An excellent card, a crazy segment from Paul Heyman, Curtis Axel and CM Punk and stellar promo from AJ Lee set the scene for a more than solid episode of RAW this week, but another fantastic night from Daniel Bryan stole the show.
Even without the WWE Championship around his waist, Bryan is the most over competitor in the company today.
His performance was the “soul” reason why this episode of RAW was memorable.
Matches:
Cody Rhodes vs. Fandango w/Summer Rae: Rhodes won via Rollup after The Miz came out and began dancing [With Rosa Mendes] on the entrance ramp. After the bell, Damien Sandow joined the party as well. RAW GM Brad Maddox soon interjected himself and made the four competitors engage in a Tag-Team bout.
Cody Rhodes and The Miz w/Rosa Mendes vs. Damien Sandow and Fandango w/Summer Rae: After Rhodes had limited success, Miz got the hot tag and took care of Fandango and Sandow with his signature offense. After Fandango left the match, Miz pinned Sandow with the Skull Crushing Finale
CM Punk vs. Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel w/Paul Heyman: The pre-match stipulation was a Punk victory would allow the former WWE Champion to square-off with his former manager. Axel had one of the best matches of his career as he hung in with Punk every stop of the way. After after Axel missed his signature Neckbreaker, Punk went on a tear, but Axel eventually hit the move. Punk couldn’t be pinned however and in two shakes of a lamb’s tale, Punk hit the GTS for the win.
After the bell, WWE refs and security made sure Heyman made his way to the ring. But Punk would not earn his redemption on this night, as Axel interfered and handcuffed Punk. This allowed Heyman to slap him around before Punk landed a few kicks. Naturally, Axel finished off Punk with a chair. Axel then went for the kendo stick, which Heyman took it and used on Punk several times. The beating was easily one of the most graphic in recent WWE history.
Natalia Neidhart w/Naomi and Cameron vs. Brie Bella w/Nikki Bella and Eva Marie: Neidhart got her Sharpshooter foiled by interference as Brie Bella won with the X-Factor. After the match, AJ Lee hit the ramp and cut a promo on Total Divas and the entire division. The fans dug it. “I have saved the Divas Division,” she said. She wasn’t lying either.
World Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Rob Van Dam w/Ricardo Rodriguez: RVD wasn’t at his best this week and naturally, sold very little. When Del Rio got rolling and was about to set up RVD for the Arm-Bar, Rodriguez was able to distract Del Rio enough to allow RVD to win with the Leg-scissors/Rollup.
WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Christian: Orton was in control for most of the match. Christian attempted the face comeback with some signature offense (Top Rope Splash, Tornado DDT) that got the crowd going, but Orton kicked out of The Spear and after a thumb to the eye, Orton won with the RKO.
After the match, Bryan cut a promo and showed Orton’ s newly acquired Escalade, defiled in graffiti. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what three-letter word was stamped all over the car.
Titus O’Neil w/Darren Young vs. Jack Swagger w/Antonio Cesaro and Zeb Colter: Before the match, Colter insinuated that Young and O’Neil’s mothers were on welfare. That was the highlight of the encounter. O’Neil won with the standup Double-Handed Spinebuster.
Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins: Bryan dominated early with a plethora of submission maneuvers and an awesome Suicide Dive. Rollins had a few moments of offense, including a sweet Reverse Suplex/DDT variation, but Bryan fought back with a wonderful release German Suplex from the top rope. Bryan then won with the Shining Wizard.
Daniel Bryan vs. United States Champion Dean Ambrose: Bryan locked in the Yes Lock, but Reigns interfered to earn Bryan the DQ win.
Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns: Bryan locked Reigns in the Yes Lock right away, but The Shield interfered and the ref awarded Bryan another DQ win.
After the match, Triple H made his way to the ring, with the entire WWE roster forced to watch Bryan get Triple Powerbombed by The Shield.
Orton then joined Triple H and made his way to the ring. An RKO later and Orton got his revenge on Bryan.
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