By Rich Twilling

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Cincinnati, Ohio

[Q1] A close-up shot of the Raw Roulette wheel opened the show. The camera panned out to reveal Randy Orton, Josh Mathews, and John Cena standing there. Mathews gave a few examples of what was on the wheel and that every match tonight would have a stipulation.

Cena brought Eve Torres in to spin the wheel for the match stipulation. The wheel landed on "Tables match." Mathews reiterated Cena and Orton would face in a tables match. Mathews said Cena lost the WWE Championship against Sheamus in a tables match.

Cena hyped the show being the season premiere and said he felt lucky. The opening video aired (the same one with the same song). No fireworks, but there was a steel cage hanging above the ring. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcomed us to the show...

Twill's Two Cents: Not a bad way to get over the Raw Roulette stipulation, but why a tables match for Cena and Orton? I guess that is a way to have a No DQ match and a way for others to interfere.

Chad Ochocinco was introduced as the "guest star" of Raw. He received a nice ovation from his hometown crowd. Cole ran down his impressive numbers from yesterday, but the Bengals got their ass kicked...

Chad acted as though he was reading off of cue cards. Zero charisma at all. The Miz interrupted his promo...

Twill's Two Cents: Thank God.

The Miz welcomed Ochocinco "from one Ohioan to another." He was friendly, but quickly turned the tide by saying he was a champion, and Ochocinco would never be a champion because he plays for the "Cincinnati Bungles."

Ochocinco had two words for Miz. "Child please." Ochocinco said the Bengals won the AFC North Championship last year. The Cincinnati Reds are going to the playoffs as well. He said he and his boy TO were ready to go get a Super Bowl.

"Really? Really?" Miz said the only thing Ochocinco and TO have done is leave the field before halftime to Tweet. He asked if Ochocinco's number 85 represented the number of good passes he is going to drop this season, or if it represents Carson Palmer moving around like an 85 year old.

Twill's Two Cents: Nice. The Bengals suck and will be lucky to win eight games this year. Super Bowl? Really? Unless Chad Ochocinco plays for the Steelers at sometime during his career, he will never sniff a Super Bowl.

The GM chimed in and said it was time to pick The Miz's match for the night. The wheel was spun and it landed on "Submission match." Ochocinco picked Miz's opponent. He said the number 85 represents the number of ways Miz's opponent could tap him out. He introduced Daniel Bryan, who came out in his gear... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Ochocinco was hardly the loudmouth he normally is. I prefer him subdued, but that is not why WWE brought him in. By the way, was Bryan just hanging out in the Gorilla position "just in case" the GM just happened to allow Ochocinco to pick him as an opponent for Miz in a match starting now?

[Q2] 1. Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz (with Alex Riley) in a submission match ended in a no contest in approximately 2:42. The match began during the commercial break. Miz struggled to lock in a figure four and Bryan immediately turned it over.

Bryan attempted to apply the LeBell lock. Miz stumbled to the floor and grabbed a mic. He said he had a hernia and in the interest of their match on Sunday, he was pulling out of the match tonight. He said Alex Riley would take his place...

2. Daniel Bryan defeated Alex Riley in a submission match in :35. Bryan immediately made Riley tap out to the LeBell lock. Miz attacked him after the bell and talked smack to him, but Bryan applied the LeBell lock again. Miz tapped out and it took some doing to get Bryan off of him.

Twill's Two Cents: Nice hype for the United States Championship match this Sunday. Bryan got the best of The Miz and Riley tonight, so Booking 101 says Miz will win on Sunday, which is exactly what WWE wants you to think. Solid segment and a great way to get Bryan over as a submission specialist.

Backstage, Jillian spun the wheel and did a duet of "You Spin Me Round" (hi Olivia!) with Edge. The wheel must have had a motor on it because it never stopped going into the break... [C]

Various Cincinnati Bengals were shown at ringside...

Edge made his entrance. Cole reminded us that Edge almost destroyed the GM computer last week...

Twill's Two Cents: Will that be all it takes to end the GM gimmick?

[Q3] 3. Edge defeated Evan Bourne in a body slam challenge in 1:17. Cole made reference to Sunday's main event being a five pack challenge. Bourne knocked Edge out with a jumping front kick to the chin. Edge recovered quickly and slammed Bourne to win the match...

After the match, Edge speared Bourne. He stood triumphantly in the ring, but the GM has something to say to him. Because Edge speared Bourne after the match, he had to compete in a second body slam challenge. Mark Henry came out to the ring...

Twill's Two Cents: With Bourne's popularity, he has become a great babyface to get over a heel heading into a pay-per-view.

4. Mark Henry defeated Edge in a body slam challenge in :35. Edge tried to slam Henry but fell backwards to the mat. Henry hit the World's Strongest Slam for the win. Henry helped Bourne on the floor after the match...

John Cena vs. Randy Orton in a tables match was hyped for later in the show... [C]

Ted DiBiase and Maryse came to the ring for a "song and dance" match. Who put that crap on the Raw Roulette wheel? R-Truth and Eve Torres came to the ring...

Twill's Two Cents: R-Truth? DiBiase wins by default.

The idea here is that one team member will sing and the other one will dance. Whoopity freaking doo...

5. Ted DiBiase and Maryse defeated R-Truth and Eve Torres in a song and dance match. Truth's old music played but he stopped it and said "it was time." He sang a new song, which I'm guessing is his new theme. It sounded like, "It's the right time for me to get f---ed." I'm guessing that wasn't it.

DiBiase didn't understand Truth either. He said he should forfeit because the competition is stupid. He said he was full of surprises though. He asked for a spotlight. DiBiase sang Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

Twill's Two Cents: Song choice alone means DiBiase wins.

[Q4] DiBiase attacked R-Truth. The women went at it too. Truth and Eve got the best of their opponents. Truth's new music played. It's time to get f---ed. Is he singing to anyone in particular? ...

Twill's Two Cents: That was a waste of time that accomplished absolutely nothing.

William Regal and the Bella Twins were backstage. The wheel landed on "Trading Places match." Ochocinco told Regal that meant you have to dress like your opponent. Goldust was revealed as Regal's opponent and gave him his long, blonde wig to wear.

Sheamus entered and Ochocinco told him the GM said he would be facing John Morrison tonight. If Morrison wins, he gets into the six pack challenge this Sunday. Sheamus told the Bellas to "be useless for once" and spin the wheel.

The wheel landed on "Falls Count Anywhere" match. Sheamus reminded Ochocinco, or "whatever your name is," that the Patriots mauled the Bengals yesterday and he backs up his banter, unlike Chad's team. He walked away and the Bellas sucked up to Ochocinco some more... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Regal dressed as Goldust should illicit a few laughs. Sheamus vs. Morrison should be good too. Could be a big night for Morrison. Is anyone surprised to see the Bellas with the guest host? Me either.

WWE has a Facebook page. I figured they already did...

Zack Ryder approached Edge backstage. He said they go way back and asked what the GM's problem is. He asked if Edge stole his girlfriend. "I don't even know who he is you tool." Edge said he would win the WWE Championship and then go MIA.

Sheamus entered and went face to face with Edge. He said to watch what he did to John Morrison. Morrison was then shown flying around backstage like Spiderman. Cole said it was a French discipline. Sheamus made his entrance... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: I wonder how long it took to set up that obstacle course for Morrison. It was impressive, but definitely an unusual match warmup. Good thing he didn't roll an ankle or anything. Not sure if I am glad to see Ryder get air time given how douchey he came across.

[Q5] Footage aired of John Morrison defeating Chris Jericho last week and knocking him out of the six pack challenge...

6. Sheamus defeated John Morrison in a non-title, falls count anywhere match in 6:42. Morrison dominated early with his unusual offense. He hit a running knee on the floor and scored the first nearfall.

Morrison leapfrogged the fan barricade into a Thesz Press on Sheamus in the crowd for another nearfall. Sheamus turned the tides with the Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus missed a kick and some equipment started to spark.

Sheamus placed Morrison on the stage and slammed his chest into the steel for a two count. They fought on the stage. Sheamus whipped Morrison off of the stage. He flipped about twelve times in the air and landed on his feet. Awesome.

Morrison hit a springboard shining wizard using the stage for a long two count. Sheamus grabbed a chair and Morrison, from the top of the lower screen on the stage, hit a high cross body for a two count. Chris Jericho appeared and hit Morrison with a chair. Sheamus pinned him...

Twill's Two Cents: Very enjoyable match. I really liked that. They spent most of the time on the floor/in the crowd, but they actually wrestled. Normally, we get senseless punching and kicking in the crowd. That was a good opportunity for Morrison to get a win, but he seems to be in a better place now anyway than he has been in a long time.

Jericho sat in a chair in the ring...

Cena and Orton were shown split screen in their respective backstage areas... [C]

Jericho, in a very nice suit, sat stoically in the ring. "I'm not going anywhere until I get exactly what I want. I will sit in this chair in the middle of this ring all night long if I have to..." He said he was waiting for the GM to reinstate him into the six pack challenge this Sunday.

[Q6] He said if he didn't get what he wanted, he would quit. He would go home and watch the WWE go down in flames, laughing every step of the way. He said if the GM didn't comply, he would expose his identity to the world. "Try me."

The GM chime rang out through the arena. Cole started to ask for everyone's attention. "Of course you have an email you idiot! Just read it!" Cole said Jericho's antics were not going to work. "No chance in hell."

Jericho said there is no way the anonymous GM is Vince McMahon. He said McMahon is not a coward and would not hide behind a computer. "Nice try." The GM chimed in again and said the match would now be a six man elimination match. He was also putting Jericho back into the match.

"However," said Cole. Jericho interrupted and asked for his moment. Jericho guaranteed victory and said the show could go on as planned. The GM chimed in one more time. "Don't ever interrupt me again."

Jericho only gets back into the match if he wins his match tonight. The GM said the match would start right now and it was going to be a handicap match, against the WWE Tag Team Champions, The Hart Dynasty. Finally, he made it a steel cage match... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Nice mic work from Jericho and nice to know he has paying attention to the catch phrase clues given by the GM. The other announcers play dumb with them. I don't imagine a possible way this could make the Harts look good, unless they win, and somehow they get put on the PPV against Jericho and a partner.

7. Chris Jericho defeated The Hart Dynasty (with Natalya) in a non-title steel cage match to earn a spot in the six pack challenge this Sunday in approximately 4:35. The match began during the break. Both members of the Hart Dynasty tried to escape the cage. Smith made it, but Jericho stopped Kidd. Essentially, this eliminated Smith from the match and killed the handicap advantage...

Twill's Two Cents: Way to use your head there David.

Jericho wrestled in his suit pants. Kidd, with Jericho on the ropes, pushed Jericho to the mat. Instead of just climbing over the top, he jumped back into the ring and was placed in the Walls of Jericho.

Twill's Two Cents: Shouldn't The Hart Dynasty at least be "wrestling smart?" Geez, they looked like idiots in this match.

Kidd tried to get out one last time, but Jericho caught him. Kidd fell to the mat and Jericho locked in the Walls. He even sat back on it old school and Kidd tapped out. Jericho made the belt gesture and smiled slyly in the ring...

Twill's Two Cents: Nice to see Jericho back in the main event on Sunday. Not a good night for the Harts and the tag belts. If the tag champions cannot get on a show entitled "Night of Champions," well, that does not bode well.

[Q7] Cena vs. Orton was hyped one more time... [C]

Goldust stood in the ring dressed in Regal's stuff. Regal came out to Goldust's music in his completely gear and face paint...

8. Goldust defeated William Regal in :24. Regal did the suck in and bite Goldust spot. Goldust followed by hitting Regal with the brass knucks for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Way to pay attention, referee. By the way, I bet whomever did Regal up with the face paint is thinking, "I did that for a 24 second match?"

Cena and Orton were walking through the backstage area... [C]

For those of you DVRing the Monday Night Football games, I won't say anything about the result of the Jets vs. Ravens game. However, does anyone else agree Mike Tirico is the worst play by play guy on TV? ...

Raw will take place in Indianapolis next week. No word on whether Peyton Manning will be the guest host. The announcers ran down the Night of Champions card. Again, no Hart Dynasty match, but Big Show vs. C.M. Punk, neither of which are champions, are on the show...

Complete with Monday Night Football music playing (way to remind people what else is on), Ochocinco stood in the middle of the ring. He introduced himself as the special guest ring announcer and then proceeded to butcher the English language...

Twill's Two Cents: Ochocinco just was not cut out for this.

[Q8] Footage aired of Randy Orton delivering RKOs to everyone last week while he made his entrance. Cena came out next. The girls responded when he took off his shirt off. When I take off mine, I get one response. Cool with me...

9. Randy Orton defeated John Cena in a tables match in 16:48. Very slow start with both men selling the "big match" feel. Not sure if anyone is buying it. The crowd tried to go back and forth with a chant, but the feeble children's voices cheering for Cena were quickly drowned out by "RKO" chants... [C]

"Boo, Yeah!" punches for Cena and Orton, respectively, were taking place coming back from the break. Orton beat on Cena, who teetered from the apron using the top rope, with a table behind him on the floor.

Cena fought back into the ring. A double closeline left both men on the mat. Cena tried the Attitude Adjustment, but Orton countered with a DDT. He then brought a table into the ring for the first time and set it up in the corner.

Cena used the time to recover and hit his signature spots, including the five knuckle shuffle. Orton fought out of the AA and hit a few big moves. Cena fought back and locked in the STF. The Nexus made their first appearance on the show.

[Overrun] Orton and Cena took care of the three unimportant Nexus members. Barrett hit his finisher on Cena while Gabriel waited for Barrett to slide a table into the ring. Barrett set up the table for Gabriel to hit the 450 on Cena, but Orton pushed Gabriel from the top rope through a table at ringside.

Barrett took out Orton with a big boot and was the last man standing. He tried to put Orton through a table on the floor, but Orton instead sent Barrett through the same table. Orton and Cena were the last two remaining as of The Nexus members were laid out on the floor.

Orton set up a table and was ready to put Cena through it. Edge and Jericho hit the ring and attacked Orton. Jericho never changed out of his pants. I hope he has another suit in his suitcase. Orton whipped Edge into Jericho and both of them went through the corner table.

Sheamus hit the ring and hit Orton with a double sledge. He then knocked Cena to the floor. Bob Barker then hit the ring and put everyone through a table. Okay, that didn't really happen. Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment on Orton through a table, but Orton reversed it into a RKO in mid-air.

Orton stood tall amongst everyone else, including Barker. Wade Barrett looked like he was playing dead on the floor. If he was really in that state of physical misfortune, shouldn't someone be checking on him? Orton celebrated through replays as the show went off the air...

Twill's Two Cents: Originally, it looked like they were going to go with a no contest since both men seemed to go through the table at the same time. With the pay-per-view on Sunday, I thought this show did a nice job of selling that show, but I don't think there is a lot of hype for the show and that was apparent tonight as well.

Thank you for following along with me tonight. I will have more to say about the show in my Members' Exclusive Audio recap later tonight.

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