Raw Results 07/18/11

Raw Results from Green Bay, WI:

WWE Raw opened with Chairman Vince McMahon, and John Larenitis, the VP of WWE Talent Relations, making their way to the ring. They showed a shot of all the wrestlers gathered backstage watching on TV to see what would happen next with regards to the WWE Championship. The crowd started up a CM Punk chant to Vince's dismay. He said they'll never hear him say that name again and talked about how Punk turned his back on the WWE Universe.

Vince said tonight eight of Raw's best superstars will compete against each other in a single elimination tournament. The matches will be Rey Mysterio vs Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger vs R-Truth, Kofi Kingston vs Alberto Del Rio and Alex Riley vs The Miz.

Vince said conspicuous by his absence from the tournament is John Cena. He reminded the fans about the severe consequences for John Cena if Punk left the building as champion. Vince said after consulting with John Larenitis, there will be severe consequences later on. Vince promised tonight's show will be a historic show they'll always remember.

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler spoke about John Cena, with Cole said according to Cena on his Twitter he already believes he's been fired. Cena commented about how he apologizes to The Rock that their match for Wrestlemania 28 won't take place.

The Miz made his way out for the opening match of the WWE Championship tournament. Miz was clearly limping on his way to the ring.

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Alex Riley vs. The Miz
WWE Championship Tournament First Round

Riley targeted Miz's hurt leg throughout this one, and had a half Boston Crab at one point. Miz managed to crawl over to grab the bottom rope and break it though. Riley kept striking Miz, but somehow the referee got into Riley's way. Riley tried to move the referee aside, and that brief distraction allowed The Miz to get his Skullcrushing Finale on Riley.

Winner: The Miz wins via pinfall over Alex Riley to advance to the semifinals of the WWE Championship tournament.

R-Truth was shown walking down a hallway backstage talking to himself.

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Cole said John Morrison is battling his way back from injury. They showed a highlight video package of Morrison's high-flying and intense offense in various matches. Cole said Morrison was injured on two separate occasions by R-Truth, then said Truth could even be champion when Morrison gets back.

Jack Swagger vs R-Truth
WWE Championship Tournament First Round

During the match, Cole brought up Sin Cara getting injured in the Smackdown MITB ladder match last night and how he could be out for up to two months. More on that on Friday's Smackdown.

As Cole and Lawler talked about the Cena-McMahon-Punk situation, Swagger was in control as he did a running splash on Truth. He followed with a submission hold, but Truth got to his feet. The crowd started a Little Jimmy chant up and Truth got momentum for a near fall. Truth missed on the scissor kick, and Swagger swiped his leg, then tried to put Truth into the Ankle Lock. Truth flipped out of it and turned it into a pinfall, holding Swagger's legs secure to get the 3 count.

Winner: R-Truth wins via pinfall over Jack Swagger to advance to the semifinals of the WWE Championship Tournament.

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Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio
WWE Championship Tournament First Round

Del Rio drove out from backstage in a 1983 Excalibur Roadster worth over $100,000. He carried the Money in the Bank briefcase with him onto the ramp, hoisting it up on display.

Del Rio got on the mic to cut a promo about he nearly cashed in last night, but CM Punk ran and ran away like a dog. He blamed John Cena for all of this happening and said he hopes he gets fired. Del Rio said he'll be a better champion though, one they can respect, because thats his destiny. After his speech had finished, Ricardo Rodriguez, appeared from backstage to announce Del Rio as Money in the Bank winner.

At one point, Del Rio missed charging across the ring and slid out through the ropes. Kofi did a running dive onto him through the ropes to take Del Rio down. Later in the match, Kofi was on a rampage, but Del Rio managed to take him down on the Double Boom Leg Drop. Del Rio went for the Cross Armbreaker with Kofi countering it. Del Rio tried to sit on Kofi for a pin, but Kofi rolled through and got the pinfall victory.

Winner: Kofi Kingston wins via pinfall over Alberto Del Rio to advance to the semifinals of the WWE Championship Tournament.

They showed Rey Mysterio walking backstage on the way out for the next match.

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They had a Summerslam Recall from 1992's edition with The British Bulldog going against Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship. Bulldog won the Intercontinental Championship. The two hugged after the matchup in the ring.

Josh Matthews interviewed Kofi Kingston backstage about making it to the Semifinals of the tournament. Kofi talked about his participation in last night's MITB match and he came up short. He said today's a new day, and tonight's a new opportunity. Kofi said one down, two to go.

Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler
WWE Championship Tournament First Round

Early in this one, Ziggler avoided Mysterio on the outside and hit a flapjack to drop Rey face first on the floor. Dolph had control for a while until missing on an elbow drop and a splash attempt in the corner. Rey had a near fall. Later, Rey flipped out of a sunset flip pinfall attempt by Ziggler, but Ziggler avoided his kick attempt then kicked Rey in the leg.

Later still, Ziggler ducked the 619 attempt and managed to slam Rey onto the mat for a near fall. However, later in the match, Rey regained control by using a headscissors to toss Ziggler onto the ropes, then hit 619. He followed with the diving splash off the corner for the win.

Winner: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall over Dolph Ziggler to advance to the semifinals of the WWE Championship Tournament.

