Five years ago today, Daniel Bryan beat The Miz on Raw as part of the NXT competition show. Five years later, Bryan appears on Miz TV as part of the Elimination Chamber pre-show.

Also five years ago on Raw, John Cena teamed with his side-kick of the period, Evan Bourne, to defeat Edge and Sheamus in the main event. Plus, Vince McMahon returned to TV to try to help boost TV ratings.

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
MAY 31, 2010
LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TEX.
AIRED ON USA NETWORK

[Q1]

-They opened the show cold with Edge beating up Evan Bourne. Michael Cole said Bourne interrupted Edge's pre-Raw rant on the mic because he said he wanted to be proactive and ask for a chance against him in the Fatal 4-Way. Bourne fought back and ended up going for Air Bourne, but Edge moved. Edge then speared Bourne. Edge said what just happened to Bourne will happen to Sheamus, Randy Orton, and John Cena at Fatal 4-Way. He said no matter how many times he proves his dominance, people like Bourne and the fans disrespect him. He said that all changes at Fatal 4-Way.

He said Cena is the superhero of the fans and "quite possibly the strongest man in this industry." He said Sheamus doesn't care who gets in his way; he'll bulldoze his way through anyone and take what he wants. Then he mocked the fans for jumping on the "RKO! RKO!" bandwagon. The crowd chanted "RKO!" He tried so hard for them to chant "Spear! Spear!" and they never did, but they jump all over the RKO chant. He told the fans that they shouldn't be shocked when the Viper bites them back. Orton's music interrupted and Orton walked out.

The camera panned backward from the ring revealing the whole arena bowl as Cole touted the 13,000-plus in the arena. Edge said he's not going to recoil in his presence. He said as much as Orton puts up a facade, he said he knows he will not win at Fatal 4-Way because he isn't 100 percent and he will hurt him. Edge said while shaking with intensity that he is not kidding. Orton gave him an RKO, then he stood on the second turnbuckle and posed for the crowd. Cole then hyped that Orton and Edge will be in the same ring tonight, as Edge will team with Sheamus against Orton and Cena. Jerry Lawler hyped Ashton Kutcher would be up next in his role as guest host. [c]

-Eve greeted Ashton with a hug backstage as he was updating his Twitter account on a Mac laptop. He said Zach Ryder was talking smack to him. Eve asked what he plans to do to Mr. Woo Woo Woo. He said just like in his movie that's coming out, he plans to put a hit out on him. He said it could be anyone who acts on it. Miz then walked up to him and asked him why he wanted to see him. Then he said he knows he just wanted added star power for his movie. Ashton said he talked to Bret Hart and they decided to set up a match between him and Daniel Bryan. Miz asked, "Is that supposed to scare me? Is that supposed to be some sort of punishment?" When Ashton threatened to shove a camera "so far up his..." Eve interrupted and said "TV-PG!" They need to stop drawing attention to that because it's one thing to be PG, but it's another to advertise to their younger audience that they're totally limited by that.

[Q2]

1 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. R-TRUTH

Cole said he hoped everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day, then briefly noted the controversy earlier with Edge and Bourne. Truth threw Jericho to the floor at 1:00, then dove onto him. They cut to a break afterward. [c] They showed that during the break Jericho took over by dropping Truth over the top rope and then slidekicking him to the floor. Live in the ring Jericho had a chinlock applied. On the screen they advertised the "season finale" of NXT tomorrow night on SyFy. Cole said a lot of WWE wrestlers aren't taking Truth seriously as a U.S. Champion. Lawler said a veteran like Jericho believes the inexperience factor will keep Truth from holding his title for very long. I know that's the narrative they're creating, and that's fine, but just to be clear, Truth is 38, Jericho is 38. Truth is a former NWA World Champion in TNA, who wrestled for WWE before Jericho did back in 1999.

Truth made a comeback at 10:00, but Jericho poked Truth in the eyes and then clotheslined him for a two count. Truth missed with his wheel kick when Jericho ducked, then Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho. Truth powered out and countered into a small package for the clean win. As Truth celebrated, the camera zoomed in on Jericho who seemed distraught by his loss, barely able to comprehend his loss.

WINNER: Truth in 11:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- The surprising sudden push of Truth continues. I like the idea of taking a mid-carder and putting them on a hot streak now and then. With their departures and injuries and hiatuses among major stars recently, they need to push reliable veterans, and they're gambling Truth is worth the time.

[Q3] [c]

-They showed Cole and Lawler at ringside, who talked about the Fatal 4-Way main event. They threw to last week's angle with Batista quitting rather than face Orton, thus Orton qualified for the Fatal 4-Way.

-Backstage Ryder, who was with Alicia Fox, confronted Bret Hart over conspiring with Ashton. Bret said he was dealing with bigger issues. The Hart Dynasty asked Bret about the tag team that attacked them last week. Bret said they are the Usos and he hired them. He said he won't punish them for what they did last week as that could seem like he's playing favorites. He asked the Dynasty what they're going to do about last week's attack. Natalya had ideas and began a conference with David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd as the camera cut back to the ring.

-Eve and Santino made their ring entrance. [c]

2 -- EVE & SANTINO vs. MARYSE & WILLIAM REGAL (w/Vladimir Kozlov)

Santino said, "For the love of George Lucas, will you stop playing his Darth Vader-wanna-be music." He asked Vlad why he hangs out with Regal when he could hang out with him. He also told Vlad that if he agrees to be his tag partner, Eve has agreed to make love with him. Eve interrupted and said that's not right. Santino said he meant to say Eve would love to see him team with him. Santino brought up the force of the Cobra.

[Q4]

The match began with Santino doing comedy offense against Regal. Regal turned it up with an uppercut and kneelifts, then an aggressive attack in the corner. As Regal applied the Regal Stretch, Eve broke it up with a kick. Maryse attacked Eve. The ref got tied up with them as Kozlov entered and chokeslammed Regal. He then left with Maryse, leaving Santino to drape his arm over Regal for the three count. Santino could tried to figure out how he won.

WINNERS: Santino & Eve in 3:00.

-They showed Bret walking backstage toward the entrance tunnel to make an announcement. [c]

-Bret entered the ring. Cole said if you had said a couple of months ago Bret would be G.M. Raw, you'd have been told you were nuts. Bret said he's been having a great time as G.M. of Raw over the last week. He said he got together with Smackdown G.M. Teddy Long and said they're going to do something really special next week, with all the wrestlers from both brands under one roof. He said it'll be a special night and it'll last three hours to fit it all in. He said the best part is that he and Teddy want to involve the fans. He asked the Superstars in the back to bring him ideas. He said Raw will be a night to remember and a whole lot of fun. Ted DiBiase's music interrupted. He walked out with Virgil.

DiBiase said if he and Long are truly accepting suggestions, he had an idea: "Give the show to me. Make me General Manager for the night. I don't mean guest host. I want complete control." He said he can pay whatever it takes to Bret and Teddy to make it happen. "Don't look at me like you're too good to accept a payoff," DiBiase said. He brought up his father, the Million Dollar Man, who said "everybody's got a price." He told Bret that includes him. Bret told him to try it with Long, but he's not for sale. DiBiase said he's the one who thinks he's "above things" and "too good." He said he knows he came back to WWE and it's the same reason he accepted the role as G.M. "It's because you need money, Bret," DiBiase said. "So don't let your pride get in your way. I can make all of your problems disappear. All you have to do is name your price." Ashton interrupted on the big screen. He asked is what if instead they do the first-ever Raw Viewer's Choice where the viewers get to pick the matches and stipulations across the board. DiBiase asked Bret, "You're not actually considering this, are you?" Bret said it's a good idea, so next week was Viewers' Choice night." Vince McMahon's music interrupted. With ratings hovering barely above 3.0, this is no surprise. Vince to the rescue.

[Q5] Cole said this is the first time they've seen Mr. McMahon since the beating he took at WrestleMania at the hands of the Hart family. He sauntered to the ring with a big wide grin. He said, "All right, let's hear it for Vince McMahon." The crowd cheered. He said, "Let's hear it for Bret Hart!" He wanted to compared crowd responses. They were about even. He turned to Bret and said, "I'm just messing with you, Bret." Vince said Bret looks ten years younger, whereas he looks younger.

