RAW RESULTS 25/07/2011 ** SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS **

“Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event…”

We immediately open the show with the WWE Championship match! Not a bad way to get going.

WWE Championship Tournament Final: Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz

Most of the roster is watching in the back. Big match intros occur as they should. Feeling out process to start and Rey takes over with some speed. Miz counters a rana to launch Rey into the top turnbuckle to change momentum. It's probably a good thing that they waited a week to let them rest up. Corner clothesline gets two for Miz. Knee to the ribs gets the same.

Miz sends him to the floor and adds a baseball slide to keep Rey down. The fans are totally behind Rey here as is probably expected. With Rey on the apron facing down Miz misses a kick but gets sent into the steps shoulder first. Both guys are down as we take a break. Back with Miz holding a chinlock and the third anti-politics line from the announcers. Miz takes him to the corner but Rey fights him off and goes up.

Seated senton hits and Rey speeds things up. Springboard spinning cross body gets two. Miz drills him in the ribs but a sunset flip doesn't work. Rey can't kick him in the head with that swinging kick and Miz grabs a DDT for two. A big boot gets the same. It's been about 80-90% Miz in this match. Victory roll gets two for the masked man. A dropkick to the knee looks to set up the 619 but Miz ducks.

Miz tries a powerbomb near the ropes but Rey counters into another rana attempt. That doesn't work as Miz hits a pretty sweet slingshot sitout powerbomb for a close two. Miz loads up the Finale but Rey climbs up onto the corner and elbows his way out of it. He gets caught in the Tree of Woe though and Miz drives in some knees. A charging knee hits the buckle though and Rey hits a rana to set up the 619. Top rope splash gives Rey the title clean at 13:20.

Rey Mysterio The Miz @ 13:20 - Top rope splash

Rating: B-. Not bad here but it wasn't quite epic or anything. This felt like any TV main event. It's a good match but Rey just hit his finishers and won the title. I did like the selling of the knee from last week which is a very nice touch. Either way, good stuff here and fine for a TV title match.

Post match Rey gets kneed in the back and HERE'S ALBERTO TO CASH IN! Rey dives on him though and Alberto picks up his case and runs. That wasn't a cash-in he says due to the bell never ringing. That's true so it makes sense.

HHH will give a State of the WWE Address tonight.

The roster congratulates Rey in the back and he gets champagne poured on him. Cena, who looks like a foot taller than Rey, shakes his hand and says good job. Rey says it was worth it and that he's going home to his family with the gold.

We get a shortened version of HHH and Vince last night.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Evan Bourne

Dolph has a new somewhat slower rock version of his theme. Pretty sure this is non-title. Yeah it's non-title. Bourne gets a shot to the head to send Dolph to the floor for a bit. Back in the ring Dolph avoids an enziguri and hits a Fameasser for two. Dropkick gets the same and we're off to a chinlock. Splash misses in the corner and here comes Bourne. Jerry makes what is I believe the fourth political/Obama reference of the night. Shooting Star misses and there's the Zig Zag. No cover though as he puts on the sleeper and we're done at 3:27.

Dolph Ziggler b. Evan Bourne @ 3:27 - Sleeper

Rating: C. This was fine. This is also what Ziggler needs: wins over guys that he should be able to beat where he has to work a bit to get them. Not every match with a midcard champion has to result in an upset. You get an ok match out of it and Ziggler looks a bit more credible. Nothing to complain about there.

Kofi vs. Alberto tonight.

The Keith Stone beer guy hits on the Bellas and uses a marker to tell them apart. The other isn't happy and now there's a full tattoo on his arm.

Maryse/Melina vs. Kelly Kelly/Eve Torres

At least they all look good. Eve and Maryse start and Eve hits a downward spiral and then dances before trying a standing moonsault for two. Maryse gives her a Stinkface and Kelly comes in. Everything breaks down and Melina misses a charge, allowing the K2 to end it at 2:51. Thank goodness I don't have to rate it. Match was AWFUL but the girls looked good.

