Post by Rated R on Sept 14, 2013 15:27:36 GMT -5
RAW ROUNDUP
June 18th – July 9th 2012
- The main storyline leading into Money in the Bank was undoubtedly the return of Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, the pair immediately targeting WWE Champion CM Punk. Despite Heyman and Punk’s former friendship the attacks were relentless with Lesnar constantly getting the better of Punk and Heyman claiming that CM Punk has lost his edge. He used to be dangerous, he used to drop pipe bombs and make headlines but since that infamous promo he’s changed absolutely nothing and that is why it’s time the WWE accepts that CM Punk isn’t the saviour they need – Brock Lesnar is. On the final RAW before Money in the Bank CM Punk accepted that maybe he’s lost his edge and that it’s time to go back to being the CM Punk of old. In the final moments of the show CM Punk would brutally attack Brock Lesnar with a chair and kendo stick and ended things by putting Brock Lesnar through the announce table while a shocked Paul Heyman watched on. The old CM Punk is back, and Money in the Bank is going to get violent.
- With Money in the Bank just around the corner things heated up between the RAW roster. Intercontinental Champion The Miz continued to be a thorn in the side of Big Show after the disrespect the giant showed him and the Intercontinental Championship. When the likes of Kane and Kofi Kingston were drawn into things due to their involvement in the Money in the Bank match things got competitive between them all, including The Miz successfully defending the Intercontinental Championship against both Big show and Kane. However it was Big Show who would have the last laugh as he both overcame Kane in singles action and then knocked out both the Big Red Machine and The Miz in quick succession to lay his claim to being Mr. Money in the Bank.
- It wasn’t just those four getting into the Money in the Bank spirit, but Daniel Bryan and Christian as well. After both men qualified for the match they would find themselves at odds over who would emerge victorious – many “YES” and “NO”s were exchanged. On an edition of the Peep Show in which Christian antagonised and nearly attacked special guest Shawn Michaels it was Daniel Bryan who shockingly came to his former trainer’s aid. With a little bit of help from the fans and Shawn Michaels himself Bryan would finally embrace the crowd’s chants and one week later would come out victorious in a bout with Christian. ‘Goat-face’ is ready for Money in the Bank.
- The Tag Team division has certainly heated up and it’s all thanks to Abraham Washington. With both the WWE Tag Team Champions Epico & Primo and the Prime Time Players on his books (as well as Mark Henry over on SmackDown) things were never going to be easy. The two teams got into a number of heated arguments and the Prime Time Players even ‘accidentally’ cost the champions a match. Sick of their arguing AW announced that he’d organized for the two teams to face off at Money in the Bank not only for the WWE Tag Team Championships but also for the sole tag team spot in All World Promotions.
- Wade Barrett made a successful return from injury as he overcame Santino Marella to gain a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match and followed it up with a crushing victory over fellow Money in the Bank competitor Kofi Kingston. After both victories Wade Barrett made it very clear that the Barrett Barrage is back and it can’t be stopped.
- John Laurinaitis was put on probation as RAW general manager, by Triple H none the less, with Theodore Long supervising him in order to report back. Things so far haven’t been going well with an under pressure Laurinaitis making spur of the decision matches and angering a number of RAW stars. It doesn’t look like he’ll be general manager for much longer.
- Problems between Brodus Clay and Lord Tensai would arise as the two clashed a number of times, noticeably during the Money in the Bank qualifying battle royal in which a brawl would erupt between the two that would take the entire security team to split up. The following week Clay would defeat Tensai’s fellow ‘People Power’ member Jack Swagger only for Tensai to strike, attacking and laying Clay out.
- The Fortune Sons (Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase and Joe Hennig) have been dominant since they allied together at the misfortune of Brodus Clay, picking up multiple victories over Clay, Marella, Tatsu and The Uso’s.
- Heath Slater continued to try and make his mark in the buildup to RAW 1000, but even with legendary manager Jimmy Hart in his corner Slater didn’t have much luck, falling to legends such as Sycho Sid, The New Age Outlaws, Scott Steiner and a coconut shot courtesy of Roddy Piper.
- Throughout the month promotional videos continued to play, hyping the debut of hard hitting newcomer Kassius Ohno.
- Alex Riley was officially released from his contract.
QUICK RESULTS
WWE RAW
June 18th 2012 – RAW 995
1. MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH) Daniel Bryan Defeated Santino Marella
2.) Epico & Primo Defeated International Airstrike
3. MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH) Cody Rhodes Defeated Brodus Clay
4.) Sycho Sid Defeated Heath Slater
5. MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH) Christian Defeated Alex Riley
6.) Big Show & Kane Defeated The Miz & Kofi Kingston
WWE RAW
June 25th 2012 – RAW 996
1. MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH) The Miz Defeated Jack Swagger
2.) The Fortunate Sons Defeated Brodus Clay, Santino Marella & Yoshi Tatsu
3. MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING MATCH) Big Show & Kane Defeated Epico & Primo
4.) New Age Outlaws Defeated Heath Slater & Jimmy Hart
5.) Drew McIntyre Defeated Christian following a Daniel Bryan distraction.
6.) CM Punk Defeated Lord Tensai
WWE RAW
July 2nd 2012 – RAW 997
1.) Wade Barrett Defeated Santino Marella
2.) Ted DiBiase & Joe Hennig Defeated Epico & Primo [following a Prime Time Players distraction.
3.) Lord Tensai Defeated Brodus Clay
4.) Scott Steiner Defeated Heath Slater
5. MONEY IN THE BANK QUALIFYING BATTLE ROYAL) Kofi Kingston Eliminated Jack Swagger to win.
6. WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH) The Miz © Defeated Big Show & Kane
WWE RAW
July 9th 2012 – RAW 998
1.) Daniel Bryan Defeated Christian
2.) Beth Phoenix & Tamina Snuka Defeated Kaitlin & Kelly Kelly
3.) Joe Hennig & Ted DiBiase Defeated The Uso’s
4.) Brodus Clay Defeated Jack Swagger
5.) Wade Barrett Defeated Santino Marella
6.) Big Show Defeated Kane