WWE Raw house show results
May 11, 2012
Glens Falls, N.Y.
Report by A.J. Black, PWTorch reader

Solid crowd at the Glens Falls Civic Center Friday night. Fans had the place about five-sixths full. All sections to the rear of the stage were empty and roped off, and seats were still being sold minutes before show, but most already had tickets in hand. We had three empty rows in Section V. Very few bad seats in the place, as it is configured mostly for a local minor league hockey team. Hot crowd, overall - many were waiting to get in were impressed by the lines to get in. The t-shirt crowd had John Cena green on. Lots. Plus, some old-school Cena orange gear. There were heavy C.M. Punk t-shirts as well and the 80 versions of Rock gear. Old school DX, NWO, Undertaker, Hot Rod, and Macho Man shirts were seen, and one guy near me wore a Shawn Michaels post-Rockers era shirt.

The show began a couple minutes late - likely due to the lines at the merch stand. Not hard to miss, as it's the first thing you see when you come in the main entrance. Zack Ryder glasses were on-sale for $20 and a Cobra "sock" for $15. There were also Funkasaurus, Cena, and Brock Lesnar tees. They had pretty much everyone available. Most t-shirts ran $25-30. Action figures were running about same price. And, lots of WrestleMania leftovers up for grabs.

(1) Brodus Clay defeated JTG. Brodus came rollin' out with the Funkadactyls and Hornswoggle, which delighted the kiddies. The Superstars have been conditioned to face the hard camera - so most interaction went to the "hard camera side." Then, JTG came down. His new ring gear and look could give him some new love. It's Elijah Burke meets MVP. None of the rope-shaking antics for Brodus tonight. He jiggled into his offense, then JTG tried to ground him, but Clay went into his signature offense pretty quickly. Overhead throw, Rhino charge headbutt, and rope running splash for the win. Five minute tops. Afterwards, Clay grabbed the mic, encouraged everyone to call their momma, and kids got to dance in ring. Handslaps on the way out, and we're moving on.

(2) Zack Ryder defeated Dean Ambrose via DQ. Ryder got a crazy pop; multiple Woos in the crowd. He tossed all the merch into the front rows; silence as Dean Ambrose walked out. The wrestling-educated were very happy, otherwise, it was murmurs. No video and generic rock for Ambrose as he ambled to the ring. It's like an aloof Bischoff walk. Black trunks, kneepads, boots, and jacket. Down to business. Trading holds, Ambrose was knocked outside, and Ryder went over the ropes for an outside tackle. Both slid back in, but Ambrose took control. Side headlock with knee strikes. Punches in the corners. Lots of Ryder selling. Ambrose missed a corner splash, then Ryder landed a Broski Boot after triple Woos. Ambrose with a DDT counter to the Rough Ryder, then he ambled over to the turnbuckle pad and ripped it off. No DQ yet. Ambrose grabbed Ryder, smashed his head into the exposed steel, and the bell rang.

Post-match, Ambrose dropped the knee pad, and followed up with a hard knee strike in the corner. He then slunk out of the ring to serious heat. The crowd was reigning down the boos. Solid action. I told my friend prior to the match if they let the two wrestle, it'll be good. For eight minutes, it was. After Ambrose left, Dolph Ziggler stealthily ran down to the ring, then delivered a Zig-Zag to a struggling Ryder. His mic work was to the effect that he's the next WWE champion and the show-stealer.

(3) Divas champion Layla defeated Beth Phoenix to retain Divas Title. The match disappointed the kid next to us who had a Kelly Kelly sign. Beth was out first. Layla out second. She needs new music. Beth berated the crowd early, as she is from Buffalo, and wanted more love from her "home state" fans. Lots of comedy work, including Layla stealing Beth's headpiece and running around ringside before mocking her center ring. Beth slowed down pace with a modified Boston Crab. Both were attacking the legs - Layla on Beth's injury, and Beth going after Layla's repaired knee. Beth with a Stone Cold mudhole stomp in the corner, then Layla managed to shimmy out of an impressive attempt at a military press slam. Beth back in control, and oops, the Lay-Out and 1-2-3 for Layla. Ten minutes long.

(4) U.S. champion Santino Marella defeated Jack Swagger to retain U.S. Title. Giant pop for Santino. Swagger came down, grabbed a U.S. flag from a ringside fan and went back into ring. Once they settle in, the match was a giant stalling fest. Santino with the "You are taller than me" bit. Swagger egged on crowd, going in and out of ropes, and spent some time mocking Marella's celebration. At 6:00, Swagger landed the first punch and dominated. Marella hit his off-the-ropes headbutt at 9:00 and headed for the pin, but Swagger countered into the Anklelock. Marella used his massive leg power to send Swagger into the turnbuckle, then landed a Cobra strike for the win.

(5) WWE tag champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth defeated Primo & Epico (w/Rosa Mendes) to retain the WWE Tag Titles. R-Truth rapped to the ring to his "What's Up" music. He needs a new video, as it's the unhinged R-Truth in all of the photos. Kofi got love, too, in a separate entrance. Rosa led the former champs out, looking great in her black two piece. Kofi mocked Rosa's Victor Cruz dance before the bell, Rosa pouted, and we're off. Lots of heel holds and double-teams. Kofi hit the Boom Drop, but Rosa jumped on the apron for a distraction. Heels in control, and Primo on the outside flexing to the boos of the crowd. R-Truth took a hot tag after a counter and everyone went flying. Kofi was sent outside with a clothesline, then Primo. R-Truth was not paying attention as Epico hit a backstabber. His leg was on the ropes when the ref hit three. New tag champs until a second ref came down for the re-start. Quick punches, Lie Detector, and the pinfall to end in 14 minutes. Plenty of ringside love for the tag champs; Primo/Epico were booed as they headed to the back.

[Intermission. Justin Roberts encouraged the purchase of just-signed autographed Cena and Punk photos ($15/ea). Also, WM collector cups were available. ]

Dolph Ziggler grabbed a mic after intermission. His enforcer, Mason Ryan, stepped to his right side to provide some "muscle distraction" for Ziggler. Dolph dropped more "I'm the new champ" references and ordered Roberts to make some sort of long intro when he hits ring later.

(6) Lord Tensai (without Sakamoto) defeated Tyson Kidd. Kidd was out first. Light cheers as people were returning from merch and long, long beer lines. Lord Tensai strolled down to the ring for the match. Not a peep from the crowd. Why do I feel we should be yelling "Mortal Kombat" when he comes down? If anything, it is good to see Subzero get work. Kidd's only offense was some corner kicks to the head from the high-rent district. Double underhook suplex, sit-down powerbomb, and misty claw finished off Kidd in about five minutes. Tensai left; Kidd sold and get an appreciative applause.

Next was John Cena vs. The Miz. Miz came down and worked the crowd to the top heel heat of the night. (He had done a "Be A Star" WWE charity event at a local grade school earlier in the day.) Miz's promo focused on "one year ago, I was this, and this, and this." He got the "Yes!" chants going, then chided the crowd for focusing on Daniel Bryan, who he mentored. Cena's music struck, and the place erupts. He's feeling it. The lady behind me screams, "Cena, take your &%$# shirt off!" He obliged to the delight of the ladies.

(7) John Cena defeated The Miz. A stand-off to start. Very pro-Cena crowd - the "Cena sucks" chant finished as soon as it started - in a whimper. Three minutes of stalling, then Cena fetched Miz from ringside. Miz caught him with boots going back into the ring, though, then Miz worked on Cena's taped-up arm center-ring. Cena fired back with fists and an AA tease. Miz slipped out into wicked DDT and continued on the offense, going up top and connecting with a double axhandle to Cena for two. The fight spilled outside and Cena ate ringsteps. Back in the ring, Cena countered with punches, shoulder tackle, and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena locked in the STF, but Miz found the bottom rope. Again, offense was traded, then Miz nailed a Skullcrushing Finale for 2.9. Miz lamented, then walked into a pop-up AA from Cena for the win in 15 minutes.

Afterward, Cena threw up spirit fingers to celebrate and delivered high-fives on the way out. He saluted the crowd at top of ramp before leaving. At this point, many fans headed for exits. A shame. It was mostly dads and young sons with Cena gear on, as well as one group of teenage girls, who got their wish to see their sporting crush.

Next was C.M. Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler in the main event. Ryan's hair was in a ponytail and the show-off-turned-show-stealer was in pink headed to the ring. Cue up "Cult of Personality." Punk got a solid pop. He stood atop the ringposts with title in hand - camera flashes a-plenty. Just as many screamed as when Cena when Punk went shirtless. Ryan stepped up and exchanged pleasantries with his former mentor center ring before the bell.

(8) WWE champion C.M. Punk defeated Dolph Ziggler (w/Mason Ryan) to retain the WWE Title. The bell rang, Punk landed Flair chops. Ziggler whipped Punk into ropes, and Ryan delivered ringside punch at 4:00. Ziggler was in control with corner kicks and punches. He settled into an abdominal stretch mid-ring at 10:00. The crowd began Punk chants. Punk now in control with his offensive set, including a high knee, then signalled for the GTS. Ziggler countered with a facebuster and sleeper hold. Punk managed a reversal and went to the top rope for a flying elbow for a two count. The ref was bumped before Punk slipped on the Anaconda Vice. Ryan got involved and Ziggler covered for a two count from the recovering ref. Both men up, then Ryan grabbed Punk to set up for a Superkcik from Ziggler, but Dolph left a bootprint on Ryan's jaw. Punk reversed a Zig-Zag attempt into a GTS and the champ retained in 17 minutes.

Afterward, Punk celebrated, and worked the mic showing love to Glens Falls and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan's hometown.

Top Pops:

(1) John Cena
(2) Santino Marella
(3) C.M. Punk/Zack Ryder

Top Jeers:

(1) The Miz
(2) Jack Swagger
(3) Dolph Ziggler

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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