Raw Results 07/04/11

Raw Results Las Vegas, NV:

Raw opened with highlights from last week's main event, the tables match where John Cena faced R-Truth. Cena was about to win with the AA, but CM Punk came to ringside and pushed the table over. Punk and Cena fought outside the ring a bit, then Punk rushed back into the ring. R-Truth managed to tackle Cena through a table in the corner to win the match. CM Punk ended the show with his infamous rant about his plans to leave WWE and his thoughts about the company.

John Cena arrived out to the ring. Cena said due to Punk's rant last week, he was suspended indefinitely and is also stripped of his #1 contender status to face Cena in Chicago for the WWE Title. Instead, there will be a new #1 contender found tonight in a Triple Threat match between Rey Mysterio, R-Truth and Alberto Del Rio. Cena said the idea is to ignore Punk's legacy, accomplishments and pretend he's never existed.

Cena said the WWE's decision sucks though. Cena questioned why he was suspended for speaking his mind. Cena said he found nothing wrong with Punk's speech even if he didn't agree with it. Cena asked the live audience, "where does this stop?" He brought up Daniel Bryan being fired for being too aggressive before and how fans' signs at WWE events get confiscated.

Cena said he called Vince McMahon earlier today, and he is on his way to the building to address Cena's concerns. Cena told Michael Cole there will be no interruptions from the anonymous Raw GM tonight for this. Cena said he wants to face CM Punk at Money in the Bank with the WWE Championship on the line.

Eve and Kelly Kelly were shown walking backstage on their way out for a divas tag match.

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The Money in the Bank briefcase was shown hanging up above the ring. Cole and Lawler discussed the ramifications of winning the MITB match at the PPV with the title contract inside.

Eve Torres & Kelly Kelly vs. The Bella Twins

Last week, Kelly defeated Nikki Bella in a match, then was attacked by the two twins. Eve Torres rushed to the ring to help her fight them off setting up tonight's tag match.

Eve was the target early in the match as the Bellas worked on her arm. Eve finally escaped to tag in Kelly who started taking it to her Bella opponent. She had the pinfall after the airplane headscissors move but the other Bella rushed in to break the pin up. Eve rushed in and took the illegal Bella to the outside allowing Kelly to hit her finisher, with the leg to the back of the head drive to the mat.

Winners: Eve Torres & Kelly Kelly win via pinfall over The Bella Twins.

They showed a video clip profiling and promoting Andy aka "Silent Rage" the winner of WWE Tough Enough 2011. Various trainers including Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat weighed in on his potential and their handling of his training.

R-Truth was shown backstage talking on a cellphone to "Flo" about insurance, asking if she can help him out. Scott Stanford walked up to Truth to ask about tonight's Triple Threat match and his chance to get another #1 contender's shot at Cena's title. Truth said he shouldn't have to compete to get a title shot again after what happened. He said there's a conspiracy going on as usual. He said bad news is tonight, someone's gonna get got. Alberto Del Rio walked up and bumped into Truth. Truth called him Senor Jimmy. Del Rio said it is his destiny to win the match tonight and become new WWE Champion. Del Rio told him, "you already know that" and started laughing.

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Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov vs. David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty

Cole noted that Otunga and McGill arrived out to the music of CM Punk who is suspended, so they may not be hearing that music for Punk again. Cole said they need to continue focus on being new tag champs rather than their suspended leader.

Otunga got the early advantage on Santino and angered him enough that Santino went after him with The Cobra. Otunga slid out of the ring to escape, then was able to tag in McGillicutty. Santino took control on him and tagged in Kozlov after an atomic drop.

The final moments saw Santino tag back in and go on a tear against McGillicutty. He had The Cobra ready but Otunga got involved and took the punch instead. Meanwhile, legal opponent McGillicutty took advantage and hit his neckbreaker finisher to get the pin on Santino.

Post match, Otunga and McGill celebrated in the ring. Suddenly, Zack Ryder's music came on and Ryder arrived out onto the stage. With a mic in hand he said "Woo Woo Woo" then paused and said "You know it." Ryder's music started up again and he just laughed and smiled from the stage as the tag champs looked puzzled.

Winners: David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty win via pinfall over Vladimir Kozlov & Santino Marella.

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Scott Stanford talked to The Miz backstage asking if he'd use a different strategy against Alex Riley tonight. Miz said CM Punk is suspended, allowing another opportunity for him to become new WWE Champion. He said due to Alex Riley though he won't be in the Triple Threat match. He said he brought Riley into Raw and will take him out tonight too.

Backstage, Evan Bourne was with Sgt. Slaughter in the locker room. Bourne said it's the Fourth of July and they're happy to have Sgt. Slaughter on Raw tonight for the celebration. Slaughter started saying how happy he was to lead the people in the Pledge of Allegiance tonight. Jack Swagger came in and said if anyone should be leading the people in the Pledge, it's him, the All American American. Swagger brought up how Slaughter sided with Iraq during the Gulf War. Slaughter told him everyone makes mistakes, especially Swagger's parents for not using birth control. Swagger challenged him to a match tonight, so Slaughter said he was on.

They showed a nighttime shot of the WWE Private jet landing on a runway with Lawler saying it was Vince McMahon arriving.

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Highlights from the 2010 Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania were shown with Jack Swagger winning the briefcase. He eventually cashed in on Chris Jericho to become the World Heavyweight Champion. Cole said Swagger has an opportunity to do that again when he competes at MITB in two weeks.

Sgt. Slaughter vs. Jack Swagger

Sgt. Slaughter arrived out with the American Flag and waved it for the crowd who started a "U-S-A" chant up. Slaughter had the Cobra Clutch locked in early on, but Swagger was able to back Slaughter into the corner to break it off. He followed by beating on Slaughter and clotheslining him down. Swagger did his running Vader Bomb on Slaughter to finish him off.

Swagger briefly celebrated his win, but then turned his attention to Slaughter. Swagger put the Ankle lock on to make Slaughter start tapping after the match. Evan Bourne rushed down to fight off Swagger and save Slaughter. He handed Sarge a mic after that and Slaughter led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Winner: Jack Swagger wins via pinfall over Sgt. Slaughter.

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Rey Mysterio vs. R-Truth vs. Alberto Del Rio
Triple Threat #1 Contender's Match

The winner of this match would become the new #1 contender to face John Cena for the WWE Championship at the Money in the Bank PPV on July 17th.

Midway through the match, Truth was in control after both Del Rio and Rey were knocked down outside the ring. Truth worked on Rey in the ring by whipping him hard into the corner area for a near fall.

At one point, Truth jumped off the apron to hit Del Rio with an axe chop move near the crowd barrier. He went back in the ring to continue beating up Mysterio, until Del Rio returned to break up his pinfall attempt. Del Rio tried to go after Rey but Rey staged a comeback. Moments later, Truth was on Del Rio's shoulders beating on him. Rey dropped off the corner to take out Truth as all three guys hit the mat.

Later still, Mysterio managed to get Truth isolated in the ring and hit the 619 on him. He got to the top rope for his diving headbutt. Del Rio was on the outside and tried to swipe Rey's leg but couldn't. Rey grabbed the pinfall. Del Rio rushed in and broke it up by putting the Cross Armbreaker on Rey. Rey was forced to tap out, giving Del Rio the win.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio wins the Triple Threat #1 Contender's match by submission over Rey Mysterio. Del Rio will now face John Cena for the WWE Championship at the MITB Pay-Per-View.

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They had a flashback of highlights for the 2005 Money in the Bank ladder match which included Christian, Kane, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin and Edge. Edge ultimately won the match to become the first ever Money in the Bank. He would eventually cash in to become the new WWE Champion.

They showed the ring was now decorated with 4th of July decorations including a cake that said "Happy Birthday Dolph." Vickie Guerrero and United States Champion Dolph Ziggler arrived to the ring. Vickie started her "excuse me" routine then said tonight they celebrate the birthday of the US of A, and since Dolph is the US Champion, he should get a birthday as well.

Vickie told everyone to stand up and sing Happy Birthday to her Dolph. Michael Cole stood up, but Lawler wouldn't. Vickie started doing her Marilyn Monroe sexy Happy Birthday song, and burst out with an "excuse me!" before finishing. Vickie asked Dolph if he has a wish before blowing out the candles. Dolph said he didn't but has some things he wants to say.

Dolph Ziggler said the people don't know how good they have it with him as he is in his prime. Ziggler said there will be plenty more Cenas and Orton's but never another Dolph Ziggler. Dolph said to forget Punk, Cena and the WWE title, because the United States Championship is all that matters.

