KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
MAY 10, 2010
LIVE FROM PITTSBURGH, PA.
AIRED ON USA NETWORK

[Q1]

-Should be interesting whether the Raw rating goes up more than expected this week with TNA Impact. Spike TV is airing "Star Wars III" tonight, instead of Impact.

-A video package aired of "The Cutting Edge" last week with Wayne Brady and Randy Orton. No Raw opening. I miss the Raw opening. It sets the tone for the show.

-Orton walked out and said the reason he didn't accept Edge's offer last week is he knows him too well. He said Edge sees him as a threat and he wants to control him. Meatloaf, a Grammy winning musician, interrupted with a song that sounded a bit like Honky Tonk Man was coming out at first. He entered the ring and said over and over obnoxiously "Randy Orton, you are the man." We lose Bubba the Love Sponge and gain Meatloaf. Actually, that's terribly unfair to Meatloaf.

Meatloaf said he couldn't wait to come out because he has a new CD coming out and he has a new theme song for him on it that was written by Jon Bon Jovi. He asked if he could play it. Orton asked him to hum him a few bars. Boy, TNA and Spike TV execs are kicking themselves right now for retreating to Thursdays a week early. Meatloaf sang him his song and did so very melodramatically. Orton, reacting like Steve Austin might, began to lose patience with Meatloaf, who basically did a Jillian Hall bit. The crowd cheered as they anticipated Orton giving him an RKO. Then it came and the crowd popped. Meatloaf took the RKO better than some. Edge's music then played and he walked onto the stage.

Edge said he doesn't like celebrities telling them what to do and making matches. He said he did something about it and called WWE Global Headquarters and complained. He said they Tweeted back and said guest hosts would no longer have authority. (For the record, I had this very same complaint on the PWTorch Livecast earlier today and suggested they drop guest hosts having match-making power. I'm just saying...) Edge then suggested they assign Raw a permanent G.M. and introduced Vickie Guerrero as that new G.M. Michael Cole exclaimed, "That's Edge's ex-wife." She walked out an exclaimed, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" A lot of fans booed, but a few stood and applauded. This is a great move as Vickie is a great heel act.

Vickie said that for the record, despite her past relationship with Edge, she will be professional and unbiased. Uh, didn't Edge humiliate Vickie last time they were together, telling her how disgusted he was kissing her and even thinking of her naked? Are we ignoring all of that? She said "we at WWE do not condone" the attacking of celebrities, so he will be reprimanded. Orton said, "Hey, Vickie, why don't you come down here and reprimand me to my face?" Edge said that's exactly what Vickie is talking about. "You're a bully!" He said he'll find out tonight what it feels like to be bullied. She announced that Orton later must face Edge and a partner of Edge's choice. Lawler said he couldn't believe WWE put Vickie in charge of anything, much less Raw. Cole said it was a nightmare living through her controlling Smackdown, and now she's in control of Raw.

-They showed Chris Jericho and The Miz talking backstage. Cole said Jericho has a match up next with Unified Tag Team ramifications.

[Q2] [c]

1 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. DAVID HART SMITH

Miz and Tyson Kidd were not at ringside, as they were wrestling later. If DHS won, a Hart family member would get a U.S. Title shot. If Miz won, he and Jericho would get a shot at the Unified Tag Team Champions. DHS applied a sharpshooter at 3:00, but Jericho escaped, used a thumb to the eye of DHS, and finished him with a Code Breaker.

WINNER: Jericho in 4:00.

-Edge and Batista were shown chatting backstage. Cole speculated Edge was trying to recruit Batista to be his partner against Orton later. Cole then plugged that Flavor Flav was up next. [c]

[Q3] -Cole plugged Rey Mysterio vs. C.M. Punk on Smackdown this Friday night.

-R-Truth rapped to the ring with Flavor Flav joining in. R-Truth hyped his history as a rap artist. Flav talked some about R-Truth and his career. "He's not a lie, he's the Truth," said Flav. He asked if the fans were "ready to get this show up on the road." William Regal entered the ring, not sure what to think of what he was watching. Regal's facial expressions remain great and underutilized.

2 -- WILLIAM REGAL vs. R-TRUTH (w/Flavor Flav)

Seconds into the match, Carlito and Primo Colon attacked R-Truth with their Back Cracker. Flav held the mic and did play-by-play, saying, "Oh no, they just broke my man's back!" Promo's new look gives him a bit of a edginess that he never had before.

WINNER: No contest in 1:00.

-The Colons walked up to the stage and met Ted DiBiase, who gave them an envelope.

-Cole plugged the Edge vs. Orton two-on-one match, with Edge yet to announce his partner. [c]

-A video package aired on Eve showing recent highlights. Then they showed Maryse working out with a black belt in judo and tossing him around the ring and working on sweeps. She had trouble with sweeps. Her instructor said she needs to know how to do this by now. He said she must not be trying hard enough. Maryse slapped him and kicked him in the knee. Good little segment.

