WWE RAW Results & Review (24.03.14)

We are less than two weeks away from WrestleMania 30 and so the television shows that WWE promotes between now and then are the most important “go-home” shows of the year for the company. The final “big sell” before the big show itself. Tonight, RAW is live from Brooklyn, New York.

In the next two episodes of RAW, including this one, we should know, without a doubt, the full card for WrestleMania, and have an idea of what the biggest show of the year has in store for us. Tonight, celebrities will be a part of RAW, as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Manganiello and Scooby Doo make appearences, as well as Hulk Hogan, Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker promoted to appear. Should be an interesting show.

The match results;

• Christian beat Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio & Sheamus in a fatal-four-way match
• Sin Cara quickly defeated Damien Sandow
• Los Matadores beat Ryback & Curtis Axel
• Cody Rhodes pinned Fandango
• Big Show squashed Titus O’Neal
• Luke Harper and John Cena wrestled to a no-contest
• Naomi beat AJ Lee by count-out
• The Shield beat The Real Americans

The show opened with Stephanie McMahon in the ring telling the fans that Daniel Bryan will not be on RAW tonight due to the beating he suffered at the hands of Triple H at the closing segment of RAW last week. The Brooklyn fans boo Stephanie, and Randy Orton and Batista who make their way to the ring to argue. Batista insults Orton and eventually insults Steph, who proceeds to slap the sunglasses off Batista’s face. The segment ends with “Big Dave” spearing Orton and leaving the Champion laying.

The in-ring quality was hit and miss tonight, but there were some shining parts of wrestling action that were worth watching. The fatal four way match between Del Rio, Christian, Sheamus and Ziggler, though it started slowly, went on to be an entertaining and fun match. The winner, Christian, earned a shot at Big E’s Intercontinental Championship on this week’s “Main Event” as a result of his victory here. The only other match that was worth watching was the tag match between The Shields’ Ambrose & Rollins and The Real Americans. All work-horses, these guys put on a display like they usually do, showing why they have been the corner stones to the quality of the product for a while now, among a few others. The Shield went on to make a statement after their match by putting Cesaro through an announce table. Kane came out afterwards and announced that The Shield would compete against Kane and The New Age Outlaws in a six-man tag team match at WrestleMania. Another match signed.

AJ Lee purposely got herself counted out in her match with Naomi, which prompted Vickie Guerrero to come out and announce that AJ would be defending her Divas Title at WrestleMania against The Funkadactyls, The Bella’s, Natalya, Rosa Mendes, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Emma, Eva Marie, Summer Rae, Layla and Tamina, in a “Vickie Guerrero Invitational”. The Divas champ sold her anger of what should be a decent way to include the divas roster on the ‘Mania card, though the match itself will probably not be the best.

Triple H had a sit-down interview in the ring with Michael Cole where the two discussed Triple H’s attack on Daniel Bryan last week. Triple H said that he beat up Bryan as a competitor and not as the COO of WWE. He made no apologies and said that he would “end” the “little yes movement” at ‘Mania when he defeats Daniel Bryan. Triple H ended the segment by saying he would leave WrestleMania as WWE World Champion.

The Wyatt Family/John Cena feud continued as the Harper/Cena match went to a no-contest after the lights went out and as they went back on, Cena was tied up in the ring ropes with the Eric Rowan sheep mask on his head. Cena sold his “fear” of the Wyatts as well as we could hope for here.

The celebrity involvement didn’t eat into the show too badly. Scooby Doo accompanied Sin Cara to the ring in Cara’s quick victory over Damien Sandow. Poor Sandow. Arnie and Joe hit the ring with Hulk Hogan to hype the Andre the Giant Battle Royale some more. The segment featured Joe and Arnie punching The Miz before Hogan threw the former WWE Champion over the top rope.

Brock Lesnar came out with his advocate, Paul Heyman, at the end of RAW. Heyman declared that Lesnar would end the streak by beating The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX. Heyman put over ‘Taker here, saying how amazingly successful The Undertaker was at ‘Mania, yet he still wouldn’t beat Brock Lesnar at the big show. Brock takes to the microphone and says he isn’t there to promote anything, he is there to fight. Brock calls The Undertaker out. The lights dim and a gaggle of druids enter the arena, pulling a casket with them as they walk down the ramp. A very old-school ‘Taker moment. The druids leave the casket beside the ring before leaving ringside. Lesnar and Heyman stare at the casket, selling concern. Heyman is excellent, as always, making everyone look the part with his words and expressions. Brock kicks at the casket, not wanting to fully approach it. Brock eventually plucks up the guts to open the casket, and it’s empty. Brock is angry at ‘Taker’s obvious mind games. The Undertaker the emerges from the once-empty casket to a big Brooklyn pop, and attacks Lesnar. This was a good set-up segment for their match at WrestleMania. The show goes off the air with The Undertaker standing tall in the ring.

So, another week down on the Road to WrestleMania, and a show that gave us plenty of new things to focus on as we approach the biggest annual wrestling extravaganza. We have new matches signed, feuds heated up, and with no Daniel Bryan on RAW here, the fans should be extra-excited to see Bryan next week. So, until next time!

RAW: Best Match: The Shield vs. The Real Americans

RAW: Best Talker: Paul Heyman/Triple H

RAW: Dud of the Night: Alberto Del Rio/Titus O’Neal

RAW: Surprise Moment: No Daniel Bryan?

RAW: Honourable Mentions: Christian, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler