E! today issued a press release touting the success of the return of WWE Total Divas on their network for the second half of season one.
The brand new episode whack kicks off the final six episodes which make part of season one did 1.3 million total viewers and 746,000 in the important adults 18-49 demo. The first half of season one ended with 1.03 million viewers so the return added 300,000 viewers over the last episode.
The show had a strong lead-in from the season finale of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
The poster for the 2014 Royal Rumble has been released featuring only one WWE Superstar – CM Punk.
Punk is photographed doing the number one sign with his hand and fire coming out from his index finger. The top of the poster has the Royal Rumble logo with the tag line “It Begins.”
The Royal Rumble will be taking place at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 26.
Television tapings this week will be done from Manchester, England, at the Phones 4U Arena, formerly known as the MEN Arena.
Both RAW and Smackdown tapings will be held at the same location today and tomorrow as well as other tapings that are usually done prior to the big shows. RAW tonight will not air live in the United States but will be on a few hours tape delay as it is always the case when the company holds TV tapings overseas.
Antonio Cesaro got a nice surprise at the non-televised live event in Munich, Germany, last night after he was invited by John Cena to the ring after the show was over.
Cena said his German was not good so he’d like Cesaro to come out. Cesaro shook Cena’s hands as he came in the ring and then spoke in German to the local fans as Cena was telling him what to translate.
Cena then took the mic after Cesaro refused to talk about himself. Cena then put over Cesaro big time, telling fans he wrestled everywhere and he’s earned everyone’s respect.
He thanked fans for believing in Cesaro, his first night in front of a German crowd on a big stage.
“I know a good thing when I see one. Congratulations for finally coming home. This man has the makings of a future champion,” Cena told the crowd while looking at Cesaro, who he referred to by his real name of Claudio.
Cena then tossed the World Heavyweight championship to Cesaro but Cesaro took the mic and returned the World title to Cena, who clapped and left the ring, leaving the spotlight on Cesaro.
Cesaro said he’d come back one day as the WWE champion as fans clapped and showed their appreciation.
Former TNA World champion Bully Ray crashed Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore 3 event yesterday at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, after Dreamer and Terry Funk defeated X-Pac and Lance Storm in the main event.
The surprise appearance car as Dreamer was cutting a promo after the show thanking the fans and ill of a sudden Bully Ray came in from the crowd and attacked both Dreamer and Funk with a chain. He then invited Dreamer for a falls count anywhere match in a TNA One Night Only show called Old School.
Spike Dudley then came in to try and save the faces however he was out powered and then another surprise, Devon Dudley shows up and reunites with Bully, giving Dreamer the 3D.
Just as the tables were coming out, another surprise, the Sandman! Coming out to Metallica’s Enter Sandman, Sandman caned both Dudleys however he was also outnumbered and the Dudleys eventually walked out.
The attack made it on the #Impact365 initiative, with TNA obviously cutting a deal with Dreamer’s promotion for their pay-per-view show. You can see Bully Ray’s involvement from yesterday below.
Total Divas, the reality TV show featuring Natalya, Eva Marie, JoJo, the Bella Twins, and The Funkadactyls, returns on E! tomorrow night following the finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Tomorrow’s episode – titled SummerSlam – will kick off the second half of season one which will have a total of six episodes to wrap up 14 episodes that will make up the first season.
The first eight episodes received good ratings although the last three saw a decline after the show put up some better-than-expected numbers for E! and WWE.
There is talk already to film season two of Total Divas although most likely with a different set of Divas.
Kassius Ohno, who wrestled outside NXT as Chris Hero, was surprising released from the company almost two years after he signed a developmental deal.
Ohno – real name Chris Spradlin – was pulled from NXT television tapings for a few after rumors emerged that management were not happy with his commitment.
The almost 34 year old has been wrestling in the independents pretty much for his whole career except for some appearances for TNA nearly a decade ago.
Ticketmaster.com has released the seating chart for WrestleMania XXX at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and it looks like they will be using all possible seats.
Five different levels are advertised – floor, risers, plaza, lodge, and terrace, with terrace being all the way up in the nosebleeds.
