We open with a video package focusing on the Big Show, and recapping his heel turn and subsequent rampage on RAW and SMACKDOWN, where he put down Brodus Clay, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth, Zack Ryder and Santino.
Our opening segment is Michael Cole interviewing John Cena. Cole blames Cena for shows rampage and intros him.
Cena comes in, seeming quite upbeat in his Green t-shirt and cap. Cole tries to shame Cena into going for cheap jokes instead of supporting Big Show. John argues that beating and getting rid of Johnny Ace would’ve gotten Show his job back. Cole says it’s not all about Cena and Show went with the “sure thing,” signing w/Johnny. Cena says Show wanted “a wallet the side of his ego,” and took the easy way out, and turned his back on everybody. Cole says Cena isn’t “interested” anymore and calls Cena “over-rated.” He hopes Show, for the sake of all of us who had to sit through his matches, puts Cena out of “our collective misery,” and takes him out.
Cue Johnny Ace. Johnny comes out and offers Cena the chance to pick an opponent for tonight. Show isn’t here, and Johnny is retired and off limits. Cena picks Cole, and Johnny rolls out while Cole desperately pleads for Johnny to come back.
Later tonight: Punk vs. Kane, there must be a winner.
DID YOU KNOW? Wrestlemania 28 has outsold the Super Bowl on DVD.
We’re back, and Cole is begging Johnny to reconsider. Johnny says there’s a rumor going around about up-coming evaluations and he’s all about people power, and the people want to see Cena vs. Cole. John sends him back to work, and one more thing…
“Don’t call me Johnny,” – Johnny Laurenitis Laurinitis Ace.
We get another look at World heavyweight champion Sheamus taking David Otunga out with the Brogue Kick on last week’s Smackdown.
Vicki Guerrero comes out with an “EXCUSE ME,” to introduce the man who is “better than each and every one,” of us “at everything” we do, Dolph Ziggler. Sheamus is out next while Cole and King hype the match between Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio at No Way Out.
The bell rings. Ziggler ducks under a charging Sheamus and lays in with kicks and punches. Sheamus fires back with forearm smashes. Ziggler whipped into the corner, Ziggler hits an elbow and takes Sheamus down with a kick to the shin. Ziggler shoots off the ropes, Sheamus catches him and hoists him up on his shoulders, Ziggler slides down behind him and tries for a sunset flip, but Sheamus pulls him up by the head back on his shoulders, and scores a running Samoan Drop for a two count.
Ziggler in the ropes, as Sheamus gouges at his face. Sheamus shoots off the ropes, Ziggler pulls down the top rope, Sheamus over and out to the floor. Sheamus pulls Ziggler out by his heels, pulls him up by the hair, throws him over his shoulder and heads for the corner post. Ziggler slips down behind him and tries to shove him into the post, but Sheamus blocks it and elbows Ziggler back.
Sheamus tries to whip Ziggler into the stairs, but Ziggler meets them feet first and climbs up and over without breaking his momentum. Vicki distracts Sheamus allowing Dolph to climb back in and hit a sliding dropkick. Sheamus is down, and Ziggler plays to the crowd.
COMMERCIAL
We’re back and Ziggler has Sheamus in a chin lock/arm bar combo. Sheamus gets to his feet and hits two head buts but shoos off the ropes into a knee by Ziggler. Ziggler takes Sheamus down in a cross face. We’re shown how, during the commercial, Sheamus missed a charge and went shoulder first into the corner. Ziggler hits an arm breaker and has had control since. Ziggler has the chin lock arm bar combo again but Sheamus gets up and head buts Ziggler backwards. Ziggler goes into the corner with a shoulder-block and Sheamus hits two axe-handle forearms and a power slam for a two count. Ziggler ducks a clothes-line and hits a kick to the mid-section, shin, and jumps on Sheamus with the DDT. Both men down, Ziggler gets a two-count. Ziggler climbs the corner, Sheamus gets two hits, but Ziggler hits a flurry of kicks, punches, and elbows. Ziggler takes Sheamus by the hair and hits a Fame-Asser off the top rope for a two count.
Both men stagger to their feet. Ziggler jumps on Sheamus with a sleeper attempt, but Sheamus tosses him off. Ziggler jumps into the “white noise” by Sheamus. Sheamus hits the “Brogue Kick” on Ziggler and gets a three count.
Sheamus walks out a winner but gets ambushed by Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez. Sheamus goes down, head-first into the set and Del Rio slaps on the cross-arm-breaker, with Sheamus’ shoulder against the edge of the stage. Officials check him over as we go to commercial.
We come back with Johnny Ace demanding coffee from a crew member. David Otunga enters to tell Jonny about an announcement on WWE.com. Vince McMahon will be on RAW next week to evaluate Johnny’s job performance. John acts confident.
We fade in to Cole and Jerry. Cole says this explains why Johnny has him wrestling Cena. He just wants to impress Mr. McMahon.
Sin Cara, rocking the new Red/Silver look, makes his entrance. Next out is Hunico w/Camacho. This will be one on one.
Hunico scores a low kick and clubs Sin Cara w/forearms. Sin Cara whipped in, flips into the ropes, flips over Hunico, takes Hunico by the hand, hits a kick, climbs the ropes, flips 360 degrees over Hunico, arm drags him out to the floor, and hits the hurraconrana on the outside.
Sin Cara tosses Hunico back in, jumps over the top rope, over Hunico with a sunset flip attempt. Hunico rolls out and hits a kick to the head for a one count.
Hunico stomps Sin Cara, hooks his arms, takes him up in double under hook suplex and drops him back first on the knee for a two count.
