Lucha Underground today announced that it has released Shawn Hernandez from his contract have parted ways amicably.
As you might remember, Hernandez showed up on TNA’s Impact in June of this year and joined the Beat Down Clan while he was still under a deal with El Ray Network for Lucha Underground. He was involved in several Impact tapings with the BDC however Lucha Underground entered into a legal dispute with TNA preventing them from airing Hernandez on television. After he was released from TNA, the Beat Down Clan angle was slashed from television since the footage was unusable without Hernandez in them. It also led to the departure of MVP from TNA.
This week Lucha Underground announced that is returning for season 2 and will be taping in the next several weeks with kick off of season 2 in early 2016.
Another match has been added to the Bound For Glory pay-per-view event featuring a TNA tag team vs a GFW tag team even though the angle was wrapped up last week on Impact.
The new match features TNA Tag Team champions Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards taking on GFW’s Trevor Lee and Brian Myers for the titles, the fifth title match on the card.
So far there are six matches on the BFG card including EC3 vs Drew Galloway for the TNA title, Gail Kim vs Awesome Kong for the Knockouts title, Bobby Roode vs Lashley for the King of the Mountain title, Tigre Uno defending the X Division title in an Ultimate-X match against opponents still to be named, and Kurt Angle will be wrestling as well but no opponent has been named so far.
In an interview with TribLive.com, Cody Rhodes has revealed that he and his brother Dustin will be at the NXT Takeover: Respect live event to present the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with the trophy.
“I will actually be there myself, (as) me — for the first time a while on WWE programming — Cody Rhodes and my brother will be there to present the trophy, which I’m looking forward to seeing,” the man behind the Stardust gimmick said. Cody said that he helped preparing it for whomever the winners will be and it will be a great way to honor his father.
Dustin, as Goldust, has not appeared on WWE television since May after he underwent shoulder surgery while Cody has not appeared outside his Stardust gimmick since June 2014.
The Associated Press is reporting that a group of media outlets is asking a Florida judge to make records in the Hulk Hogan sex video case public, something which would be worst case scenario for Hogan. The AP is one of the companies requesting these records.
The judge presiding the case has sealed all records which were part of an investigation carried out by the FBI. The audio tape released in June which had several racist rants from Hogan was supposed to be sealed however someone leaked it to The National Enquirer which resulted in Hogan losing his WWE job and his career wiped from the WWE. Hogan has since been on damage control.
“It’s highly unusual for this much secrecy to surround a civil proceeding,” said Charles Tobin, a lawyer for Holland and Knight who is representing the media companies. “Ordinarily, whether it’s a celebrity or an average citizen, once you ask the court to help solve a dispute you open the proceedings up to public review. What’s going on in Hulk Hogan’s case certainly is not the norm when it comes to public transparency of the courts.”
The trial is scheduled for March 2016 in Pinellas County Court in St. Petersburg, Florida.
WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch is once again behind bars after she was locked up at the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, two days ago.
Sytch failed to appear three times at hearings which were scheduled following her DUI arrest earlier this year in Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania. A bench warrant was issued on September 3 and she was arrested 20 days later. A hearing is set for today with a trial expected to start on December 7. Chances are she will remain locked up till the trial starts due to her already bad history for failing to show up for court dates.
She blasted WWE earlier this month for not supporting her financially even though WWE picked up all her rehab bills in the past. The company has since stopped paying for her rehabilitation since she falls off the wagon every time. Sunny has been Skyping with fans for a set amount of dollars and even doing nude video chats to earn money.
You can see the mug shot courtesy of TMZ.COM below.
WWE.COM and WWE Network won two W3 Gold Awards and 18 Silver Awards given out by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts.
The WWE App received two Gold Awards in the Entertainment and Sports categories. The WWE App also earned three Silver Awards for Media Streaming, Best Streaming Video and Integrated Mobile Experience.
The WWE Network won eight Silver Awards in the General Website, Website Features and Video Channels and Network categories. For the second consecutive year, WWE Network was honored as a Silver Award recipient for Visual Appeal.
WWEToughEnough.com earned a Silver Award for in the Entertainment category of General Websites. WrestleMania 30 was recognized for excellence in entertainment social media and sports social media with two respective Silver Awards. WWE.com’s video featuring the Boogeyman scaring employees at WWE Headquarters earned a Silver Award for Viral Online video.
