RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion Thread - 3rd January 2011

Join us for RAWs Live Coverage! No lines! No fuss!
Please feel free to discuss RAW here. No need to wait for updates!

RAW Results - 3rd January 2011
Location - Phoenix, Arizona
Announcers - Michael Cole and Josh Mathews.

We begin this year of Raw with a look back at what happened last week when Nexus added some new blood in their war against John Cena. What did it mean when CM Punk put on the Nexus arm band at the end of the night?

Michael Cole gives us the news that John Cena will probably not be on the show because of what happened last week on Raw and on a WWE Raw house show last week against Wade Barrett. Who is going to be the leader of Nexus? We will see the WWE Title on the line in our first match as Michael Cole tells us about what we are going to see tonight.

We are live from Phoenix, Arizona and your announcers are Michael Cole and Josh Mathews.

Before our first match starts, we see footage of Miz attacking Jerry Lawler on last week’s Raw.

Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWE Title
Miz with Alex Riley vs John Morrison

The fight starts in the ramp on the way to the ring and Riley tries to get involved but Morrison hits Riley and then Miz accidentally takes care of his protégé. Morrison with a slam and near fall. Morrison sends Miz into the TitanTron and then he sends Riley into the WWE logo on the stage. Morrison takes care of Miz and then he climbs the WWE logo and hits a cross body onto Miz and Riley but Morrison can only get a near fall.

Morrison punches Miz as they go down the ramp towards the ring. Morrison sends Miz into the ring. Miz with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Miz kicks Morrison and runs him into the turnbuckles. Miz puts Morrison on the turnbuckles and punches him while Michael Cole makes excuses in case Miz loses the match tonight.

Miz tries for a superplex but Morrison holds on to the turnbuckles and then he knocks Miz off and hits a missile drop kick for a near fall. Morrison with punches and kicks followed by an Irish whip and flapjack. Morrison with a near fall and then he tries for the flip neck breaker. Miz escapes but he cannot avoid the springboard round kick and then Morrison with a Shining Wizard but Riley pulls Morrison out of the ring on the cover.

Morrison sends Riley into the ringside barrier and then puts him on the barrier and punches him. Morrison with a Shining Wizard that knocks Riley to the floor.

We go to commercial while everyone checks on Riley.


We are back and Miz has set up a guardrail by the stage and he is going to try to suplex Morrison on it. Morrison with a kick and he decides to try to suplex Miz but Miz fights it off. Miz back body drops Morrison onto the guardrail and Miz gets a near fall. Miz puts Morrison on the stage and then he slams Morrison’s throat onto the edge of the ramp and Miz with a running knee lift. Miz can only get a two count on the stage. Miz with a biel down the ramp and Miz is only able to get a two count.

Miz sends Morrison into the barrier on the way to the ring. Miz grabs some of the padding and hits Morrison in the head with it and gets a near fall. There is a table set up at ringside but they go back into the ring. Miz taunts Morrison and asks him if that is all he has but Morrison with a punch and kick. Morrison and Miz exchange punches and then Morrison goes to kicks while Miz stays with punches. Morrison with a clothesline or two followed by a leg lariat and he gets a near fall.

Morrison with a side Russian leg sweep and then he looks at the turnbuckles and goes for the split legged corkscrew moonsault but he takes too long so Miz is able to get out of the way. Miz with a neck breaker combination but he can only get a near fall. Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Morrison with an arm drag to escape. Miz goes shoulder first into the ring post.

Morrison pulls Miz to the mat and then he sets for the corkscrew split legged moonsault again but Miz kicks out at two. Morrison with a boot to the midsection. Morrison tries for the Shining Wizard but Miz ducks it. Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with an elbow to Morrison but Morrison with an enzuigiri that sends Miz to the floor. Morrison decides to put Miz on the table and Morrison thinks about a corkscrew split legged moonsault but Morrison goes through the table when Miz moves out of the way. Miz can only get a two count.

Miz gets back to his feet first and he stands over Morrison and tries for the Skull Crushing Finale and he hits it. Miz gets the three count.

Winner: Miz

We see Miz on the ramp looking at John Morrison crawling up the ramp with the medical staff around him.

We go to commercial.


We are back and remember that we will have a Last Man Standing Match between Edge and Kane for the World Title as well as Rey Mysterio versus Alberto Del Rio in a two out of three falls match in ‘their final battle’.

We see members of the Phoenix Suns in the front row.

We go to Scott Stanford in the back and he is with The Miz. Scott asks Miz about his title defense in the first match of the year. Miz says that it proves that he is still WWE Champion. He wants to make sure that everyone got that. Miz is still WWE Champion. He says that he is also awesome. He says that his championship reign will go down with him being the best technical wrestler and the best brawler.

It is time to talk about the situation between Melina and Natalya. We see footage from two weeks ago when Melina slapped Natalya after Melina earned her title match. We go to footage from last week when Melina tried to get in another slap but Natalya knew it was a trap and she slapped Melina back.

Maryse, Alicia Fox, and Melina vs Natalya, Eve Torres, and Brie Bella

Maryse and Brie start things off and Brie takes Maryse to the mat and they roll to the apron. Maryse goes to the floor and Brie follows after her. Maryse gets a near fall and then she connects with a knee to the head and kicks Brie to the floor. Brie rolls under the ring and Nikki emerges.

Maryse takes time to do her pose because what else are you going to do in a match. They return to the ring and Nikki with an X Factor but Alicia breaks up the cover. Alicia and Natalya tag in and Natalya with clotheslines followed by a snap mare and drop kick. Natalya with a slam and sets for the sharpshooter but Melina gets into the ring. She grabs Natalya’s leg and Natalya is able to hit a butterfly suplex. Melina drops Natalya on the top rope. Melina tags in and Natalya with a clothesline and Eve is tagged in. Eve with a snap neck breaker for the three count.

Winners: Eve Torres, Natalya, and Brie Bella


We go to commercial.


The Usos vs Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov with Tamina

Kozlov and Jimmy start things off and Kozlov with a take down. Kozlov with another take down and Jimmy makes it to the ropes. Jey tags in and so does Santino. They lock up and Santino with a hip lock take down into a side head lock. Jey with a shoulder tackle and then he tags in Jimmy. They double team Santino in the corner and then Jimmy punches Santino. Santino with an arm bar and Kozlov tags back in and he biels Jimmy. Kozlov with a head butt and then he tries for the power slam but Jey gets in the ring to distract the referee. Jey tags in and hits a forearm from the turnbuckles and gets a near fall. Jey with a reverse chin lock. Jey with a front face lock and he gets a near fall on Kozlov.

Jey gets back body dropped by Kozlov but Jimmy tags in and keeps Kozlov from making the tag. Kozlov tries to power his way to his corner and he makes the tag. Santino tags in and he punches Jey and hits a hip toss and then he does the diving head butt to the chest but he can only get a near fall. Kozlov eventually gets sent over the top rope and Jey goes to the floor as well. Santino tries for the Cobra but Jimmy with a Samoan drop for the three count.

Winners: The Usos

After the match
Kozlov takes care of the Usos. Santino and Tamina give Jey a double cobra.

In case you missed it on the site earlier today, Tough Enough is coming back and it will be on USA Network. Josh talks about his experience on the first season of Tough Enough.

Backstage
CM Punk is walking in the back as we go to commercial.

We are back it is time for CM Punk to explain his actions from last week. Punk still has his Nexus armband on as he makes his way to the ring.

Punk thanks everyone for the warm welcome. He says that he wants to start things off by saying how much he loves being in Phoenix. He says that he already had a busy day. He was searching the backstage area for John Cena. He looked in the locker rooms and parking lot and he can’t see John Cena (as he does the hand waving across his face). Punk says that he can’t see John Cena because John is not here tonight. John is not here tonight because of him. Punk says that before they went off the air, he promised a big surprise and he delivered in spades. Punk says that he is a man of his word. Punk reminds us that he is a three time World Heavyweight Champion. That makes him a leader of men. That is why Nexus came to him and begged Punk to be their new leader. Punk says that he led them.

We go to footage from last week when Nexus attacked Cena and then CM Punk came out.

Punk says that Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect are three words that he lives his life by. Punk joins in with the Cena chants as he says that Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect is a phony catchphrase from John Cena. He expects Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect from the members of Nexus. He expects that John Cena stay at home because he will not win. Punk says that he is taking over Nexus and he is taking over Raw.

Wade Barrett comes out and he wants to correct Punk on two things. Barrett says that Punk has nothing to do with the reason why John Cena is not here tonight. Barrett says that he destroyed Cena in a match last week in Pennsylvania. Barrett tells Punk that he is the leader of Nexus, not Punk.

Punk says that Barrett might be a little confused because he had 23 chairs dropped on him.

Barrett calls Punk a manipulative, hypocritical piece of skin. Barrett says that his leadership made Nexus the most powerful group. He says that Punk has lied about his lifestyle and his leadership.

Punk suggests that we find out who the liar and who the leader is. Punk wants to find out from the members of Nexus.

The five members of Nexus come to the ring for the Nexus Primary to see who is in charge. David Otunga says that they both made good points.

Now it is time for a bad point as the dingy dingy dingy goes off and the official Dingy Dingy Reader climbs Mount MacBook to Quote. Before things get out of hand, there will be three participants in a Number One Contender Steel Cage Match to see who faces Miz at the Royal Rumble. The three members are Wade Barrett or CM Punk versus Sheamus versus Randy Orton.

