Monday Night Raw TV Report for May 25th, 2015

Introduction Segment: Commemoration

A video with a speech from late United States President Ronald Reagan (speech from 1982; Presidency 1980 – 1988), images of soldiers and families, and superstars reciting the speech is aired; then in the arena, a ten-bell salute is given for the fallen soldiers in honor of Memorial Day.

Segment #2: Welcoming

The regular Raw tape airs and the pyro goes off in Long Island, New York; Michael Cole greets us.

Segment #3: Arena Promo

The Authority’s music plays as Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Kane, and J & J Security walk out; clips of last week’s finish to Raw are shown. Rollins has the mike first and wants to give approval for Dean Ambrose’s way of securing his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Elimination Chamber. The WWE World Heavyweight Champ insinuates that The Authority “made that decision under duress.” Rollins says that Triple H and Stephanie could revoke Dean’s match and even fire him, but Rollins doesn’t want that to happen after all, as he feels Ambrose is not up to par against him.

HHH informs Dean that he has to join them in the ring and put pen-to-paper to make it official. “The Lunatic Fringe” obliges and walks to the stage. He takes a couple verbal shots at Seth and is quite pleased with the match the two will have Sunday. He warns that when he wins the WWE World Heavyweight Title, he is going to switch up a few appearances on The Authority, and a couple more cheap-shots ensue. Rollins rebuttals with intimidation of his own, but Ambrose steps up to his challenge.

Just as Dean gets to the ring, Roman Reigns’ music plays and he approaches through the crowd. He joins up with Ambrose, while Stephanie tells Ambrose that he has to sign that contract by the end of the night; she then books him and Reigns to take on Kane and Rollins, “right now!”

Commercials.

Match #1: Tag-Team – Kane and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (with J & J Security) VS. “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns (Non-Title)

Kane punches away at Ambrose in the corner to begin, but Ambrose hits back with quick chops, punches, a headbutt, a running-dropkick, and a running-crossbody! He switches with Reigns, who hits hard on Kane with slaps. He suplexes Kane, then tags in Dean who dives off the top turnbuckle with an axe-handle. Rollins is tagged in and hammers away on Ambrose and then suplexes him. He works over Dean for a bit until Reigns is tagged back in.

Seth is double-clotheslined by Ambrose and Reigns, then taken to the canvas with a side-headlock and running shoulder-block. He then Samoan Drops Rollins and jawbreaks him using the top rope. Noble and Mercury top Roman on the outside, as does Kane, which allows Rollins to take control in the ring. Reigns counters a potential neckbreaker, then slaps hands with Dean. Both clean house prior to the break.

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Dean and Seth are fighting it out with Rollins beginning to dominate after a tornado neckdrop. Ambrose turns it around himself with a hard clothesline that appeared to send one of Rollins’ teeth flying! Roman and Kane are now in, with Roman controlling Kane. He measures for the Superman Punch, but Jamie Noble receives it instead. Kane capitalizes with a big-boot, but Roman fends off a subsequent chokeslam attempt. Reigns nails the Superman Punch right after Dean tagged himself in. he soared with a flying elbow and almost takes this one until Rollins breaks up the pin. Rollins now rockets in with a springboard knee-to-the-head after Kane tagged in, but Ambrose kicks out at two!

“The Lunatic Fringe” attempts his Dirty Deeds DDT, but Rollins gets out of it and hits a jumping enziguri. They tussle again and Ambrose reverses into a backslide for the victory!

Winners via Pinfall: “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns

Commercials.

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Rene Young is with Dean Ambrose asking about the contract. He vows to sign it, then beats up Mercury and Noble as they approach him to talk about that contract. He also accidentally slugs a cameraman and is not pleased.

Segment #5: Video Promo

A highlight package on the WWE career, so far, of NXT Champion Kevin Owens is aired.

Rusev makes his entrance, and is now being announced from Bulgaria following his split with “The Ravishing Russian,” Lana. He will be in action next!

Ads.

Match #2: Single – “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev VS. R-Truth

Rusev makes R-Truth tap-out quickly to The Accolade.

Winner via Submission: “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev

Post-match, Rusev wants Lana to meet him in the ring for a conversation. She does not respond, so we go to break.

Commercials.

Rusev is still in the ring and keeps asking for Lana. She finally appears and joins him in the ring. Rusev says that despite his failings recently, which he does blame Lana for, he wants to be back together with her. Lana contemplates but does take his hand that he was holding out. They hug and hold arms high, then Rusev asks her to say “I was wrong.” Lana lets go of his hand as Rusev begs her to admit she was wrong. Lana retorts that she heard him correctly at Payback when he said “I quit.” Rusev becomes angry, demanding her to re-enter the ring. Lana calls him a “liar and a quitter,” then yells in his face that “you do not own me; I belong to no one. I am not yours, and I am no longer your victim. So you can take your stupid ways and I’m not going to listen to your cruel, caveman brutish, thick-headed, moronic mouth again!” she walks away as Rusev throws a fit in the ring.

