WWE RAW Results (4-11) - Five Man #1 Contender Gauntlet Match & Edge Retires!
"Yes sir we promised you a great main event?.."
I unfortunately missed the first 2 minutes of Raw tonight due to a stubborn DVR problem. When I got it on, Lawler was arguing with Lawler in his penalty box. And John Cena's music hits the arena to a large pop, who goess off about the crowd reaction & the Mania 28 announcement made last week. Cena says it can't just be any regular match, but it has to be for the WWE Championship. He challenges The Miz, but Orton's music interrupts before Miz could even come out & he comes out to an even larger pop than Cena's. Orton says that Cena's business with Miz was done at Mania and he should step aside. Before Cena could respond, Morrison's music hits & he comes out to the ring. And from what I've seen on here the past few days, people are right. Morrison doesn't have any mic skills. He starts saying that he should be next in line, when Vickie comes out with Ziggler doing her "Excuse Me" bit. She jokes that she should be next in line, but then says it should be Ziggler who takes the mic. He goes off about being the most talented star in the ring right now, and that he's never faced The Miz before. The "What About Me?" train continues, this time with R-Truth coming to the ring. He says the truth is that he's never had a title bout. Finally, the Raw GM chimes in, with Cole standing up getting his usual heat. The GM announces a 5-Man Gauntlet match where two random stars start it out, and a random star comes out until all have participated with the winner becoming the #1 Contender & face Miz at Extreme Rules. Raw's music hits and we have a commercial break. Before the break, Cole announces a match between Lawler (w/JR in his corner) and Swagger (w/Cole in his corner.) If Swagger wins, Cole doesn't have to face Lawler ever again. But if Lawler wins, he gets to face Cole. They also announce that Edge will be there tonight with a "shocking" announcement, & they're speculating that his career is over.
Diva's Champion Eve vs Brie Bella (Diva's Championship Match)
The Twins are already in the ring when Eve comes out to the ring. The crowd is rather quiet during this match. Eve had control of the match, but they did the usual Bella switch, where Nikki came into the ring. It worked for a moment until the Ref noticed something that caused him to chase her out of the ring. The distraction succeeded because it caused Eve to be nailed from behind by Brie to get the 1-2-3 for the win and we have a new Diva's champion. So much for my theory of them being released within the next month or so.
Winner: Brie Bella with the Bella Switch (New Diva's Champion)
No postmatch here except the Twins celebrating in the ring as we go to another commercial break.
Back from break and they show Eve in the back after her match, visibly upset. Both Gail Kim & Natalya try to console her, but she brushes them both off, saying that everyone in the Diva's roster thinks of themselves. I think she's going heel pretty soon her, based on her attitude.
Sin Cara vs Primo Colon
Sin Cara comes out to the ring as Primo is already in the ring. Finally, a match not only to showcase their newest superstar, but also a match to give some of the mid-cards some TV time. A dazzling high flying match that saw Cara hit Primo with a hurricanrana outside the ring which also got a lot of pop from the crowd including a Sin Cara chant. At one moment, Primo goes for a power bomb, only for Cara to flip over him to get a roll up and only a 2 count. After two kicks to the head of Primo on the top turnbuckle, Cara takes him for what looks like a double sunset flip followed by a cover for the pinfall and the win.
Winner: Sin Cara
No postmatch, just another commercial break.
Back from break to a replay of Corre's attempted attack on Rock & Cena last week. After the clip, we're back at the arena and Corre are in the middle of the ring. Barrett starts talking about their failed atttack on them last week. He starts pushing his own heel button when he blames the rest of the Corre for their failure. Gabriel takes the mic from him first and starts boasting himself, claiming he's a 3 time tag champ, before Slater takes the mic and says "We are 3 time tag champs." He then says that no one is taking their success away, not Barrett, Nexus, or Corre, before Big Zeke takes the mic and says his piece. He calls himself dominent, bragging about slamming Big Show, as he gets the biggest positive reaction from the crowd during his promo. As he goes off on his rant, Santino's music hits and he's not alone. He comes out with Mark Henry, Daniel Bryan, & Evan Bourne. Santino calls his group the APPLE (Allied People Powered by Loathing Everything you stand for). Bourne, Bryan, & Henry barely contain their laughter at this, as Santino challenges Corre to a fight. Santino says "Apple powers, unite!" as he asks for them to bump fists on the stage, and Henry has this look on his face that says he thinks this is pathetic, & they come to the ring as we go to break.
APPLE vs CORRE (Santino, Evan Bourne, Daniel Bryan, & Mark Henry vs IC Champ Wade Barrett, Tag Champs Gabriel & Slater, & Ezekiel Jackson)
This match concept was just to rediculous to go on about the details here. As Santino goes for the Cobra, he's kicked in the head from behind, allowing Slater to hit his finisher & get the pinfall.
Winner: CORRE
Cole & Lawler go back and forth about their upcoming match, as JR's Sooner music hits to a nice pop from the crowd. During his entire entrance, Cole taunts him from his litter box. , which still has police tape on it for some reason. JR eventually starts going after Cole, literally rattling his cage. Swagger then comes from out of nowhere, but is cut off by Lawler and we have chaos before the match is to start, after the break.
Jerry Lawler vs Jack Swagger
Back from break, and this match is underway, while Matthews is solo on commentary. Cole continues to rant at ringside as JR cheers on Lawler. Cole running his mouth during this match is more annoying than Vickie's "Excuse Me" bit, making it look like a quiet walk in the park. Matthews has apparently been told by producers in the back to stay off commentary, just so that the TV audience can hear Cole & JR at ringside. Sorry guys, I had to mute this thing halfway through, as Cole's mouth was like nails on a chalkboard. When Jerry finally worked back and had Swagger under control, Cole got on the apron long enough to distract King for Swagger to hit him from behind. Cole remained on the apron until JR came around and pulled him off of it, much to the crowd's delight. When Swagger came over to take out JR, Lawler came from behind to get the roll up and the pinfall for the win.
