Tonight is the aftermath of Extreme Rules. As usual, I have avoided hearing/reading anything about the pay-per-view, so let’s just get down to it!
Do we have a new Intercontinental Champion in Bad News Barrett?
Was World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan able to retain his title against “The Big Red Monster” Kane?
Who won the war between Evolution and The Shield?
And, was last week’s super-creepy opening to Raw enough to push John Cena over the edge and either destroy the Wyatt Family; or did Bray Wyatt use it to his advantage and come out on top over the (somewhat) popular superstar?
Plus, tonight, it’s party time! Adam Rose will make his main-roster debut, so who will be a “lemon,” and who will be a “rosebud?”
All this and more, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for May 5th, 2014 – “Extreme Continues”
Introduction Segment: Welcoming
Michael Cole welcomes us to Raw and announces the first match, right off the bat!
Match #1: 20-Man Battle Royal for the United States Championship – Dean Ambrose (Champion) (with Shield partners Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) VS. Goldust (Challenger), Cody Rhodes (Challenger), Mark Henry (Challenger), Xavier Woods (Challenger), R-Truth (Challenger), Titus O’Neil (Challenger), The Big Show (Challenger), Heath Slater (Challenger), Dolph Ziggler (Challenger), Zack Ryder (Challenger), Ryback (Challenger), Jack Swagger (Challenger), Curtis Axel (Challenger), Kofi Kingston (Challenger), Sin Cara (Challenger), Fandango (Challenger), Damien Sandow (Challenger), Sheamus (Challenger), and Santino Marella (Challenger)
This comes down to Ambrose, Goldust, Big Show, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Ryback, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Fandango, Santino Marella, and Mark Henry after the break. Impressively, Show Chokeslams Henry, but Sheamus hits him with the Brogue Kick and everyone eliminates Show, and then subsequently “The World’s Strongest Man!”
Kofi is knocked out by Ambrose after Kingston tried to hang on the apron by one hand. Goldust was slugging away at Curtis when he was dumped over, then Ryback follows by taking out Cody. Ziggler was taken out after the Cobra Punch from Santino, but Rybaxel eliminated Marella quickly.
Ambrose manages to toss Axel over, then he and Ryback punch it out standing on the apron. Ryback runs at Ambrose, but Dean ducks and dropkicks him by the knees to the floor. Swagger tries to hurl the U.S. Champ, but he turns it around and chucks out “The Real American!”
The final two are Sheamus and Ambrose, with Sheamus kicking him hard in the face with the Brogue Kick! He picks up Dean and sends him to the floor!
Winner via Elimination and NEW United States Champion: Sheamus
Post-match, Shield partners Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns check on their down partner, then C.O.O. Triple H comes out. He talks from the stage, calling The Shield “extremely lucky,” but predicts “your luck has run out.” He books them to face The Wyatt Family later tonight!
It is revealed that Bray Wyatt did indeed defeat John Cena at Extreme Rules, with some new “twist.”
Also tonight, Big E. will invoke his mandatory rematch clause for the Intercontinental Championship, as he takes on new titleholder Bad News Barrett.
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
The same Adam Rose hype from last week airs, plugging his debut on Raw tonight.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Rene Young interviews new United States Champion Sheamus, who says “tonight was the perfect time for the ‘Celtic Warrior’ to step back into glory.”
Cole, Lawler, and Bradshaw recap the WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout from Extreme Rules, where Daniel Bryan managed to keep his title. Judging from the still-pictures, it looked like a classic hardcore match from ECW and/or Attitude Era WWF.
Segment #4: Locker Room Promo
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan is with his real-life wife, Brie Bella. Stephanie McMahon walks in and informs him to stay in their locker room tonight until his match, if they want to remain safe from Kane. She leaves and Kane’s mask appears on the back of the door.
Rob Van Dam makes his entrance, as he will face Cesaro next!
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Match #2: Single – Rob Van Dam VS. “The King Of Swing” Cesaro (with Paul Heyman)
They lock up and trade waistlocks and side headlocks. Van Dam takes him down with an armdrag, then Cesaro catches him with a side headlock. He also catches a leaping Rob with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two!
Van Dam comes back with the Rolling Thunder Senton, sending Cesaro to get a break outside. He jawbreaks Rob using the ropes, then punches R.V.D. in his eye. Cesaro runs at Van Dam, but is launched to the floor. Van Dam follows up with an over-the-ropes flipping senton, then dives on him with a moonsault from the apron!
Rob leaps back in the ring with a legdrop and gets a near-fall, but is flapjacked onto the turnbuckle. Van Dam flips over Cesaro again and tries a kick, but Cesaro waistlocks him from behind, then clotheslines him over the ropes.
Commercials.
Cesaro has R.V.D. clamped in a rear chinlock, but Van Dam sunset flips him for two! Cesaro fires back right away with a jumping double-stomp for two also! Van Dam small-packages and leg-scissor-roll-ups Cesaro, both for near-falls! He springboards off the corner, right into an uppercut by Cesaro! 1 – 2 – Van Dam kicks out!
Cesaro runs at R.V.D. and nails him again with an uppercut, then clutches his waist and delivers three consecutive gutwrench suplexes! Rob is cut off the top rope and hung upside down. Cesaro pounds away, against the referee’s orders, so he is dq’d.
Winner via Disqualification: Rob Van Dam
Post-match, Cesaro continues to punch at a helpless Van Dam, until Paul Heyman convinces him to stop.
As the commentator’s are plugging the WWE Network, The Wyatt Family announces they are here!
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Segment #5: Arena Promo
Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erik Rowan are in the ring. Bray is sitting in his rocking chair, with lamp and microphone in hands.
“Abigail always told me that I was born to lead. She said ‘one day Bray, you will change the world.’ And I believed her. I always believed her. But this world we live in, this horrible world we live in. It has very, very wicked ways about it. And they, they would always snub their nose up at me. They would always look down on me. They would refer to me as a ‘piece of trash.’ They referred to me as a ‘nobody.’ And they don’t even know it, those people, they have made this day so sweet for me. Oh, what a glorious day it is, because last night, I, Bray Wyatt, became ‘somebody.’ Last night, John Cena’s fear was personified by that of a singing child.”
A clip now shows, from Extreme Rules, of a young boy singing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” The boy’s voice was muffled, and he stared creepily at Cena.
Bray continues, “You can’t fool the children, John. For they are the foundation of what tomorrow shall bring. Their ears are so eager to hear. And their minds are so eager to learn, and their innocent little eyes see right through you, John Cena. John Cena tells all of you that I am a ‘monster.’ And he is right, I am a ‘monster.’ And, oh, how cruel I can be. He would also have you believe that my message, my honorable message, is nothing but lies and I only wish to watch the world burn. And I have to give it to you John. You’re right again; I do wish to watch this world burn. I wish to watch it burn as a farmer watches his spoiled crops burn, so they may rise up again. This world must be burnt down so that it can be reborn. And it will be reborn in my image; the image of Wyatt! John Cena thinks that I do this, everything I do, all of this, I only do it for myself. And that my friends is where John Cena is dead wrong. I do this for the children, I do this for the poor man that stands day-and-night begging on the side of the street starving because ‘they’ didn’t think he was smart enough to live in this world. I do this for the teenage girl who wakes up crying every morning (blanked out) because they didn’t think she was beautiful enough to be the Prom Queen. I do this for each and every one of you! And as of today, today, tomorrow, and everyday passing forward, John Cena stands alone. And alone he shall fall. But you children, you shall stand with me, and you never have to be alone ever again. You stand with me and you will remember me not as a monster, but you will remember me as what I truly am – a god.” Bray gets on his knees and begins, “He’s got the whole world in his hands, He’s got the whole wide world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands, He’s got the whole world in his hands,” Wyatt sings and then laughs.
Commercials.
Match #3: Single – Ryback (with Rybaxel partner, Curtis Axel) VS. Cody Rhodes (with Goldust)
Cody and Ryback lockup, then Rhodes punches in the corner, slides under, and uppercuts him. Ryback comes back, catching Cody off the ropes then dropping him across the top rope. Ryback controls the bulk of this bout, until he misses a splash from the middle rope. Rhodes builds momentum with a clothesline and chop block, then nails the Disaster Kick! He slingshots from the top rope with front-dropkick, but is distracted by Curtis.
Goldust gets involved, but is run into the post by Axel. Rhodes falls off the top rope and Ryback takes advantage with the Shellshock and cover for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Ryback (with Rybaxel partner, Curtis Axel)
Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Brie and Bryan are in their room when the lights go out. Kane’s mask is over a lit candle, then they walk out to Stephanie in the hallway. She offers to take them from the building.
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Segment #7: Arena Promo
Los Matadores are in the ring, celebrating Cinco De Mayo Day (May 5th), when 3.M.B. walk out and want to join the party. They also want to call a “truce,” but that doesn’t last long as they all get into a brawl. Los Matadores come out on top.
Commercials.
Segment #8: Video Promo
Another “Bo-Lieve” highlight airs, preaching about our “here and now.”
Match #4: Single – Kofi Kingston VS. “The Super Athlete” Alexander Rusev (with “The Ravishing Russian” Lana)
Rusev completely destroys Kingston, forcing him to tap-out to The Accolade.
Winner via Submission: “The Super Athlete” Alexander Rusev (with “The Ravishing Russian” Lana)
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan is with his wife, Brie, pacing around their car. Stephanie McMahon comes up and orders Bryan to compete next, or he will be stripped of his title.
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Match #5: Single – Alberto Del Rio VS. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (with Brie Bella) (Non-Title)
Elbow/collar tie-up to begin, with Del Rio clutching Bryan in a standing headlock. He pushes Bryan down with a shoulder block, but Bryan comes back with a dropkick, then uppercuts and kicks in the corner. Alberto counters with a kick of his own and takes control. He punches away on Bryan’s head and delivers corner kicks back. Daniel fires back again, flipping over Del Rio in the corner and nailing him with a running elbow.
Bryan kicks at Del Rio’s chest, but misses the head-kick and gets driven down with the Backstabber. 1 – 2 – Bryan gets the shoulder up! Alberto front-dropkicks him to the outside, then throws him into the corner barrier.
Commercials.
Del Rio is still dominant, choking Bryan in the corner with his boot. He then clamps on an armbar, using the ropes, and dives off the top rope. Del Rio is caught with a chop for two, then twists his left leg around. Bryan focuses on that appendage, wrapping it against the bottom rope and running at it with a dropkick. Bryan slides back in the ring just before the ten count, but is driven down with a harsh DDT. Alberto is gearing up, but misses the kick, allowing Bryan to give him one instead!
They slug it out with punches and kicks, to the delight of the fans,. Bryan drop-toeholds Del Rio into the middle turnbuckle, then they go back to trading kicks. Alberto gives Daniel a vicious clothesline in the corner, but cannot bring him off the top rope. Bryan punches out of a suplex attempt, then flies with a headbutt. 1 – 2 – Del Rio kicks out!
Bryan runs at Del Rio with a couple of corner dropkicks, then soars through the ropes with a suicide dive, sending Del Rio into the crowd! Bryan ascends the top rope again, but Alberto cuts him off with a running Enziguri for a near-fall! He attempts the Cross Armbreaker, but Bryan gets out of it and the WWE World Heavyweight Champion ties him up in the Yes Lock Crossface, making Del Rio slap the mat!
Winner via Submission: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan (with Brie Bella)
Post-match, Kane’s pyro blows, so Bryan and Brie run for it. They make it to their car, but it won’t start. Daniel checks under the hood, and when he slams it down, Kane is in the car! They brawl while Brie screams, then Bryan drives off with Kane on the car. He suddenly stops and sees a motionless Kane on the ground, who sits up and glares, while Bryan wheels ahead again.
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Match #6: Single for the Intercontinental Championship – Big E. (Challenger) VS. Bad News Barrett (Champion)
(Note: Again, they do formal introduction in the ring, bring more importance to I.C. Title Matches! Also, Barrett cuts a quick promo, giving us the “bad news” that puts down Big E. and the fans, saying they are not worthy of Wade as I.C. Champion.)
Big E. takes Barrett down with a couple of waistlock slams quickly, then gives him three consecutive backbreakers. On the outside, Big E. slams Barrett’s head against the steel steps and runs into him. (The crowd is now chanting “Bad News Barrett!”) Both punch each other standing on the apron, then Big E. runs and misses, ramming his own shoulder into the ring post. Wade follows up with a clothesline on the outside, then dives off the apron with an elbow. In the ring, Bad News stomps away.
Commercials.
Barrett misses a running boot, inadvertently crotching himself in the corner. Big E. goes to splash, but Wade puts his knees up. He twirls out of a tilt-a-whirl, then slams Big E. down with the Winds Of Change. He delivers a knee from the apron, then sets up for the Bullhammer. Barrett winds up, but Big E. ducks and nails him with a body block. Big E. then spears him off the apron, and goes with him!
Wade runs into an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, then Big E. picks him up for the Big Ending. Barrett wiggles out and rakes him in the eyes, then finishes him with the Bullhammer!
Winner via Pinfall and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Bad News Barrett
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It is announced that John Cena will talk about his Extreme Rules match with Bray Wyatt, this week on Main Event.
(WWE Network only program)
Segment #10: Video Promo
A Happy Mother’s Day message airs from Mr. T, with clips of his Hall Of Fame speech.
Segment #11: Arena Promo
Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger are out, with Jack carrying “Zeb’s Deportation List” sign. On the back, Divas Champion Paige, Emma, Cesaro, Paul Heyman, Sheamus, and Santino Marella are written. Two names are covered up, and Colter goes to talk about him, but music cuts him off.
It’s party time! A posses of partiers walk on the ramp, then Adam Rose follows. He is carried around body-surf style, then gets in the ring. He tells Zeb to “don’t be a lemon, be a rosebud!” Swagger tries to take a shot, but Rose kicks him away and flips him over the ropes.
Zeb manages to get out of the ring while Adam continues to party.
Up next, the main-event!
Commercials.
It is made known that Sheamus will defend his United States Championship this week on Smackdown!
Match #7: Six-Man Tag-Team – The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erik Rowan) VS. The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns)
This starts off in a big brawl at first, then Ambrose and Rowan officially begin. Dean punches away on Rowan in the corner. He tags in Rollins, who punches Erik, but is kneed down. Harper now in, but Seth flips out of a suplex and he and Ambrose double-suplex Luke down. Reigns switches with Ambrose, and delivers body blows to Harper in The Shield’s corner. Rollins back in and gives Harper a fistdrop off the second rope. Harper comes back, running Rollins into the turnbuckle, then suplexes Seth for two.
Luke tags in his leader, who punches and kicks Rollins. Bray methodically takes Rollins apart, then switches with Rowan. He does the same to Seth, but Rollins gives him a boot out of the corner. He dives off the corner, but is caught in the crossbody position. Rollins counters with a twirling kick, then tags in Ambrose who wildly punches and front-dropkicks Rowan! He planchas Harper on the outside, hits Rowan with a forearm, then comes back with a clothesline! Dean ties up Rowan in the Figure-Four, and both teams face-off in the ring again!
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Harper now has Dean in a grounding rear chinlock, but Ambrose gets out of it with a sit-down jawbreaker. He swiftly kicks and punches Luke, until Harper catches hi and plants Ambrose face-first. Reigns desperately wants in as The Family are picking apart Ambrose. They run at Ambrose, but he holds the ropes down, sending them tumbling to the floor mats. Rollins is now in, and soars over the ropes with a dive, landing on his own feet! Seth stomps in the ring, runs at Luke, then drives him down with a flatliner. He follows with a standing Shooting Star Press splash for two!
Rollins kicks Bray on the outside, but is shoved off the ropes to the floor by Luke! He follows with a suicide dive, plunging Rollins over the announce table. He tears apart the top of the structure, and hurls a chair randomly from the crowd.
Bray in the ring, splashes Rollins in the corner, and Luke superkicks him. Ambrose breaks up the cover and goes after Rowan. Both Erik and Bray put him on the announce table. In the ring, Harper sets Seth up on the turnbuckle, looks around crazily; but is punches off. Seth nails him with the flying knee-to-the-face, and makes the hot-tag to Roman! He is in and takes out all Wyatt Family members!
Reigns gives Bray a front-dropkick from the floor to the apron, then hits a diving clothesline on Harper from the second rope. He signals for the Superman Punch, but is cut off by Rowan. All six men brawl again, with Ambrose and Rollins giving double-suicide-dives on Harper and Rowan against the announce table. In the ring, Reigns Superman Punches Wyatt, and all three Shield partners surround him.
Before they can execute the triple powerbomb, Evolution’s music plays and the trio walk out. This escalates into another big brawl, with Rollins and Ambrose suicide-diving Evolution and Harper and Rowan. In the ring, Reigns managed to hit the Superman Punch on Triple H, but he turned around into the Sister Abigail from Bray and victory for The Wyatt Family!
Winners via Pinfall: The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erik Rowan)
Post-match, Evolution continue their assault on The Shield; running Ambrose into the steel steps and giving Rollins the slingshot DDT off the top rope. HHH picks up Reigns and tries for The Pedigree, but he flips him over. Orton quickly jumps on Roman with an R.K.O., then Reigns is planted with The Pedigree.
Orton and Triple H hold up Reigns, while Batista mocks Roman’s taunt; they all triple powerbomb Reigns, then stand over him like The Shield would do to their downed opponents. The show closes with camera shots of The Shield sprawled across the canvas, and Evolution posing on the ropes.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
Unfortunately, this Raw left a lot to be desired. Not much at all “clicked” this week for me, and a few people were missing. On to the critiques:
Excellence: As always, Bray Wyatt’s promo – he can do no wrong right now with his oratory skills and psyche! They physicality of matches between Del Rio/Bryan, and Big E./Barrett.
Bogus: Opening the show with the U.S. Title Battle Royal. I was really expecting a promo from either The Shield, Evolution, The Wyatt Family, John Cena, or Daniel Bryan. This really seemed out of nowhere and very rushed. I also hate that they had Ambrose lose the title this way – should’ve been built to a bigger/longer one-on-one match. With that match too, HATED Dolph Ziggler losing to that STUPID Cobra Punch by Santino. “The Show Off” deserves SO MUCH MORE than he has gotten since WrestleMania XXX. He should be in line for Barrett’s I.C. Championship now.
Ending to Van Dam/Cesaro bout also was sudden and didn’t make too much sense. I’m also still confused if Cesaro is supposed to be a heel or face. Again, I really think he would’ve been much better after WrestleMania XXX with going straight-face.
Did not care for the 3.M.B./Los Matadores promo – that feud should’ve ended last night. Also, I think that this is where Adam Rose could’ve debuted and really shown them how to party. I was let-down by his appearance tonight, especially after the weeks of hype, and the charisma the man does actually posses.
Do not care for Rybaxel as well as The Brotherhood right now. Also have fallen off the wagon since losing the Tag-Team Titles and really need more. Where was Divas Champion Paige, particularly after winning big over Tamina at Extreme Rules? How about Tag-Team Champions The Usos? They were M.I.A.. too.
It’s great that they kept Cena off Raw, to sell his loss from the pay-per-view; but have him make his return next week, not on Main-Event, where only a select number of people who have the WWE Network will get to watch. He’s a superstar, should be on international TELEVISION!
I felt Bryan was made to look very weak tonight, both inside the ring (Del Rio dominated most of it) and outside with being worried about Kane. The “unplugged wire” was really bad, as was Brie’s screaming. Again, another feud that should’ve moved on after last night.
Sadly, I thought that The Shield VS. The Wyatts was a bit slow until the end, and not as special as before. These guys should only face off once or twice a year, to keep the ambiance of how unique they are, and chemistry between them in the ring.
Until next week, where WWE needs to step it up again with may issues I cited above, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
