WrestlingNerd Presents: WWE Raw Review 9/10/12

What up wrestling fans, I'm the WrestlingNerd bringing you another written review. Today, we take a look at WWE Raw 9/10/12. After CM Punk's deal with Pauly, what happens next? Let's find out and start the review. 

IMPORTANT INFO: A lot of my articles are being written as the show is progressing, so I mean no disrespect to any jokes/humor used in tonight's article. My main job is to entertain you at the end of the day, but I honestly thought about canceling this review because of the heart attack/stroke of Jerry Lawler. Since I had a large portion of it written up, I decided that I should release it. I did take out a lot of stuff for this article (And I do mean A LOT) to tone things down, but I did leave in a few things. This isn't what I originally wrote or thought for tonight's article, but it is what it is. I wish the best for Jerry Lawler, and I hope we as wrestling fans can unite despite our disagreements at times. Thank you.

We open up the show with Bret Hart. He absorbs the Canadian audience in order to get as much of the nostalgia/hometown pop as you can get. Since WWE is still on a quest to get people to boo CM Punk, let's have Punk interrupt the Canadian savior and demand respect. I like how Punk didn't talk about Paul Heyman and focused on Bret/John Cena. I find that it adds more mystery to Punk's alliance with Heyman. They will eventually need to explain this, but I can wait for the answers. It wasn't a bad opening segment, but part of me wishes they would stop bringing up the Montreal Screwjob. It was an important moment for wrestling, but we need to move on from the past and focus on the present. 

Match #1: Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs Miz and Antonio Cesaro

I like the energy tonight's audience brings. I always say an energetic audience can make any show stand out. In fact, that's one thing I forgot to mention about last week's show. Chicago was awesome, and Montreal was no slouch tonight. We need more audiences like this on a weekly basis. I heard a rumor that Cena gave Kofi that current getup. You know he has a stash of Superman stuff in his home, don't deny it!!! The match didn't last long. The finish comes when Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise on Antonio. While it makes the tag champions look good, it also makes the mid-card champions look bad. I can't help but think that this should be the other way around. The tag champs have a rivalry, while the mid-card champions are just waiting for their next opponent. Again, shouldn't that be the other way around? I think I just blew my own mind. 

Winner via pinfall: Kofi Kingston and R-Truth

We have a court room segment between David Otunga and Sheamus. This was taking place in WWE headquarters….or so it seems. This scene was hammy, but it was probably the funniest thing Sheamus has done all year. He Brogue Kicked the camera. Take that, modern technology!!!

Match #2: Layla, Kaitlyn, and Eve vs Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Alicia Fox

Wait, when did Alicia turn heel….

Oh yeah, I don't care. Eve wins the match for her team. For a Diva title match, there seems to be more emphasis on Eve than the other two. Then again, that's probably the idea.

Winner via pinfall: Eve, Layla, and Kaitlyn

Match #3: CM Punk vs Raw Active Poll

Cena isn't Punk's rival, its the voting polls. The match is fair and it ends when Dolph Ziggler interferes in the match, thus resulting in a DQ. After the match, Lawler helps out to even the odds. Because of the interference, we get a tag match between the four individuals. 

Winner via DQ: Randy Orton

Match #4: CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton and Jerry Lawler

Because of the interference, we get a tag team match…..if that's what you want to call it. It was mostly a handicap match, since Punk didn't pay attention to the match. Paul Heyman would show up during the match. Vickie was pissed off that they were ignoring the match, but I can't blame them. I seriously want to know what Punk and Pauly were talking about. Did Vickie seriously say who Paul Heyman is? He's the guy who has made more of a name in the wrestling business than your name will ever be able to do. Nobody forgets about Paul Heyman….NOBODY!!! Randy hits the RKO on Dolph for the victory. It doesn't make Dolph look good going into his match against Randy, but let's be fair since it was basically a handicap match. I can let this slide.

Winner via pinfall: Randy Orton and Jerry Lawler

Match #5: Heath Slater vs Ryback

Slater wants Zack Ryder, but Ryback wants some southern cooking. Ryback wins with the Shell Shock. One Man Band needs a new single. 

Winner via pinfall: Ryback

Match #6: Daniel Bryan and Kane vs Prime Time Players; #1 Contender to WWE Tag Titles

Titus O'Neil: AJ, we became the #1 Contenders on Smackdown

AJ:……What the hell is a Smackdown?

