7/19 Twilling's WWE Raw Live Coverage: Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton to determine Sheamus' challenger at SummerSlam, Money in the Bank PPV fallout

By Rich Twilling

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Tulsa, OK

[Q1] The opening video aired and fireworks lit up the stage. Michael Cole and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed us to the show. Still photos of Sheamus retaining the WWE Championship with help from The Nexus.

Mark Henry vs. Wade Barrett with The Nexus banned from ringside was plugged for later in the night. Randy Orton made his entrance and the main event leads off the show...

Twill's Two Cents: I smell a second main event later in the show with John Cena somehow involved.

1. Randy Orton defeated Chris Jericho and Edge to earn a shot at Sheamus for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam in 15:07. Edge's pyro didn't go off, so someone was busy doing something other than his one job (press the button) backstage. Huge pop for Edge.

Edge and Jericho teamed up on Orton, but Orton came back. It didnt' last long though and Orton took a two-on-one. Orton countered a double team backdrop into a double DDT. Nice.

Orton attempted a RKO on Edge, but ate a Codebreaker from Jericho instead. Edge broke up the three count and then took the attack to Jericho on the floor... [C]

Orton enjoyed the advantage on both of his opponents coming back from the break. He was going to hit a double rope hanging DDT, but Edge slithered out. Jericho took it though. The tide turned quickly with Edge scoring a nearfall on Orton.

[Q2] Jericho disposed of Edge on the floor and the one-on-one action between him and Orton picked up in the ring. Edge met a few nearfalls when he came back into the ring. Jericho locked in the Walls on Orton.

Edge broke up the move with the Impaler DDT for a two count on Jericho. Jericho countered the spear into the Walls. All three men then traded nearfalls and even hit a closeline spot where all three guys hit it at once.

Jericho countered the RKO but missed the lionsault. Orton waited patiently and hit RKOs on both Jericho and Edge. He covered Edge and earned the three count. Orton celebrated afterward (no S)... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Damn good, pay-per-view quality, triple threat match. That is not too surprising given who was involved, but they deserve their credit. Orton vs. Sheamus was the predictable way to go with these three in this match. I like how they got there. I guess Cena will be involved with Nexus at SummerSlam.

Edge was in a pissed off mood. He demanded Chris Jericho come back out to the ring. Jericho brought his ass back out there. Edge said their situation has been going on for eleven years. They have cost each other too many championships and have inflicted too many injuries.

Edge wanted it to end tonight. Jericho agreed, but said it was the end for Edge. He reminded everyone he was Wade Barrett's NXT Pro and The Nexus is doing everything they are doing because of him. Both men argued they could have Nexus working for them.

[Q3] The Nexus came out to the ring. I just noticed Darren Young's hair being straight. Wow. Barrett put over both Jericho and Edge, but they surrounded Edge. They beat the shit out of him. Jericho directed traffic (we know what's happening next).

Jericho picked up the pieces and locked in the Walls of Jericho as the guys in N looked on. Barrett then told Jericho they wanted to "shut up the guy claiming to be behind's Nexus's success." Jericho went after Barrett, but he took a pounding as well.

Twill's Two Cents: Hmmm, Edge, Jericho, and Cena in a possible alliance against The Nexus? Of course, Cena didn't feel the need to appear here, but it could happen.

Barrett yelled down to Jericho that Jericho did not teach him anything. They headed to the back... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Great segment. I like how nobody is safe, even Chris Jericho. Less was more here. They didn't have to have each guy do their finishing move. They laid both guys out and got out of there. Good mic work by Edge and Jericho beforehand as well.

Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed "the leader of the strongest group in the history of the WWE" as they entered their locker room. Barrett said every member of The Nexus is as good individually as they are collectively. He said Mark Henry would not appreciate the new chapter he writes tonight...

Sheamus approached Barrett and said he had a proposal for him. Barrett asked Sheamus to step into his office. Sheamus said he would rather wait outside...

