WWE Raw TV Results
July 1, 2013 - Episode #1,048
Live in Sioux City, Iowa
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell (@JCTorch), PWTorch assistant editor

Second Hour Raw Results

Raw returned one minute before the top of the hour with Daniel Bryan in the ring pointing his finger at Randy Orton. Bryan shouted his referee's instructions to Orton, then Kane's pyro shot off to bring out Kane to face Orton.

[Q5 -- second hour]

3 -- RANDY ORTON vs. KANE -- Daniel Bryan special referee

Orton controlled early on as the announcers discussed classic WWE champs and World Hvt. champs. Orton went for a cover, Bryan was slow to drop down, and Orton only scored a one count, which Bryan let Orton know about. Orton stayed calm, but then lost control to Kane. More crowd silence as Kane slowed down the pace, then he kicked Orton out of the ring.

Kane didn't want to wait for Orton, so he dragged him back into the ring, but lost control moments later. Orton tried to follow up in the corner, nearly drawing a DQ from Bryan. They repeated the spot, then Bryan suddenly shoved Orton. Bryan said that's enough, and he DQ'ed Orton.

WINNER: Kane via DQ at 4:46.

Post-match, Bryan tried to raise Kane's hand, but Kane said he doesn't want to win by DQ. Orton demanded the match be re-started, so Bryan obliged and re-started the match.

3b -- RANDY ORTON vs. KANE -- Daniel Bryan special referee

After the match was re-started, Orton dropkicked Kane out of the ring and Raw cut to break.

[Commercial Break at 9:06]

Back from break, Kane was controlling Orton mid-ring. Orton refused to give up as WWE noted "Randy Orton" is the #1 trend worldwide right now. The crowd then picked up a "Daniel Bryan" chant as Kane and Orton continued to battle mid-ring. Kane then climbed to the top rope for a clothesline, but Orton intercepted with a mid-air dropkick.

At 10:30, Orton reached his feet and clotheslined Kane around the ring before snapping off a powerslam. This got a mild reaction from the crowd, but the noise quickly died out. Orton then snapped off a second-rope DDT, which Cole called a "classic move," instead of vintage. Orton then started to feel it as Bryan paced the ring nervously. Orton wanted the RKO, but Bryan got in the way. This allowed Kane to big-boot Orton in the face. Kane covered Orton and Bryan made the fastest three count ever.

Post-match, Kane told Bryan that it wasn't a real three count. Bryan said Kane wouldn't have won without his help, so Kane grabbed Bryan around the throat. Kane teased a chokeslam, but decided to let go of Bryan and frustratingly depart the ring. Bryan was left alone in the ring, where he turned around to take a big RKO from Orton. "Vintage Orton," Cole declared as Orton's music played. On replay, Cole then noted this thing is blowing up. Cole said this going to be very volatile at MITB in two weeks.

WINNER: Kane at 12:08. How is the audience supposed to feel about Bryan? It doesn't feel like the picture is set to crystalize; more like it's a blurry picture and the picture is getting blurrier by the week. Last week, Raw ended with Bryan scoring a triumphant, career-defining babyface victory. This week, it's completely different.

[Q6] Locker Room: Paul Heyman made his first appearance standing in the middle of C.M. Punk and Curtis Axel. Punk said he just needs Axel to stand on the apron and watch him beat the Prime Time Players by himself. Heyman re-directed the discussion, then Punk summed it up: he trusts Paul, but doesn't trust Axel. Heyman said he doesn't trust him in 2005, but he used his best judgment. Heyman told Punk to trust him with Axel.

Still to come: Cena vs. Del Rio in Champ vs. Champ.

Vignette: Bob Backlund for the WWE Title. Dusty Rhodes for the World Title.

[Commercial Break at 9:17]

Video Preview: "Total Divas" premieres on E! on July 28.

In-ring: Fandango's music played for the return of Fandango after nearly a month away following a reported concussion. Summer Rae came out on-stage to pave the way for Fandango, who was sporting cheetah-print pants and jacket for his return. Fandango and Rae danced down to the ring as Cole plugged Fandango in the World Title MITB ladder match in two weeks. Meanwhile, Lawler randomly talked about girls taking duck-lips photos on Facebook. Cole and JBL didn't know how to handle that as Fandango and Rae took their time dancing in the ring.

Suddenly, Sheamus's music played to bring out Sheamus as Fandango's opponent. Cole hyped Sheamus's big victory over Damien Sandow on Friday's Smackdown before the bell sounded.

4 -- SHEAMUS vs. FANDANGO (w/Summer Rae)

Fandango ducked a clothesline, then did a dance. He ducked a kick and did another dance move, much to Rae's approval. Sheamus then ducked a lock-up attempt and did a dance of his move. Suddenly, Sheamus "potatoe'ed" Fandango in the head with a clothesline, per JBL, before delivering a snap suplex. The announcers turned their conversation to past champions to hype the main event still to come. Lawler noted he was AWA champion once, prompting JBL to ask how much Verne Gagne paid him. "Zilch!" Lawler replied.

After the in-ring brawl spilled to the outside, Fandango regained control in the ring. JBL said Fandango has a history of big upsets in WWE as he put a beating on Sheamus. The crowd woke up with a "Let's Go Sheamus" chant, which Fandango responded to with a mid-ring chinlock. Sheamus broke free and made his comeback before Fandango suddenly found himself on the ring apron to receive Ten Forearms To Chest.

[Q7] Fandango fell off the ring apron to the outside and Summer Rae came over to attend to his wounds. Fandango decided he had enough of this and started walking up the entrance ramp as Rae sold concern. Fandango then hit the entrance ramp and was counted out. Back in the ring, Sheamus sold just getting a taste of Fandango, but wanting more.

WINNER: Sheamus via count-out at 6:15.

Still to come: Cena vs. Del Rio. Up Next: The Miz vs. Ryback. This will be fascinating to see the crowd reaction.

Video Plug: War Games is now on DVD.

[Commercial Break at 9:32]

Back from break, Chris Jericho was in the ring. Jericho, in street clothes, joined the announcers for commentary, which will inevitably lead to "Jericho" chants from the crowd. Ryback was introduced as the first man for the next match, then The Miz came out.

5 -- RYBACK vs. THE MIZ

Miz quickly targeted Ryback's knee, trying to take advantage of an injury situation. At 45-second mark, the crowd picked up a "Y2J" chant, which Jericho acknowledged. Ryback then road-blocked Miz before shoving his boot into Miz's throat. Ryback nearly got himself DQ'ed slamming knees into Miz's back over and over, then Ryback began staring down Jericho, which reminded viewers that Ryback vs. Jericho is booked for the MITB PPV. Jericho offered a thought that Ryback has "slipped a disc in his mental mind." Even Jericho is flustered by this show.

Ryback continued the attack as Jericho noted Ryback should change the "R" on his "fancy piece of cloth" to a "C" for "Cryback." Ryback missed a corner attack, then Miz made a comeback with no crowd reaction. Miz then kicked Ryback's knee to get a reaction setting up for the figure-four leglock. Suddenly, Jericho mumbled the location of tonight's Raw, then quickly stopped. Miz then put Ryback's leg in the ropes and began dropkicking the knee. This prompted Ryback to demand the match be stopped. Jericho said "Cryback" waved off his own match.

Post-match, Jericho declared that he's had enough. So, he entered the ring and dropped Ryback with the Codebreaker. Jericho celebrated in the ring as the announcers reacted to what happened.

WINNER: Miz via ref stoppage at 5:11. To sum up, the heat was on Ryback for being a "cry-baby," as opposed to the heat on Miz for being such a force that he made Ryback quit to stop the match.

Title Vignette: Representing the WWE Title, Hulk Hogan. And, for the World Title, Ric Flair. "Oh man, Hogan, Flair, but, tonight, we have Cena, Del Rio," Lawler said.

Up Next: Mark Henry. "That's What I Do!" read the graphic. No indication of what he's doing next.

[Q8] [Commercial Break at 9:45]

In-ring: Mark Henry's music played to a quiet reaction. Henry slowly walked out on-stage and surveyed the silent crowd before introducing himself. Henry shouted that he's the Strongest Man In the World, a title he earned. Henry said when he was in Texas breaking world records, he represented the U.S. in the Olympics. He said he legitimately maintained that status ever since he entered WWE 17 years ago.

Henry continued that in a professional environment, there's jealousy (what?), politics (what?), backstabbing (what?), and accidental injuries (what?). Henry said he's earned it all these years. Henry said "they" never gave him a legit opportunity despite all the miles traveled and nights spent away from his family. He said he spent all these years "pretending to like the boys." He always did the right thing; the right thing for the business. "Well, that got me nowhere!" he shouted. "Dammit, I deserve to be the WWE champion!"

Henry said that after all the years he gave to WWE, and all the time he gave the fans, he's earned the right to be the WWE champion. Now, at the MITB PPV, no one is going to keep him down. Not any more. Henry said he's going to do the right thing - for himself. And, after he beats Cena, no one in the world will be able to deny him. Henry vowed to win the WWE Title from Cena, then asked for the camera right in his face.

Henry sent a clear message: "John Cena, at Money in the Bank, I'm going to beat yo ass!" Henry looked away, then his music played. Henry disappeared to the back.

GM Office: Vickie and Brad Maddox reacted to Henry's promo, then Vince McMahon walked in and put an arm around Vickie's shoulder. Vince asked Vickie what he told her about Daniel Bryan last week. McMahon entered grouchy mode grumbling about Bryan's role in the special ref role, then McMahon played nice about Vickie's main event tonight. But, Vickie doesn't understand, and the other McMahons don't understand, that they're throwing money away by not putting it on PPV. "You give it away! You give it away for free!" Vince shouted. He said they don't understand business.

Vince became threatening, saying there's a long list of people thrown out of WWE because they didn't listen to him or do what he says. Vince told them to enjoy the rest of their day, then walked off. Vickie sold complete frustration with the events.

[ JC's Reax: So, now Vince is back to the grouchy old patriarch of the family? One week, Vince is nice and Steph is crazy, another week Hunter is out-of-control and Vince is the Voice of Reason, and this week Hunter is not-as-sarcastic and Vince is the grouchy old heel promoter. Throw all this at an audience that hasn't shown interest in the product tonight and it's a recipe for massive confusion. ]

Up Next: Orton & Axel vs. the Players in tag action.

[Commercial Break at 9:56]

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

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