wrestling / TV Reports
411’s WWE RAW Report 4.21.14
Championship Roll Call:
Undisputed WWE World Champion: Daniel Bryan
US Champion: Dean Ambrose
IC Champion: Big E. Langston
Unified Diva’s Champion: Paige
WWE World Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Guess who’s baaaaack….
Last week, The Shield faced off with 11 men who didn’t matter, and Evolution came out to do some damage.
Aaaand we start the show off proper with Daniel Bryan coming out to the stage. He looks rather emotional, and that’s probaly due to his father’s passing. Brie Bella is in the middle of the ring with some YES chants. He and Brie do the YES chant in the middle of the ring. Brie is glowing.
The music of Stephanie McMahon hits immediately, and the devil in a red dress heads out. She is here to congratulate the both of them from the bottom of her heart. At Mania, he became champ then in the same week, he married the love of his life. She called the ceremony an “organic, crunch, rustic wedding.” Since the WWE is a family, Steph wanted to get them a wedding present. It’s not traditional, but at Extreme Rules, Bryan will be defending his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Kane. We all know that Kane – in Demon Form – is uncontrollable and unstoppable. If she were Bryan, she’d get her pretty little wife out of harm’s way. The flames from Hell ignite…
Stephanie tells Kane not now, saying it’s not the right time or place. Bryan backs Brie out of the ring towards the announce table, and follows her out as Steph continues to tell Kane to “stay where you are.” Bryan and Brie back towards the barricade, and oh nuts…there he is. He goozles Bryan. Bryan tries to fight back, but Kane uppercuts. Kane stalks Brie, and Bryan attacks. Kane lifts Bryan then sends him aside. Bryan with a drop toe hold sending Kane to the steps, but Kane stands. Bryan hops off the apron and Kane catches him. Kane drives Bryan into the barricade as Steph tells him “that’s enough.” Kane lifts Bryan. He’s going for the Tombstone. TOMBSTONE on the outside! Steph yells it’s enough again, but Kane grabs the steps. He tosses the top half aside then drags Bryan over towards the steps. Kane sets Bryan up for another Tombstone. HE HITS IT! Steph screams for an EMT….
Daniel Bryan chant as the stretcher job is made. Kane heads out as Steph watches from the ring.
Uh oh, Kane isn’t done….He drops the stretcher sideways. Kane grabs Bryan by the neckbrace then drags him over to the announce table. Steph is still screaming for Kane to stop. TOMBSTONE on the announce table!!! It doesn’t break, but Michael Cole’s voice does. Steph calls Kane a bastard. haha.
We’re back, and Steph wants to give Bryan a very warm round of applause – as she holds up his titles.
We switch gears to the Intercontinental Championship Brackets. Barrett is out here, and he’s got some bad news. He says shamrocks and lucky charms are not working here tonight. The luck of the Irish is running out. He’s going to defeat Sheamus.
Wade gets Sheamus in the corner. The reg stops him, so Sheamus kicks and hits some hard rights in the corner. Sheamus with a right elbow to the face then a whip to the corner. Sheamus with the Firemans. Rolling Senton to Wade. Sheamus gets some boos, it seems like. Sheamus goes up top, but Wade stops him. He sets up for a suplex, but Sheamus headbutts his way out of it. Wade goes down, then gets up on the apron, only to be met with a boot to the face. Sheamus from UP TOP flies with a cross body to the outside. Well damn….
Sheamus lifts Wade by his nose and sends Wade back in the ring. Sheamus goes for the beatdown on the chest, but Wade back elbows out of it. Wade whips Sheamus backfirst into the ringpost on the apron, then boots him hard in the face.
