Raw
Greensville, South
Carolina
April15, 2013
results thanks to prowrestling.net
[Q1] Raw opened with a recap video that focussed on Ryback attacking John
Cena to close last week's show, and teased C.M. Punk making his return to Raw
for the first time since WrestleMania 29... Michael Cole introduced the show and
was joined on commentary by Jerry Lawler and JBL...
1. Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Big Show in a handicap match. It was all cheers
for the entrances of Orton and Sheamus. Both men wanted to start the match, but
they settled on Sheamus. Show and Sheamus fought back and forth for the first
4:30 of the match.
Orton took a hot tag from Sheamus and traded punches with Show and then put him
down with a dropkick. Orton caught Show on the rope and then performed a hanging
DDT from there. Orton played to the live crowd and struck the Viper's Pose. He
went for the RKO, but Show pushed him off and then grabbed him by the throat.
Sheamus caught Show with a Brogue Kick and then Orton hit the RKO and pinned
Show...
Randy Orton and Sheamus beat Big Show in a handicap match in 6:00.
Powell's POV: It's really odd to see this handicap match on Smackdown and now
Raw when both babyfaces have defeated Big Show in countless singles matches over
the years. I'm really not sure where this is heading. It's good to see JBL back
again. The King is a lovable character and all, but he doesn't bring much to
commentary these days. He's a nice complementary player on a three-man team, but
he just doesn't hold up his end of a two-man team these days.
Highlights aired from Friday's WWE Smackdown television show of The Shield
surrounding Triple H in the ring, which led to 3MB going after The Shield only
to be destroyed... Backstage, the 3MB members said they were going to the ring
to call out The Shield...
[Q2] [C] After the break, 3MB was doing their air guitar routine while the fans
booed. JBL said they've lost their "ever loving minds" by planning to call out
The Shield. Heath Slater said they were going after Triple H last week, but The
Shield beat them to it. Drew McIntyre asked for a hand written apology.
Brock Lesnar's music played and he walked onto the stage without Paul Heyman.
The fans popped. Lesnar entered the ring and threw Slater over the top rope.
Lesnar clotheslined McIntyre, and then performed an overhead belly-to-belly on
Jinder Mahal. Lesnar performed the F5 on McIntyre.
Slater teased getting back inside the ring, but he thought better of it. Slater
tried to run away, but Lesnar caught him at ringside with a clothesline. Lesnar
picked him up and F5'd Slater onto the barricade at ringside. He picked him up
again and performed the move again.
Paul Heyman had run out by this point. "No more," Heyman pleaded. The fans
chanted "One More Time." Lesnar looked to the crowd and smiled. Heyman talked
him out of it and then the two of them entered the ring. "I told you last week
my client is ready for a fight," Heyman said. "And the fight that my client
wants and has demonstrated a message to everyone tonight is against Triple H."
Heyman said that Triple H did something that no other man has ever pulled off.
He apologized to Lesnar for saying in front of him that Triple H knocked out
Lesnar. Heyman said that makes Hunter a fighter and a hell of a man. Heyman said
that if Triple H was in the building he would shake his hand, look him in the
eye, and tell him that he respects him for what he did at WrestleMania.
The live crowd chanted for Triple H. Heyman said that he knows the fans feel the
same way he does, but unfortunately Brock Lesnar does not share his opinion. "So
now, we have a problem." Heyman said. He noted that Triple H merely evened the
score. "There can only be one dominant alpha male in the WWE Universe," he said.
Heyman said they could solve this problem at Extreme Rules. Heyman proposed a
match in which a knocked out man will be shown no mercy and will be victimized.
Heyman said it was time to get barbaric in a match where skin can be ripped away
from bone at any second. "It's time to get extreme," Heyman said.
Heyman said Brock wants to face Triple H in an old school cage match. Heyman
said they had two words for Triple H. "Challenge issued," he concluded.
Highlights aired of Lesnar destroying the 3MB members...
