Jonathan Dehn
WWE Monday Night Raw
07/08/2013
Baltimore, Maryland
-The show begins with Vickie in the ring with Brad Maddox to further sell the MITB match. She decides to climb to the top while wearing heels. That’s hardcore. Vickie does this to show what she is willing to do for the job of running Raw. Jerry interrupts her speech to excuse himself in front of her. He also reports that the fans can vote for her job. Vickie runs down a few items on the show for the night. And we move right into one of these matches.
Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus
For those keeping track, Bryan is much more embraced during his entrance than Sheamus. There’s a stalemate to start, ending with a nip up from Bryan and a clothesline. Sheamus takes control after Bryan hits a couple of kicks to the thigh. Bryan comes back with a running knee to the stomach and kicks Sheamus against the ropes. Sheamus comes back with a neckbreaker for two. Sheamus follows with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for another two count.
Sheamus gets dumped and Bryan looks for the knee from the apron, but Sheamus catches him and they both fall into the barricade as we go to break. We return with Bryan fighting back on Sheamus and hitting European uppercuts. Bryan flips from the corner and gets caught with an Irish Curse for two. Sheamus follows with the knee lift and a back spinning elbow for two. Bryan gets the boot up in the corner, but gets caught with the rolling Samoan Drop. Sheamus looks for the Brogue, but Bryan ducks and Sheamus goes outside. Bryan follows with the dive into the barricade and tosses Sheamus back in.
Front dropkick from the top gets two for Bryan. Bryan follows up with the kick flourish, but Sheamus ducks the buzzsaw and catches Bryan in the ropes and clubbers away. Sheamus hits a clothesline from the apron and goes up. Bryan crotches him but Sheamus hangs on when Bryan goes for the hurricanrana and hits the Battering Ram for two. Sheamus goes for White Noise, but Bryan fights out and hits a drop toe hold into the second rope, kicks the rope, and hits the buzzsaw kick for two.
Bryan goes up, but misses the headbutt from the top. Sheamus rolls on top and gets two. They slug it out, but Bryan gets to chopping Sheamus down. Bryan gets a crucifix for two, and goes to the Yes Lock, but Sheamus counters into the Cloverleaf. Mr. Small Package lives up to his name and counters for the win. They two look up to the briefcase and shake hands before Sheamus walks off. Bryan leads the crowd in celebration.
Final Thoughts: Highly Recommended. The crowd was hot for this and Sheamus and Bryan can’t fail to have a good match. Unfortunately, their most famous match is the worst.
-WWE sent a reporter to the Wyatt compound, but the reporter had to ask for directions. This is relying upon the creepiness of random southerners, so far.
-Backstage next to a set of spiral stairs, AJ is freaking out about Kaitlyn. Dolph shows up and they conspire to make sure that both of them keep their belts at MITB. They kiss, evilly, I guess.
Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. Tons of Funk
Rollins hits a couple of strikes on Clay before Clay gets a couple of chops and brings in Sweet T for a double team chop. Tensai hits a nice stalling double underhook suplex and brings Brodus back in, who hits Seth with a t-bone and a corner splash. Roman comes in and hits a flying clothesline. Rollins tags back in and stomps away at Clay. Reigns is back in and hits a quick headbutt and punches away in the corner. Reigns locks on a chinlock and Clay fights back to his feet, but gets caught with a back elbow.
Rollins returns and keeps Clay in the corner before bringing Reigns back in. They hit a couple of corner splashes and Reigns gets two. Roman gets Clay up for a Samoan Drop, but Brodus rolls through for two and hits a suplex to bring in Tensai. Sweet T cleans house with a shoulderblock and rolling senton into the corner. Rollins comes back with the downward spiral into the turnbuckle. Tensai dodges the stomp from the top and hits a choke bomb for two. Blind tag lets Rollins flip to the outside onto Clay while Reign hits the spear for the win.
Final Thoughts: This was a good, fun little match. Tensai got a real reaction for the first time since he returned last year by showing some babyface fire. Reigns and Rollins got some of their momentum back with a good showing, and Clay did a great job as the face in peril.
-Our reporter is still tracking down the Wyatt Family, and comes upon a creepy house. After spying upon a big guy in a lamb mask tearing into the ground with pickaxe, they are interrupted and asked to follow another creep guy with a beard.
-John Cena joins us in the ring. Shortly thereafter, Henry joins. Mark mentions that Cena looks just as fearful of last week, which John disagrees with. Henry is hungry for the belt, so Cena makes a joke about his weight. Henry says that he’s better than reacting to that. He just needs that belt for his validation. Cena draws boos in saying that he earned it with respect. Henry says that the difference between the two is that Henry will cross the line to win it. Cena draws an imaginary line on the mat and tells Henry to cross it. Mark feigns an attack until he does after Cena’s back is turned. Cena can’t hold Henry up for the AA, and Henry hits the WSS in response. I’m quite sure that Cena can do it, WWE.
-Backstage, Randy Orton looks on. When asked about his upcoming match with CM Punk, Randy Orton says that he has never believed that Punk is the best, and furthermore, would cash in on the champion in a vulnerable state like Cena was just in.
Chris Jericho vs. Curtis Axel
The Miz is on commentary. Paul is wearing sunglasses to cover up a black eye. He isn’t here to be a martyr for Punk, but to bask in the glory of Axel. Curtis takes the microphone and talks about how no one will stand in the way of his perfection. It’s a pretty weak promo. They lockup and Axel hits a shoulderblock, but Jericho comes back with a dropkicking and clothesline to knock Axel to the outside. Jericho follows with the slide and tosses Axel back in.
A battle on the apron ends with a neckbreaker from the second rope for Axel. We go to break. We return with Axel in control. Curtis misses an elbow from the second rope, and Jericho hits a couple of shoulderblocks and the axehandle from the top. Chris hits a clothesline, but Axel gets out of the Walls. Jericho gets a Northern Lights for two. Axel hits a boomerang clothesline for two on Jericho and chops him. Jericho dodges a corner charge and hits a crossbody from the top for two.
Axel gets the knees up on the Lionsault and hits his neckbreaker for two. Jericho hits the Lionsault for two after pulling up on Axel’s dropkick. Axel stunguns Jericho on the Codebreaker and hits the Perfect-Plex for a long two count. Axel gets frustrated and gets to the ropes on the Walls. Jericho knocks Axel from the apron and against the announce table. Jericho gets the Codebreaker for the win after Curtis distracts himself by exchanging words with The Miz.
Final Thoughts: This match was fine, but didn’t make anyone look especially impressive. I was surprised at the lack of a Ryback presence, mostly. The most memorable moment was, unfortunately, Curtis Axel’s bland promo.
-Josh is backstage with Damien and Cody. Damien speaks for Cody in saying that they’ll both be happy if their best friends win the contract. Zeb Colter shows up to talk nonsense for a bit. Wade walks up, and so does Fandango. Despite requests to not announce himself, Fandango can’t resist. He is cut off with a right hand from Barrett.
-Our reporter is now inside the Wyatt house, and they are told not to, but they stray away from the tour group. Finally, we meet Bray before going to commercial.
Sin Cara vs. Antonio Del Rio
The mood lighting remains. Del Rio pounds away at the beginning. Cara comes back with a couple of elaborate armdrags. ADR hits some shoulder thrusts in the corner but misses a charge. Sin Cara hits a hurricanrana and a kick for two and goes up. ADR leaps up and hits the enzuigiri for a two count. Del Rio puts a knee into Cara’s face.
Sin Cara hits the springboard back elbow but takes another enzuigiri. The mood lighting cuts out as Ziggler walks to the stage. Sin Cara gets two on a rollup and hits a senton for two while Ziggler taunts Del Rio from the ramp. ADR hits the Si Kick and rushes outside to go after Ziggler. Sin Cara comes off the top and splashes down on ADR as Dolph splits.
Final Thoughts: This was such a disjointed and overall confusing segment. Dolph’s music interrupted the ring lighting and the match continued for quite a while inside. Then, the match just ended with Dolph’s music playing. It just seemed to fall flat until Sin Cara leapt onto Del Rio.
-In the ring, Vickie is waiting for her job evaluation. Mr. McMahon, Stephanie, and HHH come out under Vince’s theme. It’s strange seeing HHH not coming out to his own music. Vickie talks of her love for everyone around her. Then, she talks of her accomplishments. Steph interrupts and complains about her signing of Brock Lesnar. Vickie apologizes. Vince stands up and defends the Lesnar signing and defends Vickie before HHH interjects and says that Vickie sucks. HHH calls Vince old. Vince admires Vickie and takes a stab at HHH. HHH says then that this is about Vince’s ego. And then they give Stephanie responsibility. NO! DON’T DO IT! Steph cops out to the application vote. Of course, Vickie has been ousted. Maybe Vince will fire the fans again. Stephanie fires her and Vickie has a meltdown. Vince tells the fans that they deserve their new GM, and that is Brad Maddox. Crappy segment aside, Brad Maddox turning into some kind of dictator of RAW should be interesting.
-Backstage, Vickie is comforted by Vince. Brad comes over and does everything wrong in this situation, resulting in Vickie trying to pull his hair out and running him off. She ruins Vince’s jacket, too. Vince says so himself. Moving on then…
Kane vs. Christian
Kane backs Christian up in the lockup to start. Kane slugs Christian with a throat thrust off the whip. Kane hits a corner clothesline, but Christian fights back and drops Kane over the ropes. Christian comes off the second rope with a back elbow. Christian goes for a sunset flip but gets clubbed. After choking Kane in the ropes, Christian gets out of a press slam attempt and dodges a charge that sends Kane outside.
