Another Monday, another RAW Review. The WWE is advertising two matches rumored to take place at Night of Champions: Curtis Axel vs CM Punk and Rob Van Dam vs Alberto del Rio. My gut says the World Title Match might be made a Triple Threat with Christian.
Also, I’m going to try something different tonight. Instead of commenting after every segment, I’m going to add my own personal thoughts at the end of the review. The live review will just consist of the actual happenings on the show. So let me know in the comments section which one you prefer, and I’ll go from there.
GOOD FOR BUSINESS!
RAW started with The Shield standing outside the ring. Triple H came out. HHH replayed what happened at SummerSlam. He said that was what was best for business. He then replayed what happened at the end of RAW last week. Triple H admitted that was personal. HHH said he had Bryan beat down because of his actions. Bryan insulted his wife, himself, and his family. HHH said he was willing to move on and the choice was his. Triple H then said that ratings were through the roof and it was because of one man, Randy Orton.
Triple H thanked Orton for breathing new life into the WWE. (LOL) HHH said he likes rewarding people who do well, and he got Orton a gift. HHH then had a Cadillac Escalade brought out for Orton. Orton thanked him and said he was the only man worthy of being the new face of the WWE. Before Orton could go check out the Cadillac, Daniel Bryan came out. Bryan said the car looked nice. But he had a few thank yous of his own he wanted to thank. Bryan thanked the WWE Universe for supporting him despite not being a pretty boy and lacking in size. He thanked John Cena for letting him wrestle in the main event of SummerSlam. Bryan then thanked Triple H for showing his true colors and proving to everyone that his view of what is best for business is just as narrow-minded as Vince McMahon’s . He said Triple H is now a sellout in a suit. Orton said he was the face of the WWE and Bryan should respect the COO. Bryan said at Night of Champions, that face was going to get re-arranged and he would become WWE Champion.
Triple H said that was sweet and sang the beginning of “When You Wish Upon A Star.” HHH said Orton was an A-player and Bryan was a B+ at best. HHH said that tonight, Bryan will face Seth Rollins. And if he beats Rollins, then he gets Dean Ambrose. And if he beats Ambrose, he gets Roman Reigns. Triple H said that is best for business.
The Most Important Takeaway from This Match: Rosa Is Back!
Cody Rhodes vs Fandango. After some early Cody offense Fandango caught Cody with a kick to the head on the apron. Fandango’s music then played and Miz appeared on the stage with Rosa. They distracted Fandango, and Cody rolled him up for the win. Fandango attacked Cody but Damien Sandow made the save, then Miz. Brad Maddox came out and made a tag match.
Back from break the heels had control over Cody. Sandow came in and hit an elbow to the head then applied an armbar. Sandow hit a side Russian leg sweep then the Elbow of Disdain. Rhodes caught Sandow with a kick to the head then they hit a double clothesline. Cody made the hot tag to Miz. Miz hit his corner clothesline then knocked Fandango off the apron. Fandango walked off. Cody pulled down Sandow’s leg, then Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the win.
Another promo for Los Matadores aired.
Christian was interviewed about the HHH regime. Randy Orton came in and said he was going to beat him tonight. Christian said HHH likes to play with sledgehammers, and he thinks HHH found a new tool.
Rule of Thumb: Don’t End A Bro-Mance with Paul Heyman
Backstage, Curtis Axel tried to convince Paul Heyman that he was going to win. Heyman didn’t look confident.
CM Punk vs Curtis Axel. As voted for on the WWE APP, if Axel loses, Punk gets Heyman in the ring after the match. Punk hit a headlock takedown and a shoulder tackle. He went for an early GTS but Axel escaped to the outside. Punk went after Heyman who was on top of the ramp, but Axel chased him down and threw him into the ring apron. Back in the ring Axel hit a bodyslam and elbow. Punk countered a headlock and hit a high knee. Punk went to the top for an elbow drop but Axel went outside again. Punk hit a dive to the outside into commercial.
Back from break Axel caught Punk with a hit to the back of the head. Axel hit a nice dropkick. Axel continued to work over Punk with a backdrop and clothesline. Axel missed a swinging neckbreaker and Punk hit one of his own. Punk connected on the Elbow Drop for two. Punk went for the GTS but Axel escaped and hit a swinging neckbreaker for two. Axel took his time with Punk, so Punk grabbed him and connected on a GTS for the win.
Heyman tried escaping but security stopped him and took him back to the ring. Before Punk could do anything, Axel caught Punk with a low blow. Axel handcuffed Punk’s arms behind his back. Heyman slapped Punk around. Punk hit a kick to the head on Axel then a couple kicks on Heyman. Axel came back in the ring with a chair and hit Punk with it. Axel then grabbed a kendo stick and handed it to Heyman. Heyman hit Punk a few times while screaming that Punk meant everything to him. Axel threw Punk into the announce table and Heyman hit him again with the kendo stick. Heyman screamed at Punk that he broke his heart as doctors and referees came to look at Punk.
PIPE BOMB!!!
Brie Bella beat Natalya. After the match, A.J. came out and ripped on everyone from Total Divas. AJ said she just sees a bunch of cheap, interchangeable, useless women. They aren’t talented enough to be Champions and had to turn to reality TV because they aren’t good enough actors. AJ said that she worked her ass off to get where she is and they were all handed 15 minutes of fame. AJ said she got where she was because she was good, and not because she was from some famous wrestling family or sucked up to the right people. She said no one could lace up her Chuck Taylors, and they were all useless women and none of them will ever touch her. AJ skipped on stage as all of the Total Divas girls yelled from ringside.
Give Away the World Title Match Again on TV? Sure Why Not!
Rob Van Dam vs Alberto del Rio. RVD crotched Del Rio on the ropes and kicked him off, even though he completely missed the kick. Back from a quick commercial Del Rio had a head lock applied. Del Rio went for a kick but RVD countered with a kick of his own. Del Rio came back with a German suplex and then a body stomp. Del Rio went to the top but RVD caught him with a kick. RVD hit a couple clotheslines then Rolling Thunder for two. RVD caught Del Rio with another kick to the head then a split-leg moonsault. RVD went to the top but Del Rio crotched him. Del Rio came back with an enziguri kick that landed a two count. Ricardo stood on the announce table and chanted RVD. The distraction allowed RVD to roll up Del Rio and pick up the win. RVD now gets a World Title shot at Night of Champions.
Ryback bullied Josh Matthews backstage.
Paul Heyman said he feels like a man that put his son in his place. Heyman said Punk will learn that he is the last man Punk should want to come up against.
Haven’t You Learned From Wrestling Past Orton? Should Have Got Your Car Out Of There!
Christian vs Randy Orton. Both men locked up then Orton took Christian down with a shoulder tackle. Orton landed a couple punches. He went for the middle rope DDT but Christian tossed him over the top then speared him off the apron. Christian hit a reverse DDT for two. Orton ducked Christian off the top and connected on a dropkick. Orton dropped Christian on the ropes then hit a high knee knocking Christian to the outside. Orton did his version of the Garvin stomp back in the ring. Orton went into a chinlock followed by a headlock. Orton tossed Christian into the corner but Christian caught him with an elbow. Christian went to the ropes but Orton shoved him off and he landed kind of hard on the outside.
Back from commercial, Christian caught Orton with a kick to the face. They exchanged some punches in the corner and Orton hit a superplex. Orton went for an RKO but Christian ducked it. Christian landed some punches in the corner. He tossed Orton into the corner but Orton bounced back with a clothesline. Christian caught Orton with an uppercut then a crossbody off the top for two. Both men exchanged near fall attempts. Orton went for the middle rope DDT, Christian countered and went for the Killswitch, but instead landed a tornado DDT. Christian hit his over the top rope uppercut, but Orton came right back with his middle rope DDT. Christian blocked the RKO. He went for the Spear, Orton leap frogged it, but Christian came back and connected again but only got two. Christian went for the Killswitch but Orton tossed him into the corner and he temporary blocked the ref. Orton landed a thumb to the eye then hit the RKO for the win.
Bryan congratulated Orton from backstage. He then showed Orton’s escalade spray-painted with YES all over it.
Backstage, Triple H told Brad Maddox to have the entire locker room watch what happens to Daniel Bryan tonight and that no one should even think about interfering in the match.
Titus O’Neil vs Jack Swagger. Zeb told people in welfare lines that if you can’t feed them, don’t breed them. Swagger landed some gut shots then a running high knee on O’Neil. O’Neil fought out of a headlock and started a comeback. Swagger cut it off with a chop block to the leg. Swagger tried using the ropes for leverage during the pin but Young knocked his feet off. Titus then hit a spinebuster for the win.
A Wyatt Family promo aired. Bray gave the background on Sister Abigail.
CM Punk went into Brad Maddox’s office. Maddox made Punk vs Heyman/Axel, and if Heyman backs out of the match, he won’t be seen ever again.
HHH: Control Freak
Main event time. First up, Bryan vs Rollins. Bryan applied a quick surfboard submission. Bryan landed a couple kicks then a running high knee. Bryan clotheslined Rollins over the top. Ambrose and Reigns distracted Bryan, allowing Rollins to back Bryan into the barricade then the ring apron. Bryan fought back in the ring with a kick to the head then more kicks to Rollins. Rollins dropped Bryan on the ropes, but Bryan ducked a springboard and applied a half crab. Bryan then hit a dive to the outside, knocking Rollins over the announce table. Back from commercial, Rollins had control. He hit a splash in the corner. He hit another one then ran to the other corner but Rollins turned right into a Bryan dropkick. Both men exchanged punches and kicks then nearfalls. Rollins hit an enziguri kick then a reverse DDT suplex for two. Bryan escaped a superplex on the top then hit a German suplex off the top, with Rollins dueling a flip and landing face first. Bryan hit his running knee and scored the pin.
Next up was Ambrose. He went to work right away on Bryan but Bryan applied the YES Lock. Reigns broke up the YES Lock, causing a DQ. Reigns then came in but Bryan applied the Yes Lock on him. The Shield attacked Bryan. Triple H came out and watched everyone on stage. The Shield hit the Triple Powerbomb on Bryan. Randy Orton then came out and hit Bryan with an RKO. Orton and HHH walked off as The Shield stood tall to end the show.
WHAT I LIKED
Randy Orton vs Christian: These two just click together in the ring. They had a great series of matches in 2011 and they had another good one here. Christian is almost the WWE’s go to guy when it comes to this stuff. Need to have a good 15 minute TV match on RAW? Send Christian out there. Orton held his own in the ring too.
CM Punk/Paul Heyman/Curtis Axel: Just when you thought the steam might be coming out of this feud, life gets put back into it. Heyman shoudl some great emotion in his attack on Punk. And the match Axel and Punk had was good as well. I still don’t think the payoff comes at Night of Champions, but all parties involved tonight played their parts well. Even Curtis Axel looked strong in defeat.
Daniel Bryan/HHH: We’re in full heell HHH mode now. He plays that part better. Some people might be upset that HHH basically neutered the entire WWE roster tonight, but I’m okay with it for now. You can’t jump the gun right away with it. Some tension needs to be built here. Eventually, the roster will finally fight back and when they do the pop will be huge. But we are only two weeks into this. We need to give it some time.
AJ’s Promo: I don’t know if the WWE knows exactly what they did here. I’m sure they know a lot of people hate Total Divas, but I think it is the strong majority of their audience. AJ pretty much said everything the WWE fans want to say. The crowd is going to get behind AJ here whether the WWE likes it or not. A strong promo and delivery from AJ.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Rob Van Dam/Alberto del Rio: First of all, I don’t like giving away this match on TV again. Second, both men just didn’t seem to gel well in the ring. RVD missed a few spots and Del Rio was out of place a couple of times. They have some time to work on it, but things didn’t look good.
Recaps: How many do we need in one show? Oh yeah, enough to make it 3 hours.
I thought this was a good episode of RAW with a lot to like about it. I’m going to give the show a 7.
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Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
