11-5-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the November 5, 2012 episode of Raw

The show starts with an earlier in the day segment with Miz & Paul Heyman. Miz asks what kind of leader runs away. Heyman says that Punk did not run. He took a strategic retreat. That is the art of war. Heyman tells Miz that team Punk has to be on the same page. Miz says that he isn’t on the same page as Punk & Heyman and says they’re full of crap. Miz then says that he doesn’t need Punk and as far as the Survivor Series team is concerned, Miz quits. This was a good segment.

They show a TOUT from Antonio Cesaro saying R-Truth stuck his nose in Cesaro’s business.

R-Truth says that in every language Cesaro is gonna get got.

Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara & R-Truth vs. The Primetime Players & U.S. Champion Antonio Cesaro. Mysterio, Cara & Truth win when Truth pins Cesaro. This was a good match.

They mention that Jerry Lawler will be back next week.

They recap the Cena-Vickie segment from last week.

Vickie Guerrero comes to the ring. She says that she is very proud of herself. She is thrilled that AJ Lee resigned as Raw GM. She says we need to be honest and that is something that John Cena has a problem with. Then Vickie mentions that Cena asked AJ out on a date. They show that clip from last month. Next, Cena & AJ “embrace romantically.” They show that clip from 2 weeks ago. (That happened AFTER AJ resigned!) Next Cena luring AJ into an elevator. Time for 1 of Vickie’s favorites, where Cena admitted that he walked AJ to her room. Tonight she is going…Then Cena comes out. Vickie says he won’t stop her from showing…Cena cuts her off and says that Vickie running a clean show is like him learning a new wrestling maneuver. Then Cena mentions that when Vickie was GM of Smackdown she married Edge and got him the World Title. Now she’s with Dolph. Then he rags on Vickie in typical Cena idiocy. Vickie says that someone sent her this hotel security footage. They show a surveillance camera of AJ walking the hotel hall in her bath robe and walking into a room. Cena says that’s not evidence that AJ went from one room to another. Vickie says she has more. They show Cena poking out his head and he has a towel around his waist. Vickie says that when he put the do not disturb sign on the door that must have been one heck of a business meeting. Cena says that Vickie is manipulating the truth. Vickie then tells AJ to come to the ring and explain to everyone why she likes to walk through hotel hallways half naked. AJ shows up on the Tron. She tells Vickie that she doesn’t want her to go out there. Because if she does she will give Vickie the beating of her life. Then Vickie will can her and she won’t be able to do what she loves. Then Dolph comes by and says we all know AJ loves to do. Then Cena runs up the ramp as Vickie does the mad scientist laugh. This was terrible. Who really cares about this angle? It’s so stupid. The only part that made sense was Cena mentioning that Vickie was “married” to Edge and is now with Dolph.

Paul Heyman is backstage saying Miz is conniving and cowardly, which is why Team Punk needs someone like this guy. The camera shows Wade Barrett. Barrett says that this is the same tired routine from last week. Barrett mentions that he refused Heyman last week and is refusing him now. He doesn’t trust Heyman. Barrett reconsiders but Heyman owes him and he wants it in writing. I’m not sure what that last part was about but this was a decent bit.

WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Cody Rhodes. Cody gets the pin. This was a decent but short match. Kane & Damien Sandow were both at ringside. Afterwards Cody gets the mic and says that was an impressive victory by 1 half of the future tag champions. Then Cody says that Sandow can beat Kane just as easily as Cody beat Daniel. Then Kane pulls Sandow by the hair into the ring.

WWE Tag Team Champion Kane vs. Damien Sandow. Kane gets the pin. This was a decent match but I wasn’t into Sandow getting pinned cleanly. During the match Daniel & Cody brawled on the outside. Then Cody slid in the ring and back out by the entrance ramp. Then the referee kicked both Daniel & Cody out of ringside.

Michael Cole is in the ring and brings out Brad Maddox. Cole says that Maddox met with executives in Stamford to discuss this. They reshow the clip from the PPV. Coles asks Maddox if he is working with Punk & Heyman. Maddox says that it was all him. It was his plan. All his life he has wanted to be a WWE super star. For years he tried to get his foot in the door and everybody shut the door in his face. He has paid $2,000.00 for a try out. Then he was finally given a chance with a developmental contract. Even there he wasn’t good enough. Is it because he isn’t 6 feet, a giant, can’t do spots, etc. Even when WWE officials told him that he would never make it to the main roster of WWE his dream didn’t die it got stronger. He wants to be somebody. He made a vow to himself that he would do whatever it takes to get into WWE. Then he mentions that when Raw went to 3 hours and AJ made him a referee that was all he needed to make an impact. Punk had nothing to do with it. Maddox’s actions were driven by his desire to be somebody. Now he’s famous. People know his name in England and everywhere. His dream is to be a WWE super Star. He wants a contract and a match with Ryback. No one will forget who he is now. Then Vince comes out and tells Maddox it’s one thing to be famous and another to have a death wish. Vince says he thinks Maddox is working with Punk & Heyman. Then Vince says that he will give Maddox a million dollar contract if he beats Ryback. Then Vince brings out Vickie. She agrees to give Maddox a match. Then Vince asks Vickie why she would reward Punk by being in a Survivor Series match rather than having him defend the WWE Title. Vince has Vickie admit that she wanted Dolph to challenge Punk. Vince says he was hoping she would say someone who got screwed last Sunday. Ryback. Vince then says that the title match should be a triple threat match. If Vickie says Dolph, he will can her on the spot. Vickie doesn’t think whoever she has in mind is involved in a scandal. Vince asks if it’s the guy who fought Punk to a draw. Vickie says Cena. Vince doesn’t hear her and she says it louder. Then Vince says that Vickie doesn’t always make the right decisions but she did here. This was idiotic. Does anyone even care about this? A referee is looking for a wrestler’s contract. I’m not into this. This whole bit with a “crooked” referee is old. Then the whole bit with Vince & Vickie was really idiotic!! Also why announce who the10 guys for the Survivor Series match will be last week and then change it up this week?

