WWE Raw TV Results
September 23, 2013 - Episode #1,060
Live in Chicago, Ill.
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell (@JCTorch), PWTorch assistant editor

This week's Raw opened with Vince McMahon narrating a photo gallery on Angelo Savoldi, who died last week at the age of 99. "They don't make 'em like they used to," McMahon closed.

Raw then went to a standard open focusing on Daniel Bryan thinking he won the WWE Title at Night of Champions eight days ago, but Triple H stripped Bryan of the title following a "fast count" from referee Scott Armstrong. Cue up a vacant WWE Title and conspiracy situation.

In the arena, WWE showed a host of babyfaces on-stage standing together as a show of unity. Justin Roberts then formally introduced Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, who walked out on-stage and surveyed the babyfaces. Hunter and Steph then walked down to the ring, which was being guarded by The Shield.

Once inside the ring, which was covered by a red carpet, Hunter and Stephanie disingenuously played to the Chicago crowd. Hunter then addressed the ten men standing on-stage, noting they stood together with Daniel Bryan chanting, "Yes!" at the end of Raw last week. Hunter then moved along to clarifying their position addressing the show of support last week. Steph said, "Thank you. Thank you for finally being men." Hunter echoed: "Thank you for finally stepping up."

Hunter said he knows it has nothing to do with Daniel Bryan. Suddenly, there was some noise off-mic. It was Rob Van Dam at the mic podium, but his sound wasn't on. RVD said they were fighting for Daniel Bryan. He said they screwed over Bryan and fighting for what was right. Hunter paused for an "R-V-D" chant to play out, then Hunter responded that he finds it hard to believe they were fighting for Daniel Bryan because he thought WWE Superstars fought to be WWE champion, not fight for a WWE champion.

Hunter asked Dolph Ziggler about fighting for Daniel Bryan. He asked Dolph if he really thinks Bryan should be fighting for the WWE Title at Battleground. Stephanie then asked R-Truth or Zack Ryder about being WWE champion. Steph said there is one reason why they don't have a title shot and that reason is because "The Shield," Hunter finished.

Hunter said Shield has beaten down each and every one of them standing on the stage. He said they are clearly frustrated and it has nothing to do with Daniel Bryan, but frustration with The Shield. Hunter said he's going to give them the chance to take out frustration tonight when they compete in an elimination handicap match against The Shield. Hunter said he'll give them a partner - someone who gets yet another title shot at Battleground. Hunter said this person feels he should be WWE champion because he believes he's better than all of them - Daniel Bryan.

Stephanie said it's the first-ever 11-on-3 handicap match tonight as Shield tried to make sense of what's happening. She said they want to say thank you to the men on-stage and say thank you to the fans. Stephanie said one of them will be able to face Randy Orton tonight. As the Chicago crowd chanted for C.M. Punk, Stephanie said the options are Truth, Ziggler, or RVD. Stephanie then plugged WWE's App voting, which drew boos, which drew a smirk from Hunter.

"What's best for all of you is best for business," Hunter closed. Stephanie finished: "Thank you." Shield talked strategy outside the ring as the announcers figured out the handicap match booking.

[ JC's Reax: What a drag of an opening segment. The tone was weird and WWE took last week's developments in a different direction than what the audience was anticipating, and not in a "swerve-ish" way, but in a turn-away way. The whole deal feels tired. ]

Announcers: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and JBL recapped the opening segment promo before going back to Night of Champions eight days ago when C.M. Punk lost to Paul Heyman. Tonight, Punk returns home to Chicago.

[Q2] [Commercial Break at 8:14]

In-ring: Back from break, Kofi Kingston was in the ring. Cole said he faces World champion Alberto Del Rio in the opening match. Before the match started, Cole demonstrated how to download the WWE App to vote on Orton's opponent tonight. Cue up the video package aimed at 8-year-olds on how to download the App.

After the Download Demonstration, Del Rio's music played to bring out the World champion. Before the bell sounded, WWE showed how Del Rio vs. Rob Van Dam was set up for Battleground last Friday night on Smackdown.

1 -- World Hvt. champion ALBERTO DEL RIO vs. KOFI KINGSTON -- non-title match

Kingston dumped Del Rio to the floor early on, then splashed the World champ on the outside. Meanwhile, the announcers acted like Stephanie and Hunter are "so fair" for giving Kofi this match tonight, as well as setting up Shield in an 11-on-3 situation. Cole questioned Hunter's true intentions, though. Kofi again knocked Del Rio to the outside, then teased a suicide dive, but Del Rio bailed to the timekeeper's area as Raw cut to mid-match break.