After a break, we got Sheamus missing a whip. Misses a hit, but is able to send Wade to the ground. High knee from Sheamus, then we get the beatdown on the ropes. Sheamus hits the 10 and heads up top. Shoulderblock from the corner. Pin for 1….2…NO! Irish Curse. Pin for 1….2…NO! We get a missed Brogue Kick and Wade hits the Winds of Change!! Pin for 1….2..NO! So close! BULLHAMMER is missed. Wade flies up top. Sheamus grabs him. White Noise! Pin for 1….2…..NO!!! Both men up. They trade hard rights. Rope work ends with Sheamus AND Wade flying over the top rope to the outside! THIS IS AWESOME chant.
Wade on the outside. Sheamus runs for a dive, but Wade hits the Bullhammer to the face! Pin for 1…2….3!!!
Official Result: Wade Barrett
A great match that I thought lost the crowd in the beginning only to pick it right back up in the end.
RATING: ***1/2
So we go back to September 2011 when Hugh Jackman was on the show and gave Dolph Ziggler a right hand. Three years later, and apparently Dolph will bury the hatchet come next week when Jackman returns to RAW in St. Louis.
Tonight, we get to pick who John fights. The choices? A one on one with Harper, a Handicap with Harper and Rowan, or a handicap with ALL of the Wyatt family…
Here’s Bray. He is speaking of free will and how it has become man’s biggest illusion. It’ promised just in time to take it away again and leave us with….nothing. Tonight would be a wonderful night for change. Tonight, free will does exist. Tonight, we get to make a choice. And what fate will we choose for our knight in shining armor? The path of less pain? Or will tonight be the night that John Cena finally learns the truth. The truth is….”we stand against you.” Steel cage or inside his own mind, they stand against John Cena. At Extreme Rules, two monsters will enter but on this night, it will not matter which monster has the sharpest teeth or the longest claws because one thing will remain the same…..they do not love John Cena anymore. Everytime they cross paths, Wyatt takes more with him. They will sing with him….and they do.
McIntyre is about to start, but the little ones want in. Tag to Horny and Torito. Hornswoggle dances a bit. They butt heads a bit then Horny slaps Torito. Torito slaps him back, and we got a slap off. They go back and forth until it gets ridiculous. Hurricanrana out of nowhere fro mTorito. A missed clothesline from Hornswoggle. Springboard shoulder from Torito. BRONCOBUSTER in the corner. Torito hits the corner and drops a moonsault. Pin for 1…2..NO! Mahal in to break it up. One of the Matadores send Jinder to the ground. Drew tags himself in. He elbows off the other Matador and calls out El Torito. Torito calls for a gore, but Drew lifts the boot, and Torito ends up hitting Heath Slater. Drew lifts Torito, ut Torito hits the nuts.
In come Los Matadores to help with a seated Senton and a pin for 1…2…3!
Official Result: Los Matadores and El Torito
Well…that was that.
RATING: 1/2*
Backstage, there’s a limo. It doesn’t blow up, but a hot mess comes out in the form of Batista, Triple H, and Randy Orton. The boys are back in town.
We’re back, and so is Evolution. Triple H chuckles. He says he laughs every time he thinks about it. Triple H sounds like his voice is gone. Imagine what it feels like, imagine what it feels like to tell the world that the Shield are the baddest people around then one day, daddy comes out and spanks you in front of the world. Triple H calls it humbling and just the beginning. Sometimes all it takes is a single spark to put the world on fire, and in this case it was one single act that The Shield did….help to reform Evolution. In case we’ve forgotten…..here’s a little video package. We get a video package, complete with Ric Flair cameos.
We’re back, and Batista wants to know if it’s clear yet. The Shield has no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into. Deal with that…
HERE COMES THE SHIELD!!! They’re coming from the audience, and they don’t seem happy…at….all. The Shield head into the ring, and Evolution backs out with a smirk. All three Evo boys head up the ramp backwards, staring at The Shield. Ambrose on the mic says last week wasn’t the first time they’ve been beaten up and probably won’t be the last. Well done, guys, but Ambrose has a question for TRiple H….do we look humbled to you? NICE. There’s a reason The Shield was hired to protect Triple H and that little creme puff Randy Orton. They are the meanest, nastiest, dirtiest, most ruthless animals in this industry. They are hungry, and now they’re angry. Rollins says they have every right to be angry. Batista, for him to say that they have no idea is ridiculous; Rollins says they have every idea – they started this. They talk about destruction and power, and being built for dominance but Rollins says they are not. In two weeks, they will come face to face with the Hounds of Justice, and it will be all out war. When they have nowhere to run, they’ll be looking out for only….themselves. Triple H is going to do what he always does….what’s best for the boss. What they’re looking at is the most dominant force in the history of this company, and in two weeks, they will rip Evolution to pieces and this little reunion will come to an abrupt halt with no one to blame but themselves because they did this.
Reigns on the mic to end Rollins’ hell of a run on sentence. Last week, an ultimatum was given. This week, Reigns gives them one. In a few seconds, he’s going to drop the mic, head up that ramp, and beat their asses. They have two options – be men and try to fight or be creme puffs and cower away and hide. Watch.
The Shield heads up the ramp. Evolution stands their ground as the 11 men from last week come to the top of the ramp and stand by Evolution’s side. Triple H says there’s always an option 3. He reminds The Shield that in life, you either adapt or perish. Triple H calls them out, but nothing goes down.
Recap of the opening of RAW.
Ringside with the announce both is Ryback and Curtis Axel. I don’t care, but you guys might….right?
GOldust and….shit, one of The usos! Lockup into the ropes and Goly hits a shoulder. It’s Jey. Inverted atomic drop from Goldust. They trade arm drags. Jey calls for an UUUU but Goldust pushes him. Jey reacts in kind. Hard kick then a slap from Jey. Clothesline from Goldust then a tag to Cody. Whip to the ropes and Cody flies off the top rope with a dropkick. Pin for 1…2….NO! Another pin for 1. Cody locks the fingers and lifts up Jey then turns the arm behind. Back elbow gets Jey to tag in Jimmy. Jey sends Cody up high and Jimmy chokes him up on the ropes. Pin for 1…2…NO! Jimmy with a cravat down on the mat. Cody stands up, and Jimmy tries to send him over. Cody lands on his feet, falls, hits the uppercut then tags in Goldust. Arm drag from Jimmy, then a tag to Jey. Jey comes in with a drop to the arm of Goldust then trries to work the arm. Goldust reverses and slams the arm down to the mat. Goldust works the left hand again. Whip to Goldust then Jey ducks down. Bad idea. Uppercut. Blind tag fro mCody who runs in and rolls up Jey. Jey goes for a superkick, ut Cody turns it, and Goldust eats the kick.
Blind tag from JImmy, who comes in with a superkick to Cody. Pin for 1…2…3!!!
Official Result: The Usos
Good enough match that was more a means to an end than an actual moment between bells
RATING: **
Immediately after the match, Cody pushes Foldust in the chest. From behind, Ryback and Axel attack The Usos. Ryback holds up one long enough for Axel to hit a hard knee. Ryback calls for the Shell Shock. He hits it.
We are back with Layla tryin her best to be Mrs. Fandango.
Emma shakes the hand of Santino to start, allowing Fandango to trip him up and Layla to take advantage. Layla trips her up, pins for 1…2..NO! Layla chokes Emma on the ropes with her shin then hits a snapmare into a double arm lock. Knee to the back to boot. Emma is able to muscle her way out of it and turn. She hits Layla with a right, then whips her to the ropes. EMma goes for the dropkick, but misses. Layla smiles and shows off a bit then berates Emma a bit. Whip to the ropes. Emma ducks a clothesline then hits one of her own.
On the outside, Santino hits Fandango with the Cobra. Layla is laid out on the mat. Emma grabs her foot and pulls out…..a LADY COBRA! She hits Layla with it. Pin for 1…2…3!!!
Official Result: Emma
I don’t know how i feel about this…
RATING: *
Backstage, Renee Young is with John Cena. Mixed reaction. Tonight, the odds could be severely stacked against him…how does he feel? Cena says that tonight, his fate lies in the hand of the Universe. Wyatt has told everyone that they have a voice. He’s always respected the fact that the WWE Universe can choose whatever they want, so if they choose for him to fight the entire family, then that’s what he’ll have to do. He says in every arena, he’s heard the same song and it gets louder and louder. Cena is beginning to think that the whole world really is in the hands of Wyatt. If his back is truly against the wall tonight, and he can make it, then in less than two weeks, the odds will be even. Tonight, the objective is simple…survive. Don’t count out John Cena.
Cesaro is here with some new music, y’all. Heyman is right by his side, and he introduces the King of Swing. On a personal note, he also happens to have the pleasure to serve as the advocate for the beast incarnate, the beast who conquered The Undertaker’s streak…Brock Lesnar. Heyman is cut off mid-promo to let us know that Godzilla is coming out.
We’re back, and Heyman is repeating himself. hahaha. Awesome. He repeats that Brock conquered the streak at Mania over and over again. He is finally cut off by…RVD.
Lockup to start. Cesaro with a go-behind. Cesaro hits the ropes, and a shoulder. Pin for 1. Side headlock to RVD. RVD sends Cesaro to the ropes. Cesaro hops over, RVD hops over, Cesaro ducks a clothesline. Cesaro almost kicks but instead locks un a suplex. RVD lands on his feet and hits a heel kick. Whip to Cesaro who hits the ropes, they both go low, but Cesaro lifts RVD and hits a backbreaker. Pin for 1…2..NO! Elbow drop to RVD’s face.Cesaro sends RVD into the corner. RVD hops over Cesaro and hits a kick to the chin. Monkey flip sends Cesaro across the ring. RVD taunts and Cesaro takes advantage with a kick. Cesaro hits a suplex into a pin for 1…2..NO! Cesaro regains control as we go to commercial.
We are back, and Cesaro has RVD in a cravat, but RVD gets out with some elbows and a high kic. RVD tries to roll up Cesaro, but Cesaro with a hand slap and a chest stomp into a pin for 1…2..NO! Cesaro deadlifts RVD and tosses him then pins for 1…2..NO! Cesaro with a right hand to the face of the laid out RVD. Cesaro steps on RVD’s head. Cesaro with an uppercut. Cesaro scrapes the face with his boot. Hard elbow by Cesaro and a pin for 1…2..NO! Cesaro with a chin lock to RVD again. RVD stands out of it and hits some elbows but Cesaro hits some knee lifts. He gets RVD in the corner. RVD stops it and hits a high kick to the face of Cesaro. Cesaro shakes it off, goes for a right, but RVD blocks and gets offense of his own. Hard clothesline ends Cesaro down .Cesaro is up, misses a clothelsine. RVD hits a kick. Rolling Thunder. Pin for 1…2…NO!! RVD with a right elbow into a whip, which is reversed. RVD with an elbow. He goes up top and flies off with a kick to the chin of Cesaro. RVD is feelin froggy. He hops up top. Cesaro is up!! Uppercut to RVD!! Cesaro with a headbutt. RVD tries to fight, does well, and sends Cesaro back down to the mat. Split Leg Moonsault! Pin for 1…2….NO!! RVD can’t believe it. He runs into the corner, tries for a spinning heel kick, and gets stuck on the top rope. Cesaro with a hard uppercut. Pin for 1….2….NO! Both men in the middle of the ring. The trade right hands. Cesaro tries for a kick, but RVD with a leg scissors pin. 1…2..NO! Cesaro is up. Double underhook into a powerbomb and a pin for 1…2…NO!! Cesaro is looking for the SWING!! Just as he locks the legs of RVD, the music of Swagger hits. He comes out to the top of the ramp. RVD sends Cesaro to the outside with ak ick to the face. Swagger heads to the bottom of the ramp. He is about to strike, but Cesaro catches him.
RVD tries to sneak attack, but Cesaro hits an uppercut!! The ref checks on RVD and Swagger sends Cesaro right into the ring post. The ref is at the count of seven! The ref hits 10 and Cesaro loses as a result of a countout…
Official Result: RVD via Countout
Talk about a deflation…
RATING: **1/2
In the ring, Swagger is attacking Cesaro. Zeb is in the middle of the ring, berating Cesaro. Cesaro lifts up and sends Swagger to the outside. Cesaro stares at Zebby now. He’s pissed. Cesaro stalks Zeb, then grabs him by the necktie. He calls for the Swing. Cesaro locks the legs! BUt here’s Swagger to break the swing. He goes for a big boot, but Cesaro grabs the leg and gives the SWING to Swagger instead!
Backstage, RVD is being congratulated. Insert Cesaro and Heyman. Cesaro tells RVD that he can’t beat him on his own. Heyman is very surprised. The RVD he knew would never take such tainted victory. RVD says he’ll sleep just fine; his conscience is clear. A word of advice: if Cesaro really wants to make it somewhere in this business, keep your wallet, your house, and your future as far away from Heyman as possible. RVD does his taunt then leaves.
Aksana runs and misses a clothesline. Paige hits a kick then sends Aksana in a frenzy via hair pull. She tosses Aksana across the ring not once, but twice. Paige with a sideheadlock. She uses the ropes as leverage to roll up Aksana for 1…2..NO! Paige with knees to the breasticles of Aksana. She hits like 8 of them then does a primal scream. Aksana plays possum long enough to hit the gut with a shoulder. aksana gets Paige in the corner and raises her to the tope rope then whips her down back first. Aksana lifts Paige for a suplex, hits it, then she kicks the gut. Aksana chokes Paige up on the ropes then heads outside to hit a hard right to the face of Paige. Aksana back in and pins for 1…2..NO! Aksana with a chinlock from behind. Knee to the back is added. Aksana drops an elbow to the shoulder then locks in the chinlock one more time. Paige with a right hand, another. hits the ropes, and aksana hits her with an elbow. Aksana pushes Paige around a bit, then goes for a Side Slam. She hits it and crawls like a dirty little whore. She goes to pin, but Paige slinks pout of it and bangs her head against the mat. Pin for 1…no! Paige is up with some short clotheslines but aksana sends Paige into the corner and goes for a spinebuster which is slightly messed up. Pin for 1…NO! Aksana drops an elbow on Paige then whips her in the corner. Paige flies back with a scissors and front face headlock. Aksana is too strong, turns out of it.
Paige with a lifted knee right to the nose of Aksana! Nice. Hard clothesline. Paige grabs the legs and locks in the Modified Scorpion Crosslock. Aksana taps out quickly.
Official Result: Paige
Aksana got a bit too much offense, and the crowd was just itching to chant BORING. Still, it’s doing good for Paige.
RATING: *1/2
We are informed that Rusev will face R-Truth and Xavier Woods in a handicap match come eXtreme Rules. So…there’s that.
Rusev shoves Sin Cara in the corner, but Cara slides around then under and lays in with some kicks. Springboard, but Rusev catches him and sits him sideways on the ropes, then drives some knees into him. Rusev with a hard fallaway slam. Rusev isn’t ok with the kicks that Sin Cara got in. He sends Cara into the corner and hits some elevated knees to the chest. Rusev with a hard forearm to the face. Rusev grabs the head and hits the chest of Sin Cara. Rusev steps on the head of Sin Cara and pulls his arm hard. Rusev with a headbutt. He hits a boot of Sin Cara. Cara flies off for a head scissors but Rusevl lifts him up and goes for a powerbomb. Cara flips over and tries to roll him up. Cara with kicks. SPringaboard elbow, chops to the chest, whip to the corner is reversed. Cara hops over, ducks a grab, and kicks Rusev right in the face. Cara with a dropkick!! Rusev in the corner. Cara runs….right into a hard shoulder. Rusev rolls and grabs Cara then hits a deadlift suplex to Cara.
