BRM Reviews the 10/20/2014 Raw (bad go-home show)

[Big Red Machine]

OPENING SEGMENT-
Hunter's promo was okay. He announced that the main event would be Kane, Orton, & Rollins vs. Cena & Ambrose in a Street Fight. I'm pretty sure that his promo also contained a factual error re most HIAC wins. He is tied with Taker. He also announces that the winner of Cena vs. Orton will get a WWE World Heavyweight Title shot. WHY?! Cena LOST to Ambrose! Orton, on the other hand, has won a whole crap-ton of matches. He definitely deserves a title shot. Cena... not so much.

SHEAMUS & THE USOS, GOLDUST, STARDUST, & DAMIEN MIZ-DOW (w/The Miz)- 5.75/10
I cannot wait for Hell in a Cell. Not because I'm excited for any of the matches (aside from Rollins vs. Ambrose and Ziggler vs. Cesaro). It will just mean that things will FINALLY MOVE FORWARD on the undercard.
Miz was supposed to be in this match, but he made Miz-Dow wrestle it for him instead. I guess everyone is cool with this.
Miz-Dow wound up pinning Sheamus completely cleanly (with a roll-up, but still a totally clean win), which will hopefully set up Miz losing clean at Hell in a Cell and then Miz-Dow wanting a title shot, leading to tension between the two and a break-up. Maybe have Miz-Dow beat Sheamus at Survivor Series,then have Miz start carrying his own US Title belt around and claiming to be the champion, then have them do a ladder match at at TLC

ORTON & HUNTER BACKSTAGE- It turns out that the Orton vs. Cena Title shot stip was Rollins idea. Okay...

WYATTS VIDEO PACKAGE- can we move forward, please?

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.

ORTON & ROLLINS BACKSTAGE- Rollins has done something nice for Orton, so Orton is a dick to him. Which is actually totally in character for Orton, so that was good.

RANDY ORTON PROMO- awesome. Then John Cena came it and wasn't so good. He said that the last time Orton was "relevant" was 2002. That is just... SO ridiculous it's not even funny. Then Paul Heyman came out and was good. He talked about Cena and Orton wanting "his beast." There's a dick joke in there somewhere.
Cena grabbed Heyman and went to give him the AA, but then decided not to. Orton then hit Cena with an RKO. Heyman laughed. Then Orton hit Heyman with an RKO.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. RUSEV (w/Lana)- 5/10

POST-MATCH STUFF- Lana was hilarious, but seemed to lose her accent. Rusev said he would rip Big Show's heart out and eat it, furthering my theory that he is a Dothraki. They called for the Russian flag, but ti turns out that Big Show conspired with the ring crew to set up an American flag in its place. Rusev went to do something to a flag, but a brave US soldier tried to stop him. Security tried to stop the soldier, resulting in the soldier eating a superkick. BOO! I hope Big Show gets that darn Russian!
This would have been good, but then Big Show came out and cut a promo about how Rusev had "disrespected" this American soldier. How, exactly? He kicked a trained warrior in the face. What's so terrible about that?
Anyway, Big Show vowed revenge. He then vowed to beat Rusev up tonight. If you were already into this angle, this wasn't bad, but if you weren't, it was the same thing all over again.
Props to Michael Cole for pointing out that under no circumstances should any fan ever jump the barricade and rush the ring.

AMBROSE & CENA BACKSTAGE- Ambrose is watching See No Evil 2. That was hilarious. Both guys were good.

SUMMER RAE vs. BRIE BELLA- 2/10
Props to Cole for explaining why the loser of the Bella vs. Bella match at Hell in a Cell can't simply refuse to do what they are told.

DEAN AMBROSE PROMO- was awesome until he pulled out the screwdriver and shoved it in the Rollins-puppet's mouth. That looked horribly lame.
WHOA! That got non-PG in a hurry! And also stayed lame.
Then Rollins, Mercury, & Noble came out, and Rollins cut an AWESOME promo.

MICK FOLEY!
Once Foley showed up, stuff got awesome, but I just couldn't buy the idea that Ambrose could be near Rollins for that long and not jump him.

DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. CESARO- 6.5/10
Great for the time they were given, and hopefully a preview of the awesomeness to come at Hell in a Cell. After getting the clean win, Cesaro reminds us that he is a heel by hitting Dolph with the Neutralizer after the match.

THE AUTHORITY ARGUE BACKSTAGE- Hunter puts Kane in charge of the team for the match.

HELL IN A CELL VIDEO PACKAGE- great.

