Monday Night Raw TV Report for February 8th, 2016 – “Walking Out On Top”

Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming

A highlight montage of Daniel Bryan’s career is played, including a shot of his twitter account that he has announced his retirement.

The regular Raw video plays, the pyro explodes in Seattle, and we are underway. Michael Cole welcomes us to an “emotional night” as Daniel Bryan will be on Raw later.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

Lillian Garcia asks us to greet Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon. She is in the ring already, which is donned in a black carpet and a desk for the Fastlane main-event contract signing. She can barely get started when overpowering “Daniel Bryan” chants are yelled. After about a minute, she says that Seattle fans are “confused,” and the winner of the triple threat at Fastlane will not be wrestling Daniel Bryan, but her man, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H.

Once again, she can’t get far, as Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose, who is part of the main-event, marches out. He wants to get the show on the road, but she tries to put him in his place. Roman Reigns walks through the crowd too soon, according to Steph, and also wants to get going. McMahon insinuates more friction between Ambrose and Reigns, but does get to actually bring out the third man, Brock Lesnar! Of course, he is accompanied by Paul Heyman.

Paul E. goes to start off as usual, but Stephanie interjects and gets to the deal. Both Ambrose and Reigns sign, then Lesnar. She promptly walks out and leaves the three to stare at each other. Heyman wants Dean to find out know what’s different between an attack from The Authority and one from Lesnar. Ambrose gets in Brock’s face, who chucks Dean into Reigns and then F5’s the IC Champ.

As Lesnar and Heyman walk away, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H comes out to the stage and stands with his championship and Stephanie.

Michael Cole, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and Byron Saxton now go over the news of Daniel Bryan’s retirements. They show some tweets, one from his wife Brie, and one from Sami Zayn that reads. A snippet from Brie’s that I liked was “you have given so much hope and inspiration to people all over. We haven’t lost you, just get to se you in a different light.” Zayn’s was also very nicely and somewhat truthfully said – “without @WWE Daniel Bryan, many of the performers you love in @WWENXT and @WWE would never have been hired. He broke down barriers for us all.”

Segment #3: Video Promo

Highlights from Daniel’s WWE debut in the original NXT in 2010 are shown, where he just about defeated Chris Jericho.

Commercials.

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns are by the entrance to the stage in the hallway when Ambrose vows to go for Brock tonight.

Match #1: Single – Kevin Owens VS. Dolph Ziggler

Owens attacks immediately and controls for the first bit until Dolph hops over a scoop and clamps on a sleeper. He won’t break it until Kevin runs them to the outside.

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Kevin is wearing down Ziggler with a grounding rear chinlock, then clothesline him and senton-splashes him. 1 – 2 – Dolph gets his shoulder up! Ziggler moves from a run, which allows Kevin to hit the post. The “Show-Off” gains momentum with a couple of clotheslines then splashes him in the corner! He brings him down with a swinging neckbreaker and an elbow drop, but only gets two!

Owens counters a leaping-DDT with a Superkick and pins for a very close-one! He goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Ziggler hops off and tries a Superkick. Kevin counters and rolls him up for two. Ziggler catches Kevin with the leaping-DDT and both men are down.

On the outside, Dolph drives Owens with the Fameasser as he was laying on the apron; both make it into the ring just before ten! Ziggler goes for the splash, but Kevin moves. He runs for the Cannon Ball splash, but Dolph moves and rolls him up, using the ropes for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: Dolph Ziggler

Post-match, Dolph celebrates while Owens rips apart the announce table and the steel stairs.

Later tonight, The Usos will face Tag-Team Champions The New Day in a Tables Match, and Chris Jericho will be on MizTV!

Segment #5: Video Promo

Highlights of Daniel’s first championship win, where he defeated The Miz for the United States Championship at Night of Champion 2010 are shown.

Commercials.

