While Ricardo is dreading watching TNA iMPACT, I got an easy night recapping the return of Bret Hart. Of course later this week, I’ll provide my take to TNA iMPACT. The site is slow loading due to increased traffic. Thank you for supporting Inside Pulse Wrestling and enjoy tonight’s WWE RAW.
We immediately open with Justin Roberts introducing Bret Hart to the WWE Universe. And Bret has a new theme! EPIC OVATION FOR THE HITMAN! Hell did indeed froze over. People might be wondering why he is here now. Bret says it is an amazing feeling. He tried to come back before, but Vince says it was impossible. He has one thing to say and that is he is glad to be back. He remembers many memories like his King of the Ring win at the Nutter Center. He is here for a reason and he wants Shawn Michaels to come out right now. Shawn comes out and they stand together in the ring. Bret wants to bury the hatchet and call for a truce. However, Shawn wants to say something he waited 12 years to say to him. Shawn goes uber heel and he tells Bret that he deserved everything 12 years ago. Bret rests his case as Shawn says that a part of him doesn’t even regret it. However, another part of him knows that in the last 12 years…things changed. Shawn flubs his lines in reference to the Ironman match they had. However, when he thinks of Bret, it’s not Montreal, it’s Anaheim. Shawn is ready to bury the hatchet and he asks Bret if he was sure and if he was ready. Bret offers his hand in friendship to Shawn. They shake on it. Shawn walks away…thinks about it, but he goes to hug Bret.
BUT, there’s one more thing. Bret Hart wastes no time to call out Vince McMahon! Of course Vince is more worried about Hulk Hogan, so we don’t get that interaction.
Kofi Kingston v. Randy Orton and DX v. JeriShow for the Tag Titles TONIGHT!
Commercials.
We return and Vince McMahon gets out of a meeting and Josh talks about him being called out. Vince says that he’ll call Bret Hart out later tonight.
We get the news that Melina is out with a torn ACL and she had to vacate the title. Therefore, we have an eight diva tournament to determine the new champion.
1st Round of the Diva’s Championship Tournament: Maryse v. Brie Bella (w/Nikki Bella)
Bell rings and Maryse shoves her in the ropes. Slap follows and Maryse does her taunt. Brie takes it to Maryse in the corner. Bree takes Maryse down twice and hits a dropkick that sends Maryse outside. Nikki smashes Maryse’s head on the table and Brie continues control. Maryse counters a rope move and she gets a two count. Switcharoo, but Maryse sees it and she plants Nikki with the French Kiss for the win.
Winner: Maryse
Grade: C-
The Miz comes out with NEW MUSIC! He says that if she wins the tournament, he might call her back. He continues to mock her and she blows him off when he says that he is awesome.
The next match is announced as MVP and Jack Swagger come out to the ring.
Commercials.
Fatal Four Way – U.S. Championship #1 Contendership: MVP v. Jack Swagger v. Carlito v. Mark Henry
Match begins in progress and Henry is already eliminated by Carlito on the outside for the time being. Swagger hits a powerslam and MVP breaks the fall. Belly to Back suplex on MVP and Carlito breaks it up. Swagger sends MVP into Carlito and Swagger only squshes Carlito in the corner. Henry comes back in and MVP gets sent on the outside. Henry manhandles everyone and Swagger gets taken out and he catches Carlito in a bearhug. Swagger ends up in a torture rack for his problems and MVP hits the Yakuza kick and he dispatches Henry out of the ring. MVP sets up and he hits the Playmaker and he wins!
Winner: MVP
Grade: C-
MVP stares at the Miz and he goes Ballin’.
Jericho and Big Show discuss strategy. Jericho has a plan. He is going to deal with the Hitman.
Commercials.
“Martyr No More” by Fozzy is the Royal Rumble theme song.
Jericho shows up in Bret’s office. Jericho thinks he knows the real Bret Hart. He wants Bret Hart to be the guest referee and screw Shawn Michaels. Bret will be blunt. He wants to put it to bed forever. Bret won’t be a hypocrite and if Jericho is going to win tonight, he’s going to have to win himself. He gets one over on Jericho and he leaves in disgust.
Hornswoggle plays with the new Mattel WWE action figures. Why? Because he is a kid. He can play with them if they beat JeriShow tonight. We bring in Santino Marella with rockstar hair. Trips calls for Hornsoggle to attack and we know why Jericho has the loudest voice of all the students in the dungeon as Santino yells. He gives Hornswoggle a cookie.
Tag Titles are up NEXT!
Commercials.
Unified Tag Team Titles: DX v. JeriShow
Bell rings and Hornswoggle hides under the ring. Show misses a chop and Shawn gets some of his own. Show uses a headbutt and Trips tags in. Show double suplexes DX and we go to break…do we really need a break now?
Commercials.
