WWE Raw 08/20
We are live in: Fresno, California
Commentators: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler
_______________________________________________
Show starts without an intro.
Brock Lesnar comes out along with Paul Heyman. They head down to the ring. Heyman with the mic.
Ladies and gentlemen, he understands how they feel. Last night at Summerslam when Brock Lesnar faced Triple H, it was a most uncomfortable match to watch. Not only because of Triple H's legendary ability to withstand punishment. Despite-
He pauses.
Eleven years ago he sat at commentary and did a lot better than those two are right now. At the time Triple H suffered a torn quad and yet he went through with the match. A torn quad couldn't stop Triple H. But Brock Lesnar could. Because at Summerslam Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H and forced him to tap out. Now for those who don't know what that mean, "tapping out" means that Lesnar forced Triple H to quit. To quit on his family, his company, his friends, his fans, and on ALL of them! Lesnar stripped Triple H of his dignity and manhood because he forced Triple H down to the canvas and made him a beaten, broken former shell of a man. And he doesn't feel sorry for Triple H. Neither should any single one of them. This was a fight that Triple H picked. It's not just a fight with Lesnar he picked, but this VERY fight. Wasn't it Triple H who called the ref to the locker room and said let the rules be bent? He wanted a fight to the finish. That's what it was, but not the finish he's looking for. So on behalf of his client, he would like to call referee Scott Armstrong to the ring because Brock would like to address him. Would someone please send Mr. Armstrong down to the ring at this time? Mr. Referee you're being paged at this time by Brock Lesnar.
Armstrong comes out and walks down to the ring.
Come on, Mr. Armstrong. His client does not bite! Mr. Lesnar would like to speak with him.
Armstrong slowly enters the ring.
He just wants to be sure that he WAS the referee last night. Triple H told him to bend the rules. He told him, despite what was going on, to let the fight finish even if his client was being hurt. He had two words for Triple H last night and that was "tap out". Tonight, Lesnar has two words for Mr. Armstrong.
Lesnar goes over to Armstrong, gets uncomfortably close, and pats him on the head.
"Good job".
Well done! Lesnar has jeopardized the future of the WWE. And now that he has taken Triple H down, he declares Lesnar the new "king of kings". He is the new conqueror of the WWE Universe! That means each and every one of them are the subjects to the lord and master, the conqueror himself, BROCK LESNAR!
Lesnar and Heyman exit the ring and head to the back.
Tonight, Shawn Michaels will be live via satellite for an interview about the future of Triple H.
-Commercial-
CM Punk sends a Tout to the WWE Universe. He tells General Manager AJ that he wants to pick his own opponent for his next title defense.
WWE Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Kofi Kingston come out and head down to the ring for a six man tag match.
Their tag partner, Sin Cara, comes out next.
Cody Rhodes comes out as their opponent. He shows A goofy cartoon picture of what Sin Cara looks like under his mask.
The Prime Time Players come out as his partners.
[Match #1]
[Six Man Tag Team Match]
[R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, and Sin Cara vs. Cody Rhodes and the Prime Time Players]
Bell sounds. Kofi and Darren start out. Grapple. Darren gets behind Kofi and they break. A punch from Darren is avoided and Kingston gets him in a side headlock. Off the ropes, Darren shoulder bumps Kingston, ducks two leap frogs and Kingston with an elbow to the jaw for a two count. Tag to Truth. They whip Darren into the ropes and hit a double hip toss. Titus enters the ring and gets a double dropkick from the tag champs. Rhodes enters the ring and Sin Cara pulls him back out. Cara climbs to the top and Rhodes backs away from him. Truth and Kingston double baseball slide the Prime Time Players.
-Commercial-
Kingston punches away Darren and tags in Truth. Truth punches him, ducks a clothesline, and hits an axe kick for a two count. Truth picks him up and drives a knee to Darren. Cody blind tags in and hits Truth with a Russian Leg Sweep for a two count. Cody lifts him up and hits a forward suplex. Tag to Titus. Titus clobbers Truth down and covers for a two count. Titus with a neck crank, but Truth gets back up and punches Titus back. Off the ropes and Titus with a big boot for a two count. Tag to Darren. Titus suplexes Darren onto Truth for a two count. Darren applies a headlock submission on Truth. Truth fights out of it. Darren tags back in Titus. Shoulder tackles to the gut. Truth punches Titus and Darren back, but Titus with a hard clothesline for a two count. Titus with a headlock submission. Truth punches out of it. Titus gets distracted by Kofi and Truth with a dropkick.
They crawl to their corners. Cody and Cara tag in. Sin Cara with a running headscissors to Cody. Cara with a high kick followed by a cross body which is broken up by Young. The tag champs dropkick PTP out of the ring. Truth back body drops Kofi up and over onto Titus and Darren. Cody tries to take Cara's mask off, but Cara counters it into a bridging pin for the three count.
[Winners via Pinfall: R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, and Sin Cara]
[Time: 10:14]
Tonight, Kane and Zack Ryder take on Daniel Bryan and The Miz.
Backstage, Matt Striker introduces AJ Lee. He goes to ask her about Punk's message on Tout, and then David Otunga appears.
While he was gone shooting the movie The Hive with Oscar winning Halle Berry, he found out she was running Raw. Congrats! She may be in the need for legal counsel. Not just any counsel. HARVARD legal counsel. She needs to be protected. Taken care of. Protected from any potential liability.
What did he say?
She needs to be protected.
Say it again.
He's just offering his services.
Then offer his "services" in the ring tonight against an opponent of her choosing.
Otunga accepts and leaves.
Matt continues the interview. Punk wants AJ to let him choose the next number one contender. Her thoughts?
AJ says he can pick anyone he wants. As long as he follows one little rule of hers.
AJ then skips away before saying what that rule is.
-Commercial-
Khloe Kardashian Odom is the Raw Social Media Ambassador for this week. Yay.
Ryback comes out and heads to the ring for a handicap match.
His opponents in the ring are Mike Spinner and Andy-well it doesn't really matter.
[Match #2]
[Handicap Match]
[Ryback vs. Two Jobbers]
Bell sounds. Ryback tosses one jobber out of the ring, then slams down another. Shoulder tackles followed by a clubbing blow to the back. Another slam to the mat. Ryback picks the jobber up and hits a powerbomb. He lifts him up into repeating powerbombs. The other jobber tries to get back in the ring and Ryback gets him with a reverse suplex. Ryback picks up the jobbers and goes for Shell Shocked on both of them, but Jinder Mahal suddenly attacks Ryback from behind causing the disqualification.
[Winner via DQ: Ryback]
[Time: 01:27]
He knocks Ryback down and applies the camel clutch submission. Ryback picks himself and Jinder up before hitting a jawbreaker. Jinder exits the ring and backs away. Ryback grabs the jobbers again and hits them both with Shell Shocked.
Backstage, Chris Jericho is texting on his phone. Ziggler comes up to him.
So he finally got the big win. ONE win. He wants a rematch. He knows he can beat him.
Maybe he doesn't know who he's dealing with. He's Chris Jericho. Y2J. A Six time World Champion. He knows he can beat him.
AJ skips over to them.
She knows they both really want a match, so let's give them what they want: a rematch. But let's raise the stakes. If Jericho loses, his contract is terminated. And if Ziggler loses, his Money in the Bank contract goes to Jericho.
AJ leaves. Ziggler runs after AJ while Jericho smiles.
Meanwhile, Alberto Del Rio is walking down to the ring yelling at Ricardo the whole way.
-Commercial-
As Ricardo announces him, Alberto Del Rio marches down to the ring without any car to drive in. He looks very mad.
He should be standing in front of all them peasants as the new World Heavyweight Champion by now! But it's not like that because last night he got robbed by the referee and by that peasant Sheamus. Don't believe him? Well believe this!
A photo is shown is Alberto's foot being on the bottom rope as the referee makes the three count.
SEE? Right there! His foot was on the rope! They robbed him. They think he's not going to do anything about it? Oh no. He demands another World Title match against Sheamus right now!
AJ comes out and skips to the top of the ramp.
Hola, Alberto! Now as he knows she has no authority over the World Title scene. That's Booker T's job. But since he came out, she can give him a match tonight. So say hello to her little friend. His opponent? This man.
Randy Orton comes out and heads down to the ring. Their match is next.
-Commercial-
[Match #3]
[Singles Match]
[Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio[
Before the match starts, World Champion Sheamus comes out and heads down. He goes over to the commentary table.