Barrett says that as the leader of Nexus, he will take the final spot in the match.

Punk says that the spot is Wade’s. Punk says that he defended Wade when dealing with Cena. Punk says that he will not fight Wade for that spot. He says that he will congratulate Wade if he wins. Punk says that if Wade loses the match, he is out of Nexus and Punk can lead Nexus.

We have a handshake and it is a deal.

We go to commercial.


We are back with a Did You Know about WWE’s brand.

Cole mentions that Jerry Lawler is not here this week due to what Miz did to him last week. Speaking of Miz, we go to footage from the WWE Title Match from earlier tonight.

Before our next match, Alberto Del Rio has something to say. Alberto tells us his name, but we already knew that. He says that with his rich Mexican heritage, it is his destiny to be the World Heavyweight Champion. His destiny is to destroy every single person on Smackdown. On Raw, the name Alberto Del Rio will be emblazoned on the heart and the mid of the WWE Universe. It is his destiny to win the Royal Rumble and Main Event Wrestlemania.

Truth tells Del Rio he is the man to send Alberto back to Smackdown.

Alberto Del Rio vs R Truth

Truth slaps Del Rio before the bell rings and then Del Rio swings at Truth but misses. Truth with a punch and kick. Del Rio with an Irish whip and Truth floats over and then does a split and hits a leg lariat. Truth clotheslines Del Rio over the top rope to the floor and then Truth goes for a plancha and hits Del Rio. Both men are down as we go to commercial.

We are back and Truth with punches in the corner. Truth with a power slam for a near fall. Truth with a punch to the head but Del Rio with a kick to Truth followed by an arm breaker for a near fall. Del Rio punches Truth in the head and then he works on the arm. Del Rio stomps on the arm and gets a near fall. Del Rio returns to the arm bar. Truth gets back to his feet and he punches Del Rio and kicks him in the midsection. Del Rio with an Irish whip but Truth’s arm keeps him from floating over in the corner. Del Rio with an arm wringer to the mat and he gets another near fall.

Del Rio with a series of knees to the arm. Del Rio with another near fall and he applies a key lock. Truth punches Del Rio to get out of the hold. Del Rio with kicks to the midsection and then he tries for a splash to the back but Truth moves and Del Rio goes to the floor. Ricardo Rodriguez checks on Del Rio on the floor and then he returns to the ring and Truth with clotheslines and a hip toss. Truth gets a near fall.

Truth with a kick and then he sets for the axe kick but Del Rio goes to the apron and then he pulls Truth’s shoulder into the ring post. Del Rio floats over into the cross arm breaker and Truth taps out.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

We go to commercial.


Backstage
We are in the locker room and Wade Barrett is telling the members of Nexus that he is the true leader because he made stars out of them. Slater and Gabriel tells Barrett that they have his back. Barrett says that he can make the new guys stars too. Barrett says that Punk is going to use them for his own personal gain.

Punk wonders if Wade is saying what he is doing. He says that they all wish him luck in his match tonight. Punk shakes their hands after Barrett leaves.

Randy Orton stares into space as Scott Stanford enters. Randy says that last year doesn’t mean anything to him. All he remembers is Miz cashing in his Money in the Bank to win the WWE Title. Randy says that last year he was too nice. He says that he actually showed human compassion. He hesitated before kicking Chris Jericho in the skull. He knows that nice guys finish last.

It is time for the official Cage Lowering Music of the WWE as we get ready for our main event.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look back at the match between Miz and John Morrison in case you missed the match live, or the recap at the start of the second hour.

While Wade Barrett comes to the ring for the main event, John Cena might be back next week.


Number One Contender at Royal Rumble and Wade’s Way to Run Nexus Match
Sheamus vs Wade Barrett vs Randy Orton

The bell rings and all three men stare at each other until Barrett makes a break for the cage to try to escape. Orton and Sheamus stop Barrett and they punch him. Sheamus waits for Orton to focus on Barrett to go to the cage to escape. Orton sees Sheamus and stops him. Orton with punches but Sheamus with an Irish whip. Orton with a clothesline to Sheamus but Barrett with a boot to Orton.

Barrett tries for Wasteland but Orton escapes and goes for the cage. Barrett and Sheamus stop him and Barrett with kicks to Orton while Sheamus chokes him. Orton with punches and kicks to fight off Barrett and Sheamus. Sheamus chokes Orton and Barrett is on top of the cage but Sheamus pulls Barrett to the mat. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline before Sheamus tries to climb the cage. Orton stops Sheamus and Sheamus tries to send Orton into the cage. Orton with clotheslines to Barrett and Sheamus. Orton stands in the corner by the door and the door opens, but instead of walking out of the cage with his opponents on the other side of the ring, Orton twists into the RKO push ups as we go to commercial.


We are back and Sheamus is trying to keep Orton in the cage but Orton has made it over the top and is hanging outside the cage. Sheamus holds Orton up and then Barrett helps Sheamus pull Orton back on top of the cage. All three men return to the ring and Orton kicks Sheamus and then he sends Barrett into the cage. Orton with a drop kick to Sheamus who was on the apron and Sheamus goes into the cage. Orton with an IEDDT set up but Barrett is on his way up the cage so Orton turns his attention to Barrett. Orton sends Barrett into the cage. Orton decides to up the ante and tries for a double IEDDT, but Sheamus recovers and he back body drops Orton into the cage.

Sheamus kicks Orton while Barrett is down on the apron in front of him. Sheamus with a back elbow. Sheamus climbs the cage in front of Orton and Orton recovers in time to stop Sheamus. Barrett punches and kicks Orton and then he holds Orton for Sheamus to connects with a forearm across the chest. Barrett and Sheamus with a double suplex on Orton. Barrett punches Sheamus but Sheamus with a kick. Barrett with a head butt to Sheamus but Sheamus with a punch and head butt of his own. Barrett Irish whips Sheamus chest first into the turnbuckles. Barrett climbs the cage while Sheamus and Orton are down by the door. Orton gets up and he stops Barrett on top of the cage. Orton pulls Barrett back into the cage.

Orton with a superplex to Barrett. Orton with a kick to Sheamus and then Sheamus hits a uranage back breaker. Sheamus sends Barrett into the cage a few times. Sheamus decides to use a part of the cage away from the door. Sheamus asks for the door to open and his head is out of the cage, but Orton stops Sheamus. Sheamus kicks Orton to try to get out of his grasp.

Sheamus climbs the cage but Barrett stops him and he brings Sheamus back to the mat. Barrett sends Sheamus into the cage and Barrett with a kick to Sheamus. Barrett tries for a pump handle slam and he hits it. Orton with a kick to the ribs and then he connects with a forearm on Barrett. Barrett with a side slam and he climbs the cage but Sheamus follows and they fight at the top of the cage.

Barrett sends Sheamus’ head into the top of the cage and Sheamus falls to the mat. Barrett decides not to win the match and he sets for an elbow drop but Sheamus gets his knees up and Barrett is down. Sheamus sets for the pump kick but Orton with a clothesline to Sheamus and Barrett. Orton with a power slam to Sheamus and then Barrett. Orton with an Olympic Slam to Sheamus and the IEDDT to Barrett. Sheamus with a boot to Orton and then he tries to climb the cage.

Orton chases after Sheamus and he pulls Sheamus back onto the top rope. They fight on the tope rope and exchange punches. Barrett kicks the ropes and crotches both men. Barrett with running boots to the heads of Sheamus and Orton. Barrett tries to climb the cage even though he is feet from the door.

CM Punk comes into the cage to offer Barrett a hand to aid his escape. Punk pulls Barrett up but then he rips off the arm band and kicks him in the arm. Barrett falls to the mat. Punk goes down the cage and goes to the back. Sheamus with a double sledge to Orton and Sheamus calls for the door. Sheamus with a big boot to Barrett and then he heads for the door but Orton with an RKO out of nowhere.

Orton sees the door open and he eventually goes to the apron and walks out of the cage and win the match.

Winner: Randy Orton

We go to credits.

I'm surprised they gave us the legit reason as to why Cena isn't there. I thought they would leave the match with Wade out of it.

Knew Miz would win no way they'd give Morrison the title early on.

^^ Yeah. I'm so sick of that Alex Riley jerk.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kage

I'm surprised they gave us the legit reason as to why Cena isn't there. I thought they would leave the match with Wade out of it.

---

Yeah, me too... but then they actually brought Wade out, which is kind of odd. I expected them to sell the TLC match a lot more than that. Unless plans just abruptly changed because of the Cena thing.

Great match between Miz and Morrison too, a good win for Miz that wasn't completely hampered by shenanigans, but didn't make Morrison look weak either. I don't really know why they started the show with it though, considering they're probably not going to be able to top it. Although the cage match could be good, but unless they're going heel vs. heel at the Rumble, which I highly doubt, Orton will win and face Miz, once again, which is a match I really don't care to see again.

Thanks for the Coverage Kellie.

Also it's funny Orton vs Miz...Again thought it would be Miz/Morrison maybe they thinking of Morrison or Barrett to win the rumble.

Thankyou for the live coverage.

Way to cheapen the Steel Cage match... more. Who walks out of the cage, my gawd.

Morrison should have won but now I think Morrison will win the rumble and challenge Miz as Miz will probably DQ himself or get himself counted out at Royal Rumble against Orton. I hope they do Morrison/Miz at WM and Morrison wins it there.