WWE Raw Preshow Notes

– It’s the usual trio of Stanford, Otunga & Graves at WWE HQ… We learn it’s Ambrose vs. Wyatt tonight for the 9,687,492 time. Also Ryback and Orton vs. Big Show & Sheamus.

– We relive Brock Lesnar destroying J&J’s car from last week. Long discussion on the Lesnar/Rollins feud.

– John Cena joins the show via phone to discuss his new movie coming out Friday, Trainwrecked. Cena also talks the U.S. Title Open Challenge and Kevin Owens.

– We learn that Nikki Bella plans to address the Divas division tonight…. And with reports of Charlotte and Becky Lynch in the building this could escalate into something new.

– Stanford quickly mentions Stardust will return… And we’re off to Raw…

WWE Raw 7/13/15 from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia

Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman / Seth Rollins & Kane Promo

– Raw kicks off with what’s left of the smashed Cadillac sitting next to the entrance ramp. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are out. We lear that Noble and Mercury are out indefinitely from the injuries sustained from Lesnar last week. “Suplex City” chant follows. Heyman talks about how rare it is to see Brock as a challenger. When he was a rookie he was a challenger and killed the Rock for the title. When Brock came to UFC as a challenger and conquered Randy Couture… Last Summer Slam Brock was challenger to Cena and walked out champion again… If it wasn’t for slimy Rollins, Brock would still be champion today. But this Sunday night. Heyman pleads the fans to watch Lesnar walk in a challenger and walk out the champion once again. Heyman says Rollins is going to get murdered by Lesnar.

Seth Rollins cuts the promo off as he comes out with Kane, back from “Hawaii” without a tan. Rollins asks Brock if he’s proud of himself for last week and says he will wipe Lesnar’s smile off his face last week. Rollins can’t seem to say the word “inanimate” as he tried repeatedly and the crowd lets him have it, lol… Apparently the smashed car is a symbol of what Rollins is going to look like after Battleground. But Rollins says his symbol is the WWE Title. Seth calls Brock a thug, a criminal, a vandal. Rollins says he’s going to burn Suplex City to the ground at the PPV.

BROCK SPEAKS! “I can take you to Suplex City Tonight BITCH!”. lmao….

Kane cuts Brock off. Kane wants everyone to remain calm until the CONTRACT SIGNING later tonight. Ugh. Kane promises to make sure it will go smoothly. Double Ugh. Kane says if Lesnar does anything to threaten the match—–Heyman cuts him off and asks Kane if he’s threatening Brock Lesnar and them mocks Kane as the Undertaker’s Baby Brother… “Baby Brother” chants. Kane is mad now. Heyman mocks Brock beating Taker’s streak. Heyman even mocks a “contract signing” segment by wondering what could go wrong with that… Heyman says the contract signing will go fine unless Seth breaks Commandment #11, do not provoke Brock Lesnar. If Seth does anything to provoke Lesnar, then Suplex City comes to Atlanta tonight..

— Commercial Break —

1. Ryback & Randy Orton vs. Sheamus & The Big Show

We’ve got Miz on commentary. Ryback and Sheamus start off, stiff clubbering from both leads to RYBACK WITH A SLINGSHOT PLANCHA TO THE FLOOR!!!! WOW. The crowd chants “Feed Me More” as we go to break…

Back from break, Orton puts a beating on Sheamus. Miz puts himself over on commentary. Ryback tags back in and continues to punish Sheamus in the corner. Finally, Sheamus gets in a cheap shot and tags Big Show in to work over Ryback briefly… But it doesn’t last, as Sheamus tags back in the faces are right back in control. Ryback and Orton hit a nice Atomic Drop/Orton dropkick combo spot. Orton and Sheamus take the fight outside for a bit, and then back inside where Sheamus catches Orton with a knee to the gut and the heels finally gain control 8 minutes into the match… Sheamus stiffs Orton with a flying forearm, and Randy comically rolls outside and takes a swing at the air before taking a comedy bump… Well, that was out of place… lol… Anyway, this match takes ANOTHER commercial break… Jesus…

Back from break, AGAIN… Sheamus has Orton in that chinlock, Randy escapes but takes the Irish Curse BACKBREAKER. So much for the rumor the announcers can’t say “backbreaker” anymore. Show and Sheamus work Orton over in their corner. Show repeatedly stands on the chest of Randy. Show calls for the Chokeslam, Orton counters it with a DDT… Hot tags to Sheamus & Ryback. It’s back and forth until Ryback lands a SPINE BUSTER and calls for the Meathook… BUT THE MIZ GETS ON THE MIC TO DISTRACT… Sheamus capitalizes with a roll up for 2…

Ryback pops up with the Meathook on Sheamus and it connects!!! Big Show grabs Ryback on the apron and lands a KO PUNCH on Ryback as the Miz taunts both on the mic… Show drops off the apron and starts to chase Miz backstage…. Sheamus looks to finish Ryback off, but eats an RKO OUTTA NOWHERE from Orton… Ryback groggy but goes up top to land the flying Splash to finish off Sheamus… Orton and Ryback win after 15:12.

– Backstage, Seth Rollins is talking with Kane about the contract signing. Seth wants the signing to end well, and Kane says it will as long as Seth stays in line. Apparently there’s a plan in place.

– Dean Ambrose on his way to the ring for yet another match with Bray Wyatt. Dean is the highest profile guy they’ll let Bray beat, and poor Ambrose is back in this spot on the card.

— Commercial Break —

2. Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt

After some Black Scorpion shenanigans from last week, we see the REAL Bray Wyatt comes to ringside, and once the music stops, Roman Reigns rushes down and attacks Bray on the floor… Wyatt goes nanners all over Wyatt and hits the apron dropkick on the outside. The fight goes into the ring, Ambrose has complete disappeared from ringside… SUPERMAN PUNCH knocks Bray to the floor… Reigns comes out after him but Bray blasts Roman with the Lantern!!! Wyatt walks off up the ramp as Reigns recovers and goes after him.

And we have an abrupt commercial break… Ooooo-k. This was a weird segment… Needless to say, no match.

— Commercial Break —

Nikki Bella Addresses The Divas Division / Stephanie McMahon Promo

– The Divas get a top of the hour segment… More specifically THE BELLAS get a top of the hour segment. Joy. We’ve got the Bellas and Alicia Fox in the ring. It;s time for Nikki to address the Divas division. Nikki says she has taken no shortcuts and for 200+ days she has given EVERY Diva in WWE a chance… And this is where Foxy starts making sense as a third member of the group… I have a feeling I know what’s coming.

Nikki trashes all other Divas. Stephanie McMahon interrupts. Michael Cole calls it a “rare appearance”. I wish buddy… Stephanie wants everyone to know she owns WWE. Steph starts putting over all the great women’s sports going on right now, and says it’s time to make a change in the Divas division RIGHT NOW… Stephanie brings out Paige before making the announcement…

Nikki tries to trash talk all during Paige’s entrance. Steph stops that… Good… Stephanie says things are going to change right now. Steph calls it a REVOLUTION. Stephanie then introduces Becky Lynch from NXT. And out next, it’s Charlotte. WOOOOOO!

The heel Divas don’t appear to be impressed….

All of this is interrupted from Naomi and Tamina. Naomi says they have unfinished business with the Bellas, and Paige.

But Stephanie isn’t done announcing the NXT ladies… Sasha Banks is out next!!! Wow, major call up time… Sasha stands with naomi and Tamina, so now we have 3 teams of 3. Stephanie tells Nikki to enjoy the competition…

The Bellas try to exit but they’re stopped on both sides by the other groups… We break into a NINE WOMAN BRAWL… SPOTS GALORE… I don’t even know what the hell is going on… DIVAS GONE WILD, BY GAWD….

We end up with the three new NXT Divas stretching the Bellas and Foxy in sweet ass submission holds… CROWD IS GOING NUTS….

Paige collects Lynch and Charlotte, Sasha stands with Naomi & Tamina, the two “teams” stare each other down as Stephanie looks on in pride. The Bellas and Foxy crawl away from the ring, which the other six ladies take turns raising their groups hands.

FINALLY, the women’s crap won’t suck anymore… There IS a Santa Claus… It’s Christmas in July…

— Commercial Break —

2. The New Day vs. Mark Henry & The Prime Time Players

Guess we’re finally going to get our second real match of the night. New Day on the mic before the match, mock Atlanta. They play Henry up as a surprise partner, and New Day looks scared. The way Henry has been treated lately he might be the best bet to lose, sadly. Big E starts off, but the face have control. Big E & Kofi get knocked to the floor, Mark Henry then presses Xavier out on top of them as we go to break.

Back from break, Titus O’Neil takes a beat down in the New Day corner. Titus finally finds a way to drop Woods and hot tag to Henry who drop Xavier and knocks the other New Days off the apron. Woods manages to drop Henry… But things break down to all 6 in the ring. Everyone starts laying each other out with finishers and other things. It comes down to Woods coming off the ropes, but Henry catches him and WORLDS STRONGEST SLAM ends it in 7:55.

Henry dances with Prime Time Players post match.

— Commercial Break —

3. R-Truth vs. King Barrett

Not sure how this is still going on, but apparently they didn’t want this to make it to the PPV. Barrett takes over early with a big boot and a backbreaker for 2. Wade with a ton more near falls before Truth makes the comeback and plants Barrett with the Lie Detector for the win in 3:11.

Truth has tapes his crown back together and places it on his head, followed by the towel cape and the plunger scepter. Looks like Truth is the King again. This King of the Ring thing was an obvious failure if they turned it into a comedy bit this quickly… And the King battle continues…

– We go back to last week’s Raw, Rusev smashes his crutch over the throat of Dolph Ziggler, and not Ziggz is out indefinitely… Contracts and politics… Lame.

– And then we oddly go right into John Cena’s entrance. That was weird… Cena says the Open Challenge is up NEXT!

— Commercial Break —

Oh look, Rusev accepts, right after the video of him killing Ziggler. What a shock. Rusev blames Lana for his title loss. He says he will break Cena tonight.

Kevin Owens interrupts. Owens reiterates if anyone is going to beat Cena tonight, it’s him. Owens propositions Cena for the Open Challenge as well. Now Cena has a decision to make.

Rusev has some BAD jokes directed at Owens. Owens rebutts and tells Rusev to stick the flag up his ass….

MEANWHILE… CESARO INTERRUPTS!!!!!!

Cesaro gets right in Cena’s face and they trade words. Cesaro, Owens and Rusev all get into it and start brawling. Cena leaves the ring to let the three heels go at it… Cesaro clears the ring and rips his shirt off… Cena watches all of this with a smirk… WHO WILL FACE JOHN CENA????

FIND OUT NEXT!!!

— Commercial Break —

4. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Rusev (w/Summer Rae)

John Cena on commentary. We learn that the winner of this match will face Cena for the U.S. Title tonight! Lots of back and forth and back and forth. Owens Cannonballs Rusev, Rusev Cannonballs Owens…. Cesaro tosses Rusev in the air for the uppercut for 2… Owens does a combo Coebreaker/Senton on both guys at the same time. Cena chant breaks out for some reason. Owens goes up top for a senton but lands on Cesaro’s knees. Rusev hits his big side kick on Owens, but Cesaro breaks up the cover. Cesaro powerbombs Owens off the middle rope while Owens Superplexes Rusev off the top…

Owens comes back and plants Cesaro with a reverse spring Tornado DDT, then Rusev lands a diving headbutt on Cesaro as well. Owens and Rusev now go at it. Owens blocks a German Suplex from Rusev. Now Rusev blocks one… BUT CESARO GERMAN SUPLEXES BOTH MEN AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!!!!! Good God.

Owens and Rusev roll to the floor, but CESARO WITH A TOPE CON HILO!!! A 360 SPINNING DIVE ONTO BOTH MEN!!!!

Cesaro with a cross body on Rusev for 2 and goes for the Swing, but Owens Superkicks Cesaro. Owens with a middle rope moonsault on Rusev, but Cesaro sends Owens outside… Rusev comes back and locks in the Accolade on Cesaro, but Owens breaks it up with a Superkick!

Rusev with and Alabama Slam on Owens. ACCOLADE ON OWENS!!! Cesaro kicks Rusev’s face off and then lands a crazy delayed vertical on the big man.

Owens comes back and slaps around both guys, which just pisses them off. Cesaro and Rusev beat down Owens and toss him out of the ring… Owens says “screw this” and tells Cena he will see him on Sunday… We go to break as Cesaro vs. Rusev continues on.

I could totally see Owens running back out for the finish, but we’ll see…

Back from break, Owens is still gone, Cesaro breaks a chinlock and lands a Springboard Spinning Uppercut… Cesaro with a dropkick in the corner on Rusev. Rusev to the apron, Cesaro tries to suplex him back inside, but RUSEV COUNTERS AND SUPLEXES CESARO OUT OF THE RING!!!!

The two men get to fighting on the top rope after the recover from the floor. Rusev with a top rope gourd buster, but misses a Diving Headbutt…. Cesaro locks on the CROSSFACE!!!! Cena jumps up to prepare for the match, he thinks it’s over. Rusev doesn’t tap, he powers up and hits a swinging uranage!!!! Damn….

Rusev goes for the Crush stomo, But Cesaro turns it into the Sharpshooter! Rusev escapes that attempt and lands a spinning heel kick and goes for the Accolade again, but Cesaro blocks it and CESARO SWING!!!!!!!! And NOW the SHARPSHOOTER IS APPLIED!!!!!!

Rusev makes it to the ropes, crowd is solidly behind Cesaro. Rusev crawls under the rope to escape to the floor. CESARO WITH A CRAZY SUICIDE DIVE LANDS ON TOP OF RUSEV’S HEAD!!!! AWESOME… Cesaro with a running uppercut smashes Rusev into the barricade outside!

Back inside the ring, Cesaro goes up top but Rusev knocks him off and lands his jumping side kick… And somehow THAT ends it after everything else… Rusev wins. The crowd is stunned in silence from the out of nowhere finish. 14:02, Rusev meets Cena, NEXT.

— Commercial Break —

5. U.S. Champion John Cena vs. Rusev

Rusev is exhausted and beaten all to hell but the match is on. This match is all Cena. He just works over Rusev methodically… Cena finally goes for the AA, but Rusev maneuvers his body to land on top of Cena and RIGHT INTO THE ACCOLADE!!! Cena tries to escape, but the Accolade remains locked in… As I just wait for Owens to run in… And there it is… Owens runs in with a kick to Rusev that draws the DQ for Rusev to win in 5:00.

Owens with a Pop Up Powerbomb On Rusev after the match then shouts to Cena that he told him, nobody is taking the title from John except for Owens.

– Backstage, Kane is talking with production to make sure things are going to work. Seth Rollins interrupts and tells Kane his plan better work because if it doesn’t it all falls on Kane.

— Commercial Break —

– We’ve got LITA making her way out to the ring with the Tough Enough cast standing on the entrance stage. Lita puts over Raw and pauses for “Lita” chants. Lita wants to introduce us to this season’s cast of Tough Enough… That doesn’t go over well with the crowd… As Lita announces the Tough Enough cast, the crowd pretty much sits on their hands. However, ZZ gets a big pop. lol… Jesus. And… that’s it…. Well worth the flight expenses.

– We take a look at the Wyatt/Reigns feud next to kill some time.

– STARDUST IS BACK… It’s a backstage Stardust promo. Was SO hoping he’d go back to Cody, but Stardust it is. It’s more coherent that usual, but still it’s Stardust. They play up Neville as a comic book hero and Stardust as the villain. They show a Comic Book like picture of Neville vs. Stardust. The Man Gravity Forgot vs. The Prince of Dark Matter. It’s next…

— Commercial Break —

6. Neville vs. Stardust

Neville wants to shake hands but Stardust goes all heel on him. Cody dominates ealry, Neville comes back with a jumping enzuigiri, but Cody dodges a Red Arrow attempt and a springboard attempt. Cody takes back over and lands the Side Effect. Crowd is pretty dead, but pop from time to time in small groups. Cody with a chinlock and the crowd never even cheers for Neville to come back. So Neville comes back without fan support and hits some of his signature offense. Neville with some near falls, and a rolling cradle which Cody reverses. Stardust hooks the tights in the cradle and wins. Very sloppy finish, crowd was DEAD even for the win. My 7 year ols summed it up, “Dad this is a boring match”. I’d tend to agree, the first bad segment since Barrett/Truth. 4:06 was the time.

— Commercial Break —

– It’s contract signing time… Seth Rollins and Kane are out first. Rollins is sick of seeing the footage of Brock destroying the car. You and me both brother… Rollins then rolls video of the damage he is capable of. Video shows the week Rollins and Kane beat down Brock from 3 weeks back. Rollins says he is not afraid of Lesnar. Period. Rollins says at Battleground he will conquer the conqueror again. He will burn Suplex City to ashes. Blah blah blah.

Here comes Brock, with Heyman. After the entrance, Brock calmly sits down and Rollins follows. Heyman then begins to speak. Heyman talks about how everyone has been waiting for someone to get their hands on Seth for a long time. And now ever since Rollins beat Brock, Lesnar has been wanting to get his hands on Seth. And that will happen on Sunday. Heyman says everyone is paying to see Rollins get his ass kicked, and he WILL gets his ass kicked. Heyman goes on for a bit while Brock just smirks.

This upsets Seth who slams his microphone on the table. Rollins signs the contract…. Brock goes to sign, but Heyman instructs Rollins to keep his hands on the table. Rollins snaps back claiming he has nothing under the table, but BROCK FLIPS THE TABLE OVER AND FINDS A KENDO STICK sitting there!!!! Lesnar breaks the stick in half, fixes the table, and calmly sits back down… lol

Rollins slowly rolls his chair back to the table. Seth picks up the half of a stick but BROCK THROWS THE ENTIRE TABLE AT HIM…. Brock drills Kane and lands a German Suplex on Seth… Kane pulls Brock outside. Seth dives out but Brock catches and goes for an F5. Kane stops that with a big boot and the heels take over on Lesnar…. Brock gets posted and then Kane nails Lesnar repeatedly with the steel steps…

Seth goes to Pedigree Brock on the steps outside the ring, but Lesnar picks Seth up and just plows him into the barricade… Lesnar then charges at Kane but runs into a Chokeslam. Lesnar escapes the Chokeslam and BROCK F5 ON KANE ON THE FLOOR!!!!!

Kane’s leg is then laying on the steel steps, and Brock grabs the upper part of the steps and CRUSHES KANE’S ANKLE with the steps…

Rollins stands there like a deer in headlights before he runs out through the crowd…. Lesnar picks up the WWE Title in the ring and celebrates…

After Brock leaves, Seth Rollins returns to the ring to cut a promo. Seth says Brock may have ran through everyone else, but he didn’t run through Seth. Rollins says he won the title at Mania because he is better than Lesnar. And at Battleground he will do what nobody else can do, and he will prove Lesnar is not a monster, but just a man, and he will be beat. Rollins says he will be known as the man who slayed the beast….

Rollins looks over at Kane being attended to and doesn’t seem to be happy. Seth starts laying into Kane about Kane’s “big plan”. Seth asks Kane how the plan worked out for him. Rollins says Kane;’s plan worked out like Kane’s career, a big disappointment. Rollins says Kane is nothing because he is no longer with Kane. He is dumping Kane. He calls Kane a Never Was and a Wanna Be Hall Of Famer. Kane wants at Seth but he can’t get up. Rollins then attacks Kane’s broken ankle and Kane is left laying in major pain.

Rollins walks off heeling it up… Cool.

All in all this was a pretty damn good show… Skip the Barrett and Stardust matches and this may be one of the best Raw’s I’ve ever recapped. Consistent decent or great stuff on the show this week. Very good episode. Definitely give this a watch.