Chin lock by Hunico. Hunico hoists Sin Cara up on his shoulders and spins, Cara holds on to the arm and scores an arm drag take-down.
Hunico charges into Cara’s feet, misses a second charge. Cara charges in, Hunico backdrops him to the outside apron, Cara holds the top rope and scores a double kick, followed by a hurriconrana and a drop kick.
Sin Cara charges, Hunico tries a hip toss but Cara ricochets off the ropes and gets an inverted arm drag, followed by a springing back elbow.
Sin Cara hits a dropkick on Camacho, runs into a slam attempt by Hunico, lands feet first and gets a flying head-scissors/face plant combo for the three-count.
Ryback is up next, and we go to commercial with a brief video recap of his wins.
COMMERCIAL
Promo for RAW 1000 next week, Cenas favorite RAW memory is getting picked for team RAW in the draft.
We’re back in the ring with the team of Rosenberg and Stansky, from Downers Grove, Illinois. They introduce themselves w/a poem.
“He may be undefeated, but perhaps he’s never heard, of the two men that will defeat him –Stan Stansky and Arthur Rosenberg. We’ve watched the men that tried (?) and he’s crushed them then and again, on a scale of one to five, the two of us are a ten, So sit back and relax, eat your popcorn, have some fun, cause’ tonight, Ryback will understand, why two is greater than one.” – Stan Stansky; and Arthur Rosenberg
Cole is unimpressed.
Ryback enters with a huge close up on his face and pyro off camera. The match begins and Ryback LAUNCHES one opponent into the air with a simple back drop. The picture goes out for a second and Lawler jokes about the guy “taking out the satellite.” The second guy leaps into Ryback and gets tossed into his partner. Ryback takes the first opponent up in suplex position, and then does a brief march before dropping him. He tosses both men into a corner and crushes them with a shoulder charge. He shoots off the ropes and takes BOTH MEN DOWN WITH ONE CLOTHESLINE. Ryback hooks both men in a suplex position and hoists them both up on his shoulders. He marches briefly, takes a short run and drops back down on both men for the three-count.
Punk vs. Kane is next.
There MUST be a winner.
COMMERCIAL
C.M. Punk comes out to “Cult of Personality,” while we hype the triple threat match at No Way Out for the WWE title. Cole begs Johnny to call off the main event. Johnny hangs up on him. Daniel Bryan comes out and grabs the mike for “Q&A time.”
“Has AJ gone completely delusional, since I dumped her? Yes! Will Kane destroy C.M. Punk tonight? Yes!
At No Way Out, in the triple threat match, will I become the new WWE champion? YES! YES! YES!” – Daniel Bryan
Kane’s pyro goes off while Bryan takes a seat. The WWE has a poll up on the website, “who is the greatest threat to C.M. Punk, Kane, Daniel Bryan… or AJ?”
Punk and Kane lock up. Kane forces Punk to the corner, and beats him down with a knee, punches, and stomping. He takes punk by the head into another corner, and continues the beat down. Kane whips Punk across the ring, charges into a big boot by Punk. Punk scores a jumping thrust kick, and takes Kane over and out with a clothes line. Punk hits the ropes and launches himself shoulder first into Kane, putting him down. Punk goes up on a corner and hits a flying axe-handle. Punk forces Kane back in the ring. He goes up top and hits him with a flying body press for a two count.
Punk scores a few kicks to the mid-section but runs into a knee. Kane hits the low drop-kick to the head for a two count. Kane shoves Punk by the head into a corner and hits a punch. He goes outside the ring to send Punk back with a shot to the face. He stomps Punk down and drops several elbows to Punks chest for a two count.
Kane body slams Punk and drops the leg for a two count, then locks Punk up in a chin lock-leg scissors combo, but Punk elbows out of it. Punk takes over with kicks, forearm shots, and elbows. Kane scoops him up but Punk slides down behind him and scores a hard kick to the mid section. Punk charges, but Kane catches him by the neck and tosses him over the top rope to the floor. Daniel Bryan laughs.
COMMERCIAL
We’re back and Punk hooks a sleeper attempt while Cole begs Daniel Bryan for help in his match with John Cena. Kane drops Punk with a belly to back suplex, and gets a two count.
Kane has Punk in a chin lock. Punk elbows out, and gives Kane a few shots but gets caught in a side-slam for a two count.
Kane goes to the top rope, but Punk rockets up to meet him with a kick to the head, and both men are down. Punk scores the high-knee/bulldog combo for a two count.
Punk goes outside and springs to the top rope for a flying clothesline and a two count.
Punk tries to get Kane up on his shoulders for a “go to sleep,” but can’t hold him. Punk shoots off the ropes into a big boot by Kane and a two count.
Kane gets set for a choke slam, but Punk ducks, hooks the arm and gets a neck breaker for two.
While Bryan looks on, Punk goes to the top rope. Kane scores a shot to the face, and attempts a Superplex, but Punk fights him off. Kane goes down, and Punk hits a flying elbow for two.
Punk connects with a sliding kick, and lays in with forearms. Kane sends him hard, into the barricade, and crawls back in the ring. Bryan scores two kicks to Punk while the ref is busy with Kane.
Kane brings Punk back in with a hip toss and tries another choke-slam, Punk scores a kick to the head.
Both men are down, and AJ runs out. AJ argues with the ref, Bryan starts yelling at AJ, Punk launches himself into Bryan and bounces his head on the barricade.
Punk slides back in the ring and Kane scores a choke slam for the three-count.
AJ gets in the ring to tend to Punk. Kane stares at AJ. Bryan hits Kane, Kane kicks Bryan out. Kane turns back to AJ. AJ, SMILES at Kane. Kane looks confused, and leaves. AJ looks confused, and goes back to Punk. Bryan looks confused.
We do a promo for Cole vs. Cena and go to commercial.
DID YOU KNOW? WWE has more Facebook fans than MLB.
Josh Mathews interview AJ, asking about the “look” she gave Kane. AJ goes “manic pixie girl” (key word – manic,) on Josh and scares him off.
We recap Cena challenging Cole at the beginning of the show. Cole begs the WWE universe to use social media to beg Johnny Ace to call off the match. We go to a promo for Big Show, talking about how after 18 years of everybody else’s crap, we’re all gonna feel his pain.
Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Kofi Kingston come out as we go to commercial.
We’re back, and it’s Kofi in the ring w/Curt Hawkins. Kofi and Truth are all taped up, selling injuries from last week. Kofi and Curtis lock up, Kofi gets a wrist lock, Hawkins counters into a side head lock, Kofi sends him into the ropes, and Hawkins scores a shoulder block, hits the ropes, Kofi down, Hawkins over, Kofi leapfrogs twice and hits an elbow for a two count.
Kofi pulls Hawkins back w/the hammerlock, tags in R-Truth, double whip into a double hip toss, Kofi hits a kick to the face, Truth does a jumping split, hits the ropes, does a spin and drops a leg for a two count.
Hawkins tags in his partner, Tyler Recks, who runs into a leg-trip, take down; misses a clothesline attempt and R-Truth hits a spiraling forearm.
Truth pummels Recks in the corner. Hawkins takes a cheap shot from outside. Truth kicks him to the floor, but Recks pulls Truth back down hard, and beats on him. He picks him up in a back-breaker, and tags in Hawkins.
Hawkins gets in a shot to the side, a knee to the back, and tags back out to Recks, who stomps on Truth.
Truth and Recks trade shots. Recks pick Truth up in a slam, but Truth slides out and hits a jumping thrust kick. Recks tags in Hawkins, Truth tags in Kofi. Kofi comes off the top rope with the “superman punch,” to Hawkins, a boot to Recks, and a clothesline, knife chop, dropkick combo to Hawkins. Kofi hits another flying punch, and gives Hawkins the “boom boom” double leg drop.
Kofi, in the corner, signals for “Trouble in Paradise,” but has to take out Recks. Hawkins misses a clothesline, Kofi misses the kick, Hawkins shoves him into the corner, Kofi hits a flying body press for two, but Recks breaks it up.
Truth runs into a boot by Recks, Recks tosses him out, Truth pulls Recks out by the ankles to the floor, Hawkins misses a charge and Kofi connects with the “Trouble in Paradise” kick for the three-count.
Cole is told his match with Cena is next. Cena walks to the ring with a smile the length of his entire face, while Cole palms his face.
COMMERCIAL
Promo for RAW 1000: Triple Hs’ best RAW memory, making a big comeback from leg surgery on Jan 7, 2002.
We’re back, and Cena gets introduced for his match, Cole tries to talk his way out of it. Johnny Ace rolls in on his chair, and makes it a no dq match… if Cena can beat Tensai.
They lock up, and Tensai scores an elbow to Cenas head. Tensai punches Cena into the corner and beats him down with punching and stomping. Tensai gets a head butt, and pummels Cena into the ropes. Tensai digs his boot into Cena as the crowd starts the “Let’s go Cena/Cena Sucks,” chant.
Tensai catapults Cena neck-first into the middle rope. Cena gets up, and trades punches with Tensai. Cena fights him back, and takes him over and out to the floor with a clothesline.
Cena throws Tensai back in the ring, but Sakamoto gets two strong kicks to Cena while the ref isn’t looking. Michael Cole cheers as we go to commercial.
We come back to Tensai squeezing Cenas head. Cena fights out with a dropkick, but Tensai takes him down with a clothesline.
Tensai picks him up into the corner, whips him across the ring, and hits him with an “avalanche.” Tensai tries it again, but runs into Cenas boots. Cena scores a bulldog from the top rope, but when he tries a suplex, Tensai floats over and drops down on Cenas arm. Tensai hits Cena with a charge and gets a two count.
Tensai sends Cena to the floor with a big head butt. Michael Cole takes the chance to taunt Cena. Tensai bounces Cenas head off the announce table. Cole gets in a slap, and Jerry gets up to shove Cole back.
Jerry and Cole get heated at each other while Tensai beats Cena down, and whips him into the stairs.
Cena just beats the ten-count to get back in the ring. Tensai hooks a double underarm suplex for a two count, but misses a senton splash. Cena hits a shoulder block, ducks a clothesline, and gets Tensai down with another shoulder block. Cena clocks Sakamoto, ducks a shot from Tensai, gets him up in a cradle-drop suplex, hits the five knuckle shuffle, gets him up in the “AA” and gets the three-count.
And now, the “main event,” of the evening; Cole has to face John Cena in a no dq match. Cena is all smiles; Cole looks like he’s facing foreclosure on his home. Cole gets up… and runs into the audience. Cena catches him, and after a noogie or two, tosses him over the railing. Cole runs to the announcers’ seat and grabs a mike as Cena throws him back in the ring.
Cole tries to talk Cena out of the match; however it quickly turns into an angry promo about how important he is. This leads to Cena ripping all Coles’ clothes off and mimicking Big Shows’ “shhh” routine before slapping the hell out of Cole.
Cena grabs Cole in a chin lock and makes him apologize into the mike, to Jerry Lawler, then to J.R. The logical follow up is to pour BBQ sauce all over him. Cena follows this up with his hilarious fire extinguisher routine, spraying Cole until Tensai sneaks in a double choke-slam. Cole gets a cheap two-count, and then tries to whack Cena with the extinguisher. Cena catches him in the “AA,” and this match finally ends.

