It’s probably worth mentioning, I have begun a podcast reviewing Raw (and various other happenings in WWE) with Denny Lugz. You can subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/doing-the-job/id553234010 or with any other pod-catcher http://doingthejob.podomatic.com/rss2.xml.
9:03 – We lost, but it doesn’t matter. Roar!
9:04 – I hope there’s a lot of focus on Bryan tonight. It doesn’t make a great deal of sense why he had beef with the Nexus, but I don’t care, I marked out anyway and I’m thrilled he’s back.
9:08 – This Raw is starting off fun. I hope that the GM doesn’t interrupt and ruin everything.
9:09 – Can we get some progression now, reveal the GM or the higher power? Maybe they’re the same guy?
9:10 – Is the guy in the white shirt behind the announcers’ table the “hot” werewolf from this season of True Blood?
9:13 – I hope tonight is action packed and since Team WWE is competing, we better see Bryan and even Bret having a win would be nice.
9:18 – Ok, Wade Barrett Vs. Chris Jericho. Let’s go! Barrett losing would be awesome, someone could step in to the role of leader… someone we aren’t expecting.
9:24 – Wade Barrett over Jericho. 6 more to go?
9:33 – What is the point of guest hosts? They don’t even plug their stuff, they just walk out do something dumb and leave.
9:34 – FINALLY! They’re actually stopping this silly Unified titles thing. I was actually just wondering when they were going to do that. Then again, I wonder that every time that I see them. Maybe they’ll defend on Smackdown once in a while?
9:35 – Maybe after Justin Gabriel loses this match, he’ll eventually become a face and he and Evan Bourne can be a tag team with sick high flying combinations and it can propel them both a bit.
9:40 – Tarver Vs. Bryan? I hope Bryan wins!
9:43 – I guess that was necessary, but I don’t aprove. Tarver over by roll-up due to distraction by The Miz.
9:45 – Nice, Bret returns to the ring after a whole 24 hours of not being in the ring.
9:58 – Justin Gabriel Vs. Bret Hart isn’t happening. Way to false advertise. Well, Gabriel should be out of the Nexus in… say 6 minutes?
10:02 – Oh, Orton’s going to lose via count out.
10:03 – Ok, so most likely there will be one member of Nexus that will get tossed tonight. Maybe Young, since he’s taking on Cena, who can only lose if he’s shot in the heart.
10:06 – I’m almost positive that is Joe Manganiello in the audience.
10:11 – Skip and David against Morrison and K-Kwik? They can’t 86 2 members of Nexus in one shot… can they?
10:16 – Nope. So, Slater Vs. Edge?
10:17 – Divas tag! Nap time!
10:26 – Lawl “Memory Lane is closed, don’t go there.”
10:33 – Not thrilled that the Miz and Sheamus really aren’t used all that much. They’re champions. Come to think of it, all that Hart Dynasty did was swap belts. Champs aren’t important.
10:34 – I just heard a fan yelling about “…The Brood, we remember!”
10:38 – The Nexus wins are kinda cheaping out a bit. Oh well, Young’s going to lose. Slater over via count out.
10:53 – I wonder how this will play out? Will Cena win, Nexus turn on Young and beat him up, then Cena will help him in a show of compassion?
10:54 – John Cena vs. Darren Young.
11:02 – Cena wins via tap out. Let’s see what the future holds for Young…
11:04 – Anyone notice Jerry Lawler call Darren Young “Daniel Bryan” just now?
11:06 – So young got beaten up, predictable. Not a horrible Raw to follow Summer Slam.
Rating: 
I’ve decided to make an attempt at playing the role of an analyst for WWE programming. After last night’s solid ‘Money in the Bank’ payperview, I’m going to begin with the following Raw.
9:00 – The show opens up with a triple threat match to determine who will challenge for the WWE Championship at Summer Slam in a month. Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, then Edge make their way to the ring. These three guys are fully capable of main eventing. This seems out of place for a show opener. Perhaps we will have a swerve?
9:15 – As expected, these three are performing solidly, after a commercial break, we return very methodically paced action. If this match is really going to determine the next challenger, it’s hard to believe Jericho or Edge will win, with Orton being the white hot babyface. Edge Vs. Sheamus or Jericho Vs. Sheamus, although would be excellent matches with great promos to boot, probably would fail to draw as much as Orton Vs. Sheamus.
On a side note, these three guys were part of the Money in the Bank main match last night and all lost, as did Bourne, Morrison, DiBiase and Mark Henry. What makes them eligible to compete for the number one contender’s spot? A fresh face maybe nice to see. Come on WWE, these guys have all be World Champions or WWE Champion before.
9:20 – Does Jericho ever hit the lionsault anymore?
9:21 – Well, Orton was the victor. DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING!
9:27 – Edge calling Jericho to the ring… what could this be? Career-ending match? Truce? Loser leaves Raw?
