Home / Results / Monday Night Raw / September 12, 2011

1. Alex Riley & John Morrison def. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger when Riley pinned Swagger.

2. The Miz def. Kofi Kingston.

3. Jerry Lawler & Sheamus def. David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty when Sheamus pinned McGillicutty.

4. John Cena & Bret Hart def. Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez via submission when Hart made Rodriguez tap to the Sharpshooter.

5. Non-title: Kelly Kelly def. Vickie Guerrero.

6. Non-title: Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton due to a distraction from Mark Henry and Rhodes using his faceguard on Orton.

We open tonight with WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez already in the ring. All of a sudden, Del Rio is whining about being disrespected, after taking an Attitude Adjustment from John Cena last week. He proclaims himself the greatest of the great. That brings out Bret "Hitman" Hart. Del Rio mocks Bret's 90's style fashions and hair. Cena joins the party and plays fashionista himself, cracking wise on Del Rio while putting over the Hall of Famer. Del Rio offers up Rodriguez, claiming the announcer wants Cena in retaliation for getting dropped two weeks ago. Rodriguez, clearly, doesn't want any of that. A match between Del Rio & Hart is teased, but then John Lauranitis, making his lone appearance of the evening, makes it a tag team match! For once, the former Johnny Ace does something smart!

1. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. Alex Riley & John Morrison.

No entrances for any of these, although Morrison's music is playing as he reaches the ring following the break. Ziggler insisted on carrying the load for his team, refusing to tag Swagger, clearly believing that Swagger is encroaching on Vickie.

Swagger does get tagged in, as does Riley, after Morrison hits an enziguri on Ziggler. Riley hit a spinebuster for 2. Swagger went for the anklelock, but Riley countered out, and forced a collision between Swagger & Ziggler. Riley hit the TKO, his NXT finisher, and that was it, as Ziggler simply opted not to make a save. Winners: Alex Riley & John Morrison.

Josh Mathews attempts to interview R-Truth & The Miz, who face Air Boom at Night of Champions. Miz, however, takes the mic, flips the logo, and he & Truth start toward the arena, as Miz has the next match. They cut a promo on Triple H, hoping he is removed as COO on Sunday with a loss to CM Punk. They use each other's catchphrases once they hit the ring to end the promo. This time, Truth didn't come off quite as dumb as he did last week.

2. The Miz (w/R-Truth) vs. Kofi Kingston (w/Evan Bourne).

Essentially a captains match, but Miz has owned Kingston in the past. Truth & Bourne did exactly nothing other than support their respective partners. The idea here was to establish the challengers as a legit threat. Miz crotched Kingston on the top rope, setting up the Skull Crushing Finale. Winner: The Miz.

3. David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty vs. Jerry Lawler & Sheamus.

Last week, Zack Ryder was Lawler's partner. This week, the former champions cut a promo on Lawler. Without mentioning him by name, both McGillicutty & Lawler mentioned the former's father, the late Curt Hennig. Sheamus came out to a big pop. Once the Celtic Warrior was tagged in, it was over. Otunga tried to be of help, but Lawler punched him, and Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick, then added a 2nd one for McGillicutty before ending it with the Celtic (High) Cross. Winners: Jerry Lawler & Sheamus.

Teddy Long & Vickie Guerrero are backstage. Hard to believe those two were actually speaking after Vickie's power trip over the winter. Anyway, Dolph Ziggler will defend the US title in a fatal 4-way against Alex Riley, Jack Swagger, & John Morrison on Sunday. Vickie's not digging. She also takes offense at Kelly Kelly, and talks smack. She makes the mistake of claiming she could beat the Divas champ, so Teddy makes it a match for later. Uh-oh........

4. John Cena & Bret Hart vs. Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is lacking his usual exuberance and vigor in introducing the champ, and why not? While he's had some matches on NXT, Rodriguez has never competed on live television before tonight. El squashola. Del Rio was in barely a minute before tagging Rodriguez back in. Cena destroyed Rodriguez, then handed hm off to Hart, who applied the Sharpshooter. Rodriguez tapped immediately. Winners: John Cena & Bret Hart.

Cena cut a promo on Del Rio after the match for Sunday, but the die's already been cast, methinks.

10 years ago, the WWE stepped up to the plate following the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a live broadcast of Smackdown. A video tribute, narrated by John Cena, recalls that week in WWE history.

5. Non-title: Kelly Kelly vs. Vickie Guerrero (w/Dolph Ziggler).

Squash #2. Vickie's only offensive move was a slap. Jack Swagger came back out to continue his issue with Ziggler. That distracted Vickie, so all Kelly needed was a schoolgirl rollup, and that was it. Winner: Kelly Kelly.

Post-match, Beth Phoenix came after Kelly again, but the champ escaped.

Josh Mathews interviews Mark Henry. More of the same from Friday, that's all that need be said.

6. Non-title: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes.

Return match from Smackdown, but with the added factor of Henry being more involved. The challenger came out and drew Orton's attention, so Orton chased him away with a chair. Henry came back out several minutes later with a chair of his own and sat at the ramp. He drew closer as the match progressed. Otherwise, this was looking like a repeat from Friday, as Rhodes worked on the left arm & shoulder of the champion. Finally as Orton was poised for the RKO, Henry came up the stairs. That distraction allowed Rhodes to remove his faceguard and clock Orton with it, setting up Cross Rhodes and a cheap win for a cheap champion. Dusty wouldn't do anything like that. Winner: Cody Rhodes.

Triple H & CM Punk meet in the ring to close the show. It did get a little disjointed, but HHH tried to hold it together, and cut a money promo. He name-checked Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Rey Mysterio, & Mick Foley as guys who didn't fit the "bodybuilder mentality" and were champions. He admitted having a low opinion of John Cena at first, but Cena won the fans over on his own. Punk then decided to push the envelope even further, just as he did back in July. Given the personal nature of the angle, Punk decided to drop character, using his real name (Phil Brooks), and addressing HHH by his (Paul LeVesque). However, seconds later, Punk's mic went out, and so did a 2nd one. HHH gave him a 3rd one, and Punk clocked him with it to end the show.