WWE Recap.....By Ryan

The show started off with Edge coming out first to start the 'in-ring portion' of the show. Cole said Edge is at the heart of dissension within Team Raw after he questioned Great Khali's inclusion in the team, because Nexus could take down the entire company. Edge took the mic and said he really tried last week, but he has to go with his gut right now: himself. Edge recapped his failed babyface run at the start of 2010, saying the audience let him down, just like his Summerslam team.

Edge said he doesn't respect John Cena. He doesn't trust Chris. He doesn't have any faith in Great Khali. He barely knows R-Truth and John Morrison. And, Bret Hart? Edge skipped over him and said he has a proposal to do things his way. He challenged Wade Barrett one-on-one tonight. Suddenly, R-Truth's music interrupted to bring out Truth in a plain white t-shirt and pants. Edge said he doesn't want anyone coming down here; "What part of that don't you understand?"

Truth said Edge challenging Barrett to a match isn't going to solve anything. He said he doesn't have to listen to Cena, but he needs to listen to him. Truth paused to let that sink in. He asked Edge when was the last time he had to fight for everything...everything. Truth said they're fighting for their lifestyle, their friends, their families, and the WWE Universe. (Cheers.) "It's us, it's we," he said. Truth said if they don't fight together, Nexus wins. He told Edge to stop thinking about himself and pull his head out of his rear end. "That's the truth," he ended.

Edge did his classic cocky mannerisms to no-sell Truth's speech, then said he'll take out Wade Barrett tonight to cut off the snake's head. Edge asked Truth if he's going to leave nicely or if he'll have to spear him. Cue up the Raw GM with the MacBook interruption. Cole walked up to the Raw podium and opened the laptop. Cole started reading without even opening anything on the computer. They also cut to a shot of Cole reading off a piece of paper rather than the laptop. Annoying, or he's the Raw GM. Cole said the GM has booked Edge vs. Barrett...next. Truth told Edge good luck because he's on his own. Nice involvement of Truth in a strong promo exchange. Good start to the show.


1.) Edge V.S Wade Barrett



Edge dropped Barrett face-first in the corner early on, then slingshot him across the top rope. The action moved to the floor where Barrett rammed Edge into the side of the ring apron. Back in the ring, Barrett beat down Edge and continued to work on his head/neck region. Edge teased a comeback and they bumped heads for a double knock-down. Edge then made a full comeback with a smattering of cheers behind him before scoring a close near fall. Edge proceeded to go up top, which gave away a counter was coming since Edge never goes up top, and Barrett cut him off with a boot to the head. Barrett teased his overhead slam, but Edge countered with a spike DDT. Edge then teased a big spear in the corner, but Barrett saw it coming and quickly slipped to the outside.

Barrett smiled and mouthed to Edge, "No way." He then motioned to the back and Nexus stormed ringside. Edge saw it coming and hightailed it over the guardrail to the top of the 100-level seats. Edge stared down at Nexus while inside the crowd. Barrett signaled he was "this close" to finishing Edge. Barrett and Nexus regrouped on the outside to conclude the segment. Cole and Lawler just moved right along to the next plug, not even acknowledging a finish to the match or any decision. The announcers are produced to move along, but it's a very annoying and poor habit WWE has developed lately not announcing a decision. It undercuts the audience's investment in a match.


After the match Edge made his way backstage asking people where John Cena is. "Where were you?!" Edge shouted as Cena, pointing out he was fighting for his life by himself. Cena said he figured he would listen to Edge and not come down to the ring. Cena mocked Edge for his show-opening promo saying he didn't want anyone to come to the ring. Cena said their only chance of beating Nexus is if they stay together in the seven-on-seven. Edge told him good luck with that. "I quit!" Edge said. Cena grimaced as Jericho slowly walked up behind him. Cena said it must be quitting season. Jericho said Cena needs to quit because he's no good for WWE or the team. He said if Cena lives and breathes for this company, as he says, then he needs to quit the team. Jericho said perhaps they have it out in the ring. "Loser Leaves the Summerslam Team for good," he said. Cena said Jericho is crazy doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing - staying together while
Nexus is laughing at them. "Yes or no?" Jericho quietly asked. Cena said it's a yes. He walked off, frustrated. Jericho smirked.



2.) Divas champion ALICIA FOX & TAMINA & JILLIAN HALL vs. NATALYA & GAIL KIM & EVE

Babyface Raw Divas were already assembled in the ring coming out of a break with Eve's music playing. A trio of heel Divas then came out for a six-Divas tag match. The Divas tagged in and out very frequently with bodies flying everywhere before the finish. Tamina then distracted Natalya to set up Alicia for the Axe Kick finisher for the win. Post-match: Alicia took the mic and cut a promo about beating all of the Divas on the roster no matter the match type. Suddenly, Melina made her TV return in street clothes. The crowd was hot for Melina's return as Alicia tried to run away, but the other Divas threw Alicia back in the ring. Melina then hit her big scream + leg drop finisher and stood tall in the ring.



