It’s the last RAW before Hell In A Cell. There’s a contract signing for the WWE Title match. And I’m pretty sure everyone is hoping the same thing: Shawn Michaels superkicks both men then signs the contract himself, adding him to the WWE Title match. Hey, it worked at Wrestlemania 20. Why not now?
Isn’t This Original?
RAW started with, surprise surprise, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Steph ran down the Hell In A Cell card. Triple H said that we all chose Shawn Michaels as ref because we trust him, just like he does. Triple H said he respects Shawn Michaels more than any man in the WWE. Big Show came up on the screen and said Triple H doesn’t know anything about respect. Triple H ripped on Big Show for being a failure and poor. Big Show came back and said he was suing Triple H for breach of contract and slander. Stephanie yelled at the production guys trying to figure out why he is on TV. Big Show said that considering who Triple is sleeping with, he will always wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Steph told Big Show to shut up and eventually the feed cut out.
Much Better Than Another HHH/Steph Promo
Now on to the good stuff with Dean Ambrose vs Daniel Bryan. Ambrose landed some early chops, but Bryan slammed Ambrose’s head into the turnbuckle then landed some chops and kicks of his own. Bryan landed a dropkick for two. Bryan started working over the arm of Ambrose, but Ambrose blocked a take down and took control. Ambrose started to work over the arm of Bryan. Bryan blocked a potential backdrop and then landed some kicks on Ambrose. Bryan went for the top rope headbutt but Ambrose moved out of the ring. Bryan hit a baseball slide, but Ambrose ducked a knee off the apron and landed a clothesline on the outside into commercial.
Back from break Bryan fought out of a headlock but Ambrose caught him off the ropes with a knee to the gut. Ambrose landed a dropkick to Bryan in the ropes. Ambrose applied another headlock and then landed a backdrop for two. Bryan then reversed a headlock into a surfboard submission. Ambrose escaped with a thumb to the eye. Both men exchanged punches on the apron. Bryan went to the top but Ambrose crotched him and hit a superplex for two. Bryan escaped a headlock and both men hit crossbodies right into each other. Bryan started his comeback and hit a clothesline and dropkick in the corner, followed by a hurricarrana off the top for two. Bryan went to the top but Ambrose moved and hit a spinebuster for two. Bryan tossed Ambrose over the top and hit a dive to the outside, followed by a missile dropkick. Back in the ring, Bryan landed his kicks but missed the last one. Ambrose went for a roll up but Bryan countered into a YES Lock and Ambrose tapped.
Selling A PPV Match?
CM Punk came out. He said the Cell just doesn’t settle issues, it ends careers and defines legacies. And his career will be defined by what he does when he gets his hands on Paul Heyman. Punk said this isn’t about winning or losing, it is about putting Ryback to sleep and then cornering Paul Heyman and smashing his face into every inch of steel the Cell has to offer. Punk said Heyman doesn’t know what it means to be extreme and that only one man will walk out of the Cell, and it will be the Best in the World.
Backstage, Shawn Michaels asked Triple H if he really doesn’t see Daniel Bryan as the face of the WWE. Shawn said they used to say the same thing about him and HHH. Steph complained about Big Show. HBK said they used to do stuff like that all the time. Steph said things have changed, and HBK said unfortunately he’s realiezed that. But he is still going to have some fun.
Santino came out dressed as Elvis, and Great Khali and Hornswoggle came out with Elvis wigs. Of course, their opponents were 3MB. Santino won after he hit the Cobra, which had an Elvis wig, on Slater. After the match, Santino danced with Jerry Lawler on the announce table.
At Least Dolph Didn’t Have To Dress Up As Elvis
Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler. Both men backed into the corner and Orton bailed to the outside. Back in the ring Orton landed a kick to the gut and then tossed Ziggler to the outside. Orton tossed Ziggler into the barricade then got a two count back in the ring. Both men went to the outside again and Ziggler backed Orton into the barricade and landed some punches. Orton recovered and pushed Ziggler into the ringpost. Ziggle regained the upperhand in the ring and landed some corner punches then a clothesline. Orton ducked a clothesline then hit a backbreaker. Orton went for an armbar then a headlock, which Ziggler escaped from with a jawbreaker. Ziggler came back with a neckbreaker and elbow for two. Orton ducked a fameasser and went for his middle rope DDT, but Ziggler countered and hit the fameasser for two. Orton ducked another clothesline and hit a t-bone suplex, followed by his middle rope DDT. He went for the RKO but Dolph hit a dropkick. Orton kicked out at two. Ziggler went for the ZigZag but Orton grabbed the ropes, then hit the RKO for the win.
A John Cena video aired.
The Bellas beat AJ and Tamina after Brie pinned AJ.
Paul Heyman gave a very Ultimate Warrior like promo backstage. He just went crazy and started rambling on CM Punk, but it made some sense. Afterwards Big E came in and challenged Axel to a match and he accepted.
Yes Bray, Take Him There And Don’t Look Back
Luke Harper and Erik Rowan vs Miz and Kofi. Miz tossed Rowan to the outside and hit a dropkick through the ropes. But Bray distracted Miz and Rowan took him out. Harper came in and hit a clothesline. The heels took their turns working over Miz. Miz tried going for a tag, but Harper pushed him away. Miz knocked Rowan off the apron but Miz walked right in to a tombstone bodyslam from Harper. Miz eventually pushed Harper away with a kick and tagged in Kofi. Kofi hit a hurricarrana and a crossbody off the top. Kofi knocked Rowan off the apron with Trouble in Paradise, but then he walked right into Harper’s clothesline from hell for the win. After the match Kofi was cleared from the ring and Miz was tied up in the ropes. Bray said he was there to lead Miz to the gates of hell.
Big E As A Face, Off To A Good Start
Before Big E vs Curtis Axel started, Big E took out Axel with a Spear. Ryback quickly jumped him and the numbers game took effect. Big E tried fighting back a few times. Ryback held Big E but E kicked a charging Axel then backed Ryback into the apron. Big E clotheslined Axel. Heyman hit him with a kendo stick but Ryback saved him with a clothesline of his own. Punk made the save and Vickie made a tag match.
The match had already started back from break. Punk and Big E hit a double hip toss on Axel. Punk telegraphed a backdrop attempt and Axel hit a kick. Ryback came in threw Punk hard into the corner. Ryback hit a leg drop and bodyslam and tagged in Axel. Punk caught Axel with a boot to the face then crossbody for two, but Axel came right back with a clothesline. Ryback came in and worked over Punk. Punk eventually escaped a bearhug and hit a kick to the head. Punk made the hot tag to Big E and he took it to Axel. Ryback tried to make the save but Punk took him out with a clothesline off the top, then over the top rope. Big E then hit the Big Ending on Axel and picked up the win.
After the match Punk chased Heyman through the crowd.
R-Truth plugged WWE Shop because why not?
The Real Americans beat Tons of Funk after Cesaro swung Brodus, then Swagger applied the Patriot Lock. Zeb was great on commentary ripping on El Torrito. After the match, Zeb introduced a bull whip for El Torrito.
Another John Cena video aired, this one looking back at his career.
More Focus On The Tag Titles? Sure Why Not
The Shield vs The Usos. Rollins was clotheslined to the outside then one of the Usos hit a dive to him on the outside. The Usos took their turns working over Roman Reigns. Jimmy hit an elbow and clothesline then tagged Jey back in, but Reigns backed him into their corner. Jey missed a crossbody on Rollins and he went right into the ropes. The Shield took control in the ring. Reigns dropped Jey on the apron. Reigns continued to work over Jey in the ring. He then knocked Jey off the apron right into the announce table into commercial.
The Shield still had control back from break. Reigns hit a suplex then applied a headlock. Jey escaped a Samoan Drop and hit a DDT, but Rollins tagged in and hit a clothesline. Jey tossed Rollins over the ropes but Reigns tagged in. Jey escaped and made the tag to Jimmy. Jimmy hit a handful of offense but ate a Reigns spear. Jey broke up the count then hit a Samoan Drop on Rollins. Reigns came in and was immediately taken out. He blocked a dive attempt off the ropes by Jey.
Dean Ambrose started taunting Cody Rhodes and Goldust, who were on commentary. Rollins joined in on the attack and then so did The Usos. Everyone started brawling and the ref called for the bell.
Not Exactly Austin With A Beer Truck
Everyone came out for the contract signing. Orton said he has to give credit where credit is due. Every week he beats dow Bryan and he keeps getting back up. But at Hell In A Cell, he won’t get back up. Orton said he’s beaten Undertaker, Sheamus and John Cena inside the Cell. And Bryan’s first match inside the Cell this Sunday will be his last. Bryan said Orton’s pushed him to his limits every time they’ve stepped in the ring. But if it wasn’t for The Shield and The Authority Bryan would be standing in the ring WWE Champion. Bryan said he is more than capable of smashing in the face of the WWE. Bryan said he has two words for Orton, thank you. Thank You for pushing him to his best and for showing that HHH and Steph were spoiled brats.
Triple H said that he’s seen guys like Bryan come and go all the time: Edge, Jericho and RVD. Very popular but never the one. He said if either of those guys were the face of the WWE back in the day, they’d all be working for Ted Turner right now. HHH said at Hell In A Cell it will be shown that he is nothing more than a B+ player. Bryan said that if he is such a big time player, he should trade in his suits for some ring trunks. HHH said he could return, but not to fight a B+ player. He only fights guys like The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar and The Rock. HHH said HBK should have never wasted his time with him.
HBK took the mic and said Bryan is good and asked what the hell happened to the old HHH. He said he’s here to guarantee a new WWE Champ this Sunday. Orton said HBK has a vendetta against him. Triple H said at the end of the day, Shawn will do what is right. Shawn said he will do what is right. HBK asked HHH what he had against Bryan. He got to the point where HBK said after everything HHH has thrown at him, Bryan proved HHH wrong. Orton said Bryan can’t beat him, and Sunday he takes him straight to hell.
Suddenly, a semi truck riding backstage appeared on screen and Big Show was driving. He drove out by the stage and distracted Orton. Orton turned around and ran right into Bryan’s running knee. Bryan celebrated on top of the semi to end the show.
WHAT I LIKED
Bryan/Ambrose: What else would you expect from these two? Solid 15 minute match to start off what turned out to be a good wrestling show.
Orton/Ziggler: The match was shorter than Bryan/Ambrose, but there was a lot more intensity in this one. There really wasn’t a down moment in the match. There might have been one Orton chinlock, but that was it. A solid but short match.
Punk/Heyman Build: I’m putting this in the plus column this week as I liked both men’s promos. Punk gave a good promo to start the show. It sounded like this might really be the final chapter between these two. Heyman’s Ultimate Warrior like promo was great.
Big E: That was a smart way to start Big E’s face turn. He looked strong against both Ryback and Curtis Axel, constantly fighting back. Then he teamed with CM Punk. If you want to get someone over, then you pair him with one of your top faces on the roster. And finally, it was Big E who got the hot tag and won the match. Smart booking all around by the WWE there.
Tag Title Scene: Once again, the Tag Titles were a focus on the show. The Shield/Uso match was average. But the triple threat match should be good at Hell In A Cell. Add that to The Real Americans getting a slight push, and maybe the Tag Title scene is on the way up.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
The Contract Signing: That segment was all over the place. First the focus is on Orton/Bryan, then it goes to HHH/HBK, then Big Show randomly appears in a semi truck to ruin everything. Seriously, why do you need to add Big Show in to this? Bryan should be the main focus of the WWE Title picture but Big Show keeps sticking his head into everything. That was a messy build heading into this Sunday.
R-Truth’s WWE Shop Plug: Seriously WWE? That was a pointless waste of time.
I thought from a wrestling standpoint that was a solid episode of RAW. Two strong matches and a decent tag match. But the build to the WWE Title match and the contract signing just seemed like a mess. There are too many pieces involved in it. But I thought it was still a solid show. I’m going to give it a 7.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
