The Yes Express.
Six nights before Hell in a Cell, the 1065th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the hometown of Hall of Famer and RAW Color Commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler, the FedExForum in Memphis, TN. Before Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton go to war inside Hell in a Cell with the vacant WWE Championship on the line this Sunday at Hell in a Cell, RAW would host the official contract signing for the WWE Championship Hell in a Cell Match, which would be attended by WWE COO Triple H, WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, and the Special Referee for the match, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels!
Match Results
- Non-Title: Daniel Bryan def. Dean Ambrose by submission to the Yes Lock.
- Santino Marella def. Heath Slater by pin following the Cobra Strike.
- Randy Orton def. Dolph Ziggler by pin following the RKO.
- The Bella Twins def. AJ Lee & Tamina Snuka by Brie Bella pinning AJ Lee following the facebuster.
- Luke Harper & Erick Rowan def. The Miz & Kofi Kingston by Luke Harper pinning Kofi Kingston following the Discus Clothesline.
- CM Punk & Big E. Langston def. Ryback & Curtis Axel by Big E. Langston pinning Curtis Axel following the Big Ending.
- The Real Americans def. Tons of Funk by Brodus Clay tapping out to Jack Swagger’s Patriot Lock.
- #1 Contenders’ Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles: Jimmy & Jey Uso and Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns fight to a No Contest after a brawl breaks out with Goldust & Cody Rhodes.
Detailed Results
One week after Big Show interfered in the main event of RAW, costing The Shield’s Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns the WWE Tag team Titles and, after Big Show knocked out RAW General Manager Brad Maddox on SmackDown, RAW kicks off with The Authority, WWE COO Triple H and his wife, WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon. Triple H says that the WWE fans voted Shawn Michaels in as the Special Referee a couple of weeks ago because they “trust” Shawn Michaels. Triple H then says that he also trusts Shawn Michaels and he “respects” Michaels more than any other man in the WWE. The Authority is then interrupted by the fired Big Show, who appears on the Tron, live via satellite! The giant shouts at Triple H, saying that The Authority doesn’t know the meaning of the word “respect”, saying they treat all of the Superstars with “disdain”.
As Stephanie scrambles to try and figure out how to get Big Show off of the Tron, Triple H tells Big Show that he only has distain for Big Show, saying that Big Show has amounted to “nothing” and accusing Big Show of looking for a “hand-out”. The COO continues, saying that Big Show’s “free ride” is over and that Big Show is “done”. Big Show responds by asking why Triple H is so hostile, asking if it’s because he is suing Triple H and the WWE for the “millions” owed to him on his terminated contract, as well as suing him for “slander”! Big Show continues, saying that maybe Triple H is mad because the COO woke up on the “wrong side of the bed”, adding that, when you sleep with somebody like Stephanie McMahon, any side of the bed is the “wrong side of the bed”! Big Show then shouts at Stephanie to shut her mouth before Stephanie is able to get Big Show off of the Tron! Triple H then says that Big Show’s career has gone out with a “whimper” before getting on with the show. The COO then introduces The Shield’s Dean Ambrose, but Dean Ambrose’s opponent, Daniel Bryan, comes out instead, further angering The Authority.
Before he faces Randy Orton inside Hell in a Cell for the vacant WWE Championship with Shawn Michaels as the Special Referee this Sunday, Daniel Bryan would go one-on-one with United States Champion Dean Ambrose in a non-title match. In the end, it was Daniel Bryan countering a roll-up into the Yes Lock, making Dean Ambrose tap out to pick up the win.
Six nights before he steps inside Hell in a Cell to face both Ryback & Paul Heyman in a 2-on-1 Handicap Hell in a Cell Match, “The Best in the World” CM Punk makes an appearance on RAW to discuss the match. Punk says that, this Sunday, Ryback and Paul Heyman will be locked inside Hell in a Cell with him, saying that his “legacy” will be defined by what he does to Paul Heyman when he gets his hands on him. Punk continues, saying that Ryback cannot save Heyman from the beating that Heyman deserves and his plan is to put Ryback to sleep, corner Heyman, and ram his face into every inch of steel that makes up Hell in a Cell. Punk then says that three men will enter Hell in a Cell this Sunday, but only one will walk out and that will be him.