WWE’s Social Media team earned a Silver Award for Social Media presence as well as a Silver Award for Social Media Content and Marketing for WWE on Twitter. WWE’s YouTube channel also earned a Silver Award for Social Content and Marketing – Sports.
The non-televised TNA live live event at the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been changed to a One Night Only pay-per-view show titled Battle of New Orleans.
The show will start filming at 7:30PM and will broadcast in the United States and in more than 120 countries around the globe in early 2016. Tickets for the event start at $15 and are available via ticketmaster.com.
The event is headlined with a steel cage match between Kurt Angle and Eric Young and the Knockouts will also have a cage match featuring Gail Kim and Awesome Kong. Other matches announced so far are The Wolves vs EC3 & Tyrus, Bobby Roode vs Matt Hardy, and Abyss vs Robbie E in a Monster’s Ball match.
Wrestling legend Sting talked to WWE.COM regarding the injury he suffered at Night of Champions, giving his first public comments since the incident.
Sting said that apart from having a stiff neck and banged up a little bit, he feels good, or better yet, “pretty standard” for a wrestling match like that. He felt tingling and numbness down both his arms and then after taking a bump, the turnbuckle power bomb, it went down his legs too and “they just felt like rubber.” Sting eventually collapsed after getting Irish whipped and instead of just ducking the planned clothesline he just crashed to the mat.
“I had to go down on all fours there for a minute, get my composure. I was a little…I was worried,” he said.
He added that he was out when he got to the hospital and doctors hooked him up to an IV to ease the pain. “They mentioned cervical spinal stenosis, but that’s only part of what I heard. I don’t know if there’s anything else,” Sting said, adding that the doctor told his wife that he’s lucky he walked out of the ring.
Despite the massive scare, Sting is eager to return to the ring under the ring scenario and circumstances but it’s a big bold question mark at this point and he’s going to take the wait and see approach for the time being.
Sting described Rollins as one of the best he’s ever worked with and it was a pleasure and an honor to work with him. “And I think he’s just scratching the surface on what he will do. I’ve never seen somebody as talented,” the former WCW champion said.
You can read the full interesting interview at WWE.COM.
Episode 12 of season 4 of Total Divas titled Some Like It Hot dropped to a low of 795,000 viewers and a 0.4 rating in the 18-49 demo. It’s the least watched episode of season 4 so far with one episode remaining.
That is down 5,000 viewers from episode 11 and it’s the second lowest rated episode of the whole series, only behind episode 8 of season 2 which was titled Red and Gold and which received 750,000 viewers. (Ratings credit: TV By The Numbers)
WWE has just announced that three of its biggest Hall of Famers will be in Dallas, Texas, for the October 19 Raw just one week before Hell in a Cell.
Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, and Nature Boy Ric Flair will all be in the house to give the pay-per-view one final push. Austin will also be doing the live Stone Cold Podcast with Lesnar following the show.
Speaking of Lesnar, his opponent, The Undertaker, will also be on Raw that night as the two will participate in their final build-up for their second Hell in a Cell match.
The court case of WWE doctor Chris Amann vs Phil “CM Punk” Brooks continued this past Monday at the Circuit Court of Cook County under the judge Janet Adams Brosnahan.
The judge gave both parties involved time to file amendments or additional amended pleadings with a deadline of October 19 for CM Punk and November 2 for Amann. On November 24 the judge will review the papers and then either dismiss, strike, or withdraw allegations.
The case was opened on February 19 of this year when Dr. Chris Amann filed a libel/slander lawsuit against Brooks and his friend Scott Colton, otherwise known as Colt Cabana, for their explosive podcast a few months earlier accusing Amann of several shortcomings and misdiagnosing Punk’s health issues.
CM Punk and Cabana are being assisted by attorney Daniel Saul Brenner while Amann is being represented by the Chicago law firm Deutsch, Levy & Engel.
During an hour and twenty minute Q&A session with fans in Sydney, UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey once again expressed her desire to appear at WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas, next year after making an appearance at this year’s WrestleMania alongside with The Rock.
