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)
Goldberg wants either the Undertaker or Austin at WrestleMania
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.
Goldberg spears catcher at Marlins baseball game
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.
You can see the clip below.
Ted DiBiase leaves WWE
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.
Rey Mysterio makes appearance at non-televised event in Fresno
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.
Total Divas episode 5: Feuding Funkadactyls preview
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.
You can watch both clips below.
Smackdown TV report for 08/24/2013
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.
Ric Flair acknowledges getting in trouble over SummerSlam weekend
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.
Hulk Hogan loses arm wrestling match to Toronto Mayor
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.
You can see the video below.
Devon leaving TNA Wrestling
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.
AJ Styles contract with TNA up soon, asks fans where they want him to go
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.
Knockout SoCal Val leaves TNA Wrestling
Valerie Wyndham, better known to wrestling fans as SoCal Val, has departed TNA wrestling after almost eight years with the company.
She announced her departure with a message on Twitter, thanking the company, the locker room, and the fans for all the wonderful years. “Really excited 2 see what’s next,” she wrote.
Wyndham was one of the longest serving TNA employees.
Grantland sits down with Triple H for fantastic interview
Triple H set down with the folks of Grantland.com for a an open, honest interview which was recorded during the SummerSlam week.
It’s a very long but brutally honest interview where Triple H talks about everything in the business – from his new job, to his wife’s job, dealing with Vince, the Internet dirt sheets, his reputation online, cutting the Divas match at WrestleMania, the new talent program, and much much more.
It’s one of the best interviews with Triple H and he reveals a lot of interesting tidbits about how WWE works. You can read it at http://es.pn/16iiHhD
WWE and MilkPEP announce Protein Fight Club campaign
WWE and MilkPEP have announced a new partnership centered on a brand-new campaign called Protein Fight Club.
The partnership was launched at the Gleason’s Gym underneath the Brooklyn Bridge where MilkPEP introduced Protein Fight Club alongside Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
“WWE partnering with milk is an incredible opportunity to spread the message about good nutrition and healthy living for kids,” Stephanie McMahon told told WWE.com.
The power couple filmed some vignettes for the campaign at the gym this week and both of them tweeted photos during the shoot.
MilkPEP is the same company behind the ‘got milk?’ campaign which earlier this year recruited Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for their Super Bowl commercial.
Hell In A Cell pay-per-view ticket pre-sale password
Fans who wish to attend the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view which will take place on Sunday, October 27, at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida, can purchase tickets in a pre-sale starting today with the password AAAHIC.
The pre-sale will last till tomorrow, August 23, at 10PM EST and tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday, August 24 at 10AM.
Prices range from $28 to $353 for ringside seats plus additional fees. The cheapest ticket carries a $14.25 fee while the highest priced ticket has a $28.35 fee per ticket attached to it.
To purchase tickets go to Ticketmaster.com and choose the venue password option in the drop down menu.
Santa Clara and Philadelphia fight to host WrestleMania 31
The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that Santa Clara is battling Philadelphia to host WrestleMania in 2015.
Officials from the San Francisco 49ers as well as Mayor Jamie Matthews are flying to Stamford, Connecticut, next week to meet WWE and others to discuss the bid.
If Santa Clara gets WrestleMania, the brand new Levi’s Stadium would be the host of the show, with the plan to temporary expand the seating up to 75,000 from the 68,500.
“It really is the wrestling world’s Super Bowl,” said the Mayor on Tuesday. “Like the NFL championship game, the first WrestleMania ever in Northern California would be something that will benefit the cities around us economically and cement our preeminence as a sports capital here.”
HuffPost Canada looks at Hogan’s upcoming Fan Expo appearance
W-O reader Francis Lalonde sent in word that Huffington Post Canada is carrying an article which has a Q&A with Hulk Hogan promoting his upcoming Hulk Hogan: Uncensored show which will happen at the Metro Toronto Convention Center’s John Bassett Theatre this Friday.
This will be Hogan’s first time doing a Q&A as part of the Fan Expo in Canada. “There’s been this crazy love affair between me and all my Toronto Hulkamaniacs,” Hogan told the reporter who pointed out that it’s his first appearance at a convention in Canada.
Hogan called his match against The Rock at WrestleMania 18 as one of the biggest moments of his life, mainly because on that day, “fans made a huge statement: no one can ever tell them who to like and who to hate.” That night in Toronto, the Canadian crowd went crazy for Hogan even though he was supposed to be the heel as part of the nWo.
The Q&A session at the expo will be moderated by Hogan’s close friend and business partner Eric Bischoff. You can read the interview at http://huff.to/1f0n0Uh.
John Cena successfully undergoes elbow surgery
John Cena successfully underwent surgery to repair his elbow under the care of Dr. Andrews, who Cena called “miracle man” in a post on Twitter.
“Surgery went very well. Dr. Andrews has more than done his part, now I will do mine,” Cena said, saying that thanks to him and Dr. Andrews’ staff he will be back soon.
Cena signed off for now during Monday Night RAW this week, saying he will be out for up to six months while he heals his body and repair his ever-growing elbow. He acknowledged that the crowd was “rough” for his farewell address but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Monday Night Raw Report for 08/19/2013
Somehow, someway, “the landscape of the WWE” has changed again, as the old cliche’ goes. Exactly how is the question, because once again, I have managed to avoid the results of SummerSlam, and am genuinely excited to see what has happened and will happen. The pay-per-view had shaped up to be very interesting with a lot of cliffhangers/intriguing storylines that could play on for a while, which is why I am very enthralled in this prologue. I do hope that most of my predictions came true, especially Christian winning the World Heavyweight Championship (please!), and I really hope that they didn’t pull off the heavily-speculated/hyped Randy Orton cash-in, and instead allowed Daniel Bryan to have a big win and run with the WWE Title. Okay, can’t wait now, so enough of the preview and onto the show!
Monday Night Raw Report for August 19th, 2013 – “Who Is The True Future?”
Introduction Segment: Recap
SummerSlam footage, featuring C.M. Punk VS. Brock Lesnar, and the WWE Championship bout between John Cena and Daniel Bryan is recalled, which exhibits Lesnar beating Punk after an F-5 onto a chair provided by Paul Heyman and Bryan WINNING the WWE Title, then promptly losing it with the predicted Randy Orton cash-in. Although, what is also seen is Triple H Pedigreeing Bryan, allowing Orton to pick up another championship.
Segment #1: Arena Promo
The former WWE Champion, John Cena, is out first. He puts over the Anaheim fans first, then his opponent from last night, Daniel Bryan. Cena commends Bryan for being deserving of the championship, and giving him a “clean fight.” Cena also talks about something that he has been working with the last few weeks – a blown up elbow, which is really a torn triceps injury.
He displays the ball of fluid at the end of his joint, and says he now has to go have the long-awaited surgery. Cena announces that he will be out 4 – 6 months, (to which the crowd chants “Yes, yes, yes!”), and decides to bring out a man who deserves real respect, Daniel Bryan.
Bryan walks out to a huge ovation, and is handed the microphone as Cena walks out. Before he can utter a word, Stephanie McMahon enters the ring. She offers her sorries for the finish to his big match, but wants him to understand that her husband, HHH, was doing what was “best for business.”
The crowd vehemently disagrees, chanting “no, no, no.” Bryan agrees with them, and expected that behavior from herself and her father, Vince McMahon, but not “The Game,” because he was also the rebel. Bryan realizes that is not true anymore though, saying about Triple H, “when you lie down with trash, you start to stink.”
Bryan says he will do anything to Triple H and Randy Orton, even if he gets fired, and he doesn’t care because he would be just as happy to go back to wrestling in armories.
Stephanie belittles Bryan’s stature, calling him a “solid B+,” but not an “A” because that is WWE Championship material, which she says “not everyone can be.” Bryan think she is being another word that starts with a “B.” Daniel does not fall for this, and gets in her face, screaming that he “can be WWE Champion, and I don’t care what you think!”
She goes to talk again, but Bryan slaps the microphone out of her hand. She gets another one and orders him to “calm down.” Stephanie calls him “unprofessional and uncouth,” then asks for security to walk out and “escort this man from the building.”
He begins to walk up the ramp, then turns around to elicit a “no, no, no” chant from the fans.
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – “Mr. Money In The Bank/The Intellectual Savior Of The Unwashed Masses” Damien Sandow vs. Cody Rhodes
This is a rematch from SummerSlam (Cody won with the CrossRhodes), which starts out like an all-out brawl, even between both. Cody capitalizes with an elbow off the middle rope for two. Cody uses the side ropes to deliver a springboard dropkick, then clotheslines Sandow to the floor.
He suplexes Damien to the mat and covers for a near fall! Sandow gets out of a hammerlock and puts Rhodes to the outside. In the ring, Sandow suplexes and jumps on Cody for a one-count, and pulls him off the top rope a bit later. Sandow is dominating.
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Sandow has Rhodes locked in a grounding rear chinlock, which Cody slugs out of, but receives a knee-to-the-gut and a side Russian legsweep. Damien drops the “Elbow of Distain,” but is taken down with a moonsault by Rhodes from the turnbuckle! Cody hits a backdrop and a couple clotheslines, and flips him over in a jackknife position for a two-count!
Sandow counters the CrossRhodes, but is knocked down with the springboard Disaster Kick! Sandow counters with a jawbreaker on the ropes, but Cody reverses a shoulder-run into a corner sunset flip for the sudden victory!
Winner via Pin Fall: Cody Rhodes
Segment #2: Backstage Promo
General Manager Brad Maddox comments on Triple H’s action, as well as a quote from Dolph Ziggler, saying he never trusted “The Game” since starting to work here. Maddox decides to book “The Show Off” in a 3-On-1 match against “The Shield.”
Paul Heyman is walking through the hallways, sporting a sling on his left arm. He will be out next.
Commercials.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
Paul Heyman is in the ring, and after reminding us that Brock Lesnar defeated C.M. Punk, he does put over the “Straight-Edge Superstar” for giving Brock all he had. Heyman actually wants to put the “family feud” behind him. Heyman offers his forgiveness to Punk, and claims that he will take him back after C.M. apologizes. Heyman informs Punk that he is “better with me than without me.” Paul E. wants to take Punk to even greater heights than before, because he still loves him.
Heyman declares that he will bring Punk back to the WWE Championship and take him to the main event of Wrestlemania. “We will be the best in the world.”
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
The Funkadactyls are warming up, when The Bella Twins walk in and wish them “good luck,” since they are representing their show, “Total Divas.” Nikki and Brie are sassy, which infuriates one of the Funkadactyls.
Ads.
Match #2: Tag-Team – The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi) VS. Layla and Divas Champion A.J. Lee (Non-Title)
Layla and A.J. just lay (no pun intended) into Naomi and Cameron, and A.J. takes control over Naomi. She puts her down with an X-Pac-like spinning kick for a near fall, then clamps on a sleeper. A.J. uses her knees and pushes Naomi’s throat against the middle rope, then hops on her back for another sleeper. Naomi counters with a backwards kick, then goes to tag in Cameron. Layla gets the tag and runs Cameron off the apron, but Naomi rolls her up for the (almost-botched) 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pin Fall: The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi)
Post-match, Layla has a meltdown as The Funkadactyls celebrate.
Up next, Dolph Ziggler will take on The Shield.
Commercials.
A recap of John Cena’s injury statement, and Stephanie/Bryan’s interaction is shown.
Match #3: Three-On-One – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) (Non-Titles)
Ambrose and Ziggler square off, grabbing each other’s wrists for a test. An elbow/collar tie-up ensues and they break it off. Dolph takes him down with a waistlock slam, then hammers away on Seth Rollins after he is tagged in. Ziggler is soon cornered and taken down with a clothesline via Reigns, who takes control now over Dolph.
The Shield begin to dominate and team-up against Ziggler, with a clothesline from the U.S. Champion, and a stiff kick by Rollins. Ambrose gives Dolph fists to the back of his head, as his legs are tied up in a reverse Figure-4 position. then rips at his neck. Ziggler ducks and tries a sleeper, but Ambrose comes back with a sleeper too. Ziggler counters with a jawbreaker, then has to face the big-man, Roman Reigns.