Rusev waits for orders from Lana. She says to crush, and Rusev obliges. He sends Cara down to the mat then locks in the Accolade. Cara taps.
Official Result: Alexander Rusev
Rusev continues to look dominate, but the whole Ryback Route is one of my least favorite types of pushes…
RATING: *
Who will John Cena face? The entire Wyatt Family. Harper actually got a lot of single votes vs the possible tag match. That’s cool.
Anyone got gynocomastea?
ALl three men rush the ring. The brothers attack in the corner. Wyatt drops boots while Harper and Rowan push the ref aside. The match has not started yet, apparently.
Harper to start. Uppercuts in the corner followed by a right hand. Harper lifts Cena up then drops an elbow to the dome of Cena. He scrapes the forearm and tags in Rowan. Bodyslam from Rowan. Kick to the head. Rowan with a side headlock, and he runs into the turnbuckle with Cena’s head first. Right hand from Cena, another, he jumps…right into the arms of Rowan. Fallaway Slam from Rowan. Tag to Bray. Bray lifts up Cena and dances with his limp body. Hard right uppercut to Cena’s face. Tag to Harper. Cena is lifted by his ears. Neck thrust from Harper. Whip is reversed, and Cena goes for a splash in the corner. He hits the ropes and runs right into a hard splash of Harper’s own. Harper steps on Cena’s neck. Uppercut from Harper. Harper with another uppercut. Cen ducks the last one and hits a German….sorta. Harper rolls and tags in Rowan. Rowan with kicks to Cena on the mat. Pumphandle slam to the knee from Rowan. Pin for 1…2…NO!
Rowan tags in Wyatt, who grabs the head of Cena and lifts him in the seated position. He hits the ropes, is about to lay the boot into Cena, but stops and tags in Harper instead. Cena hits some elbows to Harper then locks in the STF. Rowan is there to break it up. Harper limps around a bit then grabs Cena up and hits a right hand. Harper drops an elbow to the back of the neck then sends Cena to the outside. Rowan heads over to Cena, but Cena drives him into the barricade. Harper is there to whip Cena into the steps.
We are back after a commercial break, and Harper sends Cena to the outside. At the count of four, Cena hops up on the apron. Harper stops Cena on the apron and gets him up top in a seated position. Cena fights back and sends Harper to the mat with a tornado DDT. Quick tag to Bray, and Wyatt comes in with a hard STO to Cena and a pin for 1…2..NO! Wyatt mounts and hits some rights. Cena is hanging in the corner. Wyatt goes to the outside and hits some hard elbows to Cena, sending him into the post a few times. Running headbutt from Wyatt. Wyatt back in the ring and tags Rowan. Rowan crushes the skull of Cena with his fists. Cena is able to buy some time with a hard hit ut Rowan tags in Wyatt. Wyatt crushes Cena in the corner then drops him down to the mat. Wyatt hangs upside down like a psycho. Wyatt does the Exorcist crawl towards Cena, then….gets his ass clotheslined!!
Cena with a shoulder tackle. Another. Protobomb. YOU CANT SEE ME. Five Knuckle Shuffle. Harper and Rowan were sent off the apron. Cena hits the AA. Pin for 1….NO! Harper, breaks it up! Rowan and Harper attack and that’s grounds for the DQ
Official Result:
Well we’re back to Cena booking 101…
RATING: *1/2
Harper and Rowan lift up the now decimated Cena. Wyatt sets up for Sister Abigail. Smooches! Hits it. Wyatt grabs Cena and sits his head in his lap. Wyatt has a mic. In time, all things come to light, then he begins singing. He even gets the second verse in.
End Show