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7-on-7 Divas Tag Match

Featured in the match were the team of AJ, Gail Kim, Eve Torres, Beth Phoenix, Kaitlyn, Natalya and Kelly Kelly vs. the team of Melina, Maryse, Rosa Mendes, Tamina, Alicia Fox and The Bella Twins. Beth started it off by taking Rosa down multiple times, then landing a fishermen's suplex from against the top rope. A mini brawl broke out with the other divas all fighting outside the ring. Beth managed to gain the upperhand and hit the Glam Slam on Rosa Mendes to finish the match off quick.

Winners: The face divas defeated the heel divas via pinfall.

The WWE Tournament is down to Kofi Kingston vs The Miz and Rey Mysterio vs R-Truth in the Semifinals.

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Kofi Kingston vs The Miz
WWE Championship Tournament Semifinals Match 1.

Late in the match, Miz went for Skullcrushing Finale, but Kofi reversed it into a pinfall attempt. Miz got out of it and stumbled into the corner. Kofi tried for his running jump move, but Miz ducked and dropped Kofi face first onto the turnbuckle. Kofi stumbled back into the ring and Miz hit him with Skullcrushing Finale to win. Cole boasted about Miz winning two matches on one leg.

Winner: The Miz wins via pinfall over Kofi Kingston to advance to the WWE Championship Tournament Finals.

Scott Stanford tried to interview R-Truth backstage about how he has 1 more match to get to the finals for the WWE Championship. Truth started talking about the conspiracies to keep him away from the championship. He said tonight all the Little Jimmies better close their eyes, because the WWE Championship is "gonna get got, and that's the Truth!"

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They showed a background video about Andy aka "Silent Rage" the winner of WWE Tough Enough. Andy talked about his tough neighborhood near a meth lab. They also had footage of others talking about him and his work ethic. Andy said he's had to claw and scratch to get to where he is now and wouldn't have it any other way.

Rey Mysterio vs. R-Truth
WWE Championship Tournament Semifinals Match 2

Truth gained control and had Rey down in a legscissors lock around his midsection. Moments later, Mysterio escaped and gained momentum by flipping Rey out of the ring. He followed up with a diving crash onto Truth outside the ring.

The finish saw Truth trying to put Rey away, and nearly did, but Rey managed to grab the rope on a pinfall attempt before 3. Rey rolled onto the apron to recover and Truth went over to attack him. Rey snapped Truth's neck against the top rope, then was able to knock him into the ropes for the 619. He followed with the diving headbutt for the win.

Winner: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall over R-Truth to advance to the Finals of the WWE Championship Tournament.

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Rey Mysterio was in the ring for the WWE Championship Tournament Finals. Justin Roberts started to make the announcement but Mr. McMahon's music hit and the Chairman arrived to the ring with a look on his face. Mr. McMahon said he won't deny Rey the opportunity to become WWE Champion, or Miz either, but he's got something else that he has to do. He told Rey he'll need to postpone his championship match until next week. The crowd booed that decision. Vince said "Sorry Rey, this is bigger than you." Rey was miffed at the decision as he finally left the ring.

Vince talked about John Cena and his contributions to WWE. Vince said he wants to thank him for all of that. He added sometimes you have to set an example in business. He said this is about business, not his ego or something personal. Vince said in time the fans will thank him for his decision.

A "CM Punk" chant started up from the crowd. Vince said as much as he doesn't want to do this, "Let's get it over with." John Cena's music hit and Cena arrived out from backstage, then walked to the ring. Cena swiped the mic from Vince's hands to talk first.

Cena said he's ok with this because he won't go through the same things that Vince made Shawn Michaels go through. Cena talked about how for years everyone just said Shawn Michaels screwed Bret. Cena said he found himself in that situation last night and didn't want to be the guy who screwed CM Punk. Cena told Vince he has 8 months to find another opponent for The Rock. He said he knows Vince will find someone else or create 10 more of him, but Cena will get to leave with his pride and dignity. Cena said he loves the WWE and truly believes he belongs in it. Cena said if Vince makes him leave tonight since he loves doing this he'll walk onto someone else's TV show and keep doing it "brutha!"

Cena went to leave the ring, but Vince grabbed him and stopped him. He said Cena won't deny him the satisfaction of saying this. Before Vince could speak though, Triple H's theme music hit and out came "The Game" in a business suit. He got into the ring and had words with Vince. Vince got him a mic then introduced Triple H as his son-in-law and one of the all time greats.

Triple H said they had a board of directors meeting earlier this morning. HHH said the board asked him to come there and talk to him about the current situation. He suggested they go in the back to talk about this, but Vince said no. Hunter said specifically the board is concerned about Vince and his questionable decision as of late. HHH said the board has filed an injunction against Vince with a "vote of no confidence" and the family agrees. He added that the board has appointed someone to take over day-to-day operations of the WWE. HHH said "I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but Vince, it's me."

Triple H told Vince he won't be firing Cena or doing anything else. Cena was shown on the ramp slapping hands with nearby fans upon hearing the news. He told Vince nobody is bigger than this business. Triple H said he's there to inform him that Vince is relieved of his duties. Vince had tears in his eyes upon hearing the news. The crowd started up the "Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye" song chant. Triple H finished with "I love you pop, and I'm sorry." He dropped the mic and left the ring looking down as he walked up the ramp.

Vince was speechless in the ring and started pacing around as the crowd started up a "Thank You Vince!" chant for him.

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