Somehow, someway, “the landscape of the WWE” has changed again, as the old cliche’ goes. Exactly how is the question, because once again, I have managed to avoid the results of SummerSlam, and am genuinely excited to see what has happened and will happen. The pay-per-view had shaped up to be very interesting with a lot of cliffhangers/intriguing storylines that could play on for a while, which is why I am very enthralled in this prologue. I do hope that most of my predictions came true, especially Christian winning the World Heavyweight Championship (please!), and I really hope that they didn’t pull off the heavily-speculated/hyped Randy Orton cash-in, and instead allowed Daniel Bryan to have a big win and run with the WWE Title. Okay, can’t wait now, so enough of the preview and onto the show!

Monday Night Raw Report for August 19th, 2013 – “Who Is The True Future?”

Introduction Segment: Recap

SummerSlam footage, featuring C.M. Punk VS. Brock Lesnar, and the WWE Championship bout between John Cena and Daniel Bryan is recalled, which exhibits Lesnar beating Punk after an F-5 onto a chair provided by Paul Heyman and Bryan WINNING the WWE Title, then promptly losing it with the predicted Randy Orton cash-in. Although, what is also seen is Triple H Pedigreeing Bryan, allowing Orton to pick up another championship.

Segment #1: Arena Promo

The former WWE Champion, John Cena, is out first. He puts over the Anaheim fans first, then his opponent from last night, Daniel Bryan. Cena commends Bryan for being deserving of the championship, and giving him a “clean fight.” Cena also talks about something that he has been working with the last few weeks – a blown up elbow, which is really a torn triceps injury.

He displays the ball of fluid at the end of his joint, and says he now has to go have the long-awaited surgery. Cena announces that he will be out 4 – 6 months, (to which the crowd chants “Yes, yes, yes!”), and decides to bring out a man who deserves real respect, Daniel Bryan.

Bryan walks out to a huge ovation, and is handed the microphone as Cena walks out. Before he can utter a word, Stephanie McMahon enters the ring. She offers her sorries for the finish to his big match, but wants him to understand that her husband, HHH, was doing what was “best for business.”

The crowd vehemently disagrees, chanting “no, no, no.” Bryan agrees with them, and expected that behavior from herself and her father, Vince McMahon, but not “The Game,” because he was also the rebel. Bryan realizes that is not true anymore though, saying about Triple H, “when you lie down with trash, you start to stink.”

Bryan says he will do anything to Triple H and Randy Orton, even if he gets fired, and he doesn’t care because he would be just as happy to go back to wrestling in armories.

Stephanie belittles Bryan’s stature, calling him a “solid B+,” but not an “A” because that is WWE Championship material, which she says “not everyone can be.” Bryan think she is being another word that starts with a “B.” Daniel does not fall for this, and gets in her face, screaming that he “can be WWE Champion, and I don’t care what you think!”

She goes to talk again, but Bryan slaps the microphone out of her hand. She gets another one and orders him to “calm down.” Stephanie calls him “unprofessional and uncouth,” then asks for security to walk out and “escort this man from the building.”

He begins to walk up the ramp, then turns around to elicit a “no, no, no” chant from the fans.

Commercials.

Match #1: Single – “Mr. Money In The Bank/The Intellectual Savior Of The Unwashed Masses” Damien Sandow vs. Cody Rhodes

This is a rematch from SummerSlam (Cody won with the CrossRhodes), which starts out like an all-out brawl, even between both. Cody capitalizes with an elbow off the middle rope for two. Cody uses the side ropes to deliver a springboard dropkick, then clotheslines Sandow to the floor.

He suplexes Damien to the mat and covers for a near fall! Sandow gets out of a hammerlock and puts Rhodes to the outside. In the ring, Sandow suplexes and jumps on Cody for a one-count, and pulls him off the top rope a bit later. Sandow is dominating.

Ads.