Cole interviewed John Cena. Cena said he could have ended this by shaking Barrett's hand two weeks ago. He said he could not stop The Nexus and nobody could. He wanted to say something to Barrett in the ring later in the show.

Cena said the Nexus catchphrase, "If you aren't Nexus, you're against us." Cena continued by saying, "If you can't beat them..." and then he walked away... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: This show has been spot on so far. Sheamus wants to talk to Barrett. Cena wants to talk to Barrett. Cena is teasing joining Nexus (not going to happen, but the tease is nice). I'm guessing Cena, Sheamus, Edge, Jericho, and others have a plan.

[Q4] Did you know? WWE has more Facebook fans than a bunch of other sports organizations...

Cena's comments were shown again, in case you just tuned in...

2. Eve Torres defeated Maryse (with Ted DiBiase) in 1:13. Eve scored the quick pinfall with Maryse's foot on the rope. DiBiase argued it, but John Morrison hit the ring and hit Starship Pain on DiBiase...

Sheamus was shown walking through the backstage area... [C]

Sheamus came out to the ring for a promo. He said he has beaten Cena in a tables' match, a fatal four way, and a steel cage match. Oddly, those wins don't do shit for him because none of those were clean. He said Cena now goes to the back of the line for a title shot...

Twill's Two Cents: That is going to be a short line.

[Q5] He said he made a truce with Wade Barrett and they are now the two most powerful entities in WWE. He said the truce was bad for Randy Orton and he would become the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time. So, in 2018, Sheamus will still be the champion?

The Miz came out to the ring with briefcase in hand. He congratulated Sheamus for getting rid of his Nexus problem, but he now has a Miz problem. Miz said he controlled the fate of the WWE Championship.

He ran down instances in which he could cash in, including attacking Sheamus from behind, main eventing WrestleMania, or doing it tonight. He started to throw out his catchphrase, but Sheamus interrupted and said Miz was nothing...

Twill's Two Cents: Great followup by Miz. There were a couple of silly moments that the crowd laughed at, but his intensity and the presence of mind games was a good thing. The crowd didn't really know how to react to two heels, but I think they are going to take to Miz. By the way, if it was me, I would wait until WrestleMania. Main eventing Mania is every bit as important as being the WWE Champion.

The GM emailed Cole and told Miz to take a seat to watch Sheamus face "this man." Evan Bourne's music hit. He did take awhile to come out, which is good, because if he came right out, the Tron GM would be even more unrealistic...

3. Sheamus defeated Evan Bourne in a non-title match in 10:26. The match began and Sheamus decided to scream his head off at Miz on the floor... [C]

Sheamus folded Bourne around the post right in front of Miz. He dominated in the ring as well. Sheamus slapped Bourne in the face. Bourne followed with a kick to the head. Nice. Bourne set up Air Bourne and Miz stirred at ringside.

Sheamus slid to the floor but Bourne jumped on top of him. Sheamus got back into the ring first and hit Bourne with a kick as he came back into the ring. He followed with the bicycle kick for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Nice match and despite losing, a good showing by Bourne in defeat. Despite the contrast in styles, I like the way Sheamus and Bourne work together.

[Q6] Afterward, Miz attacked Sheamus from behind and hit the Skull Crushing Finale onto the briefcase. He then cashed in, but the bell never rang to start the match. R-Truth made his return and Miz changed his mind. He grabbed the briefcase and took off...

Twill's Two Cents: For the first time in awhile, that was something that I didn't see coming from miles away. I was on the edge of my seat there thinking Miz might actually win the title tonight. If they go with Miz vs. Truth at SummerSlam and the briefcase is on the line, Miz better walk out of there with the victory.

Cena meeting with The Nexus was hyped... [C]

Backstage, Miz was clutching the briefcase and was pissed that Truth cost him the WWE Championship. He said there would be other opportunities and he would take his place as WWE Champion...

The SummerSlam recall featured Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker from SummerSlam 1998. The buildup to that match was one of the best WWE has ever done. Great stuff from both men leading up to the match and in the match itself...

Sheamus was icing his head and being helped through the back. He yelled at the Bella Twins and Gail Kim because they were giggling, probably over a past guest host.

Randy Orton approached Sheamus and said whomever the WWE Champion at SummerSlam is, that person will have a huge bullseye. He is not going to hit that bullseye with an arrow or a bullet. He will hit it with a RKO...

Cena was shown contemplating things backstage. Deep thoughts... [C]

[Q7] By the way, how funny are those 7-11 SummerSlam cups. The Undertaker? Can you imagine Taker at the beach playing volleyball with a trench coat on? ...

4. Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov defeated William Regal and Zack Ryder in 2:53. Every time Santino tried to wrestle, Regal just got physical with him, like a big brother kicking ass. Kozlov beat down Ryder and Santino pinned him...

The Nexus spoke backstage as Barrett prepared for Mark Henry... [C]

5. Wade Barrett defeated Mark Henry in 3:18. Barrett took his sweet ass time making contact with Henry. By the way, what if there is interference? Was there a specific consequence mentioned? Henry dominated early on.

Henry went to the middle rope and The Nexus came out to the stage. The distraction allowed Barrett to hit his finisher, although that move will never look uglier than it did here, for the win. Henry is lucky his neck is intact...

Twill's Two Cents: Barrett rocks his opponent back in the fireman's carry position before slamming him forward, but Henry was too much weight for him, so it was nearly disastrous.

[Q8] The Nexus joined Barrett in the ring and they called Cena out. Cena was shown walking through the backstage area as The Nexus waited for him in the ring... [C]

Back from commercial, Michael Tarver had a mic in his hand. There seemed to be an awkward sequence where they were wondering why Cena hadn't come out yet, so they went to a quick replay of the Barrett victory over Henry.

Tarver said they already made one truce tonight. He agreed to hear Cena out if Cena agreed to admit The Nexus runs the show. He wanted Cena to show remorse and if he did, they would consider "ending this." Nice work by Tarver on the mic.

Cena's music finally hit and he walked to the ring with an "I'm about to cry" look on his face. He stood on the apron and did not enter the ring. He thanked Wade Barrett and then stepped into the ring. He said The Nexus cost him the WWE Championship and the chance to win it back.

He said he was not a part of the bigger picture and did not understand why. He said he should have made a truce weeks ago like Sheamus did tonight. He apologized and asked for the same truce Sheamus received.

"Our answer is no," replied Barrett. He said he was not interested in a truce or in peace. He wanted something much bigger. The crowd chanted, "Cena!" Barrett instructed Cena not to listen to the fans, but to listen to him. He officially asked Cena to join The Nexus.

"Together John, we are going to be unstoppable... You're either Nexus, or against us." Cena looked mad. He looked down. He looked around. He looked down again. "No, I can't do it." Barrett then gave Cena two options, to leave like a coward or receive the most vicious beating ever administered by The Nexus.

[Overrun] Cena exited the ring. I wonder if his fans are disappointed in him, or if they wanted him to get his ass handed to him. Cena stopped at the top of the ramp and said he was going to take each and every mmeber of Nexus down.

Cena said he had some help. He said he was quietly forming a team and that team would take down The Nexus at SummerSlam. Cena brought out his team. Edge's music hit and he walked out. John Morrison was next. Each man stood next to Cena as they came out.

R-Truth, The Great Khali, and Chris Jericho all came out next. That left the last spot for WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart. Damn, wasn't expecting that. Cena's guys hit the ring and The Nexus took off through the crowd. From the ring, Cena's dream team eyeballed The Nexus as Bret's music played...

Twill's Two Cents: They could have ended with a cliffhanger tonight and made people think Cena was going to join, but I like that they set up SummerSlam tonight with two big matches. Bret returning was a legit surprise and he won't have to do much in a seven-on-seven match. I wonder if they will explain why he was fired as the GM. Nonetheless, this works for me. Great show tonight and nice early build to SummerSlam.

Thank you for following along with me tonight. Members will be listening to my Raw audio show, which will be available late Monday night. See you back here next Monday night.