When asked if she wants to be involved in next year’s WrestleMania, Rousey said she would love to however she’s going to be in Jakarta filming her next movie during that timeframe and besides, if she really was going to be there she was not going to spoil it to everyone during a Q&A. “If I really was going to be there would you want to know or be surprised? Because I think wrestling fans would want to be surprised,” Rousey said.
Dana White then jumped in and said that what Ronda did at WrestleMania 31 was cool and she did a great job and it was an awesome segment however “she’s got a lot of shit to do!” He then asked the fan why does he want to see her wrestle when he can see her fight? “Even her wrestling debut was fast, she beat Stephanie so fast it was unbelievable,” White joked.
You can see the video of her answer, which starts at 1:16:53 below.
The post-Night of Champions Monday Night Raw drew the lowest non-holiday rating since the early days of 1997 with an average of 3,349,000 viewers and a 1.16 rating in the 18-49 demo. That is down from last week’s 3.39 million viewers.
Hour one drew 3,420,000 viewers, followed by 3,368,000 in the second hour, and then even worse at 3,260,000 viewers in the third and final hour. The NFL game on ESPN head to head with Raw did 12,479,000 viewers and a 4.7 rating in the 18-49 demo. (Ratings credit: TV By The Numbers)
Former WCW champion Sting was taken to a hospital right after his Night of Champions match against Seth Rollins and underwent a CAT scan and an MRI to assess damage to his neck after he took the turnbuckle powerbomb.
TMZ reports that no fractures were discovered but he was held overnight and was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. “He’s able to walk but is in significant pain,” TMZ wrote. The wrestling legend was supposed to be part of last night’s Raw broadcast but he went back home after he was released from the hospital. The website adds that doctors are not able to give a long-term prognosis yet.
Sting immediately fell after taking the powerbomb and couldn’t hold on to the ropes. Not realizing the damage, Rollins went for the Irish whip and instead of ducking the clothesline, Sting – who barely ran the ropes – collapsed and the WWE doctor had to go in and check on him after the referee ordered him in the ring.
The individual who jumped in the ring during the Night of Champions pay-per-view just before Chris Jericho was introduced was identified as 37 year old Oscar Ramirez from Houston. He was quickly tackled by security once he hit the ring and stood behind Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.
Ramirez was charged with trespassing on Sunday and held in county jail on a $1,000 bond. According to the Harris County District Clerk website, he pleaded guilty this morning and was sentenced by judge Larry Stanley to 10 days in jail. This is not his first run-in with the law as Ramirez was booked for marijuana possession in August of last year.
Another match has been added to the October 3 WWE Network live event from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
Bubba Ray and Devon, making their first appearance at The Garden in over a decade, will be getting another crack at the WWE Tag Team titles when they face The New Day. The match joins Brock Lesnar vs Big Show, Kevin Owens vs Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins vs John Cena, Dolph Ziggler vs Rusev, and Randy Orton vs Sheamus on the card. Card is subject to change and other matches will be announced as well.
The event will air at 8PM EST live on the WWE Network.
Total Divas returns on E! tonight with episode 12 of season 4 titled Some Like It Hot. Last week the show did the worst number of the season with just over 800,000 viewers.
The synopsis for tonight’s show reads, “The Divas vacation to Tulum, Mexico, where Paige tells the Divas she’s engaged, the Bellas find out they will have a new sibling, and Alicia puts Trinity’s relationship with Jon at risk.”
Last night on Raw, Kane debuted a gimmick similar to TNA’s Abyss and Joseph Park, where he’s a monster when he’s in a mask but the Director of Operations when he’s not wearing one.
Kane returned at the Night of Champions pay-per-view with the mask and saved Seth Rollins from losing his WWE World Heavyweight title after Sheamus was about to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase. However after chokeslamming Sheamus, Kane turned his attention to Seth Rollins and chokeslammed him as well.
The man who portrays the Abyss gimmick, Christopher Parks, sarcastically wrote on Twitter that there are other people like him, obviously referring to WWE ripping off the TNA angle. “Wow it’s seems other families share the same problems my brother and I did!! Small world,” he wrote.
Kane appeared as the Director of Operations for several segments during the show and told Rollins and The Authority that he doesn’t know what they’re talking about when mentioning the mask. At the end of Raw, Kane showed up as the demon Kane and took Rollins with him after his loss against Cena.
Austin, TX – September 21, 2015 – El Rey Network and Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Burnett and United Artists Media Group today announced that the Lucha Libre wrestling series “Lucha Underground” will return for a second season. The action packed, character-driven series will go back into production in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will premiere on El Rey Network in early 2016.
“We brought together some of the best athletes from lucha libre and wrestling to fight in Los Angeles this year on ‘Lucha Underground’. It was fresh, it was compelling and it got the attention and created buzz across the entire wrestling world,” said Executive Producer Mark Burnett.
El Rey Network Chairman and Founder Robert Rodriguez, said: “The explosive combination of athleticism and storytelling makes for such great television and I’m so pleased that this legendary wrestling tradition will continue to have a home on El Rey Network.”
Ancient tradition, extraordinary athleticism, and a flare for theatrics combine in El Rey Network’s wrestling series, “Lucha Underground”. The riveting original introduces American audiences to the high-flying aerial maneuvers, slingshot moves, dramatic masks, intricate, rapid-fire combinations and distinctive wrestling techniques of lucha libre, one of Mexico’s most popular sports. Fans will have a ringside seat as masked villains and heroes face off to battle for wrestling supremacy. It provides enthusiastic viewers with an incredibly visceral and explosive experience with a focus on the artistry, originality, intense action and over-the-top characters that has come to define this phenomenal fan-favorite. A celebration of lucha libre’s long-standing Mesoamerican heritage and culture dating back to 1863, this is programming that must be seen to be believed.
“Lucha Underground” is produced by United Artists Media Group in association with FactoryMade Ventures and AG Studios for El Rey Network. Executive producers are Mark Burnett, Eric Van Wagenen (also showrunner) and Brian Edwards of United Artists Media Group; Dorian Roldán from Lucha Libre AAA; Alejandro Garcia and Antonio Cué Sánchez-Navarro from AG Studios; El Rey Network co-founder Robert Rodriguez; and FactoryMade Ventures and El Rey Network co-founders John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa. The series will be distributed internationally by United Artists Media Group.
Night Of Champions featured new champions and two big returns. I won’t spoil for those who haven’t watched, but the returns were surprising as was one of the title changes. All the happenings from the Pay-Per-View/Network show will continue tonight, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for September 21st, 2015 – “Turn-Styles”
Introduction Segment: Welcoming and Arena Promo
The Wyatt Family’s video plays immediately and the trio walk to the ring. Bray preaches it didn’t matter how loud they yelled or how much they smashed up, Reigns would still not get the message. “I am no liar; matter of fact, I am the man…” Roman interrupts and answers, challenging Wyatt to a one-on-one fight; he says it doesn’t even have to be an official bout. Bray doesn’t respond, so Roman accuses him of being scared. Bray whispers into Strowman and Harper’s ears and they back off.
Wyatt and Reigns slug away, with Roman hitting the Superman Punch. Luke slides back in and begins to pound away, as does Braun. Dean Ambrose charges out to the rescue but is soon picked apart. It turns into 3-on-2 until a returning Randy Orton runs down the ramp! He brawls with the family and evens the odds. Orton backdrops Luke on the announcer’s table, then gets into a punch-up with Braun. It takes hits from Randy, Dean, and Roman to put Strowman to the floor! The two sides stare at each other from the ramp and ring, respectively.
Segment #2: Video Promo
Recap of Seth Rollins’ title matches at Night Of Champions is aired.
Segment #3: Office Promo
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is pacing outside The Authority’s room then barges in. instead of Triple H and Stephanie, he finds Kane, back in corporate attire. Kane tells Rollins he is back in WWE as Director Of Operations, and acts like he was not involved in Night Of Champions, but has been getting better for the last two months. Kane has given Seth a rematch for the United States Championship in tonight’s main-event!
Commercials.
Match #1: Six-Man Tag-Team – The Astral Alliance (Stardust and The Ascension) VS. Neville and The Lucha Dragons
Konnor and Cara begin, with Sin tied up in a wristlock, which he flips through but is kicked. The Ascension and Stardust take control over Cara for a while. Sin manages a tag to Neville who is quick all over Stardust! He tries the Red Arrow, but The Ascension distracts him and allows Stardust to hit a springboard kick.
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The Astral Alliance is back in domination, working on Neville. Stardust clamps on a reverse Guerrero Special Submission, but Neville flips out of it and tags in Kalisto. He cleans house on The Astrals, finishing Viktor with his reverse suplex DDT and cover to get the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: Neville and The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara)
Commercials.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Seth is limping through the hallways and is pleased to see The Authority. He tells Steph and HHH what has happened, and they look a little befuddled. “The Game” and Stephanie tell Rollins to worry about getting the U.S. Championship again, and they’ll deal with Kane.
Ryback makes his entrance and will be in action , next!
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Match #2: Single – Ryback VS. Bo Dallas
(Note: Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens is on commentary; and Dallas tells Ryback that he didn’t defeat Owens because he “bo-lieved” he was better than Kevin) Ryback totally controls, slamming and suplexing Bo around. Bo comes back with some knees and a kick-to-the-head, then clutches on a grounding rear chinlock.
Ryback breaks out, giving Dallas a suplex and spinebuster. He soon completes this after the Meathook Clothesline and Shellshock Marching Samoan Drop.
Winner via Pinfall: Ryback
Post-match, Kevin immediately attacks Ryback, but escapes before getting Shellshocked.
Up next, Charlotte will celebrate her Divas Championship win!
Commercials.
Segment #5: Arena Promo
Ric Flair is out to take joy in his girl’s Divas Championship victory! “The Nature Boy” first recalls a time in this town in 1972, then some of his life’s accomplishments. He states, however, that none of it compares to seeing his baby girl win the Divas Championship. The woman herself now comes out, with Team PCB partners Paige and Becky Lynch. They are all happy, with Charlotte and Flair simultaneously “wooo-ing!” Charlotte gives props to her father, which makes him tear up, and thanks Paige and Becky too.
Paige now takes the microphone and rips into Charlotte, Becky, and the rest of the Divas. Paige lets out a lot of feelings of not getting proper recognition, calling Charlotte and the wrong Divas getting the shine. “Becky, back off. You know what? You’re never, you’re never going to be a Divas Champion; you know why? Because you’re the least relevant of all of us. And let’s go to Team B.A.D.; they’re all ‘flash,’ no ‘substance.’ And then you’ve got Lana and Summer; too busy trying to find out who they want to climb onto next rather than the Divas Division. And then you’ve got Nattie; Nattie where are you? Do you even work here anymore? I can’t hear you Mrs. Hart. And then you’ve got The Bellas. You all know the ‘real’ reason they got to where they are. You all know the real reason. No, I am not done, I am not done. (To Charlotte) Stop trying to act like somebody because you wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your old man. ‘Woooo!’” Paige tosses the microphone and walks off in a huff, yelling “this is my house” by the ‘Tron.
Nikki, Brie, and Alicia walk out and mock what just happened. “Welcome to my world, when you succeed and you’re on top, and when everyone around you becomes jealous of you. Can you handle it? Can you handle it? It doesn’t look like you can handle it. Obviously Paige couldn’t handle it, but I mean, I handled it for nearly a year, but that’s ‘cus I was woman enough. And Charlotte, do you think this gets any easier? Do you? Because you know it doesn’t, right?” She finishes by saying that Charlotte won’t measure up to both Brie when she wrestles her next, and herself when they have their rematch.
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Match #3: Single – Divas Champion Charlotte (with Becky Lynch) VS. Brie (with Team Bella partners Nikki and Alicia Fox)
Brie taunts Charlotte, then flips her over with a side headlock takedown. Charlotte hits back with knees-to-the-face, but Brie also hits knees to Charlotte’s head. She follows with a second-turnbuckle missile dropkick, but is soon slapped in the corner. Charlotte tries to grab her on the apron, but Brie slips out and throws her into the steel steps. She puts Charlotte back in the ring and rams her shoulder into Charlotte’s gut.
Brie yanks Charlotte out of the corner by her leg, but is spun around and rolled up for a quick count. Brie goes back to work on the leg with a spinning hold, then kicks away. She ties up Charlotte’s left knee in the bottom rope, then runs at her with a knee twice. She chop-blocks Charlotte after slipping out of a slam, then ties her up in a half-crab. Charlotte gets out of it and makes her comeback, catching Brie with the Spear and locking her in the Figure-8; Brie taps quickly!
Winner via Submission: Divas Champion Charlotte (with Becky Lynch)
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Match #4: Single – Sheamus VS. Mark Henry
The two engage in shoves, then Henry blocks a punch and gives one of his own. Sheamus kicks and punches back, but is scoop-slammed and clotheslined to the floor. He climbs to the apron and gives Mark a few slugs to the chest, but they are quickly blocked. Henry tries a big scoop-slam, but Sheamus backs out and has to Brogue Kick “The World’s Strongest Man” twice to get the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Sheamus
Commercials.
Segment #6: Office Promo
Kane is enjoying a sip from his “World’s Greatest Director Of Operations” mug (thanks Dad, for pointing that out!) when Steph and Triple H walk in. They are wondering what is going on, and Kane tells them he’s signed a new contract. They seem uncomfortable, especially when Stephanie sees Kane’s mask is not in the box. Kane doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and insinuates difficulties if she doesn’t have his mask.
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Paige sees someone off camera and wonders if they’re still a part of the company. That person is Natalya. She says Paige made some good comments, but they way she went about it during Charlotte’s time was wrong. Paige smirks as Natalya goes to get ready for her match with Naomi.
Tag-Team Champions The New Day make their entrance for a Six-Man, next!
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Segment #8: Arena Promo
The New Day are in the ring, with Xavier holding both the mike and some table in a plastic bag. The object is one that doctors had to take out of his rear after Night Of Champions, where he was put through a table by The Dudleyz. Kofi says that Bubba and D-Von “must be stopped,” and Big E. comes up with a solution of building “a wall around Dudleyville.” Kofi leads the crowd in a “Save…the tables” call, which he claims will “make WWE great again.”
Match #5: Six-Man Tag-Team – Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E. and Kofi Kingston) (with New Day/Tag-Team Champion partner Xavier Woods) and Rusev (with Summer Rae) VS. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and Dolph Ziggler
Dolph and Kofi begin, trading wristlocks. Ziggler runs off the ropes with a shoulder-block, then flips onto his feet out of a monkey-flip, and gives Kingston a monkey-flip of his own. D-Von is tagged in and drops a big elbow on Kofi, then punches away on his head. Kofi manages a tag to Big E, then The Dudleyz and Dolph chase Rusev out of the ring.
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Dolph and Big E. are wrestling, with Dolph flipping out of a headlock/backdrop, then hitting a dropkick. New Day and Rusev soon take control, with Xavier playing the trombone during repeated kicks and a slingshot-dropkick. Rusev and Dolph go at it, wit Rusev yelling at Dolph “Lana is mine!” Rusev misses a splash in the corner, and Dolph drives him to the canvas with a leaping-DDT! Both are down, but make the necessary tags to Bubba and Kofi, respectively. He is all over Kofi, and pushes Big E. off the apron. He gives Kingston a sidewalk slam, ducks a springboard move, and one-arm slams him down! Bubba boots E. in the face, then clotheslines Rusev. He tags in D-Von, and they double-suplex Rusev, then give him “What’s Up” (headbutt to crotch) with Dolph doing the dive.
It’s Ziggler and Rusev left, so Xavier gets Dolph’s attention with the trombone. Dolph kicks Xavier to the floor, but turns into a big kick by Rusev for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E. and Kofi Kingston) (with New Day/Tag-Team Champion partner Xavier Woods) and Rusev (with Summer Rae)
Michael Cole announces that The Dudleys will face The New Day again for the Tag Titles on October 3rd, from Madison Square Garden in New York city, on the WWE Network.
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – Naomi (with Team B.A.D. partners Tamina and Sasha Banks) VS. Natalya
They face-off and execute a few double-moves. Natalya grabs Naomi against the ropes, but Naomi kicks high to the head of Natalya. Naomi wears down Natalya for a bit, but as Natalya attempts a comeback, Sasha and Tamina give some aid, allowing Naomi to hit the Rear-View on her.
Winner via Pinfall: Naomi (with Team B.A.D. partners Tamina and Sasha Banks)
Segment #8: Office Promo
Stephanie and Triple H are discussing when Rollins walks back in. He wants to know what’s going on, and they try to settle him by saying Kane is calm again as the Director Of Operations. Seth doesn’t go with that explanation, but “The Game” doesn’t want to hear it. He reiterates that they will deal with Kane while he should deal with John Cena.