Sandow has Rhodes locked in a grounding rear chinlock, which Cody slugs out of, but receives a knee-to-the-gut and a side Russian legsweep. Damien drops the “Elbow of Distain,” but is taken down with a moonsault by Rhodes from the turnbuckle! Cody hits a backdrop and a couple clotheslines, and flips him over in a jackknife position for a two-count!

Sandow counters the CrossRhodes, but is knocked down with the springboard Disaster Kick! Sandow counters with a jawbreaker on the ropes, but Cody reverses a shoulder-run into a corner sunset flip for the sudden victory!

Winner via Pin Fall: Cody Rhodes

Segment #2: Backstage Promo

General Manager Brad Maddox comments on Triple H’s action, as well as a quote from Dolph Ziggler, saying he never trusted “The Game” since starting to work here. Maddox decides to book “The Show Off” in a 3-On-1 match against “The Shield.”

Paul Heyman is walking through the hallways, sporting a sling on his left arm. He will be out next.

Commercials.

Segment #3: Arena Promo

Paul Heyman is in the ring, and after reminding us that Brock Lesnar defeated C.M. Punk, he does put over the “Straight-Edge Superstar” for giving Brock all he had. Heyman actually wants to put the “family feud” behind him. Heyman offers his forgiveness to Punk, and claims that he will take him back after C.M. apologizes. Heyman informs Punk that he is “better with me than without me.” Paul E. wants to take Punk to even greater heights than before, because he still loves him.

Heyman declares that he will bring Punk back to the WWE Championship and take him to the main event of Wrestlemania. “We will be the best in the world.”

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

The Funkadactyls are warming up, when The Bella Twins walk in and wish them “good luck,” since they are representing their show, “Total Divas.” Nikki and Brie are sassy, which infuriates one of the Funkadactyls.

Ads.

Match #2: Tag-Team – The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi) VS. Layla and Divas Champion A.J. Lee (Non-Title)

Layla and A.J. just lay (no pun intended) into Naomi and Cameron, and A.J. takes control over Naomi. She puts her down with an X-Pac-like spinning kick for a near fall, then clamps on a sleeper. A.J. uses her knees and pushes Naomi’s throat against the middle rope, then hops on her back for another sleeper. Naomi counters with a backwards kick, then goes to tag in Cameron. Layla gets the tag and runs Cameron off the apron, but Naomi rolls her up for the (almost-botched) 1 – 2 – 3!

Winners via Pin Fall: The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi)

Post-match, Layla has a meltdown as The Funkadactyls celebrate.

Up next, Dolph Ziggler will take on The Shield.

Commercials.

A recap of John Cena’s injury statement, and Stephanie/Bryan’s interaction is shown.

Match #3: Three-On-One – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) (Non-Titles)

Ambrose and Ziggler square off, grabbing each other’s wrists for a test. An elbow/collar tie-up ensues and they break it off. Dolph takes him down with a waistlock slam, then hammers away on Seth Rollins after he is tagged in. Ziggler is soon cornered and taken down with a clothesline via Reigns, who takes control now over Dolph.

The Shield begin to dominate and team-up against Ziggler, with a clothesline from the U.S. Champion, and a stiff kick by Rollins. Ambrose gives Dolph fists to the back of his head, as his legs are tied up in a reverse Figure-4 position. then rips at his neck. Ziggler ducks and tries a sleeper, but Ambrose comes back with a sleeper too. Ziggler counters with a jawbreaker, then has to face the big-man, Roman Reigns.

Dolph is too quick with a high-dropkick, neckbreaker and Fameasser to Reigns! He takes down Seth and Ambrose off the apron, and gets a close one after a high-jumping DDT! Ziggler suplexes Rollins to the outside, and goes to splash Reigns in the corner, but Roman meets him halfway with the spear to finish this one!

Winners via Pin Fall: The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns)

Post-match, The Shield triple-powerbomb Dolph to send a message.

Ads.

Match #4: Single – World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio VS. Sin Cara (Non-Title)

(Yes, unfortunately, Del Rio is still the World Champion. Quite disappointing, as Christian really should’ve won.) Del Rio is aggressive, pounding away on Cara, until he is countered with a springboard armdrag. Sin dives to the outside on Alberto, but may be injured now. The referee calls for the bell.

