WWE Monday Night RAW kicked off from Washington, D.C. with Seth Rollins, Kane and J&J Security. The opening segment had Rollins showing his appreciation to them by giving them all gifts. Rollins gave all three men Apple watches, then went on to give J&J a 2015 Cadillac CTS and Kane a vacation to Hawaii. After a solid segment gaining some heat we get to the first match of the night. Out comes the Big Show.
Big Show vs Mark Henry
Miz is out on commentary…This is your basic “big man” match…we see Henry do his usual jobbing role of a brief spurt of offense until the Big Show nails a WMD for the win.
After the match, Ryback rushes to the ring and attacks the Big Show. The Miz sneak attacks Ryback and drops Ryback with a big boot and runs away. Ryback says he’s supposed to face Miz later tonight but wants him right now. Miz refuses as a chant of “feed me more” breaks out.
The Miz vs. Ryback
Ryback starts in control but Miz turns it around. Miz is such an underrated worker and is a very solid part to the business and roster of the WWE. Ryback makes a comeback but Miz drops him over the top rope to the outside. Miz leaps but Ryback catches him with a long stalling suplex of about a minute and a 2 count.
Miz tries to run away but is caught by Ryback and thrown into the barricade. Miz regains control and works Ryback over for a couple of near falls. Ryback makes another comeback after a huge spinebuster and goes for the Meathook but Miz bails out the ring and runs away…Ryback wins by count out.
Paige vs Alicia Fox
I love both of these Divas…Their ring work is very good. However, the Divas division is so poorly booked I can’t find anything positive to say about this match other than “that was the time to pee”. The Divas division needs fixed ASAP. Paige got the win with a roll through roll up after a typical Divas match.
John Cena vs Antonio Cesaro
What can I say…Kevin Owens is “Mr. Wrestling” and WWE has become significantly better since he’s been there. He again masterfully built his feud with Cena further by saying he wanted the Open Challenge match. Then changed his mind and called in Antonio Cesaro.
Cena and Cesaro had a FANTASTIC match…Definitely the best part of RAW in ring wise. Cesaro nearly had the U.S. title won but Owens attacked Cesaro so Cena could remain champ.
After the bell, Owens hits the pop-up powerbomb on Cesaro and Cena as fans boo one of the 3 greatest heels in the company. Owens says if anyone is going to take the title, it’s him.
The Lucha Dragons and The Prime Time Players vs. Bo Dallas and The New Day
*sigh* there’s so many great ideas and avenues the WWE can go with the tag team division. They seem to be going down that path again, slowly but surely. This was a very solid eight man match. It featured the explosive power of the tag team champions, the high flying Lucha Libre style of the Lucha Dragons and the heelish tactics of Bo Dallas and the team I will still not mention. The Champs and the Lucha Dragons picked up the win after Titus hit Clash of the Titus for the win.
They do a segment with Ziggler and Lana and they are interrupted by Rusev and Summer….I don’t know if they’re going to lead to a match involving Lana but with Rusev injured there’s not much they can do but fill this storyline with this garbage. Only positive is we get to see the amazing legs of Summer Rae, and the even more amazing legs and enthralling beauty of Lana on tv more.
Sheamus vs Neville
Neville has the beauty of being able to impress a crowd even when poorly booked. Neville should be pushed but he’s obviously a rare one of a kind talent. But…Sheamus…What can I say? Many people hate the guy, I absolutely love him. When he first came to WWE I hated him, he’s now one of my favorites on the roster and I can’t wait for his push back go the top. After Neville threw everything he had at Sheamus, he scores a near fall. Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick and is almost pinned again. The Brogue Kick finally connects and Neville is out. Sheamus gets another impressive win.
Jack Swagger vs Wade Barrett
Jack Swagger is under utilized…when booked properly he is fun to watch. Wade Barrett on the other hand? Is just special…even booked poorly Barrett makes it work. Barrett defeats Swagger in a less than memorable match with a Bull Hammer.
No Disqualification Tag Team Match: Seth Rollins and Kane vs Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns
The main event was just flat out good television. The match was hard hitting and very fluid. The storytelling was very well done as well. Mid match, the lights fade and Bray Wyatt appears, Wyatt attacks Reigns at ringside until he is backed off by officials. The Authority then do everything in their power to decimate Ambrose and Reigns. As expected, the two gave the Authority all they could handle but the numbers game was too much. Rollins hits a Pedigree on Ambrose for the win.
After the match the Authority attacks Ambrose…Ambrose is saved by Reigns when Rollins attempts a turnbuckle powerbomb through a table. Reigns takes two chokeslams from Kane and then is turnbuckle powerbombed through the table. Bray Wyatt then reappears and hits Sister Abigail on Reigns and poses over him. Wyatt yells “Follow the Buzzards!” As RAW goes off the air.
