WWE Raw TV Results
April 29, 2013 - Episode #1,039
Live in Columbus, Ohio
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The third hour of Raw continued with an update on The Rock's surgery to repair hernia tears from his reported WrestleMania injury. Cole then noted Rock has the #1 movie at the box office. Cole claimed it was #1 worldwide, but it's just U.S.

Locker Room: John Cena was shown getting ready to compete, then Brad Maddox walked in. Cena called him Braden Walker, which Brad corrected. Cena told Brad to do him a favor and run along. He then booked himself in the tag match with Kane and Bryan against Shield. Brad replied that Cena is hurt and hurt bad. Cena sighed and said he is hurt, but Brad will be hurt worse if he doesn't tell Vickie that he is fighting tonight. Brad quietly slipped away, leaving Cena alone in the locker room.

So, this is WWE's third try at a main event tonight. Complicated path from Cena & Ryback vs. The Shield to Ryback vs. The Shield to Kane & Bryan vs. The Shield to Cena & Kane & Bryan vs. The Shield.

On-stage: Ricardo Rodriguez came out on-stage to a long introduction from Justin Roberts after Ricardo won the opening match. Ricardo then formally introduced Alberto Del Rio as kids hid from the camera when shown on the big screen. Del Rio came out on-stage, then slowly made his way to the ring flanked by Ricardo. Already in the ring was Antonio Cesaro, the former U.S. champ. Before the bell sounded, WWE plugged Cesaro's U.S. Title re-match against Kofi on Main Event this Wednesday.

7 -- ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. ANTONIO CESARO

The announcers showed disinterest early on by talking yodeling and tug of war. JBL then talked MLSoccer, noting members of the Columbus Crew are ringside. Lawler followed with Minor League Baseball discussion, prompting JBL to quip that maybe Cleveland will get a major league team one day.

[Q10] In the ring, Cesaro slowed the pace to work on Del Rio's upper body. Del Rio responded by delivering ten kidney punches into a Backstabber. Del Rio then tried to get the crowd behind him with a rhythmic slow clap, but there wasn't much audience participation. Cesaro then dipped out of the ring as Lawler inadvertently called him Sbarro. Wrong pizza sponsor. Cesaro recovered on the outside leading top break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Cesaro was in control working on Del Rio with a mid-ring submission. The announcers then noted Antonio Cesaro is trending right now on Twitter. Of course, they can't note whether Sbarro is also trending since they're the unofficial pizza sponsor of this segment. Ricardo then tried to wake up the crowd with a slow-clap to rally behind Del Rio, who continued to take punishment from Cesaro.

Del Rio broke free at 11:00, then wanted a sidekick, but Cesaro blocked. But, Del Rio suddenly busted out a German Suplex with a bridge for a close two count. Suddenly, the crowd picked up an "Ole! Ole!" chant. Del Rio, stunned, snapped back into the match, but then came off the second rope right into a surprise European Uppercut for a close two count. Cesaro, now in control, quickly lost control before Del Rio nailed a standing sidekick for another close two count. "Whaaaat?!" Lawler shouted.

At 13:00, Del Rio tapped his forearm to signal the cross arm-breaker, but Cesaro blocked. Cesaro tried a power move, but Del Rio yanked down Cesaro by the arm and slapped on the cross arm-breaker. Cesaro fought momentarily, but tapped out, giving Del Rio the win. JBL said he can't wait to see what stipulation Del Rio comes up with for Extreme Rules.

WINNER: Del Rio via submission at 13:22. They tried to get to the next level by the end of the match, but the first ten minutes was almost too much to overcome. Good finish. (**1/4)

Post-match, Del Rio waited out "Ole! Ole!" chants before setting up his Extreme Rules match stipulation announcement. Del Rio said they aren't crawling like "this," but climbing like "this." He then booked a Ladder Match. The crowd resumed "Ole!" chants to conclude the segment.

Still to come: Cena & Kane & Bryan vs. The Shield.

Backstage: Fandango & Summer Rae and Great Khali & Natalya were shown walking down the hallway on a split-screen. Cole said it will be a dance-off next. One good match begets one bizarre segment.

WWE Studios plug: "No One Lives" is coming.

[Q11] [Commercial Break]

Dance-off Segment

In-ring: Fandango's music played back from break. Out came Summer Rae to pave the way for Fandango's entrance. Apparently the original Fandango Dancer is done. Suddenly, Jerry Lawler was in the ring to introduce Fandango. Also already in the ring were Natalya and Khali, who seemed befuddled by the events unfolding before him. After Fandango and Summer Rae posed in the ring, Lawler set the stage for a dance-off.

Lawler said the audience will decide the winner, then Lawler quizzed Khali on whether he has any experience in ballroom dancing. "Yes," Khali quickly said. Lawler then asked if he watched Dancing With The Stars, prompting Khali to ramble about something. Lawler finished with a question about whether he's better than Chris Jericho on DWTS. Khali said he is, then was asked to prove it with Natalya. Cole said Khali and Natalya practiced with Yoga, prompting JBL to ask if it was DDP Yoga. Khali and Natalya then did some awkward dance numbers, insulting Fandango with this artistic interpreation.