One interesting thing to notice is that unlike before, there are no blocked seats behind the set which either means WWE is going with a set that sits under the first raised level, or the seating chart still has to be modified to reflect the blocked seats behind it.
Usually anything behind the set is blocked since no one would be able to see anything but this seating chart has the first raised level, the lodge, and terrace, all available. There are no floor seats or risers where the set will be placed.
One thing is for sure however, by the looks of it, and if WWE manages to sell-out the Superdome, WrestleMania XXX is going to be a massive visual. You can see the seating chart below.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Sean Cleary has taken over the role of Vice President of Talent Relations after Jane Geddes was promoted to SVP working directly with Triple H.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Cleary took over the position last month after serving a year as SVP of Human Resources for WWE.
Prior to joining WWE, Cleary had similar roles in Human Resources with Bank of America, Take-Two Interactive, Guinness USA, and Diageo plc.
The pre-sale for WrestleMania XXX will kick off on Thursday, November 14, at 10AM CT and will continue through Friday, November 15, at 11:59PM CT. Tickets will go on sale for the general public on Saturday, November 16, at 10AM CT.
If you want to beat the queue, you can log on to Ticketmaster.com and use one of these two passwords – WWEVIP or SAINTS – to take advantage of the pre-sale.
If you are still looking for accommodation, we are offering a special rate at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, for single bed or two double beds for the price of $289 per night with free Internet for your whole stay. More information and booking links are available at http://w-o.it/wmxxx
WWE today announced the hiring of Stefan Kastenmuller as the new General Manager, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, a newly created position, effective immediately.
WWE is opening an office in Germany, located in Munich, which Kastenmuller will be heading up. This is the second WWE office in Europe, with the other one located in England.
“Germany, Switzerland and Austria are important WWE markets and have been for a long time thanks to a passionate and growing fan base,” said Gerrit Meier, EVP International, WWE. “Hiring an experienced manager like Stefan and opening a new office reflects WWE’s commitment to the region, our fans and our partners.”
WWE has signed bodybuilder and fitness model Ashley Sebera, a blond bombshell who has started training at the WWE Performance Center this week.
“Here it is 🙂 Day 1 of my new career. in love and can’t wait for more,” the Ohio native wrote on her Twitter account along with a “Property of WWE Performance Center” t-shirt and her tag.
Sebera has participated in several bodybuilding competitions and recently appeared at the 2013 Arnold Classic Europe.
You can check out her pictures, and trust us, you will want to check her out, below.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Jane Geddes, the Vice President of Talent Relations over at WWE has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations for Talent and Live Events.
Geddes, who joined WWE from the LPGA in October 2011, had replaced John Laurinaitis in that position, a position which Jim Ross also held back in the day. Geddes could be seen on Total Divas working with the talent, usually breaking some bad news to the Divas or the occasional good news.
Her promotion frees up the place of the king – or queen – of talent relations and it will be interesting who will be given the trust to run this important position that deals directly with Superstars and Divas and signs the contracts.
Just two days into his one month fundraiser to help him pay for his shoulder surgery, WWE Hall of Famer Hacksaw Jim Duggan managed to get all the money needed to cover the costs.
On November 5, Duggan posted an Indiegogo.com fundraising effort to come up with $6,500 to help him pay for shoulder surgery. The WWE Hall of Famer is suffering from a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and is in desperate need of surgery. “Without this surgery Hacksaw is severely limited in his range of motion and his ability to perform in the ring, which to this day is still his livelihood,” says the summary on the page.
Hacksaw hoped to raise $6,500 to completely fund the shoulder surgery but as of this writing, over $7,500 have been raised with 28 days left in the campaign.
In return of a donation, Duggan will be sending out perks including 8×10 autographed photos, a personal phone call, a t-shirt, a Skype video call, and one night stay at DDP’s Accountability Crib which Diamond Dallas Page donated. All perks will be fulfilled in April 2014.
WWE will be holding a WrestleMania XXX on-sale party on November 15 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Champions Square, a 121,000 square foot outdoor venue which is right in front of the massive Superdome.
WWE Divas Kaitlyn and Alicia Fox, along with WWE Superstars Sheamus, Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio, and WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Mick Foley, and Jimmy Hart are all scheduled to appear.
