The first Monday Night RAW after Wrestlemania did not disappoint. While John Cena hinted at a “Heel Turn†at the start of the show, fans got the hokey pokey. Instead of Cena captivating, it was Dolph Ziggler who stole your attention on RAW this week, finally cashing in his Money on the Bank title shot and winning the World Heavyweight title.
However, the shock of the night may have been Ryback’s heel turn, as he took out both Mark Henry and Cena and ended the night with the WWE title in his hands. Could a run with the company’s most prestigious title be in Ryback’s cards?
Wade Barrett too was no slouch. He got the Intercontinental title back in a solid match with the Miz. Aside from that, several things were teased, such as a Randy Orton/Sheamus/Big Show feud, as well as a CM Punk appearance on RAW next week.
Matches:
Big E. Langston w/Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan w/Kane: A side Urinage Sulex and a slew of strikes got Langston off on the right foot, but Bryan fought back with his patented kicks. But Lee and Ziggler then got involved and knocked Bryan off the top rope. With Bryan down, Langston threw Bryan to the outside on Kane. Once Bryan got back in the ring, Langston hit The Big Ending to earn the win.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Wade Barrett: A decent back and forth encounter that saw both superstars get in their fair share of offense. Barrett changed the tide with a neckbreaker on the ring apron and The Winds of Change, but Miz kicked out. Miz nearly decapitated Barrett after he botched his Backbreaker/Neckbreaker combo, but continued the onslaught with his sitting DDT. Barrett proved his resilience however after he escaped the Figure-Four and then reversed a Superplex. Soon enough, Barrett crushed Miz with the Bull Hammer Elbow for the win.
Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter vs. World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio w/Ricardo Rodriguez: Del Rio was clearly in charge for the majority of the match. Regardless, Swagger eventually got the Ankle Lock on him, but Del Rio escaped. Swagger countered the Arm-Bar with a nice Sideslam and then administered the Ankle Lock again. This, time, Del Rio countered and got the win with the Arm Bar. After the match, Dolph Ziggler cashed in his Money in the Bank title opportunity.
World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio w/Ricardo Rodriguez vs. Dolph Ziggler w/AJ Lee and Big E. Langston: Del Rio didn’t go don without a fight. Although his ankle was a mess after his match with Swagger, Del Rio fought valiantly and nearly won the match with the Cross-Arm Bar. Ziggler ended up grabbing Del Rio’s injured ankle during the submission, which broke the hold and allowed him to catch Del Rio with the Zig-Zag to win the World Title.
R-Truth, Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal and Drew MacIntyre: A generic six man-tag that didn’t advance any storyline or start anything new. It was just a way to get these six guys on the card. Marella won with the Cobra on Slater.
Sheamus vs. Randy Orton: Solid match that the fans thoroughly enjoyed. Both superstars had room for their signature offense. Full of counters, the match turned on a dime several times. Sheamus countered the RKO into the White Noise, but was unable to hit the Brogue Kick. Instead, The Big Show hit the ring and threw Sheamus into the ring post and then knocked out Orton with the KO punch. Show then dragged Orton to the outside and cut him in half with a monster Spear.
Fandango vs. Kofi Kingston: The fans we actually humming Fandango’s theme song during the match. But before things could get started, Chris Jericho hit the ring and beat the crap out of the rookie.
Tensai, Brodus Clay, Naomi and Cameron vs. Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow and Nikki and Bree Bella: Rhodes and company jobbed out to the bigger Tensai and Clay, who finished off Sandow with a double splash.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Mark Henry: In his first match in his latest WWE title reign, Cena had his hands full. The match quickly went to the outside, where Cena got the best of Henry and squeaked out a win via count-out. After the match, Henry inducted Cena into the Hall of Pain with the World’s Strongest Slam. Ryback soon joined the party and gave Henry a Spinebuster and made eye contact with Cena. A Meathook Clothesline and a ShellShock later and Ryback was the one who made the heel turn.
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