wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 5.04.15
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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 5.04.15
OFFICIAL RESULTS
~ Handicap Match: New Day defeated Orton and Reigns @ 13:05 via pin [**¾]
~ Kidd & Cesaro defeated The Ascension @ 4:01 via pin [**]
~ Non-Title Match: Dean Ambrose defeated Champion Seth Rollins @ 16:40 via pin [***¾]
~ Rusev defeated Fandango @ 2:11 via submission [NR]
~ Stardust defeated R-Truth @ 3:05 via pin [THE DIRT FUCKING WORST]
~ US Title Match: Champion John Cena defeated Sami Zayn @ 10:40 via pin [***½]
~ King Bad News Barrett and Sheamus defeated Neville and Dolph Ziggler @ 8:41 via pin [**½]
~ Randy Orton and Roman Reigns went to a no contest @ 6:15 [**½]
RANDY. ORTON. TALKS.: So here’s how this went…
– Orton promised Payback on Rollins by winning the title.
– Reigns interrupted and promised Payback on Rollins by winning the title.
– They argued and threatened each other.
– The New Day came out and made fun of both for being losers.
– This led to…
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/Lthomascsonka/teddy_long_tag_team_match_11_zps589f6c84.jpg
Once again, not a bad opening segment, it was just the same opening segment we see on Raw and Smackdown every week. Someone comes out to talk, there is some sort of confrontation, they set up some sort of match and we move on. It’s usually never a bad opening; it’s just the same old shit every week and I’d just like to see something different to make it feel as if they weren’t booking with fill in the blank wrestling story books. Also, dear New Day, be careful…
???
Handicap Match: Orton vs., Reigns vs. New Day (Kofi, Woods and Big E): They worked through a commercial break, and despite some tension in the opening segment, Orton and Reigns worked well as a team. The numbers game worked for New Day and as we came back from the break they were getting the heat on Reigns. Orton got the hot tag, ran wild and the crowd really got into the match. Woods ate an RKO, but then Reigns accidentally speared Orton and New Day picked up the win. This was a damn fine little match, one that allowed New Day to pick up a win and added to the drama established between Orton and Reigns in the opening. Post match Kane appeared and booked Orton vs. Reigns. It makes sense to try and divide Orton and Reigns heading into the title match so that it doesn’t appear like Rollins is facing a 2-1 fight. In a way it felt a bit lazy, because New Day only won because of the miscommunication; but the match was booked pretty evenly and they didn’t beat the champions or screw the pooch on the handicap stipulation.
* Rollins and J&J met with Kane backstage, and didn’t really think that Kane’s plan was all that good and that he was only doing what he did to get into the good graces of the Authority. Kane then booked him in a Smackdown rematch vs. Ambrose. He also banned J&J from ringside.
Ryback Talks: Ryback started his promo and the crowd chanted boring and weren’t into it, he recovered and got them to stop and even cheer him a bit. He then told his story about injury again to show that he could face fear, and that Bray Wyatt doesn’t scare him. The crowd was really quiet the rest of the promo, but did do the FEED ME MORE with him. Ryback called out Wyatt and he appeared along with the smoke monster. Wyatt said Ryback was nothing but a scared child, told him to run and it ended. I will give credit to Ryback, he stopped the crowd from completely shitting on him, and not everyone can do that. But the crowd didn’t care about him in the long run and overall I am not feeling the feud so far. Part of that is because the segment wasn’t good, and the other part is because Ryback has just been a guy for the longest time. Also, how can I buy into Wyatt as “the New Face of Fear” when he was pushing that prior to Mania and lost? Not good.
Kidd & Cesaro w/Natalya vs. The Ascension: The Ascension controlled early on Kidd, Cesaro got the hot tag and ran wild and also woke up the crowd. Kidd & Cesaro won with the swing into the dropkick. It was a fine match, I liked that we got the former champions away from New Day this week and also got them back on the winning track. Cesar was awesome when he ran wild there.
* Renee caught up with Rollins, who was not pleased about having to face Ambrose again tonight. He also called Kane a moron.
Non-Title Match: Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose: This is out rematch from Smackdown, Kane then came out and said if Ambrose wins tonight, he gets a spot in the Payback main event, making it a four-way match. Rollins complained, and Ambrose then polled the audience, who was behind him. I wasn’t as thrilled about the rematch, but now that it actually means something I can appreciate it more. They worked through a commercial break and Rollins had control post break. They got a lot more time than they did in their Smackdown match, and even with a few hiccups, they delivered a much better match here. They had a great crowd, worked a really strong final few minutes and it just clicked. J&J ran out, but took themselves out and Ambrose scored the win with the roll up. The dynamic has now changed with Ambrose in the Payback main event (sure he’s likely just there to take the pin) but overall I really liked this.
* A pissed off Rollins complained to Kane and threatened to kick his ass. Kane deflected to the WWE Universe and also to Rollins for losing tonight to Ambrose. He then threatened to add more people if Rollins didn’t know his role. Kane then explained that this was all about making Rollins the man that the Authority wants him to be and then said he had a plan.
* Lana joins Byron Saxton backstage, and asks her about the recent crowd reactions. She tried to blow it off and Fandango appeared and was Fandango. Rusev arrived and was not pleased.
Rusev vs. Fandango: This was all about the continued build to splitting Rusev and Lana. Lana got cheers again and then Fandango talked her into doing the little Fandango dance.
The crowd loved it and Rusev threw a fit and sent her to the back. Fandango posed Rusev a few times and looked to have a chance, but then Rusev beat him down, applied the accolade and won the match. I feel that the Lana and Rusev split maybe coming too soon, don’t get me wrong I felt that this was a good segment and accomplished what it was designed to do. With that being said I feel the split needs to come later, but you also have to roll with the crowd reaction and since they seem hot for it now, you’re going to have to pull the trigger while it means something.
* We get Tough Enough audition videos.
R-Truth vs. Stardust: These guys met in the KOTR Tournament, with Truth winning. Stardust has a bag with him. They did stuff, and it was really uninspired; the match simply existed. Truth got the bag and opened it; it was “spiders” so he got scared. Stardust then rolled him up for the win. THIS WAS THE DIRT FUCKING WORST. Stupid shit like this is why no one ever becomes invested in these guys. It’s so sad to go from something like Rollins vs. Ambrose to this.
* On Smackdown, we get a contract signing for the Payback main event.
John Cena’s US Title Open Challenge: The crowd did the “John Cena sucks” sing-along to his music, and kept going with other chants as Cena tried to cut his promo, which was designed to hype the I Quit match with Rusev at Payback. Cena went into the old standard of kissing the ass of the crowd, “you chant for what you want and have passion” and all of that shit. He focused on the whole “not giving up” deal and got the crowd into the promo, so much respect there for not losing them and actually completely turning them around. Cena also did a good job of making the title important in the whole deal, which was appreciated. Cena called out for his challenger, and Bret Hart’s music hit and he came to the ring. Hart then was about to introduce someone, and Heath Slater came out to continue the running joke 9which I don’t mind, the guy is good at his job). Hart slapped the piss out of him with the mic, and then introduced Cena’s challenger, SAMI FUCKING ZAYN!
They were already in action when we came back from the break, and shortly after that Zayn was down with the doctor checking his shoulder. We got back to action, with Zayn selling the shoulder the rest of the match, playing the resilient hometown babyface. The crowd loathed Cena and loves Zayn as you’d expect, and that made for a great atmosphere. Zayn even got to kick out of the AA, which I both love and hate. On one hand it happens too much on TV, but in this kind of atmosphere I can roll with it. Cena scored the win with the springboard stunner and then the AA. Cena gave Zayn a lot here, and while it felt odd how they initially worked it into things, the shoulder injury was actually a nice tool (if it was designed that way, he could have been hurt, but the dude is so good at selling it is hard to tell). It allowed Zayn to work to his strengths as a great babyface, and also is a perfect excuse for him coming up short. The whole deal worked out well; the promo worked, the Hart appearance came off very well, the endorsement of Zayn was excellent, Zayn had a very good back and forth with Cena and (can’t believe I am saying this) Michael Cole was GREAT here. He actually called a match with genuine passion and it showed. Cena leaving the ring to Zayn at the end was also a great touch. I think that this was set up really well to capitalize on the location, Cena’s challenge, the hometown underdog working injured and just coming up short. I loved this.
* The Bellas walk as NEW DAY IS STILL CELEBRATING backstage. Ok, I love them.
*Renee was hoping to interview Zayn, but New Day interrupted and continued their celebration. They are great. Kidd, Cesaro and Natalya interrupted and they argued.
* As the Bellas made their way to the ring, Naomi and the returning Tamina attacked. I guess Naomi IS really taking over for AJ. They beat down the twins and then Naomi promised to end the Bellas reign of terror. WHAT WOULD JIMMY USO THINK?
Dolph Ziggler and Neville vs. Sheamus and King Bad News Barrett: They worked through the commercial break, and focused on the Ziggler/Sheamus and Barrett/Neville pairings (and seemingly building some mid-card feuds we can get involved in). They had a solid TV tag match, and then Neville foolishly jumped into a bull hammer (ok he got distracted by Sheamus and then jumped into it) for the finish. All hail the king.
Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns: So we came back from commercial at 11PM ET, signaling more of an angle then an actual match, and I don’t really have an issue with that. Right as things were about to start, shirtless Kane came out with Rollins and J&J. Jamie Noble announced he was the ring announcer, Mercury was the timekeeper, shirtless Kane was the ringside enforcer and Rollins was guest commentator. Reigns and Orton discussed the situation and wanted to work together, but Orton went for an RKO and the deal was off. They worked a solid little match, and then the Authority got involved for the no contest. Reigns hit his big dive but was then posted and the beat down continued until Dean Ambrose’s music made the save. Orton, Reigns and Ambrose cleared the ring and then Rollins was left alone and ate a spear. Orton then dropped Reigns with the RKO and then Ambrose hit dirty deeds on Orton to stand tall. That was an overall fun closing segment to close the show and hype the Payback main event.
* End scene.
* Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
