Santino Marella is hoping to be back on WWE television in early September following a few months off due to a neck injury.
Marella was talking to Live Audio Wrestling when he spilled the beans about the potential target dates for his WWE return.
The 34 year old Mississauga native is hoping to be on RAW either the 2nd or the 9th, preferring the 9th since the show is in Toronto and it will be some sort of a homecoming for him.
“I would love to hear my music start, and just see the faces of these Torontonians going berzerk,” he said. His family is scheduled to be in the audience that night along with several of his friends so returning on that night would be a special moment for him.
The WWE.COM website was down for around 45 minutes yesterday after getting allegedly hacked by the notorious hacking group Anonymous.
“World Wrestling Entertainment Down http://www.wwe.com/ Time To HELP SYRIA By #Fr0styFr0ze #OpSyria #Anonymous,” said one of the Anonymous Twitter accounts, this particular one located in Indonesia.
Another tweet earlier today also gave Anonymous the bragging rights for taking down the site and that of Yahoo.com.
“#Anonymous injected #DDoS to Yahoo & WWE, It’s time to help Syria,” the tweet read.
Our friend Jeramie McPeek from the Phoenix Suns had the opportunity to interview World Heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio this past Monday prior to RAW for the U.S. Airways website.
Del Rio talked about the support in Phoenix, preferring to be a heel rather than a baby face, cheers from Hispanic fans, his father, The Undertaker, being the World Heavyweight champion, and much more.
It’s a pretty interesting read which you can see at http://bit.ly/1dnBHEg . A photo gallery from RAW including some backstage photos was also uploaded on the US Airways Center website at http://bit.ly/14CkLVY.
The Reddit user who goes by the name of Dolphins1925 and who leaks WWE pay-per-view results just before each match, released a statement explaining his motives.
“My motive has been simple: To draw attention to a very important problem and ongoing issue within the WWE industry, while concurrently abstaining from turning the community into a circus act,” Dolphins1925 wrote in a post on the Squared Circle forum of the popular website.
He said he had not responded to messages, e-mails, and requests for interviews because he doesn’t want to be the spotlight of attention, but rather to draw awareness “to the inexcusable, insultingly obvious schemes that are taking place behind the scenes of the WWE.”
After correctly guessing all 35 WWE pay-per-view matches from Elimination Chamber in February up until July, the user posted 3 results from SummerSlam matches prior to going on the air.
He said his source was telling him that many of the match outcomes at SummerSlam were being changed at the last minute to discredit him rather than to flush out the mole that is distributing results to a select group of online individuals.
“I am confident that if I went silent, the leaks would continue full-throttle, and the frankness of the product would continue to be compromised,” he wrote. “For this reason, I think the attention should be diverted from me and rather on the mole himself.”
You can read the full statement below.
“Since I joined reddit, My motive has been simple: To draw attention to a very important problem and ongoing issue within the WWE industry, while concurrently abstaining from turning the community into a circus act. For these reasons, I have made my posts few and far between. I did not respond to messages, e-mails, comments, or interview requests. My goal was NOT to be the spotlight of attention, but rather to draw awareness to the inexcusable, insultingly obvious schemes that are taking place behind the scenes of the WWE. I figured the best means of action to demonstrate these schemes was to post sparingly and exclusively, before each respected PPV, and simply allow my results to speak for themselves. In doing so, I went 38-0 over a course of 5 successive PPVs; all the while going 3-0 at Summerslam after receiving news from my source that many match outcomes were being changed at the last minute.
“I feel that a step has certainly been taken in the right direction, as now most wrestling fans are well aware of an existing mole within the industry. However, the primary misconception regarding the mole is that I am, or am directly affiliated with him. Rather, the mole is anonymously releasing the outcomes to a small, exclusive group of individuals; all of whom are benefiting off it at the expense of the WWE, its fans, and the integrity of their product. This had been ongoing for several months before I began to address it publicly. Eventually, this ordeal had reached a point in time where I felt it was appropriate and necessary to release a statement on reddit.
“Nevertheless, I commend WWE’s noble efforts to ensure secrecy during last week’s Summerslam event. However, it is my belief that the course of action taken to resolve the leaks was merely to discredit me by changing the outcomes of matches at the last minute, rather than actually stopping the mole. They are shooting the messenger, and the leaks are still taking place. I am confident that if I went silent, the leaks would continue full-throttle, and the frankness of the product would continue to be compromised. For this reason, I think the attention should be diverted from me and rather on the mole himself
“As I’ve stated before, my intention is wholesome. The last thing I want is for these leaks to persist, and to continue to witness the downfall of the integrity of the WWE; an industry that is filled with extraordinary talent and unmatched potential. I feel that putting an end to these leaks is paramount in restoring the candidness to the business. The company deserves it, the wrestlers deserve it, and most importantly, the fans deserve it. Do what’s right for business – Please stop the leaks.
“Yours truly, Dolphins1925
“EDIT: TO CLARIFY: I am NOT in contact with the mole. My source receives his information from a member who IS in contact, however the mole leaks his information anonymously.”
Former WWE Divas champion Eve Torres has landed herself a role in the upcoming Scorpion King 4 movie which just finished principal photograph in Romania.
The fourth installment of the franchise that had Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the leading man for the first theatrical release, will be going straight to DVD.
“From his very first appearance in The Mummy Returns, the Scorpion King, has seized the imagination of audiences worldwide,” says Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Universal 1440 Entertainment. “The Scorpion King 4 continues the thrilling saga of this larger-than-life character in the most intense action-filled adventure to date.”
This will be Eve’s first appearance in a feature film and she is joined by her boyfriend Royce Gracie, MMA fighters Roy “Big Country” Nelson, and Antonio “Big Foot” Silva among other new actors.
Monday Night RAW this week pulled in a 3.07 rating with an average of 4,190,000 viewers, down from last week’s 3.24 number and around 100,000 viewers less.
Hour one did 4,129,000 viewers, hour two did 4,291,000, and hour three did 4,151,000. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
WWE and The Creative Coalition, who are the co-founders of the Be a STAR campaign, today announced that they will be distributing $100,000 in grants.
Four $25,000 grants will be awarded to qualified non-profit public charities that have programs focused on developing and implementing anti-bullying programs.
“The Be a STAR program is about taking action to stem an epidemic that is affecting children around the world,” said Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition. “We’re proud to partner with WWE to give organizations resources to help make a difference in eradicating bullying.”
Stephanie McMahon, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Creative added, “Our mission at WWE is to put smiles on people’s faces and we do that, in part, by supporting programs and initiatives that positively impact children and families around the world. We are proud to offer organizations tools and resources to help fight bullying, a critical issue facing young people today in schools, communities and online.”
Tonight on Raw, how will the continuation of Daniel Bryan’s pursuit to the WWE Championship unfold? Is there a new “Regime/Evolution/Corporation/Alliance” between WWE Champion Randy Orton, Triple H, Vince & Stephanie McMahon, or was this just a one-shot deal to make sure Bryan didn’t keep the WWE Title for long?
WWE.com has announced two matches already, World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio will face his recent “thorn in the side” Rob Van Dam, and C.M. Punk will take on one of his rivals, Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel. I suspect these bouts will end in a way to lead for rematches at the next pay-per-view.
Speaking of which, with just under three weeks (scary to say that) to go, could we see the Night Of Champions card take significant shape?
And in one of my favorite angles right now, who will The Wyatt Family go after next? Or is Kane due to return and exact some harsh revenge from SummerSlam?
To find out all that goes down from Phoenix, Arizona, as always, read on!
Monday Night Raw Report for August 26th, 2013 – “Rewards And Warnings”
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo
The Shield (Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins, and United States Champion Dean Ambrose) are standing in front of the ring. Triple H, the WWE C.O.O., now walks out to kick off Raw right away. Michael Cole welcomes us to Phoenix and speculates that The Shield are “The Game’s” personal security, and Jerry “The King” Lawler concurs.
HHH first takes us back only eight days ago, to SummerSlam, where Daniel Bryan won the WWE Championship from John Cena then was promptly defeated by Randy Orton with the help of Triple H. He calls this “just business. There was nothing personal about that at all. It was just business.”
He then brings us back seven days, to last Raw’s ending, where The Shield and Orton attacked Bryan. HHH does confess “that was personal.” He says that it was repercussions from Daniel insulting his wife, himself, and family from the beginning of last week’s Raw. “The Cerebral Assassin” wants to mend the fences and move on, and the choice is Bryan’s.
Triple H goes on to celebrate the ratings and social media that has boomed since Randy Orton became WWE Champion. He asks for “The Viper” to come on out, and he does, amid some cheers. Trips congratulations him on “breathing new life into the WWE Championship” and “aren’t afraid to grab that ‘brass ring’ and run with it.” He rewards the Champion with a gift – a brand new Cadillac Escalade.
Orton takes the microphone now and says that he is the “only man worthy of being called WWE Champion and ‘the face of WWE.'” Triple H tells him to go see his new ride, but someone else walks out and has a peek first. Daniel Bryan appears on stages to the delight of “yes” chants from the fans, and admires Orton’s new truck.
He also likes Randy’s wheels and calls it “well-deserved,” then goes onto give some “thank you’s.” His first is the WWE Universe, as “I’m not the biggest, I’m not the biggest, I’m not the prettiest, I mean clearly that’s ‘twinkle toes Orton’ in there. But despite me not being any of those things, you people have believed in me, you supported me; and you have no idea how much that means to me.”
Bryan then gives props to John Cena, for giving him “the opportunity to wrestle in the main-event of SummerSlam for the WWE Championship, because clearly, someone like Triple H would’ve never given me that opportunity. John, thank you.
Lastly, and most importantly, I would like to thank Triple H. I would like to thank Triple H for ending this charade, and finally showing your true colors at SummerSlam. Thank you to everybody, that ‘your view’ of what’s ‘best for business’ and what the WWE Champion should look like, is every bit as narrow-minded as Vince McMahon.”
Daniel compares and insinuates the drastic change in Triple H, who went from the butt-kicking man in jeans and a leather jacket, to a corporate butt-kisser. He threatens Orton, “at Night Of Champions, when I get my rematch for the WWE Championship, that ‘face’ is going to be re-arranged. And Triple H, your vision of the future, that’s going to get re-arranged too, because I will become the NEW WWE CHAMPION! YES, YES, YES!”
“The Game” mocks Bryan’s proclamations, calling them a “fantasy” and singing couple of lines from “When You Wish Upon A Star.” He tells Daniel that it does make a difference of who you are, and that he is not an “a-player.” According to him, he is a “b-player,” while Randy Orton is the “a-player.”
Triple H then books Bryan to face Tag-Team Champion Seth Rollins, and if he gets by him, he will then take on U.S. Champ Dean Ambrose, and if Bryan wins there, he will go at it with Tag-Team Champion Roman Reigns, all in a gauntlet match. Orton holds his WWE Title high as he and Daniel glare at each other.
Lawler, Cole, and John “Bradshaw” Layfield debate if that was “best for business,” then recap the fight between Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel and C.M. Punk from last week. Later tonight, they will be in a match, with the WWE Universe voting for one of three stipulations: Paul Heyman is banned from ringside, Heyman is the referee, or Heyman will “be forced to step into the ring with C.M. Punk” if he wins. (Gee, I wonder which is going to win/be rigged for!)
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – Cody Rhodes VS. Fandango (with Summer Rae)
(Note: “Mr. Money In The Bank/The Savior Of The Unwashed Masses” Damien Sandow is on commentary.) Rhodes takes Fandango down quickly with a drop-toe-hold, then hits him with an elbow and slams him with a front suplex. Fandango counters with a kick, but his music suddenly plays. The Miz, donned in Fandango’s attire, jumps out with Rosa Mendes and mocks his moves, distracting him and allowing Cody Rhodes to roll-up for the victory!
Winner via Pin Fall: Cody Rhodes
Post-match, Sandow gets involved and all four brawl until General Manager Brad Maddox comes out and makes this a tag-team match next!
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Match #2: Tag-Team – Cody Rhodes and The Miz (with Rosa Mendes) VS. Fandango and “Mr. Money In The Bank/The Saviour Of The Unwashed Masses” Damien Sandow (with Summer Rae)
Sandow and Rhodes are going at it until Fandango switches in shortly. Fandango whips Cody into the corner, then tags in Damien. He clamps on a grounding hammerlock, which Rhodes battles out of, but then gets brought down with a Russian Legsweep for two!
Cody counters a run with a boot, then both men double-clothesline each other to the mat! Miz gets the hot tag and dives off the top with an axe handle and puts Sandow with a big boot and running knee. He does the same to Fandango, then sunset-flip rolls Sandow for a near-fall! Miz works over Damien’s left knee and attempts the Figure-4.
Fandango has decide to walk, which leaves Damien to lose against Miz and Rhodes following a Skull-Krushing Finale front Russian Legsweep!
Winners via Pin Fall: Cody Rhodes and The Miz (with Rosa Mendes)
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
The same introduction to Los Matadores, a “new” tag-team to the WWE airs.
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Josh Matthews asks Christian about Triple H’s new direction for the WWE. Christian remembers the Attitude Era, where almost the exact same happened. WWE Champion Randy Orton interrupts and reminds Christian that history can repeat itself again, where Orton is the winner and Christian is the loser tonight. Christian quips, “I know that Triple H likes to play with sledgehammers, and it seems that, uh, he’s found himself a new tool.”
Cole plugs the new tout-system on the WWE App, which features Paul Heyman’s reaction to the voting of Axel’s match with Punk. C.M. Punk was also interviewed by Rene Young bout the same, and basically subtly invokes the WWE Universe to vote for the stipulation that will let him get a hold of Paul Heyman.
Segment #4: Locker Room Promo
Paul Heyman is with his client, Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel, and is “extremely” (yes, that pun was intended, especially since I’m re-reading “Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story Of E.C.W.”) worried that his fate is in the hands of WWE Fans.
Axel calms him, assuring that he’s “got this.” He notes that Punk will want to brawl, which will cause him to possibly get counted out and/or disqualified. “He can not out-wrestle me. The situation is better than ‘perfect.’ You believe me, right Paul?” “Like my life depends on it,” Heyman retorts.
Ads.
Match #3: Single – Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel (with Paul Heyman) VS. C.M. Punk (Non-Title) Stipulation: “If C.M. Punk wins, Paul Heyman will be forced to step into the ring with Punk.” (81%)
Lockup and side headlock from Punk, but Axel blocks a takedown. Punk returns with a shoulder block and side headlock takedown for a one-count, as Paul Heyman looks on from the stage. Punk gives another shoulder hit, then rolls up Axel for a quick to.
He attempts the Go To Sleep, but Curtis wiggles out and goes tot he outside. Punk follows, then runs up the ramp abruptly. Heyman scurries to the back as the I.C. Champ brings Punk back to the ring.
Paul has come back to top of the ramp as Axel takes control with a scoop slam. He locks on a rear chinlock, but Punk flips him over out of it and hits a corner knee. 1 – 2 – Axel kicks out! C.M. ascends the turnbuckle, but Axel moves to the outside to avoid. Punk follows with a dive out of nowhere and stares at a now-worried Heyman.
Commercials.
Both ducks blows until Axel delivers a clothesline from behind knocking Punk down for two! He hits a great dropkick, then slugs away at C.M.’s head, showing him to a smiling Heyman. Punk comes back with kicks and rolls through (thanks Cole!) with a springboard crossbody for a near fall!
Axel takes control back with a harsh kick and a couple of backdrops. He measures Punk, but is tossed off his neckbreaker finish with a spinning neckbreaker of Punk’s own. “The Straight-Edge Superstar” flies off the top rope with an elbow! 1 – 2 – Axel kicks out! Punk signals for the G.T.S. but Curtis gets out again and plants Punk with the spinning neckbreaker. 1 – 2 – Punk kicks out! Axel becomes fierce with punches, but delays too much and is finished with the G.T.S!
Winner via Pin Fall: C.M. Punk
Post-match, Punk revels at his chance to get Heyman, but Paul E. starts to back away. Referees force him back out, as does security when he tried again. Heyman repeats “it was all Brock’s idea” as Punk has him by the face. He gets him in the corner, but is downed with a low-blow by Axel. Huge “you suck” calls from the crowd, as Heyman pulls out a pair of handcuffs.
Curtis places Punk in them and holds him up for Paul to slap him repeatedly and taunts a compromised C.M. The “Second City Saint” counters with a high-kick to Curtis’ head, and sweeps Heyman down to the surprise of both, but Axel quickly comes back with a chair, ramming it into the back of Punk. Axel goes to the outside at the direction of Heyman and pulls out a kendo stick from under the ring. He jams it into Punk’s neck, then hands it over to Heyman. He winds up as Curtis tells him to “teach him a lesson, Paul.”
Axel holds Punk against the ropes as Heyman whacks C.M. with the weapon, yelling “I loved you. I martyred myself for you. I fathered you. I cared about you. You were everything to me.” Axel yanks Punk out of the ring and slams him against the announce table, yelling “you learn your lesson. I’m the Intercontinental Champion, he’s Paul Heyman. You learn your lesson!”
Heyman hops down and repeatedly smashes the kendo stick over a downed Punk. “I gave you my heart, you broke my heart. I loved you!” The referees and WWE Doctor Sampson put a stop to the beating before any more damage can be done. Heyman and Axel walk off, with Axel seemingly pleased at their work.
Ads.
Match #4: Single – Natalya (with “The Funkadactyls” Naomi and Cameron) VS. Brie Bella (with Nikki Bella and Eva Marie)
Natalya carries Brie into the corner and kicks away, but misses a running shoulder. Brie kicks back and hits her with a springboard knee. She holds her in a chinlock, but Natalya counters with a spinning sidewalk slam, then grapples on The Sharpshooter. Brie crawls to the ropes and is pulled for the break by Nikki as Eva distracted the referee. Brie takes advantage with a sit-down facebuster for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pin Fall: Brie Bella (with Nikki Bell and Eva Marie)
Post-match, Divas A.J. Lee walks out and recaps the latest episode of “Total Divas,” taking joy in their misfortunes displayed on the show. She calls them “cheap, interchangeable, expendable, useless women. Women who have turned to reality television because they just weren’t gifted enough to be actresses. And they just weren’t talented enough to be champion.”
A.J. praises her own accomplishments in the last year, saying that she has “saved your Divas division. I have shattered glass ceilings, I have broken down doors.” She goes on a tear, comparing her hard-working style and efforts to their spoon-fed paths. A “famous wrestling family”, sucking up to the “right people”, or “cute.”
“You are all worthless excuses for women, and you will never be able to touch me. And that is reality.” She drops the mike and skips around the stage.
Up next, Rob Van Dam will face World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio!
Commercials.
Match #5: Single for the #1 Contender Spot to the World Heavyweight Champion – Rob Van Dam (with Ricardo Rodriguez) VS. World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio (Non-Title)
Van Dam fast with kicks and shoulders in the corner, then a somersault into a monkey flip! He counters a forearm swing by hanging Del Rio on the top rope, kicking him, then jumping from the turnbuckle to kick him to the floor!
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Del Rio now in control with a grounding reverse chinlock. Van Dam counters with a tilt-a-whirl kick for two, then Alberto tries to get the win with a German Suplex pin! He double-stomps on back of Rob, then climbs the turnbuckles. He jumps off but meets a kick from Van Dam!
They engage in a back-and-forth slugfest, then R.V.D. kicks him down and rolls over with Rolling Thunder for two! Van Dam kicks him again and gets a very close call after the split-legged moonsault! Van Dam springboard kicks Del Rio again and goes for the 5-Star Frogsplash, but Del Rio cuts him off and runs at him with the enziguri kick. 1 – 2 – R.V.D. kicks out!
Ricardo distracts Del Rio by chanting “Rob Van Dam” on the commentator’s table, then R.V.D. reverses a Cross Armbreaker attempt into a leg-roll-up for the victory!
Winner and #1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship: Rob Van Dam (with Ricardo Rodriguez)
Cole recaps John Cena leaving due to an elbow injury via video footage from last week’s Raw, as well as post-surgery photos.
Commercials.
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Ryback pops in to bully Josh Matthews, by grabbing his face and shoving him to the floor. (Again, pointless.)
Cole recaps Axel and Heyman’s assault on C.M. Punk from earlier tonight.
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Rene Young catches up with Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman. She asked if Paul Heyman was afraid when Punk defeated Axel. The I.C. Champion says that what happened was something that “C.M. Punk will never forget.”
Heyman says “I feel like a man right now. A man who put his prodigal son in place. My prodigal son C.M. Punk was humiliated. He was beaten by his own father-figure. And now, now my prodigal son C.M. Punk will learn that Paul Heyman is the last person he should ever come up against.” They walk off into a waiting car and drive away.
Christian makes his entrance for the next bout, following the break.
Ads.
Match #6: Single – Christian VS. WWE Champion Randy Orton (Non-Title)
The two engage in an elbow/collar tie-up and Christian tries to quickly roll him up. Orton laughs it off and they lock up again. Orton with a side headlock, then comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Orton kicks and headbutts Christian, but is tripped up into the ropes.
Christian hits a baseball slide, then slaps Orton on the outside. Back in the ring, Christian drops Randy with a reverse DDT for two! He goes to the top, but misses a dive and gets dropkicked down nicely by the WWE Champion.
Orton mount-punches Christian then stomps on him. He places him on the top rope then runs with a high knee lift (thanks again, Cole!), but pulls him back in the ring. Orton works over Christian’s left leg with stomps, then delivers a kneedrop on Christian’s face.
Christian fights out of a grounding rear chinlock, but Orton battles out of another reverse DDT position. Orton goes back to wearing Christian down with the grounding chinlock. They go back-and-forth with head hits, and Christian is shoved hard off the ropes out of a Tornado DDT setup!
Commercials.
“The Viper” still dominating with the chinlock hold, but Christian regains momentum with a double-boot-to-the-face. Orton fires back with punches and headbutts while Christian is perched on the turnbuckle, then brings him down with a second-rope suplex! Christian surprises Orton with a half-inside cradle for two, but is dropped with two clotheslines. Christian backs off an R.K.O., then delivers 10-punches in the corner. Christian uses the ropes to jawbreak Orton, then fly off the corner top rope with a crossbody for two!
More pinning combinations are tried by both, then Christian counters the slingshot-DDT with a Killswitch attempt, which is also countered. Christian brings Orton out of the corner with a Tornado DDT for a near fall! He hops over the ropes and slaps Orton, then tries to get back in and is caught with the slingshot DDT by “The Viper.”
The WWE Champion is zoning in for the R.K.O. but Christian drop him off! He goes for the spear, which Orton leapfrogs, but is speared as soon as he turns around! 1 – 2 = Randy kicks out!
Christian fires the crowd up, but is pushed into the turnbuckle. He tries another R.K.O., which is turned around into another Killswitch try. Orton shoves him into the corner, then gives Christian a thumb-to-the-eye and earns the W after an R.K.O.!
Winner via Pin Fall: WWE Champion Randy Orton
Post-match, Orton’s challenger Daniel Bryan appears on the Titantron, in front of the new Cadillac Escalade. (I think I know where this is going!) He takes a shot at Triple H’s earlier comments, saying “take it from a ‘b+’ competitor, that was an ‘a+’ match.”
He wonders if beating Randy would make him “the new face of the WWE.” Bryan backs away to reveal “yes” spray-painted all over his truck! (Okay, not exactly where I thought, but the car is tainted, so half-points!)
Ads.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
General Manager Brad Maddox, WWE C.O.O. Triple H, and WWE Champion Randy Orton are surveying the damage to the car. Triple H is ticked, calling both the vehicle and the WWE Title “my personal property.” He orders Maddox to bring anyone in the locker room to the stage, to witness Bryan’s match with The Shield.
He tells Maddox to inform the roster if they get involved in any way, shape, or form, then they will be “personally fired by me. Every single last one of them.” Orton declares that Bryan “is going to pay for this, he’s gonna pay.”
Match #7: Single – “The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil (with “Prime Time Players” partner “Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young) VS. “The Real American” Jack Swagger” (with “Real Americans” partners Antonio Cesaro and Zeb Colter)
Swagger is aggressive with knees in the corner and a running body splash. He brings him out with a clothesline. Swagger delivers a knee to Titus’ gut as he came off the ropes, then chokes him with the middle rope.
Titus muscles his way out of a hold and comes back with a shoulder block off the ropes. O’Neil tosses Swagger overhead, but is chopped down at the leg by Swagger. He clamps on the “Patriot Lock” Ankle Lock, but Titus pushes him off. Swagger counters with a double-boot and tries a pin with his feet on the ropes, but Young moves them. Swagger has words with Darren, then turns around into a high-spinebuster drop to give O’Neil the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pin Fall: “The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil (with “Prime Time Players” partner “Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young
Up next, The Wyatt Family will prophesize!
Commercials.
Segment #8: Video Promo
“And we went down to the river to pray. Studying about those good old days, and who shall wear a starry crown. Good Lord, show me the way.” Bray Wyatt, with Luke Harper and Erik Rowan behind him, talks about someone who led them with love and who wants The Wyatt Family to “get them before they get you.”
Bray says she said “they chose you.” Wyatt tells us that “her touch could save the world. Her kiss burns it to the ground.” “I love you, Sister Abigail. Down brothers, let’s go down. Down by the river to pray.” These creepy words were accompanied by mixed footage of matches and the previous forest promos when they were first coming to Raw; and all serenaded by eerie music.
Cole, Lawler, and Layfield are disturbed, then recall the events of earlier with Daniel Bryan, WWE Champion Randy Orton, and C.O.O. Triple H.
Segment #9: Office Promo
WWE Doctor Sampson is saying that “he” is refusing medical attention, then “he” barges in. It is C.M. Punk demanding a match with Paul Heyman where he can’t get away. Maddox agrees, giving him a two-on-one at Night Of Champions, versus Curtis Axel AND Paul Heyman. Maddox promises if Paul E. tries to back out, “you’ll never see him again.” Punk threatens that Maddox also may never been seen if Paul gets out too.
The roster make their way to the stage for the main-event.
Ads.
Match #8: Gauntlet – Daniel Bryan VS. The Shield (Tag-Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns, and United States Champion Dean Ambrose)
Seth Rollins is up first. Before this gets started, Rene Young asks Big Show and Dolph Ziggler about being in the 2-on-1 against The Shield. Neither say a word, and The Miz is questioned next, but doesn’t say much. Young speculates they are keeping quiet so they are not fired.
In the ring, Bryan is all over Rollins with kicks in the corner and a drop toe hold into a surfboard stretch! Bryan lets go and knees Rollins in the gut off the ropes, then clotheslines him to the floor. Ambrose and Reigns surround Bryan on the floor, which gives Seth the time to get up and ram him into the barricade. He rolls Bryan in the ring and covers for two.
Rollins stomps Daniel down in the corner, but Bryan comes back with punches, a flip-over out of the opposite corner, and a fast running clothesline. Bryan kicks away, but Seth ducks the last big swing kick, then uses the ropes to jawbreak Daniel. He dives off the top rope with knees, but Bryan rolls into a half-crab submission! Rollins manages to struggle to the ropes for a break, but is dropkicked outside soon after. Bryan follows with a suicide dive, which sends Rollins over the announce table!
Commercials.
Rollins is now in control, running at Bryan in the corner with a forearm smash. Seth mockingly slaps Daniel in the corner, but Bryan fires back with a running front dropkick as Rollins had is back to him! The fans are vehemently behind Bryan.
He counters a sunset attempt with two pinning combos, but only receives two on both. Rollins drives Bryan down with a turn-around reverse DDT/suplex drop! Rollins shoves him in the corner and hammers away. Seth sits Bryan atop the turnbuckle, but is shoved down. Bryan brings him back with a top-rope German Suplex! (Wow!) Daniel is warming up, and polishes Rollins off with a move. (Camera didn’t cut to it in time.)
Immediately, Ambrose is in and pounds away on Bryan. He scoops him up, but Bryan drops out and locks him in the “Yes Lock” submission! Reigns comes in to save, and the referee calls for the dq bell.
Winner via Disqualification: Daniel Bryan
“The Shield” gang up on Daniel Bryan while the superstars on the stage watch on. Reigns spears him down and they walk around the ring. Triple H’s music blares, and he looks at the wrestlers on the ramp. He then gives a nod to Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns, who pick up Bryan and triple-powerbomb him.
Randy Orton now walks out, and the WWE Champion proceeds to the ring. Rollins and Ambrose are holding up Bryan, allowing Orton to grasp him and drop the R.K.O. He exits the ring, as the wrestlers on the ramp look infuriated. Triple H orders them to part, so he and Randy Orton can walk to the back. The WWE Champion looks back and smiles sadistically, as The Shield stand over a shaky Daniel Bryan to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This Raw was another great offering and set up of the next card/pay-per-view. I thought the show flowed really smooth, and liked most everyone/everything on it, so let’s get to the analysis for the particulars!
Excellence: Opening promo – the interaction between Daniel Bryan, Triple H, and WWE Champ Randy Orton has been really good, and I love how they are booking Daniel to go “tit-for-tat” in the verbal confrontations. This what a strong challenger is supposed to be – matching his opponent(s) and making the people believe that he can win. It also looks like the re-hashing/transitioning the years-gone-by angle of boss grooming HIS preferred champion, this time passing it down a generation. Could be interesting. Along with this, I really did like the fact that Stephanie and Vince weren’t on the show. Nice to have a break from them and perhaps they will be gone for a while, letting HHH take the reigns? I am ok with that angle.
I liked General Manager Brad Maddox’s role more tonight – he seemed to have a little bit of control on the show this time, instead of just following blatant orders from McMahon/HHH. (Which I thought was pointless to have a G.M. in that case.) Absolutely LOVED the C.M. Punk/Paul Heyman/Curtis Axel match/storyline. I did think the beating went on a bit long, but Heyman’s added oratory when nailing Punk with the stick was what kicked it up a notch. As always, he really makes you believe in the storyline and think that their hatred is for real.
Divas Champion A.J. Lee was also fantastic with her promo. She really hit home good points about the rest of the Divas being based on looks or other ways they got their job. (except Natalya, I disagree with her because Nattie is an awesome wrestler in her own right, and probably has worked just as hard, despite being from the famous Hart Family). Is this a face-turn, now solo run for A.J. as well? (Lots of fans seemed happy with her speech.)
Great match between Christian and WWE Champ Orton, as well as Swagger/O’Neil. Would like to see The Real Americans and Prime Time Players, and The Usos start battle over the Tag-Team Titles though.
The Wyatt Family promo was excellently weird and chilling. These guys, especially Bray, can do no wrong. I do wonder if “Sister Abigail” is for real and will be a new, up-and-coming Diva, or just figment of his imagination that is controlling “The Family?” (If they do go with an actual women, it should not be NXT Women’s Champ Paige – while she has the look/skill for the part, she is definitely better on her own and to come up and reinvent/revolutionize the Divas Division.)
Bogus: While I still like the feud they have going on, I thought Cody Rhodes/Miz/Fandango/Sandow was bit rushed into and they could’ve had a better bout if given more time. Again, even though I really liked the Orton/Christian match, it seemed out of no where that Christian would get involved, and he also should not be losing! Why was Dolph Ziggler/Big Show/Mark Henry not used until the closing segment? They should’ve had a match ore been more significant, especially with Henry’s recent face-turn (again) and Big Show’s coming back!
I’m glad that Rob Van Dam is getting the World Title shot, however, I don’t think they should’ve had him face World Champion Alberto Del Rio already. I’m a big believer that if two guys/girls haven’t faced off ever yet, DO NOT have them wrestle on free TV before their big match on Pay-Per-view. Kind of kills the mystery of how they will work together, especially since R.V.D. was so dominate tonight, plus why would your spend your money when they give it away just under three weeks prior? (This happened way too much recently with Christian/Del Rio, to the point where I fast-forwarded their Smackdown matches because I didn’t need to see them wrestle three times in a week, it seemed!)
Would’ve liked to see Daniel Bryan run the entire gauntlet, then get the beat-down at the end. It was just a messy finish.
All in all, a nice Raw and most of has kept me intrigued for another week! Until then, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
Two new matches were announced for the Night of Champions pay-per-view which will take place next month on September 15.
Rob Van Dam earned a World Heavyweight title match after defeating Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match on RAW yesterday thanks to some help from Del Rio’s former personal ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez.
Also, CM Punk will take on Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman in a handicap elimination match.
The only other match announced so far is Randy Orton vs Daniel Bryan for the WWE title.
Episode 5 of Total Divas on E! pulled in 1,460,000 viewers, increasing the viewership from last week’s show which had 1,349,000 viewers when going head to head with SummerSlam. That particular episode dropped over 300,000 viewers from episode 3. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
Speaking to the Miami Herald, former WCW and World Heavyweight champion Bill Goldberg said that he has not spoken to WWE recently and won’t be at WrestleMania, but then again things can change.
“Am I going to WWE to be at WrestleMania? No, but there is eight months until WrestleMania,” Goldberg said. “So, at this moment, I can tell you I’m not planning to be there by any stretch of the imagination, but you never know. Things could change.”
Regarding possible opponents, Goldberg shot down the idea of wrestling Ryback saying an offer to go there and wrestle Ryback and put him over wouldn’t be the “ultimate opponent of my choosing.” Later in the interview, Goldberg said he had more talent in one finger than “that punk has in his entire body.”
He name-checked the Undertaker, adding that it’s never been done before and also Steve Austin, calling it a dream match.
“But the reality is I just want to give the people what they want to see.”
Goldberg’s last match for WWE was also at WrestleMania, a forgettable match against Brock Lesnar in Madison Square Garden where Goldberg came out with the victory, only to eat a Stone Cold Stunner from the special guest referee Steve Austin.
The Miami Marlins baseball team celebrated a “Legends of Wrestling” night at the Marlins Ballpark this past Saturday during the victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Among those appearing were Bret Hart, Greg Valentine, Jimmy Hart, and Goldberg.
Goldberg did the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game and then decided to go a little back in time and spear the catcher. The catcher – who appeared to be a trained professional wrestler – was talking smack to the cameraman when out of nowhere the former WCW champion speared him and landed hard on the grass selling the move like there’s no tomorrow.
Former WWE tag team champion Ted DiBiase has posted a video on YouTube announcing that he has decided to leave the WWE.
“I have decided not to re-sign with WWE and renew my contract,” DiBiase said in the self-shot video.
He called it bittersweet but it’s something personal and it’s the best decision for him and his family right now. He said that there are other dreams he wants to pursue, one of them being a dad, and with the life wrestlers have he couldn’t do it.
DiBiase said that while in the WWE had amazing life experiences, traveling the world, wrestling at WrestleMania, filming a movie, etc., calling it living the dream.
He said this will not be forever, but wanted to let the fans know that he’s going to miss everyone and say thank you for everything the fans did for him and say thank you to WWE for the opportunity.
Former World Heavyweight champion Rey Mysterio made an appearance at the non-televised live WWE event in Fresno, California, on Friday night.
Mysterio announced that he should be cleared to return to the ring in September, six months after he was sidelined with a knee injury and written out of television after Mark Henry attacked him.
Ironically enough, Mysterio was saved by Big Show and Mark Henry during the Fresno appearance after The Shield tried to attack him.
The fifth episode of tonight’s Total Divas is titled Feuding Funkadactyls as things get physical between Ariane and Trinity.
The two preview videos released by E! show the Funkadactyls along with JoJo and Eva Marie arguing after a game which Ariane won and was acting like a, well, total diva afterward while the second clip shows the Bella Twins drooling backstage while watching Daniel Bryan and John Cena wrestle The Shield.
The Smack is being laid Down for us tonight in Bakersfield California. General Manager Vickie Guerrero is the first person to the ring, and she introduces the new WWE champion, Randy Orton.
Orton says he was as surprised as everyone else that HHH screwed Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam, but now he is the new champ and the face of the WWE. Daniel Bryan comes out to interrupt, but the first thing he wants to do is thank John Cena for the opportunity and the match at SummerSlam.
Daniel Bryan then addresses Orton, the new ‘face’ of the WWE, which he does acknowledge is very pretty. In fact, Daniel Bryan can’t get over how pretty Randy Orton is; he sees now why HHH likes it so much. Bryan tells Orton that he, Bryan, is NOT pretty. He’s not a third generation superstar, he isn’t tall and chiseled, and he didn’t have opportunities handed to him his entire life.
Bryan had to scratch and claw in gymnasiums and on infected mats, but he can wrestle, and he can beat Randy Orton for the WWE title. Bryan gets a rematch for that title and he wants it tonight! Orton says, sorry short stuff, you’ll have to wait for the Night of Champions PPV. Orton tries to get a sneaky RKO on Bryan, but Bryan blocks it and knocks Orton out of the ring with a dropkick to the face. The crowd erupts in chants of YES!!
Commercial
Vickie Guerrero and Wade Barrett are in the back talking about Daniel Bryan. Vickie appears to share the McMahons distaste for Bryan, and Wade wants revenge on Bryan for shaving his beard. Vickie gives Wade a cage match with Bryan for later tonight.
Match #1: Cody Rhodes versus Curtis Axel.
The two men start off exchanging go behinds and shoulder blocks. Rhodes hits Axel with a springboard dropkick. Axel goes out to the floor and Cody climbs to the top turnbuckle. Axel trips Rhodes up and slams him into the edge of the ring.
Commercial
Axel pummels Rhodes, takes him over with a snapmare, and then puts him in a kravat. Rhodes escapes with an elbow to the ribs. Axel takes Rhodes down with a clothesline. Rhodes lands several punches and a kick. Rhodes goes for the disaster kick but misses. Rhodes knocks Axel down with a clothesline and climbs to the top. Axel trips him up and then hits him with a hangman’s facebuster for the win.
After the match, Paul Heyman tells us he is a man in great emotional pain, because his former best friend and the former best in the world CM Punk is now a loser. Punk lost to Heyman’s client Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, and now Heyman wants his new client, Intercontinental champ Curtis Axel, to beat Punk this coming Monday night. Axel doesn’t even think Punk deserves a title shot, but he’s willing to fight him Monday anyway.
Commercial
Match #2: Big E Langston versus Dolph Ziggler.
AJ skips to the ring before the match starts. Big E attacks Dolph before the bell and pummels him. The ref separates the two men and calls for the bell. E charges Dolph but Dolph dodges and hits Big E with a series of punches. Big E slams Dolph to the mat and covers him for a two count. Big E pummels Dolph and hits him with a splash in the corner.
Dolph responds with a chinbreaker and a Stinger splash in the corner. Dolph hits Big E with a neckbreaker and tries for a leg drop bulldog but Big E catches him. Dolph counters with a facebuster, but AJ hits him with a cheap shot. Big E hits Dolph with a clothesline for a two count. Big E tries for his finisher, the Big Ending, but Dolph counters with a Zig Zag for the win!
Commercial
Match #3: Christian versus Alberto Del Rio.
The two men lock up and jockey for position and the ref separates them in the corner. Del Rio lands a couple cheap shots on the break. Christian backdrops Alberto to the floor and follows up with a baseball slide dropkick. Christian lands a punch and climbs to the top turnbuckle, but Alberto backs away up the entrance ramp.
Commercial
Alberto hits Christian with a lot of kicks in the corner; Christian responds with a couple punches. Alberto pushes Christian off the top and stomps him on the floor. Alberto puts Christian in a key lock and Christian escapes. Alberto hits Christian with a tilt a whirl backbreaker and follows up by twisting Christian’s arm in the ropes. Christian dodges a running knee strike and snaps Alberto down on the top rope.
Christian lands a couple punches and a forearm shot. Christian mounts Del Rio in the corner and lands a half dozen punches. Christian flies off the top rope but misses, Alberto responds with a series of headbutts. Alberto misses with an enzuigiri and Christian responds with a sunset flip powerbomb. Christian throws a punch and Alberto tries to apply the cross armbreaker.
Christian hits Alberto with a tornado DDT and sets up for a spear. Alberto rolls to the floor. Christian climbs to the top rope but Alberto hits him with an enzuigiri. Alberto tries a superkick but Christian blocks it. Christian goes for the Kill Switch but Alberto blocks it and whips Christian to the corner. Alberto gets Christian in the Cross armbreaker in the corner and Christian taps; Alberto wins!
After the match, Alberto acknowledges his self-proclaimed status as a hero to the latinos, who he then dismisses as ‘peasants.’ Alberto’s former ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, comes out to introduce his new employer, a man that sticks up for people instead of looking down on them; Rob Van Dam! RVD comes out and Alberto yells angrily. Christian hits Alberto from behind with a missile dropkick and Van Dam follows up with Rolling Thunder.
Commercial
Match #4: Handicap match. Big Show and Mark Henry versus 3MB.
Officially, Big Show and Henry are the ones operating under a handicap, since they are outnumbered. But obviously, either one of them could squash 3MB all by themselves. Big Show starts off against Heath Slater and knocks him down once before tagging in Henry. Slater lands a lot of punches and is then flattened by Mark Henry. Jinder Mahal gets tagged in and 3MB briefly gangs up on Henry to get a momentary advantage.
Henry hits Slater with a big shoulder block and tags in the Big Show. Big Show knocks Drew McIntyre down with a shoulder block and a choke slam. Heath Slater comes in to make the save and Mark Henry plants him with the World’s Strongest Slam. Big Show hits Drew with the KO punch for the win.
After the match, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins of the Shield mock Henry and the Big Show from the big screen. They respect that Henry and Show keep getting back up after they knock them down, but they want them to know that they will retain their tag titles because they are just better. Believe in that, and believe in the Shield.
Commercial
Match #5: Darren Young with Titus O’Neal versus Antonio Caesaro with Zeb Coulter and Jack Swagger.
Antonio gets the early advantage and pounds on Young. Antonio lands a European uppercut and a headbutt. Antonio takes Darren down with a gut wrench throw. Young responds with a headbutt and a European uppercut of his own. Antonio lands a knee, Darren responds with a kick. Antonio locks in a sleeper hold, then clotheslines Young to the mat.
Antonio hits Darren with a slap and Young responds with a clothesline and several punches. Young takes Antonio to the mat with an overhead throw and follows up with a clothesline. Young hits Antonio with a northern lights suplex into a bridge for a two count. Swagger tries to create a distraction and Antonio rolls Young up, but Young kicks out. Darren Young hits Antonio with a Gut Buster for the win!
Darren Young is now undefeated since coming out as a babyface! Congratulations Darren Young!
Commercial
When we return, Ryback is in the back and a fan approaches him for an autograph. It turns out the fan doesn’t know who Ryback is, but his son is a HUGE wrestling fan and will be thrilled. Ryback hands the autographed picture back to the fan, but when he realizes the fan doesn’t know his name, he takes the picture back and rips it up. Ryback tells the man to tell his son that daddy is a scrawny pencil necked fool.
Commercial
Match #6: Daniel Bryan versus Wade Barrett in a steel cage.
Wade starts off with a lot of punches and Bryan responds with a bunch of punches and kicks. Wade hits Bryan with a big boot and they exchange some more strikes. Bryan mounts Barrett in the corner after landing some stiff kicks and lands a few stiff punches. Wade hits Bryan with another big boot and then pummels and stomps him on the mat.
Wade props Bryan up onto his shoulders and then slams him face first into the cage. Bryan fights back with a series of punches and kicks. Barrett whips Bryan to the corner; Bryan runs up the ropes and leaps backwards over Barrett. Barrett grabs Bryan and plants him on the mat with a side slam.
Commercial
Wade hits Bryan with a big boot, knocking him into the cage. Bryan turns it around and slams Barrett into the cage repeatedly. Bryan hits Barrett with two dropkicks into the cage and follows them up with a third dropkick, knocking the slumped Barrett into the cage again. Daniel Bryan climbs to the top but Barrett cuts him off. Bryan hits Barrett with a boot to the face followed by a missile dropkick.
Bryan hits the kneeling Barrett with several stiff kicks to the chest but misses with a kick to the head. Barrett slams Bryan face first into the cage and then spins him around 360 degrees with a clothesline. Wade props Bryan up on his shoulders but Bryan immediately starts climbing up the cage from atop Barrett. Barrett hits Bryan in the back and then drops him to the mat with an electric chair.
Wade starts to climb the cage but Bryan cuts him off. Bryan tries for a superplex, but Wade blocks it with a pair of elbow shots. Barrett climbs to the top and almost makes it over, but Bryan cuts him off at the last possible second. The two men fight on top of the cage and Bryan appears to get the upper hand. Bryan lands a headbutt and then hits Barrett with a sunset flip powerbomb! Bryan hits Barrett with a running high knee for the win!
After the match Bryan celebrates outside the ring until he is hit with an RKO by a very sneaky Randy Orton who just came out of nowhere. Orton holds the WWE title over his head and poses over Bryan’s unconscious body as SmackDown goes off the air.
Speaking on Steve Austin’s podcast which was uploaded this week, two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair acknowledged that he got himself in trouble for his behavior at the WWE 2K14 panel last weekend.
Flair said that he was told to go out and entertain and said that’s exactly what he did however “corporate WWE” got mad at him while the folks at 2K Sports loved it.
He said that he was upset that WWE officials didn’t like it and got mad at him because he loves the company and respects everyone.
“I guess we just drifted and told stories and they wanted the focus of the evening to be about the game,” the Nature Boy told Austin.
Flair hijacked the last 30 minutes or so of the panel and had everyone laughing while recounting stories from his past, using some swear words and even mentioning TNA. He was then removed from another upcoming WWE 2K14 party set for later in the day.
As part of his appearance at the Toronto Fan Expo, Hulk Hogan took on Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in an arm-wrestling match earlier today.
Ford entered the room in a jacket and tie but quickly tossed his jacket away, removed his tie, and untucked his shirt as he got ready to take on the wrestling legend.
“Oh big man, is that all you got?” said Hogan as Ford tried to lower Hogan’s arm to win the match. “Not only am I going to rip this arm off, I’m gonna take your job while I’m at it,” said Hulk as the audience laughed.
The Mayor eventually beat Hogan and celebrated as Hogan sold his arm. He then lifted the Mayor’s arm as media took photos of the two.
Last night’s Impact main event featuring the Aces & Eights and Main Event Mafia with AJ Styles had a stipulation that whoever gets pinned has to leave TNA. The man who drew the short-end of the stick was Devon, who was pinned by Styles.
“Thank you to all the fans in TNA for 8 great years,” Devon wrote on Twitter. “Whether you love me or hate me I had a blast. U guys rock!!! O TESTIFY!!! GOOD BYE!!!” Devon thanked his brothers in Aces & Eights and the TNA wrestlers, calling them his family.
The former Team 3D member is leaving TNA for real which is why he took the fall in the match. This was his second run with the company after in August of 2012, he parted ways while he was still the Television champion. He then returned in October at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view as a surprise. He joined TNA in 2005.
PWInsider.com is reporting that AJ Styles’ TNA contract is up next month and it is looking like the former champion will be moving to a new place.
The site reports that while both parties are currently in negotiations to renew the contract, no deal is in place and with Styles requesting more money, TNA may have to opt to let him go considering the financial situation the company is currently in.
On his Facebook page, Styles asked his fans where they want him to be, listing TNA, WWE, ROH, or Japan. “Lots of options. Tough decisions,” Styles wrote.
The 36 year old has been employed by TNA since 2002 and even appeared on the first ever TNA show. He belt the NWA, TNA, tag team, and X-Division titles while in the company and is the first TNA triple crown and grand slam champion.