[Commercial Break at 8:23]

Back from break, Del Rio was in control of the action. Kofi fought back as the crowd showed a lack of interest in the match by starting to chant random things. 9:45 in was a "Colt Cabana" chant. Next was an "Ole, Ole" chant.

[Q3] Kingston made his comeback at 11:00 with trademark offense. Del Rio then kicked Kofi's injured arm to cut off Kingston. But, Del Rio didn't follow up, allowing Kofi to nail an SOS for a close two count. Kingston followed with the Boom Drop, then teased Trouble in Paradise, but Del Rio predictably countered and executed a German Suplex for a two count.

Del Rio double-stomped Kofi's back, then rhythmically set up for the cross arm-breaker, but Kofi shoved him away and executed kind of a float-over DDT for a two count. Kofi tried to follow with a springboard move, but Del Rio moved and Kofi ate the mat. Del Rio then drove Kofi shoulder-first into the ringpost before slapping on the cross arm-breaker. Kofi had no choice but to tap out, giving the World champ a victory two weeks before the PPV.

Post-match: Cole wondered what kind of condition Kingston will be in later tonight when he teams with ten other guys in an 11-on-3 handicap match.

WINNER: Del Rio via submission at 14:02. It wasn't made very clear in the opening segment, but apparently the deal for tonight is WWE will have the babyfaces in the 11-on-3 handicap match take beatings and get "injured" in individual matches, softening them up for the main event.

[Commercial Break at 8:35]

Exterior Shot: Chicago.

Backstage: Renee Young was standing by with The Miz, who was not in a neckbrace or selling physical signs of Randy Orton destroying him last week. Miz appeared on-camera to boos, then Renee sent to video from last week when Orton took out Miz in front of Miz's parents in his hometown.

After a review of the video, they cut back to Miz, who did not speak because Triple H interrupted. Hunter said he can't let Miz be near Randy Orton tonight, nor can he let him compete considering his physical condition, so he's giving him a MizTV segment. The crowd booed. So, tonight, Miz will have a talking segment with his guest, Big Show. Hunter played it up huge. Miz wasn't so convinced.

Announcers: Cole and Co. fed to a video package from three weeks ago when Triple H "fired" Cody Rhodes, then two weeks ago when Orton beat Goldust, and last week when Stephanie set up Dusty Rhodes to take a KO Punch from Big Show.

Still to come: 11-on-3 handicap elimination match. Suddenly, the "feed cut out" to the Wyatts's intro vignette. The crowd popped for their "We're Here" line. Back in the arena, Bray Wyatt led Erick Rowan and Luke Harper down the entrance ramp before sitting down in his rocking chair. Bray blew out the light on his lantern to send Raw to break.

[Q4] [Commercial Break at 8:45]

2 -- PRIME TIME PLAYERS (TITUS O'NEIL & DARREN YOUNG) vs. WYATTS (ERICK ROWAN & LUKE HARPER w/Bray Wyatt)

Back live, the Players were in the ring to face the Wyatts. Once the bell sounded, WWE flashed a graphic claiming that "John Cena's Fast Lane" is trending on Twitter. Harper started things off against D-Young, then WWE went to what was supposed to be a dramatic camera shot of Rowan slowly removing his lamb/sheep mask to reveal his face and begin attacking D-Young. Harper re-entered and smashed Young's nose with a back elbow, then the Wyatts continued their attack on Young.

Suddenly, the lights faded out. The Sin Cara mood lighting disappeared a few seconds later, then Young reached his corner to tag in Titus O'Neil to battle Harper. Chaos broke out with all four men in the ring, then D-Young clotheslined Rowan over the top rope to the floor. Back in the ring, Harper destroyed Titus with a lariat. It was good for the pin and the win.

Post-match: D-Young re-entered the ring to check on Titus, but Bray Wyatt jumped into the ring to smash D-Young and give him Sister Abigail. The Wyatts then stacked the Players's bodies on top of each other before Bray called out, "Follow with the buzzards!" Cole said the Players are supposed to be part of that 11-on-3 main event, but the video "cut out" mid-sentence.

WINNERS: Wyatts at 4:30. Bland tag match, complete with the lights flashing to break up the monotony. Right now, there's no juice for this Heels vs. Babyfaces Who Stood Up For Themselves program since WWE presented the faces as interchangeable lower-carders and Hunter's character dumped a big bucket of water on their "show of unity."

No commercial after the production trick, as they returned to Jerry Lawler plugging Randy Orton's opponent being voted on tonight. Cole then plugged C.M. Punk returning to Chicago tonight.

Backstage: Big Show was shown walking down the hallway. He's on Miz TV next.

[Commercial Break at 8:55]

SECOND HOUR OF RAW RESULTS CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM . ...

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