WWE RAW Results: 7-30-12 (next 2 posts)Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Caldwell's complete report). Very condensed here since it's now a three hour show and 'taking you back at what happened moments ago' or 'here's what went down last week' really does stretch out a show.
HOUR ONE- Fire before the start of the show so no pyros tonight. Lots of CM Punk to kick off the show though.1 -- U.S. champion SANTINO vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO -- non-title match
Del Rio picked apart Santino, testing the limits of the referee's five count. Santino suddenly found some offense and knocked Del Rio to the outside. Del Rio acted stunned as they cut to commercial. Yes, this match is getting two segments instead of being a basic squash.
Back live, Del Rio was in control of the match as Cole requested Tout responses to Punk's explanation in the opening segment. Del Rio continued to work over Santino before applying an arm submission. Santino escaped, then fought back, only to take a knee to the temple. Del Rio continued a slow assault on Santino, who suddenly yanked out the Cobra, only to take a smash into the ringpost. Del Rio then slapped on the cross arm-breaker and Santino was forced to tap out.
WINNER: Del Rio via submission at 7:35. When people were thinking about matches they would like to see given extended TV time now that Raw is three hours, this isn't what people had in mind. Apparently one-minute squash matches will be extended another 5-10 minutes to fill the time going forward.
HOUR TWO- Yes, one extended squash match and a whole lot of recapping events.2 -- World Hvt. champion SHEAMUS vs. DANIEL BRYAN -- non-title match -- Street Fight
Bryan started the match with kick blasts to Sheamus, who absorbed the blows before delivering a backbreaker for a two count. Bryan came back with a corner kick targeting Sheamus's arm. Meanwhile, Lawler congratulated A.J. on a job well-done so far tonight. The match moved to the floor, where Sheamus rammed Bryan into the guardrail before back-dropping him onto the entrance ramp. The match moved to the stage, where Sheamus bounced Bryan's head off the platform WWE logo. Sheamus took too much time playing to the crowd, allowing Bryan to cut off Sheamus before delivering multiple Yes! kicks. Bryan then built some momentum and dropkicked Sheamus off the stage to the floor below. Sheamus sold an ankle injury, then Bryan came flying off the stage with a running kick. Bryan was in control heading to break.
Back live on Raw, Bryan was working on Sheamus's left arm while shouting, "Yes!" toward the crowd. Sheamus eventually broke free of Bryan's submission hold before accepting a knee to the gut. Bryan then dropkicked Sheamus through the ropes as Cole noted Eve is not happy with A.J. as the new Raw GM.
The match moved to the floor, where Sheamus overhead-slammed Bryan into the guardrail after intercepting Bryan in mid-air. Sheamus then spread out Bryan across the guardrail and landed his trademark Ten Punches to the chest. Sheamus followed with a suplex over the guardrail to the floor. Sheamus then went under the ring and retrieved a chair and Kendo Stick. Bryan quickly pushed both out of the ring, so Sheamus clotheslined Bryan over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus was slow to follow up, which allowed Bryan to blast Sheamus across the face with a Kendo Stick. Bryan followed with multiple stick shots inside the ring as the crowd chanted, "No!" with each blow.
Bryan left the ring to retrieve the chair, then wedged it in the corner. Sheamus used the interval to retrieve the stick and blast Bryan with it, but then Bryan ducked a stick shot and dropkicked Sheamus and the stick into the chair in the corner. Big oohs from the crowd. Bryan made a cover, but Sheamus kicked out in-time. On the floor again, Sheamus recovered and blasted Bryan with multiple weapon shots. Bryan and Sheamus teased moves, then Bryan shoved Sheamus into the ringpost.
