Perhaps not the most realistic start, but a start nonetheless! This is a split I'll be doing with Tyler here, where I'll be running SmackDown while Tyler takes over Raw. Love this period since it could have gone so many ways, hope you guys enjoy!
WWE 2014 - RAW vs Smackdown
- Thread starter Hajjhowe
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Hajj! Glad you’ve finally made your way over here. I’ve known Hajj for like idk 20 years or something crazy like that…
I look forward to this. Not a time period I’m super familiar with since it’s during my ten year “gap period” of not really following wrestling but your stuff is always a fun read. I hope Tyler will also be posting his stuff here too!
I look forward to this. Not a time period I’m super familiar with since it’s during my ten year “gap period” of not really following wrestling but your stuff is always a fun read. I hope Tyler will also be posting his stuff here too!
Monday Night RAW
January 6th, 2014 – Cleveland, OH
“The Night” by CFO$ begins to play as the opening video package airs for Monday Night RAW. As it fades, the camera cuts into the arena where pyro goes off and you see a sold out crowd in Cleveland, Ohio on their feet. As the crowd continues to applause, the camera pans to the announcers’ table.
Michael Cole:
Welcome everyone to Monday Night RAW! We’ve got a great show in store for you here tonight, the first of many in 2014. And, as you may have noticed, I’m joined by my new broadcast colleague, and longtime friend, Booker T! Welcome to RAW Book!
Booker T:
Aw man, it feels good to be back at this table, Cole! New year, new era, new rosters… after that draft, everything done changed! And trust me, everybody in that locker room wants to make a statement, and tonight, they get their first chance to do it. Now can you dig that, sucka?
Michael Cole:
That’s right, I can dig that Booker! It’s a new year and a new chapter for Monday Night RAW. A lot of eyes on us, and it all starts tonight.
"Flight of the Valkyries" blasts through the speakers of The Q, and the crowd, who just sat down, immediately jump back up to their feet in cheers. Daniel Bryan walks out onto the stage, index fingers up, and fists pumping in rhythm with the crowd’s “Yes!” chants. This is the first time he’s made an appearance on WWE television since the massive beating he took from the Wyatts at TLC. Bryan makes his way to the ring, climbing in and immediately grabbing a mic. The music dies down, but the chants don’t. He lets it breathe a few seconds before he speaks.
Daniel Bryan:
“Last week, was the WWE Draft. A supposed reset, and fresh start for the company. I watched as my friends all got drafted, patiently waiting to hear my name called. However, unbeknownst to me, HHH and Stephanie had already cut a deal with the board of directors. They filed an internal exemption, called it a “medical holdover”, and said after what I went through with the Wyatts at TLC, that I wasn’t “cleared” for a brand transfer. That I needed to stay under close monitoring here on RAW under the care of the doctors that have already been working with me. But here’s the thing, I’ve been cleared.. for over a week, actually. I’m not stupid, the fans aren’t stupid, we all know what this really is. They didn’t block me from being drafted to protect me, they did it to contain me.
He looks around the arena. The crowd is still buzzing.
Daniel Bryan:
“My friend CM Punk, who has faced the same battles I have with Triple H and Stephanie, got to escape. He got to leave and go be under new leadership that’s ran by a man who has always believe in me, and has always had my best interests in mind. But me? I’m still here, stuck on RAW. Stuck under Stephanie McMahon and stuck under Triple H. Stuck wrestling everyone they’ve thrown at me. I mean if you name them, then I’ve been in the ring with them. Alberto Del Rio. Wade Barrett. Big Show. Ryback. The Shield. The Wyatt Family. And every time I fight my way through it, every time I earn my shot, they move the goalposts. Do you think it was an accident that I was thrown to the Wyatts at TLC? Do you think they just started targeting me for no reason? That wasn’t random, that was you, Stephanie. That was you, Triple H. I know it was you, and that you sent your dogs after me. You’ve made it clear you’ll do whatever it takes to keep me down, but it’s not going to work. I don’t care if you make me fight the Wyatts again, I don’t care if you put me in the ring with the Shield. I don’t care if you make me face Godzilla, King Kong, or King Kong Bundy. I will keep fighting, because I am a fighter!”
The “Yes!” chants pick up again. Bryan stands tall in the center of the ring as “STEPHANIE MCMAHON” lights up the titantron in a purple hue. The new boss herself walks out onto the ramp, mic in hand, looking more annoyed than intimidated. The crowd lets her hear it, but she waits for them to die down before speaking.
Stephanie McMahon:
“Oh, Daniel, always so dramatic. Let’s clear up a few things. First of all, CM Punk didn’t “escape”, he ran, like a coward. Is that what you want for yourself? Just to have everything handed to you by your close personal friend, without having to earn it? I’m not surprised that your buddy CM Punk jumped at that chance, it fits his MO. All of the glory, without any of the work. I will love seeing what he does over there where there will be nobody to endlessly blame for his shortcomings, other than himself. Secondly, I don’t know what you’re talking about with this “medical exemption” or why you think I would ever bother wasting time trying to keep someone like YOU here on MY show. Coming out here and lying like this to your fans that you supposedly love doesn't look so great, Daniel. Just tell them the truth, that you love the competition here and that you want to be here.”
Bryan leans on the ropes with a sour look on his face, obviously mocking the fact that he would ever want to be here.
Stephanie McMahon:
“And lastly, you keep throwing out all these names of opponents like they’re part of some conspiracy. I’m sorry, did someone force you to be a WWE Superstar? Are we supposed to feel bad for you because your opponents are tough? You want a title shot, but all you do is whine and moan.”
Daniel Bryan:
“No, I fight! You put every obstacle in my way, and I keep pushing through. And it’s never enough. Nothing I do is ever enough for you because I’M not enough for you. And I know that, but you know who I am enough for? THEM!”
Daniel Bryan points to the audience as the “Yes!” chants start back up in full swing.
Daniel Bryan:
“So if you’re not willing to do what I want, to give me what I’ve earned, then at least listen to the people and give them what THEY want. THEY want Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton and THEY want it for the WWE Championship.. tonight!”
The crowd cheers wildly as Stephanie fakes a thoughtful look.
Stephanie McMahon:
“Well, unfortunately, Randy Orton isn’t here tonight. I’m so, so sorry. We can’t always get what we want, Daniel. Well, no, that’s not true. I always get what I want. It’s just YOU who can’t get what you want. But, you are in luck, because I do have something special lined up for you. In tonight’s main event, it’ll be Daniel Bryan going one on one, with his old pal Kane.”
Boos immediately flood the arena. Daniel Bryan looks exhausted, but not surprised.
Stephanie McMahon:
“Now if you don’t mind Daniel, there’s a fatal 4-way match that’s about to happen in that ring to determine the #1 contender to the United States title. Because some people around here actually DO earn title shots, instead of trying to complain their way into one. So please, don’t keep your hard-working colleagues waiting any longer, and get the HELL out MY ring.”
Daniel Bryan:
“Don’t worry, I’ll get out of your ring. I wouldn’t want to take the spotlight away from the match you booked to make it look like you believe in fair competition. But just so we’re clear? Tonight, when I beat Kane, again, and stand tall like I always do, I want you to remember something. You can stack the deck all you want. You can send your monsters, your corporate favorites, your dogs, whoever you’ve got. But no matter what you throw at me, I will not stop until I get what I’ve earned. And whether you like it or not, this story, our story, ends with me as WWE Champion.”
He drops the mic, climbs the turnbuckle, and leads the crowd in a thunderous “YES! YES! YES!” chant as his music hits and Stephanie seethes on the ramp.
Michael Cole:
“Well you heard Stephanie McMahon, tonight it’ll be Daniel Bryan vs Kane in the main event. But right now we have a #1 contenders match for the United States Championship, and ladies and gentlemen, that match is next!
Fade to commercial
MATCH 1: United States Championship #1 Contender’s Match
R-Truth vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Wade Barrett
The action kicks off fast with RVD taking early control, using his quick feet to knock both Barrett and Del Rio out of the ring with a spinning heel kick and a dive to the outside. Truth stays inside, playing it smart and picking his moments.
It goes back and forth for a while, with each man getting short bursts of momentum. Barrett slows the pace down with heavy strikes, tossing RVD into the barricade and hammering away on Truth in the corner. Del Rio focuses on Truth’s arm and nearly gets the cross armbreaker locked in, but RVD breaks it up with a springboard kick that sends Del Rio tumbling out of the ring.
The pace picks back up from there. Truth nails a dropkick on Barrett, who stumbles into a split-legged moonsault from RVD. For a while, it turns into a revolving door of finish attempts, breakups, and counters. Barrett connects with Wasteland on RVD but can’t capitalize. Del Rio hits the backstabber on Barrett, but Truth wipes him out with a jumping calf kick.
The finish comes when RVD and Barrett are disoriented outside of the ring. Del Rio goes for his running superkick on Truth while Truth is on his knees, but Truth spreads his legs into a split and ducks it, hops to his feet, rebounds off the ropes, and hits the Lie Detector. He hooks the leg deep and gets the three count on Del Rio to a good pop from the crowd.
Winner: R-Truth [17:07]
R-Truth is the new number one contender for the United States Championship.
Truth rolls out of the ring smiling, making a belt around his waist gesture, as commentary puts over his upset win and rising momentum.
Michael Cole:
“What a win for R-Truth! You’ve gotta believe that might be the biggest singles victory he’s had in years, and it comes at the perfect time!”
Booker T:
“Man, you ain’t lyin’, Cole! Truth just beat three former champions in one night. That ain’t no luck. My homie out here grindin’!”
Michael Cole:
“And now he’s earned a shot at the United States Championship. What an opportunity for a guy who’s been flying under the radar for so long now.”
Booker T:
“He’s got the chance now, dawg. Can I get a “What’s up?” Michael?”
Michael Cole:
“…no.”
Booker and Cole laugh as the camera pans back to Stephanie McMahon’s office to boos from the crowd.
Stephanie is sitting at her desk, looking at something on her tablet, casually muttering to herself.
Stephanie McMahon:
“Daniel’s always so loud until it’s time to actually win something.”
The door opens and Brie Bella walks in.
Brie Bella:
“Before you even start, this isn’t about Daniel.”
Stephanie looks up, amused.
Brie Bella:
“I’m not here to talk about him. I’m here because I want a shot at the Divas Championship.”
Stephanie McMahon:
“Oh, that’s cute. Fighting your husband’s battles wasn’t working, so now it’s your turn?”
Brie Bella:
“I’ve earned it! I’ve shown up, I’ve put in the work, and I’ve won matches. Whatever you think about me, whatever you think about him, it should be irrelevant. Don’t use him as an excuse to stall my career.”
Before Stephanie can respond, Natalya steps in.
