More a set up for what will be, than anything that actually is, this week’s Monday Night RAW set the scene for a feud between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, while putting both John Cena and Roman Reigns in position to challenge for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight title at Money in the bank.
How it got there was the fun part. After Reigns found a way to poison Stephanie McMahon’s ice tea thanks to Vikki Guerrero’s idiocy, Reigns got into the Battle Royal after Triple H barred him from it at the start of the show. Cena’s round to MITB was a little more complicated. Fighting a war with Kane in a stretcher match, Cena, too, will figure to be a popular choice to take him the title at Money in the Bank.
The rest of the card was merely fodder and no contests. At the same time, the carnage brought the potential of a Wyatt Family power vacuum to light. With the possibility of Bray Wyatt winning at MITB and Luke Harper and Erik Rowan on the tails of the Usos, the summer could ultimately end up being the season the Wyatt’s put the whole world, in their hands.
Matches:
Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins: Why is Rollins still dressed all in black- as if he’s still a part of The Shield? Besides that mind-boggling notion, Rollins was solid as he and Ziggler traded offense for a majority of the match. Rollins eventually got the advantage with a kick to the back of Ziggler’s ankle and followed it up with a kick to the head. But after Rollins missed the Curb Stomp, Ziggler hit his Signature DDT for a near-fall. After a few more counters, Ziggler got Rollins in the Sleeper and then nearly won with the Fame-Asser. Going for his Jumping DDT again, Ziggler got countered by a Rollins Turnbuckle Powerbomb, which allowed Rollins to hit the move again against a different turnbuckle- before the Curb Stomp. Before Rollins could get the pin, Dean Ambrose interfered to get the match thrown out.
Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose: Although Ambrose got some licks in, Barrett was laying massive boots and elbows on the former United States Champion. Ambrose fought back with punches and a modified version of the Japanese Arm Drag, but Barrett hit the Winds of Change to regain the advantage. Ambrose fought back after he countered the Wasteland and hit his signature Clothesline, but Seth Rollins’ appearance on the outside complicated things, After Ambrose took both of them out with a Suicide Dive, Ambrose continued to fight with Rollins on the outside to get the match thrown out. After Rollins got away, Ambrose came back and hit the unsuspecting Barrett with the Dirty Deeds.
United States Champion Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt w/Erik Rowan and Luke Harper: Sheamus was in control, but Rowan and Harper found ways to keep Sheamus’ advantage at a minimum. Luckily for The Great White, WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy and Jey Uso hit the ring to even the odds. With the support he needed, Sheamus set up Wyatt for the Brogue Kick until Rowan and Harper got involved again to get the match thrown out. After the match, all six competitors mixed it up, with a ladder finding its way into the scrap.
Heath Slater vs. Alexander Rusev w/Lana: Slater got the fans into the match, but Rusev won quickly with the Super Kicka and The Accolade.
Adam Rose and Summer Rae vs. Fandango and Layla: After Summer Rae chased Layla out of the ring and into the back, Rose hit Fandango with the Party Foul for the win. After the match, Kevin Hart became a rosebud.
Battle Royal for Money in the Bank Spot: Xavier Woods, Los Matadores and Santino Marella were eliminated rather quickly, as Roman Reigns, Alexander Rusev and Ryback dominated early. Reigns then eliminated Titus O’Neill, while Jack Swagger sent Sin Cara out. A few minutes then went by as every competitor seemingly had a moment or two where they were almost eliminated. While Dolph Ziggler and Bo Dallas fought off elimination, Swagger was eliminated by Kingston. Ryback and Curtis Axel then eliminated both Kingston and Ziggler. The two then had their sights set on Reigns, but all of a sudden, Axel, Fandango and Ryback got eliminated. Bo Dallas then sent Rob Van Dam out of the ring, while Rusev eliminated Langston and Reigns sent Dallas and Barrett out. This left Reigns and Rusev left, who traded strikes before a Superman Punch gave Reigns the victory.\
Cameron w/ Naomi vs. Divas Champion Paige: Cameron used old-school heel tactics to get a few hits in, but Paige eventually won with the PTO.
Goldust and Stardust vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel: The new-look Cody Rhodes quickly won with a Dead Sea Drop on Axel.
Money in the Bank Qualifier: Stretcher Match: Kane vs. John Cena:The fight went to the outside early as both competitors fought to get an advantage. After a Kane Chokeslam, Cena was in a rough spot, but he managed to hit Kane with a basement Dropkick while Kane was holding the Ring steps. However, Kane fought back with a DDT on the steps to even things up. Once things went to the outside again, Cena jumped up and nailed Kane with an Attitude Adjustment through the announce table. With Kane draped across his shoulders, Cena walked the monster over to a stretcher, but wasn’t able to get him up the first time. Once Cena got Kane on the stretcher, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins attacked Cena, with Orton hitting the RKO. Rollins then got a steel chair, but Dean Ambrose cleaned house long enough for Cena to get back in the match. Armed with the steel steps, Cena threw them outside the ring at a defenseless Kane before he put Kane on the stretcher and raced to the finish line. Although Kane made a last-second grab at a Chokeslam, Cena hit the AA on the stretcher to win the match.
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