Vince said he was hurting after WrestleMania after being hit with that chair "over and over and over and over." He asked Bret how many times he hit him. Bret said 18. "That would have injured a normal man," said McMahon. He asked Bret if he got all of that poison out. Bret said, "Most of it." The crowd chanted a mix of "You tapped out!" and "You screwed Bret." He brought up the big question, which is why he would endorse Bret as G.M. of Raw. McMahon said maybe he's got a nefarious plot and he's setting him up, "since I have been known to be vengeful." He said it might be just him trying to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. Or maybe it's because he feels he's the man for the job and if the fans think so, then he okays it. Vince said Bret has been making popular decisions lately, and he likes the Viewers' Choice format. He said he'll be tuning in next week for sure.

McMahon warned Bret that he has to treat the fans as children. The crowd booed. "I mean that in the most complimentary way," he said. He said when you're mentoring children, you have to make the right decisions for them even if they resent it. He said he really came out to just wish him luck. "Do you believe that?" he asked. Bret said no. Vince said he wants to believe it. Vince said it's great that a man who was "banished" from this show 13 years ago has returned to become the general manager. He said it's an extraordinary story, but then ominously said he hopes it has a happy ending. Vince danced and strutted around the ring as his music played, circling Bret who watched the oddity before him.

-Backstage Ryder chatted with Orton about Ashton. Orton told him if he wanted to take him out, they wouldn't be having this conversation. Edge then slammed the locker room door on Orton's injured shoulder. Orton dropped and winced in pain as Edge stepped over him. [c]

-They replayed the Edge-Orton angle before the break with commentary from Cole and Lawler. Cole wondered if Orton could team with Cena later. Lawler said his shoulder was already injured, so it seems like a lock he won't be able to compete tonight.

3 -- THE MIZ vs. DANIEL BRYAN

After Miz's ring entrance, they aired angles from NXT involving Miz, Bryan, and Cole. Cole accused Bryan of sucker punching people because he didn't have the heart to cut it in NXT. Lawler said Bryan was signed to a one night contract for this match by Ashton. Bryan went after Miz early with an intense, aggressive attack of punches and an armbar submission attempt. Miz fired back with a clothesline from behind. Cole: "This has been a long time coming. Good luck, Bryan, and good riddance. Back to the minor league, you loser. Back to the independents, how about that? Back to your Internet buddies and your friends. This guy's such a nerd. He doesn't even own a television set." Miz gave Bryan a running kick to his head.

[Q6] Lawler asked Cole how he ended up at odds with him in the first place. He said it's because Bryan couldn't take his criticism. Miz gave Bryan an axe handle. "What's a vegan anyway? He says he's a vegan. He doesn't eat meat," Cole asked. Lawler said, "That's not that unusual. There are a lot of people." Cole said, "It's eat or be eaten around here." Bryan went for a submission. Miz rolled Bryan onto his shoulders for a two count. Bryan switched the leverage and pinned Miz. They showed Cole at ringside with his jaw dropped. As Bryan's music played, Miz attacked him from behind and threw him to the floor. Cole said it may be the biggest upset in WWE history.

WINNER: Bryan in 2:00.

-Miz held Bryan at the announce table and told him to apologize to Cole. Instead, Bryan threw Miz into Cole's lap. He smiled and backed up the ramp. Miz stood up huffing and puffing in anger. [c]

-Cole complained to Lawler that he was assaulted. Lawler said he was ambushed, like the Usos ambushed the Harts last week. They're not "the Harts." Bret and Owen were "the Harts." One is a guy who trained at the Dungeon and another who is the son of a brother-in-law whose last name is Smith. But anyway. A replay aired of the Uso attack of the Hart Dynasty.

-In the ring the Usos stood center-ring. They said the world is "straight-trippin'" wondering who they are. They were a cross between Cryme Tyme and MVP in interview style. They said their lineage is that of a family that runs deep in the business, going back to the Wild Samoans. One said they're not stereotypical Samoans because they have fashion and college educations. He said they had to make a name for themselves and the Dynasty just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The "woman" with them then revealed that her father is "Superfly" Snuka. "We were born and created for one purpose," she said. Then all three said in unison, "Dominate!" As they were about to leave the ring, the Hart Dynasty ran to the ring. All six brawled, with Nataya tackling Tamina hard. She bailed out tripped Kidd as he was going for a Hart Attack clothesline. The heels eventually took over. Cole said their names for the first time: Jay & Jimmy Uso. They gave DHS a Samoan Drop. Then they all hit splashes, although they weren't timed together this week. Lawler said they are Rikishi's twin sons.

