WWE Raw results and reactions from Oct. 3 in Lafayette

by Geno Mrosko on Oct 4, 2011 12:25 AM EDT in Raw

WWE Raw Supershow tonight (Oct. 3, 2011) emanated from the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. Tonight's edition marked the first show since the event's of Hell in a Cell last night in New Orleans.

Before we get to the reactions to the show, it's time to give a shout out to the Cageside commenter who delivered the "Comment of the Night" in the Raw live blog thread. And that honor goes to mqatrombone, who dropped this gem after Triple H said he works for the fans -- "If you work for us, Paul, could you please stay off our TVs?" Well done, my friend.

If you want full results from Raw tonight, click here for the running blog. Time to get to reactions from the show:

What was the point of advertising Big Show returning on Smackdown if everyone was just going to walk out on Raw tonight? Doesn't that mean there is no Smackdown now? We know Triple H is supposed to be done for now that he's gotten the vote of no confidence from the entire roster but this particular cliffhanger actually needed a bookend.
That said, awesome segment. I hate, hate, hate it that Triple H is once again the center of attention and that mark crowd in Louisiana almost made me sick but the execution in that final segment was so on the money any negative should be quickly ignored. That was brilliant in so many ways, I can't even begin to describe it. The cameramen leaving their cameras on the apron showing only Triple H's feet with the stunned crowd as a backdrop was awesome production work. Simple but incredibly effective.
I honestly thought they may have been building to Jim Ross actually sticking around with Triple H, which would have been the single most ironic occurrence in WWE history. Alas, it was not to be. But his getting booed on the way out? Jesus, Louisiana. Get a hold of yourselves.
Oh and Beth Phoenix pleading with Triple H and saying the Diva's were scared would have been fine but she opened by saying, "Triple H ... we're girls." Uh, yeah? Are you saying you're helpless just because you are women? How sad is that? This is what I'm talking about when I complain of sexism and why I can never -- and will never -- take the Diva's seriously. That one line undercuts their very existence. And it was sad to hear so little respect for them.
Hey, whatever happened to that CM Punk guy? He still around? Look for part three of my series on the summer of Punk tomorrow. He's been forgotten and it makes me sad.
I'm not normally a fan of mixed tag matches, especially one that has 12 different guys in it, but how good was that match tonight? It's a straight up oddity to have 12 different guys perfectly mix together to work some seriously solid ring psychology. I'm most impressed with the fact that it never devolved into some cheap modified clusterfuck like it so easily could have. The finish was also really well executed. I know I can be a grump on here but I always try to give props where they're due. Kudos to all involved in this one. The best part? John Cena wasn't the guy to go over getting the pin. That went to Sheamus.
Mark Henry continues to impress with his promos and understated charisma. When he starts screaming into the microphone that he's going to destroy somebody, as a few comments pointed out in the Raw live blog thread, he makes it believable. As in, you really think he might kick the living crap out of someone. The dude is a natural performer and it's so good to see the ratings on Smackdown up from the normal range. I didn't think bringing Smackdown wrestlers over to Raw would make much of a difference because I didn't think the bookers could figure out the best way to use the extra talent but the way they set up Smackdown this week was perfect. I have my questions about a feud between Big Show and Henry and how well it can draw but Randy Orton is sticking around in the periphery, so that should make up for any shortcomings. Well done all around.

More thoughts from the show after the jump.

Couldn't keep my eyes off that classic Intercontinental title when Cody Rhodes was on TV. Looks a million times better than the WWE title.
Opening the show with a glorified squash match seemed like a funny decision. But it was necessary for Orton, I suppose, to go over big on a jobber like Drew McIntrye, who looks like he put on a few pounds of muscle. Didn't want to be a skinny fat ass anymore, apparently.
The brawl with Henry and Orton was well put together but I'm not sure I like Orton getting the better of it despite security holding him back. He looked like the monster in that scenario and not Henry. This should never be the case.
John Morrison would be better off in TNA at this point and how sad is it to actually say that sentence. I feel a little dirty having just typed it. It's true, though, because he's still being made to pay for the sins of his girlfriend, Melina.
Vickie Guerrero is ridiculously annoying but there is no one on the entire roster that gets the kind of heel reaction that she does. How old is the "Excuse me!" schtick? Like two or three years? Still as over as it's ever been.
Santino Marella is back. 'Nuff said.
The push of Brodus Clay is about to kick off and I'm not excited for it. He's 31-years-old, extremely limited in the ring and has no chops when he's got the microphone in his hand. You know what he has? Size. Seems a little too much like that's all that matters.

Tonight's show was actually pretty damn good. I'd give it a solid B+ and I'm looking forward to Smackdown just to see how they handle the end of Raw. Trips just got this big vote of no confidence from the entire roster, who walked out on him.

Who the hell is going to show up on Smackdown? The NXT guys? Maybe that's why they kept that show going for so long.

That's it from me, though. Time for you Cagesiders to give your thoughts on the show.

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Comments

I think a Big Show

Henry feud could work if they don’t do a standard match. Maybe they could do an unsanctioned match or something like that.

"The helmet doesn't make you, you make the helmet"- Jimbo Fisher

by Matt Champion on Oct 4, 2011 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

They still pretend SmackDown is actually happening on Friday whenever they reference time so they can either keep this going with a good explanation of what happen during “the past week” or they can blow it. They blew it with Punk – please don’t mess this up too.

by mariobatalivsmarkhenry on Oct 4, 2011 12:42 AM EDT reply actions

I didn’t like Mark Henry out there w/ all the other jobbers. he’s the one that attacked Ross & Lawler… he’s the one who’s put out the 3 largest men on the roster, yet he’s out there bitching about being scared? But there was no Orton, no Sheamus, no Cena, No Punk.. but Henry is the one worried?

by Rawuncutnxrated on Oct 4, 2011 12:48 AM EDT reply actions

Don't want to sound like a stereotypical nothing-satisfies-me internet wrestling fan,

but was this the worst episode we’ve had since whenever the last time it was good- MitB or thereabouts? Everything seemed unnecessary, drawn out, and ultimately pointless.

Orton vs. McIntyre: Can complain about anything specifically, but this should’ve been on Smackdown. Randy Orton isn’t holding a title, and the match was unrelated to any kind of challenging a title-holder build-up. Would’ve rather seen two Raw mid-carders fighting; something to develop some story relevant to RAW. Didn’t like that Orton got the last laugh at the PPV, and during their little impromptu brawl. It’s pointless, especially since it seems Henry is going to be feuding with Big Show now. Is Orton’s standing hurt by losing to Henry? No. Does it hurt Henry’s credibility losing to Orton like he did? A little. As it is, Henry is a midcard guy who is basically looking good as a credible champ because he’s in beast mode, currently, destroying everyone. Having Orton win in the end like that, I don’t know, it feels like it can too easily cause Henry’s story to drift off course, and as a result, have him look weak and not a good champ.

Henry vs. Morrison: I don’t get why the WWE is holding Morrison back. I didn’t expect him to beat Henry- and, he got some offense in- but, come on. The guy has the audience on his side, he has a unique wrestling style in the wring, and he’s a good guy. Have him in a feud for the Intercontinental or U.S. Championship- the U.S. belt, I think would be better. Ziggler, he’s had the belt for a while, and it doesn’t really feel relevant. Morrison doesn’t necessarily even have to win, to be honest. But, involve the guy in something- the fans would dig it.

The whole lawsuit angle seems sound, and it seems kinda dumb, how HHH basically no-sold the law. Basically, “I don’t care about the fact that you’re filing claims against the company- let’s fight, and let’s fight like men!” And, not for nothing, but Del Rio paling around with all of those particular other bad guys, and not even really seeming like their leader, it makes him look weak.

The women’s match: Aren’t there other women wrestlers? And, honestly, the WWE would have been better served subjecting me to three more minutes of commercials. Basically, before the match could start, Kelly jumps on Beth, starts pulling her hair or whatever, and starts screaming, “Give me my title back! Give me my title back!”? Really? Hell, showing another two-minute ad for HHH’s crappy movie would’ve been more compelling television.

Mahal vs. Santino: Good to see Santino, but a pretty irrelevant match. The beginning was kinda funny, though. Santino didn’t have his unibrow on, though. And, I really wish they’d drop the cobra crap.

Miz and R-Truth promo: I guess someone bailed them out from jail?

12-Man Tag Team: Overall, it was a good match. A lot of spots where I thought it was gonna be over, but it wasn’t. The ending sequence was pretty well choreographed- I usually don’t like big finisher sequences one after the other, but that all worked pretty good (why one team or the other wasn’t disqualified for interference, I don’t know, but whatever). But, the thing is: it seemed completely pointless. Why were Cena and Punk opposing the other team- which is basically saying that HHH is letting things get out of control- when they also got the crap beaten out of them by Miz and R-Truth. Speaking of Punk, remember when he was relevant? Even when it was the kind of eh “I’m gonna sniff out the conspiracy!” story that started after he lost at Summerslam. The Summer of Punk is officially over, and he’s just part of the pack again.

HHH Vote of Confidence: Was that all a bit melodramatic, or was it just me? With a few throw away lines, they completely made all of the women irrelevant and completely non credible- not that they were very relevant to begin with. Beth Phoenix, the women’s champ and by far, physically strongest of all the women there, is afraid of being raped, or some such? Would Chyna say she was afraid that something could happen to her because a bunch of wrestlers are running wild? I’m kinda torn about J.R. walking out. Obviously, it’s all staged and everything, but it felt weird that J.R. got up and left. I liked how the camera guys also put their stuff down and left, too. I was hoping that they’d show who becomes the new COO (Laurenitis, I guess) this week after the vote, but that’ll be the last thing that happens next week, I guess.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Oct 4, 2011 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Your comment about Chyna was mine about Henry.. If they are going to punk out Mark, they better have those girls scared to come to work too. I can’t believe that did Henry like that.. He’s been one of the guys terrorizing people & putting them in the Hall of Pain.. and he’s scared to come to work.. geeez.

by Rawuncutnxrated on Oct 4, 2011 4:25 AM EDT up reply actions

FANPOST

by DFreshMMA on Oct 4, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

FanPosts of my reviewing Raw would be wasteful

I’m not going to put the necessary research into it.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Oct 5, 2011 12:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Um, you realize that you're a mark too, right?

You just read more internet articles about wrestling than the marks at the arena.

No offense, but at least the crowd was hot for the segment and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Cheering is better than silence. I don’t roll my eyes when all the teenage males chant for Punk or whatever.

by Razztopia on Oct 4, 2011 1:40 AM EDT reply actions

Good points. They were dialed in & the crowd reaction is that little bit extra.. and it comes through the tv. When the crowd is hyped, it does carry over & get me hyped up some too.

by Rawuncutnxrated on Oct 4, 2011 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions

He's going to hate the crowd reaction because they weren't booing Triple H or Cena enough.

"In fact, most of these free-swinging Padres couldn’t hit Dock’s funky palm ball. I threw it often. But by then, also, the first acid distractions entered: the TV flickered; the cracks in the wall started to move; the hand soap started to breathe — those sorts of things. Plus I was drawn to the outdoor garden between innings. Rain was near, I sensed." - A.J. Daulerio

by Gdawg on Oct 4, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Not at all.

I like marking out, it’s part of the fun. And I even understand the cheering for Triple H, what with how they positioned him as a babyface. But that doesn’t mean they can’t think for themselves and adjust as necessary. You know what was really great about the Attitude Era? The crowds. They didn’t just start cheering because they recognized the point in which they were supposed to cheer and oh, this is the guy we’re supposed to cheer for. Smart storylines were taken in by smart fans who reacted accordingly. Now? Nothing like that.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Oct 4, 2011 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the fans were just doing as they were told

Because there is no way that fans can like triple h done we know how terrible he is in every way. you hate the game and that’s fine, but stop acting like everyone is just a bunch of sheep if they think otherwise

by Gdawg on Oct 4, 2011 11:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Cheering in support of him when the storyline is pretty clear that he's lost control of things

is pretty sheepish.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Oct 4, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The whole storyline is that he is doing what is the most entertaining for the fans

All he’s done as COO is be a clear face outside of the Punk feud. A guy that is hated like Cody Rhodes gets put through a battle royal, gets a match with Orton, and gets an impromptu match against John Morrison when he isn’t ready. He fired The Miz and R-Truth for attacking a ref, Triple H, and CM Punk. He’s the anti-Bischoff, making sure the heels get there’s with the faces matching up against them. The fans like Triple H and like his actions as COO.

But I guess we should just overlook the pop that Triple H gets everytime his music hits (go watch the reaction he got when he came out to challenge Undertaker). They’re all just sheep.

by Gdawg on Oct 4, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Again, while losing control of things

I don’t care that people cheer him. People are allowed to like HHH, that’s fine. He’s their favorite wrestler just like I have my favorite, you have your favorite, and so on. The segment was that the the employees were not confident that he was doing a his job, and were walking out on him, though. For the most part, it was the bad guys talking, but they all had valid in-story complaints. It came down to audience either siding with all the employees (apparently, everyone) saying that he lost control of things and that they didn’t feel safe/confident/whatever coming to work and as a result, wouldn’t work (or whatever they’re doing with everyone walking out), or with HHH who was all like “You guys are crybabies, I like the craziness.” People were cheering HHH- booing Jim Ross, refs, announcers, camera guys, whoever- and siding with him because he’s HHH. If Vicky Guerrero was in charge, or the Anonymous GM laptop, or John Laurenitis, or whatever other people the WWE has had as people in charge of things over the years- ie, a bad guy- the people who were booing all those valid complaints would be eating them up, and using them as icing as to why Vicky, or Laurenitis, or the Laptop should go. That, I think, is the definition of being sheepy, or marks, or whatever the term is, in this situation.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Oct 4, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Did congestedthoughts take over your account now?

