WWE RECAP..By Ryan

Raw started off with Nexus already assembled in the ring. Michael Cole quickly noted their presence and Wade Barrett stepped forward with mic in hand. Barrett opened: "How fitting." Boos. He waited them out before acknowledging Raw emanating from the nation's capital. Barrett said he talked about doing something memorable that will be remembered forever last week. He said they destroyed a WWE institution last week, The Undertaker. They cued up footage from last Monday's Raw showing Barrett give Taker the overhead slam, followed by Justin Gabriel hitting the 450 splash.

Back live, David Otunga took the mic and said they are the new phenom in WWE. Otunga said they cut Darren Young and Skip Sheffield is down with an injury and had the greatest nights of their lives. Michael Tarver was next to talk about savoring their moment taking out Taker. But, they weren't done, as they took out five top stars on Raw. Tarver said Edge and Chris Jericho were so scared that they took themselves out of the match. Heelish revisionist history. Heath Slater was next to focus on him pinning the WWE champion, Sheamus, during the elimination match.

Justin Gabriel was next to talk about doing his finishing move to both Taker and John Cena in the same night. Taker and Cena in the same sentence for some seed planting. Gabriel then introduced footage from Raw where he hit said finisher on Cena. They replayed it a few times for added effect and showed Gabriel pinning Cena. Back live, Gabriel had a good laugh and said that was like the third time he's hit the move on Cena. Maybe four. Gabriel said it gets more and more satisfying each time he hits the move. "You can see me, John," he said.

Barrett was next to say he pinned Randy Orton, which is just a taste for Night of Champions when he beats Orton, Cena, Sheamus, Jericho, and Edge to bring the WWE Title "back home" to Nexus. Barrett said it will be historical, ground-breaking, and everything he has said. Suddenly, Randy Orton's music interrupted to a big pop. Orton slowly walked out on stage to let the moment breathe before his music stopped.



Orton said what he took away from last week was him taking out two of Nexus's men in less than 30 seconds. Orton said he doesn't need to roll footage of that because he'll do it again. Orton said he's going to make it his business to hit Barrett with the RKO at Night of Champions. Barrett said that's real tough talk, so why not come to the ring and try giving him the RKO. Orton, whose eyes looked a bit weird, glared back at Barrett and slowly walked down the ramp. Suddenly, the Raw GM buzzed.

Michael Cole approached the podium and opened up the laptop to read off the piece of paper on the keyboard. Cole read that for the first time ever, Gabriel will face John Cena. Gabriel sold confidence. Also, Orton doesn't have to wait until NOC, as he gets Wade Barrett for the first-time ever tonight. Cole read that Nexus is banned from ringside tonight to make sure both matches are fair. Slater and Tarver flipped out while Barrett sold mild disdain and confidence facing Orton tonight.





1 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. JOHN MORRISON -- Jericho off the PPV with a loss



Jericho jumped Morrison as the bell sounded to attack Morrison with a full-blown attack. Morrison teased an early nearfall, but Jericho kicked out and came back with a flying sledgehammer for a two count of his own. Jericho then tossed Morrison to the floor and demanded an answer from Cole on who the GM is.Back from break, Jericho was in control. In-between moves, Jericho leaned on the ropes to scream at Cole who the GM is. Cole then talked about people feeling that Jericho's career has stalled, prompting Jericho to make this proclamation for Night of Champions. Morrison made a spirited comeback, but Jericho cut him off. Jericho tried a Lionsault, but Morrison ducked and came off the ropes with a springboard kick for a two count. Morrison paused, then Jericho cut off Morrison's momentum. They traded offensive move teases, then Jericho hit an enziguiri kick to the head. He made a cover, but Morrison kicked out.

Jericho shot Morrison off, but missed with a shoulder tackle. Morrison then tried to follow with Starship Pain, but Jericho moved. Morrison sold an ankle injury landing on the near attempt and Jericho capitalized with the Walls of Jericho. Morrison sold and sold, then finally reached the bottom rope for a break. Jericho argued with the ref on the rope break, then tried to follow with a top rope superplex, but Morrison blocked. Morrison then landed right hand blows taking Jericho off the top. He tried to reposition himself for Starship Pain and he connected. Morrison then made the cover and yes, scored the pin. Jericho is out of Night of Champions.

RYAN'S ANGLE: Excellent TV match with high stakes and a chance for Morrison to shine for the first time in a while. The finish seemed to hint that Jericho is gone from WWE and is being written off Night of Champions, but it could also be a way for WWE to avoid being forced to book Jericho to win the match at Night of Champions since now he's out of the match. Potentially, it's a way to get them out of a corner they were backed into with Jericho having to win the title if he does indeed re-sign with WWE. Good story to the match and post-match selling what's next.


