WWE RAW 8/8/11

Tonight the road to Summerslam continues as RAW stops into the HP Pavilion Arena in San Jose, California. What will happen tonight with CM Punk and John Cena? Tune in to find out! Don't forget to refresh the page for all of the updates tonight as well as some analysis thrown in for good measure. Stay tuned, let's get RAW!

WWE RAW 8/8/11
August 8th, 2011
HP Pavilion Arena, San Jose, California
Attendance: Unknown at this time

Your hosts are Jim Ross, Michael Cole, and Jerry Lawler


We open the show with Triple H, in a suit of course, coming down to the ring with a microphone. He talks about the importance of the CM Punk vs. John Cena WWE title match at Summerslam and how it will change the landscape of this business forever. Triple H says he can only trust himself, and so he appoints himself the special guest referee for the WWE Title match at Summerslam! He promises that we will walk away from Summerslam with only one WWE champion. He says we still have to get through tonight first though, and he introduces John Cena to start off the show tonight with our first match.


John Cena vs. Jack Swagger

Cena's opponent is none other than "former World champ" (somehow that still doesn't sound very impressive) Jack Swagger. Cena is hot to start with a big snap suplex on Swaggy for a near fall. Cena slaps on a side headlock briefly and then nearly takes Swagger's head off with a beautiful dropkick as Cena is all kinds of fired up here tonight. Cena takes a bit of a lazy bump into the corner and Swagger follows up with a Swagger Bomb. Jack locks on a butterfly submission as Jim Ross talks up the importance of the Cena/Punk match this Sunday. God it's good to hear Jim Ross put over the talent again instead of listening to Cole and Lawler bicker for two hours every Monday. Gut-wrench suplex from Cena and he starts to mount his usual comeback with a sideslam, the Five Knuckle Shuffle, and finally the Attitude Adjustment finishes it for Cena at 5:24. Pretty much just a quick squash match for Cena, but there's nothing wrong with that to kick off a show. Pretty decent action for a squash infact. **1/4


Miz vs. Rey Mysterio is announced for later tonight.


We cut to backstage where Scott Stanford is rudely interrupted by Ricardo Rodriguez and Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio says that Punk is the "voice of the gutless" and then accuses him of running off before Del Rio could cash in his Money in the Bank contract. Apparently they're facing each other later tonight.


Elsewhere backstage R-Truth (who claims to be a "good R-Truth") is asked by Josh Matthews why he would take advantage of his friendship with John Morrison. He rambles about hot dog buns, asks a lot of rhetorical questions, and rants a bit more about how spiders creep him out. If you can't tell this is more promo comedy gold from R-Truth. Truth talks about his mother making "spider stew" and then promises to step on a "spider" tonight named John Morrison. Truth, buddy, we're all worried about you man. Cut back on the crystal meth intake, please.


Rey vs. Miz is up next, but before the match can begin The Miz jumps Rey from behind on the stage while he's making his entrance. Miz tosses him into the WWE logo structure a few times and gets some massive heat before hitting a sick running kick that sends Rey head-first back into the steel structure. Miz makes his way down to the ring as Cole leaves the commentary table to find out what this is all about. Miz complains about not having an opponent for Summerslam and how all of the attention is unfairly spent on the Punk/Cena match. He rants about trending worldwide and being a media sensation and then demands a referee come down to the ring and declare him the winner of the match by forfeit. Instead Justin Roberts announces that Triple H has ordered that The Miz compete in a new match right now, against none other than Kofi Kingston.


The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston

Kofi quickly makes his way to the ring and we're off with our second match of the evening. These two must have wrestled each other a hundred times last year during Miz's last stand in the midcard, so the finish here would seem to be a foregone conclusion. Nice leapfrog sequence by Kofi to start and a dropkick gets him an early two count. Kofi hits a Lou Thesz press and then clotheslines Miz out to the floor before wiping him out seconds later with a big tope as we take a commercial break. When we return The Miz is wearing Kofi down on the mat with a chinlock. Miz hits his signature running lariat into the corner on Kofi and then nails him with a big double axe-handle off the top rope. Miz tries to fight off Kofi's unconventional offense, but winds up taking a huge flying cross-body off the top from Kofi for a close two count. Miz responds with an implant DDT, but Kofi kicks out this time. Miz tries for a superplex off the top but Kofi counters into a sunset-flip powerbomb off the top for another hot near fall as things are really starting to heat up now. Kofi blocks the Skull Crushing Finale attempt by the Miz, but then gets flap-jacked onto the top rope and Miz finishes him off with the Skull Crushing Finale at 7:31 (shown). These guys have become very familiar with one another and that chemistry was plain as day here as this was a really fun sprint by both men while it lasted. Solid match. **3/4


Backstage Josh Matthews asks CM Punk about his reaction to Triple H naming himself as the special guest referee at Summerslam. Punk says he isn't surprised by Hunter sticking his nose into their business again. He promises that business is about to pick up as he'll defeat Alberto Del Rio next.


CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio

King makes the outlandish claim that Del Rio's MITB briefcase is worth more than the brand new Audi he just drove into the arena as he makes his usual entrance to the ring. The opening chords of "Cult of Personality" ignite a nice pop for Punk as he makes his way out to the ring next and we're off. Del Rio dominates to start surprisingly enough, tossing Punk into the corner turnbuckle and yanking his arms against them, going right to work on Punk's arm to set up for his armbar finisher. Punk fights back with a running Muay Thai knee into the corner followed by a running bulldog. He follows it with a springboard clothesline and then tries for the GTS, but Del Rio escapes and hits him with a lung-blower. Del Rio tries for his flying armbar finisher, but Punk counters with a boot to the back of his head and then nails him with the GTS to pick up the win at 4:40. Well that was rather quick, wasn't it? I figured they'd try to protect Del Rio a bit more than this, but at this point I guess no one can really be surprised by Del Rio being made to look like a chump yet again. Solid win for Punk going into Summerslam though. **


JR, Cole, and King hype the big contract signing later tonight with Punk, Cena, and Triple H.


Beth Phoenix vs. Eve Torres

Eve seems to have some new music that sounds a bit like a remix of Rico and Billy & Chuck's old theme music. Beth quickly tosses Eve to the floor with a back elbow and then tosses her into the guard barrier by her hair. Beth drags Eve back into the ring by her hair and slams her to the mat repeatedly by her hair. An elbow drop gets Beth a two count. Eve (barely) hits a dropkick and follows up with a nice jumping kick to Beth's mouth. Eve leaps off the bottom rope with another kick and then sets up for a moonsault, but Beth knocks her from the top and then gives her the Glam Slam to pick up the win at 2:57. Just another squash to establish Beth's new heel persona, but atleast it wasn't dull. *


After the match Beth grabs a mic and reasserts how sick she is of women like Eve and Kelly Kelly in the WWE. Beth says there will be no more "booty popping" or "stinkfaces" and then goes to leave, but she gets jumped from behind by Kelly Kelly with the Diva's title. Kelly hits the ring to help Eve up as we wrap the segment up.


We get a highlight package of some of the WWE superstars on the red carpet at the recent Teen Choice awards. Cena ponders if "transcendence" is a word (it is John) and we get a few shots of the always awesome Joel McHale as well as some of the kids from the TV show Glee. Always glad to see wrestling get any kind of positive mainstream exposure.


Dolph Ziggler vs. Alex Riley

Riley continues to get pretty good pops while Ziggler is still struggling to regain his pre-Wrestlemania heat. Riley cuts a lame bad breath joke on Vickie and Riley hits Dolph with a flying forearm as the opening bell rings. Ziggler stomps away at Riley in the corner for a few moments and then Vickie hits the ring and slaps Riley in the face to get Ziggler DQed and give the match to Riley at 1:28. Vickie storms off afterwards, leaving Ziggler behind in the ring. Uhh...was there a point to this? 1/4*


When we return from a commercial break, we get a nice video package hyping up the Cena/Punk title match at Summerslam. Sounds like the WWE may have gotten a new voice-over guy as well.


R-Truth vs. John Morrison

Strange that these two are facing off tonight, as I was under the impression that this match would wind up on the Summerslam card this Sunday. For that matter, we're six days away and only have four matches announced so far. Kind of strange. Anyways, Morrison is fired up to start and almost immediately delivers the Spanish Fly (C4 suplex) to Truth for a quick near fall. Truth hits the floor for a breather and Morrison takes him out moments later with a huge spinning pescado over the top rope onto the floor! JoMo hip-tosses Truth into the guard barrier and talks some trash to Truth while he's at it. Morrison leaps up to the guard barricade, but Truth cuts his legs out from under him and Morrison's neck slams nastily against the side of the barrier. Back in the ring Truth delivers a big gourdbuster to Morrison and tries for the What's Up, but Morrison holds onto the top rope to evade it. Truth hits him moments later with the What's Up anyways though and gets the clean pin on Morrison at 4:04. I guess they're serious about continuing to push Truth, but this seemed like a seriously rushed and anti-climactic way to apparently blow off this feud only six days away from Summerslam. Where does Morrison go from here? Regardless, solid action while it lasted with Morrison taking some of his usual scary bumps. **1/4


When we return from commercial we get the results of our Summerslam poll asking who the fans think will walk out of Summerslam as the Undisputed WWE champion, with the results being 54% for John Cena and 46% for CM Punk.


Backstage Christian says he has a big announcement to make on Smackdown this week and claims that Triple H should show up for Smackdown this week as he'll want to hear Christian's announcement.


We cut back to the ring for our main event contract signing with Triple H and John Laurinaitis already in the ring. Punk is out first, followed shortly by Cena. Both men sit down at the table in the middle of the ring but before they can sign the contracts, Punk picks up a mic and decides to talk for a bit. He wonders out loud when the last time was when they had a contract signing that didn't end in a physical confrontation and he asks Cena if he should just flip the table over now and get the fight started already. Punk talks about feeling like a movie star getting ready to plug his latest film on Conan and then takes a shot at Triple H for the dismal sales of The Chaperone. Punk says he in fact does have a clip from a movie star for Cena, and introduces a clip from none other than The Rock! In the clip The Rock cracks some jokes about Cena's goofy ring attire and calls him a bloated transvestite Wonder Woman lookalike among other things. He mimics Cena's theme song and does his usual Cena impersonation. He talks about Cena going to his own hometown in Boston and getting booed and about how the majority of men around the world don't like Cena because they see through his bullshit and can smell a phony punk from a mile away as the clip wraps up. Crowd really liked that last bit Rock had to say. Cena goes on a rant about how he knows that he'll never win over alot of WWE fans and he begrudgingly agrees with Punk about his recent comparison of Cena to the New York Yankees. Cena continues to get some pretty big heat here from most of the men in attendance, but he puts over his own fans again and we get the usual rousing cheers from the women and children. Cena turns the tables on Punk and accuses Punk of being a phony for continuing to play up his role as the "voice of the underground". Triple H agrees with Cena on that and Punk asks Johnny Ace if he personally let the recently released Vladimir Kozlov, Chris Masters, and DH Smith know they were fired. He's (sort of) shooting again kids! Punk talks about when he won his first title in the WWE (the ECW title) and how Cena went up to him afterwards and told him that he had "almost given up on him", and Punk accuses Cena again of being a phony and a failure, bringing up his bodybuilder training and his time spent in UPW. Punk promises to walk out this Sunday the Undisputed champion and we wrap things up with both men signing their contracts and getting into each other's faces. Punk knocks Johnny Ace down and Triple H separates him and Cena again. Punk asks Hunter if "the fix is in" and we go off the air with the crowd chanting "CM Punk!" as the two champions stare each other down.

