May 20, 2013
May 20, 2013
Kansas City, MO
RAW starts off this week, and we’re backstage with an ambulance driving into the arena. The door flies open and Ryback climbs out with a microphone. He’s dressed in street gear and climbs onto the roof. He says the decision of his match with John Cena last night was no decision. As far as the record book indicates, there was no real winner. Cena may have walked away with the title, but he didn’t walk away; he was carried.
They cut to a clip of Cena from last night, refusing to leave for the hospital.
Ryback says next time they meet Cena won’t refuse an ambulance. He isn’t out here with an ambulance to look cool because he doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks anymore; he’s out to propose a rematch against Cena for Payback, an ambulance match. He has nothing in common with the fans. They don’t wake up everyday wanting to be the best. They’re they lost souls of society. They worship John Cena. It’s pathetic. At Payback, he’s going to take everyone to the morgue with John Cena. Ryback rules!
Who will be the newest client of Paul Heyman? We’ll find out later.
The Miz and Chris Jericho vs. Wade Barrett and Fandango
Wade Barrett and Chris Jericho will start this off. Typical back and forth leads to Jericho chopping Barrett and eventually running into a back elbow before Fandango gets a tag. Fandango takes it to Jericho in the corner and Mike Chioda has to pull them apart. Jericho makes a comeback, but runs into a big boot. Fandango makes a blind tag to Wade Barrett before we head to commercial.
Back from commercial, and Barrett is in the ring with Miz. Miz is in the reverse chin lock and powers to his feet. Miz hits a running knee lift and a boot to the face of Barrett. Miz teases the figure-four, but is distracted by Fandango who’s now on the mic, saying his own name. Fandango’s music hits and he and Summer Rae start dancing much to Jericho and Barrett’s chagrin. Barrett is yelling at Fandango as Miz makes the tag to Jericho. Jericho hits an axe handle off the top and follows that up with a running bulldog and the Lion Sault. Jericho hits the Code Breaker and tags in Miz. Miz goes for the figure-four and locks it in for the tap out and the win all while Fandango’s music is still playing.
Miz and Jericho decide they’re going to chase Fandango and he runs off through the crowd, leaving Summer Rae with Jericho at ringside. Jericho offers his hand for a dance and she takes it. They dance and get up close and personal before Jericho bails on Summer Rae and she looks upset.
Vickie Guerrero excuses herself, and she’s decided Jack Swagger will compete in a WWE App. RAW interactive match. Fans can choose between The Great Khali, R-Truth and Randy Orton. I wonder who will win.
Backstage, Daniel Bryan is with Kane. Bryan says it hit him; they are not the tag team champions. Kane says the negativity is not productive. Bryan feels naked without the title, but he isn’t wearing a shirt or pants according to Kane. Bryan asks why Kane has jokes? Kane says he’s confident because they have a rematch against The Shield. If they want a chance, they can’t show weakness. Bryan asks if Kane thinks he’s the weak link of the team. They argue and Kofi Kingston breaks it up. Bryan leaves agitated, and Kofi and Kane look concerned.
Sheamus vs. Titus O’Neil
They exchange tie-ups before Titus ends up on the apron and gets clubbered. Sheamus kicks Titus down the floor. Darren Young tries to get involved, but Sheamus launches him into the barricade. It’s just enough of a distraction for Titus to attack Sheamus and roll him back into the ring.
Titus lifts Sheamus for the fall-away slam, and connects. Sheamus kicks out after one. Titus pushes Sheamus back into the corner before the referee pulls him back. Sheamus gets a chance, but Titus elbows Sheamus back to the mat for another two-count. Titus slaps on the submission as Darren Young looks on. Sheamus powers to his feet, but Titus slams Sheamus back to the mat. Titus O’Neil is looking solid right now and could very easily be a breakout star in the future. Titus slams Sheamus again and goes back to the submission. Sheamus head butts his way out of the submission and hits a pair of big boots.
Sheamus starts to rally with forearms and a running knee. Sheamus goes for White Noise, but Titus counters and shoves Sheamus to the outside. Sheamus hangs Titus over the top rope and tries to come back in, but Darren trips up Sheamus on the way back inside. Titus tries for a powerslam, but Sheamus counters and Titus charges the corner and misses. Sheamus hits White Noise, which sets up Titus for the Brogue Kick. Sheamus connects and gets the 1-2-3.
Paul Heyman makes his way out to announce who his newest client will be. Paul says he understands, when it’s a Paul Heyman guy that exposes our heroes, he is the one who deals with the wrath of everyone’s boos. He wants to know what it feels like to be powerless. Our boos will never change the fact that a true Paul Heyman guy, Brock Lesnar, defeated Triple H at Extreme rules. Triple H will go down in history against Brock Lesnar as a loser. Tonight his client is enjoying the spoils of war while Triple H tucked his tail between his legs and ran back home to mommy. It takes a desperate man to bring a sledgehammer into a steel cage against Lesnar. But now that Lesnar has fulfilled his obligations to WWE, what’s Heyman going to talk about? He says it’s time for something new and different. He wants everyone to DVR this moment and play it back ten years from now. It’s the YouTube moment where people will say history took a left turn. Now’s the time to hit record. The newest Paul Heyman guy is Curt Axel.
Heyman says the crowd has proved him right because it’s the same reaction he told Axel he would receive. The same reaction Lesnar got in 2002 when Heyman introduced him for the first time. The same reaction he himself got in 2006 when he brought in CM Punk. Why isn’t Curt Axel a main event superstar? A legacy sinks you to the bottom of the talent pool. Axel wants to carve out his own niche and make his own legend in WWE. His name is a combination of his father and grandfather, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Henning and Larry “The Axe” Hennig, Curtis Axel. Triple H’s music interrupts the introduction.
Triple H makes his way to the ring. Triple H says Heyman can whip up a batch of Kool-Aid. Axel tries to interrupt, but Triple H says the adults are having a conversation. He also says Heyman can put a spin on last night, but he can’t say Triple H ran off embarrassed. He went to war with Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar didn’t just walk away, he limped away from that battle. Triple H says that beating the crap out of Heyman would make him happy.
Curtis Axel stops Triple H again. He says the game has changed. He tells Triple H to talk to him first if he wants to talk to Heyman. Triple H smacks Axel. Triple H says tonight he’s going to kick Axel’s ass, and then Heyman’s.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Big E. Langston
Del Rio takes it right to Langston in the corner. Langston rams the ring post shoulder-first. Del Rio tries for the Cross Ambreaker early, but Langston manages to power out and lift Del Rio, but Del Rio hangs on. Langston makes it to the ropes and the hold must be broken. Del Rio applies it again with Langston on the floor, but Langston carries Del Rio to the floor and throws him into the ring post. Langston continues the attack on Del Rio on the floor before rolling him back inside for a 1-count.
Langston hits the backbreaker and turns it into a submission before Del Rio counters. Langston continues to maintain control and throws Del Rio into the corner. He charges and misses and Del Rio hits a tornado DDT. Del Rio hits a clothesline and the Backstabber. Del Rio hits Langston with a super kick as he’s trying to get to his feet for another two-count. Del Rio ends up on the outside and Ricardo Rodriguez has to roll him back in. Del Rio hits the enzuiguiri. Del Rio goes for the Cross Ambreaker, but AJ Lee rolls Del Rio’s bucket and towel across the rign to distract the ref. Langston pokes Del Rio in the eye and follows that up with the Big Ending for the 1-2-3.
Layla vs. AJ Lee
AJ attacks Layla with a clothesline and follows it up with a nice neckbreaker. Layla starts to mount some offense, but AJ nails a back elbow. AJ skips around, which allows Layla some time to rest and she hits AJ with a couple of kicks before mocking AJ’s skipping. Layla tries to drag AJ, but she hooks the ropes. Layla charges AJ in the corner and stomps her a few times. AJ applies the Black Widow out of nowhere, and Layla taps out.
Cody Rhodes vs. Zack Ryder
…started in the middle of a commercial break. Cody takes a back elbow from Ryder and a dropkick. Cody rams Ryder shoulder-first into the turnbuckle and stomps away at Ryder. Cody continues to work over Ryder’s arm. Front-face slam from Rhode, and Rhodes goes to the submission, continuing to work over Ryder’s arm. Ryder has a chance with a face buster and hits a dropkick off the second. Ryder unloads on Cody in the corner, showing a really aggressive side and follows that up with a Broski Boot for a two-count. Cody tries for a rollup, but Ryder hooks the ropes. Cody hits the Disaster Kick for the win.
After the match, Ryback’s music hits and he makes his way out to the ring. Ryder is still down and Ryback hits him with the Meathook as he gets to his feet. Ryback snatches him up for a powerbomb. Finish it and Ryback hits the Shell Shocked before throwing him over the top to the floor. Ryback hauls Ryder over his shoulder to the top of the ramp and carries him to the ambulance, still parked at the top of the ramp and throws Ryder in.
The Shield comes down and introduces themselves as the new champions. Last night they brought power back to the titles. Kofi and Team Hell No didn’t believe, but they do now. The Rock didn’t believe. They’re the reason The Rock lost the WWE title at Wrestlemania and had to have surgery. The Undertaker didn’t believe, now the Dead Man’s resting in pieces. Ryback and Cena didn’t believe, etc. Seth Rollins says that justice isn’t blind. This is just the beginning. The ending stays the same. The hounds of justice run this yard. The fire of justice is burning bright, and they are the flames. Believe in The Shield.
