofi gets the pin. This was a solid match. Miz was on commentary.

They recap the contract signing from last week.

  John Cena comes to the ring. He puts over the Giants players that are in the front row. He mentions they’re right next door to the building WrestleMania 29 will be at. Then he mentions that this Sunday WWE presents on PPV hell in a cell. This Sunday the fans will find out that CM Punk is a man that tells the truth. Punk has been champion for 337 days. The most truthful thing Punk said was right before he became champion. Punk was a visionary and his vision was change. This Sunday after 337 days we see change. Change is 6’3, 291 lbs and when change steps into this ring all he can hear is feed me more. Ryback isn’t a guy who will come out and complain about a political conspiracy theory. Ryback stands for 1 thing. Destruction. This Sunday the face of WWE will change. Then CM Punk & Paul Heyman come out. Punk says he’s not surprised that Cena would put over the Giants. He says he’s a Giants fan, but they’re from San Francisco. Punk says Cena wanting change is laughable. He says that he has been champion for 337 days, which means Cena hasn’t been champion longer. Punk has shown that he is the best in the world. Not Cena or Ryback. Cena can promise destruction and change but everyone knows when Punk makes a promise he means it. He promises he will walk out of hell in a cell still WWE Champion. Punk says Cena being Ryback’s cheer leader fits him well. It means that Cena realizes that Cena himself can’t beat Punk. Cena says he wasn’t allowed to beat Punk. Then Cena says that he is now medically cleared. Cena says he’s not going to mess with Punk’s match, but he’d like to mess with Punk right now. Cena says he will give Punk a pre ass whipping before he gets the real one. Punk walks to the ring and Heyman screams for Punk not to do this, saying Punk doesn’t fight for free. Then Punk jumps off the apron and holds up the belt as he & Heyman back up the ramp. This was decent. I thought this was 1 of Cena’s better promos. Punk as usual was good on the mic. When Cena said that he was medically cleared, I thought he was going to say that he would be in the cell too. But nope. It looks like Ryback-Punk will be the title match.

Before the next match Antonio Cesaro says that he is the U.S. Champion in 5 different languages. Then Justin Gabriel dives onto Cesaro.

Justin Gabriel vs. U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Gabriel gets the pin. This was a solid match.  It was kind of surprising they had Gabriel win.

They show a limo pulling into the arena and out come Vince and AJ.

Vince & AJ are in the ring. Vince says that AJ met with the Board of directors to discuss her tenure as Raw GM. Then he gives the mic to AJ. She says that because of allegations of her fraternizing with a WWE super star, she is resigning as Raw GM (not surprising). She says these allegations are false but she understands that she could’ve been fired when she attacked Vickie or Heyman. That was why she agreed to resign. She says that some of her decisions might have been unorthodox. Some might consider her mentally unstable but she thinks some people like a crazy chick. The fans cheered for that. She says this is ending sooner than she wanted, but she’s come so far. She grew up 15 minutes from the area. She says she grew up with nothing. She’s lived in cars and motels. She’s gone from being homeless to being the boss. She though she would always be a poor girl who never made it but the fans accepted her. She thanks the fans and has loved every second of this job. She thanks Vince for giving her a chance that no one else would’ve given her. Then she hugs Vince. Then out comes Paul Heyman. He says that there’s a 1 in a billion chance of a homeless girl becoming the GM of the longest running TV show. Heyman says that AJ rose above her lack of education, intelligence & class. She also rose above the fact that she was born a Jersey girl. Then Heyman says there needs to be a new GM for Raw. Heyman tells Vince that he needs some one with class and someone who when the time is right can show ruthless aggression. He mentions the differences he and Vince had, but if Raw needs a new GM it should be him. Vince says no. Then Vince brings out the managing supervisor of Raw. Out comes Vickie Guerrero. Vince thanks the board for giving her this opportunity. She is so touched that the board values her expertise. Heyman says now that Vickie’s in a position of power her first decision should be a momentous one. He says that Vickie should undo the damage that was when he gave Punk an option of who he would face at the PPV and then took that option from him and made Punk face Ryback. Heyman says Ryback is a punk eating carnivore. Vickie says Punk will face Ryback. She will also show everyone that she will do things better than Booker T. Sheamus will face CM Punk in a champion vs. champion match. Heyman says she can’t do that. Vickie says to watch her. Then Vickie says tonight’s match will be the largest lumber jack match in Raw history. Heyman walks up the ramp all steamed. Then Vickie turns to AJ. She says she knew all along that AJ wasn’t right for this job. Vickie says that she has the experience to run Raw, which is why the board believes in her to be the soon to be GM. Vickie says that AJ wasn’t just fraternizing with a super star. AJ had an affair and AJ disgusts her. She tells AJ to go backstage and pack up her gear. Vickie tells AJ to leave her ring. AJ turns to leave but Vickie screams at her. Then AJ attacks Vickie and a catfight breaks out. Vickie eventually gets out of the ring. She heads up the ramp screaming that AJ is crazy. Then AJ skips up the ramp. This was a bit long and drawn out. I’m not sure what this whole “AJ affair” bit is about. The AJ character has gotten really old and I have a feeling this “affair” will make the character worse. Also Vickie announcing Champion vs. Champion is not original! How often have we had the GM or whatever say they’re going to do something different only to announce the same old? Once again WWE gives away a potential WrestleMania match here!

