wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 2.16.15
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As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.
MONDAY NIGHT RAW 2.16.15
OFFICIAL RESULTS
~ Dean Ambrose defeated Luke Harper @ 11:07 via pin [***]
~ New Day defeated Stardust and Goldust @ 2:50 via pin [NR]
~ Roman Reigns defeated Kane @ 6:10 via countout [*½]
~ Paige defeated Summer Rae @ 2:55 via submission [NR]
~ Dolph Ziggler defeated Seth Rollins @ 8:15 via DQ [**¾]
~ Non-Title Match: Champion Wade Barrett defeated Damien Sandow @ 2:30 via pin [NR]
~ Naomi and Jimmy Uso defeated Natalya and Tyson Kidd @ 2:57 via pin [NR]
~ Big Show defeated Daniel Bryan @ 14:30 via DQ [**]
John Cena Talks: Cena came out to discuss getting his ass beat by Rusev last week. He knows he is a super athlete and undefeated, but promised to beat him at Fast Lane. Cena then went into the “I love when you love me and love when you hate be because I love this business” dialog before bringing up that Rusev says he lost a step and didn’t have it anymore. He promised an aggressive Cena, and not only will he beat Rusev, he will win the US Title. THANK GOD he finally brought that up and treated it as important, it’s only the Monday before the PPV.
Rusev and Lana appeared and Lana mocked him for doing the same rhetoric, preach sister. She then promised that after the beating Rusev gives Cena, there is no coming back. Rusev vowed to destroy Cena and everything he stands for, including his will to live. This led to a brawl on the ramp, this time with Cena taking the advantage, backing off the refs and slamming Rusev into the light board and delivering mounted rights. I liked this, Cena was more serious, he paid attention to the title and made out the opponent to be dangerous and the match as a whole as something important. Some will complain that he laid out Rusev, but I am fine with the retaliation for now because I felt they did a good job overall selling Sunday’s match. Add into the fact that the opening talking deal was shorter than usual, and I call this a win to begin.
Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper: Ambrose is apparently carrying an official, Fast Lane contract, still hoping for an IC Title match at the PPV. They set this up by having Ambrose do a wacky, SNL like skit. Newsflash, both of these guys are really good pro wrestlers. They had a really fun outing, they got time and Ambrose won clean and continues to try and earn his shot at the IC Title. They have good chemistry, and I’d like to see them get more time in a PPV environment in the future. On a side note, I hate how they have dropped the ball with Harper since the (poorly done) Wyatt split. He’s too good to have such lack of direction.
* Kane and Big Show argue while daddy Hunter tried to stop it. Show tried to being up the May 19th deal, but said “May 13th” repeatedly. Hunter basically told them to do their damn jobs and dismissed them.
* Bray Wyatt cut another not so cryptic promo about the Undertaker. Translation, “BRAY’S NOT SCURRED!”
* Stardust and Goldust are backstage and Slenderdust appeared because he wants to fix the issues here. Dusty gave a quick speech about family and the brothers seemingly seemed to patch things up in a way too convenient, after school special fast kind of way. You guys likely have no clue what an after school special is. This felt kind of disappointing considering they spent time hyping Dusty’s appearance tonight.
New Day vs. Goldust and Stardust: They wrestled, it was fine and then Stardust almost kicked Goldust. The brothers were on the same page until Kofi kicked Goldust in the face and Stardust got tossed to the floor and the New Day won. Post match Stardust helped up Goldust and all seemed fine until someone in the crowd yelled to Stardust that Goldust was the weak link. This triggered Stardust to finally snap and hit the cross Rhodes on his brother. I am both shocked and stunned at this turn of events. To say that this was telegraphed is an understatement. Also, not only does no one care about the New Day, but also it didn’t even matter that they won. They did this turn way too late and after everyone knew it was coming.
* Roman Reigns cut a promo about his road to WrestleMania, and saying that the Authority will not stop him. Reigns says he has respect for Bryan, but says if he was eliminated from the Rumble, he would have taken it like a man. He added that Bryan only has a chance to go to Mania because of him, and on Sunday he will take that away. Reigns came off there much better here than usual, and continues to have a strong heel vibe in his presentation.
* On the App Stardust cut a promo on Dusty about the self-destruction of Cody Rhodes, which created Stardust. Stardust said that, “Cody Rhodes is dead, and as far as I am concerned, so is my father.”
Roman Reigns vs. Kane: Reigns and Bryan are switching usual dance partners, Bryan is on commentary. Bryan started a big yes chant, which led to Reigns getting distracted and Kane taking over. When questioned about it, Bryan asked if he distracted Reigns or if Reigns was easily distracted. Bryan also noting that he had one less title defense than Lesnar does and he was stripped of the title was also great. I have to say that if they really want to get Roman Reigns ready as a top guy, extended matches with KANE and BIG SHOW in 2015 is the absolute wrong plan. Kane took most of the match, they brawled to the floor and then Reigns won by countout. Seriously, the man who may be main evening WrestleMania cannot pin KANE on Raw days before a PPV? Fucking idiotic. The best part of this segment was Bryan’s work on commentary, which was enjoyable. The match was not good and the finish was even worse.
* Renee interviewed Bryan. Bryan said if Reigns had trouble with the chants tonight then he better get used to it because there will be more at Fast Lane.
* Bray Wyatt cut another not so cryptic promo about the Undertaker. Translation, “BRAY’S NOT SCURRED!”
* Brie and Nikki stole Paige’s gear, so she has to run around in a towel. She now has to borrow gear and sees the Rosebuds. She steals a fairy and is now apparently stripping her down. REAL SPORTS BUILD!
Paige vs. Summer Rae: This is an unnecessary rematch from Smackdown, because apparently there are no other women for Paige to wrestle. Paige is dressed as a fairy. They basically worked the same match as Smackdown, and Paige again won via submission. Post match Paige told Nikki she doesn’t need an outfit, she just needs to win the title on Sunday. The match was fine, if repetitive, but the angle was just dumb. In NXT we get serious build and the ladies get to shine, here it’s like watching high school kids interact.
* Sheamus is returning… eventually.
Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler: Rollins cut a promo, he’s the future, but is upset that he has to deal with guys like Ryback, Rowan and Ziggler. They had some back and forth, there were jokes and Ziggler called Rollins a douche. JIP after a break, and due to their involvement, J&J got the boot to the back. They were having a fun match and then J&J ran in for the DQ. Ryback and Rowan made the save and cleared the ring. That was really starting to get going when the DQ happened. I could see them adding a six-man to the PPV with these guys to give them something to do, and at least it makes sense.
It’s Almost 10PM, TIME FOR TALKING!: Triple H is not scared of Sting, and at Fast Lane he will go face to face with Sting. Ric Flair then comes out, and I hope he advises to make friends with Sting so that he can turn on him 10-minutes later. Come on, with Sting’s history, Sting would fall for it. Flair was here to warn Triple H about Sting, but Triple H didn’t want to hear it because he knows exactly who Sting is and how good he is. Triple H brings up the first Clash with Flair vs. Sting, and then how Sting became the franchise and ICON of WCW. He then added that Sting was WCW, and Sting stood tall when WCW closed, he went down with the ship and disappeared. Triple H then discusses that he would have kicked Sting’s ass out of WWE if he would have come, and now, Sting is back and getting into his business. Flair claimed that Sting was in Triple H’s head, and last year he never thought Bryan would beat Triple H, but he did because Triple H isn’t a wrestler anymore. Triple H says he knows he’s not Flair, but when it comes to kicking Sting’s ass, Flair is no Triple H. Flair then made mention of Triple H being on his ass last week; Triple H shoved him down and said there is nothing more important to him than WWE and Sting will not ruin that, and at Fast Lane, Sting will never show his face again. This was solid overall, it wasn’t amazing, but I felt set the stage well and added some heat onto Sunday’s scheduled segment. Triple H is coming off as obsesses, and consumed with only his own glory here, which I like.
Darren Young and Partner Not Named vs. The Ascension: The Ascension’s music played prior to learning the identity of Young’s partner. The Ascension beat them down, but Titus O’Neil made the save and cleared the ring of The Ascension. And the Primetime Players are randomly back together. Ok then. Poor Heath Slater. I guess it gives The Ascension something to do.
* Miz requested that Wade Barrett knock down Sandow a few pegs tonight.
Non-Title Match: Champion Wade Barrett vs. Damien Sandow: Miz pulls the same shit as last week, Sandow gets the advantage, then distracts him by making him do menial tasks like shine his shoes. This week he has a bell, he rings it and yells, “BELL MEANS STOP” and threatens to fire Sandow if he doesn’t do the job. Barrett won with the bull hammer. Post match Ambrose attacked Barrett and zip tied him to the post, demanding he sign the contract for Fast Lane. Ambrose then basically uses Barrett’s hand to sign the contract. The Miz and Sandow stuff came off as not mattering, and this was a completely silly angle. Yes, Dean Ambrose is crazy and wacky, we get it. I imagine this is how Vince got Rey Mysterio’s contract to “roll over”.
* Bray Wyatt cut another not so cryptic promo about the Undertaker. Translation, “BRAY’S NOT SCURRED!”
Naomi and Jimmy Uso vs. Natalya and Tyson Kidd: This is another set up match for Sunday’s tag team title match. Kidd didn’t want any part of Uso, so the ladies worked most of the way. They did really well for the time given, working a nice athletic style (they really should be used better), and Natalya taking the fall works as neither guy should drop a fall prior to the PPV. Kidd, who didn’t want in, of course had to critique Natalya about what she did wrong, because he’s a dick. This was short, but enjoyable overall.
* Roman Reigns comes out to sit in on Bryan’s match.
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show: Roman Reigns was a complete dick (in a good way) and he mockingly laughed at Bryan’s pain during the match. He was also completely dismissive of Bryan when on offense, which angered Bryan. Reigns decided to sign autographs and take selfies during the match as Bryan worked a sleeper on Show. Give no fucks Roman Reigns is great. Bryan did a guillotine spot to pull Show to the floor, so Reigns threw free shirts to the crowd to steal the attention. Show eventually tossed Bryan into reign, and then Show ended up spearing Reigns on the floor. Bryan was running wild, but Reigns ended up Superman punching Show for the DQ. UGH. The match was fine, I hated that Show, like Kane, couldn’t lose clean but I loved the dynamic between Bryan and Reigns. Bryan hit a missile dropkick and then the two brawled. Reigns tossed Bryan to the floor, but they ended up brawling again. Referees tried to separate them, and the crow chanted to let them fight. They quickly shook hands and the MORE FIGHTING! Bryan sent Reigns to the floor, hit the dive and then they fought into the crowd, Bryan used a chair and then they brawled over the announce table. NORMAN FUCKIN SMILEY APPEARANCE! This was a pretty hot ending to one of the better Raws in a while.
* End scene.
* Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
