Seth Rollins cozied up in a recliner as he addressed Randy Orton in the final segment of last week’s Monday Night RAW. (WWE/YouTube)
With just six days to go before Extreme Rules this Sunday, April 26th, this week’s Monday Night RAW emanated live from the Times Union Center in Albany, New York.
Before tonight, six matches have been made official: Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, John Cena vs. Rusev for the United States Championship, Daniel Bryan vs Bad News Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship, Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show, Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler and Nikki Bella vs. Paige for the Divas Championship. It was announced that due to Paige’s injuries, she will not compete this Sunday. Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper was added tonight.
After being noticeably absent from RAW over the last two weeks, this week Triple H return, returned with a big announcement regarding the return of Tough Enough to the USA Network this summer.
Daniel Bryan, ahead of his Intercontinental Championship match this Sunday, did not appear on RAW tonight, and his IC title defense this Sunday at Extreme Rules is in serious jeopardy at the moment. Tonight’s main event featured WWEWHC Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler.
Here is how the rest of RAW played out:
Randy Orton Makes a Promise to Seth Rollins to Open Up RAW
“Tonight, before #RAW goes off the air, I’m going to #RKO YOU, and THAT’s a PROMISE!” – @RandyOrton http://t.co/wqpgLZ69aI
Randy Orton opened the show in the middle of the ring with the Steel Cage that will surround Sunday’s match at Extreme Rules lowered around the ring. Orton took jabs at Rollins’ stupidity and made a promise that he will once again become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Rollins and J&J Security came out to interrupt Orton. Rollins belittled Orton and the rest of the Albany crowd. Rollins also made note that Orton was merely getting these thoughts out of his system — Orton then vowed to RKO every SOB in the locker room he sees before Sunday’s match to “get it out of his system.”
Before the end of the night, it seems like Rollins may not be able to get out of the way of one of the RKOs Orton has on his rampage.
Dean Ambrose & Luke Harper Brawl Out of the Ring
Match over … Ambrose don’t care.
#RAW http://t.co/6mv5NxSUyX
The Lunatic Fringe and Luke Harper were scheduled for a match. Before the match started, Harper walked down to the ring and told Dean that he would make Ambrose fear him after tonight.
That didn’t happen as both men quickly had a match that escalated to the outside and eventually up the ramp. It seems like both men will settle the score officially at Extreme Rules in some type of stipulation match — a tables match, most likely.
UPDATE:
Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper in a Chicago Street Fight has been added to Extreme Rules.
Ambrose vs. Harper has been made official for Extreme Rules and the match stipulation will be a Chicago Street Fight, and not a Tables Match.
The New Day Become the No. 1 Contenders for the Tag Team Championship
The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) took on the Lucha Dragons to earn a chance to face Cesaro and Tyson Kidd for the Tag Team Championship at Extreme Rules. In a back-and-forth match, the New Day cheaply stole a victory away from the Lucha Dragons thanks to Xavier Woods hiding under the ring and grabbing Kalisto’s leg, preventing him from getting back in the ring to beat the count of 10. The New Day are the No. 1 contenders.
After the match, Randy Orton made them pay, though… with his first RKO of the night…
As promised, the #RKOs have begun from @RandyOrton on @WWE #RAW! #TheNewDay http://t.co/wEDMqGqzx5
Which may not be the last RKO we see tonight…
Triple H’s Big Return is Accompanied By the Official Announcement of Tough Enough
Are you #ToughEnough?
Visit http://t.co/UyuW441RWw now to show us you have what it takes!
#RAW http://t.co/wgdXqgIWUf
After Tough Enough, WWE’s reality show for a WWE contract, returned in 2011, the returning COO Triple H announced that starting this June, Tough Enough returns to the USA Network. Log onto WWEToughEnough.com for more information and to enter your video for an opportunity to win a spot on the show.
Triple H Eased the Tension in the Authority… for Now
.@TripleH makes @KaneWWE #Gatekeeper in @WWERollins‘ #SteelCage Match at #ExtremeRules! #RAW http://t.co/c7zgeiLqdG
Both Seth Rollins and Kane came out and interrupted the COO, continuing to butt heads thanks to their huge egos. Triple H decided on a solution that should make everybody trust each other again. Kane will act as the gatekeeper — the person in charge of opening and closing the cage door — for Sunday’s Extreme Rules WWEWHC match.