Natalya:
“If we’re talking about title shots, I’m not standing in the back. I had AJ beat at TLC until Tamina interfered! I deserve another chance.”
Stephanie leans back in her chair, clearly enjoying this.
Stephanie McMahon:
“Alright, how about this. Tonight, one on one, Brie Bella vs. Natalya. Winner gets... considered. You want to be taken seriously? Go earn it.”
Stephanie turns her attention back to her tablet, clearly finished with the conversation. The shot ends with Brie and Natalya staring at each other, not fiercely but definitely competitively.
We fade to a quick commercial break, where the first thing that plays is a conveniently placed Total Divas ad.
We come back from commercial to backstage, where Cody Rhodes and Goldust are standing in front of a RAW-branded backdrop. They are being interviewed by Renee Young and discussing potential challengers, and what’s next for the Rhodes brothers. Cody is focused and intense, while Goldust nods beside him. The interview has been going for a minute or two now.
Cody Rhodes:
“We’ve faced everyone there is to face. We didn’t just win those tag titles to hand them off. If anybody thinks they’re just gonna come in and take them from us-”
Before Cody can finish, Luke Harper barrels into frame, blindsiding Goldust with a running big boot that sends him crashing hard into the equipment cases. Cody barely has time to react before Erick Rowan slams into him from the other side, driving him spine-first into the concrete wall. Renee absolutely high tails it out of there.
Harper grabs a steel chair from nearby and swings it into Cody’s ribs while Rowan lifts Goldust and throws him into a stack of production crates, sending them toppling. Cody tries to crawl toward his brother, but Harper stomps him down with no hesitation.
The chaos is unrelenting for several more seconds, with boots, fists, and metal clanging against the Rhodes brothers’ flesh.
Then, as the noise dies down, the camera pulls slightly back and the lights dim just enough to set the mood. The eerie tone of Bray Wyatt’s voice creeps in before he even appears.
Bray Wyatt steps slowly into the frame, calm and almost curious as he surveys the damage his family just caused. He kneels down between the Rhodes brothers, looking at them like fallen animals. He takes one of the tag titles and looks at it longingly, before draping it across Goldust’s lifeless body.
Bray Wyatt:
"Still tryin’ to hold on to something that doesn’t belong to you..”
He slowly lifts his head, no longer looking at the Rhodes brothers, but staring directly into the camera, eyes piercing.
Bray Wyatt:
“They say we take orders.. that we belong to someone. That we’re just dogs, sent to bite when the whistle blows. But the truth is… nobody owns the devil. Not any McMahon, not Triple H, and certainly not Daniel Bryan. We don't follow, we awaken. You see… when the reapers come, they don’t knock on doors. They don’t leave warnings, nah. They show up in silence, and take whatever light’s still left.”
Bray looks down at Cody and Goldust.
Bray Wyatt:
“You two shimmer with your father’s name. Glitter, gold, memories of greatness… but all stars, no matter how bright, fade when the sky turns black.”
Bray slowly stands and steps closer to the camera. Harper and Rowan raise their masks to their faces in the background.
Bray Wyatt:
“The world forgets how easy it is to get lost.”
He leans in eerily right up to the camera.
Bray Wyatt:
“But we remember.”
Blackout.
Cue another short commercial break.
MATCH 2:
Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio
It’s a fast-paced, high-energy matchup from the opening bell. Rey Mysterio uses his speed and agility early, sending Rollins to the outside with a hurricanrana through the ropes. Rey goes for a sliding splash under the bottom rope, but Rollins sidesteps and plants him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the floor.
Back in the ring, Rollins slows the pace with a series of stiff stomps and corner offense. He taunts the crowd as Rey struggles to get back to his feet. Rey eventually finds an opening, countering a suplex attempt into a spinning DDT, and the momentum starts to swing.
They go back and forth for a while with Rey hitting a seated senton and a springboard crossbody, Rollins answering with a slingblade and a diving knee from the top rope. The crowd stays hot as eventually Rey rallies and hits a dropkick to Seth’s back. He calls for the 619 and hits it, connecting flush across Rollins’ jaw. He goes up top for the splash, but Roman Reigns suddenly hops up onto the apron.
The referee rushes over to get Reigns down, allowing Mysterio to get distracted just long enough for Rollins to recover. As Rey leaps, Rollins gets the knees up and lands them flush on Rey’s stomach. He transitions it immediately to a small package near the ropes. Unnoticed by the referee, Reigns reaches in and grabs Seth’s hand for some extra torque on the pin. The referee counts: 1..2..3!
Winner: Seth Rollins [11:06]
Michael Cole:
“Wait a minute! Roman Reigns just reached under the rope and grabbed Seth’s hand! He helped him steal the win!”
Booker T:
“Man… I don’t know, Cole. I saw somethin’, but it happened so quick. Coulda been nothin’.”
Michael Cole:
“Rey Mysterio had him! That was a stolen victory and you know it!”
Booker T:
“Look, Rey’s one of the best to ever do it, no doubt. But The Shield? They don’t play fair, Cole, they play to win. Believe that.”
Rollins rolls out of the ring grinning, Reigns by his side. Rey Mysterio appears upset in the ring, and is lightly arguing with the official about what happened, as RAW fades into a commercial break.
Back from commercial and Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are walking down the hall, laughing. Seth has a towel slung over his neck, still flushed from the match. Roman’s smirking, pulling on his gloves as they walk.
Seth Rollins:
"Man, did you see the look on Rey’s face? I don’t even think the ref knew what happened. That’s called execution, baby. That’s called chemistry."
Roman Reigns:
"That’s called a win."
They bump fists, still grinning as they slow their pace, and that's when Dean Ambrose strolls into frame, US Title on his shoulder.
Dean Ambrose:
"Well, well... look at you two. Feeling good, huh?"
Seth Rollins:
"Feeling great. We just embarrassed a legend out there."
Roman Reigns:
"Handled business."
Ambrose chuckles lightly as he adjusts the title around his shoulder.
Dean Ambrose:
"Yeah, yeah. You guys looked sharp. Just… don’t forget who’s the only one around here wearing gold."
Seth Rollins:
"No one’s forgetting, champ."
Roman Reigns:
"We’ll get ours. You just keep yours warm."
Before Dean can respond, R-Truth steps into frame, cool and direct. He walks right up to Ambrose and looks him in the eye, but Ambrose appears unbothered.
Dean Ambrose:
“Hey Truth…. What’s up?”
Rollins and Reigns snicker in the background as Ambrose keeps the grin on his face. Truth is all business, however.
R-Truth:
"Real cute dawg. That title? You’re holdin’ it like it belongs to you. But come Royal Rumble, you’ll realize you just been keepin’ it warm for me. You might be the champ now… but I’m the truth. And the truth hurts."
Truth walks off without another word. The Shield members share a brief glance before continuing down the hallway.
“YOU CAN LOOK BUT YOU CAN’T TOUCH” hits the speakers as the camera pans back to the ring area. Brie Bella makes her entrance first, followed shortly by Natalya, as we continue on to our next match.
MATCH 3:
Brie Bella vs. Natalya
The match starts with a quick handshake and some mutual respect, but both women bring the intensity early. Natalya uses her technical edge, working Brie to the mat with a series of holds and counters. Brie fires back with speed and strikes, catching Natalya off-guard with a running knee to the face that nearly scores the win.
It goes back and forth for a while. Natalya grounds Brie with a snap suplex and locks in a quick leg submission, but Brie reaches the ropes. Brie mounts a comeback with a dropkick off the middle rope and a running bulldog. Natalya blocks a second bulldog attempt and goes for the Sharpshooter, but Brie counters the Sharpshooter with a drop toe hold, sending Natalya throat-first into the middle rope. Brie gets up and hits a quick knee strike to the back, then drags Natalya to the center and hits the facebuster.
Winner: Brie Bella [8:02]
After the match, Brie helps Natalya to her feet. The two exchange a look before Natalya nods and offers her hand. Brie accepts, and the crowd gives a respectful cheer as they shake hands in the center of the ring.
Michael Cole:
What a win for Brie Bella! With what was on the line, that has to be one of the biggest wins she’s had recently. She made a real statement tonight.
Booker T:
Yeah man, Brie stepped up in a big way. Natalya brought the fight, but Brie handled her business. That’s how you earn respect in this division.
Michael Cole:
A hard-fought match, and a great show of sportsmanship at the end. But you have to wonder what this means for the Divas Championship picture.
Booker T:
You right Cole, but let’s keep it real… the question is, will this win even matter to Stephanie McMahon? Brie might’ve impressed the fans, but all that matters is if she impressed the boss.
Natalya is raising Brie’s hand in the ring as we cut to commercial.
MATCH 4:
Drew McIntyre vs. Santino Marella
Coming back from commercial, Santino Marella is already in the ring and has the cobra sock on his hand, playing to the crowd. Shortly though, “BROKEN DREAMS” hits the speakers as Drew McIntyre comes out to his former theme song. He’s all business, wearing his traditional tights. No headband, no air guitar, he walks with a purpose towards the ring.
Once the bell rings, Santino tries to start off with a smile and some Cobra showboating, even striking a few karate poses, but Drew isn’t in the mood.
The second Santino steps forward, Drew clobbers him with a big lariat that flips him inside out. He picks Santino up and hits him with a few back to back snap suplexes in quick succession. Drew drags Santino up by the head, slams him into the corner, and drives in a pair of stiff shoulders to the gut.
Santino stumbles out, dazed, still holding the Cobra sock. He’s completely disoriented. If we were in a morning cartoon, there would be birds circling his head as he looks around aimlessly. Drew kicks him square in the stomach, spikes him with the Future Shock DDT, and covers. 1.. 2.. 3!
Winner: Drew McIntyre [4:00? If you count karate shenanigans]
Drew McIntyre stands in the center of the ring, barely having broke a sweat from the short match. He grabs a mic from ringside, eyes focused, voice low.
Drew McIntyre:
“A few years ago, they called me ‘The Chosen One’. Vince McMahon’s personal endorsement. They branded me as a future world champion, and said the company was mine for the taking. But what happened? I lost focus, and I lost purpose. Instead of winning titles, I became a punchline. I ended up prancing around in a joke band with a couple of clowns, strutting an air guitar, and for what? What did that get me? While everyone laughed, I disappeared. You had your fun laughing at me, but now it’s my turn.”
He turns to face the hard cam, intensity building.
Drew McIntyre:
“No more jokes, no more distractions, no more wasted potential. I've been at the bottom, overlooked, written off. But I know who I am, and I know what I’m capable of. They anointed me “The Chosen One”, but I never asked for it, and I never needed it. Because now, I'm choosing myself. And it's time the world takes notice."
He drops the mic with a heavy thud and stares down the camera. He goes to exit the ring, before turning around and picking Santino Marella up from the ground. He hits one more Future Shock DDT to boos from the crowd before exiting the ring quickly and walking with purpose to the back.
Booker T:
“Man... Drew McIntyre lookin’ like a man possessed tonight. That ain’t the same dude we saw last year.”
Michael Cole:
“Well... he used to be the Chosen One. And if Drew McIntyre keeps talking like that and backing it up, maybe he still is. But folks up next, it's your main event. Daniel Bryan takes on Kane, a man who used to be his tag team partner, his teammate, even his friend. But tonight, it's all business. Daniel Bryan goes one-on-one with Kane, right here on RAW. Next!”
commercial
MATCH 5: Main Event
Daniel Bryan vs. Kane
The crowd gets fired up as Daniel Bryan makes his entrance, soaking in the loudest "Yes!" chants of the night. Fire pyro hits suddenly, scaring Booker T immensely, as Kane follows, slow and methodical. The announcers remind us of their history together: former Team Hell No partners, now bitter enemies on opposite sides of the Authority line.
The match starts off physical, with Kane using his power to control the pace early. He tosses Bryan around with big strikes and slows things down with a bear hug and some grounded offense. Bryan fights back with kicks to the legs and body, trying to chop the big man down.
It goes back and forth for a while, with Kane taking a clear advantage midway through the match. Kane hits a sidewalk slam for a two count, then goes for a top rope clothesline but gets caught with a dropkick mid-air. Bryan rallies with his signature corner dropkicks, then climbs to the top rope and lands a big missile dropkick that knocks Kane flat. He kips up to a huge ovation.
Bryan starts the "Yes!" Kicks in the middle of the ring and hits every single one, the final kick dropping Kane to a knee. Bryan backs into the corner and charges… running knee connects! He hooks the leg: 1.. 2.. 3!
Winner: Daniel Bryan [14:04]
The crowd cheers loudly as Bryan stands tall, arms raised, chanting "Yes!" with the crowd. He climbs to the middle rope, still celebrating… when suddenly, as he steps off the turnbuckle: RKO! Randy Orton had slid into the ring and planted Bryan with a brutal RKO, cutting the celebration short.
Orton stands over Bryan, holding the WWE Championship high in the air, soaking in the boos as the camera lingers on the image of Bryan laid out at his feet.
Michael Cole:
"Come on! What the hell is this? Bryan just fought his heart out and won that match fair and square!"
Booker T:
"That's the face of the company, dawg. Randy Orton's sendin' a message, loud and clear."
Michael Cole:
"Bryan stood up to Stephanie. He beat Kane, and he proved everything he said tonight… and THIS is the thanks he gets? I thought Randy wasn’t even here tonight!"
“VOICES” plays over the speakers to a chorus of boos. The final shot is Orton doing his signature pose, holding the title above his head as RAW fades to black.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday Night Heat
January 7th, 2014 – Cleveland, OH
We're welcomed to Sunday Night Heat by our commentators Tom Phillips and Renee Young. They welcome us to the very first ever edition of WWE Tuesday Night Heat, and announce the main event tonight of Dolph Ziggler vs Evan Bourne.
MATCH 1:
The Usos vs. Danny Burch & Scott Dawson
Jimmy and Jey Uso open up the show tonight, bringing a lot of energy from the get-go to get the fans into it. They’re facing off against the hard-nosed team of Danny Burch and Scott Dawson, two upcoming NXT talents. Burch and Dawson tried to slow things down with stiff strikes and grinding holds, but The Usos eventually found their rhythm. After a bit of back-and-forth, and with Burch and Dawson getting in some more offense than expected, Jey got the hot tag and cleaned house before finishing it off with a top rope splash to Dawson for the pin.
Winners: The Usos
SEGMENT 1:
RAW Rewind – Daniel Bryan’s Rollercoaster Night
A video package recaps the chaotic night Daniel Bryan had on RAW. It starts with his heated exchange in the ring with Stephanie McMahon, where Bryan called out The Authority for stacking the deck against him. Highlights follow of Bryan battling Kane in the main event and scoring a hard-fought clean win. Just as he began to celebrate, the clip ends with Randy Orton blindsiding Bryan with an RKO and standing tall over him with the WWE Championship.
MATCH 2:
Naomi vs Aksana
A competitive back-and-forth match with both women looking to stand out in the Divas division. Aksana tries to play against Naomi’s strengths and slow things down, grounding Naomi with a couple of well-placed slams, and locking in a few holds. But Naomi fights back with speed and athleticism, stringing together a quick burst of offense. She eventually connects with a jumping enziguri, then heads to the top and lands the split-legged moonsault for the win.
Winner: Naomi
After the match, Naomi is on the ramp headed to the back when Tamina comes from behind the stage and flatlines her with a huge body check. Tamina picks Naomi up and hits her with a Samoan drop right on the stage. A kid in the crowd yells "WHY?" and Tamina snaps back at him "Because I can!". Tamina exits as medical staff comes to check on Naomi.
SEGMENT 3:
Backstage with Tyson Kidd and Santino Marella
Tyson Kidd and Santino Marella are shown talking backstage. Santino’s in a good mood, laughing off what happened on RAW and making jokes about getting flattened by Drew McIntyre. He tells Tyson that if you want to entertain, then you can’t win them all. Santino says as long as he’s entertaining the crowd, then he’s happy. Kidd chuckles a little, but the more Santino talks, the more his expression changes. Santino says, “Guys like us, you know, we’re the glue that keeps things fun around here! We may never be title contenders but at least we’re having a good time!” Tyson doesn’t say much, just kind of nods and walks off mid-conversation while Santino’s still rambling. The camera hangs on Tyson for a second as he disappears around the corner, something clearly sitting with him.
SEGMENT 4:
The Wyatt Family wreaks havoc on RAW
We cut to a video recap of The Wyatt Family’s ambush on Cody Rhodes and Goldust from RAW. It shows the sneak attack backstage, with Harper and Rowan overwhelming the tag champs, and leaving them laid out.
The footage transitions into Bray Wyatt’s eerie post-attack promo. Highlights of his words echo under dark visuals: “The world forgets how easy it is to get lost. But we remember.”
The video ends with Bray staring directly into the camera and then hard cuts to pitch black.
MATCH 3:
Dolph Ziggler vs Evan Bourne
In the main event, Dolph Ziggler and Evan Bourne square off in a fast-paced, high-energy match. The two fan favorites trade momentum throughout, with Bourne showing off his speed and agility, while Ziggler leans into his athleticism and timing. After a strong back-and-forth that keeps the crowd engaged, Bourne misses the Air Bourne, giving Ziggler the opening he needs to hit the Zig Zag for the win.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Post-match, Ziggler helps Bourne up and the two shake hands in a clear sign of mutual respect as the show wraps up.
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Monday Night RAW
January 13th, 2014 – Providence, RI
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“The Night” by CFO$ blares through the arena speakers as the Monday Night RAW intro video hits. Pyro explodes across the stage as the camera sweeps across the sold out crowd in the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Fans hold signs high and chant loudly, creating a buzz of anticipation just 13 days before the Royal Rumble. The camera cuts to the announce team.
Michael Cole:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Monday Night RAW! We are live from Providence, Rhode Island, and after the way things kicked off last week, there’s no telling what might happen tonight.
Booker T:
Look here Cole, it’s already gettin’ heated in this new era of RAW! New rivalries, new attitude, and everybody’s tryin’ to grab that spotlight. You best believe folks are gonna be making statements tonight.
“VOICES” by Rev Theory hits the speakers as a roar of boos fills the air. Randy appears with the WWE Championship draped on his shoulder and a microphone in hand. He starts walking smugly to the ring.
Michael Cole:
Well, speaking of statements, this man right here made a major one last week. We were told he wasn’t even in the building! But clearly, that wasn’t the case.
Booker T:
That’s the champ right there, Cole! Slid in, hit that RKO outta nowhere, and shut it down last week. Now he’s openin’ the show? Aww yeah we startin’ off hot tonight, dawg!
SEGMENT ONE:
Randy vs Bryan, tonight?
The WWE Champion enters the ring and hits his traditional pose on the turnbuckle to another round of boos. He paces around the ring a little bit before speaking.
Orton explains that no, he wasn’t supposed to be at RAW last week, but being champion isn’t about following schedules. It’s about making statements. And that's exactly what he did.
Randy Orton:
Did you think I was going to let Daniel Bryan close this show? MY show? I’m the champion. The focus should be on me, always.
Orton says the WWE Championship comes with power, and that means RAW begins and ends on his terms. As long as that title is over his shoulder, the spotlight doesn’t belong to anyone else.
Suddenly, “Flight of the Valkyries” hits, and the crowd erupts. Bryan comes out with a sarcastic smile on his face. He laughs a little bit before firing right back at Randy.
Daniel Bryan:
You’re right about one thing, Randy, this is your show. It’s your show, because The Authority gave you this show! You didn’t earn it, in fact, you haven’t actually earned anything in a long time. Meanwhile, I’m here working my ass off every single week, fighting and clawing for my shot. And you? You can’t even be bothered to show up until the end of the show. You think you’re tough because what, you can sneak behind me and hit me with an RKO? Congratulations Randy, you ended the show on your terms just like you said… like a coward! You say this is your show, but you don’t even understand what it’s about. This show doesn’t run through you, like you claim. It has, and always will, run through THEM!
Daniel points out to the crowd as the crowd roars with “YES!” chants.
Daniel Bryan:
But hey, since you’re actually here tonight, why don’t you finally act like a champion and give me the match I want. You and me, tonight, one on one, for the WWE Championship!
The crowd pops again, but before Orton can respond, Stephanie McMahon’s music hits. Stephanie walks out onto the stage, with her fake arrogant smile on her face.
Stephanie McMahon:
Oh, Daniel, always so eager. You want a match with Randy tonight? You’ve got one. But, maybe, not exactly, the one that you want. You see around here, we’re efficient, and we like to kill two birds with one stone. So, tonight’s main event will be Daniel Bryan teaming up with R-Truth, versus the team of Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose. Enjoy!
Stephanie smirks as Orton nods confidently. Bryan ends up frustrated again, staring down Orton from the ramp.
MATCH ONE:
Roman Reigns vs Rob Van Dam
The match starts off at a fast pace, with both men trading momentum early. Reigns tries to use his power to his advantage early, but RVD countered with his agility to land a stiff spinning heel kick, forcing Reigns to roll to the outside to slow things down.
Roman pulls things back in his favor later in the match after catching RVD mid-air with a thunderous clothesline. He keeps the offense going for an extended stretch, punishing Van Dam with heavy strikes in the corner and a big Samoan Drop for a two count.