-Backstage Josh Matthews asked Orton if he was at all concerned about whom Edge might pick as his partner later. Orton said there's nothing he can do about it, so no he's not concerned. He said he would like Vickie to come to ringside during his match so he can personally make sure tonight is a night she'll never forget.

-A commercial aired for WWE NXT's first rookie elimination tomorrow night. [c]

[Q4]

-Buzz Aldrin wore an astronaut outfit. He said he'd be guest hosting Raw next week and taking Raw to the moon. Mark Henry walked in and hit him from behind. He said, "That's one small step for Raw and one giant leap for the WWE Universe." He asked if Buzz was okay. Buzz groaned. The narrator said next week's Raw would be live and commercial-free.

-They went back to Cole and Lawler live at ringside. Lawler touted that they've running events at the Melon Arena since 1975 and still hold the attendance record. He said a new arena opens across the street in a few months. Gail Kim and Alicia Fox were sitting at ringside to observe the next segment.

-Zach Ryder stood in the ring and said he knows they got off on the wrong foot last week. He told Alicia she looks especially beautiful. She smiled. Ryder said the last great moment "in this decrepit arena" before they blow it up will be Ryder's first win on Raw. "Woo woo woo, you know it!" he said.

3 -- EVAN BOURNE vs. ZACH RYDER

At 2:00 Alicia tried to interfere against Bourne when he climbed to the top rope. Kim yanked her off the ring apron. Bourne hit his shooting star press for the win. Bourne offered his arm to Kim and they walked to the back together. Alicia stuck around to console Ryder.

WINNER: Bourne in 2:00.

-Cole and Lawler narrated a replay of the Cena beating Wade Barrett last week to "Beat the Clock" and choose the stip for his match at Over the Limit against Batista. [c]

-Another NXT commercial aired. Then a WWE fact aired touting WWE granting wishes to kids for Make-a-Wish for over 25 years.

-John Cena's ring entrance took place.

[Q5]

-Cena entered the ring and said thanked Sheamus for interrupting him last week and giving him an entire week to think about what stip to add to his match against Batista. Cena said some critics say that he didn't really beat Batista with athletic ability or brute force. He said he thought the finish was creative, but Batista and some critics saw it as him taking the easy way out and an act of cowardice.

He said he's been called many things in his life "and I deserved every one of them, but I am not a coward." He said he will prove it. He said he can choose any match he wants against Batista. He said he could force Batista to wear a blindfold or be handcuffed or hop on one leg, but those options would be acts of a coward.

He said if Batista wins, he will officially forfeit his rematch clause. He said if Batista loses, he will never get another title shot. He said the match stipulation in two weeks will be an "I Quit" match. He said it's the only match that makes sense. He said if they want to see him go, all he has to do is make him say two words: I Quit. He said he owes this all to Sheamus. He said he would have rushed his decision last week if not for him. He said he wants to thank "that human jar of mayonnaise in person." Sheamus walked out onto the stage with a mic in hand. Sheamus asked if he really wants him to come to the ring because if he does, he'll be in no condition in two weeks to defend his WWE Title.

As Sheamus walked to the ring, Batista entered the ring and went after Cena from behind. Cena attempted to fend him off, but Batista got the better of him and speared him, then Sheamus gave him a back breaker and Batista kicked him to the floor where he rammed him back-first into the ringpost. Sheamus gave Cena his big boot. As Batista set up a Batista Bomb, Henry made the save. He clotheslined Batista and splashed him in the corner, then kicked him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Sheamus and Batista retreated.

-Edge talked with Vickie backstage. He said he wanted to be sure they're on the same page. He said the last time he was on Raw with her, he said some pretty hateful things to her. He said he did it because he wanted to generate sympathy for her, but they ended up treating her like the word treats him. He said the world treats them the same way. He said they may not be married, but they'll always share that in common and be friends. Vickie bought that. I give them credit for at least addressing their history. He invited her to ringside. She said that'd be insane for her to put herself at risk. Edge said if Orton makes a move toward her, she could fire him on the spot. Edge said she needs to show Orton and everyone on the show that she cannot be intimidated. Then she can also see the look on his face up close after he beats him. She said she'd be there. [c]

[Q6]

4 -- TYSON KIDD vs. MIZ

Kidd scored a leverage pin less than a minute in. Cole said it was shades of the late, great Owen Hart. That meant Miz has defend his U.S. Title against a Hart Family member next week.

WINNER: Kidd in 0:30.

-Natalya and DHS joined Kidd in celebrating at ringside. Miz said he didn't win anything because he gets to decide which member of the hart Family he defends against. Miz said as much as Natalya wants to face him and wrestle around, "keep dreaming, sweetheart," he said. Instead, he picked Bret Hart. Cole's voice cracked like Mike Tenay and he asked, "Can that happen?" Lawler said he's a Hart.