Kofi Kingston's music hit to bring out the former US Champion. Kofi got in the ring saying it's messed up they're having a party and wouldn't invite him. Kofi suggested that Ziggler can't beat him without Vickie in his corner. Dolph said Kofi's on a lower level as Dolph's on the way up the to the highest of levels. Dolph told Kofi to beat it because they're having a party celebration.

Dolph shoved Kofi so Kofi shoved back. Dolph fell back into Vickie who sat on the birthday cake. The two fought around the ring, and back inside, bumping into Vickie again. This time she fell face first on to pof the cake. Kofi and Dolph wound up fighting towards the backstage area. In the ring, an embarrassed Vickie was covered in frosting as she left the ring to "U-S-A" chants.

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They had a flashback to last year's first ever Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View which featured a Raw and a Smackdown Money in the Bank match. In the Raw MITB match, Orton was about to grab the briefcase, but instead it was The Miz who shoved him off and pulled down the briefcase.

Michael Cole predicted that in two weeks The Miz will Money in the Bank for his second straight year.

Alex Riley vs. The Miz

They showed video highlights of Miz berating Riley as his personal assistant. It all boiled over with Riley finally snapping back and beating Miz at the Capitol Punishment PPV in DC.

Cole kepy talking up how Miz worked hard to become WWE Champion and how he tried to give Riley an opportunity to learn. During the match, Riley started up a comeback, but Miz hit a flapjack on him to maintain control. Miz had a near fall before a commercial break.

Late in the match, Miz hit his big running clothesline in the corner. He went for an inverted DDT backbreaker. Riley somehow countered it and put Miz into a backslide pinfall to get the surprise win. Miz sold shock on his face at the announced result as Riley's music played.

Miz left the ring as Riley celebrated in the ring. However, Miz returned to the ring and attacked Riley from behind, then brought the fight to the outside. He beat up Miz over the crowd barrier and near the audience. Miz threw Riley back over the barrier to ringside, then tossed him into the steel steps. The Miz tossed Riley onto and across the announcers table causing the top to fall off and Riley to hit the deck on the other side. The refs told Miz to get out of there as Riley was shown layed out.

Winner: Alex Riley wins via pinfall over The Miz.

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Cole and Lawler reviewed the footage of what CM Punk did and said after last week's main event.

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon arrived out to address the CM Punk suspension. He said he did it because he deserved it. Vince said he did what was right. Vince said CM Punk's contract is in fact almost over. Vince noted that Punk wanted all sorts of treatment in exchange for a new contract with WWE like his face on promo items, ability to fly on the private jet. Vince said he wasn't worth all of that though. Vince said Punk deserved it though. He said thank you very much, see you next week in Boston.

Before Vince could leave though, Cena's music hit and the WWE Champ came to the ring to confront McMahon. Cena said that Vince is suspended a guy for speaking his mind, something Vince fully believes in. Vince told Cena that's why his mic works. Cena brought up how Vince McMahon was always a fighter with big grapefruits, but he suspended a guy who fights, CM Punks. Cena said he still wants to fight, and he wants to fight CM Punk. Cena told Vince if he doesn't feel like fighting maybe "you should hang it up old man."

Vince got a look on his face, then said he will tell them why he really suspended Punk. Vince said he doesn't want to take the calculated risk of Punk defeating Cena and taking away the WWE Championship. Vince said he will not be embarrassed. Cena said he won't sit there and guarantee he'll win but he wants the match that CM Punk earned the right to be in. Cena said it's not embarassing, it sounds like the match of the year.

Cena asked what happens if he says something to get under Vince McMahon's skin, will he be suspended too. Vince told Cena "don't piss me off, don't be Hogan, or all those guys who came before you." Vince reminded Cena that it's not his company, it's Vince McMahon's. He brought up the line of top stars that came before Cena and how he does what's right for the company and the people.

Cena said he busts his ass for the company because he likes to think the WWE Championship stands for something. Cena told Vince if he just kicks CM Punk to the curb, he's already made the championship meaningless. Cena shoved the belt at Vince and left the ring, walking up the ramp. Vince told Cena to stop up on stage. Vince left the ring with the WWE Championship, then walked up to the top of the ramp to get in Cena's face.

Vince said he hates that this has come between them, but it has. Vince said CM Punk is reinstated and he's got his match. Cena smiled, but Vince told him to get that smile off his face. McMahon told Cena if CM Punk wins the championship off him at MITB Pay-Per-View, he'll come down to the ring and tell him "John Cena, You're Fired!" Vince shoved the belt back at Cena and walked backstage, with Cena looking shocked as Raw ended.

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