WWE: RAW Review - June 17

This week’s RAW kicked off with Ricardo coming out and bringing out the new World Heavyweight champion, Alberto Del Rio, to loud jeers from the live crowd. He cut a promo about how he was the ‘man of gold’, and that he got his retribution for Ziggler cashing the MitB briefcase on him when he was hurt. He blamed the crowd for cheering on Ziggler. A loud ‘We want Ziggler’ chant started. He called the fans ‘pigs and cowards’ before he was interrupted by a returning CM Punk, and the crowd erupted! He reminded ADR how he beat him for the WWE title, and went on to hold the title for a record 434 days. A loud ‘CM Punk’ chant started, and CM Punk said he was the real best in the world, and not ADR. Heyman interrupted Punk, and Punk stopped him. Punk said he stole the show with Jericho, and proved on Sunday once again that he was the best in the world, and challenged ADR for a match later in the night! Loud ‘Si’ chants started, which brought Vickie Guerrero out and she made the match official. A decent promo by ADR which confirmed his heel turn, and a great promo as always by Punk. A good way to kick off RAW.

Backstage, Punk told Heyman that he doesn’t want Heyman near the ring again. Smells like a Heyman heel turn at the end of the night.

Wade Barrett vs Christian

This was supposed to be a rematch for Barrett, but Vickie came out and changed the match, and made Barrett face a returning Christian! The crowd erupted as Christian made his in–ring return. A huge leap by Christian onto Barrett on the outside, and the crowd was firmly behind Christian with a ‘Let’s go Christian’ chant. A four minute back and forth match that Christian won after the Killswitch, and the crowd loved every minute of it!

Winner: Christian

Rating: * ¾

A new vignette aired for the debut of the Wyatt Family. I’m looking forward to that, as things will get very interesting in the WWE.

Sheamus vs Rhodes Scholars in a 2-on-1 Handicap match

Sheamus has defeated both Sandow and Rhodes, and apparently this is the next logical step. Sheamus dominated the duo in the beginning, but they came back to put Sheamus down. Sheamus came back again and absolutely decimated Team Rhodes Scholars, but Sandow rolled Sheamus up out of nowhere for the pin and the win after three minutes. Post match, Sheamus delivered a Brogue Kick to Cody! Is Sheamus a face? He might just be the biggest bully in the WWE.

Winner (s): Rhodes Scholars

Rating: * ½

A video aired about the return of RVD at Money in the Bank PPV next month. I’m excited about RVD coming back home to WWE.

Backstage, Vickie and Maddox tried to suck up to Triple H, and Triple H wanted Vickie to be strict about The Shield.

Randy Orton vs Daniel Bryan in a No DQ match

The WWE Universe selected No DQ match among the options, and Bryan came out to a huge ovation from the live crowd. Good back and forth action, and the crowd was firmly behind Daniel Bryan. Orton started lashing at Bryan with a Kendo stick, and during the match, Bryan got injured and the doctor came in and ruled Bryan to be in no condition to compete. The match was awarded to Orton at the 16-minute mark. A solid match between the two till the end. Orton helped Bryan up, and Bryan went to the back dejected. That’s it? Weird.

Winner: By referee stoppage – Randy Orton

Rating: ** ½

AJ came out and cut a promo about how she’s the greatest Divas champion of all time, and laid out a challenge to any diva backstage, which was answered by Stephanie McMahon! Stephanie told AJ to act like a champion, to which AJ retorted, saying instead of dating a superstar, maybe she should marry one. Stephanie retored by saying ‘Nobody does crazy better than the McMahons’. That was classic! They were interrupted by Kaitlyn and the other divas. ‘You tapped out’ chants by the crowd. Kaitlyn attacked AJ, but Big E pulled AJ out and carried her to the back.