It’s another RAW, and there may be some breaking news heading into tonight’s show. There are rumors out there that Daniel Bryan has a neck injury and needs some time off. He may be back in time for Payback, but I’m not rushing anything. But does the WWE back a truck full of money to CM Punk’s house with Payback being in Chicago? I guess we will find out tonight.
The COO Arriving Late To RAW? Great Leadership
After a recap of last week The Shield started RAW in the ring. Ambrose said last week you saw something that you don’t see often, all three members of The Shield lying flat on their backs. Ambrose said they are up much more than they are down. He said they wanted Evolution. Rollins said they aren’t running from Evolution, but too Evolution. And if they are half the men they say they are they will run through Evolution. Rollins said they were really good. But they can’t evolve into what it takes to beat The Shield. Reigns took the mic and said that after taking everything last week, it made him realize that it was all they got. He said they are going to teach Evolution payback and they can serve their justice any way they want.
Evolution was shown arriving backstage, so The Shield ran out of the ring and attacked them in the back by their limo. Referees and officials came in to separate the groups as The Shield left Evolution laid out.
Wait, Grown Men Shouldn’t Hang Out With Bunnies?
Zeb Colter was in the ring talking about adding Adam Rose to his Deportation List. He said any grown man that hangs out with a bunny adds nothing to America. Before the Jack Swagger/RVD match could start, Adam Rose and his Party Express showed up. As they went around the ring, Swagger was distracted by them. RVD caught him with a spinning heel kick then hit the Five Star Frog Splash for the win.
WINNER: Rob Van Dam
Alicia Fox: The One Woman Nexus
Before Paige took on Alicia Fox, Alicia said that she has been here for less than a hiccup of a second and none of the Divas backstage like her. She told Paige to get out then attacked her. The ref asked Paige if she was ready and said yes so the bell was rung. Fox went back on the attack and hit a backbreaker then threw Paige to the floor. Fox hit an elbow followed by a Fisherman’s suplex for two. Fox went to a headlock then transitioned to a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. After a two count Fox went to a modified surfboard submission. Fox went back to a headlock, but Paige countered it into the Paige Turner to pick up the win.
WINNER: Paige
After the match Alicia Fox threw a tantrum. She stole JBL’s cowboy hat and tore apart stuff on the announce table. She even shook up a can of soda and opened it up. She screamed she was Championship Material then left.
Daniel Bryan Lost His Smile
Back from commercial Daniel Bryan was in the ring. Bryan said he knew since last year’s SummerSlam it was going to be an uphill battle. He said The Authority threw everyone they had at him, but “we” beat the odds and he walked out of Wrestlemania as WWE Champion. Bryan said unfortunately being WWE Champion puts a huge target on your back. He talked about Kane’s beatdown on RAW a few weeks ago. But he was still determined and he beat Kane at Extreme Rules. But it came with a price and his whole style comes with a price. He said he needs neck surgery this week. He said there are some people happy about it, especially The Authority. He said there’s a chance his career may be done, but it won’t be. He said he doesn’t know if he will be back, but will he? YES!
WWE Writers: They Don’t Watch Smackdown
After a couple commercial breaks we got The Usos and John Cena vs The Wyatt Family. Luke Harper and Jey Uso started. Jey caught Harper with a boot then a handful of right hands, followed by a clothesline. Harper recovered and caught Jey with a dropkick and Erik Rowan came in. Rowan hit a bodyslam then Bray came in. Bray landed some quick kicks and Harper came back in. Harper landed some more kicks but Jey escaped and made the tag to Jimmy. He hit a Samoan Drop followed by a corkscrew moonsault for two. Jimmy knocked Rowan off the apron but turned right into a Harper boot for two. The heels then took their turns working over Jimmy. Jimmy ended up ducking a Bray clothesline and caught him with a heel kick. Jimmy made the hot tag to Cena and Rowan came in as well. Cena went into CENA MODE. Harper stopped the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Rowan was dumped to the outside. Harper slammed Cena face first into the mat. Jimmy was taken out by Harper. All hell broke loose with moves being hit from everywhere. Eventullay, the Usos took out Bray and Harper with dives to the outside, and Cena hit the AA on Rowan to pick up the win.
WINNERS: John Cena and The Usos
After the match, Bray took the mic and thanked John Cena for finally helping him realize what he must do.
And Orton Has Already Ditched The Pants
Evolution came to the ring. Orton said it was time to take the gloves off and to put the Hounds of Justice to sleep. HHH said maybe it was time to finish this thing with The Shield. He said he cottled and fed the roster to The Shield to make something out of them. He thought he could make something out of it but he was wrong. HHH said it will end. HHH agreed to a rematch against them at Payback. HHH talked about taking everyone out, but he specifically wanted to make an example out of Roman Reigns. As HHH was talking, The Shield came from behind and attacked Evolution, clearing the ring of them.
Batista took the mic and said he’s had enough, and challenged Roman Reigns to a match tonight.
Nikki Bella beat Natalya. All the other girls from Total Divas were holding up random numbers during the match.
Just Turn Heel Already
Rybaxel was trying to determine who would face Sheamus. Rock paper scissors couldn’t decide it, so they went to a coin flip. Curtis Axel won. Sheamus landed some early blows followed by an elbow and knee to the face for two. Axel reversed Sheamus and caught him with a knee of his own. Axel hit a dropkick but Sheamus caught Axel coming into the corner and hit a rolling senton. Axel crotched Sheamus on the top rope and then hit a neckbreaker off the ropes for two. Sheamus blocked a dropkick and applied the Cloverleaf for the win.
After the match, Ryback attacked Sheamus and apparently was going to fight him as well. Back from break the match had already started. Ryback hit a bodyslam. He went for a splash but Sheamus got his knees up. Sheamus escaped a power bomb attempt and started his comeback. Sheamus hit his rope punches and went for his shoulder tackle, but Ryback caught him and ended up hitting a jawbreaker. Ryback went for the Meathook clothesline but Sheamus ducked and hit White Noise for two. Ryback ducked a Brogue Kick and hit a spinebuster. Ryback caught an elbow in the corner and Sheamus hit a powerslam for two. Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick but Axel distracted him, allowing Ryback to hit the Meathook Clothesline. Ryback went for Shell Shocked, but Sheamus escaped and hit the Brogue Kick for the win.
Two Time Winner: Sheamus
DOES HE HAVE A PULSE???
Stephanie McMahon came out. Steph said Daniel Bryan did do all of those things he mentioned earlier, but now he needs neck surgery. Steph said that proved one thing: Daniel Bryan is not an A+ player. Steph said he doesn’t have the body of a Champion. His heart wants to go all out but his body won’t allow it. Steph asked Daniel Bryan to come to the ring because she had something to say to him.
Kane’s music hit and he dragged an unconscious Daniel Bryan onto the stage. Doctors came out to check on Bryan as Steph came up to the stage and asked if he was okay. Bryan was stretchered off.
Back from break Bryan was being loaded into the ambulance. Brie yelled at Steph to stay away as the ambulance drove off.
ACTING!
It’s Dolph Ziggler vs Fandango. Dolph took down Fandango with a shoulder tackle but Fandango came back with some armdrag takedowns. Ziggler hit a dropkick but Fandango dumped a charging Ziggler over the top rope. Fandango caught Ziggler with a running knee then hit a suplex. Ziggler got out of a headlock with a jawbreaker. Ziggler side stepped a splash and hit some corner punches followed by a neckbreaker. Fandango moved out of the way of a fameasser and hit a tombstone bodyslam for two. Ziggler moved out of the way of Fandango coming off the top and Ziggler hit a Fameasser for two. Layla distracted Ziggler, allowing Fandango to hit a spinning heel kick for two. Layla got caught in the apron. Fandango went to check on Layla, but she moved away and said she was okay. Dolph hit the ZigZag for the win.
WINNER: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Fandango said he knew he was the real winner. He said Layla has won his heart and that he loves her. They ended up making out in the ring.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan came out. He started talking about Legends House but was interrupted by Lana and Rusev. Rusev broke the 2×4 over his leg and was ready to take out Duggan, but Big E made the save. Rusev, however, took out Big E with a spinning heel kick.