Van Dam battles back with a flurry of kicks, eventually dropping Reigns with a step-over spinning wheel kick. He’s able to connect with his signature Rolling Thunder before going to the turnbuckle and hopping onto the top rope.
But before he can launch, Seth Rollins hops up onto the apron, yelling and waving his arms. RVD turns his attention toward Rollins, shouting back at him as the ref rushes over to get Seth down.
The distraction is all Reigns needs to get to his feet and recover. He charges forward and hits the ropes, knocking RVD off balance and crotching him on the top turnbuckle before he forward flips back into the ring. Reigns wastes no time and connects with a Superman Punch flush to Van Dam’s face. Roman then hits the far side, comes charging in, and delivers a massive Spear. He hooks the leg for the cover and gets a 1..2..3!
Winner: Roman Reigns
Rollins slides into the ring with a grin on his face, and the two immediately start laying into RVD with stomps and punches. The crowd comes to their feet however as Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and Rey comes sprinting down the ramp with a steel chair in hand. He slides into the ring and starts swinging. Rollins and Reigns scramble out to the floor, backing up the ramp. Rey stands tall in the end, checking on RVD with the chair still in hand.
SEGMENT TWO:
Bray Wyatt Speaks
The screen fades in from black as we see Bray Wyatt on screen. He appears to be in a room, but no walls are visible, it’s as if he’s in a place with no time or structure. He’s sitting in his rocking chair, face lit only by the soft flicker of his lantern.
Bray Wyatt:
There are things in this life that we just don’t question. The sun sets, the moon rises, the tides pull. And brothers? Well, they follow. But.. what happens when the tide don’t come back? What happens when one of those brothers, he finally opens his eyes man, and he realizes those footsteps he’s followin’ are leadin’ him straight off a cliff?
Bray pauses, tilting his head slightly, a small smile creeping on his face. His breath is slow, and steady, voice remaining soft in tone but harsh in delivery.
Bray Wyatt:
Last week, they were smiling. Talkin’, tellin’ the world how they did this together. They were holdin’ onto gold, pretendin’ that it makes ‘em whole. But then.. we came. We didn’t want to break ‘em, nah, just remind ‘em what it feels like to fall. Fall, together. You’ve forged your identity in brotherhood but forgotten just who you are. Or at least, what you were. You can only wear a mask for so long, ‘fore it starts to fit your face. And you can only share a shadow ‘fore one of you disappears in it. That mirror that you both stand in front of is startin’ to crack. And once it shatters, somethin’ else will start to crawl through. Somethin’ way worse than us, and somethin’ you won’t come back from. But until that time comes..
We’re here.
Bray emphatically blows out the lantern and the screen goes to black. The Wyatt Family music hits as Bray Wyatt leads Luke Harper and Erick Rowan out for their next match.
MATCH TWO:
Wyatt Family (Harper and Rowan) vs The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
Jimmy starts the match trying to be super aggressive to throw Harper off his game. He lands a series of blows to push Harper into the corner, but he’s able to turn it around on Jimmy and land a series of short arm clotheslines in the corner. Harper slaps his own face, wild-eyed, as he drags Jimmy to the ropes and chokes him across the middle strand. As the ref counts, Harper backs off, grinning like a madman. The Wyatt Family takes early control, with quick tags and heavy, punishing offense that keeps Jimmy isolated in their corner.
The camera briefly cuts to Bray Wyatt at ringside, rocking slowly in his chair. He’s calm, watching. Harper whips Jimmy hard to the outside, and he crashes at Bray’s feet. Bray leans forward slightly and lets out a low chuckle, his lantern flickering beside him.
Later in the match, Jey finally gets the tag after Jimmy ducks a clothesline and dives across the mat. Jey comes in hot, taking down Rowan with a flying forearm and catching Harper with a dropkick that knocks him off the apron. He climbs to the top and hits a crossbody for a near fall, getting the crowd back into it. Jey keeps the momentum going, dodging a big boot from Rowan and hitting a HUGE Samoan drop. He tags Jimmy back in and the brothers double team Rowan, hitting him with stereo superkicks.
Jimmy and Jey Uso climb to the top rope and go for a double Samoan splash, but Harper knocks Jey off the top rope leaving enough time for Rowan to get up and catch Jimmy flying through the air. Rowan hits a massive full nelson slam and then tags in Harper, who nearly takes Jimmy’s head off with a discus lariat. Harper makes the cover and gets the 1.. 2.. 3!
Winners: Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
Bray is shown slowly rising from his chair with a wicked grin on his face following the victory. But before he can take a step forward, Cody Rhodes and Goldust slide into the ring from opposite sides and go straight after Harper and Rowan! Cody charges at Harper and barrels him into the corner, while Goldust unloads wild punches on Rowan, the brothers fighting with urgency and fire. Cody tosses Harper over the top rope as Goldust clotheslines Rowan to the outside. The crowd pops loud as the tag champs stand tall in the ring, breathing heavy, staring down the Wyatt Family on the outside.
Bray, now standing still at ringside with his lantern in hand, smiles again. Not angry, he has an expression on his face that almost appears amused. The camera lingers on Bray as he leans his head to the side, watching the Rhodes Brothers from the floor like he knew this was coming all along. Cody and Goldust stay in the ring and dare the Wyatts to get back in, as Bray laughs eerily and the Wyatts slowly retreat backwards towards the back.
SEGMENT THREE:
Can Ambrose and Orton Co-Exist?
Dean Ambrose is pacing backstage, rolling his shoulders loose, the U.S. Title slung half-off his shoulder. He’s muttering something under his breath when Randy Orton walks into frame, calm and smug with the WWE Championship glinting under the lights.
Randy Orton:
Well, look who it is. My partner, the United States champion himself.
Dean Ambrose:
And if it isn’t the guy who only shows up when it’s convenient.. right on schedule.
Randy Orton:
Listen, I don’t care what your deal is. You keep your crazy in check tonight. We’re not friends, we’re just two champions doing a job. You got that?
Dean Ambrose:
Oh, I’m real clear on what this is. You’ve got a spotlight to protect, I’ve got people to hurt. Works out for both of us… as long as you don’t try to micromanage me, Mr. Authority.
Randy Orton:
Let me make myself clear. I start it, and I finish it. I don’t need you going off and doing your own thing, I’ve got this under control.
Dean Ambrose:
Yeah and you need that control, don’t you Randy? That’s why guys like me keep you up at night.
Randy Orton:
Just be where you’re supposed to be, do what you’re supposed to do, and we won’t have a problem.
Dean Ambrose:
I’m always exactly where I’m supposed to be. Can’t say the same for you.. partner.
Ambrose walks off and Orton watches him go, not pleased with how the interaction went.
MATCH THREE:
Tyson Kidd vs. Drew McIntyre
Tyson Kidd is being accompanied to the ring by Santino Marella, who just lost to Drew McIntyre last week. Tyson doesn’t exactly look pleased to be joined by Santino, but nonetheless is focused on Drew and the match ahead.
When the bell rings, Santino hops on the apron and tries to give Tyson the Cobra sock puppet. Tyson looks at Santino, bewildered, as you can hear Santino say “Trust me! It’ll work!” Tyson takes the cobra before throwing it back at Santino’s face, saying it’s a joke. As Tyson turns around, Drew hits him with a huge running big boot that sends Tyson in the air and crashing down hard. McIntyre picks him up, and hooks his arms to hit a Future Shock DDT and pins him: 1.. 2.. 3!
Winner: Drew McIntyre
An extremely quick and decisive win for McIntyre who leaves abruptly and with purpose, as Santino consoles both Tyson in the ring (and the Cobra puppet who now feels very rejected).
SEGMENT FOUR:
AJ Lee Confronts her Royal Rumble Opponent
AJ Lee stands in the ring with Tamina by her side, Divas Championship draped over her shoulder.
AJ Lee:
Every week, I listen to the same broken record. Who deserves a shot, who’s next, who has just worked so hard. Frankly, it’s exhausting. Because while everyone else is busy whining, I’m out here doing what I’ve always done, proving I’m the best. I’m the longest reigning Divas champion of all time, and nobody is going to take that away from me, just like they’re not going to take this title away from me.
So, whoever steps up at the Royal Rumble? It simply does not matter. The result will be the same.
"You Can Look But You Can't Touch" hits as Brie and Nikki Bella make their way to the ring. Both step through the ropes and face off with AJ and Tamina.
Brie Bella:
You’ve been talking a lot, AJ. But your time’s almost up. You may talk a big game but when it comes down to it, all you’ve really been doing is hiding behind Tamina for months. And at the Rumble? You won’t be able to hide anymore. Because I’m not backing down, not this time!
Stephanie McMahon’s music hits and the crowd groans with frustration of having to see her twice in one night. She has a microphone in hand.
Stephanie McMahon:
Ladies, I hate to interrupt this little… empowerment moment. But Brie, I think there’s been a little confusion. You see, I never said you were getting a title match at the Royal Rumble. I mean, that was never promised. I’m sorry that you just made that assumption. You know, it’s funny, I had to come out here and squash your husband’s delusions earlier and now I’m having to do the same thing with you. Is anyone in your family in touch with reality? I mean really, he thinks he’s getting a title match, you think you’re getting a title match, I just don’t understand.
Brie looks stunned. Nikki glances over but stays quiet.
Stephanie McMahon:
But you are half right because a Bella will be getting a title match at the Royal Rumble… just… not you, Brie. The Divas Championship match at the Royal Rumble will be AJ Lee defending her title against Nikki Bella.
The crowd reacts in shock. Brie turns to Nikki, blindsided. Nikki doesn’t say a word. AJ seems surprised but also is clearly enjoying Brie’s misery in the moment.
Stephanie McMahon:
And Nikki, you know since you're already dressed and in the ring, why don’t we go ahead and get you warmed up? Because I’ve got a little surprise opponent for you. Someone who I was trying to find a way to get involved here tonight and well, this seems like the perfect opportunity.
Mickie James’s music hits as the former WWE Women’s Champion steps onto the stage.
Michael Cole:
Are you kidding me?! Mickie James is back!
Booker T:
Tell me I am not seeing this! Mickie James is back, dawg! This just got real!
Mickie makes her way to the ring, locking eyes with Nikki. AJ and Tamina leave the ring and head to the back with AJ and Mickie giving each other a glance as they pass each other on the ramp. Brie slides out to the ringside area, still going to be there ringside for her sister but clearly still trying to process everything that’s happening.
MATCH FOUR:
Nikki Bella vs Mickie James
Mickie James gets a strong reaction as she enters the ring, soaking in the crowd’s pop after her surprise return. The match begins with a respectful lock-up, but it doesn’t take long for Mickie to shift the tone. After a clean break, Mickie slaps Nikki across the face, drawing a collective “ooh” from the crowd and a confused but pissed off reaction from Nikki.
