Jonathan Dehn
WWE Monday Night Raw
10/14/2013
St. Louis, Missouri
-Shawn Michaels is introduced to begin our show, and he starts by thanking the fans for the opportunity. Shawn lays out the concerns around his election win, and mentions that he participated in the first Hell in a Cell match in this very same building. He guarantees that there will not be a crock of shit finish in his match. Randy Orton comes out to a hometown pop. Predictably, Orton heels it up on his hometown. Orton then tells Shawn that he’s better than him. Shawn no sells it, because he should. Shawn reminds Randy to pay attention to Bryan, and Randy speaks ill of them both. Shawn tells off Randy after Orton tries to intimidate him, and they trade finisher attempts. The Miz runs down and attacks Orton from behind, getting us right into our first match.
Randy Orton vs. The Miz
We come back from commercial with the two of them battling in the corner. Orton gets a corner clothesline, and another stiff one for good measure. Miz gets an elbow up and winds up battling back and clothesline Orton from the ring. Orton dodges the baseball slide and takes Miz down with a clothesline. Miz goes into the stairs, and into the second set. Back inside, Orton gets two. Orton targets some stomps on Miz and that gets two. It’s chinlock time.
Miz battles out but gets sent from the ring off of the whip. Miz fights out of the barricade DDT and shoves Randy into the post. Miz gets the babyface comeback to no reaction and hits the corner clothesline. Up top, Miz comes off with the double axe handle. Orton battles out of the Skull Crushing Finale, but takes some damage to the knee. The Wyatt’s come out onto the stage and Orton uses the distraction to hit the RKO for the win. After the match, Bray talks trash to The Miz about his need to fight for fame. Bray tells him that he is just going to put him down, as he loathes his existence.
Final Thoughts: **, I guess. I want to say *1/2. There was no need for Orton to need The Wyatt Family to help him win this match, and especially with this predictable set up. Also, Bray looking to destroy The Miz for the very things that are annoying about The Miz as a face is just going to hurt both parties, unless the idea is to turn The Wyatt Family.
Fandango vs. Santino
Fandango gets a quarter of his normal entrance, unfortunately. Fandango shoves off on the lockup and dances, so Santino dances in turn and threatens Fandango with the Cobra. Fandango hits a few strikes in response. A back elbow gets two for Fandango and we go to the chinlock. ‘Go dodges a float over and gets a suplex. He goes up and leaps over Santino, who hits his stunner. Santino gets the hiptoss and headbutt and goes for The Cobra. Summer Rae hops up onto the apron, distracting for the rollup win for Fandango.
Final Thoughts: Did Santino need that type of protection?
-So much for The Rhodes going after the tag titles at a PPV as that happens tonight.
-Paul Heyman is in Brad’s office and shows him video of Punk kicking Ryback in the balls to finish their match at Battleground. Paul campaigns for a handicap at the PPV, because those are always great. They work out a deal where if Ryback beats R-Truth in a faster time than Punk can beat Axel, Heyman gets to book whatever match he desires. If Punk wins, then Punk names the stipulation. I don’t enjoy these types of matches.
Los Matadores w/El Torito vs. Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre w/Jinder Mahal
Drew gets showed up to start, and gets chopped in the corner. Corner whip and Drew eats feet and a headscissors. Drew gets a double backbody drop. Heath gets in and but takes a head scissors that sends him outside. Slater chases El Torito but gets hit with a dive. Back, Slater gets a kick and stomps away. In comes Drew and they hit a double slingshot suplex for two. Drew gets himself some, putting down a matador with a boot.
Drew takes a countering DDT and there’s the tag. Diego clears the ring and gets a leg sweep. Diego comes off the second rope and the still unnamed tag team finisher ends the match. Jinder is upset, after the match and gets a springboard press from El Torito.
Final Thoughts: This is the same squash match we’ve seen for the last month.
-HHH and Stephanie come out to talk and throw some power around. Stephanie puts over HHH for a long time. He IS WWE, according to her. HHH is mad and now claims that he will be the bad guy, finally. Oh…great. HHH gets the crowd warmed up nicely for Bryan to come out to a giant pop. It’s too bad that HHH said that he’s going to destroy The Big Show and Bryan. Del Rio attacks Bryan from behind as Bryan leads chants on the stage. So, Bryan is left lying by Del Rio and Stephanie pokes fun at his situation. So, this leads to a match between Bryan and Del Rio at some point later in the evening.
R-Truth vs. Ryback w/Paul Heyman
Truth wastes some time on Ryback and gets in a few boots. Truth runs away once more from Ryback. JBL punches holes in this strategy. Truth runs again, but Heyman gets in his way, and Ryback clubs him. Ryback gets two. Truth takes a hard whip, and that gets two. Ryback gets a slam and a splash that also gets two. Jerry actually acknowledges the Goldberg chants directed at Ryback to sell a few DVDs. Ryback beats Truth around the ring for a little while, and gets two. Ryback gets another two count as the crowd loses all interest.
