WWE Raw TV Results
May 13, 2013 - Episode #1,041
Live in Tulsa, Okla.
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Coming back from break, WWE ran the trailer for "No One Lives," which was released over the weekend.

[Q10] Backstage: Ryback was shown marching down the hallway. Matt Striker asked Ryback about his "extreme actions" against John Cena in the previous segment. Ryback simply said that's not extreme compared to what he does to Cena on Sunday.

Raw last Monday: Jack Swagger destroyed Alberto Del Rio, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Dolph Ziggler.

In-ring: Big E. Langston was introduced to the ring. A.J. Lee skipped past Big E. down to the ring as Langston clapped weightlifting powder in his hands to signal his arrival. As Big E. hit the ring, WWE replayed Swagger kicking Ziggler in the head on Smackdown, concussing him. Cole said Ziggler is not able to be here tonight.

Jerry Lawler then stood up at the announce table to introduce Big E.'s opponent. The poll results were 65 percent for Swagger and 35 percent for Del Rio, surprising Cole and JBL. To cover for only 35 percent of the audience wanting to see Del Rio in action giving Big E. comeuppance, Lawler said he thinks the audience just wants to see Swagger and Big E. beat each other up.

7 -- BIG E. LANGSTON (w/A.J. Lee) vs. JACK SWAGGER (w/Zeb Colter)

JBL said this match-up is like someone from Texas watching OU and OSU play college football - you hope both lose. The crowd responded accordingly with silence as the two big men battled and stood off. Raw cut to break as Cole plugged the match continuing on the App.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Big E. dropped Swagger across his knee with a backbreaker. On commentary, Cole mustered congratulations to the audience for voting on this match as JBL said he was surprised by the audience not voting for Del Rio. Lawler again framed this as the audience wanting to see the two big men beach each other up. WWE inserted video on the screen of Dolph Ziggler speaking from home while recovering from his concussion. Only mumbling was heard, which was apparently the sales-pitch to download the App to hear what Ziggler said.

Langston and Swagger battled to the top rope, then Big E. superplexed Swagger. Langston dropped his straps, then scooped up Swagger for the Big Ending, but Swagger avoided and chopblocked Big E. Swagger then locked in the Patriot Lock, but Big E. crawled across the ring to break the hold. Langston then dumped Swagger over the top rope to the floor.

On the outside, Big E. flung Swagger into the barricade. Langston then wanted a follow-up attack, but Swagger dumped Langston over the guardrail into the front row. Meanwhile, Swagger re-entered the ring as the ref hit an eight count. The ref hit ten and that gave Swagger a count-out victory.

WINNER: Swagger via count-out at 10:08.

[Q11] Post-match, Alberto Del Rio hit the ring to try to attack Swagger, but Swagger fought him off before kicking Ricardo Rodriguez out of the ring. Del Rio used the distraction to attack Swagger and apply the Cross Arm-breaker, but Big E. re-entered the ring and blasted Del Rio. Del Rio fought back and cleared both Swagger and Langston from the ring. Del Rio stood tall in the ring to minimal reaction. Lawler asked who will stand tall in the #1 contender match between Del Rio and Swagger on Sunday.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Cole plugged Miz vs. Cody Rhodes on the Extreme Rules pre-show this Sunday as Hart music was playing in the background. Ringside, the Bella Twins and Divas champion Kaitlyn were shown ringside. WWE then showed Hornswoggle and Great Khali randomly in 501 Levi's jeans and a button-down dress shirt standing around ringside. In the ring were A.J. Lee and and Natalya for a random match.

8 -- A.J. LEE vs. NATALYA (w/Great Khali and Hornswoggle)

As the match started, Kaitlyn was given a new gift from her secret admirer. After a brawl on the outside, A.J. sold unconsciousness, so Natalya dragged A.J. back into the ring. Natalya tried to follow up, but A.J. suddenly sprung on Natalya with the Black Widow submission. Natalya was forced to tap out, giving the #1 contender a submission victory. Natalya, Khali, and Swoggle then helped Natalya out of the ring as the announcers cracked Munsters jokes.

WINNER: A.J. via submission at 3:11.

Still to come: The Hunter and Lesnar face-off. WWE then played a sponsored replay of Lesnar destroying Hunter's broom-closet office last week on Raw.

[Commercial Break]

[Q12] Announcers: Cole said they are in Tulsa, Oklahoma, then Lawler plugged Jim Ross not here tonight because he's hunting with Shawn Michaels in Texas. Cole changed subjects to the opening segment of the show when Fandango used the Dance-off Contest to set up Chris Jericho for a brutal attack.

Backstage: Matt Striker brought in an angry Chris Jericho. Striker asked Jericho if he felt foolish out there earlier. Jericho paused and said it was his fault. He said he's been trying to play other peoples's games and play by other peoples's rules, but that's no more. Jericho said fun & games is over. He said he is a six-time World champion who has done it all and beaten them all. He said his name is pronounced Chris Jericho. And, this Sunday at Extreme Rules, if Fandango wants to dance, he is going to show him how to dance Chris Jericho style. "See you Sunday!" Jericho said between his teeth.

[ JC's Reax: Simple and effective "babyface vows revenge on Sunday" promo, but where's Cena's promo on the final Raw before the PPV to verbally sell the main event and vow revenge on Ryback? ]

In-ring: Triple H's music played to bring out Hunter for the main event segment. Hunter, dressed for a street fight, tossed his water bottle into the crowd before spitting water in the air to complete his ring entrance. Hunter then posed in the ring as Cole recapped both Hunter and Lesnar having one victory in their series. Cole said the rubber match is Sunday. A steel cage hanging above the ring was lowered down to the ring as Raw cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Friday on Smackdown: Chris Jericho is bringing back the Highlight Reel. This Friday, Randy Orton and Big Show will be on the Highlight Reel.