Independent wrestling star Ethan Page took time out of his Saturday to speak with BoredWrestlingFan.com’s Justin Ruff.  In the 23 minute interview, Page talks about what made him get into wrestling, Val Venis being his favorite Canadian wrestler, his martial arts background, some of his favorite guys to work with, difficulty getting booked in the United States, “Ian (Rotten) is kind of a retard,” being one of the only two males on the AIW “Girls Night Out” card, the effect of illegal downloading on independent pro wrestling, and much more.  Click the link to download!

BWF Interview: Ethan Page (MP3 Format, 23:01)

The BWF Radio crew is back with your usual show recaps and wrestling news talk.  This week, the guys talk Joey Ryan and his potential, Brooke Hogan as knockouts guru, and Dolph Ziggler as one of the best workers in the business.  Also discussed is the ongoing TNA/WWE lawsuit, the Randy Orton and Chris Jericho suspensions, potential opponents for Ziggler at No Way Out, and much, much more.  You don’t want to miss this week’s episode!  Click the link to listen!

BoredWrestlingFan Radio Episode 25 (MP3, 2:00:00)

For more awesome 8-Bit characters, check out Al Creed on Tumblr: http://alcreed.tumblr.com/

Unlike last week, I am coming into this episode with a better attitude. Perhaps this is a result of a vastly improved RAW (well, at least by comparison) and a mildly entertaining live Impact on Thursday. I’m not sure why my mindset is linked to other grappling content I partake, but it is. Let’s see if the WWE can continue this trend as Sin Cara returns tonight! Let’s have at it, shall we?
(more…)

So some downer news to start off and that is the leaving of Alex Shelley. This on the heels of the MCMG’s return. The division looks as empty as the knockout tag division at a time when iMPACT should be bragging about its dominance over The ‘E in Tag team wrestling…well I guess there is ROH.

Sadness over. Now on to Roode vs Sting in a Lumberjack match. This is a good opener that showcases the excitement of the crowd when there allowed to watch a show without having to sit through the retakes and can just sit back and be fans. Watching the ring I never realized the over abundance of faces compared to heels which is the exact opposite to brand eck!

Sting gets the win and just when you think that, yeah Sting got his revenge for Victory Road. Then Hogan comes out and calls for a match at Slammiversary where Sting takes on Roode for the TNA World Title. what about James Storm?

Oh look Madison…NEXT!!!!!

Joseph Park esq and Bully Ray have thier weekly confrontation over “My Brother Chris, you know Abyss” and what Ray has done to him. (even though a couple of weeks ago Abyss appeared okay so what is Bully Ray guilty of?! Ray calls Joseph’s whole family cowards and when the sweaty lawyer went to grab the bully, Ray threatens lawsuit only to antagonize him some more. Either way a fun entertaining segment.

Samoa Joe and Aries have an altercation that later leads to a match at Slammiversary. But before the PPV Aries takes on the staying half of the Motor City Machine Guns in the guise of “Hail Sabin” Chris Sabin. Good match that makes you wonder if we will see more of it now that he is a singles competitor but we’re not psychic so I watch to see Aries go over with a small package.

Coming in ten days TNA is celebrating 10 years of existing and Dixie “MILF” Carter announces that the Hall of Fame is coming to TNA with an inductee being announced during Slammiversary. She then call out Brooke Hogan who know is in charge of the Knockouts. I loved the mixxed reaction and what that means for her arrival of either putting up or shutting up. hey Brooke, We need a revitalized knockout division that has more than 4women in it.

kazarian and Daniels are gold backstage during Dixie’s promo.

And we have the television title match that Hogan promised us every week missing one along the way. Mr. Anderson, Jeff hardy,RVD and someone who will not be named wait to see what the total one and guess what it was….Jeff Hardy.

And like clockwork the Robbie’s interfere which leads to a Jeff Hardy winning by DQ. Right before the faces clear the heels which leads to a tag match between The Robbies vs Devon and Garett Bishchoff?

UGH!

James Storm is having a crisis of faith about winning the world title and why do I feel that we won’t resolve this till Bound For Glory.

AJ and Daniels have a match. So when are we going to see match #12356 but it still shows the integrity of how they wrestle. AJ wins but is then jumped by Daniels with Kaz only for the newly appointed face Kurt Angle to make the save but both are taken out by the heels.

Daniels plays a recording of Dixie and AJ only to have Dixie herself come down and take control of TAZ’s headset and ask for the show to be shut down.

Sidenote:Joey Ryan didn’t make the cut because he’s a jackass who pissed off Taz, Flair’s replacement. Where is Alex Silva?

This is a Road Rage edition of ROH recapping the Border Wars ippv  a couple weeks ago:

(more…)

We open with the annual Memorial Day tribute montage to our armed forces, asking us to reflect on all we owe them.

(Does that include health care and financial aid?)

Our “prologue” if you will, is a recap of everything you know by now if you watch WWE programs.  Show double-crossed Cena at Over the Limit because no one felt sorry for him when he was humiliated and fired.

Back in present time, the Big Show comes out in the Big Suit.  He points to the smile on his face and says that’s doing his job.  All those times he came out and made us smile was just business.  Now that he has an iron clad contract and a huge bonus, he doesn’t have to care about anybody but himself.  He claims there’s no one in his league;

“No helmet, shoulder pad, 4 month out of the year, NFL player, no toothpick, noodle arm, NBA player, no Phony UFC fighter, and no one, in that locker room.”

Show claims what really upset him was how easily we moved on without him.  Here we cut to a clip of Brodus Clay dancing with the ladies and kids.

“MY TEARS WEREN’T EVEN DRY!” – Big Show.

Apparently, we’re all shallow and phony to him, but the biggest disappointment was Cena not leading a mutiny in support of Big Show, how instead, he chose to mock Johnny Ace, and act like everything was a joke.

“I guess that’s all I am; one big joke.” – Big Show.

Show gives us a rundown of Cenas’ recent failures including the loss to Rock, the beating from Brock, and the loss to Johnny Ace, and promises to do all that and more to him at No Way Out.

“And that put’s a Smile on my Face.” – Big Show.

Punk vs. Bryan is announced while we watch Santino Morella get warmed up for his match with Alberto Del Rio.

Commercials

REWIND: LAST FRI, SMACKDOWN – Santino def. Ricardo Rodriguez.

We come back to the action with Alberto Del Rio driving in one of his expensive cars as RR introduces him, while Santino “power walks” to the ring.

Alberto Del Rio vs. U.S. heavyweight champion Santino Morella

Del Rio Charges before the bell.

Beats down Santino w/kicks to the legs and punches to the head.

Front face lock by Del Rio as he takes him to the corner.

Del Rio misses a charge into the corner.

Santino w/a hip toss/diving head butt combo.

Santino goes for the COBRA!

Del Rio w/a kick to the torso, front face lock, float over into the cross arm-breaker.

Santino taps out.

WINNER; ALBERTO DEL RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIO!

Rodriguez makes a point of shouting right in the face of Santino and rubbing it in.

Backstage: We see Eve close up.  Alex Riley is with her, trying to sweet talk her into something when Big Show walks in.  Eve informs Show that Johnny Ace has authorized him to pick his own opponent for tonight and leaves.  Riley tries to make nice with the Show which results in Show sending a message to the whole locker room, by slamming Riley into the wall.

Commercials

Shot of Bourbon Street

Up next is a WWE TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH!

Champs Kofi Kingston/R-Truth are out first.

Vicki Guerrero comes out and starts with the “EXCUSE ME!” bit.

Crowd shot: Sign -“There’s no excuse for you Vicki!”

Vicki introduces Jack Swagger an Dolph Ziggler.

Tag Team Title Match: R-Truth/Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler/Jack Swagger

Swagger/Kofi each go in first.

Collar-elbow lock up, into the corner.

Swagger misses a charge.

Kofi w/2 shots to the legs and a dropkick.

Tag to R-Truth.

There is a Double hip toss on Swagger.

Truth w/a dance and a leg drop for a two count.

Swagger whips Truth into the ropes.

Truth hits the breaks and gives a shimmy.

Swagger charges.

Truth ducks.

Swagger over and out to the floor.

Ziggler runs in.

Kick by Kofi connects with Ziggler.

Double wrist lock/jumping snap kick to Ziggler.

Double baseball slide kick sends Ziggler to the floor.

Commercial

Back from commercial.

Swagger with a double arm hook on Kofi.

Recap: During commercial, Ziggler distracts Kofi, Swagger hits a shoulder block, and Kofi hits the floor.

Kofi fights off a double teaming, but is sent hard, back into the corner.

Swagger w/shoulder blocks.

Ziggler starts choking Kofi w/tag rope.

Swagger w/a body slam to Kofi and tags Ziggler.

Ziggler drops an elbow and gets 2 w/sloppy cover.

Chin lock/arm bar on Kofi by Ziggler.

Both men up.

Kofi gets two hits.

Ziggler kicks him into the corner, misses a charge.

Ziggler gets a tag.

Kofi makes a tag.

R-truth hits Swagger with flying thrust kick, boot to the stomach, DDT for a 2 count.

Ziggler makes the save.

Truth launches Kofi up/over/into Swagger.

Swagger tries a roll-up, for a 2 count.

Swagger hoist Truth up, charges the corner.

Truth slips behind.

Swagger hits the corner.

Truth jumps up, grabs his head, and pulls him face first to the canvas.

Truth scores the 3 count.

WINNERS/STILL CHAMPIONS: R-TRUTH/KOFI KINGSTON

Ziggler is not happy.

He tells off Vicki and Swagger and bolts.

Backstage: Santino is walking hurt with some help when Show rolls up on him and grabs his face.  He teases calling out Santino as his opponent when Brodus Clay steps up and dares Show to pick him.  Show agrees.

“Forget about dancing. You won’t even be walking.” – Big Show.

Commercials

Did you know? WWE’s “Be a Star” Campaign made it into the records in congress.

Johnny Laurenitis  Larinitis Meningitis Ace, GM of both RAW and SMACKDOWN rolls out in his motorized wheelchair with David Otunga and Eve Torres in tow.  He introduces himself and announces he will now make several announcements.  Big Show will face Brodus Clay tonight, and at No Way Out, Cena vs. Big Show is now a CAGE MATCH.  Johnny claims to be “the most popular WWE superstar in history,” and talks about people wanting HIM on the cover of the new WWE 12 video game.  John pulls the cover off an easel to reveal his face beaming off the cover of the game box.

“This Will Be Bigger Than Pac Man!” – Johnny Ace.

We hit the song “Cult of Personality,” and here comes the WWE champion, C.M. Punk.  Punk hits the ring, and alls out Johnny on his bull-shinola.

“Neither Pac Man nor you have ANY testicles whatsoever.” – C.M. Punk.

Punk basically calls the formerly Dynamic Dude out of touch and reveals the TRUE face of WWE ’12.  We hit the fireworks and drop the canvas.  C.M. Punk stands cross armed, straight edged, and ready to fight on the cover of the new game.

“Take the hoeski and Carlton and get outta my ring.” – C.M. Punk.

Johnny, not wanting to incur the wrath of the B.O.D. ; simply limps out the ring with underlings in tow, while Punk trashes Johnny’s picture.

Punk v. Bryan next

Commercials

Crowd Sign: YES!

We come back with Punk in the ring and Bryan making the big entrance, while the announcers –Cole and King- bring up the recent unpleasantness with Kane and some folding chairs.

Recap: Bryan attacking Kane w/Chair last Smackdown.

WWE Champion C.M. Punk vs. Daniel Bryan

Lock up.

