Tag: raw results

The Big Takeaway: 

The Rock returned for a 25-minute segment where he dueled with the New Day over the mic. He built up WrestleMania, but there were no plans for him announced for the future. He was still the most entertaining thing on the show, which had its high points. The main event of Fast Lane will be Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar in a triple threat match, with the winner facing HHH in the main event at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. A.J. Styles made his Raw debut. Shock of shocks, he had the best match on the show, defeating Chris Jericho. It looks like those two are headed for another match, likely at Fast Lane, as well. Easily the best Raw of the year, so far.  

Vince and Stephanie McMahon came out gloating over Roman Reigns losing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to HHH. Vince said that, just like the fans, Reigns couldn’t rise above adversity. Instead, when adversity faced him, he whimpered and whined. Stephanie said they pulled off a coo in getting HHH into the Royal Rumble. Did she see the odds leading up to the show. She mentioned A.J. Styles, who got a huge pop and “We love A.J.” Chants. Stephanie built up her husband and introduced him. 

HHH came out and said Reigns might be among the most amazing athletes he’s ever seen, but he lacks respect because he’s arrogant and cocky. He claimed Reigns lacked respect for Vince, who might as well be God because he’s the one who created all this. The man who went from 6.7 ratings in September 1999 against football to a 2.3 running unopposed? Alrighty…HHH said anyone who disrespects Vince might as well be distracting his religion because the ring was his church. 

HHH then spoke to those who said his time had come and gone as a wrestler. He admitted he didn’t have to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion, but now he wanted to be because people need to show proper respect. That started a light “Roman” chant. 

Stephanie said the main event for Fast Lane would be announced tonight, and the winner of that match would face HHH in the main event of WrestleMania.

Kevin Owens defeated Dolph Ziggler (8:45)  

As usual, a good match between the two. Kevin Owens won with the Pop-Up Power Bomb. Ziggler went to the top rope trying to give Owens a huracanrana, but Owens crotched him. Owens looked like he was going for the F-Cinq, but they couldn’t get in position for it. The show-long storyline is wrestlers are trying to impress the Authority in order to get the spot in the Fast Lane main event. 

Flo Rida is in the building. 

JoJo interviewed Reigns backstage. He told her to let the Chairman and the champion know that he was here and he wasn’t leaving until he hears the Fast Lane announcement.

Social Outcasts came out. Heath Slater saw Flo Rida at ringside and ordered him to not make him mad. Bo Dallas challenged Rida to come in the ring and face the four Superfriends. He got in the ring. Slater challenged him to a rap battle against Bo Rida. Bo ran down Florida and said he had a Full House “just like Danny Tanner.” Had to use Wikipedia to find that Danny Tanner was the role that Bob Saget played on that show. It’s scary that Bo Dallas rapping was ten times more entertaining than that show that Adam Rose hosted, but it’s unlikely we’ll see Bo Rida again. Flo Rida said Social Outcasts had no skills and “Welcome to Dudleyville.” Bubba Ray and Devon Dudley came out to their nu metal song from 2000. It’s more dated than Petey Pablo. 

The Dudley Boyz defeated Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel (4:27) 

The Dudleys won with the 3-D on Curtis Axel. Devon got the pin. Rida was in the Dudleyz corner. There was a spot when Flo Rida dumped Slater into the ring, and the Dudleys gave him Wazzup. Dallas now has a singlet. He looks like Eric Embry in 1990 Memphis when he let himself go. There’s a spot where the four members of Social Outcasts walked around the ring together that’s called the “Bo Train” Michael Cole announced later this year, the Dudleys would celebrate their “20th year anniversary” together. Thank you, Phil Simms. 

Styles did an interview with Rene Young. She asked him, for those who don’t know, tells us exactly who you are. Chris Jericho walked up, called I’m the hottest free agent in the world. Jericho derisively said “Welcome to the Big Leagues, kid.” Why do I have these images of Braden Walker floating through my head? 

They announced that Nikki Bella will miss the next six months because of neck fusion surgery. It was supposedly reported by E! To promote Total Divas.

A.J. Styles defeated Chris Jericho (13:43)

A very good match where Styles won by reversing a cradle after Jericho escaped the Styles Clash. Jericho appeared to be calling the match and Styles looked like he was trying find his footing in a new ring. Some of his trademark spots, like the flying drop kicked, weren’t executed perfectly. In the final eight minutes, it was excellent. Jericho got the Liontamer and Styles had a lengthy struggle before getting to the ropes. Crowd popped big for that. Fans embraced this match from the opening bell, chanting “This is awesome” right from the outset. Styles went for a splash but missed, leading to Jericho going for a lionsault, but Styles got his knees up. Afterwards, Styles extended his hand for a handshake. Jericho shook his hand, then pulled Styles together for a face-to-face confrontation. Looks like this could be a program and that’s goodie, goodie gumdrops. 

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch went to a no contest (3:33) 

Sasha Banks had Becky Lynch in the Bank Statement when Charlotte ran in for the DQ. Charlotte gave Banks Natural Selection and also sent Lynch out of the ring. BK<anks wrestled as the heel even though she got more cheers.  

Goldust found R-Truth backstage. Golddust was doing a combination of his original effeminate gimmick and his Tourette’s Syndrome promo, asking R-Truth to be his partner. R-Truth showed him his wedding ring and said he was a married man. After R-Truth bolted, Goldust said he meant tag team partner and claimed they could call the team “Gold and Truth.”

Bray Wyatt defeated Kane (7:05)  

Bray Wyatt won with Sistery Abigail after a distraction from Luke Harper.  Crowd was dead, which isn’t a good sign since they teased Wyatt vs. Brock Lesnar at some point over the next few months. Wyatt is basically a ring entrance now. There was a fan who was dressed up as Randy Savage at ringside who took attention away from the match. Crowd started chanting for him and Wyatt didn’t look happy about it. It looked like the ushers forced to tone it down, which got the ushers more heat than the match. Later, those four men turned up away from the hard camera during the Rock’s segment. Braun Strowman gave Kane the head-and-arm choke afterwards. 

A WWE reporter knocked on the door of a limo parked backstage. Crowd chanted for the Rock, but the Miz got out. He started to do an interview, but then a big black truck pulled him. And it was the Rock who got out. 

Rock handed Miz the keys of his truck to park it. On his way to the ring, Rock shook hands with Rick Ross. Then Rock saw the Big Show and they talked about the Royal Rumble in 2000 where they were the last two in. They did a finish that year where they went over the top rope together and the Big Show’s feet were supposed to hit first, but it was the Rock who did it by mistake. Rock was awarded the win. Rock admitted the Show should have won that year, and said producers from the Scorpion King were going to give the role in that film to the winner of the Rumble that year. It could have been the Big Show who was in the Fast and Furious sequels, chasing Van Dielsel around. Big Show got this classic sad look on his face and broke a laptop that he was holding for no reason in two. He wasn’t mad at Rock at all, but Show had some great timing and facials here. 

Rock stumbled on to Lana, where they talked about the last time Rock confronted Rusev. He claimed that after the show, Lana said she didn’t want to be with Rusev anymore. They went inside a hotel room and did special exercises like the Wisconsin Wheelbarrow, and the D.J. Mustache Ride. Rusev came up from behind. Lana informed Rock they were now engaged to be married. Rock told Rusev that Lana was flexible as all hell. 

Rock continued his walk backstage, where he slapped hands with Pat Patterson, to the Gorillia Position. Finally he made his way out to the crowd to the Miami fans, who chanted “This is awesome” before he even started speaking. Rock said he was ready for WretleMania and asked the fans if they were. He pretended not to know Byron Saxton’s name. 

Rock saw four guys dressed at ringside and went totally off script. He interviewed the aforementioned Savage impersonator, a Hulk Hogan impersonator, an Undertaker impersonator and someone dressed as Rock.The New Day came out doing this scripted material. Kofi Kingston said the Rock was supposedly the People’s Champion, but he didn’t have any gold around his waist. They were WWE tag team champions. 

Big E. Said the Rock was like LeBron James, he bolted Miami for greener pastures. Xavier Woods did an impression of Rikishi saying “He did it for the picture.” Even Rock couldn’t hold back a smile over that one. 

Rock said the New Day found a way to be entertaining with llama penises strapped to their heads. Rock said they looked like three Chocolate Cornholes running their mouths all of the time. He said Big E. Was so nerdy, he looked like what would happen if the Incredible Hulk banged Urkel. 