The event starts at 5PM and will go on till 9PM local time. All those scheduled to appear will be signing autographs and participate in Q&A sessions.
Tickets for WrestleMania XXX will be sold, with tickets going on sale to the general public the next day. Complimentary parking will be available in Garage 1.
The former “world champion” that Dixie Carter has been promoting on social networks that is coming back to Impact this week ended up being Adam “Pac Man” Jones, the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals cornerback.
Jones worked for TNA in 2007 when he was on a one year suspension from the NFL although due to contract issues he couldn’t wrestle for the company even though he was part of the Team Pacman tag team with Ron Killings. He held the TNA tag team titles after Consequences Creed replaced him in their match against Sting and Kurt Angle. He left the company in October of the same year.
Jones is still playing for the Bengals in the NFL so it’s not sure how long his return will be for or what he will be allowed to do. Carter announced his return in a video as part of the #Impact365 initiative.
Monday Night RAW this week did 3,888,000 viewers with a 2.75 rating, down 268,000 viewers from last week’s show.
Hour one did 4,069,000 viewers, followed by 3,951,000 in the second, and way down to 3,643,000 viewers in the third and final hour. Ouch! (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
WWE Studios’ The Marine 3: Homefront will start airing in the United Kingdom this weekend, starting on Friday, November 8 and will have a total of 20 showings up until November 11 on Sky.
The third installment of The Marine franchise has The Miz in the leading role, a role which was originally going to Randy Orton before the U.S. Marine Corps objected to the role due to Orton’s past in the military.
The Marine 3: Homefront was released in March 2013 straight-to-DVD and had a production cost of $1.5 million. It will be airing on Sky Premiere HD, Sky Premiere, and Sky Premiere +1.
Just like Scott Hall and Jake Roberts did to fund their surgeries and recovery, Hacksaw Jim Duggan is seeking support from his fans through a fundraiser on Indiegogo.com to help him pay for shoulder surgery.
The WWE Hall of Famer is suffering from a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and is in desperate need of surgery. “Without this surgery Hacksaw is severely limited in his range of motion and his ability to perform in the ring, which to this day is still his livelihood,” says the summary on the page.
Hacksaw is hoping to raise $6,500 to completely fund the shoulder surgery. In return of a donation, Duggan will be sending out perks including 8×10 autographed photos, a personal phone call, a t-shirt, a Skype video call, and one night stay at DDP’s Accountability Crib with DDP. All perks will be fulfilled in April 2014.
As we move on to Survivor Series, certain feuds are finally moving forward too. The Big Show has really taken a stand against The Authority in the last few weeks, so what can/will he do tonight to aggravate Stephanie & Triple H? We do know that “The Game” has said the 7-Footer is “banned for life” from the WWE, but come on, he’s here!
The World Heavyweight Championship is set with a rematch between Alberto Del Rio & John Cena; but what about the WWE Championship. Who is going to step up and face the “new face of the WWE,” Randy Orton?
C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan were both taken out by The Wyatt Family – will they be appearing to exact revenge, or was the bizarre trio’s assault enough to put the fan-favorites out of action for a while?
Kane has appeared to given up his identity again and align himself with Stephanie, so what kind of “bidding” could the “Big Red Machine” be in for?
All this and much more, on hopefully another great and intriguing Raw! Read on to find out!
Monday Night Raw Report for November 4th, 2013 – “Another Shot?”
Match #1: Single – C.M. Punk VS. Luke Harper (with Wyatt Family members Bray Wyatt and Erik Rowan)
One of the questions above is answered right away, with “Cult Of Personality” blaring the speakers and C.M. Punk making his entrance for the opening bout! (Yes, this is really how Raw started, right to a match!)
Loud “C.M. Punk” chants ring out, as he boots Harper then slugs away quickly. Harper comes back with a slapping right hand and another uppercut to gain control. Punk battles back with kicks and punches, but is put down with another huge uppercut! He pushes his foot onto Punk’s head, but is flown over the ropes by C.M. As Punk goes for the suicide dive, Luke cuts him off with a forearm and tries a cover for two!
