WWE Raw Preshow Notes 6/8/15
– It’s Stanford, Graves and Otunga yet again. This must be where they send everyone they have under contract but have nothing for…
– We go back to last week with the Rollins and Ambrose storyline, Dean still has possession of the WWE title. The two guys have a ladder match coming up at MITB for the WWE Title. The panel discusses this at length.
– Up next, they discuss the MITB match. We relive Roman-Mania from last week where Reigns had three different matches… Don’t remind me…
– This isn’t preshow related, but already announced online for tonight is Reigns vs. Kofi, Kane vs. Ziggler, Orton vs. Sheamys… AGAIN. Ugh… Plus Big Show and Ryback on MizTV… Yes, they’re pretty much telling fans to tune out NOW…
– Did you hear the one about that Kevin Owens guy beating John Cena at the last PPV, ya know, 8 days ago??? Well just in case you’re living under a rock, we get a reminder. They air some of the whiny promo from Owens last week, and some of John’s follow up which was actually pretty damn good…
– Just found out Byron Saxton is replacing Booker T on Raw tonight… Not sure how to take that…
– Last week Big Show returned, knocked out Miz, and called out Ryback. We get all three in the ring tonight for a promo. Sounds intense! sigh…
– This preshow has pretty much talked me out of even writing a review tonight, and save myself the torture. But I won’t be conducting the Raw Report live next week because I will be taking my kids to the show. I do plan to review the show the following day however… Anyway, since I won’t be doing a live review next week, I will power my way through tonight’s show… Who knows, maybe something good will happen! Going to TRY and be optimistic…
– Dean Ambrose is in New Orleans… There’s a plus. That’ll do it for the preshow…
The WWE Raw Report 6/8/15 from the Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
– We kick off with John Cena on his way to the ring. Refreshing not to get Rollins and HHH immediately. We prepare for another US Open Challenge. Hopefully we don’t get too much of a promo since his nose is visibly busted from last night’s house show… Cena pimps MITB and his match with Owens. Cena then talks about fighting for everyone, even the people who say he sucks. Cena puts over him being the sure bet for Sunday…
Kevin Owens interrupts. He calls Cena delusional for thinking he’s going to win. Owens says the people are sick of watching Cena open Raw for the last 10 years. The people want to see something different, so Owens suggests an NXT TITLE OPEN CHALLENGE match.
Cena thinks it’s a great idea. CENA ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE… Owens mentions that they’re fighting Sunday, so Cena can’t fight him tonight… Cena talks about his Open Challenge being for EVERYONE… But Owens picks and chooses who can challenge him. Cena taunts Owens a little more and then reiterates that the U.S. Open Challenge starts now…
Kevin Owens says he’s ignoring Cena’s comments, and that both of them should allow the Superstar who comes to ringside to decide which title they want to fight for…
It’s NEVILLE!!!
Not much of a shock there, he’s the odd man out of the MITB match, the only one that didn’t have a match scheduled tonight…
Neville says he would like to fight Cena again…. One day…. But he wants Kevin Owens, because Owens has disrespected everyone as a champion…
Neville chooses Owens, and Cena joins for commentary…. Next…
–Commercial Break–
1. NXT Champion Kevin Owens vs. Neville
Neville lands a running rana to start sending Kevin outside where Neville lands a somersault twisty dive thingy over the top rope… Back inside, Owens takes over and lands the running cannonball in the corner for 2… Cena refers to himself as Babe Ruth om commentary. Wow… Owens lands a fireman’s carry into a gut buster, and then a senton gets 2… Owens continues to dominate into the commercial.
Back from break, Neville breaks a chinlock and counters a fireman’s carry into a spike DDT on KO… Owens winds up taking a spill to the floor and Nevill lands a springboard top rope moonsault to the floor… Neville Springboard dropkick back inside gets a 2 count… Owens comes back with a Firherman’s buster onto his knee… NASTY… Gets a near fall…
Neville battles back with a release German Suplex, and then a delayed bridging German suplex gets a near fall on Owens… Neville goes up top, but Owens stops him. Neville drops Owens with a big kick… RED ARROW, Owens moves, Neville lands on his feet… Another big kick from Neville… Owens down, Neville goes up for Red Arrow again… Owens up, he knocks Neville off the top rope… POP UP POWERBOMB wins it in 12:53…
That will likely end the GOOD portion of Raw…
Kevin Owens invites John Cena back into the ring. Cena slides in. Both men hold their titles in a stare down. Owens eventually walks off.
That will likely end the GOOD portion of Raw…
– Long video package covering the Ambrose/Rollins issues from last week.
–Commercial Break–
– HHH & Stephanie backstage. Rollins walks in. They’re checking out social media and the pictures Dean Ambrose is putting up of himself with the WWE Title all over New Orleans… Rollins wants to know what the Auhtority are going to do about it. Stephanie says Seth made it clear last week he didn’t want their help. Rollins says he didn’t want the “7 foot piece of crap” Kane’s help, or J&J’s help, but he respects Trips and Steph… Steph says Rollins doesn’t need them for the match at MITB, they will be there, but Seth doesn’t need them getting involved… HHH will allow Rollins to pick his own opponent tonight to prove himself before MITB PPV…
I wonder if they give Reigns the MITB win, then Authority help Reigns cash in and beat Rollins and/or Ambrose? Since Reigns keeps proving himself without help. Eh, booking out loud..
– We learn Paige gets another title shot against Nikki at MITB after the twin magic gimmick from last week. Nikki cuts a promo with Renee Young in the back. Nikki has Summer Rae tonight in the ring. Nikki says Paige is making excuses and she’s just not good enough. Nikki admits this might be “Paige’s House”, but her house is in the Bella’s World… Awww snap… Divas action next.
–Commercial Break–
2. Divas Champion Nikki Bella vs. Summer Rae
Back and forth blah. Summer locks in a Cobra Clutch for a REST HOLD. A little more blah. Rack Attack ends it out of nowhere in 2:15. I think they picked the wrong Diva to lead into the #givedivasachance program… These girls are screwed when the NXT girls start getting called up…
– We go back to last week and see Roman Reigns wrestle 3 matches… Poor Bray Wyatt even does the job.
–Commercial Break–
– Roman Reigns out for a promo. He used to hate looking at the MITB briefcase, because it was attached to Seth Rollins. But now he likes it. Roman is going to go through the other men in the match and go on to be the MITB winner and challenge the new champion, which will be Dean Ambrose.
Kane interrupts. He says based on Roman’s track record that everyone in the match has a better chance of winning than Roman. Kane calls Reigns weak and says that Kane has entered the MITB match per the Authority and his job is to win. Reigns challenges Kane to come in the ring.
Dolph Ziggler makes his way out next… Dolph refers to Kane as the biggest TOOL in WWE. Kane threatens both Ziggler and Reigns.
R-TRUTH COMES OUT…. WTF? How many of these things are they going to keep sticking this guy in? Truth says he conquered his fears of the ladder at WrestleMania… Truth talks about what he’s going to do this Sunday in MITB… In a comedy bit Kane informs Truth he’s not even in the match… This is done in a comedic style, mind you… Truth apologizes, he made an honest mistake… Truth walks off… WTF was that???? lol…
The New Day interrupt… New Day Sucks… They cut a short promo. Kane cuts them off…. But then Kane gets cut off by Sheamus, fella… Sheamus has a big smile of amusement because all these other people think they have a chance of winning… fella. You sillies, don’t you know Sheamus is going to win? fella.
Kane asks if there’s anyone else left to come out. Nobody responds, so Kane continues. He actually CUES Randy Orton to the ring… A heel just cued a face to come to the ring? Ummm ok…
Orton starts to make his way to the ring to wrestle Sheamus as we head to break… Wow, what a crap segment. NEW WRITERS PLEASE….
R-Truth is above and beyond the best thing in this promo, and he’s not even in the match…
–Commercial Break–
3. Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
If this is as “good” as every other match these two have had against each other, you’re in for something really shitty special. Sheamus controls first, then Orton takes over on the floor. It’s back and forth, Orton hits his backbreaker at one point. Randy goes to the middle rope, Sheamus knocks him off to the floot and we mercifully go to commercial…
Back from break, Orton breaks the chinlock but his offense is short lived. Sheamus toys with Orton, Randy punches back. Orton fires up with some clotheslines and his snap powerslam… Orton lands the Exploder suplex and goes for the suspension DDT, and CONNECTS… Orton sets up for the RKO… Sheamus blocks, goes for the Brogue Kick, bus misses… Orton clotheslines Sheamus outside and he follows…
Sheamus tosses Orton over the announce table and grabs a chair, just like last week… Sheamus goes to swing the chair but Orton blocks and takes the chair. Orton slings the chair at Sheamus and gets DQ’d… Orton gets DQ’d in 13:12.
Orton beats down Sheamus after the match, beating him down on the announce table and into the steel steps, before landing an RKO in the ring to close the segment…
– Backstage J&J Security confront Seth Rollins about him saying he doesn’t need them. Noble says they have confidence in Rollins and they forgive him. Noble says they’d be happy to be in his corner at MITB and tonight. Rollins says he meant everything he said about them, they’d be nothing without him. Rollins said he made them security because he felt sorry for them. Seth calls them morons for allowing Ambrose to take the title and says he never needed either of them.
Noble says SCREW YOU to Rollins, amongst using other great words like “tarnation”…. Rollins is pissed at them, so he picks Jamie Noble AND Joey Mercury to wrestle him tonight in a handi cap match…
Rollins SLAPS Noble, Noble SLAPS ROLLINS!!!! Awww shit…
Joey Mercury breaks it up… MERCURY SPEAKS!!!! MERCURY SPEAKS!!!! Mercury informs Seth they’re not jokes, and tonight they’re kicking Rollins’ ass…
This looks more and more like a Reigns heel turn… orrr they could just be doing the same setup bit they’ve done 10 times this year already.
–Commercial Break–
4. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kane
The bell sounds as we return from break, the guys already in the ring. Lana watches from the middle of the aisle, not sure why Ziggles makes her stand so far away. Ziggles tries to start off hot, but Kane takes over. We get the imminent chinlock. Dolph breaks but Kane lands a back suplex for 2. Kane beats down on Zigglesworth some more. Lana must really dig this. Sideslam gets Kane another near fall. Dolph comes back with the jumping DDT, it gets 2. Dolph tries the Zigzag, Kane holds the ropes to block. Kane lands the BIG BOOT, and gets 2… Raw goes to break.
Back from break, Kane smashes Ziggles in the corner. Dolph finally dropkicks Kane’s leg out from under him and lands the Famouser for a near fall… Kane catches a superkick, tries a chokeslam, Dolph escapes and manages to land the SUPERKICK… Both men down. Meanwhile, Rusev comes hobbling out on crutches to confront Lana. Lana inadvertantly gets knocked off the ramp and begins to limp. This distracts Dolph, leading to Kane landing the chokeslam for the win in 9:35.
Officials are out to check on Lana’s injured ankle while Rusev laughs.
Ziggler comes to check on Lana, officials are concerned, they treat this like someone broke their neck… She twisted her freakin’ ankle, Jesus….
– Backstage Noble and Mercury are planning their strategy against Seth Rollins. Mercury speaks again.
– It should be noted that throughout the entire night they’ve been showing social media images of Dean Ambrose all over New Orleans flaunting the WWE Title.
–Commercial Break–
– Backstage, Lana is being attended to while Ziggler aids her.
– Back in the ring it’s time for MIZ-TV. Miz is pissed that Big Show knocked him out and says his lawyers are looking into legal action. Miz feels robbed of his title match with Ryback last week. Miz is interrupted by Ryback…
Ryback says he was the one who was robbed last week because he didn’t get to rip Miz’s face off. Miz is upset Ryback came out before he was introduced. Ryback runs down Miz’s credentials before Miz has a chance. Miz wants to be blunt with Ryback, and tells him he’s ugly. Miz wants to talk about the value of having a good looking face. “Feed Me More” chants over the Miz. Miz wants to talk about how valuable his face is, and is upset Big Show hurt his face. Miz says Ryback should be furious at the Big Show for preventing Ryback’s right of defending the IC Title against a “megastar” like Miz.
Big Show makes his way out. Show calmly takes a seat in between both men. Big Show says he hates Miz more than any partner he ever had. It turns into a three way talk show with everyone going back and forth. Ryback offers Big Show to take the IC Title. Miz keeps trying to instigate a fight, Big Show threatens him.
MIZ ATTACKS BIG SHOW with the microphone. Show tosses Ryback to the side and goes after Miz, who runs off. Show turns around into a giant SHELL SHOCK to end the segment… I thought they’d save that for the PPV.
–Commercial Break–
5. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan vs. Los Matadores (w/Torito)
Harper & Rowan maul the Matadores… They land 3D!!!! They call it “The Way”. 3D ends it in 2:17. They lay the other Matador out with a 3D as well…
Luke Harper cuts a promo. TICK TOCK, judgment time is coming. Rowan says it’s okay to be afraid, we should be.
– Backstage Kane is laughing at Rollins about Ambrose having the WWE Title. Kane tells Seth he’s in a no-win situation. Either Seth loses at MITB, or he wins and has to meet the MITB winner, Kane. Some back and forth convo follows, nothing to note.
–Commercial Break–
6. Titus O”Neil (w/Darren Young) vs. Big E (w/Xavier Woods & Kofi)
Apparently Big E is the “Minister of Mash”. E in control to begin. Big E works the ribs of Titus. O’Neil comes back and picks E up and drives him into the corner, an insane shoulder smash sends Big E down. Woods and Kofi both distract Titus, Big E lands the Big Ending to end this in 3:09.
ROMAN REIGNS ON HIS WAY TO THE RING FOR THE NEXT MATCH….
–Commercial Break–
– R-Truth vs. King Barrett on the MITB Kickoff Show…. King of the Ring did Barrett wonders.
7. Roman Reigns vs. Kofi Kingston (w/Big E & Xavier Woods)
Reigns dominates, Kofi stalls, Kingston eventually gets sent to the floor. Reigns teases a dive, but all 3 New Day members run… Reigns sneaks around and hits a running dive off the steps laying out Woods… Roman stands up into a baseball slide kick from Kofi… Reigns is laid out on the floor as we go to break.
Back from break, Reigns breaks a chinlock but Kofi trips him down. Kingston off the top with a double axe handle for 2… Wow, High Flying Innovation there… lol. Roman dodges a corner splash and clotheslines Kofi’s face off… twice. Kingston ducks a punch, they screw up a spot, but Reigns still manages a powerslam or something out of it. They go back to the previous spot, Kofi tries for the S.O.S., but Reigns counters into the one handed powerbomb for a near fall…
Big E distracts Reigns and gets nailed for his troubles. Xavier distracts and allows Kofi to roll Reigns up for a near fall… Kofi comes flying off the top into a SUPERMAN PUNCH… That sends Kofi into next week… And Reigns gets the win in 12:08.
– Rather than leave ringside, Roman Reigns waits at ringside when Dean Ambrose’s music hits… Dean has bought a ticket… Ambrose comes out through the fans with popcorn and a soft drink to be a front row spectator… So Ambrose, a guy on the WWE roster, needs a ticket to be here…. YET THEY PLAY HIS MUSIC when he comes to watch???????
Backstage Seth Rollins is with HHH & Stephanie. They taunt Seth about Dean at ringside. HHH asks if Seth wants to ask him anything. Rollins is silent. HHH wishes him good luck.
–Commercial Break–
– Machine Gun Kelly on Raw next week… Don’t remind me.
Kane accompanies J&J for the main event.
8. Seth Rollins vs. Joey Mercury & Jamie Noble (w/Kane)
This is a handicap match, as if you didn’t know. It’s also starting at like 11:05, so that’s interesting… We’ve got Ambrose at ringside, Kane at ringside, J&J in the ring vs.Seth… Mercury starts. Joey and Seth trade wristlocks and counters. Noble tags in. Rollins tosses both men to the floor and invites them back inside. Kane consults J&J and they attack Seth from opposite sides. Kane distracts Seth and the ref while J&J attack Rollins and send Seth to the floor… Seth stands up right in front of Ambrose and Dean throws popcorn on him… Mercury lays Seth out with a nice dropkick and a deep armdrag. Rollins comes back and knocks Noble off the apron and throws Mercury to the floor. Seth beats down Mercury on the floor and then talks smack with Ambrose….
Back in the ring, Rollins beats down Mercury forever. Mercury surprises Seth with a sunset flip for a near fall. Seth misses a splash in the corner and Mercury finally hot tags to Noble. Noble is a TRAILER OF FIRE… He knocks Seth around, blows a spot, does a funny dance, and lands a neckbreaker for 2… “You still got it” chants. Noble goes up top but gets knocked off… Seth suplexes Noble in from the apron, Merucry trips him and holds Seth’s foot down….Jamie lands on top. 1……..2………..Seth kicks out…
Seth lays Noble out with a superkick, then Powerbombs Mercury into Noble in the corner and tosses Joey outside… Seth smacks Noble around. He sets up for the pedigree, Ambrose distracts…Dean throws the WWE Title into the ring… Seth bends over to pick it up… MERCURY ROLLS SETH UP…1…………….2……………………….3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mercury pins Rollins in like 7 or 8 minutes!!!!
Seth loses!!! Kane leaves with J&J, Seth is still happy to have his title back… BUT…. DIRTY DEEDS ON ROLLINS….
Ambrose leaves with the WWE Title…. AGAIN!!!
See ya Sunday at MITB…
