Okay, onto the main event: Raw.
Raw 8-11-2014
Summerslam Go Home Show
This was the RAW before this weekend’s Summerslam Show, usually known as the GO HOME show where they do the last big build and push to convince people to buy the PPV. Excuse me; sign up for the WWE network – for only $9.99.
My first thought is this: This was the Go Home show for Summerslam? Really?
It is a good thing the WWE Network exists, because I do not see this show doing enough to give people a reason to rush out and buy Summerslam, or subscribe to the WWE Network. Just for disclosure purposes, I do have the Network (I signed up the day it was offered) and I WILL be watching Summerslam.
This broadcast should have been so much more. There have been epic pre-ppv broadcasts in the past that really set up an emotional investment for the following PPV. This broadcast failed to do that.
What? Brock Lesnar staring down Hulk Hogan sets up Summerslam how?
This broadcast was a mix of overly long promos, a few decent matches and the Network shoved down our throats again. They did set up some stuff, but honestly, Summerslam felt like an afterthought on this broadcast.
This felt more like a regular addition of RAW, or a RAW 2 or 3 weeks out from a PPV, not a massive GO HOME show.
The beginning, middle and end of Raw all went toward building up one thing: Brock Lesnar versus John Cena.
The show started out with an overlong promo with Paul Heyman hyping Summerslam and how badass Brock Lesnar. As usual, Brock Lesnar stood there, saying nothing and looking disinterested.
Paul Heyman really loves to talk and the sound of his own voice, doesn’t he? While Heyman can be good, it gets boring and means nothing when he repeats the same stuff over and over. This was an overlong promo that really only did one thing: claim the ring as Brock’s House.
I did like Heyman's rhyme though, can’t really call it a rap.
Of course, this lead to John Cena’s response later in the night. How did John respond? How he normally does, with a passionate, odd mix of anger and humor expressions on his face, over blown, overlong promo that made Heyman’s look short and concise. To the point, Cena says he will one day lose the title, but it won’t be to Brock Lesnar.
Cena did mention that people always ask him when he is going to turn. He promised to turn this weekend, and that we will see a Cena we never have before, one he isn’t proud of.
I would actually like to see that. We all know that a real turn, a heel turn, isn’t going to happen. I also don’t believe this Cena he isn’t proud of is going to appear. During his feud with Bray, he said this Cena didn’t exist, but now it does?
Great contradiction in writing and character there. This is part of what I meant in my State of the WWE column, when I wrote they misuse talent.
In a stupid bit, he than calls Brock Lesnar out – but isn’t Brock supposed to be out to dinner? Cena did mention interrupting Dinner. All this call out did was make Cena look like a punk, who else calls out a man they know isn’t in the building?
The show ended with a brief Hulk Hogan birthday bash, which saw appearances from Ric Flair, Paul Orndorff (yes, Mr. Wonderful!), Roddy Piper, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. This was interrupted by the reappearance of Brock Lesnar, who proceeded to stare down everyone, including Hogan.
Cena ran out, and Lesnar left the ring.
If we listen to the commentators everyone in that ring was afraid of Brock, and apparently, Brock could have taken them all out. I don’t believe that for one second. And I’m going to believe that Piper is afraid? Piper?
These three segments took up a lot of the broadcast, while it did cement the PPV Main Event. I don’t think it added to it.
Roman Reigns versus Ryback was a massive dud of a match, but that was by design. This was just to showcases how tough Reigns is.
By comparison, Randy Orton versus Sheamus was a good match, and put over how much of a thinking man’s wrestler Orton is, and how dangerous he is with the RKO.
These two matches showcased Orton and Reigns, but not much beyond that. I think a better plan would have been to have Reigns cost Orton his match against Sheamus, or have some sort of locker room empting confrontation between the two.
Seth Rollins versus RVD. What a good match this was. These two are so evenly matched and so athletic that the matches they have are usually good to great. Seth won clean, making him look strong going into Summerslam.
After the match Ambrose jumped Rollins again, running him off then announced their match would be a lumberjack match. The ring will be surrounded by all the enemies they made as the shield. I would like to see an actual match between these two, but I don’t think that will happen. Lumberjack matches typical break down into brawls, and that might be the case here.
To me, this is the hottest feud there is in the WWE. This is more of the same between the two heading into Summerslam.
Daniel Bryan is having an affair with his physical therapist Megan! No. No. No!
I loved this segment, even if the whole affair thing is a bit lame.
Steph had some sort of confession to make, but of course that was misleading. She wasn’t making a confession, someone else was. She brought Bryan’s ‘therapist’ into the ring who said that ‘things just happened’ and she was having an affair with Daniel Bryan. Steph called her, Megan, the victim.
Brie came out, attacked both of them leading to Steph to proclaim that this end tonight.
Of course, it didn’t end that night. Instead of a match, Brie was hauled off by police as Megan decided to press charges for assault.
This segment was how you build to match, drama, intrigue, confrontation, unresolved conflict leaving you wanting to see what will happen next.
For the first time in a long while, I am wanting to see a women match in the WWE, and I am interested in a Bella for the first time period.
What a subtle, but near perfect, set up for Swagger versus Rusev at Summerslam. Swagger wins a great match against Cesaro. Zeb does his usually good promo, which in interrupted in a very disrespectful way buy having the Russian flag fall in the background and Rusev makes a token appearance.
Sometimes less IS more.
“I do not believe in Heaven or Hell.” Bray and Jericho’s presences where missing from RAW, but we got an ‘interview’ segment with the two. This really only served to showcase what I have always believed about Bray Wyatt, he is not scary or cool, he’s an idiot.
If you follow his story and listen to what he says, then this promo contradicts his gimmick. He has proclaimed himself a savior in the past, yet this night says he is not one. He has said many times, the Devil made him do it. Yet he doesn’t believe in Heaven or Hell. If he doesn’t believe in Hell, then by extension he can’t believe the Devil. This is piss pour writing on ‘creative’s’ part.
Jericho’s promo was more intense and he came off more dangerous. A good man going bad, that is Jericho’s role here.
Paige distracts AJ with an entrance during her match, causing AJ to be pinned by Eva Marie. That is your build up for AJ versus Paige? What a waste.
Slater wins! Slater wins on two Raws in a row! Granted slated defeated Ziggler by count out because of interference by The Miz, but still Slater wins! Am I the only one who heard the SLATER chants??
Okay, so our announced lineup for Summerslam is this:
Intercontinental Championship: The Miz defends against Dolph Ziggler
Stephanie Mc Mahon versus Brie Bella
Chris Jericho versus Bray Wyatt
Lumberjack Match: Dean Ambrose versus Seth Rollins
Randy Orton versus Roman Reigns
Flag Match: Jack Swagger versus Rusev
World Heavyweight Title: John Cena defends against Brock Lesnar
The card looks solid, and each match was touched upon. However, this was nothing more than just an average episode of RAW it should have been more.
On a personal noted, I marked out for Paul Orndorff.
Rating: 5.5
Ace Masters
Match of the Night: Cesaro versus Jack Swagger
Wrestler of the Night: Jack Swagger
Impact of the Night: Heath Slater Win and “Slater!” chant.
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