“The Show Off’s” music plays and Dolph Ziggler walks out to smooth with Lana on the stage, infuriating Rusev more.

Segment #6: Locker Room Promo

Triple H and Rollins walk into Ambrose’s locker room. Behind them is the cameraman with two officers; they arrest him for assault, amid the cameraman starting to say he was “shoved” into Ambrose.

Ads.

Segment #7: Backstage Promo

Ambrose is being hauled off as J & J and Rollins laugh at him.

Match #3: Single – King Barrett VS. “The Big Guy” Ryback

Ryback controls the early part of this bout and winds up for the Meathook Clothesline, but Barrett rolls to the outside and pushes Ryback into the barricade. Barrett places Ryback atop the turnbuckle and punches away then runs at him with a kick. He leaps off the middle rope with an elbow then delivers knees to the back.

Ryback works his way out of a surfboard stretch, then elbows Barrett in the gut. He punches him in the corner, but is yanked off the middle rope. Barrett slams Ryback with the Winds Of Change, but only gets two! “The King” sets up for the Bullhammer Elbow, but slaps him around instead after Ryback fell to the canvas. This enraged Ryback enough to give Barrett a spinebuster and the Shellshock Marching Samoan Drop. He covers and takes this one!

Winner via Pinfall: “The Big Guy” Ryback

Segment #8: Office Promo

Triple H and Stephanie are discussing Ambrose when the cast of Entourage walks in. they put each other over until Turtle (I believe; I never watched the show full-on.) makes comments about Ronda Rousey and Stephanie at WrestleMania. This does not make the power-couple happy, so they quickly shoe the four men out.

Commercials.

Match #4: Single – Stardust VS. “The Man That Gravity Forgot, The New Sensation” Neville

Prior to this contest, Stardust gets into a face-to-face with Arrow star Stephen Amell at ringside. It is also announced that Neville will take on Bo Dallas at Elimination Chamber.

Neville and Stardust grapple to begin with Stardust getting the better after twisting Neville’s knee on the middle rope. He front-suplexes Neville from the apron to inside the ring, then stomps away on Neville’s hurt left knee. He clamps on a half-crab, then Bo Dallas walks down the ramp and cheers on Neville in the corner. Neville fights back, eventually giving Stardust a Tornado DDT out of the corner. He drags him to the opposite one and ascends for the Red Arrow Splash; he hits it and receives the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: “The Man That Gravity Forgot, The New Sensation” Neville

Post-match, Bo Dallas belittles Neville, then dropkicks him in the knee and walks off.

Segment #9: Backstage Promo

The Entourage cast walk into Emma, Summer Rae, Alicia Fox, and Layla. One of them is also talking to Zack Ryder, the hometown wrestler, saying “you have to do it.” They all conspire in Entourage’s locker room.

Ads.

Match #5: Single – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus

Dolph corners Sheamus with punches until the big Irishman knees him and stomps away in the other corner. He snapmares Ziggler and locks on a grounding rear chinlock. Sheamus tosses Dolph to the floor and goes to ram his head against the announce table, but Dolph blocks and does the same. Sheamus kicks Dolph down at the knee in the ring, but Dolph flips backwards and dropkicks Sheamus. He clothesline Sheamus and they both tumble to the floor. Dolph runs at Sheamus, but is picked up and given a tilt-a-whirl powerslam. Lana has now walked about to observe.

Commercials.

Sheamus is holding Dolph by the head but Ziggler punches away in the corner. Dolph tries a splash, but meets the turnbuckle instead. Sheamus spins him around with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but only gets two! Sheamus continues to punish Dolph until “The Show Off” gains momentum with a comeback. He slugs away with punches and elbows, and hits a flying forearm! Dolph rockets off the top turnbuckle with a crossbody and plants Sheamus with the Fameasser for a close-call! He nails a superkick after ducking a Brogue Kick, but still can’t pin Sheamus.

Rusev now walks out, past Lana, but Dolph kicks him off the apron. Sheamus uses this to his advantage and hits the Brogue Kick to finish bout!

Winner via Pinfall: “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus

Post-match, Rusev beats up Dolph and puts on The Accolade in front of Lana. He release and walks right by Lana again.

Up next, John Cena’s U.S. Title Open Challenge will continue!

