WWE Raw TV Results
May 27, 2013 - Episode #1,043
Live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Second Hour Results

3 -- WWE tag champions THE SHIELD (SETH ROLLINS & ROMAN REIGNS) vs. KANE & DANIEL BRYAN -- WWE Tag Title match

The match was joined in-progress two minutes before the top of the hour with Shield working on Daniel Bryan center-ring. Bryan responded with No! Kicks to Rollins, then rapid-fire corner kicks. Bryan yelled at Kane, who then tagged in and told Bryan to calm down.

[Q5 -- second hour] Kane tried to chokeslam Rollins, but Rollins shook off Kane and popped Kane in the head, ending the challengers's advantage. Rollins tagged in and blasted away at Kane, who continued to sell the effects of Rollins's kick. Shield kept working on Kane, who sold being knocked loopy. WWE then cut to video of Prime Time Players complaining about Shield.

Suddenly, Kane clotheslined Rollins to get a breather. Bryan then tagged in and did his now-customary Hot Entrance, firing up the crowd. Bryan unloaded kicks on Rollins, but Rollins kicked out of a pin attempt. Bryan followed with more No! Kicks to Rollins, then delivered a basement dropkick, popping the crowd again.

Bryan wanted to end it with a top-rope belly-to-back suplex, and he connected center-ring. But, Bryan sold a neck/head injury executing the move. Cole said Bryan's over-zealousness may have hurt his team. With both men down, Raw quietly faded to break.

[Commercial Break. During the break, WWE ran an ad for the Thursday night Smackdown TV taping in Houston on July 25. Advertised were Sheamus, Orton, Big Show, Del Rio, and "many, many more." Tickets on-sale Saturday. ]

Back live, Bryan was in-control of the match delivering kicks to Reigns. The action was getting hot live, but WWE continued to replay what happened during the break. Reigns then knocked down Bryan and tagged in Rollins, who inflicted more punishment to Bryan. Rollins then taunted Bryan by setting up for and executing Bryan's surfboard stretch move. But, Bryan had a great counter slipping out, then emphatically kicking Rollins in the thigh. But, Rollins tagged in Reigns to continue punishing Bryan.

Rollins re-entered at 15:00 and began talking trash to Bryan, accusing him of being the weakest link. Kane tried to tell Bryan not to listen, so Bryan responded with right hand strikes, but Rollins suddenly planted Bryan face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Rollins covered, but Bryan kicked out in-time. Enter Reigns, who lost control when Bryan exploded out of the corner with a big kick to the upper-body.

Kane finally got a hot tag at 17:00, and Rollins tagged in as well. Kane beat up Rollins, then tried a sidewalk slam, but Rollins had a good counter, only to take a back-body drop. Kane delivered the sidewalk slam on the second try, then Reigns barely broke up a pin attempt in-time.

[Q6] The action broke down, then Kane big-booted Rollins in the head. Ringside, Bryan smashed Reigns with right foot strikes, then Kane started talking to Bryan. Kane wanted Bryan to return to their corner, but Bryan opted to run at Reigns with a running spear, but Reigns intercepted with a giant spear on the floor. Kane, distracted, didn't see Rollins coming off the top rope with a flying knee to the head. Rollins covered Kane for the win.

Post-match, Dean Ambrose re-joined his partners in the ring to talk trash about their latest victory. Rollins shouted down to the ringside area that this is their house now.

WINNERS: Shield at 18:37 of what was shown to retain the Tag Titles. Another excellent piece of in-ring action mixed with good storytelling. Shield vs. Team Bryan could go all day, any day and they would find a way to make it interesting. Now the big question is what's next for Kane and Bryan now that their guaranteed re-match is taken care of.

Earlier Tonight: Ryback told Cena he plans to give him hell at Payback.

Still to come: Cena faces Curtis Axel.

Up Next: An update on Triple H after he "appeared to faint at ringside" at the end of last week's Raw.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Cole, Lawler, and JBL talked in hushed tones about the "scary ending" last week on Raw. Cole read a note that Hunter went against doctor's orders wrestling last week and was advised not to go to Raw tonight. But, there was no further damage to Hunter. He could be back on Raw next week.

In-ring: The Miz's music suddenly played over the announcers. Miz, dressed in street clothes, walked to the ring as Cole said they will explain what's going on in a second. But, first, a look at Fandango and Summer Rae's antics last week on Raw. Back live, Miz stood in the ring playing to the crowd before Cole introduced an App Poll - should Miz be guest ring announcer, guest commentator, or guest ref for the next match? The match is Fandango vs. Wade Barrett. Cole said the results (of this absurd idea for a poll) will be revealed after the break.

[Commercial Break]

Back live, Cole noted WWE is donating a portion of Shop proceeds to Hire Heroes today. Miz was still in the ring pantomiming his potential roles tonight, then Lawler stood up at the announce table to reveal the poll results - 85 percent for guest ref, 10 percent for guest commentator, and 5 percent for guest ring announcer. Apparently the audience doesn't want a fourth voice on the show.

[Q7] IC champion Wade Barrett's new music played to bring out Barrett, who argued with Miz, who received a referee t-shirt after the poll result was revealed. Fandango's music then played to bring out Summer Rae dancing on-stage ahead of Fandango emerging through an elaborate curtain. A few fans were shown Fandango'ing in the crowd, but the bit doesn't have much steam at this point. Lawler and JBL filled time commenting on the Canadian crowd before Cole announced this week's Main Event main event of Miz & Del Rio vs. Barrett & Big E. Langston in tag action.

4 -- IC champion WADE BARRETT vs. FANDANGO (w/Summer Rae) -- non-title match -- The Miz special referee

About 15 fans in the crowd tried to hum the Fandango theme song, which did not sound pleasant. After some shenanigans between Barrett and Miz, Barrett put his hands on Miz, which led to Miz hitting Barrett with Skullcrushing Finale. So, Fandango took advantage by pinning Fandango.

Post-match, Fandango celebrated with Rae, so Miz smashed Fandango with a kick to the head, causing Rae to fall on top of Fandango. So, Miz decided to get his money's worth by counting Rae "pinning" Fandango after falling on top of him. Miz then celebrated on his way out as Fandango sold anger in the ring.

WINNER: Fandango at 1:46. It's crazy to see where the IC Title was positioned years ago compared to now. Meanwhile, it's become an unwritten rule that WWE has to have at least one of these off-the-rails segments per show in the Three-Hour Raw Era.

Locker Room: John Cena was shown contemplating matters, then Shawn Michaels suddenly returned to Raw to give Cena some advice. A heavily-bearded Michaels told Cena that he tried to tell Triple H to listen to doctor's orders, but he didn't listen. So, Cena needs to listen to him and re-think wrestling tonight. Cena blew off HBK's advice, then walked away. Michaels sold frustration as Raw cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Spoke too soon on that one segment that goes off the rails, as a collection of people were dancing in the ring back from break. The line-up included Tons of Funk, Natalya, Hornswoggle, and Great Khali. Suddenly, WWE showed 3MB sitting ringside. Drew McIntyre could barely be heard, with the only audio being "girls!" Before the match started, WWE cut to App footage of Hornswoggle getting cake in the face at the dastardly hands of a heavily-bearded Drew McIntyre.

[Q8]

6 -- GREAT KHALI & TENSAI & BRODUS CLAY (w/Natalya, Hornswoggle, Cameron, and Naomi) vs. 3MB (HEATH SLATER & DREW MCINTYRE & JINDER MAHAL) -- six-man tag match

WWE decided that this match was a good point in the show for Cole to shout out to the American Troops watching Raw around the world on Memorial Day. The conversation turned to the Beatles as Tensai ran over Slater with a clothesline. Clay then tagged in and cleaned house. Clay measured Slater for a giant corner splash and connected. The action broke down as Cole dejectedly called the action unfolding in front of him. Khali then chopped Slater and Clay delivered the Call My Momma splash on Slater for the pin and the win. "Maybe they should call Heath's momma," Cole said with no emotion.

WINNERS: Funk at 3:05.

Post-match, Clay cut off the dancing music to say tonight is a special night because it's Natalya's birthday. So, to lead everyone in singing Happy Birthday is Great Khali. Khali seemed stunned by this development, then JBL made a subtitles joke. Khali proceeded to botch Happy Birthday for a blushing Natalya. The crowd offered polite applause, then the funky music played again for Birthday Dancing to commence. Cole wondered aloud what Bret Hart is thinking right now, then JBL asked what Jim Neidhart is thinking.

Announcers: Cole re-plugged Bret Hart Appreciation Night airing on the App 30 seconds after Raw goes off the air.

Next: Paul Heyman is on the Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho.

[Commercial Break]

Video Package: Memorial Day Tribute narrated by John Cena. Included was footage of past Tribute to the Troops shows in the Middle East and in the U.S. The video faded to the arena, where Cole quietly talked about Cena joining with the entire locker room to say Thank You to the troops.

THIRD HOUR COVERAGE CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM. ...

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