WWE Monday Night Raw came to us live from Buffalo last night and was full of some major developments. The Authority figured out a solution to their in-fighting between Seth Rollins and Randy Orton, while Rusev got a shot at his first title. Let’s take a look at what went down on a Raw missing John Cena.
Mr. McMahon Returns With a Bang
Raw kicks off with some familiar music as “No Chance” blares from the arena speakers and the Chairman himself Vince McMahon makes his way out with the Authority. Vince talks up Stephanie and Triple H before moving onto the WWE Network. Hey, did you know that Survivor Series and November are free if you sign up for the WWE Network?! Vince reminds everyone of this great news but decides that he wants to raise the stakes a bit more.
Mr. McMahon adds a major stipulation to the Team Authority vs. Team Cena tag match, saying that the Authority will disband if they cannot beat Cena and his crew. Triple H and Stephine look like they can’t be bothered by the added stipulation, and leave the ring per Vince’s request. Dean Ambrose’ music hits and he shakes Vince’s hand on his way to the ring.
We head to the back to see Vince apologizing to HHH and Stephanie for surprising them with the stipulation, but the Authority says it’s no surprise as they try to rush the Chairman out of the arena as quickly as possible. As his car pulls away the Authority tries to figure out what he’s up to and we head to our first match of the night.
Ambrose Makes a Statement as Wyatt Watches
Our first match of the evening is a rematch from Friday Night Smackdown. Cesaro and Dean Ambrose face off, just a few nights after fighting in a Trick or Street match. Seriously, it was Halloween themed, and featured Ambrose flying on a broom. No really.
The battle between the two is every bit as physical and awesome as you would expect in a match featuring Cesaro and Ambrose. Cesaro takes control early, throwing Ambrose into the barricade and tackling him onto the floor. Cesaro continues to stomp on Ambrose before the Lunatic finally makes a comeback as Bray Wyatt’s music cuts in and we head to break.
We come back to find Wyatt watching the match from his chair at the top of the ramp and Cesaro in control. Eventually, Ambrose fights back and gets a near-fall with a clothesline and bulldog before…
Cesaro catches him with a wicked uppercut. Eventually, Ambrose is able to fight back and heads up top. Cesaro catches him on the ropes and tries to pick the Lunatic Fringe up, but Ambrose reverses and hits a Dirty Deeds for the 1-2-3 as we cue back to the ramp where Wyatt has disappeared.
Dolph Feels the Authority’s Wrath
With John Cena missing in action on tonight’s Raw, the Authority instead focused on Cena’s newest ally. That’s right folks, it’s #PUSHZIGGLER! time, and Dolph is ready.
The Authority meets Ziggler in the ring and Triple H asks Dolph which side he’s going to choose for Survivor Series. Trips says Ziggler could go with team Cena and let John take all of the glory, since Cena is the glass ceiling Ziggler will never be able to break through. Maybe he wins titles, maybe he gets money, but staying with Cena guarantees those are just maybes.
Or, Ziggler can join the Authority and turn those maybes into reality. Trips says that Dolph as the talent and the ablility, so what does he choose? Ziggler says that if he can get whatever he wants, it’s going to be for the Authority to be gone for good. Triple H says he hopes Dolph doesn’t end up empty-handed, which could happen right now because he’s defending the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins.
Rollins takes immediate control and stomps Ziggler before knocking him outside. We head to break with Rollins slamming Dolph face-first onto the apron and return with Ziggler taking control. Dolph goes for a Famouser but Rollins blocks and looks for a roll-up, only for Ziggler to reverse. Great back and forth between both men before Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble get involved and give Seth Rollins the advantage. Mr. Money in the Bank goes for a Curb Stomp and the inevitable win when…
Randall says NOPE! Orton hits an RKO and causes the DQ to help Ziggler retain. Randy challenges anyone to come after him as Kane yells at him to leave the ring. We head backstage to see Orton walking in on Steph and Triple H and saying he’s glad they saw that because it was a statement. Orton says he wants to kick Rollin’ ass, and he wants a fight tonight. Orton even threatens to fight for Team Cena before Triple H tells him to calm down because he needs him. Trips says that Orton will get his match tonight, but it ends tonight because Rollins and Orton need to be on the same page come Survivor Series.
Randy’s Day of Reckoning Arrives
Our main event of the night is the much-anticipated Orton vs. Rollins battle and boy did it deliver. We start with Orton taking control early and taking Rollins to the outside of the ring and pound away as the Authority watches on. Back in the ring, Rollins goes for a splash only to have Orton counter and send him back out of the ring again. Randy begins to take the table apart but Rollins gets back in the ring as Triple H questions Orton, who follows Rollins.
Rollins reverses and hits an enziguiri before heading up top but Orton counters into a superplex for the near-fall. Randy goes for the hanging DDT but Rollins reverses and sends Orton outside before hitting him with a suicide dive. HHH is seen shaking his head as Rollins kicks Orton in the face and looks for the Curb Stomp, but Randy again counters for a near-fall. Eventually, the Viper hits his hanging DDT and calls for the RKO but Rollins counters and pins Orton with a backslide for the 1-2-3 and the clean finish.
Things only got interesting from here as Triple H and Orton have words as Orton asks Hunter what he would do. The Viper says he did what he had to do. Orton shakes Noble, Mercury and Kane’s hands before making his way to Rollins. Mr. Money in the Bank offers a handshake and an apology, saying that he will be the bigger man and he’s sorry. So Orton accepts and well…
Randall says NOPE again! Orton hits Rollins with an RKO and tosses everyone out of the ring. He backs into a corner and sets up for a punt to Rollins before Triple H runs in and stops him. He calls everyone off and tells Orton to look at him, but Randy bumps him while walking away and punches him. Everyone from the Authority runs in but Orton just takes everyone out before attacking Rollins ringside and slamming him onto the table.
The Authority tries to interfere but Mercury just eats an RKO for his efforts as Orton heads back to Rollins on the table.
But the numbers win out as they often do, and the Authority beats down Orton with Rollins Curb Stomping the Viper on the table. Triple H stops everyone and says it’s enough, but Stephanie yells at him to finish it, and eventually Trips agrees and walks away as Orton is set up on the steel steps and the inevitable is coming. Rollins trash-talks a prone Orton as the Authority gives him his space and…
DAMN IT KANE YOU HAD ONE JOB.
Anyways, back to Rollins, who is on the table and mocking the Viper’s signature pose, before delivering a vicious Curb Stomp to a bloodied Orton on the steps.
Orton was stretchered out of the arena following the attack (SEEN ONLY ON THE WWE NETWORK!) and will be out of action for a while. The WWE Universe will surely be waiting for Orton’s return to get his revenge on Rollins, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Rusev Crushes His Way to Gold
An interesting move WWE decided to make was airing the U.S. Title match between Rusev and Sheamus on the WWE Network immediately following Monday Night Raw. In an effort to get more people watching the Network, WWE gave us what probably should have been a Survivor Series battle for free following Raw.
The match itself did not disappoint as the two showed just how physical they can be, Sheamus was able to get the upper hand a few times in the match, even hitting some of his signature moves on the Bulgarian Brute. The Celtic Warrior actually was in control for a good majority of this match, something that most of Rusev’s opponents can’t say they’ve been able to do.
Unfortunately for Sheamus, Rusev was too fast and too strong. The Champ hit White Noise and calls for Brogue Kick, but Rusev ducks and kicks Sheamus in the face. After a second kick to the head, Rusev locks in the Accolade and as Sheamus passes out, we have our new United States Champion.
Rusev gets his first title reign in a match that most of the WWE Universe didn’t even see, which is unfortunate because he has some very real monster heel potential. Also unfortunate is the WWE Universe missing out on Lana celebrating Rusev’s win.
Other Results:
A Night of Returns and Vignettes – There were a few returns and teases on Raw last night. The return we got was that of Erick Rowan, the sheep-mask wearing Wyatt member who had an… interesting interaction with Renee Young backstage.
We were also given a pair of vignettes. Xavier Woods was featured in what was definitely the least interesting of the two, preaching to us as a church choir sang behind him, which would have been great if he was the same preaching character we saw team up with Big E and Kofi Kingston three months ago. Side note, seriously how the hell do you just write Kofi and Big E off of TV for months with no explanation?
The final vignette of the night was definitely one of the creepier ones we’ve ever seen. As Bray Wyatt’s voice played, we saw eyes flashing all over the screen. Seriously, eyes. They were Luke Harper’s eyes, and yes they were incredibly creepy.
The Miz defeats Jimmy Uso via pinfall – As has been the case with all of the Miz’s matches the past couple of months, Damien Sandow absolutely stole the show here.
Seriously, break these two up so we can get a feud. Oh, and Miz won with a Skull Crushing Finale.
Tyson Kidd defeats Sheamus via countout – Not sure what the point of this was, Sheamus went on to lose his title later in the night to Rusev after looking weak in a loss to Kidd, who used his wife as a distraction to get the win. Moving on.
Ryback defeats Titus O’Neil via pinfall – Another squash match for the triumphantly returning Ryback. The Big Guy takes out Titus with a Meathook and Shell Shock for the 1-2-3.
Big Show defeats Mark Henry via DQ – So we spent a month and a half building up the Henry heel turn and this match for a quick DQ and some more matches until a finale at Survivor Series? Okay.
Nikki Bella defeats Emma via pinfall – Nikki made Brie slap AJ after this because sure.
Rusev defeats Zack Ryder via submission – Squash match for Rusev before his big win later in the evening. He beats Ryder down then makes him tap to the Accolade.
Fernando defeats Stardust via pinfall – So Los Matadores vs. Star & Goldust is the next feud for the Tag Titles? Seriously, call up the Ascension already.