Sandow Pipe Bomb?
Damien Sandow came out. He said a lot of people may be afraid of what he has to say. He said he could say what he has to say on live TV. But Goldust and Cody Rhodes music cut him off. The two exchanged early blows. Cody slammed Sandow’s head into the turnbuckle. Sandow regained the upper hand and took it to Cody. They exchanged near fall attempts until Sandow dropped Cody on the ropes. Sandow hit the side Russian leg sweep but missed the Elbow of Disdain. Sandow regained control then hit the elbow on the aprons. Cody escaped a headlock and started his comeback. Sandow countered Cross Rhodes then started landing shots in the corner. The ref yelled at Goldust, allowing Cody to rake the eyes of Sandow and then hit the Disaster Kick for the win.
WINNER: Cody Rhodes
Bray Wyatt cut a promo where he essentially challenged John Cena to a Last Man Standing Match at Payback.
Bet This Ends In A Brawl
It’s Roman Reigns vs Batista. They brawled to the outside where Reigns slammed Batista’s head on the steps. Back in the ring Batista moved out of the way of a splash in the corner. Batista hit a clothesline in the corner then threw Reigns into the post. Batista threw Reigns into the corner but Reigns bounced right off with a clothesline. Reigns hit a clothesline in the corner. He went for his apron dropkick but HHH and Orton stopped him. Rollins and Ambrose took them out with dives and Reigns hit it. Everyone brawled. Reigns went for the Superman Punch but HHH pulled him out of the ring and went for the Pedigree. But Rollins stopped it with a knee.
The Shield gained the upper hand but Stephanie was on the stage and signaled all the heels to come out and they took out The Shield. HHH grabbed a chair and went to use it, but Reigns caught him with a spear. Ambrose and Rollins came back in and took everyone out with chairs. Reigns ended up hitting a Spear on Ryback and he was triple power bombed.
WHAT I LIKED
Six Man Tag: Maybe the WWE should just book every match from now on as a six man tag. It seems to be the only match that they know how to do right. And this one didn’t even have The Shield in it! Sometimes people might forget The Usos are good workers but they are definitely up there when it comes to being some of the best in the WWE.
Alicia Fox/Paige: This is the kind of stuff that would help elevate women’s wrestling in the eyes of the WWE fans. Fox came out and showed an aggressive side. She also had some impressive offense in the match. Then there was a post match angle that added to it as well. See, an actual feud makes everyone care about women’s wrestling, unlike the crap I will bring up below.
Sheamus/Ryback: This gets a minor hit because this wasn’t that bad of a match. It was better than Axel/Sheamus. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like Sheamus once again going over two guys and kind of crushing a team that just challenged for the Tag Titles. But these two at least kept my attention during the match. So kudos to them.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Total Divas Crap: So now we just have them holding up random numbers during a Nikki/Natalya match because??? It is such a difference between this and the Paige/Alicia Fox stuff that I talked about above. Keep Total Divas away from RAW. Just let them actually wrestle and keep the reality TV show stuff away.
Shield/Evolution Booking: Look, I’m happy that these two teams are fighting again because they will definitely have a good match. But the booking is kind of backwards, and Triple H alluded to it during the Evolution promo. Why does The Shield want a rematch after they already won? In all honesty, Evolution should have gone over at Extreme Rules if they really wanted to continue this feud. Booking wise things just don’t make sense. Plus, we’ve had the same type of ending to RAW in the last few weeks. Evolution stands tall, Shield stands tall etc.
Daniel Bryan Leaving: This poor guy just can’t catch a break. I don’t know how long he will be out, but any amount of time Daniel Bryan is off TV will be terrible.
I didn’t add anything else to this because this show just felt like a whole lot of filler. Nothing new was added to anything. Its once again the problem with three hour RAWs. You have so much time to fill and so much other TV time on top of that, sometimes you just can’t develop proper mid-card feuds and just throw filler matches out there. That was this RAW. It gets a 2, because it wasn’t very good.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