Harper scoop-slams and toys with Punk on the mat. He clamps on a front-facelock and rolls around the mat, in which Michael Coles calls “the gator roll.” Harper whips Punk into the corner and measures him, but misses a big running boot! He tumbles to the outside, then Punk is able to successfully hit him with the suicide dive! Bray Wyatt stares intently in his rocking chair, as Erik Rowan walks around the ring to intimidate “The Second City Saint.”
Commercials.
Luke is back dominating Punk, holding him with a facelock. He slingshots him into the second rope and then pounds away with elbows and fists. Harper goes back to the Gator Roll and wears Punk down. C.M. counters a run with double-boots, then turns him around with a Tornado DDT!
Punk fights back with punches and a calf-kick, then spins Harper with a neckbreaker! He runs at Luke in the corner with the high-knee and bulldog, then soars off the top rope with a front-body-splash onto Erik Rowan outside! Punk uses the ropes and springboards himself right into a big right boot by Harper! C.M. manages to duck the discus clothesline and roll-up Luke for the victory!
Winner via Pin Fall: C.M. Punk
Post-match, all three Wyatt Family members attack C.M. Punk, but Daniel Bryan (with his right shoulder taped up) runs out with a steel chair and helps even the odds. Punk and Bryan both whale away chairs and fend off the Family for now.
After Michael Cole recaps Triple H’s announcement of Big Show’s “WWE ban,” it is announced that WWE Champion Randy Orton’s opponent can be chosen by the fans. Their picks are either Dolph Ziggler, Big E. Langston, or The Miz. Later, World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and Tag-Team Champions The Rhodes Brothers will face Damien Sandow and The Real Americans. (Okay, so I didn’t need to watch this match on Smackdown, obviously!)
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Segment #1: Backstage Promo
Rene Young is with C.M. Punk and wants to know his thoughts on The Wyatt Family. He says “accepts the fact that I am going to be out-numbered, as long as everybody else accepts the fact that they’re always going to be out-gunned.” Punk warns that he is not alone in his feud with The Wyatts.
Segment #2: Phone Promo
Cole conducts a phone interview with Paul Heyman. He recaps his numerous injuries, courtesy of C.M. Punk from the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view. Heyman claims that he is in Europe, being looked after by various physicians/doctors. He demands an apology from both Punk and the WWE Fans for making him suffer the beating, then quivers in his voice, so Cole wonders if he was crying. A dial tone is promptly heard.
Ryback makes his way to the ring and will take on The Great Khali
Commercials.
Match #2: Single – Ryback VS. The Great Khali (with Hornswoggle and Santino Marella)
They lockup and are even in power for the first try, then Khali shoves Ryback to the mat on the second try. Ryback tries a couple chops but his nailed over the head with an forearm. Khali elbows him in the corner, and chops him big in the second one. Khali repeatedly chops Ryback, both standing and in the corner.
Ryback attempts the Shellshock, but Khali fights out of it. He continues to control with clotheslines, but Ryback fires back suddenly with the Meathook Clothesline for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pin Fall: Ryback
Post-match, Ryback takes out Marella and walks up the ramp, saying “Ryback still rules!”
Cole, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and John “Bradshaw” Layfield recap/speculate why Big Show is “banned for life.” They show footage of Show helping The Rhodes Brothers win the Tag-Team Championships 3 weeks ago.
Kofi Kingston jumps to the ring for his next bout!
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Match #3: Single – Kofi Kingston VS. Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio aggressive early with kicks and punches. He rams his shoulder into Kofi and whacks him with a kick that had a resounding-smack! Del Rio runs off the ropes, but Kofi jumps over him with a couple of leap frogs and hits him with a spinning elbow.
Kofi clotheslines Alberto over the ropes and follows up with a flipping senton (but totally misses/over-shoots!). Del Rio reverses a whip-into-the-corner, then grabs Kofi’s legs as he tried a double-kick, and then double-stomps on Kofi’s chest.
Alberto gets control, punching and kicking Kofi in the gut, then runs at him with an enziguri. 1 – 2 – kickout by Kingston! Del Rio grasps Kofi with a rear chinlock, but Kofi battles out. Del Rio ducks a clothesline and brings Kofi back with a pinning German Suplex for a two-count!
