Raw Recap from Newark, New Jersey:
The show opened with a camera shot of the revved up crowd, followed by Triple H arriving out to the ramp and then down to the ring. The announcement was made of HHH by what sounded like Lillian Garcia, but no announcer was in the ring on Raw.
Triple H told the fans a giant volcano erupted in Iceland ruining travel everywhere. HHH said they're used to "giant gaseous eruptions" in the WWE but usually they involve Big Show and Mexican food. Triple H said the entire Raw roster is stuck in Europe due to the volcano eruption. HHH said don't worry you won't have to watch me fight in a 2 hour Iron man match with Frank the audio guy. He said the WWE upper management worked feverishly to make sure they have a show tonight of top quality.
CM Punk discussed the upcoming WWE Draft and how he may be headed to Raw. He said if he does the SES comes with him. HHH joked back at Punk that there's only 2 members of SES. He also brought up how Serena and Gallows are bald but Punk isn't. HHH said after Sunday when Mysterio beats him, Punk won't only be president of the hair club but also a member. Punk said he'll crush Mysterio's spirit on Sunday and then Rey will fall in line, followed by the fans. Punk said HHH would do some good to be in SES as well.
HHH said he just doesn't believe in what Punk does, he believes in freedom like the fans in attendance do. HHH walked out to the crowd and pointed out different members of the crowd and talked about what they can do since they're free. HHH pointed out Lillian Garcia sitting there at ringside, saying Lillian chose to come back to WWE for just a night to horse around.
Punk had enough of HHH finally and said he's not asking HHH, he's telling him. Punk kicked HHH in the gut, and the beatdown started. Gallows restrained HHH while Serena got the trimmers hooked up. Punk kept elbowing on HHH maniacally, then prepared to cut his hair. Suddenly, Rey Mysterio's music hit and Rey charged to the ring to make the save. After fighting off Gallows, Mysterio and HHH had Punk in the ring alone. Mysterio got the clippers and was able to cut off some of Punk's hair before Gallows came in to attack. Punk escaped the ring holding his hair up the ramp.
Michael Cole said tonight the cast of MacGruber's in charge of Raw.
Matt Hardy vs. Drew McIntyre
Cole and Lawler noted that thanks to satellite feeds they will hear from John Cena next. McIntyre did some major damage when outside the ring as he kicked Hardy into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Hardy took swings at McIntyre but couldn't see straight. Hardy hit the Side Effect though for a near fall. He also countered McIntyre's Future Shock DDT with a backdrop. Both men collided face first in the corner area, falling to the mat. Hardy got to his feet and then on the middle rope of the corner. Drew McIntyre yanked his legs out causing Hardy to hit the mat hard. McIntyre took the pinfall there.
Winner: Drew McIntyre wins via pinfall over Matt Hardy.Cole and Lawler talked about the volcano eruption in Iceland which has disrupted air travel. Lawler said the Raw wrestlers are stuck in Belfast Northern Ireland. They spoke to John Cena via satellite who sent a message to everyone in the WWE Universe that they're all safe there, but he apologizes they can't be on Raw. Cena said his preparation for Extreme Rules won't be disrupted and he'll be at the PPV if he has to swim run or walk to get there. Cena vowed to be Last Man Standing on Sunday so the "Champ will be here!"
They showed highlights from backstage last week when Vladimir Kozlov and Carlito complained about not getting what they want lately on Raw. Carlito blamed the guest hosts. Vlad said he'll get what he wants next week or he'll make MacGruber suffer.
Vladimir Kozlov was in the ring and said he's been treated unfairly. He pointed to Lawler and said King will read my statement. Lawler got in the ring to read it out on the mic. Lawler read that Kozlov feels he's being treated unfairly and as an elite athlete he demands elite competition. Lawler continued Kozlov's statement which called the crowd "spoiled, ignorant Americans who are physically inferior and weak." Kozlov yanked the mic away from Lawler and demanded competition. Just then the MacGruber theme song hit, and out came MacGruber along with co-star Kristen Wiig carrying a large and small American Flag.