Triple H-Lesnar Confrontation

Back live six minutes before the top of the hour, Hunter was shown pacing the ring surrounded by the cage. Hunter growled about nothing being settled between them. That is, until Sunday when it all gets settled. Hunter said this ring is where he learned to be a man, but a man he respected early in his career told him that to get good at this, you have to learn how to hate. Hunter said he learned to hate and thrive on that hate. And nowhere did he excel more than when this ring was surrounded by steel. Hunter hyped the steel cage, then said what he's trying to say is that Brock Lesnar is here, he's here, the crowd is here, and, more importantly, the steel is here.

Hunter said he's at home, then invited Lesnar to come take it. After a pause, Brock Lesnar's music played to bring out the big man flanked by Paul Heyman. JBL talked in hushed tones as Lesnar bounced out on-stage, where he remained. Heyman then took the mic and tried to introduce himself, but Hunter shut him up. Hunter said everyone knows who he is, then told Lesnar to get in the ring. Heyman laughed and said Hunter knows who they are, but he doesn't think Hunter knows what they are about.

Heyman said they are about perverse pleasures in life, such as Hunter using the word "hate." Heyman asked Hunter isn't the word "hate" unacceptable in WWE, a global entertainment company? Heyman continued to call out Hunter before noting that since they're using the word "hate," he will acknowledge that both Hunter and Lesnar hate each other. Heyman then said Hunter will "hate" facing his family and father-in-law after letting everyone down on Sunday. He will also "hate" the result on Sunday when Hunter goes down in history as the loser. "I cannot imagine how much you're going to hate that," Heyman said.

[Q13 -- over-run] Heyman excitedly said his client, Lesnar, is excited for a fight tonight. But, the fight is on Sunday. He said his client does not fight for free. Lesnar's music played for them to leave, but Hunter interrupted. Hunter said it just dawned on him why Lesnar won't face him like a man. He said The Destroyer won't stand face-to-face with him because Heyman can't afford Lesnar to do that. Hunter said he did the unthinkable at WrestleMania when he knocked Lesnar out. And, he beat Lesnar.

Hunter continued that if Lesnar walks down the ramp right now and steps into the cage and maybe, just maybe, he kicks his ass one more time, that doesn't bode too well for Heyman as a businessman. And, even worse, if Lesnar steps inside the cage and he beats him again, then the sound will not just be the roar of the crowd, but Brock Lesnar's mystique flying out the window. Along with Heyman's meal ticket. Hunter said he can look at Brock and tell that Brock still believes inside himself that he is the Baddest Man, but the problem is Heyman doesn't think that's true anymore. That's why as of this moment, he's no longer talking to Paul, but to Brock.

Hunter asked Brock if he's going to walk down the aisle and try to prove that he is Brrrrock Lessssnar, or is he just going to let Heyman tell him what to do and prove that he is Brock Lesnar, the Bitch? On-stage, Lesnar's mood changed from amusement to anger. Lesnar started walking down the ramp as Heyman tried to calm him down. Refs spilled out, too, to wave off Lesnar as the cage door remained wide open. Lesnar stepped on the ring steps and slowly approached the cage door as Heyman pleaded with him not to do this. Lesnar hit the top step, then put one foot inside the cage as Hunter smiled from a distance. Lesnar then put both feet inside the cage and slowly walked toward Hunter.

Lesnar and Hunter came face-to-face in the middle of the cage, then Lesnar landed a right hand. Lesnar drove Hunter into the corner, then Hunter made a comeback. But, Lesnar ducked a right and smashed Hunter into the mat with a release belly-to-belly suplex. Lesnar then chucked his shirt away and demanded the door be shut. But, Hunter side-stepped an attack and ate the cage. Hunter then removed his shirt and landed a right hand to Lesnar. Another one. Hunter then chucked Lesnar into the cage door, bouncing Heyman off the steel steps. Lesnar fell through the cage door to the outside in the process, then slowly got back to his feet as the crowd chanted, "Triple H."

Lesnar contemplated re-entering the steel cage, then WWE replayed the cage fight as Lesnar continued to think things over. Back live, Lesnar was shown backing away from ringside with a smirk on his face as the announcers sold this as being "far from over." Lesnar then picked up Heyman and helped him away from ringside to the entrance ramp. Lesnar turned to look back to Hunter, who paced the cage before Hunter's music played. Hunter then climbed onto the cage wall and stared down at Lesnar, who stood on-stage with Heyman. Raw went off the air nine minutes past the top of the hour with back-and-forth shots of Hunter and Lesnar. Cole asked who will be the King of the Cage on Sunday.

[ JC Reax: Strong emotion in the final segment pitching Hunter-Lesnar. It was interesting that Hunter brought up Lesnar losing his mystique, as it allowed Lesnar to show why he has mystique by fighting Hunter in the cage, but Hunter sending Lesnar packing seemed to reinforce that Lesnar isn't all that he's built up to be. Of course, that reinforces Lesnar as the heel, but Lesnar hasn't played a traditional heel since returning to WWE, as he's been more of a special attraction star with heel tendencies, but not a chicken heel like the rest of the roster.

On the flip-side, WWE wanted Hunter strong at the end to get the pro-babyface WWE audience fired up to see Hunter on top of his game and ready to give Lesnar comeuppance for all those nasty things he did over the past year-plus. So, at the end of the day, the strong emotion won out, but did it sell any fence-sitters the PPV and did it do long-term damage by somewhat reinforcing Lesnar as just another heel on the roster? ]

Alerts: Follow PWTorch staffer's live, real-time tweets during Raw at Twitter.com/PWTorch/torch-staff .

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "Raw Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Raw, email to pwtorch@gmail.com .

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