WWE RAW Coverage: Nothing More Than a Tease

The go-home RAW show before this weekend’s Payback pay per view was essentially a big tease. Away from an interesting segment between The Wyatt Family and Jerry Lawler and Evolution’s decimation of The Shield (Roman Reigns, Triple Powerbombed through the announce table to end the show, damn.), the rest of the show was filler matches and promo intended to build heat and drama for Payback.

Daniel Bryan’s refusal to give up the WWE World Heavyweight title was cool, but it wasn’t enough to save the show. If anything, the choice to air the segment at the top of the last hour, rather than to end the show proves that even the WWE thought it wasn’t strong enough to end RAW. Forcing Bryan to either give up the title or cause his wife to lose her job, he has a choice to make, but it’s not the most compelling one. With little substantial to make it stand-out, even the most dedicated WWE fanatic would find it hard to pin-point a memorable moment.

Luckily, the angle between The Wyatt’s and John Cena is a damn good one- a battle of a chaotic evil force against a vindicator of innocence and purity, a scumbag cult leader vs. a decorated cop, pure evil vs. a saint. Damn, it’s going to be good.

Matches:

Antonio Cesaro w/Paul Heyman vs. Rob Van Dam: Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett talked smack before the match, which allowed Cesaro to get the advantage. With strikes and suplexes, Cesaro was in complete control. Even after RVD went for a dive to the outside, Cesaro caught him and slammed him shoulder first against the ringside barrier. RVD did eventually fight back however with signature strikes and his Rolling Thunder, a Somersault Plancha and a Dive to the outside. RVD also nailed Barrett with a Superkick on the outside, before he nearly won with a Split-Legged Moonsault. After his trademark Enzigieri, Barrett interfered before RVD could go for the Five-Star Frog Splash. With RVD distracted, Cesaro hit the Bridging German Suplex for the win. After the bell, Sheamus dropped in for a spell and nailed Cesaro with the Brogue Kick.

Eva Marie w/Nikki Bella vs. Summer Rae: Eva Marie won with a Rollup after Summer Rae was distracted when Layla and Fandango showed up and made out on the entrance ramp.

Drew MacIntyre w/Heath Slater, Hornswoggle and Jinder Mahal vs. El Torito w/Los Matadores: MacIntyre destroyed El Trorito until the match fell apart and the midget performer won with a Rollup following a MacIntyre spill off the top rope. After the match, Hornswoggle pulled up Torito’s tail.

Zack Ryder vs. Alexander Rusev w/Lana: Ryder used his speed for a bit, but Rusev quickly got the win with The Accolade. After the match, Big E. Langston hit the ring and continued to build the feud between the two powerhouses. < strong>Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. Batista and Randy Orton: A lengthy encounter that went back and forth several times. Ironically, Rhodes, who talked the most trash before the match, had the most impressive run of offense until Orton dropped him with the RKO before he picked him up and hit him with another one for the win.

Goldust vs. Batista and Randy Orton: This match was announced right after Rhodes was destroyed. Fighting on the outside, Batista and Orton decimated Goldust with a Belly-to-Back Suplex on the ringside barrier and a ton of strikes. After they got him back in the ring, Batista hit the Spear, before Orton finished him off with an RKO. Already done for, Batista then hit the Batista Bomb for the pin.

Bo Dallas vs. Sin Cara: A rematch of their Friday Night Smackdown encounter, Cara was more aggressive and hit a few diving maneuvers on the outside, as well as a few chops in the corner. Cara continued to deliver signature maneuvers, as well as a nice Samoan Drop until Dallas hit the Bo-Dog for the win.

Alicia Fox vs. Emma: Fox got hit with a nice chunk of Emma’s signature offense until Fox nearly cut Emma in half with a Big Boot on the outside. Fighting back, Emma got the win with a nice counter Rollup. However, Fox beat on Emma on the outside and in the ring after the bell and threw another temper tantrum.

Adam Rose vs. Damien Sandow: Rose hit a few moves before Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter stole one of the Rosebuds (a Lemon). The distraction didn’t cost Rose the match though as Rose hit the Party Foul for the win. Swagger soon hit a move or two, but Rose caught Swagger with a Spinebuster and some strikes before exclaiming, “No One Touches My Lemons.”

United States Champion Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio: A poor main event that was merely a tune up for Sheamus’ encounter with Antonio Cesaro at Payback. Sheamus won with the Brogue Kick after Del Rio dominated for most of the match with kicks to the head. After the match, Paul Heyman talked smack to set up the match with Cesaro. Soon enough, Cesaro joined the party to back up Heyman’s words with a devastating beatdown.