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Segment #10: Arena Promo

United States Champion John Cena talks to the fans first, telling them they can be summarized in five words “Let’s go Cena; Cena Sucks.” “For those of you out there chanting ‘let’s go Cena,’ well you believe in what I believe, ‘hustle, loyalty, respect.’ No matter what the environment, no matter how tough the fight, no matter if your back is against the wall, you never give up. And over the past ten years, we have shared together the ‘agony of defeat’ and the ‘triumph of victory.’ But most importantly…” (Crowd now chants “We want Ryder, whoo-whoo-whoo.”) Cena continues, “but most importantly, over the past ten years, we have formed a fraternity, a family, a bond that will never be broken that allows us to survive ‘atmospheres’ no matter how hostile they may be. So for those of you chanting ‘let’s go Cena,’ I am saying right now I am eternally grateful for over the years you giving me your unwavering support, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. And then of course, there are ‘the others,’ who chant among other things, ‘Cena sucks.’ And why? Because for over ten years, they have been clamoring for a man to step in this ring that is everything that I am not, knock me down, and keep me down. Here is where the story gets difficult for those chanting ‘Cena sucks.’ Because name, after name, after name; hopeful, after hopeful, after hopeful have tried and they have failed. I was rather ‘forcefully’ introduced to the newest ‘hopeful’ last Monday on Raw. A man named Kevin Owens. Last Monday Kevin Owens debuted on Raw and left me incapacitated; and then he broke the internet. And then two days later on NXT: Takeover, live on the WWE Network, Kevin Owens broke his best friend, Sami Zayn, in half. And this, this is why those who chant ‘Cena sucks’ believe that Kevin Owens is the man to knock me down and keep me down. This is why those of you who chant ‘Cena sucks’ believe that Kevin Owens is the man to change what you think needs to be changed around here. And amazingly enough, it’s those that chant ‘Cena sucks,’ that this Sunday, at Eliminations Chamber, may not be chanting ‘Cena sucks.’ Cause at long-last, you will be able to chant ‘fight Owens fight.’ Yeah, that’s the sound of all of you tuning into Elimination Chamber this Sunday and you will see things where you can’t believe your eyes, but for the first time in a decade, you may not believe your ears. Because there may not be a ‘let’s go Cena, Cena sucks;’ you may hear ‘let’s go Cena, fight Owens fight.’ I’m here right now to tell you that ‘fight Owens fight’ does not promise ‘win Owens win.’ Last Monday on Raw, Kevin Owens proved to the world that he knows how to start a fight; this Sunday at Elimination Chamber, we’ll see if Kevin Owens knows how to finish one!”

Cena moves on to the U.S. Title Open Challenge now. The mystery person to answer is … “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder. The Entourage cast walks out and introduces the Long Island hometown wrestler.

Commercials.

Match #6: Single for the United States Championship – John Cena (Champion) VS. “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder

Both competitors circle around each other, then Cena takes him to the canvas with a side headlock and suplex. He whips Zack into the corner and follows with a running elbow, but Ryder reverses the next one and nails Cena with double-knees in the face. He signals for the Broski Boot, but Cena moves and hits his shoulder tackles and spin-out backdrop/powerbomb. He wants to go for the 5-Knuckle Shuffle, but Kevin Dillon of Entourage rolls in the ring for a distraction. Ryder uses this for a roll-up but only gets two! He drives Cena down with a stretch-facebuster for another two-count, and hits the Broski Boot for a third near-fall!

Ryder leaps up on Cena with the RoughRyder Legdrop Lariat, but still cannot take this. He climbs to the top rope and 450-splashes, but Cena moves and drives him down with an Attitude Adjustment! 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall and STILL United States Championship

Post-match, Cena, Ryder, and Entourage all embrace. NXT Champion Kevin Owens suddenly appears and delivers the Pop-Up Powerbomb to Cena! Like last week, he stands over the U.S. Championship while holding the NXT Championship high.

Segment #11: Office Promo

The Authority and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins are lauding over NXT Champion Kevin Owens when Rene Young walks in. She wants to know what is happening with Dean Ambrose, so Steph explains that he still has until the conclusion of Raw to sign the contract. Rollins pokes fun at Ambrose’s current situation being in jail.

The Bella twins make their entrance and will be on commentary next.

Ads.

It is announced that Ryback will face on Rusev this week on Smackdown!

Match #7: Single – Tamina (with Naomi) VS. Paige

Tamina and Paige lockup, then Paige takes control with a kick and knees. Tamina shoves Paige to the floor, then headbutts her back in the ring. She turns Paige’s head sideways with a necklock then slams her down. Both divas soon engage in a punch-up, with Paige rolling up Tamina for two then kicking her. She repeatedly clotheslines Tamina and dropkicks her, then somersaults off the apron!

Tamina catches Paige as she was climbing back in the ring, then Naomi hits Paige with the referee distracted. Tamina gives Paige a Samoan Drop to complete this bout!

Winner via Pinfall: Tamina

Tag-Team Champions The New Day make their entrance for an appearance!

Commercials.

Footage of The Rock receiving an award in Los Angeles is shown.

Segment #12: Arena Promo

Tag-Team Champions The New Day – Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston – complain about their upcoming defense inside the Elimination Chamber on Sunday against Los Matadores, The Ascension, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, The Primetime Players, and The Lucha Dragons. They rip on the Nassau Coliseum and the New York Islanders, then insist that “New Day rocks!”

Director Of Operations Kane interrupts. He tells them that Elimination Chamber is “fair” because they have an equal chance of winning like the other teams. However, their next contest may not be, as Kane books them against all other teams in a 10-on-3 bout.

All other teams make their entrance.

Ads.

Match #8: 10-On-3 Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston) VS. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (with Natalya), The Primetime Players (“The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil and “Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young”), The Ascension (Conor and Viktor), Los Matadores (Fernando and Diego) (with El Torito), and The Lucha Dragons (Calisto and Sin Cara) (Non-Title)

This contest doesn’t last long as it breaks down into a big brawl with New Day eventually coming out on top and actually being the victors because of a dq!

Winners via Disqualification: Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston)

Post-match, as New Day celebrate, Tyson Kidd dropkicks all three, then Cesaro swings around Xavier as Kidd dropkicks him too!

Commercials.

A clip from WWE Youtube Channel is aired and it shows that WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins pushed the cameraman into Dean Ambrose.

Segment #13: Arena Promo

The Authority bask in their happiness with Dean Ambrose not being available to make the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match official. Roman Reigns then runs down the ramp and tries to attack Rollins, but he ends up getting beat on by Kane, Rollins, and J & J as Stephanie and Triple H look on.

A siren now sounds, and it appears Ambrose is driving a squad truck into the arena! He takes off the police jacket and hat, but still welds a baton, dismantling of J & J and the Director Of Operations. He and Rollins duke it out, but Reigns yanks the night stick away. He Spears both Noble and Mercury at the same time, then Superman Punches Kane, and Ambrose follows up with his Dirty Deeds DDT. Rollins, Triple H, and Stephanie are glaring from the stage when Roman hands Dean the contract, which he puts his signature on to close the show!

End Of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp

This was another pretty great Raw that pushed another big show really well considering how quick it has come; some great promos and decent matches, along with a couple cliff-hangers. Onto the particulars and then my predictions for Elimination Chamber

Excellence: bouts between Kane/Rollins & Ambrose/Reigns, Ryback/Barrett, Stardust/Neville, and Cena/Ryder. Also, liking the mini-feud between Neville and Dallas; theirs should be a superb contest at Elimination Chamber!

Awesome promos by Rusev, Lana, and Cena; I think this was the best that both men talked in a long while, and I really loved that Cena’s passion about the fans shone through. Kevin Owens “popping up” (pun-intended, yes!) was a good surprise too (I actually didn’t think he’d be there) and this is going to be my most vested-interest match of Cena’s since ‘Mania. With Lana, again even though it’s probably a fake accent since she’s really American, she can talk very, very well with that accent and I think she’s an even better speaker as a face.

Glad to see Ryder get some love in his hometown, and while at first I wasn’t thrilled with the Entourage guys being on Raw (thinking they’d be overused), they were perfectly-placed to get over themselves and Ryder, without outshining one-another.

Bogus: The Authority was a bit too much tonight and their opening promo was kind of bland. As well, why would they frame Ambrose when Rollins wanted to face him and prove his point of not being in the same league? Nonsensical!

Unfortunately, that was a bad match between Tamina and Paige. Both can wrestle very well, so expected much more and better. Hopefully that will happen next time.

While Sheamus/Ziggler’s match was good, I thought it was pointless to have them go at it again so soon and when it meant nothing but quick build to the I.C. Title Elimination Chamber match. Their feud should’ve ended at Payback and they shouldn’t have faced each other one-on-one/in tags for a long while.

Where has Bray Wyatt been?

Elimination Chamber Picks: Naomi over Paige/Nikki to win Divas Championship; Neville for a clean W over Dallas; Dolph to pick up another I.C. Championship with the help of Lana and then move on to a summer-feud with Rusev; The New Day will remain Tag-Team Champs; Kevin Owens/Cena go No Contest; Rollins squeaks away with the WWE World Heavyweight Title

Until next Monday, where a new grounding of WWE could occur, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!