My thoughts exactly. Regardless, we have another #1 Contender match to the tag titles. So, the match is fair to watch. The finish comes when Kane Chokeslams Darren Young, but Bryan decides to tag himself in. Kane Chokeslams Bryan, but Bryan ends up on top of Darren. Yeah, so we have new #1 Contenders. While I'm enjoying Bryan and Kane, one thing that irks me is throwing the PTP under the bus. Why invest all this time on the team and completely throw them away like that? I know people will argue this, but I personally think the PTP have done a good job as a tag team. Hmmm….I don't know. There's some good and bad things about this. I thought the ending was funny, so I'll give them some credit. 

Winner via pinfall and NEW NEW #1 Contender to WWE Tag Titles: Daniel Bryan and Kane

Match #7: Alberto Del Rio vs Tyson Kidd

Tyson does put up a fight, but Del Rio needed this win. After the match, Del Rio talks about becoming champion on Sunday. Considering that Super Irishman is strong, I doubt it. 

Winner via submission: Alberto Del Rio

We also find out that Jerry Lawler passed out at ringside and was taken to the back. This was NOT kayfabe and NOT apart of the show. Regardless if I'm a fan of somebody or not, I never wish harm on anybody. I hope he's okay. Well, I'm a little shaken up right now, but I will try to continue the best I can. From the Sheamus match forward, there was no commentary for the evening. It seems Michael Cole is pretty shaken up about the whole thing. I can't blame him at all. Regardless of what you feel about Cole, I think the man earned a lot of respect tonight. 

Match #8: Sheamus vs David Otunga

A repeat of the match that happened on SD. Again, is there any reason to keep that show going when you carbon copy your matches? Then again, it's the second-longest program in television history. That's something, right? Sheamus wins with the Texas/Celtic/Irish Cloverleaf. We are informed that if Sheamus uses the Brogue Kick, he will be stripped of the championship. Good thing he can summon Cena powers at any given time. Daniel and Kane have another scene in the back. Team Friendship? What is this, the premise for Sonic Heroes 2? The real super power of team work!!!

Winner via submission: Sheamus

Match #9: Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes

You know that show on Friday nights? Neither do I. Yeah, I need to stop bringing that up, but kinda hard to when this keeps happening. The finish comes when Miz shows up and interferes? Why? Why? Are you really gonna bother asking why? Because of the distraction, Cody hits the Cross Rhodes for the victory.  After the match, Miz is about to attack Rey, but Cody hits the Cross Rhodes on Miz. A plot twist? I don't care, I'll take it. I know its nothing new, but I would rather have some competition for the title as opposed to doing nothing. 

Winner via pinfall: Cody Rhodes

So, we get an interview between Bret and Cena. Comparing Cena to Bret? I know what WWE is trying to do, but they are not even close to the same person. That's like comparing a steak to plain sandwich, it doesn't work like that. Bret also compares Punk to the old Shawn Michaels, which is a little more believable. Also, Punk's a phony….

Punk interrupts the segment and claims to be better than everyone, Cena is overrated, and wants respect. Cena buckles down and delivers a good promo. He totally gets the audience to cheer for him and talks about how Punk has been an irrelevant champion because Punk allowed it to happen….wait, what? Are you sure about that Cena? You sure it has nothing to do with the creative staff? Sigh…..I can't even joke about this at this time. Still, Cena delivers a good promo. It shows that when Cena stops the boy scout act, he can be pretty entertaining and insightful. The segment was great and it really gets you pumped for the match. 

Overall Impression:

I'm not sure what to talk about anymore. I think it was evident that I wasn't sure what to talk about towards the end of the review. Yeah, I'll admit that I'm a lost for words after what just happened to Lawler. I tend to act pretty silly and light-hearted on here (Within reason), but I think I'm gonna go ahead and call it an evening. I apologize if this isn't what you were expecting with tonight's article. I know this wasn't much of a review, but I honestly didn't think it was right to continue down this path. All we should do now is wish Lawler the best and hope he makes a speedy recovery. That's gonna do it for the review and I hope you enjoyed it. As always, tell me what you thought of my review or tonight's show. I will see you guys and girls on the next WrestlingNerd show. See you next time.