Also on RAW, Santino Marella, with The Great Khali & Hornswoggle in his corner, would face Heath Slater, with Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre in his corner. In the end, it was Santino hitting the Cobra Strike on Heath Slater, picking up the win. After the match, Santino, Khali, & Hornswoggle did their best Elvis impersonation with Memphis’ own Jerry Lawler.
With his Hell in a Cell match against Daniel Bryan for the vacant WWE Championship coming up this Sunday night, “The Viper” was in action on RAW as Randy Orton went one-on-one with “The Show-Off” Dolph Ziggler. In the end, it was Randy Orton catching Dolph Ziggler with the RKO out of nowhere, pinning Ziggler to pick up the win.
Before she defends the Divas Championship against Brie Bella at Hell in a Cell, Divas Champion AJ Lee would team with Tamina Snuka to face The Bella Twins in tag team action. In the end, it was Brie Bella hitting the facebuster on AJ Lee again, pinning the Divas Champion to pick up the win for her and her sister.
In a rematch from SmackDown, The Wyatt Family’s Luke Harper & Erick Rowan, with Bray Wyatt seated at ringside, would face The Miz & Kofi Kingston on RAW. In the end, it was Luke Harper hitting the Discus Clothesline on Kofi Kingston, pinning Kofi for the win. After the match, Luke Harper would continue the attack on Kofi Kingston and, while The Miz would try to make the save, he would ultimately fall to The Wyatt Family as Erick Rowan takes Miz down with a heel kick to the face. Harper & Rowan then hold The Miz in the ropes while Bray Wyatt says that he is not there to convince The Miz that “hell is a real thing”, he is just there to lead Miz to the “gates”.
Big E. Langston was set to go one-on-one with Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel on RAW, but before the match can begin, both Curtis Axel and Ryback attack Big E. Langston. However, Langston would hold his own against the two Paul Heyman guys, ramming Ryback into the ring apron before taking Curtis Axel down with a clothesline on the outside. Paul Heyman would then grab a kendo stick, smacking Langston on the back with the weapon, but it would not phase Big E. However, a clothesline from Ryback would take Langston down, but before the attack could get out of hand, CM Punk makes the save, helping Big E. Langston fend off Ryback & Curtis Axel. This brings SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero to the stage as Vickie announces an impromptu tag team match between the four men!
In an impromptu tag team match, CM Punk would team with Big E. Langston to face Ryback & Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel, with Paul Heyman in their corner. In the end, it was Big E. Langston putting Curtis Axel down with the Big Ending, pinning the Intercontinental Champion to pick up the win for himself and CM Punk. After the match, CM Punk would go after Paul Heyman, but Heyman would scramble to get away, escaping through the crowd.
In tag team action, The Real Americans, with Zeb Colter a guest on commentary, would face Tons of Funk on RAW. In the end, it was Jack Swagger locking in the Patriot Lock on Brodus Clay, forcing “The Funkasaurus” to tap out to pick up the win for The Real Americans.
With WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust & Cody Rhodes guests on commentary, The Shield’s Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns, with United States Champion Dean Ambrose in their corner, would face Jimmy & Jey Uso with the winners earning a WWE Tag Team Title match this Sunday at Hell in a Cell. During the match, Goldust & Cody Rhodes would get fed up with Dean Ambrose bad-mouthing them on the outside and the proud WWE Tag Team Champions would attack the United States Champion. This would get the attention of Seth Rollins, who dives to the outside before The Usos get involved. This sparks an all-out brawl between the three teams as The Usos work together with Goldust & Cody Rhodes to take out The Shield! However, the inconclusive match results in the #1 Contendership being undecided. However, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero would announce that, this Sunday at Hell in a Cell, Goldust & Cody Rhodes will defend their newly won WWE Tag Team Titles against both The Usos and Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat Tag Match!
