WWE Monday Night Raw on August 5, came to us from Green Bay, Wis. This show was filled with many great moments as we head towards "The Biggest Party of the Summer," which is WWE's second biggest pay-per-view of the year in Los Angeles, Calif., known as Summerslam on August 18. The pay-per-view is shaping up to be a fantastic show and there was one match added on Monday's Raw that I am looking forward to more than some of the top matches.
The show started off with Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon and Daniel Bryan as the boss is looking have Bryan go through a 'corporate makeover' which included getting a tailored suit, a facial, manicure and a nice steak meal. Vince McMahon called out Wade Barrett to try and hold down Bryan to shave his beard, but Bryan had none of it and attacked Barrett and actually began shaving Barrett's beard instead. Bryan said he will not change and he will become WWE Champion, in the end Bryan debuted a new t-shirt that reads, "The Beard is Here" with an arrow up.
My analysis- Obviously this continues the feud between Vince McMahon and Triple H/Stephanie McMahon going towards the pay-per-view. I predict that Bryan will defeat John Cena for the championship and Randy Orton will cash in his Money in the Bank contract right after the match. Orton will walk out of the Staples Center a 10-time World Champion.
The second match was between RVD and Alberto Del Rio who was accompanied to the ring by Ricardo Rodriguez who has been missing for a month following a suspension. Justin Roberts announced that Rodriguez was returning after a serious injury which is a cover up for the suspension for 'fat burners' apparently from what I have read. In the end, Rodriguez cost Del Rio the match after he put his bucket in the corner and wanted Del Rio to smash RVD into it which was turned into Del Rio going into the bucket that led to a roll up by Van Dam and the victory. Following the match, Del Rio assaulted Rodriguez and tossed him out of the ring and kicked the steps into Rodriguez's head which leads me to believe that Rodriguez will be missing in action for a while longer and further propels Del Rio into being a heel.
My analysis- I am hoping that Rodriguez isn't out for that long and returns at Summerslam potentially costing Del Rio the championship and having Christian become champ once again. Also, with Van Dam winning the match it puts him at the top of the list to be the new number one contender following Summerslam.
Cody Rhodes comes out with a box that apparently has the Money in the Bank contract in it from the Gulf of Mexico (after Rhodes threw it in there during a Friday Night Smackdown taping). Damien Sandow came down looking for his briefcase and after a brief exit from the ring by Rhodes, Cody came storming back in to attack Sandow and further the feud between these two.
My analysis- The match has been set between these two at Summerslam, but I am hoping that a stipulation gets added where the Money in the Bank briefcase is on the line to make it a little more exciting.
Ryback vs. Mark Henry was next and the match never finished as Ryback left the ring. The Wrestlemania rematch looks like it'll need another rematch after Ryback walked out.
My analysis- It'll be interesting to see if they continue this feud going forward as neither Ryback or Henry have an opponent for Summerslam.
John Cena came out next and cut a promo which brought Randy Orton out to discuss how he will be the champion. The Shield's music hit and Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins came down to the ring and surrounded it as they usually do, but Daniel Bryan hit the ring to even up the odds and Brad Maddox emerged to announce that the night's main event would be The Shield vs. Cena, Bryan and Orton.
My analysis- It is great to see The Shield going against the top dogs of the WWE like when they first started out. It appears that The Shield's feud with the Uso's is no longer going on. I am definitely interested in seeing who The Shield take on at Summerslam or if they interfere in any of the matches.
Up next was the Wyatt Family against Tons of Funk once again which ended quickly as the Wyatt's continued their dominance. After the match, Bray Wyatt hit his finisher on Brodus Clay and cut a promo about Kane. Kane's fire went off and Kane appeared on the titantron to cut a promo and announced that Kane will face Wyatt at Summerslam inside a ring of fire.
My analysis- This part honestly gave me goosebumps, I felt at first that Kane would want to join the Wyatt Family, but to hear that they are going to have a match inside a 'ring of fire' brings back old memories and I hope and pray that this 'ring of fire' is what I think it is where the outside of the ring is on fire for the whole match. That would be great and I would love to see that match between the two of them.
The one divas match of the evening was between Kaitlyn and her former friend Layla who recently turned heel. After a distraction by AJ Lee, Layla was able to land a big kick to Kaitlyn and pick up the upset victory. After the match, Lee and Layla skipped around the ring and went to the back.
My analysis- Obviously the Kaitlyn/AJ feud is not over and now Layla is added into the mix. I believe that Kaitlyn will face AJ Lee for the Divas Championship at Summerslam once again.
Christian took on Heath Slater of 3MB in an obvious squash match. I feel bad for 3MB as they have not won on any occasion I have seen recently.
My analysis- Not much analysis here as this was an obvious squash to further Christian's momentum heading towards his World Heavyweight championship match at Summerslam.
The next match was between CM Punk and Curtis Axel in a non-title match. This match was great and the crowd even chanted "This is awesome," towards the ending. In the end, Punk went after Paul Heyman which led to a disqualification and an appearance from Brock Lesnar. Axel tried to get back into it, but Punk hit him with a GTS and the brawl ensued from there between Lesnar and Punk. Punk got a chair shot in on Lesnar, but Punk went after Heyman and that allowed Lesnar to get up and hit another F-5 on Punk.
My analysis- A great match between Punk and Axel which furthers this feud between Punk and Axel/Lesnar/Heyman. Heyman announced after the match that he wants a match with Punk next week on Raw. The match between Lesnar and Punk at Summerslam is going to be a great match and the additions of Heyman and Axel in this feud leads to an unpredictable outcome in the match.
Fandango took on a returning Kofi Kingston in the next match and Kingston was able to hit trouble in paradise to pick up the victory over Fandango who has been in a slump lately and 'jobbed' to many superstars recently.
My analysis- This could lead to a potential added match to Summerslam between these two men or these two could be added to a potential midcard championship match for the Intercontinental or United States Championship.
The next match was between the Uso's and the Real Americans (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro). After a distraction by Zeb Colter led to a neutralizer by Cesaro and the victory for the Real Americans.
My analysis- I wish both Cesaro and Swagger would be in the tag team title mix, but it does not look that way currently as the tag team division is in flux. I do not know who The Shield will take on at Summerslam, but the Uso's and the Real Americans should be in the mix. I wish there would be a fatal four way for the tag titles at Summerslam between The Shield, Real Americans, Uso's and maybe the Prime Time Players/another team.
Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston was the last match of the evening before the main event and after a distraction by Katilyn going after AJ Lee, Big E was able to take advantage and hit the 'Big Ending' on Ziggler and pick up the victory.
My analysis- One of two things is happening at Summerslam, either Dolph and Kaitlyn will compete in singles matches against Big E and AJ or there will be a mixed tag team match between the four of them.
The main event pitted John Cena, Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton against The Shield. The Shield was disqualified at then end of the match and led to an attack by Randy Orton on both Bryan and Cena. Orton was tempted to cash in his Money in the Bank contract, but The Shield stormed the ring again and attacked Bryan as Orton stood at the top of the ramp and looked on to end the show.
My analysis- First off, it was great to see The Shield back in the main event match and taking on the 'big dogs' of the WWE. Next, it furthers my prediction that Orton will cash in on Bryan following the Summerslam match where I believe Bryan will win and Orton will cash in and defeat Bryan. After Orton RKO'ed both Cena and Bryan and watched as The Shield assaulted Bryan leads me to believe that Orton will indeed turn heel at Summerslam as many people expect.
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