Much like last week’s RAW, this episode featured a beefy card with more in-ring action than filler promo and pandering. Simply put, while there wasn’t a hugely entertaining moment in particular, the show had a solid pace and plenty of offense.
Even the drama between Stephanie McMahon/Triple H and Big Show was enjoyable. For the first time in a while, all the flavors simmered to a perfect boil.
With Survivor Series around the corner and plenty of competition in each title division, there’s plenty of potential for the WWE to deliver a great show.
Matches:
CM Punk vs. Luke Harper w/ Erik Rowan and Bray Wyatt: This was Harper’s moment. This guy is shades of Bruiser Brody and looked perfectly comfortable with a strike-heavy offense against the former WWE Champion Punk. At one point, Harper was in such control of the match that it was almost impossible not in be in awe of his awkward, Gator Roll-infused attack. Punk made a typical face comeback with a Tornado DDT, strikes and a sloppy Neckbreaker later in the match. However, Punk decided to take out Rowan on the outside than finish off Harper and later walked right into a huge Boot from Harper. Luckily for him, Punk countered Harper’s Discus Lariat and rolled him up for the win. After the match, Rowan got in the ring quick and the onslaught from The Family began. When Wyatt was about to finish off Punk, Daniel Bryan made the save with a steel chair.
Ryback vs. The Great Khali w/Santino Marella and Hornswoggle: Khali got a lot more offense in than you might have expected. Khali missed the Brain Chop though and in a flash, beat him with a Meathook Clothesline. After the match, Santino and Ryback mixed it up.
Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio: This was an athletic bout between two great workers. Del Rio was aggressive with strikes, while Kingston looked to hit the big spots. Every time Kingston got back in the match, Del Rio hit a big kick or high impact maneuver (Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker) to keep the advantage. When Kingston went for the SOS, Del Rio countered into the Arm Breaker for the submission win.
WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Big E. Langston: The muscular youngster had some success against Orton early on with a variety of strikes and Shoulder Blocks. On several occasions, it appeared Langston might get the win. When Langston went for the Big Ending, the crowd went wild, but Orton countered with a RKO and the win.
Fandango and Summer Rae vs. Natalya Neidhart and Tyson Kidd: An interesting tag team match that had a decent pace regardless of who was in the ring. Kidd got the win with The Sharpshooter.
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. Damien Sandow, Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro w/Zeb Colter: Although there were a few other matches after this, this was indeed the main event. Goldust beat Cesaro with the Final Cut to earn the win in a TNA-styled six-man tag that saw a bevy of offense.
Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel vs. Dolph Ziggler: Axel may have found his equal this week after Ziggler got the win in the non-title match via the Zig-Zag. At this point, how long can Axel hold on to the title?
Jimmy and Jey Uso vs. Heath Slater and Drew MacIntyre w/Jinder Mahal: A quick match that saw the Usos get the win after the Top-Rope Splash.
Nikki and Brie Bella and Eva Marie vs. Divas Champion AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka and Aksana: Eva Marie got the win with a rollup on Snuka in an otherwise wasteful Divas encounter.
The Big Show vs. WWE Champion Randy Orton and United States Heavyweight Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns: Show put up a “big” fight indeed, but the ring steps and a Powerbomb through the announce table, combined with the tenacity of Orton and the Shield was too much. Although the match was thrown out, it served a purpose for The Corporation. Welcome back, Show.
Leave a Reply