Dolph is too quick with a high-dropkick, neckbreaker and Fameasser to Reigns! He takes down Seth and Ambrose off the apron, and gets a close one after a high-jumping DDT! Ziggler suplexes Rollins to the outside, and goes to splash Reigns in the corner, but Roman meets him halfway with the spear to finish this one!
Winners via Pin Fall: The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns)
Post-match, The Shield triple-powerbomb Dolph to send a message.
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Match #4: Single – World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. Sin Cara (Non-Title)
(Yes, unfortunately, Del Rio is still the World Champion. Quite disappointing, as Christian really should’ve won.) Del Rio is aggressive, pounding away on Cara, until he is countered with a springboard armdrag. Sin dives to the outside on Alberto, but may be injured now. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio via Referee stoppage.
Post-match, Del Rio is furious and tries to attack Sin Cara, but the referee and doctor hold him off. He then cuts a promo, saying that he is the “best World Heavyweight Champion in history.” He tells the Latino community that they finally have someone to look up to and “will do everything in my power to be the one representing.”
His former friend and manager cut him off. Ricardo Rodriguez says that Del Rio is not a hero to the community or him, and reveals that he is now managing somebody else. That person is….
ROB VAN DAM! (okay, that WAS unexpected!)
R.V.D. walks down and engages in a fight with the World Heavyweight Champion. He puts him down with fists and a high kick-to-the chin. Van Dam ascends the turnbuckle, but Del Rio slides out before he can soar with the 5-Star Frogsplash. Rodriguez is all too happy to stand by his new partner’s side.
Later tonight, we will hear from C.M. Punk regarding Paul Heyman’s earlier offer.
Commercials.
Match #5: “The Real Americans” (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro) (with Zeb Colter) VS. “The Prime Time Players” (“Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young and “The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil)
Prior to the bout, Colter rips on Anaheim and illegal immigrants, as usual. Young and Cesaro begin, with Antonio smacking Darren with an uppercut. Darren comes back with a hip-toss, then does the same to Swagger. Titus is also now in, and gives Jack a shoulder block shove with Darren, plus some kicks in the corner. Swagger counters with a double-boot, then switches with Cesaro, who pounds away on O’Neil. He picks him up with ease and flips him over with a gutwrench suplex, for two!
Jack is tagged back in and delivers more knees to Titus’ gut in the corner. O’Neil fires back with right hands, but is run over from behind after taking Cesaro off the apron. Jack works over Titus’ leg with a step-over-toe hold, but is shoved off it. He scoop slams O’Neil down and gives him the Swaggerbomb just as he tags in Antonio, who leaps over Jack with a double-stomp to Titus’ gut!
Titus reverses an Irish Whip on Swagger and slams him down with a spinebuster! Young is back in and kicks away on Cesaro. He ducks and chucks Cesaro with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, then almost gets the contest with a Northern Light suplex pin. Titus takes out Swagger as Young plants Antonio with the Gutcheck (fireman’s carry knee/gutbuster) to get the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pin fall: “The Prime Time Players” (“Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young and “The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil)
Segment #5: Backstage Promo
Rene Young is with The Big Show, and inquires if he and Mark Henry will take on The Shield for the Tag-Team Championship. Show concurs that is true, then General Manager Brad Maddox interjects. Much like earlier, he punishes Show by making him face The Shield 3 – 1 later tonight.
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Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Zack Ryder, Justin Gabriel, Summer Rae, and Fandango are in a locker room, with a man dressed liked a referee, very cheaply plugging the store and sponsor, Footlocker.
The montage of SummerSlam re-airs.
Segment #7: Locker Room Promo
Ryback enters and bullies a new wrestler (probably a local talent). That’s all that happened. Pointless and stupid.
The Big Show makes his entrance for his next bout.
Commercials.
Match #6: Three-On-One – The Big Show VS. The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) (Non-Titles)
Show dismantles The Shield one-by-one, tossing both Ambrose and Rollins outside, then spearing Reigns! The Shield think it over on the floor as Big waits. Rollins and Ambrose deke out Show, but he just drops Dean off his back. Show is completely dominate until he is chopped by Rollins after trying a chokeslam on Ambrose. The United States Champion flies at Show with a front-dropkick, taking him to one knee, and Rollins soars off the top with a knee-to-the-face! 1 – 2 – Show still kicks out!
They try a double-suplex, but Show reverses. Unfortunately for him, he turns around into a spear from Roman. All three are able to triple-powerbomb the giant, and all three cover him for the victory!
Winners via Pin Fall: The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins)
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Segment #8: Arena Promo
C.M. Punk is out now, limping down to the ring. During his entrance, still images of his match with Lesnar are displayed on screen. He is not sure exactly what to say because Paul Heyman said a lot of personal things. Punk then goes off on a fan who booed him, even though he acknowledges that he paid is ticket and has the right to do so. He even dares him to fight, because Punk wants to fight someone. The rest of the crowd eats it up.
Punk focuses back on Heyman, and asks him to come out. He says that Paul E. may get what he wants, an apology, if it would get him back to the WWE Title and Wrestlemania. Heyman acknowledges and walks out with his other client, Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel. Punk does say sorry, but not the way Heyman was thinking.
“I lost a fight last night. And I’ve got my ass kicked before and here I am still standing. And the truth is Paul, I am sorry. I’m sorry I took my eyes off of Brock Lesnar for a split second, just to enact my revenge on you, and I’m sorry that revenge wasn’t enough! I’m sorry that I didn’t take your arm off and take it home with me! I’m sorry that I didn’t break your face! And I’m sorry that the next time I do get my hands on you, I’m going to choke you out, then I’m going to wake you up, then I’m going to spit in your face, then I’m going to take your arm home with me! And I’m sorry that you think a beating is going to stop me. I am relentless and I will not stop. And I don’t care who you put in front of me or what you try to do. I’m going to get my hands on you and I’m going to get my revenge! And I say, ‘we do it right now in Anaheim.’ Come on, come on! Have the guts that this fat guy over here doesn’t have. Step into the ring with C.M. Punk, fight me like a man!”
Heyman responds, saying that the apology really should come from him.
“C.M. Punk, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what is about to happen to you. Curtis Axel, please go in the back and tape up your hands for a fight. You have pushed me too far once too often. I’m not that ‘fat guy’ sitting in the front row. I can be the ‘worst nightmare’ you have ever encountered in your entire life. And so, help me God, if you are still in that ring when we return from commercial, Curtis Axel is going to be sent down to that ring by Paul Heyman, and Curtis Axel is going to finish the job that Brock Lesnar started on you last night.”
Punk is smiling and seemingly welcomes the challenge as we go to break.
Commercials.
Back, Punk is ready as Axel returns from the behind the set. Punk unloads on the I.C. Champion with a chair, and hurls him to the outside. Curtis comes back with fists against the barricade. This is another all-out brawl, which includes Punk swinging the bell ring against Curtis’ stomach.
Punk motions “Go To Sleep” to Heyman, but Axel drops out of it and chops down Punk’s left leg. He stomps away on the supposedly injured appendage, then rams the chair into the back of Punk’s left leg, repeatedly. He puts Punk down with his spinning neckbreaker finisher, then sets Punk’s leg inside the chair. He dives off, but Punk moves and shoves the chair into Curtis’ gut. He whacks Axel on the back, then chucks him into the steps, twice.
Punk picks up Curtis and drops him face-first onto the steel out of the Go To Sleep position. The “Second-City Saint” glares at Heyman as his music plays in the background.
Later tonight, Randy Orton will receive a WWE Championship Coronation.
Up next, Bray Wyatt is in action!
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Match #7: Single – R-Truth VS. Bray Wyatt (with “Wyatt Family” members Luke Harper and Erik Rowan)
(Note: Still images of Bray’s match with Kane are shown, and it is said that “The Wyatt” family abducted Kane.) Wyatt runs right aw Truth, but R uses is fast-pace to duck and jump him. Truth is eventually caught off the ropes with a crossbody, and Bray yells they are “the new face of fear.” Wyatt turns upside down and splashes Truth in the corner. He brings him out, kisses him, and drives him down with the spinning flatliner to polish him off!
