By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
OCTOBER 11, 2010
SEATTLE, WASH.
LIVE ON USA NETWORK

-The show opened without pyro. Instead they showed the crowd as Michael Cole said they were live from Seattle. Then John Cena's music played. The crowd popped. Cole said he's not surprised by the mixed reaction he received. Cena smiled and saluted the crowd. Jerry Lawler said some people think Cena has let the fans down, but he had no choice. He had to join the Nexus or be fired. This is a real chance for WWE to score a huge first quarter hour rating since the huge Jets vs. Vikings Monday Night Football game is delayed due to torrential rain and lightning.

Cena told the fans: "You have no idea how much I need this. Thank you very much." He said he's glad to hear they haven't lost hope and they still believe. He said last week I heard the WWE Universe chant something he's never heard them chant before. He waited a while for a few fans to chant "Cena sucks" to he could laugh it off and say, "I've heard that a bunch; that ain't nothin' new." He waited a full eight or nine seconds, so it's obvious he had that comeback in mind and was waiting for the chant. It is amazing it took that long. Cena said the chant was "Don't give up." Cena said he never has and never will give up.

He said he wanted to set the record straight. He said if he beat Wade Barrett he had a chance to eliminate the Nexus completely. He said, "We can argue all day about how I lost; the fact is I lost." He - or someone - needs to make a bigger deal out of the fact that he lost due to interference. That should be a bigger deal, not just blown off as business as usual. He said because he lost he has to take orders from Wade Barrett or else he'll be fired. He said not fired from Raw with the option to go to Smackdown, but rather he'd have to leave WWE. He said he's been through a lot with the fans; he's heard them cheer, he's heard them boo. He said he loves it because they bring so much energy and enthusiasm. He said this is what he lives for. He said he doesn't know what else he'd be doing if not this. He said he's afraid he's going to be ordered to do things he doesn't want to do because he knows the kind of person Wade Barrett is. The Miz's music played.

Miz and his sidekick Alex Riley walked out. Cole said it's Miz's birthday and defended his interruption because "he is the future." Miz sarcastically "awwwed" and said, "John Cena doesn't want to lose the support of the WWE Universe." He said he's taken it upon himself to captain Team Raw at Survivor Ser... uh... Bragging Rights. He said unlike him, he doesn't assemble his teams by judging them personally, so he's offering him a spot on his team. Cena said he thinks it's a really good idea. He said Miz being Team Captain is about as ridiculous as Betty White doing a spread for Playboy. "A lot of us would look at it, but it'd be a disaster," Cena said. Speak for yourself, John.

Wade Barrett walked out and said he's going to make this easy for everyone concerned. He said he doesn't care about Raw, "believe it or not." Nor does he care about Smackdown. He said he cares about Nexus and the WWE Title. He asked for Cena's complete, undivided attention at Bragging Rights - being in his corner when he takes on Randy Orton for the WWE Title. He told him to forget about the rest of it. Cena said he can do both. He pleaded for a chance to do both. Barrett said he will only be in his corner, nothing else. Barrett got in Cena's face and asked if he was thinking of disobeying his orders.

Riley stepped up and said Cena should listen to Barrett. He also said Miz may just cash in his Money in the Bank contract at Bragging Rights. Miz glared at Riley and said, "Well, there goes the element of surprise." The crowd laughed. Miz said Riley may be right. The mystery G.M. chimed. Cole stood up at the podium and looked down at the keyboard as he read his statement. The G.M. said that while Cena answers to Barrett, everyone else listens to him. He said he wants the best Raw team possible at Bragging Rights, so he's arranged for a series of matches where the winners become members of Team Raw. He said there can only be one captain and he doesn't want jealousy and betrayal like last year. He said there will be a match between Miz and Cena to determine the Team Raw captain. The crowd cheered. Miz seemed okay with it.

Miz said he will be Team Captain of Raw and he will cash in his briefcase and become WWE Champion. He leaned in to Barrett and said there's nothing he can do about it. Barrett head-butted Miz. That was great. Miz and Riley doubled on Barrett. Cena stood there for a moment, then made the save when Barrett waved him in for help. Cena gave Riley an Attitude Adjustment. He then played to the crowd as his music played. Barrett stood and poked Cena in the chest and expressed disappointment that he didn't move in to save him quicker. Cena took it.

