WWE Raw Pre-Show Notes
– Hosts are Scott Stanford, Corey Graves, and David Otunga. We go right into discussion from last week’s Raw and Smackdown in regards to the issues between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan heading into Fast Lane. The panel also notes the issues between Big Show and Kane from last week’s Smackdown where Show KO’d Kane and cost them their match against Reigns & Bryan.
– We see footage from the corny HHH segment from Raw last week with the fake Sting and the “I Accept” sign on the big screen. Sting will be at Fast Lane to accept HHH’s invitation.
– We look at last week’s brawl between Cena & Rusev. The panel discusses Cena’s eye injury and announce that Cena will open tonight’s Raw.
– Renee Young interviews Darren Young on his “first night back” in WWE. I guess bitching about Abu Dhabi forced WWE’s hand to put him on TV. Anyway, Young gets cut off by The Ascension who basically call him out. Now Young must find a partner to take on the Ascension. The panel ponders who he will find, Road Warrior Animals name is dropped as a thought.
– We’re reminded of the current issues between the Dust Brothers…. Dusty Rhodes will be on Raw tonight to try and reconcile his two sons. Now if Dusty could fix the New Day….
The panel goes back over the basic bullet points of the show, and before you know it, it’s time for Raw….
Not sure if everyone else had this problem, but the Preshow froze like crazy for me… This free month thing really causes the preshow to lag. Cheapskates.
WWE Raw Report 2/16/15 from the Amway Center in Orlando, FL
– We learn at the top of the show it’s Kane vs. Roman Reigns, and Big Show vs. Daniel Bryan tonight…
– As promised, John Cena opens the show. Is case you didn’t know, he has Rusev this Sunday at Fast Lane. We revisit the Rusev/Cena brawl from last week and Cena having his eye re-injured. Cena cuts right to the point and says he will take the fight to, and beat Rusev at Fast Lane. Cena acknowledges the fans discussion of when will we see a new Cena, a Cena with more aggression. Cena says the smiling Cena is gone for his match with Rusev, we WILL see a new Cena. He will be a new Cena to beat Rusev this Sunday…
Cue Lana & Rusev to the stage. John’s problem isn’t that he’s just a stupid American, but he lives in a delusional world where his cup is half full. Rusev lives in reality, and that reality is that Rusev is the superior athlete of any WWE superstar and the greatest US champion of all time. Lana acknowledges that Cena says he never gives up, but this time there will be no coming back for Cena. Rusev says he will destroy Cena Sunday and crush his will.
Cena says Rusev was won a lot of fights, but he’s never lost one. Cena says he’s going to kick Rusev’s ass right now…. Cena darts up the ramp and attacks Rusev on the stage, tackling him down and beating the shit out of Rusev. Cena shows off his new “aggression” as he continues to beat on Rusev after officials come out. Cena gives Rusev a receipt from last week when he whips him face first into the LED lights, TWICE…. The crowd gets into it and counts Cena dropping ten more punches to the skull of the unconscious Rusev…. Rusev is laid out dead as Cena talks trash over top of him…
It’s different, so I’m not against the segment. I think I would have pulled this trigger AFTER Cena jobbing at Fast Lane. I think it would have had more meaning, but hey it worked for the fans in Orlando!
-Commercial Break-
– Dean Ambrose backstage skit. Barrett has his version of TMZ, Ambrose has his version of Weekend Update. Ambrose is in a suit and promises that Barrett will sign an IC Title match contract for Fast Lane tonight!
1. Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper
Poor Luke is already in the ring for introductions. Ambrose has the IC Title contract with him he wants BNB to sign. Luke gets a hand full of Dean’s face to start, but Ambrose comes back with a flurry of offense… Dean lands the bulldog out of the corner and a spinning elbow off the middle rope for 2 counts… Ambrose sends Luke to the floor and tries a suicide dive, but Harper catches him and shoves Dean into the apron before landing a BIG BOOT to Ambrose on the floor… And Raw goes to commercial!
While we work through commercials, I will say that we’re 24 minutes into Raw and it’s already better than all of last week’s episode, so that’s a plus!
Back from break, Harper has control with the commercial chinlock. Dean breaks free and drives Luke down with a Tornado DDT. Both men are down for the count of 5, then they both pop back up. Ambrose goes to town with chops punches, and a dropkick up against the ropes… Flying elbowdrop on the standing Luke Harper for 2… Harper ducks another top rope move from Dean, and Luke nails Dean with a Superkick for a near fall… Harper tries the Powerbomb but Dean escapes. Ambrose tries the big clothesline off the ropes, but Harper catches him with a spinning sidewalk slam for 2… Ambrose ducks the clothesline and rolls Luke up for 2… Ambrose comes back with his own nasty clothesline, and Dirty Deeds ends this one in 11:03.
Before leaving, Dean makes sure to grab his IC Title contract as he heads off to find Barrett. Really good match to build Dean up for Sunday.
-Commercial Break-
– HHH is backstage talking with Kane. Big Show pops in. Kane & Show argue like whiny babies. Way to get over your monsters. They challenge each other to a fight, Big Show keeps shouting May 13th for some reason. I guess that’s over my head… HHH says they look stupid. Show asks “As stupid as Sting made you look last week?”. Then Show apologizes. HHH says he will handle Sting tonight. HHH tells Show & Kane to find solutions in their matches tonight, not excuses…
– Bray Wyatt off in the dark, cuts another mysterious promo. Wyatt talks to someone, dunno who. Wink, wink… Bray tells this unnamed person the fear he used to have for him is now nothing but pity… Wyatt informs this person that “It’s Coming!”.
– Backstage, Dusty Rhodes is with his thons, if you weeeeell, Thardust & Goldust. Cody blows Goldust and acts goofy. Dusty cuts him off “dammit Cody”. Dusty says without family they mean nothing. Dusty says they must stay together. Goldust asks Cody is he can “do this”. Cody smiles and pats Goldust on the chest. The three hug, and the Dust Brothers head off to the ring, or something…
As much as I disagree with how Kane & Show are used, at least all three of these backstage segments served a purpose. So far every segment of Raw has been well booked. Nothing WOW, but everything has had meaning…
-Commercial Break-
2. The New Day (Kofi & Xavier, w/Big E) vs. Stardust & Goldust
As usual, the crowd is completely DEAD for New Day. I don’t know that anything this un-over has ever lasted this long, especially in this era… Dusty Rhodes is shown watching from backstage. Woods & Stardust start. The Dusts gain control early and seem to be getting along as they make quick tags. Woods with an enzuigiri on Goldust and makes a hot tag to Kofi. Crowd DOESN’T MAKE A NOISE…. Kofi hits his usual stuff on Goldy. Top rope reverse body block on Goldust for 2. Stardust tries a Disaster Kick but Kofi ducks and almost hits Goldust, but pulls up short from hitting his brother. Kofi goes for a Trouble In Paradise kick, but Stardust ducks and the kick nails Goldy…. Kofi covers Goldust and takes the win in 3:00….
After the match, Stardust helps up Goldust and hugs his brother…. A groggy Goldust starts to walk away and Cody hooks him for CROSS RHODES… Stardust leaves his brother laying in the ring.
– Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Roman Reigns. Saxton asks Reigns about his journey. Reigns talks about winning the Rumble, now having to wrestle Bryan, and then Brock Lesnar. Reigns says he isn’t focused on the journey, but the destination. Reigns says the Authority didn’t trick him into this match at Fast Lane. Reigns says he respects Bryan, but says if he had been eliminated at Rumble he would have taken it like a man. Bryan can’t say that as he found an opportunity to screw Reigns out of his shot. Reigns says Bryan can thank him for this opportunity….
Probably the best written Reigns promo this year. Definitely causing a lot of boos for him though.
– Daniel Bryan on his way to the ring to watch Roman Reigns take on Kane…
-Commercial Break-
– Dusty Rhodes confronts Stardust. Cody mocks his dads Polka dot era, and his embarrassing Goldust brother. Star says these things cost Cody Rhodes to explode, and now he’s Stardust. Cody Rhodes is dead, and so is his father…
3. Roman Reigns vs. Kane
Daniel Bryan on commentary. He points out he had one less title defense as champion than Brock Lesnar and should have never been stripped… Good point, and sad. Fans are chanting YES! along with Bryan, which distracts Reigns, allowing Kane to take over. Kane with a DDT for 2. On commentary Bryan acts about as douchey as Reigns did in his interview. Not really sure what they’re attempting to do with that gimmick, but whatever… Kane just dominates for like 5 minutes straight, getting several near falls. Reigns gets “You can’t wrestle”/”Yes he can” dueling chants. Roman comes back with some clotheslines and a Samoan Drop on Kane gets 2. Bryan distracts Reigns again with another YES! chant, and Kane with a BIG BOOT knocks Reigns to the floor….
Kane begins to dismantle the announce table to chokeslame Reigns on it, but Roman counters and SPEARS Kane on the floor for a lame ass count out win in maybe 6:30 or so… But really? Kane can’t do a job?
Afterwards, Roman invites Bryan into the ring. Daniel just jumps around chanting YES! outside on the floor… Can you sense the mind games?!?!?!??!
Not really sure why Kane couldn’t do a job here, and not really sure where this dueling baby faces acting like douche bags thing is going, but it’s different.
-Commercial Break-
– From the WWE App, Big Show starts to mock Kane, but Kane snaps back. Kane makes excuses, but Show reminds him HHH doesn’t want excuses. Kane then says Bryan is going to knock Show’s teeth out tonight… Kane is pissed at his loss…
– Renee Young interview Daniel Bryan. Renee asks if Bryan will be using the YES! chant at Fast Lane to psyche out Reigns. Bryan says we can expect more at Fast Lane.
– Another Bray Wyatt promo. “Limbo is no place for your soul”. Who is he talking to?????!!!!! 😉
– Byron Saxton with the Bella Twins. They have stolen Paige’s gear, the new DX ladies and gentlemen. How junior high of them. Paige comes out of the locker room in a towel. She needs gear, she asks Cameron for gear, but GIRL BYE…. Then the Rosebuds are randomly standing there. Paige grabs a Fairy or something out of the Rosebud crowd and yanks her into the locker room… Oh boy.
Can you imagine if Brock Lesnar stole Roman Reigns’ gear? And you wonder why NXT Women’s Wrestling is better….
Again, every one of these brief segments means something. Can’t say it was great booking to place a Wyatt/Undertaker promo right before a Divas 4th grade comedy routine, but at least they’re thinking outside the box.
-Commercial Break-
4. Paige vs. Summer Rae
And here we have Paige dressed as Tinkerbell. I guess she HAD to put on the gloves and knee highs to kep the ensemble true. Paige is pissed and beats the crap out of Rae. Summer takes over for a bit, but Paige isn’t in trouble for long… The PTO submission gets the win for Paige in 2:45.
The Bellas are out after the match. They trash Paige as a loser. Cummon Nikki, BE A STAR!!! Paige cuts them off and says she doesn’t need clothes to look good, she just needs the Divas Title, which she will win at Fast Lane. Nikki storms off pissed because she didn’t get to Paige…
– Seth Rollins in the back with J&J Security, he has Seth Rollins next. Looks like Ziggler is doing another job…
-Commercial Break-
– Dolph Ziggler cuts one of his better promos on the WWE App during the break. Figures…
– My name is Sheamus, and I love to fight. He won KOTR, he won a Royal Rumble, he won a bunch of titles, and now he returns… Sheamus Returns… No date given…
– Seth Rollins cuts a promo on President’s Day and how he is the future. Seth says the word future is passé. He is the best RIGHT NOW. Rollins says he could be President, he could be host of the Daily Show, but what he really wants to do is cash in his MITB briefcase and win the World Title. Seth says he SHOULD BE main eventing WrestleMania, but he’s stuck wrestling people BENEATH him like Rowan, Ryback, and especially Ziggler. Dolph’s music cuts Seth off.
Ziggler’s turn to cut a promo. He mocks some recent issues, he says it sounds like Seth had a bad Valentine’s Day. Dolph makes some jokes, but Seth says the only real joke is Ziggler’s career. Ziggler agrees that he is nothing compared to Rollins, especially when it comes to being a douche. Dolph says he’s the man who raises the bar at being the best. Ziggler says he will take out “the future” right now… Another decent promo from Ziggler.
5. Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins (w/J&J Security)
So does Ziggler job AGAIN, or is this where Rollins receives his wiener photo punishment? Ziggler attacks Rollins to start but we get no bell. Dolph drops Seth and knocks him to the floor… We go to commercial and the match hasn’t officially started yet…
The match begins on the WWE App, Rollins gets the upper hand quickly and works over Dolph outside and inside the ring. Just your basic heel offense, don’t want to give away too much during the break.
Back from break, we’re two minutes into the match and Seth has the chinlock hooked but Ziggler winds up on the outside. J&J Security causing some issues on the floor with Dolph and the referee ejects Mercury & Noble!!! Ziggler with a surprise inside cradle for a near fall, but Seth is right back on top. Ziggler with a jawbreaker and Rollins misses a shoulder charge into the corner… Corner splash and neckbreaker by Ziggz, and the jumping elbow gets 2… Dolph tries the Famouser,Seth tries to counter with a powerbomb in the corner, but Ziggz slips over with a sunset flip for 2….
Ziggler with the jumping DDT for another near fall… Both men down. Ziggler tries the Zigzag, but Seth holds onto the ropes and Rollins lands the Pelé enzuigiri kick. Seth talks smack as he beats down on Ziggles. Seth misses a top rope move, Ziggler misses a Famouser, Seth drops Dolph with a superkick to the gut…. Rollins misses a Curb Stomp… DOLPH WITH THE ZIGZAG!!!!! 1………2……………………………….J&J SECURITY ATTACK!!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Ziggler gets the DQ win in 7:15.
Damn them….
J&J Security attack Ziggler, but Ryback & Rowan make the save… Rollins & Mercury escape, but Noble gets surrounded and takes a Ryback SPINEBUSTER…. Fans with loud “FEED ME MORE” chants…. HHH looks pissed off in the back.
Please blow this mess off before Ziggler gets stick in a 6-Man tag at Mania…
-Commercial Break-
– Fast Lane Preshow will feature Paul Heyman on Miz TV….
– HHH on his way to the ring to respond to Sting. We see video of what Sting has done so far in WWE. HHH says he’s not afraid and says WCW will go up against WCW at Fast Lane. HHH starts to say what he’s going to do when…..
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ric Flair makes his way out to the ring!!!
Flair asks HHH not to cuss him out. Flair talks about how HHH has said he respects Flair. Flair says he loves and respects HHH too…
HHH cuts Flair off, he knows Flair is out here to sing the praises of Sting. HHH says he knows how good Sting is. HHH brings up Clash of Champions 1 when Sting took Flair to a draw, and then when Sting beat Flair for the NWA World Title. While all the other rats were jumping ship when WCW was done, Sting stood tall and proud. HHH says Sting was and is WCW, but had Sting came to WWE years ago then HHH would have kicked him out.
HHH says Sting’s career was built on Ric Flair’s reputation, so he would have kicked Sting’s ass for that alone. HHH says now Sting’s want to take WWE away from him. HHH says Sting is WCW, but HHH is WWE. Flair talks about how great HHH is… WHEN HE WRESTLES. Flair says a wrestlers worst enemy is time off. Ric says HHH is an executive now, and he needs to be the best at that now. Flair doesn’t want Sting to sneak up on HHH.
HHH says he is no Ric Flair, but when it comes to kicking Sting’s ass, Ric Flair is no HHH…
Flair asks HHH to do him a favor and not let Ric see HHH sitting on his ass again at Fast Lane like he was last Monday… HHH shoves Flair down. HHH says other than his wife and kids, nothing is more important to him than WWE… HHH says whether Sting goes on his own, os he beats it out of him, Sting will never be here again after Fast Lane…
Trips storms off leaving Flair in the ring.
Well that was a pleasant surprise. Not just Flair popping up unannounced, but the fact that he stayed on topic and both men really got things over. Flair seems to have trouble with his speech nowadays, but he still delivered what he needed to for this segment.
-Commercial Break-
6. The Ascension vs. Darren Young & ??? Some Guy
As Lillian is about to intro Darren’s partner, the Ascension’s music hits… LOL… Poor guy can’t even get a ring intro… The Ascension attack and beat the crap out of Young and his partner… TITUS O’NEIL makes the save, and everything he does is sloppy as hell… Young recovers and he and Titus clear the ring of the Ascension….
This would have been pretty cool for me if A. Titus & Young weren’t completely mistiming everything, and B. if the crowd gave a shit…. But again, at least everything on this show has direction. Prime Time Players reunite???
The match never happens by the way…
– The Miz is shown backstage asking Bad News Barrett to take Damien Sandow down a notch, and Miz will handle Ambrose for Barrett.
-Commercial Break-
7. IC Champion Bad News Barrett vs. Damien Sandow (w/The Miz)
Non-title, of course. The Miz is seated at ringside. Sandow is over as usual. BNB attacks Sandow, when Damien gets the upper hand The Miz rings a little bell and demands Sandow come clean a scuff off his shoe. Miz distracts Sandow until Barrett attacks and takes over. BNB controls for a bit, Sandow takes over again. The Miz stops Sandow again, and Barett clocks Damien with the Bull Hammer for the win in maybe 2:30…. Blah
After the match, Dean Ambrose attacks Barrett and Miz doesn’t bother to help… What a dick… Ambrose zip ties BNB’s hands around the ring post and forces his hand to sign the contract for an IC Title match at Fast Lane… Somehow that’s legal????
– Third Bray Wyatt Promo. This time he’s driving a nail into a piece of wood that looks to be a…. casket. Wyatt continues to send a message to his unnamed foe. Bray begs the man to find him, or else Bray says he will “find you”.
These Wyatt promos are short, but effective.
-Commercial Break-
– Sheamus Returns Vignette
8. Jimmy Uso & Naomi (w/Jey Uso) vs. Tyson Kidd & Natalya (w/Cesaro)
So this entire mess started with a double date gone awry… Quality writing… for General Hospital… As shitty as Tyson’s music is, it’s slightly better than Cesaro’s alarms… The girls go first, nothing much here. The guys take over. Poor Cesaro is playing third fiddle on the floor. The guys don’t do much, and the girls are right back in. Both girls try dropkicks at the same time and both kip up. Nattie takes over on Naomi, Tyson refuses to tag in and makes Nattie continue the match. The two girls trade pinfall attempts, and Naomi comes up with the win in 1:57… Well that was worthless…
After the match, Tyson verbally goes after Natalya about losing. Kidd belittles Nattie and she looks sad. Awwwww. All Cesaro is worried about is Sunday.
– Roman Reigns makes his way out to ringside to watch the upcoming match with Bryan vs. Show…
-Commercial Break-
9. Daniel Bryan vs. The Big Show
Show clearly outsizes Bryan by a mile, but Daniel get him in the corner and tries to work over Show’s leg… Show takes over with some big chops though… Bryan tries some YES kicks to grab control, but Show comes right back. They repeat this back and forth some more. Show tries a gorilla press slam, but Bryan counters into a Sleeper Hold… At this point Roman Reigns gets up and starts taking selfies with fans and signing autographs… For some reason this distracts Bryan, though I’m not sure why he cares… Show escapes the sleeper, Bryan with some YES Kicks, but Show catches one and drops Bryan.