With Paige Out, Noami is Taking Her Shot at the Divas Championship
It’s not easy making Brie Bella a sympathetic face against Naomi when Brie has been a heel for forever and a half. Bad booking, WWE. #RAW
Brie Bella vs. Noami had an odd crowd dynamic on RAW. Right now, due to A.J. Lee’s retirement and Paige’s absence — she will NOT be challenging Nikki Bella at Extreme Rules due to injuries sustained by Naomi last week — the Bellas have been trusted to the top of the division, and look like they’ve turned face for the time being.
Noami defeated Brie with a rear view and Naomi will take Paige’s spot at Extreme Rules.
RKO Alert!
That’s THREE #RKOs for #TheViper on @WWE #RAW! http://t.co/n2PCV3LeQv
The Viper strikes again with an RKO on Heath Slater through a table with food on it!
Roman Reigns Addresses the Big Show & Extreme Rules
It’s not easy making Brie Bella a sympathetic face against Naomi when Brie has been a heel for forever and a half. Bad booking, WWE. #RAW
Roman Reigns came out and addressed the WWE Universe about his Last Man Standing match with The Big Show at Extreme Rules…
BO-Lieve THAT! @WWERomanReigns takes out @TheBoDallas on @WWE #RAW! #BelieveThat http://t.co/OwCtUIeCF1
…until he was interrupted by BO DALLAS! Bo Dallas has returned to RAW! Anyway, Bo entered the lion’s (dog’s?) den and pissed off Reigns, who Superman Punched Bo into oblivion, sending a message to Show for Extreme Rules. BELIEVE DAT!
Chris Jericho Will Have Another Podcast Special on the WWE Network
THURSDAY, APRIL 30 after @WWE #SmackDown: @IAmJericho interviews @StephMcMahon, only on @WWENetwork! http://t.co/8r8XL2MxFO
Next week after the conclusion of Smackdown, Chris Jericho will interview Stephanie McMahon live on the WWE Network.
John Cena Issues Another U.S. Championship Open Challenge
The @JohnCena #OpenChallenge is now on … and @KaneWWE accepts!!
#RAW #USTitle http://t.co/Vhs0YwGmms
Despite Cena defending his U.S. Championship Sunday at Extreme Rules, the fighting champion decided that he would continue to issue his open challenge tonight. After being pissed off earlier in the night by Seth Rollins, Kane decided to take the open challenge.
Cena mad quick work of Kane, which humored Seth Rollins and J&J Security in the back. Rollins and Kane look as if though they are going to feud soon, or continue to butt heads often should they each remain in the Authority.
After the match, under Lana’s orders, Rusev took the liberty to ambush Cena backstage and lock in his submission move the Accolade using the chain that will be attached to each man on Sunday. Cena immediately passed out as refs had to break it up.
The Miz Defeated Damien Mizdow to Retain the Rights to His Name
.@MikeTheMiz gets to keep his “brand” on @WWE #Raw, thanks to @RealSummerWWE! #Mizdow http://t.co/cbbYuS5IMG
In a feud that started in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania, The Miz and Damien Sandow’s feud culminated tonight. In the third match of their series, The Miz, with the help of Summer Rae at ringside (surprise, surprise!), defeated Mizdow to end their feud. The A-lister gets to keep the rights to his brand, name, theme song etc. In the end, Summer took the side of her Marine 4 co-star.
Another #RKO out of nowhere by @RandyOrton — this time, to @MikeTheMiz!! #RAW #TheViper http://t.co/pSSz7BydFs
For the 4th time tonight, Randy Orton delivered an RKO.
Seth Rollins Defeated Dolph Ziggler in the Main Event
#RKO!!!
@RandyOrton told you so, @WWERollins!
#RAW http://t.co/PKXZhBJBtv
Like each of these superstars do, they put on a show to end Monday Night RAW. Unfortunately, Sheamus came out and interfered, costing Ziggler the match — which should have been expected after Ziggler came out and attacked Sheamus earlier in the night. Rollins scored the 1-2-3, defeating the Show-off.
After the match was over, Triple H and Kane came out to sing the praise of the current WWEWHC. Rollins stood in the ring with the cage lowered as a symbol for his proclaimed victory this Sunday at Extreme Rules. Randy Orton snuck into the cage, though, and hit one last RKO before the two square off this Sunday. Orton’s magic number tonight was five — five RKOs before the night was over, but will the lack of his best move come into play on Sunday?
If for some reason you missed or caught only a few parts of last week’s show, here is what you missed:
Does ‘The Future’ Try & Change the Past?
