Home / Results / Monday Night Raw / July 18, 2011

WWE Title tournament results:

1. The Miz def. Alex Riley.

2. R-Truth def. Jack Swagger.

3. Kofi Kingston def. Alberto Del Rio.

4. Rey Mysterio def. Dolph Ziggler.

5. Miz def. Kingston.

6. Mysterio def. Truth.

Also: Kelly Kelly, Kaitlyn, AJ Lee, Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim, Eve Torres, & Natalya def. Melina, Maryse, Tamina, Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes, & the Bella Twins when Beth pinned Rosa.

I apologize for being 3 days late with this report. I was at a minor league baseball game on Monday, and missed most of the show. As a result, most of this report is culled from a web report filed by Marc Middleton, and obtained from Lords of Pain. I'll jump in when we get near the end of the show..........
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- Tonight's WWE RAW opens up with the normal intro video. We go right to the arena and out comes Vince McMahon to a mixed reaction from the Green Bay crowd. Vince has John Laurinaitis with him and they make their way to the ring.

The crowd chants for CM Punk as we see the WWE roster backstage watching on a TV. Vince says you will never hear him say that man's name again. He says that man is the biggest ingrate in WWE history. Vince says that man walked out on all of the fans, the locker room and anyone who has ever been in the ring. Vince says that man is an egotistical, selfish turd. Vince says nobody is bigger than WWE - Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, nobody. Vince puts over WWE as a company and says it cannot be stopped. Vince says we will crown a new WWE Champion tonight.

An eight-man tournament is announced. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rey Mysterio, R-Truth vs. Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio and Alex Riley vs. The Miz is announced by Vince. Vince points out that John Cena is not in the tournament. The crowd boo's Cena's name. Vince says he will boo Cena too because he let him down. Vince warned Cena before the match that there would be severe consequences if he lost to Punk. Vince says after consulting with Laurinaitis, there will be severe consequences tonight. Vince says tonight will be a night we always remember. No Chance starts back up as Vince and Laurinaitis, who is sporting a shiner, leave the ring.

- Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler talk about Cena and tonight's WWE Title tournament that will crown a new champion.

WWE Title Tournament Match: The Miz vs. Alex Riley

We go to the ring for tonight's opener as The Miz makes his way out, limping to the ring. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and out comes Alex Riley. The bell rings and here we go. Riley goes for Miz's injured leg early on but can't get it. Miz rolls Riley up for a quick pin attempt. Riley rams Miz back in the corner but it's broken up. Riley finally takes Miz's leg out and goes to work on it. Riley pulls Miz's leg and slams it into the ringpost twice. Riley comes back in and applies a half Boston crab.

Riley kicks Miz in the head and drops him for a close 2 count. Riley charges in the corner but Miz moves and he hits the ringpost. Miz with a 2 count. Miz mounts Riley now and hits him with a series of right hands. The referee pulls Miz off. Miz applies a headlock but Riley fights out and slams Miz back on his head. Riley takes Miz down with forearms and hits a spinebuster for 2. They go back and forth on holds. Riley runs into a big boot in the corner. Miz goes to the second rope but lands wrong and Riley catches him in a Sharpshooter. Miz makes it to the ropes and breaks the hold.

More back and forth action and it doesn't look like they're on the same page timing wise. Riley gets tangled up with the referee and Miz hits Skull Crushing Finale for the win and to advance in the tournament.

Winner: The Miz

- We see R-Truth walking and talking to himself backstage as we go back to commercial.

- Back from the break and we get a promo video for John Morrison.

WWE Title Tournament Match: R-Truth vs. Jack Swagger

We go to the ring and out comes R-Truth, followed by his opponent Jack Swagger.

The bell rings and they lock up. They break apart and lock up again. Swagger with a side headlock. Truth dazes Swagger with a big right hand and rolls him up for a 2 count. They lock up again and go to the corner. Swagger with shoulder thrusts. Swagger slams Truth and covers him for 2. Swagger uses the ropes on Truth and side slams him for another 2 count. Swagger continues the offense and beats Truth back down.

Swagger whips Truth hard into the corner and he goes down again. Swagger goes for the big second rope splash out of the corner and nails it for yet another pin attempt. Truth fights out of a hold but Swagger scoops him on his shoulders. Truth counters, ducks a clothesline and hits a heel kick on Swagger for a 2 count. Truth with a big right hand. Truth misses a scissors kick. Swagger trips him and goes for the ankle lock. Truth rolls out of it and covers Swagger for the win and to advance in the tournament.

Winner: R-Truth

- We get hype for Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio, which is up next. Back to commercial.

WWE Title Tournament Match: Alberto Del Rio vs. Kofi Kingston

Back from the break and RAW Money in the Bank winner Alberto Del Rio comes driving into the arena for the next tournament match. Del Rio enters the ring with his briefcase and says his name is, his name is... Mr. Money in the Bank Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio talks about winning last night and then trying to cash in on CM Punk. Del Rio says Punk ran away like a chicken. Del Rio says all of this happened because John Cena couldn't do his job. Del Rio says he hopes Cena gets fired because WWE needs a new leader - a better one and a stronger one, he says. Del Rio reminds us that it's his destiny to become WWE Champion. Del Rio's music hits again and out comes Ricardo Rodriguez, returning from injury. Ricardo speaks in Spanish about Del Rio and does his normal introduction. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and out comes Kofi Kingston. The bell rings and they lock up. Del Rio takes it to the corner and kicks Kofi in the gut. Del Rio kicks Kofi in the back of the head and goes for a 2 count. Kofi fights back with right hands and dropkicks Del Rio for a pin attempt. Del Rio comes back with a kick and knees. Del Rio drops Kofi with a shoulder and ducks some kicks. Kofi with a flying elbow for a 2 count.

Kofi with right hands and a big uppercut on Del Rio for another pin attempt. Del Rio jumps at Kofi but flies out to the floor. Kofi dives through the ropes, landing on Del Rio and the floor outside of the ring. Kofi brings it back in the ring but Del Rio kicks him in the head for another pin attempt. Del Rio stomps on Kofi's head now and covers for yet another pin attempt. Del Rio with a headlock now. Del Rio with more offense and another pin attempt. Del Rio drops a big elbow and gets yet another 2 count. Del Rio goes back to the headlock now.

Del Rio charges with a dropkick in the corner but Kofi moves and he lands on his head. Kofi makes a comeback now and dropkicks Del Rio, then takes him down with a big forearm. Del Rio catches Kofi with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a 2 count. Del Rio goes for the armbar but Kofi rolls him up for the pin and the win, advancing in the tournament.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

- It will now be Kofi vs. The Miz and R-Truth vs. the winner of Rey Mysterio and Dolph Ziggler. We see Mysterio heading to the ring as we go back to commercial.

- Back from the break and we get replays of Kofi vs. Del Rio. Josh Matthews is backstage with Kofi for an interview. He talks about coming up short at Money in the Bank but says tonight is a new opportunity. Kofi says we just saw him take the first step at becoming the new WWE Champion. One down, two to go he says and walks off.

WWE Title Tournament Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler

We go to the ring and out comes Rey Mysterio to a nice reaction from the crowd. Out next comes the WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero.

The bell rings and Ziggler beats Rey down and goes to work. Ziggler runs into a boot in the corner and Rey takes him down. Rey ducks a clothesline but gets kicked. Ziggler launches Rey out of the ring but he lands on his feet. Ziggler comes out and blocks Rey, then drops him face first on the floor. Ziggler brings it back in the ring for a 2 count. Ziggler with an elbow and another 2 count. Ziggler goes to work on Rey's leg now with an odd hold.

They trade pin attempts. Dolph takes back control and drops Rey again for a 2 count. More pin attempts by Ziggler as Vickie yells at ringside. Dolph misses an elbow drop and a splash in the corner. Rey kicks him in the head and covers for 2. Rey with a senton from the top but Ziggler stops him running the ropes. Ziggler kicks Rey's leg out and hits a form of a cutter for 2. They go back and forth. Dolph goes for the sleeper hold but Rey throws him into the turnbuckles. Rey kicks Dolph and goes for a hurricanrana but Dolph catches him. Rey counters the block and goes for 619. Dolph ducks 619 and slams Rey for 2.

Ziggler stomps away now. Rey counters a move and finally hits 619. Rey goes up top and hits the big splash for the pin and the win, advancing in the tournament.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

- We see Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis talking backstage before another commercial.

Kelly Kelly, Kaitlyn, AJ Lee, Eve Torres, Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim & Natalya vs. Melina, Maryse, Tamina, Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes & The Bella Twins

Beth and Rosa start the match off going at it. Beth slingshot suplexes Rosa for a 2 count. The Bellas break the pin which brings in Natalya and Gail to take them out. All the Divas start brawling at ringside, not even 3 minutes into the match. Beth and Rosa are in the ring still. Beth hits the Glam Slam for the quick win.

Winners: Kelly Kelly, Kaitlyn, AJ Lee, Eve Torres, Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim & Natalya

- Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz is up next as we go to commercial.
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WWE Title Tournament Match: Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz

JG: This is where I came in, coming home from the ballgame. We pick up the action with Miz selling his knee, which was reportedly injured at Money in the Bank. However, Kofi went for one move too many, and it cost him. Miz ducks a corner splash, and limps into position for the Skull Crushing Finale. Winner: The Miz.

Scott Sandford interviews R-Truth. More gaga about conspiracies and "Little Jimmy", and that the title will "get got". Yeah, sure.

R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio.

Truth was on offense early, and hit the Lie Detector and a gourdbuster for 2. Back comes Rey, who finally dials up 619, then hits the missile splash. Winner: Rey Mysterio.

Rey is still in the ring awaiting Miz when Vince McMahon comes out instead. The finals have been postponed until next week due to time constraints, and Rey reluctantly departs, along with ref Mike Chioda. McMahon rants again about no one being bigger than the company. The crowd chants for CM Punk, but Punk is back home in Chicago, taking in a Cubs game. John Cena is out, and cuts an intense promo on Vince. He didn't want this to be Montreal all over again, and didn't want to screw over Punk. He gives Punk a shout out, which means Punk may be a face upon his return. And, trust me, pilgrims, he will return. Cena starts to leave, but Vince stops him. He's ready to fire Cena, but some familiar music begins to play........

Triple H returns to Raw after 3 months away, dapper in a suit. He wants to take Vince backstage, but the insane chairman insists on staying in the ring and introduces Hunter as his son-in-law and an all-time great. HHH just came back from a board meeting. Long story short, as much as it pains "The Game", he brings a message from the board that the fans have wanted to hear for years. McMahon is being relieved of his duties as chairman, and Hunter is taking his place!!!! The crowd pops big time. Vince starts crying. Hunter has to fight back the tears himself. He knows how much this company means to Vince. A chorus of "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" morphs into a chant of "Thank you, Vince!" as Hunter leaves Vince alone in the ring to bask in the spotlight one final time. Cena has been spared, but for how long? Who will be the champion? We'll all find out together, next week.