WWE Raw TV Results
June 24, 2013 - Episode #1,047
Live in N. Charleston, S.C.
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Raw opened with a two-minute video package documenting last week's two big events - Brock Lesnar returning to F5 C.M. Punk with or without Paul Heyman's knowledge and Mark Henry duping John Cena with a fake retirement.

In the arena, Daniel Bryan's music played to bring out Bryan to a loud reaction. As Bryan entered the ring, Michael Cole recapped Bryan and Randy Orton exchanging victories last week on WWE programming. Before JBL and Jerry Lawler could chime in, Bryan had a mic and was ready to talk. Before Bryan could talk, the crowd serenaded him with "Yes!" chants.

Bryan then spoke that before they start the festivities tonight, he would like to address "some people" who say he has a complex and has a Little Man Syndrome. Bryan said he's heard it for years. "You're a wrestler? Seriously? Were you an extra in The Hobbit?" Bryan noted. Bryan said "some people" have always called him the weak link, which drew boos. He said "those people" are "morons!" Bryan said he has fought toe-to-toe with Orton not once, but twice. And a true weak-link would have taken the count-out victory on Smackdown and ran, but he will not be satisfied until he pins Orton or makes him tap out in the middle of the ring. Will he do that tonight? "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Suddenly, Orton's music interrupted to bring out Randy Orton to another loud reaction. Orton wasted no time marching with purpose to the ring. Before Bryan could address Orton, Orton yanked the mic away and said he came out here to tell Bryan to his face: "Shut up...and fight." Bryan took that as a sign to start fighting, so the scrap was on. Ref Charles Robinson eventually restored order, got them separated, and called for the bell.

1 -- RANDY ORTON vs. DANIEL BRYAN -- Match 3 in 1-1 Series

Bryan and Orton scrapped inside the ring, then the fight spilled to the outside, where the announce table got involved. Ref Robinson had trouble keeping them organized, then he eventually just threw out the match. More refs spilled out from backstage to keep Orton and Bryan separated as the crowd chanted, "Let them fight." Bryan jumped over one set of refs to get a punch on Orton, then Bryan was held back. Raw abruptly cut to break with chaos in-play.

WINNER: No Contest/Double DQ 1:15.

[Commercial Break at 8:09]

GM Office: Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox were shown talking about an uncertain topic, then Daniel Bryan barged in and vowed to end the fight with Orton tonight. Brad said it won't end tonight because he already had his chance and they have a full show. Bryan then demanded another match against Orton, or he wants to face Brad. Vickie said Bryan has his match...against Orton. Brad breathed a sigh of relief, then Vickie cackled in his face.

Mr. McMahon then walked in and put his arm around Vickie's shoulder. McMahon said some people think Bryan is not fit to be a WWE Superstar and has psychological issues. Vickie asked what McMahon thinks. McMahon paused and said he'll let them figure it out. McMahon let that linger in the air before WWE cut back to the arena.

In-ring: Rhodes Scholars were in the ring awaiting their opposition. Out first was Sheamus, followed by his tag partner for the evening...Christian. Before the bell sounded, Cole noted that Sandow has booked himself against Sheamus in a Dublin Street Fight this Friday on Smackdown.

[Q2]

2 -- SHEAMUS & CHRISTIAN vs. RHODES SCHOLARS (CODY RHODES & DAMIEN SANDOW)

As the match started, Cole swung the conversation to Lawler's memories of Jackie Fargo, who died Monday morning in North Carolina. Lawler reminisced about fighting Fargo 39 years ago today in Memphis. In the ring, the Scholars isolated Christian, who received taunts from Rhodes before hot-tagging Sheamus. Sheamus cleaned house before delivering Ten Forearm Strikes to Sandow's chest. The crowd was hot for the Forearms.

Rhodes and Sandow then had a mis-communication as Cody tried to tag in for Sandow. This allowed Sheamus to get ready to deliver the Brogue Kick square in Cody's jaw. It was good for the pin and the win. Sheamus and Christian then celebrated the victory. Well, mainly Sheamus, who got love from the camera while Christian drifted into the background.

WINNERS: Rhodes Scholars 4:40. Beginning of the end for Rhodes Scholars? Remains to be seen.

Still to come: World champ Alberto Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho in a non-title re-match from Smackdown.

[Commercial Break at 8:22]

Backstage: C.M. Punk was texting someone while sitting on a crate. Vickie Guerrero then walked up to Punk, who asked Vickie if Paul Heyman is here tonight. How about Brock Lesnar? Vickie didn't know about either one. So, he went back to texting (or tweeting about the Blackhawks vs. Bruins Game 6). Vickie told Punk that she booked him in a match tonight, which Punk no-sold. Vickie, annoyed, shouted at Punk, "Excuse me!" So, a subdued Punk stood up and shouted, "Excuse me!" He told Vickie to let him know when they show up.

3 -- KAITLYN (w/Layla) vs. AKSANA

Back in the arena, both Divas were in the ring. After Cole recapped Aksana taunting Kaitlyn and a brawl breaking out on Smackdown, the bell sounded to begin this match. One minute in, A.J. Lee came out on-stage dressed like Kaitlyn in a fat-suit to taunt her. The distraction nearly cost Kaitlyn the match via roll-up, but Kaitlyn escaped, then speared Aksana for the win.

WINNER: Kaitlyn at 1:22.