WYATTS VIDEO PACKAGE- same comment as before.

HANDICAP STREET FIGHT: John Cena & Dean Ambrose vs. The Authority (Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, & Kane)- 6.5/10
I know this happens a lot of other times, and I can't tell you why this bothered me here more than other places, but COME ON! It's a f*cking STREET FIGHT! Why are they just standing there on the apron obeying the barely-existent rules when there are no consequences for breaking them?
In fact, this whole match shouldn't even be happening! We got good segments to build up both HIAC matches already. Why are we giving this stuff away for free six days before? Not only is Ambrose getting his hands on Rollins, but Cena is, too, killing off that potential feud. Why not have the Authority do what they have done in the past and put the babyfaces against about six heels. Have the babyfaces be about to fight back, but then have the important heels (Orton & Rollins) come out and attack the babyfaces to build up more heat for the PPV?
Anyway, they do stuff, and then Kane calls for the cell to be lowered to trap Cena in with all three heels, but Ambrose makes it under at the last second. A few seconds later, he gets the hot tag and runs wild. They give away a bunch of cool cage spots (I assume the logic here is to let people see how cool HIAC is so they will buy the PPV, but I think the video packages have done a good enough job of that), and then for some inexplicable reason, Orton pins Ambrose. Why would you pin a babyface who has a match on the PPV instead of Kane, a heel, who doesn't have a match coming up on the PPV?! Cena should have pinned Kane here (to maybe make him look like he deserves the #! contendership match at least a title bit), or failing that, Ambrose should have pinned Kane.
Then Rollins attacked Orton for no real reason. I know they don't like each other, but doing it at this point just doesn't make sense for Rollins strategically.

Anyway, a poorly-booked go-home show. They didn't even announce Cesaro vs. Ziggler!



STUPID ANNOUNCER QUOTES:
1. Cole referred to the Orton vs. Cena Hell in a Cell match as a match with "so much at stake."
A blatant lie. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING at stake in this match! (or at least their wasn't when Cole said this).

[cero2k]

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.
you better brace yourself, now that Paige and Fox have been announced for Total Divas, and that rumored rule that Total Divas can't win the title, we're now just gonna be left with AJ, Layla, and Emma for have credible feuds for the title.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. RUSEV (w/Lana)- 5/10

POST-MATCH STUFF- Lana was hilarious, but seemed to lose her accent. Rusev said he would rip Big Show's heart out and eat it, furthering my theory that he is a Dothraki. They called for the Russian flag, but ti turns out that Big Show conspired with the ring crew to set up an American flag in its place. Rusev went to do something to a flag, but a brave US soldier tried to stop him. Security tried to stop the soldier, resulting in the soldier eating a superkick. BOO! I hope Big Show gets that darn Russian!
What!? NO! Rusev did it in self defense! That marine had no business attacking Rusev! Hopefully Rusev will destroy that bully Big Show at HIAC. Russia #1 Rusev #1 Big Show **SPEWH** I spit in your face!

seriously though, either american or non-american, how am i supposed to cheer for big show when he's being a huge dick to Rusev?

This would have been good, but then Big Show came out and cut a promo about how Rusev had "disrespected" this American soldier. How, exactly? He kicked a trained warrior in the face. What's so terrible about that?
Anyway, Big Show vowed revenge. He then vowed to beat Rusev up tonight. If you were already into this angle, this wasn't bad, but if you weren't, it was the same thing all over again.
Props to Michael Cole for pointing out that under no circumstances should any fan ever jump the barricade and rush the ring.



DEAN AMBROSE PROMO- was awesome until he pulled out the screwdriver and shoved it in the Rollins-puppet's mouth. That looked horribly lame.
WHOA! That got non-PG in a hurry! And also stayed lame.
Then Rollins, Mercury, & Noble came out, and Rollins cut an AWESOME promo.
PG-13 Katey Vick

DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. CESARO- 6.5/10
Great for the time they were given, and hopefully a preview of the awesomeness to come at Hell in a Cell. After getting the clean win, Cesaro reminds us that he is a heel by hitting Dolph with the Neutralizer after the match.
Can i have some decorum!! I'm afraid i have some baadd news. Cesaro cut a promo after RAW that indicates that their match was moved to smackdown this week.