Lawler then asked Fandango what he thought about Jericho on DWTS. "In a word...clummmmmsy," Fandango said. Lawler then introduced Fandango and Summer Rae for their dance number. Fandango dipped Rae to applause, then Lawler polled the crowd. Khali and Natalya got loud applause, then Fandango posed to hear his votes. The crowd was mixed with loud cheers and boos, prompting Fandango to slightly cock his head to soak it in. Lawler said he thinks the winner is Khali, prompting Cole to declare India's first Dance Champ.

Suddenly, Fandango attacked Khali from behind, taking out his knees. Fandango then hit a Russian Legsweep before removing his dance jacket. Fandango wasn't done, as he climbed to the top rope and delivered a leaping leg drop to Khali's head. Fandango then posed with Rae over Khali's fallen body to conclude the segment. Fandango's music played, then FanRae exited as JBL hyped Fandango's work. Ringside, JBL held up a "10" card and Cole held up a Thumbs Up.

Smackdown Flashback: Cole set up a video package revisiting The Shield taking out The Undertaker via triple powerbomb.

In-ring: John Cena's music played to bring out the WWE champion for the main event. Cena bounced up and down on-stage to test his ankle, then declared that he will give it all he's got tonight. Cena gingerly ran down to the ring, then posed with the title belt. Cole said Cena's lower right leg is heavily taped as JBL said Cena is hurting a lot more than he's letting on. Lawler said he believes Cena, then Kane's pyro shot off to bring out the tag champs. Once the tag champs hit the ring, Kane shot off his pyro before chatting with Cena, who was his enemy a little over one year ago. After they "embraced the hate," Cole sent Raw to break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q12] Back from break, Cole plugged a match for Smackdown - Kane vs. Dean Ambrose in a singles match, with Kane looking for revenge after Shield took out his brother, Undertaker, last Friday.

In-ring: The arena was still filled with Kane's red lighting, then the mood changed when Shield's music played. Shield slowly spilled out from the crowd to the ringside area, then slowly made their way onto the ring apron. Shield then slowly entered the ring as the referee tried to get an organized start. Ref Cohn finally got Kane vs. Ambrose one-on-one and called for the bell.

8 -- WWE champion JOHN CENA & WWE tag champions KANE & DANIEL BRYAN vs. THE SHIELD (DEAN AMBROSE & SETH ROLLINS & ROMAN REIGNS) -- six-man tag match

As Kane went after Ambrose, Cole noted that Kane and Bryan are upset because they were not able to back up Taker on Smackdown since they were touring with the "Raw group." Ambrose eventually took control and tagged in Rollins, who ran into a big boot from Kane. Meanwhile, the crowd picked up a dueling chant for and against Cena as he waited on the ring apron.

Kane rocked Rollins with right hands before nearly getting his team DQ'ed by selling annoyance with the ref. Cena calmed down Kane and tagged in, then Ambrose kicked Cena's bad leg. But, Cena wisely backed into his own corner, which allowed Bryan to tag in. As the two teams traded control, the announcers mentioned that Shield has never lost in a six-man tag setting. On cue, Shield regained control by working over Kane. Cole then sent Raw to commercial.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Shield was in control of the match. Specifically, Jon Moxley was working on Bryan Danielson. Okay, back to 2013 WWE - Bryan fought back, but Ambrose cut him off. Shield then continued to work on Bryan.

[Q13 -- over-run] At the top of the hour, Cole reset the show as Shield remained in control of the match. Cena played cheerleader from the ring apron, then Bryan escaped Reigns, only to run into a Samoan Drop for a two count. Reigns, beginning to show frustration, stalked Bryan, but then Bryan pulled down the top rope, causing Reigns to fly over the top rope to the floor. Bryan was slow to recover, though, before finally reaching Kane for a tag.

Ambrose also tagged in and took punishment from Kane. Kane then pushed Rollins over the top rope before climbing to the top turnbuckle. Kane connected with a flying clothesline before teasing a chokeslam. Except, Kane saw something out of the corner of his eye and dumped Ambrose over the top rope at the base of the announce table.

On the floor, Kane cleared the announce table, looking to give Shield a taste of their own medicine after what they did to Taker on Smackdown. But, the numbers game caught up to Kane, who took a DDT into the floor. Kane struggled to his feet, then re-entered the ring just before ten to keep the match alive. Back in the ring, Ambrose taunted Kane, but then ran into a chokeslam.

Hot-tag to Cena also brought in Reigns. Cena exploded with trademark offense before setting up for and delivering the Five Knuckle Shuffle. He wanted the AA on Reigns, but Rollins cross-body splashed him from the top rope, only to have Cena roll through into an AA attempt. But, Cena sold that his Achilles gave out. Reigns then speared Cena and it was good for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Shield at 15:25. Another big win for Shield, specifically Reigns, even if Cena had an "out" for taking the loss.

Immediately after the match, Ryback walked out on-stage in a Goldberg-style leather jacket. Ryback glared into the ring as Cena sold the effects of the ankle injury. JBL said Cena is hurt bad, Cena shook his head at a question from the ringside doctor as he clutched his foot, and Raw signed off six minutes past the top of the hour.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The definition of an up-and-down show. Overall, a thumbs up with some good matches and story developments, but just not enough star-power or well-developed stories to fill three hours of television time.

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