8/20/12 RAW

Ratings:
Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, & Sin Cara vs. Darren Young, Titus O'Neil, & Cody Rhodes: **

Ryback vs. Mike Skinner & Andy Takarez: N/A

Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio: **1/4

Damien Sandow vs. Brodus Clay: *

Big Show vs. David Otunga: N/A (squash)

Kane & Zack Ryder vs. Daniel Bryan & Miz: *1/2

Divas Battle Royal: DUD

Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho: **3/4
_________________

Reviews/Thoughts:
We're at Fresno State University for the RAW after SummerSlam. I wish my college campus held RAWs and Smackdowns....

Lesnar and Heyman start the show. Nice mention from Heyman to reference HHH finishing matches with torn quads but having to tap out to a broken arm. Scott Armstrong moment was intentionally awkward. Heyman with more praise for Lesnar. Master of the Brocktagon? Ha, nice one.

Khloe Kardashian is tweeting throughout the show. Not the Kardashians again...dammit.

So now Cole is all happy Kofi and Truth are playing with the brawling buddies. New shirts for PTPs. Cody obsessed with unmasking Sin Cara costs him. Good for what it was worth.

Otunga is back without the facial hair. He says the word "crazy" to AJ and so he gets a match. Punk gets to pick his next #1 contender, but AJ has to approve.

Ryback faces two jobbers again?! Not sure on the jobbers' names, but that's what I heard. Jinder with the interference at the end, but Ryback still overcomes that. Well, at least the two of them got a feud.

Del Rio gets to rant in the ring next. He wants a title rematch against Sheamus now. AJ gives him Orton instead. WWE considered adding Orton to the World Title match, but ultimately felt the match already had good star power. Sheamus still at ringside on commentary. Solid match between ADR and Orton here. Good chemistry and nice counters. Sheamus alerts ref that Orton's foot was on the ropes -- and NO Michael Cole that was NOT what Sheamus did last night. RKO from Orton gets three. Possible triple threat at next PPV?

WWE continues to push Tout, as now they use it to show Cesaro and Aksana celebrating in the ring right after the U.S. Title match ended on the SummerSlam preshow.

Brodus faces Sandow this week after Damien took Clay's knee out two weeks ago. Annoying Cole commentary, not surprising. Sandow wins with the tights in a basic match. Clay squashes Sandow like a bug afterward so the kids can dance in the ring.

Great emotional HBK promo via satellite. Reaffirms the friendship between HBK and HHH, showcases HHH's legendary career, and puts Lesnar over. No matter what the situation, I think it serves as a great narration for the true end of HHH's career.

Oh, so who was Otunga's opponent? A pissed Big Show. Nice knowing ya, counsel. Cringed at those Big Show slaps.

Tag match next. In another case of strange bedfellows, Ryder and Kane on the same team. DB with a nice job taunting Kane. Lots of kicks from DB. DB and Miz get out of there, so Kane chokeslams Ryder and goes bonkers. Timekeeper takes a good bump. Sounds normal.

Punk picks Cena as his next opponent for the title -- on one condition to be determined later. I'm sure respect falls in there somewhere. Hustle and loyalty anywhere to be found?

In yet another example of Divas not getting good airtime, there's another #1 contender's battle royal as Layla sits at ringside. Crowd largely didn't care. Honestly didn't expect Kaitlyn to win that one. But really, does it matter? Listen to the crowd. Or don't listen. You can hear a freakin' pin drop.

Lesnar uses Tout to say he's leaving and not coming back. That's obviously BS...he'll be back in a few months.

Ziggler and Jericho next. If Ziggler wins, Jericho's contract is up. If Jericho wins, he gets Ziggler's MITB briefcase. Doesn't take a genius to figure out this was the way to get Jericho off TV so he can tour with his band. Another solid match that I wish had more time. Jericho gets one more parting shot before leaving.

Punk promo to determine the #1 contender. More golden stuff worthy of the pipebombs he dropped last year. Cena gets the title shot if he admits Punk is the best in the world. Cena refuses, but cuts one hell of a promo in doing so. Nice reference to Cena's 380-day reign from a while back. I'd call it one of the best promos Cena's ever cut. Punk ends it all with a kick to Lawler's head, just to add more heel heat to the fire. Yup, I love this stuff.