Cole questioned whether Triple H would accept the match. He also hyped Ryback
explaining why he attacked John Cena last week. A split screen shot showed
Antonio Cesaro and Kofi Kingston walking backstage. Lawler hyped that they would
meet for the U.S. Championship after the break... [C]
Powell's POV: Heath Slater earned his paycheck tonight. Goddamn, those bumps on
the barricade were vicious. I like the idea of Brock getting his win back (to
even his record), assuming that's where this is going. The first 30 minutes of
the show were strong. I like the way they went right to a match to start the
show and then the unadvertised appearance of Lesnar. It is odd that there was no
acknowledgement at the top of the show regarding the bombings in Boston, but
give it time. I can't imagine Boston area native John Cena appearing without
addressing it.
[Q3] A graphic noted that WWE hosted 35 Make-A-Wish families from 14 different
states and five different countries at WrestleMania 29, which is absolutely
awesome...
2. Antonio Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston for the U.S. Title. Cole noted that Kingston
beat Cesaro in a non-title match on Smackdown last week. JBL noted that Cesaro
has been champion for 240 days. Cesaro yodeled as he walked to the ring. The
show went to break with Cesaro in control at 2:45. [C]
Powell's POV: Cesaro is the Mountain Climber from The Price is Right.
After the break, the Ole chant started briefly. Kingston caught Cesaro with the
Trouble in Paradise kick, but it knocked Cesaro out of the ring and down to the
floor. Kingston pushed Cesaro back inside the ring and covered him for a two
count. Kingston went to the ropes and dove at Cesaro, who caught him and slammed
him for a good two count of his own.
Kingston came back with a kick and then went for a springboard move off the
ropes. Cesaro caught him again, but Kofi rolled him up for a good two count.
Kingston caught Cesaro with another Trouble in Paradise kick and pinned him
clean. After the match, Josh Mathews interviewed Kingston in the ring. Kofi said
he brought the U.S. Championship back home...
Kofi Kingston defeated Antonio Cesaro in 9:25 to win the U.S. Championship.
Powell's POV: Back home to Ghana West Africa? C.M. Punk might be the only WWE
performer in recent memory who didn't drop the title shortly after the broadcast
team mentioned how many days he'd been champion. The match was very good, but
it's hard to get excited about (a) Kingston winning another secondary
championship (b) a secondary championship in general after all the abuse those
title took during WrestleMania season.
[Q4] A really good ad aired for the new Mick Foley DVD that comes out
tomorrow... [C] The WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans commercial aired... The
announcers spoke at ringside about the Money in the Bank briefcase and set up
footage of Dolph Ziggler using it to capture the U.S. Championship... A shot
aired of Ziggler, AJ Lee, and Big E Langston walking backstage... [C]
Ring announcer Justin Roberts introduced Dolph Ziggler as the new World
Heavyweight Champion. Ziggler, Lee and Langston headed to the ring. Ziggler
boasted about his greatness and said he is just too good. He said some of the
fans may boo and that's fine. "I don't care," he stressed, which drew more boos.
[Q5] Ziggler said that when someone scores a TD in an NFL game, they are showing
off. He said showing off is what you do when you are better than everybody else.
"And I back it up every single night," Ziggler said. He spoke about the perks of
being champion and kissed AJ.
Alberto Del Rio's entrance music played. Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez headed to
the ring. Del Rio had his leg taped to sell his injury, and Ricardo was still on
crutches. Del Rio said he was there to invoke his rematch clause. "I want my
rematch right here in Greenville," he said. "And I want it right now." Ziggler
mocked him by saying, "Yeah, right." He pointed out Del Rio's injury.
Vickie Guerrero interrupted with the "excuse me" bit and announced the match was
starting immediately. A referee entered the ring and the wrestlers prepared
themselves, but just as the match was about to start, Jack Swagger's entrance
music played. Swagger and Zeb Colter came out and Colter spoke as they headed to
ringside.
Colter said Ziggler doesn't deserve to be champion because Swagger was
responsible for injuring Del Rio last week. Colter said Del Rio doesn't deserve
a rematch. Swagger entered the ring and was quickly cleared by Del Rio. However,
Swagger grabbed Del Rio's bad leg and wrapped it around the ring post twice.
Swagger applied the Patriot Lock on the floor. A trainer, a referee, and Ricardo
checked on Del Rio...
A shot aired of Daniel Bryan and Kane walking backstage. Lawler said they would
be in action after the break... [C]
Powell's POV: It looks like they are setting up a Triple Threat match with
Ziggler vs. Swagger vs. Del Rio. Then again, last week it looked like WWE was
setting up a Triple Threat match with John Cena vs. Ryback vs. Mark Henry.
Meanwhile, I hope WWE doesn't play up the bitter Vickie Guerrero routine too
much now that Dolph is champion.
Highlights aired from the previous segment... Backstage, a trainer checked on
Del Rio, who continued to sell the knee injury...
Introductions for the 4,227,348th Team Hell No vs. The Prime Time Players match.
The Players have t-shirts with a hair pick on the front. Cole announced that
Undertaker will team with Kane and Daniel Bryan to face The Shield on the London
Raw next week...
3. WWE Tag Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan vs. The Prime Time Players in a
non-title match. Bryan landed kicks to start the match. Lawler brought up
Pancake Patterson again.
[Q6] The crowd was flat as The Players had a run of offense at Bryan's expense.
Kane and Bryan came back. Kane chokeslammed Darren Young and then Bryan finished
him off with a top rope head butt...
Kane and Daniel Bryan defeated The Prime Time Players in a non-title match in
3:30.
The announcers hyped Ryback's explanation for after the break... [C]
Powell's POV: WWE should just air reruns of previous Kane and Bryan vs. The
Prime Time Players matches with new commentary. As for Taker, I am surprised
they didn't make a bigger fuss over him working a Raw match. The night is young,
but that should be treated like a major event. JBL hyped it after the match, but
they just didn't go far enough with it. I'm surprised they didn't do an angle
with The Shield and Team Hell No that concluded with Kane making the big
announcement regarding Taker returning to the ring on Raw.
Slow motion highlights aired of Ryback attacking Mark Henry and then John Cena
at the end of last week's Raw...
Ryback stood in a dark area backstage and said WrestleMania 29 was the best
night of John Cena's career and the worst night of his own career. He said Cena
found redemption and was on top of the world while he was on the bottom. Ryback
said there was only one place for them to go - Ryback up, Cena down.
Ryback said there must be so many questions running through Cena's head. He said
maybe Cena saw it in his eyes before he took his head off last week. Ryback
questioned what choice he had. He said he was staring up from the bottom of the
ladder after WrestleMania and that wasn't going to happen.
Ryback said Cena helped him out by endorsing him and giving him his title shot
last year. He said Cena made him feel like he belonged. He said Cena promised
him he would always have his back.
"Well, it's obvious to me now that a friendship with John Cena is nothing more
than a promise of living in the shadow of John Cena," Ryback said. He told John
Cena to say hello to his Kryptonite. He questioned how many times Cena left him
hanging. He looked back on his TLC match as highlights aired of the lights going
out and The Shield performing a Triple Powerbomb on him.
"You said I could trust you and you said you had my back," said Ryback. "Six
times, John. Six times I was attacked by The Shield. Where were you, designing
your latest t-shirt? Where were you?" Ryback said the thee times that Cena was
attacked, he was there every time.
Ryback said Cena was focussed on winning the WWE Championship. He said Cena got
lucky at the Royal Rumble as footage was shown of Cena eliminating him to win
the match. He said Cena left him alone at Elimination Chamber to fend off The
Shield again. Footage aired of Cena failing to break up the pinfall that ended
that six-man tag match.
Ryback said he sat in the back watching Cena making his jokes like no one else
deserved to be there. "I sat in the back and waited for you to say something, to
admit that you were only there because I wasn't." Ryback said he is stepping out
of Cena's shadows and is the biggest threat to Cena's title reign ever. "Ryback
rules," he closed...
