From Buffalo, New York
Commentator: Michael Cole & Josh Matthews
Championship’s roll call: WWE Champion: CM Punk… World Champion: Sheamus… Intercontinental Champion: The Miz… United States Champion: Antonio Cesaro… Tag Team Champions: Kane & Daniel Bryan… NXT Championship: Seth Rollins… Diva’s Champion: Eve Torres
Big Show opens the show; we get highlights of the big man match between Tensai and Brodus Clay but Show is bigger so he destroyed them both. He’s back and wants the world title. He complains about holding the title for forty-five seconds and the guy who beat him for said title, Daniel Bryan, lost said title in eighteen seconds. Show adds that he is the only man on the roster who can defeat Sheamus, which entices Randy Orton out to the ring. Orton is amused that he is discussing Sheamus without defeating him first; the winner of their match tonight is the number one contender. Orton says that he will go through Show tonight; to which, he answers someone will get hit with an RKO or a KO. Alberto Del Rio heads to the ring to the collective groans of the crowd, not because he’s over or anything, because people are tired of him. Del Rio says he’s better than both Orton and Show at the same time. He tells the perros in the ring to get to the back of the line… RKO! Well that sure dismissed him.
5.5/10 Short, sweet and to the point; Show and Orton battle for the number one contender and Del Rio will have to find something else to do.
WWE United States Championship Antonio Cesaro vs. Santino Marella: This was set up by Marella’s victory last week that lead to the dissolution of Cesaro and Aksana. They lock up and Cesaro mauls Santino against the ropes; he chucks Marella into the corner but he floats over and tries the split-legged hiptoss. Cesaro blocks the hiptoss with a short clothesline. Antonio puts Santino in the corner and beats the crap out of him; a suplex and a double stomp to the chest follow. He applies a cravat until Marella breaks it up with a Saito suplex. He fires up with a slam and the Cobra sock makes an appearance; Cesaro clubs him while he tries to put it on his hand and tries the gutwrench. Marella turns it into a sunset flip for two. The Cobra sock falls out of the ring so Santino fishes for it and gets nailed with a Euro uppercut and the gutwrench suplex. He talks to Marella and gets superkicked for a close nearfall. Cesaro heads to the top, which is rare for him; Marella counters and they battle on top. Cesaro looks like he was going for a super powerbomb but gets backdropped off the top. Santino tries a top rope swandive Salute head-butt (complete with signing of the cross) but it misses. The Neutralizer finishes and Cesaro retains his US title. 5.5/10 Pretty good match for an extended squash for Cesaro; let’s get Cesaro a new contender and one higher up on the card to make that US title seem like it means something.
Here is your winner… Antonio Cesaro @ about 7:20 via Neutralizer pinfall.
Clips from Team Hell No at the diner are shown.
Beth Phoenix vs. Natalya: Here we go again with the divas where I don’t know who the babyface or heel is (I think the face is Beth) but Nattie switches from heel to face so often; plus, aren’t they in an alliance of some sort. Apparently, Eve Torres booked this because both are blonde. Okay, they shake hands pre-match, so the alliance is still on. They trade a pretty decent wrestling sequence to start off with nip ups and head scissors. I note that Beth has a giant Buffalo Sabres-esque logo on her ass. I guess it’s for her hometown crowd. Natalya gets an armlock countered but reverses right back. Beth backs her into the corner and does not give a clean break, although all she does is apply another chinlock. Nattie counters a powerslam slipping off her back and gives Beth a little shove. Phoenix sticks a finger in her chest and gets SLAPPED for it. NOW it’s a match and they two of them catfight. Phoenix hits a Russian leg sweep and shouts to the hometown crowd. She tries a second rope move but gets entangled in the Sharpshooter on the landing. Beth tries to power herself free but Nattie drags her to the center; she makes it on the second attempt. She uses an O’Connor roll to try to snag Nattie in the Glam Slam but it’s countered with an elbow to the face. Nattie tries a Mysterio wheelbarrow bulldog but it is countered mid-move into the Glam Slam to give the hometown diva the win… NO! Nattie kicks out? Okay, that was a shock. Nattie tosses her into the corner; she tries a victory roll but Nattie mimics her uncle and tries to counter. Beth rolls through that for the pinfall. Post-match, GM assistant Eve comes out. She suspends Beth until the investigation into who attacked Kaitlyn is completed. Nattie yells at Beth pointing to her hair. 5/10 The match itself was pretty good as Beth probably wanted to put on a show for the hometown fans and her pal Nattie helped. I actually find the “who shot JR” storyline with Kaitlyn interesting, much more interesting that the usual drivel the diva’s division come up with. There is only one GLARING hole in the storyline, if Beth is suspended because the assailant is blonde… why isn’t Natalya suspended too? She’s STANDING right next to her and SHE’S blond! This is the problem with the divas they have a perfectly good storyline and it’s partially ruined by a major gap in logic.
Here is your winner… Beth Phoenix @ about 5:00 via victory rollup pinfall.
Booker T is in his office with Teddy Long and discusses the strong tag division; he proposes tournament at Hell in a Cell. Beth Phoenix comes in and complains about her suspension. Eve Torres follows her right in and says that she is the assistant to the GM. Booker reverses the decision and Eve backpedals and blames Teddy for the decision and tries to plant seeds that Long is trying to retake Booker’s position. He dismisses Teddy and is not sure who to believe.
The Raw Recap leads into The Miz getting ready for his show, MizTV.
Zack Ryder vs. Wade Barrett: Barrett pounds on Ryder and floors him with a shoulderblock; Ryder tries to leapfrog counter but eats a savate kick. Barrett with a pump-handle slam for two; he mauls Ryder in the corner and drops him slingshot with a back suplex backbreaker. He applies a double armlock. Barrett telegraphs a backdrop but gets face planted. Ryder hits a second-rope missile dropkick and tries the Broski Boot but Barrett rolls to the floor. Zack is not taking anything tonight and kicks Wade from the apron; he tosses him back in the ring and hits the ropes but Barrett clotheslines him to the floor. Barrett comes out after him and tosses him back in the Souvenir for the pinfall. 2/10 Squash for Barrett; the only problem here is that after squashing Yoshi Tatsu he said that he wanted to move vertically immediately or else he would be open for business. Well, he’s still facing jobbers and we still do not know what “open for business” means.
Here is your winner… Wade Barrett @ about 4:15 via Souvenir pinfall.
The Miz is in the ring for MizTV and his opening monologue is cut off by Sheamus’ entrance; he kicks over a chair and Miz is about to bitch at the expense but Sheamus snags the mic and gets right into it. He taunts him for jobbing to Ryback on Raw. Sheamus interviews Miz and does the Brother Love mic move that Miz likes to do to his interviewees. Miz grabs HIS OWN mic and says he’s the IC Champion. He rambles on about how you have to PAY to see his movies, read his books and hear him on Sirius radio; you have to pay to see him defend his title and the fans (in the arena) paid to see him on MizTV. Sheamus makes jokes so Miz turns serious about the number one contender match tonight. He feels that Sheamus will lose at HITC to either an RKO or WMD. Sheamus gets really serious and says he takes his job very utterly and puts over the World title and the work that it takes to keep it. He ponders attacking Miz but they are interrupted by Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler. Vickie says that… Dolph steals the mic and can speak for himself. Ziggler gets in the ring and says that AFTER the Hell in a Cell match, he’ll be beat up and shows him the MitB briefcase. Dolph calls his title reign irrelevant and GUARANTEES that he will be the World champ after HITC. Miz sits down and enjoys the drama. Sheamus hopes to defend his title but tells Dolph that he may get lucky after the match. A fight erupts and the numbers temporarily overwhelm Sheamus but he eventually regains his wits and tosses Miz to the floor and then backdrops Dolph onto him. 7/10 Entertaining segment that puts over how difficult it would be to unseat Sheamus as champ; it also puts Miz back into the mix with the upper midcarders. The added possibility of Dolph cashing in at HITC is another small detail that the WWE can tease at EVERY upcoming PPV.
The interview with Jerry Lawler from Raw is shown. Long live the King.