Winner: Jerry "The King" Lawler
Postmatch: Lawler & JR celebrate at ringside as Cole & Swagger both look dumbstruck. It is said here by Matthews that because of the win, Lawler gets to face Cole at Extreme Rules & Lawler gets to choose the match AND the stipulation. Cole gets into the ring and starts berating Swagger for losing the match, even repeatedly attempting to give Swagger the "Finger Poke of Doom" & slapping Swagger across the face. Swagger only fumes & does not go after Cole, who is retreating back to the ramp. Lawler picks up the mic to name his terms. He says that he makes their match a tag match between him & JR versus Cole & Swagger. He asks Swagger what he thinks of that his partner is the guy who just slapped the taste out of his mouth. Matthews then takes us to a clip highlighting Mania's match between Taker & HHH, featuring comments from other superstars. Christian, Austin, Big Show, CM Punk, Edge, Orton, Patterson, Cena, and The Rock finishing with H's words from Raw last week. Before the break, we are shown Cena with Edge backstage, as Cena simply nods & shakes Edge's hands as he walks to the ring. His announcement is coming up next. Truly surreal to see the amount of respect between those two there.
Back from break as Edge makes his way to the ring. He asks the crowd to bare with him, because he may ramble a bit and not make much sense. (To which I replied, at least you're not arguing with a computer again.) He talks about that what the superstars do is very tough on their bodies. He sounds like he's getting ready to retire, though he did hint at it last year. He mentions his neck injury 8 years ago & that he's been in a lot of pain, losing feeling in his arms. He talks about taking a bunch of tests, and that the MRI results say that he has to retire, which draws a shocked reaction from the crowd. He says its not his choice (really?) and that it's the doctor's choice. He starts getting a standing ovation from the crowd. He is definitely shaking during this, emotions are clearly getting to him. The crowd claps "Thank you Edge" which almost brings a tear to Edge's face. He mentions talking to Christian and growing up watching the WWE, & being in the audience at Mania 6. He talks about Mania being his last match, and that he's retiring as the Heavyweight Champion. He also talks about his different stints & gimmicks (5 second pose), he thanks that he had a live sex celebration with Lita and not Vickie. He also talks about earning respect from everyone in the locker room & the fans. He says that if he was to be asked to do it again, he would do it in a heartbeat. He says thank you, and puts down the mic, to get a HUGE standing ovation from the crowd. A very quiet & somber roll to commercial break. I am just in total shock here... as I dry up a watery eye.
Back from break with JR on commentary. Edge is showing going backstage behind the entrance ramp, and EVERY superstar on the roster, including Dustin Rhodes aka Golddust in street clothes, are lined up for Edge, shaking hands and getting hugs for the future hall of famer. JR, Matthews, and King talk about what just happened as Miz's music hits and he comes out in street clothes to sit at commentary, with Riley in tow.
Five Man Gauntlet #1 Contender's Match featuring Randy Orton, John Cena, John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler, & R-Truth
Orton is the first to come out to the ring, followed by Dolph Ziggler with Vickie in tow. They went back and forth for a while until vintage Orton hits the DDT from the second rope. He coils up, but Otunga and McGillicuty come from out of nowhere, getting on the apron to cause the distraction long enough for Ziggler to roll him up and get the pinfall.
1st Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Otunga & McGillicutty get in the ring, but Orton holds his ground until a returning Mason Ryan comes in and hits Orton with a big boot to the skull. As the New Nexus beats down on Orton, we go to another break.
Back from break as R-Truth is out next, and Ziggler gets the early control thanks to distraction from Vickie. Truth managed to make a comeback, hiting his finisher to get the pinfall over Ziggler.
2nd Winner: R-Truth
John Morrison is out next immediately after the pinfall but we have another commerical break. This one ends quickly after Morrison misses Starship Pain, which allowed Truth to hit his finisher & get the pinfall.
3rd Winner: R-Truth
John Cena's music hits to a large pop again, and we have another commercial break. During the break, there was a commercial for Smackdown this Friday, already talking about Edge surrendering his Heavyweight Title. They waste no time.
Back from break to another LOUD mixed Cena chant from the crowd, Let's Go Cena vs Cena sucks! Reminds me of the taste's great/less filling chant from long ago. Cena goes for two early pin covers on Truth, but is kicked out each time. Cena is like a vulture circling leftovers under the hot dry sun. He nails move after move on Truth, each time trying to get the pinfall, but Truth kicks out each time. Truth mounts a strong comeback, even nailing a spinning kick on the former champ, but also gets a 2 count. Cena nails 2 shoulder blocks and a side slam, then goes for the 5 knuckle shuffle and nails it. As he goes for the AA, Miz & Riley hit the ring causing the double DQ. Miz takes to the mic, calling both of them losers because it's a double DQ and there is no #1 Contender. But the GM chimes in much to the crowds delight. Lawler takes it this time to read the email. He says that Miz is right, that there is no #1 Contender, but because there are now two #1 Contenders and the championship match at Extreme Rules is a triple threat match. Miz wants to throw a fit, but Cena and Truth are back up and they throw them from the ring. Cena hits Riley with the AA, before staring down Truth in the middle of the ring. They shake hands, then start playfully slapping each other on the shoulder which turns into a shoving match. Cena shoves Truth, who exits the ring and back up the ramp as this show closes. What a night!