After watching RAW weekly for the past 5 months, or so, it has become apparent that the week following a pay-per-view is usually just a throw away week that Creative uses to milk one last week of programming from the “paid” show that aired the night before. Various re-matches are featured, and the movement on the show is basically lateral. In other words, older angles are not advanced, and very few new ones are launched.
Due to this lackadaisical booking, many of my stories from last week will remain in tact, even though I will attempt to go deeper into them here. I will also pick up with the talents, Dean Ambrose specifically, that are apparently back in the fold after last week’s episode.
MIZ AND SANDOW
I would like to see something completely different here. An old look that we just haven’t seen in AGES that will indeed make it new again. Why WWE went away from a formula that worked? I really can’t answer that not being there, outside of it perhaps being a bit more work . . . I just really don’t know. No doubt that money isn’t the question, but something is keeping them inside the “Arena Box” that is just making the show feel the same week to week. If it’s not happening in Hunter’s office—then it’s basically not happening.
In this scene. prior to going to break in the first couple of segments, I’d like to see a camera inside the car of Miz/Sandow as they are racing for the building due to them being late. Miz is cutting a promo on Sandow blaming him for their tardiness. Here Sandow explains that perhaps the reason they’re late is because Miz has hired a camera crew (who is following them) who is now recording everything he does 24/7 to put a documentary about his life together. Marking out for the Miz is the name of it. Once all that is explained, Miz then tells Sandow to pull the car over because he has to take a leak. Sandow pulls over. The camera crew gets out of the car behind him and starts filming Miz taking a leak. Sandow gets out of the car and cuts a promo on the documentary team, reminding them that they’re late for RAW and they don’t have time for this.
While Sandow is cutting his promo, Miz attacks him from behind and beats the !@#$% out of him in an open field while the crew is filming. Miz blames Sandow for him losing his title a week ago and states to Sandow that he will “never work in this town again.” Miz leaves Sandow for dead in the field, gets back in his car and heads towards the arena.
GOLDUST/STARDUST HARPER & ROWAN/BRAY WYATT
I would like to keep my story from last week in tact here. A non-title match with the new champions going over. After the match — black out. Bray appears in the middle of the ring. Where the audience thinks Bray is going to get heat on the tag champs, instead he hits Sister Abagail on both Rowan and Harper. When we come back from break, after replaying the incident, we go to the back where Bray is verbally assaulting both Rowan and Harper, telling them that he will NO LONGER stand for defeat, and that it’s a new day for the Wyatt family.
ZIGGLER vs. SWAGGER for IC Title
Two things happen here. For starters the two have a great ONE SEGMENT match. Not two — one. Ziggler goes over to retain his IC Championship. After the bell, we see Zeb Colter verbally go after Swagger for the first time in a while. No major heat here, just very subtle. This off course would be to set up something down the line. No need to go into that just yet . . . stay tuned.
In the meantime, after we come back from break, we see Bray Wyatt go into Ziggler’s locker room where he puts the Champion over for his successful title defense. Ziggler is taken aback, assuming that Bray is up to no good. However, once Bray congratulates Dolph — he leaves his dressing room in peace.
BO DALLAS vs. ADAM ROSE
Bo cuts a promo prior to the match acknowledging the fact that even though he lost to Jack Swagger last week, he has become a better person for it. He puts over that he continues to believe more and more, because the negatives in life can only be turned into positives through the education that they bring. Losing has made him stronger, and with his match here tonight he will prove that to the world.
Rose comes out with his party goers, and of course, the Bunny is leading the way. Rose goes over in the match, but Dallas proceeds to serve heat on Rose after the bell — and he’s not smiling. The Bunny runs Dallas off — never getting to him — and once Bo clears the ring, he is once again all smiles.
NATALYA/SUMMER RAE
How about a good old fashion attack by Summer on Natalya in the make-up room that turns into a good ol’ fashion brawl backstage between the two Divas. You want to promote your Diva show – do it this way. Let the girls use all the props that they’d have in the make-up room as weapons. Use some creativity here in laying out this fight. In the end, after Summer gets some vicious heat on Natalya, let her give the fallen Diva a make-over Summer style.
Again, don’t forget that the objective is to assure that those watching do not change the channel, and those surfing see something that entices them to stop and watch. This accomplishes BOTH.
CESARO/SHEAMUS/MARK HENRY
Earlier in the evening Cesaro goes into Hunter’s office and states that he wants a rematch with Sheamus. Cesaro cites that his team winning their 6-man last week has earned him that right. Hunter, who’s in a very bad mood (later we’ll find out why) cuts a promo on Cesaro, stating what a disappointment he’s been both to the company and him personally. He grants Cesaro the rematch with this caveat — if you win, you become the new US Champion…if you lose, your contract here is done — null and void.
Cesaro and Sheamus have their ONE segment match – Sheamus goes over. Cesaro is done with the WWE. The announcers give him the proper send off then we go to break. When we come back from break, Mark Henry is DESTROYING Sheamus in the middle of the ring. We replay the attack that happened during commercial. We have no idea why Henry is doing this. Henry leaves Sheamus laid out.
Remember: Part of building your audience is to leave with many questions unanswered going into next week’s episode. This will hook your audience, bring them back next week in order to get those answers that they’re looking for.
RUSEV/LANA/JBL
Rusev and Lana come to the ring. Lana announces that due to the success of Rusev, he has been offered a contract extension with the WWE by the “Authority”. Lana also announces that part of the agreement was that Lana has the right to sign new talent under her management that will be making their debuts in the WWE in the months to come. She states that she will be forming a “United Nations” to take over wrestling in the United States as the fans know it. (This also puts some heat on the Authority for giving Lana such a deal).
In the corner of her eye, Lana sees JBL cutting a promo. Lana tells him that if he has something to say, why doesn’t he come in the ring and say it. We see JBL getting extremely hot. Lawler and some WWE security keep JBL from hitting the ring. Lana gets in the last line by mocking JBL, telling him — “I didn’t think so.”
NIKKI/STEPHANIE/PAIGE/AJ LEE
My entire story from last week stays in tact here. Paige calls AJ out – she wants her rematch. AJ accepts. Steph comes out with Nikki and declares that Nikki is getting the winner of the match later tonight because she is leaving this arena the NEW WWE Divas Champion –something that was set to happen at Night of Champions. AJ gets final word in promo, insulting Stephanie to her face in front of the crowd.
In a pre-tape following, Steph gets the ref of the AJ/Paige match and tells him that no matter what, she wants AJ’s hand raised in her match with Paige. She wants Nikki to beat AJ for the title so AJ understands who the boss is. Paige/AJ have their match. AJ goes over via a quick count. Paige is furious and she drops the ref in the middle of the ring.
After the match, Steph goes to the fallen ref who just had his clock cleaned, and says she wants him to repeat exactly what he did in the AJ/Paige match. Stephanie is then interrupted by our surprise visitor — who will be revealed later — and told that BRIE BELLA would be refereeing the match instead.
We come back later on for the Nikki/AJ title match. Stephanie is on color. With Nikki selling and the ref tending to her, Stephanie takes the Diva’s belt from the desk and nails AJ with it. Nikki goes for the quick cover, but AJ kicks out last-minute! Now Stephanie begins acting as Nikki’s full-time manager. She’s screaming orders at Nikki telling her to put AJ away. This brings Paige to the ring, who drops Stephanie outside of the ring, enabling AJ to go over and retain her title.
MAIN STORY LINE
Reverse what happened last week. Cena comes out first wanting Seth Rollins tonight, but Rollins’ music doesn’t hit – Ambrose’s does. Ambrose and Cena go nose-to-nose and build the anticipation that something may go down between the two. However before it gets to that point, the two vow to take Seth Rollins out TOGETHER tonight.
With that, the Authority comes out (no Orton). Hunter tells Cena/Ambrose that they won’t be taking anybody out tonight, because they have a match against each other. Hunter states, however, that in an effort of fairness, the winner will get a match with Seth Rollins at the end of the show. Rollins is furious. Cena/Ambrose stare each other down — then shake hands.
Later in the back, Rollins in a frenzy…he can’t understand why Triple H would put him in a match with either Cena, or Ambrose. Hunter explains his plan to Rollins, First, he will allow Cena and Ambrose to beat the !@#$% out of each other Then, when they are both on empty, he will send the troops Kane/Orton to destroy both Cena and Ambrose…therefore guaranteeing that there will be no match with Rollins. Rollins likes what he hears. Triple H gives Kane instructions and tells him to send Randy to his office as soon as the prima-donna shows up.
Prior to the match, Orton shows up and Triple H lays out the plan to him. Orton is not happy because again he’s fighting Rollins’ battles. Orton leaves Hunter’s office telling him that he’ll “think about it”.
We come to Cena/Ambrose. HELLUVA MATCH. After the two beat the snot out of each other, Kane and Triple H come to the ring (no Orton). Kane lays out both Cena/Ambrose. Triple H takes off his jacket gets in the ring, and sets up Ambrose for the pedigree. Out of nowhere, WWE security hits the ring and contains Kane and Triple H before any more damage can be done. Triple H is FURIOUS — he doesn’t understand.
Segue . . . .VINCE MCMAHON MUSIC AND ENTRANCE.
Vince cuts a scathing promo on Hunter, telling him that he put him in charge because Hunter convinced him that it was best for business. Vince cites last week’s rating and tells Hunter that BUSINESS now SUCKS with him in charge. Vince tells Hunter that he’s had enough, it’s time to give the WWE Universe what they want. Vince books a three-way for the end of the show between Rollins, Ambrose and Cena. Vince also tells Hunter that Seth’s Money in the Bank case will also be on the line!!!
Vince ends the promo by telling Triple H that if any members of the Authority get involved in the match, costing either Ambrose or Cena their opportunity at the Money in the Bank case — they will be FIRED ON THE SPOT!!!
Vince music on out.
In the back, Triple H is furious and is now cutting a promo on Vince to his wife Stephanie. Enter Randy Orton. Hunter takes his frustration out on Orton, telling Orton that he WILL get involved in that three-way tonight, and that he doesn’t GIVE A DAMN if Vince fires him because Orton’s overstayed his welcome anyway!
We go to the match — HELLUVA MATCH — at the appropriate time, Orton comes down to the ring and sits next to the commentators. Through a series of low blows, Rollins is able to get the upper hand on Ambrose and Cena for just a second. At that point he crawls to the ropes, and asks Orton to give him the Money in the Bank case that is sitting on the announce table. Orton slowly gets up and gets the case. With the ref tending to the babyfaces, Orton CLOCKS ROLLINS WITH THE CASE. Ambrose, who’s up before Cena quickly covers Rollins for the pin, thus winning the Money in the Bank case.
Orton walks to the back. Rollins is out cold in the ring. Ambrose/Cena come eye to eye in the middle of the ring. Cena shakes Ambrose’s hand, and lifts his arm in victory.
THE END
…NO WAY! Not a Vince Russo-booked RAW anyway. With the beauty shot happening in the ring….BROCK LESNAR comes flying down the ramp and hits both Cena and Ambrose with F-5′s, leaving them laying.
Paul Heyman then picks up the Money in the Bank case, and heads back towards the entrance with the Beast.
NOW . . . .THE END.
Hunter RiderRonin
Lily Adler🔥 Hot Scoops 🍨
