After last weeks ending to Raw that saw Seth Rollins curb stomp Dean Ambrose on cinder blocks and effectively putting him on the shelf for a while, I was very excited about this weeks show. I should have known better. The WWE creative team seemed to mail this one in, maybe it was due to it airing on the same night as the Emmys and they didn’t want big stuff to happen on night they wouldn’t have the viewers anyway.
WWE HALL of Fame Forum
We were kicked off by a first ever WWE Hall of Fame forum with Michael Cole hosting and Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Shawn Michaels as the guest. The 3 Hall of Famers discussed the rematch at Night of Champions between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. HBK and Ric where adamant that Cena has no chance and will be dominated by Brock again. There was even talk of retirement between the Nature Boy and HB Shizzle, which is hysterical since Flair never knew when to quit. Hulk seemed to be the only one on John Cena’s side. Right when it was actually getting interesting and a little heated between Hogan and HBK, out comes John Cena.
John Cena gives us a typical super face promo about how he is going to get his title back and proof everyone else. John Cena also tells the forum that he’s not going to NIght of Champions to beat Brock. he’s going there to kick Brock’s but, Cena used a more colorful word than but though. The Forum was actually starting to pick up and Cena promo killed its momentum. If the forum had more time before the Cena interruption than this would’ve been a good opening, instead it felt rushed and just away to get the old timers on Raw.
Jack Swagger vs. Rusev
Swagger without Zeb, battled Rusev again. Swagger and Rusev have another decent match, this one seemed to be the final one however. The finish saw Rusev continuously stomping the rib cage of Swagger along the ropes until Rusev picks Swagger up and hits him with a big kick and then stomps Swagger some more until, Ref stops the match. I like the ref stoppage angle, it’s a nice way to end the program with Swagger still not getting pinned or tapping and yet make Rusev look unstoppable. Curious we didn’t get another Mark Henry and Rusev confrontation. After the match they just cut to commercial and that was the end of it. Ok then.
We come back from commercial and Swagger is in the trainers office being attended to when Bo Dallas comes in to let Swagger know he let his country down again. Dallas also tells Swagger that he needs to BOlieve and everything will be alright.
Cesaro vs Rob Van Dam with Sheamus on commentary.
This was another decent match, rumor is this was RVD last match on Raw for some time as he will be going on another hiatus. Cesaro and RVD served its purpose very well, got Cesaro another win and helped promote the rivalry over the US Championship between Sheamus and Cesaro. Cesaro picked up his win when Cesaro hung RVD on the rope and lands The Neutralizer. After the match Cesaro grabs Sheamus Title belt looks at it a few seconds and throws it in Sheamus’s face, Cesaro leaves before Sheamus could retaliate. Sheamus and Cesaro have put on great matches in the past and the US Championship needs a rivalry like this for people to care about the title.
Paige vs Natalya non title
For the 2nd week in a row we get Nattie vs Paige but this time it isn’t a squash match and 2 of the best women wrestlers in the company get a bit of time to show off (still not enough time). Paige picks up the win when 2 divas rotate countering each others submission finishers until Paige is able to land the Paige Turner on Nattie. Out comes AJ after the match, distracting Paige and Nattie lands a Spinning Lariat, just like her dad The Anvil use to do. On a side note Nattie doing this is unface like so keep an eye out on that, may be the beginning of a heel turn. AJ comes in and helps Paige to her feet. AJ tells Paige that she loves her and gives her a hug. Paige just stands there very cautious of AJ. AJ grabs Paige hand and kisses the back of it and then leaves. Paige looks on confused. admittedly I’m a huge Paige mark but this is now my favorite thing going in WWE with Ambrose vs Rollins over for the time being. Both girls are playing the crazy angle very well and are having good matches too. The Divas division is relevant again and this rivalry is one of the big reasons why.
The Eulogy of Dean Ambrose
Kane makes his way to the ring where we see a memorial picture of Ambrose which looks more like a mug shot, the ring carpeted and a podium. Kane calls out Seth Rollins, a suited Rollins appears and gives a Eulogy for Ambrose. Rollins tells us he created the Shield and he destroyed it. That he handpicked Ambrose for a reason just like and that Ambrose career will be summed up by 2 words “what if” What if Ambrose knew his place, and recognized Rollins’ superiority? What if Ambrose walked away when he had the opportunity? Rollins is interrupted by Roman Reigns and here comes through the crowd.
Kane was waiting for Reigns by the guard rail and they went to blows with Reigns getting the better of Kane by throwing him into the steps. Reigns and Rollins exchange in the ring. Reigns picks up the podium and throws it at Rollins. Reigns is set up for the superman punch but Kane pulls Rollins out of the ring and they escape to the back. I wasn’t a fan of this angle, you could’ve went about setting Roman vs Rollins without the “Eulogy”. The fact that Ambrose went “missing” goes well with the character and kept it mysterious.
Stardust and Goldust vs. Uso’s WWE Tag Team Title Match
In maybe the most shocking moment of the night, we got a heel turn in the match between the Uso’s and Stardust and Goldust. The match was solid, Uso’s deliver almost nightly and Goldust seems to have found the fountain of youth. The start of the turn happened at finish of the match. Jey Uso hits an over the top rope plancha on Stardust on the outside. Jey stands up and his knee buckled. Stardust and Jey exchange but Stardust gets in the ring before the 10 count, Jey could not.
