RAW LIVE Coverage and Discussion - 1st Dec 2014
Even though they are no longer in charge, we still start off Raw with a look back at the end of the Authority and their Farewell Address.
Michael Cole reads an e-mail from the Raw GM. He says it is back and he is not happy. This company needs a strong leader that everyone knows, but no one knows. They need him. It cannot leave the fortune of this company in the hands of nameless superstars.
John Cena interrupts Michael Cole and comes to the ring. He says that it is a paramount night on Raw. This Board of Directors has its stuff together because the Anonymous General Manager is running things tonight. Cena says that he loves nothing about this GM. Cena says it has something in common with Brock Lesnar, it shows up once a year.
John says the Authority is gone and they ain’t never coming back. Team Cena was victorious at Survivor Series even though Big Show turned on them and Triple H tried to do everything to help the Authority win. John says that his team showed what it was like to be a WWE Superstar.
John is interrupted by the ding dong but Cena says that he won’t let the biggest victory in WWE history turn Raw over to a nameless and faceless computer. John closes the laptop.
Seth Rollins comes to the ring with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble.
Seth wants everyone to give John a hand. He says that he needs to give John a hand because he is ultra-talented. He is so good at so many things. He has a lot of bad jokes. He waves his hands in front of his face as if he is a little kid trying to know what his fingers do. He has also become proficient at having half the crowd tell John how much he sucks.
Seth says that John is really really great at taking credit. Particularly taking credit that you are not due. You didn’t win anything at Survivor Series. Seth asks Joey and Jamie if they remember that Seth eliminated John. He pinned John’s shoulders to the mat while the referee made the three count.
Seth says that he would have been the sole survivor and the Authority would still be in power if it wasn’t for one man . . . STING.
John says that Seth seems to forget that Team Cena had one man left, someone who was outnumbered three to one. He was the man who eliminated Seth Rollins and that man is Dolph Ziggler. John says that he is here to give credit to the man who got the Authority out of power and beat Seth.
Seth says that he wants to ask John and the people if you are better off without the Authority in power.
Seth disputes the people who are chanting yes. John says that his team went through so much to have the Board of Directors appoint the Anonymous GM and Daniel Bryan. What is next? JBL?
Seth says that it could be Batista. He has proven he is terrible at wrestling and acting, so why not give him a shot at GM. What about Eric Bischoff. Every week is a guessing game because what you did last week goes up in smoke because the new GM might have a different agends.
Seth says that every week it is ‘their show’ and you say that you do what is best for them. What is best for them, what is best for John, and what is best for the WWE is what is best for business. John is the only one who has the power and before the show turns into utter chaos, you need to bring back the Authority.
John says that Seth is being very bossy. Seth, you are in no place to make orders because your trump card is gone and the Authority is not coming back. Before you had Hunter and Stephanie to have your back. You are now a normal dude with a gold briefcase, you wear too much latex, and you have two mall cops with you. John says that he has the power to bring the Authority back.
John tells Seth to ask him nicely.
Seth asks John to bring back the Authority . . . please.
John says that he doesn’t think that Seth is being nice enough. He tells Seth to get down on a knee. John asks for a Pretty Please. Cena tells Seth to ignore the computer.
Michael Cole pipes up and he says that John Cena and Seth Rollins will compete in a Tables Match at TLC. If John loses, he will no longer be the Number One Contender for the WWE Championship . . .
Seth attacks Cena but Cena sends Rollins to the floor. Cena goes after Mercury and Noble but Kane comes out and he choke slams Cena.
Seth goes to the floor and he gets a table from under the ring.
Ryback comes out and he gives Kane a spinebuster and then he takes care of Noble and Mercury. Ryback presses Rollins over his head and he hits a power slam on Rollins. Kane gets a chair and he attacks Ryback with it since they have a Chairs Match at TLC.
Erick Rowan’s music plays and he comes to the ring and he give Kane a big boot. Rowan takes care of Mercury and Noble and then he sends Rollins into the turnbuckles.