At the conclusion of last week’s Monday Night RAW was the #ExtremeDecision where both Rollins and Orton named stipulations for their WWE World Heavyweight Championship match this Sunday at Extreme Rules. Rollins, still feeling the Wrestlemania effects, chose to ban Orton’s RKO. The Viper chose to put something between him, Rollins and the rest of the Authority — a steel cage.
Earlier in the night Seth Rollins and Kane had a match where it looked as if Kane wouldn’t stay down for a 1-2-3 on Rollins, but ultimately he did. Despite a cage being between Seth Rollins and the Authority, Rollins’ demeanor and arrogance is slowly driving a stake through him and the rest of the group.
After missing out last week and settling for J&J Security again, will Orton get his hands on the Slimy Seth and hit one last RKO on the WWEWHC Champion before Sunday? (I say YES!)
When Does Roman Reigns Try & Get His Hands on the Big Show?
The Big Show interrupted an in-ring interview between Booker T and Roman Reigns last week by criticizing the Samoan and claiming that Reigns is all potential and will be a failure. Reigns claimed that Show either creates excuses or cowers away from challenges despite being the “Greatest Giant in WWE History.” As Reigns was walking to the back, Show came out and attacked him, and then choke-slammed him on the roof of the car in front of the stage.
In a somewhat fitting match, Reigns and show will go toe-to-toe at Extreme Rules in a Last Man Standing Match. After going toe-to-toe with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania and surviving, it seems that Reigns will be ready to be the “last man standing” on Sunday. That is, unless Reigns doesn’t wait until Sunday…
Does Cena Break the Chain That Rusev Put Him in Last Week?
After biding his time during the first two weeks after Wrestlemania, Rusev finally emerged from hiding last week on RAW — with the lavishing Lana by his side again — and attacked John Cena after retaining his United states Championship against Bad News Barrett with a large chain, setting up a Russian Chain Match for the U.S. Championship at Extreme Rules.
John Cena isn’t one to go down so easily, even six days before their scheduled third and, presumably, final pay-per-view clash. The CeNation Leader will respond by, once again, taking the fight to Rusev even harder like he did before their Wrestlemania clash.
Who is Bray Wyatt Talking to?
The “New Face of Fear” once again spoke last week, explaining how he would pry away the love that’s been eating like a cancer from his next opponent.
The fireflies are curious to see who Wyatt is targeting. After Wrestlemania, Wyatt may be looking to scale back his efforts after losing to The Undertaker, but still may be targeting a big name to continue his crusade on the WWE Universe. Superstars who Wyatt has targeted: Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Dean Ambrose and The Undertaker; Superstars Wyatt HASN’T targeted, yet: Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Roman Reigns.
It will be interesting to find out when Wyatt makes his next victim known to the WWE Universe.
Who Will Win the Right to Continue Using ‘The Miz’ Name?
Renee Young interviews Damien Mizdow with Summer Rae on Smackdown. (WWE/YouTube)
On Smackdown last week, after complaining that Damien Mizdow’s win last week on RAW was a fluke, The Miz agreed to a match where the winner will get to continue using the “Miz” name.
Considering The Miz’s name is actually his real life name, and considering that the WWE Universe has wanted Damien SANdow back for some time, it’s easy to see that Miz will most likely go to all stops to try and retain his actual name.
The wild card in this match will be Summer Rae. As much as she has been canoodling with Mizdow in recent weeks, do her true allegiances lie with him or her Marine 4 co-star in attempt to continue starring in segments of RAW?
Other RAW Notes:
– Neville technically “main-evented” his first RAW last week by losing to Dolph Ziggler in a valiant effort — not bad for the rookie in his second week on the main roster, heh?
– Sheamus once again attacked Dolph Ziggler last week, setting up a “Kiss Maerse” Match for Extreme Rules. When you downplay the Irish accent, the match sounds exactly how it is awkwardly pronounced: a “Kiss My Ass” Match. I guess it’s better than the Mr. McMahon “Kiss My Youknowwhat Club.”
– After Paige won last week’s Divas Battle Royal by last eliminating Naomi, Naomi attacked Paige after the match, setting up a heel turn for the diva. When asked in an interview with Byron Saxton afterward, Naomi proclaimed that she has continuously been passed over by other divas in recent years, and not been given a fair crack to be a top diva. Now is her time.
– Dean Ambrose returned by defeating Adam Rose, and would come out again later in the night to scare away Luke Harper — who power-bombed Ambrose through the announcer’s table, which kept him out for over a week. What will the Lunatic Fringe do to get his hands on Harper this week, and will the Unstable one get full closure before Extreme Rules this Sunday?
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WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Highlights for April 20th, 2015