Bottom Line: Bit of an underwhelming effort for the big go-home show before the second biggest show of the year honestly. There was some solid action throughout the show and a few entertaining segments, but we still haven't got more than 4 matches announced for Summerslam and we're less than a week away from the show. Unlike the build to Money in the Bank, things don't seem quite as urgent and heated this time around between Punk and Cena, but I have confidence that they'll still wind up delivering another great match this Sunday. The closing segment was very well done though. As an individual show however, this was a bit mediocre and you'd be fine going into this Sunday if you missed the show entirely, so I've got to go with a slight Thumbs Down overall tonight. Not an awful or terrible show by any means though.


Rating: 5/10

TNA Hardcore Justice 2011

Don't look now but it's that time of the month again. No not the visit from creepy Aunt Flo and her spooky fish, but time for another pay per view offering from TNA Wrestling! We're hot (or atleast lukewarm) off the heels of a very good Destination X PPV that did a good deal to focus on and push the X-Division again, but now we're onto the real mettle test as the focus is back on the entire roster this month with the Hardcore Justice PPV. Last year this show brought TNA one of it's best PPV buyrates ever based solely on ECW nostalgia, but this year they're decided to just rely on their own roster without rehashing old nostalgia, for better or worse. On paper the card doesn't particularly look stacked, no, but several of these match-ups actually have me quite intrigued and I think we could be in store for a few surprisingly good matches tonight, so make sure to keep refreshing the page and stay tuned to 411 for all the live updates on tonight's show as it happens, with some added analysis thrown in for good measure. Lets get hardcore baby.

TNA Hardcore Justice 2011
August 7th, 2011
Impact Wrestling Zone, Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 1,400 +/-

We open the show with the requisite pre-PPV video package for the TNA title match tonight between Sting and Kurt Angle. Sting's bizarre antics leading up to this show and the development of his character into some kind of strange Jim Carrey's Riddler meets Heath Ledger's Joker hybrid on crystal meth has certainly made for some entertaining television, but they may or may not have jumped the shark this past week on Impact by having him hold Eric Bischoff hostage with an evil crow. I mean, I get the reference and all to Sting's last evolution in character inspired by classic comic and film The Crow, but things are starting to get just a wee bit too cartoonish here for my tastes. I hate to criticize a lack of originality in a business known for rehashing the same basic formulas and storylines, but it's getting to the point where I'm wondering if I might tune into Impact sometime this fall and see Sting flipping Harvey Dent's coin or twirling the Riddler's cane. Enough Batman musings, onto the show.


Your hosts are Mike Tenay and Taz


TNA X-Division Title Match
Brian Kendrick © vs. Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley

Kendrick has some bizarre new funk theme song to go along with his huge parachute pants. Shelley is rocking the punk rock vest and a goofy butterfly armband, leaving Aries the least eccentrically dressed man in the ring for once. Shelley and Kendrick work together primarily in the opening minutes of the match, taking turns to knock Aries from the ring before locking up and exchanging some basic holds. Aries and Kendrick trade forearms while Aries sells a phantom injury. Shelley is sent to the floor and Kendrick tries for a tope but Aries cuts him off and hits an elbow for a two count. Kendrick gets back dropped out of the ring straight to the floor and Aries tries for a tope of his own, but this time Shelley trips him up. Shelley walks right into an STO back in the ring from Aries and then gets tossed out on top of Kendrick as Aries wipes them both out with the tope suicida. Back in the ring Aries tries a lionsault on Shelley but he gets his knees up. Shelley slaps on a nasty little crossface onto Kendrick, but he quickly gets a rope break. Kendrick blocks a Sliced Bread attempt by Shelley but takes a dragon-screw legwhip in between the top and middle ropes. Shelley feeds Aries a superkick (tastes great!) that sends him to the floor and Kendrick tries a superplex on Shelley, but Alex knocks him off and hits a beautiful top rope splash. Shelley locks on a nice spinning figure four leglock, but Aries breaks it up again. Kendrick hits a big running dropkick for a near fall and all three men try to set up an elaborate three-way super-Sliced Bread spot off the top, but Kendrick slips and falls so they just give up on it halfway through. Aries delivers the patented brainbuster to Shelley, but Kendrick breaks the count up and gives Aries a Sliced Bread, landing right on top of Alex Shelley. Aries rolls out of the ring and Kendrick covers Shelley to retain the title at 13:10. They had one minor botched spot towards the end, but otherwise this was a fine opener with some pretty solid action down the closing stretch. You expect a bit more out of these three considering their talents, but this worked well as an opener and they recovered without a second breath for the finish after the aborted super Sliced Bread spot so this worked all in all. ***

We cut to backstage where Jeremy Borash is with Miss Tessmacher and Tara. He asks them about their match against Rosita and Sarita tonight, and they both sound confident that they'll leave tonight with the Knockout tag team titles (those things still exist?)


TNA Knockout Tag Team Title Match
Tara/Miss Tessmacher © vs. Rosita/Sarita

Sarita is rocking a bit of a modified version of her Dark Angel mask because of some recent facial paralysis, but shes apparently on her way to a speedy recovery. Rosita does the whole "feisty latina" thing with Tara to start, but her more experienced opponent dominates her to start. Lots of quick tags here as they seem to be trying to fit as many close-up ass shots with the camera as possible into this match. Tessmacher actually delivers a pretty decent back suplex and dropkick, showing some improvement. The crowd actually chants for Tessmacher here while Sarita and Rosita do some nifty double-teaming on Tessmacher (sounds more perverse than it is). Lukewarm tag to Tara and the faces toss the heels into eachother. Sarita delivers a nifty butterfly lock into a back-knee strike of sorts and the heels isolate Tara in their corner for a bit, trading quick tags. Rosita tries to tag out, but Tessmacher knocks Sarita off the apron and Tara finishes Rosita off with the Widow's Peak at 7:12. This was far better than it had any right to be and was probably some of the best Knockouts action I've seen in months. I'm not sure why I didn't like this on my initial viewing, but this was actually really well worked surprisingly enough. **1/2

Backstage Jeremy Borash gets a few words with the Pope D'Angelo Dinero about his Bound For Glory series match tonight against Devon. Pope talks about how he wants to be a positive influence on Devon's kids, continuing the subtle disrespect act beneath the false modesty and respect, and then promises to "do the right thing" tonight. A lot of good that did Mookie, right?


Bound For Glory Series Match
Pope D'Angelo Dinero vs. Devon

Matt Morgan comes out to join us for commentary on this BFG series match-up, though he doesn't add much of anything on color. Why is Devon Dudley booked on a PPV in 2011 but Samoa Joe isn't? Pope grabs a mic before the match starts and talks about how much he respects Devon again, so much so that he lays down in the middle of the ring for Devon to pin him freely, but Devon will have none of it obviously and the match finally begins. Devon slaps Pope around a bit in the early going so Pope responds with a lackadaisical wristlock. They fight to the floor and Pope teases using a chain on his fist, but Devon's kids at ringside convince him not to and Devon tosses him back into the ring and hits a powerslam for a two count. Pope starts his comeback and hits a cross-body off the top. Pope lowers his knee pads to set up for the DDE but hesitates, having second thoughts and Devon tries to capitalize with a chokeslam, but Pope counters into a roll-up and pins him clean at 9:35. A bit better than you might expect, but still nothing more than an extended Impact match. **


Backstage Jeremy Borash is with Rob Van Dam to talk to him about his match against Crimson tonight. RVD says he's going to win and take the number one spot in the BFG rankings, though he seems more focused on playing with a roll of wrist-tape on his fingers. Jerry Lynn suddenly walks up (does he just follow Rob around everywhere?) and tells RVD that he's here to watch his back tonight in his match. As a lifelong Lynn mark, I approve.


TNA Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James © vs. Winter

Finally these two are squaring off for the KO title on PPV, as this was a feud I was hoping they'd book when both women came to the company, being two of the better women to be cut from the WWE diva's division. Angelina Love is by Winter's side of course. Mickie is hot to start (as always) and the women actually do some pretty nice hold and forearm exchanges in the early going. Winter baits Mickie out of the ring to brawl with Love and attacks her from behind, tossing her over the guard-rail. Angelina gets a cheap shot in but Winter only gets a two count on Mickie back in the ring. Winter stretches Mickie's back over her knee for a bit and then stomps away on her in the corner. Mickie hits a headscissors out of the corner and starts her comeback but Angelina slides into the ring and gives her the "Break Up Bitch" (I guess that's Love's new finisher) behind the ref's back. Mickie still kicks out though and hits Winter with a tornado DDT that sends her out of the ring. The ref goes out to check on Winter and Angelina tries to interfere again, but Mickie cuts her off with a neckbreaker. Winter is able to spray some red mist into Mickie's eyes while the ref is dealing with Angelina though, and that's enough for Winter to pin her for the title at 8:53. These worked fairly well together, but the constant interference by Angelina Love and the overbooking ruined any chance of this being anything other than your average Knockouts match. *3/4


Once again we cut to backstage where Jeremy Borash asks Brian Kendrick about retaining his title earlier in the night, but before he can answer Austin Aries walks up and interrupts him. He complains about being double teamed the entire match and tells Kendrick that he's not the real champion until he beats Aries one on one (and also that he looks homeless), challenging him to a one on one match at some point.


Bound For Glory Series Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Crimson

RVD is accompanied by Jerry Lynn as previously noted. Crimson kind of looks like he could be Sheamus' little brother. RVD works in some of his usual spots in the early going (springboard thrust kick, rolling thunder, etc) and Crimson responds with a neckbreaker. The action spills to the floor (or as Tenay calls it, "the streets") briefly but Crimson tosses Rob back in and launches him into the corner turnbuckle. Split-legged moonsault gets Rob a two count. Nice falcon arrow suplex from Crimson gets a near fall of his own, but Rob fights back with some more kicks. Rob hits the Five Star Frog Splash, but Crimson shockingly kicks out at two (which is a pretty big deal I guess). Crimson hits a spear on Rob and then delivers his Red Sky powerbomb finisher, but Lynn hops in the ring to break up the pin, DQing RVD and giving Crimson the win at 8:41. I understand the finish is meant to prevent either man from taking a clean loss while keeping Crimson's undefeated streak intact, but this is a PPV and finishes like these should be saved for TV. If you don't want to have Crimson lose then don't have him lose, but clean finishes on a PPV shouldn't be a tall order to ask for. This was going well enough until the finish kicked in. **1/4


Yet again we cut to (who else) Jeremy Borash backstage, this time as he interviews the newest member of Immortal, Mr. Anderson. Anderson says that Immortal had alot of power but they were missing one thing: an authentic grade A asshole (insert Bischoff/Hogan joke here). Anderson talks about shitting on people and then begins to make really lame fart noises with his mouth like a child as this promo is thankfully wrapped up quickly and we cut back to the ring. That was a shining example of how absolutely terrible Anderson has become in his promo work currently. This man has fallen a far ways from his days on Smackdown.


Fortune (AJ Styles/Christopher Daniels/Kazarian) vs. Immortal (Abyss/Scott Steiner/Gunner)

The battle of TNA's latest warring factions continue. Funny moment before the bell rings as Gunner walks right into a sign reading "Gunner = Garbage" and snatches it out of the fans hands angrily. Kaz and Gunner start us off with some nice hold exchanges but they both quickly tag out to Steiner and Styles. AJ and Scott trade chops in the corner and Daniels tags in and hits a double-team move on Scott with AJ, slapping hands afterwards. Scott tags the monster Abyss in and he starts laying in big hammer fists on Daniels. Daniels responds with some stiff palm strikes and nearly botches a springboard spinning heel kick, but still manages to mostly hit it. AJ shows him how it's done with a springboard forearm on Gunner and Kaz joins in on the fun with a springboard dropkick to Steiner. Springboards for everyone! Huge spinebuster on Daniels from Abyss and Steiner tosses him into the guard rail behind the ref's back. Back in the ring Immortal starts to isolate Daniels in their corner, trading quick tags and beating down on him. Daniels escapes a chokeslam attempt and tags out to Kaz, who hits a hurricanrana on Abyss followed by a springboard back elbow/leg drop combo. Springboard spinning DDT from Kaz sends Abyss to the floor and Kaz leaps out after him with a suicide dive. All hell breaks loose and as all six men begin brawling in the aisle way now. Immortal set up a table at ringside and everyone returns to the ring, where Immortal works over Kaz in their corner. Kaz takes some more punishment before fighting off Abyss with a DDT and tagging AJ in, who uses Abyss like a trampoline and leaps off of him to take out Steiner on the apron! Pumphandle slam from Styles on Gunner and AJ is a house of fire, hitting a springboard cross-body on Abyss for a near fall. AJ counters a chokeslam attempt and nails Abyss with the PELE! Everyone starts trading big moves in the ring now and AJ gets crotched on the top rope by Gunner, who tries for an F5 on AJ, but Daniels breaks it up and sacrifices himself as Gunner slams him off the apron and through the table at ringside! Meanwhile in the ring AJ hits a crazy springboard backflip pele kick on Abyss and gets the pin on him at 14:42. This looked like a sleeper match of the night on paper and I think it delivered on just that. This was just a flat out fun little six man tag with all three members of Fortune bouncing and bumping around off of the big Immortal guys to very entertaining results. ***1/2


Backstage Borash is with a pacing Bully Ray, who cuts another typically great heel promo before his match against fellow Immortal member Mr. Anderson. Nobody has managed to do more with less and revive their career this year like Ray has, and alot of that has to do with the strength of his promo-work this year. In a year dominated by memorable CM Punk promos, Ray's cutting the second best promos in the biz right now it seems.


Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson

Ray runs out behind Anderson to attack him once again during his pre-match announcements, but this time Anderson says that he knows Ray is behind him and turns around to get the jump on Ray this time around. He nails Ray with the old school microphone and they brawl down to ringside where Anderson knocks Ray into the guard rails and ring apron repeatedly. He sends him into the steel steps and chokes Ray with his t-shirt as the ref implores them to take it into the ring to start the match officially, which finally they do. Anderson takes it to Ray in the corner as apparently he'll be playing the unofficial babyface tonight I guess. Luckily the crowd hates Ray so it sort of works. Ray delivers the devastating back rake of doom and then lays in some stiff headbutts into Anderson's chest while talking trash to him the whole time. Ray hits a stiff back elbow and then starts tearing into Anderson's mouth and jaw, using his fingers as fish hooks. Suplex from Ray gets a two count and the tries to rally behind Anderson as he responds with a big DDT on Ray. Anderson tries repeatedly to knock Ray down and finally succeeds. Ray fights off the Mic Check a few times but Anderson hits him with a nice spin kick and a lariat. Ray delivers a big uranage suplex to Anderson, but the former champ kicks out again. Ray misses a back senton attempt off the second rope, so Anderson delivers a swanton bomb on him for a near fall. Ray counters that pin right into a cradle of his own for two, and by god we've actually got ourselves a highly competitive, hard-hitting match up here. Anderson jumps off the second rope right into an ace crusher from Ray, but again he kicks out. Ray rolls up a chain on his fist to use but Anderson sets him up for the Finlay roll, only to sort of drop Ray onto the top rope lazily in another minor botch, continuing that particular trend of the evening. Ray gets fed up and teases walking off and deserting the match, but Anderson tosses him back into the ring. Anderson grabs Ray's chain and teases using it on him, but the ref takes it out of Anderson's hands and while tossing it out of the ring Ray gives Anderson a low blow behind the ref's back and then rolls him up for the anti-climactic win at 10:05 (not including the pre-bell brawling). This was so much better than I could have expected, I thought these two were capable of having a decent hardcore brawl or something along those lines, but instead they actually had a really fun and well worked, hard-hitting match with a minimal of brawling. Ray's match with AJ last month was better, but this was probably a better showcase of Ray's improvement as an in-ring performer who seems to be capable of more than just brawling at this point. ***1/4


Backstage Jeremy Borash catches up with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, who chastise Abyss, Gunner, and Steiner. Ray walks up trying to celebrate but Bischoff and Hogan will have none of it.


TNA Tag Team Title Match
Beer Money (Robert Roode/James Storm) © vs. Mexican America (Hernandez/Anarquia)

Another month, another token title defense for Beer Money against a team that has almost no chance. Let's see if they can atleast make it interesting. Lots of frequent tagging in the opening minutes of this match, which seems like a recurring theme tonight. Beer Money hit a pair of knee drops on Anarquia, who is wearing some goofy flame-covered jorts. Crowd is a bit dead here so Beer Money get em back into it with some clapping. Anarquia goes on the attack, but his offense seems to consist entirely of weak punches and chops. Beer Money take out both men with stiff kicks to the head and then follow up with a slingshot splash on Anarquia at ringside before Storm tosses him back in for a two count. Mexican America work some standard heel double teaming on Roode for a bit while taunting the crowd and this match is just dragging at a snail's pace. Roode takes an extended beatdown and then manages to deliver a spinebuster and tag out to Storm. Tag rules go out the window and Beer Money get by far the biggest pop of the match (and maybe even the night) as they do their patented "Beer...Money!" chant. Finally Roode pushes Anarquia off the top rope right into the Last Call superkick from Storm and that's enough for Beer Money to retain at 10:41. Pretty dull match here and just another standard token title defense for Beer Money, which we've seen a hundred times. Finish was nice though. **1/4


Kurt Angle is with Jeremy Borash backstage, where he tells us that to prove he's the best he needs to beat Sting tonight. He promises us he won't lose.


