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Hello ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the live review of this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW! A lot is at stake tonight as the WWE World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan might surrender the title to the Authority. We’re live from the Thompson – Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.
This week’s RAW opened with a graphic about Memorial Day. The show was dedicated to the veterans who lost their lives.
Triple H and Stephanie waited in the ring as the show began. Stephanie cut a promo about people having choices, and Daniel Bryan has a choice to do the right thing and surrender the WWE World Heavyweight championship, as we needed a fighting champion. She then mocked Bryan and said his mind might be strong, but his body is B+. The fans chanted for Bryan and Stephanie encouraged them. Triple H then took the mic and mocked Bryan, and said some people reach to the top but just can’t stay there. He then brought up Evolution as the fans booed. He name dropped The Shield as the fans popped. He then said Evolution wouldn’t let The Shield make out of Payback this Sunday, and plugged in the contract signing later on tonight. Stephanie then called out the General Manager of RAW, Brad Maddox.
The Authority wasn’t pleased with Ambrose and Reigns coming out last week as guest commentators during the Batista – Rollins match last week. Maddox said The Shield forced him, and Stephanie said that they had no choice as the pyros went off, and out came Kane. Maddox pleaded as Kane made his way out, and Triple H dropped Maddox with a right hand. Kane preyed on Maddox, and then delivered a huge chokeslam and a Tombstone piledriver. Stephanie then fired Brad Maddox, and the trio stood over Brad.
Analysis: That was unexpected. What does Maddox have anything to do going ahead with this feud? We’ll have to wait and see, but he might have a hand in the outcome between Evolution and The Shield at WWE Payback.
We looked at the WWE World Heavyweight championship situation, and Bo Dallas’ vignette aired.
Cesaro (With Heyman) vs. RVD
Before the match began, Bad News Barrett made his way out and said he had some bad news. Barrett talked about summer, and how everyone was growing fat. He ripped on the fans some more and we went underway with the bout as BNB joined the commentary team.
RVD and Cesaro started things off as Cesaro dominated in the early going, but RVD came back with a scissors take down, but Cesaro caught him with a big throw and an uppercut. Cesaro went on the offense but RVD dropped him with a thrust kick and knocked Cesaro out of the ring. RVD went for a moonsault, but Cesaro caught him and knocked him down on the barricades. Cesaro threw RVD into the barricade again as WWE went into commercial.
Back from the break and Cesaro was still in control. Cesaro pressed RVD and went for multiple pinning predicaments. RVD made a comeback with a rolling thunder and as he tried to catch Cesaro with a crossbody, Barrett interrupted which enabled Cesaro to take control. More back and forth action and Cesaro caught RVD with a German suplex to pick up the victory.
Winner: Cesaro
Rating: *** ½
After the match, Sheamus attacked Cesaro and laid him out with a Brogue kick!
Analysis: That was once again a solid match between two phenomenal athletes, but WWE focused more on the feuds between RVD and Barrett, and Cesaro and Sheamus. Both IC and US titles will be on the line this Sunday at Payback, which is a rarity. It’ll be interesting to see if Cesaro beats Sheamus for the title come Payback.
Eva Marie vs. Summer Rae
Both the divas went at it before Summer got the upper hand, and dominated the bout. That was until Fandango’s music hit, as he and Layla started dancing on the entrance ramp. They started kissing which upset Summer, and Eva took advantage of it by rolling Summer up to pick up the upset victory.
Winner: Eva Marie
Rating: Dud
Analysis: I understand the rivalry, and I’m not against it. What I’m against is putting Eva Marie in the ring for a match. Anyway, that was a quick match which furthered the rivalry between Summer Rae and Layla.
Backstage, Batista and Orton were having a word with Triple H when The Rhodes brothers walked in and mocked Orton and Batista. Triple H then booked them in a match against Orton and Batista later in the night.
Drew McIntyre vs. El Torito
Drew tried to get his offense on Torito, but Torito ducked and took Drew out. Drew caught Torito when he went for a moonsault and slammed him on the mat. More comedy between the two, and in the end, Torito took Drew out as the Matadores took 3 MB out at ringside to pick up the victory.
Winner: El Torito
Rating: ½ *
Analysis: That was more of a comedy match than anything else. Torito and Los Matadores once again got the upper hand over 3 MB.
Post match, Hornswoggle ripped El Torito’s tail.
Back from commercial, and the Wyatts made their way out as the crowd sang “He’s got the whole world”. Bray Wyatt then cut a promo and plugged his match with Cena at WWE Payback this Sunday, and then picked on Jerry Lawler for being “The King”. The Wyatts then taunted the announcers, and picked on Lawler and JBL.
