Raw Reaction: Recapping and Grading Latest Episode (7/9)

We are on the home stretch to Money in the Bank this week, and Raw leads us there tonight. 

Tonight, the general manager has not been announced. We will continue to see the CM Punk-Daniel Bryan feud, which includes the crazy AJ.

Also, will we see another legend return tonight, as we are on the road to Raw 1000. There is even the possibility of a Money in the Bank ladder match participant being added for the World Heavyweight Championship contract.

Let's recap and grade this edition of Raw.

Opening Segment

The show started off with an AJ promo, so I knew this send home show had the chance to be filled with promos and have a lack of wrestling.

She welcomed out CM Punk, so I naturally assumed Daniel Bryan would but in somewhere. 

One fan had a sign that read "boring." I couldn't agree more. This promo was slow, boring and a time-waster.

She asked Punk to marry her. Wow, these writers are off their rockers now, just as AJ is in this storyline.

As predicted, Bryan came out and basically cut the same promo as he did on Smackdown last week, excluding his own marriage proposal.

We got the anonymous Raw general manager back during this segment, which definitely helped the limping segment. 

Grade: C

Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger

We got a recap of what happened at Smackdown last week, where Alberto del Rio assaulted Sheamus.

We then came to a match between Sheamus and Swagger. About a minute in, Sheamus hit White Noise and a Brogue Kick and that was it.

So we got a 20-plus minute promo to start the show and got a one-minute match. That's great!

We then saw Alberto del Rio who cut another good promo on Sheamus, which leads into their match this weekend.

Grade: C+

Afterwards, we had a segment with Santino Marella and Zack Ryder. Santino vowed to find the anonymous general manager and looked like an idiot in the process. PG era be damned! (sarcasm if you couldn't tell).

Tyson Kidd and Christian vs. Dolph Ziggler and Tensai

We got a quick tag match, as Christian and Tyson Kidd took on Tensai and Dolph Ziggler.

That match couldn't have been more than two minutes. Tensai used a Sakamoto distraction to earn a pinfall on Christian.

Afterwards, he assaulted Tyson Kidd in frustration from last weekend. He performed a stiff-looking power bomb on Kidd on the side of the ring.

It will make for interesting progression come Money in the Bank.

We then found out that Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole might wrestle later. Wow, this show is shaping up to be incredibly horrible, especially if the fans vote this match to happen.

Grade: C-

Brodus Clay vs. Drew McIntyre

Poor Drew McIntyre. 

He made TV tonight, but it was in a squash match against Brodus Clay. A couple moves into the match, Clay earned the pinfall and danced with the kids.

We then got another Santino segment, followed by Chris Jericho and Big Show talking in the locker room.

Three matches, three basic squashes. This is a poor show thus far.

Grade: F

Chris Jericho and Big Show vs. John Cena and Kane

We first got a Raw 1000 moment, which was when Triple H and Stephanie McMahon had their wedding vow renewal segment. This was a decent segment back in the day, as Triple H went ballistic on her.

John Cena cut a promo. Yawn. He may overcome the odds folks!

Finally, the match came. It was kind of slow, but at least it lasted longer than a minute. That's not to say it wasn't a bad match though, it will translate nicely to Money in the Bank this weekend. 

By the way, Kane's DDT on Big Show was amazing.

As the match went on, it at least got better. If this match had any more commercials, it would have been a marathon.

In the end, Jerishow got DQ'ed for something that is normally allowed, when Big Show interrupted the pinfall and threw Cena into the barricade. Big Show then pulled out weapons galore, hitting Jericho and Kane with a ladder.

Cena turned the tide, leveling Big Show with a ladder of his own. I wonder who will win this weekend.

The match was better than expected and the storyline heading into Money in the Bank progressed well.

Grade: B+

Sin Cara vs. Heath Slater, Bob Backlund Appearance

We came back and got a segment between CM Punk and Eve Torres. At least Eve Torres stated the obvious, Punk has been overshadowed by people who should be letting him defend his title in the main event of shows.

Back to Santino, where he thinks Khali is the general manager. I chuckled, I suppose.

Sin Cara came out for his entrance and they went right back to commercial. Between the commercials, squashes and dragged out promos, this show may actually hurt the pay-per-view sales.

We came back and found out his opponent was Heath Slater. I guess Slater isn't facing a legend tonight?

After some decent action, Sin Cara earned his way into the Money in the Bank match. That should be a good addition.

Afterward, Slater grabbed the mic and called out a former champion. It was none other than Bob Backlund, who nobody but the old people know. 

Nevertheless, it was nice to see Backlund pull out the crossface chickenwing to shut up "The One Man Southern Rock Band." It could have been a much better segment, but I will take it, especially after the show we already got tonight.

Grade: B-

I have lost all faith in this supposed "WWE Universe." I can't believe they voted yes on Jerry Lawler-Michael Cole.

Michael Cole vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler

Booker T and Josh Mathews took over commentary while Cole and Lawler "wrestled."

Cole squirmed out of the ring, so Booker threw him back in. Lawler won with an airplane spin. Great job fans, you voted to watch that match!

The anonymous general manager ruled that Michael Cole won via DQ. Santino came out next claiming the GM was under the ring.

Hornswoggle was under the ring. He was the anonymous GM this whole time.

This might have been the worst segment in Raw history. Cyndi Lauper got bailed out from a couple of weeks ago.

Grade: F (If there was a Z grade, this would have earned it)

CM Punk and AJ vs. Daniel Bryan and Eve Torres

I guess I am happy that Punk and Bryan are "headlining" this event and not Cena.

The ladies fought a good portion of the match. As Eve went for a tag, Daniel Bryan bailed on her. AJ won by a rollup. That was an amazing main event!

Not.

Bryan then told AJ to leave with him so they can get married. Punk interjected. This is basically the same promo that opened the show.

Punk told her off, AJ slapped Punk, then slapped Bryan, yelled yes and walked off.

Although AJ is very good at what she is doing, it's growing stale really quick. This whole storyline has over-worn its welcome.

Grade: D-

Conclusion

I know this was a send-off show for Money in the Bank, but this was literally one of the worst Raw episodes I have ever seen.

Between the numerous squash matches, horrible segments and long commercials, I feel like I just got robbed of two hours of my life. Money in the Bank better be worth it because this show was God-awful.

Overall Grade: F