Then it was time for the official contract signing for the WWE Championship Hell in a Cell Match this Sunday at Hell in a Cell as The Authority, WWE COO Triple H & WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon, would preside over the contract signing. “The Viper” Randy Orton would make his way to the ring first, followed by Daniel Bryan before Triple H takes it upon himself to introduce the Special Referee for the match this Sunday, WWE Hall of Famer “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, who makes his way to the ring. With all of those involved in the ring, Stephanie McMahon would give the floor to Randy Orton, who tells Daniel Bryan that will not be getting back up following the beating he is going to administer this Sunday. Orton then says that he has survived The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell, as well as defeated both Sheamus and John Cena inside the demonic structure, telling Daniel Bryan that he has “no idea” what he is getting himself into, vowing that Bryan’s first Hell in a Cell match will be his last. With those strong words, “The Viper” then signs the contract.
Daniel Bryan then says his piece, telling Randy Orton that he is a ten-time WWE Champion and Orton has pushed him to his limit on more than one occasion, but if it were not for Triple H and The Shield, he would still be the WWE Champion. Bryan continues, thanking Orton for exposing himself as a “corporate patsy” and for exposing Triple H & Stephanie for being the “selfish, narcissistic, spoiled brats” that they truly are! Daniel Bryan then signs his part of the contract before Triple H says that he has seen a slew of guys like Daniel Bryan, names like Chris Jericho, Edge, & Rob Van Dam, all who were talented, but they were “never the one”. The COO then says that, if any of those guys were the “face of the WWE” back in the day, they would all be working for Ted Turner in WCW right now. Triple H then tells Daniel Bryan that, this Sunday, Daniel Bryan is going to prove that he is only a “B+ player”.
Tired of hearing this spiel from the COO, Daniel Bryan dares the thirteen-time World Champion to trade his suit in for some wrestling gear and he will prove that he is more than a “B+ player”. Triple H scoffs at the prospect, saying that, if he were to step back into the ring as a competitor, it would be against a “star” like The Undertaker, The Rock, or Brock Lesnar, not a guy like Daniel Bryan. Triple H continues, saying that he fights stars because he is a star and he would not waste his time on Daniel Bryan, adding that Shawn Michaels should have not wasted his time training Daniel Bryan. Naturally, this brings Shawn Michaels into the discussion as the Hall of Famer says that he did not waste his time, Bryan is “very good”. The Hall of Famer then asks what happened to his former D-Generation X running buddy, saying that he does not care if Triple H is the COO and he does not care that he trained Daniel Bryan, he cares about the fans that voted for him and he will give them a new WWE Champion. Orton then chimes in, telling Triple H that Shawn Michaels has an “agenda” against him, but Triple H looks Shawn Michaels in the eye and says that Michaels is going to do what is right. HBK says that he is going to do what is “right for the business” that he loves before asking his best friend what Triple H has against Daniel Bryan, saying that Triple H is enraged over the fact that Bryan proved him “wrong”! Randy Orton then brings the focus back to himself and Daniel Bryan, vowing that he will take Bryan “straight to hell”.
Daniel Bryan then shoves the table to the side, ready to go to war with Randy Orton right then and there, but everything is brought to a halt when the Tron shows a large, black semi driving into the FedExForum and the man behind the wheel was none other than Big Show! As Randy Orton & The Authority watch in disbelief, Big Show drives the big rig into the arena, parking the huge vehicle next to the stage. Big Show then instructs them to turn around and, when they do so, Daniel Bryan charges at Randy Orton, taking “The Viper” out with a knee to the face! Daniel Bryan then rushes out to the big truck as Daniel Bryan stands atop the semi, chanting “yes” along with Big Show and the fans in attendance.
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