The go-home show before this year’s Money in the Bank pay per view featured a super-sized card and just enough storyline to fuel what appears to be one of the company’s best Pay Per Views of 2014. Even without former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan, the Tag Team War between Luke Harper and Erik Rowan and the Usos and two Money in the Bank Ladder matches are more than enough to keep fans happy until Summerslam.
The smaller developments on the show, such as the building angle between Divas Champion Paige and Naomi Knight, as well as the match between Vicki Guerrero and Stephanie McMahon, were also handled well. With less yammering than usual and more of a focus on storytelling in the ring- and less projectile vomiting, this week’s episode of RAW felt more like a wrestling show.
Matches:
WWE Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso w/Jey Uso vs. Luke Harper w/Erik Rowan: Uso got in a few kicks, but Harper, thanks to a well-timed distraction from Rowan, won with the Discus Lariat. After the match, Jey challenged Rowan to an impromptu singles match.
WWE Tag Team Champion Jey Uso w/Jimmy Uso vs. Erik Rowan w/Luke Harper: After Jey took out both Harper and Rowan with a Splash to the outside, Rowan took control with a Fallaway Slam and strikes. But after Rowan missed a corner Avalanche, Jey hit the Superkick and followed it up with the Top Rope Splash for the win. After the match, both teams continued to brawl, with Harper and Rowan getting the better of the champions.
Alicia Fox vs. Naomi Knight w/Cameron: WWE Divas Champion Paige and Cameron argued on commentary as Foxx dominated early on. The domination continued as Fox hit strikes at will and a nifty Northern Lights Suplex. After the action went to the outside, Knight got right back in the match and countered a Fox Suplex into her Signature Reverse DDT for the win. After the match, Paige symbolically challenged Knight to another match.
Bo Dallas vs. Titus O’Neill: Dallas got slapped multiple times and even was the victim of O’Neill’s signature Backbreaker, but O’Neill managed to to stay in the match long enough to squeak out a win with his Running Bo Dog.
Rob Van Dam vs. Seth Rollins: RVD got some strikes in early, but Rollins fought back with a Triple Snap Suplex variation and his flipping, side Neckbreaker. RVD was always one counter away from the win however and after a few Clotheslines and his Thrust Kick, RVD hit the Rolling Thunder and a DDT before he went for the Five-Star Frog Splash. Rollins was smart enough to evade the move though and laced RVD with strikes before the Turnbuckle Powerbomb and the Curb Stomp. But before Rollins could go for the pin, Dean Ambrose interfered and got the match thrown out.
Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett vs. Dolph Ziggler: Easily won of the best matches on RAW in 2014. The near-falls here were plenty as Ziggler and Barrett traded signature moves until Ziggler hit the Zig-Zag. Luckily for Barrett, he was able to roll out of the ring before Ziggler could pin him. When the action went back into the ring, Barrett hit the Wasteland, but Ziggler was able to kick out. Barrett then went for the Bullhammer and Ziggler countered into the Fame-Asser, but Barrett kicked out as well. After a few more exchanges, Barrett got the win with the Bullhammer Elbow.
Vikki Guerrero vs. Stephanie McMahon: Guerrero was ultimately fired when McMahon had a host of heel Divas throw her in a pool of mud. But by the time the mud cleared, McMahon was in it as well.
Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter vs. Kofi Kingston: Swagger fought off Kingston’s athleticism and won with the Patriot Lock.
Big E. Langston vs. Damien Sandow: Langston made quick work of Sandow with a Belly-to-Back Suplex and the Big Ending. After the match Lana and Alexander Rusev appeared and Rusev locked up Langston in The Accolade.
Antonio Cesaro, Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Antonio Cesaro w/Paul Heyman, vs. Sheamus, John Cena and Roman Reigns: All four heels utilized signature maneuvers on Cena, who sold for the majority of the match. It wasn’t towards the end of the match that Sheamus and Reigns really got involved. Hitting Orton and Cesaro with the Superman Punch, Reigns made an immediate impact, but Wyatt quickly neutralized him in the heel corner. Reigns eventually fought back and hit Wyatt with the Superman Punch as well, which allowed Sheamus to clean house. After everyone got in the ring one last time, Sheamus got the win with the Brogue Kick on Cesaro for the win. After the bell, Kane hit the ring and Chokeslammed Del Rio and Cena and laid waste to everyone else. Triple H then made his way out and announced that Kane would be the eighth participant in the MITB Ladder match. But before Kane could truly celebrate, Reigns hit the Spear to end the show.
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