We are back and Jericho has Hunter in trouble. Tag to Big Show and Trips recovers. Knee smash connects, but Show no-sells and he hits a sidewalk slam on Trips. Show stands on Trips. Big leg drop gets a two count. Gut shot follows and Show goes to town on the ribs. Tag to Jericho and HE MOCKS HOGAN! HAHA! Sleeper hold locked in. Jericho lets go and he goes off the ropes…ARN ANDERSON SPINEBUSTER WITH AUTHORITY! Trips goes for a tag, but Show stops him. Big Show goes to the turnbuckle and he misses the big splash. Tag to Shawn and he takes it to the Big Show. Shawn can’t take the Big Show down, but he kips up twice. Chop Block sends Show down as does the kick to the face. Jericho goes down and Shawn goes to the top. Jericho crotches him, but Hornswoggle hits a helmet dive for distraction. Sweet Chin Music is BLOCKED as Show counters into a Chokeslam…TWO COUNT ONLY! Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Shawn counters and Jericho counters the counter with a Walls attempt. Tag to Trips and Jericho gets Pedigreed! Show breaks it up. Chokeslam attempt countered to a SPIKE PEDIGREE! Jericho pushes Trips into Shawn and Jericho rolls him up for two. Jericho comes back with the Codebreaker…TWO COUNT ONLY, BROKEN UP BY SHAWN! Hornswoggle comes in…HE EATS A BOOT! Pedigree attempt, but Jericho counters with the Walls! SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Jericho is GONE…FROM…RAW!
Winners: DX
Grade: B
Triple H has a microphone and he says that Jericho is finished on RAW. So long. BYE BYE! Shawn has the microphone and he says if Jericho was now down with that, they have two words for him. Big Show leaves Jericho lying. At least DX is letting Jericho walk out with his dignity.
Someone knocks on Mr. McMahon’s door and it is Randy Orton. This is business. Orton has an offer for him. However, Vince won’t forgive Orton for what he did to his family. Orton says that Vince knows how to do business. He says Bret wants a fight and Orton vows to have his back. He wants the #30 spot in the Rumble. Vince tells Orton to never confront him again.
Orton meets up with Cody and Ted. They decide to put Orton through the test. If Orton loses, he’s out of Legacy. How does that work again?
Commercials.
Mike Tyson is the guest host NEXT WEEK!
We go back to last week where Sheamus escaped with the WWE Title in tow.
Sheamus makes his way to the ring. He said that last week, Cena couldn’t beat him. He did what he said he would do. He says that he will defend the title at the Rumble and it won’t be against Cena. He wants a new challenger. He says that he is the best there is and the best there ever will be. Cue Evan Bourne and he grabs the microphone from Sheamus. Bourne says that if he is given the opportunity that was given to Sheamus, he could beat him. He tosses the mic back in and Sheamus mocks Bourne.
Sheamus v. Evan Bourne
If Bourne wins, he gets a title shot at the Rumble. Bell rings ans Bourne goes for the kicks. Sheamus misses a punch. Bourne connects with some kicks and WE GET AIRBOURNE! Sheamus kicks out at two with authority! Off the top and Sheamus throws Bourne across the ring. Polish Hammer connects and Sheamus asserts control. Bicycle kick! The Irish Curse seals Bourne’s fate.
Winner: Sheamus
Grade: C
The WWE runs a “In Memory of Steve Williams” graphic…
Commercials.
We recap the Bret Hart vignette.
Commercials.
Kofi Kingston v. Randy Orton
Bell rings and Kofi takes it to Orton in the opening moment. Off the corner, Kofi takes Orton down. He goes back on the attack, but Orton catches him and he plays leapfrog against Kofi. Kofi wins the battle and regains control. Orton goes out of the ring and he EATS A BASEBALL SLIDE! Back inside, Orton no-sells and he goes for the DDT, but Kofi suplexes Orton on the outside. Break time!
Commercials.
We’re back and Orton has Kingston in a headlock. During break, Kofi got some hangtime and landing on the retaining wall. Kofi fights back and he eats a clothesline. Galvin stomp by Orton. Kofi tries to fight back, but Orton beats him into the ringpost. Orton connects with the guillotine choke…TWO COUNT ONLY! Kofi fights off a headlock and both men look for crossbodies…and they connect with each other!
HERE COMES KOFI! Dropkick connects and is followed by Control Frenzy! Uppercut snaps off the jaw and so does the Russian Leg Sweep. Boom Boom drop connects and Orton takes a powder. HEAT SEEKING MISSILE! Kofi sends Orton back inside and he goes off top. Crossbody…TWO COUNT! Kofi bounces off the ropes and counters the RKO into the SOS! Kingston picks Orton up…RKO countered! Trouble in Paradise to the forearms! RKO connects! Orton wins!
Winner: Randy Orton
Grade: B-
Rhodes and DiBiase look unimpressed.
Vince walks.
Commercials.
We’re back and Vince wishes us a Happy New Year. He says that Bret and Shawn made up and he feels that he doesn’t have anything to add. He plugs Tyson and Bret comes out with no music. The coat comes off and Vince knows what he is thinking. He wants to Bret to be the better man here. Vince still believes that Bret screwed himself. Vince wants Bret to apologize and isn’t trying to provoke him. Bret’s two words is not PG friendly appearantly. He wants to make peace with Vince and find closure. Vince wanted to kick Bret in the guts, but ultimately Bret is right. Vince says that he gave Bret the opportunity to make a name of himself. Vince nominate Stu Hart into the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame and Bret appreciates that. Vince thanks Bret for all the moments and simply being who he is. They shake hands. The mics go down and they raise arms. Vince finishes the moment with a swift kick to the balls! So…where’s the Hart Dynasty?
Show over.
The Final Grade for WWE RAW: C+
The Final Pulse
Well, RAW was just a normal RAW tonight. Nothing over the top as it appeared that WWE wasn’t fazed by TNA’s offering. Bret Hart was non-committal for the most part as far as being a guest host, but his interactions were top notch and the eventful McMahon-Hart feud has begun.
I will be back this week sometime with a special one-time-only edition of The Marshall Report. I’ll analyze iMPACT and RAW and will make my case as to which show had the better show. Keep it to the Pulse all week because the fun has just begun!