[Q3] Post-match, A.J. took the mic and role-played Kaitlyn, mocking herself. A.J. then brought out Big E. Langston to continue the mockery with Kaitlyn falling for the "secret admirer" business. A.J., as Kaitlyn, said she looks and sounds like a man. (During this, Layla restrained Kaitlyn in the ring.) A.J. then dipped with Big E. to complete the mockery after noting Kaitlyn will never regain the Divas Title.

Vignette: The Wyatts are coming.

Up Next: A replay of how Mark Henry "blindsided!" John Cena.

[Commercial Break at 8:33]

Video Replay: Cole and Lawler set up a video package on Mark Henry's fake retirement that set up John Cena for World's Strongest Slam. The video included early-years Mark Henry footage and clips from his weighlifting career to show his journey to this point. And now, it's Cena vs. Henry for the WWE Title at Money in the Bank. Great piece of video taking advantage of the excellence from last week's big angle.

Announcers: JBL reacted to Henry's "elaborate hoax" to set up his quest for the one title that has eluded him during his career. JBL applauded Henry for the hoax, which Lawler disagreed with.

In-ring: Chris Jericho was introduced to the ring for the next match. Jericho posed in the ring and Cole plugged Jericho vs. Del Rio up next.

[Commercial Break at 8:41]

[Q4] On-stage: Ricardo Rodriguez walked out to introduce Del Rio. Before intro'ing Del Rio, though, Ricardo mocked South Carolina to get heel heat. Del Rio then marched out as Cole announced Del Rio vs. Ziggler for the World Title at the MITB PPV. Of note, the graphic included Big E. and A.J. Lee backing up Ziggler. So, they're all still a unit for now.

4 -- World Hvt. champion ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. CHRIS JERICHO -- non-title match

As the match started, the announcers - including the straight-man and the face color commentator - endorsed Del Rio's argument that he took advantage of Ziggler to win the World Title at Payback just like Ziggler took advantage of him to cash in MITB to win the World Title after WrestleMania, which is damaging and mindless announcing since the entire purpose of the MITB briefcase is a "surprise element." It's built into the gimmick and the champion understands that it comes with having a "target on his back." Del Rio being booked to ignore referee's orders and purposely injure a wrestler to obtain victory is an example of heelish tactics, which the face announcers should be calling out Del Rio for, not endorsing. How do you get heat on heels if their twisted arguments are endorsed by the play-by-play man and face announcer? That ridiculousness aside, Raw cut to break after a few minutes of action.

[Commercial Break at 7:49]

Back from break, Del Rio and Jericho exchanged control, then Del Rio popped Jericho in the head with an enziguiri to send Jericho reeling to the outside. Jericho was nearly counted out recovering from the kick on the floor, but returned to the ring just before ten. Back in the ring, Del Rio continued to wear down Jericho, who continued to sell the effects of the kick. With Del Rio completely in control, Lawler incongruently said Ricardo looks very concerned on the outside. Ricardo then sold concern moments later when Jericho made a comeback on Del Rio.

Jericho couldn't build any momentum behind his comeback, as Del Rio stumbled around the ring for a bit before blocking the Codebreaker. Jericho tried another approach with Walls of Jericho, but Del Rio twisted out of the hold. Del Rio then put on his disingenuous smile before wanting the cross arm-breaker, but Jericho blocked and nailed a running bulldog.

[Q5 -- second hour] Jericho wanted the Lionsault, but Del Rio got his knees up to block. Del Rio followed with the cross arm-breaker, prompting Lawler to declare this match being over. But, Jericho made it to the bottom rope for a break, then used the ropes to flow into the Walls of Jericho. Jericho, whose arm was apparently not affected by the breaker, gripped Del Rio with the Walls until Ricardo smashed him from behind with the bucket.

After the bell sounded, Dolph Ziggler hit the ring and smashed Del Rio, then Ricardo to clear the heels from the ring. After Jericho was declared the winner via DQ, Jericho and Ziggler came face-to-face mid-ring. Very intense staredown. Jericho's music shut off, then he walked past Ziggler. Ziggler took it as an insult, so he dropped Jericho with the Zig-Zag, going tit-for-tat from Smackdown when Jericho dropped Ziggler with a Codebreaker. The crowd reacted with mixed feelings as Cole noted Ziggler has been medically cleared to wrestle again.

WINNER: Jericho via DQ at 14:11. Good finishing sequence to the match before WWE continued the Ziggler-Jericho issue. Apparently this will give Ziggler something to do before challenging Del Rio for the World Title at MITB. Or, set up how WWE will write off Jericho in a few weeks.

GM Office: Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox talked about maybe canceling Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton tonight, then Triple H walked in and said he heard a nasty rumor about them considering canceling Bryan vs. Orton. Hunter said he disagrees with people knocking Bryan, then said it doesn't matter what they think because it's up to the audience. The crowd cheered as Hunter made sure Bryan vs. Orton is still on. He then told Vickie to give the audience the choice on what type of match Orton vs. Bryan should be tonight. Hunter calmly said all Vickie needs to do is listen to him and everything will be okay. Hunter then offered his brand of sarcasm on Brad's attire.

Up Next: WWE 2K14 video game reveal. Cole said some critics are saying this video game could be the best "sports entertainment video game" of all-time. Right next to the Halftime Show Juggling 2K14 and Animal Tricks At Center-Court 2K14 game? Eye-rolling description of the game.

Vignette: Sheamus saved a cat in a tree.

[Commercial Break at 9:07]

SECOND HOUR COVERAGE CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM...

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