Between average matches and a weird dance off segment with NXT newbie Emma, this week’s RAW was mediocre. Sure, the main event built some intrigue for Elimination Chamber, but with no John Cena, Brock Lesnar and CM Punk still absent from the card, RAW was missing something.
Something that Santino Marella, NXT Divas and even the thoughts of an Alberto Del Rio and Batista angle can’t replace.
Matches:
WWE United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston and Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston: The good guys pushed The Shield to the limit, but after a Superman Punch from Reigns and a (opportunistic tag) Diving Front Bulldog from Ambrose, the Hounds of Justice earned another win.
Christian vs. Jack Swagger w/Antonio Cesaro and Zeb Colter: Both traded offense and had their moments, but Christian squeaked out a win with a Rollup. Several times in the match, Swagger counted Christian’s attempts at signature offense and countered into the Patriot Lock, but he couldn’t finish off the former World, European and Tag Team Champion.
Steel Cage: Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Road Dogg and Billy Gunn: This match was about 10 minutes too long. There was no pace to the match at all. Aside from the Tag Team titles being at stake, there was no reason to get excited until the end. Rhodes nearly won with a Disaster Kick, but Gunn kicked out. With Gunn and Dogg on the ground, Rhodes climbed to the top of the cage and nailed Dogg with a Moonsault. Gunn, the legal man, then hit the Fameasser on the unsuspecting Rhodes for the win.
Titus O’Neil vs. Zack Ryder: In his singles debut, O’Neill beat Ryder with a beautiful sit-out Sky High maneuver. With the barking and the attitude, O’Neill has the makings of a star.
Sheamus vs. Curtis Axel w/Ryback: Sheamus destroyed Axel, in and out of the ring in the early going, but give Axel some credit, he kept himself in the match a lot longer than many expected. After Sheamus hauled Axel with the White Noise, he finished him off with the Brogue Kick for the win.
Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth and Xavier Woods vs. Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan: The Family were in total control until Ziggler came in and went crazy. It wasn’t enough however as Woods and Truth were no match for Harper and Rowan. All by himself, Ziggler got decapitated by a Harper Discus Clothesline and then was pinned by Wyatt following a Sister Abigail.
Naomi w/Cameron vs. Oksana w/Alicia Foxx: An uneventful match that saw Naomi win with a very nice Split-Legged Moonsault.
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan: Orton couldn’t get in a lick edgewise, with Bryan using strikes, submission and high-flying maneuvers to keep the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on the ropes. After about 15 minutes of action however, Orton fought back and began to work on Bryan’s shoulder. With the match quickly evened up, and the show running out of time, the match’s finish was going to be a wild one. After Orton nearly won with his Trademark DDT, Bryan almost won with a Top Rope Headbutt and a Buzzsaw Kick. Then all of a sudden Kane hit the ring, but Bryan was able to dispatch both Kane and Bryan before he pinned the WWE World Heavyweight Champion with his Running Double Knee.
The celebration wasn’t a long one. Quickly after the pinfall, Kane Chokeslammed Bryan.
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