2 -- JOHN CENA vs. JUSTIN GABRIEL -- Nexus banned from ringside




The bell sounded as the announcers talked up Gabriel's individual character talking points to try to establish his personality within Nexus. Cena took control early on with a head scissors as the crowd was fired up with a loud dueling chant of "Let's Go Cena" vs. "Cena Sucks." Gabriel broke free and they backed away from each other before locking up again with Gabriel taking control. Cena then reversed in the corner, only to run into an elbow from Gabriel.

Gabriel than landed a kick strike to the thigh following an Eddie Guerrero-style slingshot shoulder drop to the mid-section. Gabriel then nailed a springboard cross-body splash for a two count. The announcers reset and brought up Chris Jericho losing his spot at Night of Champions to reinforce that point. Gabriel then slapped on a great submission hold stretching Cena's body in various directions. Cena powered up to his feet, though, only to have Gabriel counter a bodyslam attempt with a sit-out slam for a two count.

Gabriel then positioned Cena for a nice springboard moonsault center ring, but Cena moved out of the way. Cena fired up with the standard comeback, then called for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena dropped the fist, Gabriel came to his feet, and Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment. Gabriel elbowed out, though, and landed an STO followed by a kick strike to the face. Gabriel then went to the corner looking for the 450 Splash, but Cena came to his feet and crotched Gabriel. Cena then teased a top-rope Attitude Adjustment and kinda tripped on the ropes on the way down executing the finisher. Cena with the pin for the win.



RYAN'S ANGLE: Good match with a good crowd and Gabriel given enough offense to retain credibility before the expected finish. It was also interesting to hear the announcers focus on Gabriel individually with an eye on trying to make some singles stars out of the Nexus group for down the road.

3 -- RANDY ORTON vs. WADE BARRETT



The bell sounded and Orton aggressively attacked Barrett. Cena talked strategy of the key to Nexus being isolating them. Suddenly, the match moved to the floor where Orton banged Barrett's head off the announce table in front of the men assembled ringside. Back in the ring, Orton shouted to the crowd before stomping on Barrett. Orton caught Barrett with an elbow, but Barrett blasted him with a big boot to the face. Sheamus, meanwhile, asked why it's fair that he could lose the WWE Title without ever being pinned. Cole defended the Raw GM's decision-making, continuing to hint Cole is the GM. Lawler backed up Sheamus, then Cole noted Sheamus won the title because of Nexus. Sheamus said that fact is irrelevant. He said his poor granny at home has been praying and is distraught because of these circumstances. Great delivery.

Orton made a comeback, but Barrett cut him off and delivered a backbreaker. Cena put over Barrett, saying he looks like he belongs. Sheamus said he has a touch of the flu, which is why he hasn't been in the ring this week. Cole returned fire and Sheamus said he better watch out or Cole won't be on TV next week. Orton delivered his trademark fallaway backbreaker and Edge added good commentary that it makes your feet go numb when you take the move. Orton then fired up and set up for the spike DDT from the second rope, but Barrett blocked and back-dropped Orton over the top to the floor.

Suddenly, some new music hit and out walked Darren Young on stage. Young said Barrett thought he could kick him out of Nexus and get away with it. Young slowly walked down to the ring and said he's going to show Barrett he wasn't the weakest link, but the missing link. Young approached the ring steps as Barrett stared him down. Orton then snuck in the back door and dropped him with the RKO. Orton with the pin for the win. Orton was frothing at the mouth post-match, which was a good look to get over his intensity.

Post-match: Orton called Young into the ring, smiling at him. Young took the bait and ate an RKO from Orton. Sheamus and Edge then tried to corner Orton, but Orton avoided their attacks. Orton smashed Edge with the RKO. Orton then ducked a kick from Sheamus and hit the RKO. Orton did his IED convulsions and his music hit as Cole said he is on fire.

They replayed the roll of RKOs, then cut back live to the ring where John Cena was now in the ring. It's Cena vs. Orton next week. Cena took off his t-shirt and stared down Orton, who returned the stare with a glare. Orton slowly inched toward Cena, who stood his ground. They continued to stare down each other, then Orton eased up and wiped his mouth. They continued to stare each other down as the crowd chanted, "Fight, fight," to conclude the show. The facial expressions were pretty over-the-top, but effective to sell...next week's Raw. We'll see if they can sell the PPV next week.

RYAN's Final Thought:They needed to have Orton win, but without making Barrett look weak, so enter Darren Young with the random interruption. They're at the make-or-break point with Nexus on the audience teetering on the edge of not caring about the group anymore. On commentary, Edge was terrific, Sheamus was solid playing a confident top champion, and Cena was good picking his spots to interject comments. Overall much better show than last week and makes me excited to watch next Monday but can they effectively sell the PPV next week? we will see