Raw Pre-Show Notes
– Josh Matthews hosts the pre-show again this week, along with panelists Booker T, Alex Riley, and Jimmy Hart!
– We immediately learn that Daniel Bryan & The Big Show will face Batista & Randy Orton on tonight’s Raw.
– They pump Hulk’s big Mania Announcement, Renee Young is waiting backstage to try and grab a word with Hogan…
– The Undertaker is here tonight! We look at Brock destroying Mark Henry again last week.
– Looks like we’re getting another Alberto Del Rio vs. Sin Cara on Superstars. Wooo! I’m excited because that means neither is on Raw!!!! We get a look at the match during the pre-show, unfortunately it’s a chinlock. Del Rio does pick up the win.
– Christian’s attack on Sheamus from last week on Raw is shown. There will be another unwanted rematch this week on Raw with the fans choosing the stipulation of the match.
– Discussion of the Wyatt Family and John Cena. Cena will face Erik Rowan on tonight’s Raw.
– A video plays of last week’s Raw issues between Daniel Bryan challenging HHH for WM30, and HHH turning him down. Then in the main event of Bryan vs. Batista, HHH makes sure to get himself involved and put himself over. Way to be, HHH.
– WWE.com Exclusive. Michael Cole asks HHH if he’s scared of Daniel Bryan. Cole claims everyone he has spoken to thinks HHH is scared of Bryan. HHH says he’s not afraid. NO! The Panelists discuss the YES movement.
– Dolph Ziggler in the ring for Superstars against who appears to be Fandango. Ziggler is over as hell, such a shame they want to bury him. Ziggler gets the eventual win.
– Discussion about cracks in the Shield. Jimmy Hart thinks Rollins is the weak link.
– Renee Young is back, she’s spoken to Hulk Hogan, but now she’s with Sheamus. She wants to know if Sheamus has a special stipulation he wants to see chosen. Sheamus doesn’t care which it is, 2 out of 3, a Street Fight, or Falls Count Anywhere, he’s going to Brogue Kick Christian in his blue dot face!
– The panel discusses Bryan/Show vs. Orton/Batista as the Raw commentators make their way out. Big local pop for Jerry Lawler.
– Hulk Hogan is walking and talking in the backstage area, perhaps on his way to the ring?
WWE Monday Night RAW Report for 3/10/14 from the Fed -Ex Forum in Memphis, TN
– And we do indeed kick things off with the Hulkster! Hogan shills the WWE Network again and talks about his matches with the Warrior, Savage, and especially Andre. Hogan talks about how pumped he is for WrestleMania, and he’s come up with an idea for WrestleMania!
There will now be a 30-Man Over the Top Rope “Andre the Giant Memorial” Battle Royal added to the PPV! Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania and the Memory of Andre the Giant runs wild on you brothers????
Out comes John Cena to join the Hulkster. Cena puts over Hogan and his memories of WrestleMania III. John Cena is the first man to enter the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal!
Dim the lights… And they’re here! The Wyatts are out. Bray cuts a good promo against Hogan & Cena and their catchphrases. Wyatt continues on with another short, yet home run promo.
Cena asks Wyatt if he even listens to the weird stuff he says, calls Wyatt a homeless man who got lost in Margaritaville with a rocking chair from Cracker Barrel. Cena backs out of that Battle Royal (shocker) in order to challenge Bray to a match at Mania!
Bray rebuts, and the Wyatts surround the ring with Cena & Hogan inside. We have to go to commercial!
Good opening segment all around. Would have like to seen them put over Andre’s legacy as a Battle Royal winner to get over the Battle Royal, but clearly it’s just an added attraction and nothing of importance. In all, the entire opening segment, and the back and forth with Cena & Bray was really good…
-Commercial Break-
1. John Cena vs. Erik Rowan. This match is already started when we return from commercial. Bray & Harper stay at ringside for Rowan, while the Hulkster remains at ringside for Cena. Rowan in full control. Cena tries a cross body, but it’s caught and Rowan tosses Cena with a fall away slam. Cena tries another body attack, and again he’s caught by Rowan with a rag doll bearhug. Rowan lands a powerslam, then tries a running powerslam, but Cena slides down his back and school boys him for a surprise pin and the win in only 3:00…
Hulk Hogan slides back into the ring to back up Cena. The Wyatts stand on the apron ready to attack, but back down. No shock there, considering Hogan isn’t even cleared to throw a punch…
Real American plays for Hogan and Cena, as the Wyatts walk off, Bray smirking.
– Vote Now! What match will Sheamus vs. Christian be? 2/3 falls, Street Fight, Falls Anywhere? Where’s the option for NO MATCH. That’s my vote.
– Oh The Authority are here, and they’re NEXT.
-Commercial Break-
– The Authority make their way out. Always the joyous part of my week. I’ve been damn near bed ridden for the past four days, and on the fifth day I’m sitting up to type this. Maybe I should rethink this, lol…
Stephanie’s voice immediately makes me cringe. Worthless babble, whoever writes her material knows where to shovel the manure when the Authority is cutting a promo. Stephanie apologizes to Bryan, but says Daniel must apologize to the Authority. “HHH is above Daniel Bryan”. If Bryan doesn’t apologize, there will be severe consequences. Enjoy the show!
The New Age Outlaws make their way out, and greet the Authority. I really thought their return was going to play into something. Maybe it was supposed to and things changed, maybe it never was, maybe it still will, but they better do something soon, because I’ve been bored with them for weeks. The Outlaws are out here to watch the Usos in action, next!
-Commercial Break-
2. WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Ryback & Curtis Axel. The Outlaws are on commentary. We learn that Ryback has thrown his name into the Andre Memorial Battle Royal. Usos have control to start, but Ryback shoves Jimmy Uso into the ropes and his face actually bounces off the rope, OUCH!!! Rybaxel take over, but it’s short lived. Jey gets the hot tag and kicks Axel in the back of the leg for the Mr. Perfect back flip sell spot. Jey rams Curtis with the ass to the face in the corner, and a superkick on Axel. They recreate the flying plancha to the floor on Ryback while tagging the other Uso on the way out with the drive. The legal Uso then goes up and nails the laid out Axel with the flying splash for the win in another 3:00 match. Oh, the Outlaws state it’s just a matter of time before they get their rematch.
– Corporate Kane has a talk with the Shield. Kane talks about the Shield’s recent losses. The Shield then bring up Kane getting beaten by Daniel Bryan repeatedly in recent weeks. Kane gives the Shield their chance to make things right against the Rhodes Brothers tonight. The Shield promise to “exercise their demons” tonight, just as they can any demons (meaning Kane).
-Commercial Break-
3. IC Champion Big E vs. Jack Swagger (w/Zeb Colter & Cesaro). Big E, unloads early, but Swagger lands a nice wrestling slam and a big clothesline to take over. Big E has also entered the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. I guess the entire undercard is stuck working the Battle Royal. Sorry guys. Swagger with some generiuc offense. Jack becomes engaged in conversation with Cesaro, and Big E rolls Swagger up for the win in a 4:00 match.
Cesaro laughs as Swagger pitches a fit. The two get in one another’s faces. Colter wants them to shake, Swagger refuses. Cesaro extends his hand, jack finally accepts. Cesaro squeezes Swaggers hand. Surely they can come up with some better crap than this to warrant a break up or a match between these two. This has been just absolutely crap-tactular so far.
We’re now an hour into the program and maybe 10 minutes of wrestling. Yup, it’s WrestleMania season…
-Commercial Break-
– GONG! The Undertaker is here! Before the Taker can event speak, Paul Heyman appears on the stage. Heyman mentions the wrestling legends who were never able to win more than 2 (HBK), 3 (HHH), 4 (Hogan & Cena) WrestleMania matches in a row. But the Undertaker is 21-0. Heyman tries to talk the Undertaker out of wrestling Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania in order to keep the streak alive.
The Undertaker responds. “The fear of death is far greater than the death itself. But the fear of the unknown, is the greatest fear of all!”… Taker tells Heyman to tell Lesnar than if he shows up at WrestleMania XXX, he will Rest… In…Peace…
Good little bit by Heyman, trying to talk Lesnar’s way out of the match. The Taker stuff was pretty much a by the number response, was hoping for something more. I’d like to see Lesnar one up the Taker going into the PPV, and give this thing a little more of an edge than just another “streak” thing…
-Commercial Break-
– Tomorrow night, Live on the Main Event. US Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Mark Henry, and Divas Champion AJ vs. Natalya.
4. Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. The Shield (Reigns & Rollins, w/Dean Ambrose). We start off with Seth Rollins & Cody. Cody with a delayed front suplex before tagging to Goldy. Cody tries to pull Rollins out of a seated position in the corner, but Seth backflips to his feet. Great agility. Rollins drives Cody into the buckle and the heels take control. Goldust tags in, lands a top rope reverse body block on both Shield, and send both Shield to the floor. Goldust hits a rolling senton block off the apron onto Reigns, while Cody lands a springboard plancha off the top onto Rollins simultaneously. And we go to commercial.
Back from break, Reigns powers Goldust down with a jackhammer. The Shield continue their onslaught on Goldust. Roman nails Goldust with the flying dropkick onto the apron. Rollins with a nice Inzuigiri shot. Reigns toys with Goldust, and Dustin is able to catch him with the snap powerslam, and makes the hot tag to Cody as Rollins tags in. Here comes Cody!
Twisting Brisco Roll out of the corner on Rollins for 2, Cody with a moonsault body block on Seth for another 2! Cody with the MUSCLE BUSTER on Rollins..1……2……..Reigns breaks it up!!!
Rollins & Cody crack heads. Roman tries to spear Cody, but Goldust takes the spear for his brother! Cody drops Reigns and tries for Cross Rhodes on Rollins, but Seth breaks free and Powerbombs Cody into the corner buckle and lands the CURB STOMP for the win in 14:20.
Good match from all ends as expected. A shame the WWE has really just dropped the ball with the Rhodes brothers, who were so over just a few months ago… They really deserved some type of WrestleMania payoff, IMO…
– A reminder to vote for Sheamus vs. Christian. Maybe if nobody votes the match will go away….
-Commercial Break-
5. AJ Lee & Tamina Snuka vs. The Bella Twins. We’ve got Natalya on commentary. Natalya has AJ for the Divas Title tomorrow on Main Event. Natalya sucks on commentary, time and a time again. Tamina lays out Brie Bella with a Superkick. The announcers spend a little time discussing Total Divas. AJ & Tamina continue to pick apart Brie. Brie escapes AJ and tags to Nikki. Nikki hits some funky Stunner thingy on AJ, but Tamina breaks it up. Brie jumps Tamina on the floor, AJ wipes out Brie. Back inside, AJ tries the Black Widow on Nikki, but Nikki counters with the Torture Rack Backbreaker for the win in 3:00.
Nikki picks up the Divas Title and holds it high as Natalya climbs onto the apron looking offended. Now both ladies hold a victory over AJ. Take that Mrs. Punk.
– NCIS LA is on USA! LL Cool J in the crowd to sell the show.
-Commercial Break-
– Daniel Bryan is out for his “Apology”… Or is he??? Bryan says he’s not backing down, and if HHH wants to fight, he needs to get rid of the corporate suit crap. Daniel Bryan refuses to apologize for standing up for what he believes in. Bryan says it ends here TONIGHT! Everyone is tired of HHH, he doesn’t listen to Bryan, the fans, or anyone. But tonight, Bryan is going to make it so HHH HAS to listen to them. Bryan promises he’s NOT leaving this ring until he gets his WrestleMania match with HHH.
Bryan invites members of his YES! Movement to join him in the ring. All of a sudden we’ve got dozens of weirdos in the ring wearing Daniel Bryan shirts. They’re not leaving until Bryan gets what he wants! We’ve got 4 weeks to build something worthwhile up here for a match I don’t even want to see, and this is another odd ball/goofy turn in the storyline that I’m not a fan of, but we’ll see where it goes after break.
-Commercial Break-
Okay, now the ring AND ringside is filled with the “YES Movement”. Probably a couple hundred people out there. Even the sign guy with the red hat is in the ring…
Well now they’ve done it! Here comes HHH and Stephanie to “NO” chants. HHH gives the fans 30 seconds to leave the ring before security removes them. More “NO” chants.
Bryan threatens that the entire Arena of fans are going to leave and Raw will be held in an empty building. HHH calls for security anyway. There’s 2 security members and 200 fans. Security refuse to get involved. Stephanie starts screaming and yelling about false power, and says fans are being led by Bryan. Nobody cares what Stephanie says.
Bryan informs Stephanie that she doesn’t own any of the WWE, the fans do! HHH calls for the next match to begin… And Damien Sandow finally makes his way back to Raw, only to be thrown into this mess of crap…. Sandow argues with HHH but refuses to get in the ring.
Stephanie says this place is hers and she owns EVERYONE. Stephanie goes crazy screaming and clearly doesn’t realize how irritating she sounds.
Bryan lays out the ultimatum once more. Give him his Mania match, and they can have their show back. HHH finally breaks down and gives Bryan the match… HHH agrees to wrestle Bryan at WrestleMania!!!
Bryan isn’t done… He’s got one more thing…. IF Bryan can beat HHH at WrestleMania XXX, then he gets added to the WWE Championship Match later in the night!!!
HHH goes crazy and tries to rush the ring, security holds him back. HHH gives Bryan everything he wants at WrestleMania and promises to end Bryan at Mania!!!
-Commercial Break-
– Jerry Lawler talks the Christian vs. Sheamus match. The fans have voted and the match will be…. Memphis Street Fight!
6. Sheamus vs. Christian in a “Memphis Street Fight” . Drums and guitars are set up around ringside. Christian knocked to the floor almost immediately and into the barricade. Sheamus misses a guitar swing and smashes it against the post. Christian fights back with a guitar, but Sheamus throws him over the steel steps. Sheamus chases Christian down on the ramp, but Christian shoves Sheamus to the ground and hits a flying tornado DDT off the stage onto the floor! Both men are checked on as we head to commercial.
Back from break, Sheamus misses a charge and drives his shoulder into the corner post. Christian grabs a kendo stick and beats Sheamus down with it for the count of 2… After destroying one cane, Christian grabs another. Sheamus blocks it and Christian loses the cane. Sheamus has some insane welts on his back. Sheamus battles back, takes down Christian and picks up the kendo stick. Christian blocks the shot and tries a body block, but Sheamus turns it into a rolling Samoan drop. Christian blocks the forearm clubs and the two men fight for the kendo stick. Sheamus wins and canes the hell out of Christian…
Sheamus lands WHITE NOISE, but Christian kicks out!!!!! Now we get the 10 clubbing forearms into the chest of Christian… Make that 16 or 17 forearms!!! Sheamus calls for the Brogue… Christian wisely slides out of the ring, but ends up getting posted.
Irish Curse Backbreaker off the Steel Steps!!! Sheamus rolls Christian back in and tosses a few chairs in as well… Sheamus grabs the a drum and brings that in as well. Christian gets to a chair first, lays out Sheamus with it and lays it on Sheamus. Christian FROG SPLASH on the chair onto Sheamus!!! 1………2…………….Sheamus kicks out!!!
Christian grabs the base drum!!! AND GETS IT BROGUE KICKED INTO HIS FACE!!!! 1…….2………….3!!!! Sheamus picks up another win in 14:30.
– Batista and Randy Orton are with Brad Maddox, and they’re not happy about Daniel Bryan being given a potential spot in their title match. They want to know where the Authority is, but Maddox informs them that the Authority have left for the night. Orton wants to make things work with Batista tonight in order to take out Bryan tonight…
-Commercial Break-
– Another Alexander Rusev & Lana promo from the top of the stage. WHAT?
– They attempt to replay the Hulk Hogan announcement from earlier, but the Wyatt Family break into the programming with their own interview. Bray Wyatt responds to John Cena’s challenge. He compares Cena to being a future Hulk Hogan, a man who won’t let it go. Bray accepts the challenge, and says that he is forever before singing “Time is on my side”. We’ve got a fifth match confirmed for Mania…
Up next, the tag team main event… Big Show is in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
– This Friday on SD we learn it’s The Big Show vs. Kane.
7. Daniel Bryan & The Big Show vs. Randy Orton & Batista. Orton & Bryan get things started, Bryan sends Randy to the floor and hits a suicide dive early on and we’re already taking another commercial!
Back from break, Orton takes over on Bryan and tags out to Batista… The heels continue to work over Bryan. Orton misses a kneedrop and Big Show tags in… Show with a side slam on Batista, but Orton causes a distraction and drops Show across the top rope and Batista takes Show’s leg out from under him. Orton & Tister now work over the downed Show…
Batista calls for the Batista Bomb on the Big Show, but gets backdropped… Show with the hot tag back to Bryan, and Orton in as well… Bryan with the backflip out of the corner, the sit-out clothesline on Orton, he knocks Batista off the apron, and lands the YES! Kicks on Orton, but Randy kicks out just before the 3!!!
Bryan climbs to the top, Batista knocked off the apron again, but Bryan misses a tip rope headbutt and Orton gets 2… Bryan rolls the cover into a YES LOCK but Batista breaks it up!!!! Big Show clocks Boo-Tista, but Orton nails Show with the RKO and everyone is now down!!!
Orton sets Bryan up for a RKO, Bryan side steps and Batista spears Orton!!! Bryan with the Running Knee-Plus on Batista! Orton dodges a dropkick in the corner and lands the suspended DDT on Bryan….
Rasndy goes for an RKO, Bryan counters with a backslide for 2… Both men get up… RUNNING KNEE-PLUS on ORTON!!! Bryan covers…1…………2…………3!!!!!!!!
Bryan pins the champion…. AGAIN….. in about 13:00…. Big Show seemingly just disappears….
RAW “Backstage Pass” Post Game Show
– The panel is back, Bryan still celebrating in the ring. Lots of discussion about tonight’s angle between Bryan and the Authority…
– Renee Young interviews Daniel Bryan. He talks about the YES! Movement and the power of the people. The people have the power to overcome the corporations. Bryan is standing up for what is right…
– A quick mention of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and a clip of the trophy is shown again.
– Discussions of Hulk Hogan, Cena, and the Wyatts… Pre-taped interview with Renee Young with John Cena & Hulk Hogan… Cena welcomes Hogan back… Hulk talks about living through Cena, and he plans to be there for Cena if the Wyatt family try and interfere at WrestleMania… Hulk sounds like he’s putting himself at ringside for this match at the PPV…
– Reminder, Main Event again live this week, tomorrow night with US Champ Ambrose vs. Henry, and Divas Champ AJ vs. Natalya…
– It’s Kane vs. The Big Show on Smackdown this week…
That wraps it up, and I’m out!!!
