GIVING IT TO YOU RAW…What Happened Last Night (Mar. 30th, 2015)

How’s it going, Enthusiasts? So, the biggest show of the year has come and gone and now we’re back to “real time” in the WWE Universe.  As after every Pay-Per-View, we revisit and perhaps reverse what was done the night before on RAW and last night was more or less on par with that.  We got some introductions and a lot of the same ol’, same ol’ and though I think the majority of the show went well, there are some residual issues that the WWE has to face whether it likes it or not and circumstance would behoove them to find a solution ASAP as opposed to wait until the bottom falls out.

We open the night in San Jose, California and not too surprisingly, Mr. Brock “Gun Jack” Lesnar makes an appearance with Paul Heyman at his side.  Can you imagine what this could be about?  Yep, it’s that smarmy Seth Rollins and his punk-ass grab at the Heavyweight Title.  Lesnar isn’t too happy about it, none too happy at all.  He wants that punk-ass bitch out here so he can invoke his rematch clause and get his damn title back.  Well, Ms. Stephanie McMahon has something to say about that.  Sorry, Brock.  I know you don’t like what happened.  Hell, looks like your face doesn’t like what happened either but, you’re just gonna have to wait.  Rollins had to do the Today Show and as you know, that’s on the East Coast.  Yet, don’t worry yourself too much, because he’s in the air as we speak.  Once he gets here, you 2 can hash something out, all right crabcakes?  Lesnar’s still pissed and Heyman lets us all know that we can certainly expect to see Lesnar beat someone’s ass tonight.  Get your DVRs ready for it.

I actually liked the opening.  It sets a tempestuous scene with our new in-house hothead and rogue ass-kicker in the form of who I like to call, Gun Jack.  Heyman continues to hold our attention whenever he takes the mic and Stephanie is holding her own out there too.  She should for having done this for so long. The drama is established but will it be maintained over time?

As for the first match of the night, it’s a great one with Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan going at it for Bryan’s newly won Intercontinental Championship.  These 2 go out and seem to truly box.  Punches are barely pulled and they both dig deep into their bag of tricks.  Bryan uses all sorts of submissions and Ziggler, wily as he is, is quick with the counters and some high flying antics of his own.  All the while Wade “Bad News” Barrett sits in on commentary and actually adds to it by being a great on-looker, as well.   Bryan manages to get the win with a Flying Knee but Barrett remembers his bit and gets in the ring to spoil Bryan’s retaining victory.  He prepares for the Bull Hammer but we hear Sheamus’ music and our transformed former hero appears to have gone to the Dark Side.  He comes in to scare Barrett off and then, seeing our 2 spent heroes strewn upon the ground, takes advantage and deals both Bryan and Ziggler Brogue Kicks.  Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about Sheamus’ heel-turn just yet.  I liked him as a Face and just don’t see him as a “bad guy” but, if he has fun with it and does it convincingly I can embrace this change-up.

Next up, we have an 8-Man Tag Team Championship match with The New Day, The Ascension, Tyson Kidd & Cesaro and the newcomers The Lucha Dragons.  This was more fun to watch than I anticipated and it was primarily due to the Lucha Dragons.  I’ve voiced in previous posts how Lucha Underground is a true contender and competitor in the Wrestling World.  I know I’m not so in love with Wrestling that I’ll frequent the Indy Circuit but I will champion what’s on TV if it’s worth watching and Lucha Underground is the next best thing outside of the WWE.  Yes, there’s TNA but, it’s second rate and it shows.  Lucha Underground is its own thing and it’s very entertaining.  I think the WWE is trying to keep up.  The WWE should recognize how fortunate they are because in terms of programming, Lucha Underground is by far better but, WWE is the standard.  They need to remember that most of all.  In any case, the Lucha Dragons make their debut if flamboyant style and they along with Kofi Kingston and Big E. Langston get the win.