Segment #6: Locker Room Promo

The Usos are getting ready when The Dudleyz walk in. Bubba-Ray and D-Von want to be the ones to wrestling The New Day in the Tables Match, and propose to make it a all of them taking on The New Day! Jimmy and Jey are up for it, if it is allowed.

Segment #7: Video Promo

Quick clips of Ryback are shown, and he will be going against Bray Wyatt later.

Divas Champion Charlotte and her father Ric Flair make their entrance for Charlotte’s bout next. It is announced that Charlotte will defend her Divas Title against Brie Bella at Fastlane!

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Match #2: Single – Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair) VS. Alicia Fox (Non-Title)

They lockup and Charlotte dropkicks Alicia to the canvas. Fox counters with a waistlock, which Charlotte reverses with a drop toehold. She tries for the Figure-8, but Alicia kicks her off. She dropkicks Charlotte and givers her a Northern-Lights suplex for a two-count. Charlotte counters in the corner with a neckbreaker and covers for two, then mudhole stomps her in the corner. Fox reverses with a corner-sunset-flip, but Charlotte kicks out and clotheslines her.

Charlotte dominates, wearing her down with the Figure-4 necklock. Alicia counters with an elbow and front-dropkick, then a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. 1 – 2 – Charlotte kicks out! Charlotte reverses with a neckbreaker, but Fox counters with a roll. Charlotte kicks out and Spears Alicia, then clutches on the Figure-8, forcing Fox to give-in!

Winner via Submission: Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair)

The Miz is shown getting ready to interview Chris Jericho, next!

Commercials.

The Tables match is official, however it is an Eight-Man Tag-Team now, with all three New Day members and a mystery partner.

Segment #8: Arena Promo

The Miz is in the ring and recalls what happened last week on MizTV with A.J. Styles. He goes on about how he could’ve helped Styles’ career, but instead A.J. chose to attack him. His guest for tonight, Chris Jericho, now makes his entrance.

“Y2J” quickly takes over and turns MizTV into “The Highlight Reel,” which infuriates Miz. Jericho rolls tape of Miz missing a tooth after his match with A.J. from last week’s Smackdown! Miz says that injury cost him ten-grand and that he had an interview with renowned movie superstar Steven Spielberg.

Chris continues to make fun of Miz, but “The Awesome One” fires back with footage of Styles defeating Jericho on Raw two weeks ago. Miz tells Jericho that “deep down inside, Chris, it’s eating you alive.” Jericho agrees, but wonders if A.J. is “great.” He says they will know on Smackdown!, but wants to tells him “I am the ‘best in the world’ at what I do.”

“The Phenomenal One” makes his entrance, but Miz stomps on Jericho! A.J. runs in for the save, then he and Chris double-team Miz. Jericho then shoulder-bumps Styles, which starts a slugfest. Miz gets back in, but is hurled by Jericho over the announce table and into the barrier, taking a good-bump! A.J. and Jericho glare at each other as Jericho leaves.

After replays of the contract signing and Ambrose wanting to go for Lesnar. Ambrose is shown outside a room that has a sign of “Private. Do not enter” posted on the doors.

Segment #9: Video Promo

Money In The Bank 2011 is shown, where Bryan wins that match and collects the briefcase, then cashes it in on The Big Show at TLC 2011 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship.

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Match #3: Single – Bray Wyatt (with Wyatt Family members Braun Strowman, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan) VS. Ryback

Bray starts strong, but Ryback takes over quickly. He controls with power moves, then climbs the turnbuckle, but hops down when seeing the rest of the family. Bray hits him down on the floor.

Commercials.

Wyatt is clamped on to Ryback and then clotheslines him, but misses a run and hits the ring post. Ryback follows with a couple of running knees in the corner, then shoulder-rams. He ducks a couple of clotheslines and lands on Wyatt with a crossbody and punches. He spinebusts Bray for two, but gets caught in Sister Abigail as he went for the Meathook Clothesline. Bray gets the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Bray Wyatt (with Braun Strowman, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan)

Post-match, Bray orders Harper, Strowman, and Rowan to attack, which they do. Bray poses over an out-cold Ryback at the end of the ramp, calling out “follow the buzzards.”

Segment #10: Video Promo

Daniel’s and Kane’s tag-team of “Team Hell-No” is shown.

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More tweets from Mr. McMahon, United States Champion Kalisto, Paige, and The Ultimate Warrior’s family of thank-yous and commendations for Daniel Bryan are discussed.

Segment #11: Locker Room Promo

Tag-Team Champions The New Day are “working on the table” by wiping it down and calculating the places to put their opponents. Rene Young informs them that it is now an Eight-Man match and wonders who their partner will be. Big E. says they haven’t found one because they’ve been “working on the tables.”

Segment #12: Backstage Promo

Despite getting an assistance offer from Roman, Dean is still adamant on going after Lesnar alone.

Titus O’Neil makes his entrance for his contest, next!

Commercials.

Match #4: Single – Titus O’Neil VS. Adam Rose (with Social Outcast partners Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, and Curtis Axel)

Prior to the bout, The Social Outcasts talk about defeating Titus and mumble about being friends. O’Neil starts hot, but Adam chops him at the knee and kicks him in the head. Titus comes back with power, not letting Rose whip him and instead chucking him across. He gives Adam three rib-breakers, and riles up the crowd. Rose’s partners pull him from the ring, but O’Neil takes them out. Heath jumps on the apron, distracting Titus and allowing Rose to roll him up for the upset!

Winner via Pinfall: Adam Rose (with The Social Outcasts)

Dean Ambrose appears to be on his way out to confront Brock!

Segment #13: Video Promo

Bryan and John Cena’s epic WWE Championship match from SummerSlam 2013 is recapped, where Bryan won his first WWE Title.

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Segment #14: Arena Promo

Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose dares Brock Lesnar to continue the attack, saying that the first didn’t have a lot of effect. He makes some sexual innuendos towards Lesnar’s “manhood,” and “The Beast” soon answers. He destroys Ambrose until Roman Reigns walks out from backstage, which turns Brock’s attention and allows Dean to low-blow Brock!

Ambrose walks away as Roman tells him he’s “crazy.”

Commercials.

Match #5: Tag-Team – The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and United States Champion Kalisto VS. The League of Nations (Alberto Del Rio and Rusev) (with League of Nations member King Barrett)

It is made known that Del Rio will get a rematch against Kalisto for the U.S. Title at Fastlane. Rusev and Cara begin, with Rusev kicking Kalisto off the apron, but getting rolled for two! Sin chops away and ducks a clothesline, then lands on “The Bulgarian Brute” with a springboard-moonsault! He tries a slingshot-sunset-flip, but Rusev tagged in Alberto who takes over.

Rusev is quickly back in, clotheslining Cara and pressing against his neck with his fists. He pushes Sin off the ropes then kicks him, then tags Alberto who dives off the turnbuckle with a semi-axe-handle. He and Rusev punish Cara for a bit, until Sin counters a suplex from Rusev into a mini-DDT; he gets the hot-tag to his Lucha partner!

Kalisto slingshots in with a seated-senton and hits the springboard-corkscrew-elbow and hurricarana-facebuster! Cara dropkicks Rusev to the outside then follows with a dive-through-the-ropes. In the ring, the U.S. Champ tries a Solida-Del-Sol, but Del Rio places him backward atop the turnbuckle. Kalisto elbows Alberto, but Barrett averts Kalisto, allowing Alberto to capitalize. Del Rio climbs the turnbuckle and jumps on Kalisto with the double-stomp to take this!

Winners via Pinfall: The League of Nations

Segment #15: Video Promo

R-Truth is going to visit the Jimi Hendrix museum when he walks into Goldust, dressed as the late rock-star. He continues to show off his talents, trying to rope Truth into becoming his Tag-Team partner. “The Bizarre One” destroys the guitar, but is hauled off by security.

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Sasha Banks is out and will be on commentary for the next match!

Segment #16: Video Promo

Daniel’s “Occupy Raw” movement from March 2014, in order to get his matches at WrestleMania XXX, is aired.

Commercials.

Match #6: Single – Becky Lynch VS. Tamina (with Team B.A.D. partner Naomi)

(Note: Becky Lynch and Sasha taking on Team B.A.D. at Fastlane is announced). Becky waistlocks Tamina but is put to the mat with a shoulder-block. Becky fires back with elbows and kicks, and jumps on her back with a sleeper. Tamina breaks it, and Naomi distracts Lynch, giving Tamina the advantage.

Tamina repeatedly slams Becky’s head against the canvas and attack. Tamina turns to Sasha and yells, so “The Boss” responds. Naomi walks over and forearms Banks, then hammers away and throws her into the stairs. In the ring, Lynch kicks Tamina down and then helps Sasha, giving Naomi an exploder suplex. She gets back in the ring, but is met with a superkick from Tamina for the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Tamina (with Team B.A.D. partner Naomi)

Segment #17: Locker Room Promo

Tag-Team Champions The New Day is talking to a man off camera, wanting him to be their tag-team partner. He is revealed to be “The World’s Strongest Man,” Mark Henry! He also tries to play the trombone, poorly, then dances with Big E., also poorly.

Ads.

Tweets from Nikki Bella, Kevin Owens, Natalya, and John Cena.

This week on Smackdown!, Chris Jericho faces A.J. Styles!

Match #7: Eight-Man Tag-Team (Tables Rules) – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E. and Kofi Kingston) and Mark Henry VS. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) and The Dudley Boyz (Bubba-Ray and D-Von) (Non-Title)

The Usos and Dudleyz immediately take out New Day and Henry right off the bat!

Commercials.

Henry has now helped take out Dudleyz and Uso, but is fed up with New Day when they tell him what to do. He leaves, and Bubba, D-Von, Jimmy, and Jey put Big E. through a table with a 3-D for the victory!

Winners via Putting Their Opponents Through A Table: The Usos and The Dudleyz

Post-match, Jey appears have hurt his left knee/leg, and The Dudleyz suddenly assault The Usos. They have taken displeasure with Jimmy and Jey having “their” match with New Day. They 3-D Jimmy through a Table, then top-rope powerbomb Jey through another. Bubba stands over Jey and yells “do you know who we are?” three times. Bubba answers, “we’re The Dudley Boys; we’re the ‘baddest’ tag-team on the planet!”

Segment #18: Video Promo

Another career retrospective of Daniel Bryan is aired. It features footage from the WWE Network Special “Journey To WrestleMania 30” and comments from John Cena and Brie Bella.

Up next, the man himself will be out to talk about the end of his in-ring career.

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Lillian Garcia asks us to welcome Daniel Bryan. He walks out to a thunderous ovation and a standing one from Cole, Saxton, and Layfield. He also now has a shorter beard and hair again.

In the ring, Bryan closes his eyes and takes in the boisterous “Daniel Bryan” chants! “So, just now, I was able to close my eyes and ‘feel’ that, like really ‘feel it,’ in a way that I’ve not got to feel it before, because when we’re we always have to keep our eyes open. But just that experience, literately, I’m never going to forget it. But now, but now it is time for me to address the ‘giant elephant’ in the room. I know, I know, I didn’t want to shave my beard either! But the thing is, is that I wanted to cut my hair, and once I cut my hair, I looked really silly with this giant beard. And, this is just my one cheap-plug; is that I cut my hair for an organization called ‘Wigs for Kids.’ And one of the nice things about them is that they make wigs for kids ah who have had cancer, and they don’t charge the families at all for that, so um, if there is anything worthwhile that comes out of what I’m saying tonight, that, that’s it right there.

But now to some less, less fun stuff. Trust me, I don’t want to be doing this anymore than you guys want me to be doing this. But, ah, the truth is, I’ve been wrestling since I was eighteen-years-old. And, within the first five months of my wrestling career, I’d already had three concussions. And, ah, for years after that, I would get a concussion hear or there, or here or there. And then it gets to a point when you’ve been wrestling for sixteen years, that um, that adds up to a lot of concussions. And , ah, it gets to a point where they tell you that you can’t wrestle anymore. And for a long time I fought that, um, because I’ve gotten EEG’s and brain-MRI’s, and neurological evaluations and all of them said this: ‘that I was fine.’ And that I could come back and I could wrestle; and I’d trained like I could come back and I could wrestle; and I was ready at a moment’s notice and WWE needed me, I wanted to come back and wrestle. Because this, I have loved this in a way that I never loved anything else.

But, a week-and-half-ago, I um, I took a test that said that maybe my brain isn’t, ah, okay as I thought it was. And I have a family to think about, and my wife and I want to start having kids soon. (The crowd chants “yes, yes, yes,”). That’s what Brie says all the time.

So, it is with a heavier heart, and the utmost sadness, that I officially announce my retirement, but if there’s, if there’s one thing. So I’ve gone through all these conflicts, emotions, in this last little bit. You know, I’ve been angry, I’ve been sad, I’ve been frustrated, I’ve been all of that. but today when I woke up this morning, I’ve felt nothing but gratitude because I’ve gotten to do what I love for nearly sixteen-years.

Let me tell you a few of the things that I love, okay, let me tell you a few of the things that I love. Nobody outside this arena or this city cares about this, but I love the Seahawks! (Seattle’s N.F.L. team). Here’s another thing that I love, here’s another thing that I love; right before my music hits, and it makes that weird sound right before it comes on, and you when you guys react every single time, even if I’m tired as hell, or I’ve been hurting, every time, I get this weird little smirk on my face that’s not like, it brings joy to my heart and I love it every single time.

Do you know what else that I love? I love hitting the ropes and diving right here. (In his pose towards the barricade). It makes me feel like Superman, and your guys’ reaction to that made me feel like Superman; I love that. Here’s another thing that I love, here’s another thing that I love. I have wrestled in the parking lot of gas stations, AND I have wrestled in front of 70,000 plus people in New Orleans.

Here’s another thing that I love. I have gotten to meet the most amazing people on this planet, such as someone who looks like a monster, but is the smartest man I know, like Kane. I have gotten to meet a man that has been my mentor and my friend for over sixteen years in William Regal. I have gotten to meet children that are stronger that are stronger that I thought anybody could be like Connor. (Connor chants break out now, respectfully!)

Grateful. I am very grateful. And I am grateful because wrestling doesn’t owe me or anybody back there (pointing to the stage); it doesn’t owe us anything. WWE doesn’t owe us anything. Nobody owes, you guys don’t owe us anything. We do this because we love to do this. And then, it was strange, because I did this because I love to do this, and then all of a sudden, you guys just got behind me. In a way that I never thought was possible. In a way that fans shouldn’t necessarily get behind a guy who’s five-foot-eight and 190 pounds. You guys got behind me in a way that made me feel that I was more than just me. And for that, I’m grateful.

I am grateful, because a little over two years ago, in this very arena, you guys hijacked Raw. And, they were trying to do a big championship coronation between Randy Orton and John Cena. They were combining, they were combining the WWE Championship with the World Heavyweight Championship, and they had all the former heavyweight champions out here, and this was going to be the most important match in WWE history, and you guys just wouldn’t stop chanting ‘Daniel Bryan.’ But that, that’s not why I’m grateful. Uh, my Dad, was sitting right over there, where the guy with the goat mask with the ’Daniel Bryan’ sign is sitting right now. And my Dad got to see that; his son getting that kind of reaction from all you people; (stops and tears up) and that was the last time my Dad ever got to see me wrestle. And you guys made it special, for him, and for me, and for my entire family. I am grateful; I am grateful because of wrestling. I got to meet the most wonderful woman in the world. Who’s beautiful, she’s smart, and she completes me in a way that I didn’t even think was possible. And that’s because of wrestling. I am grateful. I am grateful because I get to come out here in front of what I feel is my hometown fans. I get to announce my retirement in front of a bunch of people who love me, right. That special moment I had with my Dad, I get share that moment with my mom, (camera pans to them at ringside) with my sister, with my family, with my friends. I get to share that with them, I get to share it with you, I get to share it with my wife in the back, I get to share it with all of these wonderful human beings that I have spent the last fifteen-years of my life with. I. Am. Grateful.

Now, tomorrow morning, I start, I start a ‘new life.’ A ‘life’ where I am no longer a wrestler. But that is tomorrow. And that is not tonight. and by damn, I have one more night to feel this energy and feel this crowd, so if I can get just one more last ‘yes’ chant, I would really appreciate it.”

The fans oblige and Brie walks out to kiss her husband. “And ladies and gentleman, we all have one word for Daniel Bryan tonight. and that word is ‘grateful.’ ‘grateful’ that we had the opportunity for him to come into our lives here in WWE,” comments Cole as Daniel hugs his family and chants “yes” with the fans one more time to close the show.

End of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp

As always, in lieu of my usual review of Raw when something significant happens in the real life of professional wrestling, I will offer my thoughts on that. Tonight, it is my recollections of Bryan Danielson.

I first starting watching him back in 2009, when I was able to get Ring of Honor here in Canada on TV. While I did not know it at the time, this was Bryan’s last few months with the company. During this time, I saw some amazing matches that he had with Nigel McGuinness (spelling?), I’m pretty-sure Claudio Castagnoli (now Cesaro), and Tyler Black (now Seth Rollins). They were always the best of the program and I remember sitting and either standing up or clapping loudly whenever Danielson would hit a big move I’ve never seen before or at the end of the contest, because it was a superb match!

When he moved to WWE, I don’t remember right now watching too much of the first-version of NXT, but reading a lot about it and the controversial way it was held. (I’m so glad they’ve gone to what NXT now is!) Thankfully, he moved past that and found his way on the rosters of Raw and Smackdown!

When The Nexus unleashed on WWE for the first time in June 2010, that was so cool and very realistic; I was quite disappointed to when he got fired for choking then-ring announcer Justin Roberts, as if he was still around, The Nexus would’ve been much bigger and better than it was. However, all things worked out for him, as when he was brought back at SummerSlam 2010, he was treated as a major face and his career more/less soared from there. I also feel this way about his Money In The Bank win in 2011; I wish they had had him keep his word on cashing in at only WrestleMania XXVIII, for integrity purposes to his character and the championship/briefcase gimmick, but again, it all worked out, because it kicked off the “no/yes” chants.

From there, we all know what he went on to become – one of the most-loved wrestlers of all-time. I’ll admit, he wasn’t always my overall (and is not my overall favorite ever) favorite at times, but I loved a lot of his matches and saw the genuine passion in some of his promos – namely the one with John Cena before SummerSlam 2013 and tonight’s. Looking back, from SummerSlam 2013 – WrestleMania XXX in 2014 was played out perfectly; him continuously getting messed by The Authority solidified him as the top guy/fan-favorite, and winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX was one of the truest and best WrestleMania moments of all-time!

I also have high regard for his relationship with The Michalek family. It is very cool to see and know that he took the time to spend with the late Connor, and inducted him into the Hall-of-Fame last year. This is another, beautiful example of Bryan being a humble/giving-back-for-all-he’s-got guy.

I was so glad that it seemed they gave him all the time he wanted out there to say goodbye and let him say it from heart, not a script. The announcer’s standing for him too was a nice touch, and Cole’s words were a great send-off to a great man, for a great career!

Bryan Danielson, you will be missed in the ring, but I hope you can still contribute for the younger wrestlers as you have so much knowledge to give, and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.