-Cole and Lawler threw to a video package on the Orton-Edge angle at the start of the show, and then Edge's revenge later. [c]

-Ryder and Fox walked to the ring. Cole said Ryder calls his followers on his Twitter account his "Zach Pack." He said there are 23,000. Lawler said Ashton has five million. Ryder warned Ashton that he shouldn't make him mad. He said he could double his Twitter followers in a day. He wanted to know who Ashton hired. Lawler entered the ring and sat on a chair. Ashton said, "Nah nah, it's not Jerry Lawler." Instead out walked The Great Khali. No Ranjin Singh! That made my week right there. Then out came Goldust. Ashton said, "Nah, it's not him." Zach demanded to know. He said he was getting paranoid and he apologized for calling him out on Twitter. Ashton said just like in his movie "Killers," he'll never see it coming. Then Alicia Fox hit Zach from behind. She danced. Ashton applauded. "That's why you don't mess with Ashton Kutcher... or my five million Twitter followers," he said.

-Sheamus told Edge he doesn't trust him. Edge said that's mutual. He said he already weakened Orton, and they should concentrate on Cena and injure him if they're smart. Sheamus agreed with him. He said if he takes advantage of his trust, it'll be the last mistake he ever makes. [c]

-A video package aired on Junkyard Dog, crediting him for breaking down barriers and achieving greatness and popularity. It said this week in 1998 he lost his life in a car accident, but he'll live on forever in fans' hearts and memories.

-Cole then plugged that the cast of the "A-Team" movie would guest host Raw in Miami next week including Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Cole didn't say it, but Rampage idolized JYD and wore chains to the ring for his MMA fights as a tribute to JYD. They also plugged the three-hour Raw next week.

[Q8]

4 -- EDGE & SHEAMUS vs. JOHN CENA & EVAN BOURNE

Edge and Sheamus walked out first. Cena walked onto the stage and said that he had some unfortunate news. He said Orton suffered a shoulder injury, but since so many WWE Superstars hate them, he had his choice of many. He said his choice as a partner is a human wrecking ball who defies the laws of gravity. He said he's also still upset with what Edge did to him earlier. Cena then introduced Bourne. Bourne ran out to his music. Cole called it an interesting pick for Cena. Cena locked up center-ring with Edge to start the match. Cole asked Lawler about Cena's pick for a partner. Lawler said he's not the biggest or strongest of Cena's options, but Bourne may be the most motivated and fired up to get his hands on Edge. Bourne tagged in early and leaped off the top rope with a stomp onto Edge's arm. He then applied a keylock. He hit two high dropkicks and a jump spin wheel kick, sending Edge to the floor. They cut to a break. [c]

Cena was beating on Sheamus after the break. Cena tagged Bourne back in and he charged with a low kick at Sheamus in the corner leading to a two count. Bourne kicked away at Sheamus, but Sheamus fought back and took Bourne down. He tagged Edge in and he worked over Bourne at ringside briefly. The heels worked over Bourne for several minutes.

[Q9]

Cena got the hot-tag at 8:00. He went to work on Sheamus and went quickly into the You Can't See Me routine. He set up an Attitude Adjustment, but Sheamus countered and powerslammed Cena. He then waited to deliver his big boot, but Cena side-stepped him and Bourne kicked Sheamus as he ran into the corner. Cena then gave Sheamus an Attitude Adjustment. Edge interfered with a spear attempt, but Cena moved and Edge flew to the floor. Cena tagged Bourne, who flew off the top rope with an Air Bourne for the win. Cena lifted Bourne in the air in celebration.

WINNERS: Cena & Bourne in 10:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Basic good tag match. Raw needed a surge of athleticism, as that's really been lacking lately, and Bourne provided that.

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

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