WrestleTalk News’ 05/02/16 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw reviewed in about 4 minutes – featuring Roman Reigns’ potential heel turn, Shane and Stephanie McMahon co-running Raw for the first time in the new era, the sad end to a beloved fan favourite character and TYLER BREEZE GETS A WIN!
STEPHANIE AND SHANE OPENING PROMO
In what sometimes felt like a four hour long promo at Payback, Vince McMahon finally revealed who out of Stephanie and Shane would be in control of Monday Night Raw…both Stephanie and Shane. It was an announcement almost as useless as The Undertaker beating someone.I’m not overly fond of making everything about the McMahons, but at least it isn’t The Authority.
CESARO VS KEVIN OWENS
Shane and Steph made the opening match Kevin Owens vs Swiss Superman 007 Nightclub Bouncer Cesaro. The winner would become the no.1 contender to Miz’s Intercontinental title – who spent most of the match on commentary trying to figure out how WWE’s automatic rematch clause actually works. Nobody knew, because it’s a stupid idea.
The match broke down in the end, with Miz, Owens, Cesaro and Sami Zayn all having a scuffle – which telegraphs a four-way for the IC title at Extreme Rules.
AMBROSE ASYLUM WITH STEPHANIE MCMAHON
Ambrose wasn’t buying Stephanie’s new benevolent boss act, so he invited her on his Asylum talk show. This allowed them to recap the story so far for the 18th time already on this show. We’re in a new era, Shane and Stephanie are sharing control, yadda, yadda, you literally just told me this an hour ago.
It ended with Steph replacing the Asylum with Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel – an announcement that had deeply tragic repercussions…
Wrestling hurts. The injuries that keep performers out are mostly real. These performers put their bodies on the line for our entertainment.
Unfortunately, this segment saw the end of one of those onscreen characters. Jericho smashed the fan favourite potted plant Mitch over Ambrose’s head.
Mitch might have been green, and his stint within the WWE was very short, but his willingness to grow, to reach towards the light was without rival. He could photosynthesise better than all the main roster put together, and he’ll be sorely missed. To Mitch.
Mitch Graphic WWE Dean ambrose
Here’s the other stuff that happened!
NEW DAY AND BIG CASS BEAT THE VAUDEVILLIANS AND DUDLEY BOYS
With Enzo out of action after his concussion at Payback, Big Cass teamed with The New Day to take on the Dudley Boys and Tag Team Title’s no.1 contenders, The Vaudevillians.
Cass pinned D-Von for the win, which protects The Vaudevillians and smartly keeps Cass relevant while Enzo’s recovering.
TYLER BREEZE (WITH R-TRUTH) BEAT GOLDUST (WITH FANDANGO)
Tyler Breeze won a match! This really is a new era.
EMMA BEAT BECKY LYNCH
Emma stole a victory with a thumb to Becky’s eye. That was a joke, by the way. Stole. Because Emma accidentally shoplifted that time? Yeah, it’s funny.
CHARLOTTE SPEAKS
Referee Charles ‘Little Naitch’ Robinson came out to address the Charlotte/Natalya shocking screwjob finish at Payback. Not ‘shocking’ in a ‘oh my god, what an incredibly controversial ending’ way. ‘Shocking’ in a ‘I can’t believe they’re doing a screwjob finish again.’
Steph made a submissions rematch between the two with Ric banned from ringside.
US CHAMPIONSHIP NO.1 CONTENDER BATTLE ROYALE
It’s a Battle Royal to guarantee your place on the pre-show for the foreseeable future. God, this title has fallen far since Cena’s open challenge run last year.
Hey, wait – is that Damien Sandow? Damien Sandow’s in it! Come on, Sando…oh, GOD DAMMIT TITUS. Jog on back to Universal Studios.
This got really good at the end between Rusev and Ryder. But sadly, ‘woo woo woo, you’re eliminated’. Hopefully this means Rusev and Lana can be pushed as a top act again.
And now, the main event…
To find out Oli’s thoughts on Roman Empire vs Bullet Club, and a possible Reigns heel turn, watch the video above.
