People Powerless.
One night after an unforgettable and game-changing No Way Out, the 995th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, NY. After John Cena enlisted the help of some Big Show’s victimized Superstars to pull off a hard-fought victory over “The World’s Largest Athlete” inside a Steel Cage to bring an end to the “People Power” era by ensuring John Laurinaitis would be fired, the unemployed former General Manager John Laurinaitis would deliver his final address on RAW! After challenging Brock Lesnar to forget all of the legal stuff and face him, one-on-one, in a match at SummerSlam, WWE COO Triple H would get an answer from the Lesnar camp. Also on RAW, legendary recording artist Cyndi Lauper would appear as the Guest Star of the show.
Match Results
- CM Punk & Sheamus (with A.J.) def. Kane & Daniel Bryan by Sheamus pinning Daniel Bryan following the Brogue Kick.
- Dolph Ziggler def. Jack Swagger by pin following the Zig Zag.
- Non-Title: Alberto Del Rio def. Santino Marella by submission to the cross armbreaker.
- Primo & Epico def. The Prime Time Players by intentional count-out.
- 2-on-1 Handicap Match: John Cena def. John Laurinaitis & David Otunga by John Laurinaitis tapping out to the STF.
Detailed Results
The show kicks off with a special surprise as Long Island’s own “Hardcore Legend” Mick Foley opens RAW! The three-time WWE Champion says that he was originally scheduled to appear on RAW to promote RAW’s 1,000th episode, but then he got a call from the WWE Board of Directors, who informed him that, with John Laurinaitis no longer being the RAW & SmackDown General Manager, they were reaching out to former General Managers to run both shows on an “interim basis”! Foley reminds everyone that he was a Commissioner for the WWE several years ago and breaks the news that he has been selected to be in charge of this week’s RAW and SmackDown! In his first act as Interim GM, Foley announces that “The Big Red Monster” Kane will team with “The Yes Man” Daniel Bryan to face World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and WWE Champion CM Punk in the main event.
Mick Foley then introduces the former Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and the former General Manager of RAW & SmackDown, John Laurinaitis, as “Big Johnny” makes his way to the ring, walking with a crutch and sporting a neckbrace and arm sling as a result of an Attitude Adjustment through the Spanish announce table by John Cena at No Way Out. Laurinaitis then enters the ring to make his farewell address and, through a deafening amount of boos from the crowd, Laurinaitis tries to introduce himself, but when that fails, the ex-GM tries to get Foley to help him out. However, Foley claims that Laurinaitis said that “Long Island sucks”. Laurinaitis then tells the fans to “shut up”, saying that he is opting to deliver his farewell address later on in the evening. The ex-GM then reveals that, before he was fired at No Way Out, he made a 3-on-1 Handicap Match as John Cena will be forced to face Big Show, David Otunga, and himself! Laurinaitis concludes that they should consider the Handicap Match his “parting gift” before Laurinaitis angrily tells Foley to “have a nice day”, gingerly making his exit from the ring.
On his way to the back, John Laurinaitis is met by two of his biggest critics, World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and WWE Champion CM Punk, who make a point of smiling in the face of the Laurinaitis, as the champions prepare to face “The Big Red Monster” Kane and “The Yes Man” Daniel Bryan in the opening match of the night. During the match, A.J. comes out sporting a Kane mask and red and black attire, skipping around the ring! This distracts Kane as “The Big Red Monster” leaves his tag partner high and dry as Kane try and figures A.J. out. Meanwhile, in the ring, CM Punk hits the GTS on Daniel Bryan and Sheamus follows it up with the Brogue Kick en route to Sheamus pinning Bryan for the win.
Backstage, Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger are arguing over who is better when their manager, Vickie Guerrero, interrupts, saying that she needs to make a decision. Vickie then reveals that she talked to Mick Foley to get a match booked between Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger.
Former tag team partners faced off on RAW as “The Show-Off” Dolph Ziggler went one-on-one with “The All-American American” Jack Swagger as Dolph and Swagger battle for the affection and managerial skills of Vickie Guerrero. Despite injuring his knee early on in the match, Dolph Ziggler was able to survive Jack Swagger’s assault on his knee and ankle, hitting the Zig Zag en route to picking up the win. After the match, Vickie Guerrero checks on Dolph before kissing Ziggler, clearly making her decision.
After Triple H challenged Brock Lesnar to a match at SummerSlam, the legal representative of Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman, appeared on RAW. Heyman states that Lesnar does not cater to Triple H’s every whim like everyone at Titan Towers does. Heyman continues that he is going to say a word that Triple H is not used to hearing as Heyman says “no”. Heyman explains that, no, neither he nor Brock will drop their lawsuits against the WWE and, no, Brock will not face Triple H at SummerSlam! Paul Heyman was then ready to leave, but his exit is stalled with the arrival of WWE COO Triple H. “The Game” says that, when he looks around, he realizes that they are not in a “bingo hall” and he is not one of Heyman’s “cronies from the 90’s”. Triple H continues that he knows what Heyman is, a “habitual liar”, saying that Brock Lesnar will fight him at SummerSlam and the only man he wants to hear from is Brock Lesnar. The COO says that he can give Brock what he wants because he can make Lesnar a “star”. Triple H then shows a potential SummerSlam poster featuring Lesnar’s face. Heyman responds by claiming that Brock does not have an ego, but Triple H argues that it is all about “ego” with Lesnar. Triple H says that, if Brock does not accept, then Lesnar will go down in history as the guy who is “scared” of Triple H. Heyman scoffs at the attempt, telling Triple H to “stop pretending to be a wrestler” as Triple H is no longer an “ass-kisser”, telling the COO to go back home and “play the King of Kings”. Heyman then taunts “The Game”, asking Triple H is he is going to hit him, saying that Triple H is becoming more and more like Vince McMahon every day, daring Triple H to hit him.