Kelly Kelly/Eve Torres b. Melina/Maryse @ 2:51 - K2 to Melina

R-Truth is talking to HHH and we can't hear what's being said. The Address is next and there's a major return promised.

Cee Lo Green will be performing at Summerslam. Because all the other concerts at wrestling events have gone so well you know?

Here's HHH and it's time for the State of the WWE Address. This place is awesome and let's thank Vince for it. However he's not here to talk about the past but rather the futuer. Tonight there's a new WWE Champion and his name is Rey Mysterio. However, tonight there's going to be ANOTHER WWE Championship match tonight. Rey is going to defend against.....John Cena. Oh dear.

Also there has been someone who the WWE Universe has been asking about all week. Cue CM Punk's chant. Someone is coming back to Raw tonight.....and it's not Punk. Cue JR of all people who is back on Raw. Cole throws down his headset and stands on the announce table as JR is next to King. Cole talks to HHH and says JR is the walking dead, not the future. He's done everything the company has asked for but the one thing he won't do is sit there with this hayseed. He makes fun of JR and asks why he's here. JR is fat and his restaurants failed don't you know.

HHH asks if Cole is done. His first inclination was to fire Cole and bring JR back. The problem is that Cole has a huge severance package so it's not worth it to fire him. However, if Cole wants to leave that's cool but he'll be in breach of contract and will forfeit all future earnings. Cole has the rest of the night off and he has until Friday to decide. If he's on Smackdown, he'll keep his job but if he's not there then good luck in your future endeavors. Cole sits down and says he doesn't quit. HHH says not so fast because you have a match tonight.

Cole is told he's next and that his gear is in the back. Here's R-Truth who says it's out with the old and in with the new. He says HHH has been part of the conspiracy since Day One and now HHH is the man. Little Jimmy cost him his match at Capitol Punishment and spiders and heights cost him MITB. Truth wants to know what the boss is going to do about the conspiracy. HHH wants to know who Truth is talking to: him, or the guys next to Truth.

Truth keeps talking to people that aren't there and HHH does the same. Now the invisible people are about to fight. Truth calls HHH crazy and the crowd gets a good laugh out of it. Truth says HHH is the Game but he's not playing. Truth drops the mic and leaves. HHH: "Hey all of you stop!" HHH says he re-signed another guy and he wanted a piece of Truth. Heeeeeeere's Jomo, for some reason not in a shirt. Wait was Morrison fired or something? They fight on the ramp and Morrison takes over, hitting Starship Pain to stand tall.

Here's Michael Cole in HHH attire, complete with King of Kings as his music and a bottle of water. Oh my oh my. He eve does the water spritz. And his opponent is.....

Michael Cole vs. Zack Ryder

Oh my again. JR actually calls Ryder an internet sensation. Rough Ryder and we're done in 28 seconds.

Zack Ryder b. Michael Cole @ :28 - Rough Ryder

Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio

This is a rematch from the tournament last week where Kofi got the clean upset win. Ricardo is back now. Alberto is in white not. He takes Kofi down almost immediately and gets a dropkick to the back of the head for no count. Kofi tries to speed things up and gets a cruficix into a sunset flip position for two. Alberto is sent to the floor and runs as Kofi teases a dive. Kofi is all fired up as we take a break.

Back with Alberto working on the arm. We get a clip from the break of Alberto hitting the running enziguri to Kofi while he was on the top, injuring the arm. Kofi starts his comeback and hits some kicks and a jumping clothesline to set up the Boom Drop which hits. Trouble in Paradise misses and there's the Codebreaker to the arm for two. Pendulum kick by Kofi sets up a victory roll for a VERY close two as Alberto grabs the rope. I thought that was it. Del Rio heads to the floor but catches Kofi with a guillotine over the top. Cross armbreaker goes on and we're done at 7:18.