[Big Red Machine]

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.
you better brace yourself, now that Paige and Fox have been announced for Total Divas, and that rumored rule that Total Divas can't win the title, we're now just gonna be left with AJ, Layla, and Emma for have credible feuds for the title.
Steph did a Q&A with Yahoo where she claimed that rule doesn't exist and never has existed. My issue is that they beat the champ and don't ever follow up on it. It makes the title belt look like a prop that is totally irrelevant to the story.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. RUSEV (w/Lana)- 5/10

POST-MATCH STUFF- Lana was hilarious, but seemed to lose her accent. Rusev said he would rip Big Show's heart out and eat it, furthering my theory that he is a Dothraki. They called for the Russian flag, but ti turns out that Big Show conspired with the ring crew to set up an American flag in its place. Rusev went to do something to a flag, but a brave US soldier tried to stop him. Security tried to stop the soldier, resulting in the soldier eating a superkick. BOO! I hope Big Show gets that darn Russian!
What!? NO! Rusev did it in self defense! That marine had no business attacking Rusev! Hopefully Rusev will destroy that bully Big Show at HIAC. Russia #1 Rusev #1 Big Show **SPEWH** I spit in your face!

seriously though, either american or non-american, how am i supposed to cheer for big show when he's being a huge dick to Rusev?
I don't see him as being that big a dick. Much less than Rusev and Lana
This would have been good, but then Big Show came out and cut a promo about how Rusev had "disrespected" this American soldier. How, exactly? He kicked a trained warrior in the face. What's so terrible about that?
Anyway, Big Show vowed revenge. He then vowed to beat Rusev up tonight. If you were already into this angle, this wasn't bad, but if you weren't, it was the same thing all over again.
Props to Michael Cole for pointing out that under no circumstances should any fan ever jump the barricade and rush the ring.



DEAN AMBROSE PROMO- was awesome until he pulled out the screwdriver and shoved it in the Rollins-puppet's mouth. That looked horribly lame.
WHOA! That got non-PG in a hurry! And also stayed lame.
Then Rollins, Mercury, & Noble came out, and Rollins cut an AWESOME promo.
PG-13 Katey Vick
Not even close. Katie Vick was a whole other level of yucky. What I think happened here is that Ambrose was just going to stab the thing, but realized half way in that that wasn't PG, so e did what he could.


DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. CESARO- 6.5/10
Great for the time they were given, and hopefully a preview of the awesomeness to come at Hell in a Cell. After getting the clean win, Cesaro reminds us that he is a heel by hitting Dolph with the Neutralizer after the match.
Can i have some decorum!! I'm afraid i have some baadd news. Cesaro cut a promo after RAW that indicates that their match was moved to smackdown this week.
Well... I'll pretend that this is being done to give Rollins and Ambrose more time. That will make me feel better for a few days.

[cero2k]

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.
you better brace yourself, now that Paige and Fox have been announced for Total Divas, and that rumored rule that Total Divas can't win the title, we're now just gonna be left with AJ, Layla, and Emma for have credible feuds for the title.
Steph did a Q&A with Yahoo where she claimed that rule doesn't exist and never has existed. My issue is that they beat the champ and don't ever follow up on it. It makes the title belt look like a prop that is totally irrelevant to the story.
of course she said that, it's not like anyone would straight up acknowledge that this rule exists and that their booking doesn't matter at all.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. RUSEV (w/Lana)- 5/10

POST-MATCH STUFF- Lana was hilarious, but seemed to lose her accent. Rusev said he would rip Big Show's heart out and eat it, furthering my theory that he is a Dothraki. They called for the Russian flag, but ti turns out that Big Show conspired with the ring crew to set up an American flag in its place. Rusev went to do something to a flag, but a brave US soldier tried to stop him. Security tried to stop the soldier, resulting in the soldier eating a superkick. BOO! I hope Big Show gets that darn Russian!
What!? NO! Rusev did it in self defense! That marine had no business attacking Rusev! Hopefully Rusev will destroy that bully Big Show at HIAC. Russia #1 Rusev #1 Big Show **SPEWH** I spit in your face!

seriously though, either american or non-american, how am i supposed to cheer for big show when he's being a huge dick to Rusev?
I don't see him as being that big a dick. Much less than Rusev and Lana
really? Big show and Henry gang up on Rusev and he had to valiantly fight them both. Big Show tore down Russias' flag and when Rusev wanted to do the same, he gets attacked by fans, and the big show waits for rusev to have a hard fought match with Big E to come out. Big Show is a bully


DEAN AMBROSE PROMO- was awesome until he pulled out the screwdriver and shoved it in the Rollins-puppet's mouth. That looked horribly lame.
WHOA! That got non-PG in a hurry! And also stayed lame.
Then Rollins, Mercury, & Noble came out, and Rollins cut an AWESOME promo.
PG-13 Katey Vick
Not even close. Katie Vick was a whole other level of yucky. What I think happened here is that Ambrose was just going to stab the thing, but realized half way in that that wasn't PG, so e did what he could.


DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. CESARO- 6.5/10
Great for the time they were given, and hopefully a preview of the awesomeness to come at Hell in a Cell. After getting the clean win, Cesaro reminds us that he is a heel by hitting Dolph with the Neutralizer after the match.
Can i have some decorum!! I'm afraid i have some baadd news. Cesaro cut a promo after RAW that indicates that their match was moved to smackdown this week.
Well... I'll pretend that this is being done to give Rollins and Ambrose more time. That will make me feel better for a few days.

smackdown spoiler (HIAC just got awesome)

Hidden text.

after their smackdown match, it was announced that ziggler and cesaro are going 2-out-3 falls at HIAC for the title

[Big Red Machine]

[quote="cero2k"][quote="Big Red Machine"]

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.
you better brace yourself, now that Paige and Fox have been announced for Total Divas, and that rumored rule that Total Divas can't win the title, we're now just gonna be left with AJ, Layla, and Emma for have credible feuds for the title.
Steph did a Q&A with Yahoo where she claimed that rule doesn't exist and never has existed. My issue is that they beat the champ and don't ever follow up on it. It makes the title belt look like a prop that is totally irrelevant to the story.
of course she said that, it's not like anyone would straight up acknowledge that this rule exists and that their booking doesn't matter at all.
Why would that even be a rule, though? To protect kayfabe? That doesn't even make sense. Total Divas is aired months after it is taped, so someone winning the title wouldn't be a spoiler at all. Has it occurred to anyone that they might want the belt on AJ because she is the most over woman on the roster, and in the top three female wrestlers on the roster?
Either that or the rumor that they have the belt on AJ so 1) she can't complain about not being used well while they 2) use her title run as an excuse to keep her on the road all the time, just to spite Punk. Personally, I'd assume it's number one.

BIG E. LANGSTON vs. RUSEV (w/Lana)- 5/10

POST-MATCH STUFF- Lana was hilarious, but seemed to lose her accent. Rusev said he would rip Big Show's heart out and eat it, furthering my theory that he is a Dothraki. They called for the Russian flag, but ti turns out that Big Show conspired with the ring crew to set up an American flag in its place. Rusev went to do something to a flag, but a brave US soldier tried to stop him. Security tried to stop the soldier, resulting in the soldier eating a superkick. BOO! I hope Big Show gets that darn Russian!
What!? NO! Rusev did it in self defense! That marine had no business attacking Rusev! Hopefully Rusev will destroy that bully Big Show at HIAC. Russia #1 Rusev #1 Big Show **SPEWH** I spit in your face!

seriously though, either american or non-american, how am i supposed to cheer for big show when he's being a huge dick to Rusev?
I don't see him as being that big a dick. Much less than Rusev and Lana
really? Big show and Henry gang up on Rusev and he had to valiantly fight them both. Big Show tore down Russias' flag and when Rusev wanted to do the same, he gets attacked by fans, and the big show waits for rusev to have a hard fought match with Big E to come out. Big Show is a bully
Yeah, the ganging up two-on-one wasn't good, but if consider that Show didn't realize that what he was doing would be considered so disrespectful to the Russian flag. Then Rusev comes along, KNOWING that pulling the flag down is not okay, and tries to do it anyway. That makes Rusev the dick. Or, if you are a Russian, it is justified and lets you get behind Rusev more. I think that aspect of this has been booked really well, and would love to see the crowd reaction to a Rusev vs. Big Show match in Russia.

/quote]

[cero2k]

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.
you better brace yourself, now that Paige and Fox have been announced for Total Divas, and that rumored rule that Total Divas can't win the title, we're now just gonna be left with AJ, Layla, and Emma for have credible feuds for the title.
Steph did a Q&A with Yahoo where she claimed that rule doesn't exist and never has existed. My issue is that they beat the champ and don't ever follow up on it. It makes the title belt look like a prop that is totally irrelevant to the story.
of course she said that, it's not like anyone would straight up acknowledge that this rule exists and that their booking doesn't matter at all.
Why would that even be a rule, though? To protect kayfabe? That doesn't even make sense. Total Divas is aired months after it is taped, so someone winning the title wouldn't be a spoiler at all. Has it occurred to anyone that they might want the belt on AJ because she is the most over woman on the roster, and in the top three female wrestlers on the roster?
Either that or the rumor that they have the belt on AJ so 1) she can't complain about not being used well while they 2) use her title run as an excuse to keep her on the road all the time, just to spite Punk. Personally, I'd assume it's number one.
it doesn't have to been a written rule, but just something that the writers keep in mind while writing their bookings. and it's not hard to believe it's true, AJ's big title run was during the first seasons of TD, she feuded with everyone, but they never put the title on them, and while the reasons do seem dumb, they may just want to maintain some sort of consistency between shows. AJ has become a commodity for WWE because she's so over and good at what she does, so it's perfect to have her with the title.

[Big Red Machine]

AJ LEE vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Paige)- 1.25/10
They announce AJ vs. Paige for the Divas Title at Hell in a Cell, for what seems like the 14,000th time. Alicia and Paige have a fake fight, allowing Alicia to roll the champion up. This is at least the third time Fox has pinned AJ, and there has been no talk whatsoever about getting her a title shot.
you better brace yourself, now that Paige and Fox have been announced for Total Divas, and that rumored rule that Total Divas can't win the title, we're now just gonna be left with AJ, Layla, and Emma for have credible feuds for the title.
Steph did a Q&A with Yahoo where she claimed that rule doesn't exist and never has existed. My issue is that they beat the champ and don't ever follow up on it. It makes the title belt look like a prop that is totally irrelevant to the story.
of course she said that, it's not like anyone would straight up acknowledge that this rule exists and that their booking doesn't matter at all.
Why would that even be a rule, though? To protect kayfabe? That doesn't even make sense. Total Divas is aired months after it is taped, so someone winning the title wouldn't be a spoiler at all. Has it occurred to anyone that they might want the belt on AJ because she is the most over woman on the roster, and in the top three female wrestlers on the roster?
Either that or the rumor that they have the belt on AJ so 1) she can't complain about not being used well while they 2) use her title run as an excuse to keep her on the road all the time, just to spite Punk. Personally, I'd assume it's number one.
it doesn't have to been a written rule, but just something that the writers keep in mind while writing their bookings. and it's not hard to believe it's true, AJ's big title run was during the first seasons of TD, she feuded with everyone, but they never put the title on them, and while the reasons do seem dumb, they may just want to maintain some sort of consistency between shows. AJ has become a commodity for WWE because she's so over and good at what she does, so it's perfect to have her with the title.
Or maybe they put the belt on AJ because the time was right. They let her cut a worked shoot promo because they thought something worked-shooty would draw for Total Divas, but E! didn't want to go with it (we know that E! pulls strings with ToTal Divas, as them wanting Rosa on the show is the only reason she is still employed, and they are the ones who insisted on the Bellas feuding on Total Divas, so WWE tried to do an angle to match it). They left the belt oN AJ because heels draw, and with one central heel a and a bunch of babyfaces chasing her, they get a lot more time out of the angle. Like, say... until Wrestlemania, where hopefully Total Divas would get some Network buys. Let's not forget that the original plan for WrestleMania was for Naomi to beat AJ and win the title, and things only got changed after her eye injury when it looked like she wouldn't be able to work the PPV.
Maybe they didn't put the belt on her because WWE would have wanted Total Divas to focus on her and E! didn't want it (Meltzer recently reported that people from E! want Naomi off the show because she isn't quirky enough (which would be a shame because she and Jon Uso are always the best thing on the show), so WWE decided to leave the title on AJ and then bring Paige up instead of having the belt on a Total Diva but not having said Total Diva be the focused on.
If the issue was "maintaining consistency," the solution would be as simple as "have the Total Diva who wins the belt hold it until the season ends," but consistency clearly isn't an issue for them (see my various rants on Total Divas segments on Raw).
As for why AJ isn't on the show, I don't think the title has anything to do with it. As you said, she is the most over woman in the company. I'd even venture to say she is he most over woman in any company in the world. It seems to make sense that WWE would want her on the show then, right? And the fact that they are apparently adding Fox and Paige to the show seems to suggest that they want as many women on the show as possible, so it can't be that.
Occam's Razor, dude. The simplest theory is the most likely. AJ has the title because she is the most over AJ isn't on the show because that would mean having to talk about her personal life, which would become pretty hard to do without mentioning her persona non grata husband

[WrestlingJoker]

So much red and yellow. Looks as if Hulk Hogan sneezed in here or something. :))

[Big Red Machine]

So much red and yellow. Looks as if Hulk Hogan sneezed in here or something. :))

LOL!