The Shield vs. Kofi Kingston and Team Hell No
Kofi will start this against Dean Ambrose. Kofi hits a jumping snapmare after they exchange tie-ups. Kofi tries for a rollup, but only gets two. Kofi hits a monkey flip and an arm drag. Kofi tags in Daniel Bryan as they double team and work on Ambrose’s arm. Bryan hits a knee lift and some Yes! kicks. Seth Rollins gets a tag and Bryan elbow drops his head before applying the surfboard. Some more Yes! Kicks and Kane gets a tag and hits a running drop kick on Rollins. Kane tags in Kofi and Kofi goes to Rollins’ arm with a submission.
Rollins manages an elbow to Kofi’s face before Kofi shows off his athleticism with some leapfrogs and a jumping elbow. Roman Reigns gets the tag and takes it straight to Kofi in The Shield’s corner. Ambrose gets in a cheap shot while the ref’s back is turned and Reigns slams Kofi face-first into the mat before leveling him with a clothesline. Reigns slaps on a modified camel clutch. Reigns continues to wrestle Kofi and tags back in Ambrose. Ambrose continues to punish Kofi with a submission. Ambrose hits a running dropkick for a two-count. Ambrose makes the tag to Rollins.
They take advantage of the five-count for a brief double team and Rollins takes it to Kofi in the neutral corner. Kofi starts to kick his way out and Rollins hits a Flatliner that sends Kofi headfirst into the turnbuckle. Rollins goes for the rest hold in the center of the ring, but the crowd gets behind Kofi as he gets to his feet. Rollins prevents the comeback and scoop slams Kofi. Rollins mocks Kofi’s taunt Kofi has time to hit Rollins with a head scissor and makes the hot tag to Daniel Bryan.
Bryan comes in and nails Rollins with a flying clothesline and a running dropkick in the corner. Bryan goes back to the Yes! kicks and gets a two-count. Bryan goes to the top, looking for a Dynamite headbutt, but Rollins is up to trip Bryan and he makes the tag to Ambrose. Ambrose takes it to Bryan, perched on the top and Bryan counters a superplex, dropping Ambrose on his face. Bryan hits the missile drop kick for a close two-count. Bryan tries for the No! Lock on Ambrose and he gets it, but Ambrose makes it to the ropes, forcing the referee to separate them.
Rollins ends up on the floor and The Shield tries to regroup on the outside as Bryan is joined by his teammates in the ring as we head to commercial break.
Back from commercial, and Kane is in control of Roman Reigns before making a tag to Kofi. Reigns regains some momentum and tags Ambrose back in. Kofi hits the jumping mounted punches in the corner, flips out and nails Ambrose with a European uppercut. Daniel Bryan gets a tag. Bryan locks Ambrose in the Tree of Woe in the corner and takes advantage of more Yes! kicks and a running dropkick. Rollins kicks Bryan from the apron, then gets the tag and hits Bryan with a running powerbomb that sends Bryan into the turnbuckle for two.
Rollins is hammering away on Bryan now. Roman Reigns gets a tag and levels Bryan with a clothesline that I’m pretty sure made JBL jealous. Reigns slaps on a reverse chinlock. Reigns hits a big knee lift for another near-fall before Dean Ambrose tags in. Ambrose takes it to Bryan and pulls him up by the hair. Ambrose hits a side suplex. Bryan tries to fight back with a series of head butts, but Bryan gets caught with a knee to the midsection. Seth Rollins makes his way back into the fray and chokes Bryan in the ropes.
Ambrose tags back in again and they continue to take advantage of the 5-count, double-teaming Bryan. Ambrose continues to taunt Bryan, but Bryan catches Ambrose off guard. Roman Reigns tags in, tries to prevent the hot tag and fails as Kane comes in to clean house. Kane hits the sidewalk slam and goes for the cover, but Ambrose makes the save. Kofi comes in to take out Ambrose. Kofi and Daniel Bryan do a cool-looking double suicide dive to take out Rollins and Ambrose, leaving Kane and Reigns in the ring. Kane hits a DDT on Reigns for a close two. Ambrose counters and reverses Bryan’s snap suplex on the floor as Rollins takes out Kofi using the ring post. Kane hits Reigns with a big boot. Kane catches Ambrose off the top and tries for a chokeslam on Reigns, but Rollins is in with the knee off the top. Reigns hits Kane with the spear for the three-count.
Backstage, Triple H is taping up for his match against Curtis Axel. A trainer comes in to tell Triple H the doctor says he shouldn’t compete tonight. Triple H asks the trainer if he thinks the doctor likes having a job with WWE? Triple H tells the trainer to tell the doc to clear him or find a new job.