Big Show comes from behind and he hits a splash on Rowan. Show works over Rowan and he hits Rowan with the ring steps.
Dolph Ziggler comes out and Show tries to send Ziggler into the post but Ziggler escapes and he sends Show into the ring post. Ziggler grabs a ladder but from out of nowhere, Luke Harper attacks Ziggler and hits him with the ladder.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Cena is held by Noble and Mercury while Rollins sets up the table. Cena gets Rollins on his shoulders but Harper saves Rollins and Show punches Cena. Mercury and Noble pick up Cena and Rollins is the one to send Cena through the table with a Cerberus Bomb 2.0.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the officials and medical staff check on the people who were destroyed by Seth Rollins and his band of merry men.
We are told that there are two matches that will take place later tonight. Big Show will face Erick Rowan. Luke Harper, Kane, and Seth Rollins will face Ryback, Dolph Ziggler, and John Cena.
Tag Team Turmoil Match to determine the Number One Contender for the Tag Titles at TLC (featuring Goldust and Stardust, A New Day, The Usos, Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, and Adam Rose and the Bunny)
Goldust and Stardust vs Kofi Kingston and Big E (with Xavier Woods)
Kofi and Stardust start things off and Kofi with kicks and a drop kick. Kofi with a forearm but Stardust with a forearm. Stardust with a monkey flip but Kofi lands on his feet and he connects with another drop kick. Goldust tags in and Kofi with a hip toss. Big E tags in and Big E sends Kofi into the corner with a splash. Kofi sends Goldust to Big E for a clothesline and Big E gets a near fall.
Goldust with a clip and Stardust tags in and connects with a forearm. Stardust drops down and he kicks Big E. Kofi tags in and they hit the Big Ending and Elbow drop combination for the three count.
Goldust and Stardust Eliminated
Kofi Kingston and Big E (with Xavier Woods) vs Tyson Kidd and Cesaro (with Natalya)
This part of the match is joined in progress and Cesaro with a side salto on Kofi and Kidd tags in. Kidd with a kick to the chest. Kidd with forearms and a snap mare followed by a reverse chin lock. Kidd with a slam but Kofi with a head scissors and he makes the tag to Big E.
Big E with clotheslines but Kidd with a kick. Big E with a belly-to-belly suplex and then Big E wipes off. Big E with the Warrior Splash. Big E gets Kidd up for the Big Ending and Cesaro makes the save. Kidd and Cesaro are sent to the apron and Big E knocks them off the apron. Kofi tags in and Big E propels Kofi onto Cesaro and Kidd.
Kofi with a springboard clothesline. Goldust and Stardust attack Woods and Kidd with a rollup for the three count.
Big E and Kofi Kingston eliminated
Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (with Natalya) vs Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso
Cesaro with an overhead belly-to-belly to Jimmy but Jimmy with uppercuts and then he hits the running butt splash for a near fall. Jey tags in and he hits a double sledge to the arm. Cesaro with a punch. Kidd tags in and he chokes Jey. Jey with a kick but Kidd with a kick and he goes to the apron. Jey does not hit the plancha because Kidd hides behind his wife. Cesaro with a German suplex and bridge for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro with a reverse chin lock on Jey. Cesaro sends Jey into the corner but Jey with an elbow and he takes a shot at Kidd. Cesaro stops Jey from making the tag and he hits a power bomb for a near fall. Kidd tags in and Jey with a kick to Kidd and he sends Cesaro to the floor.
Jimmy makes the tag and he hits a few clotheslines followed by a kick and uppercut. Jimmy with a pop up Samoan drop for a near fall that is broken up by Cesaro. Jey clotheslines Cesaro over the top rope and he follows like Mick Foley. Kidd has Natalya keep him from being brought back into the ring and Kidd with an enzuigiri. Jimmy with a super kick on a springboard move by Kidd. Jey tags in and he hits the Superfly Splash for the three count.
Tyson Kidd and Cesaro Eliminated
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs Adam Rose and the Bunny
Jey with a rollup for a near fall and then he runs into a boot from Rose. Rose with elbows to Jey and we see Naomi watching from the only monitor in the back. Rose with a spinebuster for a near fall. The Bunny tags itself in and it goes up top but Rose stands in the way. Jimmy sends Rose into the Bunny and Jimmy tries for a superplex. The Bunny blocks the superplex and then it hits a sunset flip power bomb for a near fall. Rose tags in and he argues with the Bunny. The Bunny argues with Rose and then Rose turns around into a super kick from Jimmy and Jey tags in and hits a Superfly Splash for the three count.
Winners: Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso
Backstage:
We see Naomi celebrating in the back and it pans away to show Miz and Sandow. Miz says that he is looking forward to face The Usos. He wishes Naomi luck because he picked her to be AJ’s partner. Miz says that he was impressed with Naomi’s video. He says that he knows a producer who would be interested in working with Naomi. She gives Naomi a card and walks away. Sandow gives Naomi an invisible business card and walks away.
Backstage:
We see a limo arrive and that must mean that Vince McMahon is here.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the Slammy Awards are next week. Seth Green will be the host.
We see footage from the opening segment when Big Show hit Erick Rowan with the ring steps.
Backstage:
Erick Rowan is with Tom Phillips and Rowan has a Rubik’s Cube. He is asked if he regrets targeting Big Show and he says nothing. Tom mentions that Rowan has an IQ of 143 and that he is a classically trained musician and a vintner. Rowan pulls up his mask and he says that Big Show is a bully. Rowan hands Tom a completed cube.
Big Show comes out and he says that Rowan is damn right. He is a bully. He does it because he can. He has to be a bully. He doesn’t forget the people who have betrayed him. Show says the people sold out on him. All he cares about is hurting people. He will show Rowan how mean and nasty he is.
Big Show vs Erick Rowan
Rowan punches Show and kicks him against the ropes. Show goes to the floor. Rowan goes to the floor and he chases Show back into the ring. Show with clotheslines. Show with a kick to the armpit and then he punches Rowan in the ribs and back. Show with a kick to Rowan. Show with more kicks to Rowan. Show with more kicks as he bullies Rowan.
Rowan with a punch but Show with more punches and then he chokes Rowan in the ropes. Show with a short arm clothesline and then he applies a reverse chin lock using Rowan’s arm to cut off his oxygen. Rowan with punches and then he takes Show down with clotheslines. Rowan with a splash into the corner.
Rowan clotheslines Show over the top rope and he connects with a forearm on the floor. Show Irish whips Rowan into the ring steps. Show picks up the stairs and he hits Rowan in the back and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Erick Rowan (by disqualification)
Backstage:
Vince McMahon is walking in the back and he sees a few people who are Rosebuds and he walks past them.
Renee Young stops Vince and Vince says that he is so happy he could whistle, if he could. He says that he will be part of Steve Austin’s podcast after Raw. Renee asks Vince if he would bring back The Authority. Vince says that is in the hands of John Cena. Vince mentions the Austin podcast, exclusively on the Network and he says it will be fun.
We see footage of Nikki and Brie Bella on the same page even though the 30 days are over.
We go to commercial.
Fandango (with Rosa Mendes) vs Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter)
Jack’s music plays twice and he does not come out to the ring. We go to the back where Zeb is down and Swagger wants to know who did this.
Lillian starts to announce that Fandango wins by forfeit, but Rosa takes the mic and makes the announcement in Spanish.
Rusev makes his way to the ring and he is accompanied by his flag and Lana.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lana and Rusev have made it to the ring.
Lana says that while you Americans pride yourselves on freedom, last week Rusev was ordered to recite your pathetic Pledge of Allegiance. Not only did Rusev refuse bravely, he was punished for his valor. Then he was forced to enter in a battle royal to defend his title on Smackdown.
Nineteen men tried to beat Rusev but the all failed. When will you learn that Rusev is the greatest United States Champion that this pathetic excuse for a Super Power has ever seen.
Rusev says that for those of you who have foolishly challenged him only to be crushed. Those who do not listen, like Zeb Colter, have been broken.
Lana tells everyone to shut up. Lana demands that everyone rise to respect a true Pledge of Allegiance. The Russian flag drops.
Jack Swagger makes his way to the ring and he goes after Rusev and he takes Rusev down and he punches Rusev.
Swagger with forearms and punches to Rusev. Rusev with rabbit punches and then they both go through the ropes to the floor. Swagger sends Rusev into the ringside barrier. Swagger sends Rusev into the ringside barrier a few more times.
Officials come out to separate Swagger and Rusev but that doesn’t work too well.
We go to commercial.
Damien Sandow (with Miz) vs Fernando (with El Torito)
They lock up and Fernando with a snap mare into a crucifix and a near fall. Fernando with a wrist lock but Sandow gets a near fall. Fernando with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Fernando with a head scissors and a drop kick for a near fall. Fernando with an arm bar. Sandow with a head butt and he blocks a hip toss and he gets a near fall with a back slide.
Fernando with a clothesline for a near fall. Fernando with an arm bar and kicks followed by an Irish whip but he misses a splash. Sandow with clotheslines followed by the Reality Check and he kips up. Sandow sets for the Skull Crushing Finale but Fernando with a snap mare. Sandow rolls through a sunset flip attempt and he applies the figure four leg lock and Fernando taps out.
Winner: Damien Sandow
After the match:
Jimmy Uso comes to the announce table and he slaps Miz and tells him to stay away from his wife.
Sandow holds his face in sympathy for Miz.
Bray Wyatt is coming.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jimmy Uso will face The Miz on Main Event.
Bray Wyatt vs R Truth
Truth with punches to Wyatt but Wyatt with a punch of his own. Wyatt with a head butt. Wyatt with a chop and more head butts. Wyatt with an Irish whip but Truth moves when Wyatt charges into the corner. Wyatt with a clothesline and he wants to know where Dean is. Wyatt with a punch and then he sends Truth into the corner with a hard Irish whip. Wyatt with a cravate.
Wyatt with a knees and then he slams Truth and misses the back senton when Truth moves. Truth with punches but Bray with a punch. Truth with a drop kick and splash into the corner. Truth with a flying forearm but he misses the scissors kick. Wyatt with a uranage to Truth and then he sends Truth to the apron.
Wyatt sends Truth face first into the apron and then he rolls Truth back into the ring. Bray goes to the corner and he leans back. Bray with the kiss and then he hits Sister Abigail for the three count.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
After the match:
Bray goes under the ring and he throws chairs into the ring as he calls for Dean Ambrose. Bray gets a ladder from under the ring. We go to commercial as I assume Bray gets a table to finish the trinity.
We are back and Bray is in the ring and he has a story about a man named Jacob. Jacob used to have these dreams and these visions. He had these dreams of this great ladder. This was a very special ladder. The angels adorned this ladder because it led straight to heaven. This was a ladder to Jacob’s maker. The maker stood at the top of this ladder and he spoke to Jacob and told him where to lead his people.
He never left his side . . . how glorious.
Bray says that he dreams of this great ladder, but his dreams are a little different. He ascends this ladder to praise no one. He looks down on the vile creatures that he has created. He sees these insects like Dean Ambrose.
Bray says that he sees tables, ladders, and chairs. Tables, ladders, and chairs. It didn’t have to be this way Dean.
Ambrose comes to the ring and he pulls Bray to the floor and they fight around the ring. Wyatt with punches and head butts and Bray sends Ambrose into the ringside barrier but Dean with a clothesline. Dean sends Bray into the announce table and then he punches Bray while Bray is on the announce table. Dean with a head butt and then he looks under the ring and he pulls out a ladder. Dean sets up the ladder and referees come out and hold their hands up.
Wyatt is able to get off the apron but Ambrose runs across the announce table and he connects with a forearm. Wyatt is sent into the ring post a few times and then he staggers up the ramp.
Dean gets back into the ring and he destroys the rocking chair.
We go to commercial.
Nikki Bella and Brie Bella vs AJ Lee and Naomi
Brie knocks AJ off the apron and Nikki attacks Naomi. Nikki with a suplex for a near fall. Nikki with a drop kick like maneuver to the leg. Nikki chokes Naomi in the ropes. Brie tags in and she hits the running knee to the head and gets a near fall. Brie with an Irish whip and an elbow in the corner. Nikki tags in and hits a clothesline.
Nikki gets a near fall. Nikki with a rear chin lock. Naomi gets to her feet and she uses her rear end to get away. Nikki pulls Naomi to the mat by the hair. Nikki tries for a belly-to-back suplex and Naomi lands on her feet and she tag in AJ.
AJ with a Thesz Press to Nikki followed by a splash into the corner and a neck breaker. AJ knocks Brie off the apron and then she kicks Nikki and hits a tornado DDT. Brie breaks up the cover. Naomi takes care of Brie. Brie sends Naomi to the floor and AJ sends Brie to the floor. AJ with a Shining Wizard followed by the Black Widow and Nikki taps out.
Winners: AJ Lee and Naomi
After the match:
Brie checks on her sister but Nikki pushes Brie away.
Backstage:
We see Santa Foley doing a hard sell for WWEShop.com.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we are told that Dean Ambrose will be facing Rusev on Smackdown.
We go to Paul Heyman who is at the WWE Headquarters. Michael asks Paul about the stipulation for the Cena/Rollins match at TLC.
Paul wants to address what John said about Brock being on Raw once a year. Paul says that we are in a festive season. Paul says why not do Christmas 365 nights a year? That would be stupid. You don’t call every night Wrestlemania. You do it once a year because it is must see. If John Cena gets past Seth Rollins, he will have to face a rested and properly trained Brock Lesnar. The beating that Cena will face will pale in comparison to what he will face at the hands of Brock Lesnar.
If Cena loses, who becomes the number one contender? Brock Lesnar, the man who curb stomped Brock Lesnar and cannot hide behind the Authority. Paul says that he rescinds his apology from earlier. Undertaker? We haven’t seen him since Wrestlemania. Sting? It wouldn’t have to be advertised as a retirement match since it would be Sting’s final match. Why not do the entire roster. He will go through the entire locker room like
There is an entity and there is a power. He who has the gold has the power and he who has the power has the gold. He is the advocate for the must see, can’t miss, reigning, defending Undisputed Champion of the world . . . Brock Lesnar.
John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, and THE Ryback vs Seth Rollins, Kane, and Luke Harper (with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble)
Cena starts off and he wants Rollins, but Seth is happy on the apron. Harper starts off for his team. Cena punches Harper and he sends him into the corner. Cena with an Irish whip and clothesline for a near fall. Cena with a back elbow and he brings Rollins into the ring and applies the STF but Harper hits Cena to get him to release the hold. Harper with punches but Cena with a belly-to-belly slam.
Ziggler tags in and Cena with a hip toss followed by a double drop kick for a near fall. Ziggler with punches but Harper avoids the neck breaker and he punches Ziggler. Kane tags in and he connects with an uppercut. Ziggler with a kick and he tags in Ryback. Ryback with kicks and punches. Kane with punches and forearms but Ryback with a Thesz Press and he slams Kane’s head into the mat.
Ryback with a splash and he gets a near fall. Kane backs Ryback into the corner and Harper tags in and he punches Ryback. Harper with a head butt but Ryback sends Harper into the corner and he kicks Harper. Harper with an Irish whip but Ryback with a clothesline out of the corner for a near fall. Ryback with a front face lock.
Rollins tags in and he kicks Ryback and punches him. The referee warns Rollins and he tags in Harper who kicks and punches Ryback. Ryback with shoulders and chops. Harper with punches and uppercuts to Ryback. Harper tries for a suplex but Ryback blocks it. Ryback with a delayed vertical suplex and we go to commercial.
