Line in the Sand.
The 1090th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, AL. Last Tuesday, the wrestling world lost a great wrestler and a great man as WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior unexpectedly passed away at the age of 54 and the WWE would pay tribute to one of the most unforgettable competitors of all-time as RAW would feature highlights of the life and career of the incomparable Ultimate Warrior.
Also, for the first time in nearly three years, RAW would feature a tournament as a host of WWE Superstars would all compete to earn the right to call themselves the #1 Contender for Big E’s Intercontinental Championship as Big E will find out who he will be making his next title defense against. Which WWE Superstars will be taking part in the tournament? Which Superstar will pose the biggest threat to Big E’s reign as Intercontinental Champion?
Match Results
- #1 Contender’s Tournament: First Round Match: Rob Van Dam def. Alberto Del Rio by pin following the Five-Star Frog Splash to advance to the Semi-Finals.
- Rybaxel def. Goldust & Cody Rhodes by Ryback pinning Cody Rhodes following the Meat Hook Clothesline.
- Non-Title: Paige def. Alicia Fox by submission to the Scorpion Cross Lock.
- Non-Title: Batista & Randy Orton def. The Usos by DQ after The Shield attacks Randy Orton.
- #1 Contender’s Tournament: First Round Match: Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) def. Mark Henry by pin following the Neutralizer to advance to the Semi-Finals.
- Alexander Rusev (with Lana) def. Xavier Woods (with R-Truth) by submission to the Accolade.
- #1 Contender’s Tournament: First Round Match: Sheamus def. Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter) by pin following the Brogue Kick to advance to the Semi-Finals.
- Mixed Tag Match: Fandango & Layla def. Santino Marella & Emma by Layla pinning Emma after knocking Emma off of the middle rope.
- #1 Contender’s Tournament: First Round Match: Bad News Barrett def. Dolph Ziggler by pin following the Bull Hammer Elbow to advance to the Semi-Finals.
- 11-on-3 Handicap Match: The Shield def. Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Fandango, 3MB, Titus O’Neil, Alexander Rusev, & Bad News Barrett by DQ after all eleven men attack Roman Reigns.
Detailed Results
RAW kicks off with a stage full of WWE Superstars, Divas, and staff members as WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Zeb Colter, Joey Mercury, Rob Van Dam, Jack Swagger, Big Show, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Natalya, Paige, Eva Marie, Hornswoggle, Titus O’Neil, Mark Henry, Sheamus, Paul Heyman, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler, Road Dogg, Brad Maddox, Luke Harper, Goldust, Darren Young, Ryback, Curtis Axel, Sin Cara, & Big E, among others, solemnly stand wearing Ultimate Warrior apparel as Jerry “The King” Lawler introduces a touching video package, highlighting the extraordinary career of the late, great Ultimate Warrior and his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. After the video package, the stars on the stage and the crowd in attendance respectfully go silent and bow their heads as the bell tolls ten times. The Ultimate Warrior’s theme then plays throughout the arena as the Superstars, Divas, staff, and fans applaud the Hall of Famer before the talent on the stage lead a “Warrior” chant in the arena.
The opening match of the night would be a First Round Match in the 8-Man Tournament to determine a new #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Title as six-time former Intercontinental Champion “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam would go one-on-one with Alberto Del Rio. At the end of a punishing match, it was Rob Van Dam hitting the Five-Star Frog Splash on Alberto Del Rio, pinning Del Rio to pick up the win and advance to the Semi-Finals of the tournament to face either Mark Henry or Cesaro.
Backstage, WWE COO Triple H & WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon are talking to Batista & Randy Orton as the COO says that Daniel Bryan is not on the show tonight and that The Shield will not let either of them anywhere near the WWE World Heavyweight Title. Triple H then says that The Shield may be unstoppable, but Stephanie chimes in that Batista & Orton may be the ones who can stop The Shield. However, Batista & Orton do not take the bait to help Triple H with his Shield problem, saying that all they care about is the WWE World Heavyweight Title and The Shield is Triple H’s “problem”. After Batista & Randy Orton exit, Stephanie tells Triple H that she has an idea.
In tag team action, Goldust & Cody Rhodes would face Rybaxel on RAW. In the end, it was Cody Rhodes going for the Disaster Kick, but Ryback would catch Cody in mid-air with the Meat Hook Clothesline, pinning Cody to pick up the win for Rybaxel.
