GIVING IT TO YOU RAW…What Happened Last Night (Nov. 10th, 2014)

The WWE Universe found itself in Liverpool, England last night for RAW and the name of the game was team building.  Well, you don’t have to tell The Authority twice.  With their actual authority on the line, they’re doing all that they can to create an unstoppable force for Survivor Series.  I can’t say I’m all that excited because it feels more like choosing stickball teams on the neighborhood block.  Stephanie McMahon and Triple H are gathering the biggest, baddest kids who no one likes to play with while all the rest rag-tag it with John Cena.  I’ll be sympathetic and admit that it can’t be easy coming up with fresh material year-in, year-out to advance us through every Pay-Per-View but this time around, it’s a little easier to see the straws Creative’s grasping at.  Nevertheless, something is made of the hodgepodge that they have to work with and a palatable enough wrestling stew simmers.

           

We begin the evening with a lot of talk, actually with John Cena kicking it off to the Brit-Remix/Hooligan version of his chant.  I do find the “footballer” charm amusing when the WWE does their European tour.  It is fitting, of course, but I do enjoy the audible cue of not being in Kansas anymore.  Anyway, since we’re picking teams, John Cena knows that his options are slim.  So far, he’s got Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger, and the rest are blank spots.  The Authority is well on their way to snapping up anybody worth having yet, one of the hold outs happens to be the recently returned, Ryback.  Cena goes on to request the “Big Guy’s” presence and Ryback, in anxious spirits, obliges. Yet, Cena also gets The Authority soon after and oh, look!  They’ve got Mark Henry with them too.  Henry’s heel-turn is now complete.  So, what’s Cena gonna do?  Is he gonna go cry since no one wants to play with him?  Well, not exactly.  Both sides make a pitch to Ryback.  Stephanie offers all the perks that come with being a “company guy” and goes on to say how he would be well-taken care of this time around if he sides with them.  Cena gives his hype to integrity and all that makes not playing for The Man seem fun or at the very least, honorable.  Ryback considers what both have to offer and decides that Cena is the lesser of the 2 evils yet, in Ryback’s book that means you lose and promptly slams Cena on his back then takes his leave of the whole lot. So, there’s the preview for the night’s main event.

The first match of the evening brings us Seth Rollins and Jack Swagger in a whatever match.  And it was kinda whatever. There’s no lead up, it’s just something to do and the match itself was a bit lackluster.  I’ll attribute it to jetlag.  I get these aren’t the usual circumstances.  Also, I get that we’re setting the stage for Survivor Series and that Rollins’ prime directive is “die-a-bo-likkal sa-bo-ta-gee”.  Though Swagger manages to grab Rollins up in a couple Patriot Locks, Rollins manages to execute not 1 but 2 Curb Stomps to put Jack Swagger “out of commission”.  So, there’s 1 down for Team Cena.

Up Next, we have some Divas action with Paige up against her now former “bestie” in Alicia Fox. Well, Alicia started off strong.  I like how she’s not afraid to get in there and mix it up.  I noticed that big boot she put to Paige’s face but, Paige being the hometown girl for once, turns it around in short time and gets the win via her RamPaige.

After a promo here and there, we’re gathered round to have Rusev honored by Russia for obtaining the US Championship.  Now, this is where the straw grasps get obvious.  I mean, really? I really hope that kids nowadays aren’t so gullible to believe that this is on any political radar because that’s just stupid.  The only nation that may get involved with something like this is North Korea and that’s only if we start talking shit or paint Kim Jong-Un in some unfavorable light. Then we got an international incident on our hands, but for this shit…I’m sure there’s only a passing glance at most.  Here’s where the kayfabe-ry needs to be reconsidered.  I don’t mind the concept really but, with anyone with internet access basically smark these days, Creative’s gonna have to get creative and figure out some craftier ways to prompt some drama. The New Cold War isn’t a bad idea it’s just needs to be revamped. Make Lana more of an old-school ball-buster.  Have her be the driving force pushing for some pinnacle of Russian excellence but making this our marker for patriotism I’ll only take for initial launching of his character.  This should not be what Rusev revolves around in the years to come. It’s just silly, especially outside of America.  In any case, all the pomp and circumstance is promptly busted up by a surly Sheamus ready to play in his almost old stomping grounds. Rusev slides out so that the ring can be cleared and these 2 go for round 2 of this “fer-ren” battle for the US!

So, these 2 go to town. Sheamus and Rusev both being stoutly built, presents the perfect example of a Hoss Match.  They trade blows but Rusev seems to have the upper hand more often than not but, wouldn’t you know it.  Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble have been lurking around the ring way more often lately and last night was indicative of this as they run some interference, getting Sheamus to give chase just enough to get counted out. Phooey!

Then bringing up the rear, we have some Uso-less Tag Team action with Los Matadores going up against The Miz and Damien Mizdow for some comedic relief to follow.  To be honest, I kinda miss Damien Sandow’s pompous character but, seeing how his “stunt” work is going over well with the crowd I’m not going to suggest a return but I think it could be reincorporated relatively easily in time.  Regardless, he and The Miz manage to get a quick win over Los Matadores with El Torito and Hornswoggle on the sidelines for Little Person appeal.

We then get into a “who needs fair?” match between Dolph Ziggler and Mark Henry.  Clearly, this is more dastardly “sa-bo-ta-gee” from The Authority.  And in little time, Mark Henry sets out to man-handle Ziggler.  Though our Face is scrappy, he’s only got so much on the World’s Strongest Man.  Technically, Ziggler gets the win via disqualification when Henry ditches sportsmanship and opts to take him out with the “steel” steps but that’s when the injustice is brought to a halt.  Big Show can’t stand it when the little guy gets picked on and out he comes to rescue a beleaguered Ziggler.

Before departing with Ziggler in hand, Big Show lets everybody know that he’s on Team Cena and you can expect this show down to resume at Survivor Series.

Well, all right.  Next up, we get some Divas Title lead up action in AJ Lee going up against Brie Bella with evil Nikki spreading bitch-itude all the while.  The match itself wasn’t that bad.  For once, this was fairly evenly matched since the 2 ladies are pretty slight. Yet, Brie still can’t seem to get that killer instinct going and AJ, being psycho, has the killer instinct dangerously close to the surface so, once the opportunity presented itself, she settled in for the Black Widow.  Yet, dismayed by her piss-poor performance and seeing how no bitchery had ensued for over a minute, Nikki gets in the ring and serves AJ up on the Rack Attack to make her statement leading up to Survivor Series.  Nikki is definitely having fun being the #1 Bitch Contender and it’s making watching her and Brie bearable. It’s also making the Diva rivalries a little more interesting now that we’re being given something to sink our teeth into. They can do the same with Brie too but, as I’ve suggested in previous posts, it’s best to send Brie the righteous route.  Set up situations where her integrity is challenged and she’s forced to rise up on principle. Her indentured servitude to Nikki helps set the scene for such a flip-out but, until they box it out this should come out in her matches a little more.  Have her go against SummerRae or Layla and maybe start with it as mere sublimation and maybe Paige or someone can up the ante by putting salt on her assistant duties wound.  It would give Brie a chance to really have something to war call about and give us something to like about her.  This kind of thing, I hope, is already in the works.

To follow, we have some more lighthearted fair in the form of Adam Rose and Tyson Kidd taking each other on.  Again, the intrigue arose (pun intended) when The Bunny came into play.  The Bunny starts his usual hijinks but Rose is in no mood tonight and scolds him so that he can focus on the match.  Well, while Rose was issuing discipline to his wayward bud, Kidd took advantage and administered a Sharpshooter to clinch the win.  I’m sure the bunny got it later.

We have a couple more promos and we get news of Chris Jericho’s return (if you follow him on Twitter it’s like he never left) before we get to the night’s main event. John Cena and Ryback square off for payback, basically. Not Ryback over Cena but Ryback over the WWE.  It’s not lost on me how this Survivor Series back-drop has some not very inconspicuous parallels with real time.  Seeing how the main Faces are sidelined with injuries and the roster’s depth is debatable at best, having Ryback around suddenly isn’t such a bad thing.  And not surprisingly, this is a physical, rough match.  Ryback does a great job of staying an autonomous collective throughout all this.  His character has always meant business and it’s no different with Cena.  I kinda liked how that was maintained in this bout.  There was no real drama just a sense of “what will Ryback choose?” Seeing how he “greeted” Cena earlier, it’s assumed he’ll be on The Authority’s team but at the same time, he hasn’t really said one way or another.  He’s pretty non-committal, which is fine.  If I understand Ryback correctly, he should be.  And I also enjoyed how Dad/Korporate Kane was used to try to keep Ryback in line, something Ryback would no doubt bridle at.  Nevertheless, the match is well-executed.  As one would think, there were a lot of strength moves utilized and towards the end, Dad was getting antsy.  We’ve been seeing how Dad wastes no time in kicking an ass, and God love him for it but, this time around, Dad can’t be bothered and intervenes to give Cena the disqualification win and begin The Authority beatdown.  Apparently, they have a schedule to keep.  In swift fashion, Authority Associates climb into the ring to commence the jumping of Cena.  But what’s this!  Team Cena won’t let him be beaten down without a fight and Sheamus starts the cavalry charge, followed by Big Show who levels Noble and Mercury before getting into the ring where he’s occupied by Rusev and Seth Rollins. Then Ryback gets started up again and clears the ring, saving Dad for last by serving him up a Shell Shock to the delight of the crowd.  So, it looks like Ryback is on…Ryback’s Team.  All right, just glad he’s back (^_~)

Let’s see how this flows into SmackDown.

See You Friday,

-Nicole Alexis.