Except if it was Vicky Geurrero or the Johnny Ace, you’re going to see someone like The Miz or R-Truth stealing matches while the faces like Cena and Punk are getting fired, being thrown in tough matches all the time, blah blah blah. They cheer for HHH because they agree with what he did and they don’t care about the wrestlers feeling that they are in an unsafe work environment.

Part of this is also because the fans aren’t idiots and know that this is a story. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for the faces to even turn on HHH and leave since they are supposed to feel like chaos has erupted. It makes no sense for the fans to give a damn.

by Gdawg on Oct 4, 2011 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It's a singular paragraph that has one overarching theme

I’m addressing a lone point- no need to break it into multiple paragraphs.

Anyway, if the fans don’t give a damn about the story, you’ve gone wrong somewhere. People shouldn’t be ignoring that he’s caused things to go to hell, to the point that the employees are walking out. Doesn’t have to translate into booing HHH. Shouldn’t translate into booing everyone that opposes him, though, and supporting him basically no-selling everyone else. That’s just blind “partisanship”.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!" Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 458 posts (08/24/11)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Oct 5, 2011 12:59 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Its about being kind to anyone taking a second to read your posts

No one wants to read 500 words jammed in one paragraph. Spacing is your friend.

I never said the fans don’t care about the story, it seems like its the exact opposite of that. I did say that the fans understand its a story and like what Triple H has done because it is exactly what a fan should want to happen. I’m not talking about an IWC fan that wants to see Triple H go through a woodchipper or see Cena job to everyone on the roster. I’m talking about the fans that cheer the faces and boo the heels, the fans that understand when they can just slip into the story.

And it really should result in the booing of people walking out. For one, because its obvious to the fans at home that a lot of this is caused by The Miz and R-Truth being bitter and Johnny Ace being up to something behind the scenes. Anyone walking out is just going along with heel’s evil mastermind plan.

Then you also have the more obvious to boo those walking out, because they are walking out. If you’re a baseball guy like your sn suggests, think about the Mets giving up on a season because things aren’t going their way and watching them dog it in September more than they usually do. As a fan, you’d be pissed to watch that crap. The same goes for the WWE, I’m not paying money and rooting for these guys that are just going to bail on everything because they don’t feel safe. Especially when you’ve got guys assaulting each other back stage on a near weekly basis.

by Gdawg on Oct 5, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for not taking that comment badly

It looked harsher than I meant when I typed it!

I think Attitude era crowds were VERY trained, by the way. Trained to cheer at catchphrases, trained to cheer when women were violently stripped to nothing, etc. I don’t think that any of the storylines in wrestling at the time were particularly smart, either. They were boiled down simply – actually, this storyline is MUCH smarter than anything the WWE has done ever, maybe. The intricacies of what positives a worker’s union has versus the negatives it has, regulation vs. deregulation of the working place, etc.

Attitude-era storylines tended to be “Cheer for the catchphrase/the guy with the rudest insults/the girls with big boobs” in nature, at least as I remember it. YMMV, obviously.

by Razztopia on Oct 4, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

You're right on the money with that

“Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?”

“Suck it”

“And that’s the bottom line because Stone Cold said so”

etc. etc. It was very simple, but very effective. So effective, we’ll all still mark out for those guys and those catch phrases.

by Gdawg on Oct 4, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I have to agree on the Vickie comment...

Mark Henry gets the boos plus some respect usually in crowds… Vickie get unadulterated pure hatred heat. It seemed like the rafters were going to shake they went off on her so fast. WOW.

She’s starting to become the less-cracked-out version of Sherri Martel

Now, "wait 'till next year" looks like "Watch out for next year!" GO LEAFS GO!

by AB_Positive on Oct 4, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

Brodus Clay

Did you watch his season of NXT? He can more than hold his own on the mic and he’s got a good move set that he’s working on. Yeah, he’s off to a late start in his wrestling career, but he’s much better than you’re giving him credit for.

by Gdawg on Oct 4, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions