Here is my three point RAW review along with spoilers for Smackdown airing 23/07:
RAW Three Point Review
One
The main event for SummerSlam was confirmed on Monday night RAW as The Undertaker opened the show by explaining his motivations for costing Brock Lesnar the opportunity to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins. 'Taker explained he is not only pissed off that Brock defeated him but mainly pissed off that Paul Heyman and the Beast haven't shut up about it for 15 months.
Heyman was allowed to provide a rebuttal, detailing once again how Brock Lesnar not only beat the streak but he also made The Undertaker his bitch. All returned to darkness before 'Taker appeared for the second time on the show, stalking Heyman from behind. The threat of 'Taker drew the Beast to the ring to protect his advocate, Paul Heyman. As the two behemoths brawled it became clear that the security team could not keep them separated as a whole army of troops ranking from jobber to mid-card filed to the ring to keep Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker separated. Despite the jobbers outnumbering the Deadman and the Beast approximately 30-2, they ulltimately failed in carrying out the now inexplicably babyface HHH's orders. As Lesnar was finally torn away up the ramp by a combination of a security team, more jobbers and people that could have been main event level heels if it wasn't for 'Big Match John', the camera panned to 'Taker, zooming in on his eyes as he looked to be having a Vietnam style flashback to the time Lesnar sent him hurtling towards the mat after a 3rd F5 and the 21 year streak was finally over.
The brawl injected a great deal of intensity into the rematch that was absent the first time these two met. The Undertaker, in possibly the best shape he has been in since WrestleMania 28, responded to Brock's parting threat to 'kill him' by stating that's what will have to happen to get rid of him. Concern for The Undertaker's well being replaced the initial excitement of his return going into Monday Night Raw but the large brawl placated most of those fears. The physicality of the brawl is conformation of a change of tact in the development of the story between these two by WWE; the build towards Mania 30 relied heavily on The Undertaker's super natural presence, playing on Brock's fear of the Deadman. This time, though, the feud appears to be based on flat out hatred for one another. Hopefully we get more brawls like this in the coming weeks just to see R Truth calm Brock down again.
Two
What a difference two months make. Just eight weeks ago, at Elimination Chamber, Kevin Owens made his main roster début by pinning John Cena clean in the centre of the ring. Fast forward two months and three clean PPV defeats later and Kevin Owens is -literally- lost in the midcard fracas designed to keep 'Taker and Lesnar apart. Maybe I'm reading too much into this as Sheamus, Cesaro and Rusev were recruited by HHH as well but, after defeating Cena clean in his debut match, I thought Owens would have been more than just an anonymous face in the midcard. At the moment, he is just another guy who failed to beat Cena. Again, maybe i'm reading too much into this because if you judge a wrestler's success from his record against Cena you are likely to be disappointed. But someone has to beat him eventually. Someone has to get the better of him and I thought that man was going to Kevin Owens.
Who knows, it may yet happen but i'm not holding out for it after Monday's episode of RAW. The night after tapping out to Cena, Kevin Owens spoke fewer words than R Truth, who at least got to tell Brock Lesnar to calm down, before superkicking Rusev and taking his exit in the generic, time killing 3 faces vs 3 heels main event to end RAW.
Regardless of rumours of politicking and backstage detractors, Kevin Owens is a big deal and will make it to the top whether the high ups like it or not. If the rumours about his backstage detractors are proved true and become popular knowledge a la Daniel Bryan, i think we an see a situation develop in which the lines of kayfabe and reality are blurred for storyline purposes. If this is to be the case, hopefully we will get to see Owens produce work similar to his pursuit of the ROH title so we can get more gems like this.
Three
John Cena has been putting on some excellent matches recently. That is undeniable. Cena, formerly heavily criticised by members of the IWC for his wrestling ability, enters what appears to be his wrestling prime in his 12th year in the WWE. A statement seemingly confirmed by the weekly United States Title Open Challenge featuring 4* matches with the likes of Ambrose, Neville, King Barrett, Rusev, Cesaro and most recently Kevin Owens- a match he knows he shouldn't have won, just look at his face after the win... he knows he shouldn't have gone over. THIS DOES NOT AND SHOULD NOT ENTITLE HIM TO A SHOT AT THE WWE WHC!!!
WWE's problems of being unable to establish new babyfaces was painfully apparent on Monday night's episode of RAW as it looks like the next challenge to Seth Rollins WWE World Heavyweight Championship could well be John Cena, who maybe looking to cash in his John Cena in the Bank this August at SummerSlam. Due to John's extensive charity work and US Title Challenges he has earned enough good credit to deserve a shot at Seth Rollins' WWE WHC, at least in the mind of creative, despite already having a title of his own.
Seth Rollins, whilst bragging how he has defeated all challengers for his title, was interrupted by Make a Wish causing many fans to fear the worst; WWE reverting back to Cena once again. Make a Wish proceeded to verbally castrate Rollins with the same jokes he has been repeating for the past ten years before Rollins decided he had had enough and took leave before Cena had the chance to go over... AGAIN... because fuck progression and establishing new talent.
Seth Rollins has been fantastic since winning the title at WrestleMania. Playing the role of chickenshit heel, Rollins has even gained criticism from his most ardent supporters for looking 'too weak' and 'too undeserving' as champ. He is fulfilling his role yet WWE creative have failed to do theirs by establishing a credible babyface with the backing of the fans to chase Rollins' title. Having no challenger harms Rollins as much as anyone and proves that holding the richest prize in the company's history does not mean creative wont forget all about you.
Once more, as with CM Punk, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion is cast aside in favour of two part timers as WWE continue to struggle to create new megastars on the level of Cena, 'Taker and Lesnar; a problem only confounded by short sighted booking like this. Rollins finds himself in the unique position of being WWE WHC without a clear challenger apart from Cena, an option that would be a massive step back at this stage. I really hope Seth's interaction with Cena was to merely kill time and not amount to anything. Next Monday presents a perfect opportunity for Rollins to question a now, for some reason, babyface HHH's decision to have 'Taker vs Lesnar II headline SummerSlam above himself. As things stand, though, Rollins is without a challenger going into the second biggest show of the year.
RAW Results
- The Undertaker opens the show with a promo explaining his motivations for attacking Brock Lesnar.
- Charlotte def Brie Bella with the Figure 8 whilst Team Blac... sorry Team BAD were on commentary.
- Los Matadores def Prime Time Players off a distraction from The New Day. Whether Los Matadores win here translates into a shot at the title, as a pinfall victory over the champions should, is another matter.
- Big Show def The Miz in what was the first turn of the night. After picking up the victory in essentially a squash match Big Show returned to a heel by cutting a promo running down Ryback. So i guess that ain't over.
- Undertaker and Brock Lesnar brawl.
- Roman Reigns def Luke Harper via disqualification as Bray Wyatt attempts an interference before Reigns and Ambrose chase away the two thirds reuinted Wyatt family.
- Rollins promo interrupted by John Cena.
- Naomi and Sasha Banks def Paige and Becky Lynch as Paige taps clean to the Bank Statement.
- John Cena, Cesaro & Randy Orton def Rusev, Sheamus and Kevin Owens after Sheamus and Owens both decided that they didn't fancy it leaving Rusev to fend for himself. Cena hit the AA allowing Cesaro to perform the swing before catapulting the former Russian now Bulgarian brute into a huge RKO.
All in all, this episode of RAW felt like a massive kick in the teeth to the young talent; the WWE World Heavyweight Champion is without a clear challenger, the person who should have been Rollins' chief antagonist has been demoted to the role of Roman Reigns' cheerleader and Kevin Owens has been reduced to just another face in the midcard clusterfuck. At least 'Taker is back, right?
Smackdown Spoilers
- Dean Ambrose kicks of Smackdown with a promo before he is interrupted by this year's Mr Money in the Bank, Sheamus. A match between Ambrose and and Sheamus is scheduled.
- Sheamus def Ambrose when Bray Wyatt's entrance music plays. Sheamus picks up the win of the distraction.
- Neville def Adam Rose with the Red Arrow. Stardust cuts a promo on Neville post match furthering their feud.
- King Barrett cut a promo on being the true 'King of the Ring' after defeating R Truth o the Battleground pre-show in the battle for the crown.
- Rusev def Kevin Owens via countout. Apparently Owens is the guy who walks out of matches he can't win now.
- The Bella Twins def Naomi and Sasha Banks, Nikki picks up the pin on Naomi after the Torture Rack.
- Seth Rollins defeated Cesaro in this week's main event after Kevin Owens caused interference in the match delivering the pop up powerbomb to Cesaro.
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