‘WWE RAW’ Results & Review (07.10.13)

We are one day removed from WWE’s Battleground pay per view that went off the air with a no-contest after Big Show knocked out both of the main event performers. This should be interesting, welcome to this week’s RAW review.

The show opens with Stephanie McMahon making her way to the ring. She climbs in and gets a lot of heat from the fans. She talks about how the main event of last night’s show was ruined by Big Show. Stephanie calls the giant out. He obliges. Big Show has a smirk on his face as he walks to the ring. We hear a little “knock her out” chant. Stephanie gets in Show’s face and asks him to explain his actions last night. She calls Show a “pathetic excuse for life” and demands that he take responsibility for his actions at Battleground. Stephanie tells Big Show to get on his knees and beg. Show shakes his head. She calls him “worthless” and says he doesn’t “have a soul”. Show says he knocked out Orton because he’d come to the end of his tether. He says he knocked out Bryan because Stephanie and Triple H told him to. Big Show calls Triple H a “son of a bitch”. Stephanie slaps Big Show over and over and yells at him, she then screams “you’re fired” as Big Show grits his teeth in her face. He then leaves the ring. They were both great here and Stephanie is a hoot as a heel again.

Dolph Ziggler comes to the ring to a medium pop for a match against “Mr. Money in the Bank” Damien Sandow. Sandow takes control early on with some vicious knee’s to Ziggler’s body and a suplex. Sandow continues to wear down “the show-off” as fans chant “let’s go Ziggler”. Dolph eventually fights back and goes at Sandow with flurries of punches and a neckbreaker. Ziggler hits the “famouser” for the pin and the victory. A hard hitting, good match between two under-utilised talents.

Stephanie is backstage with Brad Maddox and she berates him for failing to do his job correctly last night at Battleground. She orders that Maddox apologises to the WWE Universe and tell them how he will make it up to them.

We see a clip from the WWE App where Jerry Lawler brought out the legendary Bruno Sammartino during the commercial break to sing happy birthday to the hall of famer with the New York City crowd.

Alicia Fox, Aksana and Rosa Mendes are out next for a six-diva tag team match against Natalya, Eva Marie and Jojo. This is the in-ring debut on RAW for Jojo and Eva, the Total Divas “newbie’s”. Aksana seductively crawls around and throws some elbows at Eva, who tries to show a grasp for pro-wrestling here, and though she is green at least she is trying to improve and show something. Alicia shows how good she is here too as she faces Eva in the ring. Nattie locks on the sharpshooter on Alicia for the submission win for her team. It wasn’t a bad match and it introduced the new divas to in-ring competition.

Brad Maddox is out now and standing on the stage. He apologises to the fans for the events at Battleground and ensures everyone that the issue between Orton and Bryan will have a definitive ending because they will have a rematch at the Hell in a Cell pay per view with a special guest referee, a referee who can be voted in by fans on the WWE App. The first of the three choices for fans to vote for is revealed as Booker T.

3MB are standing in the ring when we return from break to face the new tag team of Los Matadores who are accompanied by their mascot, El Torito. The fans chant “ole” for the new team. Fernando and Diego show a lot of their tandem moves off here which is nice. Diego hits Drew with a frankensteiner and tags in his partner, Fernando, who hits a few diving moves on the former “chosen one”. Los Matadores hit their tandem finisher for the quick victory. They celebrate with El Torito in the ring.

Paul Heyman, along with Ryback and Curtis Axel, is in the ring talking about how Punk beat Ryback last night but he had to cheat to do it. We see a reply of the low-blow which cost Ryback the match to Punk. CM Punk comes out holding his groin and mocking Ryback. He then talks about how he kicked Ryback in the “balls” to “see if he had any”. Punk says he will beat Ryback again, whenever their rematch occurs. Ryback calls Punk a “bully” and tells Punk to get in the ring with him. R Truth makes his way out and stands with Punk on the stage, the two them approach the ring together for what is now a tag team match with Truth and Punk taking on Axel and Ryback. Punk and Truth wrestle Axel to the ground and beat on him for a while, the fans solidly on their side. Ryback tags in and takes the upper hand on Truth, using power moves on the former K-Kwik. Truth and Axel work some more with back and forth moves and holds. Punk hits Axel with the high-knee and Randy Savage elbow drop before hitting the GTS and kicking Ryback out of the ring. Truth tags in and nails Axel with the scissor kick for the three count and the victory. Punk and Truth stand victorious.

WWE Hall of Famer, Bob Backlund, is revealed as the second option for fans to vote for as the special guest referee in the main event of the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay per view. Backlund cuts his usual bizarre promo.

Kofi Kingston comes out to a nice pop next for a one-on-one match with Randy Orton. Orton controls most of this match, showing ruthless behaviour against Kingston. Kofi keeps attempting to gain control but Orton soon regains it. These two men, much like Orton and Bryan, have a proven record of having good matches and excellent chemistry in the ring together and this is no different. Orton eats a few dropkicks and a cross body on Orton for a near-fall. Orton fight back and hits Kingston with a powerslam, he then takes him outside and brawls at ringside, hitting a DDT on Kingston off the barrier. He drags Kofi into the ring and easily hits the RKO for the victory. Orton was booked strongly here, giving Kofi less to work with than usual, but it was a decent match. Bryan runs out and attacks Orton in a well done pull-apart, while referees and officials separate the two men and Orton plays his heelish antics up more by trying to run away from a seething Daniel Bryan.

Vickie Guerrero is backstage with the World Champion, Albert Del Rio, who asks for a night off. He says he trusts Vickie to find him the “right” opponent tonight, he then calls her “talented” and “sexy”. Vickie blushes but as Del Rio leaves, she looks a little grossed out by his sleaziness.

Shawn Michaels comes out as the final option for special guest referee at the Hell in a Cell event. He gets a big pop from the crowd. HBK talks about his history with Triple H and Daniel Bryan. He talks about having a hand in training Daniel Bryan. He says he doesn’t like Randy Orton. He then tells people to download the App and vote for “H.B.Shizzle”. We now have a “H.B.Shizzle” chant. Funny stuff. He promises that if he is referee at Hell in a Cell, there will be a new WWE Champion crowned.

Alberto Del Rio comes out next with his World Title and a slimy smirk on his face. His opponent is announced as Ricardo and Del   Rio looks pleased with this choice by Vickie Guerrero. Ricardo makes his way to the ring, looking concerned and intimidated. Del   Rio taunts Ricardo but before the match begins Vickie announces that Del Rio will defend his title at Hell in a Cell against John Cena. The fans boo, mostly. Ricardo gets a roll-up win while Del Rio is distracted and Vickie laughs on the stage. This is not a good announcement really. Cena wasn’t supposed to return to action until next year and his early return is proof of Cena’s unwillingness to allow others to grasp the opportunities while he isn’t there. Del Rio attacks Ricardo after the match, throwing him onto the announce desk and stretching his arm.

Zack Ryder is in the ring next and he waits for his opponent, Fandango, who dances to the ring with his valet, Summer Rae. Fandango beats down Ryder, Ryder beats down Fandango. It’s a run-of-the-mill television match which ends when Fandango hits his leg drop on Ryder for the win.

Jerry Lawler stands up to reveal who has been voted as the special referee at Hell in a Cell. Shawn Michaels wins with 60% of the votes. The main event at Hell in a Cell will now be Orton vs. Bryan with HBK as the referee.

The Real Americans are in the ring with Zeb Coulter, and their opponents for the night are Khali and Santino. Again. A rematch from last night’s mediocre-at-best contest. I have made it clear that I don’t like this Santino/Khali combination and the reasons are obvious, but tonight is even worse than last night, with too many silly moments that are embarrassing rather than humorous. Khali stands on the apron for most of the match, like usual, while Cesaro and Swagger work their butts off to try to scrape a match out of the wreckage. The fans must feel similar to me too, we get “we the people” chants on numerous occasions here. Khali gets in the ring and does his open-palm chop spots before being put in the “giant swing” by Cesaro. It’s a sight to behold, even on the second time around. Cesaro gets the victory after this, leaving a dizzy Great Khali to nurse his wounds. Swagger then grabs Hornswoggle and tosses him to Cesaro who puts him in the “Cesaro Swing” too. Santino makes the save. Fans boo the babyfaces. Yep.

It’s “Miz TV” time, and The Miz is in the ring and he introduces his guests for tonight, The Wyatt Family. Bray, Harper and Rowan make their way to the ring in lantern-light. The interview never happens as The Miz is chased off by the Wyatt Family. Bray Wyatt laughs maniacally.

Brad Maddox and Stephanie talk again backstage and she tells him she has a “long way” to go to make up for his mistakes. Triple H enters the room and says he has been busy trying to clean up Maddox’s mess. Triple H tells Maddox to stay backstage and says he will be going to the ring instead tonight.

The Shield make their way through the crowd for the RAW main event. Their opponents are out next to a giant pop from the crowd. Daniel Bryan, Goldust and Cody Rhodes come down to the ring, each getting single entrances. Triple H then makes his way out to ringside to mostly a heel reaction from the fans. He sits beside the announce desk and watches the match. Rollins and Goldust begin the match with Goldust hitting punches, kicks and an atomic drop on Rollins before tagging in his younger brother, Cody. Rollins gains control but Cody fights back with a knee to the face of Ambrose and a suplex. Ambrose takes control and The Shield proceeds to isolate Cody in their corner. They continue their attack on Cody, but Cody makes the hot tag to Bryan who hits a great German suplex and a top rope frankensteiner on Rollins for a near-fall. The teams brawl and Bryan gets the “Yes Lock” on Rollins but Ambrose runs in with a steel chair and hits Cody, causing a disqualification. Triple H restarts the match as a “no DQ” match. Bryan dives on Reigns and Ambrose on the outside but Orton comes out of nowhere and nails Bryan with the RKO. Rollins then covers Bryan in the ring for the three count, allowing The Shield to win the match. Goldust and Cody get in the ring to help their fallen ally, The Shield then attack them as Triple H looks on. Big Show’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring as Triple H looks concerned. Triple H stands behind The Shield which I thought was a great little way to make him seem more cowardly. Big Show gets in the ring and The Shield pounce on him but, sadly, he fights them off. Eventually The Shield get Big Show to the mat and Triple H yells for them to “finish him”. Show fights them off again and nails Triple H with the “K.O” punch before leaving the ring. Bryan gets in the ring and stands over a fallen Triple H and chants “yes” along with the fans. The show goes off the air.

RAW: Best of the Night (In-ring): Randy Orton

RAW: Best of the Night (On-mic): Stephanie McMahon

RAW: Dud of the Night: The Great Khali and Santino

RAW: Weirdest Moment: Bob Backlund’s promo/Cena being announced to return

RAW: Best Crowd Chant: “H B Shizzle”

RAW: Honourable Mentions: The Shield, Bryan, Goldust, Kofi, Cody.