WWE Raw Preshow Notes 4/6/15

– It’s Stanford, Corey Graves & Otunga. We spend some time on the WWE title picture. Brock Lesnar killed everyone last week, Michael Cole will NOT be here this week. Lesnar is suspended. The panel discusses Rollins’ current challenger picture. Orton and Reigns are discussed, and Lesnar is still owed a rematch.

– Cena had a hell of a match with Ambrose last week. Cena returns this week for another open challenge. Will Rusev take advantage?

– The continue to hype the hell out of Jericho’s Podcast after Raw with Cena as guest.

– We get MIZ VS. SANDOW TONIGHT!

– They acknowledge AJ has retired and talk about the future of the Divas division.

– Sheamus returns last week… and he looked absolutely ridiculous. Last week on Smackdown Sheamus took on Bryan. Wade Barrett interferes and costs Bryan. They discuss the IC title picture.

The WWE Raw Report 4/6/15 from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas

– Oh shit… Byron Saxton is back… Sink or swim buddy…. At least he has JBL and Booker T with him… Did I just say that?

– Well, they knew better than to pull out this promo last week with the post Mania crowd… But we get it this week… Here’s Seth Rollins in the ring with Kane, Big Show & J&J. Rollins claims HHH & Stephanie are away on vacation. The biggest take away from WrestleMania was that the Authority ALWAYS wins… The Authority had moments all night long. HHH beat Sting, Show won the Battle Royal, Rollins is the WWE Champ. And Kane… Kane… Kane… was there too.. lol….

Big Show he’s the greatest giant of all time, so he’s not in Andre’s shadow. Show then puts over the new champ Rollins. Seth says he’s the greatest champ of ALL time… Show talks about the epic memory of Seth’s title win. And back to Kane… who was at WrestleMania… lol

Randy Orton cuts Kane off. PLEASE DON’T CHALLENGE KANE… Orton talks about beating Seth at Mania and deserving a title shot. Orton wants a title shot. Kane is in charge with Trips and Steph gone. Kane declines the offer and says he is considering other superstars. But tonight, there will be a $1 contender Triple Threat Match to determine who will meet Rollins at Extreme Rules. The three men involved are Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Ryback… Furthermore, all three men have to wrestle singles matches BEFORE the Triple Thread… And Orton’s match is NEXT! Against…. KANE…. NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

1. Randy Orton vs. Kane

Wow no commercial break first? Well I presume this should be a quick spill to the floor leading to a break… And sure enough… A quick back and forth and Orton bumps to the floor, and we’re off to commercial a minute into the match… That wasn’t predictable or anything…

On the APP- Back in the ring Kane briefly maintains control before he telegraphs a backdrop. Orton comes back for a bit but Kane goes right back on top and lands the old Big Boss Man baseball slide to the floor and uppercut combo and that gets 2.

Back to USA, Orton fights out of a chinlock but runs into a Big Boot. Orton staggers around while Kane stands there waiting for a Side Slam, which finally connects for 2… Orton blocks a chokeslam and eventually lands a powerslam. Suspension DDT on the ropes to Kane. Kane rolls outside to escape an RKO but Randy lays him out with a clothesline outside and drives Kane into the barricade. Kane finally ends the match after whacking Orton with a chair. Orton gets the DQ win in about 7:00.

After the match, Kane tries to chokeslam Orton on the chair, but Orton escapes and tries an RKO on the chair, but Kane rolls out…

– Later tonight, Roman Reigns vs. Big Show, and Ryback vs. Luke Harper

— Commercial Break —

– WWE App – Tom Phillips talks the New Day’s recent heel behavior and their issues with the Prime Time Players last week on Smackdown.

– Back on Raw, the announcers talk about AJ Lee’s recent retirement.

– Kane is pissed backstage and BRAD MADDOX is here. Kane yells at Maddox, when Seth Rollins steps in and trashes Kane for booking the triple threat match. Kane points out he’s the reason that Rollins even won MITB. Kane says Rollins having a big title match at Extreme Rules is good for business. Kane wonders if Seth is afraid of Randy Orton. Seth says Kane stepping down from power is best for business. Kane points out Trips and Steph aren’t here. Seth says when they return Kane is done. Kane responds by booking Rollins in a match, next…. But he doesn’t name an opponent.

– We kill some time by going back to last week and watching Brock Lesnar wreak havoc on the world.

– WWE App interview with Curtis Axel… AxelMania will live forever…

— Commercial Break —

Wasn’t February just free??? Not April is free for new subscribers… Boy people who have had the Network since Day 1 like myself must really love this… Guess this means another month of no updates… Hooray.

Let’s hope this isn’t Dean Ambrose so that he can job yet again…

2. Seth Rollins (w/J&J Security) vs. Neville

Was this is an interesting surprise… Rollins cuts a promo on Neville, who just debuted last week and now he faces the WWE Champion. Seth tells Neville to talk, but he takes the mic back. “Let’s Go Neville” chants… Seth tells Neville to sit this one out, but Neville responds with a spinning back kick… And Seth isn’t happy. The bell sounds, Neville with some quick flashy stuff, but Seth takes over. Neville explodes with the double hand spring, a jumping huracan rana sends Seth to the floor and a twisting plancha over the top rope onto Rollins, and Neville lands on his feet… We head to break.

On the App – Seth gets back inside the ring and takes over. Rollins tosses Neville outside and Mercury throws Neville into the barricade. Seth continues control on the floor. Seth hooks a chinlock so we must be heading back to USA…

Back from break, Rollins with a downward spiral sends Neville’s face into the middle buckle for 2… Neville tries a comeback but eats a Pelé enzuigiri and Seth gets 2. Neville with some hope spots, and finally a jaw breaker gives Neville a chance to go on the offense. A series of forearms and kicks by Neville, but Seth turns him inside out with a clothesline for 2… Seth slaps Nville around, and Neville slaps him hard right back… Rollins tries the powerbomb in the corner, but Neville HURACAN RANA SENDS SETH UPSIDE DOWN IN THE CORNER… Neville with the boot to the face… Neville goes up for the Red Arrow but J&J distracts and Seth gets up… Neville tries a huracan rana, but Seth counters and lands the Powerbomb in the corner and the CURB STOMP ends it in 11:27.

Neville really handled himself well to be on Raw against the champ. Perfectly good match and story told here for his first real challenge. This did him a lot of good, and the fact that he was able to take advantage of the opportunity helped him a bunch.

— Commercial Break —

WWE App interview with the Miz… As you may guess he trash talks the ingrate Sandow…

– John Cena is out for this week’s open challenge. Lots of the usual stuff, he talks Rusev sitting on his butt waiting for Extreme Rules. Cena gives a warning to whoever accepts his challenge tonight, they have an opportunity to compete, but he will remain the champion… This week’s challenger is….

3. U.S. Champion John Cena vs. Stardust

Back and forth to start and Cody totally blows a spot… Cena tosses Stardust outside, Cody skins the cat back in but Cena is ready for him… Cena hits a looooooooooooooooooooong delayed suplex on Cody for 2. Cena controls for a long time to be the face in the match… Stardust finally takes a powder outside the ring and we go to break.

On the App, it’s Cena still in control with a back suplex gets 2. Stardust outside again, Cena follows and Cody FINALLY takes over after he posts Cena. Cena just about no sells that and comes back with a gutwrench suplex in the ring… Cena with a big boot to the head and we come back from break.

Back from break, Cody blocks an AA and hits a Disaster Kick of sorts for 2… Yayy his first wrestling move! DIAMOND DUST on Cena gets 2… Cody with a springboard, but right into a powerbomb from Cena. Cody lands on his feet from a AA attempt and lands the Alabama Slam for 2. Stardust tries Cross Rhodes, but Cena counters with a Michinoku Driver looking thing for 2… Cody sunset flip gets 2… And Cena comes back with his typical signature stuff… You Can’t See Me, gets blocked… Cody with a spike DDT for a near fall….

Cody lands a moonsault body block for 2… You can hear the ref tell him to take it home… LOL… Cena trips Cody up and locks in the STF…. Cody gets the ropes! CROSS RHODES… 1………2………….CENA KICKS OUT. Cody argues with referee Charles Robinson and Cena back up. Cena hits that crappy loking Springboard backwards Stunner thing that he learned from a video game, and then the AA ends it in 13:30… The crowd craps all over the stunner thingy, dunno if Cena will keep using it or not.

– Backstage the Bellas are headed towards the ring. Brie randomly calls people losers… I wonder what Daniel Bryan thinks about that?

– WWE App interview with Chris Jericho who puts over his podcast with Cena tonight.

— Commercial Break —

4. Paige & Naomi vs. Nikki & Brie Bella

Paige starts off, but the Bellas eventually get control and work her over. Double Slingshot Suplex on Paige gets 2. Nikki misses a charge in the corner, and Naomi gets the hot tag. Naomi with a kick to Nikki’a face and a flying rana. Naomi knocks Brie to the floor, she blows a spot and falls on her ass, but connects with a Rear View on Nikki. Brie breaks up the count… Paige lays her out with a superkick. Paige & Brie spill to the floor. Naomi nails Nikki with that head scissors into a DDT, but Nikki blows the spot… Naomi gets the win in about 5:00. Some sloppy spots in the finish for sure… Not the best Divas match of late, that’s for sure.

– Prime Time Players promo backstage, they mock New Day once again… Then they mock The Ascension with generic football shoulderpads and tin foil. Titus calls them Flying Monkeys mixed with LOD… Well, at least they’re taking shots at teams people hate. Love those Prime Time Wrestling logo shirts!!!

— Commercial Break —

– We learn that Dean Ambrose isn’t here tonight based on Luke Harper taking him out on Smackdown. So no Ambrose, and Ziggler & Bryan aren’t scheduled for any of the meaningful stuff tonight… And no mention of Wyatt… Blah.

5. Ryback vs. Luke Harper

Some smash mouth stuff to start, Ryback looking good. Ryback tries for the meat hook but runs into a Superkick from Harper. The two men go to the floor. Harper teases using the table, but goes after Ryback in the ring with a swinging sidewalk slam for 2… Harper locks in a variation of the crippler crossface but Ryback gets to the ropes… Harper misses a corner charge and Shell Shock ends it rather abruptly in only 2:45…

Soooo… Harper killed Ambrose, but Ryback beats Harper in 2:00???

– Renee Young interviews New Day and brings up the “New Day Sucks” chants. Xavier says it hurts… Kofi plays up being a face but does it mockingly… Big E mocks children who tell him he sucks but want an autograph… Nothing will bring the New Day down!!! They start to clap to get some New Day Sucks chants going… I think they found their niche.

– WWE App interview with Stardust… The usual incoherence…

— Commercial Break —

6. The New Day – Big E & Xavier Woods vs. The Lucha Dragons

“New Day Sucks” chant starts immediately. “Lucha” chants follow. New Day heels it up and beats down Cara in their corner. The fans tell Xavier he sucks, so he grabs a chinlock. Kalisto tags in and he’s all over Woods. Big E tosses him off… Kalisto comes back and turns a waistlock suplex into a standing sliced bread on Woods, then lands a back flip dive over the top onto Big E & Kofi on the floor… Cara has been tagged in and hits Woods with a somersault senton for the win in 3:00.

The tag champs are shown in the back looking on.

— Commercial Break —

7. Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show

Show dominates to start, inside and outside the ring… Show missing something outside and Reigns lands a apron dropkick. Big Show comes back with a spear on the floor and we mercifully go to break…

Oh shit, I forgot this thing continues on the App… Dammit… Big Show continues on offense, not much to see here.

Back from break, Show continues to dominate. Reigns comes back out of nowhere with a spear for the win in 10:40. That did Reigns NO favors…

– Backstage, Kane is on the phone sending a message to the Authority that he has everything under control. The “B” Divas show up and butter up Kane. They want a Battle Royal to determine the #1 contender for the Divas Title. Kane has a headache, so he grants them their wish, for next week.

