From the Bowery: The Best of RAW and SmackDown 2014 (DVD): Disc One

From the Bowery: The Best of RAW and SmackDown 2014 (DVD): Disc One

-This set came with the Shield one I just completed, and always interesting to look back on the year that was. I don’t know what it says about current product though in that Best of RAW and SmackDown share a single DVD set instead of each getting their own like in year’s past.

-Byron Saxton is your host for this and I am already kind of bummed as I was hoping for Renee Young.

Elimination Chamber: Qualifying Match: The Shield vs. Daniel Bryan, John Cena, and Sheamus
RAW: Jan 27, 2014

-Cena and Ambrose start things off and I think these two could tear house down with a singles match on PPV. Cena hits a shoulder tackle and Ambrose retreats to his corner, and Rollins tags himself into the match. Cole notes that Rollins was in last night’s Rumble match longer than anyone other than CM Punk, and kind of caught me off guard hearing his name mentioned on WWE TV. Cena lands a right hand and Rollins heads to his corner and makes the tag to Reigns. The crowd starts a Roman Reigns chant and he proceeds to mow Cena down. A side headlock is worked, and once again Cena gets sent to the canvas. Cena pops up and tries for the AA, but Reigns slides out and we have a stalemate. Cena makes the tag to Sheamus and these two beating on each other could be fun. On cue they start unloading with heavy blows, and Reigns gets dropped with an elbow. A neckbreaker follows and that nets a two count. Reigns regains control and works the arm as he takes Sheamus to the Shield corner. The tag is made to Rollins and he eats a boot when he sets too early on a backdrop. A stiff kick to the back and we go clubbering against the ropes as Seth gets his chest worn out. Rollins dropkicks the knee though and makes the tag to Ambrose. He pounds away and the crowd starts chanting for Daniel Bryan. Sheamus levels Ambrose with a clothesline and then makes the tag to Bryan. The crowd goes nuts as he kicks the piss out of Ambrose and then hits the running, corner dropkick. Ambrose breaks the momentum and makes a tag, but Rollins gets caught in the surfboard right after entering the ring. Sucks to be him! I love the little touch of Bryan keeping his shoulders off the mat and the ref making sure to check that they were as well. Sheamus gets back in and gets a two count off a legdrop proving he’s no Hulk Hogan. Now Cena gets back in and eats an elbow on a blind charge in the corner. We take a break and when we come back Ambrose is in control of Cena. The Shield do a great job of cutting the ring in half and the tag is made to Rollins. He talks shit to Cena as he pushes him around the ring and Cena gets in a few shots before running into another boot in the corner. Reigns gets the tag and immediately hits the boot on the apron for two as Cena grabs the bottom rope to break. Reigns talks trash on Bryan and Sheamus as he preps for the Super Man punch and then delivers it to Cena. The spear is dodged though as Reigns goes crashing through the ropes to the floor. He gets right back in and cuts Cena off from making the tag. Tag is made to Ambrose and he hits some jabs before sending Cena into the corner on a hard Irish whip. A second attempt is reversed, but Rollins gets the tag and cuts off Cena from making one of his own. Rollins takes a shot at Bryan and the crowd just goes scary quiet for some reason. Back in is Ambrose as Cena being the face in peril is kind of weird, but my guess is WWE knows the hot tag to Bryan is where the money is at in this match. Ambrose works the arm and shoulder as the crowd finally tries to rally Cena, but Ambrose clamps down with a sleeper to keep control. Cena is able to get to his feet and breaks by running Ambrose into the corner. Cena can’t capitalize though as he gets caught with a knee and then gets planted with a sick DDT for two. Out of nowhere Cena gets a burst of energy and hits the AA and now the super hot tag is made to Bryan. He destroys any and everyone wearing black both inside and outside the ring. He hits Rollins with a top rope dropkick and then gets the every living piss kicked out of him. Reigns makes the save and then creams Sheamus with a spear. Cena tries to get the AA, but gets speared for his trouble. Bryan stops that noise with the running knee and that leaves things to Rollins and Bryan. A German Suplex is countered, but Rollins ends up hitting the turnbuckle powerbomb for a good near fall. A massive yes chant breaks out, but Rollins hits a splash in the corner. He misses off the top through and Bryan hits a German that flips Rollins inside out. The corner dropkick is missed, but Bryan reverses a roll-up to the Yes Lock. Ambrose makes the save and then eats a Brogue kick. Sheamus gets taken out by Rollins and then Rollins and Bryan hit each other with a crossbody. Tags are made to Cena and Reigns, and Cena gets the STF. Reigns starts to break and the lights go out as the Wyatts enter the match and that brings about a DQ at 20:58 (shown). The Shield are none too pleased about that and it would lead to their war with The Wyatts at Elimination Chamber.

Winners: Cena, Bryan, and Sheamus due to DQ at 20:58 (shown)
-Damn fine wrestling match with a cheap ending thought it did lead somewhere. ***1/2

Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
RAW: Feb 3, 2014

-Feeling out process to start with neither guy getting an advantage so the crowd just chants for Bryan. Orton catches an elbow in the mouth and stalls to check if he is missing any teeth. Bryan works the arm and in a sweet move Orton grabs the beard to break. Nice! A CM Punk chant breaks out for a few seconds, but dies down quickly. Orton tries to quiet the crowd, but they only chant louder for Daniel. He mows Bryan down with a shoulder and then poses to big boos from the crowd. Bryan buries a knee in the ribs, and kicks away in the corner. He starts targeting the knee and wraps it around the ring post a few times. In a sick spot he dropkicks the knee into the ring post as the announcers talk about how both guys need to avoid injuries heading into Elimination Chamber in 20 days. Bryan breaks out some sweet submission moves targeting the knee, and gets a near fall before breaking the hold. A stiff uppercut nets a two count as another CM Punk chant breaks out. Orton finally stops the momentum by biting Bryan which is always awesome to see. A backslide out of nowhere gets a two count for Bryan and then he goes right back to the knee. I am kind of digging this vicious side of Daniel Bryan, and it is kind of a cool dynamic between these two. They battle on the floor and Orton gets tossed into the lap of Cole behind the announce table. Orton gets wrapped up in the corner and Bryan hits another running kick to the knee, and then hits a rana off the top rope for two. This has just been an ass kicking from the opening bell! The onslaught continues with Bryan locking in a surfboard, but Orton is able to fight out so Bryan just calmly kicks him in the damaged knee. Some more kicks, and the crowd loves every second of this. Bryan continues the damage with a half crab, but after two tries Orton is able to get to the ropes to break. He heads to the floor to break, and Bryan gives chase which is the first mistake he makes as Orton gets a belly to back suplex onto the security wall. Orton finally has traction in this match after taking a beating for over eleven minutes. Back inside the ring Orton works the Garvin Stomp as he tries to get feeling back in his knee. Bryan fights back though and kicks away at the damaged knee, but a powerslam kills that noise, and best part is Orton sells the knee on the landing. We take a break and come back with Orton catching Bryan with a head and shoulders suplex directly on the shoulder. Now Orton has a body part to work and he sends Bryan shoulder first into the steel post. Can’t blame Orton for that one after what Bryan did to him for most of this match. A shot into the steps and once back in the ring Orton gets a two count. Orton works an armbar in the ring and adds a little extra touch by bending and twisting at the fingers. Nice! Orton continues to target the elbow and shoulder and takes a second to pose when the crowd starts chanting for Bryan. Such a dick move and awesome at the same time! They fight up top and Orton tries for a top rope superplex, but Bryan headbutts out and hits the missile dropkick. That messes Bryan up though as he lands on his bad shoulder, so Orton actually gets to his feet first. In a great sequence they take turns exchanging blows at the other guys injured body part and Orton wins the exchange. Bryan gets the Yes Lock out of nowhere, but Orton is close enough to get a foot on the bottom rope. Back to the kicks and Orton’s hamstrings and quads should be good and knotted by this point. Bryan hits the running kicks in the corner, but Orton hits a dropkick to stop things on Bryan’s third attempt. The middle rope DDT follows and then Orton starts preparing for the RKO. Bryan says screw that though and hits a kick to the face followed by the diving head butt for two. Now we get kicks to the chest with the crowd screaming along and the head kick leaves Orton down. Here comes Kane to ruin things, but Bryan kicks him before he can do anything. Orton gets sent to the floor and Bryan hits a suicide dive on both of them. He sends Kane into the steps and back inside the ring Bryan ducks a clothesline and hits the running knee to end things at 23:56 (shown). After the match Bryan gets beat on by Kane and Orton.

