Wrestlemania season has begun.
Between the beginning rants of WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton, The Wyatt Family’s decimation of John Cena and the last-minute shocker of The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar- and the image of “The Beast†going through a table via Taker Chokeslam, things got real, real- real fast.
Add in the developing Daniel Bryan/Triple H angle and you had a great episode of RAW that wasn’t hindered by the constant promotion of the WWE Network either.
Matches:
Alberto Del Rio vs. Batista: Del Rio stayed in the match with his patented kicks, but Batista is one tough cookie. Del Rio worked on Batista’s arm and eventually weakened it enough to mount some significant offense. After a botched kick to the head from Del Rio, Batista hit the Spinebuster. Ready to finish off the Mexican aristocrat with the Batista Bomb, Batista was caught off guard when Randy Orton’s music hit, allowing Del Rio to win via Rollup.
After the match, Orton talked a bit to start the sell for their Wrestlemania match.
Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston vs. Antonio Cesaro w/Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter: This was power vs. power. Both competitors traded strikes and signature maneuvers for the majority of the match. While Langston’s strikes and grapples were effective, Cesaro stole the show with much more polish, speed and effectiveness. When Langston went for the Big Ending, Cesaro countered with the Launching European Uppercut, but couldn’t hit the Cesaro Swing. Langston countered with a swinging Urinage Suplex, but he couldn’t keep Cesaro down. On the outside, Swagger got involved and although Langston handled him with ease, when he got back in, he got caught in the Swing. But before Cesaro could finish him off, Swagger jumped back in the ring and applied the Patriot Lock, which got the match thrown out. After the bell, Cesaro nailed Langston with the Neutralizer.
Christian vs. Sheamus: A hard-hitting match where Sheamus surprised with a Dragon Sleeper at one point in the match and some high-flying action at another. Christian’s new attitude was intriguing to watch as well. Pissed off at the world, Christian’s new strike-heavy, heel-oriented offense is a welcomed change. Christian nearly won when he countered the White Noise into a Sunset Flip, but Sheamus continued to lay on the offense. Although Christian had some more fight in him and countered the Brogue Kick once, Sheamus connected the second time for the win.
Daniel Bryan vs. Kane: Bryan was in control for most of the match with a variety of submissions and strikes. While Kane fought back with some of his trademark offense, Bryan was never in any serious trouble, even when Kane was dishing out punishment on the outside. After a Sideslam and a Chokeslam, it looked like Kane had the upper-hand, but soon enough, Bryan launched an offensive and won with the Double-Knee.
After the bell, Bryan once again challenged Triple H for a match at Wrestlemania XXX.
Emma w/Santino Marella vs. Summer Rae w/Fandango: A wacky match that ended after Emma countered a Spinning Side Kick into a nifty Float-over Mexican Deathlock submission for the win.
WWE Tag Team Champions The Road Dogg and Billy Gunn vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso: The Usos destroyed the New Age Outlaws in record time in the non-title match. Interrupting the Outlaws during their signature entrance rant, the Usos hit their signature splashes for the quick win.
Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns: A great match until the rest of The Shield and The Wyatt Family joined the party and got the match thrown out
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