Human Shield?
The 1018th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Cajundome in Lafayette, LA. After costing Ryback the WWE Championship by coming out of nowhere and putting him through the announce table at Survivor Series, followed by a second attack on RAW where they put “The Sin City Cyborg” through the announce table for a second time, NXT standouts Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns have yet to provide any sort of explanation for their abrupt arrival and subsequent involvement with Ryback, not to mention their unexplained attacks on Tyson Kidd and Santino Marella at the taping of WWE Main Event last Tuesday. That would all change on RAW, however, as, for the first time ever, the NXT assailants would publicly address the world regarding their actions in an exclusive interview with commentator Michael Cole! Why has this triumvirate set their sights on putting Ryback out of commission? Are Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns aligned with WWE Champion CM Punk and Paul Heyman? What will they have to say for themselves on RAW?
Match Results
- Ryback def. Titus O’Neil (with Darren Young) by pin following Shell Shocked.
- Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) def. The Great Khali (with Hornswoggle) by submission to the cross armbreaker.
- Tamina Snuka def. Alicia Fox by pin following the Superfly Splash.
- Non-Title: Kofi Kingston def. Tensai by pin with the high cross body.
- Rey Mysterio def. Daniel Bryan by pin following the 619 and Bullet Splash.
- John Cena (with AJ Lee) def. Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero) by pin following the Attitude Adjustment.
- Non-Title: Sheamus def. Antonio Cesaro by count-out.
- Damien Sandow def. Zack Ryder by pin following the Terminus.
- #RAWactive Match: Non-Title: CM Punk (with Paul Heyman & The Shield) def. Kane by pin following the GTS.
Detailed Results
Still livid over twice being put through the announce table by NXT standouts Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns last week, RAW kicks off with Ryback as “The Sin City Cyborg” went one-on-one with Titus O’Neil, with Darren Young in his corner. Despite Darren Young’s best efforts to help his tag team partner out, Ryback would shove Titus O’Neil into Darren Young, knocking Young off of the apron. Ryback then levels Titus with the Meat Hook Clothesline before planting Titus O’Neil with Shell Shocked en route to picking up the win. After the match, Ryback grabs a microphone and says that he is going to stand in the middle of the ring all night until he gets what he wants, either CM Punk, the NXT assailants, or all four!
Vowing to stay in the ring until either CM Punk, the NXT assailants, or all four men come out to the ring, Ryback continued to await the fulfillment of his demands. However, what Ryback was a team of security guards. The security guards line up in front of “The Sin City Cyborg” and the biggest and bulkiest of the security guards steps forward, showing no fear of Ryback. However, the brave security guard was easily dealt with as Ryback tosses the man from the ring, making the rest of the security force think twice about getting in Ryback’s face. Before any more security guards could be annihilated, RAW Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero comes out to address the situation, telling Ryback that she understands that Ryback is angry over being cost the WWE Championship at Survivor Series, as well as getting put through the announcer’s table two nights in a row last week, but Ryback will not put his hands on the security guards and he will not hold her show hostage. Vickie then says that she has “no choice”, but Ryback interrupts, saying that he wants CM Punk and he wants Punk at WWE TLC, adding that he is not going anywhere until he gets what he wants! Vickie is quick to try and defuse the situation, saying that she will give Ryback his match against CM Punk at WWE TLC, but she needs him to leave the ring right now. Ryback barks at the Managing Supervisor to “shut up”, saying that he wasn’t finished speaking. Ryback continues that he wants to fight Punk at WWE TLC, but he wants to fight Punk with tables, with ladders, and with chairs! Ryback again cuts Vickie off from speaking before saying that he dares Vickie to try and find a security force that can stop him from tearing the ring apart, post to post! Vickie agrees to let Ryback have his TLC Match against Punk at WWE TLC, but Vickie again says that she will only grant him the match if he leaves the ring so that the show can continue. Ryback puts the microphone down as the remaining security guards close in, but Ryback simply fakes out the security force and all four men scramble from the ring!
In a backstage confrontation from earlier in the night, Rosa Mendes confronts Hornswoggle over Hornswoggle trying to offer her flowers, only to squirt the Diva in the face with water. Hornswoggle tells Rosa that no one would want to kiss her or give her flowers, which causes Rosa to berate Hornswoggle in Spanish. Alberto Del Rio then arrives on the scene to defend Rosa’s honor, saying that Hornswoggle plays pranks because he knows that no woman will ever take him seriously. Del Rio continues that, if Rosa is looking for revenge, then he will be happy to help her out. However, before Del Rio can get his hands on Hornswoggle, a giant hand is placed on Del Rio’s shoulder and, when “The Mexican Aristocrat” turns around, he finds himself face-to-face with The Great Khali, who tells Del Rio to leave his friend alone! Not wanting to incur the wrath of the giant, Del Rio backs off, allowing Khali and Hornswoggle to leave in peace.
After offering to get revenge against Hornswoggle for Rosa Mendes, only to find himself face-to-face with The Great Khali, “The Mexican Aristocrat” Alberto Del Rio, with Ricardo Rodriguez in his corner, would find himself going one-on-one with “The Punjabi Giant” The Great Khali, with Hornswoggle in his corner. During the match, Ricardo Rodriguez would try to interfere on his boss’ behalf, but Hornswoggle would chomp on the rear of the personal ring announcer, causing Rodriguez to flee the ringside area. However, Alberto Del Rio would still be able to capitalize on the distraction as Del Rio locks in the cross armbreaker on The Great Khali, forcing the giant to tap out to pick up the win.
Backstage, Vickie Guerrero is confronted by WWE Champion CM Punk and Paul Heyman, asking if he just saw Vickie hand Ryback a TLC Match for the WWE Title, saying that he has already defeated Ryback twice. Heyman says that Vickie is “biased” against John Cena, so to cover her tracks, she also shows biased against CM Punk. Vickie says that she gave Ryback the title match at WWE TLC because of what happened at Hell in a Cell when Brad Maddox blatantly cost Ryback the WWE Title and also for what happened at Survivor Series, when CM Punk’s “boys” assaulted Ryback and cost him the WWE Title again. Punk claims that he has nothing to do with the NXT assailants and he is just as interested as everyone else to hear what Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns have to say for themselves. The Managing Supervisor then says that Punk will be doing more than just watching an interview, saying that the WWE Champion will go one-on-one with either Kane or Daniel Bryan, pending the results of a #RAWactive poll! An angered CM Punk then has to be escorted out of Vickie’s office by Paul Heyman.
Following their back-to-back assaults on Ryback at Survivor Series and on RAW last week, NXT assailants Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns would finally explain themselves on RAW as the trio would sit down with Michael Cole for an exclusive interview. In an interview recorded prior to RAW, Cole says that he has worked with the three of them in NXT, but Dean Ambrose cuts Cole off, saying that, if Cole has a question to ask, then he should just ask it. Cole then flat out asks the trio if they are working for CM Punk and Ambrose looks Cole in the eye and says “no”! This leads to Cole asking them what they are doing here and Seth Rollins handles the question, saying that they sat down in NXT and they saw with clarity what was going on with the Superstars having to answer to either Vickie Guerrero or Booker T or the Board of Directors, but the Board inevitably has to answer to the WWE fans. Rollins continues, calling it a “popularity contest” and saying that they saw things heading in the “wrong direction”, so they stepped in and made things right. Rollins then says that they are a “shield from injustice” in the WWE, but Cole presses the issue, saying that everything that the three of them have done has benefited CM Punk. However, Rollins calls this a “coincidence” and Ambrose chimes in that it is not about benefiting Punk, it is about “right and wrong”. Ambrose continues that, at Survivor Series, Punk was forced to defend the WWE Title in a Triple Threat Match against two guys that he has already defeated in Ryback and John Cena, saying that it was “wrong”, so they stepped in. Ambrose then says that it has nothing to do with CM Punk because they would have done the same regardless of who was the champion heading into Survivor Series. Cole then addresses the one man that had not spoken a word in the interview up to that point, Roman Reigns, but Reigns says that, when has something to say, he will say it. Ambrose then goes on with his point, saying that they know what everyone is thinking, but they are not “renegades”, saying that they are not The Nexus and they are not the nWo. Ambrose continues that they are about “principles” and “honor”, saying that they will step in where honor does not exist, repeating Rollins’ label of them being a “shield from injustice”, telling Michael Cole that they are “The Shield”. Cole then starts to ask his next question, but Roman Reigns stands up and says that they have said enough, declaring that the interview is over before The Shield walks out on the interview!
The apparent hired gun of Vickie Guerrero was in action on RAW as Tamina Snuka went one-on-one with Alicia Fox. In the end, it was Tamina Snuka landing the Superfly Splash on Alicia Fox en route to picking up the win.
After a rocky road last week, that included him kissing AJ Lee in the center of the ring before getting injured and later assaulted by Dolph Ziggler, John Cena would appear on RAW to address the latest developments in the AJ scandal. Cena says that, in the ten years that he has been in the WWE, he has had a lot of moments, sharing the WrestleMania stage with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and The Rock, but he has never been more “interrogated” then he has about the kiss with AJ Lee. Cena is then interrupted by the Managing Supervisor of RAW, Vickie Guerrero, who says that Cena and AJ’s kiss has confirmed her suspicions of their affair. Vickie continues that her vindication has put her in the giving mood before Vickie presents Cena with a gift, a set of his and her bathrobes for Cena and AJ. Cena refuses to try it on, saying that he does not know where it has been. Vickie then says that she will enjoy watching when things “implode” between the two of them, saying that AJ cost Daniel Bryan the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania, as well as proposing to CM Punk and even being called “unstable” by Kane.
AJ Lee then makes her way to the ring and, despite Cena trying to stop her from speaking, AJ says that she has been trying to become a better person, saying that the whole AJ scandal is based on allegations of her having an affair with Cena while she was the General Manager of RAW, but, now that she is no longer the GM, she can date whomever she wants! AJ continues that she can do whatever she wants before smacking Cena on the backside, making Cena drop his microphone, before starting to kiss Cena again, but Vickie tells AJ to move on with what she has to say. AJ says that, thanks to Vickie, a General Manager cannot fraternize with the talent, which is a shame because being the boss is the only way that Vickie could get a man! AJ continues that she is not a “lovesick puppy” anymore, saying that there is only one “female dog” in the ring right now. The confrontation is then broken up by the arrival of “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Dolph Ziggler, who says that he is out there to break up the “hen fight” before saying that the real issue is that, last week, he tackled Cena through a bathroom stall and Cena just laid there and “took it”! Dolph continues, saying that Cena attacked him from behind on SmackDown, asking why Cena would use such “cowardly tactics”. Dolph then says that he knows what is eating Cena up on the inside, saying that, when AJ kissed Cena last week, she was thinking about Dolph the entire time! Cena then heads toward Dolph, saying that he is going to come up there and shove Dolph’s briefcase down his throat. However, Vickie stops the proceedings, saying that Cena and Dolph are going to settle things in the ring, announcing that John Cena will go one-on-one with Dolph Ziggler!
With Wade Barrett a guest on commentary, Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston would go one-on-one with the intimidating super heavyweight, Tensai, in a non-title match. In the end, it was Kofi Kingston hitting a high cross body on Tensai en route to picking up the win. After the match, Wade Barrett would grab the Intercontinental Title, handing it to Kofi Kingston before leaving the ring!
Backstage, Daniel Bryan is telling Kane that people just like him better, showing Kane a graphic that depicts a global approval of Daniel Bryan. However, it then came to time to reveal the results of the #RAWactive poll as Kane gets 59% of the votes to Daniel Bryan’s 41%, meaning that Kane will go one-on-one with CM Punk! Kane then pokes his finger at the chest of Daniel Bryan, saying that Bryan’s data is skewed and that “red rules”!
Despite not winning the #RAWactive poll, Daniel Bryan was in action on RAW as the WWE Tag Team Champion went one-on-one with “The Master of the 619” Rey Mysterio for the first time ever. In the end, it was Rey Mysterio hitting the 619 on Daniel Bryan, following it up with the Bullet Splash en route to picking up a big win.
In the culmination of their intensely personal feud, former ten-time WWE Champion John Cena would finally get his hands on Dolph Ziggler as Cena and “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” went one-on-one on RAW! During the match, John Cena would go for his signature Five Knuckle Shuffle on Dolph Ziggler, but in the setup to the move, Cena would appear to tweak his injured leg, causing Cena to roll out of the ring where the referee and an EMT immediately tended to Cena. Meanwhile, in the ring, Dolph Ziggler would take advantage of the referee’s distraction as Ziggler tries to expose the steel turnbuckle in the corner, but AJ Lee would rush out, trying to stop Dolph. This would in turn bring out Vickie Guerrero, who gets AJ off of the ring apron, sparking an argument between the two at ringside. While the referee tries to get Vickie and AJ to leave the ringside area, Dolph grabs his Money-in-the-Bank briefcase and swings it at a pursuing John Cena, who ducks the shot before planting Ziggler with the Attitude Adjustment en route to picking up the win. After the match, AJ Lee enters the ring as the two share another romantic kiss in the middle of the ring.
After learning on SmackDown that he will get another shot at Big Show and the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE TLC in a Chairs Match, Sheamus was in action on RAW as “The Celtic Warrior” went one-on-one with United States Champion Antonio Cesaro. During the hotly contested match, Sheamus would land the Brogue Kick on Antonio Cesaro, knocking the United States Champion out of the ring. While the referee makes the count, World Heavyweight Champion Big Show comes out with a steel chair in hand. The referee then makes it to ten, which wins the match for Sheamus via count-out. After the match, Sheamus addresses Big Show, saying that Big Show has been telling everyone that he will be the World Heavyweight Champion until he retires with Sheamus vowing to make Show’s retirement a reality at WWE TLC. Sheamus continues, saying that, when he gets a steel chair in his hand at WWE TLC, he will show Big Show just how “barbaric” he is. However, Big Show would let his actions do the talking as the World Heavyweight Champion rips the steel chair apart with his bare hands!
Before he faces John Cena on WWE Main Event, “The Intellectual Savior to the Masses” was in action on RAW as Damien Sandow went one-on-one with Zack Ryder. In the end, it was Damien Sandow hitting the Terminus on Zack Ryder en route to picking up the win.
After surpassing the legendary “Macho Man” Randy Savage to become the 7th longest reigning WWE Champion of all-time with a reign of 372 days and counting, the main event of RAW would see WWE Champion CM Punk going one-on-one with one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, “The Big Red Monster” Kane, in a non-title match. During the match, Kane would hit the chokeslam on CM Punk, but, behind the referee’s back, Paul Heyman drags CM Punk towards the ropes, allowing Punk to get his foot on the bottom rope, preventing the pin. Kane would then set the WWE Champion up for the Tombstone Piledriver, but the arrival of The Shield through the crowd would briefly distract Kane, allowing CM Punk to fight out of the Tombstone as Punk hits the GTS on “The Big Red Monster” en route to picking up the win. After the match, the trio now known as The Shield jump the ringside barricade as Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns surround the ring. The Shield then slowly enters the ring, keeping their eyes on CM Punk. However, The Shield targets Kane instead as the trio delivers a beat down to “The Big Red Monster” as CM Punk is allowed to make his escape. Daniel Bryan then rushes out to the aid of his tag team partner, but Daniel Bryan is also victimized at the hands of The Shield. However, there was another Superstar who wanted a piece of The Shield as Ryback rushes to the ring. While CM Punk makes a quick retreat from the ringside area, Ryback hits the ring, slinging the members of The Shield all around the ring, but CM Punk would spot an opening and would try to blindside his WWE TLC opponent. However, Ryback would get the better of the WWE Champion, hoisting CM Punk up for a powerbomb, but then The Shield would regroup and again attack Ryback, beating “The Sin City Cyborg” down and dropping him in the center of the ring with a three-man powerbomb, all while Punk is allowed to escape, appearing to be as bewildered as everyone else at The Shield’s actions! The Shield then makes their exit through the crowd, allowing Punk to re-enter the ring and stand over the prone body of Ryback, holding his WWE Title high above his head.
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