Christian comes off of the top onto Kane on the outside and we go to break. We return with Christian hitting a tornado DDT from the corner for two. Christian goes for the Killswitch, but takes a big boot. Kane goes up, but Christian dodges the clothesline. Kane gets the chokeslam on Christian’s spear attempt and picks up the win.
After the match, The Wyatt Family debuts to a sizable pop, and takes aim at Kane. After an elaborate and cool entrance, Bray sits in his rocking chair before the ring and watches as his henchmen take out Kane, ramming the steel stairs into his head.
Final Thoughts: The match was just there and fine for what it was, but the debut of The Wyatt Family gets the fantasy booking motor turning over. From the presentation of the slow walk, lit by a lantern, to the delightfully dooming theme song, and the use of extinguishing the lantern to kill the arena lights, these guys looked like giant stars. I have to complain about the crowd chanting “Husky Harris” at the debuting Bray Wyatt. Maybe we’ll get a promo telling about Husky is dead.
-Vickie takes the long, slow walk from the arena. Ryback stops her in the hallway, puts her box of belongings on the floor, and gives her a hug and tells her that things are going to be alright. Aww, that was done very well and was quite sweet of a man who called himself Lucifer just a few weeks ago.
Alicia Fox and AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn and Layla
The Bellas are on commentary and call Kaitlyn fat. That can only go well in WWE. They bury the match as Layla and Alicia trade reversals. Alicia takes control with a clothesline after a distraction from AJ. AJ tags in, but Kaitlyn rushes AJ and destroys her with what can be described as a MURDERDEATHKILL spear on the outside and unleashes right hands on AJ. I guess that the match is over.
Final Thoughts: Well, the commentary style wasn’t very needed very much, as they buried the match and participants. Still, the segment featured a spear from Kaitlyn that could easily make the highlight reel for the start of the show. It was that good.
-Josh is backstage with CM Punk. He pretty much says that his accomplishments make him the best in the world, or they don’t.
Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
They lock up to jostle in the corner to start. Punk hits a shoulderblock and they fall into a stalemate. Orton comes back with a shoulderblock of his own. Orton follows with a dropkick for two. Randy stomps away at Punk and drops the knee. He misses a more drawn out kneedrop, however. Punk hits a suplex for two. The crowd chants loudly for both men as Orton hits a European uppercut. Punk fights out of the hanging DDT and dropkicks Randy to the floor. Punk takes a dive to the outside as we hit the break.
You know, there’s been a briefcase hanging above the ring all night and I wouldn’t say it’s out of the question that WWE is lazy enough to already have the contract in there. I’d just grab it tonight if I were one of those guys. Back from break, Orton has a chinlock. Punk fights out but takes some headbutts and an Orton exploder for two. They go back to the Orton Hold. Punk fights out with knees and forearms and hits a leg lariat. Orton comes back with a couple of clotheslines, but Punk gets a rollup from Orton’s powerslam attempt.
Punk hits a neckbreaker for two, shortly thereafter. Punk hits the corner knee and the short armed clothesline. CM goes up to the top and hits the elbow drop after taking a long look at the case. Orton fights out of the GTS and hits the hanging DDT. Orton hits the powerslam after fighting out of a backslide from an RKO attempt. He gets two. Orton puts Punk into the corner and punches away.
Punk escapes and pulls Orton down and hits a second high knee in the corner. Randy fights out of the GTS and looks to get the RKO, but Punk counters with a high kick and wins it with the GTS afterwards. Bryan enters the ring after the match and quickly attacks Punk, tossing him into the ring post. Bryan goes under the ring and grabs a ladder. Bryan rushes and slams the ladder into Orton and climbs the ladder to grab the case hanging from the top. I would open it up, just to make sure.
Final Thoughts: Highly Recommended. The match here was very good, and the crowd was split equally down the middle. This match is fresh after such a layoff and a rivalry that has gone on for several years. The crowd was confused for a moment after Bryan ran in, not sure if he was turning on Punk, it seemed. After it was clear that he was making a statement towards Sunday, they began to cheer along. I guess that this is just what happens when you need to sell a big match that’s between faces.
–Raw was enjoyable this week, with a few long, solid to good matches. The biggest surprise for me was the encounter between The Shield and Tons of Funk. Tons of Funk showed that they can be a solid team when they aren’t just doing comedy. The Wyatt Family debut was strong and full of pageantry. Already, they have the best entrance in the company. Mark Henry did what he does. MITB looks to be a solid show and has had a rather nice, thoughtful build up towards it. The weakest sections of tonight’s show had their glimmers of hope. Brad Maddox’s turn as Raw GM could be a lot of fun, as he slowly morphs into a dictator of sorts. As well, Kaitlyn’s spear of AJ and the camera work leading up to it was just pulled off so well. There’s plenty of good content in this grueling three hour program.