Winner: World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio via Referee stoppage.

Post-match, Del Rio is furious and tries to attack Sin Cara, but the referee and doctor hold him off. He then cuts a promo, saying that he is the “best World Heavyweight Champion in history.” He tells the Latino community that they finally have someone to look up to and “will do everything in my power to be the one representing.”

His former friend and manager cut him off. Ricardo Rodriguez says that Del Rio is not a hero to the community or him, and reveals that he is now managing somebody else. That person is….

ROB VAN DAM! (okay, that WAS unexpected!)

R.V.D. walks down and engages in a fight with the World Heavyweight Champion. He puts him down with fists and a high kick-to-the chin. Van Dam ascends the turnbuckle, but Del Rio slides out before he can soar with the 5-Star Frogsplash. Rodriguez is all too happy to stand by his new partner’s side.

Later tonight, we will hear from C.M. Punk regarding Paul Heyman’s earlier offer.

Commercials.

Match #5: “The Real Americans” (Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro) (with Zeb Colter) VS. “The Prime Time Players” (“Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young and “The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil)

Prior to the bout, Colter rips on Anaheim and illegal immigrants, as usual. Young and Cesaro begin, with Antonio smacking Darren with an uppercut. Darren comes back with a hip-toss, then does the same to Swagger. Titus is also now in, and gives Jack a shoulder block shove with Darren, plus some kicks in the corner. Swagger counters with a double-boot, then switches with Cesaro, who pounds away on O’Neil. He picks him up with ease and flips him over with a gutwrench suplex, for two!

Jack is tagged back in and delivers more knees to Titus’ gut in the corner. O’Neil fires back with right hands, but is run over from behind after taking Cesaro off the apron. Jack works over Titus’ leg with a step-over-toe hold, but is shoved off it. He scoop slams O’Neil down and gives him the Swaggerbomb just as he tags in Antonio, who leaps over Jack with a double-stomp to Titus’ gut!

Titus reverses an Irish Whip on Swagger and slams him down with a spinebuster! Young is back in and kicks away on Cesaro. He ducks and chucks Cesaro with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex, then almost gets the contest with a Northern Light suplex pin. Titus takes out Swagger as Young plants Antonio with the Gutcheck (fireman’s carry knee/gutbuster) to get the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winners via Pin fall: “The Prime Time Players” (“Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young and “The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil)

Segment #5: Backstage Promo

Rene Young is with The Big Show, and inquires if he and Mark Henry will take on The Shield for the Tag-Team Championship. Show concurs that is true, then General Manager Brad Maddox interjects. Much like earlier, he punishes Show by making him face The Shield 3 – 1 later tonight.

Ads.

Segment #6: Locker Room Promo

Zack Ryder, Justin Gabriel, Summer Rae, and Fandango are in a locker room, with a man dressed liked a referee, very cheaply plugging the store and sponsor, Footlocker.

The montage of SummerSlam re-airs.

Segment #7: Locker Room Promo

Ryback enters and bullies a new wrestler (probably a local talent). That’s all that happened. Pointless and stupid.

The Big Show makes his entrance for his next bout.

Commercials.

Match #6: Three-On-One – The Big Show VS. The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) (Non-Titles)

Show dismantles The Shield one-by-one, tossing both Ambrose and Rollins outside, then spearing Reigns! The Shield think it over on the floor as Big waits. Rollins and Ambrose deke out Show, but he just drops Dean off his back. Show is completely dominate until he is chopped by Rollins after trying a chokeslam on Ambrose. The United States Champion flies at Show with a front-dropkick, taking him to one knee, and Rollins soars off the top with a knee-to-the-face! 1 – 2 – Show still kicks out!

They try a double-suplex, but Show reverses. Unfortunately for him, he turns around into a spear from Roman. All three are able to triple-powerbomb the giant, and all three cover him for the victory!

Winners via Pin Fall: The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose and Tag-Team Champions Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins)

Ads.

Segment #8: Arena Promo

C.M. Punk is out now, limping down to the ring. During his entrance, still images of his match with Lesnar are displayed on screen. He is not sure exactly what to say because Paul Heyman said a lot of personal things. Punk then goes off on a fan who booed him, even though he acknowledges that he paid is ticket and has the right to do so. He even dares him to fight, because Punk wants to fight someone. The rest of the crowd eats it up.

Punk focuses back on Heyman, and asks him to come out. He says that Paul E. may get what he wants, an apology, if it would get him back to the WWE Title and Wrestlemania. Heyman acknowledges and walks out with his other client, Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel. Punk does say sorry, but not the way Heyman was thinking.

“I lost a fight last night. And I’ve got my ass kicked before and here I am still standing. And the truth is Paul, I am sorry. I’m sorry I took my eyes off of Brock Lesnar for a split second, just to enact my revenge on you, and I’m sorry that revenge wasn’t enough! I’m sorry that I didn’t take your arm off and take it home with me! I’m sorry that I didn’t break your face! And I’m sorry that the next time I do get my hands on you, I’m going to choke you out, then I’m going to wake you up, then I’m going to spit in your face, then I’m going to take your arm home with me! And I’m sorry that you think a beating is going to stop me. I am relentless and I will not stop. And I don’t care who you put in front of me or what you try to do. I’m going to get my hands on you and I’m going to get my revenge! And I say, ‘we do it right now in Anaheim.’ Come on, come on! Have the guts that this fat guy over here doesn’t have. Step into the ring with C.M. Punk, fight me like a man!”

Heyman responds, saying that the apology really should come from him.

“C.M. Punk, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what is about to happen to you. Curtis Axel, please go in the back and tape up your hands for a fight. You have pushed me too far once too often. I’m not that ‘fat guy’ sitting in the front row. I can be the ‘worst nightmare’ you have ever encountered in your entire life. And so, help me God, if you are still in that ring when we return from commercial, Curtis Axel is going to be sent down to that ring by Paul Heyman, and Curtis Axel is going to finish the job that Brock Lesnar started on you last night.”

Punk is smiling and seemingly welcomes the challenge as we go to break.

Commercials.

Back, Punk is ready as Axel returns from the behind the set. Punk unloads on the I.C. Champion with a chair, and hurls him to the outside. Curtis comes back with fists against the barricade. This is another all-out brawl, which includes Punk swinging the bell ring against Curtis’ stomach.

Punk motions “Go To Sleep” to Heyman, but Axel drops out of it and chops down Punk’s left leg. He stomps away on the supposedly injured appendage, then rams the chair into the back of Punk’s left leg, repeatedly. He puts Punk down with his spinning neckbreaker finisher, then sets Punk’s leg inside the chair. He dives off, but Punk moves and shoves the chair into Curtis’ gut. He whacks Axel on the back, then chucks him into the steps, twice.

Punk picks up Curtis and drops him face-first onto the steel out of the Go To Sleep position. The “Second-City Saint” glares at Heyman as his music plays in the background.

Later tonight, Randy Orton will receive a WWE Championship Coronation.

Up next, Bray Wyatt is in action!

Ads.

Match #7: Single – R-Truth VS. Bray Wyatt (with “Wyatt Family” members Luke Harper and Erik Rowan)

(Note: Still images of Bray’s match with Kane are shown, and it is said that “The Wyatt” family abducted Kane.) Wyatt runs right aw Truth, but R uses is fast-pace to duck and jump him. Truth is eventually caught off the ropes with a crossbody, and Bray yells they are “the new face of fear.” Wyatt turns upside down and splashes Truth in the corner. He brings him out, kisses him, and drives him down with the spinning flatliner to polish him off!

Winner via Pin Fall: Bray Wyatt (with “Wyatt Family” members Luke Harper and Erik Rowan)

Post-match, they pose over a downed Truth.

Commercials.

Segment #9: Video Promo

A new tag-team, “Los Matadores” are coming soon.