Del Rio runs at him again with another kick-to-the-arm and goes back to the rear chinlock. Kofi elbows his away out then flips over him with a sunset flip pin for a near-fall! Del Rio counters another run with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, then wears him down some more with the chinlock. Kofi moves out of a second enziguri try, then flies off the ropes with a splash! 1 – 2 – Alberto kicks out!
Kofi springs out of the corner middle rope with a crossbody for another close one, then chops Del Rio a couple of times. He leapfrogs again, but Del Rio counters with another kick. Kofi slides down and rolls him up but only gets two! Del Rio twirls around and catches Kingston in the Cross Armbreaker, forcing Kofi to tap!
winner via Submission: Alberto Del Rio
More replays of The Authority/Big Show rivalry are shown.
Up next, we will find out who WWE Champion Randy Orton will take on!
Commercials.
Match #4: Single – WWE Champion Randy Orton VS. ??? (Non-Title)
Before Lawler can introduce Orton’s opponent, “The Viper” rips the fans for being the “faces of jealously, faces of failure, faces of envy,” while putting himself over greatly He says the only choice they have is who is his next “victim.” And the winner is … Big E. Langston!
Orton takes it to Big E. quickly with kicks, headbutts, and punches. Langston pushes Randy out of a side headlock and fires back with a shoulder-block! Orton takes a quick break on the outside, then locks up and waistlocks Langston back inside. Big E. reverses and takes Orton down. He whips around Randy and comes back with a hard elbow, and starts to dominate!
Orton takes another break around the ring, then gets back in and puts Langston down with a front dropkick. 1 – Langston gets the shoulder up. Orton tries the slingshot DDT, but Big E. tosses him over to the apron then sends him into the barricade via a shoulder block!
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Langston is still dominating, with punches in the corner then a short-arm clothesline after. Orton rolls to the outside and attempts to trick Big E, but instead he is slammed head-first into the steel steps. Orton tries something on the apron, but Big E. charges for another shoulder; however Orton moves and Langston flies to the outside.
Orton gets a little control, trying to wear Langston down with a chinlock, but Big E. just stands up and backs Randy into the corner. He runs with another shoulder block then a couple of clotheslines. Langston belly-to-belly suplexes Orton, then splashes on him! 1 – 2 – Randy kicks out!
Randy kicks Orton and brings him down with the backbreaker for two! Orton holds Langston and runs him into the ring post, then plants with the slingshot DDT! “The Viper” is gearing up. He goes for the R.K.O., but Langston pushes him off and runs him over with a body block! Langston picks up Orton in the Big Ending position, but Randy hops off and plants Langston with the R.K.O. for the hard-fought win!
Winner via Pin Fall: WWE Champion Randy Orton
Triple H’s announcement, along with other clips of Big Show ticking off The Authority are shown. Footage from the new WWE 2K14 video game is also displayed., then Fandango and Summer Rae dance their way out!
Commercials.
Match #5: Mixed Tag-Team – Fandango and Summer Rae VS. Tyson Kidd and Natalya
Fandango and Tyson size each other up, then both display some fast-pace tactics. Kidd hits Fandango with a spin kick and side dropkick, then Fandango tags in Summer Rae, which means Natalya must come in.
Rae slaps Nattie right away, but Natalya comes back, grabbing both Rae’s legs. Fandango distracts Nattie, allowing Summer to take domination. She drives Natalya down with a front-Russian-legsweep, and clamps on a body scissors. They both hit a double-clothesline, then tag in respectively.
Tyson waits for Fandango on the apron, then nails a high-kick-to-the-head. He hits a flip-over-dropkick, then literately Fandango over the ropes. Rae gets in Tyson’s way, allowing Fandango to yank the ring apron and pull Tyson down. Fandango ascends the turnbuckle, but is caught with a legsweep! Tyson turns Fandango around into the Sharpshooter, making him give up!
Winners via Submission: Tyson Kidd and Natalya
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Rene Young interviews Damien Sandow, but first shows parts of his match against World Heavyweight Champion John Cena from last week. “The Intellectual Savior” says he has turned into a man who “gets what he wants,” which pleases Zeb Colter who walks in on the interview. He predicts that The Real Americans will defeat The Rhodes Brothers for a second time, then looks into the camera and proclaims “we the people,” with Cesaro and Swagger standing behind.