Powell's POV: A wise call to have Ryback deliver the pre-taped backstage promo
rather than attempting to do it in front of a live crowd. The logic was
believable from Ryback's perspective yet not strong enough that Cena fans will
side with him. Ryback didn't play to the fans in any way during that promo, but
he didn't badmouth them either. The attack would have been more effective if we
had seen more of Ryback and Cena together as friends before the split, but I
still enjoyed it.
[Q7] [C] Highlights aired of Brock Lesnar attacking 3MB earlier in the show, and
of Paul Heyman challenging Triple H on Lesnar's behalf...
4. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett vs. R-Truth in a non-title match. Cole
hyped that there will be a ten-man battle royal on WWE Main Event with the
winner challenging Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Title. Late in the
match, Truth avoided a slam and then came back with a DDT and for a three
count...
R-Truth defeated Wade Barrett in a non-title match in 3:10.
Powell's POV: I guess the idea is to make Barrett look vulnerable heading into
his title defense on WWE Main Event. After all those WrestleMania season losses,
the only way Barrett could look more vulnerable is if he was chained up in
Deputy Zack Shelby's basement.
Backstage, Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox were talking when Teddy Long entered
the room. He said he set up Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger for later in the
show. Vickie asked if Booker T was aware of it. "I don't know," Teddy said.
Vickie said she liked it and then told Maddox to go tell people about it...
The announcers hyped Fandango... [C]
[Q8] 5. Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow vs. Santino Marella and The Great Khali
(w/Natalya, Hornswoggle). Sandow cut a promo on the way to the ring in which he
quoted a philosopher. Cody's mustache chimed in about something. Sandow called
South Carolina a den of ignorance.
Late in the match, Santino set up for The Cobra and connected on Sandow. Rhodes
tried to interfere and then left the ring. Hornswoggle hit him with a
mini-Cobra, but Cody no-sold it. Khali punched Cody. Inside the ring, Sandow
rolled up Santino and won the match for his team...
Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow defeated Santino Marella and The Great Khali in
3:20.
A graphic hyped that Fandango would be up next. The announcers questioned
whether the fans of South Carolina would be Fandangoing... [C]
Powell's POV: So is Justin Roberts or someone else giving the crowd a pep talk
about the Fandango theme or will they just let it happen (or not) organically?
Jerry Lawler stood in the ring and set up a video package that showed all of the
attention the Fandango theme song has received. They included the Houston Texans
cheerleaders, PETA, showed fan videos, etc. Back in the ring, Lawler played up
Fandango as the first man to debut at WrestleMania and win.
Fandango and his female dancer made their entrance. They did their dance routine
and the big Fandango logo appeared behind them. The live crowd was not playing
along. There were some singing the song, but most people stood there silently
once the music stopped.
[Q9] Lawler tried to interview Fandango, who cut him off and asked him how his
hips are feeling. Fandango asked him if he could move his hips. The Fandango
theme song singing picked up a little momentum in the crowd. Fandango asked the
crowd who wanted to go Fandangoing with him. "Do you people want to go
Fandangoing, do you?" he asked. He looked to different sides of the building and
asked, "How about you people right here?"
Fandango said before they could do that, he needed the fans to pronounce his
name correctly. He walked through saying his name. He corrected them a couple
times and then led them through saying it. There were some cheers. He paused as
the singing of his song picked up a little more momentum.
It stopped when Fandango told them that it was quite obvious they couldn't
pronounce his name correctly. "So you can all go Fandango yourself," he said.
The theme song played again and the cameras focussed on fans who were singing
the song and doing the dance...
Powell's POV: A flat followup. Roberts didn't give the crowd a pep talk, but
that's pretty much what Jerry Lawler did. Something tells me the live crowd will
be a lot more into it next week in London.
Backstage, Matt Striker interviewed John Cena, who was back to wearing his black
t-shirt (because the white one his hideous). Cena cut off Striker and said he's
not so hard to find and that he will be ready to handle his business face to
face and man to man...
Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter headed to the ring for the match against Dolph
Ziggler... [C] Highlights aired of the Alberto Del Rio injury angle from earlier
in the show...
6. World Hvt. Champion Dolph Ziggler (w/AJ Lee, Big E Langston) vs. Jack Swagger
(w/Zeb Colter) in a non-title match. Ziggler slapped Swagger and then ran away
from him. Swagger followed and then Ziggler attacked him when he reentered the
ring. Swagger came back with a big boot to the face of Ziggler. Swagger was in
control heading into the break. [C]
[Q10] After the break, the crowd kicked back as the wrestlers fought. In the
end, Swagger had Ziggler up in powerbomb position when Ziggler threw repeated
punches at his head. Swagger dropped him backwards onto the top rope and then
pinned him clean. Afterward, Del Rio hobbled onto the stage and attacked
Swagger. Del Rio applied the Cross Arm Breaker on Swagger while sitting on the
stage...
Jack Swagger defeated Dolph Ziggler in a non-title match in 9:50.
Powell's POV: Wow, the World Hvt. Championship is a secondary title too now that
Ziggler has it. Don't worry, folks, Del Rio's injured leg isn't serious enough
to prevent him from smiling like a politician.
The announcers spoke at ringside about The Rock's injury. It included Rock's
updates via Twitter... The announcers hyped that Cena called out Ryback for a
face to face confrontation... A shot aired of C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman walking
backstage together... [C]
[Q11] Backstage, Matt Striker tried to interview Sheamus. Mark Henry attacked
Sheamus and left him lying because that's what he does...
Powell's POV: I guess Henry's character just took himself out of the WWE Title
picture for a pointless feud with Sheamus.
C.M. Punk's entrance music played and he walked to the ring with Paul Heyman.
The announcers noted the injury Punk suffered when his leg hit the side of the
table during his match with Undertaker. Punk paused before saying that for 434
days as WWE Champion he couldn't enjoy the ride because he was always looking
around the corner to what was next.
Punk said the WWE Championship meant the world to him, but he wanted the next
challenge and that was The Rock. He said that as he battled someone who will
arguably go down as one of the greatest superstars of all-time, he looked ahead
and wanted to know what the next hurdle was.
"I looked to the one thing that could possibly be bigger than the championship I
love so much and the one thing that could be bigger than The Rock and that was
taking down The Streak at WrestleMania," Punk said. "And I took The Undertaker
to the limit..." Punk put his head down for a moment.
Dueling Undertaker and C.M. Punk chants started as Punk stood silently. Punk
looked over at Heyman and then hugged him before leaving the ring. Punk headed
up the ramp while Heyman stood in the ring with a surprised look on his face.
Punk stopped short of the stage and instead exited on the floor through a side
area... [C]
An ad for Smackdown focussed on Dolph Ziggler winning the World Hvt.
Championship...
Powell's POV: An interesting segment with Punk that will leave viewers asking
questions about what's next for him. So, um, all those fans who chalked up the
lack of Fandangoing tonight to the crowd being dead, now what's the excuse after
hearing the loud Punk and Taker chants?
Backstage, Booker T told Teddy Long he has to consult with him before he books
matches. Teddy told him that Jack Swagger is now the No. 1 contender. Booker
said that Del Rio may be injured and can't compete, but that only means he can't
compete tonight. Booker said Swagger and Del Rio would get a championship match
in a Triple Threat at Extreme Rules...
Powell's POV: The only way Raw and Smackdown could possibly be better is if
there were six authority figures instead of four!
7. WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn vs. Nikki Bella (w/Brie Bella) in a non-title
match. The live crowd did their best to stay awake as two women they've been
given little reason to care about did battle.
[Q12] The Bellas actually did Twin Magic and Brie got the win for her sister...
Nikki Bella beat Kaitlyn in a non-title match in 5:10.