Bell sounds. Orton and Del Rio with punches and Orton with a dropkick. Cover for a one count. Orton with a side headlock. Off the ropes, Orton with a shoulder bump. Del Rio rolls onto the apron and Orton kicks him off. Ricardo helps Del Rio back in the ring. Orton with a springboard suplex for the count of two. Orton stomps on Del Rio's arms and legs and gets another two count. Orton puts Alberto in the corner and throws a few punches his way. He climbs to the top and goes for a two count, but Del Rio drops Orton's head on the top turnbuckle and kicks him in the back for a two count. Del Rio with the headlock submission. Orton gets out of it. Del Rio shoves Orton into the turnbuckle and runs at him, but Orton counters into a roll up for a two count. Del Drop with a knockdown to Orton for a two count followed by another headlock submission. Orton gets to his feet and drives elbows to the gut, but Del Rio counters with a suplex. Del Rio mocks Orton's RKO pose and kicks him again. Del Rio climbs to the top and Orton manages to drop Del Rio on the turnbuckle pad. Orton with a few right hands. He climbs up to the top and hits Del Rio with a superplex! Only a two count.
Del Rio and Orton trade punches on the way back up. They go back and forth until Del Rio gets a kick to the leg. Orton with two clotheslines followed by a powerslam. Del Rio rolls onto the apron. Orton grabs Del Rio and goes for a DDT off the second rope, but Del Rio backdrops Orton onto the apron and dropkicks him down. Del Rio runs the ropes and goes for a clothesline, but Orton with the backbreaker. Del Rio gets in a kick and goes for the Cross Arm Breaker, but Orton counters with a neckbreaker for a two count. Orton whips Del Rio into the turnbuckle. Del rio fights out of it and climbs the turnbuckle. Orton punches Del Rio a few times, grabs his head and hits a DDT off the turnbuckle. Orton signals for the RKO. Ricardo gets on the apron and Orton scares him off. Ricardo lands next to Sheamus. Sheamus spooks him away. Orton gets distracted by Sheamus and Del Rio with a backstabber. Orton puts his foot on the rope, but the ref doesn't see it. Sheamus points it out to the ref. Del Rio looks over at Sheamus and yells at him for getting involved. He turns around and gets the RKO for the three count.
[Winner via Pinfall: Randy Orton]
[Time: 08:32]
Tonight, Punk names the next #1 contender for his WWE Championship.
A WWE.com exclusive with Punk after his Summerslam match plays.
Also, Shawn Michaels will be joined with live tonight.
-Commercial-
Footage plays of Antonio Cesaro winning the United States championship from Santino Marella last night on the Summerslam pre-show.
This is followed by a video of moments from Summerslam Axxess.
Brodus Clay comes out along with the "Funkadactyls" for a match.
-Commercial-
Tonight, Jericho takes on Ziggler in a "contract vs. contract" match.
Damien Sandow, Clay's opponent, comes out and heads down to the ring.
[Match #4]
[Singles Match]
[Brodus Clay vs. Damien Sandow]
Bell sounds. Sandow goes for the leg, but Brodus punches him off. He lands a few blows into the turnbuckle. Sandow ducks a clothesline and attacks the leg of Clay. Brodus shoves him off and hits a shoulder bump. Whip followed by a back body drop. Clay picks up Sandow and lands a blow to the head. Brodus slams Damian's head against the turnbuckle pad a few times. He then drops Sandow with a belly to belly slam. Brodus off the ropes into an elbow drop. Sandow gets to his feet and punches Clay back, but they're not effective. Clay whips Sandow into the turnbuckle and hits a body splash followed by a butt slam. Clay runs the ropes and hits a running headbutt to the chest. Whip to the opposite turnbuckle. Brodus runs at him. Clay moves out of the way. Brodus hits the turnbuckle and Sandow rolls him up for the three count.
[Winner via Pinfall: Damien Sandow]
[Time: 02:34]
Sandow bows for his performance. He turns around and Clay hits him with the T-Bone suplex. Clay runs the ropes and hits him with a body splash.
Tweets are shown of various Superstars and Divas giving their reaction to the Triple H/Brock Lesnar match.
Michaels, his arm in a sling, is being prepared for his satellite interview up next.
-Commercial-
Shawn Michaels join Cole and Lawler via satellite.
Cole asks what his feelings are on last night's match.
