-Hulk Hogan returns to WWE Raw next Monday night, live from Portland, OR.
Jack Swagger vs. Alberto del Rio
They lock up a few times with Swagger going into rest holds – he’s sort of playing the heel here – and end up brawling to the outside. Swagger does his “we the People” gimmick and very few people respond. Del Rio kicks him in the side of the head as he tries to get back into the ring, and the fans actually cheer as we head to a break. After the break, del Rio is in control, attacking Swagger’s injured ribs and kicking his ass around the ringside area. He ends up throwing him into the ring post on the floor, and then rolls back into the ring to keep working him over. Swagger battles back and hits a running press – he does “we the people” and they actually boo him this time. The Swagger Bomb connects for a two-count, as a “del Rio” chant breaks out. He locks in the Cross Armbreaker out of nowhere, which Swagger counters into the Patriot Lock. ADR breaks the hold and tried for a step-up enzuigiri in the corner, but Swagger catches him with the Patriot Lock. Eventually del Rio has to tap out.
Winner: Jack Swagger
KILLAM: WHO WROTE THIS SHOW!? If they know they’re in Mexico territory, why book the super-pro-American against a former Mexican world champion!? I suppose it’s “just wrestling” and they figure it won’t matter, but Smackdown is being filmed in the same place, and Swagger is JUST finally getting over as a babyface. I really hope this doesn’t kill his momentum, and consequently Rusev’s momentum, heading into SummerSlam. Out of the entire roster, they could have booked Swagger against literally anybody else, but they picked the ONE GUY that could draw a pseudo-hometown reaction, AND they had him cut a BABYFACE promo in SPANISH to start the show. Seriously, this is the dumbest booking I’ve seen from WWE in a long, long time.
For what it’s worth, the match was decent. The whole show was actually decent. It just didn’t make any *** **** sense.
