It was advertised last week as well, but it looks like Big Show vs Rusev will take place this week on RAW. And what is next for Dean Ambrose and John Cena in their quests to get their hands on Seth Rollins? Follow along to find out!
Wait, A New Match Not Involving The Same Five People?
After recapping last week’s events, Dean Ambrose came out. He said there is nothing he would like more in this world than to be inside Hell In A Cell with Seth Rollins. But before he gets there something else is in his way that is really pissing him off, and that is the face of the WWE John Cena. He said it is clear that The Authority wants him and Cena to tear each other apart so they can protect their golden boy Seth Rollins. He said at Hell In A Cell, he will take down the contract and then the pole and beat John Cena with it. Then he will bounce Seth Rollins head around the Cell like a basketball.
John Cena came out. Cena said Ambrose needs to relax. He said the match between them is one the WWE Universe wants to see. Cena said he was going to give Ambrose some veteran advice: He has the match of his life in two weeks, so shut up, and get ready for the biggest match of his career at Hell In A Cell. Ambrose said he is ready, and he’s been ready to whoop his ass for years. He said to not act like he cares about him. Cena said at HIAC Ambrose will see that he is way out of Cena’s league and he should use his time to get ready.
Triple H and Stephanie came out. HHH told him to slow down and they still have two weeks til HIAC. Steph said tonight Cena and Ambrose should be partners. HHH said he doesn’t think they can get along, but Steph said they can. They made a bet, then made a triple threat tag match: Cena and Ambrose vs The Usos vs Goldust and Stardust.
At Least Everyone Looked Strong
The match started back from break. Ambrose and Cena both worked over Jimmy Uso early. They hit a double elbow but Jimmy caught Ambrose with a boot and tagged in Jey. Ambrose hit a short clothesline and tagged in Cena. Jey hit a right hand and went to the top but Cena rolled through. Jey escaped the AA and hit a crescent kick. Jimmy came back in and applied an armbar. Cena escaped and hit a dropkick, but then walked right into a Samoan Drop. Jey came back in and went to an armbar. Jey hit a dropkick but missed a splash. Both men ended up making tags to their partners. Ambrose hit a crossbody but caught a kick, but Ambrose bounced off the ropes and hit a clothesline. Stardust then took Jimmy outside the ring and threw him into the apron into commercial.
Back from break the Dust Brothers worked over Jimmy Uso. They hit a double stomp in the corner. Jimmy landed a couple of right hands but Goldust prevented the tag with a kick to the face. Jimmy eventually took out Stardust off the apron then hit a clothesline on Goldust. But Goldust pulled Jey off the apron. Dean Ambrose came over and clotheslined Goldust. Back in the ring, Cena and Stardust got tags. Cena went into CENA MODE. Stardust landed on his feet after an AA attempt. Goldust hit a powerslam on Cena. Both Usos took out the Dust Brothers with dives to the outside. Cena then hit a dive to the outside on all four men, then Ambrose hit a an elbow off the top on all of them. Back in the ring, Cena and Ambrose hit their finishers on the tag champs to pick up the win.
WINNERS: John Cena and Dean Ambrose
The Authority came back out. He said Steph wins, and gave her $1. HHH then said why wait til Hell In A Cell. He made the pole match tonight and said that hell starts for them tonight.
AJ and Layla beat Paige and Alicia Fox. Layla jumped off the apron when AJ went to make a tag. AJ was still able to hit the Shining Wizard on Alicia Fox to pick up the win. After the match, AJ chased Layla down then threw her into the steps.
Backstage, Randy Orton told The Authority that he wanted the loser of the Cena/Ambrose match inside the Cell at HIAC. They agreed to it.
An Erik Rowan promo aired.
What Is This Good Wrestling On RAW???
Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler landed some early blows sending Orton to the outside. Ziggler slammed Orton’s face on the steps. Back in the ring Ziggler hit a splash in the corner then went to a headlock. Orton escaped with a backdrop. Ziggler blocked a shot in the corner and landed three of his own and hit a dropkick. Orton went to the corner, then ducked Ziggler and slammed him into the turnbuckle. Orton dropped Ziggler on the ropes. Orton took his time however and Ziggler dropped his neck on the ropes. They went to the outside where Ziggler tossed Orton into the apron. Back in the ring Orton countered Ziggler and tossed him into the post. He went for the middle rope DDT but Ziggler countered and tossed Orton on the apron, then hit a dropkick sending him off the apron. Orton went to the end of the ramp and Seth Rollins came onto the stage going into commercial.
Orton had control back from break. He catapulted Ziggler into the corner. Orton went for a superplex. Ziggler hit a headbutt knocking Orton off. Orton came back wit ha headbutt of his own but Ziggler knocked him off again with a handful of punches. Ziggler recovered but Orton crotched him in the corner. This time Orton was able to connect on the superplex. After a nearfall Ziggler started fighting back with some clotheslines and then a neckbreaker and a jumping elbow for two. He went for a superkick but Orton blocked it and hit a powerslam for two. Orton connected on the middle rope DDT. Orton went for the RKO but Ziggler countered with a nearfall. Ziggler went for the Fameasser but Orton moved, but Ziggler came right back with a super kick. Ziggler went for the ZigZag, but Orton held on to the ropes. Ziggler landed a kick and went for the Fameasser again. But Orton caught him, put him in a powerbomb position, tossed him in the air, and connected on the RKO with Ziggler on the way down for the win.
WINNER: Randy Orton
After the match, Seth Rollins hit the Curb Stomp on Ziggler.
Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better
Seth Rollins vs Jack Swagger. Both men exchanged early armbars. Swagger went for a clothesline but Rollins ducked to the outside. Rollins caught Swagger with an elbow back in the ring. Rollins went to the top. Swagger tried to stop him but Rollins dropped the arm of Swagger on the ropes. Rollins continued to work over the arm of Swagger. Swagger escaped one armbar and sent Rollins to the outside. Swagger hit a clothesline on the outside then slammed Rollins into the steps. Randy Orton came out on the ramp, similar to Rollins. The distraction allowed Rollins to hit a dive through the ropes onto Swagger.
Rollins still had control back from break. Rollins landed a kick to the back. Swagger caught Rollins going for a leapfrog in the corner then hit a German suplex. Swagger hit a clothesline and followed it up with a backbody drop and a Swagger Bomb for two. Swagger went for a gut wrench powerbomb but Rollins escaped. He went to the top but Swagger caught him and hit a t-bone suplex for two. Swagger hit a dropkick to the knee of Rollins then applied the Patriot Lock but Rollins escaped. Rollins came back with a kick to the face of Swagger. Rollins went for the Curb Stomp but Swagger moved and applied the Patriot Lock but Rollins got to the ropes. Swagger tossed Rollins onto the post. He went for a front slam, but Rollins countered into a roll up and grabbed the tights, picking up the pinfall victory.
WINNER: Seth Rollins
After the match, Randy Orton came into the ring and hit the RKO on Swagger. Orton and Rollins exchanged words in the ring before Rollins left.
Dean Ambrose was interviewed. He said tonight, he’s sending John Cena down the Highway to Hell. Just like he will Seth Rollins at Hell In A Cell.
Big Show said tonight he will shatter Rusev’s jaw, and no offense to Mark Henry, but he will carry the weight of 318 million Americans on his shoulders to victory tonight.
Lana Knows American Sports Too? My Dream Girl
Before Big Show vs Rusev, Lana talked about Indians losing their money quickly just like the Atlanta Braves lose their baseball games. Big Show caught Rusev with a boot early. Show landed some early blows then went to the outside. Show tossed Rusev into the barricade a couple of times. Show hit some chest slaps in the ring, but they went back to the outside again and Rusev went back into the barricade. Show landed a headbutt in the ring followed by an elbow. Big Show continued to dominate, until Rusev elevated nicely and caught Big Show with a dropkick. Rusev went on the offensive this time and sent Big Show to the outside with a clothesline into commercial.
Rusev had a armbar applied back from break. He hit a splash in the corner. Big Show escaped headlock and went to the second rope, but Rusev moved and went back to a submission. Big Show escaped this time with a backdrop. Show went for the KO Punch but Rusev ducked and hit a kick to the mid-section. Rusev then locked in the Accolade. Mark Henry came out, but Rusev caught him with a right hand. Rusev went back to the Accolade, but Mark Henry came in and knocked Rusev off. Rusev wins.
WINNER via DQ: Rusev
Show and Henry briefly exchanged words after the match. They then turned their attention to Rusev by the announce table. They surrounded him. Rusev went after Henry, but then turned right into a KO Punch from Big Show.
When The Man Not In The Match Is The Most Entertaining Thing
Sheamus vs Miz. Sheamus had control early with an elbow followed by a kick to the back. They did a spot where Sheamus grabbed the chin of Miz and went back and forth in the ring, and Mizdow followed along grabbing his own chin on the outside. Miz gained control and hit his corne clothesline. Miz landed a couple of kicks to the face. Sheamus escaped a headlock and started a comeback. But he missed a knee in the corner and Miz hit a DDT for two. Sheamus blocked a kick and sent Miz to the outside, where Mizdow did a stunt role to be next to him. Miz went under the ring. Mizdow distracted Sheamus and ate a Brogue Kick for his troubles. Miz beat the count back in the ring and won via countout.
WINNER via Countout: Miz
Brie Bella, Naomi and Natalya (with Rosa and Nene Leakes at ringside) beat Nikki Bella, Cameron and Summer Rae.
John Cena hyped his match.
This time, a promo for Bray Wyatt aired, saying that something was coming.
Protect Protect Protect
Main Event time. The Authority was all at ringside. Both men went for the contract early. Ambrose gained the upper hand with a crossbody then some boots in the corner. Ambrose went for the contract but Cena caught him and hit a backdrop. Cena hit a couple of suplexes. He went for the running bulldog but Ambrose countered and tossed Cena to the outside. The two men brawled up the ramp where Ambrose hit a suplex on the stage. Ambrose went back to the ring and for the contract, but Cena stopped him again and hit an electric chair backdrop. Cena went for the AA but Ambrose countered and escaped and hit the rope clothesline. Cena countered and applied the STF, but Ambrose bit the hands of Cena to escape. Ambrose dropkicked Cena off the apron and hit a dive to the outside. Both men brawled to the outside. Cena tossed Ambrose into the steps. Ambrose countered and tossed Cena into the barricade.
Orton distacted Ambrose so Ambrose hit him. Cena hit Ambrose from behind and tossed him into all three men. Orton attacked Cena and all three men attacked the faces. Eventually, Cena hit the AA on Kane. But Ambrose was on the top rope by the pole. Ambrose did the “You Can’t See Me” to Cena then pulled down the contract to win.
WINNER: Dean Ambrose
WHAT I LIKED
John Cena/Dean Ambrose Promo: I liked the opening of the show. Ambrose’s lines were great about not being afraid of Cena and wanting to kick his ass for years. I even liked Cena trying to play the veteran giving the young guy advice. Nice little exchange between both men to start the show.
Triple Threat Tag: Good action throughout. I know there will be people who don’t like that the Tag Champs were pinned, but both the Tag Champs and The Usos were made to look good and at least be close to the level of Cena and Ambrose. Those two didn’t dominate the whole match or make the others look weak. I might have booked them to lose, because then it would have made the main event happening tonight make sense with those two nearly coming to blows. But the match itself was good.
Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton: Again, the Champ did lose. But he was made to look to be on the level of Orton. The final five minutes had some nice counters and near falls. Orton’s RKO on Ziggler was great. It didn’t look like a lot of the other unique ones where the opponent falls into it. It seemed natural. Orton gets a lot of crap from people, but he can have a good match with almost anyone that he is in the ring with.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Rusev vs Big Show: There were a couple things not to like here. The first being the amount of rest holds. And we know Rusev is athletic enough in the ring to move around, so maybe that was more Big Show. The second was the booking. America is suppose to be the good guys. But they cheat, and then double team Rusev at the end like a bunch of bullies. Maybe that is just over-reacting, but the booking left me with more to dislike than to like.
Hell In A Cell Booking: At least the WWE got the Rollins/Ambrose part right. But man, everything else is just all screwed up. They give away Cena/Ambrose on RAW tonight with no advanced build. Then Orton says he wants the loser of the match, making him a glorified consolation prize no matter how anyone tried to spin it. Then the Cena/Ambrose match is just a short, over booked mess with an over emphasis on protecting John Cena. It was just a big mess tonight.
Overall, the show was good from a wrestling standpoint. We had three perfectly acceptable TV matches. There also wasn’t too much filler tonight. It was the kind of show that you want to see from a three hour RAW. Have some quality wrestling with a couple of promos sprinkled in between. But the booking is just a big puzzle right now and half the time it seems like it is being done on the fly. But at least we are getting Ambrose/Rollins at Hell In A Cell. I’m giving the show a 6.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
