It’s the final RAW before Wrestlemania, and it is also my final RAW Review for InsidePulse.
We’re Live On Nitro! Oh Wait…
Sting came out to start the show. He said this is what it feels like to kick off RAW. He said HHH has done whatever he has had to do to get to the top. HHH thinks he is unstoppable. But Sting isn’t here to fight for WCW. He’s here to take Triple H down. Stephanie McMahon came out. She said so this is what it feels like to be in the ring with the Stinger. She said now he knows what it feels like to make the big time. Sting said she is still the same spoiled brat who has had everything handed to her and thinks she earned it. She said Sting isn’t the big dog like he is in WCW. She said she is the daughter of the man who ended his career when he bought WCW. She sad WCW lost. And Sting is going to lose any respect the fans still have for him when her husband pins him in the middle of the ring. She called Sting a face painted freak.
Sting wooed and winked at Steph, but Sting stopped her by grabbing her wrist. Triple H came out. Steph handed Triple H a sledgehammer, but Sting pulled out his bat. Triple H backed out of entering the ring. Sting dropped the bat and begged HHH to enter the ring, but HHH still backed away.
I’d Rather Have R-Truth On Commentary
Dean Ambrose and R-Truth vs Luke Harper and Stardust. Stardust landed some early punches on Truth. Truth came back with one of his own. Both men tagged out. Ambrose took Harper down with a headlock. Ambrose came back with a crossbody and landed some shots in the corner. Ambrose hit a running knee then a dropkick. Stardust came in but Ambrose and Truth dumped him and then Harper.
Back from break the heels had control over Ambrose. Ambrose tried fighting back but Stardust connected on an Alabama Slam for two. Harper came in and connected on a side slam for two. Stardust came in and went for a superplex, but Ambrose blocked it and dropped him face first. Harper tagged in and shoved Ambrose off the apron. Ambrose recovered and hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Harper. Truth got the hot tag and went to work on Stardust. All four men ended up in the ring. Ambrose hit a dive to the outside on Harper. Truth ended up hitting the Lie Detector for the win.
WINNERS: Dean Ambrose and R-Truth
Ryback, Erick Rowan, Zach Ryder and the Prime Time Players defeated The Ascension, Miz, Mizdow and Adam Rose after Ryback pinned the Miz.
Why Isn’t Mercury In His MNM Gear???
Via the App, Randy Orton’s opponents were chosen to be Seth Rollins and J & J Security over Kane or Big Show. Orton slammed Mercury into the ground and begged him to tag in Rollins. Mercury pretended to but then tagged in Noble. Orton tossed Noble to the outside and went to grab Rollins but Mercury stopped him. Noble took advantage and landed some elbows. Orton came back and ended up hitting the middle rope DDT on both Noble and Mercury. Rollins tried a sneak attack but Orton turned around. Rollins bailed, then Orton hit the RKO on Noble to pick up the win.
WINNER: Randy Orton
Of Course The Frenemies Explode!
Paige vs Nikki Bella. Paige took down Nikki early and landed some blows, then landed some knees on Nikki in the ropes. Nikki recovered on the outside but Paige hit a clothesline off the apron. Back in the ring Nikki caught Paige with a knee to the gut then a knee to the face for two. Back from break Paige caught Nikki with a knee then there was a double clothesline. Nikki caught a charging Paige with a kick to the face. Nikki went for her KO punch but Paige ducked and hit a superkick for two. Paige went for a clothesline but Nikki ducked and hit an Alabama Slam for two. Nikki went for the Rack Attack but Paige hit the RamPaige but Nikki kicked out at two. Both went to the outside. AJ took out Brie. Paige came from behind and AJ thought it was Nikki, so AJ punched Paige. Back in the ring Nikki took out Paige with the Rack Attack for the win.
WINNER: Nikki Bella
After the match Paige and AJ fought.
Axelmania Meets Its Match
Snoop Dog came out. He was interrupted by Curtis Axel. He said Axelmania is a worldwide thing and currently running wild in Los Angeles. He said bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yeah, Axelmania is here to stay. Snoop said there is only one Mania that matters, and out came Hulk Hogan. Hulk asked Snoop what Axel was smoking. Axel ripped his shirt off and said whatcha gonna do! Axel went to punch Hogan but Hogan blocked it and punched him, then Snoop sent him out of the ring. Snoop and Hogan posed after.
Los Matadores and El Torrito beat Tyson Kidd, Cesaro and Natalya after Torrito pinned Natalya.
How Will Cena Overcome The Odds???