Winner: Daniel Bryan via pin at 23:56 (shown)
-Heck of deal here as it was different than anything we had seen for a while in the WWE. The aggression from Daniel at the start as he targeted the knee was great and got to a point I kind of felt for Orton. Then Randy got his turn and destroyed the arm. They avoided the standard WWE Main Event style of trading finishers at the end and just had an old school wrestling match which was kind of refreshing to see. The stuff with Kane as always, wasn’t needed, but didn’t take too much and showed Bryan could overcome the odds. ***3/4

#1 Contender’s Intercontinental Title: Fatal 4-Way: Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Mark Henry
SmackDown: Feb 14, 2014

-The winner of this gets Big E at Elimination Chamber, and I will also mention there is an option to have alternate commentary on this match from Zeb. Kofi and Rey double team Mark to start and then have a go against each other. They both fly around the ring and Kofi hits a dropkick for two. A sunset flip is rolled through by Rey and he hits a head kick for two. Swagger comes back and then immediately gets sent back to the floor. Kofi hits a flipping senton to the floor on Swagger and Rey comes off with a seated Senton. Henry teases coming over the top, but Swagger rushes in with a spear and the crowd is kind of pissed we didn’t get to see Air Henry. Swagger connects with two Swagger Bombs, but celebrates too much and gets sent into the ropes by Kofi. Rey is back in and looks for 6-1-9, but Swagger bounces back with a clothesline. He fights with Rey on top, and gets kicked off so Rey hits another seated Senton. Rey bounces around and ends up getting a bulldog for a pin attempt, but Kofi breaks up the pin. Now Rey gets sent to the floor and that leaves Swagger and Kofi in the ring. Kofi controls and hits the Boom Drop, and looks for Trouble in Paradise, but Rey runs interference. Kofi heads up top, but Swagger catches him there. He can’t do anything though as Henry comes in and hits a powerbomb. Now Mark runs wild as everyone bumps off him for a few minutes. Swagger gets out of a press slam and goes to the knee before getting the Patriot Lock. Henry is able to break, but gets caught with a 6-1-9 in the stomach and then Trouble in Paradise. Swagger hits a sweet German Suplex on both Kofi and Rey at the same time and that gets a great response from the crowd. Rey tries for a 6-1-9, but Kofi catches him with Trouble in Paradise. Henry comes back in, but gets sent back to the floor. Swagger ends up catching Kofi with the Patriot Lock after a missed Trouble in Paradise and that gets the tap-out at 8:34.

Winner: Jack Swagger via tap-out at 8:34
-Solid match though not sure it was included in this set as I would guess there were better matches on SmackDown from the previous year. Non-stop action with some cool spots and it made Swagger look good enough heading into his title match with Big E. **1/4

-Before the next match we get a backstage interview with Renee Young and John Cena. He hypes the upcoming match with Cesaro as I am more concerned with watching Renee.

John Cena vs. Cesaro (with Zeb and Jack Swagger)
RAW: Feb 17, 2014

-Both these men are in the Elimination Chamber for the WWE World Heavyweight Title so makes sense they would be having a match here. This was also the point where Cesaro dropped the Antonio from his name (done so in a tweet). A criss-cross sequence to start and then Cesaro hits the floor after taking a hiptoss. He heads back in the ring and we get some chain wrestling which Cesaro controls. He works a headlock on the mat, but Cena fights up and then gets caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Nice! The Euro uppercuts start flying and they get a two count. Cesaro targets the arm and shoulder and works that for a bit. Cena fights to his feet and hits another hiptoss, but gets low bridged to the floor. The fight continues on the floor, and Cena gets sent into the security wall. Back inside Cesaro counters an AA by hanging Cena on the top rope and then gets a near fall off an elbow. He throws some knees to the ribs as the announcers talk about the differences between European style and US style. JBL says the difference is fundamentals and conditioning. In Cesaro’s case he is barely breathing hard even with this match being in Denver. We take a break with Cena on the floor and we come back with Cesaro hitting a fall away slam for two. Cena starts throwing blows, but Cesaro tells him to bring it harder because he is a real man and then catches Cena with a sleeper. It gets broken, but Cesaro mows him down for another near fall. He goes back to the chinlock, but Cena breaks in the corner and begins his 5 Moves of Doom. Cesaro counters though to the Giant Swing, but Cena counters that to the STF, and then Cesaro counters that to a gut-wrench suplex for two. Awesome! Cena gets dropped with an uppercut, but a Cesaro charge in the corner misses and Cena completes the 5 Moves of Doom. Cesaro gets out of an AA attempt and then tosses Cena into the air and hits the Uppercut of Death for two. That brings about a “this is awesome chant”. Cesaro looks for the Swing, but Cena counters to a DDT for two and then heads up top, but Cesaro catches him with an uppercut that sends him to the floor. Cena gets back to the apron and Cesaro hits a sweet suplex bringing Cena off the apron to the top rope and back in the ring. Damn! How did they screw things up with this guy so badly? Cesaro finally gets the Giant Swing and the crowd goes crazy seeing Cena take the move. He takes about a dozen rotations, but is able to kick out at two. Another “this is awesome chant” and I agree with these fans. Cesaro cranks the neck, but Cena counters the Neutralizer and looks for the AA. Cesaro flips out though and hits a running boot that nearly takes Cena’s head off his shoulders. Cena is a real man’s man though and hits a clothesline before fighting to get the AA to finish things at 16:07 (shown).

Winner: John Cena via pin 16:07 (shown)
-That was a war and should have continued the momentum of Cesaro to the Main Event, but well you know. ***3/4

-Next up they include some interviews with fans discussing how Cesaro came out of that match as the next star. I wonder if the WWE is trolling us by including that as they are rubbing the thoughts of the IWC in their face.

-Back to Braxton and he discusses Cena beating Wyatt at Mania and Cesaro winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He segues that into talking about the uncertain WrestleMania future of Brock Lesnar.

-RAW: Feb 24, 2014: Brock Lesnar and Heyman head to the ring for a contract signing. Heyman says Brock is the obvious #1 contender for the WWE World Title and wants Orton/Batista to get their match out of the way so Brock can face the winner at Mania. HHH and Steph offer an open contract where he can face anyone he wants at Mania, and Heyman feels that is a consolation prize. He wants to conquer history as he has done in the past: NCAA Champion, Youngest WWE Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion, and now he wants the WWE World Heavyweight Title. The open contract doesn’t mean a thing to Brock and they turn the offer down. As they leave the bell chimes and the lights go out signaling the return of The Undertaker. They go face to face and the crowd is pretty damn excited by it. Taker stares at the Mania sign and Brock can see where this is going so he signs the contract and demands Taker do the same. Taker then stabs Brock’s hand with the pen and hits a chokeslam through the table. Some fun stuff there with Heyman being awesome and Brock and Taker being tough bastards that want to fight each other. Wrestling can be very simple: I want to fight you and here is the time and place.

-The fans discuss Batista and how they turned their back on him when he returned. They talk about how he went Hollywood and fans wanted Daniel Bryan.

-SmackDown: Feb 28, 2014: Batista is channeling his awesome heel character here as Cole and JBL mention that Batista is going to let the WWE Universe know what he thinks about them. They show highlights from RAW where Del Rio beat Batista (to a strong pop) due to Orton distraction and then Orton brings up how the fans are booing the hell out of Batista since he returned. Back to Batista and he starts by saying he loves this business and this company. He says he didn’t come back to be liked and didn’t come back to please everyone. He came back to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion and the fans can deal with it. He promises to destroy anyone that is put in front of him and he is the best representative of the WWE and that includes Hogan and The Rock. He questions where all the real men have gone in this business as the fans chant for 190 lb wannabes. He crushes the Yes movement and brings the truth that they will never be him. He takes off his wife beater to show how jacked he looks and says everything about him screams WWE Champion. The fans chant “No” and Dave says he can sympathize because the fans want a hero that looks like them. They are living in a fantasy and they need to go back to their jobs at Hot Topic because now he is going to destroy their heroes and get to Mania where he will win the Title. Awesome! That is the Batista I wanted upon his return because the way he dresses, acts, and talks is fantastic for being the heel. Dolph Ziggler interrupts and he sucks up to the fans by telling Dave the fans can get behind whoever they want. He calls Batista a dinosaur and that sooner or later his kind will be instinct. Dolph says he is a real man and he wants a match tonight. Again, keep shit simple as Dolph had his manhood question and he wants to fight. Batista accepts and Dolph hits a dropkick that only serves to embarrass Batista and piss him off. Great stuff here, and again what they should have been doing with Dave from the start.

