WWE Monday Night RAW LIVE Results for 4.22.13: The Undertaker, Triple H, John Cena, The Shield

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RAW takes place from London tonight. I’ll be reporting on this show live even though it has been taped already. Remember, reading the spoilers is never as good as my live report!

More Paul Heyman Carrying A Program For A Month

RAW started with Paul Heyman in the ring, saying he is there on behalf of his client Brock Lesnar. Heyman said the world is buzzing after Lesnar’s beating of 3MB and the challenge made to Triple H. Heyman replayed everything from last week. Heyman said they were ready for Triple H’s answer, but he isn’t there tonight. And the entire WWE Universe is let down by that. Heyman read an e-mail from HHH that said he never runs away from a fight, and that he will give his answer next week. Heyman called HHH a gutless coward who didn’t have the manhood to appear tonight.

Suddenly, Triple H’s music hit and Heyman sold a great look of shock and fear. Heyman told HHH that it was well played. HHH told Heyman that he lied in the e-mail, and to go home and tell his monster that he accepts. Hunter then hit the Pedigree on Heyman.

Segment Analysis: Get ready for another month of Paul Heyman carrying this program. I doubt the WWE wants to waste too many more Brock Lesnar appearances on a third match with HHH. We might get at most two more appearances before the PPV. I would rather Lesnar move on to a new opponent than have another average match with HHH. But if it means another month of Paul Heyman promos I guess I’m okay with it. Survey Says: 2.5/5

R-Truth vs Antonio Cesaro. Cesaro worked over Truth early with a clothesline and then a knee to the gut. Truth started a comeback with some clotheslines then a face first suplex for two. Truth ran into a Cesaro knee, but ducked a clothesline and hit the Lie Detector for the win. And so begins the de-push of Antonio Cesaro, and the re-push of R-Truth? Ugh.

The Shield was shown arriving in a helicopter. They got into a car and drove off. The big question: Who Was Driving It?

Brodus Clay vs Damien Sandow. Clay hit some headbutts then an elbow for two. Sandow escaped a bodyslam and hit some knees to the back. Sandow hit the Elbow of Disdain for two. Brodus escaped a headlock and hit a splash in the corner and then his suplex for two. Cody distracted Brodus and Sandow dropped his neck on the ropes. Sandow rolled up Brodus and held the tights, picking up the win.

Dolph was backstage. Him and A.J. started kissing but Big E was just creeping in the corner. Dolph asked him to leave. Vickie and Brad Maddox showed up. She told Dolph if he loses to Chris Jericho tonight, Jericho gets added to the World Title Match at Extreme Rules.

A recap of CM Punk’s promo from last week aired.

The Shield cut a promo talking about how The Undertaker will finally know what justice feels like tonight.

Actual Wrestling? Cool

Chris Jericho vs Dolph Ziggler. Jericho started with a takedown headlock. Dolph tried battling out but Jericho came back with another takedown headlock. Ziggler ducked a clothesline and went outside the ring to kiss A.J. Jericho hit a dropkick to the back of Ziggler into commercial. We returned from commercial with Dolph in control and Big E landing a bunch on Y2J. Ziggler hit an elbow drop. Ziggler taunted Jericho for a bit then applied a chinlock. Jericho fought out but Ziggler came back with a sleeper hold. Jericho got out of it. Ziggler missed a splash in the corner and Jericho regained control. He hit an axe handle off the top then an enziguri to the back of the head for two. Ziggler ran into a boot from Jericho then the running bulldog. He went for the Lionsault but Big E caught him with a punch. Dolph got a two count.

Ziggler landed some punches to the gut then applied another sleeper hold. Jericho fought out but ate a DDT for two. Jericho fought back as the crowd did the wave. Jericho played along, but Ziggler got his knees up on a Lionsault attempt and hit a Fameasser but only got a two. Jericho crotched Ziggler on the turnbuckle, then hit a superplex for two. Jericho hit a Codebreaker, but Ziggler got his foot on the rope. Big E tried to distract Jericho again, but Jericho knocked him off the apron. Jericho applied the Walls, but Fandango’s music played. Ziggler got out of the Walls, then hit the ZigZag for the win.

Match Analysis: The match wasn’t bad, but I’ve seen better from both in the ring. Looks like we get an extension of the Jericho/Fandango program. Ziggler needed the win this week after taking a loss last week, to Jack Swagger of all people. Jericho wasn’t needed in the World Title Match anyways. Good match, but both are capable of better. Survey Says: 3/5

Tensai defeated Cody Rhodes. Nothing much to write about. Damien Sandow tried distracting Tensai but Brodus Clay took him out.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan asked Kane if Undertaker was here to go over strategy. Bryan asked Kane if he could call him. Bryan said he had diagrams. Kane said not to show him those, or give him a hug. Both men were then taken out, presumably by The Shield. But no faces were ever shown.

Ryback said he wants to talk to Mick Foley in the ring about what he said earlier. Foley apparently said that Ryback has all the potential but is wasting it away.

Big E made quick work of Zack Ryder.