A shot aired of Ryback walking backstage... [C]
Powell's POV: So, um, all of you who were saying the live crowd wasn't so bad
after those Punk and Taker chants, now what? Wait, never mind. Anyway, there's
apparently no reason for women to tell the referee, "My eyes are up here." The
ref also missed the fact that Nikki's fishnets were torn while Brie's looked
like they were straight out of the egg or wherever fishnets come from.
Cole hyped Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Mark Henry and Big Show for Friday's
Smackdown television show...
John Cena made his entrance. The women and kids love him. Well, except the one
kid with poor enough fashion sense to purchase that wretched white shirt that
Cena wore last week. "The Champ is here," Cena started. "And the Ryback is there
(pointing at stage), and The Champ has a little business with the Ryback, so the
Ryback get right here, right now."
Ryback's entrance music played and he made his entrance to a non-reaction.
Ryback entered the ring and went face-to-face with Cena. Once Ryback was in the
ring, there was a small "Feed Me More" chant. Cena said the WWE Universe knows
that when they hear Feed Me More, someone is about to get hurt.
Cena said he should be shaking in his boots and wetting his khakis, but he's
not. For some reason, the camera cut away momentarily and showed The Shield
stretching out. Oops.
Cena mocked Ryback for blaming him for everything in his earlier promo. "You
want this," Cena said of the championship. He said Ryback knocked him down once
and claimed he is the biggest threat to the WWE Championship. "Do you know who
you are dealing with, jack?" Cena asked.
[Overrun] Cena said he's been to war with Randy Orton, Triple H, and Shawn
Michaels and those are just his friends. He said even though they are friends
they beat the hell out of each other because the WWE Championship is everything.
"I understand exactly what you did last week, I just don't like how you did it."
Cena said Ryback lacks the two most important things to be a champion - the
space between his ears and a piece between his legs. The crowd cheered that
line. Lawler quietly asked the other announcers if they saw what he saw earlier.
"I know what I saw," he said.
Ryback continued standing in the ring while Cena told him they could do things a
little different this week. Cena removed his t-shirt and got in Ryback's face
before sayingthis week Ryback should make a move and see if he has what it takes
to earn a championship. They glared at one another. Ryback turned around and
left the ring and received some boos from the fans.
The Shield's music played. "I knew that was what I saw," Lawler said. JBL said
it was two on three and both Cena and Ryback were in trouble. The Shield made
their way to ringside and climbed the barrier. Ryback remained in the entrance
way while Cena stood in the ring.
The Shield members kept an eye on Ryback. The trio eventually entered the ring
and attacked Cena. He fought back, but The Shield outnumbered him. Ryback
remained motionless at ringside as The Shield members put the boots to Cena. The
boos for Ryback grew.
Once The Shield stopped beating on the fallen Cena, Ryback turned and headed up
the ramp. Ryback stopped on top the stage and looked back to the ring. The
Shield set up Cena and put him down with the Triple Powerbomb. Ryback stood
expressionless on the stage as The Shield members put their hands together to
celebrate their attack on the WWE Champion.
A "one more time" chant broke out in the crowd. Funny. Ryback headed backstage
while The Shield members stood over Cena to close the show...
Powell's POV: Ryback is a heel. He probably won't be a heel to the adult males
since he's feuding with Cena. Ryback's obvious explanation is that Cena didn't
help him out, so now he returned the favor. The big negative is that Cena
continued to turn his back on Ryback. It just sends the wrong message when he's
not afraid to turn his back on the unpredictable monster heel. I am also very
surprised that WWE didn't have Cena address the bombings in Boston.
Overall, this was an odd show as WWE tried too hard to get Fandango's theme song
over (or maybe it's reverse psychology?), had Dolph Ziggler lose one week after
winning the World Hvt. Championship, and had Wade Barrett lose one week after he
regained the Intercontinental Title. They can't get to London quickly enough, as
that live crowd will be rowdy enough to make just about anything they do feel
important, unlike so much of this show.