– Sheamus is out next… Fella.

– WWE App interview with Bad News Barrett… It’s basically what you’d expect.

— Commercial Break —

– Roman Reigns says Big Show didn’t stop him, and nothing will…

– Sheamus has new music… My 6 year old exclaims “What is this stupid music?”. See, even a 6 year old can tell it sucks!!! Sheamus starts to cut a promo when a “You Look Stupid” chant begins. Sheamus has always been a warrior in a world full of insects. Sheamus rips on the smaller guys like Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan. Sheamus says he’d pci on someone his size, but there aren’t many….

Mark Henry interrupts!

8. Mark Henry vs. Sheamus

Sheamus teases leaving before the match, he climbs to the apron and calls Henry a has been. Henry yanks Sheamus back into the ring and the match begins. Henry takes over to begin, eventually Sheamus comes back, escapes a World’s Storngest Slam, and lays Henry out with the Brogue Kick for the win in maybe 2:30.

— Commercial Break —

– Bray Wyatt Promo. Wyatt says you can’t compete with fear. Your drive for success doesn’t mold you… It’s your fear that costs you. Not sure if he’s talking to someone in particular or just in general. He’s still the new face of fear…

– Renee Young with Ryback. The big guy is hungry for the WWE Title. Feed me more.

– WWE App interview with Tyson, Cesaro & Natalya. As bad as usual… FACT!

— Commercial Break —

9. The Miz vs. Damien Sandow

Totally forgot about this match. Sandow enters to the same theme as the Miz, he’s also dressed the same. lol. Miz plays to the crowd to draw in boos. Sandow does the same and gets cheers. Sandow knocks Miz off the apron and they fight on the floor. Sandow whiffs on a kneelift because Miz dodges it… Sandow finally removes his shades and takes control. Miz with a Big Boot to take over. Sandow comes back with knee strikes and sends Miz to the floor. Miz lures Sandow outside for a chase and takes back over in the ring. Miz mounts the back of Sandow and winds up taking an Ocean Cyclone suplex. Sandow uses the Miz’s backbreaker neckbreaker combo. Sandow goes for the Finale, but Miz blocks it… Miz tries to kick Damien low, but Sandow catches it and drills him with punches… A little back and forth and Miz rolls him up for the win with the hook of the tights in 5:00…

Sandow looking salty in the ring.

– Renee Young with Randy Orton. He beat Rollins at Mania, so shouldn’t he be the #1 contender? You’d think that… But instead, he will have to earn it… next.

— Commercial Break —

Triple Threat #1 Contender’s Match
9. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns vs. Ryback

Everybody trades shots, Reigns drops Ryback with a clothesline for 2. Guys start breaking up each other’s pins… Seth Rollins and the rest of the chronies come out to the stage to watch the match. Orton gets tossed to the floor, Ryback sets Reigns up for the meat hook clothesline, but Orton cuts him off with his own clothesline. Orton with powerslams on both guys…

It’s back and forth between all 3 guys… Superman Punch on Orton, then Ryback with a spinebuster on Reigns… Meat hook clothesline on Roman! Ryback with a Spinebuster on Orton. Randy escapes Shell Shock and Reigns spears Ryback and Ryback out to the floor. Now the Authority comes to ringside…

REIGNS DIVES OUT ONTO THE ENTIRE AUTHORITY…. Reigns goes after Rollins but takes Big Show’s KNOCKOUT PUNCH… TWICE…. Rollins gloats from ringside and Orton goes after him. J&J Security attack Orton, but Ryback lays J&J out, but Ryback turns into an RKO… Orton covers… wins in 5:12…. REALLY? 5:00 job by Ryback??? And I’m supposed to support this Orton win?

Orton eats a Curb Stomp immediately after the win. Rollins kneels over Orton with the belt smiling to end the show…

For those heading to the WWE Network, enjoy the Jericho Podcast.