This was certainly a weird, transitional episode of RAW. With the battle lines drawn between CM Punk and The Shield, as well as Daniel Bryan and The Wyatt Family, anything can happen right now.
The only problem is nothing really did happen. With silly contract signing filler and no real main event, this episode of RAW wasn’t nearly as good as it could have been.
More setup than knockdown, the WWE can’t afford to have similar plot development speed as AMC’s “The Walking Dead.†The show desperately needs to get its edge and pacing back.
There’s plenty of potential to be had, but the execution continues to falter.
Punk’s “shoot†at the beginning of the show wasn’t exactly a pipe bomb, but it was some of the best mic work on the show in the weeks. After all the terrible writing and Jekyll/Hyde storyline shifts, it’s nice to see Punk back to his rebellious ways.
Sadly the WWE refuses to let any momentum develop for any of their stars however. Just minutes after Punk got going, another handicap match was announced by the Corporation for TLC, with Punk taking on the entire Shield.
Is the roster this thin that a former WWE and World Champion that is still over has to take on three young stars in Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins? Is there no one else The Shield can fight with? Why can’t Punk take on Bray Wyatt? What happened to that angle? What happened to The Big Show/Triple H feud? Why is the writing on this show so unpredictably inconsistent the last few months?
With Daniel Bryan now in a handicap match against The Wyatt Family at TLC as well, you have to wonder what is going on creatively behind the scenes at WWE headquarters.
Matches:
#1 Contender’s Match for the Intercontinental Title: Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow: A solid back and forth encounter that ended after Sandow knocked Ziggler off the top rope and finished him off with the Your Welcome. Now with an Intercontinental Title shot at TLC, could Sandow earn his first singles gold?
Brie and Nikki Bella and Nattie Neidhart vs. Tamina Snuka, Summer Rae and Divas Champion AJ Lee: Lee skipped around the ring throughout virtually the entire match. Snuka was the aggressor for most of the encounter, but Rae and Snuka made quick tags and were a solid team. Once Neidhart got in the match, the tide obviously changed and even though Lee then got in the match and was rolled up by Neidhart for the loss. It made even less sense that after the pinfall Lee skipped away like it was no big thing. Not developing any particular angle, this match is proof of how woefully horrible the writing on the show has been lately.
Daniel Bryan vs. Erik Rowan w/Luke Harper: Rowan absolutely manhandled Bryan throughout the entire match. Bryan naturally got in his share of offense, but Rowan was the constant aggressor. After Rowan looked to hurl Bryan across the ring in the Gorilla Press, Bryan surreptitiously rolled up Rowan for the win. After the match, Bray Wyatt cut a super solid promo that makes you think Bryan will turn heel eventually and join the group.
R-Truth and Xavier Woods vs. Brodus Clay and Tensai w/Naomi and Cameron: Woods continues to prove he belongs in a WWE ring. Selling for the monstrous Clay, Woods ended up with the win via the Mahistrol Cradle.
Sin Cara vs. Alberto Del Rio: There’s no way this was the original Sin Cara. The huge tattoo was one dead giveaway, but the extra weight was another. Del Rio destroyed the imposter with a slew of kicks and suplexes, but Cara got the win via Senton Bomb.
The Big Show and WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins: A lengthy traditional six-man tag with plenty of tags and offense. Show had several big time slaps and Goldust continues to show he’s still got plenty of gas left in his tank. After about 15 mins of action, Reigns gave his team that advantage with a massive Spear on Show on the outside. Goldust then Superplexed Ambrose, while Rollins, the legal man, rolled up Goldust for the win.
The Miz and Kofi Kingston vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel: A decent match between two very different teams. Ryback earned the win for his team with a Shellshock on Kingston. After the match, it was obvious the squabbles between The Miz and Kingston are far from over.
Fandango w/Summer Rae vs. Mark Henry: After he toyed with Fandango for a few minutes Henry finished off the WWE’s Dancing King with The World’s Strongest Slam.
Titus O’Neil and Darren Young vs. Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter: O’Neil almost threw up again after another Cesaro Swing, but a massive European Uppercut from Cesaro on Young earned the Real Americans the win.
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