Jesse’s WWE RAW Report: John Cena & Randy Orton Headline
By Jesse Castleman
Out comes John Cena to kick Raw off live from Seattle, Washington. Cole is surprised at the mixed reaction from the crowd, but Cena continues to connect with the live audience. He grabs the mic, and the Nexus armband is on, I notice. Cena thanks the fans for their support, and brings up the fact that he heard a chant last week that he has never heard before in WWE: “Never give up.” Cena vows that he will never give up. Cena goes on to briefly explain how he became part of Nexus, which means that he must take orders from Wade Barrett or he will be fired. Cena reminisces on all the times he and CeNation have been there together; if he doesn’t have the fans, then there is no him. Cena explains that he may do some things that they may not be used to seeing him do…
Awesome! Out comes the birthday boy, Miz, with Alex Riley. Miz mocks Cena at his sentimentality, and announces that he will captain Team Raw at Bragging Rights. Unlike Cena, Miz says, he does not judge his team on morals, and he invites Cena to join the team and avenge last year’s loss. Cena says this is a good idea, but he can’t believe that Miz is the captain. Cena says he has nothing else to do at Bragging Rights, so why can’t he just be captain? Miz interjects, but out comes Wade Barrett to make his point made loud and clear. Barrett says he doesn’t care about Raw or Smackdown, but he does care about John Cena performing his duties by being in his corner at Bragging Rights. Cena says he can do both.
Riley tells Cena to take Barrett’s advice, because if Cena isn’t there to protect Barrett, The Miz could cash in his MITB and take the WWE Championship after the match. Miz thanks Riley for ruining his surprise, and then…
Blinks! Cole to the podium: Although Cena must answer to Barrett, Barrett must answer to the GM. The GM wants the best team possible for Bragging Rights, so the GM set up a series of matches to determine who will be part of Team Raw. Additionally, there must be one team captain with no jealousy who will betray them. Therefore, The Miz will wrestle John Cena tonight for Team Raw’s captaincy tonight!
Miz tells Cena that he will beat him tonight and become the captain, and he will go on to win the WWE Championship as well. Miz tells Barrett that he can do nothing about this. Barrett lashes out at Miz, but Miz and Riley begin to double team Barrett. Cena watches on for a bit, and then decides to step in to save Barrett. Cena knocks Miz out of the ring and delivers an Attitude Adjustment on Riley. Miz and Riley retreat up the ramp, and Barrett jaws at Cena in the ring for not helping him sooner.
Ted DiBiase and Maryse are waiting in the ring, for Goldust I assume. Nope, it’s R-Truth being escorted by Eve Torres, and this is the first match to determine who will be part of Team WWE. Truth asks Seattle what’s up, and off we go. DiBiase knocks Ruth around and into the corner, but they begin the whips, and Truth hits a kick on DiBiase.
Pin for 2. DiBiase follows Truth on the ropes and hits a bulldog. Pin for a near fall. DiBiase is hit by Truth, but DiBiase hits a backbreaker. Cover for a near fall. DiBiase whips Truth into the corner but is met with a boot, and Truth clotheslines him down. Truth whips DiBiase into the ropes and hits a scoop slam and pin for a near fall. Truth hits a suplex slam and DiBiase and pins him for a near fall.
DiBiase hits a spine buster on Truth into a pan for 2. DiBiase slams the mat in frustration, and then begins to stalk Truth for a Dream Street… but out comes Goldust and Aksana to the stage. Goldust strokes the Million Dollar Belt and DiBiase looks on. Truth uses the distraction and rolls DiBiase up from behind for 2. Truth hits a Lie Detector on DiBiase, and pins him, 1, 2, 3! R-Truth and Eve celebrate in the ring, and Truth is on Team Raw.
R-Truth def. Ted DiBiase by pinfall
Justin Roberts introduces John Morrison, who makes his way to the ring to face off against an opponent for a chance to be part of Team Raw. His opponent, from Calgary, Alberta Canada, is Tyson Kidd. David Hart Smith is nowhere to be found, and they lock up to start the match. Morrison takes Kidd down, and then Kidd is tossed through the ropes to the outside. Morrison runs off the ropes but Kidd kicks Morrison in the face to stop him. Kidd beats him down and rolls him back in the ring, pinning him for 2.
Kidd locks Morrison in a headlock on the ground and yells for the crowd to come on and cheer. Morrison flips Kidd out of it, but Kidd kicks Morrison. Morrison hits a dropkick on Kidd, then Morrison pounds down on Kidd in the corner. Morrison nails a flying heel kick to Kidd’s jaw, and then covers him for a 2 count. Kidd reverses a whip and sends Morrison into the corner, then Kidd hits a side Russian leg sweep on Morrison off the ropes. Pin for 2, and then Kidd runs Morrison over into a Sharpshooter. Morrison breaks out of this quickly however, and tosses Kidd to the outside.
