With WWE approaching their third pay-per-view in six weeks with this Sunday’s Money in the Bank, the company risked some fan fatigue playing out storylines that are becoming a bit stale. While the main event proved this to be true, a couple of NXT champs saved the night and stole the show.
Kevin Owens and Neville Put on an Absolute Classic
For the first time in Monday Night Raw history (or maybe it just felt that way), Raw kicked off with something other than the Authority. John Cena made his way out to the ring to talk about how amazing he is and how he’s going to beat Kevin Owens and you know, the usual Cena promo. Luckily for all of us, this just brings out Owens, mic in hand, ready to spit that venom at the U.S. Champ.
Owens says that all Cena is doing right now is proving he’s delusional for thinking he can beat Owens. The NXT Champ says people are sick of the U.S. Open Challenge so he’s going to lay out an NXT Title Open Challenge instead, which leads to Cena accepting.
Nah John, it isn’t that easy with KO. Owens says they’re fighting Sunday so he won’t allow it tonight, to which Cena decides to offer Owens a shot at the U.S. title instead if it means battling right now. Owens basically pretends Cena didn’t say anything at all and says the next WWE Superstar to come out gets to choose which title he wants to fight for… and wouldn’t you know it, Neville makes his way out!
Neville does us all a favor and decides he wants to take on Owens for the NXT Title and man oh man did these two ever deliver an incredible match. Describing this match with words wouldn’t do it any justice, so let’s cut to the chase and tell this story in GIF’s highlighting just how incredible these two are in the ring.
Owens takes control early after a few quick shots from Neville, hitting a massive canonball in the corner.
Neville being the scrappy underdog that he is, made a comeback with some incredible high-flying moves, hitting an incredible suicide dive over the top rope to Owens on the outside.
Owens tries to make a comeback, but Neville shows off the incredible strength he has for a man his size but hitting this awesome slow-motion suplex on the NXT Champ.
Back and forth between the two we go, with both men hitting some incredible moves in the ring, including this pump-handle/neck breaker combo from Owens on Neville.
Things begin to break down with Neville taking control. The Englishman heads up top and tries to hit a moonsault but Owens rolls out of the way. Neville still lands on his feet and hits the NXT Champ with a big kick to the head before heading back up top for the Red Arrow. Owens is able to stop him and then out of nowhere throws Neville into the ropes and hits a massive Pop-Up Power Bomb.
1-2-3. Kevin Owens is still the future.
Cena gets in the ring to stare Owens down and dare him to fight, but the NXT champ just leaves the ring and makes us all wait until Sunday. What an awesome segment and match.
Can’t wait for the eventual Owens and Neville feud over the WWE title. Honestly, I can’t wait for every feud that Owens is going to be entering moving forward, this guy is just something else.
Rollins World is Falling Apart
After telling the world he didn’t need Kane or J&J Security or the Authority last week, Seth Rollins was out to prove that he can handle things himself. Well, sort of at least.
Backstage we see Rollins throwing a fit about Dean Ambrose stealing his title and complaining to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Rollins again says he doesn’t need Kane or J&J Security to help, but he starts implying he does need Trips and Steph to back him up. Triple H says that they will watch the match, but Rollins is going to have to win on his own. To tune-up for his Ladder Match Sunday, Hunter says Rollins can pick his own opponent for tonight.
Later, we see Rollins backstage when J&J Security walk up to him. Noble and Mercury forgive Rollins for what he says but the Champ tells them he meant every word and he pulled them out of obscurity. Rollins says he never needed them so Noble tells him if it wasn’t for J&J Security he would never have been champion. Somehow Noble thinks they are the Shield 2.0 which HA! but Rollins laughs and says his match tonight will be him against Noble and Mercury! Noble is terrified but Mercury steps up and says he’s going to kick Rollins’ ass, which was comedy.