They got in the ring to circle Vlad with the flags, then MacGruber told Wiig to read his statement. Wiig said Mr. McMahon set up a Superpowered main event which will have CM Punk, Gallows and Jericho against HHH, Mysterio and Edge. MacGruber and Kozlov started to get in each other's face. MacGruber told Kozlov that he found him competition in the form of R-Truth. Truth arrived out doing his "What's Up" entrance. He stopped at the top of the ramp as MacGruber told Kozlov if he tries to run that he rigged the whole place with explosives. Truth and MacGruber started doing a "what's up" exchange to see who could yell it loudest, and suddenly an explosion went off at the top of the ramp. All that remained were Truth's shoes, and MacGruber acted as if he rigged the wrong spot to blow up. Kozlov told MacGruber he'll find him later tonight, then left the ring.
Raw returned with a MacGruber skit as MacGruber was shown trying to force his way out the EXIT door. HHH came in to ask what was going on. MacGruber said he was going to get some fresh air. HHH pointed out that MacGruber's pants were all wet. MacGruber said he borrowed his friends pants to help out his really nervous friend. Just then, Kane walked in and MacGruber said there's my good friend. HHH explained to Kane what MacGruber said, and Kane looked bewildered. MacGruber got out of there and Kane sniffed around saying "I don't think that's the only thing he did in those pants."
Cole and Lawler hyped the Jack Swagger Randy Orton World Heavyweight title match for Extreme Rules. They had Orton via Satellite from Belfast, Ireland. Orton said after Sunday the World title will be wherever he ends up.
Jack Swagger was shown walking backstage en route to the ring.
WWE Slam of the Week covered highlights of the Triple Threat match on Smackdown for the World Title. Jack Swagger won it over Edge and Jericho, after Edge had speared Jericho down. Swagger yanked Edge out of the ring, then got in to pin Jericho.
Swagger arrived to the ring and told Orton talk is cheap when you're 3000 miles away. Swagger demanded they send a ref down to the ring for an open challenge so he can show Orton what he's made of. Swagger said anyone in the locker room can come out and face him if they think they can hang with him in the ring. After a few moments, nobody came out to the ring. Swagger said "that's what I thought" and prepared to leave. As he walked out to the apron, suddenly the lights dimmed, the bell tolled and ominous music played as The Undertaker finally arrived out. Cole noted it's the first time we've seen Taker since he retired Shawn Michaels at WM26. Taker got in the ring wearing a hood which he pulled off to reveal his eyes. Swagger stood outside the ring from a distance watching.
Undertaker vs. Jack Swagger
Taker manhandled Swagger in the opening part of the match, keeping hold of his left arm to do some major damage to Swagger's shoulder. He eventually got on the top rope for Old School to drop Swagger down. Swagger was able to recover and powerslam Taker for a near fall, then began kicking away at him. Taker rolled to the outside to recover, stopping near the steel steps. Swagger came out after him but ended up getting slammed face first into the steps. Taker tried to whip Swagger at the steps, but Swagger reversed it to send Taker's knees into the steps hard.
In the closing moments of the match, Swagger went for his running Splash on Taker in the corner, but Taker grabbed him by the throat and hit the Chokeslam. From there it was all academic as Taker did the Tombstone Piledriver for the pinfall win.
Winner: The Undertaker wins via pinfall over Jack Swagger.
Raw returned with a thanks given to Saliva for the 2010 Extreme Rules theme song.
Cole and Lawler discussed the upcoming MacGruber film and rolled a preview clip from it. They had spliced in footage from the MacGruber film with WWE wrestlers involved in scenes. MVP, Kane, Mark Henry, Great Khali and Chris Jericho were all shown in various parts of the movie as part of MacGruber's special team.
Backstage, Chris Jericho said he saw what happened to CM Punk and told them all to listen to his plan and stay in line so this won't happen again. He started walking down the hall and MacGruber was there with Kristen Wiig. MacGruber told Jericho he hasn't seen him since his role wrapped in the movie, but that he really owned it. Kristen gave him props too. Jericho told him to stop kissing up and said he may get the Oscar for his role in the movie. Jericho said he's going to get the title role in the sequel too. MacGruber asked Jericho for some advice about how to handle Kozlov. Jericho told MacGruber to act sincere towards Kozlov then slap him in the face when he's not expecting it.