Rock challenged them to get in the ring. New Day started to leave. Rock said he had a Plan B: family. The Usos came out. Rock gave Big E. The Rock Bottom, Kingston took a double superkick from the Usos and Woods took the People’s Elbow. Rock delivered his catchphrase and that was that. All of this shows that ther’s only Rock, and there will never be another. 

Paige and Natalyia defeated Brie Bella and Alicia Fox (2:45) 

Paige pinned Brie Bella with the Rampage. They had to rush because the Rock segment took over 25 minutes. 

Kalisto (C) defeated the Miz (10:23) in a nontitle match. 

Kalisto won with the Solida Del Sol after Miz attempted the Skull Crushing Finale. OK match, but the U.S. Title around Kalisto’s waist feels like the championship is a secondary belt again. Highlight of the match was when JBL said Rock was ” the number one international box office hit” in 2015. Box office hit as opposed to box office attraction. Even Cole couldn’t hold back a chuckle after that one. JBL launched his candidacy to win the Worst Announcer award again next January in quality fashion tonight. 

Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns defeated Rusev and Sheamus (15:19) 

Dean Ambrose got the heat after Rusev threw him into the timekeeper’s table. Ambrose, who had his left shoulder taped up after his match with Owens last night, took three Irish Curse backbreakers from Sheamus. Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on Reigns, but Ambrose made the save. Sheamus shot Reigns into the ropes, but Reigns came off with a spear for the pin.  

Afterwards, to get payback on the League of Nations for jumping Reigns during the Royal Rumble, Ambrose helped Reigns get Rusev up to power bomb him through the announcer’s table.

Stephanie came out to announce that the main event for Fast Lane would be a triple threat match: Ambrose vs. Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar. 

SUMMARY: 

It’s always so entertaining to see the Rock on Raw because he makes it feel like an event. It’s always so depressing the week after the Rock visits Raw because you know the product will never be as good as it was during his prime. And not just because of his personality and his presence, which comes along once in a generation. It’s because the fabric of what made the Rock special has changed. He would have never become the personality that endeared himself to millions with scripted interviews on weekly three hour shows. When he first appeared, Raw was an one hour show and still relied on syndication for first-run matches. The Rock was only as good as his creative ability, which might be his most underrated quality. Nowadays, most wrestlers don’t get that chance because it’s how the system is. Anyway, hate to sound old, but that’s what it feels like watching so far ahead of the modern pack. Show was largely entertaining. Styles-Jericho was worth going out of your way to see. 

The Big Takeaway: An unusual show, but a good one. The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair all appeared. Neither guise of Kane, who is wrestling the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on Sunday, showed up. There was an impromptu Shield reunion in the main event. Plus, the company had its top babyface appear in the opening segment, and never showed up again. And said babyface was treated as a heel. 

Show Recap: 

Steve Austin is out first. He talked about growing up in Texas going to the Sportatorium, where he got his start. Then he introduced the Undertaker. 

Michael Cole and JBL billed the Undertaker’s match with Brock Lesnar as the final ever battle between the two men. Austin vanished as Undertaker made his entrance. The Dallas fans made the Undertaker the babyface, even though he’s been treated as a heel in the program. Undertaker said the depths of hell will look like the gates of heaven compared to where he’s going to take Brock Lesnar this Sunday. 

Lesnar and Paul Heyman came out. Heyman cut his promo from the ramp. Heyman said his client wanted to gain revenge for the Undertaker’s tainted win at SummerSlam. He said after Undertaker losses this weekend, he’ll have to wonder what it’s like to live a legacy where he defeated everyone but Brock Lesnar. 

Undertaker replied that when you take everything from a man, that man ends up fighting with nothing to lose. Undertaker motioned for Lesnar to come to the ring. Lesnar went to the ring despite the objections of Heyman. Lesnar jumped on the apron, laughed at the Undertaker, then jumped off. Heyman told Lesnar he did the right thing because now he’s in the Undertaker’s head. Crowd treated Lesnar as the heel and this was really good. 

The rest of this show is going to be tough to live up to the opening segment because it will mainly feature characters we’ve seen for three hours every Monday night. Perhaps that’s why this segment opened the show, to sell the main event for this weekend before thousands of viewers switch to Monday Night Football. 

The New Day’s promo included Big E. saying Everything is Booty in Texas, mentioning Dez Bryant’s foot and Tony Romo’s clavicle. Xavier Woods’ trombone was broken based on an angle on Smackdown where he used it against the Dudley Boyz. 

