Monday Night Raw TV Report for December 1st, 2014 – “Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Turned”

Introduction Segment: Video Promo

Last week’s Raw is recalled, featuring Sting debuting at Survivor Series, the taking over of Raw by Daniel Bryan, and the return of the Anonymous Raw General Manager.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

Michael Cole is standing by the commentator’s table with the podium for the Raw Anonymous General Manager. Through Cole, the A.G.M. announces they are back and not pleased with how the company is since Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were relieved of their positions at Survivor Series. The A.G.M. has some announcements, but before they can get to them, John Cena interrupts. Cena takes a shot at the A.G.M., saying they only make a once-a-year appearance like the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. He recaps the main event at Survivor Series, but the A.G.M. also interrupts numerous times with its “bings.” Cena quickly diffuses the situation, closing the laptop.

Mr. Money In The Bank Seth Rollins now walks out with Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury. Rollins also takes a few cheap-shots at John, before the fans interject with “you sold out” chants. Seth accosts Cena for “taking credit” at something he never did, which was actually win the Survivor Series match. He also blames Sting for the loss, with his confrontation with Triple H. Cena turns it around, and puts over Dolph Ziggler as the man who won the bout.

Seth goes on about the Anonymous G.M., saying that whether it be J.B.L, Batista (big boos) or even Eric Bischoff again (medium boos), Cena’s weeks will always be in question. Rollins orders him to bring back The Authority to stabilize the company. Cena refutes this, taking more shots at Rollins, Mercury, and Noble, then wants Seth to inquire him “nicely” to rehire HHH and Stephanie. Rollins obliges, asking “will you please bring back The Authority?” Cena doesn’t buy it at first, wanting Rollins to get down on bended-knee.

The A.G.M. “bings” in again, so Cole announces that they have booked Cena and Rollins to take each other on at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs in a Tables Match. The A.G.M. adds the stipulation that if Cena loses, he is no longer the #1 Contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (a point I forgot about, which is bad continuity/promo-ing on their part!) Rollins slugs Cena from behind, and as Cena tries to make a comeback, Kane charges out and chokeslams John.

The heels take advantage and assault Cena until Ryback runs out to make the save. He does so, but then gets nailed with multiple times with a chair by “The Big Red Machine.” Erik Rowan comes out and brawls with Kane, then Big Show to pound down on Rowan, until Ziggler leaps on to Show and pushes him into the ring post. He also pulls a ladder out from underneath the ring, but Intercontinental Champion Luke Harper takes him down. Cena attempts to give Rollins an Attitude Adjustment, but is beaten up and put through a table with a triple-powerbomb by Rollins, Mercury, and Noble. They stand over a sprawled-out Cena.

Commercials.

As we come back, Cena, Ryback, Rowan, and Ziggler are being helped to the back by referees. Jerry ‘The King” Lawler, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and Cole announce the Raw G.M. has made two contests for tonight: Erik Rowan facing Big Show, and a Six-Man between John Cena, Ryback, and Dolph Ziggler taking on Luke Harper, Seth Rollins, and Kane.

Lillian Garcia announces the rules for the first match, which is a Tag-Team Turmoil to determine the new #1 Contenders for the Tag-Team Titles. Two teams start out, and after one is eliminated another comes out until all other teams are eventually eliminated. Goldust and Stardust are the first team before the break.

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Match #1: Tag-Team Turmoil for the #1 Contender’s Spot to the Tag-Team Championships – Goldust and Stardust VS. The New Day

(Note: These two teams start out, then another team comes out. Whichever team wins overall, will be the #1 Contenders.)

The New Day decides which two of the three will be competing, and using `Rock/Paper/Scissors,” it is decided that it will be Big. E. and Kingston. Kofi begins with Stardust, jumping all around him. He switches with Big E. who whips Kofi into Goldust (who tagged Stardust.) Stardust is back in, but gets planted by Kofi and Big E. in a double-team move, where Big E. held Stardust up and Kofi dove off the turnbuckle, putting Stardust face-first to the canvas. Stardust and Goldust are eliminated.

