WWE Monday Night RAW LIVE Results For 2/23/15: The Road to Wrestlemania Starts Now

Columns, Reviews, Top Story

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It’s the RAW after WWE Fastlane. Will The Undertaker respond to the challenge of Bray Wyatt? What’s next for Sting and Triple H? And how will the WWE go about booking the Roman Reigns/Brock Lesnar program? Follow along to find out!

RAW Is Business Conferences?

Randy Orton came out to start the show. Orton said he wasn’t there to talk their ears off but he has something to get off his chest. Orton said he’s been out of action for the last four months and replayed why. Orton said Seth Rollins can’t run and hide and demanded he come out there right now. Instead, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon came out with Kane and Big Show. Steph said that Orton made a big splash last night. She said that was the Orton we all know and love and that is the Randy Orton the WWE wants as the face of the WWE. Orton said he isn’t that and all he wants is Seth Rollins so he can bash his brains in. Steph said there is no reason he and Orton can’t exist at the same time. Steph told Orton to come back home and join the Authority. Orton said that was tempting but he would rather kick some ass than kiss some ass.

Big Show took the mic and said he knew Orton was frustrated and angry and he understood. Show said he put aside a lot of that frustration to join the Authority and it was the best decision he ever made. Show said it would be the best decision Orton could make. Orton said that would mean selling out. Steph said Orton isn’t a good guy who panders to the crowd. She said he has done some deplorable acts against her and her family. Steph said they should have a business conference and talk like professionals. The Authority left but Triple H stared down Orton before he left. Orton said he would be there and would see them in the back.

Dean Ambrose: Master Thief

Bad News Barrett vs Dolph Ziggler. Barrett landed some punches and kicks early on. Barrett hit a suplex and went to a headlock. Ziggler escaped with a kick then hit a neckbreaker followed by an elbow. Barrett caught Ziggler trying a leap frog in the corner and kicked him in the gut. Barrett landed some punches in the corner then a knee to the gut. Barrett continued to dominate until Ziggler stopped himself in the ropes. Barrett charged at Ziggler but Ziggler moved and Barrett ended up in the ropes. Ziggler drop kicked him outside into commercial.

Back from break Ziggler escaped a headlock with a jawbreaker. Ziggler landed some punches in the corner. Barrett came back looking for Wasteland but Ziggler countered into a DDT for two. Ziggler went for the ZigZag but Barrett tossed him away and hit a kick to the gut then a fallaway powerbomb for two. Barrett went for the Bullhammer but Ziggler countered to a roll up for two. A nice counter sequence ended with Barrett hitting the Winds of Change for two. Barrett charged at Ziggler in the corner but Ziggler moved and Barrett went into the post. Ziggler the connected with the ZigZag for the win.

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler

After the match Dean Ambrose came out with the IC Title and stared down Barrett, then had a quick staredown with Ziggler.

Backstage, Steph tried talking about forgiveness and wanted Orton back in the Authority. Orton shook Rollins hand. Steph them made Orton/Rollins vs Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns for later.

The Prime Time Players beat the Ascension. The Ascension dominated the whole match until Young rolled up Viktor to pick up the win. After the match the Ascension took out both Young and O’Neil.

More Handshakes

Roman Reigns came out. He said it has been one hell of a month. He won the Royal Rumble, but that wasn’t enough. Last night he beat Daniel Bryan and now he can say that he is going to Wrestlemania. Reigns said he knew a lot of you were rooting for the other guy. Before he could address his doubters, Daniel Bryan came out. Bryan said he knew Reigns deserved the opportunity to main event Wrestlemania. But he booed just like all of those people, because Bryan is the biggest Roman Reigns doubter. He said when people talk about seeing potential, they are talking about size and looks and athletic potential. But none of those people have half the heart that Bryan does. And that is why Bryan didn’t like him. Bryan said he gave everything he had last night but he still didn’t do it. And he can honestly say that he doesn’t regret a thing. Bryan said Reigns proved to him that he had more heart than Bryan ever thought he did. Bryan said congratulations and shook the hand of Reigns. He said he was looking forward to teaming with Reigns later and wanted to see Reigns kick the crap out of Brock at Wrestlemania.

Paul Heyman came out. Heyman said he was here to congratulate Reigns and shook his hand. Heyman said it was a good main event last night. Heyman said his money would always be on Roman Reigns and only a fool would say that he isn’t the one. Heyman ran through a list of past greats and said that Roman Reigns would beat them all. Heyman said Reigns is the right guy in the right place at the wrong time. Because he isn’t fighting a man at Wrestlemania, he is fighting a beast. And Reigns can’t slay his beast. He said at Wrestlemania, his money on his client. And at the end of Wrestlemania, Brock Lesnar will still be WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World. Reigns told Heyman to tell him again that he can’t win. He said the night after Wrestlemania, he told Lesnar that he would respect him. But he didn’t mean that. He is going to beat Brock at Wrestlemania. It’s not about beating him, its the way he is going to beat him. And when he’s done with Brock, he isn’t going to like him anyways.

I’m All For More Focus On Secondary Titles

Tag Title rematch. The Usos hit dueling dives to the outside. Kidd then used Natalya as a shield then took out Uso. Cesaro came in and hit some uppercuts. Uso escaped a headlock and tagged in Jey. Jey went to work on Tyson and hit a headbutt in the corner. Tyson recovered and dropped Jey on the ropes. He went for a Swanton off the apron but both Usos caught Tyson and tossed him into the barricade. Cesaro broke up the pin in the ring. Jey hit a crossbody off the top for two.

Back from break Kidd went for a springboard elbow but Jey got his knees up. Cesaro knocked Jimmy off the apron before Jey could make a tag. Cesaro went for his apron suplex but Jey countered to an electric chair drop and Jimmy got the tag and hit a splash but Kidd made the save. Jimmy hit an enziguri on Kidd who was working as the legal man but didn’t make a tag. Kidd went for a roll up but Naomi knocked Kidd’s feet off the ropes. Natalya came over and shoved down Naomi. Natalya then knocked Jimmy off the ropes and it caused a DQ. Naomi then pulled Natalya off the ropes and it appeared Natalya may have been legit injured.

WINNERS via DQ: The Usos

Backstage Damien Mizdow told Miz a company called him to be their spokesperson in a commercial.

Bray Wyatt promo. He talked about Undertaker’s loss at Wrestlemania and how it dragged him back down to where he belonged. He said at Wrestlemania he will take his evil and make it his own and told Taker to find him again.

Jack Swagger defeated Stardust with the Patriot Lock after Goldust came out and caused a distraction.

Rusev Should Demand A Rematch In Moscow On Christmas

John Cena came out. He said Rusev took him to his limit. But last night he had Rusev staring at the eyes of defeat. And last night when he was in the Accolade, he kept saying to himself to “never give up.” But Rusev let him go and hit him below the belt. And he ended up losing. He said Rusev parades around like a hero, but last night Rusev showed that he was a coward.

On cue Rusev and Lana came out. Lana said they told him so. Lana said the truth is that Cena failed. He let his country down. She said Rusev has been getting messages of praise from the Russian federation while Cena has been trying to justify his failures. Rusev said that he broke Cena and it is now his time and no one can beat him. Rusev wanted Cena to admit that he is better than him. Cena said Rusev can say whatever he wants about him but he better watch what he says about the USA. Cena said he is going to get up and keep fighting because just like America he does not stay down. Cena said Rusev is garbage and he is going to beat Rusev and bring the US Title back to America and he is going to beat Rusev at Wrestlemania. Rusev said Cena doesn’t deserve a rematch and his answer is no.

The Bellas beat Paige and Emma. Paige was immediately knocked off the apron then Brie picked up the win on Emma.

The Bushwhackers were announced as the latest Hall of Fame inductees.

Curtis Axel came out. He said he was never eliminated from the Royal Rumble and has now been in it for 29 days. He said he is entering the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. Ryback came out. He said Rybaxel was one of the greatest tag teams of all time. He also entered the Andre the Giant Battle Royal then made quick work of Axel.

Are They Really Going To Drag This Out?

Main event time. Bryan surf boarded Rollins to start then tagged in Reigns. Reigns went for a powerslam but Rollins escaped and tagged in Orton. Reigns connected on a shoulder tackle but Orton popped right back up with a dropkick. Orton tossed Reigns into the corner and bounced right back with a clothesline. Bryan came in but Orton dropped him on the ropes. Rollins came in but Bryan tossed him to the outside. Bryan went for a dive but Orton pulled him away as the Authority huddled going into commercial.

Back from break the Authority had control until Reigns caught Rollins with a backdrop. Bryan got the hot tag. Bryan dropkicked Orton off the apron then went to work on Rollins. He hit a clothesline and followed it with some kicks. Bryan applied the YES Lock but Orton broke it up. Reigns took Orton out to the outside then Bryan hit a dive to the outside on Rollins. J & J distracted Bryan a bit and Rollins crotched Bryan on the apron. Orton tagged in and landed some punches in the corner on Bryan. Orton went for a superplex but Bryan head butted him off. Orton rolled out of the way of a top rope dive. Both men made tags. Reigns hit a handful of clotheslines then a front splash. Reigns hit a Superman Punch on Joe Mercury but that allowed Rollins to hit an enziguri. Orton came in and hit a powerslam.

Orton went for the middle rope DDT but Rollins tagged himself in. Orton still hit the DDT as Orton went to the outside. Reigns hit a Superman Punch on Rollins then Bryan tagged himself in. Bryan hit the Running Knee for the win.

WINNERS: Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns

Randy Orton came in the ring to stare down Rollins. Jaime Noble tried to stop him but ate a RKO. Orton shoved Rollins in the corner then left. The show ended with a Network plug and the Authority just standing in the ring.

FINAL THOUGHTS

What the hell was with that ending? That just seemed really awkward. Are they really going to stretch out this Orton turn when everyone knows he is going to turn in the end? It just seems unnecessary. Daniel Bryan, the most over guy in the company, still doesn’t have a match. The Undertaker hasn’t answered Bray Wyatt. Wrestlemania kind of seems like a mess right now. There was some good wrestling on the show including the main and the Ziggler/Barrett match. I hope we get a Fatal 4 Way at Mania and it is given some time. Paul Heyman is going to try his best to get this Reigns/Lesnar promo over, but I don’t think this week really helped. Tonight more then anything seemed like a hold steady show, but it didn’t do a good job of hooking viewers for next week, which should be the goal during this time period. I’m giving the show a 4. I might have been more generous if this was a June or July RAW, but the WWE needs their A game in Mania season and that didn’t happen tonight.

Until Next Time,

Justin C

Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka