SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following report was originally published five years ago this week on PWTorch.com..
KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT
JUNE 24, 2013
CHARLESTON, S.C.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
[Q1]
-A recap aired of last week’s key happenings including the question asked by the narrator of whether Paul Heyman even knew Brock Lesnar was in the building before he attacked C.M. Punk. The narrator also described Mark Henry last week as delivering “an Academy Award worthy performance.”
-They went live to the arena, once again without pyro or the Raw theme song. Michael Cole introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd, and then promptly Daniel Bryan’s ring entrance began.
-They went to ringside with Cole, JBL, and Jerry Lawler. Cole said on Friday’s Smackdown, Bryan won by countout but he wanted the match restarted. Since the official refused, so there’s a rubber match tonight on Raw. JBL was about to speak, but he quickly cut himself off as Bryan had the mic mid-ring.
-Bryan stood mid-ring and absorbed cheers from the fans. He said before they start his match, there are some people who have accused him of having some sort of a complex. “Some people have said I’m a walking example of the little man syndrome,” he said. He said people often don’t believe when he says he is a wrestler and they ask if he was an extra in “The Hobbit.”
(WK Reax: This is not how you build momentum for a very over breakout star – by having him draw attention to his size and say people don’t even believe he’s a wrestler. Ugh. This is mid-card crap.)
Bryan said he won by count out on Smackdown, but that’s not good enough for him. He won’t be satisfied until he scores a pinfall or submission win over Orton. He began yelling “Yes! Yes! Yes!” and then Orton’s music played. When Orton stepped into the ring, he knocked the mic out of Bryan’s hand as he began to talk. Orton said he came out to tell him straight to his face, “Shut up and fight!” Bryan started to fight.
(1) RANDY ORTON vs. DANIEL BRYAN
The fight spilled to the floor at 1:00 where Orton threw Bryan into the announcers’ area. They brawled. Ref Charles Robinson tried to separate them, but Bryan ended up giving Orton a running knee which also hit Robinson. The ref called for the bell as several other refs charged out to try to separate Bryan and Orton. JBL said, “These guys just don’t like each other.” They cut to a break after they were separated.
WINNER: DDQ in 2:00.
(WK Reax: Great intensity here. Bryan is playing up his obsession with being the weak link very well, but I’m not sure it’s the best thing for him to still be doing at this point given how into him crowds have been lately. What he’s scripted to do is not living up to how over he is with fans.) [c]
-As Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox chatted, Bryan barged in and yelled: “Double disqualification? No! No! No!” He demanded another match tonight. Maddox said he already had his match and they have a lot others scheduled. Bryan said he either wants a match against Orton or else against Maddox. Vickie told Bryan, “You got it! You got your match with Randy Orton.” Bryan yelled “Yes!” and ran away. Vickie then turned to Maddox and laughed, saying, “You should have seen the look on your face.”
(WK Reax: Uh, Vickie didn’t see the look on his face because she was facing Bryan with her back to Maddox that whole time. Oops.)
Vince McMahon walked up to Vickie and Maddox. He said some say Bryan isn’t worthy of being a WWE Superstar due to his diminutive size and psychological complexities. He said some say he’s even a downright embarrassment. Vickie asked Vince what he thinks. He said he would let her figure it out herself.
[Q2]
(2) SHEAMUS & CHRISTIAN vs. CODY RHODES & DAMIEN SANDOW
A Tweet on the bottom of the screen quoted Heyman saying he is going to have to go to Raw to sort out the mess with Punk and Lesnar. Also, John Cena Tweeted condolences to family and friends of Jackie Fargo. On commentary, Lawler acknowledged the death of Jackie Fargo. He said 39 years ago tonight he fought Fargo at the Mid-South Coliseum. Cole said, “He’ll be sorely missed.” At 4:00 Sheamus hot-tagged in just as Sandow did. Sheamus took control. Sheamus finished Cody, as soon as he tagged in, with a Brogue Kick after Cody and Sandow got tangled during the tag exchange.
WINNERS: Sheamus & Christian in 5:00. [c]
-WWE Fact: Raw last week was the no. 1 show on cable TV. Then they listed networks they beat, as if “no. 1 on all of cable” needed more clarification.
