By Chris Shore

WWE Raw on USA
Live from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael Cole, Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed us to Raw. Triple H's music hit and he came to the ring. He said it was his job now to make sure they give us the best they have to offer at all times. He said it was his job to make sure the company thrives. He said for the foreseeable future, the Raw and Smackdown rosters would merge to be a Raw Supershow.

He said that was the cool part of being COO. He some of the bad parts were being lied to. He ran down some of the lies he's been given and said they have come from his friend Kevin Nash. He said Nash was pissed he wasn't allowed to be a man against CM Punk. He said if Nash was a man he should come to the ring now.

CM Punk's music hit instead and he came to the ring clapping and saying, "Good job." Punk said he had seen some great performances, but that was Oscar worthy. Hunter asked him what he wanted and Punk said he wanted Hunter to just admit this he and Nash had been in this together from the start. Nash's music hit and he came to the ring.

Hunter stood in between them and Nash took the mic. Nash admitted he had his driver call Johnny Ace and lie about the accident. He said it was because Hunter wouldn't let him finish his business with Punk. He said it was also because Punk had disrespected Hunter, but more importantly, Stephanie. He asked Hunter what type of man he has become.

Hunter said he was the type of man who thought he could trust his best friend. He said he couldn't trust Nash anymore. He wanted him to leave and not come back. Nash said while Hunter was out of the building, Johnny Ace signed him to a lucrative deal. He said it was guaranteed so he would just sit at home and get paid.

Hunter said he wasn't going to fire him, but the lying stops. CM Punk started acting like he was gagging. He over did it and said he was acting just like them. He said the clique was back together and was the sound of remotes when people saw Nash on TV, and the sound Nash's knees made.

Nash said since he was under contract, how about Hunter book a match, the match Punk thinks he wants. Punk said for Hunter to book it at Night of Champions. He said that Hunter needed to check with the Board, and by the board he means his wife. Nash hulked up and Hunter stood in-between them with his back to Punk. Said to go ahead and ask her because she ran the show anyway. He said she was the one who told Hunter to text Nash. He said Hunter didn't wear the pants, but he wore her panties. He finished with, "Pipe bomb."

[Q2] Hunter turned around slowly and said, "You want the match, it's official." He booked the match for NOC and said he had two words for both of them. He held up his hand and the fans finished the phrase. Nash and Punk stared off and Randy Orton's music hit. Cole announce Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler for next…[C]

Shore's Slant: Wild opening. They were all a little over the top once or twice, but it was a lot of fun. But I'm not crazy about the match. Nash is just too old. And I'm not the least bit thrilled if this merged roster thing continues past tomorrow.

Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero made their entrance as a video recapped their thing last week…

1. Randy Orton defeated Dolph Ziggler at 12:26. Orton started out strong and hooked for his rope DDT. Vickie climbed up on the apron and Orton stalled. Ziggler got his feet down and dumped Orton over the top. He rolled to the floor and hit a Zig Zag. Both men sold it. Ziggler finally rolled in the ring and Orton barely made the count…[C]

[Q3] Back at 6:22, Ziggler was in charge while Swagger watched from the back. Ziggler went to the top as Vickie berated him. Orton caught him up there and hit a top rope superplex for a near fall. Orton hit his scoop slam and then a belly to belly for a near fall.

Ziggler came back with a kick and hit the fameassor for a near fall. He went for a dropkick and Orton swatted it away. He hit a slingshot to the corner and then his inverted neckbreaker. He backed up for the punt kick, but Ziggler hit a superkick type move instead for a great near fall.

Ziggler went for the Zig Zag again, but Orton slid away. He dragged Ziggler to the apron and hit his rope DDT. He went for the RKO, but Ziggler hooked the sleeper. Orton flipped him off. Ziggler went for it again, but Orton popped him up and then hit an RKO that Ziggler sold like he had been shot for the win…

A video recapped Del Rio's attack on Cena last week. Cena was backstage and Josh Matthews asked him about what happened. Cena looked at him and walked off. Matthews said Cena was headed to the ring…[C]

Shore's Slant: Holy crap was that good. Ziggler is one of the best sellers in the industry. Now I know why he loses so often. He could probably make me look like a million bucks. That was an unbelievable opener.

Cena's music played and hit came out to a mostly positive reaction. Cena asked how everyone was doing. He said he wasn't doing so good because Del Rio's actions were speaking louder than his words. He said Del Rio said he was going to be a champion with honor and class, but his actions showed him to be a master of "douche-baggery" that was bleeped. He told Del Rio to come get some.

[Q4] Mark Henry's music hit and he came to the ring and a video showed him killing Sheamus last week. Henry said Cena was talking about getting some, well he came to get some. He put over all he had done and said Cena was going to become a new member of the Hall of Pain. He said the winner of the steel cage tomorrow night on Smackdown would be the next member and he would be the new World Champion at NOC.

Christian's music hit and he came to the ring. Christian said after he beat Orton tomorrow night he would face Henry, but they would deal with that later. Christian said there was nothing more embarrassing than someone who came out whining each weak until they got what they want.

Cena said he wasn't whining. He whined while asking why Christian was "douched" in orange tan every weak and why Henry's breath smelled like funnel cakes wrapped in dog turds. He said if they wanted some, come get some or get gone. Christian said Cena needed to learn about repercussions. They squared off and Sheamus ran out and stood beside Cena. Christian left first, then Henry walked away…

Johnny Ace was shown backstage with referee Charles Robinson. He said he was going to book them in a tag match and asked Charles what he thought. He even called him by name. Wow. Hunter walked up and pushed Charles away. He got in Ace's face and said he might be executive vice-president but he works for Hunter. He poked Ace in the chest and said, "I am your boss." He walked off leaving Johnny pissed…The announce team hyped CM Punk vs. The Miz for next…[C]

Shore's Slant: Good exchange that made sense until Christian came out. His interference felt forced. They did OK with it, but I was hoping for Cena vs. Henry.

Punk was in the ring and Miz's music hit. He came out and cut a promo all the way to the ring. He said Punk was an embarrassment tonight and that he was the first person speaking his mind over a year ago. He said he was going to beat Punk tonight because he was the Miz and awesome…

[Q5] 2. CM Punk defeated The Miz by disqualification at 13:56. The first two minutes of this match were in the last quarter. Punk knocked Miz down early and screamed, "Awesome" at him. Punk went to the top for the elbow and Miz swept the legs to take control. Miz ran through his move set and hit a neckbreaker for two. He drove Punk into the corner shoulder first and Punk rolled to the floor...[C]

Back at 11:16, Punk hit a throw on Miz and a video showed Punk hitting the post again during the break. Punk fought back and hit a double underhook backbreaker for two. Punk hit the Savage elbow and called for GTS. Truth ran out and caused the DQ. He ended up taking out both men and Nash walked to the ring.

Miz attacked from behind and he and Truth beat Punk down while Nash watched. They backed away after a minute and Nash hit the Jackknife powerbomb. Nash's music played and they all left the ring…The announce team hyped the tag team main event…

Shore's Slant: Meh, I didn't want to go back to Nash again tonight, but OK I guess. The match was fantastic. My question after this is going to be, "Why should I pay to see big matchups when I'm getting these every week?"

[Q6][C] 3. Sin Cara defeated Jack Swagger at 2:54. Pretty sure this is Sin Cara 2.0, i.e Hunico. Cara sent Swagger to the floor and did a fake dive, followed by a moonsault to the floor. Swagger hit a clothesline to take control. Vickie Guerrero walked out to watch. Ziggler came out and climbed up on the apron. He told Swagger he sucked and Swagger went after him. Sin Cara hit a springboard tornado DDT and his combo finisher for the win. Ziggler walked past Vickie and demanded she follow…[C]

Shore's Slant: Well, at least it was a fluke win for Sin Cara, but I'm sick of his character. I get why he's pushed, especially with Rey out. But ugh, they need to put a mouthpiece with him soon.

A video recapped Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne winning the tag titles last week…

[Q7] 4. Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne (Air Boom) defeated Mike McGillicutty and David Otunga to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships at 2:24. Lawler trashed the former Nexus as they worked Bourne. Kofi got the hot tag and hit a Superman punch from the lights. He hit the Trouble in Paradise on McGillicutty for the win.

Post-match the champs left and the former Nexus yelled at Lawler. Otunga snatched the headset off and hit him in the chest with it. They told him to keep his mouth shut and stared off…Backstage, Kelly Kelly and Eve were talking…[C]

Shore's Slant: At least it was painless and quick. I have no idea why there is a need to pull Jerry Lawler out of the booth again, but here we go again.

A video recapped the Kelly and Eve win last week…

5. Brie Bella (w/Nicki Bella) defeated Kelly Kelly (w/Eve Torres) at 2:04. The Divas of Doom were shown in the back saying if they knew who good Divas were, they would be out there. Eve got involved which allowed the twins to switch and Nicki got the pin…

Shore's Slant: They have the Divas paired off a lot. We're going to get a Divas tag title, aren't we? Oh no. I gave them an idea.

[Q8][C] An Alex Riley hype video played…The announce team hyped the Punk vs. Nash and then setup the trailer for Triple H's new movie Inside Out…Mark Henry made his ring entrance…[C]

A Smackdown commercial announced John Cena vs. Wade Barrett, CM Punk vs. Great Khali, and Christian vs. Randy Orton for the World title in the cage…

[Overrun] 6. John Cena and Sheamus defeated Mark Henry and Christian at 6:41. Sheamus wore a wrap around his waist to sell the rib injury from Smackdown. Sheamus and Christian started. Christian attacked the ribs and tagged Henry. Henry came in ripped the bandage off and attacked the ribs. Christian tagged back in and worked Sheamus until Sheamus hit the Irish Curse backbreaker.

Cena got the hot tag and worked four of the five moves of doom. He knocked Henry to the floor and locked in the STF on Christian. Henry kicked him to break the hold and then clotheslined Sheamus. Sheamus fell on the rope and Henry went to jump on him, but Sheamus move and Henry crashed to the floor. Sheamus hit a shoulder tackle from the apron on Henry, then a Brogue kick on Christian. Christian took the kick and turned into an AA for a John Cena victory…

The feed cut to Hunter watching on a monitor backstage. Punk walked in and said he was summoned. Hunter said he just got off the phone with the board of directors. Punk mocked him and asked if he quit or was getting a divorce. Hunter said Punk's match with Nash was off. He said at NOC it would be Punk vs. Triple H…A replay of the final sequence in the main event closed the show…

Shore's Slant: Standard WWE far with the babyface team going over. They've been doing it this way for most of the past 30 years. As far as Hunter and Punk, I'm not so thrilled about that. I'm not ready to see Hunter in this match. I don't think there's a good way to end it right now without somebody looking bad (i.e. Punk). If Hunter does the job clean here, I'll eat every word, but I expect this to go poorly for Punk moving forward.

A very good Raw that had a better first hour than second. Don't know if the ratings will go that way, but that is what we were given. I'll have more to say later tonight with the members only Raw audio review. And Jason Powell will be back tomorrow with the Raw hitlist. Thanks for watching along tonight.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

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