JBL got up to fight the Wyatts, but Harper and Rowan beat him down with clotheslines. Bray then taunted Lawler and asked him to come into the ring, and asked if he didn’t want to help his hero, John Cena. Lawler almost got into the ring, but Cena tried to make the save. Bray held Lawler in the corner as Harper and Rowan held Cena down, and as Bray was about to nail Lawler with Sister Abigail, The Usos made the save. Cena and Usos cleared the ring, and Cena cut a promo about Wyatt being evil, and said he crossed the line. The segment ended with Cena fuming in the ring.
Analysis: That was an interesting segment, but I thought WWE would do more with the PPV this Sunday. Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what happens come WWE Payback.
Lana came out and cut a promo about the greatness of Russia and Rusev, and called America and Americans pathetic. Rusev then made his way out and said something in Bulgarian, and made his way down to the ring.
Rusev (With Lana) vs. Zack Ryder
Ryder got in the early offense but Rusev stopped him in his tracks and pounded on him. The crowd started a “USA” chant as Rusev locked Ryder in the camel clutch and Ryder tapped out, but Rusev wouldn’t let go.
Winner: Rusev
Rating: Dud
Big E made his way out to make the save as Rusev pounded on Big E. Big E then exploded out of the corner and knocked Rusev out of the ring.
Analysis: Rusev will face Big E this Sunday at WWE Payback, and we’ll have to wait and see if Rusev picks up his first major victory in the WWE, or if Big E manages to stop the Russian brute.
The Rhodes brothers vs. Batista and Orton
Batista and Cody started things off as Batista laid into Cody. Batista drilled Cody with rights in the corner, but Cody retaliated with a big right to Batista. Cody tagged in Goldust who worked over Batista, as he tagged in Orton. Goldust and Cody worked in tandem on Orton as Cody dropped down on Orton’s arm and attacked Orton in the corner. Orton tried to make a comeback with some rights but Cody stopped him in his tracks. Orton managed to get the upper hand and tagged in Batista.
Batista worked over Cody as the fans started a small “Bootista” chant. Batista drilled Cody with a corkscrew back elbow, but Cody tagged in Goldust who dropped Batista with clotheslines. Orton kicked Goldust without the referee noticing and Batista dropped Goldust with a spinebuster as WWE went to commercial.
Back from the break and Batista continued working over Goldust. Batista dropped Goldust with a clothesline for a nearfall. Goldust knocked Batista down and made the hot tag to Cody who drilled Orton with a clothesline and a springboard dropkick for a nearfall. Cody caught Batista with a dropkick and went for the Disaster Kick on Orton, but Orton caught him with an RKO out of nowhere! Orton hit another RKO to pick up the victory.
After the pinfall, Roberts announced that he had received a word that it was an Elimination match, and Goldust would face Orton and Batista in a No Holds Barred handicap match.
Orton and Batista picked Goldust apart, throwing him against the barricades. Orton then went for the underhook DDT, but Goldust tried to fight out of it. Batista dropped Goldust with a spear and Orton connected with an RKO. Batista drilled Goldust with a Batista bomb to pick up the victory.
Winner(s): Orton and Batista
Rating: ***
Analysis: That was a decent match, with Evolution getting their revenge on the Rhodes brothers. They made an example out of them, and are prepped for WWE Payback. The Rhodes brothers will split soon, with a rumored match between the two in the works, and we’ll have to see how WWE books them from here on out.
Bo Dallas made his way out for his match with Sin Cara, and cut a promo about believing in himself.
Bo Dallas vs. Sin Cara
Dallas dropped Cara and went out to celebrate, but Cara dropped him with a baseball slide and a crossbody from the top rope. Dallas made a comeback with knees to Cara’s head, but Cara caught him with a middle rope moonsault and a springboard elbow. Cara went to the top, but Dallas moved away. Dallas then caught Cara with a running bulldog to pick up the victory.
Winner: Bo Dallas
Rating: * ½
Dallas then cut a promo about giving his everything and Bo-lieving.
Back from commercial, and Stephanie came out and called out Daniel Bryan, who came out to a huge pop. Stephanie said she could strip him, but she won’t do that. She told Bryan to justify her decision, and told him he wasn’t selfish. The crowd started chanting “No”, as Bryan talked about working for over a decade, and finally won the WWE World Heavyweight championship at WrestleMania 30. Bryan talked about his injury being worse than originally predicted. Bryan teased surrendering the WWE World Heavyweight title, and talked about Stephanie wanting the title back ever since he beat Triple H at WrestleMania 30. Bryan then cut an emotional promo about how giving up would negate everything he and the fans have accomplished. He then said he wouldn’t give back the WWE World Heavyweight championship, and chanted “No” along with the fans.