Truth gets a dropkick and goes to the knee and hits a DDT. Truth gets a running dropkick for two. And then there’s a dropkick from the top for two for Truth. Ryback quickly catches him and gets Shell Shocked for the win.
Final Thoughts: *. It’s just not a good sign when fans start to randomly chant different things during matches.
-Backstage, Stephanie is mean to Brie Bella.
Tons of Funk w/The Funkadactyls vs. The Real Americans w/Zeb Colter
Zeb speaks ill of Los Matadores with a split screen. I guess it was inevitable. Cesaro starts with Brodus, and Brodus hits a couple of chops and a slam. In comes Sweet T and they club down Antonio. Swagger misses the blind tag, I think? T batters away at Cesaro in the corner and hits an impressive monkey flip. T takes down Cesaro and Swagger gets a tag and works at the knee of T. Cesaro returns, stomps away, and puts on a chinlock.
Swagger returns and gets some shoulderthrusts in the corner. Swaggerbomb sets up the big double stomp, and that gets two. Swagger comes back and puts on a toe hold. T fights back and they both go down with a double clothesline. Swagger recovers and brings in Cesaro. Cesaro gutwrenches Tensai! That gets two. Jack returns and punches away in the corner. T fights back and is able to get to Clay for the hot tag. Cesaro takes a t-bone and a corner splash, and then Clay gets a big fisherman suplex (which Cole calls the t-bone) that is broken up at two by Swagger. Cesaro is able to hit The Neutralizer on Clay, because he’s awesome. After the match, T runs in to help Clay, but gets The Giant Swing! This one wasn’t as impressive, since he’s been throwing these guys around all match.
Final Thoughts: **. Cesaro has turned The Real Americans into faces, which means that their feud with Los Matadores is going to be an amazing mess.
Tamina Snuka (they’re choosing to use her last name again) w/AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella
Brie gets some offense to start, and Tamina bails. Brie gets a Thesz Press from the apron, but gets clotheslined from behind. Brie gets the half crab, but Tamina gets to the ropes and takes control. Tamina gets a chinlock, and dumps Brie back to the mat. Tamina gets a snap suplex for two. Tamina hits a rough short armed clothesline for just one, and goes to the chinlock. Brie gets a boot up in the corner and hits a series of dropkicks. Brie follows with a couple of running knees into the ropes.
Tamina blocks the facebuster for the top and takes Brie’s head off with a big boot for the win. Tamina hits a Samoan Drop after the match and even hits a shoulderbreaker for good measure. Then, Tamina hits the Superfly Splash. AJ locks in her submission hold after the match, and the referees in the ring do a terrible job in breaking it up, arriving far too early.
Final Thoughts: *1/2. The problem here is that Tamina beat Brie absolutely clean. So, there’s no point for the current title match.
-Bryan comes into the GM’s office and gets into the face of Steph and Brad for bringing Brie into this madness. Steph gets the upperhand in the exchange, of course.
CM Punk vs. Curtis Axel w/Paul Heyman
Punk goes for a few covers to begin after they lock up. Punk gets some chops and forearms in the corner. Axel returns fire and gives Punk some whiplash. Curtis gets a slam for just one, and follows with another. Axel drops an elbow for two. Punk gets a boot up in the corner and gets a crosssbody from the top for two. Clothesline from Axel gets two. Axel hits a backbreaker but misses an elbow from the second buckle. Punk gets the corner knee and clothesline for two.
Punk gets the Savage Elbow for two. Axel fights out of the GTS and gets a neckbreaker for two. Punk ducks a clothesline, but takes one to the back of the head. Punk gets out of the Perfect-Plex for two. The small package gets two for Punk. A kick to the head leads to a GTS to help Punk beat the clock. After the match, Punk still goes with the handicap idea, but Heyman is in it and it’s in a cell.
Final Thoughts: *1/2.
Daniel Bryan vs. Alberto Del Rio
–CM Punk passes Daniel Bryan in the hallway—
Punk: How’s it going?
Bryan: Shitty.
Punk: Really? I had no idea.
Bryan has a shiner from the kick he took from Del Rio earlier on in the night. Hopefully, this gets some time before the bullshit finish. The camera cannot stay away from the murderous look on Bryan’s face. Bryan beats away at Del Rio in the corner, but takes a kick to the midsection. Del Rio gets a shoulderblock for just one, and Bryan chops away in the corner. Bryan slams a few knees into Del Rio and kicks away at Del Rio. Del Rio returns fire and gets a snap suplex for two. Del Rio gets to the chinlock quite early.
Bryan powers out with a suplex. Del Rio ducks the buzzsaw and gets a backstabber for two. Bryan takes a hard whip into the corner. Bryan fights back in the corner but misses a corner dropkick. Del Rio stomps away and we go to break. There’s a definite buzz to this match. We return with Bryan missing the headbutt from the top. That’s a cool way to return. Del Rio gets two and kicks Bryan hard. ADR taunts Bryan and almost gets caught in the Yes! Lock. Bryan gets some rough uppercuts in the corner.
Bryan gets the boot up in the corner but runs into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a double stomp. Del Rio gets two, and is bleeding from the mouth. Bryan also has a fat lip. Del Rio gets some headbutts that put Bryan into the corner. The announcers are talking about everything but this match. It’s pissing me off. Del Rio goes into the corner after mocking Bryan but takes a flying clothesline. Del Rio gets the double knee armbreaker for two. Del Rio gets a dropkick from the second rope for two. Bryan misses a corner charge and goes shoulder first into the post.
Bryan dodges the corner enzuigiri. Bryan flips out of the corner and gets the clothesline. Bryan hits the corner dropkick and goes up for the ‘rana. That gets two. Bryan takes a kick to the face, but dodges a charge and sends Del Rio outside. Bryan hits the dive and throws Del Rio back in. From the top, Bryan nails the dropkick for just two. And then Randy shows up on the tron and says that he’s going to check on Brie for him. The distraction helps Del Rio take control. Bryan kicks Del Rio in the head and runs to the back to go after Orton.
Bryan gets to the training room where Orton beats him down and the Bella Twins perform some terrible acting. Del Rio wins by countout and Bryan continues to go through hell.
Final Thoughts: ***1/2 for this stiff match that was hurt by the obvious ending. There’s something off about Orton and Bryan. Bryan looks legit pissed off half of the time, and Orton is just kind of there sometimes, playing his role and being robotic…like Randy Orton sometimes can be.
-In the back, The Shield laugh at Bryan’s misfortune and are told by “The Authority” that their match is No DQ.
No Disqualification Match for WWE Tag Team Championship – Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. Rollins & Reigns © w/Dean Ambrose
Rollins and Cody begin. Cody gets a hard corner whip and brings in Goldie for a fist from the second rope. Goldust takes control, getting a one count from a kneedrop. Cody returns and gets a dropkick on Rollins, and follows with a knee to the face for two. Goldust returns and hits a butt smash. Cody jumps back in gets a face first suplex for two. Ambrose distracts Cody, allowing Reigns to hit a clothesline from the apron. Reigns enters and he stomps away for a bit. On the outside, Reigns hits a forearm to the chest and gets two on the inside. Rollins tags in and throws a few punches at Cody, and hits a belly to back suplex for two. Cody armdrags out of a chinlock and tags in his brother.
Goldust beats around Rollins and gets the bulldog for two after knocking Reigns from the apron. Seth answers with a kick to the stomach, and Goldie spills to the outside after a failed crossbody. We return from break with Rollins and Reigns picking apart Goldust in the corner. Goldust gets a backslide for two, but Seth takes him down once more. Reigns enters as Goldie goes for the tag, and cuts him off. Goldust fights out of a chinlock and gets an elbow from the second rope. Rollins knocks Cody from the apron and leaps at Goldust, who turns it into a powerslam.
Cody gets the hot tag and hits the high knee. He just seems to piss off Reigns, but dodges a corner charge. Cody hits his sweet moonsault for two. Cody hits Ambrose with a Disaster Kick and gets the boot up on Reigns. The Code Man gets the springboard dropkick, but Rollins interrupts. Goldust and Rollins brawl to the outside. Ambrose stops Cross Rhodes and it turns into a handicap match. Goldust interrupts the triple powerbomb with a steel chair, but Reigns stomps him down after he clears the ring.
Reigns misses the chairshot, and Goldust hits a crossbody onto the chair while Cody and Seth slug it out, with Rollins eating stairs. Rollins reverses The Disaster Kick into a powerbomb into the barricade! Back inside, Goldust hits an atomic drop on Reigns. Rollins comes off the top but gets one. Rollins gets clotheslined out, and then Goldust tumbles out to the floor with Reigns, taking a man-sized bump in the process. The crowd is super-hot.
Dean pummels away at Goldust on the outside. Goldust holds them both off before Reigns spears him through the barricade! Holy shit, indeed, St. Louis! Ambrose lifts Cody into the ring. The Big Show jumps the barricade (with a spotlight) and starts punching those bastards out! Reigns remains. He ducks a Disaster Kick, but takes a punch that nets the Rhodes the Tag Team Championship.
Final Thoughts: ****. It was just a terrific match, and that Goldust can go for a guy who is 44. I hope to see a lot more of this soon…and it was nice to get this match for free.
–Before the in-ring action offered by the last two matches of show, this show was pretty crappy. It’s definitely worth checking out for the last couple of matches, but the main problem with the show is the lack of focus on just what is happening. The commentary during the Bryan/Del Rio match is just awful, and it buries the lead of Bryan and Del Rio beating the hell out of each other. They need twenty minutes and a clean finish one of these days. And, with just a couple of matches under their belt, the Rhodes team is the best face tag team in recent memory.