3.) CHRIS JERICHO vs. JOHN CENA -- Loser Leaves Team WWE



Jericho started in control of the match, executing a nice suplex before talking trash to Cena. Cole noted Jericho turning on Cena during the tag team main event last week as Cena air balled a flying shoulder tackle. Cena rolled to the outside and Jericho cockily raised his hand in the air with a smirk on his face. Jericho followed on the outside with stomps to the back before ramming him into the ring steps. The crowd tried to rally behind Cena as he sold on the outside with a ten count being applied. Cena snuck in before ten, then Jericho went back on the attack. Cena teased a comeback before eating an elbow in the corner. Jericho then slingshot Cena throat-first across the bottom rope and slapped on a reverse chinlock.

Cena broke free and then teased another comeback, but Jericho blocked the Five Knuckle Shuffle by springing to his feet and hitting the Codebreaker. Nice sequence. Cena rolled to the outside, so Jericho rolled him back in to make a cover, but Cena kicked out just before three.

After a commercial break Jericho escaped the Attitude Adjustment and dumped Cena to the floor where Cena was nearly counted out again. Jericho then cut off Cena with a kick to the head and Cena fell to the floor. Jericho followed out by ramming Cena's head into the announce table. "Stay down! You are a stupid man!" he shouted at Cena. Back in the ring, Jericho came off the top rope with a flying elbow smash that actually connected. He made a cover, but Cena kicked out again. Meanwhile, Cole and Lawler continued to talk about Cena's "heart and head not being in the match" to sell the match story of Jericho dominating.

Cena teased another comeback, but Jericho cut him off again and hit the Lionsault for a two count. Jericho complained to the ref, then took Cena to the top turnbuckle. Jericho teased a superplex, but Cena blocked and knocked Jericho to the mat. Cena then came off the top with the guillotine leg drop, then made a quick cover for a two count. Jericho then escaped the fifth teased comeback and applied the Walls of Jericho. SuperCena escaped, though, and slapped on the STF. Jericho instantly tapped out before Cena even had the hold locked in. Cena shot Jericho an odd look as Jericho just rolled to the outside and caught his breath.





Post-match: Cole suggested perhaps Jericho's heart wasn't in the match based on the quick tap-out. Jericho started to walk away, but Cena called to him from the ring. Cena said the people saw a great match between two of the best in WWE and he doesn't want him to leave the team. "I want you to stay because you are the best in the world at what you do," he said. Jericho sold he was thinking about Cena's words. Cena said he's not going to beg him, so the choice is his. Either they handle business with Nexus or Jericho lets everyone down, including himself, by walking away. Pause. Jericho let his eyes tell the story of contemplating the offer, then he frowned and turned away to leave. Jericho stopped on the ramp with his back to Cena, then continued to walk. "Jericho is out," Lawler quietly said as Cena rubbed his head. He's down to a five-team squad.



4.) RANDY ORTON vs. U.S. champion THE MIZ -- non-title match



Miz and Orton locked up early on, then Orton exploded out of the corner with a clothesline. Orton continued to beat down Miz, including a slow set-up for a slingshot into the bottom rope. Orton eventually knocked Miz to the floor and Sheamus walked out on-stage. Back in the arena, Orton was still in control of the match pounding away on Miz. Miz finally got in some offense with a boot to the face that bought him some time. Miz then landed elbows to the shoulders before settling into a chinlock while trying to gouge Orton's eyes. Segue to a zoomed-in shot of Sheamus's eyes as he stood on-stage continuing to watch intently.

As Miz continued to work on Orton he charged Orton with a hard clothesline in the corner. He maintained his pose for a moment to let the audience feel the move. Miz then slowly picked up Orton, who came back with right hand blows that rocked Miz before landing fired-up clotheslines. Miz attempted a left arm lariat, but Orton ducked and nailed a powerslam off the ropes. Miz reached the apron to slow down Orton, though, only to find himself in position for the spike DDT. Miz countered, though, by dumping Orton over the top rope to the floor.

On the floor, Miz landed some offense, then rolled Orton back into the ring. Miz nailed his combination Reality Check and scored a close nearfall. At this point, the crowd was a mixture of fans exhausted in the fourth hour of a TV taping and fans standing to see the finish. Miz tried to follow up on his nearfall, but Orton suddenly hit the RKO to a strong reaction. Orton then made the cover for the win. Post-match: Immediately after the finish, Sheamus started to charge the ring, but Orton scared him off posing as a threat. Cole quickly wrapped things up as they abruptly signed off with Orton posed in the ring like a snake glaring at Sheamus.



RYAN'S FINAL THOUGHTS: The show definitely had the feel of a taped show with abrupt editing cuts rather than a "capturing what's happening live" type feel. Also, they were very focused on Summerslam and they delivered a safe show that won't be buzz-worthy, but it was effective for doing the job. WWE showed they weren't worried about maintaining strong TV ratings after strong performance in July and maintained a clear focus on their second-most-important PPV of the year. The TV ratings will likely drop compared to last week, but it won't be a bad thing because of the quality build-up to Summerslam. The show set the stage for an intriguing final sales pitch on next week's Raw.