WWE Raw 05/14
We are live in: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler
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Cold open. Backstage, Mr. John Laurinaitis meets Triple H.
Laurinaitis says he was surprised that Lesnar attacked Triple H two weeks back, and it was painful to watch Brock beat him up and humiliate him by breaking his arm. But he has his support and sympathy.
Triple H doesn’t say anything. Mr. Laurinaitis asks why he’s not saying anything.
Triple H says what he has to say he’ll say in front of the world. Good luck with John Cena on Sunday.
Triple H heads to the ring.
The Raw intro plays.
Cut to ringside. Triple H comes out and heads to the ring to address the fans. He’s wearing a mechanical brace.
Everybody wants to know his thoughts on Lesnar. It’s not the physical act of violence that bothered him. It’s that he said he wanted to bring legitimacy to the WWE. Before he showed up, he was at the most watched WrestleMania in WWE history going toe to toe with The Undertaker. Lesnar’s words offend Undertaker, Michaels, Hogan, Cena, Sammartino, Bob Backlund, everyone. It offends him as a fan because that’s how he started out. He has been and always will be part of the WWE Universe, and as a member of that universe Brock Lesnar offends him. He’s also big enough to admit he was embarrassed. Not because a 300 pound man attacked him from behind. He’s embarrassed because he bought into Lesnar’s crap.
The same hype he bought into in 2002 when he first met Lesnar the farm boy from Minneapolis. He thought he could be the next big thing. And Lesnar shot right to the top of the WWE. When he got there, and got challenged, and someone stepped up to him and he had to actually fight, Lesnar quit. When it wasn’t easy, he quit and went to the UFC. He took the hype and went to the top of the UFC. Then somebody kicked his ass and he tried to fight. When it wasn’t so easy, Lesnar quit. Then he decides to come back here. He looked at Cena and thought he could take him. And he took it to Cena, but Cena never quits. John reached deep inside, fought, and beat Brock Lesnar. Then Lesnar came out the next night making contractual demands, and he was told no. When he was told no and it wasn’t easy anymore, he does what he always does. Brock Lesnar quit.
Lesnar’s music plays, and Paul Heyman comes out along with another guy holding an envelope. They enter the ring.
Heyman says he gets it. He understands. It’s the big spin. Damage control. It’s what every promoter has said when losing their biggest star. Triple H lost the biggest star, and as a businessman he screwed up. It’s an open and shut case. His client entered into a binding agreement with Mr. Laurinaitis on live television, and he arrogantly and illegal ripped the contract up. That’s breach of contract. What he doesn’t get is that he brings a fighter into an entertainment company, and he doesn’t like it when he fights? He doesn’t get Brock Lesnar, but he does get this.
The other man hands Triple H some papers.
Heyman says consider himself served. He is being sued by Lesnar for the millions of dollars he is owed. Lesnar is disappointed in the way things are turned out. On a personal business, Lesnar expected a fight. But instead he got a conniving sycophant. He’s glad he broke the left arm because it’s with the right arm that he’ll sign those papers.
Triple H grabs Heyman by the face in anger. Heyman shouts “what are you doing?!”
Triple H lets go and throws the papers on the ground.
Brock Lesnar is going to get everything he deserves!
Triple H goes to leave, but Heyman stops him.
Mr. Businessman just screwed up again. Now he doesn’t have just one lawsuit. He put his hands on him. That’s assault and battery. That’s lawsuit #2, and he will see him in court.
Triple H and Heyman leave the ring.
Cut to a clip from last week. Laurinaitis yells at Big Show for getting in his way and Show mocks his voice. Eve catches him doing so.
Tonight, if Show doesn’t apologize for his actions he’ll be fired. He also faces Kane later tonight. Also tonight, Laurinaitis and Cena meet face to face in the ring.
WWE Champion CM Punk comes out for a tag team match coming up next.
-Commercial-
Santino Marella comes out as his partner.
[Match #1]
[Tag Team Match]
[CM Punk and Santino Marella vs. Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes]
The bell sounds. Punk and Cody start off. Cody starts off strong, but Punk fights him off and demands for Bryan to tag in. He doesn’t, and Cody is forced to wrestle Cody some more before tossing him out of the ring. Bryan tries to get Punk from behind, but Punk catches him and sends him over the top landing on Cody. Punk runs the ropes and suicide dives on Cody and Bryan. Santino tries to do the same but he comically trips up against the middle rope.
-Commercial-
Back, and Santino and Cody are in the ring. Santino seems to have Cody at his mercy, but Cody gets in a cheap shot and tags Bryan. Bryan takes Santino down easily and goes to work on knees shots to the head. Bryan tags Cody back in. Cody works on Santino a bit before tagging Bryan back in. Bryan with kick trademark kicks to the chest followed by an arm bar. Santino battles back, but Bryan kicks him down and tags Cody back in. Cody and Bryan make frequent tags but Santino finds and opening and tags Punk. Punk works over Cody and follows it up with a running clothesline into a running bulldog. He goes for GTS but Cody slips out. Cody gets a roundhouse kick to the head. Bryan gets in the ring and Punk grabs him for GTS, but Bryan slips out and exits the ring. Cody attacks Punk from behind. Punk gets Cody close to Santino. Santino goes for The Cobra from the apron. Cody back away before it can hit, and Punk lifts Cody up from behind hitting the GTS for the three count.
[Winners via Pinfall: CM Punk and Santino Marella]
[Time: 09:28]
Later tonight, Randy Orton takes on Chris Jericho.
-Commercial-
Alicia Fox is in the ring for a match.
Beth Phoenix comes out as her opponent.
[Match #2]
[Singles Match]
[Alicia Fox vs. Beth Phoenix]
The bell sounds. Beth tries to overpower Alicia but Fox dodges her attacks. Alicia soon gets caught with a clothesline. WWE Divas Champion Layla comes out and watches from the top of the ramp. Phoenix lifts Alicia up over he head and press slams her. She then hits the Glam Slam for the three count.
[Winner via Pinfall: Beth Phoenix]
[Time: 01:19]
Beth goes to hurt Alicia some more, but Layla runs into the ring and face plants Beth. Beth rolls out of the ring and Layla stands in the ring taunting Phoenix.
A video plays about John Cena’s time with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
They play the “Big Show mocks Mr. Laurinaitis” video again.
-Commercial-
A recap is shown of last week when Mr. Laurinaitis said that anyone making fun of his voice will suffer severe consequences. Big Show makes fun of it and Even demands an apology. Show apologizes, but Laurinaitis thinks it’s insincere. Then on Smackdown, Laurinaitis costs Big Show his match with Bryan. He says Show didn’t mean it when he apologized, and there’s no place for a 400 pounds 40 year old freak anywhere else. He better apologize on Raw, and it better be damn good.
Mr. Laurinaitis comes out and heads to ringside to watch Show’s match with Kane.
-Commercial-
Big Show comes out for his match. Kane comes out as his opponent.
[Match #3]
[Singles Match]
[Big Show vs. Kane]
The bell sounds. They grapple. Show takes Kane down and tries to keep him down, but Kane fights back. Big Show throws a volley of punches to the gut and then tosses Kane across the ring. Show tries to add on to the offensive but Kane counters and gets Show down on the mat. Kane applies a submission hold to Show. Show manages to slam Kane down and Show climb up the turnbuckle. He goes for a splash off the top but Kane avoids it. Show gets up and tries for a chokeslam but Kane counters it. Show tosses Kane out of the ring and goes after him. Spear to Kane. Show slides Kane back in the ring.
Laurinaitis suddenly interrupt and says he wants an apology now!
Show is distracted long enough to get a chokeslam from Kane for the three count.
[Winner via Pinfall: Kane]
[Time: 04:08]
Laurinaitis, along with David Otunga, enters the ring.
Laurinaitis tells him to get up like a man. Look at him! He decided to make fun of his voice. Does he think that’s smart to do to his leader? Is he trying to set an example in the back so everyone can make fun for it? He’s not gonna take it. He wants an apology and it better be good or he’ll fire him.
Show, still in pain, grabs a microphone.
He’s been thinking long and hard about what he’s going to say to him. He wants him to know something. When he broke into WCW he was 23 years old. This has been his life. The past 18 years he’s done it all, even had a WrestleMania moment. There’s a part of him that can walk away with his head held high and no regrets. But the truth is he loves what he does. He loves performing for the fans. And it’s not just about the matches. It’s coming down that aisle and seeing the look on kid’s faces. The friendships and bonds he made in the back…don’t erase 18 years of his life for something petty. He wants to fine him? Fine. Ban him from having a championship match ever again? That’s fine too. If imitating his voice offended him, he’s sorry. But if he has any decency, he’ll allow him to do what he loves.
Laurinaitis says that was very passionate, but he didn’t hear him apologize. He doesn’t think anyone in the cheap seats or in the back heard him.
Show keeps saying he’s sorry.
Laurinaitis says now he has to prove it. He wants his job? He has to beg. He has to get on his knees and beg.
Show says he can’t be serious.
He wants to waste 18 years of his life? Get on his knees and beg.
Show hesitates. He tries to get on one knee, but he’s resistant to it.
Show says he wants him to beg? He’ll beg. He’s sorry. But please, please don’t make him get on his knees.
Laurinaitis says he disgusts him. Everyone here who loves him disgusts him! He’ll do what’s right for business. Not for him or for them, but for business. But he’ll reconsider it.
Laurinaitis and Otunga leave the ring, but stops.
Laurinaitis says he has reconsidered. Even though he’s gonna be on the unemployment line, by the power vested in him–
Show says wait. And he finally gets on his knees. He starts crying. He apologizes.
Apologize for what?
For making fun of his voice. He’ll never do it again. Is he happy now?!
Laurinaitis says he’s not. As General Manager of Raw and Smackdown, he wishes him the best in his future endeavors. Show is fired.
Big Show is left on his knees crying.
-Commercial-
Brodus Clay comes out for a match.
WWE Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Kofi Kingston come out together. It’s announced that the following is a six man tag match.
The Miz comes out as their opponent, followed by Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger as his partners.
[Match #4]
[Six Man Tag Match]
[Brodus Clay, R-Truth and Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger]
Truth and Swagger start things off. Swagger tries to overpower Truth but Truth chops him down. He tags Brodus in and Brodus takes down Swagger, Ziggler and Miz. Ziggler and Miz are tossed out of the ring.
-Commercial-
Ziggler and Truth are in the ring. Ziggler has Truth in a sleeper.
Over in the skybox seats watching the match are Abraham Washington, Mason Ryan, and Primo and Epico with Rosa Mendes.
Miz tags in and keeps Truth grounded. Truth slowly gets back up. Miz is distracted by Brodus long enough to get kicked off his feet by Truth. Tag made to Kofi and Miz is on fire with Miz. Miz tries for a clothesline but winds up with a hurricarana from Kofi. SOS connects but Swagger breaks it up. Ziggler runs the ropes and Brodus hits him with a headbutt to the chest. Miz doesn’t see Kofi coming and he gets hit with Trouble in Paradise. Brodus is tagged in and he hits the body splash for the three count.
[Winners via Pinfall: Brodus Clay, R-Truth and Kofi Kingston]
[Time: 07:00]
Brodus, Truth and Kofi start dancing along with Brodus’ dancers and some kids from the audience.
Up next, Randy Orton takes on Chris Jericho in the main event.
-Commercial-
Punk and Alex Riley are discussing something backstage when AJ goes up to Punk
AJ says she just wanted to say good luck on Sunday.
Punk says he appreciates that. Don’t take this the wrong way, but he doesn’t need to be added to the drama with whatever’s going on between her and Bryan. He doesn’t trust him. Not that he doesn’t think this is a setup, but she’s been pretty unstable lately, so…later.
Punk leaves.
World Champion Sheamus comes out and heads to the announce table for the upcoming match.
Chris Jericho comes out and heads to the ring.
Randy Orton comes out as his opponent.
[Match #5]
[Singles Match]
[Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho]
The bell sounds and they lock up. They runs the ropes and Orton catches Jericho early on. Orton knocks Jericho over the top.
-Commercial-
Jericho has Orton in a headlock. Jericho brings Orton to the turnbuckle, and Orton fights back. Orton continues the offensive until Jericho catches a dropkick off the turnbuckle. Jericho goes for a lionsault, but Orton counters and catches Jericho in his trademark moves. He adds on an inverted neckbreaker for good measure. Jericho gets on the apron and Orton goes for the DDT off the middle rope, but Jericho back body drops Orton out of the ring. Jericho exits the ring and taunts Sheamus before grabbing Orton. Jericho then shoves Orton into Sheamus sending them both down. Jericho tosses Orton back in the ring. He tries to get inside but Orton catches him with a kick and hits the DDT. Orton goes for the RKO, but Sheamus suddenly pulls Jericho out of the ring and clotheslines him costing Orton the match.
[Winner via Disqualification: Chris Jericho]
[Time: 08:40]
Sheamus and Orton argue with each other outside the ring. Orton offers Sheamus the chance to settle things in the ring. They enter the ring, but a few referees enter the ring and hold them back from each other.
Up next, Mr. Laurinaitis has an announcement for Cena about their match.
-Commercial-
Eve announces on Twitter that Randy Orton and Sheamus will go one on one this Friday on Smackdown.
Mr. Laurinaitis comes out and heads to the ring to make an announcement for John Cena that will “change the future course of WWE forever”
He wants to say what Big Show couldn’t say genuinely. He’s sorry. He’s sorry if Cena is their favorite superstar because that makes them losers. Cena is a loser. He lost to Rock at WrestleMania and looked like a loser to Lesnar. He’s better than Rock and Brock combined, and when he beats Cena at Over The Limit, he’ll prove that each and every one of them are losers. But there’s nothing wrong with being a loser. The world needs them. If there weren’t losers like them, there wouldn’t be winners like him. Therefore-
John Cena comes out and heads to the ring.
Cena smells Laurinaitis before saying that desperation is such a stinky cologne.
Look at him. He’s like the Manchurian Candidate. WHen the election coming up, don’t forget to vote for candidate X. He then makes fun of his voice.
Oh, he made fun of his voice. Is he going to fire him like he did Show? That was awful. He was a scumbag before firing Show, but now he’s the king of them. And he has the gall to call himself a winner? Let’s look at his track record. WrestleMania, his team won but he didn’t do anything. He’ll give him that. Next he wanted CM Punk removed as WWE Champion. Punk is still champion, so that didn’t work out. Then he brought out Brock to defeat him and become the next big thing. He lost and then quit. That makes him one for four. One for four doesn’t make him a winner. That makes him a loser.
Cena starts interrupting Laurinaitis with the word “Loser” over and over again.
It’s perfectly fine though because at Over The Limit he’s gonna be a loser. He’s managed to step on every single WWE superstar and every member of the WWE Universe for “People Power”. He needs to change that to “Person Power” because only one person matters to him, and that’s him. Quick show of hands: how many people want to hit this guy?
The fans cheer.
Maybe that was a fluke. One more time, but this time he wants to hear them. How many of them want to beat him so bad he squeals like a baby calf waiting for a teet?
The fans cheer louder.
See? It’s a response like that that shows he has no concept of reality. He can’t think of a better place to give him a wake up call than in Pittsburgh. Here’s why. The Steel City is known for a lot of thing. One is the Steel Curtain. The legend of the Steel Curtain is of a group of men that decimate and destroy their opponents, and that’s what he’ll do to him at Over The Limit. The obvious second is the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Laurinaitis said he was going to reference the Penguins in his promo, but he stole it.
Cena continues to interrupt him with the word Loser before stopping and letting him make the reference.
Laurinaitis calls them losers.
Interesting. Interesting. Wait, you’ve heard his reference. Now for his. And there just so happens to be members of the Pittsburgh Penguins here tonight. On behalf of himself and the WWE Universe, and the Penguins. Mr. Laurinaitis…go puck yourself.
Laurinaitis says those are tough words he’s saying. But he’s Big Johnny. He’s taller than him, better looking, and he knows that bothers him.
Eve walks down to the ring.
He can make a match, change a match, add a referee, and do whatever he wants, and-
Eve goes over to Laurinaitis and whispers something to him before handing him a piece of paper. Laurinaitis reads it and Cena takes it.
Cena says it’s from the Board of Directors. It says they have important news about his match. They feel it’s important for the WWE Universe to know what they’re getting. Therefore, his match with Mr. Cena will be one on one. There will be NO special guest referee. NO ONE is allowed at ringside. The only way to win is by pinfall or submission. And any superstar who interferes in the match will be immediately terminated.
Cena says he should be concerned with this bottom line of the paper. It says if Laurinaitis loses this match, he’ll be officially terminated.
Cena’s music plays, but he says to stop.
Cena heard that Laurinaitis had this huge announcement that will change their lives. This should be good. Now that he knows that he’ll be fired, what’s his big announcement?
Laurinaitis simply slaps Cena in the face and leaves the ring as the show comes to an end.