[Q2] [c]

1 -- TED DIBIASE (w/Maryse) vs. R-TRUTH (w/Eve Torres) -- Earn A Spot on Team Raw

After some back and forth action for a few minutes, DiBiase stalked Truth from behind readying to apply the Million Dollar Dream. Goldust stepped out onto the stage with a distraction leading to Truth getting a roll-up from behind for a near fall. Truth followed up with an immediate flying Lie Detector twisting flying forearm for the win.

WINNER: Truth in 3:00 to become a member of Team Raw.

-Cole plugged the Cena-Miz main event. [c]

[Q3]

2 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. TYSON KIDD -- Earn A Spot on Team Raw

Cole said the G.M. told him via email that David Hart Smith is nowhere to be found, but this was supposed to be a Triple Threat match. Good high-energy start, but for a short match, it seems odd that Kidd went into an extended side headlock so early. Kidd countered Morrison with a Russian leg sweep off the second rope, which was a cool spot. He then applied the sharpshooter mid-ring, but Morrison powered out before it was completely locked on. Kidd flew through the ropes to the floor. Morrison ducked a clothesline and hit a backflip slam for a win.

WINNER: Morrison in 4:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- I'd watch those two in a 15 minute PPV match based on what they showed there. It just shows how much wrestling fans are cheated out of based on Vince McMahon's single-minded "Sheamus/Triple H/Cena/Barrett" body-style and wrestling-style dominating his thinking of what is worth featuring.

-Backstage David Otunga, Health Slater, and Justin Gabriel pressed Husky Harris and Michael McGuillicutty about what's up with them. Barrett barged in and asked what was going on. He told Husty and McGuillicutty to leave, then asked Otunga if he's jealous of his leadership role. Otunga denied it, but in a cocky confident way. Barrett said they need to concentrate on helping him beat Randy Orton at Bragging Rights, and they could help by volunteering to take him on tonight. Otunga said he'd step up and face him. He said he'd beat him. But then he suggested Gabriel might be a better choice because his 450 splash would really do damage. Barrett said, "Very well, Gabriel, you're fighting Orton tonight." Very slick of Otunga. Otunga gave Gabriel a pep talk.

-Lawler plugged Cena vs. Miz. [c]

3 -- SANTINO MARELLA vs. ZACH RYDER -- Earn A Spot on Team Raw

Some early comedy by both in this match-up of goofballs cartoon characters. Lawler said people call Ryder a tool, so he asked Cole what it's like to be a called a tool and what it means. Cole said he's never heard that he's called a tool. Santino won clean with a cobra. "The cobra works!" declared a shocked Lawler.

WINNER: Santino in 1:00.

-Afterward, Tamina entered and leaped into Santino's arms, tackling him to the mat in the process. She then did the cobra back at Santino. She lifted and hugged Santino who spun around and nearly fainted afterward. Then he celebrated and flexed as Tamina walked backwards up the ramp with a smitten smile.

-They showed Randy Orton heading toward the entrance tunnel.

[Q4] [c]

4 -- RANDY ORTON vs. JUSTIN GABRIEL (w/David Otunga, Health Slater)

A minute in Otunga moved toward Orton. Orton ducked and punched him. The ref then sent both Slater and Otunga to the back. Orton stood back and smiled as Cole said the complexion of the match has drastically changed. They cut to an early break. [c]

Gabriel kicked Orton in his legs early. Orton hit a dropkick and took over offense. At 5:00 Gabriel came back with a series of kicks and then a springboard backflip senton splash for a two count. Gabriel stomped Orton in the corner and remained on offense for a few minutes. After another two count he settled into a chinlock.

[Q5]

Orton backdropped out of the chinlock and hit a powerslam for a two count. Gabriel kicked Orton to stun him and then he went for the 450. Orton rolled out of the way, but Gabriel ended up still landing on him because Orton didn't move fast enough and Gabriel overshot. Orton grabbed his arm in pain, but then surprised Gabriel as soon as he stood with an RKO for the clean win. Assuming that 450 splash wasn't executed as planned, so will Orton give Gabriel the same treatment he's given Mr. Anderson and Kofi Kingston, among others, in the past when he perceives they screw up? Orton celebrated with a big smile. His smile still seems haunted by something.