Stephanie talked about the fans getting into Bryan’s head, and talked about Bryan’s wife, Brie putting her hands on Stephanie couple of weeks ago. Stephanie then warned about the consequences, and told Bryan he had one more week to think about it. Stephanie told Bryan that if he didn’t surrender the title at WWE Payback, she would fire Brie Bella.
Analysis: That just made the whole thing interesting. Bryan didn’t surrender the title, and Stephanie has warned him that she will fire Brie this Sunday if he doesn’t relinquish the titles. We’ll have to wait and see what Bryan does come WWE Payback.
Emma vs. Alicia Fox
Emma and Fox starting things off, with Fox going at her aggressively. Emma countered with the Emma-woe, and Fox threatened to walk out, but attacked Emma from behind. Emma ducked a running boot and rolled her up to pick up the victory.
Winner: Emma
Rating: ½ *
Post match, Fox attacked Emma again and delivered a tilt – a – whirl backbreaker. She then threw a fit around ringside.
Analysis: Nothing much to say there. Story going into the PPV is that Fox has already picked up a victory against Paige, and she is unpredictable. We’ll have to wait and see if Paige retains the title, and if AJ Lee returns to get her revenge on Paige.
Sandow debuted his new character as Davy Crockett, and Adam Rose came out with the Exotic Express.
Adam Rose vs. Davy Crockett
Before the bout got underway properly, Swagger came out along with Colter and one of Rose’s Rosebuds. Davy tried to take advantage, but Rose planted him to pick up the victory.
Swagger then attacked Rose, but Rose planted Swagger with a spinebuster and attacked Swagger on the mat.
Winner: Adam Rose
Rating: Dud
Analysis: That was an odd way for Rose to debut. Anyway, this sets up the bout between Swagger and Rose this Sunday. It would’ve made more sense for Rose to debut on a PPV, but WWE isn’t known for doing sensible things I suppose.
Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio
The smash mouth style wrestling saw Sheamus and Del Rio going head to head to kick off the match. Sheamus dominated the bout in the early going, and drilled Del Rio with clubby blows. Del Rio found an opening and drilled Sheamus’ head, knocking him down to the floor as WWE went into commercial.
Back from commercial and ADR managed to turn things around, and drilled Sheamus once again in the head for a nearfall. Sheamus caught ADR with the Irish curse backbreaker for a nearfall! ADR drilled Sheamus on the back of the head, but Sheamus caught him with the White Noise. Sheamus dropped ADR with a backbreaker and went for the Brogue kick, but ADR once again connected with a boot to the head, and then with a shining wizard for a nearfall! ADR went for the armbar, but Sheamus countered it into the Brogue kick to pick up the victory.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: ** ½
Post – match, Heyman distracted Sheamus as Cesaro attacked him. Cesaro connected with a big boot, and continued attacking Sheamus as the officials tried to separate the two. Cesaro finished him off with the Neutralizer.
Analysis: That was a decent match, and Cesaro gained the upper hand before this Sunday, and it is being shown that Sheamus might not be 100% going into WWE Payback.
Contract signing for Evolution vs. The Shield
Shield made its way out for the contract signing. They cleared out the ring with the contract, and Evolution made its way out. Triple H talked and warned The Shield, and asked if they really wanted to sign the contract. The trio then signed the paper and threw it out of the ring. Evolution too signed the contract, and teased a fight.
Finally all men went at it, as The Shield cleared the ring. Rollins took Orton and Triple H out with a top rope plancha. But Batista decked Dean, and Reigns took Batista out with the Superman punch. Triple H then brought the sledge hammer and decked Reigns with it, while Orton took Rollins out with an RKO and Batista speared Ambrose.
Evolution then sent Reigns crashing through the announcer’s table, as Evolution ended RAW standing over Reigns.
Analysis: That was the best way to sign off RAW, heading into a PPV. With Evolution standing tall, one has to believe that The Shield will pick up the victory at Payback. Also, with Batista leaving WWE after the PPV to promote his movies, The Shield will likely take him out come Sunday.
Over-all rating of the show: ** ¾ (Out of 5 stars)
The show fell flat at various points, and WWE’s booking makes very little sense. Why did they debut Rose when it didn’t even matter? Also, Bo Dallas’ debut could’ve been booked better. Anyway, that does it for this week’s live review of RAW, as our next stop is WWE Payback this Sunday, at the All State Arena in Chicago!
