Like a night of non-stop constipation, this week’s Monday Night RAW had several moments where you wanted to sit down and watch, but most of it was better off viewed from another room in the house, with the door closed and the air freshner spraying.
Away from a nifty ambulance match and a great opening match that saw Wade Barrett reclaim the Intercontinental Championship, this week’s RAW was passable.
Add in the fact that WWE Creative ruined their Royal Rumble main event by adding Seth Rollins and you have enough fuel to keep the internet trolls yammering for another week.
John Cena appreciation night or not, away from the “firing” of Ziggler, Erik Rowan and Ryback, which too was so over-the-top that it couldn’t be taken seriously, this episode was void of entertainment and suspense.
Matches:
Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Wade Barrett: In a match that was a heck of a lot faster than anyone expected, Ziggler countered the Winds of Change into a pinning combination for the win. After the match however, Barrett beat on the Ziggler on the outside, working on the Show-Off’s shoulder against whatever he could on the outside.
Once back in the ring, Barrett continued the onslaught until Kane hit the entrance ramp and announced the match was a two-out-of-three falls match. Barrett then quickly got the pinfall with a Big Boot and The Wasteland to even things up. Barrett then hit another Wasteland, but couldn’t get the pin. Things then evened out a bit as Ziggler hit some signature offense and strikes, until Barrett hit the Winds of Change that Ziggler was able to just kick out of. Ziegler then earned a near-fall after he countered the Bullhammer in a Super Kick. With Barrett out, Kane then interfered, but Ziggler took him out with a Super Kick as well. However, Ziggler then walked right into a Bullhammer, allowing Barrett to reclaim the title he never lost.
The Ascension Viktor and Konnor vs. Generic Tag Team: A STO from Viktor and some strikes led right into the Fall of Man for the quick win.
Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show: Reigns was on the defensive early thanks to a Big Show Spear and strikes and later a Bearhug, but Reigns fought back with a Samoan Drop. A sequence of strikes later and the action bled to the outside, where Show got DQed after he nailed Reigns with the ring steps.
Divas Champion Nikki Bella w/Brie Bella vs. Natalya Neidhart w/Paige: After Paige took out Brie on the outside, Neidhart Rolled up Nikki for the non-title win. After the match, Nikki tried to take out Neidhart, but Paige made the save.
Erik Rowan vs. Luke Harper w/Special Referees Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury: Rowan hit the Spinning Side Kick, but J & J wouldn’t count the pin. After a Discus Clothesline from Harper however, Noble and Mercury had no problem counting to three. After the bell, the refs attacked Rowan, allowing Harper to hit one more Lariat and the cruiserweight duo to land a double-Dropkick.
Ambulance Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt: These guys continue to find new ways to beat the crap out of each other, but the lackluster crowd and length of the match made it a lot harder to digest than it should have. After about 15 minutes of back and forth, the two found their way near the ambulance and it was here where Ambrose stole the show. Diving from the top of the ambulance, Ambrose hit the Elbow Drop through a table, but soon enough, Wyatt answered back with a Sister Abigail and then a second one on the concrete that allowed Wyatt to close the door on Ambrose and end the match.
WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy and Jey Uso and Naomi vs. The Miz, Damien Sandow and Alicia Fox: Thanks to some miscommunication between Naomi and her husband, Miz got a handful of tights and got the win over Jimmy.
Seth Rollins and Kane w/Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble vs. Ryback: Kane hit the ring before the bell and announced the match was a handicap match. Ryback fought hard throughout and even landed a ton of signature offense, but thanks to interference from J & J security and Kane, Rollins was able to hit a pair of Curb Stomps for the win.
Big E. Langston w/ Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. Adam Rose: Woods was having his way with Rose, until Antonio Cesaro and Tyson Kidd hit the On the Shoulder Blockbuster to get the match thrown out.
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