So Will They Ever Lose?

The Undertaker came out, but no Team Hell No yet. The Shield attacked Taker, but Team Hell No came out to even the score. The match started back from break with Daniel Bryan and Kane working over Ambrose. Undertaker came in and landed some punches then a shoulder tackle. He went for Old School but Ambrose dragged him down. Taker came back and hit Old School. Kane came in but Ambrose caught him with a kick. Reigns came in but Kane caught him with an uppercut. Kane charged at Reigns in the corner but Reigns caught him with an elbow. Ambrose and Rollins each hit dropkicks into Kane. The Shield took turns working over Kane. Kane fought out of a Roman Reigns headlock with a backdrop. Rollins came in and ate an uppercut, allowing Kane to make a tag to Bryan. Bryan hit some kicks on Rollins. Rollins charged at Bryan but he was dumped over the top. Bryan hit a suicide dive to the outside. Back in the ring Bryan hit a missile drop kick off the top, but he missed a drop kick in the corner.

The Shield still had control back from break with Reigns hitting a clothesline on Bryan. Rollins whipped Bryan into one corner then the other. He then taunted Undertaker from in the ring. Ambrose worked over Bryan for a bit, then tagged in Rollins who hit a flying knee off the top. Reigns came in and missed a splash in the corner. Bryan made the tag to Undertaker who clotheslined Reigns over the top then dragged Ambrose into the ring. He went to hit a double chokeslam on Rollins and Ambrose, but Reigns hit the Spear on Taker for two. Rollins came in but Taker took him out with a clothesline. Kane was tagged in and hit a sideslam then a clothesline off the top. Rollins escaped a chokeslam and hit a kick to the head for two. Rollins tagged in Ambrose, who promptly ate a chokeslam. Bryan tagged in, but Reigns knocked him off the turnbuckle. Undertaker took out Reigns on the outside. Bryan knocked Ambrose off the turnbuckle, but missed a headbutt. Ambrose pinned Bryan and The Shield picked up the win.

Match Analysis: Strong match. Once again, The Shield goes over and now you almost have to wonder when they are going to lose. A Tag Title match is still likely at Extreme Rules. I still think this match would have been better served for that PPV, but I can get why they did it here. The Shield didn’t look out of place in there with Taker. Solid showing by all parties involved. Survey Says: 4/5

Backstage, John Cena tried talking Mick Foley out of going to the ring to confront Ryback. He said he knew what he was doing. Cena gave him a chair and told him to take it with him.

Fandango made quick work of William Regal. Chris Jericho came out and attacked him on the stage. He then threw him off the stage and danced with Fandango’s dancer after.

A.J. won a Divas Battle Royal to become the #1 Contender for the Divas Title.

Does Ryback Here Voices In His Head Too?

Mick Foley came out. He said he didn’t intend to get into a confrontation, but here he is in London about to enter one. He told Ryback he had something to say to his face. Ryback came out and asked how John Cena giving him a chair help him out. Foley said at first he was offended. During his day he took on the biggest of all challengers. Foley said his time has come and gone. Foley showed Ryback the footage from the John Cena beatdown again. Ryback said he loved it. Foley asked what happened to the guy that took the WWE by storm last year. Foley laid into Ryback for counting the number of times he was left laid out. He said he shouldn’t keep statistics. Foley said Ryback has the physical tools to be WWE Champion someday. Foley said he shouldn’t become WWE Champ by walking away from John Cena. Ryback told him to shut up, and for years he has been getting in other people’s business. He said maybe Foley wants to relive the glory days or sell more DVDs. Ryback said this is a results oriented business. Ryback said Foley can’t lecture him on being a man. He called Foley a fat pathetic lazy bastard. Ryback asked how the chair helped again. Foley was ready to strike. Ryback threw the chair out of the ring and out came John Cena. The Shield’s music then hot. Cena exited the ring as The Shield attacked. Cena came back in and fought off The Shield with a chair. Cena and Ryback stared each other down, then Cena hit an AA.

Segment Analysis: I wasn’t the biggest fan of that last segment, basically because we have seen it done before. Whenever someone turns heel, Mick Foley comes out and says they are now less of a man because of it. Ryback at least held his own in their with him, but I don’t get the point of the segment? Are we calling Ryback a coward for doing what he did, despite having valid points? Why can’t we just build up these heels as serious threats rather than have to make them less of one. WWE Logic is confusing sometimes. Survey Says: 2.5/5

OVERALL

This RAW seemed a bit all over the place this week. We had a really good six man tag that was definitely the highlight of the show. Jericho and Ziggler was good, but they are capable of much better. Match just didn’t seem to get out of second gear. I thought the closing segment fell flat and didn’t do a lot to extend the Ryback/John Cena program. There was also a lot of filler on the show, and once again, was a perfect example of why 3 hour RAWs are bad. When some Smackdown guys aren’t there, you are forced to put on a lot of filler matches. RAW was nothing more than average at best, so I’m giving it a 5.

Until Next Time,

Justin C

Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka