Raw Preshow Notes 4/27/15
– It’s been a couple weeks but I’m back in the house… Sorry I’ve been away the past couple of weeks. I generally don’t review the international Raws because they’re on a tape delay and the results are leaked out hours in advance, which is why I posted spoiler results 2 weeks ago rather than an entire write up of the show. I was to return to reviewing last week, but we had a windstorm the night before and it blew out my power for one whole second, and that’s all it took to blow the hard drive in my main satellite receiver. But we’re back in business now with tonight’s Raw, featuring the random return of the King of the Ring Tournament. Looks like they’ll be doing the first round and semis tonight, with the finals airing tomorrow night live on the Network.
– Okay, Scott Stanford? isn’t hosting the show this week, so that’s a plus, we’ve got other token white dude with Graves & Otunga by his side at WWE HQ. We learn immediately that the KotR SEMI FINALS AND FINALS air tomorrow night on the Network, which means they’ve rewritten Raw and don’t have room for the semis… Lovely… I knew they were giving us too many potentially GOOD matches in one night.
– We go back to the PPV last might, which I used as background noise as I worked but from listening to the show it sounded like most of the matches were likely pretty decent from a wrestling standpoint. And that’s more than I expected, so that’s cool. We have a look at the finish of the Orton/Rollins Cage match and Seth using the banned RKO for the win. The panel talks their thoughts on Seth using the RKO illegally and the outcome. Then the discussion moves over to Kane’s altercation with Seth and J&J during the cage match.
– Moving on, Cena beat Rusev in the Chain Match last night. USA flag drops, Cena retains, all is well, yayy. The open challenge returns tonight, I’d like to see Jimmy Uso accept it one week just to keep him relevant. Goldust would be cool too. Anyway, Cena vs. Rusev in an I QUIT match at Payback. Blah.
– Did I mention the King of the Ring returns tonight? Well, they’re reminding us again. Otunga talks about the King of the Ring elevating everyone who has won it including… The Macho King… Yeah he said that…
– So Reigns beat Big Show last night and from the little bit I saw the two guys were able to make the match not completely suck… What’s next for Reigns?
– So this Tough Enough thing is back… And it never ceases to amaze me how many idiots there are in this country… Sigh.
– Since New Day are the new version of X Pac Heat, Vince decided to go ahead and give them the tag belts last night… NEWWWWW DAYYYYY….. Sucks…
– Mick Foley randomly shows up in the preshow while editing his “Cheap Pops” show scheduled for Wednesday on the Network. Cheap plug for Cheap Pops. We’re off to Raw peeps…
The WWE Raw Report 4/27/15 from Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
– We kick off with a nice King of the Ring video package. Even a nice shot of Harley Race is in there.
– And we’re off to the ring for an Authority interview. Well that didn’t take long to ruin the show. We’ve got Rollins, Kane, J&J. It’s your typical Seth Rollins heel promo. He won, Orton lost, he debuted the SKO – Seth-KO. Seth then turns to thank Kane, who he refers Kane to the Crypt Keeper, “an old relic from the 90’s that nobody cares about”. Then he apologizes. Seth says that Kane guarded the door so that people who are still relevant could retain the title.
Kane cuts Rollins off and points out that without his help Seth would have lost the title and been out here whining. Kane says he would rather be the WWE version of the Crypt Keeper than Justin Bieber. Seth says Kane is jealous and says Kane should just go home. Kane says Seth can’t get the job done without 6 people helping him. Fans chant “Justin Bieber”.
Cue Randy Orton. Orton says with Rollins cheating that he should be receiving a rematch. Seth says he only gives people once shot at the title. Kane thinks Randy has a point but…. CUE ROMAN REIGNS…. Blah. Reigns sporting his new shirt for you to buy. Reigns enters from the crowd and stands on the announce table. Seth wants to know why he’s out here. Roman Reigns points out how Seth is missing a Giant that he put through a table last night. Reigns says Orton had his shot, not Roman deserves his. Reigns scores some cheap shots with more “Justin Bieber” comments and fans chant.
Rollins points out that both Orton & Reigns have already lost to Seth. Rollins says neither deserve another shot. Kane clears his throat to stop the conversation. Kane says the challengers have fair arguments so tonight he’s going to book a match, Reigns & Orton vs. Rollins & Kane. Kane also promises to let the WWE Universe decide who Rollins will face at Payback…
Up next, the KotR tourney begins with Barrett vs. Ziggler.
— Commercial Break —
King Of The Ring First Round
1. Dolph Ziggler vs. Bad News Barrett
Insert promo from Ziggler before the match, he’s still pissed off at Sheamus for last night but promises “PAYBACK”. Insert promo from BNB, he has Bad News for everyone else, King Barrett will win. Barrett dominates early but Ziggler comes back with a standing dropkick that sends BNB to the floor and we head to commercial like 90 seconds into the match.
On the WWE App, Barrett runs from Ziggler and lures him outside to attack. Dolph block and rams Barrett into the steps. BNB back inside lands a BIG BOOT knocking Ziggler off the apron as he tried to reenter. BNB gets a 2 count. Wade dominates the rest of the break.
Back from commercial on USA, Ziggler escapes the chinlock and BNB misses a shoulder charge in the corner. Dolph comes back, splash in the corner, turns the Wings of Change into a crucifix for a near fall. Jumping DDT gets 2 on BNB. Barrett catapults Dolph into the corner and lands WASTELAND for 1………2…………….Dolph kicks out!!!
Bull Hammer time… Dolph ducks, SUPERKICK by Ziggler 1……………2………………Barrett kicks out!!! Sheamus interrupts and distracts Ziggler… UGH…. Sheamus shows a picture of Ziggler kissing his ARSE. Ziggler turns to grab Barrett off the apron, but eats a BULL HAMMER. And it’s all over. BNB advances in 8:17. Blah.
– NEWWWWW DAYYYY….. Next
– WWE App interview with Tyson Kidd & Cesaro. They think that New Day still SUCKS.
— Commercial Break —
2. Big E (w/Kofi & Xavier) vs. Tyson Kidd (w/Cesaro & Natalya)
New Day Sucks chants are a plenty. Xavier wants the fans to chant “New Day Rocks”, but they go with “Sucks”. Booker T compares New Day to the modern day Freebirds, but even he can’t keep a straight face with it. Tyson comes at Big E early, but E keeps in control with his power. Tyson takes over with a kick to the head and a springboard dropkick. Wicked kick to the face from Kidd to Big E on the floor… Nice. Back inside, Big E lands a big clothesline, and the match abruptly ends… Really? Maybe in 1986. Oh okay, a replay shows Xavier Woods holding Tyson’s foot down… I guess that prevented Kidd from kicking out. Match went 1:22, and wasn’t bad for the little time it was given.
– Ryback heading to the ring for action…
— Commercial Break —
3. Ryback vs. Bo Dallas
I guess Vince didn’t get enough of this last night. I hope Bray comes to save his brother this time. Bo tells Ryback his actions at Extreme Rules were reprehensible. Bo wants to give Ryback a chance to clear his name and walk away. Bo tells Ryback to BO-LIEVE. Ryback mauls Bo, Dallas clings to the ropes until he sees and opening and lays Ryback out with a nice clothesline. Bo takes over but Ryback kicks out at 1 repeatedly. How big of him. Ryback escapes a chinlock and catches Bo coming off the middle rope with a SPINE BUSTER, MEAT HOOK CLOTHESLINES… Shell Shock in like 2:00. Bye Bye Bo… Poor Bo.
LIGHTS GO OUT!!!!!
Lights back on… Bo is gone…. BUT BRAY WYATT IS STANDING BEHIND RYBACK!!!!!
Ryback runs at Bray, right into SISTER ABIGAIL!!!! Wyatt does the spider walk and slinks over Ryback… Very cool.
— Commercial Break —
It’s Open Challenge Time with John Cena. Cena gives Rusev props for not quitting, but at Payback they have an I QUIT match. If Cena loses then he deserves to lose and he won’t ask for a rematch. That’s one way to write Cena out of the US Title picture IF they wanted to. Cena calls this the final chapter in their feud. Cena calls the US Title the new symbol of excellence and opportunity.
This week who accepts??? Is it Goldust? No. Is it Jimmy Uso? Nope. Is it Curtis Axel? Nah. ZACK RYDER???? Woo Woo woo… NO…. It’s HEATH SLATER, complete with 3MB theme because that’s how much they care about him.
Slater says he’s better looking than Aaron Rodgers and wants to start a Discount Slater Check, whatever that is. RUSEV ATTACKS SLATER and lays him out on the stage… Lana comes out to the cheers of the fans so Rusev sends her back. “WE WANT LANA” chants. Rusev gets pissed. Rusev calls the fans all quitters on their dreams, and quitters on themselves. And at Payback Cena will be like the rest of the stupid Americans and say I QUIT. Russian flag drops.
4. U.S. Champion John Cena vs. Heath Slater
– Backstage Seth Rollins confronts Kane about allowing the fans to decide his opponent at Payback. Kane says they will be using the WWE App to vote. Rollins gets pissy and says HHH & Stephanie are going to be upset. Kane says since Seth threatened him like a tattle tale, and since Seth can’t handle the two options for Payback, he will add a third option. Seth vs. Orton, vs. Reigns, or a TRIPLE THREAT MATCH with all three of them in the ring. Seth makes it clear the LAST THING HE WANTS is a Triple Threat match… As if the fans weren’t going to vote that way regardless… Clever 1980’s touch to his promo to get the fans to vote that way though.
— Commercial Break —
King Of The Ring First Round
4. R-Truth vs. Stardust
Insert promos from both. Truth says he wants to get rid of all the spiders, Cody rambles as usual. Ok. Match starts back and forth, Stardust takes over. Long boring offense by Cody, who hasn’t seemed to care about his matches much since the Rhodes Brothers feud was killed. Cody with a Russian legsweep gets 2. Truth with several brief comebacks and surprises Cody with covers for 2 counts. Finally Truth just lands the “Lie Detector” out of nowhere for the win in 3:48. That was bad, Cody did nothing during his offense.
Truth faces Barrett in the semi finals.
— Commercial Break —
5. Fandango vs. Adam Rose (w/Rosebuds)
Sigh… Why? Fandango takes too long to get to the ring so they cut his music early. Hah. Back and forth, Fandango clotheslines Rose to the floor and lands a nice somersault plancha dive outside onto Rose and some Rosebuds. One of the Rosebuds outside is Rosa Mendes who distracts Fandango long enough for Rose to land the Party Foul for the win in 1:49.
Rosa gets on the mic and says she can’t believe that Fandango chose the fans over her, then she attacks Rose with a kiss and sexes him down to the mat…. Very PG….
– Daniel Bryan Update with Renee Young and Brie Bella. Brie says his injury has been taxing on both of them and Bryan wishes he could be back in the ring. Naomi knocks Brie down from off screen and steps in to inform Brie that nobody cares about her, or Bryan.
— Commercial Break —
6. Brie Bella (w/Nikki) vs. Naomi
Brie is pissed from before the break so the girls go straight to a cat fight. They get in the ropes, the ref backs Brie off and Naomi takes a cheap shot. Naomi with the flashing light boots on again. Naomi dominates, Brie finally drops Naomi with some type of face buster, clotheslines, BRIE MODE knee to the face, middle rope dropkick, but Naomi kicks out. Naomi comes back, stuns Brie with a kick to the head, and pins her with an inside cradle in 3:56.
— Commercial Break —
King Of The Ring First Round
7. Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus
Felllllllllllaaaaaaaaa. It’s back and forth action with both guys working snug. Ambrose finally knocks Sheamus outside to the floor and Sheamus goes running away to avoid a suicide dive from Dean. We go to commercial.
On the WWE App, Dean follows outside but gets posted by Sheamus. Ambrose gets tossed behind the announcers and just barely beats the 10 count back inside. Sheamus takes over in the ring until we head back to USA.
Back on USA, Sheamus has control. Misses the Brogue Kick, Dean rolls him up for 2… Sheamus goes shoulder first into the post and bumps outside. Ambrose with a suicide dive outside. Dean misses a top rope move and Sheamus hits a backbreaker for 2. Sheamus tries White Noise, Dean counters with sunset flip for 2. Sheamus blocks Dirty Deeds and locks in the Cloverleaf submission. Dean gets to the ropes.
Dean blocks the 10 beats and hits a flying elbow from the top. The two men go to the floor and Sheamus throws Dean onto the announce table. Ambrose dives off the announce table onto Sheamus and posts him. Sheamus comes back with a Brogue Kick on the floor… Then DOLPH ZIGGLER attacks Sheamus drawing an immediate DQ in 13:00…. F’n really? You eliminate Ambrose in the first round for this twat who already has a Payback match?
AMBROSE IS PISSSSSED. Sheamus advances and the entire tournament becomes worthless. I can feel the people tuning out tomorrow now. Yes I know people will still watch but I’d imagine this lowers the interest of many.
— Commercial Break —
– We return to Raw with Damien Sandow already in the ring. It’s promo time. Sandow says he will not come out here and lie to anyone. He mocks his initial bath robe gimmick. Then he says he was told he wasn’t entertaining enough. He talks about his journey through the random gimmicks he went through. From Bret Hart to Magneto to Vince McMahon, and finally Damien MIZdow. Sandow says he lost respect from his peeps but gained respect from the fans, and that’s the most valuable thing he could ever have. He thanks the fans. he says without the fans he wouldn’t still be here. The fans thank him and he replies “You’re Welcome”.
Curtis Axel interrupts… If theres something he hates it’s a guy who doesn’t know who he is and tries to imitate someone else. lol. Sandow mocks Axel. Third grade comedy routine follows with Sandow repeating everything Axel says and does. Fans applaud. Axel instructs Damien to leave the ring. Axel tries to attack, but Sandow turns it around… BIG BOOT… and the Sandow elbow on Curtis… Axel splits and Sandow has new music.
– Smackdown rematch with New Day vs. Tyson & Cesaro…. if they don’t change it…
– Bray Wyatt promo. He asks Ryback if he will ever realize who he truly is. He says Ryback doesn’t know himself by Wyatt knows him. Wyatt says he knows what makes Ryback tick, what drives him. Bray calls tonight only the beginning and tells Ryback to run.
— Commercial Break —
King Of The Ring First Round
8. Neville vs. Luke Harper
Harper on top early, Neville takes over and sends Luke outside and nails a huracan rana off the apron to the outside. Back inside Neville springboards right into a Harper powerbomb for a near fall and we’re off to commercial.
Back from break, Harper misses a big boot in the corner and falls to the floor. Neville with a TOP ROPE SPRINGBOARD MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR!!! And a springboard dropkick back inside. Standing shooting star press gets 2… Harper comes back with a Superkick and a HALF NELSON SUPLEX..1…….2………Neville kicks out. Neville escapes a powerbomb, hits a German suplex on Harper and a standing enzuigiri, but Harper counters a huaracan rana with another nasty sit out powerbomb for a near fall… Harper tries a Superplex, Neville counters with two enzuigiris on the top rope, and an Arabian Powerbomb off the top onto Luke… RED ARROW ends this in something around 10:30… Awesome match…. Harper rules.
– It’s main event time… Blah.
— Commercial Break —
9. Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins & Kane (w/J&J Security)
Rollins & Reigns start. The faces dominate Rollins, Seth takes a powder twice before Kane tags in. Kane also takes a beat down by the faces. Eventually Orton gets tossed to the floor and the heels take over as we head to break…
Back from break, Rollins continues to beat on Orton, Randy finally counters with a T-Bone suplex and hot tags to Reigns. Roman is quickly lured to the floor and laid out by Kane with the ring post. The heesl take over on Roman. The heels work the back of Reigns, side slam by Kane gets 2. Kane with the dreaded bearhug, as in I’m dreading watching it. Reigns escapes, but Kane lays him out with a clothesline for 2… Reigns trades punches with Kane and reverses a suplex but Seth stops the hot tag.
Rollins misses a corner splash, and Roman lands a one arm powerbomb on Seth, hot tag to Orton… Randy all over Seth, Rollins dodges a powerslam, but springboards into a powerslam anyway… Noble knocked off the apron. Reigns back in on Rollins, Seth accidentally dropkicks Kane to the floor. Reigns knocks Mercury off the apron with a Superman punch. Seth dumps Reigns, turns into a suspended DDT from Orton… Randy sets up for an RKO, but Seth counters with a roll up for 2… Orton gets knocks to the floor with everyone else…
Seth comes out with a suicide dive… the faces move… Seth was SUPPOSED to hit Kane… Notice I say supposed…. He damn near missed him all together. Kane was just totally out of position… Anyway, Kane sells it anyway, he gets pissed and beats up J&J, then lands a shot on Seth and throws him back in the ring for a SUPERMAN PUNCH and an RKO finishes Reigns in like 18:30….
– After the match Kane then announces that with 78% of the vote, it will be a Triple Threat Match at Payback for the title… Reigns then spears Rollins to end the show.
I invite everyone to NOT watch this Jerry Springer garbage on the Network to send a message to WWE about the half ass stuff they put on their Network when they own all of this historical footage.