TNA World Title Match
Sting © vs. Kurt Angle

These two have met several times over the course of their shared tenure in TNA, but to be honest I'm dreading this as despite some of the fun character work Sting has been doing as of late, his matches have all been very subpar as of late. Angle works a wristlock to start but gives him a clean break when backed into the corner. The fans start dueling chants as Sting works an armbar. Very even back and forth contest in the opening stages here. Angle get's backdropped to the floor and Sting brawls with for a bit around ringside briefly before heading back into the ring. Angle works over Sting's back, but Sting fires up and fights back with big elbows and a DDT. Sting hits the Scorpion Death Drop but Angle of course kicks out at two since this is a TNA main event. Angle hits the rolling German's for a two count of his own. Sting hits an Angle Slam on Angle, but via the laws of pro wrestling Angle of course kicks out at two so Sting locks on the Scorpion Death Lock. Angle fights out of it and hits another Angle slam, but again Sting kicks out. Sadly the crowd isn't even remotely buying any of these near falls, and there's almost no heat to this match despite the work itself being fairly good. Sting applies the ankle lock to Angle, but Angle counters out of it and applies the Scorpion Death Lock onto Sting now. Sting gets to the ropes so Angle tries the ankle lock next, but he still won't tap. Angle accidentally knocks the ref out with an enziguri and Hulk Hogan makes his way down to ringside with a steel chair. He teases hitting Sting with the chair, but Angle takes the chair from him...and then hits Sting with it himself! A swerve? On a TNA PPV? Get out of town. Angle revives the ref and covers Sting to win his 5th TNA World title at 15:21.This was a nice step up wrestling-wise from most Sting matches these days as they kept it in the ring and put on a pretty good straight up wrestling match for the most part. But, of course, we can't just have a straight up wrestling match here, we have to get Hulk Hogan involved for the ten thousandth time. Another silly attempt to swerve the fans, but an otherwise solid main event. **1/2


It's unclear whether Angle has joined Immortal or not here as we go off the air with Angle staring down Hogan with the TNA World title over his shoulder.

Bottom Line: Flat would be the proper word to describe this show. There are actually a few good matches that are probably worth watching (the six man tag, the opener, and the Bully Ray/Anderson match) but as a PPV offering there's just almost no way you can justify shelling out thirty five bucks for a show of this quality. Alot of these matches were just extended Impact matches, and even the matches that were actually good didn't have much of any long term importance or reason for the fans to really care about anything on the card. A below average PPV, even for TNA and a slight Thumbs Down.


Rating: 5.5/10

WWE RAW 8/1/11

WWE RAW 8/1/11
August 1st, 2011
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: Unknown at this time


Your hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler​ and "Special Guest" Jim Ross


We open the show with a video package detailing the events that have led us to tonight; Punk winning the title at Money in the Bank, the tournament set up to crown an interim champion in Punk's absence two weeks ago, the Cena/Mysterio title match last week and the showdown between Punk and Cena at the end of RAW last week.



We're live from Indianapolis, and the opening chords of Living Colour​'s "Cult of Personality" welcomes us to tonight's edition of RAW, to a great pop as usual for Punk. The WWE champion makes his way to the ring while the commentators hype Twitter. Punk grabs a microphone and sits down Indian style to cut a promo to a somewhat mixed reaction from the crowd. Punk proudly proclaims in his best faux Cena accent that "The champ is here!". Punk says the $64,000 Question​ is why oh why did Punk come back to the WWE? Punk says he's a storyteller and winds back to tell us a new story right now. Punk says he loves the WWE, but hates the people in charge. His choices were to sign the contract and stay status quo, or change and speak his mind so that a domino effect might take place in the WWE hierarchy. Punk takes credit for McMahon's demotion and lets everyone know that he's here to make wrestling fun again for everyone. Punk says his voice needs to be heard by the fans, and that the only way he can do that is by getting involved with the WWE and not sitting back on his couch in Chicago. Punk talks about not being gone for even a week before the soul crushing status quo of John Cena as WWE champion again went into gear. Punk scoffs at the direction of the company saying "Same old, same old" while Punk chants ring out around him. Punk says that he holds in his hands the most important title in the world, and that it indicates that he's the best in the world. Punk sure is looking clean in his new white tee. Before we go any further though, the chords of Motorhead cut us off and here comes the new Chief Operating Officer of the WWE, Triple H.