       Ryback vs. The Miz. Ryback gets the pin. This wasn’t much. Ryback dominated this.

Eve is backstage on her phone mentioning who AJ has been with publicly (Kane, Daniel Bryan & CM Punk). Then she says she heard about AJ being with Ryder and Primo. Then Kaitlyn comes by. She says that AJ never had someone get attacked from behind. Kaitlyn tells Eve that she took a picture of her I pad. Eve says she’s going to tell Booker. Kaitlyn tells Eve to drop the act. Eve’s is still the conniving witch she has always been. Then Eve slaps Kaitlyn and another cat fight breaks out. Then Layla comes by and the brawl continues. This was meaningless. This storyline has been really idiotic.

Josh Mathews is backstage with a Brawlin Buddy of Sheamus. Sheamus comes in and Josh asks him about having to face Punk later. Sheamus says he loves unpredictability. Josh asks if this match will have a negative affect Sunday. Then Big Show comes in and knocks the Brawlin Buddy out of Sheamus’ hands. He tells Sheamus to get serious because this Sunday he will knock him out and take the title. This was a typical hokey Sheamus promo. Having the Brawlin Buddy there was lame. I was fine with Big Show’s part of this bit however. Also Sheamus was in a lumber jack match on Smackdown and now he’s in another one tonight? There’s no unpredictability here!

WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler. Dolph gets the pin. This was a really good match. Kane’s pyro went off and he came to ringside. Kane led the fans in a yes chant. That distracted Daniel. He started screaming no. That allowed Dolph to hit the Zig Zag off the second rope for the pin.

Afterwards Kane says he was helping Daniel. Daniel shoves Kane saying Kane distracted him. Then Matt Striker comes out and says that Vickie Guerrero told him to come out because she wanted him to let her know that they will be in some kind of “therapeutic game show.” The newly tag game. Striker says he has to be the host. Striker asks for them to put their differences with him aside. Then Striker says that they will play against Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow. This is next. What was this? I never heard of this newly wed game show they’re parodying here.

Striker welcomes everyone to the newly tag game. This game is meant for partners to get to know each other. Striker goes for the introduction and Kane says he & Daniel have met. Striker tells them to tell the fans about themselves. Daniel says he is a former World Champion; he doesn’t have a goat face and is the world’s toughest vegan. And more importantly, he is the tag team champions. Kane says he is a Scorpio. He enjoys long walks on the beach, rainbows and puppies. Striker asks seriously. Kane says hell no. Then Kane & Daniel argue. Then out come Cody & Sandow. Sandow says as the intellectual savior he & Cody will not take part in this. Cody says the good news is everyone will get to know them as well as Cody knows Sandow when they beat them for the titles. Sandow says you’re welcome. Kane says this game show is a total bust. Striker says how about a hand for the winners by forfeit, the tag champs. Daniel gets excited and screams winner. Then Kane goes after Striker and Striker heads up the ramp. Then he tells Kane & Daniel that he wishes he can wish them luck on Sunday but he doesn’t. Then Big Show comes out and throws Striker down. This was really stupid! Not much more to say about this.

WWE Tag Team Champion Kane vs. Big Show. Big Show gets the pin. Cody & Sandow came back out. That distracted Kane. Then Big Show gave Kane the WMD for the win. Afterwards Cody & Sandow go after Daniel. They get him in the ring & Cody gives Daniel the cross roads. The match was short and I was fine with

Backstage Santino tells AJ he thinks she did a good job. Then Cena comes by and tells AJ that if there’s anything he can do for her to let him know. AJ says there are a lot of things she should’ve been fired for but for this. Then she mentions Vickie bringing up the “affair.” Cena tells AJ to tell him who it is so he can get AJ her job back. AJ says it was Cena. Someone made something out of a “business dinner” and turned it into a mess. AJ thinks it was Vickie. AJ cries and hugs Cena. Cena says he will take care of this. This was idiotic!

