WWE Monday Night RAW: Live coverage and results - September 15, 2014
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to our live coverage of Monday Night Raw. Tonight we are at the Lafayette Cajundome in Lafayette, LA where WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is slated to appear while Roman Reigns has a score to settle with the Authority members after being assaulted last week.
In – ring segment with Paul Heyman and John Cena
This week’s show opened with Heyman in the ring, and he cut a promo to hype Lesnar’s match against John Cena at the Night of Champions PPV this Sunday. Cena interrupted Heyman, as he made his way down to the ring. Cena wondered where Lesnar was, and said he was here for a fight, either against Lesnar or Heyman. Heyman told Cena that Lesnar’s flight was delayed, and he would be here later on the show. Heyman tried to talk his way out of the ring, but Cena grabbed Heyman and told him that he was full of crap. Cena threatened to kick Heyman’s ass, but Heyman said he would let Cena know when Lesnar arrives. Cena then put Heyman in a headlock and walked him to the back, and said Heyman had until the halfway point to bring Lesnar.
Analysis: Opening the show with Paul Heyman always delivers, and putting over the title match to begin the show is the right way to go. That was a good opening segment, and gives us an unpredictability aspect for the show.
Chris Jericho vs. Kane
Before the match began, Cena put Heyman in his locker room and shut the door. He put Khali to guard the closet, and told him not to let Heyman out. Meanwhile, Jericho made his way out followed by Kane. A good back and forth match between the two former world champions, as Jericho countered a chokeslam and rolled Kane up to pick up the victory.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Rating: ***
Analysis: That was a solid match between the two. Although, I don’t know what good the match does, as it doesn’t lead up to a larger story. Anyway, Jericho picked up the victory, and it is speculated that NOC PPV will be the last date that Jericho would work for the WWE.
Jack Swagger (With Zeb) vs. Bo Dallas
Swagger made his way out first with Zeb Colter, followed by Bo Dallas. Swagger and Bo traded blows to start things off, and after more back and forth action, Jack managed to avoid the running Bo – dog and trapped Bo in the Patriot Lock to pick up the victory by submission.
Winner: Jack Swagger
Rating: **
Analysis: Dallas has lost all of his momentum, and I hope that WWE doesn’t turn Swagger heel any time soon. Giving the decisive win to Swagger might’ve not been the smartest thing to do.
Nikki and Paige vs. Brie and AJ
Nikki and Brie looked to start things off, but Nikki tagged Paige in and hightailed out of the ring. Paige dropped Brie and skipped around like AJ does. Paige worked on Brie, as Brie tried to fight her way out, but Paige dropped her. Paige mocked AJ by using Brie, as Brie rolled her up. Brie managed to drop Paige with a jawbreaker, but Nikki swept AJ’s legs from under her, as Paige decked Brie with the Rampaige DDT to pick up the victory.
Winners: Nikki and Paige
Rating: *
Post match, Nikki dropped Brie with a backbreaker, as Paige skipped around the ring. AJ made it to her feet, and she skipped around the ring as well.
Analysis: That was an interesting way to end the match, as it once again puts the emphasis back on the Divas championship.
Bray Wyatt cut a promo on The Big Show, and had some intimidating words for the largest athlete in the world.
Big Show vs. Bray Wyatt (With Harper and Rowan)
Show came out first followed by Bray. Show started things off aggressively, but Wyatt came back with a big splash in the corner, and dropped Show with a clothesline. Wyatt decked Show with a DDT for the first nearfall of the match, and worked on Show. Wyatt worked on Show’s leg to bring him down, but Show dropped him with a sidewalk slam to get some momentum, but Wyatt came back with a running crossbody for a nearfall. Big Show had the upper hand before Rowan and Harper ran in to cause a DQ.
Winner by DQ: Big Show
Rating: **
Post match, Show dropped Rowan and Harper with a double chokeslam, as Wyatt laughed from ringside.
Analysis: This is what I don’t get; why is WWE hell bent on burying the Wyatt Family week after week? All the good work done by Chris Jericho has been undone by the nonsensical booking of the management.
The Usos and Sheamus vs. Cesaro, Goldust and Stardust
Sheamus and Goldust started things off as Sheamus worked on Goldust. Sheamus made the tag to one of the Usos, as Stardust made his way in and worked on the arm of the Uso. Cesaro got the tag, as he decked Jey with the battering ram and mocked Sheamus. Jimmy finally got the tag as he worked on both Goldust and Stardust. Stardust dropped him with a huge spin kick from the top rope, as the heels got the upper hand going into the commercial.
Back from commercial, and Cesaro was working on Jimmy. Stardust then came in and worked on Jimmy, and then tagged in Goldust. The trio worked in tandem, isolating Jimmy. Cesaro came in and mocked Sheamus, allowing Jimmy to get his offense in. Sheamus finally got the hot tag as he took out Stardust, and caught Cesaro in the battering ram. Cesaro connected with the Neutralizer on Sheamus, but the Usos came back in for a superkick followed by a huge splash to pick up the victory.
Winners: The Usos and Sheamus
Rating: ***
Analysis: That was yet another solid match, but Cesaro once again ended up on the losing end. Cesaro is challenging Sheamus for the strap this Sunday, but it doesn’t look like Cesaro will be any challenge to Sheamus when he’s booked to look weak.
Backstage, Renee interviewed Orton, who explained why he attacked Jericho last week. He said Jericho mocked him couple of weeks ago, and that he would hand Jericho the beating of a lifetime.
In – ring segment with John Cena, Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar
Backstage, Cena dragged Heyman out of the locker room and brought him down to the ring. Cena said everyone was waiting for this as Heyman tried to escape. Cena caught him and dragged him back, as Heyman said Cena cannot win because Lesnar was a bully, and Cena wasn’t. Cena apologized to Heyman, and said he thought Lesnar would come to RAW if he threatened Heyman. Cena was about to leave the ring when Heyman made a mom joke. Cena rushed back and pushed Heyman out of the ring, as Lesnar’s music hit! Lesnar made his way out as Cena prepared himself, but Lesnar turned back to leave. Lesnar turned back and teased to come into the ring, and he finally made his way to the ring as Cena attacked Lesnar. Lesnar threw Cena with a huge German suplex as the security made their way down to separate the two. Both men traded blows out of the ring as security separated the two. Lesnar’s nose was busted open, as the announcers put over the possibility of Lesnar’s nose being broken. Cena posed to end the segment as the announcers put him over, saying he took out Lesnar.
Analysis: That was an outstanding brawl between Lesnar and Cena. The physicality between the two is there for everyone to see, and only Lesnar can bring out the intensity out of Cena. Their feud feels organic, and Paul Heyman is the perfect voice to put their feud together.
Naomi vs. Cameron
Cameron was looking into the mirror, and Naomi knocked it out of her hands. Both went at it, as Cameron knocked Naomi off the apron. Back in the ring, Cameron dropped Naomi with a suplex and a leg drop on her back for a nearfall. Cameron worked on Naomi and dropped her by pulling her hair for another pinfall attempt. Cameron controlled the pace of the match as the crowd rallied behind Naomi. Naomi locked Cameron in a submission out of nowhere to pick up the victory.
Winner: Naomi
Rating: *
Analysis: So we’re supposed to forget that their rivalry actually began months ago? That was painful to sit through.
R – Ziggler and Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz and Damien Mizdow
Ziggler and Mizdow started things off as Ziggler was in control. R - Ziggler came in as Dolph and Truth double teamed Miz and Sandow. Miz came in and worked on Truth as he tried to make the tag to Ziggler. The crowd started a “We want Ziggler” chant as Sandow and Miz worked on Truth. Ziggler came in and nailed the fame – asser on Miz, but Sandow broke it up. Miz accidentally knocked Sandow down, and Ziggler nailed the Zig Zag on the Miz to pick up the victory.
Winners: R – Ziggler and Dolph Ziggler
Rating: * ½
Analysis: The stunt double idea was great at first, but now it is just nonsensical. I hope Ziggler and Sandow get their due pushes.
Backstage, Seth Rollins cut a promo about Roman Reigns, and called him a Neanderthal. He made fun of Roman, and said that he was going to take away everything that Roman could be, and said he would destroy him. He said he was responsible for making Roman Reigns who he became, and that he was going to take it all away.
Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Reigns started things off aggressively, but Rollins cut him short. Reigns regained control of the match and worked on Rollins as Rollins tried to escape. Reigns threw Rollins into the barricade and the apron, and then threw Rollins out of the ring. Reigns drilled Rollins into the steel steps and the announcer’s table, and then threw Rollins over the table as WWE went into commercial.
Back from the break, and Rollins was now in control of the match. Reigns managed to power out of a sleeper hold, and decked Rollins with a right. Rollins managed to throw Reigns out of the ring and came down with a huge suicide dive on Reigns. Rollins missed with a splash inside the ring, and Roman managed to capitalize on the mistake. Roman connected with the dropkick and Superman punch, but Rollins moved out of the way of a spear and drilled Roman with a kick to the head for a nearfall. Rollins managed to powerbomb Reigns on top of the turnbuckle for a nearfall. Rollins connected with a series of kicks, but Roman connected with a spear out of nowhere to pick up the victory.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Rating: *** ½
Analysis: That was a solid match, but was there a point to all of this? These two are set to take on each other once again at the Night of Champions PPV, so what was the point in giving a clean victory to Roman just a week before the PPV? Anyway, these two have good chemistry, and we’ll have to wait and see if WWE has something bigger planned for the two this Sunday.
In – ring segment with Mark Henry, Lana and Rusev
Mark Henry came out for his promo. He talked about pulling out of the Olympic games due to an injury, and said this was his second chance. He said come NOC, he will shut Lana and Rusev up. He said he can’t and won’t let the people down. Henry talked about Lana speaking against the United States, and said she could do it only because she was in the US. Lana and Rusev interrupted Henry’s promo, as Lana told Henry to shut up. Lana cut a promo, putting United States down.
She then said Henry pulled out of the 1996 Olympic games because he was afraid of the Russian athletes. She said Henry was inferior to Rusev, and said that at the NOC PPV, Henry will fail once again. Henry was taking the pledge of allegiance when Rusev attacked Henry. Henry threw Rusev to the other side of the ring, but Rusev came back with a superkick. Rusev went for the camel clutch, but Henry powered out of it and planted Rusev. RAW went off the air with Henry posing with the flag of the United States.
Analysis: That was a good way to highlight their match at the NOC PPV, but I’m not sure why it ended the show. Anyway, this showcases Henry as the greatest challenge for Rusev, and we’ll have to wait and see how the match unfolds at the NOC PPV.
Over – all rating of the show: *** ¼ (Out of 5 stars)
The highlight of the show was the brawl between Cena and Lesnar, and also the match between Roman Reigns and Rollins. It was a relatively weak go – home show of RAW, but we’ll now have to wait and see what happens at the Night of Champions PPV this Sunday. Anyway, that does it for this week’s episode, and we hope you’ve enjoyed the show.