The match card was huge and there were developments in every single angle for Summerslam, but why was this week’s Monday Night RAW so mediocre?
Away from the thought, for a fleeting second that Hulk Hogan could battle Brock Lesnar, this week’s RAW was nothing more than a tease.
Luckily, the underlying tension for several matches, especially the AJ Lee/Paige, Seth ROllins/Dean Ambrose and John Cena/Brock Lesnar matches are all there, but this week didn’t go the extra mile to make them one of a kind match ups. Instead Summerslam will be a damn good pay per view, but not one you remember like the ending of last year’s summer PPV where Daniel Bryan won the WWE title to only get screwed by Triple H and Randy Orton.
Other mid-card matches will be solid too. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler will be a fun match and the emotions are sure to be there for the Stephanie McMahon/Brie Bella and Alexander Rusev/Jack Swagger Flag matches as well, but will they be able to stand the test of time?
Proof of the WWE’s lack of overall confidence in the Summerslam card was the fact that Hulk Hogan’s birthday celebration took place on the last RAW before one of the company’s biggest PPVs of the year. Sure, it was awesome to see all of those legends in the ring at once, especially Scott Hall, but if not for the cool closer between Cena and Lesnar, it would have all been a giant self-indulgent waste of time.
Matches:
Roman Reigns vs. Curtis Axel and Ryback: Reigns got the win via DQ after Ryback and Axel beat on him on the outside. After the bell though, Reigns got the last laugh.
Rob Van Dam vs. Seth Rollins: RVD was in control for a good chunk, but Rollins got the win with the Curb Stomp. After the match, Dean Ambrose jumps out of one of Hulk Hogan’s presents and attacks Rollins and shoots some promo for Summerslam.
Antonio Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter: Cesaro was tough, but the gritty Swagger won with the Patriot Lock.
Divas Champion AJ Lee vs. Eva Marie: Thanks to a distraction from Paige, who hit the ring right after the bell and skipped around, Eva Marie got the win via Rollup. After Paige shot some promo, Lee took out her frustrations on Marie on the outside.
Brie Bella vs. Stephanie McMahon: The match never took place after McMahon informed Bella would be going to jail because the physical therapist she struck earlier in the show, Megan Miller, who claimed she slept with Bella’s husband Daniel Bryan, wanted to press charges. As a result, Bella was arrested.
Heath Slater vs. Dolph Ziggler: A good back and forth, but Ziggler was in control and nearly won with the Zig-Zag until Intercontinental Champion The Miz, who was ringside, got involved and caused Ziggled to lose via Count-Out. After the bell, Ziggler hit Slater with another Zig-Zag.
Randy Orton vs. United States Champion Sheamus: A solid main event even if it had no real storyline implications. Both Sheamus and Orton were physical and battled on the inside and outside of the ring. Although or ton had his moments, especially with a Belly-to-Back Suplex on the announce table, Sheamus was never out of the match. However, when Sheamus went to the top rope for the Flying Shoulder Block, Orton caught him in mid-air for the RKO and the win.
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