We are back and Ryback with another suplex and he gets a near fall. Ziggler tags in and he punches Harper. Harper with a European uppercut that sends Ziggler to his knees. Kane tags in and he punches Ziggler and head butts him. Kane with punches but Ziggler with a sleeper. Kane starts to go down to the mat but he is able to get out of the hold by sending Ziggler into the turnbuckles.
Ziggler with a drop kick to the knee and Kane falls into the turnbuckles. Ziggler with a splash. Ziggler goes for another splash but Kane grabs Ziggler by the throat. Ziggler escapes and goes to the turnbuckles but Kane with an uppercut and a near fall. Rollins tags in and works over Ziggler until Harper tags in and gives Ziggler a Gator Roll. Harper with a reverse chin lock.
Ziggler with a punch but Harper with a double thrust and then he gets Ziggler up momentarily for a suplex but sends him to the mat for an uppercut and Harper gets a near fall. Kane tags in and he kicks Ziggler. Kane with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Kane with a reverse chin lock.
Ziggler with punches to get free of Kane but Kane with a knee to the midsection. Rollins tags in and he gives Ziggler a hard Irish whip. Rollins with a second hard Irish whip. Rollins stomps on Ziggler’s hand. Rollins with an elbow to the top of the head. Rollins with a snap mare into a reverse chin lock.
Ziggler with a jawbreaker to get out of the hold. Rollins misses a splash into the corner when Dolph ducks. Cena tags in and he hits two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena with the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he gets Rollins up but he sees Harper come in so he gives Harper an Attitude Adjustment. Ryback helps Cena hit a double suplex on Kane. Ryback is sent to his corner by the referee and he does not see Mercury and Noble hit Cena. Rollins gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kane punches Cena and Cena punches Rollins and Harper on the apron. That allows Kane to hit a side slam and get a near fall. Kane with a reverse chin lock. Cena gets to his feet and he powers out of the hold and he hits a drop kick. Harper tags in and he keeps Cena from making the tag and he sets for a belly-to-back suplex but turns it into a front driver and he gets a near fall. Harper with a palm thrust to the throat.
Harper with a thrust kick for a near fall. Rollins tags in and he goes up top and he punches Cena after telling Cena he can’t see him. Rollins kicks Cena but Cena punches Rollins and both men are down. Rollins with a clothesline to Cena and he pulls Cena into his corner and he kicks Cena followed by a knee drop.
Rollins with a rear chin lock. Rollins with a shot to the back of the neck and then he misses a splash into the corner. Cena makes the tag to Ziggler and he hits two clotheslines and then he knocks Kane off the apron before hitting a splash into the corner and a neck breaker. Ziggler with a Fameasser for a near fall and then all six men get in the ring.
Cena with a cross body onto everyone in the ring. Cena gets Kane on his shoulders but Kane escapes and he hits a big boot. Ryback with a power slam but Rollins with a springboard knee to Ryback. Ziggler with a hesitation DDT to Rollins. Harper with a Bossman Slam to Ziggler for a near fall. Harper sets for a power bomb but Ziggler with a sunset flip for the three count.
Winners: Dolph Ziggler, John Cena, and Ryback
After the match:
Harper goes after Ziggler and Cena makes the save. Ziggler and Rollins battle while Cena brawls with Harper. Ryback and Kane battle in the corner.
Big Show quietly makes his way to the ring and he head butts Ryback and punches Ziggler and Cena. Show sends Ryback into the corner and Kane punches him.
Erick Rowan comes to the ring with ring steps and he hits Harper and Kane on the way. Rowan hits Rollins with the steps. He gets into the ring and Show grabs Rowan and Ryback by the throat. Ziggler with a super kick to Show and Cena with an Attitude Adjustment on Show.
Rowan picks up the steps and Cena, Ryback, and Ziggler Irish whip Show towards Rowan and Rowan hits him with the ring steps.
We go to credits.