MacGruber vs. Vladimir Kozlov
MacGruber was accompanied to the ring by Vicki St. Elmo (Kristen Wiig). Kozlov walked over and looked down at MacGruber. MacGruber put his hand out for a handshake, then looked at Wiig, before slapping Kozlov in the face. Kozlov grabbed both arms of MacGruber and started headbutting him repeatedly, then picked him up for the one arm slam. Just then, someone came out from backstage yelling "stop this match". It was Ryan Philippe, MacGruber's co-star. He said he pulled some strings with the WWE office to make this a handicap match, and he got MacGruber's half brother, Khal-uber.
They rolled a video for "Khaluber" and showed Great Khali in a blond wig dressed like MacGruber. Khali came down to the ring and proceeded to pound away on Kozlov while MacGruber watched from ringside. Kozlov delivered a serious chop on Kozlov to drop him in the ring, before Kozlov rolled to the outside. Kozlov began to back up the ramp, with Khali following him. The bell finally sounded and Lillian Garcia announced MacGruber/Khaluber had won due to countout. Strange decision since Khaluber had left the ring to go after Kozlov during the countout.
MacGruber cut a promo for the new movie right before another explosion went off at the top of the ramp.
Winner: MacGruber & Khaluber win due to countout.
Next Monday in Richmond, VA they'll have the special 3-hour WWE Draft 2010.
They rolled highlights of the Cena-Batista feud which saw Cena capture the WWE Title from Batista at Wrestlemania 26 to win back the WWE Title. They showed Batista's tap out, as well as last week's incident following the conclusion to the Batista vs Orton match. Cena rushed down and put the STF on Batista again. This Sunday they clash in the Last Man Standing match for the WWE Title.
Cole and Lawler ran down the Extreme Rules 2010 card including Swagger vs Orton, Edge vs Jericho in a steel cage, and Triple H vs Sheamus in a Street Fight.
Triple H made his way down to the ring, but was interrupted as Sheamus came on the Titantron via Satellite from Northern Ireland. Sheamus said even though HHH isn't there with them, he's going to show him an example for Sunday. Sheamus dragged a WWE staff member out into camera view and started beating him up. HHH was shown watching from the ring as Raw went to break.
HHH, Rey Mysterio & Edge vs. CM Punk, Luke Gallows & Chris Jericho
Edge arrived limping down the ramp a bit after the heinous attack he suffered from Jericho after the Triple Threat match on Smackdown.
Early on, Mysterio was able to get launched up by Edge and HHH over the top rope to fly out onto Jericho, Gallows and Punk. Raw took a final commercial break with the heels all down outside the ring.
CM Punk and HHH were in a battle after the break, with HHH eventually taking control. He hit the Facebuster on Punk followed by a stiff clothesline. The nearfall followed. HHH whipped Punk to the corner but got kneed as he charged him. Punk rushed at HHH but got the Spinebuster. HHH set up a Pedigree, but Luke Gallows rushed in to clothesline HHH down. From there, all hell broke loose with Mysterio knocking Gallows out of the ring and Edge clotheslining Jericho to the outside.
Edge managed to trip Punk into the ropes, so Mysterio could hit the 619. He did and sent Punk to HHH for the Pedigree for the win.
As Raw closed Mysterio and HHH helped Edge up who was moving gingerly on the hurt achilles leg area. Cole and Lawler hyped up Extreme Rules and next week's draft before showing a replay of the match finish.
Winner: Rey Mysterio, HHH and Edge win via pinfall over Luke Gallows, Chris Jericho and CM Punk.
Labels: Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Extreme Rules, Guest Hosts, Luke Gallows, Rey Mysterio, Triple H, Vladimir Kozlov, WWE Kane, WWE Recap, WWE Recaps
. You can get full results updated throughout the PPV here at the blog starting Sunday at 8PM EST, up until 11PM EST when final results will be posted here.
video games, Playstation Live and Xbox Live Marketplace has brand new downloadable content available for video game fanatics. This new content for the Smackdown vs Raw 2009 game includes brand new WWE characters such as Vader, Doink the Clown and Ted Dibiase. There's even a downloadable masked version of Kane as well as WWE Divas Kelly Kelly and Maria as Santa's Little Helpers for Playstation users! Here's a full listing of what's included in the 2 download packs for the Playstation and Xbox:
