DA' HELL HAPPENED #4: WWE Monday Night RAW, February 22, 2016
Boy oh boy, how inconsisent can WWE really be? One of the worst PPV's (talking about the booking) of the year, and 24 hours later one of the best episodes of RAW of the year. A big surprise return, and the developments of the storylines that we didn't have last night.
RAW kicked off with the Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence award presented by Vincent K. McMahon. After talking about the history of his family as wrestling promoters and him being a 3rd Generation promoter, he awarded it to his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. More boo'ed than Roman Reigns was at the 2015 Royal Rumble, Steph was interrupted before she could make an acceptance speech of the award. Who came out? Her brother, Shane McMahon. And boy did he make a hell of an impact right from the get go. He revealed he had a lockbox full of things he could blackmail his dad, but he made clear what he really wanted: control of Monday Night RAW. McMahon then decided he could have the control of the show, IF he could wrestle one last match at WrestleMania, against non-other than The Undertaker, inside Hell In A Cell. It's on.
Very decent match with the Dabliu... Dabliu... IIiiii... Wooorld... Tag Team Chaaaaaaaampiooons, The New Day, getting a victory over Neville and the Lucha Dragons. I just don't get why the United States Champion did not have a important role as the champion of the show.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came out to brag about what happened at FastLane, and how Dean Ambrose turned a very physical but technical match into a complete hardcore bout. An ambulance sirene started to ring, as Dean Ambrose revealed himself as the driver of the ambulance that took him out of the arena after being attacked by The Beast before Monday Night RAW. Ambrose dragged his body to the end of the stage, without even standing up. Lesnar stomped Ambrose's face on the ground and, as he went for the exit, Ambrose challenged him to a No Holds Barred Street Fight at WrestleMania. Lesnar returned and F5'ed Ambrose, before Heyman told The Lunatic Fringe that his client accepts his "little" challenge.
For some reason, after a confrontation between The Dudleyz and The Usos, The Ascension attacked the Samoan team. Within seconds, Usos knocked Ascension out to get a victory. For some reason.
"Y2J" Chris Jericho entered the arena and came out to congratulate The Phenomenal One AJ Styles. Social Outcasts interrupted the "love affair" between both competitors, and they agreed to form a team and face Social Outcasts. Very good tag team action between both teams, and a great finish that saw Jericho with the Walls Of Jericho applied on Curtis Axel, Styles using the forearm and throwing himself out of the ring to take out the other 3 members of Social Outcasts. Great action!
After a 6-Man bout at FastLane, The Wyatt Family, Ryback, Big Show and Kane faced each other once again. The only difference was that Bray Wyatt was actually in the match, and Braun Strowman out of the ring. In the end, Ryback turned his back on his partners. Kane chockeslammed Harper, but Wyatt came from behind and went for Sistel Abigail, picking up the win. This heel Ryback brings lots of expectations, as far as my opinion of his character goes, and his attitude can take him to the top once more. I didn't have lots of expectations when he changed his gear, but now that I see a heel turn, I can say I changed my opinion. And Luke Harper proved once again why he is for me the best performer of the Family.
Divas action was to follow the show. Naomi taking on Sasha Banks. Another great performance from one of the best divas in the company, Banks, and one of the most underrated divas in the company, Naomi. They put on a great effort, and the result was a great match. Becky Lynch came out after Tamina inferfered a couple of times, and Banks capitalized on that with the Bank Statement, making Naomi tap out within a second. Divas Champion Charlotte entered the stage with her father, Nature Boy Ric Flair. She is definitely putting on a great work as a heel, one of my favourites of recent memory on RAW. She then announced that there will be a match (I did not get it, but I think it is a match between Banks and Lynch, which is logical) to determine who will face her for the Divas Title at the AT&T Stadium on April 3rd at WrestleMania. Oh, and she came out wearing the Bella's gear. Genius move.
In the main event, Roman Reigns took on Sheamus. A very physical match that ended with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H coming out and brutally assaulting the former champion. Throwing Reigns' head to the announcement table more than 10 times, Reigns was busted open, before Hunter put him on the pedigree on the steel steps. A merciless assault from champion to challenger. Every encounter from this show on between both competitors should be just like this one. Great stuff.
RAW kicked off with the Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence award presented by Vincent K. McMahon. After talking about the history of his family as wrestling promoters and him being a 3rd Generation promoter, he awarded it to his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. More boo'ed than Roman Reigns was at the 2015 Royal Rumble, Steph was interrupted before she could make an acceptance speech of the award. Who came out? Her brother, Shane McMahon. And boy did he make a hell of an impact right from the get go. He revealed he had a lockbox full of things he could blackmail his dad, but he made clear what he really wanted: control of Monday Night RAW. McMahon then decided he could have the control of the show, IF he could wrestle one last match at WrestleMania, against non-other than The Undertaker, inside Hell In A Cell. It's on.
Very decent match with the Dabliu... Dabliu... IIiiii... Wooorld... Tag Team Chaaaaaaaampiooons, The New Day, getting a victory over Neville and the Lucha Dragons. I just don't get why the United States Champion did not have a important role as the champion of the show.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came out to brag about what happened at FastLane, and how Dean Ambrose turned a very physical but technical match into a complete hardcore bout. An ambulance sirene started to ring, as Dean Ambrose revealed himself as the driver of the ambulance that took him out of the arena after being attacked by The Beast before Monday Night RAW. Ambrose dragged his body to the end of the stage, without even standing up. Lesnar stomped Ambrose's face on the ground and, as he went for the exit, Ambrose challenged him to a No Holds Barred Street Fight at WrestleMania. Lesnar returned and F5'ed Ambrose, before Heyman told The Lunatic Fringe that his client accepts his "little" challenge.
For some reason, after a confrontation between The Dudleyz and The Usos, The Ascension attacked the Samoan team. Within seconds, Usos knocked Ascension out to get a victory. For some reason.
"Y2J" Chris Jericho entered the arena and came out to congratulate The Phenomenal One AJ Styles. Social Outcasts interrupted the "love affair" between both competitors, and they agreed to form a team and face Social Outcasts. Very good tag team action between both teams, and a great finish that saw Jericho with the Walls Of Jericho applied on Curtis Axel, Styles using the forearm and throwing himself out of the ring to take out the other 3 members of Social Outcasts. Great action!
After a 6-Man bout at FastLane, The Wyatt Family, Ryback, Big Show and Kane faced each other once again. The only difference was that Bray Wyatt was actually in the match, and Braun Strowman out of the ring. In the end, Ryback turned his back on his partners. Kane chockeslammed Harper, but Wyatt came from behind and went for Sistel Abigail, picking up the win. This heel Ryback brings lots of expectations, as far as my opinion of his character goes, and his attitude can take him to the top once more. I didn't have lots of expectations when he changed his gear, but now that I see a heel turn, I can say I changed my opinion. And Luke Harper proved once again why he is for me the best performer of the Family.
Divas action was to follow the show. Naomi taking on Sasha Banks. Another great performance from one of the best divas in the company, Banks, and one of the most underrated divas in the company, Naomi. They put on a great effort, and the result was a great match. Becky Lynch came out after Tamina inferfered a couple of times, and Banks capitalized on that with the Bank Statement, making Naomi tap out within a second. Divas Champion Charlotte entered the stage with her father, Nature Boy Ric Flair. She is definitely putting on a great work as a heel, one of my favourites of recent memory on RAW. She then announced that there will be a match (I did not get it, but I think it is a match between Banks and Lynch, which is logical) to determine who will face her for the Divas Title at the AT&T Stadium on April 3rd at WrestleMania. Oh, and she came out wearing the Bella's gear. Genius move.
In the main event, Roman Reigns took on Sheamus. A very physical match that ended with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H coming out and brutally assaulting the former champion. Throwing Reigns' head to the announcement table more than 10 times, Reigns was busted open, before Hunter put him on the pedigree on the steel steps. A merciless assault from champion to challenger. Every encounter from this show on between both competitors should be just like this one. Great stuff.
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