Alberto Del Rio b. Kofi Kingston @ 7:18 - Cross Armbreaker

Rating: C+. Pretty decent little match here with Del Rio looking dominant again. Last week was a fine example of how you can lose and not lose your heat. Alberto looks fine here and him beating Kofi here is a nice rebound win for him because he did it clean. I hope that's a sign of HHH's time on Raw because sometimes (not always) clean wins are far more helpful than cheating ones.

HHH will be on Smackdown. Awesome.

Miz wants to know why Cena has a title match tonight. He says Cena got all of us into this situation in the first place. Miz thinks things have gone from bad to worse with Cena around now and that Cena should have been fired last week. The face of the WWE has no face. Oh and Miz will be on George Lopez on Wednesday. HHH has made mistakes and Miz isn't thrilled with them.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Rey Mysterio

There's a bigger border on the belt now. Cena comes out post break. There's a Divas Battle Royal next week on Raw. Rey gets a kick to the leg to start and there's a second one. They're kind of feeling each other out to start. There are three more of them but Cena runs Rey over with a shoulder block for two. Rey gets a sunset flip kind of move for two and grabs a headlock.

Cena gets a belly to back to escape and gets two at the same time. Rey goes for the knee again but Cena dodges. He misses a charge though and hits the buckle chest first, falling to the floor. The dueling chants begin and Rey hits a springboard flip dive to the floor. Rey speeds things up but gets his head taken off by a clothesline. Back in and Cena gets a waistlock but Rey gets up and hits a DDT for two.

STF doesn't work as Rey gets to the ropes. 619 is caught and Cena tosses him onto his shoulder for that sitout powerslam for two. Here comes Cena's ending sequence but Rey fires off a dropkick to block a shoulder. Nice counter and it's remarkable how few people have blocked that before. Rey tries to speed it up but his spinning cross body is caught in an FU attempt which is also reversed.

Both guys are down and Rey drop toeholds him into the buckle. Seated Senton hits but Cena tries to roll through into the STF. Rey counters into an STF of his own. Cena gets up on one leg into an AA position but the leg gives out and Cena collapses, right into 619 position. It hits this time and Rey goes up top for the splash but it eats knees. Rey tries a rana out of the corner but Cena shoves him off in something resembling a powerbomb.

Cena loads up the top rope Fameasser but it turns into a leg drop on a standing Rey which only gets two. The fans are WAY into this too and I can't blame them as it's been a solid match. Cena sets the AA but Rey elbows out of it. Another 619 is set up but Cena catches him in the AA and is champion again at 12:47. I can live with this I think.

John Cena b. Rey Mysterio @ 12:47 - Attitude Adjustment

Rating: B. Solid stuff here as Cena got to show off his power and how effective it could be. I'm not sure what more they could do given the amount of time they had. Rey's STF was a cool addition which we haven't seen before on Cena, or at least not that I can remember. Good stuff here as both guys usually bring it in big matches.

Cena helps Rey up and celebrates with the title but some music starts up. It's a song called Cult of Personality........PUNK IS BACK! Cena holds up his title. Punk holds up his title. They stare it down as the show ends with Cena leaving.

Overall Rating: A+. This was a pretty excellent episode of Raw. We had history making stuff, a new champion, a pair of returns, no truly bad matches (the boobs and legs of the Divas make up for their weak wrestling) and a good HHH segment. I like where things are going here and things worked well here. This was one of the better Raws in awhile and I liked it quite a bit

I thought raw was pretty terrible to be honest.

After a month of excellence we had routine matches, jr back, cole back on mic and in ring, cena as champion again, botches galore etc etc.

Punks return made no sense at all, after all the build up and the shock of him leaving MItb with the belt- he comes out to a new song says nothing and the show ends.

They really need to pull it out of the bag next week, major damage done this week IMO.

Completely disagree.

Awesome end to the show. As soon as Cult of Personality hit the IWC started fapping away like a bunny on speed.

I think Punk will disappear again now until SS.

Excuse my ignorance, but is "Cult of Personality" new entrance music or musis he used to use in the Indies?

It's his old theme music from Ring of Honor.

