WWE Monday Night Raw 15/07/2013

WWE Monday Night Raw 16/07/2013

Things we learned from Money In The Bank
What we learned from the Money In The Bank PPV included  Damian Sandow stabbing his best friend Cody Rhodes in the back to win himself the World Heavyweight Money In The Bank brief case, what seemed to be the start of the split up between AJ Lee and The Showoff Dolph Ziggler as AJ screwed Ziggler in his match for the World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio, Rob Van Dam returned in the Money In The Bank All stars match, Randy Orton won the All stars Money In The Bank contract.

Opening segment 

Brad Maddox

The opening segment on Raw this week saw Brad Maddox come out to Officially tell the world that he is our new General manager,The lights when out and when they came back on Maddox was stood on the ramp and he said how this is now the era of Maddox and that we will see a re match from last night with Alberto Del Rio vs Dolph Ziggler. John Cenas music hits and he walks out to the crowed booing him so there is nothing new there, Cena makes a joke about been more hated than Maddox, Maddox tells Cena that he can pick his own opponent for the Summer slam PPV. Cena jokingly tries to be skeptical but it doesn't go down too well with the crowed  because as usual with Cena it comes across to cartoon like, he makes a reference to Doc Hendrix and Dutch Mantel. Randy Orton makes his way to the ring holding his new Money In The Bank brief case, Orton says that he isn't gonna make the same stupid mistake Cena made and announce when he would cash it in and that when he does cash in his Contract Cena wouldn't see it coming. Fandango comes out to the majority of the crowed Fandangoing, Orton takes Fandango down during the pronunciation of his name and Cena is quick to get out of there so Orton and Fandango can fight. Maddox decides to make it a match and calls for a ref.

Analysis 
Brad Maddox is a popular decision all over the WWE universe to succeed Vickie Guerrero in the hot seat, Maddox in my own opinion is a great choice to be the permanent GM of Raw as he has a great look, Charisma and it just feels like it is the right time for someone like Maddox to be the General Manager of Monday Night Raw.John Cena as WWE Champion is getting very boring now but at least its not as bad as his weak promos but hopefully with Summer Slam around the corner there will be a big story line to make the WWE Championship look more important.Randy Orton as the MITB holder is a great decision and one that i never saw coming, after taking a backseat to allot of main event talent recently i would say Randy Orton deserves this opportunity.

Randy Orton vs Fandango
The action gets underway with Orton stomping Fandango all over his body, Orton wisely reverses a Suplex by Fandango and then Fandango decides to take a breather outside the ring, Orton chases him around the ring to slam him into the apron.
He then meets Fandango on the outside of the ring again this time flooring him with a hard hitting clothesline before he flattens Fandango back first onto the barrier. Orton throws him into the ring for a near fall. Fandango fights back for a little while but Orton comes right back with a backdrop to regain control. Orton hits a beautiful drop kick for a close 2 count. Fandango kicks Orton in the head, and it sends Orton to the outside. Fandango sends Orton into the steel steps.
Fandango slingshots Orton into the 2nd rope. Orton attempts his signature back breaker, but Fandango counters into a back suplex. Orton starts to build head of steam as he hits Fandango with a T-Bone suplex. Fandango hits a kick from the apron, but Orton meets him in the corner and positions him for a rope hung DDT. Orton gets the crowed pumped into a frenzy before hitting the RKO for the win.

Orton wins
Analysis
It was a strong showing from Orton as expected as he won MITB so he should be back on the rise but i am slightly confused about Fandango as 1 minute he is rising the next he isn't its fair to say his WWE career so far has been up and down even though he hasn't been there too long.

Backstage segment
AJ Lee is trying to plead her case to Dolph Ziggler but he isn't interested in the slightest and says "it is time to move on" and he then walks away.

Analysis 
This was a great move in the story line going forward for Ziggler to make the complete turn from Heel to Baby face and now hopefully he will have a lengthy fude with Big E.

