7-22-13 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the July 22, 2013 episode of Raw

They start the show with video packages of the Punk-Brock saga & Cena picking Daniel to be his SummerSlam opponent.

The actual show starts with a drum roll the lights off as & Justin Roberts introducing Brad Maddox. The lights come on & Brad is already in the ring. Brad says there’s no one more Texas than he is. Last week he made the outside the box decision to let Cena name his own SummerSlam opponent & tonight we will have the contract signing for that match (A contract signing again). Brad brings out Cena first. Brad tells Cena before they get to the contract…the fans are chanting yes & Cena says to let the fans talk. Then Brad says there’s a curiosity factor in why Cena picked Daniel. Cena picked Daniel because Brad let him pick anybody he wanted to face him at SummerSlam. Brad says Cena picked Daniel because he thinks he can beat him easily. Some would say Daniel is unstable. He has relationship issues. Cena says Brad looks uncertain. Then out comes Daniel Bryan. Daniel tells Brad it seems as if Brad was saying…then the fans chant Daniel Bryan. It seems to Daniel that Brad was trying to say that Daniel doesn’t deserve a title match but the fans disagree. Brad asks Daniel if he deserves to be WWE Champion. Cena says that he picked Daniel because Brad & the dumb asses that he works for are afraid to see God given talent even when it is right in front of them. Cena tells Brad to give the title to the Great Khali if it’s all about size. Then Cena says there were guys like Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio & Eddie Guerrero who proved that in ring ability makes for a great champion. Not just size & strength. Cena says the fans love Daniel but Cena picked him because Daniel has earned it. Being a WWE Champion is about always facing the best. Cena picked Daniel to compete in this match. He’s not handing Daniel the title. Cena signs the contract. Daniel is the best competition in WWE right now. Cena will prove at SummerSlam that even the best isn’t good enough. Then the fans chant Daniel Bryan again. Daniel signs & before he can say anything Brad says there you have it the match is official. Daniel says he has waited his whole career for this chance & he has proven he deserves the title. Brad says that Cena & some fans agree but not everyone does. Tonight Brad will give Daniel a chance to prove his critics wrong by having a series of matches tonight. Brad doesn’t think Daniel will prove himself worthy. He screams no & the fans shout yes. This was a typical contract signing segment. A lot of talking but I liked that they had Cena talk about how actual in ring ability should mean a lot more than being a big muscled guy to be champion. Daniel was good with his promo too.

Sheamus vs. World Champion Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio gets the pin. This was a good back & forth match. Sheamus has a nasty looking bruise on his left leg. Sheamus was going for the White Noise but his leg gave out & Del Rio rolled him up for pin.

Backstage Renee Young interviews Booker T & Teddy Long. She says Booker returned to what he thought was going to be his position as GM, but that didn’t happen. Booker respects Vince’s decision, but he was a bit shocked at the whole situation. Long says that he filled in for Booker for 3 months. Long took a lot of abuse while Booker sat at home. Booker mentions that he had triceps surgery. Long says he was left holding the bag & Vickie had security kick him out of the building on Smackdown. Booker says that if Long keeps talking he will throw him out the building tonight (Booker’s not the GM). Long says that Booker’s resorting to physical tactics. Then Long says that if Vince didn’t pick him to be GM then maybe he was right to pick Vickie. This was meaningless. Both guys are no longer GM & they’re still having tension. It looks like Long is turning heel but now that that neither guy is GM of either show what is the point of this?

Christian vs. Titus O’Neil. Christian gets the pin. This was a decent match.

Backstage Josh Mathews interviews Ryback. Josh says based on what he did to Jericho & based on his other actions, some feel he enjoys intimidating others. Ryback does. He says that Josh represents all the fans, because they’re average. Ryback hates average. The law of the jungle is that the strong eat the weak. People like Josh deserve to be intimidated by a guy like Ryback. If he isn’t than Ryback will show him why he should be. Ryback gets in his face & Josh runs off. This was awful. Ryback is terrible on the mic & this whole bit with him enjoying intimidating people was dumb. This was the same guy who wanted his own match stopped because his leg couldn’t anymore! How are we supposed to take this guy seriously after this HUGE de push!?

Mark Henry comes to the ring. He says he’s proud to be a born & raised Texan. He’s proud he was raised in Silsbee, TX. He’s also proud of the effort that he put into his title match with Cena. What he’s not proud about is The Shield attacking him last week. Anybody who takes a whipping like he took is ready to give 1 too. If The Shield wants him he’s right there. Out comes The Shield. They surround the ring like usual as the fans chant Henry. The Shield gets in the ring, Mark goes after them but they get the upper hand. Cue The Usos music & they come out to even the odds. The Usos double team Reigns & he fights them off but then Henry throws down Reigns. Then Henry takes care of Rollins & Ambrose. Then The Usos double super kick Reigns into the corner & then Henry splashes him. Then Ambrose & Rollins pull Reigns out of the ring & they hop over the barrier. This was a good segment. Mark Henry & The Usos vs. The Shield should be interesting. It looks like that’s what we’re gonna see. 