For the first time since her RAW debut last week, which resulted in her defeating AJ Lee to become the new Divas Champion, NXT hopeful turned Divas Champion Paige would go one-on-one with Alicia Fox in a non-title match. In the end, it was Paige locking in the Scorpion Cross Lock on Alicia Fox, forcing Fox to tap out to pick up an impressive win.
After they were assaulted by Batista & Randy Orton last week, The Usos would be looking for revenge as, in a match requested by the WWE Tag Team Champions, The Usos would face “The Animal” Batista and “The Viper” Randy Orton in a non-title match. During the match, the action would spill to the outside and that is when The Shield would attack as Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & Roman Reigns jump Randy Orton, tossing Orton into the ringside barricade. With Orton down, The Shield would surround the ring where Batista stood alone. Batista gets the first shot in on The Shield, but after swinging and missing Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns would land the Superman Punch on “The Animal” before Orton pulls Batista out of the ring as The Shield stands tall in the ring.
Paul Heyman appears on RAW, reminding the crowd multiple times that his client, Brock Lesnar, conquered the streak at WrestleMania XXX, showing pictures from that shocking night. Heyman continues, saying that it is ironic that a loss to Brock Lesnar “immortalized” The Undertaker, saying that, when he speaks, people should listen. Heyman then transitions this into introducing his newest client, “The King of Swing” Cesaro.
In the second First Round Match of the tournament to determine a new #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Title, “The King of Swing” Cesaro, with Paul Heyman in his corner, would go one-on-one with “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry. In the end, it was picking up the super heavyweight, slamming Mark Henry down with the Neutralizer, pinning Mark Henry for the win and to advance to the Semi-Finals where he will face Rob Van Dam.
With his Social Ambassador Lana in his corner, “The Super Athlete” Alexander Rusev would go one-on-one with his rival from NXT, Xavier Woods, with R-Truth in his corner. It was a dominant victory for Alexander Rusev, who locks in the Accolade, forcing Xavier to tap out to pick up the win. After the match, R-Truth would attack Alexander Rusev and, while Lana initially holds Rusev back, the moment R-Truth turns his back to check on Xavier Woods, Lana would instruct “The Bulgarian Brute” as Rusev blasts Truth with a side kick.
With Rob Van Dam and Cesaro already in the Semi-Finals, the third First Round Match in the Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament would see “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus face Jack Swagger, with Zeb Colter in his corner. Despite interference from Zeb Colter and having his left ankle punished by Jack Swagger throughout the match, Sheamus would catch Swagger with the Brogue Kick, pinning Swagger to pick up the win and advance to the Semi-Finals to face either Dolph Ziggler or Bad News Barrett.
Damien Sandow stands in the ring, saying that he will not be “silenced”, but Sandow is interrupted by Big Show. However, Sandow keeps talking, saying that Big Show will have to wait until he is done talking. Sandow says that the fans should be reaching out and trying to touch him because he “deserves” it and he has “earned” it. Sandow then pokes his finger in the chest of Big Show, saying that, when Show looks at Sandow, he sees a “future champion” and he sees “greatness”. Big Show then silences Damien Sandow with a right hand to the jaw of Sandow, leveling Sandow with the Knockout Punch.
After letting John Cena know on SmackDown that he is not through with Cena, Bray Wyatt would lead Luke Harper & Erick Rowan to the ring as The Wyatt Family would have a message for John Cena. Bray Wyatt says that they “feel” whatever they want them to feel and, where they hear silence, he hears a “symphony”. Bray continues, saying that they can call him by whatever name they want, but he has never “lied” to any of them, saying that John Cena is not a “man”, he is a “beast”. Bray then says that he has Cena right where he wants him and all Cena is one little “push”, saying that he does not wish to “slay” this monster right now, he just wants Cena to “come out and play”. Bray Wyatt then calls John Cena out and Cena wastes no time in coming out to the stage. Cena says that the last thing the fans want to see is him get a “push”, telling Bray that a monster does not exist within him. Cena continues, saying that, if he could just get The Wyatt Family to “happy hour”, they would be the “life of the party”. Cena says that Bray is secretly a “ladies man”, saying that the fans like to have “fun”. Cena continues to poke fun at The Wyatt Family, showing a doctored photo of Bray Wyatt and calling it a picture of Sister Abigail. Cena then shows a picture of an older woman in a chair with Luke Harper’s face pasted over it and a baby with Erick Rowan’s face. Bray tells Cena that, anytime a “serious threat” comes around, Cena just makes jokes about it. Cena says that Bray Wyatt found out at WrestleMania that, when Cena gets “serious”, then Bray gets defeated. Cena then says that he is going to force Bray Wyatt to do something that he has not done since arriving in the WWE, saying that Bray Wyatt has not “backed up” anything that he has said and he has not fought without the aid of Luke Harper & Erick Rowan. Cena then lays down a challenge for Extreme Rules, challenging the leader of The Wyatt Family to a match inside a Steel Cage! Bray says that this is his “world” and it belongs to him, leading the fans in singing “he’s got the whole world in his hands”.
In Mixed Tag action, Fandango and his new dance partner, Layla, would face Santino Marella & Emma on RAW. During the match, Emma would get in the middle turnbuckle, but a distraction from Fandango would allow Layla to knock Emma off of her perch, pinning Emma to pick up the win for Fandango & Layla.
Backstage, WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon is ripping into Director of Operations Kane, screaming at Kane, asking Kane what happened to the guy who used to make children scream and women cry, telling Kane that he is a “shell” of his former self and asking what happened to Kane. This enrages the Director of Operations, who angrily gets to his feet, getting in Stephanie’s face before turning his attention to his old mask. Kane grabs the mask and tells Stephanie that he is going to “eviscerate” Daniel Bryan and send him to the “depths of hell”!
In the final First Round Match of the Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament, “The Show-Off” Dolph Ziggler would go one-on-one with Bad News Barrett. At the end of an incredible match, it was Bad News Barrett finally putting “The Show-Off” down with the Bull Hammer Elbow, pinning Dolph Ziggler for the win to advance to the Semi-Finals, where he will face Sheamus.
Then it was time for the main event as WWE COO Triple H would put The Shield in a 6-Man Tag match against three opponents that would not be revealed until it was time for the match. After Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & Roman Reigns make their way to the ring, it became apparent that The Shield would not competing in a three-on-three match as they had been led to believe as their opponents were revealed to be Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Fandango, all three members of 3MB, Titus O’Neil, Rybaxel, Alexander Rusev, & Bad News Barrett in an insurmountable 11-on-3 Handicap Match! With the odds against them, The Shield would be dominated throughout the match, but when Ryback takes Seth Rollins to the outside, Roman Reigns blasts Ryback with a Spear. Ryback’s ten teammates then jump on Roman Reigns and the referee is forced to throw the match out. A huge brawl then breaks out, but with an eight-man disadvantage, The Shield is overwhelmed by the eleven men as the hired guns of The Authority lay waste to The Shield. With The Shield down and out in the ring, an entrance theme not heard since early 2005 rings throughout the arena as the unmistakable arrival of Evolution was at hand as WWE COO Triple H led “The Animal” Batista and “The Viper” Randy Orton to the ring. Triple H then instructs the eleven hit men to exit the ring and, after all even Superstars listen to their boss, Evolution picks up the pieces. First targeting Seth Rollins, Evolution beats down Rollins in the corner and Roman Reigns attempts to make the save, getting a few shots in on the COO before Reigns is subdued with an RKO from Randy Orton. Orton then feeds Reigns to Batista, who drills Reigns with the Batista Bomb. Evolution then turns their attention back to Seth Rollins, stomping away at Rollins before Batista feeds Rollins to Orton, who hits the RKO on Rollins as well. Dean Ambrose then tries to make the save, but Triple H & Randy Orton quickly pounces on the United States Champion, knocking Ambrose back down while Batista plants Rollins with the Batista Bomb. Batista then grabs Ambrose, hoisting Ambrose up as Batista & Orton hit their devastating RKO/Batista Bomb maneuver. With Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins motionless in the ring, Roman Reigns would crawl, still trying to fight back. Triple H then tells Roman Reigns to “believe in Evolution” before hooking Reigns and delivering the Pedigree in the center of the ring. Evolution then hovers over the broken bodies of The Shield.
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