Kid rolls Morrison up with a nice springboard maneuver for 2, and then Morrison rolls Kidd up for a near fall. Morrison runs off the ropes but Kidd rolls Morrison up again for 2. Morrison gets up and catches Kidd, then hits a glorious back flipping move to knock Kidd out. Morrison covers Kidd, 1, 2, 3. Morrison gets the victory and joins R-Truth on Team Raw. Morrison celebrates in the ring.
David Otunga, Justin Gabriel, and Heath Slater are backstage asking Husky Harris and Mike McGillicutty if Barrett has allowed them into Nexus or not. Barrett hops in and confronts the situation, sending Harris and McGillicutty out of the room. Barrett asks Otunga about his actions last week when he asked Cena for his help to win the battle royal. Barrett tells his gang that they need to focus on helping him win the WWE Championship, and tells them to volunteer to take on Randy Orton tonight. Otunga tells Barrett that Justin Gabriel is his man if he wants to destroy Randy Orton, because of his deadly 450 Splash. Barrett tells Otunga and Slater to stand in Gabriel’s corner during the match tonight, and walks out in a hurry.
Santino Marella and Vladmir Kozlov enter, and then Kozlov sends Marella alone to face Zack Ryder for a spot in Ream Raw. Marella hip tosses Ryder, but Ryder rebounds by beating down Marella, dropping a few knees on his face, and choking him on the ropes. Ryder continues to toss Marella around and begins to pound on him in the corner again until the ref breaks it up. Ryder blasts Marella in the face with a boot then pins him for 2. Ryder tries again, for another 2. And a third time, and Marella kicks out again. Ryder misses a Rough Ryder, and Marella unleashes the Cobra! Marella nails Ryder in the face, and Marella covers Ryder, 1, 2, 3! Tamina runs down to the ring and marvels at Marella’s victory! She pounces Marella, who offers a kiss with his cobra, which Tamina accepts. Tamina walks up the ramp as she stares Marella down seductively. Marella is the third member of Team Raw now.
Santino Marella def. Zack Ryder by pinfall
Randy Orton walks backstage before a commercial break.
Justin Gabriel makes his way out to face Randy Orton, accompanied of course by David Otunga and Heath Slater. They hit the ring and await Orton, who enters next with his WWE Championship. Orton rids the ring of Nexus and poses for the crowd. Gabriel and his cronies game plan at ringside, then Orton and Gabriel engage in a stare down. And we’re off. Gabriel kicks at Orton as they circle around each other, and Orton begins to fume. Orton whips Gabriel after a kick of his own, and then nails him with a clothesline. Orton evades an Otunga clothesline at ringside, and then the referee sends Slater and Otunga to the back for their attempted interference. Slater and Otunga argue a bit before Raw comes to a commercial break with Orton smiling like a kid in Toys R Us.
We’re back, and Orton is slapping Gabriel around. Gabriel hits a kick on Orton and runs the ropes, but Orton connects with a dropkick. Orton pins Gabriel for 2. Orton stomps on Gabriel through the ropes, and then sets him up for a catapult into the bottom rope. Orton pins Gabriel, 1, 2, Gabriel kicks out. Gabriel takes some abuse, and Orton whips Gabriel hard into the corner. Orton pins Gabriel, 1, 2, kick out. Orton whips Gabriel, who evades Orton, then Orton evades a kick from the top rope, but now Gabriel hits a spinning heel kick. Gabriel hits a slingshot flipping senton on Orton and pins him for 2.
Gabriel kicks away at Orton in the corner now. Gabriel chokes Orton before the ref breaks it up. Orton fights back now, hits a big upper cut on Gabriel, and grabs him. Gabriel hits a jawbreaker on Orton and a low dropkick to Orton’s face. Gabriel pins Orton for a near fall. Gabriel applies a chicken wing on Orton, and Orton is trying to fight out of it. Orton breaks out, but is met with a knee to the midsection. Gabriel covers Orton, 1, 2, Orton kicks out. Gabriel reapplies the chicken wing submission. Orton punches out of it and hits a back suplex on Gabriel. Gabriel gets up and hits a few kicks on Orton. Gabriel tries the spinning kick on Orton, but Orton evades and hits the modified back breaker.
Orton pins Gabriel for 2. Orton whips Gabriel into the ropes, and hits a monster clothesline. Another clothesline, and Orton hits a scoop slam on Gabriel. The crowd goes nuts. Gabriel tries a kick, but Orton catches him and hits another slam on Gabriel. Pin for two. Gabriel is hanging in there, kicking away at Orton, and knocking him down. Gabriel goes up top, and tries the 450 Splash! Orton rolls out of the way, but Gabriel connects! Both men are hurt and take a while to get up, but when they do, Orton surprises Gabriel with an RKO. Orton pins Gabriel, 1, 2, 3. Orton wins, and he smiles and poses for the crowd in celebration with his WWE Championship.
Randy Orton def. Justin Gabriel by pinfall
Sheamus walks backstage now. That means… commercial break time.
Cole and King discuss tonight’s main event between The Miz and John Cena tonight as well as Big Show’s new movie, which has the potential of being pretty hilarious. Knucklehead is the name of it.
Another Team WWE match up, and it’s Daniel Bryan entering to his super hero music. The U.S. Champion will face Sheamus for the fourth spot on Team WWE. Last week’s beat down is shown, and the match begins. Bryan goes right after Sheamus, knocking him into the corner with punches and knees. Sheamus tries to fight back but ends up being put in the LeBell Lock. Sheamus fights out and goes to the outside. Bryan hops over the ropes onto Sheamus, but he catches him. Bryan tosses Sheamus into the ring post, but Sheamus catches himself. Bryan dropkicks Sheamus into the post though, and rolls him back into the ring. Bryan with the cover, 1, 2, Sheamus kicks out. Bryan back flips to evade Sheamus’ rush in the corner, but Sheamus takes Bryan down hard with an Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus knees down Bryan in the corner. Sheamus nails Bryan with a clothesline and covers him for a near fall.
Sheamus tosses Bryan by his head and continues the assault with a kick. Sheamus applies a chin lock, and Bryan tries to break out. Sheamus knocks him down though. Bryan kicks Sheamus, and then Sheamus whips him into the ropes. Bryan stuns Sheamus with an elbow, and then begins to kick Sheamus in the chest as he’s down on his knees. Bryan finishes him off with a kick to the head and covers him, 1, 2, Sheamus kicks out. Sheamus flips Bryan to the apron, but Bryan gets to the top rope and dropkicks Sheamus. Pin, 1, 2, Sheamus kicks out, and Bryan tries for a Texas Cloverleaf. Sheamus breaks out and hits Bryan with a hard Irish Hammer. Bryan is down and Sheamus begins dropping his knee into Bryan’s head. Sheamus stalks Bryan now, but Bryan doesn’t get up. Sheamus smiles and goes to put Bryan away with a High Cross! Sheamus lifts Bryan up, but Bryan rolls down Sheamus’ back and pins Sheamus, 1, 2, Sheamus kicks out! Sheamus nails a Bro Kick to Bryan’s head now, and Bryan is down again. Sheamus pins Bryan, 1, 2, 3. Sheamus is the fourth member of Team Raw.
Sheamus def. Daniel Bryan by pinfall
John Cena is backstage, and R-Truth takes a seat next to him. Truth asks him what he’s doing, telling him that he’s losing his reputation in the locker room by hanging with Nexus. Truth knows Cena doesn’t want to do what Barrett tells him to do, and offers Cena a way to get out of his situation before he makes a mistake. This is, Truth says, to just quit.
The fifth and final member of Team Raw will be decided in this next match. Evan Bourne is out first. His opponent, just acquired from Smackdown… is C.M. Punk! The crowd erupts, as do I. Punk is locked in, but Bourne kicks Punk and high knee jumps Punk out of the ring. Punk rolls to the outside, and Bourne jumps over the ropes for a hurricanrana. Punk catches him in mid air though, and tosses him hard into the barricade. Punk rolls Bourne into the ring and covers him for a near fall. Punk beats down on Bourne and tries another pin to no avail. Punk applies a chin lock, but Bourne breaks out.
Punk tries a suplex, but Bourne breaks out. Bourne kicks away at Punk, and Punk whips Bourne into the ropes. Bourne hits a few kicks to Punk’s head, and goes to the top for the Air Bourne. Bourne is up, but Punk knocks him ball-first into the turnbuckle before he can jump. Punk takes advantage and sets Bourne up for the Go To Sleep, which he hits. Punk covers Bourne, 1, 2, 3. The crowd counts the pinfall in his victorious debut. Punk clotheslines Bourne to the outside after the match though, and tosses Bourne into the barricade twice. This is uncalled for, but the crowd chants for Punk to do it one more time. Punk lifts Bourne up, and rushes Bourne shoulder-first into the ring post. Punk applies the Anaconda Vise on Bourne’s injured shoulder now, and screams that this is nothing personal as multiple refs try to break this up. Punk scares the refs off, and cracks a sadistic smile before heading back.
C.M. Punk def. Evan Bourne by pinfall
C.M. Punk sent a message, as Evan Bourne had to be helped to the back after Punk’s assault.
Natalya is in the ring, and discusses LayCool. Natayla says Bret Hart taught her to stand up for herself. Natalya predicts that she will walk out of Bragging Rights as the Diva’s Champion. At this, LayCool interrupts her. McCool and Layla mock Natalya for boring them, but commend her bravery. They compare Natalya w/a beard with her father’s picture, Jim the Anvil Niedhardt. Natalya responds by calling them the most annoying Divas in the WWE. Natalya comments on their lack of waists; to which LayCool interpret as a sign of their skinniness. LayCool claims that all the divas love, and respect, them.
Their music hits, and they begin to walk up the ramp. Their way is blocked, however, by the rest of the Raw divas. The divas corner LayCool back against the ring. Natalya gets her hands on Layla, who was rolled back into the ring, and locks her in the Sharpshooter. McCool comes to Layla’s aid though, and pulls her out of the ring. McCool and Layla escape through the crowd before the divas can get their hands on them.
Mike Mizanin and Alex Riley are walking backstage. It looks like it’ll be Miz vs. Cena next!
Justin Roberts announces that this match will determine the sixth member, and captain, of Team Raw. In addition, this will be a No Disqualification match!
Awesome! The Miz and Riley make their way to the ring. Out comes John Cena, and the match begins. The crowd chants for Cena, and they lock up. Miz headlocks Cena, but Cena whips Miz, Miz hits a shoulder block. Some rope running evasions, and Cena finally hits Miz with a hip toss off the ropes. Cena chases Miz around the ring, but runs into a clothesline from Riley for his efforts. Miz smiles in the ring before a commercial break. Back from the break, Cena whips Miz into the corner then hits a bulldog on the rebound. Cena pins Miz for 2 and whips him to the corner again, but this time Miz elbows Cena.
Miz pounds away on Cena’s face and picks him up to toss him to the outside. Riley stalks Cena on the outside, and blasts him in the face with a right hand. Miz brings Cena to the announce table and tosses him on top. Miz stalks Cena from behind and tries for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Cena powers out and picks Miz up for an AA. Miz breaks out and pushes Cena into the barricade. Cena grabs at his ribs, and Miz picks him up and tries to toss his head into the steel steps. Cena counters though and throws Miz into it. Cena blocks a right hand from Riley and tosses him head first into the apron. Cena turns back to Miz and runs at him, but Miz evades the rush and pulls the barricade covering away, leading Cena to jump knee first into the exposed barricade. Miz rolls Cena into the ring and covers him for a near fall.
Miz stalks Cena and tries a jumping clothesline in the corner, but Cena evades. Cena hits the shoulder blocks and the back body suplex on Miz. Cena tells Miz that he can’t see him, and hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena attempts another AA, but Miz breaks out and kicks Cena in the face. Miz pins Cena for a near fall. Both men get up, and Cena rolls Miz into an STF, but he never allows Cena to lock it in. Miz catches Cena from behind and drops him into a modified back breaker. Miz with the pin, 1, 2, Cena kicks out! Miz is frustrated, and grabs the MITB briefcase from Riley. Miz stalks Cena with the briefcase, and when Cena gets up, he evades the briefcase shot, and rolls Miz into an STF! Cena locks it in! Miz makes it to the ropes however, and Cena breaks. Riley runs in, but Cena takes Riley down from the knees. Cena locks the STF in on Riley now, but turns his attention back to Miz after a few moments. Cena props Miz up for an AA with Riley out of the ring, but Husky Harris and Mike McGillicutty run out from the audience to save Miz. Cena takes Harris down, but McGillicutty hits Cena with a swinging neck breaker, and then Harris puts the exclamation point on top with a senton splash. Harris and McGillicutty roll out, and Miz covers Cena, 1, 2, 3! Miz is the captain of Team Raw at Bragging Rights.
The Miz def. John Cena by pinfall
Harris and McGillicutty stalk Cena in the ring after the match, but Cena takes it to them, tacking Harris and going to punch McGillicutty in the corner. Wade Barrett runs down, however, and stops Cena from his rage. Cena and Barrett stare each other down before…
Blinks! The GM announces that Husky Harris and Mike McGillicutty will officially become involved in a match next week on Raw when they take on Randy Orton and John Cena in a tag team match. Barrett announces that he would like to put a spin on the match, which is inducting Harris and McGillicutty into Nexus if Cena’s team loses. Barrett says Cena will do the right thing, and Cena pushes the mic away from him. Barrett tells Cena not to do that, and begins provoking him to punch him right in the face. Barrett says Cena won’t put a finger on him, not because he will get fired, but because he’s scared of Barrett. Barrett calls Cena spineless, and says Cena is afraid of Barrett humiliating him again. Barrett continues to rub it in, turning his back on him, just like the fans are doing now since Cena is a coward, and doesn’t have the guts to do anything about this. Cena goes to the ropes to exit, but Barrett orders him not to. Barrett tells Cena that he can’t see him, mocking Cena’s gestures and everything, to which Cena storms out of the ring and walks up the ramp. Barrett smirks in the ring as Raw goes off the air.