In what is becoming a nice trend, WWE delivered yet another great episode of Monday Night Raw last night. From new feuds kicking off to an NXT star making a huge statement, Raw once again has the internet buzzing. Let’s take a look at what went down.
Kevin Owens KO’s John Cena
Once again, the best part of Monday Night Raw was John Cena’s United States Open Challenge. John Cena did his usual “I am an amazing Champion who overcomes all odds and always wins because John Cena lol” promo before issuing his open challenge. This week’s challenger is…. NXT CHAMPION KEVIN OWENS!!!!
Oh it is on and it is about to go down. Be afraid Cena, be very afraid.
Owens comes out and says that everyone already knows who he is, and if they don’t, well they aren’t really worth his time. Owens says he wants to ease Cena’s mind and says that it wasn’t Cena who hurt Sami Zayn, it was Owens and the champ will beat Zayn again at NXT Takeover (this Wednesday, if you weren’t planning to watch it, change your plans.) and this time it will be for good.
Cena says that he wants to offer Owens some veteran advice, and no, you don’t offer Kevin Owens advice. KO tells Cena that he’s been doing this longer than Cena has so he can save the advice. Cena tells Owens if he has a problem then he knows how this goes and he can have a shot at the U.S. Title right now. Owens says he already has his prize in the NXT title and Cena can keep his worthless U.S. title.
Owens says that him and Cena will eventually fight, but it won’t be right now, it will be on Kevin Owens terms. The NXT Champ starts to tell Cena he’s going to learn eventually, but instead gives us easily the whole world’s favorite Raw moment of 2015.
Owens kicks Cena, throws him into the ropes and hits a devastating Pop-Up Power Bomb that basically kills Cena. Owens then picks up the NXT title and the U.S. title and looks at both before dropping the U.S. title on the ground, stepping on it, and standing over your fallen hero.
Later, we see Renee Young talking to Owens outside after he finishes a meeting with Triple H, and Owens announces that he will be facing Cena at Elimination Chamber!
Seriously, that was an AWESOME segment. Owens standing toe-to-toe and then outdoing Cena on the mic was just incredible. And now we get Cena-Owens at Elimination Chamber? Seriously WWE, take all my money.
Ambrose and Rollins Re-Ignite Their Feud
Seth Rollins is shown in the Authority’s office bragging about his win and pouring everyone champagne, but the celebration is short-lived as Dean Ambrose cuts everyone off and says that because Rollins didn’t pin him on Sunday and lost the last time they fought, he’ll give the champ a rematch at Elimination Chamber for the title because Lunatic Logic. Triple H says that’s up to Kane, and Kane says it’s up to Rollins, so Rollins says pass. Ambrose talks trash to Kane who books him in a match with Wyatt later on.
Ambrose puts on a good match with Wyatt, but a distraction from Mercury and Noble allows Bray to hit Sister Abigail for the win over the Lunatic Fringe.
Later, the Authority comes out for a ceremony to recognize Seth Rollins. Out comes the champ and Triple H wastes no time praising him for all that he has done. Kane says he’s glad Rollins is still champion and then they play a video package highlighting everything Rollins has done.
The Authority continues to praise the Champ but Ambrose cuts them off and says he wants his title match and he won’t take no for an answer. Stephanie says Ambrose hasn’t earned anything and tells Rollins to get the Lunatic so they start brawling ringside.
Rollins tries to run away but nope, daddy can’t help you escape the Lunatic Fringe.
J&J gets involved by Ambrose is able to fight them off before tossing Rollins over the announce table. The Champ of course sells it beautifully.
Ambrose then shows that he has a pile of cinder blocks ringisde and threatens to smack Rollins head with a chair onto said cinder blocks. Stephanie screams for him to let Rollins go and then the Authority eventually grants him his match at Elimination Chamber.
That’s right folks, your new #1 Contender for the WWE title is this guy.
Mercury grabs the chair out of Ambrose’s handthen the Lunatic fights the Authority as Rollins escapes. Kane tries to hit Ambrose with a chokeslam but the Lunatic counters with a clothesline and tries to hit Dirty Deeds. Rollins sneaks in behind him and hits a Pedigree to close out the show.
I don’t know if I’m a big fan of Rollins using the Pedigree, but if the Curb Stomp is going to stay banned it’s a better option than that weird DDT thing the champ used a couple of times.
Regardless, we get Rollins and Ambrose again, which is always incredible. And this time it’s for the WWE World Heavyweight Title. Raise the stakes and watch these two stars raise their games.
Ambrose/Rollins. Owens/Cena. TWO Elimination Chamber matches.
I. Can’t. Wait.
Other Results:
Lana Shows Off How Over Rusev She Is – Rusev comes out and says he didn’t quit and he beat Cena so bad the champ passed out, but Lana quit because she’s weak and he wants a rematch. Lana comes out and says Rusev is misunderstood and that he screamed in Bulgarian that he quit. They argue and he says she’s a liar, and then he tells her to leave because it’s all about him not them.
Later, Dolph Ziggler defeats Stardust in a quick match and it is announced that he’ll be in the Elimination Chamber match for the IC title along with Rusev, Sheamus, Ryback, Bad News Barrett and R-Truth (seriously, you can’t just give Cody Rhodes a push?) which makes Ziggler super excited of course.
Out comes Lana and she gives Ziggler a kiss, which I’m sure makes Ziggler even more excited. The crowd goes crazy so she kisses Ziggler again and out comes a pissed off Rusev who attacks Dolph before yelling at Lana, who responds by slapping Rusev. The Bulgarian doesn’t like this at all so he corners her, but Ziggler catches him with a Zig Zag and leaves with the Ravishing Russian.
Tag Team Chaos is the Best – The Brass Ring Club comes out for a rematch with the New Day, but all hell breaks loose when Xavier Woods causes a disqualification. The Lucha Dragons, Los Matadaroes and the Ascension all make their way out, showing us five of the six teams involved in the Elimination Chamber tag match. The sixth? Your favorites of course.
The Primetime Players hit the ring and clear everyone before celebrating. That’s right people, PRIMETIME PLAYERS BACK!
Sheamus & Ryback Brawl It Out – Sheamus and Ryback are both announced as participants in the Elimination Chamber match for the Intercontinental title, and then they have a physical match to prove they should be the favorite to win. Ryback showed off his strength by basically tossing Sheamus onto the announce table.
Unfortunately for the Big Guy, Sheamus gets the win after faking an eye injury and hitting a Brogue Kick.
Neville Gets Some Bad News – An already hurt Neville is in the ring talking to Renee Young when Bo Dallas interrupts and does his Bo Dallas thing. Dallas tries to swing on Neville who ducks and throws him out of the ring. Out comes Bad News Barrett for their match and he picks up the win when Neville’s injured leg gives out and BNB hits a Bullhammer. Dallas runs out and stomps Neville’s injured knee before slamming it into the ringpost because why not?
Harper & Rowan Destroy Fandango & Ryder – I’m kind of disappointed that Harper and Rowan weren’t included in the Elimination Chamber match over teams like Los Matadores and the Ascension, but it will be interesting to see how long they team together before we get a full on Wyatt Family reunion.
Paige is Back and Wants the Divas Title – We get a Divas match between Nikki Bella and Naomi. Tamina runs out and causes a DQ by taking Nikki out before she can hit her finisher, and a returning Paige runs out for the save. Nikki gets up after and tries to grab her title, but Paige hits a Ram-Paige on the Champ and picks up her Divas title.