I know this one is late, but here is my review of Monday Night Raw from August 12, 2013. This week's Raw came to us from Sacramento, Calif., and we kicked things off with a rematch from Smackdown between Wade Barrett and Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett kicked things off on Raw and Raw GM Brad Maddox was named the special referee for the match. The match ended with Barrett rolling up Bryan and the 3-count (albeit extremely fast count by Maddox), Bryan was upset after the match and went after Maddox, but Maddox rolled out of the ring and exited to the back.
My analysis: First off it's still strange to see Barrett with no facial hair after Bryan shaved part of it and Barrett finished the job. The quick count by Maddox was expected because there is no reason he should have been referee if it was not for some sort of story-line. Triple H was later named the special referee for the match at Summerslam between John Cena and Bryan for the WWE Championship.
Match two was another rematch between Randy Orton and Damien Sandow this time with Cody Rhodes on commentary. The match went on for quite a while and ended with Rhodes causing a distraction and costing Sandow the match. Orton moved in for a quick RKO and pinned Sandow, afterwards Orton celebrated and made the championship motion along his waist which could signify what will happen at Summerslam.
My analysis: This was more of a story-line builder here with Rhodes and Sandow and then of course to add to Orton's push to become the next WWE Champion. It seems pretty apparent that they are pushing Orton to become champ at Summerslam.
The Shield cut a promo and Seth Rollins talked about how they are the future and how there are guys who need to go that are living off of their reputation. Roman Reigns set a challenge out for anyone to face them for the tag team titles at Summerslam. Dean Ambrose then talks about how he is so good and how he is unbeatable.
My analysis: The Shield are just great! One of two things is happening either Ambrose is going to be put over by Rob Van Dam (who wins the Battle Royale later in the show to be the number one contender) and Big Show/Mark Henry will put over Reigns and Rollins if the match does come to fruition which I hope it does. Or The Shield will lose all of the gold and maybe the team splits up which I would absolutely hate to see. I'm predicting that The Shield keep all of their gold at Summerslam.
The next match up was between Big E Langston/AJ Lee and The Great Khali/Natalya. I'm not sure what this match did exactly because Lee ended up tapping out twice to Natalya's sharpshooter submission move.
My analysis: I would have thought this would have been a match to build Lee and Langston's chance of beating Dolph Ziggler and Kaitlyn at Summerslam, but instead Natalya and Great Khali got a win....finally.
Vince McMahon comes out to discuss the special referee job for Summerslam for the match between Cena and Bryan, but Triple H comes out and hits a pedigree on Maddox and says that he should be the ref for that match which he is now.
My analysis: This match takes yet another twist. Triple H added to this match adds the possibility that he turns heel and costs Bryan the match or maybe he is there to ensure that Bryan wins. If Bryan wins, does Orton cash in? It seems to me that Bryan will win the match and Orton will cash in and win the WWE Championship.
Kane vs. Titus O'Neill of the Primetime Players is the next match and Kane wins a quick match with a chokeslam. The Wyatt Family come out after the match, but Kane escapes out of the ring and stands at the top of the ramp behind everyone.
My analysis: I am definitely looking forward to this match at Summerslam between Kane and Wyatt inside a ring of fire. We have not seen one of those matches in quite some time and this match should be great as Bray Wyatt competes in his first WWE singles match against Kane.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Kofi Kingston was the next match and this match was used to build up Del Rio a little more for his match against Christian at Summerslam. Del Rio defeated Kingston via arm bar submission.
My analysis: Exactly what I said in the previous paragraph, this was a match used to build up Del Rio for his match against Christian at Summerslam.
The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger) take on the Usos in the next match with the Usos winning the rubber match after each team won one previous match against each other. The Usos won this match and propel themselves back towards the top of the tag team division.
My analysis: It appears that neither one of these teams have anything going on for Summerslam, it'll be interesting to see if the get a match added at the last minute or if they are left off the card. I wish there would be a battle royale to decide the next number one contender for the tag titles following Summerslam.
"Miz TV" is the next segment with both Cena and Bryan as guests on the show. They talk up their match at Summerslam and Cena ends up slapping Bryan in the face which brings out Triple H to calm things down and Orton comes out as well just to raise his Money in the Bank briefcase to show that he is there and is the next champion.
My analysis: It seems just too obvious that Orton will cash in at Summerslam, so I don't know what to believe at this point either he will or won't cash in. The WWE likes to make swerves at the last minute and change things up, who knows what will happen I guess we all have to tune in on Sunday to find out.
R-Truth has a dance off with Fandango which ends up turning into Truth and Fandango battling it out and Truth got the upper hand knocking Fandango out of the ring.
My analysis: I really do not know what was the purpose of this match unless this is a future feud between the two of them.
The battle royale to determine the number one contender for the United States championship comes up and RVD ends up throwing Mark Henry out of the ring to become the new number one contender. Henry comes back in the ring to give RVD some "knucks" and a congratulations. The Shield's music hits and Henry elects to stay in the ring, RVD and Henry stand guard until Big Show returns and The Shield escape through the crowd.
My analysis: I am assuming that Big Show and Mark Henry are the team that will challenge The Shield at Summerslam. I dislike heavily that RVD is facing Ambrose on the pre-show of Summerslam, because that match should be on the main card!
CM Punk vs. Paul Heyman is the main event and Heyman brings out Brock Lesnar, but Punk comes from behind to attack Lesnar with a camera and turn his attention to Heyman, but Heyman runs to the back. Curtis Axel comes out and Punk hits him with a GTS and the show ends with Punk standing tall and Lesnar looking defeated on the ground.
My analysis: I can't imagine Punk losing at Summerslam, this match to me is a match to put Punk over with a big win over "The Beast," Lesnar. Sooner or later Punk will hit a GTS on Heyman and everyone will go home happy. Summerslam will be a great show, I am looking forward to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment