After an absence last week, I’m back again to cover the last RAW before Night of Champions this Sunday. It’ll be good to get back in the swing of things this week. For those that don’t follow me on Twitter, my absence last week was due to my father suffering a stroke last Saturday. He’s doing better and is currently in physical therapy. But he continues to improve every day.
So how will Triple H humiliate the WWE roster this week? Follow along to find out!
Can’t Wait for Edge vs HHH This Sunday!
Edge came out to a huge ovation. He welcomed everyone to the Cutting Edge. Edge said he was there at the request of Triple H because he thought it would be good for business to have a reunion with Randy Orton, his former Rated RKO tag partner. Edge called Orton Triple H’s lackey and someone who has to have The Shield fight his battles for him. So he said Orton will not be his guest tonight. He said he has another guest in mind that would be good for business. And that would be Daniel Bryan. Edge said that Bryan had been through a lot but it helps when you have so many people out there chanting your name. Bryan said no matter how many times he gets knocked out or held down, he will beat Randy Orton and become WWE Champion again. Edge says he sees a little bit of him in Bryan. Wrestling is what they’ve wanted to do since they were kids. Edge asked if Bryan thinks he can beat Randy Orton. Bryan answered Yes.
Randy Orton interrupted. Orton said it’s a shame the only place that gives a crap about him is Canada. He said it’s disappointing his body gave out on him at such a young age. Edge said it’s a shame Orton is suppose to be the face of the WWE but he acts like a different body part. Edge said he may have problems with his spine but at least he has one. Edge said HHH sucks at picking out talent. Triple H interrupted. HHH said whatever he had to say he could say to his face. Edge said HHH never believed in Edge, Jericho or Cena. HHH said Edge was there to plug his show, which HHH did. HHH said there was one guy he was right about when talking about a failure, and that was Edge. HHH said Edge never drew a dime. HHH said he is going to give Bryan the opportunity to prove him wrong when he fights Dean Ambrose.
HHH said since Ambrose will have The Shield in his corner, Bryan can have someone too. The crowd chanted for Edge but HHH said Edge’s ability to fight like a man is long gone. HHH said Bryan would have the Big Show. Edge said he didn’t have to marry into success, he earned his Hall of Fame ring. HHH said it’s easy to talk crap when you have a roll of dimes for a neck. Edge called HHH a dick. HHH said since he can’t hurt Edge, maybe he can hurt the ones he loved. The Shield then dragged Christian to the stage and Edge went to check on him.
Backstage, Edge stormed into HHH’s office. He said he wishes his doctors would clear him because he would go after HHH. HHH said that would never happen. HHH called Toronto his city and told him to get out, or have The Shield escort him out.
It’s Called A Razor, Paul
Curtis Axel vs Kofi Kingston. Axel dominated early with a dropkick and some elbows. Kofi reversed a back drop and hit a couple of chops. Kofi caught Axel with a boot to the face, then hit the SOS. Axel grabbed the ropes to break up the count. Axel tossed Kofi into the corner and hit a handful of knees to the back. Axel didn’t stop before the five count and was DQ’d. Heyman grabbed Axel and said if that happens this Sunday, he is left alone with Punk. Axel said it wouldn’t happen then went back after Kofi, but Kofi surprised him with the Trouble in Paradise.
In the back, Paul Heyman iced his thigh, claiming he was injured.
After recapping last week’s events, Booker T came up to Big Show. Booker said he would have done the same thing last week. Booker told him to think about his family. Booker told him not to let his pride do anything he couldn’t take back.
Dolph Jobbler
Bray Wyatt vs Dolph Ziggler. Wyatt hit a bodyslam but Ziggler came back with a dropkick. He knocked Rowan off the apron but Wyatt caught him with a hard crossbody into commercial. Back from break Ziggler side-stepped Wyatt and hit a splash in the corner. Ziggler hit some punches then a swinging neckbreaker. Ziggler escaped a backdrop and hit a Fameasser for two. Ziggler escaped Rowan and Harper again but Bray hit a splash in the corner then hit Sister Abigail for the win.
Dr. Punk Is In The House
Paul Heyman came to the ring with Curtis Axel and a doctor. Paul said he isn’t an advocate for the Canadian health care system so he brought his own doctor here. Heyman said he tore his ACL or MCL and that he won’t be able to compete at Night of Champions. Heyman apologized and left. Brad Maddox came out with a WWE doctor and said the only way he could be out of the match is if a WWE doctor checked him out. The WWE doctor said that he didn’t see any kind of swelling or damage that lead him to believe there was an injury. CM Punk then ran to the ring with a kendo stick and took out Heyman’s doctor and Axel. Heyman ran off through the crowd. Punk cornered the doctor and hit him a handful of times with the kendo stick.
Natalya, Naomi and Brie Bella beat Alicia Fox, Layla and Aksana when Natalya applied the Sharpshooter on Alicia. The highlight of the match was AJ on commentary telling Jerry Lawler, “I’m 26 years old Jerry, I think I’m a little too old for you.”
And No One In The Crowd Cared…
Alberto del Rio vs R-Truth. Truth tossed Del Rio to the outside then hit a dive. Del Rio caught R-Truth with an enziguri kick to the back of the head. R-Truth fought out of a headlock but Del Rio came right back with a clothesline. Truth started a comeback. He hit a front suplex for two. Del Rio went for the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but only hit the tilt-a-whirl part. He then hit a kick to the head and applied the cross armbreaker for the win.
Antonio Cesaro vs a returning Santino Marella. Cesaro swung Santino around for at least a minute. Santino won after a roll-up. Ugh.
This Feud Is Still Going On?
Miz vs Damien Sandow. Miz dominated early and hit his corner clothesline then an axe handle off the to rope. Miz missed a kick to the face, allowing Sandow to get the upper hand. Sandow landed some kicks then hit the Elbow of Disdain. Miz escaped a headlock and hit a high running knee. Miz then hit a dropkick to the knee. Fandango came out on the stage and distracted Miz, allowing Sandow to roll up Miz and pick up the victory.
Goldust was interviewed. HHH interrupted and said he hope he doesn’t crack with Cody’s career hanging in the balance.
Goldust Entrance? Not PG!
Randy Orton vs Goldust. Goldust started with some right hands and upper cuts. Goldust tossed Orton into the corner but Orton caught him with a kick. Goldust came back right back with an elbow knocking Orton to the outside. Back in the ring Orton caught Goldust with a kick and took control. Goldust tried starting a comeback and hit some chops, but Orton got him with a poke to the eye. Orton hit some corner punches. He went for the powerslam but Goldust stopped himself in the ropes. Goldust went for a roll up then Shattered Dreams in the corner, but Orton escaped to the outside going into commercial.
Back from break both men were brawling and Orton dropped Goldust on the ropes, then through him into the ringpost on the outside. Orton hit a backdrop on the barricade. Orton hit his version of the Garvin stomp on Goldust then applied a headlock. Goldust escaped with some punches to the gut then a bulldog. Goldust hit some clotheslines then his trademark uppercut. Goldust hit some corner punches. He went to toss Orton into the corner but the ref was in the way. Goldust went for a roll up for two. Orton came back with a kick then the middle rope DDT. Orton went for the RKO but Goldust blocked it and hit CrossRhodes for two. Orton went for a roll up and scored a two count. Goldust missed a clothesline and Orton came back with an RKO for the victory.
After the match, Orton said the dream of Goldust saving Cody’s career is shattered, just like Daniel Bryan’s dream of taking the WWE Title from him at Night of Champions.
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon asked Goldust how it felt to be a loser and to go join his brother in the unemployment line. She told Goldust to say hi to his father.
Battle of the Singlets
Before RVD vs Ryback could get started, Alberto del Rio came out and ripped on RVD and Ricardo. He said they were both worthless and they belonged together. RVD started with a spinning heel kick and kick to the face. Ryback powered back with some clotheslines then an abdominal stretch. RVD blocked a corner shot and hit another spinning heel kick. He hit Rolling Thunder and then a moonsault off the top for two. RVD went to the top but Ryback rolled out of the ring. RVD went for a dive to the outside but Ryback moved and went right into the barricade. Ryback then crotched RVD into the ringpost multiple times, causing a DQ. He then hit Shell Shocked in the ring.
Stephanie McMahon told Big Show that if he touches The Shield tonight, he will be fired. He then smashed a 1990s style TV.
Worst Iron Clad Contract Ever
Main event time. Bryan landed multiple kicks to the leg of Ambrose so he rolled to the outside. Bryan hit some more kicks in the ring then a knee to the chest. Bryan hit a drop toe hold then applied an armbar followed by a surfboard submission. Bryan hit a clothesline and went to the top, but Rollins distracted him on the apron. Ambrose knocked him off and Bryan went into the barricade into commercial.
Ambrose still had control back from break. He tossed Bryan hard into the corner. Bryan side stepped Ambrose and he went into the ringpost. Bryan hit two dropkicks in the corner then some kicks to the chest, followed by a hurricarrana off the top for two. Bryan landed some more kicks then applied the Yes Lock but Ambrose got to the ropes. Bryan went for another corner dropkick but Ambrose moved out of the way. Ambrose put Bryan in the corner but Bryan escaped and crotched Bryan, then put him in the tree of woe in the corner. Bryan hit some kicks then a dropkick followed by a backdrop off the top for two. Bryan hit more kicks but then Ambrose tossed him to the outside.
Reigns went for the Spear on the outside but Bryan moved and Reigns went into the steps. Rollins missed a dive off the apron, but Ambrose clotheslined Bryan then hit a DDT on the outside. Back in the ring, Ambrose taunted Bryan but Bryan scored a roll up for the win. Ambrose went after Bryan but Bryan moved out of the way.
Orton came out and Bryan hit a dive on him through the ropes. The Shield came right back and attacked Bryan. Big Show teased making the save but backed away. Orton hit the RKO on Bryan in the ring. HHH and Steph came out and told Show to put his morals to the side and go knock out Daniel Bryan. Big Show again refused and Orton got in his face. While Orton and Big Show were arguing, Daniel Bryan got back up and hit the running knee on Orton. He held the WWE Title to close the show.
What I Liked
Opening Segment: The exchange between Edge and HHH seemed like it had a little something extra added to it. Maybe there is some heat there, maybe there isn’t. But it was two veterans in this business going out and exchanging words that made you think there was some personal animosity there. It’s a shame that it couldn’t lead to another match for Edge. But health and well-being always comes first. Good start to the show.
Punk/Heyman: While the segment itself was short, you didn’t need to do much to get a little bit more heat added to this already hot feud. It might have been the best final sell of any segment on the show for the PPV.
Goldust/Orton: Solid match between these two. The backstory added more heat to the match and the crowd ate up everything Goldust did. If, and that is a BIG if, the WWE does this right, Cody Rhodes could be a huge star coming out of this.
Bryan/Ambrose: Strong match to close the show. Of course, what else would you expect from these two?
What I Didn’t Like
Final PPV Sell: I didn’t like the booking of the two main Title matches. The World Title Match was pretty much an afterthought. And the final build for the WWE Title match almost followed the same script the last couple RAWs have. Part of the problem is that there are so many pieces involved in this main angle that it is tough to focus just on Bryan/Orton at times.
Dolph Ziggler: Apparently whatever Ziggler said in that interview during SummerSlam week is making him become a jobber. Ziggler is example one why I don’t have faith in the WWE to handle Cody Rhodes properly during his return.
Cesaro Losing To Santino: What else does Cesaro have to do to prove he belongs much higher than he does?
The Booking of Faces: Despite winning and standing tall to end the show, Bryan was beatdown again. Ziggler jobbed. Big Show is still made out to be a fool. And RVD was beatdown by Ryback. It seems like the WWE either books their faces invincible like John Cena or has no idea how to book them at all.
I thought this RAW was below average. I’m going to give it a 4. Two quality matches didn’t make up for some suspect booking and a poor final sell for Night of Champions this Sunday.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