Bryan w/the wristlock into a side headlock, both men back into the ropes.

Bryan hits a shoulder block off the ropes.

Bryan shoots off the ropes, over Punk.

Punk leapfrogs Bryan.

Hip toss, arm drag, Punk w/the arm bar.

Bryan gets up on his feet.

Punk puts a wristlock on Bryan.

Bryan rolls over/benches up, hooks Punk at the waist, takes him over with a suplex variation, into the arm bar.

Bryan bends Punk’s hand backwards, presses it to the mat, stomps the elbow, and locks in a hammerlock.

Punk elbows free, shoots off the ropes.

Bryan goes down.

Punk goes over.

Bryan jumps up.

Punk catches him, hits a reverse atomic drop, and a kick to the torso.

Punk drops the knee five times and leg scissors Bryan.

Punk ties up Bryans’ legs and gets him into the surfboard.

Bryan rolls out, lands on Punk, 2 count.

Punk sweeps the legs, gets a 2 count.

Bryan hooks the legs, flips on top, and gets a 2 count.

Punk bridges up. Both men struggle for a back slide.  Punk hoist Bryan up on his shoulder and drops him back first into the knee for a 2 count.

Punk hooks Bryan into suplex position but drops him on the top rope.

Punk moves in, Bryan grabs the arm and drops down, pulling the arm across the rope.

Bryan hits a flying knee off the top rope and slide kicks Punk to the floor.

Bryan dives, Punk side steps and hits a kick to the mid section.

Punk hits a moonsault off the ropes onto Bryan.

AJ comes to ringside.

Commercial

We return w/Punk putting the boots to Bryan in the corner.

Replay: Bryan hits a flying knee on the outside.

Punk tries a suplex, Bryan slips out, whips into the corner, reversal.  Bryan climbs the corner and flips over Punk, runs into Punks’ boot.  Punk misses a moonsault and lands hard.

Bryan hits with a running charge/low dropkick, and works Punks’ arm.

Punk fights back w/kicks, but Bryan hooks a wristlock and pulls the arm hard across his shoulder.

Bryan goes “YES!” 3 times and scores a running dropkick into the corner, 2 count only.

Punk hits some kicks but Bryan hooks the arm and takes Punk up/over w/a suplex for a 2 count.

Bryan goes back on the arm.

Punk gets 2 hits.  Bryan works the arm again but runs into a knee by Punk.

Punk hits a charging forearm, shoots Bryan into the ropes.  He hits a jump-thrust kick for a two count.

Punk scores a running knee lift in the corner, but Bryan shrugs off the bulldog attempt.

Bryan misses a kick.  Punk gets 2 w/a roll up.

Forearm twice by Bryan, reversed Irish whip, Punk up/over to the ring apron, shoulder block by Punk and a clothesline from the top rope for 2.

Punk tries a flying elbow, but Bryan hits the rope and Punk drops crotch-first on the corner.

Superplex by Bryan gets 2.

Bryan heads to the corner and unties a turnbuckle.

AJ gets up on the ring and tries to tell the ref.

Bryan shouts at her, Punk scores a kick to the head for 2.

Punk yells at AJ, charges Bryan, Bryan hoists him up, face-first into the exposed corner for a 3-count.

Bryan celebrates until Kane attacks him w/a chair.  He choke slams Bryan out.

AJ throws Punk a chair, Punk fights off Kane.

WINNER: DANIEL BRYAN. (YES! YES! YES!)

Backstage-Eve sends Teddy for some coffee while Johnny Ace berates her and Otunga.  He points out that Otunga taped out in 10 seconds to the STF, while Johnny took two at the last ppv. He berates Eve for not getting Sheamus to apologize to him. He threatens to stay on the job another 20 years and Eve spits her coffee on Teddy.  That’s more of my attention than it deserves.

More commercials

I-C Champion Christian vs. Miz (surprise!)

Lock up.

Miz w/a knee, gets a side headlock.

Christian shoots him off the ropes.

Christian ducks down.

Miz goes over.

Christian w/a flying shoulder block.

Christian w/a boot to the mid-section, sunset flip off the top rope.

Miz rolls out and hits a kick to the face for a 2.

Miz takes Christian face first into the corner. He beats him down w/a knee and punching.

Miz walks back, and hits a charging leap clothesline.

Miz scores a double ax-handle for a 2 count.

Chin lock by Miz.

Christian fights out, but Miz scores his reverse face lock, knee drop, neck breaker combo for 2.

Miz drops down on Christians’ back and works a chin lock.

Christian fights his way to his feet, Miz takes him to the corner. Miz hits 2 shoulder blocks and sets Christian up on the corner. Christian fights him back and scores a missle drop kick for 2.

Christian springs over the top rope, hits a shot to face on Miz.

Christian climbs the corner, hops over Miz and scores a reverse DDT.

Christian tries a spear, but eats a boot to the face, Miz gets 2.

Miz wails on Christian in the corner, Christian hits a double kick to the face, and a flying elbow from the top rope.

Christian gets distracted by Cody Rhodes, Miz gets 2 w/a roll up.

Christian goes to the corner and hits a kick to the midsection. He hops up on the corner ropes but Miz grabs an ankle and pulls.

Christian hits the mat face first.

Miz tries for the “Skull Crushing Finale,” Christian reverses it into a “Killswitch” attempt, but Miz shoves him into the corner.

Miz misses a charge and hits the corner.  Christian hits the Killswitch and gets the 3.

More Commercials

We’re back, and Miz is peeved about not being treated like a star.  He’s not leaving the ring until…

Cue Randy Orton.

Orton hits the RKO and basks in the cheers.

Backstage: Dolph thinks he should be getting cheers like Orton.  He wants out of his tag team with Ziggler.  Vicky will see what she can do.

Next: Sheamus v. Otunga.

Before the next break, we get a special Memorial Day voice over message from John Cena.  It’s basically an elaborate “thank you,” to our Armed Forces for their service.  I agree with the sentiment, I just think it’s a little bit pandering to have Cena be the only one to do it.

Commercial

We come back to David Otunga making his entrance to a round of boos.  Sheamus comes out next.

World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus vs. David Otunga

Otunga charges in strong w/kicks and punches, but Sheamus fires back.

Sheamus tries a whip, Otunga reverses it, but a hip-toss attempt is met w/ a clothesline.

Otunga rolls out.

Sheamus goes after Otunga.  Otunga pulls Sheamus neck first into the rope.

Otunga charges, Sheamus scoops him up into a slam attempt.

Otunga slides down, and sends Sheamus into the corner.  Otunga hits a solid clothesline for a 1 count.

Otunga hooks the head and peppers Sheamus on the chest with clubbing shots.

Otunga shoots off the ropes and hits a low shoulder block. Otunga makes 3 pin attempts in a row, but never gets more than 2.

Otunga takes Sheamus to the corner and works him over w/knees and clubbing forearms. He flexes for the crowd.

Otunga whips Sheamus into the corner, Sheamus bounces back with an axe-handle smash, then another. He sends Otunga over the top rope, Otunga hangs on.  Sheamus clubs his chest with forearm shots. He pulls Otunga in and hits the “white noise.”

Sheamus ends this with the “Brogue kick” and a 3 count.

Crowd Shot: Kid rocking The Sheamus look.

FUNKASAURUS up next

Commercial: ECW Unreleased, vol.1

Madagascar 3 – interest 0

Recap: Over The Limit – Big Show’s betrayal, and subsequent sucker punch on Cena.

We have the intro –you know the drill.

Funkasaurs, Funkateers, Funka-dactyls, and I go Funk myself.

The announcers remind us Brodus is 22 and 0 so far in his run.

Big Show comes out. He claims to be a fan, and compares embarrassing things he’s done (sumo match at mania in a diaper,) to Brodus doing embarrassing things every night. He suggests Brodus get some make-up/a wig and be the new Doink.

“The Difference btw you and Doink, Doink actually had talent.” – Big Show.

Brodus dares Show to step up.  Show responds with a spear that shakes the arena (or at least a cameraman.) And from that point on, it’s pretty much a mugging.  The Funkasaurs is bitchified all over the arena floor while his backup dancers stand scared in the ring.  Kofi and R-Truth run out to try a save, but Show tosses Kofi into R-Truth and resumes the battering with a piece of the announcers table.  Show brutalizes Truth.  Kofi gets a big kick in, but gets sent through the Barricade.  Truth gets sent to the stairs.  WMD to Clay and Show leaves 3 men down.

Raw ends with Johnny Ace raising the Show’s hand, up on the stage.

RYTMANS’ RESPONSE: Ya know, at this point, I like it when a show goes on autopilot like this.  We get more actual wrestling, and interview segments that actually go somewhere (for the most part.) However, right now, I’d like to address all the people who were complaining that WWE wasn’t giving the Punk/Bryan program enough attention.

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!? WE GOT KANE AND AJ BOTH SHOVED INTO THIS!  ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WWE PAYS ATTENTION TO SOMETHING WE LIKE!  ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?

For the record, I can’t hate on Kane or AJ, and I’m good with them making a check.  I just don’t know why we have to pile on sub-plots to a story we’re happy with.

Show was awesome tonight, and actually got the crowd chanting big for Cena.  Show makes an awesome monster heel, mainly because he‘s got charisma and personality peppered into his rage.

Side Note: I’m actually wondering if any of that stuff he said about being treated like a joke was a shoot.

Side-Side Note: BOD = Board of Directors

So, there’s my first ever official RAW recap.  Hope you like it.

Tonight, I take my first stab at recapping WWE RAW for the BWF faithful. Be back tonight after RAW to check it out!

We here at BoredWrestlingFan.com cannot thank David Fuller enough for joining us on such short notice after our scheduled interview went awry.  On Friday night, he took an hour out of his day to discuss his professional wrestling career.

In the 56 minute interview, David talks to BWF’s Justin Ruff about a number of things, including losing his mother at a young age, growing up wanting to be a wrestling promoter, who his favorite wrestler was growing up, what drew him to the business, training with Johnny Valentine, his first experience with NWA, being banned from an NWA show for running a successful backyard indy fed, his leper gimmick in PCW, smart fans killing the gimmick, getting involved in horror movies, paying Necro Butcher $10 for his first show, and much, much more.  Click the link below to listen!

BWF Interview: David Fuller (MP3 Format, 55:49)

I still remember when I decided I wanted to support indy wrestling and sent a message to my buddy and told me about this new place he had started working. I remember how small and “work-in-progress” this company was. But they concentrated on their strengths: great characters and storylines that kept you coming back. Tonight they had Funaki. Like, THE Funaki. Smackdown Announcer #1. Indeed. That Funaki.

They opened it up with Funaki coming out to speak to the fans. He was interrupted by the Asian Nation who invited him to become a junior member. Good stuff. And of course it went into fisticuffs. I think everybody was involved except for Kate.

First match: Barrett Brown vs. Kristopher Haiden

I of course would like to congratulate Barrett on his recent graduation from high school. This kid is already one of Texas’ best and he JUST NOW graduated high school. Barrett has improved a lot over the past year. He’s adding more and more different kinds of offense into his matches. If you have never seen this guy wrestle before, go look him up on Youtube. Haiden does a great job being the bully. When it comes to being the bully, I think he’s the best in MPX and one of the best probably in Texas. He gave Barrett a clothesline from Hell and got the pin.

