WWE RAW Results: 4-30-12Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Caldwell's complete report). Condensed to in-ring results only.
1 -- U.S. champion SANTINO vs. THE MIZ -- Beat the Clock Challenge -- non-title match
Cole said they will have medical updates on Hunter throughout the night and Lawler said Lesnar has been escorted out of the building. As for Miz and Santino, they started with back-and-forth action before Santino sold a left knee injury. Miz then smashed Santino with a kick to the chest, followed by a kick to the face for a two count. Miz slowed down the pace, which the announcers noted is not smart strategy. The clock moved past 3:00 as the crowd chanted for the Cobra. Santino then made a comeback before dropping the Sailor's Salute headbutt.
Santino reached into his trunks to grab the Cobra, but Miz ducked the finisher. Miz then rolled up Santino, but Santino countered for a two count. Miz then popped Santino in the face with a boot to the head before grappling Santino for the Skullcrushing Finale. Miz made the pin for the win. Cole called the time as 4:19, but the clock showed 4:18. My timer showed 04:18:652. Cole then went with the graphic, which showed 4:18. So, that's the official time to beat.
WINNER: Miz at 4:18/4:19. Solid TV match that the crowd was engaged in. Classic Even-Steven with Miz getting his win back after the PPV last night.
2 -- Divas champion LAYLA vs. BRIE BELLA vs. NIKKI BELLA -- three-way Divas Title match
The Bellas argued with each other, so Layla dropkicked them into each other, then rolled up one of the Bellas for a quick win. Post-match, the Bellas argued ringside before they replayed the "match" as Layla celebrated on the way out.
WINNER: Layla at 0:15 to retain the Divas Title. And, that gets the re-match clause out of the way and apparently ends the Bellas's WWE run for now. No Kharma, though.
3 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. BIG SHOW -- Beat the Clock Challenge
Show quickly attacked a bandaged Jericho, who was sporting athletic tape over his right elbow. Jericho absorbed an early attack before kicking Show at the legs to begin working over the big man. Jericho then tried coming off the top rope, but Show intercepted with a giant hand to the chest. Show wanted to follow with a Vader Bomb, but Jericho moved. Jericho then landed the Lionsault, but sold a neck injury and could only score a two count on a pin attempt. Big Show suddenly went for a small package roll-up, but Jericho escaped the pin attempt. Jericho followed with a DDT as the clock ticked down. Jericho checked the clock, then charged Show, who nailed him with a spear. Show covered, but Jericho kicked out. They cut to a shot of Miz watching the match backstage.
With one minute left on the clock, Show stood up and teased the WMD, but Jericho ducked. Jericho then tried the Codebreaker, but Show lifted Jericho into the air. Jericho then used his momentum to pull Show over the top rope to the floor. Both men crashed to the floor as the ref began a ten count. 20 seconds on the clock. Show then went flying over the guardrail as Jericho returned to ringside. Jericho pulled himself back into the ring and the buzzer sounded just before the ref hit a ten count to count out Show. So, Jericho wins, but he didn't beat the clock. Cole said he beat the time, though. Lawler said he doesn't think Jericho beat the time. As Show sold anguish, Lawler said they'll sort it out when they come back.
WINNER: Jericho via count-out at 4:20. A made-for-TV special with a sense of urgency in the ring that the crowd bought into.
4 -- BRODUS CLAY vs. JTG
After the bell sounded, Lawler claimed JTG has a strategy for Clay tonight. JTG landed a boot to the gut, but Clay bounced him off the ropes before delivering a big shoulder tackle. JTG tried to come back by going after the knees, but Clay brushed him aside and delivered The Headbutt followed by his big splash for the pin and the win. After the match, Clay brought two boys and a girl into the ring for the post-match dance celebration.
WINNER: Clay at 1:40.
5 -- RANDY ORTON vs. JACK SWAGGER (w/Vickie Guerrero) -- Beat the Clock Challenge
4:18 is the time to beat. Orton scored a close nearfall early on as Cole noted Orton is a former nine-time champion. Swagger suddenly delivered a flying Vader Bomb out of the corner before stalking Orton for a gutwrench, but Orton slipped out and delivered his fallaway backbreaker. Orton then went for a clothesline, but Swagger ducked and smashed Orton's left knee with a spear. Orton followed with a shoulder tackle as the crowd rallied with a loud "RKO" chant. Swagger continued to wear down Orton, drawing questions from Lawler on whether he was taking too long.