Promo
Mark Henry is in the ring, He talks about losing to Cena at Money In The Bank and he calls Cena one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time.
The crowed chants you tapped out to Mark Henry, Henry gets to the point And says he wants to be the guy Cena chooses to face at Summer Slam  The Shields music hits and they head through the crowd to the ring.
Henry does not move as they surround the ring in Shield fashion. He knocks Reigns off the apron, but they ground Henry rapidly, Henry fights back until Reigns Spears him to take him down. They hit Henry with the triple Power bomb.
Analysis 
A poor segment o this edition as it is clear the only reason they used the shield is to put Henry off tv for a bit and the shield are better than that and deserve more.

Backstage segment
Jericho walks into Maddoxes office making fun off his shirt size, Maddox asks Jericho if he would like to face RVD and Jericho happily agrees to the match

Alberto Del Rio VS Dolph Ziggler
The crowd chants for Ziggler right away but Del Rio takes control right off the bat, Ziggler comes back with a nice dropkick for a 2 count. Ziggler does his 9 elbow drop combination, the crowd is really behind Ziggler at the moment. Ziggler misses wildly in the corner and Del Rio take advantage with kicks and stomps, Ziggler just manages to kick out after he was given a superplexed from the top rope.
The crowd chants for Ziggler has he tries to regain control Del Rio, Del Rio back drops Ziggler over the top rope and onto the floor. These two go back and forth for a while longer in a even battle and then out of no where the bell rings and then AJ is shown with the bell, Ziggler looks confused and is then kicked in the head by Del Rio for the 3 count.When the match finished Ziggler was confronting AJ just as he is beheaded by Big E.

Del Rio wins
Analysis
It was an ok match wasn't the best from these two fine wrestlers but at least the crowd got what they craved and that was Ziggler turning face full circle and fuding with Big E, whats next for Del Rio well we will just have to wait and see what they conjure up for him.


Promo segment
R Truth comes down to the ring singing and dancing  and the lights go out, R truth is attacked by the Wyatt s and thrown out of the ring
After Truth is attacked by Harper and Rowen, Bray gets in the ring and cuts a promo that is very strong and intriguing, Eventually Truth gets back in the ring, but he gets taken out again, Bray talks to Kane through the camera and then they all leave. 


Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger vs The Uso's 
Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger are out next as there manager Zeb Coulter verbally bashes the Brooklyn brawler.
The fans voted for The Usos to face Cesaro and Swagger. The Usos controlled the first few seconds but Cesaro shifts momentum with a power throw.
Swagger and Cesaro trade tags for a little bit but the Usos are able to make the tag, the Usos steal a win by Jey rolling up Cesaro for the 3 count.
USO'S win

Christian vs Sandow
Christian and Sandow go back and forth since the first bell rang until Sandow shoves Christian off the top rope to the outside. Christian eventually fights back and runs through some signatures. Christian hits a cross body for the near fall on Sandow, Sandow counters the kill-switch , but Christian counters the elbow of distane and gets the pin.
Sandow wins

Cody Rhodes comes out of know where and attacks Sandow. Rhodes gets a possative reaction as Sandow escapes via the crowd.

Brei Bella vs Naomi 
This one was over just as quick as it started with Bella on top for a moment and not long after that Naomi fights back and hits some offence on Bella. Naomi wins the match with a high cross body.
Naomi wins

CM Punk promo

Punk and Lesnar

CM Punk comes out and states that he knows Heyman and Lesnar are in the building so they should just come out and Heyman comes out to say how he helped Punk in his early days, Heyman goes on to talk about how he made all the sacrifices in there relationship and he says that without him Punk isn't the best in the world. Punk gets irate as every word passes Heymans lips.

Heyman bangs on about how punk isn't close to any of his family and all he has is the WWE universe, Heyman also says the reason for screwing punk at MITB is because he cant beat Brock Lesnar. Punk says that he wont stop until he has made Paul Heyman and his associates pay and he swears on Heymans children life that he will get Heyman. Heyman brings out Lesnar and the crowed pops big time.

Lesnar walks slowly to the ring as he is preparing to get in the ring with punk, Punk is jumped by Heyman and pulled out the ring by Lesnar. Brock Lesnar tosses punk with ease, Punk battles back but Lesnar is too strong and he slings Punk around by his hoody and then is thrown onto the announce desk, Lesnar delivers an F5 to CM Punk and then he and Paul Heyman walk off as proud as you have ever seen them.
Analysis 
Built up right this has the makings to an all time great with Punks ability and mic skills matched by Lesnars star power and brute force it possibly cant let down, i for one can not wait until Summer Slam.

Backstage with HHH, Stephanie and Brad Maddox
Stephanie is shown with Brad Maddox backstage, HHH comes in and says Maddox is doing a great job so far. They ask if Maddox has cleared any of his decision with Vince and Maddox says no. HHH then makes a joke about his future endeavors as he leaves.
Analysis 
I really like this angle so far with it looking like it is going to be a surge for power within the WWE, i just hope they don't use Maddox just to make him look silly, i say this because he has all the ability and makings to be a great gm for raw and possibly smack down as well.

RVD vs Chris Jericho

RVD VS Y2J

RVD comes out to a great reception from the crowd as does Y2J. The bell rings and they both do a littl bit of counter grappling back and forth. Jericho drops RVD with  a dropkick as the arena fills with ECW chants, RVD comes back with a spin kick and then he whips Y2J into the corner for his vintage monkey flip. He then hits a standing moonsault for a close 2 count . Y2J hits a perfect enziguri to get a 2 count of his own, this match is living up to the fans delight. RVD flips out of a suplex to kick Y2J and he then gets a near fall, they then grapple some more untill Y2J hits RVD with a power bomb to get another near fall. Y2J rolls out of the way of rolling thunder but then RVD hits him with a moonsault. Y2J counters a hurcunrina into the walls of Jericho but RVD makes it to the ropEs and he manages to kick him into the head and he then makes his way to the top rope and hits Y2J with a picture perfect 5 Star frog splash.

RVD wins
Analysis
RVD vs Y2J all in all was by far the best match of the night and it is clear to see that both of them are as good as ever. Some great spots in this match that we havnt seen for a while but onaothewr note there was no way RVD was going to lose this match as it is public knowledge that Y2J is off on tour with Fozzy.



John Cena promo

Daniel Bryan and John Cena

The ramp way is full of near enough every superstar on the roster as John Cena walks down to the ring to announce his opponent for Summer slam. Cena talks as everyone looks on and Cena says he cant choose because he hasn't made his decision yet and that all night he has listened to superstar after superstar make their case and he just cant make the decision, So Cena decides to make the decision for a match that the WWE universe would like to see and he asks for the fans help, So Cena with that said Cena real's off names to the fans to hear there response and they are Heath Slater, 3MB, Randy Orton, Kali, Alberto Del Rio, Y2J, RVD, Fandango, Sheamus, Ryback and last but not least Daniel Bryan. Cenas choice is a superstar who deserves this opportunity more than anyone on the current roster, 

Analysis 
A great segment for a pretty good show, I the only thing i hope is that Bryan isn't used just so Cena can keep onto the belt for a while longer. Cena did a pretty good job in this segment getting the cowed revved up For Bryans entrance but it would of been a disaster if it wasn't Daniel Bryan that got this opportunity, he has everything going for him right now he is solid on the mic, funny, one hell of a wrestler and he is accepted by the IWC and casual fans and in my opinion Bryan is the hottest prospect in pro Wrestling right now. Also it  has to be said Daniel Bryan deserves it and hopefully this fude will put Bryan where he needs and deserves to be and that is a permanent figure head in the main event scene.


All in all I think it was a pretty decent show It had its highs, its lows and at times it was a bit predictable but at the same time it was very enjoyable to watch as a wrestling fan because It felt as though they was giving us what we actually wanted and not what they thought we wanted.

Thank you very much for reading this weeks entry of Monday Night Raw

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