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Prior to the next bout, World Heavyweight Champion John Cena cuts a promo, sincerely putting over the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation, and WWE’s partnership with them. He says that all year long, pink WWE merchandise will be sold and the proceeds go to the foundation for breast cancer. He thanks everyone for putting their feelings of him aside to support the cause, and everyone in-house who has been in in a situation with cancer.
Tag-Team Champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes come out next, and the match will happen following the break.
Commercials.
Match #6: Six-Man Tag-Team – World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and Tag-Team Champions The Rhodes Brothers (Goldust and Cody Rhodes) VS. Damien Sandow and The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger) (with Zeb Colter) (Non-Title)
(Note: Alberto Del Rio has also joined ringside.) Cena and Sandow begin, with Cena on fire. He pulls Sandow forward with a bulldog, then tags in Cody and they hit Damien with a double-elbow. Rhodes is still in control, with a corner flip-over sunset flip. He gets a two-count, then Jack is tagged in and he and Goldust go at it. Frequent tags with the races and heels, and a big pop for Cena and Cesaro squaring off.
They lock up and Cesaro shoves Cena back. Another elbow/collar tie-up is broken even. This time, they test each-other’s strength, with it being somewhat even. Cesaro kicks Cena out of it and uppercuts him in the corner. John reverses a corner whip and brings him out with a Fisherman’s Suplex. Cena and Goldust double-suplex Antonio for a two-count, then Goldust goes to work.
He snapmares Cesaro and drops his leg on his arm, then switches with his brother. Cody front-suplexes Antonio for a two-count, but is quickly controlled by Sandow. He reverses a whip and backdrops Damien, then feeds him to Cena. John tries the Attitude Adjustment, but Sandow wiggles out of it.
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Cena and Cesaro going at it again, and Antonio flapjacks the World Champ into an uppercut! 1 – 2 – Cena kicks out! Swagger is in and suplexes Cena for a near-fall, then springs off the corner middle rope with a Swaggerbomb! 1 – 2 – Cena gets the shoulder up! Sandow is back in and gets a full-nelson neckbreaker by Cena! Swagger and Cesaro are both tagged in at points and control Cena.
Cesaro hits another stiff uppercut, but is soon flipped over with an impressive hurricanrana by Cena! Antonio grabs Cena’s ankle, preventing him from tagging in his partners, while he tagged in Sandow. He works over Cena’s previously-injured left arm/elbow. Cena works his way out and tries another A.A., but Damien drops down and brings John to the mat with an inverted facebuster.
Sandow is hyped up and measures Cena, but the World Heavyweight Champion hurdles over and powerbombs Sandow! He manages to get the hot-tag to Goldust, who comes in on fire with clotheslines, uppercuts, an inverted atomic drop, and punches! Goldust elbows Cesaro then dives backwards with a crossbody for a count before Sandow breaks it up.
Rhodes dives in with a front-dropkick, then nails Swagger with the Disaster Kick. Cena follows with the Attitude Adjustment, but is taken out by the “You’re Welcome” from Sandow. Cesaro gets a hold of Goldust and swings him around, about 20 times! Goldust rolls to the outside and Cesaro follows, but is tossed into Zeb! He puts Antonio back in the ring, giving Goldust the opportunity for a bulldog. He covers, but Sandow breaks it up!
Cody soars off the top rope with a moonsault while Cena does the same to Cesaro with a crossbody! Goldust hits the Final Cut (tornado-suplex neckbreaker) for the much-deserved victory!
Winners via Pin Fall: World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and Tag-Team Champions The Rhodes Brothers (Goldust and Cody Rhodes)
The same footage from earlier is shown on Big Show & The Authority. Meanwhile, backstage, told ya! The Big Show is donned in a suit and is greeting wrestlers in the hallways.
Segment #4: Office Promo
Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero walks in on Triple H and says “he’s here.” She tells him that Show is in the building and HHH wonder’s why. Stephanie also walks in at that time, and says she has let him in because of The Board. Stephanie says that it was The Board’s decision, so that everything can be settled and no further problems would arise. Triple H detests this and the McMahon family issues, until Stephanie insinuates that he had “no problem taking McMahon family money.” A small rift is felt between the two and “The Game” orders Guerrero to go get Big Show.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel (Non-Title)
Axel counters a lockup with an armlock to begin, and Dolph reverses it into a hammerlock. Curtis slugs back and comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Ziggler returns with a dropkick, but is pulled off the middle rope hard. Axel takes advantage and pounds away on the back of the head.
He pushes him off the ropes and hits a dropkick, then yanks at his chin on the mat. Dolph counters with a front jawbreaker. He sends Axel shoulder-first into the ring post, then hops on the middle rope and gives him a flurry of fists. Dolph is fired up and jumps high with an elbow drop on the mat!
He ducks one clothesline, but eats another to the back-of-the-head from Curtis for a near fall! The I.C. Champion goes for a powerbomb, but Ziggler rolls through and plants him with the Fameasser. 1 – 2 – Axel kicks out! Ziggler tries a Zig-Zag, but is pushed off as Curtis goes for the neckbreaker. Dolph gets out of that and brings him down with the Zig-Zag jumping neckbreaker for the 1 – 2 – 3 (and surprise, nice win!)
Winner via Pin Fall: “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler
Footage of tonight’s opening match is recalled.
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Rene Young catches Daniel Bryan, and wonders if it was good for him to assault The Wyatt Family considering his shoulder injury. Bryan says “it’s not a wise move to run into the ‘mouth of madness.'” // “I saw an opportunity for payback and I took it!” // “It looks like there’s someone else who has an issue with The Wyatt Family.
The Usos make their usual entrance, prior to the break.
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Segment #6: Office Promo
Vickie Guerrero walks in, sans Big Show. The Authority want to know what’s up and she tells HHH and Stephanie that Show wants to meet with them in the ring tonight.
Match #8: Tag-Team – The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) VS. 3.M.B. (Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre)
In short, The Usos polish off the rock-star wannabees with a super-kick and splash.
Winners via Pin Fall: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Rene Young is with Los Matadores. She shows us clips of their career in WWE so far and tries to talk to them. They introduce themselves in Spanish, then El Torito runs in and startles Rene. That’s it!
The Bella Twins and Eva Marie come to the ring and will be in action next!
Commercials.
Match #9: 6-Diva Tag-Team – The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie) and Eva Marie VS. Divas Champion A.J. Lee, Tamina Snuka, and Aksana (Non-Title)
Nikki ties up Tamina with a waistlock, but Snuka backs her into the corner. She drops Nikki with a Samoan drop for a two-count, then tags in Aksana. She stomps away in the corner, then switches with A.J. The Divas Champ hops onto Nikki with a guillotine choke, but Nikki throws her stomach-first. Lee gets a tag to her friend Snuka, who headbutts Nikki.
Bella comes back with an elbow and sunset flip, then tags in Brie who comes in and pushes A.J. off the apron and clotheslines Tamina. She hits a regular dropkick then a second-rope one for a two-count! Snuka comes back and takes out Marie and Bella, then ascends the top rope. She attempts the Superfly Splash but Brie rolls out of the way and tags in Eva, who rolls up Tamina for the victory!
Winners via Pin Fall: The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie) and Eva Marie
The Authority are walking through the backstage area and will be out next!
Ads.
It is made known that Daniel Bryan will face Luke Harper this week on Smackdown!
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Stephanie and Triple H make their way into the ring. They both have a microphone and Triple H starts, inviting Big Show to come on out. Stephanie reiterates the notion. He answers the call and squares off with the C.O.O. and “one of the principal owners of WWE.”
Stephanie says they’ve all agreed to settle, and wants to know his demands. He first makes a witch (yes, correctly, witch!) joke at Stephanie. Triple H interjects and thinks this is all about money. Show responds saying that it isn’t about the dollars, and bottom line wants his job back. HHH mocks that statement, but McMahon cuts him off before he says something he might regret.
She gives him his wish, and Big Show couldn’t be happier, chanting “yes, yes, yes!” However, that’s not the end of it, as “The World’s Largest Athlete” wants the “world’s largest bonus!” Again, it’s not about the $, but instead pride. Show wants to be “the face of the WWE.” Stephanie now mocks that, until The Shield interrupt and saunter through the crowd. Show threatens that something could be at “stake.”
Commercials.
Triple H apologizes for the interjection, but Show isn’t finish. His need is for the WWE Championship, and he wants a title shot at Survivor Series. “Listen to me, you got your job back, and you’re lucky for it. Get the hell out of my ring before I leave you here in a puddle of your own blood. Move,” HHH threatens. Show makes sure that it is what “The Game” wants, then does leave. On his way out, he remarks that the deal’s off and by morning, “I will complete my task of owning all of you.”
With convincing from Stephanie, Triple H back-pedals and gives him the bout. Show toys with him and makes HHH repeat the request twice more. Big gets back in the ring and back in “The Game’s” face. HHH repeats his demands, “you have your job back. You have a WWE Championship match at Survivor Series against Randy Orton.”
Show wants to shake his hands, but HHH has another idea. Since he gave the 7-Footer his employment, he will now face The Shield and Randy Orton, right now!
Match #10: 4-On-1 – Big Show VS. The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) and WWE Champion Randy Orton (Non-Title)
Show is ultimately beat down by the foursome. They rip off his shirt, and Orton orders them to pick him up. He wants them to triple-powerbomb, but Show fights back with boots. He double-duplexes Rollins and Ambrose, then is facing off with the WWE Champion!
Just now, Kane’s music plays and out walks the “Big Red Machine,” in a suit and tie! Big Show is distracted enough for The Shield to come back in and attack. Kane helps out by throwing chairs into the ring and they all take turns smacking him with the steel weapon, causing the bell to ring.
No Winner via Referee Stoppage
Post-match, they use the steel steps to hammer show as Kane was tearing apart the announce table. The Shield slam him through the structure with the triple-powerbomb! Orton holds the WWE Title over his face, as Stephanie screams “Show, welcome back!” Randy is in his face, telling him “you don’t got a chance in hell of beating me.” They all look over a downed Big Show, with Orton holding the title high to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
Man, was this a wrestling-heavy show or what! 10 matches were on the card, and it took two hours for Triple H & Stephanie to make a live-on-camera appearance. Nonetheless, it was still a pretty darn good show and I was quite satisfied with how it ended. On to the analysis:
Excellence – The exorbitant amount of bouts. Even though, as usual some of them were short (and filler), others were well-wrestled and entertaining to watch. My specified favorites were Punk/Harper, Kofi/Del Rio, Randy/Langston, and the two six-person tags. I really thought the Divas put in a great effort this week, and am really liking the Bellas in-ring improvement. Even though I thought Kidd/Natalya & Fandango/Rae were filler, it was nice to see Tyson back and I give high marks for Summer’s in-ring work too.
Liked the fact they kept Daniel Bryan from wrestling, to sell the shoulder “injury” he suffered at the hands of The Wyatt Family. Good continuity.
Loved the ending, particularly with The Shield, Stephanie & Triple H, Randy Orton, and Kane all standing over a fallen Big Show. The entire segment was well-performed, especially Show with his personality and skill. I also really like the “silent-asssassin” character type Kane portrayed, and he seemed to look even more evil in a suit!
Bogus: I do wish that Raw started off with a promo. It kind of felt like I missed something with it beginning with a regular match right off the bat. C.M. didn’t even talk. At the very least, next time, play the Raw video or use the opening pyro, to give Raw that “kick off with a bang feel.” As mentioned above in a way, Ryback/Khali, Natalya/Kidd & Fandango/Summer, Usos/3.M.B., and the Los Matadores segments were all just filler. Nothing special too them.
As great as the match was, and I think it was better than Smackdown’s, why did they have Cena & The Rhodes face the same team of The Real Americans and Sandow, especially only after 3 days when most people could’ve seen it on T.V. Friday night? Seemed too redundant. Also, as much as I love Damien and his new-found aggressive attitude, I think after last week, his feud with Cena should’ve ended there. Granted, it shouldn’t have begun that way at all (that was in last week’s ranting!), but Cena should be focused on Del Rio for Survivor Series, not get muddled with “The Intellectual Saviour.”
Overall, was really happy with this episode, and again, it left a cliff-hanger and me wanting more for next week! Well done, creative! As always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
