WWE Raw TV Results
June 3, 2013 - Episode #1,044
Live in Hartford, Conn.
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Coming in the third hour: Cena vs. Axel No DQ main event, Ryback vs. Daniel Bryan, and Punk-Jericho contract signing.

Third Hour Coverage

Contract Signing

Jerry Lawler was standing by in the ring to set up the Jericho-Punk contract signing. After setting up the match for Payback, Lawler welcomed out Chris Jericho first. The lights went down, pyro shot off, and Jericho emerged on-stage in a light-up black jacket. Jericho marched down to the ring as Cole noted Jericho suckered Paul Heyman into accepting a match on-behalf of Punk for Payback.

Lawler then welcomed out Paul Heyman, representing C.M. Punk. Heyman marched down to the ring without music as Cole identified him as Punk's proxy tonight. Heyman stood opposite Jericho, then sat down at the contract table. Lawler said all they need to do to make this official is have some signatures.

Before signing, Heyman took the mic. Over his shoulder was a "Bring Back 1-2-3 Kid" sign. Heyman said that they could have signed this contract in private, but since Jericho needs his ego massaged, he will say the following to Jericho's face: when Jericho shows up in Chicago to face The Best in the World -- Jericho cut off Heyman and filled in Heyman's descriptors. Jericho added some insults about pizza, donuts, and an ice cream sandwich tattooed on Punk. Pause for a "Y2J" chant. Jericho said all he wants is Heyman delivering Punk at Payback on June 16.

Heyman, annoyed, signed the contract and handed it over to Jericho. But, before signing, Heyman asked Jericho if he is truly prepared to face the Best in the World in Chicago. Heyman said he understands they are in an arena filled with Jerichoholics tonight, that won't be the case in Chicago. Heyman told Jericho that he will be heckled and jeered in front of a hometown crowd where Punk can do no wrong. Heyman said Jericho might be the Best in the World at what he does, but Punk is the BITW at what he does. "And what C.M. Punk does is make liars out of people who think that they can lay clam and not C.M. Punk can clam to the title of being the Best in the World," Heyman said, dragging out the BITW ending.

[Q9 -- third hour] Jericho pretended to think things over and take account of Heyman's words before replying that perhaps they should have this match at Summerslam in Los Angeles. Heyman said he appreciates Jericho's negotiating skills, but the answer is no. "How about in Madison Square Garden in New York City?" Jericho asked. "Tempting," Heyman said. "But, no." Jericho got a big smile, then suggested right here in Hartford. Big pop for that suggestion. WWE went to a wide-shot of the crowd freaking out about this suggestion.

"No," Heyman said before emphatically dropping the mic on the contract table. "Well, I guess we'll have to have it in Chicago, then," Jericho said. He said one thing he knows is that when you act like a jackass, like C.M. Punk, then you get treated like a jackass. Jericho signed the contract, making it official for now.

Jericho then wondered where they should file this contract. Jericho said he has a really good idea. He walked toward Heyman, walked past Lawler, said Lawler is looking good tonight, stood over Heyman, and told Heyman to stand up. Now. Heyman tried pleading with Jericho, who told him to shut up and unbutton his jacket. "Unbutton your jacket before I rip it off," Jericho told Paul. Paul reluctantly unbuttoned his jacket, then said he knows exactly where this contract needs to be filed.

Jericho rolled up the paper and placed it inside Heyman's pants, annoying Heyman, who just stood there with hands in his pockets. "See you in Chicago," Jericho said in a high-pitched voice before leaving the ring. Heyman continued to stand in the ring with paper in his crotch before WWE cut to a shot of Jericho smiling on-stage.

Still to come: Cena vs. Axel in a No DQ match, plus Ryback vs. Daniel Bryan.

[Commercial Break]

Wednesday on Main Event: Sheamus vs. disappearing Antonio Cesaro. Now taking bets on whether this match will be changed tomorrow at the Smackdown taping.

Back from break, there was a parade of Divas to set up a six-Divas tag match. Before the bell sounded, WWE stressed Kaitlyn's secret admirer deal, as opposed to A.J. being #1 contender to the title held by Kaitlyn. JBL added that he hates Twitter because Paul Heyman is now trending.

7 -- THE BELLA TWINS & A.J. LEE vs. Divas champion KAITLYN & CAMERON & NAOMI -- six-Divas tag match

The heel trio dominated Naomi early on. Naomi then broke free to tag in Kaitlyn. After chaos broke out, A.J. decided to walk away from her tag partners, leaving Bella alone in the ring. Kaitlyn finished her off for the pin. Afterward, a crazy or calculating A.J. stared down Kaitlyn to continue stretching out the build-up to their title match.

WINNERS: Team Kaitlyn at 4:32.

