Many people are wondering if as is speculated why the PF pulled up as one of his initial actions. I think on Page 1 of this particular thread one explanation has already been given:
"If he thought he still had stall protection, would commanding pitch up be a way of trying to tell the aircraft: I don't want to lose altitude, and I'm relying on you not to let me stall?"
Could that desire not to lose altitude be linked due to the weather deviation,(which I think could be one of the psychological factors affecting the PF's initial reaction) in that they were just clearing the tops of a cell and were worried about the subsequent impact of losing it. Hence the application of TOGA to attempt to compensate for the pitch up.