-Backstage C.M. Punk was tapping on his phone. Vickie walked up to him. Punk asked if she’s seen Heyman or Lesnar. She said she hadn’t and didn’t know if they’d be there. Vickie said she has booked him in a match tonight. He ignored her. She yelled, “Excuse me!” He stood up and in a rage yelled in her face: “Excuse me!” He told her to let him know if Heyman or Lesnar show up. She almost broke down as Punk turned and walked away.
-They showed a clip from Smackdown of Aksana insulting Kaitlyn, then Kaitlyn attacking Aksana. Layla pulled Kaitlyn away.
(3) KAITLYN vs. AKSANA
They went to the ring for the match without ring entrances or introductions. Seconds into the match, Kaitlyn’s music played. Kailtyn was distracted briefly, then she kicked Aksana to the floor. Kaitlyn wondered what was going on. A.J. walked out dressed up like Kaitlyn, including a padded muscle suit, making fun of her for apparently being too manly or something. Aksana tried to score a rollup from behind, but Kaitlyn escaped and quickly speared Aksana for the win.
WINNER: Kaitlyn in 2:00.
[Q3]
-A.J. pretended to be Kaitlyn on the mic, saying she not only lost her title, but she lost her dignity when she thought someone actually liked her. Big E. Langston then walked out with a bouquet of flowers. Langston reenacted presenting Kaitlyn with flowers, and A.J. said, “I always dreamed I’d find a man with a voice as deep as mine, legs as big as mine, and let’s not get started on the whole Adams apple situation.” As A.J. laughed, Layla held back Kaitlyn.
(WK Reax: There’s such a long line of WWE women being scripted in storylines being very mean to each other, including the whole angle making fun Mickie James for being too fat. At least Lawler said A.J. was only funny to two people in that arena. The announcers, though, could have gone further in defending Kaitlyn. Saying “it’s not funny” isn’t the same as coming to Kaitlyn’s defense that A.J.’s criticism is judgmental nonsense of a beautiful woman.)
-Cole then threw to another vignette from the Wyatt Family. He again said social media has been afire over the disturbing vignettes. Then the Wyatt Family vignette aired.
-Cole said some have called it an Academy Award caliber performance last week from Henry, and they’d revisit it after the break. [c]
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Lawler said some are saying Henry deserves an Oscar for pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes including Cena. A video package aired on the angle including clips of Henry at the very start of his WWE career.
-Back to ringside, JBL said the WWE Title is the only major title he hasn’t held, and he admires the hoax he pulled off in order to get a shot at that title. Cole said Cena and Henry are both at Raw.
-Chris Jericho’s full ring entrance took place. [c]
-The “Don’t Try This At Home” video aired.
(WK Reax: Nothing like a 13-year-old boy killing his 5-year-old sister with a pro wrestling style beatdown which gets media attention to get these dusted off and shown more often.)
[Q4]
-Ricardo Rodriguez stepped out and mocked a South Carolina accent before going into his introduction for Del Rio. JBL said Ricardo is trilingual.
(4) ALBERTO DEL RIO (w/Ricardo) vs. CHRIS JERICHO
Cole said big news broke on the WWE App earlier that Dolph Ziggler has been medically cleared, so he gets his rematch at Money in the Bank. At 3:00, after Jericho missed a dropkick, Del Rio threw Jericho into the security barrier at ringside as they cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Del Rio was still in control. Jericho made a comeback, but when he went to the top rope, Del Rio charged and round kicked him in the head, knocking Jericho to the floor at 8:00. At 12:00 Jericho scored a near fall after a top rope body press. Jericho side-stepped a charging Del Rio, who flew shoulder-first into the ringpost. Then he went for the Code Breaker, but Del Rio blocked it, so Jericho countered with the Walls. Del Rio twisted himself free and KO’d Jericho with a quick sidekick to the face for a two count at 13:00.
Del Rio signaled for his cross armbreaker, but Jeircho countered with a bulldog. When he went for the Lionsault, Del Rio lifted his knees. Del Rio then applied the Cross Armbreaker. Jericho moved toward the ropes and forced a break with his legs on the ropes. He then flipped himself over and went right into the Walls mid-ring. Ricardo attacked Jericho from behind with a metal bucket.
WINNER: Jericho via DQ in 15:00.
(WK Reax: Very good match.)
[Q5]
-Ziggler ran out to make the save and get in some shots at Del Rio. Jericho gave Ricardo a Code Breaker and then Ziggler gave a Zig Zag to Del Rio. As Jericho’s music played, Jericho and Ziggler approached each other with an intense stare. Jericho decided to walk past him, so Ziggler gave him a Zig Zag. Cole said there’s a reason behind Ziggler’s madness. He said on Smackdown on Friday, Jericho gave Ziggler a mid-ring Code Breaker, so tonight was payback. Lawler said what goes around, comes around.
-Backstage Vickie told Maddox she has been thinking about what Mr. McMahon said and she’s canceling the Orton-Bryan match. In walked Triple H who said he heard a nasty rumor that she was thinking of canceling the Bryan-Orton match. She said Mr. McMahon was right in suggesting Bryan is “too small, has psychological issues, and is an embarrassment to WWE.” Triple H said some people think those things, “but I don’t tend to agree with that theory.”
He said it doesn’t matter what people in the back think, it’s what the WWE Universe thinks and they want to see this match. Vickie said, “Yes sir.” Triple H said he’d like for Vickie to “over-deliver” and give fans a choice of what kind of a match it’ll be. Triple H told Vickie if she listens to him, everything will be okay. Triple H then told Maddox his shirt is tremendous, but he wondered if they make it in men’s sizes, too.
-Cole said the WWE 2K14 video game cover would be revealed next. [c]
-Back live Lawler stood mid-ring alongside Vickie and Maddox. Lawler said the WWE Universe will be able to design and create a cover for this new video game, and the winning submission will have the honor of having their cover put on the flip side of every copy of the WWE 2K14 video game. Vickie tried to interrupt, but Lawler plugged the website to go to if they wanted to enter the contest.
Vickie said hearing the voices of the fans is very important. They booed her, so she shouted “Excuse me!” They booed louder. She talked over them and said since she is the greatest managing supervisor of Monday Night Raw ever, she has designed her own cover for the video game which touts great leadership. She revealed a cover with Vince McMahon, Tirple H, and Stephanie McMahon. The crowd didn’t react much. Maddox said, “That’s great. That’s literally perfect.” Maddox said he did design his own cover which exemplified what he believes to be the future of Monday Night Raw. It was himself flanked by Cena and Punk. Vickie yelled at him. Lawler interrupted and introduced the real cover featuring The Rock. It was a larger than life banner unrolled from the rafters.
[Q6]
-At ringside, Cole listed Rock stats including how well his movies have done. JBL added he headlined the last two WrestleManias.
-They showed Ryback walking backstage snorting and looking mean and tense. [c]
(5) THE GREAT KHALI (w/Natalya, Hornswoggle) vs. RYBACK
JBL talked about the huge size difference between Ryback and Khali. When Kahli overpowered Ryback and kicked at him in the corner, Lawler wondered how much Cena took from Ryback in the Three Stages of Hell match. Ryback made a comeback, but Khali quickly caught him charging with an elbow and a big boot. Cole noted that Khali is a former World Champion. Khali threw a barrage of elbows and then a forearm. Khali signaled for his finisher, but Ryback broke his grip on the Punjambi Plunge and then gave him the Shellshock for the win.
WINNER: Ryback in 3:00.
-A commercial aired for “Total Divas.” [c]
-WWE Fact: WWE Smackdown last Friday was the most socially active show on all of cable or broadcast TV, beating ABC’s “20/20” by 10 times.
[Q7]
-John Cena made his ring entrance. He plugged the awful “The Champ is Here” with the down arrow t-shirt he wears and said the web guys wanted him to do that. He said only 43 men have ever held onto the WWE Title despite tens of thousands chasing the dream. He said if you held it for eight years like Sammartino or one night like Rey Mysterio, you are part of an elite fraternity because you have earned the respect of your peers. He said over the years men have tried to buy the title and steal the title and take other shortcuts, “but shortcuts do not equal respect.” He said even Vince McMahon himself felt he needed to be WWE Champion “to justify his existence to all of you.”
Cena said last week they saw how low a man would sink to chase that title. He said last week Henry disgraced his family and cheated the WWE Universe. He said his speech was a disaster to every Superstar who has stood there and given the speech that they can never do this again, including Edge, HBK, and Ric Flair. He said last week Henry made a mockery of all of them. He said Henry has been here 17 years, but maybe he realizes the door is closing and he will not have a legacy in WWE unless he holds onto that WWE Title. He said to do that, Henry has to go through him. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m John Cena, WWE Champion.” He said Henry has to earn it, and he will realize at Money in the Bank all he’s earned is having Cena knock his teeth down his throat. Cena said Henry forgot to check his calendar, “because we’re still in the middle of whoop ass season. Our time is now, and The Champ is here.”
(WK Reax: Largely Cena at his best, and I always endorse any promo or segment that raises the prestige of a major title. There’s still something a little too smirky and singsongy about how Cena sells being betrayed like that. I would have liked a little more range of emotions besides the plainly stated framing of what Henry did as a disrespecting those who had to give real retirement speeches. Also, I’d like to see Cena give some indication that he sees Henry as a threat, some crack in the veneer of confidence he has that it’s whoop ass season.)
-A video aired on the returning Rob Van Dam.
(WK Reax: It’s very smart to save his return for PPV. Part of the curiosity with any returning legacy star is what they look like and what their role will be.)
-Brodus Clay & Tensai’s ring entrance took place. They were joined by a fan, Scotty Campbell, who was the winner of the highest bid in a charity fundraiser. [c]
-The Usos ring entrance also took place.
(5) TONS OF FUNK (w/The Funkadactyls) vs. THE USOS vs. DREW MCINTYRE & JINDER MAHAL (w/Heath Slater)
At 2:00 the Usos landed their Samoan Drop/Top Rope Splash combo for the win.
WINNERS: The Usos at 2:00 to become top tag team title contenders.
[Q8]
-As the Usos celebrated, The Shield walked out through the crowd together. Cole said they have a date in the future with each other.
-They threw to a plug for “The Call” with that skit involving Halle Barre, David Otunga, and Kane.
-They showed a distressed looking Paul Heyman marching backstage toward the entrance tunnel. [c]
-Heyman walked to the ring without music. They threw to a clip of the show-ending angle with Punk and Lesnar last week. Heyman watched the replay, then turned toward the hard camera and introduced himself. He said for seven days he’s been dogged by the same question regarding Lesnar attacking Punk last week. He said for the first time in his life he has admittedly ignored Punk’s calls, texts, and emails. He said they live so much of their lives in public, the only way to do this was face-to-face in front of all of the viewers. He said since Punk has been looking for him and answers, tonight he’ll get those answers. He said he stands there, awaiting his presence. After a few seconds, Punk’s music played. Lawler said this might be the gutsiest thing he’s ever seen Heyman do.
(Quotebook – Jerry Lawler: “If I were C.M. Punk, I wouldn’t trust Paul Heyman as far as I could throw the Big Show.”)
The crowd cheered as Punk walked up to Heyman mid-ring. He asked if he actually wants to air their dirty laundry in public. He said first, they should cover the history of why he is actually a Paul Heyman guy. Punk said in 2005, after wrestling around the world and generating a buzz for himself, he was signed to a contract with WWE. He said at the time, the V.P. of Talent Relations was “that goof” John Laurinaitis, who sent him to Louisville, Ky. so he could go through the WWE Developmental System that was in place. He said at the time, probably because he burned a lot of bridges and pissed off a lot of people in WWE, Heyman was in charge of WWE’s developmental system. He said he (Punk) wasn’t supposed to succeed, and there were certain people in top management who sent Heyman emails, including Vince himself, saying “cut him loose, the kid’s not what we look for.”
He said Heyman was told to not even consider bringing Punk to Raw or Smackdown TV, but despite Heyman’s rep for being a liar and manipulator, and no matter how often they wagged their finger in his face and told Heyman to fire him, Heyman refused to fire him.
He said Heyman saw so much in him and believed in him so much, when ECW was resurrected, Heyman’s first draft pick was him. A “C.M. Punk!” chant broke out. He said he didn’t want to bore people with this dirty laundry between two friends. He told Punk to tell Lesnar he’s coming for him. He said he doesn’t care that he’s bigger and stronger than him, because he’s not better than he is. Punk said he is the best wrestler on the planet, so he’s going to say it to Heyman’s face because Lesnar didn’t have the balls to be there in person. He said there is no one more sadistic and relentless, so let his client know he will do whatever it takes and he will bring his beast incarnate down. Heyman stared, nodded, and said, “Okay.”
[Q9]
Punk said because of their past, and no matter how many warnings he got and how many horror stories he heard from other people who said Heyman stabbed them in the back, he never did him wrong. Punk asked if Lesnar attacked him on his own or because he saw the writing on the wall after Payback. “Did you stick Brock Lesnar on me?” he said. “For the first time in your life, I want you to tell the truth.” He told him not to lie or try to manipulate him. He said he can accept the truth if he sent Lesnar to attack him. “For the first time in your life, make me the exception to the rule, don’t lie to me, look me in the eye, swear on your children you had nothing to do with it or tell me you did, but come clean. For the first time in your life, tell the truth!”
Heyman was shaken up a bit. The crowd chanted “Tell the truth!” Heyman said he never wanted it to be that way between them. He said because he demands the truth and because he’d be able to see through him, and because as his best friend – “and until something happens, you are my best friend” – he deserves the truth to his face: “On my children, I did not know that Brock Lesnar would be here last week.” When the crowd booed him, he said the McMahons used to boo him when he touted Punk was a future main eventer.
Heyman said he did not know Lesnar would be there last week. He said the moment he said Lesnar “needed my help, you picked a fight with Brock Lesnar.” He said it was bound to happen due to professional jealousy between them that existed for a long, long time. He said that’s why he never proposed to Vince McMahon a Punk & Lesnar tag team. He said he kept the two of them apart because of the professional jealousy between them.
Heyman said: “All these things you said about me are true. And I don’t deny them. I never denied them in my life. I am who I am, I am what I am. I accept myself for all my flaws, but I’m not stupid. Do you really think I’m stupid.” He said he’s going to walk down the aisle with him one day, but not soon, because he knows he needs his space. But some day he will walk him down the aisle in the main event of WrestleMania. “That’s my dream!” he said. “As uncomfortable as it is for the whole world to hear, C.M. Punk, I love you, you are my best friend in the world, and I’m going to screw up my dreams because I can’t be ringside in your matches because you need a little space, you need a little time to yourself. I’m going to screw that up? I will never represent anyone against you.” He said Lesnar will have a problem with that, but that’s between him and Lesnar.
He said in 2005-2006, he didn’t get rid of Punk when everyone in power wanted him. He said now in 2013, everyone is telling him to get rid of him. “So my fate is in your hands, and with all due respect, it’s your move, Punk,” he said. Punk stared at Heyman and soaked up all he just said. Lawler said, “Heyman’s lying.” The crowd fell mostly silent. Heyman shrugged and said, “That’s the best I got.”
Punk looked around at the crowd like he was on “Price is Right” asking for help on what number to name next in the price of the car. JBL said Heyman was about to Go To Sleep. Punk said, finally, “I’m sorry I doubted you.” They hugged. Punk’s music played. The camera zoomed in on Punk’s face. Cole plugged a WWE.com poll where 77 percent of WWE fans believe that Heyman had something to do with Lesnar’s assault on Punk last week.
(WK Reax: Heyman is everything Punk talked about, but it doesn’t change that Heyman’s performances lately are just off the charts ridiculously good. Punk was stellar, too. These two have chemistry and they will especially remember this night and whatever else is to come in this storyline for decades to come. The story Punk told about his rise in WWE, and Heyman’s unrelenting support for him, is barely embellished if at all. That’s part of what made Punk and Heyman so good in that segment. They didn’t have to remember lines, they just spoke the truth.)
-They went to the announcers at ringside. JBL asked what’s more dangerous – Lesnar and Heyman working together or the possibility that Lesnar has gone rogue. Lawler noted that the WWE.com poll was tallied before Heyman’s speech tonight. He said he doesn’t believe a word Heyman says.
(WK Reax: Lawler is never more believable than when he’s referencing his real-life feelings on Heyman’s truthfulness over the decades he’s dealt with him.)
-The ring entrance for the Prime Time Players took place. [c]
[Q10]
(6) C.M. PUNK vs. DARREN YOUNG
Lawler said he thought about it during the break, and if Punk believes it, maybe they should, too, because nobody knows Heyman better than Punk. JBL said he swore on his children, so what more do you want?
(WK Reax: Well, if that isn’t the dead giveaway because of WWE’s heavy-handed pattern of reverse psychology, that Heyman was in on it and is lying to Punk. They should have just left it as it was, but McMahon is worried if he doesn’t push the opposite of the truth like a sledgehammer to the head, then fans might not be “surprised” when it’s revealed Heyman is a liar. It’s the same philosophy that leads to the annoying “one-two-he got him! Oh, no he didn’t” announcing rule.)
This match was paced to bring the crowd down from that last segment and let everyone catch their breath. Lawler said JBL has the personality of lint. JBL laughed and said he deserved better than that. At 4:00 Punk sold a knee injury after a top rope elbowdrop. Cole talked about Punk’s history of knee issues. Punk went for the GTS, but Young reversed it and dropped Punk onto his abdominals leading to a surprisingly believable near fall. JBL said Young is making a name for himself tonight. “Can you imagine if he beats him?” JBL asked. Punk, though, quickly KO’d Young with a crescent kick and then applied the Anaconda Vice for the tap out win.
WINNER: Punk in 5:00.
-Afterward, Titus O’Neill attacked Punk. Young joined in. Curtis Axel’s music played and he charged out for the save. Cole said it’s a fellow Heyman Guy. They cleared the ring. Heyman stepped into the ring and said they’d talk about it. The crowd chanted Punk’s name. Punk looked leery of Heyman and Axel helping him.
-Backstage, Vickie called Maddox and left a voicemail demanding a cup of coffee. In walked Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie asked why she hadn’t announced the participants in the MITB match. Vickie said she’s been busy. Steph said she’d do it. When Steph left, Vickie looked distressed.
-Lawler announced voting for Bryan-Orton to be (a) lumberjack; (b) street fight; or ( c) falls count anywhere.
-A commercial aired for the War Games DVD. [c]
-WWE Fact: WWE has all of the top ten selling sports DVDs, topped by WrestleMania 29.
-The Bella Twins handed out WWE Magazines to fans at ringside.
[Q11]
-Stephanie McMahon walked onto the stage. She said it’s that time of year again where every WWE Superstar’s dreams of going to the ring, climbing the ladder, grabbing the briefcase, and virtually guaranteeing themselves a WWE Championship takes place. She announced entrants: Punk, Bryan, Sheamus, Orton, Christian, Kane, and Rob Van Dam.
-Backstage Vickie said Stephanie did a great job and asked why they didn’t think of that. Maddox said he worked with Steph earlier. Ryback walked into the picture and asked if they saw how easily he beat Khali. He said if it weren’t for the cheap ambulance roof caving in, he’d be WWE Champion. He demanded the Henry-Cena match be switched to him against Cena. He said he deserves better. In walked Jericho who complained about not being the MITB match.
Ryback told Jericho he didn’t appreciate being interrupted. Ryback said he could eat him alive. “So you’re a cannibal now? Is that where we’re at? I’d like to see you try.” As they had a staredown, Maddox said it’s not the time or place. Vickie then yelled, “Excuse me!” She said if they want to fight, they can fight at the MITB PPV. Ryback laughed and said, “See ya’ at Money in the Bank, junior.”
-They showed Henry, looking dapper in his suit, walking toward the entrance stage. [c]
-In the locker room, Punk told Heyman he didn’t need his help. He asked how he could be more clear. Heyman said he’s a bit emotional about his best friend, so he had to send Axel to help him because he couldn’t help him himself. Heyman said he’s stubborn, but it’s also why he’s the best in the world. He said he just went to Vickie and got things straight – next week it’ll be the Prime Time Players vs. Axel & Punk. Punk shook his head in frustration and called Heyman “unbelievable,” but he’ll do it because it’s a fight. He said he will win MITB and become WWE Champion again, and that’s his one focus and one goal, nothing else matters to him.
-Back to ringside, Lawler, JBL, and Cole reacted to Heyman and Punk, then plugged the voting again on the WWE App.
-Henry made his way to the ring. He bragged about fooling all of the fans last week. He mocked them for their “Henry” signs. He said Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, and Tyler Perry all reached out to him because of his Academy Award performance. He said he has had to deal with people very upset with him because he used his friends, his family, and the other WWE Superstars. He said he wouldn’t apologize to any of them.
He said people have told him his whole life how he should live and what defines him. He said his whole life others have been telling him what defines him. He said people told him as a big kid not to hurt the other children. He said, “Please!” He said people told him to work hard and go to the Olympics and “win it for America.” He said, “Please!” He said at MITB a no good, filthy, lying, cheating Henry is going to show up. He said they’re all dancing and he’s pulling the strings. He said last week he said, “Honey, I’m coming home!” He said he’s coming home alright. “I know I look good. This ain’t no Men’s Warehouse,” he added as an aside. He said he’s coming home WWE Champion.
(WK Reax: Henry is every bit as good as Heyman these days. That’s high praise. He’s just so believable, so efficient in his words, and utterly entertaining without looking at all like he’s trying to be funny.)
-Cole threw to a Wyatt Family vignette.
[Q12] [c]
-Cole plugged that Smackdown would feature Del Rio’s World Title win celebration and also a Dublin Street Fight between Sheamus and Sandow.
-Lawler announced from mid-ring that the stip for the Bryan-Orton match would be Street Fight with 50 percent of the vote. Lumberjack got a mere 22 percent, Falls Count Anywhere got 28 percent.
(7) DANIEL BRYAN vs. RANDY ORTON – Street Fight
At 2:00 Bryan dove through the ropes, but Orton stopped him with a raised chair at ringside. Bryan fell back onto the mat. They cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Orton was still in control, although they showed a clip during the break of Orton backdropping a charging Bryan onto the ramp. Orton slid a table into the ring. Bryan recovered enough to fight back with some kicks, but Orton brushed them off and dropped Bryan over the top rope. At 7:00 Bryan made a full comeback and charged at Orton with a flying dropkick. He followed up with his barrage of round kicks. When he charged, Orton again lifted a chair to block him and scored a two count.
[Q13]
Orton tried twice to suplex Bryan over the top rope onto a table at ringside. Bryan fought him off, then dropkicked him twice, but Orton wouldn’t go down. Bryan then power bombed Orton off the ring apron through the table. Cole said it wasn’t a tables match, so the match continued. He reset the match for people tuning in for the overrun. Bryan attacked Orton with a kendo stick, rotating kendo stick swings with round kicks. Orton came back with an overhead suplex of Bryan through a table leaning in the corner.
At 12:00, a punch exchange ended when Orton hit to a dropkick to take Bryan down. At 14:00 Bryan applied the No Lock mid-ring. Orton grabbed the kendo stick and hit Bryan nearly ten times with it to break the hold. Once the hold was broken, he hit him several more times. Bryan rolled to the ring apron to get away, but Orton hit him a few times there. Orton played to the crowd, then DDT’d Bryan off the middle rope. Orton played to the crowd and got big cheers. He went for the (telegraphed) RKO, but Bryan countered with a backslide attempt for a two count. Bryan hit Orton with the kendo stick, then applied the No Lock again. Orton grabbed the kendo stick again and hit Bryan, but Bryan took it from Orton and used it to add leverage to the No Lock. Orton tapped out. Bryan celebrated like he won the Stanley Cup. Lawler said, “So much for the naysayers.”
WINNER: Bryan in 17:00.
(WK Reax: Very good TV match. Memorable, meaningful finish, too.)
-Afterward, as Bryan celebrated, Orton walked up to him and shook his hand. Of course some wrestling fans can’t help but boo handshakes. Orton returned to the back to let Bryan celebrate to his music shouting “Yes! Yes!” as the crowd chanted with him. Cole wondered if Bryan was finally proving to himself he’s not the weak link.
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS FLASHBACK: 5 YRS AGO – WWE Smackdown Report (6-21-13): Bryan vs. Orton main events, plus Curtis Axel, Cody, Jericho, A.J. Lee, Del Rio, McIntyre, Heyman, Punk
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