Nikki fires back eventually with a series of shoulder blocks and a dropkick, sending Mickie to the outside. The crowd cheers for Nikki as Brie claps on from the floor. Mickie takes her time reentering the ring, smirking now, a little more aggressive.
Once back in, Mickie gains control of the match with an aggressive, physical moveset that we didn’t quite see out of her during her last run. The crowd starts to sour on her as she showboats, even mocking Brie by pointing at her and yelling, “She’s not ready!” However, Nikki takes advantage of Mickie’s mocking and hits an enzuigiri, allowing her to get back into the match. Later, as Nikki Bella still has the advantage, she irish whips Mickie into the corner and begins to run towards her. As Nikki charges in, Mickie uses the referee as a shield, pulling him slightly in front of her. The hesitation gives Mickie just enough time to land a thumb to Nikki’s eye behind the ref’s back, drawing loud boos now from the crowd.
Nikki stumbles backward, and Mickie goes for the Mickie-DT, but Nikki shoves her off and hits a big spinebuster. She goes for the cover, but as she does, Brie hops up onto the apron, yelling at the referee about the eye poke. The ref turns to Brie, distracted.
Nikki looks over confused, waving Brie off. Mickie capitalizes on the distraction, rolling Nikki up from behind with a handful of tights. 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Mickie James
Mickie immediately rolls out of the ring and smirks as she backs up the ramp, raising her arms while the crowd now gives her a mixed, mostly negative reaction. In the ring, Nikki sits up frustrated, looking directly at Brie with confusion and irritation.
Brie tries to explain that she was trying to help, but Nikki doesn’t look convinced. The two share a tense moment as Mickie watches from the stage with a grin on her face.
SEGMENT FIVE:
Interview with R-Truth
Renee Young is standing by with a mic in hand.
Renee Young:
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time… R-Truth.
Truth steps into frame, wearing his gear and hoodie, focused but calm. There’s a subtle fire in his eyes and the light-hearted demeanor we’ve come to know from Truth is not there.
Renee Young:
Truth, in less than two weeks, you’ll be challenging Dean Ambrose for the United States Championship at the Royal Rumble. But before that, you’re teaming with Daniel Bryan tonight to face Ambrose and WWE Champion Randy Orton tonight. What’s your mindset heading into both of these huge challenges?
R-Truth:
You know somethin', Renee… for a long time, people ain’t taken me serious. I know that. I’ve danced, I’ve joked, I’ve made folks laugh. And I ain’t ashamed of that. That was me. But this me now, with this opportunity at the Rumble? That’s somethin’ different.
Renee Young:
What makes it different?
R-Truth:
Because now, I ain’t tryin’ to entertain. I’m tryin’ to make history. Dean Ambrose been walkin’ around with that title for too long, like he owns it.. like it’s owed to him. But I’ve been in this game a long time, and I’ve earned this shot. And tonight? Teamin’ with Bryan against Ambrose and Orton? I ain’t just showin’ up to play my part, I’m here to stand out. I came to win.
Truth looks into the camera.
R-Truth:
You lookin’ at the next United States Champion. And that’s the truth.
He walks off calmly, leaving Renee looking surprised by his intensity.
MATCH FIVE:
Dolph Ziggler vs Alberto Del Rio
The bell rings and both men lock up in the center of the ring. The two go back and forth trading momentum in the early portions of the match. Ziggler uses his quickness to slip behind Del Rio into a waistlock, but Del Rio counters with a sharp elbow to the side of the head. Ziggler stumbles back, and Del Rio follows up with a hard kick to the leg, then a snap suplex right in the center of the ring. He floats into a quick cover, but Ziggler kicks out before one. Ziggler pops up and uses his agility to catch Del Rio off guard with a dropkick to the chest, then hits a running elbow drop for an early one-count.
Del Rio takes control midway through the match, working over Ziggler’s shoulder with a series of targeted strikes and an armbar to slow the pace down. He slams Ziggler shoulder-first into the turnbuckle and follows it with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall.
Ziggler starts to rally, ducking under a clothesline and connecting with a jumping DDT to shift the momentum. He climbs to the top rope and lands a big jumping elbow, firing up the crowd. Ziggler goes for the cover and only gets a 2 count, much to his dismay. He tries to lift Del Rio for a suplex, but Del Rio rakes the eyes behind the ref’s back and nails a step-up enzuigiri out of nowhere to drop Ziggler and regain the momentum.
Del Rio hovers over the back of Ziggler and calls for the Cross Armbreaker, but Ziggler spins out of it, shoves Del Rio into the ropes, and catches him on the rebound with a Zig Zag that plants him in the center of the ring. Ziggler covers: 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler gets to his feet, holding his shoulder but nodding to the crowd with a smirk. He rolls out of the ring, fist raised, as Del Rio rolls to the apron, holding his head.
Michael Cole:
Dolph comes out with the victory here tonight, and he’s starting to pick up some momentum heading into the Royal Rumble.
Booker T:
You ain’t lyin’ Cole! This the time you wanna start heatin’ up, right before that Rumble match!
Michael Cole:
And well folks, speaking of momentum, it’s main event time here on RAW. Daniel Bryan and R-Truth will team together to take on United States Champion Dean Ambrose, and the WWE Champion, Randy Orton.
Booker T:
That’s a whole lotta heat in that ring! You got two champs, one man chasin’ gold, and Daniel Bryan who’s been coming for Randy Orton for months now. And that RKO last week? Man, that just lit the fuse, dawg!
Michael Cole:
It’s been a battle for respect, control, and opportunity ever since the Authority got involved. Bryan’s been climbing uphill the entire time and tonight, he gets another shot at the man holding the title.
Booker T:
And don’t sleep on my homie R-Truth! He ain’t jokin’ no more. My man’s laser-focused on that U.S. Title. Truth comin’ for Ambrose, and business is 'bout to pick up, baby!
Michael Cole:
And the tension is palpable on the other side of the ring too. Can Ambrose and Orton even co-exist in this match? We’re about to find out, next!
MATCH SIX [MAIN EVENT]:
Daniel Bryan and R-Truth vs Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose
The match starts with Ambrose and Truth feeling each other out. Truth shows off some quickness early on, keeping Ambrose off balance with fast counters and unorthodox offense. But once Orton tags in, the tone shifts and the champions take over.
For several minutes, Ambrose and Orton work surprisingly well as a unit, cutting the ring in half and isolating Truth. They grind him down with quick tags, double-team stomps, and that slow, punishing rhythm Orton loves to impose. Truth fights back in flashes, but each time he gains momentum, Ambrose or Orton shuts it down.
Eventually, Truth creates just enough separation to make the tag, and Bryan explodes into the match. He takes out Ambrose with a corner dropkick, then hits a running clothesline on Orton that fires the crowd up. Bryan runs through both opponents with his signature kicks, feeding off the energy of the crowd.
But the momentum doesn't last. Orton slows things down, and he and Ambrose start tagging themselves in and out a little more aggressively, each trying to one-up the other with who can inflict more damage. Ambrose screams at Bryan between punches. Orton shouts at Ambrose to “stay focused.” Obvious cracks are beginning to show with the pairing and it’s becoming harder for them to stay on the same page.
The match continues a little longer, however. Bryan is able to tag Truth back in who gets some more offense in the mix. Truth looks as flashy as always, hitting his patented splits in the middle of the ring to duck a clothesline by Ambrose and then hitting him with a running forearm where Truth spins 360 degrees in the air. Ambrose is able to get a tag into Orton who slows Truth down and re-gains control of the match.
Later on, Orton appears to be close to ending the matchup, and drapes Truth over the middle ropes to land his signature rope-hung DDT. As he’s gearing up to hit the RKO, Ambrose reaches over and tags himself in! Orton is pissed now and turns to Ambrose as he’s getting in the ring, yelling at him asking what he’s doing. Orton gets out and gets on the apron and hits Ambrose in the chest, tagging himself back in again. As the argument continues and the two are distracted, they don’t notice that Truth has recovered from the DDT and has made the tag to Bryan. Truth gets up and charges at Ambrose, sending him spiraling over the top rope with a clothesline. Truth turns around and gets leveled with an RKO, as Randy goes for the cover. The referee doesn’t count however, Orton missed the tag to Bryan and didn’t realize that Truth wasn’t the legal man. As Orton gets up from the cover attempt to argue with the referee, Daniel Bryan sprints at him and connects with the Running Busaiku Knee! Bryan covers: 1..2..3!
Winners: Daniel Bryan and R-Truth
Daniel Bryan gets to his feet as the crowd erupts into thunderous “YES!” chants. Truth slides back into the ring, joining Bryan as the referee raises both of their hands. Orton rolls to the floor clutching his jaw, staring back at the ring in disbelief, while Ambrose is still recovering near the timekeeper’s area.
Michael Cole:
Daniel Bryan just pinned the WWE Champion! Bryan pinned the champion! What a victory for Bryan tonight here on RAW!
Booker T:
Aw wow! Daniel Bryan just pinned the champ, dawg! You know Steph ain’t gonna be smilin’ about this one, Cole. That’s a big-time statement right there for Bryan!
Ambrose gets in Orton’s face, clearly blaming him for the loss. Orton shoves Ambrose back with one hand, pointing up at Bryan in the ring. The two continue jawing as Orton backs up the ramp, shaking his head. Ambrose doesn’t follow. He lingers near ringside, stewing.
Meanwhile, Bryan climbs the corner turnbuckle, leading the crowd in a thunderous chorus of YES! chants as Truth joins in the celebration, while never taking his eyes off Ambrose.
That is our final image as RAW fades out to black.
Last edited:
Tuesday Night Heat
January 14th, 2014 – Providence, RI
Tom Phillips and Renee Young welcome us to Tuesday Night Heat, live from the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Tom states that the main event tonight will feature an upcoming NXT talent, Slate Randall, as he goes one-on-one with Wade Barrett. Renee exclaims that it should be a good one, as she's excited for our opening bout between two of the Total Divas cast members: Natalya Neidhart and Eva Marie.
Natalya Neidhart vs. Eva Marie
The match between the two Total Divas kicks off with Natalya taking control, leaning into her technical background with things like a quick snap suplex and a tight headlock that keeps Eva grounded. Eva shows some fight here and there, but she has a hard time keeping up with Natalya’s pace and experience in the early going. Eva catches a break with a hair pull takedown and lands a few stiff forearms in the corner. She keeps Natalya down for a stretch with a chinlock and some corner chokes, slowing the pace and drawing some heat from the crowd. However, her inexperience shows as she takes too long taunting the crowd, and Natalya capitalizes with a discus clothesline. After shutting down Eva’s brief comeback, Natalya locks in the Sharpshooter clean in the center of the ring. Eva fights it for a moment before tapping out.
Winner: Natalya Neidhart
---
Royal Rumble match announced:
RVD and Rey Mysterio vs The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns)
A quick highlight package rolls, recapping the last two weeks on RAW. The Shield’s picked up two straight wins, but neither came clean. First, Seth Rollins got the better of Rey Mysterio thanks to some well-timed help from Roman Reigns at ringside. Then last week, Reigns scored a win over Rob Van Dam after Rollins jumped on the apron and opened the door for a Superman Punch and a Spear. After the match, The Shield tried to put the boots to RVD, but Rey came flying down with a steel chair in hand and sent them packing.
After the clip ends, a match graphic flashes on screen: RVD and Mysterio vs The Shield at the Royal Rumble.
Tom Phillips:
And there you have it, it’s official! Sunday January 26th, Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio team up to take on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns of The Shield at the Royal Rumble!
Royal Rumble Tag Team Titles match announced:
Cody Rhodes and Goldust © vs The Wyatt Family (Erick Rowan and Luke Harper)
Another video recap airs afterwards, highlighting the growing tension between The Rhodes Brothers and The Wyatt Family over the past two weeks. It started when The Wyatt Family ambushed Cody and Goldust during a backstage interview. The beatdown was violent and unprovoked, with chairs, fists, and steel crates crashing into the champions while Bray calmly watched the wreckage unfold.
One week later, Harper and Rowan dominated The Usos, but didn’t have long to celebrate. Cody and Goldust hit the ring the moment the match ended, going straight after the Wyatt Family with a reckless abandon, chasing them out of the ring and making a statement that they aren’t about to back down.
An on-screen graphic follows: Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs The Wyatt Family, Tag Team Titles on the line at the Royal Rumble.
Renee Young:
And this is now official as well. Also at the Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes and Goldust will defend the WWE Tag Team Championships against The Wyatt Family’s Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. And Tom, this one’s gonna get ugly fast.
---
Tyson Kidd and Santino Marella vs Scott Dawson and Danny Burch
Burch and Dawson take control early, grinding Santino down with hard strikes and no-frills offense. They keep the tags quick and the pressure constant. Santino gets in a couple of flashes of offense. A hip toss, a jab or two, but nothing that really swings momentum. The punishment continues for a while with Kidd hopping on the apron, begging for a tag to get in on the action. Eventually, he counters one of Dawson’s moves with a back body drop. Santino fights to his feet and dives for the corner, stretching for the tag…
…but Tyson Kidd hops off the apron.
The crowd starts buzzing. Santino looks stunned, sitting there on his knees, staring out at his partner with a sad, pleading look on his face. Kidd doesn’t say a word, he just stands at ringside, watching.
And that’s all that Dawson needs. He clubs Santino hard from behind, drags him to the corner, and tags in Burch. The two hit a brutal double-team combo, with Dawson hitting a big spinebuster, and Burch following through with a nasty sliding lariat. Burch covers Santino. 1.. 2.. 3!
Winners: Scott Dawson and Danny Burch
Tyson Kidd takes it to Santino Marella Post-Match
As Burch and Dawson exit the ring, Tyson Kidd slides in. For a moment, Tyson just stares down at Santino, saying nothing. Santino starts to stir, holding his head, confused and hurting. Tyson crouches beside him like he might lend a hand but instead grabs him by the head and fires off a sharp elbow right to the jaw.
The crowd starts booing loud, as Tyson climbs on top of Santino and starts unloading with fists and elbows, not holding back. Santino tries to cover up, but Kidd’s relentless, yelling at him with each blow. “Just entertainment, right?!” Tyson shouts. “Happy to lose?!”
Then, he sees the Cobra sock puppet. Tyson picks it up with a weird smile on his face as he puts it on his hand. He then starts hitting Santino more, with the Cobra attached, using Santino’s own friend against him. Tyson gets up and rips the sock off his arm, throws it down on the ground and begins stomping on it. The poor, defenseless Cobra now lays in the ring with a shoe imprint and slight tears in the fabric.
Kidd plants one last boot down on Santino’s chest and steps out of the ring without saying a word. As he walks up the ramp, Dawson and Burch are still standing nearby. They nod at him quietly, and Tyson gives a quick nod back before disappearing to the back.
---
Wade Barrett vs Slate Randall (Main Event)
Wade Barrett takes control early on, leaning into his experience to keep Randall, an NXT talent, off his game. He stays aggressive, landing heavy shots and cutting off any space for Slate to get going. It’s clear Barrett wants to slow things down and make this match about power and control, letting his veteran instincts shine early. But Randall doesn’t just roll over. He fires back with sharp strikes and nails a running shoulder block that catches Barrett by surprise, giving him a quick burst of offense.
Slate starts to show some fire, hitting a jumping neckbreaker for a close two-count and getting the crowd behind him. He corners Barrett and climbs up onto the ropes, raining down punches while shouting “Yeah!” with every hit to get the crowd even louder. It looks like he might be building to something big, but Barrett cuts him off with a sudden spinning side slam that brings the momentum right back to his side.
From there, Barrett takes over and punishes Randall with stiff knees in the corner, controlling the rest of the match with ease. Eventually, he backs up and lines him up for the Bull Hammer. Randall slowly gets to his feet, and Barrett levels him with the elbow. He hooks the leg and gets the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
Heat ends with Wade Barrett standing tall in the ring, a statement made that he belongs in the Royal Rumble match.
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WWE Monday Night RAW - January 6, 2014:
Ah, how I remember split diaries. I tried a handful of them in different formations, but the only one I was able to make work was a collaborative effort where I handled the creative and they took care of the writing. It lasted a cool seven months.
I think 2014 is certainly an interesting time period to play with, given it was about two years removed from the last major brand split. I’m not keen on how the WWE Unified World Heavyweight Championship was handled so swiftly in the fallout of Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2013, but if there is any time for a reset, New Year is a good one to choose. It does undercut a lot of storylines which were in play, most notably Daniel Bryan’s rise to prominence (timely, given WrestleMania XXX is rapidly approaching), and there is the Royal Rumble and Road to WrestleMania build approaching, which typically does blur the lines. That said, after the Christmas lull period which WWE typically experienced in those years, it’s a good hook to get people chimed in.
The layout for RAW is fine, very clean and simplistic.
Daniel Bryan opening the show created the obvious storyline continuation for his prevailing problems with The Authority. Rightly so. It’s always important to establish the big threats right away to a prominent babyface.
Quick way to set up a challenger to the WWE United States Championship, who by all accounts was the underdog in this one. Pretty stacked line-up between Rob Van Dam, Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio. R-Truth was not yet at the bottom of the totem, but I don’t see him reclaiming the gold.
The Divas division was not in a healthy place, particularly where storylines were concerned in 2013/2014. I liked mingling with Stephanie and Brie Bella, though. It set up a match and did its job, but I feel like the bigger story is where we go with Brie and McMahon.
Pretty zany angle with The Wyatt Family assaulting The Rhodes Brothers. Obviously I’m curious what the plan may be for Cody Rhodes given how far he has come in the past decade. Hopefully not a lightning push to the top just yet, or anything like that.
Seth Rollins going over Rey Mysterio was fine for what it was. Roman Reigns helping Seth cheat didn’t feel as strong as what one usually can expect from The Shield, that said. This would’ve been a good match. I wonder if Rey will be sticking around, given he was one foot out of the door and complacent by this point in the run.
I think a key thing for consideration in 2014 is how we handle establishing each unique persona for the members of The Shield. Dean Ambrose I forgot was even the WWE United States Champion at this point.
Not a shock to see Brie Bella earn a WWE Divas Championship shot.
Pretty hard turn to old routines for Drew McIntyre. I can’t say it’s a bad decision, but I would have preferred we see some context as opposed to a raw character switch-up. I do question whether Drew had the right legs under him to build up to a main event run in 2014. Again, I just hope it’s progressive and nothing drastic.
Daniel Bryan defeating Kane was fine. Was this Corporate Kane or Devil’s Favorite Demon Kane, I wonder. I liked Randy Orton jumping in for the RKO finish when all was said and done, but I do feel like we should have seen more of the WWE Champion on this show.
Not a bad start. I take it you’ve pulled RAW back into a two-hour show. The length wasn’t there, and I do feel like there was potential for more character and storyline building of miscellaneous acts. With the Rumble coming up, I was surprised it was barely mentioned as of yet.
WWE Tuesday Night Heat - January 7, 2014:
I’m a bit conflicted about going back to old trademarks for the B-shows. WWE Main Event and WWE Superstars, although generic, were at least a slightly more modern flare than the Ruthless Aggression-savvy Heat and Velocity.
The Usos beating Scott Dawson and Danny Burch was fine for what it was. It’s still very early for Dawson and Burch, but it was nice to see them get a cameo here. It’s notable that NXT is playing out, outside of this project.
Naomi beating Aksana was alright. Naomi made her gifted self known a lot in 2013, but the Funkadactyls were still very green at this point. Aksana was terrible, from what I recall. Was the right move throwing this on the B-show. Tamina wasn’t much better, but an undercard story it is nonetheless.
I figure that a push is on the way for Tyson Kidd. Santino Marella could be fun opposition for him. Kidd does need a way to get over after his previous singles runs didn’t hold long.
Dolph Ziggler defeating Evan Bourne made for a good match to close the show. I would love to see Dolph in a position to reclimb the ranks in 2014. Not sure about the nature of it being face against face, but c’est la vie. The respect was there.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown - January 10, 2014:
Very different format from Hajjhowe. Maybe a little harder to read given the small font, but again it’s clean and very easy to access. I think that it could use some images in the least.
Very big main event set up in the opening promo. I think a Steel Cage match is a little drastic for John Cena and CM Punk, as lengthy a history they may have with one another. I think the dynamic is a little odd with two babyfaces working a cage match, but maybe that’s just me.
It’s out there to have a shorter Royal Rumble match to set up a number one contender to the WWE Championship, when the actual Royal Rumble match is coming up in a few weeks. The field gave me a glimpse of what to expect from the SmackDown roster, with a lot of the lesser established stars and those with budding potential. The likes of Big E Langston, Sin Cara and Alex Riley on this show with veterans Big Show, Christian and Mark Henry should help them out quite a bit. I wasn’t expecting Christian to come away on top, and Fandango as the last man to be eliminated was a big surprise. I would have gone with a Ryback type here, based off of how his business with John Cena ended in 2013. That said, Ryback fell a lot in momentum after that, I’m not sure how it would work.
Shane McMahon coming back so soon was pretty swift, but it makes sense for the whole Authority angle playing out. It’s probably not the direction, but I’d love to see some interplay with Shane and Stephanie McMahon when it comes to Daniel Bryan, should he be on the path to the WWE Championship over on RAW.