During the commercial break, Show continues to control Bryan on the App. Bryan fights back and chops Show down and kicks Show’s leg out from under him. The two fight to the floor, but Show takes back over and flings Bryan into the barricade.
Back from break, Show continues to dominate. JBL continues to put over Reigns, while Cole puts over Daniel Bryan for the next few minutes. Daniel again kicks his way free, but Show catches him in a bear hug. Bryan escapes the bear hug by hooking Show in a front face choke… They do the Big Show/Benoit spot from the Royal Rumble where Show gets choked out and falls over the top to the floor… As Show lays by Roman Reigns, Reigns starts throwing out Roman’s shirts to the fans…
Bryan tries a suicide dive, but Big Show catches him and whips him outside. Bryan ends up being tosses into Reigns, and the two get in each others faces… Bryan shoves Reigns, then BIG SHOW SPEARS REIGNS on the floor… Back in the ring, Show tries to maintain control, but Bryan dropkicks Show’s leg out from under him… Bryan with dropkicks in the corner on Show… Show catches Bryan in a chokeslam hold on the third attempt… Bryan counters the Chokeslam with the YES Lock!!!!
Show crawls to the ropes for the break. Bryan unloads with the YES kicks to the chest of show and a big one to the head drops Show for 2… And Show kicks out with authority… Bryan goes to the top rope, but Roman Reigns runs in and cracks Big Show with the SUPERMAN PUNCH… And Bryan gets DQ’d…. Big Show wins on a DQ in 14:40….
Daniel Bryan still on the ropes after the match, nails Reigns with a dropkick off the top rope sends Roman to the floor!!! Reigns gets up and attacks Bryan and whips him to the floor… Bryan then rushes back in at Reigns, and the two men roll around fighting….
They take the fight to the floor, and the crowd really isn’t sure what to do…. Reigns drives Bryan into the barricade, but Daniel battles right back… And the officials are sent out to break things up… Crowd chants “Let Them Fight” as the two men try and get at each other while those super strong officials hold them back…
Both men cool off and the referees back away…. Bryan offers to shake Reigns hand…. The two men shake hands and start to walk away, then THEY BOTH ATTACK EACH OTHER AGAIN!!!! Bryan dropkicks Reigns to the floor and lands a SUICIDE DIVE!!!!
Reigns comes back and dumps Bryan into the crowd… The two men start fighting their way through the crowd…. Bryan smashes Reigns with a chair… And Reigns gives one right back… Back to ringside and the two men go tumbling over the announce table and continue brawling… Finally we get more officials and agents out and they separate the two… Bryan is standing on the announce table trying to get at Reigns… Roman is being pulled back with a busted mouth….
Reigns closes the show telling Bryan “wait til Sunday”…
Wow…. They did more in this one show to build this PPV than they’ve done in all other weeks combined… Somebody got off their ass and started making shit mean something… Kudos to Vince and whoever else… As much as last week was the worst Raw in months, I wouldn’t say this is the greatest Raw in forever, but I will say that every segment had a meaning. I like that we’ve gotten away from these Matador, midget, and Adam Rose segments, and they’re focusing on what the crowd wants to see… I found something worthwhile out of just about every segment, save for the mixed tag match and that Barrett match. And even though those segments weren’t necessarily executed the best way possible, they still built towards the PPV with Cesaro & Tyson challenging the Usos, and Ambrose getting BNB to sign the contract, and the Miz/Sandow stuff continues…
Heading into Fast Lane, on paper I felt Reigns vs. Bryan was a BIG MATCH, but it hadn’t really received the heat it needed… The closing of this show solidified this match and we SHOULD have a hot crowd for it.
As far as this Raw goes, I’d say watch the Ambrose/Harper and Ziggler/Rollins matches. Everything else was nothing special in the ring, though for a Big Show match, the main event was okay. I do recommend checking out the promos and angles on the show as I felt they ranged from pretty decent to really good. Not too shabby this week WWE….
I’ll return after Fast Lane as the Road to WrestleMania really heats up…