As Sheamus recovered ringside, Bryan slid ring steps into the ring, then whipped Sheamus into the ringside guardrail. Back in the ring, Bryan tried to grab the Kendo Stick, but Sheamus intercepted, leading to a tug of war. Sheamus then yanked Bryan into him, walked up the ring steps, and wanted White Noise, but Bryan shoved him away. But, Sheamus rebounded off the ropes and nailed a Brogue Kick onto the ring steps. Sheamus yanked Bryan off the steps to the mat and covered him for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Sheamus at 14:06. When people were thinking about matches they would like to see given extended TV time now that Raw is three hours, this is what people had in mind. Another excellent TV match on Bryan's resume and Sheamus continues to grow as a top babyface being able to back up his championship status with tough-guy wins. (***)
3 -- WWE tag champion KOFI KINGSTON (w/WWE tag champion R-Truth vs. TITUS O'NEIL (w/Darren Young and AW)
As Titus took control early on, AW offered a very dated joke about Titus being like Kobe Bryant at a hotel in Colorado. A more relevant attempted joke would have been Kobe losing his shirt at a party in London. Titus continued to dominate Kofi before Kofi came back with a flying clothesline into the Boom Drop. Young decided now was the time to get involved, which drew Truth onto the ring apron to clothesline him. AW then shouted at Kofi before throwing his shoe at his back. Kofi turned around, grabbed the shoe, and chucked AW's shoe toward him on the entrance ramp. But, Kofi turned around and ate the Clash of Titus for the pin and the win. Cue up AW's post-match celebration.
WINNER: O'Neil at 2:52.
HOUR THREE- I heard someone said this was a great two hour show...that was unfortunately stretched into three.4 -- RANDY ORTON vs. HEATH SLATER
Slater was the aggressor early on, driving Orton into the corner. But, Orton came back with punches, clotheslines, and a trademark snap powerslam. Orton then set up Slater for a trademark DDT from the second rope and connected. The crowd was nuts for Orton, who got into position for the RKO. Orton got ready to strike and connected with the RKO center-ring. Orton with the pin for the win. Afterward, Orton let out two months of pent-up energy with a post-match celebration in front of a hot crowd. WWE replayed the high points from Orton's return before cutting back live to show Orton standing tall in the corner.
WINNER: Orton at 1:18. That's a return.
5 -- CHRIS JERICHO & CHRISTIAN vs. IC champion THE MIZ & DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Vickie Guerrero)
Just before the bell sounded, the announcers stressed Raw permanently moving to three hours. Ziggler and Christian started things off, Ziggler showed off, and Christian popped Ziggler in the face to begin things. Ziggler had enough of Christian, so Miz tagged in. Miz took offense from Christian, then decided to tag in Ziggler. Christian then tagged in Jericho, which led to Ziggler tagging out to Miz. Lots of gamesmanship early on. Jericho then took control of the match by clotheslining Ziggler over the top rope, dumping Miz to the outside, and setting up Christian for a flying splash from the top rope. The heels recovered on the floor as Raw went to break.
Back from break, Cleveland was on top of Canada on points. Meanwhile, Vickie was shown holding Ziggler's MITB briefcase, prepared to use it as a weapon. Jericho eventually tagged in Christian, who decked Ziggler with right hands, then landed a slap to the face. Christian followed with an elbow smash from the second rope, then a sunset flip for a close two count. Christian continued to show aggressiveness, smashing Miz off the ring apron, but then ran into a dropkick from Ziggler for a close two count. The heels then worked over Christian for a few minutes, but they were unable to put Christian away.
Jericho eventually took a hot tag at 12:00 and cleaned house. Jericho bulldogged Miz, then went for the Lionsault and connected. The action broke down with all four men in the ring, then Christian snapped Ziggler with a spear. But, Miz posted Christian. Jericho then caught Miz with the Walls of Jericho, but Miz countered out and then big-booted Jericho. Impressive. Miz wanted the Skullcrushing Finale, and WWE inexplicably went to a split-screen replay, which gave away that Jericho would escape Miz's finisher. After Jericho escaped, Christian smashed Miz from behind, which led to Jericho landing a Codebreaker on Miz for the pin.
WINNERS: Jericho & Christian at 13:23. Solid, very physical tag match. The post-match continued to build toward Jericho-Ziggler at Summerslam...
Post-match, Ziggler smashed Jericho from behind with his MITB briefcase. Ziggler stood over Jericho, then left the ring to stand tall with Vickie. They cut to a shot of Jericho, who had a small cut on his forehead, as he recovered in the ring.