Not as keen on Colt Cabana coming back in, though seeing Sami Zayn make the switch to the main roster is not a bad move. I don’t think they should be a long-term tag team, that said. Drew McIntyre going solo does make sense with 3MB being divided by the brand split. Very different approach to see Mercedes Martinez enter the WWE at this juncture. She would have been a prime age for the spot, though. Cheerleader Melissa is a very surprising candidate as well. I don’t know about the need for both William Regal and Sara Del Rey as managers, but it makes a unique faction if anything. Kaitlyn was a good hand and I believe should be back on the chase of gold in the coming months. Alicia Fox…not so much.
I actually like The Major Broskis as a name for the reuniting Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. All of these assembled teams does make me realise how limited the tag team ranks were at this time. Los Matadores was an attempt at something. Another face team against a face team made for an awkward dynamic, but at least the World Tag Team Championship Tournament element makes it worthwhile.
Christian standing tall over John Cena and CM Punk was the right way to go, but I do suspect a rematch incoming involving all three of these guys, possibly at the Royal Rumble. It was the right way out of the Steel Cage situation with the World Heavyweight Championship hanging in lieu. Christian was always a better heel than a face.
Not a bad SmackDown. You summed it up in your conclusive write-up. It feels like it will take a fair while to get used to this roster, and it is stacked to an extent when looking at the Royal Rumble Contender’s match earlier on. Next week’s show should be better with all of those ten guys freed up for actual storylines and television time outside of one match.
WWE Velocity - January 11, 2014:
I didn’t mention it earlier, but I was thrown off by The Miz and Alex Riley joining forces once again. It feels like a backwards step for Riley, but it’s not all that surprising.
Riley then defeating Ezekiel Jackson was a blast straight out of 2011. Not sure if that’s the vibe needed for the relaunch of Velocity in 2014, but a B-show is a B-show for a reason. I do feel like the Prime Time Players have legs to be top players in the SmackDown tag team division (well, it would limit our exposure to Titus O’Neil’s workrate at least). It was a shame to see Darren Young taking the loss, but Zack Ryder was over still in 2014 and recovering from his previous demotion down the ranks.
After SmackDown the previous night, it was weird to see so many undercarders double booked for Velocity. I would have used this opportunity to thrown in more of the guys who were involved in the 10-man Royal Rumble match. May have made the show beefier, but it would have balanced things out snugly.
It’s clear you’ve established a lot of tag teams in the past few shows. Curtis Axel and David Otunga hooking back up is a strange one, again making me think it’s 2011. Another win for Sami Zayn and Colt Cabana was fine for what it was. I’m just curious how many of these teams might fare once the World Tag Team Championship Tournament is over.
The Real Americans may well be the favorites for the World Tag Team Championships. They’d have a good match with Los Matadores, so this was a worthwhile main event.
A stronger B-show than Heat’s offering. Much reliance on the tag team ranks.
It’ll be interesting to see how you both fare a few months in, when all of the storylines and key characters have been established and set up. I’m interested in the prospect of getting closer to WrestleMania XXX. Some things are pretty jarring in part thanks to the drastic nature of the brand split, and nothing as of yet has been booked for the Royal Rumble outside of the Rumble itself in three weeks. Still plenty of time, though.
Ah, how I remember split diaries. I tried a handful of them in different formations, but the only one I was able to make work was a collaborative effort where I handled the creative and they took care of the writing. It lasted a cool seven months.
I think 2014 is certainly an interesting time period to play with, given it was about two years removed from the last major brand split. I’m not keen on how the WWE Unified World Heavyweight Championship was handled so swiftly in the fallout of Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2013, but if there is any time for a reset, New Year is a good one to choose. It does undercut a lot of storylines which were in play, most notably Daniel Bryan’s rise to prominence (timely, given WrestleMania XXX is rapidly approaching), and there is the Royal Rumble and Road to WrestleMania build approaching, which typically does blur the lines. That said, after the Christmas lull period which WWE typically experienced in those years, it’s a good hook to get people chimed in.
The layout for RAW is fine, very clean and simplistic.
Daniel Bryan opening the show created the obvious storyline continuation for his prevailing problems with The Authority. Rightly so. It’s always important to establish the big threats right away to a prominent babyface.
Quick way to set up a challenger to the WWE United States Championship, who by all accounts was the underdog in this one. Pretty stacked line-up between Rob Van Dam, Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio. R-Truth was not yet at the bottom of the totem, but I don’t see him reclaiming the gold.
The Divas division was not in a healthy place, particularly where storylines were concerned in 2013/2014. I liked mingling with Stephanie and Brie Bella, though. It set up a match and did its job, but I feel like the bigger story is where we go with Brie and McMahon.
Pretty zany angle with The Wyatt Family assaulting The Rhodes Brothers. Obviously I’m curious what the plan may be for Cody Rhodes given how far he has come in the past decade. Hopefully not a lightning push to the top just yet, or anything like that.
Seth Rollins going over Rey Mysterio was fine for what it was. Roman Reigns helping Seth cheat didn’t feel as strong as what one usually can expect from The Shield, that said. This would’ve been a good match. I wonder if Rey will be sticking around, given he was one foot out of the door and complacent by this point in the run.
I think a key thing for consideration in 2014 is how we handle establishing each unique persona for the members of The Shield. Dean Ambrose I forgot was even the WWE United States Champion at this point.
Not a shock to see Brie Bella earn a WWE Divas Championship shot.
Pretty hard turn to old routines for Drew McIntyre. I can’t say it’s a bad decision, but I would have preferred we see some context as opposed to a raw character switch-up. I do question whether Drew had the right legs under him to build up to a main event run in 2014. Again, I just hope it’s progressive and nothing drastic.
Daniel Bryan defeating Kane was fine. Was this Corporate Kane or Devil’s Favorite Demon Kane, I wonder. I liked Randy Orton jumping in for the RKO finish when all was said and done, but I do feel like we should have seen more of the WWE Champion on this show.
Not a bad start. I take it you’ve pulled RAW back into a two-hour show. The length wasn’t there, and I do feel like there was potential for more character and storyline building of miscellaneous acts. With the Rumble coming up, I was surprised it was barely mentioned as of yet.
WWE Tuesday Night Heat - January 7, 2014:
I’m a bit conflicted about going back to old trademarks for the B-shows. WWE Main Event and WWE Superstars, although generic, were at least a slightly more modern flare than the Ruthless Aggression-savvy Heat and Velocity.
The Usos beating Scott Dawson and Danny Burch was fine for what it was. It’s still very early for Dawson and Burch, but it was nice to see them get a cameo here. It’s notable that NXT is playing out, outside of this project.
Naomi beating Aksana was alright. Naomi made her gifted self known a lot in 2013, but the Funkadactyls were still very green at this point. Aksana was terrible, from what I recall. Was the right move throwing this on the B-show. Tamina wasn’t much better, but an undercard story it is nonetheless.
I figure that a push is on the way for Tyson Kidd. Santino Marella could be fun opposition for him. Kidd does need a way to get over after his previous singles runs didn’t hold long.
Dolph Ziggler defeating Evan Bourne made for a good match to close the show. I would love to see Dolph in a position to reclimb the ranks in 2014. Not sure about the nature of it being face against face, but c’est la vie. The respect was there.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown - January 10, 2014:
Very different format from Hajjhowe. Maybe a little harder to read given the small font, but again it’s clean and very easy to access. I think that it could use some images in the least.
Very big main event set up in the opening promo. I think a Steel Cage match is a little drastic for John Cena and CM Punk, as lengthy a history they may have with one another. I think the dynamic is a little odd with two babyfaces working a cage match, but maybe that’s just me.
It’s out there to have a shorter Royal Rumble match to set up a number one contender to the WWE Championship, when the actual Royal Rumble match is coming up in a few weeks. The field gave me a glimpse of what to expect from the SmackDown roster, with a lot of the lesser established stars and those with budding potential. The likes of Big E Langston, Sin Cara and Alex Riley on this show with veterans Big Show, Christian and Mark Henry should help them out quite a bit. I wasn’t expecting Christian to come away on top, and Fandango as the last man to be eliminated was a big surprise. I would have gone with a Ryback type here, based off of how his business with John Cena ended in 2013. That said, Ryback fell a lot in momentum after that, I’m not sure how it would work.
Shane McMahon coming back so soon was pretty swift, but it makes sense for the whole Authority angle playing out. It’s probably not the direction, but I’d love to see some interplay with Shane and Stephanie McMahon when it comes to Daniel Bryan, should he be on the path to the WWE Championship over on RAW.
Not as keen on Colt Cabana coming back in, though seeing Sami Zayn make the switch to the main roster is not a bad move. I don’t think they should be a long-term tag team, that said. Drew McIntyre going solo does make sense with 3MB being divided by the brand split. Very different approach to see Mercedes Martinez enter the WWE at this juncture. She would have been a prime age for the spot, though. Cheerleader Melissa is a very surprising candidate as well. I don’t know about the need for both William Regal and Sara Del Rey as managers, but it makes a unique faction if anything. Kaitlyn was a good hand and I believe should be back on the chase of gold in the coming months. Alicia Fox…not so much.
I actually like The Major Broskis as a name for the reuniting Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. All of these assembled teams does make me realise how limited the tag team ranks were at this time. Los Matadores was an attempt at something. Another face team against a face team made for an awkward dynamic, but at least the World Tag Team Championship Tournament element makes it worthwhile.
Christian standing tall over John Cena and CM Punk was the right way to go, but I do suspect a rematch incoming involving all three of these guys, possibly at the Royal Rumble. It was the right way out of the Steel Cage situation with the World Heavyweight Championship hanging in lieu. Christian was always a better heel than a face.
Not a bad SmackDown. You summed it up in your conclusive write-up. It feels like it will take a fair while to get used to this roster, and it is stacked to an extent when looking at the Royal Rumble Contender’s match earlier on. Next week’s show should be better with all of those ten guys freed up for actual storylines and television time outside of one match.
WWE Velocity - January 11, 2014:
I didn’t mention it earlier, but I was thrown off by The Miz and Alex Riley joining forces once again. It feels like a backwards step for Riley, but it’s not all that surprising.
Riley then defeating Ezekiel Jackson was a blast straight out of 2011. Not sure if that’s the vibe needed for the relaunch of Velocity in 2014, but a B-show is a B-show for a reason. I do feel like the Prime Time Players have legs to be top players in the SmackDown tag team division (well, it would limit our exposure to Titus O’Neil’s workrate at least). It was a shame to see Darren Young taking the loss, but Zack Ryder was over still in 2014 and recovering from his previous demotion down the ranks.
After SmackDown the previous night, it was weird to see so many undercarders double booked for Velocity. I would have used this opportunity to thrown in more of the guys who were involved in the 10-man Royal Rumble match. May have made the show beefier, but it would have balanced things out snugly.
