This week's RAW review begins with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion:
Seth Rollins, the luckiest man on the planet
If one thing has defined Rollins' reign as champion it has been luck. At Money in The Bank, luck determined it would be Rollins left clutching the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after he and Dean Ambrose came crashing to the mat. At Battleground, luck determined that The Undertaker chose the second before Lesnar was about to pin Rollins to return and exact his revenge on Lesnar. Just last week, Neville accidentally overhooked Rollins' legs to cause a rope break after delivering the Red Arrow. This week was no different as luck saved the WWE World Heavyweight Champion again.
Confident, assured and soaking wet, Rollins began the show with a remainder, in case anyone had forgot, that it was he who delivered the blow to break the face that runs the pace, John Cena, as the fans still chant "you sold out at" at the champion. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion continues to remind the audience that John Cena is yet to respond to his title for title match offer at SummerSlam. Cesaro interrupts the champion and makes his way to the ring to state that he deserves a shot at the WWE WHC. Another former ROH star, Kevin Owens, makes his way to the ring to stake his claim to the WWE WHC. After making a cheap fat joke about Owens, Randy Orton enters the ring to state how he deserves a shot at the title. Out comes HHH to inform the fans that, currently, John Cena is only 50/50 for SummerSlam before scheduling a tripe threat match between Orton, Cesaro and Owens to determine who will face Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the night's main event.
After a solid triple threat match that succeeded in showcasing all three men's strengths, it was Randy Orton who would emerge victorious and go on to face Seth Rollins in the night's main event much to the disappointment of many who wished to see a fresh face in the title picture. The match concluded as Kevin Owens attempted a Pop Up Powerbomb on Cesaro, who jumped over the shoulders of Owens, before Randy Orton delivered a devastating RKO first to Owens then to Cesaro before pinning the Swiss Superman.
For the second time in two weeks, Seth Rollins put his WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line against a man he has had many encounters with in the past, the Viper Randy Orton. In a match that was destined to end in a no contest, it was Sheamus who did the honours of breaking up the pin attempt after Orton hit an RKO as the champ attempted the diving nothing from the top rope- a move that has been around for a while, but in recent times has been perfected by Joey Mercury. After the bell rang, Sheamus tossed Orton ringside before delivering a Brogue Kick to Seth Rollins. Sheamus told the referee that he wishes to cash in his Money in the Bank contest before Orton this time came to the aid of Rollins by delivering an RKO to the Celtic Warrior to stand tall to end the show.
Evidently, the reason why Cesaro and Kevin Owens were unsuccessful earlier in the night was due to the fact WWE wanted to further discredit Seth Rollins as champion as Orton had him all but beat before Sheamus cost him the match. The attempted cash in by Sheamus may suggest he might put his briefcase on the line in a match with Orton at SummerSlam- a match that Sheamus should win.
As for Rollins, once again he proves to be the luckiest man in the WWE by first having Sheamus stopping Orton from defeating him before Orton stopped Sheamus from defeating him. Many commentators believe that Rollins' chicken shit shtick has run its course but the fact that Rollins still receives boos for selling out his former Shield brethren is testament to how good he has been over the past year. However, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion remains without an official match at SummerSlam but expect Cena to be at RAW next week to accept Rollins title for title match. I still maintain Rollins will defeat John Cena at SummerSlam but you can never be too sure when the odds are seemingly stacked against Mr Make a Wish.
Four Corner Survival Tag Match announced for SummerSlam
Moments after defeating Los Matadores, The New Day ran in to Renee Young backstage who informed them that they would be facing Prime Time Players at SummerSlam... along with Los Matadores... and Lucha Dragons in a four way tag match. Much to the disappointment of New Day, who asked Renee who will be added to the match next, Doom? Harlem Heat? Xavier Woods managed to put a positive slant on things, claiming that it is just more hands and voices to witness New Day become two time Tag Team Champions.
As anticipated, at SummerSlam all of the teams in the division barring The Ascension will do battle in a fatal four way. Usually multi-man tag matches produce fun, entertaining matches and this shouldn't be any different with an exciting combination of speed and strength. Hopefully, WWE will correct the mistake they made at Money in the Bank when New Day lost the titles. For the first time in a long time, the New Day have made the tag division, severely hampered by injuries, semi-enjoyable through their antics in and out of the ring.
WWE must return the Tag Team titles to their rightful owners at SummerSlam and I fully expect them do so. But they won't pin Prime Time Players. More than likely, I expect that they will pin one of the masked teams in order to continue their feud with Prime Time Players as it appears WWE must want PTP around the titles.
Ryback returns and, unfortunately, the triple threat between Ryback, The Miz and Big Show is still on
This week, Daniel Bryan made his return to Miz TV as Miz reminds everyone how he plucked Bryan from obscurity, WWE's epithet for any other wrestling promotion (see Sting), and mentored him to greatness. Daniel Bryan's music interrupts The Miz' diatribe to the sound of deafening cheers from his home state of Washington- no one on the WWE roster is anywhere near as over as Daniel Bryan is, a fact that was made painfully clear again last night. After Bryan chats about his literary success, The Miz' attention turns to the Intercontinental Champion, Ryback. The Miz comments on how he helped cultivate the attitude of a champion in Daniel Bryan and how Ryback should do the same and surrender his Intercontinental Championship and give it to him. Big Show arrives and cracks babyface jokes before the "please retire" chants kick in. After weeks off with a staph infection in the knee, Ryback made his return to a good reception from the Washington fans. The Big Guy squared up to Big Show before Daniel Bryan tosses Miz back in to the ring. The three men brawl in the ring before Ryback hits two Meat Hook Clotheslines to take down both The Miz and Big Show to stand tall and soak in the Yes chants with Daniel Bryan.
An old adage in wrestling states that, if a wrestler is considered to have mastered the art form, he is so good he could put on a good match with a broomstick. The SummerSlam match between Ryback, The Miz and Big Show is a match between three broomsticks. Despite my personal opinion on Ryback, it is good to see him and, by association the Intercontinental Championship, back on TV after almost a month on the side lines. Although the Intercontinental Championship match at SummerSlam is far from an enthralling prospect, it is good to see the championship back on television.
Stardust? Cody Rhodes? A Crisis of Identity
Just a quick note on Stardust- WWE achieved entirely new levels of meta this week when Michael Cole and the commentary team spoke extensively on how Stardust can not understand that Stephen Amell is an actor on television just like Stardust does not understand he is Cody Rhodes. Of course, the intriguing aspect of this rivalry is the fact that Cody Rhodes, too, is a character played on television.
I anticipate that Amell and Neville will pick up the victory in a match worked around Amell's limited wrestling ability. Will this put an end to Stardust's crisis of identity and see a return of Cody Rhodes? I have absolutely no idea WWE and sometimes that is for the best.
Also, it is truly astounding how Barrett is currently being used. Never before in the history of WWE have they given someone the opportunity to win King of the Ring only to be, a couple of months later, losing in under two minutes.
Current SummerSlam match card:
The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar
Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose vs Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper
Team B.A.D vs PCB vs Team Bella
Ryback (C) vs The Miz vs Big Show for The Intercontinental Championship
Los Matadores vs The New Day vs Lucha Dragons vs Prime Time Players (C) for the Tag Team Championships
Neville and Green Arrow vs Stardust and King Barrett
In all likelihood, John Cena will appear on RAW next week to accept Seth Rollins' challenge and, after the main event of this week's RAW, it looks like Sheamus and Randy Orton are set to continue their feud so expect a match between these two to be announced with a stipulation. Hopefully, Cesaro/Owens will be added to complete the card in what is lining up to be a fun PPV.
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