Match #8: Tag-Team – “3.M.B.” (Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal) (with “3.M.B.” partner Drew McIntyre) VS. The Usos (Jey and Jimmy)

Slater and Jey begin, circling around each other with waistlocks. Jey flips Heath over with a hip-toss, then The Usos double-team him with elbows. Jimmy chops away at Slater, and runs back with a spinning headbutt. McIntyre gives Jimmy a kick on the outside as Mahal distracted the referee.

Jinder is now in and kicks/punches away at Jimmy. Mahal drops Jimmy with a neckbreaker and jumps on him with a couple knee drops. “3.M.B.” wears down Jimmy, until he come back against Slater with a back-to-the-head kick!

Jey gets the hot tag and goes to work on Jinder. He hits the running bump-in-the-corner for a close two-count. He also nails Mahal with a superkick, then flies out of the ring onto both Slater and McIntyre! He managed to slap hands with Jimmy, who subsequently splashes Mahal for the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winners via Pin Fall: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)

Ads.

Match #9: Single – The Miz VS. Wade Barrett

Barrett kicks Miz hard in the gut, then clamps on a sideheadlock. He runs off the ropes with a shoulderblock, but is planted with a flapjack by Miz. He runs at Wade in the corner with a clothesline, but misses a dive off the ropes and receives a boot instead. Wade chokes Miz against the ropes with his knee. Barrett puts Miz to the floor with an on-target boot-to-the-face.

Barrett works over Miz with a grounding rear chinlock, which Miz attempts to battle back. Wade manages to stay on top, and punishes Miz in the corner, then snapmares him over. Miz does get his mojo back, with clotheslines and a high-running knee.

He focuses on Wade’s thigh, viciously kicking at it, then running at it with a front dropkick. He tries the Figure-4, but booted off. Miz does flip over Barrett out of the corner, and hooks up Wade with the Figure-4! Out of nowhere, Fandango dives off the top rope with a legdrop onto Miz! The referee calls for the bell.

Winner via Disqualification: The Miz

Post-match, Fandango and Summer Rae dance away, pleased with their work.

Segment #10: Backstage Promo

G.M. Brad Maddox finds Stephanie and informs her that Daniel Bryan is back in the building. She seems to be pleased with the news, and then enters her father’s room.

Commercials.

Segment #11: Arena Promo

Mr. McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, a slew of the WWE Roster are all out as Triple H is in the midst of making his entrance. Vince calls this a “wonderful night. A momentous occasion. The coronation of a new WWE Champion, a champion we can all be proud of.” Vince is extremely pleased with “The Game’s” action last night, saying he “did the ‘right thing.’ You saw ‘the light.'” HHH explains that he Pedigreed Daniel Bryan and give Randy Orton the WWE Championship to “ensure the future.” He says he did it for everyone in the building, including the fans, the wrestlers, and the entire McMahon family.

Triple H says he actually does like Daniel Bryan and considers him a friend. He calls Bryan a “good little technician,” and says he deserved to win, but not to be the WWE Champion or “face of the WWE.”

HHH says everyone deserves “better than that.” He claims the fans deserve “A+” and that’s what he gave them last night. He put away his “personal feelings,” toward both Orton and Bryan, for what was right for business and the people. He calls Daniel “selfish” for having a personal problem with what happened.

Triple H introduces “the future, your future. The ‘face of the WWE,’ the new WWE Champion, Randy Orton.” The new WWE Champion parts the wrestlers on the stage and saunters to the squared circle. Orton gives a hug to Stephanie, then takes the microphone.

“I told you so. I told you so that when I cashed in, that you would not see it coming. And now here I stand before you, for the 10th time, the ‘Apex Predator’ of the WWE.”

Orton thanks Trips for the favour he pulled off, and owes all of it to him. He demands the fans to show HHH the “respect he deserves.” HHH takes the microphone back and has the knowledge that Bryan is in the building, so asks him to come on out and air his grievances.

Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, Bryan approaches the ring. As he climbs the apron, The Shield promptly assault him. Bryan fights them off and struggles to the ring. Ambrose pulls him away, but Daniel still takes them out! Trips taunts him, which allows The Shield to gather and put down Bryan. As they go to triple-powerbomb him, HHH puts a stop to that and teases Bryan to get in the ring.

As he slowly does so, Orton immediately R.K.O.’s him, and then poses with his WWE Championship, HHH, Vince, and Stephanie to close the show.

End Of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp

I quite enjoyed Raw tonight, and thought it was pretty good overall. Definitely not as great as last week, but I believe that is because they just came off what was presumably (didn’t see it live) a “hot” pay-per-view, so Raw was “cooled down” a little. For sure, some interesting (and a few disappointing) turns in the old “landscape,” so let’s get to the analysis!

Excellence: Daniel Bryan & Stephanie McMahon – turned what could’ve been a predictable, overdone opener into an entertaining, slightly comical, and personal promo. Great match between Cody/Damien – awesome chemistry between the two and I am really liking their feud.

Even though I don’t like Dolph losing (especially after winning SummerSlam), still had a great ring-psychology match with The Shield. Glad to see a lot of Tag-Team bouts on Raw – “Real Americans”/Prime Time Players was a great match, and always love seeing The Usos gain victories. I really believe it is time for The Shield to drop the Tag-Championships, they don’t need them anymore to establish themselves – they already are majorly. Give the titles to one of the other four teams mentioned above that wrestled.

LOVING the Heyman/Punk rivalry. Happy to see Curtis Axel involved now, as this will elevate him more, and he really showed a mean side tonight with his beat down of C.M. Also, “The Straight-Edge Superstar’s” promo was awesome too, again very realistic and threatening. (Which is why, for the second week in a row, I wrote a realistic promo out almost verbatim.)

Good continuity with Bray Wyatt’s first Raw match being with R-Truth, who he had demolished a bit a go. Would’ve liked to hear a fantastic oratory from him though, and/or them explain where Kane is, to perhaps continue the feud.

Bogus: As mentioned above, wasn’t a fan of Dolph being booked to lose 3 – 1 after he had won a PPV match. Same with Big Show, particularly since he just returned. Kind of kills their “steam” again. Not sure about Divas Champ A.J. Lee right now. I really like her and want her to be the face of the Women’s division, but needs some new challengers. Where was Natalya? She picked up a W at SummerSlam, so why wasn’t she on Raw, contesting to be in that title hunt? Perhaps it’s also time to call up an NXT women’s wrestler (read: Paige and/or Emma!) for a fresh face. Pointlessness of the show goes to Miz/Barrett, the Ryback segment, and the very obvious plug for Footlocker.

Supremely disappointed they did NOT give Christian the World Heavyweight Championship – he really deserved it and a long title reign. Alberto Del Rio makes a great heel, but I’m tired of him always being in/winning the World Title department. Also, as much as I love Rob Van Dam, his new position is just weird booking! This is where he should’ve been when he returned. He doesn’t win the MITB, but does so on a bunch of Raws, then is on the PRE-SHOW to SummerSlam, where he wins by DISQUALIFICATION, and now is aligned with Ricardo Rodriguez, and apparently going to be Del Rio’s next challenger for the championship? Very up-and-down. All I can say is to solidify this, he needs to WIN at Night Of Champions (which is when I’m presuming this match will take place, especially since it’s in Michigan, his home state.)

Right now, I’m in different to the McMahon’s/Triple H/WWE Champion Randy Orton screwing with Daniel Bryan storyline. Honestly, I felt the ending was a bit flat, particularly since Trips didn’t describe WHY they thought Daniel couldn’t be the future. I did like the roster being out on the stage though, because I think it served as HHH subtly trying to tell them that this (Randy Orton, WWE Champion) is what “the future” is and you all better step up if you want to be at this level. However, I will have to wait at least until next week to start making judgments on this angle.

In general, pretty decent show tonight, and lots to wonder about that will play out over the next few weeks. Until next week, as always Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!