Backstage, Kaitlyn and Natalya have a number from Kaitlyn’s secret admirer. Cody Rhodes walks by and mentions his mustache. They snatch his phone from him to confirm he isn’t the admirer. They notice he’s posting pictures of himself on the Internet. Kaitlyn’s glad her admirer isn’t Cody.
Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter make their way to the ring and Jerry Lawler is going to announce Swagger’s opponent. Randy Orton is announced as the winner by a landslide.
Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton
Tie up and Swagger takes Orton over with a headlock. Back to their feet, and Orton has a headlock on Swagger. They tie up again and Swagger overpowers Orton to the mat with a wristlock. Orton fights back to his feet and begins to take it to Swagger and nails the dropkick. Swagger rolls to the outside, and Orton is right behind him and Orton side suplexes Swagger on the barricade. Back inside, and Swagger tries to outsmart Orton by rolling back outside, but Orton cuts Swagger off at the pass with a clothesline.
Orton climbs to the second and starts hammering on Swagger with rights. Orton hits a snap suplex for two. Swagger kicks at Orton’s leg and ankle. Swagger connects with a shoulder block. Swagger taking it to Orton in the corner and referee Brad Armstrong has to pull him out. Orton gets a chance and hits a Thesz Press and more punches. Orton starts with the Garvin Stomp, but takes a break to check out his leg. Orton shoots Swagger into the ropes, and Swagger takes out Orton’s leg.
Swagger slaps on a leglock on Orton, starting to work on Orton’s ankle. Orton tries to fight out, but Swagger cinches it in tighter. Swagger charges at Orton, but Orton backdrops Swagger over the top to the floor. Orton tries for the hanging DDT off the apron, down to the floor, but Swagger counters and rams Orton into the barricade and into the ring apron. Swagger continues to work on Orton’s ankle and leg.
Back in the ring, and Swagger goes right back to the standing leglock. Orton hammers away on Swagger and breaks the hold. Swagger shoots Orton into the corner, but Orton hits him with a big boot. Orton goes to the top, but Swagger knocks him down and out to the floor as we head to commercial.
Back from commercial, and Orton is trapped in the leglock. Orton manages to kick out and send Swagger into the ring post. Orton drags Swagger to the top and hits the superplex for two. Orton hits an uppercut and some rights. Swagger hits a belly-to-belly suplex almost out of nowhere for two. Swagger tries for the Swagger Bomb, but Orton is up and kicks Swagger in the gut. Orton hits a few clotheslines and a powerslam. Swagger rolls out to the apron, setting himself up for the hanging second rope DDT. Swagger manages to counter it again for another belly-to-belly suplex for another near-fall.
Swagger slaps on the Patriot Lock, but Orton rolls through, sending Swagger to the corner. Orton hits the backbreaker for another two-count. Orton’s going to try the hanging DDT for a third time, and this time he’s got it. Orton tries for the RKO, but Swagger counters and applies the Patriot Lock. Orton tries to counter, but Swagger has him. Orton makes it to the ropes, but Swagger pulls him back to the center. Orton kicks out again, sending Jack Swagger to the outside. Swagger runs back in, Orton ducks a clothesline, and Randy Orton hits the RKO for the win.
Triple H vs. Curtis Axel
This will be Triple H’s first match on RAW in over three years. The bell rings and Axel teases a few tie-ups, but Triple H eventually has enough and shoves Axel back into the corner and takes him down with a clothesline. Triple H throws Curtis over the top, out to the floor. Triple H brings Axel back inside, but Axel is on the attack, kicking Triple H in the corner, hammering and stomping away. Triple H manages to toss Axel back in the corner. Triple H sends Axel into the ropes, ducks a clothesline and Axel hits a dropkick that, I’d say, his father would be proud of.
Triple H charges Axel in the corner, but Axel gets an elbow up, taking Triple H down. Axel is on top of Triple H with several elbows. Axel slaps on a reverse chinlock, grounding Triple H. Triple H fights up to his feet and slams Curtis into the corner. Triple H attacking Curtis with shoulder tackles in the corner, before Mike Chioda breaks it up. Triple H hits his version of the face buster and follows it up with a spine buster. Triple H clotheslines Axel over the top to the floor. Triple H follows him to the floor and slams him headfirst into the ring apron.
Axel finds an opportunity, but ends up on the wrong end of a clothesline. Triple H continuously sells some sort of an injury and he sits down in a chair at ringside. The trainer brings Triple H a bottle of water, and he’s back up to fight… Or is he? He goes to one knee and sits down again. The trainers are checking his eyes with a flashlight, probably for concussion. Triple H tries to get up, but falls again. He tries crawling away from the trainers. He tries to get to his feet. The trainers try to help, but he shoves them off and falls again as RAW goes off the air.