To follow, Rollins has made it to San Jose and Gun Jack is waiting for him.  Rollins comes out, J&J Security at his side and saunters down the ramp, taking his sweet time.  You know what, Brock, Rollins begins.  I know you’re all hot and bothered to get this back (referencing the Heavyweight Title Belt) and you’ll certainly get your rematch but you know, I’m a little tired.  Still feeling jet-lagged and a little hungry, actually.  Can I take a rain check, buddy?  You understand, right.  Of course, this doesn’t go over well and Lesnar proceeds to decimate anyone in grabbing distance, regardless of being a wrestler or not.  As I’m sure many of you seen, Michael Cole was “killed” in the carnage and is supposedly hospitalized after taking an F5 from a livid Lesnar.  He totaled the announce table also, taking the whole team out.  And then, a “cameraman” is hoisted atop Lesnar’s shoulders to receive the F5 treatment when a distressed Stephanie McMahon rushes out.  Brock!  What the hell are you doing!!  You trying get us sued!  Put that man down!  He hasn’t signed a release waiver.   You can’t go F5-ing innocent people.  You know what!  Get the hell out of here!  You’re nothing but a PR nightmare!  Take your Gun Jack-looking ass back to your hotel and cool-the fuck-off!  Lesnar F5’s the poor man anyway before taking his leave and Stephanie slaps him with a suspension for “X” amount of time.  So, it would appear that though Lesnar has signed with the WWE, he’ll still be more or less part-time and so…yeah…

Getting back to scheduled matches, Stardust and a newly emancipated Damien Sandow have themselves a brief match where Sandow can taste his own victory yet, The Miz isn’t so happy for him.  After handling Stardust, The Miz comes out to learn Sandow a lesson.  No one quits on The Miz.  You have to have the honor of getting “fired”!  And now, because of you, everything sucks!  With a huffy pout, The Miz leaves it at that.

Next on the docket, we get another debut in the form of Adrian Neville showing the WWE Universe what he’s been doing in NXT.  I’ve seen this little dynamo in action and Neville is exciting.  With Curtis Axel left with not much more to complain about, he is offered up to Neville for him to perform his live action highlight reel.  In quick, gymnastic fashion Neville dispatches of Axel with the Red Arrow.

Moving right along, the US Championship goes on the line again as John Cena takes on Dean Ambrose.  This match was solid and Ambrose did a great job of selling his character.  Our beloved “Lunatic Fringe” is sticking to his “unstable” label and brought some moderated crazy to the fray.  Word on the street is that Ambrose botched a Sunset-flip but, I didn’t catch it.  He takes what Cena gives, though.  He takes some Attitude Adjustments but still comes up crazy.  He wriggles himself out of a STF but, for all it’s worth, Ambrose is forced to take a last Attitude Adjustment and he goes from crazy to dejected.  Cena says, good match and Ambrose manages to show some good sportsmanship but not much.

We then come to a Divas 6-Woman-Tag match between Naomi, AJ Lee and Paige against Natalya and the Bella Twins.  This was actually a good match.  They gave the ladies a nice, long time and they make good use of it.  Personally, I’m still a fan of Natalya be she heel or not and she continues to put on clinics when she gets a chance. Naomi also gets to show off her accomplished athleticism.  As for AJ, she brings her crazy and I still have a hard time taking her seriously ‘cause she's so small.  I’d just sit on her.  And Paige I still don’t fully buy but I get the feeling she’ll start selling it more believably in time.  The same goes for the Bella Twins.  I have to commend them for their progress but I’m still not really feeling them and seeing how their contract is up soon, it’s debatable if they’ll return to the WWE.  Don’t really have feelings either way but, that’s what I heard.  In any case, the Twins cross their wires and create an opportunity for Naomi to take Nikki out with her Rearview.

Afterwards, Rusev comes out to do a little dance with Goldust but, it turns into a one-sided beatdown, as to be expected.  After suffering a loss at WrestleMania, the Bulgarian Brute wants to take it out on someone and Goldust got all painted up to be the whipping boy.  In quick order, Rusev roughs Goldust up and finishes him off with The Accolade.

This brings us to the main event in a standard issue 6-Man-Tag with Randy Orton, Ryback and the not-so-surprising, surprise 3^rd party, Roman Reigns against Dad (Kane), Big Show and Seth Rollins.  This was kinda hard to watch, actually.  Not so much because it was a bad showing but more because the crowd gets completely turned off by it, mainly due to Reigns’ participation.  Here, the crowd kinda loses me.  I get being upset with the same old 6 Man Dance that ends the same way but, how is that Reigns’ fault?  Get mad at Creative.  They’re the ones not coming up with anything interesting for these guys to do.  The main event puts a big stinker on what was otherwise one of the WWE’s better episodes of RAW. I don’t mind the booing just make sure it’s for the right reasons, Enthusiasts.  I wasn’t in favor for pushing Reigns either but I don’t hate the man for it.   He seems to be doing his best.  What more does anybody want?  Content is on Creative’s side.  Get on the social medias and bitch and moan about that.  Maybe they’ll finally listen and present us with some more well-rounded and engaging entertainment.  Until then, opt to change the channel or simply walkout.  That would speak true volumes.

So, it’s back to Smackdown to clean up the mess...as usual....

See You Thursday.

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)