Winner: Haiden

Haiden asked to be announced as “The Cruiserweight Slayer.” I like Cruiserweight Crusher better. It’s alliteration. We had angry Headbanger come out because he didn’t have a match. He wanted an opponent. He was given Frankie Fisher AND Jason Silver. I liked angry Headbanger. These past few months, he has gotten to show off his range.

Second match: Tad Wylde vs. Regrub & Matt Andrews w/The Following

Masked Guy (I still haven’t figured out what his stage name is.) is looking a little skinnier. The classiest thing all night was when Tad Wylde thanked the military. What I thought could have added a nice dimension was asking all the military people to stand, but no biggie. They can do that in November. What Choice lacks in size, he makes up for in personality and commitment. He is a good storyteller and somebody you want to get over your story. Tad Wylde is a pretty good tag team. They work well and did some cool double-team moves. Ben played the face in peril very well. One of the biggest moves of the night was Tadlock doing a plancha. For those unfamiliar with Tadlock, that’s like Rhino doing a plancha. Good, fun match with Tad Wylde getting the victory.

Winner: Tad Wylde

I like how they are building up Tad Wylde.

Third match: Scott Murdoch vs. Danny Saint

I like both these guys and they were quite entertaining in this match. I’m going to love a Saint-Murdoch feud. The fans win. The chests of Saint and Murdoch do not. These guys were brutal (in a good way). I wrote down I was really happy to not be either. I also wrote down one word at one point, “Wow.” These guys really laid it on the line. I watched a DGUSA DVD yesterday that had some of the best in-ring work I’d ever seen. This was not that type of match yet still kept just as engaged in it. It was still just as intense and emotional and brutal.

Winner: Double Countout

Can we already name this MPX Feud of the Year? Kyle Davis interviewed Kanoa. “I’m going to beat people. Who’s next in line?” Not a lot of depth to it, but we’ll see where he goes from here.

Fourth match: Bling & Sting vs. Asian Nation

It was nice to see tag team wrestling that meant something. $Payday$ had a great plancha. He’s becoming more smooth and more fluid. There was good comedy. WASP & “Just” Johnson both do comedy really well. I wonder if Nigel might be a little wasted on this tag team. I think James is really good on the mic and doesn’t need any help. I do think Nigel works as an “outside-the-ring” presence. But then again, I’m not sure where you use Nigel if not with the Asian Nation. Anything that keeps Nigel in front of the crowd works for me. I wrote down that it was a fun match with lots of intricate stories. Kenny Steele walked out and stole $Payday$’s belt. $Payday$ went to tag in WASP while he was still recovering after being in the ring for a while. $Payday$ went after him. The two-on-one advantage proved to be too much for WASP.

Winner: Asian Nation

Well, with Tad Wylde, The Following, Asian Nation, Bling & Sting, a possible Cash & Carry return, Dunnings & Red, I believe, MPX, you have a tag team division.

Fifth match: Joshua City vs. Jerome Daniels

This was Joshua’s debut match so he gets “First Match Immunity.” However, I don’t know if it’s Jerome, but this was actually a pretty good match. Joshua has a lot of personality and kind of understands that it’s due-paying time. As I have learned, it’s not easy cutting your first promo. It takes something to listen to the crowd and be reacted to. I’ve seen a few debuts in MPX. Some I wish I could unsee. This is probably the best debut I’ve seen at MPX.

Winner: Jerome

Jerome is supposed to be built-up to be fighting the big match against Frankie and took a little longer than he should have to beat Joshua City, making his MPX debut. James Hawke came out after the match saying that the people were supposed to love him were booing him now. He listened to the crowd and followed them where they took him. This is the John Cena heel turn we’ve all been waiting for.

Sixth match: Nobe Bryant vs. Kanoa

I’ve had the chance to see Nobe since back in the day. The man is a great athlete and has an amazing look. Kanoa has a good arrogance to him. Both guys are really good athletes and  had some good agility for their size. Nobe tried to keep the crowd engaged (which sometimes really needs to happen with this crowd). And with respect to Murdoch and Saint, Nobe won for chop of the night. I wrote down that it was a good, decent match. Kanoa won unexpectedly.

Winner: Kanoa

Looks like they are giving Kanoa a nice push. I’m intrigued to see what he has for us.

Seventh match: Frankie Fisher (c) vs. Gregory James vs. Jason Silver

Well, who wouldn’t want to see James-Silver? I wrote down that I liked the beginning. Frankie is a good smarmy heel. There were some good dynamics. You had James and Silver who are friends but Frankie used that to his advantage. The action was very fast-paced. I was surprisingly able to keep up with most of it. Greg is becoming quite the storyteller. Storyteller + Agility = ∞ limits. Frankie submitted Jason Silver while Greg was outside the ring.

Winner: Fisher

This is definitely the strongest I have seen Frankie looked. He looked like a credible champion.

Main Event: Carrion Arcane w/The Following vs. Sho Funaki

I’m going to try to see how many times I can fit the word “Indeed” into this match. Seriously, it was fun. We had Funaki live before our crowd. Arcane got in a lot of offense. Funaki did what he did best and one of the reasons he was kept around in the WWE for so long. He sold. The match was very well laid out. After a good night of wrestling, we got to see Funaki get a pin out of nowhere.

Winner: Funaki

All in all… The night was pretty decent. The crowd was packed and lively. Some people were worried about it being BYOB for the first time. As Arcane said, “We have a Murdoch.” They left us with some nice questions. That is what a wrestling company needs to be, especially with a lot of people who normally wouldn’t be there. Special props need to go out to Daniel and Anthony the refs. These guys were active and engaged in hot weather doing a very athletic activity for several matches. Joshua had a nice debut. Murdoch and Saint tore down the house. Frankie looked like a real legitimate champion. And I do believe we have the development of a tag team division.

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