WWE RAW Coverage: The Viper Rises, the Viper Falls?

There are a million questions that can be asked from this week’s RAW.

Can Team Authority beat Team Cena at Survivor Series and keep control of the WWE? Can Randy Orton be the wild card the WWE needs him to be? Can John Cena field a team for Survivor Series? What does the future hold for Ryback? What was that weird “eye promo”? Can Xavier Woods’ new gimmick be a winner?

For a show that has lacked “sizzle” the last few weeks, this was definitely a better show and one that can be an important one in making sure that Survivor Series is more than a serviceable Pay Per View.

Matches:

Dean Ambrose vs. Antonio Cesaro: The two traded signature offense, but Cesaro dominated the early going with a Snap German Suplex and his European Uppercut. After Bray Wyatt joined the match and sat on the entrance ramp in his rocking chair, Ambrose fought back with a Suicide Dive and after escaping a Rollup, he hit the Dirty Deeds and got the win.

Jey Uso w/Jimmy Uso vs. The Miz w/Damien Sandow: Although the Usos took care of Sandow on the outside, Jimmy walked into the Skull-Crushing Finale for the loss.

United States Champion Sheamus vs. Tyson Kidd w/Natalya Neidhart: The Celtic Warrior was in control throughout, but once the action went to the outside, Kidd threw his wife in Shemaus’ way and ran back in the ring and earned the win via count-out.

Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins w/ Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury: After Ziggler turned down a lengthy invitation from Triple H and the Authority, Ziggler and Rollins traded offense in a solid back and forth encounter. Although Ziggler was the aggressor, Rollins got the upper-hand after a Turnbuckle Powerbomb. But after a missed Top Rope Knee Attack, Ziggler nearly won with the Fame Asser. After Rollins got the advantage again, it appeared Rollins was a Curb Stomp away from the IC title, but Randy Orton hit Rollins with the RKO to get the match thrown out.

Ryback vs. Titus O’Neil: Ryback was on the ropes following a Canadian BackBreaker and plenty of strikes from O’Neil, but Ryback hit the Meathook Clothesline and Shellshock for the win.

Mark Henry vs. The Big Show: Henry nearly got the win with the World’s Strongest Slam and got the attention of Triple H and The Authority in the process. Although he got DQed after he broke down the ring steps and hit Show with them, he managed to his finisher again on Show, on top of the steps, to put his stamp on the match.

Nikki Bella w/Brie Bella vs. Emma: Bella got the quick win with the Rack Attack over Emma. After the win Nikki made Brie Slap AJ Lee in the face who was ringside.

Zack Ryder vs. Alexander Rusev w/Lana: Rusev quickly won with The Accolade.

Fernando w/Diego and El Torito and vs. Stardust w/Goldust: Stardust was too busy watching Goldust on the outside and walked into a Backstabber for a Fernando win.

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins: The action was fierce and went in and out of the ring. Say what you want about Rollins, but he took a beating and continued to fight back. From his Superplex, to the Powerslam and the second rope DDT, Orton hit Rollins with everything- but the RKO. When he finally went for the move, Orton got countered and Rollins stacked him up for the win. With no real “finish” to their feud, Orton looked pissed and even though he shook Noble, Kane and Mercury’s hands at the end of the match to signal a truce, he gave Rollins the RKO and then took out The Authority. Just when it appeared he was going to Punt Rollins, Triple H interfered and soon enough, Orton took out Triple H and continued to beat on Rollins, before the rest of The Authority got the best of him. After a Rollins Curb Stomp on the announce table that split Orton’s face open, Rollins, jumping from the announce table, hit another Curb Stomp with Orton’s head on the ring steps to end the show.