[Q10] Still to come: Ryback vs. Daniel Bryan.

[Commercial Break]

Locker Room: Daniel Bryan was shown firing himself up to face Ryback, but he turned around to find Kane. Kane told Bryan to be careful after what Ryback did to Kofi Kingston on Smackdown. Kane said in all the years he's been here, he's never seen anyone with Bryan's heart, desire, and will to compete, but he doesn't have to prove anything. Bryan soaked in Kane's words, but then shouted that he has something to prove. And without him. "I mean I don't want you anywhere near me tonight!" Bryan shouted at Kane. Kane said he gets it, then told Bryan that he's outta here. "Call me when you find your mind because it's obvious that you've lost it," Kane told Bryan.

Announcers: Cole, Lawler, and JBL transitioned to talking about Wyatt Family buzz after last week's Raw. Cole offered more clues about the group.

Vignette: The Wyatts. Bray Wyatt was focused on as a cult-like leader living in the swamps. "We're coming," Wyatt concluded.

In-ring: Daniel Bryan's music played to bring out Bryan "Yes'ing" toward the crowd. Bryan hit the ring, then pointed to himself that he will prove his point tonight. On commentary, Lawler ominously wondered if Bryan will prove himself or be slaughtered tonight. Cole said they find out next.

[Commercial Break]

Earlier Tonight: Daniel Bryan took it to The Shield in six-man tag action, but Shield still managed to defeat Bryan, Kane, and Orton by pinning D-Bryan. Suddenly, the Scott Steiner siren played. An ambulance backed up to the entrance ramp and Ryback emerged to kick off his entrance music. Ryback marched to the ring eyeing Bryan, then hit the ring. Before the bell sounded, the announcers broke down the Cena vs. Ryback Three Stages of Hell match at Payback.

[Q11]

8 -- RYBACK vs. DANIEL BRYAN

Once the bell sounded, the Battle of Original Nexus Members started with Bryan charging Ryback with an aggressive attack. The crowd chanted, "Goldberg," at Ryback, then chanted, "Yes!" as Bryan delivered Yes! kicks to Ryback. But, Ryback came back with an overhead slam to begin wearing down Bryan. Ryback took too much time following up, though, allowing Bryan to place the #1 contender in a submission, which then allowed Bryan to smash Ryback with repeated strikes for a nearfall.

Bryan tried to follow with a flying smash, but Ryback "helped" Bryan land hard on the outside. Ryback pounded his chest, then breathed heavily as Bryan sold on the floor leading to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Ryback was in control and Cole declared this a "clinic in pain." Ryback, still breathing heavily, backed up in the corner to build momentum for an attack on Bryan. Ryback slowed down the pace as some fans taunted Ryback with "Goldberg" chants. Ryback then dragged Bryan by the beard into the corner before beard-tossing him across the ring. Ryback wanted to end it with a corner attack, but Bryan side-stepped and Ryback went shoulder-first into the post.

At 10:30, Bryan fired up the crowd setting up for his comeback, then he delivered double knees in the corner followed by a running kick for a nearfall. Bryan then climbed to the top for a missile dropkick. He went back to the top and measured Ryback for a flying diving headbutt clear across the ring, and he connected. But, Ryback kicked out of a pin attempt. Bryan started to doubt himself, but slapped himself around before delivering left-foot kicks to the chest. Bryan wanted a big kick, but Ryback ducked and threw Bryan into the air for a big powerbomb. This took the air out of the building.

Ryback let the crowd soak in the move, then he stalked Bryan for another powerbomb, but Bryan suckered in Ryback for the No! Lock. Ryback teased tapping out as the crowd went nuts for the possibility of Ryback tapping. Bryan tried to lock in the hold deeper, but Ryback reached the bottom rope for a break, taking the crowd down like a missed three-pointer on a fast-break.

Ryback rolled to the outside to recover, then Bryan went flying through the ropes with a diving headbutt. Bryan overshot Ryback, who "guided" Bryan back-first into the announce table. Ryback then smashed Bryan back-first into the ringpost. Ryback had enough on the outside, so he rolled Bryan into the ring, then retrieved a table from under the ring. Ryback measured Bryan for a powerbomb through the table, and he connected, smashing Bryan. The ref called for the DQ, awarding Bryan the win.

WINNER: Bryan via DQ at 15:05. Another excellent performance from Bryan making Ryback look like a million bucks, while Ryback seems to be have found his groove as a heel. It seems like WWE removing the Hunter-Lesnar Extreme Rules cloud from the equation has allowed Ryback to breathe in the #1 heel role.

[Q12] Post-match, Ryback wasn't done, as he brought out another table as Bryan's music played. Cole said Ryback doesn't care about the match decision, just taking out opponents as replacements for John Cena. Suddenly, Cena's music played to bring out the WWE champion storming down to the ring. Cena, with title belt in-hand, stood over Bryan to ensure no more damage to Bryan, then Ryback approached the ring to fight Cena. Loud "Cena, Cena, Cena" chant as Ryback inched toward Cena.

But, Curtis Axel's music suddenly played. Axel and Paul Heyman emerged on-stage as Cena and Ryback continued to square off, ignoring Axel. Ryback then backed off the ring apron to save his aggression for Payback as Axel made his way to the ring to face Cena. With Ryback no longer a threat, Cena called for medics to enter the ring to check on Bryan. Raw cut to break ahead of the main event.

[Commercial Break]

9 -- WWE champion JOHN CENA vs. CURTIS AXEL (w/Paul Heyman) -- non-title No DQ match

Back from break nine minutes before the top of the hour, the match was about to begin. Or, the bell sounded just seconds before they returned from break. Cena and Axel circled the ring, then Heyman tripped Cena from the outside. This allowed Axel to dropkick Cena out of the ring before delivering a running knee on the outside.

Back in the ring, Axel continued attacking Cena while Lawler wondered aloud why Vince McMahon booked this as No DQ when he knew Heyman would be around. JBL essentially said McMahon is blood-thirsty and likes this kind of match. Axel then called for a chair from Heyman, who slid a chair into the ring. Cena blocked a chair shot, though, before slamming the chair across Axel's back. Cena then chucked Axel over the top rope to the outside.

On the floor, Cena chucked Axel into the announce table before clearing the table. Suddenly, Cena heard the ref counting. Apparently count-outs are still in-play in a No DQ match. Cena chucked Axel back into the ring, but Axel cut him off returning to the ring. (Former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas provided the official ruling on Twitter: "For those asking, DQs & count outs are two different things. No DQ matches are not necessarily no count-out as well unless stated.")

Back in the ring, Axel tried to use the chair, but Cena ducked. Cena then stood up and realized he did not have a weapon to counter Axel's chair. Cena ducked a wild shot as the announcers plugged Axel vs. Triple H potentially happening next week. Cena then dropkicked the chair into Axel's face. He covered, but it wasn't enough for a pin.

Cena lost control moments later, allowing Axel to begin tearing apart Cena. Axel scored a non-threatening two count, prompting Heyman to encourage Axel that he got "two on the champ." The announcers then slipped in a note about Axel facing Chris Jericho this Friday on Smackdown. Back to the match, where Axel grabbed the chair and stalked Cena, who was doing a lot of talking giving Axel some instructions. Axel then popped Cena with the chair for a nearfall.

[Q13 -- over-run] At the top of the hour, Axel delivered another chair shot for a nearfall. Heyman shouted more encouragement to Axel, who delivered another chair shot to the back. Heyman told him to keep going. Two more chair shots to Cena, then a jab to the gut. Axel placed the chair on the mat, then measured Cena for a neckbreaker onto the chair, but he kind of slipped on the chair and barely managed to slam Cena into the chair for another nearfall.

At 10:30, Axel went back to stalking Cena as the crowd tried to implore Cena to wake up. Axel measured Cena for the Perfectplex onto the chair, but Cena blocked and entered Super Cena mode to slap on the STF. Heyman told Axel not to tap out, then he grabbed a tablet from ringside, handed it to Axel, and Axel smashed Cena in the head with the tablet.

Cena rolled to the outside to recover, which brought Axel to the outside. Cena then grabbed Axel and teased the AA on the outside, but Heyman pleaded with Cena that he's a human being. Cena instead tried to smash Heyman, but Axel saved his boss. Ryback suddenly showed up and attacked Cena from behind. Ryback then ran Cena through a table propped up against the guardrail, KO'ing Cena. In the ring, the ref reached a ten count, giving Axel another count-out victory.

Post-match, Ryback stood over Cena and sarcastically encouraged Cena to get up. As Cena remained KO'ed leaning against the table scraps, Ryback threw his fists in the air and declared, "Ryback Rules!" Raw abruptly signed off five minutes past the top of the hour.

WINNER: Axel via count-out at 12:58. This was probably the best Axel has looked in three weeks since being re-packaged. And, Ryback finished his strong night by standing tall over Cena to continue presenting the idea that Cena's title is in jeopardy in two weeks. Solid booking for the PPV title match.

OVERALL: Thumbs Up show. It was weird, though, in that it was almost a Tale of Two Shows with the McMahon story concluding half-way through the show before WWE focused on the WWE Title picture, Bryan, and Jericho-Punk during the second-half. This would have been a very strong two-hour Raw, especially when WWE had a hot start, but they cooled off the McMahon Drama half-way through and left a big gap in the middle of the show.

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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 .

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