I think it would have made alot more sense to leave off Mysterio vs Cena till Summerslam atleast, THEN have Punk return. Would have precvented another token title run.

And yes, I marked out when CoP hit.

Clarke James wrote:It's his old theme music from Ring of Honor.

Thanks.

Punk's new theme tune is awesome, to be honest i'd never really heard it in ROH. The whole entrance, t-shirt, colouring, lighting and titantron. it just all looked class.

I think alot of people are comparing the last two Raws to the high standards set by MITB, which is wrong. Nothing will live up to that for a long time, but try and think about how good Raw is now compared to what it was like 2 months ago.

The IWC can be very short sighted at times, there is just no pleasing some people.

A mate just mentioned how good it would be if they did a rejigged version of the Second City Saints.

That would be immense.

Totally agree H, the IWC at times want the moon on a stick each and every week.

Seems like quite a solid show. Looking forward to watching it Thursday night. Wonder where there gonna go with Punk now, more than likely Cena-Punk for the Title at SS

Ent wrote:I thought raw was pretty terrible to be honest.

After a month of excellence we had routine matches, jr back, cole back on mic and in ring, cena as champion again, botches galore etc etc.

Punks return made no sense at all, after all the build up and the shock of him leaving MItb with the belt- he comes out to a new song says nothing and the show ends.

They really need to pull it out of the bag next week, major damage done this week IMO.

Did we watch the same show?

Raw was awesome last night, Punk and Cena both as 'WWE' Champion is a great move, Ryder beat Cole. JR is back on Raw. All of the matches (except the Divas) were really good, Mysterio vs Cena and Miz vs Mysterio were both great TV main events. No damage done at all, Raw is back moving in the right direction.

Let me guess you complain when Raw has very little in ring action. Well last night we had Mysterio vs Cena, Mysterio vs Miz, ADR vs Kofi, Bourne vs Ziggler, in ring action from Ryder. We also had the return of JOMO to reignite his feud with Truth, and finally Punk returned.

Do you see yourself as a proud member of the IWC?

Just watched Raw and thought it was great. Seeing CM Punk come out was great. Taunting Cena. Thought the Miz and Mysterio match was a highpoint of Raw. Want to see a mic battle between Punk and Miz.

The song + titantron for Punks new entrance suits him down to the ground. I was dead happy with the ending - Cena looking almost jealous of Punk's title & walking away.

The wrestling on last nights Raw was very good, however I would have preferred it they didn't bring Punk back yet and waited till atleast SummerSlam. I did love CM Punk's new entrance though.

I think it sounds really good, but I didn't realise they were taping a month's worth of Raws in one night?!

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:I think it sounds really good, but I didn't realise they were taping a month's worth of Raws in one night?!

HUH!?

Clarke James wrote:

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:I think it sounds really good, but I didn't realise they were taping a month's worth of Raws in one night?!

HUH!?

I think he means they could have spread it out a little better. Rey and Cena both winning the title in one night, as well as the return of Punk. What's the rush?

Clarke James wrote:

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:I think it sounds really good, but I didn't realise they were taping a month's worth of Raws in one night?!

HUH!?

My slightly snarky point was that there was absolutely no need to squeeze so many storyline developments into one episode. They could have stretched that out over the next month. It sounds like a thoroughly entertaining episode but a very uneconomical one. CM Punk missed one episode of Raw! Way to sell the storyline...

Typical desperation hotshotting after a couple of weeks of bad ratings. Like I said, it makes for good TV, but it's not sustainable and they could have done better ratings for the next month if they'd drawn things out a bit.

Just as one example, was there any need to have John Cena vs Rey Mysterio, arguably the two most popular wrestlers in the company (certainly amongst kids), in an unannounced match for the WWE title? Surely it would have made sense to advertise that for next week?

I watched the ending and thought it was brilliant! Does make me wonder what they are going to do in terms of how many times Cena, Rey and Punk have been champions though.

Im assumign they will do somethign where there is only one true champion...so if Punk wins does that veto Rey and Cenas wins? or Vice versa?

Also is it just me or have they based the last two RAW around Punks return and his fued with Cena? Is there much else going on?? The whole tournament for the vacant title has lead to this. Thats a lot of superstars just being used to keep the feud going, WWE must think they have something for the ages here surely? Or is that not the way it works?

I think that's a bit of an over-reaction.

They said the title match was going to happen this week. It would've made no sense to have Punk feud with Cena whilst Rey also has a belt and lord knows we don't want another Rey v Punk fued so they've put the belt back on Cena. Having Punk come out at the end is perfect. It means that as long as he is still strutting around with the 'real' WWE Championship, Cena won't be recognised.

The crowd reaction show's who they believe in as champ. Hopefully the WWE will play on this now, have Punk disappear, do his stuff and set it up for Cena to call him out at Summerslam.

What does the title belt look like that Cena "won"?

The spoliers mentioned a thicker strap so is it the same god awfule glitter belt they had before but a larger leather strap on it?

It's a normal one.

Just noted that on wwe.com, they are referring to Punk as the 'Second City Saviour'.

Marked out like a small child when punk returned. i wasnt aware it was his old theme, and it f*cking rocked! titantron and minitron just amazing. the banner 'best in the world' is my favourite part. basically says. this is me, im the best in the world.. I.. am better than you! f*cking amazing!

punk is my god!

K-PX0110 wrote:What does the title belt look like that Cena "won"?

The spoliers mentioned a thicker strap so is it the same god awfule glitter belt they had before but a larger leather strap on it?

...pretty much yeah. Total let down, finally a chance to bring in a new belt.

Clarke James wrote:I think that's a bit of an over-reaction.

They said the title match was going to happen this week. It would've made no sense to have Punk feud with Cena whilst Rey also has a belt and lord knows we don't want another Rey v Punk fued so they've put the belt back on Cena. Having Punk come out at the end is perfect. It means that as long as he is still strutting around with the 'real' WWE Championship, Cena won't be recognised.

The crowd reaction show's who they believe in as champ. Hopefully the WWE will play on this now, have Punk disappear, do his stuff and set it up for Cena to call him out at Summerslam.

Could have been another reason for them both holding their titles up one after the other. WWE can judge the crowd reaction and change the story to fit? If Cena had more cheers (i think i heard boos :S) they have gone with Punk being peed off that his title win isnt recognised because he left or if it was the other way around then have Cena "you left so it doesnt count" etc etc.

If............. and it's a big one, Punk is getting these reactions week in and week out, it would be the perfect platform (dare i say it) to turn Cena heel.

Hopefully, the 'Nexus' will be gone, and Punk will reunite with Colt Cabana and the KOW for the new Second City Saints. That would be epic.

Clarke James wrote:If............. and it's a big one, Punk is getting these reactions week in and week out, it would be the perfect platform (dare i say it) to turn Cena heel.

Hopefully, the 'Nexus' will be gone, and Punk will reunite with Colt Cabana and the KOW for the new Second City Saints. That would be epic.

i dont think theres any doubt that punks connection with nexus is done

Clarke James wrote:If............. and it's a big one, Punk is getting these reactions week in and week out, it would be the perfect platform (dare i say it) to turn Cena heel.

I kinda agree. Cena could go of on one at the fans saying "This guy leaves and is cheered, and I've done nothing but perform in this ring for you week in week out and I get booed?"

If they're ever going to do it, then now is the time.

Samo wrote:

K-PX0110 wrote:What does the title belt look like that Cena "won"?

The spoliers mentioned a thicker strap so is it the same god awfule glitter belt they had before but a larger leather strap on it?

...pretty much yeah. Total let down, finally a chance to bring in a new belt.

It looks exactly the same to me. I have just seen a picture of Punk and Cena on wwe.com.

I smell a ladder match at summerslam

Sara wrote:

Samo wrote:

K-PX0110 wrote:What does the title belt look like that Cena "won"?

The spoliers mentioned a thicker strap so is it the same god awfule glitter belt they had before but a larger leather strap on it?

...pretty much yeah. Total let down, finally a chance to bring in a new belt.

It looks exactly the same to me. I have just seen a picture of Punk and Cena on wwe.com.

Dont know if it is because Punk's physique is smaller then Cena's but Punks belt looked bigger.

Must admit I was ready to delete raw as soon as i read rey had won the title. never thought I'd be relieved to see a cena title win. sounds cool the way it went off air

can't wait to hear punks new music although I'll miss the killswitch track

I kinda marked out for punk. Loved the ending.

Really want that punk shirt

WWE have posted up Punk talking after the end of RAW:

http://vids.wwe.com/12696/wwecom-exclusive-cm-punk-tells-t

He says two words.

Hero - what does he say? At work and cant watch video

what does he shout to the crowd about his shirt? something about new merchandise?

Enjoyed Raw last night , didnt expect new champ let alone 2 , Trips little cameo with Rtruth was funny as was Cole entrance .

loved the whole Punk im the real champion thing brilliant and not a word said .

Punks entrance was spot on as well loved the new/old music . Should they of kept him off air for longer? who knows it depends were this goes as to whether its to soon a return .

Francis wrote:Hero - what does he say? At work and cant watch video

I'm Baaaack!

When the Cena Rey match was announced straight away i thought there would be an invasion. I was wrong (again !) and instead a clean win for Cena

Good to see Punk on Raw but i wished he came out to his usual theme because as soon as the music hit there would of been a massive pop (i hope) the crowd seemed more confused than anything. I think there will be a Punk vs Cena match at Summer Slam now in my view.

A solid episode of Raw and I am happy that CM Punk is back. New music surely means the presence of ROH stars sometime soon?

Cena vs Punk @ SS to decide the true champion. I can see 2 outcomes in this match, either; Punk wins after interference from a ROH invasion or Cena wins after Triple H screws Punk, which turns Cena heel.

Loved it when Cena raised the belt for a pop only for Punk to outdo him

CM Punk is a different, refreshed character now who is surely going to do big things. WWE just needs to have the bravery to say 'look this is our new top guy, CM Punk'. If they do, and they're suggesting to us that they can then they're really on to a winner

The new entrance is classy, and the music has more oomph to it than his old one (which itself was good) and it'll get more casual fans to like him. - Same goes to Dolph Ziggler here.

I can't see him being off our screens now, he's hot property and he's going to be used to the full. I don't see a ROH contingent appearing though, I think there's enough competition around at the moment.

Rey Vs Miz was a good match and was talked up really well by Cole and Lawler. I Didn't like Lawler's sneaky jab at Obama though. HHH's announcement was a damp squib, Cena Vs Rey was a 10 year olds dream match but I and many people trawling this board wouldnt have found it exciting.

Little fact for you.

Cult of Personality by Living Color, which is CM Punk's new music, was the same music used in Stone Cold Steve Austin's video package when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Make of that what you will....

Mr H wrote:Little fact for you.

Cult of Personality by Living Color, which is CM Punk's new music, was the same music used in Stone Cold Steve Austin's video package when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Make of that what you will....

I'm glad someone else pointed out the SCSA link.

Has someone already pointed that out then? Must have missed that.

Added to what Mr H said - apparently the images of JFK and alike were also used in SCSA HOF's vigenette.

So all in all - Punks new titantron is very similar to SCSA's HOF promo.

Clarke James wrote:

Mr H wrote:Little fact for you.

Cult of Personality by Living Color, which is CM Punk's new music, was the same music used in Stone Cold Steve Austin's video package when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Make of that what you will....

I'm glad someone else pointed out the SCSA link.

I've actually just spent the last half an hour rewatching that video. It is brilliant.

Said it ASAP after 'that promo', he is the new anti-hero

the-gaffer wrote:Said it ASAP after 'that promo', he is the new anti-hero

We know. And we are all very grateful.