9:28 – The “this thing between us has been going on for 11 years” thing is such retrofitting nonsense.
9:31 – So now with the Nexus turns on Jericho next? Seems right…
9:33 – I’m just waiting for a Cena run-in, followed by emails from the G.M.
9:39 – Sheamus is flirting with the enemy, seems interesting. I don’t know about Mathews calling the Nexus the most powerful group in WWE history… seems like we’re forgetting DX, Hart Foundation, Los Boricuas … ok scatch that last one. John Cena asking for a face to face? Teasing a turn? I’d say that means it isn’t going to happen. Why are we having a Henry Vs. Barrett match? Is it to tell the audience what a powerful force Henry is only to job him to Barrett? I guess that could work.
9:48 – Eve Torres to face Maryse (accompanied by Ted Dibiase). Anyone notice the black and gold coat Maryse was wearing? Shades of the Million Dollar Man! Maryse is going over, by hook or by crook.
9:51 – I’m shocked, both that I was wrong and that… the face has a tainted victory. When does the heel ever lose by the ref not seeing the foot on the rope?? Well at least John Morrison did that move that looks great, but never hits the mark. That whole segment was actually pointless.
9:57 – Sheamus out … he’ll probably talk for a few minutes, then we’ll get either Barrett or Orton (or both out) for an eye to eye. At least I hope so. We don’t have a lot of time to build this castle we call “Summer Slam 2010.”
10:01 – Yay, my favorite wrestler and the best wrestler in the world right now, The Miz, has just came to make this promo … awesome!
I really hope The Miz isn’t the first guy to ever cash in his Money in the Bank and lose. I’d be really unhappy. He needs to be the champion for a long, long time.
10:05 – G.M. email, Sheamus Vs. Evan Bourne, I had a feeling they’d announce him. I don’t expect him to win or deal that much damage to Sheamus. The Miz being the guy stalking his prey, waiting to pounce is an excellent device that I know he’ll utilize to the fullest.
10:19 – I didn’t think they were going to waste a Money in the Bank right away. I figured when The Miz cashed in and Sheamus was not responding, something would happen and The Miz would retreat with the MITB still in tact. The crowd was loving it though. The Miz is over, even being a heel.
10:25 – Great promo by The Miz, of course, what promo of his isn’t great? Summer Slam promo, showing us the 1998, featuring Jim Ross saying it was the “tenth annual Summer Slam.” It was actually the 11th, but who is counting. Oh yeah, me. Finally, our face to face with Orton and Sheamus. I think we get it, the champion has a target/bullseye on his back.
10:32 – Santino and Kozlov – time for our comic relief for the evening. Zack Ryder and William Regal?? Why is Zack Ryder being wasted like this? How many weeks in a row do we have to see Regal, Kozlov and Santino doing this tired routine? Maybe they’ll swerve us and Zack Ryder will pull off a win and throw some “L I” hand signals around. …I can dream, can’t I?
10:36 – Oh look, Santino and Kozlov won, maybe they’ll challenge the Harts next week?
10:40 – Wade Barrett out to face Mark Henry. I guess this is the last match, before our main event… which will be John Cena not joining the Nexus? Hmm, Sheamus is up against Orton for Summer Slam, Cena doesn’t have much to do, a Cena/Nexus program for Summer Slam seems in order. Could it just be Cena Vs. Barrett though? I feel like a big tag team match, or something else would need to be in order. Barrett and Cena wouldn’t exactly be a draw. Maybe some more of their master plan will be revealed. Maybe it will involve this anonymous G.M.?
10:45 – Barrett almost killed himself, but he pulled it off, he did his fireman’s carry into a slam maneuver. It’s only 10:45 though, we have a lot of time for stuff to happen. Poor Barrett is still holding his back… Hope he didn’t hurt himself too much.
10:53 – “Nexus Sucks More Than Texas” sign in the audience. I dunno if I agree with that, the Nexus angle is pretty good so far, where Texas… well it’s Texas… Oh Cena’s finally out. Let’s see where this goes, or doesn’t go.
10:57 – Are they trying to replicate Hogan joining the Outsiders? I can’t really imagine Cena joining the group of noobs, it wouldn’t turn Cena heel, he’d just be a reluctant participant. Who would he feud with? Would he turn his back on his “friend” Mark Henry?
11:00 – I’m waiting for the swerve…
11:02 – 7 on 7 at Summer Slam? That’ll be interesting. I would like to see one superstar defect to the Nexus, but this could draw some buys. So it’s Edge, R-Truth, Morrison, Khali, Jericho, Cena, and BRET?!? Ok, didn’t see that coming! Interesting dynamic.
Overall, not a bad show! We didn’t hear too much from the G.M. though. That’s probably a good thing. Maybe I’ll chime in for one of these other shows this week, Smackdown, NXT, Impact! (barf). We’ll see…