Calling the matches tonight are Jim Ross and Booker T.  Michael Cole is out there too, but he only calls his own shit and not the actual in ring talent.

Triple H comes out and he’s got some COO’ing to do.  Hunter is explaining why he fired Miz and R-Truth.  Thankfully someone made up a music heavy video package to explain it all.  Team Awesome is still fired, but to do the transitive properties of matter, there is still a $250,000 fine out there.  Which is now the responsibility of Mark Henry.  Hunter says he’ll fire anyone at anytime if its what’s right for the company.  Speaking of right for the company, lets have Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler come out.  Dolph talks about getting punched out by Wolverine last week.  Trips says he’ll have security surround Dolph when the Muppets are on the show.  Good line.  Cody Rhodes comes out and both secondary champions are united in their anger against Triple H.  The cry baby club grows when Christian comes out to also bitch.  Christian and Cody both get punished for their insolance.  Thus far no backlash for Dolph.

Ten man over the top rope battle royal for the Intercontinental championship

Cody Rhodes (champ), Sin Cara, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Ezekiel Jackson, John Morrison, Alex Riley, Daniel Bryan, Ted DiBiase, and Justin Gabriel.

Sin Cara B eliminates Sin Cara A and then B is eliminated as well.  Lot of fast action.  Down to four people, Sheamus, Big Zeke and Priceless.  Sheamus looks to be close to winning the match, but Christian runs down and distracts the Irishman.  Cody takes advantage of all this and despite all the odds against him, Cody retains his title.

The announcers give an update on the status of Jerry Lawler.  Michael Cole says he’s suffering from “anal bleeding”.  Nothing but class Cole.  Nothing but class.

Kelly Kelly (Divas champion) and Eve Torres vs. Beth Phoenix and Natalya

Eve still looks like crap in the ring but I’m starting to think that a big part of this story is Kelly improving her in ring skills.  At the end of this angle I’m expecting Kelly to have earned respect from the Divas of Destruction.  Beth hits a Glam Slam on Kelly for the pin, so you have to expect her to get a title shot on next week’s PPV.

Mark Henry (World champion), wow that’s weird to write  vs. The Great Khali

Well, I’m not expecting a 5 star match here.  Mark attacks Khali with the belt before the match can even start.  He then deadlifts the Indian giant and hits the World’s Strongest Slam.  Holy crap that’s crazy.

Something happens with John Cena, Alberto Del Rio and CM Punk.  I have never had such little interest in a main event story line.  I feel like they’re shitting on CM Punk, I couldn’t care less about Del Rio and Cena really needs to be freshened up. Yes, you are a 10 time champion.  And every reign has been as a face.  You need to change it up.  Also, we’re less than a week away from a very physical main event at the PPV.  No one is doing anything risky tonight.

Zack Ryder vs. Dolph Ziggler (US champ, with Swagger and Vickie)

Another highlight package?  Are there a lot of people watching Raw for the first time tonight, and they need to constantly be brought up to speed.  Zack comes damn close to winning the title, but Vickie distracts the referee.  This allows Jack to take out Zack and Dolph gets the pin.  Vickie’s charges attack Zack Ryder after the match.  Air Boom makes the save.  Oh, there’s a tag title feud I don’t want to see.  Teddy Long comes out and announces a 6 man tag match.  Vickie has to find a third.

Zack Ryder, and Air Boom vs. Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and….?

The match starts as a two on three battle.  It looks to be a foregone conclusion that the faces will win this match.  Vickie comes out with… Mason Ryan?!  Where the hell has he been?  Mason gets tagged into the match, and destroys his partners?  I’m so confused.  Either way the big guy destroys Swagger and Ziggler, allowing Ryder to get the pin.  Rough Ryder on Dolph for the win.

CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio (with John Cena on commentary)

Punk is on fire in this match.  Holy shit he’s so good tonight.  Yeah, I say that as a Punk mark.  But also as someone who really wants to like Del Rio but I’ve yet to see anything main event level out of him.  Punk is bringing out greatness in Del Rio tonight.  This really is Punk’s match.  And don’t expect a second reign from Del Rio after the PPV.  Punk kicks Alberto’s head off and scores a clean pin 6 days before the show.

The Hell in a Cell lowers down trapping the three wrestlers, and unfortunately Ricardo Rodriguez as well.  Ricardo eats a GTS and an AA for fun.  Its an alphabet soup of finishers!  Del Rio emerges and takes out both Cena and Punk with a chair.  Well I suppose if you’re going to lose clean, its best to have this sort of action after the match to get some of your heat back.

Really smart story telling.  Its HIAC, and even if Del Rio cant out wrestle Punk or Cena he can out violence them.  I was sure Alberto had no chance this Sunday just 5 minutes ago.  Now, not so sure.