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Match #7: Single – The Big Show VS. Cesaro
Show completely governs this bout, and despite a certified effort from Cesaro, Show takes it after a Knockout Punch!
Winner via Pinfall: The Big Show
Post-match, Show gets on the mike and declares that he will run over Brock Lesnar on October 3rd, live on WWE Network.
Up next is our Title Match main-event!
Commercials.
It is announced that Dolph Ziggler and Ryback will meet Rusev and Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens this week on Smackdown!
Segment #9: Video Promo
Luke Harper says that he “hears voices too” and that “Bray Wyatt saved me.” He looks to Braun Strowman, who tells us “I caught a snake once. I skinned it; it’s in a better place now.” Bray concludes “they all fall down.”
NEW United States Champion John Cena makes his entrance and will be defending against Seth Rollins!
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Match #8: Single for the United States Championship – John Cena (Champion) VS. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (Challenger)
Following formal in-ring introductions, Rollins clotheslines Cena right after Lillian finished. The bell officially rings and Seth is in control. He gives Cena a neckbreaker for two, then continues to punch away. He attempts a Pedigree, but Cena turns it into an S.T.F. try. Rollins flips out with a kick, then Cena launches back with a clothesline.
Commercials.
Seth is still working over Cena with a rear chinlock, but Cena stands up and backs Rollins into the corner. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion measures Cena with a standing side headlock, but Cena gets out of it and rockets himself with a couple shoulder-tackles. It goes back-and-forth with false finishes and finishers.
Rollins leaps off the top turnbuckle, but Cena moves and Rollins lands on his feet, but Cena trips him into the S.T.F. Rollins struggles but is able to grab the bottom rope for the break. He goes to the top again and lands on Cena with a Frogsplash, but Cena rolls over and plants Rollins with the Attitude Adjustment to get the victory!
Winner and STILL United States Champion via Pinfall: John Cena
Post-match, Cena walks to the back (signing a poster for a young, sick-looking fan), and Rollins is alone in the ring. Kane appears on screen. He warns Rollins “to be the best-possible WWE World Heavyweight Champion you could be.” He says that many are after him, including “people you wouldn’t even imagine in your worst nightmares.”
Kane’s pyro explodes on the stage, and then he, in costume, climbs through the ring and drags Seth down the hole in the mat. Kane’s corner pyro goes off and smoke rises through the hole to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was a pretty great Raw coming off a decent Pay-Per-View/Network show. I liked a few of the twists tonight and the wrestling was great! Let’s read the particulars:
Excellence: Promos by Kane/Rollins/Authority. Love Kane’s new turn-around and this will provide both comedy and seriousness going along with this feud. Kane has become really great in the last few years (Team Hell-No, and now “Corporate” Kane) with changing himself up to be fresh.
Promo by Big Show; even though it was the basic “I’m going to beat you,” he really came across as a ticked-off behemoth and made himself very believable. Matches between Brie/Charlotte, New Day/Rusev and Dudleyz/Dolph, Show/Cesaro, and Rollins/Cena.
The New Day can do no wrong in the ring/on the mike!
Absolutely LOVED Paige’s turn; this is the attitude I wanted her to have her first time as a heel. And I’m so glad the crowd reacted appropriately and booed her strongly. I also enjoyed Ric’s promo and his/Charlotte’s genuine interaction.
Bogus: Henry/Sheamus (one-off), Natalya/Naomi (could’ve been better/longer), Luchas/Neville and The Astral Alliance (not into this feud).
I’m running low on Reigns/Ambrose/now Orton VS. The Wyatts. I think with Wyatt’s win at N.O.C., the rivalry should’ve ended there. If Jericho was sticking around, then the way the finish for the Pay-Per-View/Network match ended should led to Ambrose/Reigns VS. Jericho. I also don’t think this should’ve started Raw; WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins should’ve!
While I’m happy that Charlotte has the title, it was six nights to late for momentum. They really should’ve had her win it with just a few seconds left on Nikki’s reign, and not have Nikki break the record. The “Bella-bration” from Smackdown! was horrid (bad idea) and the bout at N.O.C. would’ve had more steam if Nikki was the challenger/did not make her time before.
Until Smackdown!, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Fans!