-Matthews asked Batista backstage about his newly scheduled match against Henry later. Batista said he won't make Cena say "I quit," he's going to make him scream "I quit!" He told him to watch what he does to Henry. [c]

5 -- GOLDUST & SANTINO & JOHN MORRISON & YOSHI TATSU vs. THE NXT ROOKIES

Goldust opened against Wade Barrett. Gabriel entered next against Tatsu. David Otunga tagged himself in. Barrett stood next to Daniel Bryan on the ring apron, accentuating the height difference between the tallest and shortest NXT rookies. Otunga tagged in Health Slater. Morrison tagged in against him. Bryan tagged in next . Cole said he's "zero for everything." Santino tagged in and he scored a small package win instantly. Cole was amazed. The rookie held Bryan in the air to celebrate his first win.

WINNERS: NXT Rookies in 4:00. Seriously, I would pay a lot of money to never hear that NXT theme again. What a terrible song to have to hear over and over.

[Q7] [c]

-The Smackdown Rebound aired. Cole then plugged the Christian vs. Kofi Kingston IC Title Tournament Final.

-The Bella Twins asked Flava Flav to update his new TV show. In walked Santino and Vladimir Kozlov. Flav told them to speak some English. He asked what is going on with them. Santino said he's trying to tell Vlad they'd make a good tag team. Vlad said he always loses. Flav said they can work it out. In walked Regal, who told Flav not to listen to Santino. "Look at you, aren't your ridiculous," said Regal to Flav. He said rapping took no talent. Vlad told Regal to not just stand there, but bust to move. Regal then rapped with a bunch of British references. Flav said it was the most ridiculous, horrifying thing he's ever seen in his life.

-Back at ringside, Lawler chuckled and Cole said, "Vintage William Regal." Then they moved into hyping the Over the Limit line-up. Boy was that an obnoxious graphic package they had behind the images of the wrestlers.

-A clip aired of Henry beating up Batista earlier. They showed Batista sitting in a chair mid-ring waiting for Henry. [c]

[Q8]

-The Henry-Buzz Aldren skit aired again.

-After Henry arrived in the ring, Batista was still sitting in the folding chair mid-ring. He then attacked Henry as he climbed through the ropes and beat him down with the chair. Batista locked Henry in a submission hold on the mat. Batista held it on a long time, then finally realized it after the referee pleaded with him. Henry was knocked out cold. [c]

-Cole plugged Bret Hart vs. Miz and Sheamus vs. Cena on the commercial-free Raw next week.

6 -- RANDY ORTON vs. EDGE & TED DIBIASE

After Orton's ring entrance, Edge stepped onto the stage with Vickie. Then DiBiase's music played and he walked out, revealing he was Edge's mystery partner. Cole and Lawler said DiBiase has recently inherited a sizable trust-fund from his father. The stips were he'd get the trust fund either when he turned 30 years old or had his first WrestleMania match. Cole said he dipped into that trust fund to pay off the Colons to attack R-Truth. Lawler said he heard rumors of the size of the trust fund and DiBiase can dip into that for years and still not run low. Orton opened with the obligatory side headlock on DiBiase. Vickie sat at ringside. Cole said Edge talked Vickie into sitting at ringside to show she will not be intimidated. Edge tagged in and stomped away at Orton. They tagged in and out frequently to keep Orton down.

[Q9]

Orton made a comeback at 4:00. He knocked Edge off the ring apron. Edge flew into the announce table. Orton gave DiBiase his backbreaker. Orton then hissed and dropped and pounded the mat repeatedly with his fists. He went for an RKO, but DiBiase blocked it. DiBiase charged Orton, but Orton backdropped him to the mat. R-Truth ran toward the ring, distracting DiBiase. Orton gave him an RKO for the win.

WINNER: Orton in 5:00.

-Afterward, R-Truth walked to the back. Orton looked at ringside and saw Vickie. Orton slithered out of the ring as Vickie looked for Edge. Edge was still KO'd at ringside. Vickie yelled for him to get up. Edge didn't. She told Orton, "Don't do it. Edge! Edge! Edge! Don't do it or you're... Don't do it. Randy, I'm warning you. I'm warning you. Don't! Or you're..." She seemed scared to fire him. She panicked and said, "All right, I resign! I resign!" Orton saw Edge stand, so he turned and gave Edge an RKO. Vickie then ran to the back.

FINAL THOUGHTS (4.0)

Not a particularly memorable show. Nothing terribly wrong with it, although I yawned six times during the NXT Rookie match. Orton's babyface push is getting more intense. Edge is a strong lead heel. Not sure what they're planning with Vickie now that she resigned. This is the type of show TNA could have had a chance against with the mid-card matches involving Ryder, NXT Rookies, Kidd, DHS, and Regal, plus the attempts at comedy with Flavor Flav.

We suggest these recent related articles...

CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 10/5: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw - Lesnar returns, Cena's Open Challenge, more

CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 9/28: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw - John Cena's Open Challenge, Paul Heyman, Reigns vs. Wyatt main event, MizTV, more

CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 9/21: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw - Night of Champions fall-out, Cena vs. Rollins U.S. Title re-match, Bizzaro Kane, more