What is he feeling? He thinks he knows what's going through Triple H's head right now. You can tell yourself the end is near. You can prepare yourself. But there's really nothing that prepares you for that day until WHAM! It hits you right in the face. All the thoughts you've given it, it happens silently. Privately. When in reality, when it happens in front of thousands of people and millions on pay per view. you can't prepares yourself for that. You can't prepare yourself to face your own professional mortality. You can talk about it all day long. He knows what he's feeling. What they saw last night could be the end of an amazing career. Triple H is a warrior. He always has been. He's a man of honor, of integrity. Something Lesnar and Heyman would know absolutely nothing about. He went out there every night and gave it everything he had. Last night was no exception. He left every ounce of his being in that ring last night and every night prior. Because that's who "The Game" is. The last couple weeks he came around because he wanted to support his friend. As he look back on it now he realizes how stupid it was now. He became a distraction, another burden on Triple H. Had he been in his corner last night, maybe it would've made a difference. Maybe it would've made no difference at all. Last week he told Triple H that he knew where his heart was. He wasn't telling the truth. He was only telling him what he wanted to hear. It's not easy to tell someone who you've been with through thick and thin that it's over. Hunter has nothing to be ashamed of. He is one of the greatest superstars to have ever lived. He's always respected him. He has always been proud of him, and he's always loved him. They all have. On behalf of himself and the entire WWE Universe, we thank you for a job well done.
-Commercial-
David Otunga comes out and heads down to the ring for his match.
Big show comes out and heads to the ring as his opponent.
[Match #5]
[Singles Match]
[Big Show vs. David Otunga]
Bell sounds. Show attacks Otunga with punches and chops to the chest. He then scoop slams Otunga down. Show with body blows to the rib cage. He then steps on top of Otunga. Show with a headbutt to Otunga. Show presses Otunga's neck against the middle rope. Show with another chop to the chest. Otunga tries to kick him off, but Show swats him away. He drops an elbow down on Otunga. Show waits for Otunga to get up and delivers the Knock Out Punch for the three count.
[Winner: Big Show]
[Time: 02:09]
Up next, Kane and Zack Ryder take on The Miz and Daniel Bryan.
-Commercial-
Kane comes out and heads to the ring for his match.
His partner, Zack Ryder, comes out next.
Daniel Bryan heads down to the ring as their opponent.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz joins him as his partner.
[Match #6]
[Tag Team Match]
[Kane & Zack Ryder vs. Daniel Bryan & The Miz]
Bell sounds. Kane and Bryan start off, but Bryan tags in Miz right away. Kane throws punches and knees to Miz against the turnbuckle. Kane tosses Miz into his corner and tags Ryder in. Ryder throws a punch of his own and whip Miz. Miz counters ut Ryder with a boot to the face. He climbs up and hits a missile dropkick. Ryder punches Miz some more, and Miz shoves him down. Miz with some kicks followed by a running kick to the head for a two count. Tag to Bryan. Bryan works on Ryder by keeping him down with knees to the arm and back. He mocks Kane to tag Ryder, but Bryan keeps Ryder down. He hits multiple kicks to the chest, then lands a jumping knee to the head for a two count. Bryan and Kane argue with each other. Bryan tags in Miz. Miz with a free shot to the head. Miz applies a chin lock submission, but Ryder fights him off. Miz with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count.
Miz tags in Bryan again. Bryan with multiple kicks in the corner. Bryan goes for a running forearm, but Ryder ducks and Bryan hits Miz instead. Bryan turns to Ryder and Ryder tags in Kane. Bryan tries to tag Miz, but Miz drops down and leaves Bryan. Bryan gets a cheap shot on Kane and runs away in the audience. Kane, angry about Bryan leaving, grabs Ryder and chokeslams him. He exits the ring and starts tossing steps and chairs and table parts. Kane then grabs a ring crew member and tosses him over the barricade. Kane heads back into the ring and tombstones Ryder. Kane exits the ring and leaves.
[Winner: None. Match Never Finished]
[Time: 6:07]
Another WWE.com video plays. John Cena gives his reaction to the triple threat match last night.
Matt Striker is standing with CM Punk, the WWE Champion.
That's right, STILL WWE Champion. Now the question remains, who is his opponent? He's gotta thank AJ for having enough respect for him to let him choose his opponents. He's going to pick somebody that the WWE Universe loves. Somebody that some say he cannot beat. That's John Cena. But only on one condition. This match is about respect. And tonight, he's gonna demand respect from John Cena.
Up next, a #1 Contenders Battle Royal for the Divas Championship
-Commercial-
All the Divas are already in the ring except for Divas Champion Layla who is sitting at ringside.