WINNER: Orton in 10:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Good ten minute match.

-They showed Sheamus heading to the entrance tunnel as Lawler plugged his rematch against Daniel Bryan. [c]

-A commercial aired for the "Knucklehead" movie featuring The Big Show.

5 -- SHEAMUS vs. DANIEL BRYAN -- Earn A Spot on Team Raw

Cole picked on Bryan for being the actual "tool" of WWE. Lawler and Cole then talked about the beating Bryan took last week from Sheamus. Bryan charged at Sheamus at the bell this week and pummeled Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus fought out of it but Bryan went for an early Lebell Lock. Sheamus escaped and bailed out to ringside. Bryan dove at Sheamus; Sheamus caught him; Bryan slipped out and shoved Sheamus into the ringpost. In the ring he scored a soft two count. Sheamus came back with a backbreaker a minute later and dominated from there.

[Q6]

Bryan made a comeback at 4:00 with a flying forearm and hit a series of roundkicks to Sheamus's body. Those sound good the way Flair chops sound good. After a final kick to the head, Bryan scored a two count. Sheamus fought back an Irish Hammer. "He just hit Bryan so hard his kids will be born dizzy," said Lawler. Bryan countered a High Cross with a sunset flip for a believable near fall. Sheamus fired right back with his thrust kick for the win. Cole said: "Here's an idea. Bryan you can be our water boy on Team Raw."

WINNER: Sheamus in 6:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Good hard-hitting match. Nice to see Bryan get some credibility back by hanging with Sheamus competitively that long.

-Truth approached Cena in the locker room and sat next to him. He asked him what he's doing. He said he has a reputation as a stand-up guy. He said his joining Nexus isn't setting too well with the rest of the locker room. He asked if he'd take one of them out if Barrett asked him. "You'd do it, John, wouldn't you?" He said he knows he's in a tough spot. He said before he makes a big mistake, there's another way out of it. He stood up and said, "Just quit." Cena said nothing and just contemplated Truth's words. [c]

-They showed Lawler and Cole at ringside. They hyped the Goo Goo Dolls "Notbroken" song. Cole threw to the video package on WWE supporting the troops.

[Q7]

6 -- EVAN BOURNE vs. C.M. PUNK -- Earn A Spot on Team Raw

Bourne came out first. They played it up as if Bourne didn't know whom he was facing until Punk's music played. Cole said, "This is unbelievable! A three-time former World Champion." Why didn't they hype this "mystery" acquisition more throughout the show just to try to hook viewers who might stray to the Jets-Vikings game? Punk swung Bourne into the ringside barrier at 1:00 and then scored a near fall in the ring. At 2:00 Bourne came back and climbed to the top rope for Air Bourne. Punk jumped up and knocked him off balance. He then gave Bourne the GTS for the win.

WINNER: Punk in 2:00. Good dominant debut for Punk, although it's never great to see the ultra-marketable and talented Bourne get virtually squashed in two minutes.

-Afterward Punk beat up Bourne at ringside viciously including ramming him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Lawler said this was totally uncalled for. Cole called it "wicked." Punk then applied his Anaconda Vice at ringside. Three referees tried to pry him off of Bourne. Punk finally released it on his own. [c]

-A commercial for Smackdown hyped that Undertaker returns "and hell is coming with him." Earlier a SD commercial hyped that Edge was returning.

-A replayed aired of Punk's post-match attack on Bourne. No mention of the Straight Edge Society. Did that get dropped entirely?

-Natalya stood mid-ring and cut a promo on LayCool. She said they're as cheap at the high heels that Layla threw at her at Hell in the Cell. She said Uncle Bret taught her a lot in her life, including to always stand up for herself. She said LayCool is going to be throwing a big temper tantrum as Bragging Rights when she walks away as the Unified Women's Champion.

LayCool walked out onto the stage and interrupted her. She said all they hear from her is blah blah blah blah blah. She said the fans would rather look at them than her. McCool said they totally respect her for her courage because month after month she walks out on national TV "knowing we're in HD, right?" McCool said the whole world gets to see all of her flaws. Layla said she clearly inherited her dad's facial hair. She said she has to shave herself before every single show or else she'd look like her dad. They showed Jim Neidhart on the big screen with Natalya on a split screen also sporting a goatee.

Natalya fired back that after last week's headset fiasco, they both proved to be the most annoying Divas in WWE. Cole said that was rude. Lawler said it was true. She said they're just proving their IQ is lower than their combined waist sizes. McCool and Layla celebrated the inference that they're very skinny. McCool said all of the Divas respect them and love them, so in two weeks Natalya will love them, too. They danced themselves out of the ring as their music played. "If brains were rain, those two are the desert," said Lawler. Five other Divas - Gail Kim, the Bella Twins, Melina, and Eve - stood on the stage and walked toward LayCool. LayCool backed up. The Divas threw Layla into the ring where Natalya applied the sharpshooter. McCool yanked Layla free. They fled through the crowd. Nice to see an actual angle and segment dedicated to a singular feud and match among the Divas. Good also to see Natalya get some mic time to show she's got a personality.

-They showed Miz, with Riley, heading toward the entrance tunnel.

[Q8] [c]

-They went to Lawler and Cole at ringside. Lawler pointed out that no matter what happens in this match, Cena will be in Barrett's corner at Bragging Rights.

7 -- JOHN CENA vs. THE MIZ (w/Alex Riley) -- Winner Becomes Team Raw Captain

Ring announcer Justin Roberts announced that he was just informed this was just made a no-DQ match. Cena came out to his music. A minute in Riley interfered on Cena's behalf at ringside. They cut to an early break. [c]

Riley again punched Cena at ringside after the break at 4:00. Miz lifted Cena by his ears and stood on the announce table and attempted a Skull Crushing Finale. Cena powered out and teased an AttAdj, but Miz escaped and shoved Cena to the floor and into the ringside barrier. Cena grabbed at his ribs and winced. Cena made a comeback, but Riley tried to interfere again. Cena threw him into the ringside steps, but Miz recovered and threw Cena into the exposed metal of the ringside barrier at 6:00.

[Q9]

Cole filled in new viewers on what was going on and what was at stake. Back in the ring Miz hit Cena in the head with a boot to the skull. Miz followed with a backbreaker for a two count at 8:00. Riley handed Miz his Money in the Bank briefcase. He swung, but Cena ducked and then applied the STF. Riley entered. Cena released on Miz and applied the STF on Riley. Riley tapped, but that didn't matter. Cena then released it and turned to Miz. He went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Husky and McGuillicitty interfered. McGuillicutty gave Cena a snap swinging neckbreaker, Husky gave Cena a senton, and Miz made the cover for the win.

WINNER: Miz in 10:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 - Another step upward on the roster with Miz hanging with Cena, albeit with the help of three other heels.

Afterward, Cena tried to fight back against Husky and McGuillicutty. As he did, Barrett entered and got in Cena's face. Cena nearly punched him. The G.M. chime sounded. Cole stepped up to the podium and announced that if Harris & McGuillicutty are going to be on Raw, it ought to be official, so next week they will face Cena & Orton. Cena liked that. Barrett said, though, if Cena loses, he's going to officially induct the new heel duo into Nexus. Barrett, "So I'm sure next week you're going to do the right thing," implying that he ought to throw the match. Cena pushed down on the mic as Barrett pushed the issue. Barrett told him not to do that. He said he'd probably love to drop him right there for himself and for the WWE Universe and C-Nation, but he won't. Barrett smiled and gloated that he can't do a thing "because you're scared, you're a coward, Cena, yellow-bellied, spineless." Cena leaned his head against Barrett's and fumed. He said he let everyone down by stepping away. He said he's a disgrace. As Cena walked away, Barrett waved his hand in front of his face and said: "Until next week, you can't see me!"

FINAL THOUGHTS: Very good segment. The Cena-Barrett dynamic and turning Barrett into a star quickly - and he's carrying his end of it perfectly - and also giving Cena something really different to sink his teeth into as a character. A good edition overall of Raw with a lot more good athleticism than usual start to finish.

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