It’s clear you’ve established a lot of tag teams in the past few shows. Curtis Axel and David Otunga hooking back up is a strange one, again making me think it’s 2011. Another win for Sami Zayn and Colt Cabana was fine for what it was. I’m just curious how many of these teams might fare once the World Tag Team Championship Tournament is over.
The Real Americans may well be the favorites for the World Tag Team Championships. They’d have a good match with Los Matadores, so this was a worthwhile main event.
A stronger B-show than Heat’s offering. Much reliance on the tag team ranks.
It’ll be interesting to see how you both fare a few months in, when all of the storylines and key characters have been established and set up. I’m interested in the prospect of getting closer to WrestleMania XXX. Some things are pretty jarring in part thanks to the drastic nature of the brand split, and nothing as of yet has been booked for the Royal Rumble outside of the Rumble itself in three weeks. Still plenty of time, though.
-WWE Smackdown: January 17th, 2014
- Our show opens with Miz TV, as in the ring are The Miz & Alex Riley. Miz says he has a guest who has a lot to answer. He is the #1 contender for the world title… Christian! The Canadian steps out to some big booing as he steps into the ring, shaking Miz’s hand. Miz asks the obvious question, why did he attack CM Punk last week and potentially cost him the title? Christian said that when he stepped into this ring, the Miz shook his hand. The Miz showed him respect, just as John Cena did. But CM Punk? He didn’t show him respect. He instigated him, and he paid for it. Christian says he won a gruelling match to get his shot and Punk decides to disrespect him? He got what he deserved. Miz goes to follow up asking about hitting Cena with the belt, but out comes the champion!
Cena puts over Christian as a deserving contender, but any respect he had for him went away when he ruined his match and cheap shotted him with the belt. Christian tells Cena to not take it ‘personal’, he knows how hard it is to get that title and anyone trying to get it should be doing whatever it takes. Cena says that’s fine by him, because it’s going to take that to beat him. Miz chimes in saying Cena is wrong, as usual. He agrees with Christian noting his own success and showing off his belt. Cena is at ringside and says whether it’s personal or not, he owes Christian one and slides into the ring! It’s a 3 on 1 as the champ holds his own but eventually starts falling to the numbers game. His rescue comes however when CM Punk comes out! The heels bail right away as Punk grabs a microphone and says he’s spoken to Shane, and tonight he and John Cena are going to kick Miz and Christian’s ass! He says he won’t be done though and promises that Christian is going to regret pissing him off!
85
- Alex Riley w/ The Miz vs. Big E Langston
This is a solid match with A-Ry playing the chicken shit heel well. Big E tosses him around but the protege of the IC champ is able to turn momentum with an eye poke and some help from Miz. Eventually the interference backfires as Miz gets knocked off the apron by A-Ry who stumbles into a Big Ending for the win as E chases both men out, looking strong here!
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- Zeb Colter is in the back with Josh Matthews and the Real Americans. Zeb says that his men have shown they can beat any kind of team. Power, speed… it doesn’t matter. The two men behind him are the best athletes America has and Sami Zayn and Colt Cabana are going to find out why you don’t try to fight the red, white and blue!
72
- In the middle of the interview, there is loud fighting off camera as we rush over to see Kaitlyn and Alicia Fox trying to fight off the trio of indy veterans. Mercedes Martinez and Mellisa Flash manage to send Alicia into some steel pipes, and while Kaitlyn tries to fight them off she too falls to the numbers as Sara Del Ray blindsides her before slamming her hard into a catering table. The three smirk and tell the ‘Divas’ they should try to find a friend if they want to challenge them.
75
- The Major Broskis (Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins) vs. Prime Time Players (Titus O’Neil & Darren Young)
A solid tag bout here as the Broskis manage to isolate Young with quick tags. Hawkins of course takes plenty of cheap shots, but eventually Titus gets the hot tag and starts cleaning house! It’s all Titus but his aggression leads to the ref getting taken out by an arrant clothesline. Hawkins sees his chance and grabs his cane, but his partner Ryder yanks it away! Hawkins yells at him before turning into the Clash of Titus! That gets the 3 as Ryder and Hawkins argue post match.
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- Backstage again as Josh Matthews is with Sami Zayn and Colt Cabana. Colt says he knows the pair are underdogs, but he’s not afraid to take on the ‘Real’ Americans. Zayn says he’s very familiar with Cesaro and he knows all of his tricks, something he plans to exploit to get the upset and punch their spot in the title finals.
75
- Fandango vs. Kofi Kingston
A solid match here as Fandango tries to ground out Kofi, who commentary mentioned had an impressive run last week in the rumble. Heyman says Fandango almost won that match, and wonders if he can carry that momentum. Kofi slowly starts coming back hitting the boom drop and starts signalling for the Trouble In Paradise. As he measures up Fandango however, his leg is grabbed from ringside, allowing Fandango to run up and crush him in the corner. He follows up with a big Falcon Arrow before heading up and hitting the top rope leg drop for the 3! The hooded figure slides into the ring revealing themselves as… Chris Masters? He shakes hands with Fandango and removes his hoodie to start flexing and Fandango dances in celebration.
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- After the break we see Damian Sandow in the ring. He says that the unwashed masses in the crowd are looking at the winner of the Royal Rumble. He is the world’s ‘smartest’ man, and his mental aptitude will lead him to glory. He’s interrupted by Mark Henry, who commentary note is also a participant in the rumble. Henry says that being smart is good, but does Sandow think the world’s smartest man can take on the world’s strongest man? Henry challenges him for next week, as Sandow says that’s plenty of time for him to put together a winning gameplan and promises that Henry will regret that challenge!
86
- The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro & Jack Swagger) w/ Zeb Colter vs. Sami Zayn & Colt Cabana
A predictably great match here, as Zayn and Cabana try to use quick tags and a variety of double teams. They nail an impressive double suplex to Cesaro off the top rope and Cabana even nails a big frankensteiner of Swagger for a long two. Late in the match, Zayn seems to have Cesaro lined up for the Helluva Kick but the swiss superman dodges before rolling him up and grabs Zeb’s hand to steal the 3!
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- We return to the back where Ryback and Big Show are brawling! Officials are trying to break them up, getting tossed all over before Shane McMahon yells at both men telling them they can let out this ‘agression’ next week one on one!
78
- Christian & The Miz w/ Alex Riley vs. John Cena & CM Punk
The crowd is red hot for this one as two of the most popular stars in all of the WWE team up, Styles saying this is a duo as impressive as any two men in history! Heyman says that they’ve also fought tooth and nail, and Christian and Miz aren’t to be underestimated. Indeed they do show more continuity early as Heyman mentions Christians extensive history in tag team wrestling and of course there’s plenty of help from ringside by Alex Riley. Punk gets isolated to build to the hot tag and Cena is impressive going through many of his greatest hits. He even has Christian set up for the Attitude Adjustment, but A-Ry hops onto the apron and distracts Cena who drops Christian and knocks him off the apron! He grabs Christian and sets him up again but the #1 contender slides down and nails the Killswitch! He gets the cover and Miz and A-Ry keep Punk and bay and the heels win!
It looks like a post match beatdown is coming but Big E Langston rushes out for the save as Joey Styles says that Christian pinned the world champion as the show comes to an end.
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Final Thoughts: A solid show, if not way too many tag team matches. It was tricky to captures the motivation behind Christians turn but hopefully it got across. Most of the segments went about how I expected with a few pleasent surprises in Henry/Sandow & Kofi/Fandango both exceeding what I'd expect. Solid build as more stuff takes shape for the Royal Rumble.
80
- WWE Velocity: January 18th, 2014
- We open the show backstage where Kofi Kingston is being interviewed. He says he has no idea why Chris Masters attacked him, but Friday night he’s getting his revenge. Onto the scene walks JTG, who says Kofi has been losing a lot lately. Meanwhile he can’t even get on TV and wonders why a loser like Kofi keeps getting shots. Kofi laughs and says JTG hardly has the best win/loss record himself but how about he gives him a match tonight, one on one? JTG smirks and says he’ll be happy to put him in his place.
75
- Sami Zayn & Colt Cabana vs. Hunico & Camacho
This is a pretty one sided bout as Zayn and Colt make pretty easy work of their opponents. In the end Camacho misses a corner charge and eats the Helluva Kick for the 3 before the faces celebrate with some fans.
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- Brad Maddox is out after the break with a microphone as he tells the fans that he is once again out here on Velocity to let us know he’s been robbed of a spot in the Rumble. As such, he’s making an open challenge to anyone in that match who has the guts to face him and put that spot on the line! After a pause the Big Show’s music hits and Maddox's face drops. Show says that Brad is right and he’d be glad to give him an opportunity right now. Maddox backpeddles saying Big Show has a big match with Ryback coming up, and he knows first hand how tough that can be so out of kindness he’ll let Big Show head to the back and take out someone else. Show is having none of it though saying he’s sure Maddox is up to the tall task.
86
- Royal Rumble Spot On The Line
Big Show vs. Brad Maddox
This one goes about how you’d expect with Maddox trying to rush Big Show only to eat a big boot. The giant signals for the chokeslam but as he lifts him Ryback hits the ring and attacks Show for a DQ finish. Maddox tries to help but Show shoves Ryback away. He gets Maddox by the throat and points at a retreating Ryback before nailing the chokeslam to a nice pop.
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- Zeb Colter is in the back with his men and says he has yet another group of foreigners to battle the Real Americans tonight. He notes Sin Cara and Justin Gabriel as two men of ‘questionable’ backgrounds and promises a swift lesson is American justice when they face off in tonight's main event!
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- Kofi Kingston vs. JTG
A pretty underwhelming match as Kofi lets JTG get some stuff in but this is pretty one sided. In the end Kofi nails the Trouble In Paradise for the 3.
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- We get a short pre-taped promo from Big E Langston. He says he’s spoken with Shane McMahon and he gets his official title rematch at the Royal Rumble. He plans to get back his property there and soon the IC title will be off the Miz and back where it belongs… around his waist!
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- Justin Gabriel & Sin Cara vs. The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro & Jack Swagger) w/ Zeb Colter
Another excellent match here as Sin Cara and Gabriel show great chemistry and some impressive high flying, tandem offense. Swagger and Cesaro try to slow things down but the underdog duo proves much more competitive than expected. Despite the impressive performance including stereo planchas, it’s the Real Americans who go over clean when Gabriel misses a 450 splash and Swagger rolls back to apply an ankle lock for the submission victory.
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Final Thoughts: Honestly better than a B-show had any right to be. Some good wrestling, a well received couple promo’s and it’s nice to see the brand trying to give some build to matches.
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