Rusev vs Jack Swagger. Rusev dominated early. Swagger tried fighting back but Rusev bounced right off the corner and hit a clothesline. Rusev landed some kicks then went to a headlock. Swagger fought out and caught Rusev with a boot. Rusev went for a kick but Swagger blocked it. He went for an ankle lock but Rusev escaped. Rusev tossed Swagger into the corner and hit a clothesline. Rusev connected on a superkick then applied the Accolade for the win.
WINNER: Rusev
Rusev wouldn’t release the hold after the match. John Cena came out and took out Rusev. They brawled to the outside where Rusev caught Cena with an elbow then tossed Cena into the barricade. Rusev rammed Cena into the barricade then tossed Cena over the announce table. Rusev went to leave but saw Cena getting back up. Rusev superkicked Cena. Rusev slammed Cena on the announce table then applied the Accolade. Multiple refs tried to get Rusev off before Rusev let go.
More Boogity Boo!
Bray Wyatt came out. He asked why people want to hide from the truth. He said reality can be a difficult thing to follow. He sad we all wake up every morning and we don’t like the person that is staring back at us. We can do whatever we want to hide it but it makes us all liars. But he is not a liar. His tongue is the sword of truth that we all try to hide ourselves from. And The Undertaker is a liar just like us. He wants his soul to be set free. But he has been sent to send Undertaker’s soul back to the other side. There was a lightning sound that started. Bray said he now controls everything and judges the guilty. This Sunday he will take his face among the gods as the new face of fear. Bray said this Sunday Undertaker can finally rest in peace.
Kevin Nash was announced as the final member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
Everyone Hit A Big Move
Daniel Bryan vs Dolph Ziggler, with Dean Ambrose as the Special Ref via App vote. Both men did some quick takedowns then had a standoff. After the reset Ziggler landed some shots in the corner then an elbow. They went to the corner where Bryan forced a break. Ziggler slapped Bryan and both men exchanged blows. Ziggler went to toss Bryan to the outside but Bryan held on to the ropes then head scissored Ziggler over and hit his dive through the ropes. Ziggler moved out of the way of a knee off the apron then Ziggler clotheslined Bryan over the barricade.
Back from break Ziggler had a sleeper hold applied. Bryan escaped and hit a German suplex. Bryan went to the top but Ziggler crotched him on the ropes. Ziggler went for a superplex but Bryan blocked it. Bryan knocked him off but Ziggler jumped back up and hit a faceplant for two. Both men went for a backslide, Ziggler got it for two. Bryan came back with a kick to the head. Bryan landed more kicks to the chest then a dropkick in the corner. He went for a second but Ziggler caught Bryan with a superkick then a ZigZag for the win.
WINNER: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Ambrose hit Dirty Deeds on Ziggler. Ambrose grabbed a ladder and climbed it, going for the IC Title hanging above. All the men in the match ended up in the ring. They all fought and hit their signature moves. All seven men ended up on the ground.
That’s It???
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came out. Heyman said he’s done everything to sell us on the match this Sunday. He said everyone that watches this Sunday will get his money’s worth if they are paying to see Brock Lesnar mangle and destroy Reigns. He said either Brock Lesnar is everything he says he is or Roman Reigns shows he is more than he is. He said people thought Lesnar wouldn’t end the Streak but he did, and people thought Lesnar couldn’t destroy John Cena but he did. He said Lesnar is a passionate competitor and he loves being WWE Champion just like he loves destroying anyone that tries to take the Title away from him. He said Lesnar is a conqueror who will take everything from him, including his family, and rename them Lesnar. Heyman said this Sunday, Roman Reigns “can’t, and won’t.”
Roman Reigns came out and him and Lesnar stared each other down. Lesnar held the belt up in front of Reigns. Reigns ripped the belt away from Lesnar and posed with it. Lesnar went to rip it away but Reigns held onto it. The show ended with both men fighting for possession of the belt.
OVERALL
I thought they were doing a decent job of building up most of the matches for this Sunday. They added a nice final layer to a lot of the stories and that was fine. Then the final segment with Lesnar and Reigns happened. What the hell was that? Your goal is to get people to care about the main event of Wrestlemania, and all we get is a struggle over the belt? No physicality? Not even a Superman punch? That was weak. Just a horrible build for what is suppose to be the main event of Wrestlemania. That didn’t make me want to see that match on Sunday at all. Everything else wasnt bad, so that helped the rest of the show. I’m giving it a 6.
Thank You everyone for reading my RAW Reviews over these 3 years.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
