Tuesday, November 13, 2012

11/12/12 RAW (Lawler Returns)

Ratings:
Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler: *3/4

Randy Orton & Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio & Dolph Ziggler: **1/4

Big Show vs. William Regal: N/A (squash)

Kaitlyn vs. Layla: N/A (too short)

Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara, Justin Gabriel, & Tyson Kidd vs. Titus O'Neil, Darren Young, Primo, & Epico: ***1/4

R-Truth vs. Tensai: *

Ryback vs. Brad Maddox: N/A (super squash)

Sheamus vs. David Otunga: N/A (squash)

Kane & Miz vs. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow: *3/4

John Cena vs. CM Punk: ***1/2
__________________

Reviews/Thoughts:
With things being even more hectic in real life right now, pleaseforgiveme in advance if the ratings are delayed and either get ridiculously short or non-existent. Survivor Series is this coming Sunday, as a note.

Veteran's Day edition of RAW starts with Cole and Ross on commentary. Orton and Ziggler start the wrestling off. A good match, but real short. Del Rio tries to cost Orton the match, but Randy avoids the rocker dropper and rolls Ziggler up anyway for three. Pretty hot crowd to start. 3-on-1 assault afterward on Orton. Kofi downfor the save.

Teddy Long comes out because Vickie is "tied up" with the AJ Scandal and makes a tag match on behalf of Booker T. Sounds OK to me. Kofi gets worked over, then hot tag to Orton. Nice snap powerslam from Orton out of the cross armbreaker counter. Ziggler late on the pin breakup on the Kingston SOS, so ref hesitation to avoid counting three looked awkward. Ricardo distracts Kofi and ADR with that enzuigiri in the corner for three.

Vickie and Ziggler in the ring. AJ Scandal time. Vickie calls AJ out to explain herself before this new incriminating evidence is revealed. Vickie basically telling AJ to admit this affair, but AJ refuses. Oh, there's the whole "weight" joke again at Vickie. Seriously, Vickie's actually lost weight. And now, we have voicemails. AJ says they're edited. Ziggler rubs salt in the wound. Cena comes out to a HUGE pop, AJ slaps Ziggler, and Cena with a right hand. I don't like the use of this AJ Scandal crap, but if it means Ziggler gets a good feud out of this, I can deal with it.

I get to envy Cena now that he gets to work with AJ. Dammit, Cena.

We get footage of that brawl at the English pub last week. Show and Regal next. Nothing really to mention here, other than Show wins in a squash via chokeslam. Show wants to KO Regal, but Sheamus with the save.

Divas action quickly with Layla and Kaitlyn. Eve on commentary. Does it really matter who wins and faces the champ? Ugh. Kaitlyn with that reverse DDT to win it. Screw rating that one. Too short.

WWE has an eerie video package on when Jerry Lawler collapsed on RAW over two months ago. Lawler's return is next. Cole and Ross go in the ring to introduce the King. An awesome pop for Lawler when he made his way down the ramp. Nice short speech from King.

Punk basically interrupts the festivities. Fitting, don't you think? Punk milking the heart attack and the death stuff for all they are worth, even blaming Lawler for trying to relive the glory days. And then the topper was the fake heart attack with Heyman. Yeah, I can definitely see how people think WWE went too far with this one.

Foley comes out. The WWE Universe picks the last member of Team Foley to fill Ryback's spot. Foley's the special guest enforcer for the Cena/Punk match tonight.

8-man tag match! Yay tag division! I'll never get tired of Mysterio's offense. Last few minuteswere just awesome. 619 and a 450 end it. Mysterio and Sin Cara mock the "millions of dollars" dance. Ha!

Paul Heyman wants a talk with Brad Maddox. So is this how Maddox gets his million bucks?

Miz still not in a Survivor Series match since he quit what was Team Punk. Ziggler the new captain dangles the carrot for Miz to crawl back on the team. Foley says two members of Ziggler's team (Rhodes Scholars) against two of his team (Kane and whoever the WWE Universe picks as the Ryback replacement). And hey, Miz is on the ballot for getting picked! Awesome!

R-Truth will face Cesaro at Survivor Series for the U.S. Title, and tonight it's Tensai. Cesaro on commentary (nice suit). Tensai with only basic offense again. Truth wins again with Little Jimmy. Sounds about right. Truth even with a knock-knock joke. Did he just say he was gonna knock Cesaro's teeth down his esophagus? Facepalm.

Maddox and Ryback with that million-dollar contract for Brad on the line. I love the EMTs and the ambulance on the scene. Maddox plays keepaway at the start. Basically just a big-time beatdown from Ryback. No contract for Maddox. However, Maddox will probably play a part in the triple threat at Survivor Series. Just keep the "talk" in mind that Maddox and Heyman probably had.

Maddox put on the stretcher, but Ryback nukes Brad around ringside now. Brad driven into the ambulance, then tossed inside it. Ambulance takes Brad away. Ouch. Maybe he won't be at the PPV then....

Sheamus and Otunga go at it. McGillicutty, Aksana, and Regal watch in the back. White Noise...FELLA! Brogue Kick quickly ends it. Sheamus vows to take back his World Title, but Show beats up Regal and KOs him. Concussion and possible broken jaw for Regal.

Daniel Bryan with the classic pouty NO! stuff to Kane. It was so pathetically good.

Santino, Ryder, or Miz are the choices to be Kane's partner and Foley's fifth guy on the team. THE MIZ! YES! YES! Daniel Bryan comes out. There was an "I'm with Goat Face" sign. I WANT THAT SIGN ON A T-SHIRT!

Miz now would make a pretty good babyface. DB with the distraction to get Rhodes Scholars the upper hand. Kane gets the hot tag. DB goes after Miz. Miz throws DB into Cody. Cody tossed back in. Kane with chokeslam for three. Teamwork! And Kane's in the middle of all this again!

Tribute to the Troops is back again at the end of the year!

Punk and Cena in the main event. Foley at ringside. Actual wrestling to start, but still the usual split chants for and against Cena. Yet another masterpiece in this rivalry. Counter after counter. Punk breaks out the Koji Clutch again! YES! And Cole and Lawler have no idea what the move is called. Heyman involved when Punk's in the STF. Foley pulls Heyman out. Punk with a kick to the head for two. GTS countered into STF! Crowd going pretty nuts for a RAW. Punk tries to leave. Ryback blocks that. Cena with an AA for three. Staredown between Ryback and Cena over the WWE Title to end the show. Feed me more chants pick up. They both pick up the title while Punk looks on the outside. Outstanding.

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