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Rob Van Dam (With Ricardo) vs Randy Orton
Rob Van Dam
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Massive RVD chant by the Chicago crowd as Orton took control in the early going. RVD came back with a huge side kick to the face of Orton. RVD then went for the Asai moonsault, but Orton tripped him over the apron as WWE went to commercial.
Back from the break and Orton took control of the match. RVD tried to make a comeback with kicks and a rolling thunder for a 2 count! RVD went for the split legged moonsault, but Orton moved out of the way. Orton then hit the double hook DDT from the second rope and signaled for the RKO! RVD countered Orton and rolled him up for a 2 count. RVD then hit the huge rolling cannon from the top rope! RVD went for the frogsplash, but Orton crotched him over the top turnbuckle! Orton knocked RVD off the top rope onto the floor. Orton then attacked RVD on the outside as the referee counted to 10 for a double count out.
Winner: N/A
Rating: ***
Post match, Orton dropped RVD back first on the exposed barricade, and shoved him into the steel steps. Orton chased the referee and Ricardo away, and put RVD through the steel steps once again. He then threw RVD over the announcer’s table and brought him back into the ring. Orton then placed RVD on the top turnbuckle and dropped him with the double hook DDT from the top rope!
Analysis: That was a solid TV match, and an even better post match beat down! Orton has finally snapped, thanks to Stephanie McMahon and is now focused on hurting Daniel Bryan. RVD was annihilated by Orton, and it will be interesting to see if this will lead to a future program between the two. With RVD set to take some time off soon, this might not mean much, but Orton’s beat down on RVD was fun to watch.
WWE aired a vignette for the return of Los Matadores, and they’re set to make their return next week!
WWE showed Del Rio attacking RVD after Orton left.
Backstage, Orton confronted Brie Bella, and told her he will destroy her boyfriend come Battleground.
Backstage, AJ confronted Stephanie McMahon. AJ said Stephanie needed to take her out of the tag team match, and said it was no way to treat the Divas champion. Stephanie told AJ that she won’t be the Divas champion for a long time. Is that a warning or a prediction? We’ll find out in a couple of weeks’ time.
Fandango made his way out next with Summer Rae as Chicago started Fandango – ing and WWE went to commercial.
Fandango (With Summer) vs Santino Marella
This was your comedy match of the week. Santino tried to go for a kip up, but fell down and hit his head. The Chicago crowd started a Summer Rae chant, which was awesome. Fandango dropped Santino with a clothesline for a 2 count. Fandango went for the abdominal stretch, but Santino countered it into a backdrop. Santino came back with a hip toss and went for the Cobra. Summer distracted Santino, and Fandango capitalized with a suplex and a huge leg drop from the top rope to pick up the victory after 4 minutes.
Winner: Fandango
Rating: *
Analysis: That was an okay bout, but the Summer Rae chant was awesome. Nothing else to say about the match.
Up next, CM Punk returns to the WWE in his hometown of Chicago!
CM Punk came out to possibly the biggest ovation of the year! Wow, that in itself was almost surreal! Punk talked about his loss to Paul Heyman at the Night of Champions PPV, and said maybe he should call it quits. He said he let everyone down, and said he might not be worthy of their affection. Punk compared himself to the Chicago Blackhawks, and talked about them winning the world championship. He said he will come back and beat everyone in his way. Punk was then interrupted by Paul Heyman, who came out singing.
Punk said it was the wrong place and the wrong time. Heyman said he had suffered a relapse from the beating he took at the hands of Punk at NoC. He said he took solace in the fact that he pinned CM Punk, and said he shouldn’t feel bad about it. He said it was because he was from Chicago, and mocked Chicago and called it a second rate city. A loud “Walrus” chant broke out, and Heyman said he pinned Punk. Punk asked Heyman if he was confident about his goons getting to Punk first before Punk got to Heyman. Punk said he would rip his face off.
Heyman was about to leave, but it looked as if his motorized contraption didn’t work. Punk went for Heyman, but was beaten down by Axel and Ryback. Punk tried to fight back and leapt onto Ryback from the top of the ramp. The numbers game caught up to Punk and Ryback dominated the Second City Saint, slamming him through a table! Heyman shook Ryback’s hand, and said that is what happens to bullies.
Analysis: Firstly, what an ovation! That is probably the loudest pop I’ve heard in a decade! The fans came unglued as the Cult of Personality hit, and Punk and Heyman (once again) showed just why they’re such phenomenal performers. I can never get tired of watching these two, and Heyman’s genius is once again highlighted by plotting an attack. This will lead to Punk facing Ryback at Battleground, and will finally lead to Punk getting his hands on Heyman for once and for all at the next PPV.
Back from the break and Punk was still tended to by the medics.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