Now it’s Kane’s turn to laugh at Rollins backstage and he tells the Champ there are two scenarios in play on Sunday. Either Rollins wins by a miracle and Kane cashes in, or Ambrose wins and Kane cashes in. Rollins says he’s going to make an example of J&J Security and yeah, this match is really going to be the main event of Raw.
It’s main event time and wouldn’t you know it, Dean Ambrose is in the house! The Lunatic Fringe comes out through the crowd with the WWE WHC belt and an abnormally large back of popcorn to watch Rollins take on his security team.
Mercury and Noble actually get in some offense before Rollins takes control and starts beating his opponents down. Eventually Ambrose gets bored and starts to hilariously mess with Rollins.
Back in the ring, Rollins takes control hitting Mercury with a buckle bomb in the corner before tossing him outside. He goes to Pedigree Noble but the Lunatic Fringe jumps the rail and puts the title in the ring. The momentary distraction is enough for Mercury to dive back into the ring and roll Rollins up for the 1-2-3 and the win.
Wait, seriously?
Yup, that just happened.
WWE must really be gearing up to make Rollins look dominant because they have made a fool of the Champ the past few weeks. This all likely means that Ambrose has no shot of winning this Sunday.
Here’s hoping WWE uses this booking of Rollins to help mold him into something great. He’s showing some hints at a face turn and revolt against the Authority, but we’ll see if those seeds grow into anything serious. It would be amazing to see Rollins retain Sunday, only for Reigns to cash in and win the title with help from the Authority, turning Reigns heel and Rollins face. Boom, brand-new feud and we can finally have a real reason to boo Reigns.
You’re right, this is all just leading to the Authority helping Rollins retain. Again.
Other Results:
Reigns Stakes His Claim to the Briefcase – Roman Reigns comes out and says that he used to hate the Money in the Bank briefcase because it was attached to Seth Rollins, but now he embraces it. He talks about winning and then cashing in on Dean Ambrose after he wins Sunday (heel turn tease anyone?) before Kane comes out and says he’s going to win. Next out is Dolph Ziggler to talk about being on a roll and how he’s going to win.
This is followed by R-Truth who says he’s going to win, but is quickly reminded by Kane that he’s not even in the match (this was hilarious). Eventually Sheamus and New Day come out and hype themselves and really, nothing is accomplished with this other than the matches it leads to.
First up, Randy Orton repeats his match with Sheamus last week, only this time the Viper gets the upper-hand and beats the Celtic Warrior down before hitting an RKO.
Next, we get Kane going against Ziggler which the Big Red Machine wins after Rusev yelled at Lana, and she fell off-stage, and Ziggler was too concerned with her being hurt to consider the 7-foot monster standing two feet away from him. Yay.
Ourr last match between MITB participants is Roman Reigns and Kofi Kingston. Good match between the two with some back and forth that ends with Reigns hitting Kofi with a Superman Punch while Kingston was in mid-air. Basically, you can boo Reigns out of a title win at ‘Mania, but he’s going to get a push one way or the other damn it.
Ryback Sends a Big Message – Ryback comes out for Miz TV, but Big Show interrupts and throws Miz out of the ring. He says he’s going to win the Interontinental title on Sunday (what a wasted first title feud for Ryback) which leads to Miz hitting Show with a mic and Ryback hitting the Giant with Shellshocked. Yawn.
Big E and Titus Give Us a Good Old Fashioned Brawl – Hyping the tag title match this Sunday with a singles match is always fun. This was a good match with both guys just showing off their incredible strength. Big E picks up the win with a distraction from the New Day.
Harper & Rowan, 3D 2.0? – The two former Wyatt family members destroy Los Matadores and win with the 3D.
After hitting another 3D, Harper cuts a promo and says everyone will pay for their sins, while Rowan says we should all be afraid. At least this is all leading to a feud with the returning Dudley Boyz.
Nikki Bella Squashes Summer Rae – This was apparently to prove that nobody can beat Nikki and Paige has no chance at the Diva’s title Sunday.