Winner via Pin Fall: Bray Wyatt (with “Wyatt Family” members Luke Harper and Erik Rowan)
Post-match, they pose over a downed Truth.
Commercials.
Segment #9: Video Promo
A new tag-team, “Los Matadores” are coming soon.
Match #8: Tag-Team – “3.M.B.” (Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal) (with “3.M.B.” partner Drew McIntyre) VS. The Usos (Jey and Jimmy)
Slater and Jey begin, circling around each other with waistlocks. Jey flips Heath over with a hip-toss, then The Usos double-team him with elbows. Jimmy chops away at Slater, and runs back with a spinning headbutt. McIntyre gives Jimmy a kick on the outside as Mahal distracted the referee.
Jinder is now in and kicks/punches away at Jimmy. Mahal drops Jimmy with a neckbreaker and jumps on him with a couple knee drops. “3.M.B.” wears down Jimmy, until he come back against Slater with a back-to-the-head kick!
Jey gets the hot tag and goes to work on Jinder. He hits the running bump-in-the-corner for a close two-count. He also nails Mahal with a superkick, then flies out of the ring onto both Slater and McIntyre! He managed to slap hands with Jimmy, who subsequently splashes Mahal for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pin Fall: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
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Match #9: Single – The Miz VS. Wade Barrett
Barrett kicks Miz hard in the gut, then clamps on a sideheadlock. He runs off the ropes with a shoulderblock, but is planted with a flapjack by Miz. He runs at Wade in the corner with a clothesline, but misses a dive off the ropes and receives a boot instead. Wade chokes Miz against the ropes with his knee. Barrett puts Miz to the floor with an on-target boot-to-the-face.
Barrett works over Miz with a grounding rear chinlock, which Miz attempts to battle back. Wade manages to stay on top, and punishes Miz in the corner, then snapmares him over. Miz does get his mojo back, with clotheslines and a high-running knee.
He focuses on Wade’s thigh, viciously kicking at it, then running at it with a front dropkick. He tries the Figure-4, but booted off. Miz does flip over Barrett out of the corner, and hooks up Wade with the Figure-4! Out of nowhere, Fandango dives off the top rope with a legdrop onto Miz! The referee calls for the bell.
Winner via Disqualification: The Miz
Post-match, Fandango and Summer Rae dance away, pleased with their work.
Segment #10: Backstage Promo
G.M. Brad Maddox finds Stephanie and informs her that Daniel Bryan is back in the building. She seems to be pleased with the news, and then enters her father’s room.
Commercials.
Segment #11: Arena Promo
Mr. McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, a slew of the WWE Roster are all out as Triple H is in the midst of making his entrance. Vince calls this a “wonderful night. A momentous occasion. The coronation of a new WWE Champion, a champion we can all be proud of.” Vince is extremely pleased with “The Game’s” action last night, saying he “did the ‘right thing.’ You saw ‘the light.'” HHH explains that he Pedigreed Daniel Bryan and give Randy Orton the WWE Championship to “ensure the future.” He says he did it for everyone in the building, including the fans, the wrestlers, and the entire McMahon family.
Triple H says he actually does like Daniel Bryan and considers him a friend. He calls Bryan a “good little technician,” and says he deserved to win, but not to be the WWE Champion or “face of the WWE.”
HHH says everyone deserves “better than that.” He claims the fans deserve “A+” and that’s what he gave them last night. He put away his “personal feelings,” toward both Orton and Bryan, for what was right for business and the people. He calls Daniel “selfish” for having a personal problem with what happened.
Triple H introduces “the future, your future. The ‘face of the WWE,’ the new WWE Champion, Randy Orton.” The new WWE Champion parts the wrestlers on the stage and saunters to the squared circle. Orton gives a hug to Stephanie, then takes the microphone.
“I told you so. I told you so that when I cashed in, that you would not see it coming. And now here I stand before you, for the 10th time, the ‘Apex Predator’ of the WWE.”
Orton thanks Trips for the favour he pulled off, and owes all of it to him. He demands the fans to show HHH the “respect he deserves.” HHH takes the microphone back and has the knowledge that Bryan is in the building, so asks him to come on out and air his grievances.
Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, Bryan approaches the ring. As he climbs the apron, The Shield promptly assault him. Bryan fights them off and struggles to the ring. Ambrose pulls him away, but Daniel still takes them out! Trips taunts him, which allows The Shield to gather and put down Bryan. As they go to triple-powerbomb him, HHH puts a stop to that and teases Bryan to get in the ring.
As he slowly does so, Orton immediately R.K.O.’s him, and then poses with his WWE Championship, HHH, Vince, and Stephanie to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
I quite enjoyed Raw tonight, and thought it was pretty good overall. Definitely not as great as last week, but I believe that is because they just came off what was presumably (didn’t see it live) a “hot” pay-per-view, so Raw was “cooled down” a little. For sure, some interesting (and a few disappointing) turns in the old “landscape,” so let’s get to the analysis!
Excellence: Daniel Bryan & Stephanie McMahon – turned what could’ve been a predictable, overdone opener into an entertaining, slightly comical, and personal promo. Great match between Cody/Damien – awesome chemistry between the two and I am really liking their feud.
Even though I don’t like Dolph losing (especially after winning SummerSlam), still had a great ring-psychology match with The Shield. Glad to see a lot of Tag-Team bouts on Raw – “Real Americans”/Prime Time Players was a great match, and always love seeing The Usos gain victories. I really believe it is time for The Shield to drop the Tag-Championships, they don’t need them anymore to establish themselves – they already are majorly. Give the titles to one of the other four teams mentioned above that wrestled.
LOVING the Heyman/Punk rivalry. Happy to see Curtis Axel involved now, as this will elevate him more, and he really showed a mean side tonight with his beat down of C.M. Also, “The Straight-Edge Superstar’s” promo was awesome too, again very realistic and threatening. (Which is why, for the second week in a row, I wrote a realistic promo out almost verbatim.)
Good continuity with Bray Wyatt’s first Raw match being with R-Truth, who he had demolished a bit a go. Would’ve liked to hear a fantastic oratory from him though, and/or them explain where Kane is, to perhaps continue the feud.
Bogus: As mentioned above, wasn’t a fan of Dolph being booked to lose 3 – 1 after he had won a PPV match. Same with Big Show, particularly since he just returned. Kind of kills their “steam” again. Not sure about Divas Champ A.J. Lee right now. I really like her and want her to be the face of the Women’s division, but needs some new challengers. Where was Natalya? She picked up a W at SummerSlam, so why wasn’t she on Raw, contesting to be in that title hunt? Perhaps it’s also time to call up an NXT women’s wrestler (read: Paige and/or Emma!) for a fresh face. Pointlessness of the show goes to Miz/Barrett, the Ryback segment, and the very obvious plug for Footlocker.
Supremely disappointed they did NOT give Christian the World Heavyweight Championship – he really deserved it and a long title reign. Alberto Del Rio makes a great heel, but I’m tired of him always being in/winning the World Title department. Also, as much as I love Rob Van Dam, his new position is just weird booking! This is where he should’ve been when he returned. He doesn’t win the MITB, but does so on a bunch of Raws, then is on the PRE-SHOW to SummerSlam, where he wins by DISQUALIFICATION, and now is aligned with Ricardo Rodriguez, and apparently going to be Del Rio’s next challenger for the championship? Very up-and-down. All I can say is to solidify this, he needs to WIN at Night Of Champions (which is when I’m presuming this match will take place, especially since it’s in Michigan, his home state.)
Right now, I’m in different to the McMahon’s/Triple H/WWE Champion Randy Orton screwing with Daniel Bryan storyline. Honestly, I felt the ending was a bit flat, particularly since Trips didn’t describe WHY they thought Daniel couldn’t be the future. I did like the roster being out on the stage though, because I think it served as HHH subtly trying to tell them that this (Randy Orton, WWE Champion) is what “the future” is and you all better step up if you want to be at this level. However, I will have to wait at least until next week to start making judgments on this angle.
In general, pretty decent show tonight, and lots to wonder about that will play out over the next few weeks. Until next week, as always Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!