Raw results: Cena pins Punk, but controversy still reigns

Damien Sandow def. Zack Ryder

Zack Ryder vs. Damien Sandow: Raw, Sept. 17, 2012CM Punk complains to AJ Lee and the referee about the missed call during his match: WWE.com Exclusive, Sept. 17, 2012Jim Ross gives his thoughts on returning to the broadcast team for Raw: WWE.com Exclusive, Sept. 17, 2012John Cena & Sheamus vs. CM Punk & Alberto Del Rio: Raw, Sept. 17, 2012Zack Ryder and Damien Sandow compete during the commercial break of RawPaul Heyman and David Otunga clash over their respective clients: Raw, Sept. 17, 2012Randy Orton vs. Tensai: Raw, Sept. 17, 2012

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PHOTOS | VIDEO

It was a classic matchup of summer fun vs. academic tenacity and, in a result sure to disappoint schoolchildren everywhere, Damien Sandow (representing the highfalutin intellectualism of back-to-school season) managed to overcome Zack Ryder (representing the bros of summer) in an impromptu matchup made by Raw GM AJ Lee.

Sandow was the one who inadvertently got the matchup made in the first place when he attempted to expand the WWE Universe's vocabulary at the end of the "season of sloth," or summer vacation. As The Intellectual Savior of the Masses ran through his lesson plan, The Ultimate Broski made his presence known and declared that he had a few vocab words of his own: "Shut" and "Up." He also had a surprise for Sandow: AJ had made a matchup between the two of them for right then. The Long Island Iced-Z wasted no time in taking it to Sandow, unleashing a series of offensive strikes to leave the "soverign of civility" stunned outside the ropes.

Sandow rallied after Ryder tossed him back into the ring though, stomping The Ultimate Broski's ribcage and dropping an un-padded knee on Ryder's neck before pummeling him with the Elbow of Disdain.  Ryder was the next to rally though, trapping Sandow in a small package before decking the enlightened one with a series of clotheslienes. Sandow narrowly avoided the Broski Boot, but Ryder rolled him back into the ring and connected with the move quickly thereafter. Even then, though, it wasn't enough to defeat Sandow, who recovered from the broski's strike and felled Ryder for the 1-2-3. Cue the "Hallelujahs."