Swagger checked the clock and went for another Vader Bomb, but Orton popped to his feet and kicked Swagger in the gut in mid-air. Orton made a full comeback before setting up for and connecting with the second-rope spike DDT. With 35 seconds remaining, Orton got the crowd fired up going to That Place. He wanted the RKO, but Swagger ducked and slapped on the Anklelock. Swagger checked the clock and tried to apply more pressure, but Orton flung him away and dropped Swagger with the RKO. Orton made a cover with two seconds to spare, setting a new time. Backstage, Miz sold frustration with Orton beating his time.
WINNER: Orton at 4:16 to set a new time. Nice showcase for both men, especially Swagger, who needed something. For Orton, it's a solid TV win, and he won't lose anything if someone else beats his time.
6 -- WWE tag champions PRIMO & EPICO (w/Rosa Mendes) vs. R-TRUTH & KOFI KINGSTON -- WWE Tag Title match
Cole noted AW has approached the tag champs in recent weeks to inquire about a business relationship. The challengers cleared the heel champs to the outside and WWE cut to break one minute into the match.
Back from break, Truth scored a two count on a pin attempt on Primo. Lawler slipped in some news that he received during the break that Triple H's arm "is indeed broken." Cole wondered what's going to happen to Lesnar in the future. In the ring, the heels cut off Truth after Truth attempted a comeback. After Primo worked over Truth some more, Truth suddenly nailed a leg whip before leaping across the ring to tag in Kingston. Kingston came flying off the top with a springboard smash on Epico, who also tagged in. Chaos ensued moments later involving Rosa, then Kofi caught Epico with Trouble in Paradise. Kofi with the pin and the win for new tag champs. Post-match, the new champs celebrated as Rosa tried to figure out how this happened.
WINNERS: Kingston & Truth at 7:03. Well, WWE did close to nothing with Primo & Epico as tag champs, so it's time to see if another team can build momentum.
7 -- GREAT KHALI vs. KANE -- Beat the Clock Challenge
This is the fourth Beat the Clock Challenge match, with one more to go. Kane quickly chopped down Khali to begin wearing him down. The crowd was not interested as Kane beat down Khali before he went up top for a flying clothesline. Kane made a cover, but Khali kicked out. Kane checked the clock as Lawler noted these two men are not built for speed.
Under a minute, Khali scored with his first offense of the match. Khali ran over Kane with clotheslines, then delivered The Chop, but Kane rolled to the outside. Khali, dumbfounded, decided to head over the top rope to the floor to retrieve Kane. The fight continued ringside before Khali tossed Kane back inside the ring. In the ring, Kane grappled a slow-moving Khali. Khali then grappled him, too, and the clock expired with the two men standing there.
Post-match: The crowd booed the result and the match, so Kane decided to chokeslam Khali to end the segment. Kane, frustrated, stormed out of the ring as Orton was shown clapping backstage.
WINNER: No Contest at 4:16. Well, it's over now.
8 -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. JERRY LAWLER -- Beat the Clock Challenge
The final BTCC match started with Bryan blasting away at Lawler before scoring an early nearfall. Bryan landed consecutive right hands that drew audible "Yes!" chants from the pocket of vocal males. Bryan continued go after Lawler before they showed Orton watching nervously backstage. Lawler then side-stepped a corner attack before going to the second rope for his trademark fist drop. Lawler covered, but Bryan kicked out in time. Lawler then wanted the piledriver, but Bryan back-dropped out. Bryan followed with a kick to the head before slapping on the Yes! Lock. Lawler tapped out rather quickly, giving Bryan the win. He's the new #1 contender.
WINNER: Bryan via submission at 2:20 to become #1 contender to the WWE Title. WWE is obviously marketing this PPV toward hardcore fans with a Punk-Bryan title match. Of course, they can unfairly blame both men if the PPV doesn't draw on a very fast turnaround following Mania and the big Lesnar-Cena PPV last night.