Expect to see Grumpy Cat or something on the last episode of Raw before Survivor Series.
The show opens, as usual, with The Authority coming to the ring. Triple H gets on the mic and talks about the stakes at Survivor Series. He taunts the crowd by saying they are sheep who need to be led. He then says that Team Authority will never lose at Survivor Series. Stephanie gets on the mic and talks about how Cena still hasn't completed his team. She talks about how Ryback is the guy both teams want. Ryback's music hits and he comes to the top of the ramp. He says he doesn't care about what either team wants because Ryback is worried about himself. Stephanie then rolls clips from last year of John Cena making fun of Ryback. Stephanie then asks Ryback if he wants Team Cena's contempt or Team Authority's respect. Ryback then says he only plays for Team Ryback. Triple H then schedules a match between Luke Harper and Dolph Ziggler.
*Commercial Break*
It is announced that this match will be for the IC Championship.
MATCH: Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper
Before the match begins, The Authority attacks Ziggler. Ziggler struggles to get to his feet and tells the ref to start the match. Harper kicks Ziggler in the face. Ziggler kicks out at 2. Harper hits a sit-out powerbomb for another 2. Ziggler is whipped to the corner. Harper goes for a big boot but Ziggler sidesteps him and Harper goes plummeting to the outside.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Harper in control. Harper delivers a huge right hand for 2. Harper hits the gator roll and transitions into the rear chinlock. Ziggler fights back for a 2 count. Ziggler goes for a boot but Harper reverses into a side slam for 2. Harper goes for a discus clothesline but Ziggler catches him with a superkick for 2. Harper goes for another powerbomb but Ziggler fights out. Harper hits the discus clothesline for the 3 count.
WINNER: Luke Harper via Pinfall
After the match, Ziggler hits a curbstomp on Ziggler.
*Commercial Break*
Miz and Sandow cut a promo with Grumpy Cat.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Tyson Kidd vs. Adam Rose
Rose drives Kidd to the corner and stomps him. Kidd fights back with a series of kicks and drives Rose to the corner. The ref pulls him off. Rose reverses a whip into the ropes and hits a big spinebuster for 2. Rose gets distracted by the Bunny and Kidd takes him down. Kidd applies the Sharpshooter and Rose taps.
WINNER: Tyson Kidd via Submission
After the match, Rose tries to hit the Bunny. The Bunny ducks and gets behind Rose, and proceeds to hump him.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Bray Wyatt making his way to the ring. He cuts a promo on Dean Ambrose. Ambrose responds via video and says that he recorded this video earlier in the day and he is somewhere in the arena. Ambrose then runs out of the crowd and attacks Wyatt.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Cesaro vs. Ryback
Ryback hits a shoulder block on Cesaro. Cesaro applies a side headlock. He goes for a hiptoss but Cesaro reverses and hits a splash for a 2 count. Cesaro fights back and hits a European uppercut in the corner. Cesaro hits a suplex. Ryback gets up and hits a delayed suplex of his own for 2. Cesaro reverses a whip and hits a suplex. Cesaro back Ryback into the corner. Cesaro rakes Ryback across the top rope and chokes him with his knee on the middle. Ryback fights back with a Lou Thesz press. He drives Cesaro into the corner and pounds on him. Cesaro reverses into a powerbomb. He covers Ryback for 2. Cesaro applies the rear chinlock. Ryback fights back but Cesaro catches him with a big scoop slam for 2. Ryback is thrown into the corner. Cesaro applies a sleeper hold. Ryback tries to fight back but Cesaro dumps Ryback over the top to the outside with a clothesline.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Cesaro still in control. Cesaro hits a European uppercut followed by a clothesline. Cesaro applies a rear chinlock. Ryback is thrown to the corner. He throws Cesaro to the apron. Cesaro goes for an axehandle off the top but is caught with a belly to belly. Ryback loads up the meathook but Cesaro goes to the apron. Cesaro is tossed over the top rope. Ryback whips Cesaro to the corner. Ryback catches Cesaro's boot and hits a powerbomb for 2. Cesaro fights back and hits a German suplex. Ryback fights out of a second one but Cesaro sidesteps Ryback and hits 3 more German suplexes for 2. Cesaro goes to the top rope and hits an elbow drop. Ryback gets up and fights back with a gorilla press into a slam. Cesaro is thrown into the ropes and catches Cesaro with a European uppercut for 2. Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer but Ryback reverses and hits a meathook clothesline. Ryback hits the Shell Shock for the 3 count.
WINNER: Ryback via Pinfall
John Cena is interviewed after the match about Survivor Series.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Rusev vs. Heath Slater
Rusev superkicks Slater. He applies the Accolade and Slater taps.
WINNER: Rusev via Pinfall
Miz and Sandow cut another promo with Grumpy Cat. Eric Rowan shows up and steals Sandow's stuffed cat.
*Commercial Break*
Big Show comes to the ring for a match. Stephanie McMahon comes out and talks some smack on Big Show, saying that he has always been a second rate attraction because he worries too much about pleasing the fans instead of The Authority. Stephanie says that if he joins the Authority, he will become the first active competitor to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Sheamus comes out and Stephanie threatens to get him deported. Stephanie then sets up a match between Show and Sheamus for a #1 contender spot for the WWE Championship.
MATCH: Sheamus vs. Big Show
Sheamus and Big Show lock up. Show drives Sheamus to the corner. They start to shove each other. Big Show again forces Sheamus to the corner and hits a series of slaps. Sheamus fights back but gets dumped over the top rope. Big Show throws him over the barricade.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Big Show in control. Show goes for a chokeslam but Sheamus fights out and drops a knee for 2. Show fights back and hits a scoop slam for 2. Big Show hits a series of scoop slams. Big Show drops the elbow for another 2. Big show applies a submission hold on Sheamus. Sheamus gets to the bottom rope and breaks the hold. Sheamus fights back and drives Big Show to the corner. Sheamus hits a high running knee but Show fights back with a big boot. Show goes for an elbow drop. Sheamus moves and rolls out of the ring. Sheamus goes to the top rope but Big Show catches him with a spear. Big Show goes for a chokeslam but Sheamus counters with a White Noise. Sheamus goes for the Brogue Kick but Sheamus catches him with a chokeslam for 2. Big Show goes to the second rope. Sheamus gets Show on his shoulders and slams him to the mat. Rusev and Mark Henry come out and beat up Sheamus and Big Show. The ref calls for the bell.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Brie Bella coming to the ring dressed like AJ Lee. Nikki Bella then comes out. AJ Lee then comes out and sits on commentary.
MATCH: Brie Bella vs. Nikki Bella
Nikki Bella Beats up Brie. AJ distracts Nikki and Brie rolls her up for a 3 count.
WINNER: Brie Bella via Pinfall.
Nikki beats up Brie some more after the match. AJ makes the save. Brie starts a Yes chant but AJ delivers a DDT on Brie.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Usos vs. Dust Brothers vs. Los Matadors vs. Damien Sandow and Miz
Miz and Matador start the match. Miz applies a side headlock. Matador reverses. Matador hits a drop toehold against the middle rope for 2. Miz fights back. Goldust makes a blind tag and forces Matador to the corner. Matador fights back with a headscissors. Matador makes the tag and they double team Miz. Los Matadores take out The Dust brothers with a double suicide dive.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Goldust in control of Matador. Stardust is tagged in and plants Matador for 2. Miz makes a blind tag and hits a snapmare followed by a boot to the face. Miz applies a rear chinlock. Matador hits a sunset flip for 2. Goldust makes a blind tag and drives an elbow for 2. Stardust is tagged in and drives several knees to Matador. Miz is tagged in and stomps Matador. Sandow is tagged in but is immediately tagged out by Miz. Miz goes for the figure 4 but is kicked out of the ring. Stardust is tagged in but is caught with a flapjack. Uso is tagged in and they double team everybody. Uso hits a Samoan drop followed by a stink face. Pandemonium ensues as all six men enter the ring. When the smoke clears, Stardust hits his finisher on Uso for 3.
WINNER: Gold and Stardust, Miz and Sandow via Pinfall
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with The Authority coming to the ring for the contract signing. Triple H gets on the mic and says that the WWE is too important to he and Stephanie to lose at Survivor Series. Stephanie then introduces Team Cena. Cena comes to the top of the ramp by himself. He comes to the ring, talks some smack and says that the Authority is going down at Survivor Series. Stephanie says that Cena needs to wake up and realize anyone who joins him will meat the fate of his allies. Cena says he doesn't care if he has to pick people out of the crowd. He picks 4 people from the crowd and says that even if he were to team with these regular people, they would win because they believe in the WWE. Cena talks smack on each member of Team Authority. When he gets to Stephanie, she slaps him. Cena tells her to get out of the ring because its go time. Cena takes off his shirt. Ziggler and Big Show come to the ring. Eric Rowan comes to the ring and surprises everybody. Stephanie reminds Cena that he still only has 4 guys. Cesaro comes out and pretends to side with Cena. However, he mocks Cena and goes with the Authority. Ryback comes out and joins Cena. Team Cena clears the ring. Cena goes to deliver the AA on Rollins but Triple H interferes. Ryback distracts Triple H and Cena hits an AA through the contract table.
REVIEW:
Tonight's Raw proved exactly what is wrong with the WWE. I will focus this review on my two main gripes.
First off is Dolph Ziggler losing the IC Championship to Luke Harper. Nothing against Harper, but he didn't deserve to win this match. Dolph Ziggler is the best IC Champion the WWE has had in years and was finally bringing some prestige and attention back to this once illustrious title. I was expecting Ziggler to hold the belt for a long time and go on to have some epic battles for the most sought after mid-card title in wrestling history. Instead, he lost the belt in a gimmicky match that made Ziggler look incredibly weak while putting the belt on a character that no one really cares about.
My other gripe with this episode was the 8 man tag match. The crowd continually chanted for Sandow to be tagged in. He was tagged in eventually, but was quickly tagged out by The Miz. I hope WWE has something in store for Sandow, otherwise, they are wasting another talent that is incredibly over with the WWE Universe. I've been saying it for months, Sandow is an incredibly talented worker and deserves better than what he's getting in WWE.
I hope that WWE will start to listen to their fans. I am not a professional wrestler, but I have learned a lot from doing indy wrestling commentary over the past year. One of those things is that you should always listen to the crowd. If they don't like something, then the promotion should change it. If a certain wrestler is over with the crowd, then give that wrestler a push. WWE always says that it is entertainment and not a sport, but entertainers are supposed to cater to their audiences. WWE seems to have an agenda that they are willing to push no matter what. WWE's roster is red hot right now and includes some of the most talented wrestlers to ever step inside the squared circle. The creative team, however, is failing to capitalize on this gifted locker room and continues to push stale, outdated, and irrelevant talent.
WWE's problem is not in the wrestlers, it's in the booking. If it wasn't for this blog I wouldn't watch Raw every week. I am a wrestling fanatic, but there is only so much I can take. I have been watching WWE/WWF since I was 3 years old and can honestly say that the product is the worst its ever been. I will say again, the talent on their roster is incredible and has so much potential. But when one of the most over men in the company goes under and loses his title for no apparent reason except to push a storyline that no one cares about, then its time for things to change.
I am not sports entertained. And if the product doesn't change, I am throwing in the towel when it comes to Monday Night Raw.
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