Then Sheamus comes out and shakes Vince’s hand. Then he heads to the ring for his next match with The Miz.

Big Show comes out to do commentary for the next match.

Sheamus vs. The Miz. Sheamus gets the pin. This was a good match. Afterwards Big Show stands and shows Sheamus the World Title.

Dolph is standing outside Vince’s office. Then Vickie comes out and tells Dolph that he will be the new captain for the Survivor Series match. Punk comes in and says that Dolph is captain because Vince is trying to screw him. Vince is doing this because Punk beat him up a couple weeks ago and now he’s getting pay back. Then Vickie says that Dolph & Punk will face Ryback & Cena. Punk asks Dolph what is wrong with Vickie. This was a solid segment. Punk was good here as usual.

Sheamus is backstage with William Regal. Sheamus says that he owes Regal a lot. Then Sheamus tells Regal to hold off on congratulating him till he beats Big Show and regains the World Title. Regal says they’ll have a pint later. This was a decent bit. Nice to see Regal on Raw.

Layla & Kaitlyn vs. Aksana & Divas Champion Eve Torres. Layla & Kaitlyn win when Kaitlyn pins Eve. This was decent.

Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez are backstage complaining about Dolph being the new captain. Ricardo says that as far as he’s concerned Del Rio is the captain. Then they bump into Rosa Mendes. This was ok.

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio. Kofi gets the pin. Randy Orton’s music played. That distracted Del Rio and Kofi got the pin. This was a good match despite Del Rio being distracted by Orton’s music. Afterwards Orton comes in and gives Del Rio an RKO.

Zack Ryder & Santino Marella vs. Primo & Epico. Ryder & Santino win when Santino pins Epico. This was a decent match.

Brodus Clay vs. Wade Barrett. Barrett gets the pin. This was decent too. Barrett was way over.

Michael Cole again mentions that Jerry Lawler will be back next week. Glad he’s gonna be back!

Jay Uso vs. Heath Slater. Slater gets the pin. This was solid.

CM Punk & Paul Heyman come to the ring. Punk mentions that he beat Ryback and ever since then people have been throwing accusations his way because they think Brad Maddox is working with him & Heyman. Now at Survivor Series Team Punk gets demoted to Team Ziggler. Punk says that he is being screwed at Survivor Series. He says he knows that fans want to see 1 of them end his 351 title reign. Punk has proven that he is better than anyone that wants to step in the ring with him. Punk has set the bar at an unattainable level. After Survivor Series he will continue to show that he is the best in the world!  This was the usual good promo from Punk.

Ryback & John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler & WWE Champion CM Punk. Ryback & Cena win when Ryback pins Punk. This was a solid match. Afterwards Ryback does his feed me more bit. Then Cena gets back in the ring and the 2 stare each other down. Then Ryback leads the fans in another feed me more chant. This ends the show. Why were they focusing on only Cena & Ryback? They completely ignored Punk here.

I thought this week’s show was ok overall. I liked the opening bit where Miz quit team Punk. The main event tag match was solid but I wasn’t a fan of WWE again forgetting about Punk afterwards. I did like Punk’s pre match promo though. The 6 man tag and Kofi-Del Rio were good. The Cena-Vickie-AJ-Dolph segment was idiotic. So was the Brad Maddox promo. The “crooked” referee bit is way beyond old. Also the Vince-Vickie part of that segment was lousy too. Having Vince force Vickie into making the triple threat for Survivor Series was dumb. Jay Uso-Heath Slater was also a solid match. Ryder & Santino vs. Primo & Epico, Brodus-Barrett, & the divas tag matches were decent too. I’m glad that Jerry Lawler will be back next week. I also liked seeing William Regal on the show. The Alberto-Ricardo bit backstage was ok. I liked Ricardo saying that Del Rio is the real captain. I’m not sure where they’re going with Rosa though. The Punk-Dolph-Vickie bit was solid too. Punk was good as usual. Daniel-Cody was also decent but short. Kane-Sandow was decent too but having Sandow lose cleanly was the wrong finish. Sheamus-Miz was good too. I also liked the backstage segment with Wade Barrett & Paul Heyman. They were both good here. I liked Barrett saying that he doesn’t trust Heyman. I wasn’t sure what Heyman owing Barrett meant though. On the whole I was ok with this week’s Raw.