I can't remember a Monday Night Raw with higher anticipation in a long time. With everything that went down at Hell In A Cell, a lot of story lines were up in the air and ready for a change. And boy, did WWE deliver for the first time in a long time!
We start off the night with Nexus making their way to the ring to gloat and introduce their newest member, former foe, John Cena. Wade Barrett also reveals that the 2 "fans" were Husky Harris and Michael McGilicutty, and claims that he knew nothing about it. At any rate Cena makes his way to the ring looking very distraught and with no entrance music. Cena didn't say much during this segment besides a written statement that Nexus had drawn up for him denouncing the fans and the WWE. We then get informed that Mark Henry and Evan Bourne want some revenge on Nexus and it's going to be Cenas first match with them and he can pick his own partner and he chooses Michael Tarver.
Cena starts off the match shaking hands with Bourne which causes Tarver to yell at Cena and tell him that he's going to show him the Nexus way. Tarver takes a beating from Bourne and Henry and Cena fakes trying to tag in, putting his hand in while Tarver is in holds and raising his hand so Tarver cant reach him. Eventually Tarver makes his way over and Cena hops off the apron and starts signing autographs. Tarver turns around into the worlds strongest slam and the 3 count. Winners via pin fall Mark Henry and Evan Bourne. After the match Cena beats down Tarver using things at ringside and eventually gets back in the ring and locks him in the STF and tells us all that he'll destroy Nexus from within.. We then get the GM chiming in and Cole tells us the GM says Cena has to fall in line and do whatever Wade Barrett says and if he fails to comply he'll be fired not just from Raw but from the WWE....This segment really delivered. Overall from the start of the show to Cena heading to the back it was apx. 35 minutes and I think I was into all 35 minutes of it not wanting to miss anything. The only thing that I think could've been different was that Nexus should have come out after Cena beat down Tarver and said something to the effect of "John we knew this would happen and I spoke to Vince and if you don't fall in line your fired" or something to that effect anyway. It made Nexus look kind of stupid that the GM had to come up with the idea. Other than that Cena did an amazing job selling with his facial expressions and this angle is white hot.
Back from break and I blinked my eyes and then saw Natalya putting Alicia Fox in the sharpshooter and she almost immediately tagged out. Winner via submission Natalya. WOW no idea what just happend. it was a 30 second match, if that. But Natalya looked strong for the second straight night. How far has Alicia Fox fallen? Just a few months ago she was the Divas Champion and now shes losing in less than a minute. Maybe they should ship her to Smackdown.
After the next commercial we get Johnny Knoxville pranking Zack Ryder followed by a Cena interview. Cena barely says anything when he spots Harris and McGilicutty and chases them all the way into the Nexus locker room. Barrett told Cena he saw what just happened and thanked him because he was thinking about letting Tarver go for a while now so he trimmed the fat for him. He then informed Cena he had big plans for him. Soooooo is Michael Tarver now out of Nexus??? I'm very confused at the moment as to whats going on with that whole thing.
Back from our next commercial break(this is starting to feel like Impact) and United States Champion Daniel Bryan is already in the ring ready for his next match. Out comes his opponent Sheamus. Sheamus starts taking the boots to Bryan, literally, as he stomps away at his head in the corner. The ref calls for a break and Sheamus ignores him resulting in a disqualification. Winner by DQ Daniel Bryan. After the bell rings several times Sheamus continues to stomp away and delivers the High Cross and then leaves while the refs check on Bryan. This I REALLY don't understand. So Daniel Bryan went from a REAL hot angle with the Miz and Alex Riley and John Morrison. Hes the United States Champ, he has 2 straight PPV victory's and he gets punked out in quick fashion by the former number one contender for the WWE title? Not only that he got NO tv time as he was already in the ring when we came back from commercial. I have no idea what WWE is thinking with this. They might've just dropped the ball with one of their brightest future stars.
Annnnnnnnd back from yet another commercial break to Michael Cole in the ring with the GM podium. Cole says that after last week the GM will no longer speak via a voice box and will go back to e-mailing him(Cole). Cole gets great heat here after claiming he's the voice of the WWE and calling for all of his Coleminers. Edge is out and calls Cole stupid and says he would rather listen to a recording of JR than a live Michael Cole. Cole informs us that the GM is not happy with Edge and as a result has traded him back to Smackdown. Edge threatens Cole and the Miz's music hits. Miz and Riley make their way out telling Edge to stop picking on Cole. Edge calls Miz an Edge wannabe. Miz says that tonight he'll either become number one contender in the Battle Royal(which was announced earlier in the segment) or he'll lead team Raw at Bragging Rights(which sealed the deal that Miz wasn't winning the main event) Edge goes at it with both Miz and Riley sending Miz into the podium and spearing Riley. Miz gets up and delivers the skull crushing finale as him and Riley leave.
We then go backstage to Cena and Nexus and Barret telling Cena that he has to help him win the battle royal tonight. Cena asks what happens if he gets eliminated. David Otunga speaks up and says that Cena would have to help one of them win. Barrett doesn't look pleased as we go to commercial.
Commercial break over and The Bella Twins are in the ring. Out next is the Divas Champion(s) LayCool. They come down to the ring both wearing headsets talking all the way down even calling Jerry Lawyer, Jerry "The Queen" Lawyer. The bells rings and McCool starts off with one of the Bella's, both her and Layla still wearing headsets so we get to hear everything they say. Eventually the Bella's make the ol double switch and get the pin. Winners by pin fall The Bella Twins. The Bella's leave as LayCool are left wondering out what happened yelling that the ref cant count, all the while still with the mics on. I thought that was HILARIOUS. I know a lot of people are over the LayCool thing but I'm not one of then. I thought they headset thing was great and made them look even more conceded.
We head backstage and Maryese is backstage with Knoxville. DiBiase sees this and claims it was Knoxville who's sending notes to Maryese. Knoxville begs DiBiase not to come any closer and he does and gets a giant hand in his face, er hole body.Knoxville seems worried as Mayrese goes to check on him and she gets slapped by the hand and crashes to the floor as Knoxville runs off as we head to break.
Back in the ring and Johnny Knoxville is introduced. He quickly thanks everyone and drops a promo for Jackass 3D and tries to leave but DiBiases (stupid) music hit. DiBiase and Maryese make their way down and Dibiase starts to attack Knoxville. "You Are Mine" appears on the Titan Tron and DiBiase is staring at it when Goldust appears out of nowhere and lays out Dibiase. He tells Ted he's not what he wants. He corners Maryese in the corner and strokes her hair and tells her shes not what he wants. Goldie drops to his knees and grabs the million dollar belt and says that is what he wants. Goldusts music hits to a nice pop. Glad to see the WWE doing something with Dustin. Goldust can still go and can put on any style of match. And I'm pretty sure DiBiase Sr. and Dusty had a decent feud years and years ago.
Backstage Cena is seen sitting and staring at his Nexus armband as Otunga comes in and tries to comfort him. He says that Barrett can be demanding but Nexus isn't all bad and they can make it work. Otunga tells Cena that if he ever wants to talk he's there for him. Awkward moment.
Back from break and the battle royal is about to begin. Cena comes out with Nexus in his old gear. I'm not going to go through all the eliminations excpet WHY did Evan Bourne get eliminated first?? Cena protects Barrett the entire match. Mark Henry gets pissed at Cena at one point. The whole time Cole is putting over the fact that Edge got traded to Smackdown and isn't in the match and Jericho is injured and not in the match. My question is why didn't they replace them? Why wasn't Daniel Bryan in the match? He could have sold his injuries. Why was the Miz even in the match? He holds the money in the bank briefcase. He doesn't need to be number one contender. In the end it came down to Wade Barrett and John Cena. Cena looks ready to go with Barret and he just smiles and points to the back and tells Cena to eliminate himself. Cena goes back and fourth over weather to do it and sold it REALLY well. Eventually Cena jumps off the apron and heads to the back leaving Barret as the last man. Winner and new number one contender for the WWE Championship Wade Barrett. Barrett is in the ring celebrating when Orton's music hits. He makes his way down and has a stare down with Barrett as the show goes off the air.
Overall I was pleased with Raw this week. I loved the Cena/Nexus angle and what WWE is doing with it. They have a bunch of different ways to go and a number of them will work. Cenas acting has paid off as he REALLY sold well tonight. My only issues were the Bryan/Sheamus match, some stupid stuff(wheres Edge when you need him?) in the main event, and Orton not being on the show until the last 10 seconds. He's the champ he needs to be out there as the chap. Not just at the end. But again overall a real real solid show from the WWE.
Brian
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