WWE: Talking points from 15th July RAW

This week’s episode of Monday Night RAW saw the fallout from the Money in the Bank PPV. On Sunday, Orton won the All-Stars Money in the Bank ladder match, while Sandow robbed Cody out of the Money in the Bank contract for the World Heavyweight championship. As we headed to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn NY, rumors were floating around about Brock Lesnar being present backstage for the show. The New York crowd has always been great, being some of the most knowledgeable people in wrestling history. This was one of the most impressive RAWs in recent memory. Let us look at some of the major talking points coming out of the show.

5. Big E and AJ Lee turn on Dolph Ziggler

Backstage before his match, Ziggler told AJ that they were finished. Ziggler then had yet another good match with Alberto Del Rio, and just like Sunday, as it was looking as if Ziggler would pull out the victory, AJ distracted Ziggler, but this time on purpose, as she was in the time keeper’s area and rang the bell. This allowed ADR to take advantage and hit a thunderous boot to the side of Ziggler’s head to pick up the victory. Post match, AJ came into the ring and started slapping Ziggler, which led to Big E Langston coming out and dropping Ziggler with the Big Ending. It was rumoured that the WWE wanted a Ziggler – Big E feud going into Summerslam, and it was made official on this episode. Things are getting interesting in the WWE, and I’m intrigued to see how this story plays out.

4. The Shield targets Mark Henry

After losing to John Cena on Sunday, Mark Henry came out and delivered a promo about how Cena was the better man on Sunday, but that he needed one more opportunity to push Cena to his limits. This brought out the hounds of justice, as the trio sized up Henry before attacking him. They laid him out with a huge triple powerbomb which was nothing short of impressive. This might lead to a future confrontation between Henry and The Shield, but it has been a long time since The Shield were booked to look dominant, and hence, it was good to see how things went down. The Shield needs to build up momentum all over again, and this can be the beginning of it.

3. Chris Jericho and RVD steal the show

Jericho and the returning ‘Vandaminator’ faced each other this week, and put on one of the best matches of the year on RAW. RVD didn’t miss a beat in the ring, and after a decade of facing each other on RAW, Jericho and RVD were battling it out and put on a better match than most of the younger performers can. The match went on for more than 20 minutes, which saw the crowd chanting ‘This is awesome’ on multiple occasions, which was true. RVD won the match after delivering the 5 star frog splash, and I for one am glad RVD is back in the WWE.

2. Brock Lesnar destroys CM Punk

CM Punk confronted Paul Heyman, and Heyman delivered yet another amazing promo like only he can. Heyman told Punk that he turned his back on him, and that Heyman made Punk. Heyman then brought out Brock Lesnar, who absolutely destroyed Punk. Punk was involved in a brutal match just 24 hours ago, and also had to receive staples after a nasty cut. Lesnar brutalised Punk before throwing him over the announcer’s table. This was one of the most memorable beatdowns in the past decade, which also lays the foundations for the Lesnar – Punk match at Summerslam. You put Heyman, Punk and Lesnar in a feud and you get gold!

1. Daniel Bryan will face John Cena at Summerslam

I was very vocal, along with the majority of the WWE Universe and the Internet wrestling fraternity about WWE needing to push Daniel Bryan, and WWE finally heard our voices. The NY crowd chanted ‘Yes’ the whole night, and when Maddox gave Cena the opportunity to choose his opponent for Summerslam, he asked the fans who he should choose. To no one’s surprise, the fans chanted for Daniel Bryan. Cena then chose Bryan as his opponent and the roof came unglued! Bryan then came down the ramp chanting ‘Yes’ as the crowd went wild! I’m happy for Bryan, and I hope he gets to win the WWE title at Summerslam.