Goldust gets the mic and says that they had only one chance and Uso’s intentionally got counted out, he demands a rematch. Jey can’t go because of his knee, so the Dust Brothers attack the Uso’s and work on Jey’s knee solidifying the turn. Simply? I like it, not many heel teams left as practical contenders and no one saw a turn coming. Kudos to WWE for this.
We get a backstage segment with Kane and Rollins, Rollins is infuriated and says he is going to do to Roman what he did to Ambrose. Kane makes a handicap match for later in the night, Kane and Rollins vs Roman Reigns.
We are treated to a Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman sit down interview that Cole says was taped right after Lesnar beat Cena but Lesnar and Heyman talk about Cena instituting the rematch clause, which Cena didn’t do until a few days after SummerSlam. Brock and Heyman talk about Brock hitting Cena with a F5 right off the bat, and gave Cena a chance to lay on the mat and stay down but it was Cena’s Never Give Up B.S that got Cena hurt. Heyman also says that the only reason Cena survived is Brock took pity on Cena and that at Night of Champions, Lesnar won’t take pity. Lesnar says at Night of Champions it’s Game Over for Cena. This was actually a good promo from Brock, one of the best he’s ever had, good stuff.
Dolph Ziggler vs The Miz non title
Miz came out not to compete and said when you are a big movie star you get your own stunt double and Miz has just that, out comes Damien Mizdow to take Miz place in the match. I don’t know what Sandow has done or ticked off in the back but this is ridiculous. Damien deserves much more than what he’s getting, to his credit though he’s making this entertaining. Miz stays and does commentary. After a decent back and forth match, Dolph is able to land a Zig Zag to get the pin. During the match Ziggler continued the hurt knee gimmick, expect that to be a factor when Miz and Ziggler have their title match.
Bella Family Reconciliation
I want to start this off by saying, I’m a fan of Nikki Bella, she’s better as a heel than Brie is as a face. Also, WWE has hit pay dirt with sibling rivalries, from the Harts to Kane/Undertaker to the Hardy’s, it’s worked. This wasn’t any of those, this wasn’t even on the same planet. This Bella rivalry is bad, bad, BAD!
First of all the Brie Bella can’t act, she soap opera, Sharknado acting bad. This was clear during her screaming session for the Kane vs Bryan rivalry. Secondly, how is this going to work? They are going to hate each other Sunday-Tuesday but then be besties again rest of the week? Total Divas they are around each other constantly, we should at least pretend to follow some sort of Kayfabe. Lastly, they aren’t exactly Brett vs Owen in the ring either, Bella’s have improved by leaps and bounds but they are still middle of the pack diva wrestlers.
Back to this “Reconciliation” First of all it’s hosted by Jerry Lawler of all people, the biggest pervert in the WWE. Both Bella’s come out to the same theme, this is good already! Note this is going to be very sarcastic review of this. Jerry says nobody wants to see family torn apart and he hopes to see Bella’s reunite. Brie starts off by saying that Nikki and Brie have been together since before they where even born, that’s kind of how being twins works, Brie. Brie says they even have held hands together in the womb. Nikki tells her that this is Brie fault for turning her back on her and trying to be the spotlight their whole lives. Nikki tells the world that Brie even stole her high school boyfriends, seriously. Nikki says Brie should’ve died in the womb and then attacks Brie until Lawler pulls Nikki off of her, it ends with Brie crying in the middle of the ring.
Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins and Kane
Reigns had the advantage for most of the match with Rollins and Kane getting a few moments of offense and tags in. The finish saw Reigns land a spear on Kane but Reigns gets attacked by Rollins with the briefcase ending with Reigns winning by DQ. Rollins and Kane attack Reigns and set him up for the same curb stomp on cinder blocks that Ambrose received, Reigns fights out of it though but lands a Super Man punch to Rollins and tosses Kane aside. Reigns grabs a cinder block and throws it at Rollins but Rollins move and the block explodes off the post, and Rollins escapes again. This all ends with Reigns hitting Kane with a Super Man Punch while Rollins looks on.
Slater Gator vs Los Matadores
Nothing much here, just filler. Matadores win when Diego cradles Slater to get the pin.
Bo Dallas vs Kofi Kingston
Bo Dallas makes quick work of Kofi and lands a BO Dog to get the win. Afterwards Swagger comes down and hits an olympic style slam on Dallas and leaves. Apparently Swagger still doesn’t BOlieve.
John Cena vs Bray Wyatt
Cena handles Bray pretty easily, telling him to stay down and hitting different suplexes on him to send a message to Brock. Bray tries to get some offense in but is taken down by Cena and pounded with punches until the Wyatt’s jump in and they attack Cena. Henry and Show make the save. So Henry is done with Rusev and back to the team with Show? When it comes back from commercial its made into a 6 man tag match, Cena/Big Show/Mark Henry vs Wyatt’s. Cena gets the finish by hitting a German Suplex on Harper, then the STF and Harper taps. End of show is Cena hitting the AA on all members of Wyatt’s. Cena looking strong at the end makes his match with Lesnar look more even.
It should be noted that we didn’t see the Authority or Randy Orton tonight. This was a mailed in show in every since of the way.
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