Backstage we see Daniel Bryan. Cena comes in. Daniel asks if he’s there to wish him luck. Cena says how nervous Brad is. Cena doesn’t think he is making these decisions on his own. Daniel tells him not to worry. He will be ok on his own. He appreciates Cena picking him for SummerSlam. Cena wants Daniel to be able to make it to SummerSlam. Daniel doesn’t care who his opponents are or how many of them there will be. This is a chance for Daniel to prove that he belongs. Tonight he is going to fight & win. He tells Cena not get involved in his matches because if he does all the compliments he gave Daniel were a load of crap. Good backstage bit.      

Dolph Ziggler vs. Darren Young. Dolph gets the pin. This was a decent match but I knew Dolph would win.

Then Big E comes in. Dolph & Big E go at it. Then AJ comes out. Then Big E sends Dolph off the ropes but Dolph holds on. Then Dolph throws Big E out of the ring. Big E gets back in the ring but Dolph slides out & bails up the ramp as AJ flips.  

Time for Miz TV. Miz welcomes everyone. In less than a month he will be hosting SummerSlam. Before that there’s a new reality show coming this Sunday. Total Divas. They show a sneak peak for that. Who cares? (This has the potential to be the worst Miz TV in history)! Then the Divas are all in the ring. The Bellas, Eva Marie, someone I never heard of, Natalya, Naomi & Cameron. Miz is turning this over to Lawler. Miz tells Lawler to be a part of Miz TV. Lawler gets in the ring. He knows the Bella Twins, Naomi & Cameron. He & Natalya go way back, he introduces himself to the new chicks. Eva says she doesn’t like how he’s looking at her. Her name is Eva Marie & she’s here to make a name for herself. She slaps King. King turns it back over to Miz & leaves the ring. Then Miz tells everyone to tune in for the premiere of Total Divas. Thankfully this was short! It was still painful but I’m glad they kept it short!

Brad is in the GM office. HHH comes in. He says that Brad doesn’t think Daniel is big or strong enough to be championship material. He says that it sounds like someone is putting words in Brad’s mouth. HHH doesn’t care what the old man thinks. HHH thinks Daniel could be the future of the WWE. HHH didn’t override Brad bookings because Daniel is so driven he will overcome anything. There’re 2 trains leaving this station. 1 is the future; the other is a dead end. HHH leaves & then Stephanie comes in. She feels for Brad, but she has an idea. She hasn’t thought it through yet but she wants to make sure Brad is on board. Thankfully this was also short. I’m tired of this McMahon family saga.

Time for a Wyatt Family video package.

Time for Fandango. He & Summer Rae do their usual bit. Break time.

Back from break & Damien Sandow is on commentary. Then out comes Cody Rhodes.

Cody Rhodes vs. Fandango. Cody gets the pin. During the match Sandow got on the ring apron. Cody looked at him, Fandango was going for a sneak attack but Cody threw Fandango into Sandow. Fandango went face first into the briefcase. Then Cody gave him the cross Rhodes for the pin. This match was solid. WINNER – CODY RHODES

CM Punk comes to the ring. He says last week he got his ass handed to him by Brock. Brock hit him with his best shot till he was a lying heap at ringside. Punk knew he was dealing with a genetically gifted freak athlete, but no matter how often he was f5d on the table he got up. Here he is a week later, feeling banged up but he’s still standing. Brock can beat Punk down but he can’t keep Punk down. Brock is a former NCAA, WWE & UFC champion. Brock has broken HHH, Cena & Taker. But Brock’s biggest strength has never been his speed, technique, power, or fighting skill. Brock’s biggest strength will always be fear. Punk has seen from guys in the back before. He says that he is not afraid of Brock. He’s not afraid of Heyman’s monster. Then Punk says that Heyman had a decision to make. It was the wrong 1 & Punk will make sure that he regrets it every day for the rest of his life. Punk is relentless. He will not stop till he leaves Brock a lying heap like Brock left him. This is Punk’s ring. He’s proven time after time. He’s proven it to Cena, Rock & Taker. He would’ve proven it to Brock last week if Heyman hadn’t stabbed him in the back for a second time. Punk promises Heyman there will not be a third time. He will get his hands on Heyman. But he’s not gonna pretend Brock isn’t the monster everyone says he is, but monsters are on this Earth to be slaughtered. Punk knows Brock’s not there tonight but he wants Brock at SummerSlam. He wants the best vs. the beast. Then Heyman shows up on the Tron. He says the best vs. the beast is a good marketing phrase. Punk asks if Heyman is in the building or he is on the Tron via satellite. If Heyman is there Punk will drag him out there & give him what he deserves. Heyman asks if Punk is playing hero to…they’re not people or animals, they’re Texans. Heyman is glad that he & Brock can deliver a message without having to be in Texas. Punk’s there being the hero. Heyman says show me a hero & I’ll show you a coward that ran out of options or a fool who doesn’t know when to stay down? Is Punk a coward or a fool? Punk will give Heyman & Brock that answer at SummerSlam. Heyman’s bothered. Punk’s bothered that Heyman’s not there. He will find him & kick his ass. Heyman says they were both WWE Champion for 434 days. Brock’s in the best shape of his life but Punk’s still banged up from MITB & the Brock attack from last week. If Punk wants a fight his challenge for SummerSlam is answered. Heyman tells Punk not to call this the best vs. the beast. Then he says that Punk knows as well as he does that the best is the beast. He is Heyman’s client & best friend, Brock Lesnar. The fans chant CM Punk. This was a really good segment. Punk & Heyman are both awesome promos & the Punk-Brock match at SummerSlam should be good. Like usual with Punk & Heyman they both said a lot & it’s always hard to keep up with what they say. My apologies if I missed anything.

Rob Van Dam vs. Wade Barrett. RVD gets the pin. This was a decent match but it was no surprise RVD won.

Daniel Bryan comes to the ring. Who will his first opponent be?

Out come Zeb, Swagger & Cesaro. Zeb says we’re in a city named after a famous Patriot, Steven Austin. Zeb says Steven was a guy who fought & died for Independence but for what? So the fans can chant yes like idiots? Shame on the fans for calling themselves Americans, but more shame on Daniel Bryan for taking the handout that Cena gave him. Tonight Daniel will find out what it is like to be in the ring with a “real American.” Then Swagger gets in the ring. I’m way beyond tired of this gimmick too.

Daniel Bryan vs. Jack Swagger. Daniel wins by submission. This was solid.

Daniel Bryan vs. Antonio Cesaro. Daniel gets the pin. This was a great back & forth match. This is the best Cesaro’s looked since he debuted on the main roster. The fans also chanted this is awesome & it was.

We see Brad Maddox & Alex Riley in the GM office. Alex says Miz has been doing a great job. Brad says that he has so far, but let’s see how he does against his next opponent. I was shocked to see Alex Riley on TV. Break time.  

Back from break & Daniel Bryan’s third opponent is Ryback.

Daniel Bryan vs. Ryback. Daniel wins by DQ when Ryback power bombs him through a table. This was good too.

Then Ryback picks up Daniel but then out comes Cena. He & Ryback go at it in the ring & Cena clotheslines Ryback over the top rope to the floor. Cena says that after a half hour fight Ryback wants to put Daniel through a table? How about Ryback tries to do that to Cena. Cena vs. Ryback in a tables match. It looks like that match will be next week. Then Cena checks on Daniel.

Back to Brad & Vince comes in. He tells Vince he will make the Cena-Ryback tables match official. Vince says Daniel needs to face someone who will bring out the aggressive side of him (We saw his aggressive side tonight & many other times)! Brad says next week Daniel Bryan will face Kane.

Back to Daniel in the ring. Cena looks concerned as Daniel chants yes to end the show.

I thought this was a solid to good show for the most part. The opening segment was your typical contract signing but I thought Cena was decent on the mic here. Daniel of course was good here too. Daniel Bryan showed tonight (Like he does a lot of nights) that he is a machine! I thought his match with Swagger was solid & the match with Ryback was good, but his match with Cesaro was easily the greatest of the 3! Both guys showed that they can really go! I liked the Punk promo & then Heyman showing up on the Tron was good too. Both guys as usual cut good promos. I’m looking forward to Punk-Brock at SummerSlam. I wasn’t a fan of the McMahon family saga continuing. The segment with HHH & Brad was ok, the 1 with him & Stephanie wasn’t too bad, but the Vince one was terrible! Speaking of terrible I wasn’t into the Booker T-Teddy Long promo. The dissention between these 2 has been lame from the start & now that neither guy is a GM of either show it makes no sense to continue this. I also wasn’t a fan of Ryback’s promo with Josh Mathews. The Miz TV segment was painful but thankfully a lot shorter than I was afraid it would be. RVD-Barrett was decent, but it wasn’t surprising that RVD won. Cody-Fandango was a solid match & I wasn’t surprised that Sandow got involved. Christian-Titus & Dolph-Darren were both decent too. I liked Mark Henry’s promo. Having him call out The Shield was cool & I was glad to seethe Usos in there too. It looks like they’re setting up Mark Henry & The Usos vs. The Shield. That should be good. I liked the Wyatt family video package too. The Sheamus –Del Rio match was also good. I liked that Sheamus sold the leg injury. I also liked the backstage bit with Cena & Daniel. Overall I thought this was a good show.