The legal representative then warns that, if Triple H even thinks about hitting him, then he and Brock Lesnar will own the company and, in their WWE, there is no spot for Triple H. After not getting the reaction he wanted out of “The Game”, Heyman resorts to making a comment about Triple H’s wife, Stephanie McMahon, which prompts Triple H to grab Heyman by the collar as Heyman continues to dare Triple H to hit him, but the COO resists the urge, letting go of Heyman. Heyman then claims that he knew that Triple H would not hit him because he is smarter than the COO and he knows every move “The Game” is going to make before he makes it. Triple H then decks the legal representative before standing over Heyman and telling Paul that he will see Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, unless Brock is afraid that he will get dropped by Triple H, as well!
After embarrassing Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, in a Tuxedo Match at No Way Out, Santino Marella would have to face Rodriguez’s boss as the United States Champion went one-on-one with the medically cleared “Mexican Aristocrat” Alberto Del Rio. After missing out on his No Way Out title opportunity, Alberto Del Rio was in no mood for Santino Marella’s games as Del Rio dominated Santino, locking the cross armbreaker in, forcing the United States Champion to tap out. After the match, Ricardo Rodriguez adds insult to injury by delivering an armbar takedown on Santino.
Divas Champion Layla appears on RAW to introduce the Guest Star of RAW, Cyndi Lauper, and WWE Hall of Famer Wendi Richter. It does not take long for an interruption as Heath Slater comes out. After Cyndi Lauper asks who Slater is, Slater introduces himself and says that he is not going to let Lauper ruin his moment. “The One-Man Band” then takes the microphone to sing his own song, but Slater is interrupted by another surprise guest as “Rowdy” Roddy Piper makes his way to the ring! Slater greets Layla, Richter, and Lauper before telling Slater to get out of the ring. Piper then says that he does not care what anyone says, but the Rock N’ Wrestling Connection made the WWE what it is today. The Hall of Famer then says that he once hit the late, great “Captain” Lou Albano over the head with a gold record before saying that, on behalf of himself, Lou Albano, and the WWE, he is presenting Lauper with a framed gold record. Slater then interrupts again, telling all four of them to get out of the ring so he can finish his song, but Piper pokes Slater in the eyes before Lauper smashes the framed gold record over Slater’s head, leaving Slater bloodied and dazed!
After being betrayed by A.W. at No Way Out, Primo & Epico, with Rosa Mendes in their corner, were out for revenge as the former tag team champions faced the #1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Titles, The Prime Time Players, with their new manager/promoter A.W. in their corner. During the match, Primo & Epico would go to dive on The Prime Time Players on the outside, but A.W. holds his new tag team back as the #1 Contenders opt to take a count-out loss.
It was announced during RAW that next week’s show will feature the return of six-time World Champion Chris Jericho as Jericho appears on RAW for the first time in a month!
Prior to the main event, former General Manager John Laurinaitis delivered his farewell address, recalling the events from No Way Out. Laurinaitis says that neither he or Big Show are the loser because all of the fans are “losers”. The ex-GM then says that they will not see him again until he is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, adding that it is the “darkest day in WWE history”. Laurinaitis then promises the “biggest beat down” of John Cena ever before introducing his tag team partners, David Otunga and “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show.
Before the main event, Laurinaitis’ former employee, Theodore Long, is a guest on commentary. In the ring, Big Show thanks John Laurinaitis for his iron-clad contract and hefty bonus, as well as letting him be himself. Show says that he is not beholden to anyone, not even Laurinaitis, saying that he has proven that he can beat Cena on his own and he is off to “bigger and better things”. Show then says that he has “no reason” to compete in the match before wishing Otunga and Laurinaitis good luck with Show walking out of the ring!
After Big Show walked out on them, David Otunga and the injured ex-GM John Laurinaitis would be stuck facing John Cena in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match! Early on in the match, David Otunga repeatedly tries to tag in John Laurinaitis, but Laurinaitis backs away from the tag each time. With John Cena prone in the ring, John Laurinaitis is ready for the tag and, when “Big Johnny” enters the ring, Laurinaitis throws the crutch aside, rips the neck brace and arm sling off, revealing that he is not really injured! The ex-GM then stomps away at Cena, trying to pin Cena, but after Cena kicks out, Laurinaitis goes for the tag to Otunga, but Otunga refuses the tag as Otunga also walks out on his former boss! Laurinaitis is then left all alone with John Cena as Cena easily manhandles his former boss around the ring before delivering three Attitude Adjustments to Laurinaitis, finishing it off with the STF as the ex-GM taps out frantically, much to the approval of Theodore Long and everyone in attendance!
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