Triple H makes his way to the ring (in a suit no less) but before he can say anything Punk goads the crowd on in their fervent "Triple H' chants (or as Punk calls it "H! H! H!"). Triple H thanks him and says he thought he'd come out here and explain to everyone why he resigned Punk.It comes down to one thing Triple H says, "Business". It's the same reason he brought back Jim Ross (big pop) and the same reason he brought back John Morrison (surprisingly nice pop). Triple H says he wants to give the WWE Universe​ what they want, and they said they wanted CM Punk so he got them CM Punk. Punk tells Hunter not to hide his true feelings behind his suit and let him know his true feelings about himself. Triple H says that Punk is a smug, overrated, attention-seeking guy that puts too much stock into his own hype. Punk turns it around on Triple H and tells him to look in a mirror. Punk says he wishes that Triple H had said he hated Punk's guts, but he knew he was a hot commodity. Punk goes into shpiel about all the Yes Man in the WWE over the years and how it led to main event talents leaving. He name drops Batista, Mick Foley​, Chris Jericho​, and Brock Lesnar​. Punk says Triple H couldn't afford to let him walk and that he should just let the truth out on it, but then Hunter turns it around on him by telling him to tell the people his true reason for re-signing with the company. Hunter says that Punk needed the WWE Universe because without them, his talk means nothing. Punk says the truth is he's the WWE champion, and Triple H corrects him by telling him that Cena is also the WWE champion. He says it's a situation he will fix later tonight and goes to leave the ring, but Punk doesn't want Triple H to leave just yet. He tells Hunter he's just getting warmed up, and that he's here to stay and do things his way. He does the old Hunter Hearst Helmsley​ curtsey and then begins talking about Triple H hogging the spotlight. He asks Triple H how many times he's said "you know, I just don't think he has what it takes" in regard to talent in bed with his wife and that gets Hunter a bit pissed. Punk calls him a bully and tells him to be careful of who he pushes, because he knows Punk likes to push back. Triple H says his ego is telling him to slap every tattoo off of Punk's skinny fat ass (what?), but that he won't because he became the COO for the fans. He says he's not going to break the rules out of respect for the fans, and strongly suggests that Punk doesn't break them either. Punk slaps Triple H's tie in his face a bit and asks if he has to ask his wife's permission first before fighting. Punk drops the mic and takes off backstage to the sounds of "Cult of Personality" as we go backstage to see Rey Mysterio and John Morrison preparing for a tag team match coming up next as we cut to commercial.

Divas Battle Royal #1 Contender's Match

When we return most of the divas are already in the ring while Kelly Kelly joins us at commentary. Melina is eliminated immediately as the bell rings, and she's followed shortly by Gail Kim​ and Rosa Mendes. Kelly says she's checking out Eve (that makes two of us) for a title match. We get the required creepy flirtation between the King and Kelly as Tamina is eliminated. AJ Lee is the next out, followed by Natalya. The Bella Twins team up on Beth Phoenix as we cut to commercial. When we return Alicia Fox and Eve are going at it on the ring apron until Fox is the next eliminated. Eve is the next eliminated by the Bellas, but then Beth Phoenix just moseys on up behind the twins and tosses them both out like feathers to win the match at 3:43 (shown).

Winner: Beth Phoenix @ 3:43 (shown)
Rating: * - Just your average divas battle royal here that you've seen a million times before, but Beth picking up the win seemed like a good choice as the crowd popped big for it surprisingly. I guess they know about her and Punk.


After the match Phoenix tosses Kelly around at ringside and then grabs a mic. She says that Kelly's days as the perky cute blonde little bimbo are officially over. If this leads to some actual thought put into the woman's division, I'm all for it.


Backstage The Miz and R-Truth are talking. Truth says that he and the Miz are pretty much the same because they both agree that Triple H in charge is a huge mistake. It's a conspiracy! But don't ask Truth to spell it. Miz brushes him off but Truth tells him to watch his back or he "gone get got" as we cut to commercial.

When we return backstage Josh Matthews asks Cena his thoughts on what Punk had to say earlier, and he tells him that if you live by the sword you die by the sword(fish).


The Miz/R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio/John Morrison

This should be an intriguing match-up. Morrison and Miz start us off and JoMo quickly pancakes Miz on the mat and knocks Truth off the apron. Miz responds with a snap suplex for a quick two count while Michael Cole goes into his usual Miz fellatio-fest on commentary. Rey tags in with a seated senton off the top rope for a two count. Miz is sent out of the ring by a headscissors from Rey, who follows up with a baseball slide before hitting another seated senton onto R-Truth while JoMo wipes out the Miz with a corkscrew plancha! After a quick commercial break we return to the image of Truth stretching out Mysterio with a camel clutch and an abdominal stretch. Miz tags in and slaps a chinlock onto Rey, but he fights out of it and nails Miz behind the ears with an enziguri. Miz responds with an implant DDT for a two count and then tags Truth back in. Rey plays a good little babyface in peril, but Truth hits him with that crazy corkscrew elbow of his for another near fall. They tease the hot tag a bit, but Miz just pours the offense on with a running lariat. He comes off the top rope but Rey meets him with a dropkick Morrison gets the hot tag and goes to town on Truth and Miz with dropkicks before giving Truth the old Spanish Fly (C4 suplex AKA Sin Cara's finisher off the top) for another near fall. Morrison goes for Starship Pain​, but Miz rolls Truth out of the ring and JoMo crashes and burns. Mysterio flies out after Miz with a plancha to the floor and Truth makes his way back into the ring where he misses a scissors kick attempt before getting nailed by a kick from Morrison to set up the 619. Miz breaks the 619 up and tosses Rey over the barrier into the crowd, but Morrison meets him with a leaping kick off the top rope when he tries to get back ion the ring. This distracts Morrison long enough however for Truth to nail Morrison with the What's Up for the pin and the win at 8:13(shown).

Winners: The Miz/R-Truth @ 8:13 (shown)
Rating - *** This was just your basic formula babyface in peril tag with high spots thrown in, but the crowd was red hot and everything was being executed so crisp and cleanly that the whole thing came off like a great old school tag battle. Really solid stuff and worth looking into.


After the match Miz and Truth beat down Morrison and even get in the devastating water bottle spot of doom.


Backstage Josh Matthews is with Triple H. He says Punk's comments about his wife didn't get to him and that tonight John Cena needs to keep things strictly business between them. What, like that goofy mob entrance you guys did back at Wrestlemania 22?


After a commercial break we return with the United States champion Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero​ making their way out to the ring. Vickie talks about how Ziggler is superior to CM Punk and John Cena and should be getting the proper respect, and she's getting nuclear heat as always. Ziggler grabs the mic and talks about the basic open challenge he laid out last week for anyone that thinks they're up to Ziggler's standards. Before we can get much further though, Alex Riley's music hits and he comes out with a mic of his own. He asks why Ziggler always hides behind Vickie. Riley makes his way into the ring and asks Ziggler when was the last time that he accomplished something on his own? Riley questions Ziggler's manhood and tells him to drop her. He accuses Ziggler of being a bleach blonde arrogant fraud, and Ziggler takes off his jacket and belt, loosens his tie, and it's clobberin' time! Or not. Ziggler ducks out of the ring and walks out on Riley.


David Otunga/Michael McGillicutty vs. Santino Marella/Zack Ryder

When we return from the break we're already seguing into our next match-up between the tag champs and the odd couple of Santino and Zack Ryder. Santino and McGillicutty start us off and it's not long before they go into your usual heel tag team double-team offense. They trade quick tags in their corner while a huge "We Want Ryder" chant starts up. Cole starts burying Ryder for his antics of late, which if his same treatment to Daniel Bryan​ is any indicator of, means he may actually just be getting that big push after all. Otunga works a bear hug on Santino, but the fiesty Italian fights out of it and tags in Ryder. Ryder hitrs a big elbow on McGillicutty, and then gives him a pair of shotgun knees and a facewash kick for a two count. Santino, whose arm apparently has morphed into an actual cobra, tries to apply the deadly manuever but Otunga grabs him and tosses him out of the ring. Ryder misses the leg lariat and Otunga hits a flying knee off the top rope on him to win at 2:25.

Winners: David Otunga/Michael McGillicutty @2:25
Rating: * - Not much of a match obviously, just a chance to see Ryder on Raw and gauge how the crowd responds to him while putting over the tag champs cleanly. The crowd was really into Ryder though, so he may just be catching on with the casual fans after all.


After a quick plug for Edge's appearance on a SyFy TV show we see a replay of some of Punk and Triple H's conversation from earlier in the evening. Afterwards we segue to Josh Matthews backstage with the Punker himself. He asks what Punk thinks Triple H's decision will be about the WWE title tonight and Punk mocks Haitch some more. He goes into strictly business mode and puts himself over as the real champion before walking away. Ricardo Rodriguez introduces Alberto Del Rio​ in all of his glory as we take another commercial break.


Alberto Del Rio vs. Evan Bourne

Cole questions Ross about a "tweet" he made calling him a tool and they get into another hissy fit argument. Unscrunch your panties gentlemen. Bourne strikes first with a kick and a hurricanrana, but Del Rio responds with some legwork of his own for a quick nearfall. Del Rio starts to dominate from here, slamming Bourne to the mat with his arm behind his back for another two count. Del Rio works on Bourne's left arm while the hens bicker on commentary. Del Rio tries a suplex but Bourne counters out and lays in some lightning fast kicks into his chest. Bourne goes to the top rope but Del Rio takes him down with his step-up enziguri before applying his flying armbar finisher on Bourne, who has no choice but to tap out at 3:42.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio @ 3:42
Rating: * - Just a quick squash match here to put over Del Rio and remind everyone that he's still going to be a big player on RAW in the near future. Not bad for a jobber match though.


After the match Del Rio keeps applying the armbar until Kofi Kingston​ comes out to make the save.


When we return from our final commercial break Triple H makes his way out to the ring to answer the question that's on everyone's mind. Before he can into it though, John Laurinaitis​ comes down to the ring with a mic and explains his job evaluating the talent, which was the job Jim Ross had for years. Triple H wants to know what he wants, but John tells him that he's only just stepped into the corporate structure of the company and that he knows from 10 years of working with Vince how to handle this situation; strip John Cena of the WWE title. The crowd has a mixed reaction to that, and of course seconds later Cena's music hits and John comes out to the ring with a mic. He accuses John of being Vince's right-hand "Yes Man" for years, just like Punk talked about earlier. Cena does a decent impression of John's voice and then reminds him of how he knocked Laurinaitis' teeth out at the Money in the Bank PPV. Cena says he will not let a goon like Johnny Ace strip him of the title (he even makes a snarky comment about the old skateboard gimmick he worked with Shane Douglas in WCW). Laurinaitis tells Cena he's out of line, but Cena then tells him he's going to punch him in the face and Hunter has no problem with it so Johnny tucks his tail and leaves the ring. Triple H says he's not going to strip Cena of the title because he claims that the only contact he had with Punk in between Money in the Bank and now was last week when he walked up to him with a signed contract and told Haitch to hit his music. My god, are they actually explaining the plot-holes from the fallout of last week? How often do you see that?


Of course, before he can get much further Cult of Personality hits and out comes the Punker with his title to the ring. A huge CM Punk chant starts up again as he questions whether Hunter will strip him of his WWE title. Everyone wants to get a word in, but finally Hunter comes between them and tells Cena not to call him Hunter anymore. He also announces that at Summerslam John Cena will face CM Punk in a match to crown one undisputed WWE champion. He drops the mic and leaves Punk and Cena in the ring. We get dueling Punk and Cena chants from the crowd before Punk raises his title to a nice pop, but then Cena raises his own title and totally out-pops him by a mile. That's kind of bizarre considering the fans have been rather smarky all night, chanting and cheering for Punk. They do a little dueling posing to their own theme music as we go off the air with both men holding their respective titles above their heads.


Bottom Line: This was a solid show tonight. There was some good angle advancement obviously in setting up the Punk/Cena match at Summerslam, but in the process of doing that they spent a lot of time on lengthy promos, which is fine sometimes when you need to advance an angle and hype a show, and they did here. The Punk angle continues to sizzle, and although the wrestling was cut short for alot of tonight, we did get one good match out of the tag team match earlier in the show. All around this was a solid show to build momentum up for Summerslam, and the tag match is worth checking out if you missed it, so Raw gets the Thumbs Up from me tonight.