The New Day defeated The Dudley Boyz and John Cena (8:35) 

Woods pinned Devon Dudley with a schoolboy cradle while holding the trunks. John Cena did a rare plancha onto Big E., which distracted Devon. In the midst of all that, Kofi Kingston and Big E. rammed Bubba Ray Dudley into the post. Pretty good match where Big E. shook his ass several times while Cena was getting the heat. 

Cole announced Randy Orton missed the tour of Mexico due to injury and wasn’t in the building tonight. They announced that Orton wouldn’t be at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, leaving Dean Ambrose without a partner for his tag team match against Braun Strowman and Luke Harper. Ambrose was shown talking to Dean Malenko and Fit Finley in the back. 

Renee Young interviewed her boyfriend, who claimed that the Wyatt Family injured Orton and challenged Harper and Strowman to a fight tonight. 

Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox defeated Naomi and Sasha Banks (8:48)

Nikki Bella pinned Naomi after the Rack Attack. Alicia Fox looked pretty good, including a spinning backbreaker on Naomi. Sasha Banks and Nikki had some rough spots during the hot tag sequence. Match was just there. 

On an interview on Smackdown, Nikki Bella apparently said “Divas Revolution? No. It’s the Bellas’ Evolution.” You know things are bad when they’re lifting catchphrases from 1999 WCW factions that failed (I know, that’s being redundant). One that included Malenko and Shane Douglas, no less. 

They announced that Corporate Kane has been suspended after a closed door meeting with the Authority for tonight’s show after his actions last week. This was an announcement made on the company website. 

Shawn Michaels came out to a surprisingly tepid reaction. Michaels took a bite from a kid’s pizza on the way to the ring. Apparently, it went down the wrong way because he coughed throughout the interview. He brought up being in the first Hell in a Cell match against the Undertaker, and the 18th anniversary of that match will be this Sunday. Then he brought up Roman Reigns also being in a Hell in a Cell match against Bray Wyatt, and he believed those two matches will tear the house down. 

Seth Rollins came out. The two went nose-to-nose and the crowd chanted for a match against them. Rollins said Michaels was supposed to introduce him. Michaels said he’s been getting instructions from the back for 20 years, then he forgets them once he gets to the ring. Rollins said Michaels got the order from his best friend, HHH. Rollins said he was the one who was going to stop the show this Sunday. Rollins billed himself as Shawn Michaels 2.0, but he was better than the original. 

Michaels said if he had a nickel for every time he heard that he heard that someone was going to be the second coming of Shawn Michaels, he would be a billionaire. Michaels cut a promo that seemed aimed at various people that said he never once wanted to be the second coming of someone else when he was the greatest wrestler who ever lived. 

Michaels brought up Kane. Rollins cut a promo on Kane, then requested to have his music played so he could leave. Michaels said the problem with being the second coming of anyone is they never listen to anything you say compared to an original. Michaels told Rollins that he had an match coming up next against Ryback, then asked to hit his music. Which they did. Great segment by Michaels. 

Seth Rollins defeated Ryback (4:02)

Rollins worked over Ryback’s ribs, including a nice tope where Ryback landed against the announcers table. Ryback made a comeback, but Rollins kicked him in the ribs and pinned him clean with a pedigree. 

Members of the Dallas Cowboys were shown at ringside. 

They showed an angle from Smackdown where Summer Rae was a special referee for a match with Dolph Ziggler and Rusev. Rae helped Ziggler win. Afterwards, Rae came onto him, but Dolph said he wasn’t interested in being used. 

King Barrett, Rusev and Sheamus defeated Neville, Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro (12:52)

King Barrett pinned Ziggler after Barrett kicked out of a cradle, and Ziggler wound up against the ropes where Sheamus gave him a Brogue Kick outside the ring. Neville worked almost the entire match, getting the heat after Rusev knocked him off the apron with a forearm into the announce table. At one point, Neville did a somersault plancha onto Rusev and Cesaro. There was nothing at all regarding Rusev’s romantic life, aside from Cole mentioning he’s now engaged. While Neville was getting the heat and Rusev pounded away on him, the fans chanted “USA.” At that moment, the only American in the ring was the referee. 

Ric Flair didn’t even get a ring entrance for his appearance. He didn’t seem to know he was on camera and waited forever to start his promo. Flair brought up the Von Erichs and the Freebirds. Flair announced that Ambrose had found a tag team partner in Roman Reigns, which was strange since it was announced earlier that Ambrose would face Harper and Strowman alone. 

Reigns came out. I guess they just used Flair to help Reigns get cheered because he disappeared after the Wyatt Family magically appeared on the ramp. Eric Rowan was back with the Wyatt Family with no explanation as to why he’s back with them, or why he’s even a heel. 

Reigns pulled out two chairs and sat down in the middle of the ring. Reigns called out Wyatt to sit down in the other empty chair. Wyatt sat down in the chair, and Reigns told him face-to-face that Wyatt was a bully and his digs power by fear. He said Wyatt was afraid of being alone, and he was scared of Reigns. 

Reigns kept poking at Wyatt until they wound up in fistacuffs. It ended up with Reigns using a chair across Wyatt’s back, and another chair to the shoulder of Rowan. Ambrose ran down to back up his partner. 

Rollins, Stephanie McMahon and HHH watched this from the back. Michaels walked in. HHH talked about how they didn’t want Reigns and Ambrose to face Harper, Rowan and Strowman in a handicap match tonight. Michaels suggested Rollins be the third partner. Shawn insuinated it may be too heavy a load for Rollins to handle since he already wrestled tonight. Rollins objected to that and said he would join Reigns and Ambrose tonight in the main event. I can’t believe they would give away a Shield reunion on an one-off show.  Wait, when did this become a six-man? 

Charlotte (C) defeated Brie Bella via submission in a nontitle match (5:31)

Charlotte won with the Figure Eight. Nikki posed with Charlotte’s Divas title for heat. Probably the deadest match of the night so far.  

Paige watched the match from the back. Young asked Paige if she was the person if she was the person who attacked Natalya on Smackdown. Paige didn’t answer. Young pressed her for a honest response. Paige said it could have been anyone, bringing up past names like Kaitlyn and Eve Torres, or Lita, Trish Stratus or even Alundra Blaze. Paige heeled on Young saying she was no Erin Andrews and she wasn’t as cute. Actually, Young did a better job asking questions than Andrews ever has. Granted, they were scripted questions, but still. Paige even called her Sally Jesse Raphael at one point. Is this 1985 again? 

Kevin Owens (C) defeated Mark Henry in a nontitle match (3:38)

Kevin Owens was very good in getting heat since Mark Henry was in his home state. Henry seemed more animated, at one point screaming at Owens that he had been a bully in this company for 18 years. Owens actually got Henry up for the Pop-Up Power Bomb and the pin. 

Ryback came out to go after Owens, who slid out of the ring. Henry threw Owens back in, and Ryback power bombed Owens. 

Young asked Rollins about reuniting with the Shield. Rollins laughed that off and said he just wanted to prove to HHH and Michaels that he was the man. He said if Ambrose and Reigns wanted to relive the past, he would destroy them again. 

The Wyatt Family defeated Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose by DQ (14:05)

The match ended when Strowman put the head and arm choke on Regins. Ambrose couldn’t budge Strowman, so he pulled out a kendo stick and repeatedly whacked Strowman with it. Strowman didn’t sell that and broke the stick over his knee. Ambrose tried to give Strowman a tope, but Strowman caught him and rammed his back into the ring apron. Reigns followed with a tope where he cleared the top rope by plenty onto the Wyatts. The final sequence appeared screwed up. Reigns gave Wyatt a spear, but Rowan fell over them. Reigns ended it by giving Rowan a spear. 

Earlier in the match, Ambrose tried to make a hot tag. Strowman had tripped Reigns off the apron and thrown him into the barricade. That left Rollins, but just as Ambrose got to the corne, Rollins faked a knee injury. Wow, he really does want to be the next Shawn Michaels. Rollins walked out.  

Crowd was so hungry for a Shield reunion, they chanted “This is Awesome” before the match started. When the Wyatts had a face-to-face staredown with Reigns and Ambrose, Rollins just stayed back and left his teammates hanging. Then he stepped up and stared down Rowan, and the crowd roared. Then Rollins told his teammates to get out of the ring because he was the architect. When Rollins saw Rowan was going to start the match, he tagged out. 

SUMMARY: A good show, although I sense this was one of those shows where the main event was rewritten several times. Almost all the matches were solid. I still don’t think the Lesnar-Undertaker buildup has the juice it should have going into Hell in a Cell, but it was rushed since it was announced for HIAC to begin with.