Before starting this week's wrestling recap, I'll point out that I won't be including Vintage Collection any more. It remains entertaining, but in the UK it can sometimes be Thursday by the time it's shown at a suitable time, which is several days after every other show. So, for that reason, this weekly recap will now focus solely on Raw, SmackDown, NXT and Superstars.
I should also mention that I will do PPV recaps separately from now on. So, this blog covers the most recent week of WWE TV, pre-Night Of Champions.
Raw was based around two events: a John Cena & Bret Hart vs Alberto Del Rio & Ricardo Rodriguez tag team match, and a final face-off between Triple H and CM Punk. The tag match didn't last long, and followed an earlier debate involving Del Rio, Hart and Cena. The only strange aspect was how nobody was disappointed at the announcement of the tag match, despite the massive cheers moments earlier when Cena proposed a Del Rio-Hitman WWE Title match.
As for Punk and HHH: their confrontation started off fairly mildly, only for both to start throwing barbs at each other, and by the end the "discussion" had become a lot more intense. After Punk's microphone was cut off twice, HHH offered Punk a third mic, only for CM to crack Triple H in the face with it and leave, no words necessary.
Also on Raw: The Miz was victorious over Kofi Kingston; Jerry Lawler teamed up with Sheamus to beat David Otunga and Michael McGilicutty; and Randy Orton was defeated by Cody Rhodes due to a distraction by Mark Henry, who pummeled the World Heavyweight Champion afterwards.
SmackDown this week saw the return of Edge, who both cut down Cody Rhodes (who himself was then attacked by a masked fan, who turned out to be Ted DiBiase) and hosted The Cutting Edge with Orton and Henry. Henry said his 15-year wait for the World Title would end at NOC; the Viper believed after NOC, Henry would be remembered as the World's Strongest Failure. They couldn't physically interact during TCE, but once the Rated R host left, and ended the show, Orton and Henry had a brawl, which ended with Henry once again dominating Orton.
Elsewhere on SD: Sheamus and Justin Gabriel beat Christian and Wade Barrett; R-Truth picked up a win over Evan Bourne; and Sin Cara was disqualified against Daniel Bryan, but continued the assault afterwards . . . until a second Sin Cara appeared and confronted the, er, first one. Who is the real Sin Cara? When asked, Booker T hilariously said "That one" as both were in the ring. Presumably, we'll find out which one in the weeks to come.
NXT this week continued one from last week, as William Regal and Matt Striker fought Darren Young and JTG, with DYoung and JTG coming out on top. The worst part of this was Michael Cole on commentary, who basically said the last six months of the show, and the main storyline on the show, were pointless, and at one point mentioned how Zach Ryder's YouTube show gets more hits than NXT online. For a show that is hardly available in the US, and therefore barely viewed, it's not the best way to get more viewers - unless the intention is to dump the show altogether.
Superstars was more of the same this week, as Brodus Clay continued dominating "local" wrestlers and Zach Ryder beat Drew McIntyre.
There weren't really any funny comments or signs this week (actually there were some on SmackDown but I can't remember them now), so I'll go right into the Best Of The WWeek:
Wrestler Of The WWeek: Mark Henry, who couldn't have looked more dominant heading into Night Of Champions.
Match Of The Week: With most of the top stars not on active duty or doing little in the ring, I'll pick Sin Cara vs Daniel Bryan from SmackDown.
Show Of The Week: For more noteworthy matches and developments, Raw gets it this week.
Finally, some final predictions for Night Of Champions, match by match:
- I expect Beth Phoenix to beat Kelly Kelly, since a second defeat would give both Beth and Natalya very little chance of bringing about the end of the so-called Barbie Dolls in WWE.
- Air Boom lost two single matches to Miz and R-Truth, which makes me think they'll triumph when the gold is on the line.
- Cody Rhodes vs Ted DiBiase was announced late for NOC. DiBiase's only just back from a short hiatus, but since a title has to change hands at NOC, it could be in this match.
- Dolph Ziggler's manager Vickie Guerrero reacted angrily to the announcement of the Riley-Ziggler-Morrison-Swagger US Title Four Way for the PPV. Paradoxically, that probably means that Dolph will come out on top.
- Triple H vs CM Punk. I can't see HHH losing here, purely for the reason that, if he did lose (and was no longer COO), there aren't many people who could replace him. That being said, a defeta for Punk could (and probably would) lead to a rematch in the near future.
- Randy Orton vs Mark Henry. A few weeks ago, I automatically assumed that Henry was definitely getting pinned. But since then, whilst Orton hasn't looked dominant at all (and thus, could do with a win), the talk of Henry's 15-year wait for the World Title suggests a possible upset. That said, I think Orton will win somehow, and if Henry does win the gold, it'll be at a later date.
- John Cena vs Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio hasn't confronted Cena head-on bar the time he attacked him after Cena beat CM Punk. But ADR will probably have something up his sleeve that will see him remain champ after NOC.
As said, a Night Of Champions recap will follow, with next week's TV in a separate piece.
That's all for this week. Until next time, goodnight everybody!
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