The next team of Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, with Natalya, walk out.

Commercials.

Cesaro is in control as the broadcast continues, then Kidd is in. Big. E. tries Tyson with the Big Ending, but Cesaro runs in. He is put to the apron, then is Kidd. Big E. clotheslines them both to the floor, then tags in Kofi, who soars over the ropes with help from Big E. and a double-clothesline. He gets back in the ring, but is distracted when Gold and Stardust attack Xavier, allowing Tyson to take advantage and roll-up Kofi for the 1 – 2 – 3! The New Day are eliminated.

Jey and Jimmy Uso are the next tag-team to join the bout. Jimmy begins with Cesaro, but is quickly overhead-suplexed. He moves out of the way and gives Cesaro slaps in the corner, then a rear-end splash! Cesaro gets the shoulder up at two, but is chopped down by a flying Jey from the top. Cesaro switches with Tyson, who stomps away quickly in the corner on Jey. Cesaro blind-tags himself, and Jey goes to nail Tyson with a dive on the outside, but Kidd uses his wife Natalya to block. (The camera completely missed this!)

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Cesaro is now in control over Jey, who leaps for the tag but is caught and powerbombed by Cesaro! He still gets the shoulder up. He kicks Tyson hard, who was tagged in, then chucks Cesaro to the floor. Jey gets the hot-tag to his brother, who is all over Tyson with a kick and a Samoan Drop! Cesaro makes the save on the cover, but is clotheslined over the ropes by Jey who tumbles with him. Kidd hits back with a high-kick from the apron, but is nailed with a superkick as he springboarded bad in! Jey is tagged in and Superfly Splashes! Kidd and Cesaro are eliminated.

The last team are Adam Rose and The Bunny (yes, I actually typed that!). In short, The Bunny and Rose get into another argument, allowing The Usos to capitalize with a superkick and a Superfly Splash to get the ultimate victory!

Winners via Pinfall and NEW #1 Contenders to the Tag-Team Championships: The Usos (Jey and Jimmy)

Post-match, Naomi (who is the real-life wife of one of The Usos) is watching backstage. Tag-Team Champions The Miz and Damien Mizdow walk up. They are happy to face The Usos for the Tag-Team Titles at T.L.C. on December 14th, and also happy to watch Naomi wrestle later tonight, as Miz voted for her to be A.J. Lee’s partner. Miz is also impressed with her dancing in her new music video and hands her a business card. He walks off as Mizdow does the same!

A limousine pulls up and The Boss steps out; Mr. McMahon is here!

Commercials.

Segment #3: Backstage Promo

After video recap of Big Show hitting Erik Rowan with the steel steps from earlier, a new announcer is with Rowan. He makes a list of impressive hobbies that Rowan does, like being a classically-trained guitarist and making wine, then inquires why he is going after The Big Show. Rowan replies, “he’s a bully,” then walks away.

Match #2: Single – The Big Show VS. Erik Rowan

Prior to the bout, Show cuts a promo saying that he’s a bully because he can be, and will decimate Rowan. Show is dominated by Erik at first, then takes control and toys with Rowan around the mat. Erik begins a comeback with clotheslines, sending Show over to the floor. Show reverses a whip, throwing Rowan into the steel steps. Show picks up those steps and rams them on Erik’s back, causing the DQ.

Winner via Disqualification: Erik Rowan

Post-match, Erik is in a lot of pain, as the steps bounced the wrong way and a sharp corner of them hit him and cut open his head a little. (Thanks Dad for pointing that out!)

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Mr. McMahon is walking by two men dressed in a sombrero and Roman Gladiator attire, respectively, then walks away. Rene Young meets him and asks about The Authority. Vinnie says that The Authority’s problems are left with John Cena, but instead puts over his appearance on Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s podcast later tonight after Raw on the WWE Network. “It’s going to be fun!” he proclaims.

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Match #3: Single – Fandango (with Rosa Mendes) VS. “The Real American” Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter)

Fandango is waiting in the ring when Colter and Swagger are shown on the Titantron. Colter is sitting on the floor with an apparent leg injury, and Swagger is calling for help. Lillian starts to announce that Fandango has won the match anyway, but Rosa takes the microphone and makes the declaration herself.

Winner via Forfeit: Fandango (with Rosa Mendes)

United States Champion Rusev and “The Ravishing Russian” Lana walk out.

Commercials.

Segment #5: Arena Promo

After a recap of Swagger and Rusev getting into it last week on Raw, “The Ravishing Russian” has the microphone. She puts down the tasks that Rusev had to do last week, which were pledging allegiance to the U.S., and defending the United States Championship on Smackdown in a 20-Man Battle Royal. Lana puts over Rusev as “the greatest United States Champion that this pathetic excuse of a ‘super-power’ has ever seen.” Rusev puts down Colter and Swagger too, “for those who foolishly challenge me, will be crushed! For those who don’t listen, like Zeb Colter, have been broken!” Lana then recites the Pledge Of Allegiance to Russia.

Jack Swagger runs out to engage in a big brawl with the U.S. Champ. Referees run out and break it up, holding Swagger back and allowing Rusev and Lana to escape to the back.

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Match #4: Single – Fernando (with El Torito) VS. Tag-Team Champion Damien Mizdow (with Tag-Team Champion The Miz) (Non-Title)

(Note: Tag-Team Champion The Miz is fantastic on commentary.) Fernando snapmares and crucifix-pins Mizdow to start-out. He gives Damien a big dropkick then locks on an armlock. Fernando controls most of the bout until Mizdow hits back with a clothesline and knee/neckbreaker combo. He attempts Miz’s own Skull-Krushing Finale but is tossed over. Mizdow quickly turns around into the figure-4 leglock and forces Fernando to tap-out.

Winner via Submission: Tag-Team Champion Damien Mizdow

Post-match, Jimmy Uso marches out and harshly punches Miz to the floor, ordering him to leave his wife Naomi alone. Mizdow eventually joins Miz “in pain” on the floor.

Bray Wyatt appears on screen and tells Tulsa “I’m here.” He blows out the lantern and will be in the arena next!

Commercials.

Match #5: Single – R-Truth VS. Bray Wyatt

Wyatt complete dominates Truth, finishing him with Sister Abigail.

Winner via Pinfall: Bray Wyatt

Post-match, Bray chucks a bunch of chairs into the ring and calls out “where are you Dean?” The fans begin to call “we want Ambrose” as Wyatt also hurls in a ladder.

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Segment #6: Arena Promo

The lights are out as Bray is in the ring, sitting in his rocking chair below a ladder, amid another ladder, chairs, and a couple tables. He tells us a tale of Jacob, who had “dreams of this ‘great’ ladder.” The ladder was “special” because it was a structure that allowed Jacob to get straight to Heaven and meet his Maker. God said to Jacob where he could get His people to “safety” and made a commitment that He would always be by Jacob. Wyatt proclaims that he also dreams of a ladder, expect he is atop of it and “look down at His world and I foolish laugh at all vile creatures that He has created; all these simple-minded little ‘insects;’ ‘insects’ just like Dean Ambrose.” Bray says that he visions “Tables, ladders, and chairs, tables, ladders, and chairs, tables, ladders, and chairs.”

Dean Ambrose cuts off Wyatt and the two engage in a brawl. Ambrose slams Bray’s head against the commentator’s structure, then pulls another ladder out from under the ring. He starts to walk up it, but referees come out and stop him. Instead, he jumps from the announce table to Wyatt in the corner, again until referees hold Ambrose back. Bray looks back from the aisle way as Ambrose tips over the ladder then demolishes Wyatt’s rocking chair. Referees also have to hold Bray back as Dean eggs him on.

After recap of Raw’s opening fight, The Bella Twins make their entrance.

Commercials.

Match #6: Tag-Team – The Bella Twins (Divas Champion Nikki and Brie) VS. A.J. Lee and ??? (Non-Title)

(Note: Votes and Lawler reveal Naomi to be A.J.’s partner with 48%; the other choices were Natalya or Alicia Fox) Nikki and Naomi start out, with the Divas Champ working over Naomi, then switching with her sister. She elbows her hard in the corner, then tags Nikki back in. Nikki clotheslines Naomi, then rips at her head with a face-stretch lock. Naomi hops out of a backdrop attempt, then tags in A.J. she comes in and is all over Nikki, giving her a neckbreaker, double-knees, and a corner Tornado DDT! She tosses Brie out of the corner, then nails Nikki in the face with the Shining Wizard knee-to-the-face. Lee clamps on The Black Widow, forcing Nikki to give-in!

Winners via Submission: A.J. Lee and Naomi

Segment #7: Video Promo

In a cheap-plug, which only he can do, Mick Foley is dressed as Santa Clause, a.k.a. “Saint Nick.” He puts over all the merchandise one can buy for Christmas for their family/friends, and it is all 25% off because of this being “Cyber Monday.” (Note: He had a woman beside him dressed in elf gear, whom he called Noel. I wonder if that is his real-life daughter, Noel? Editor’s Note: It is his daughter)

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Segment #8: Video Promo

Paul Heyman, the advocate for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, is “live via Satellite.” Cole questions him on the stipulation John Cena has at T.L.C., where if he loses the match against Seth Rollins, then he will lose his #1 Contendership. Heyman first talks about Cena’s shot at Lesnar for only appearing once-a-year. He wonders why not have Christmas or Wrestlemania more than once-a-year.; the answer is because they have special meaning, like his client Lesnar. Paul E. then goes through the potential list of new contenders if Cena was to lose at T.L.C.; he names The Undertaker, Sting, and all of the WWE roster, as Brock would run through them all. “He who has the gold has the power, and he who has the power, has the gold. And I represent that ‘power,’ because ladies and gentleman, my name is Paul Heyman, and I am the advocate for that ‘power.’ The can’t-miss, must-see, reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Heavyweight Champion of the world, Brock Lesnar.”

John Cena now makes his entrance for the last match coming up!

Commercials.

Match #7: Six-Man Tag-Team – John Cena, “The Show-Off” Dolph Ziggler, and Ryback VS. “Mr. Money In The Bank” Seth Rollins, Kane, and Intercontinental Champion Luke Harper (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble) (Non-Title)

This bout goes back-and-forth for the first bit, until Rollins starts to control over Ryback. He punches away in the corner, then tags in Harper. He works over Ryback, but cannot suplex him. Instead, Ryback reverses and suplexes the I.C. Champ himself.

Ads.

Ryback is pounding away on Harper, then switches with Ziggler. Kane is also in, and gets locked in a sleeper by Dolph. Kane gets out of it, but is hit with a low-dropkick and punches in the corner. He tries a chokeslam, but Dolph hops out of it until he eats an uppercut by “The Big Red Machine.” Luke is back in and Gator-Rolls Dolph, then stops and wears him down with a grounding rear chinlock. Ziggler fights out of it, but is pushes hard by Harper, who points at Ryback and puts Dolph to the canvas. Kane is now in and also wears Ziggler down with a headlock submission, then a knee-to-the-gut.

Seth is tagged and continues to stomp away on Dolph’s hand, then clutch him with a grounding rear chinlock. Dolph uses the fans’ admiration to give him up. He jawbreaks out of the chinlock, then leaps for the tag! Cena is in and all over Rollins. He attempts to Attitude Adjust Rollins, but Harper comes in and gets one instead. Both Cena and Ryack double-suplex Kane, but Noble and Mercury interfere to give the heels the advantage again.

Commercials.

The Intercontinental Champion is back in control, then switches with Rollins, who makes fun of Cena’s taunt and holds him up until Cena punches back. Cena goes for the tag, but is clotheslined by Rollins, then receives a bunch of stomps. He goes for a splash in the corner, but Cena moves, and Seth hits the turnbuckle! This allows Cena to manage the hot-tag to Ziggler, who cleans house on Rollins, Kane, and Harper.

Dolph plants Harper with the Fameasser, but only gets two. It breaks down after Cena rockets off the top rope with a crossbody! Rollins hits Ryback in the head with a springboard knee-to-the-face, then Harper spins Dolph around with a big slam. 1 – 2 – Ziggler kicks out! The I.C. Champ tires a Powerbomb, but Dolph rolls out of it with a sunset flip and gets the victory!

Winners via Pinfall: John Cena, “The Show-Off” Dolph Ziggler, and Ryback

Post-match, another brawl ensues with everyone, which also brings out Big Show and Erik Rowan again. Rowan clears the outside with the steel steps, but is clutched by the throat from Show in the ring. Dolph hits a superkick on Show, which gives Cena the ability to Attitude Adjust the 7-footer! Ryback, Cena, and Ziggler hold up and shove Show into Rowan, who hits him hard with the steel steps.

Ryback, Cena, Rowan, and Ziggler celebrate over a prone show, and Cena and Rowan shake hands. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is shown, waiting for Mr. McMahon to join him for the podcast as the show close.

End Of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp

Like last week, I thought this was just another average Raw. Most of the main-event storyline felt a little redone and could’ve been fit in better places. However, a lot of the mid-card was decent-to-interesting. Onto the analysis:

Excellence: Erik Rowan – I never expected him to be over as big as he is right now, and he’s just getting-going as a face. He’s pretty good with promos and as a big-man wrestler.

Loved the “realism” displayed by Jimmy Uso in defending his wife, Naomi, against The Miz. Despite The Usos being back in the Tag-Title picture (was expecting The New Day), this is an intriguing feud. Also loving the rivalry between Rusev and Swagger; again I hope this lasts longer than their previous try in the summer.

As always, both Heyman’s and Wyatt’s promos were superb! Surprisingly, I’m enjoying the feud between The Bellas and A.J. They are wrestling each other pretty ok, and the promo work on A.J.’s side is great! Absolutely love Ziggler being featured back in main-events and getting the wins for them! This is where he belongs, with a Heavyweight Championship around his waist too!

Bogus: Both the way Raw started and ending; it was pretty much the same thing, with who was left standing reversed. This seemed more like a plug for the Survivor Series Team Match than a bunch of singles bouts at T.L.C. Not liking The Big Show as a heel; wrestling-wise he’s boring and honestly slower. His promo this week sucked compared to the emotion and passion he brought out last week.

Was really surprised and disappointed with The New Day’s Raw debut; after weeks of videos, I was expecting something bigger, as I really do like them; yet creative stuck them as middle-players in a match and lost with no meaning!

Again, loved Bray’s promo and the brawl with Ambrose, but really could’ve done with the predictable win/domination over R-Truth. Just have Wyatt do the interview and that would’ve been good enough!

Also, was super-disappointed with Mr. McMahon’s appearance; since all he was there to do was plug his appearance on “Stone Cold’s” podcast, it could’ve been accomplished with a video promo. I was thinking he was out to do something bigger; horribly bad tease!

The Anonymous General Manager was also pointless tonight as it accomplished nothing that could’ve been done with video promos and/or match-up graphics (which my Dad told me they got wrong at one time!); unfortunately it doesn’t seem like they’re getting rid of the gimmick soon, but we can wish!

In general, not another “great” Raw, but some was good enough to move along. I’ve always thought The Slammy Show, which is next week, should be saved until the night after or week after the Pay-Per-View, as the “go-home” show should be purely to build T.L.C. Let’s hope they can accomplish both well in another seven days! Until then, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!