Cena runs into Vince. He brings up the bogus story Vickie told Vince and asks why this happened. Vince says there was incriminating evidence. Cena says what about Vickie. Vince says she’s the managing supervisor. He doesn’t know what that means, but it is what it is. Vince gets in the limo and rides off. This was lame.

Zack Ryder vs. Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio wins by submission. This was a decent match but I knew Del Rio would win. Afterwards Del Rio gets the mic and screams at Ryder, saying that he will cut Orton’s head off at hell in a cell. Del Rio locks Ryder in the cross arm breaker and screams for Orton (even though he has Ryder in the hold) to tap. There’s a new Apex predator in WWE. Ricardo screams Del Rio’s name over and over. Then Del Rio does the Orton pose.

Vickie is in the GM office. She’s having AJ’s belongings removed. Cena comes in and says Vickie is a back stabbing lair. He says AJ loved being GM. Vickie says Cena asked AJ out and that Cena cost AJ her job. This storyline is ridiculous.

Josh Mathews interviews Dolph Ziggler. Josh says Dolph has to be feeling confident after beating Daniel Bryan. Dolph says of course he is. Then he asks what’s up with AJ. He thought that she was a good egg. He then says AJ can’t put her hands on anyone especially Vickie. He mentions AJ attacked Vickie again, but there’s only 1 guy to blame for all this. Cena. Dolph says he hopes Cena’s happy with himself. AJ should’ve had better taste. They had the MITB guy talk about this nonsense? Dolph has a guaranteed World Title match and he’s been buried almost every time he’s on. Now they have him talking about this Cena-AJ crap?

They show a Ryback video package.

Backstage Heyman tells Punk not to let what Ryback does get to his head. Punk complains about having to be in a lumber jack match. He’s starting to miss AJ. Heyman says that next Monday Punk will have beaten Ryback and will still be WWE Champion. Heyman says that Punk is the best in the world. This was a good backstage segment.

World Champion Sheamus vs. WWE Champion CM Punk in a Lumber Jack match. Punk gets the pin. This was a solid to good match. Cesaro & Jinder Mahal came in but Sheamus gave both of them a Brogue Kick. Then Big Show got on the apron and choke slammed Sheamus. Then Punk covered Sheamus for the 3 count. Afterwards Ryback comes to the ring. Punk looks to escape but the lumber jacks throw him back in the ring. Then Ryback power slams Punk. Punk looks to bail again but the lumberjacks throw him back in and Ryback power bombs him. Punk looks to escape a third time but again the lumber jacks throw him back in the ring. Then Ryback Press slams Punk onto the lumber jacks. Punk lays on the floor as Ryback does his feed me more pose to end the show.

I thought this was a mixed bag show overall. It stared out good and then it went south. I liked that they started the show with a match rather than the usual 20 minutes of yapping that they usually have. Rey & Cara vs. Cody & Sandow was good. I knew Cody & Sandow would win. Sheamus-Punk was a solid to good match too. I don’t get why they had this match on Raw. This match already happened on the first episode of Main Event! Why have it on Raw too? I also wasn’t into JR & Michael Cole constantly saying that this was the biggest lumber jack match in history though! They must have said that 20-30 times. Kofi-McGullicutty was solid too. Ryder-Del Rio was decent but I knew Del Rio would win. Ryback-Miz wasn’t much. Daniel Bryan-Dolph Ziggler was really good. I thought that was the best part of the show. The newly tag game segment however was lame. This storyline with Cena & AJ is more WWE idiocy. They’ve really overdone it with the AJ character. The AJ-Vince-Heyman-Vickie segment was a bit too long. AJ no longer being GM was predictable. The Cena-Punk segment was decent. I thought Cena was ok here and Punk was good like usual. Gabriel-Cesaro was also solid. I’m thinking they’ll have a match on the youtube pre show. The Sheamus-Big Show segment backstage was lame too. Why do they have Sheamus talk like Cena? It’s really corny and having the Brawlin Buddy there was stupid. I was ok with Big Show’s part of this bit though. Overall I thought this week’s show was hit and miss and the build to the PPV wasn’t the greatest.