ThunderStruck: WWE Raw Analysis 11/03/14

Vince McMahon opens Raw with the announcement of the WWE Network being free to all new subscribers in the month of November. Vince offers a stipulation for Team Cena vs Team Authority at the Survivor Series; he offers for the Authority to be out of power if Team Cena wins. Vince, Stephanie and Hunter go to leave but Dean Ambrose comes out. He has a word with Vince and then gets in the ring as the Authority exits.

 


 

^Short and sweet. Just how it should be. Good stipulation that isn’t too overused despite us seeing it before. Ambrose is in action next against Cesaro, and that’s more important!

We come back from commercial and Vince is leaving. Hunter tells Vince nothing surprises him anymore with Vince after Vince tells them he knows they can handle the stipulation. Steph and Hunter are not happy as Vince pulls away in his limo.

^That was enjoyable. Not original whatsoever, but still highly enjoyable. I think Vince McMahon might have had more face/heel turns than anyone in WWE history.

Dean Ambrose defeats Cesaro with a double armed DDT. Bray Wyatt comes to the stage during the match to watch.

^Solid back and forth match. Quite basic but very good. That’s how we should kick off every Raw!

The lights go out after the match and Bray disappears while leaving the rocking chair.

^Simple and fun. Just a how a feud between two lunatics should be!

Hunter and Stephanie are shown strategizing backstage about putting together a strong team. Stephanie doesn’t want Orton on the team when Hunter goes to call him. Hunter calls anyway.

^I don’t see Orton being on that team. Just my gut.

The Usos are out next and it’s one of the Usos(Jimmy but does it matter?) taking on the Miz. Miz wins with a skull crushing finale as Sandow takes a kick to the head on the outside(nice distraction help).

^Another one of those “more of an angle” than a match bits. BUT, I was entertained. Sandow is epic at what he does. I can see this being a decent mini-feud for the next several weeks.

Out next is Sheamus and he’s taking on Tyson Kidd with Natalya. Kidd uses Natalya late in the match to get a count out victory over the US Champion. The countout was botched when it didn’t start fresh as Tyson joined Sheamus on the outside.

^Great back and forth wrestling for a short match. I loved this! More Tyson Kidd and more action like this on my screen please! Sheamus is just Sheamus; I don’t see that character undergoing any major changes. Joining the Authority wouldn’t be a bad twist for the big fella…

The Authority is out with Dolph Ziggler. Dolph refuses to leave Team Cena. Dolph will defend the IC Title right now against Seth Rollins.

^I love Dolph Ziggler being in the spotlight. Perhaps Punk leaving and Dbry being injured has helped push Dolph towards the top of the card! Perseverance pays off!

Rollins gets help from Noble and Mercury and is about to win when Randy Orton comes in with an RKO on Rollins from outta nowhere! What a match! Orton leaves and Kane comes out. Rollins wins the match by DQ despite it not being announced. Commercial break.

^That was an awesome IC Title match! Give those guys ten more minutes and it could’ve been a MOTY contender. Orton popping in made that great and the crowd loved it!

Stephanie and Hunter argue backstage. Orton comes in and wants Seth Rollins one on one tonight. Stephanie asks why they would have their co-captains facing off against each other? Orton calls it a load of garbage when she refers to them as a team. Orton continues his new psycho rant style until Hunter cuts him off. Hunter tells Orton he needs him on their team and he also needs Seth Rollins. Hunter gives Orton his match with Rollins tonight so they can get their issues out of the way. Hunter wants them to get along after the match. They shake on it.

^Good intense promo from both vets. I don’t believe Orton will keep his word.

We see an eyeball promo. Weird. Looks almost like Rusev.

Ryback defeats Titus O’Neil with shell shocked in a short match.

^That was quick, but it served its purpose and we were entertained. Ryback seems to have a good following. I like the announcers speculating at all these performers being possible members of Team Authority or Team Cena at the Survivor Series.

Big Show is backstage and says he would be honored to be on John Cena’s team at Survivor Series.

^That would make the match boring. B-O-R-I-N-G.

Time for Mark Henry and Big Show to go one on one. Yawn for a potentially boring spot on the show.

Mark Henry gets disqualified when he hits Big Show with the ring steps. He continues to attack Show after the match. Henry with a slam onto the steps for Show.

^That was as good as we can expect from these two. Brutal spot. Not a great wrestling match, but a very effective segment.

Stephanie and Hunter send Kane to ask Mark Henry to join Team Authority. Stephanie is worried about Orton and Rollins but Hunter reassures her and tells her to trust him.

It’s the Bellas backstage. I’m not watching because it’s silly and I don’t like either of them. How’s that for objective? Erick Rowan comes into the scene and messes with Renee Young’s hair before calling her pretty. She thanks him and walks off. He puts the sheep mask back on.

^The end of Erick Rowan before he even begins his journey?

Nikki Bella w/Brie takes on Emma. AJ does commentary. Nikki wins the short match with the rack attack.

^That was the official piss break of the show. We’re losing steam after a strong two hour start. This show is too damn long.

Brie is ordered to slap AJ after the match. AJ knocks her down and chases Nikki out of the ring.

^The crowd is chanting CM Punk. The guy is a dick, but I’d rather watch him wrestle than see any of the shit we just saw again.

Rusev squashes Zack Ryder. Ryder was being punished by the authority for offering to join Team Cena via Twitter.

^Now it’s really slowing down. Let’s hit a walk off to bring this show home, man!

A Rusev/Lana promo is done after the match. I don’t know why we have to deal with this. Sheamus comes out to bicker for their after-Raw match later this evening.

^I hope it’s a good match if nothing else.

Stephanie is shown backstage and she offers Rusev a spot on Team Authority. Lana tells her they’ll need to get back to her after consulting with Vladimir Putin.

^Silly, but makes sense.

Stardust takes on Fernando. Filler stuff. Miz is on commentary with Mizdow at his side. Fernando pins Stardust when Goldust gets into an argument with Miz and Mizdow as Stardust gets distracted.

^Silly stuff, but good way to make a lot of contenders in the tag team title division. Not a bad segment. This pace picking up might save the show with our main event still to come!

Seth Rollins takes on Randy Orton in our main event. Hunter and Stephanie sit ringside for this one. Seth Rollins surprises Orton with a reverse backslide into a three count.

^Outstanding wrestling match! Loved it, but just not long enough. Good and believable finish for these two. Excellent overall show for wrestling.

Orton shakes everyone’s hand on the Authority after the match and then nails an RKO on Rollins. He then goes to punt Rollins in the head but Hunter stops him. Hunter gets in Orton’s face and they end up fighting. Everyone stomps him down in the Authority. Orton gets an advantage and works on Rollins on the half torn announce table. Rollins gets the upper hand and curb stomps Orton’s head on the announce table to end the show.

Hunter originally wants to help Orton but Hunter says to finish it and the Authority beats him down. Rollins with a curb stomp on the steel steps.

^That was an awesome finish to Raw! What a night! Lots of great wrestling and lots of great storyline action culminating in a face turn for Randy Orton. I suspect Orton will be gone to film his new movie for a bit after this segment.This is what we call an outstanding episode of Monday Night Raw. It gets an 8 out of 10 for me for being that good.

If the show were to be a ten out of ten, then Rusev’s squash would’ve needed more elaboration and the Bella stuff would’ve been more interesting. That is how it could’ve been a near perfect show.

On a bonus note, Rusev defeats Sheamus in a solid back and forth test of brute strength. Sheamus passes out during the accolade and Rusev is our new US Champion.

^I’m not complaining. He needs to have a couple good rematches with Sheamus now to solidify himself as a top midcard guy.

Once again, it’s an 8 out of 10 show. Thanks for reading!

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