Batista vs. Dolph Ziggler
SmackDown: Feb 28, 2014

-Ziggler gets off to a fast start and Batista bails to the floor as he has seamlessly transitioned into being a heel. It happens a second time and Batista pulls Ziggler to the floor and tosses him into the retaining wall. He tries to send Ziggler into the post, but Dolph slides out and sends Dave into the post. He just kind of shrugs it off though and targets the knee of Ziggler. He posts the knee in vicious fashion and hits a suplex back in the ring for a two count. Dolph bumps around like a mad man as you would expect and sells this beating for all it is worth in tremendous fashion. The crowd is pissed and the WWE has finally done something right. Ziggler ducks a spear in the corner and Batista hits shoulder first into the post. He leaps up for the 10 count punches in the corner, but Dave walks out and looks for a powerbomb. That is escaped and Ziggler hits a dropkick to the knee. The fameasser gets a two count, so Dolph goes to the sleeper. Batista gets to the ropes and then catches Dolph with a spinebuster. A second spinebuster and Dolph is a pile at goo at this point. For shits and giggles we get a third spinebuster because fuck you fans for cheering these vanilla midgets and the Batista Bomb finishes things at 6:39.

Winner: Batista via pin at 6:39
-Perfectly acceptable wrestling and it did what it needed to in reestablishing Heel Batista and giving him someone to beat the piss out of that would sell it like death. Dolph was great here playing the sacrificial lamb, and someday WWE will hopefully reward him again. **

WWE Tag Titles: The New Age Outlaws © vs. The Usos
RAW: March 3, 2014

-This is from the infamous Hi-jack RAW show in Chicago where the fans promised to revolt and chant for CM Punk all night. The WWE called their bluff and the show kind of disappointed as it showed planning to hijack a show in advance (here) isn’t as much fun or organic as when they happen naturally (Pittsburgh Rumble crowd). Mainly because the WWE has time to prepare things to manipulate a response they want, which is what happened in Chicago. I will admit here that I am a sucker for the Usos entrance. The previous week the Usos won a non-title match in under 10 seconds to earn this shot. The crowd immediately starts a CM Punk chant, but it doesn’t last long. The Outlaws work over Jey on the floor, and back inside Dogg hits a clothesline as the crowd starts another CM Punk chant. I am actually kind of shocked the WWE didn’t edit those out this DVD release. Finally the crowd starts an Uso chant and we take a break as nothing has really happened in the match. Jey continues to play the face in peril until finally hitting a kick that wakes the crowd up. The hot tag is made and Jimmy hits Billy with an elbow and a kick to the stomach. He sends Billy into the Road Dogg and then hits each with a Samoan Drop. The Butt splash in the corner to Dogg is followed by a dive off the top on Billy for two. Jimmy hits a superkick on Dogg sending him to the floor, but gets caught with a tilt-a-whirl slam by Billy for two. The fameasser is missed, and Jimmy leaps over the top onto Road Dog while making a tag to Jey at the same time. That brings Jey into the ring and he hits a leaping kick and then connects with the Top Rope splash for the titles to a massive pop at 5:52 (shown).

Winners and New WWE Tag Team Champions: The Usos via pin at 5:52 (shown)
-Great moment, but not a great match. The crowd reaction to the Usos winning was pretty awesome though and again just goes to show the WWE does know how to manipulate an audience. *1/2

-This DVD wraps up with the fans discussing the Usos winning the Tag Titles and some of the fans reminisce about Rikishi.