[Match #7]
[Divas Battle Royal]
Typical battle royal stuff. Everyone is beating everyone else up. It gets down to Natalya, Tamina, Kaitlyn, Fox and Eve. Natalya and Tamina work on Kaitlyn in one corner, buy she manages to stay in. They hit her with a double suplex. Alicia Fox goes after them, and they go to work on her this time. Tamina and Natalya with a double suplex attempt, but Fox counters and nearly sends them out. Natalya tackles Fox into the corner. Tamina whips Natalyia into Fox, but Fox manages to get her out. Then Fox and Tamina get each other eliminated. It's down to Kaitlyn and Eve. They fight for a bit until Kaitlyn clotheslines Eve over the top! Kaitlyn is the new number one contender.
[Winner: Kaitlyn]
[Time: 04:07]
A replay is shown of earlier tonight when Heyman told the WWE Universe that Brock Lesnar is the conqueror of the universe.
A Tout from Brock. He says that he accomplished everything that there is. There's nothing more for him to do. He's leaving WWE and he's never coming back.
Coming up, Jericho versus Ziggler.
-Commercial-
Another Wade Barrett vignette plays.
A tweet from AJ Lee says that she's sending Daniel Bryan to anger management classes.
Backstage, Vickie Guerrero is in Ziggler's locker room. She calls AJ a witch. She needs that contract. She needs to represent a World Champion. He needs to win it for her.
Ziggler speaks up.
For her? For HER? He may never get another World Title match in his life if he loses this. This is the biggest match of his entire career.
Vickie freaks out.
They have to win. They have to win. THEY HAVE TO WIN!
Ziggler grabs her and looks her in the eyes.
Tonight...they will.
Ziggler leaves his locker room. Their match is next.
-Commercial-
"EXCUSE ME!"
Vickie Guerrero comes out.
Allow her to introduce to them the man who is going to-EXCUSE ME-the man who is going to send Chris Jericho packing. Mr. Money in the Bank, Dolph Ziggler!
Ziggler comes out and heads down to the ring with Vickie.
Chris Jericho comes out and heads to the ring as his opponent.
[Match #8]
[Contract vs. Contract Match]
[Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler]
Bell sounds. They grapple. Side headlock to Ziggler. Shove into the ropes and Jericho with a bump. Off the rope, leapfrog, and Jericho with a roll up for two followed by another roll up for two. Ziggler rolls out of the ring and talks to Vickie. Ziggler gets in the ring and Jericho rolls him into a small package for two. Jericho with a chop to the chest. Jericho with punches to the head and the ref pulls him back allow Dolph to get a cheap shot. Ziggler with an elbow to the chest for two. Ziggler with a whip into a turnbuckle. Jericho catches him with a boot, then jumps to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick for two. Ziggler whips Jericho into the ropes. Jericho back body drops Ziggler outside the ring. Ziggler gets back on the apron and Jericho springboard dropkicks him back off.
-Commercial-
Ziggler has a headlock submission on Jericho. Ziggler stands on his head while applying the hold. After a brief struggle Jericho fights out of it. Ziggler with elbows to the chest followed by a jumping elbow for two. Ziggler with another headlock submission, but Jericho counters with a back suplex. Ziggler gets up and runs after Jericho, but Jericho boots him away. Jericho runs the ropes and bumps him a couple times. Ziggler tries to throw him out but Jericho grabs the apron, climbs to the top and hits a double axe handle. He goes for a running bulldog, but Ziggler counters and jumps on the turnbuckle. Jericho stops him and climbs up with him. He hits a ten count of punches, then connects with a hurricarana off the top for a two count. Jericho goes towards Ziggler and Ziggler hits an implant DDT for two. Ziggler goes for the leg drop bulldog, but Jericho counters with Walls of Jericho. Ziggler counters with a small package for two. Jericho hits a clothesline and goes for a suplex, but Ziggler counters. He goes for Zig Zag, but Jericho grabs the ropes and hits the running bulldog. Jericho goes for lionsault but Ziggler with knees to the ribs. Ziggler hits the Zig Zag for the three count!
[Winner via Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler]
[Time: 09:25]
Ziggler celebrates in the ring while Jericho recovers knowing that he's done with WWE. Jericho suddenly grabs Ziggler's Money in the Bank briefcase. He looks at Ziggler and mouths something to him. He then drives the briefcase into Ziggler's stomach and smacks him in the back with it. Jericho waits for Ziggler to get up and connects with the codebreaker. Jericho leaves the ring, and the WWE...for the time being.
Backstage, CM Punk is heading towards the ring to meet with John Cena.
-Commercial-
WWE Champion CM Punk comes out and heads down to the ring. He grabs a microphone. He then exits the ring and walks over to Jerry.
He lost his train of thought for a brief second. After defending hsi title last night and feeling good about it, he was going to talk about that and his next contender and he remembered how he said he turned his back on the WWE Universe. Let's clear the air. He wants him to go ahead and admit that was a lie.
Lawler says he said that but he meant no malice. At that moment he felt like he turned his back.
Okay, he'll put it to him like this; have the respect to tell him to his face that he was wrong. How about an apology, Jerry?
Before he can say anything, John Cena comes out. Cena heads down to the ring. Punk gets back in the ring.
He couldn't have waited? He couldn't have waited? He heard him earlier saying he was going to call him out, so he had his eyes on his business with Jerry Lawler, but he had to come out and steal the spotlight. It's one hell of a seguway though. Since WrestleMania, he has taken a backstage to him, to Triple H, to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and he's taken a back seat out of respect. But respect is a two way street and in no way has it ever been reciporcated towards himself. He is the WWE Champion, and he has been for 9 months. He walks through airports and fans say "Hey Champ! Why weren't you in the main event? Why are you taking a backseat to John Cena?" And he says that John Cena is in the main event because he respects him. But...
CM Punk chants.
But taking a backseat no longer makes any sense when you consider the fact that he beat him over a year ago for the title at Money in the Bank. He beat him at Summerslam last year AND this year, and he's still taking a backseat to him. Last year he held this company up to get the respect he deserves. Does he know why he's the number one contender? Because he has to beat him again. But then he thinks about it. All the time he defeated him, it still hasn't mattered. He sees a sea of green hats, foam fingers, wristbands, and he sees the CE-NATION in Fresno, California. And it dawns on him what he has to have him do, and that's the one condition if he wants what he knows he wants. This is what he has to do. The title shot is his at Night of Champions. All he has to do is, live in front of everyone, admit that he is the best in the world. Just tell the truth, John.
John pauses.
CM Punk...always wanting to speak his mind. CM Punk has been champion for 9 months. Which means he hasn't been the champion in nine month. And he looks out there and sees t-shirts, signs, loud noises for him and he wonders why. He'll tell him. Through all the wins and losses, good and bad, ups and downs, their relationship has been built on one word. Not championship, but respect. Here's an example. Raw is broadcast LIVE from Fresno, Califronia! He hears some barking and right around the corner is Fresno State University. and if Fresno State doesn't win the championship this year, their team won't be done with them. They're proud of their team because they represent who they are. Just like this represents all of us. And he makes valid points, but he is not going to let all of "them" down. He may be throwing away a chance at a championship, but he is not calling him the best in the world. He has to believe in his heart that HE is the best. That is not out of acceptance, arrogance, or cockiness. That is for him. For one whole year he said he would beat The Rock at WrestleMania. There was not one second in that match where he didn't think he would win. If there comes a day when you don't believe in yourself, there's the door!
He once held the gold for 380 days straight. And not once did he demand something from anyone. He's been the champion for nine months and he's firmly in the back seat. He's been champion for 274 days and all they remember is how he blew a kiss to Vince and left town. And now he's asking him to destroy the integrity he built? No. He's not going to do that. Instead he's going to offer vindication. He can choose anyone he wants. He didn't say he was the best. But he knows that he has the ability to earn another shot. So don't choose him and see what happens. But there is one match where he can get the word he deserves. Night of Champions is in Cena's hometown. If he can walk into Night of Champions and walk out with the championship, that's when he'll earn it. There's a mutual respect between them. He can choose anybody. But don't come out and demand respect from these people because if he doesn't choose him on the main stage of the biggest event, then he's got no respect for them or for the championship.
Cena leaves the ring. Punk squats down. He turns to Jerry.
Jerry Lawler. Before he was rudely interrupted, he wants an apology right now. Jerry Lawler, get in the ring. Let's have a conversation.
Lawler enters the ring.
He said he turned his back on all those people by defends what matters. He went too far. He thinks he owes him an apology.
Lawler says it's a misunderstanding, but he apologizes.
He goes to leave, but Punk stops him.
He's not finished. If Cena doesn't want to say it, then he wants him to say that he's the best in the world.
Punk can call him the minister of propaganda, but he has spent many years at commentary and has built a rapport with the WWE Universe.
Good, then just say that he's the best in the world.
He can't say that. Now if he doesn't mind, let him do his job.
Jerry goes to leave, and Punk roundhouse kicks him in the back of the head. Punk grabs his title and looks down at Lawler as the show comes to an end.