The Usos vs. Rhodes Scholars number one contender’s tournament, first round: No cool entrance for the Usos this week; I feel bad for the Usos drawing the favorites in the tourney (and recently formed team) in the first round, so you know they aren’t jobbing. Sandow starts with Jimmy and he pounds in the corner; Sandow eventually counters in the corner and stomps away. He hits some sledges but runs afoul of a Samoan drop. Jey and Cody receive tags and the Uso brother gets the better of it. He hits a savate kick and the twirling back elbow. The Samoan Avalanche draws Sandow into the ring; Jey goes after him and Damien slips to the floor. Rhodes tries to take advantage but eats a superkick. Jimmy tags and they try the Samoan Splash but Sandow pulls Jey to the floor distracting Jimmy just long enough for Cody to get his knees up. The Cross Rhodes follows to put the Scholars into the semifinals. 3.5/10 I like the Rhodes Scholars team but I feel bad for the Usos. I hope they get their break soon with the rebirth of the tag division. They are really talented (watch NXT) and can work a great tag match as opposed to being the Tito Santana of the tag division.
Here are your winners… Rhodes Scholars @ about 3:55 via Cross Rhodes pinfall.
The conclusion of Team Hell No’s therapy session is shown, where Bryan eats the meatball and vomits. Kane apprehensively eating the leaf of lettuce is pretty funny along with his “check please” line.
Ryback vs. Tensai: This may be the “nail in the coffin” match for Tensai; let’s see how competitive the WWE lets him be here. Although, Ryback just squashed The Miz on Raw. They test of strength in a lockup. Ryback backs Tensai in the corer but he [Tensai] does not give a clean break. Ryback shrugs off his offense and but eventually gets hit with the Locomotive splash in the corner. Ryback eventually begins to no-sell and plants Tensai with a belly-to-belly suplex. He’s hungry so he looks for the Sheffield Lariat but it’s countered into the Baldo Bomb… for two… twice. Tensai hits the ropes but runs into the Lariat. He finishes with the Shell Shocked to complete the squash. 4/10 This guy [Ryback] is getting really over and the way the WWE is pushing him is just right thus far; Tensai got a little token O in but fell victim just like everyone else so losing to him is not that bad. Miz got squashed as well and he’s the IC champ.
Here is your winner… Ryback @ about 2:15 via Shell Shocked pinfall.
Randy Orton walks towards the Gorilla Position but gets ambushed by Alberto Del Rio who shoves a equipment trunk into his shoulder.
Randy Orton vs. Big Show number one contender’s match: Orton comes out but is selling the ribs from the attack from Alberto Del Rio. Randy is a bit apprehensive about locking up with the giant; Orton fights the good fight but quickly eats a head-butt and is down. Show tries the Shush Chop but Orton counters; Big Show casually shrugs it off and applies a stomach claw to the injured ribs. He pummels Orton and yells at the crowd as he STANDS on Randy’s chest. We go back to the stomach claw and then an Eye of the Hurricane like move, for two. Orton rolls to the floor and Show lumbers out after him. He punches Orton’s ribs and tosses him, chest-first, onto the barricade. Back from commercial, Show is still dominating as the commentators already make excuses for Randy (Del Rio’s attack). He looks for the chokeslam but Orton counters into a DDT… for a one count. Randy has the advantage and the Orton Stomp follows. Show cuts it off with body blows in the corner. Show DEMANDS Orton quit as opposed to getting pinned. We return to the stomach claw as Show wants the submission victory. The building is SILENT. Orton to the floor again but Show comes out again after him. He tries to lawn dart Randy into the post but gets countered and Show eats steel. Back in the ring, Orton looks for the Viper DDT but it is easily countered. Show goozles him but Orton shocks him with an RKO! What is more shocking is the fact that Show kicks out at two. Michael Cole blames the injured ribs, not sure how that would affect the move. Orton thinks Punk Kick but runs into the chokeslam… also for two! Show gives him the delayed chokeslam and gets the three to become the number one contender. Post-match, Show clobbers Orton with the WMD for poops and giggles. He asks for a mic and tells Sheamus that he will see him at HITC. 4.5/10 Big Show making like Killer Kowalski was a good stratagem but a little boring otherwise the match was actually pretty good; the Del Rio attack is the “reason” that Randy can use as why he lost, which will inevitably lead to an Orton/Del Rio encounter. Show is now Sheamus’ new opponent and it will be interesting how he deals with working with the giant.
Here is your winner… Big Show @ about 12:10 (broadcast) via WMD pinfall.
OVERALL 6/10 Pretty decent show this week. We get a new number one contender and a tag title tournament to determine the number one contenders. Who would have thought that one of the more intriguing storylines on this show would involve the divas?
