Monday Night Raw TV Report for April 27th, 2015 – “Double The Payback”

Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming

A montage of previous King Of The Ring winners is aired, which is relevant because the tournament is returning, starting tonight! The regular Raw video plays, the pyro explodes in the arena, and Michael Cole welcomes us to Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The King Of The Ring tournament is back, with the first-round qualifiers on Raw, and presumably the rest tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 8pm ET/5pm PT on the WWE Network.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

The WWE World Heavyweight Champion kicks off, flanked by J & J Security and Kane. Seth Rollins boasts about his recent successes at WrestleMania and Extreme Rules. He takes all the credit, despite the amount of help he received from Kane, Noble, and Mercury. Rollins makes fun of Kane, calling him “the crypt keeper,” but Kane retorts back, saying he’d prefer to be “the crypt-keeper” rather than a “Justin Bieber” type. Both get into a heated argument until Randy Orton arrives.

Randy stands on the stage and wants a rematch since Kane blamed Rollins for cheating. Seth shoots him down, but Orton says he was actually demanding it from Kane. The Director Of Operations goes to respond, but is cut off by Roman Reigns’ music. He walks through the crowd and then stands on the commentary table. He also wants a match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, since he defeated The Big Show at Extreme Rules in a Last Man Standing Match, and also hasn’t gotten a chance since Rollins took the title at WrestleMania.

Kane interrupts and books a Tag-Team bout for later, himself and Rollins taking on Reigns and Orton. Up next, Dolph Ziggler will face Bad News Barrett in a King Of The Ring Qualifying Match!

Commercials.

Match #1: King Of The Ring First-Round Qualifying (Single) – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. Bad News Barrett

Dolph slugs away with elbows and punches right away, but Barrett fires back with a few of his own. Dolph hits back with a kick and dropkick, sending Bad News to the outside for a break.

Ads.

Bad News is in control now, but Ziggler elbows back and throws Barrett into the ring post. He swings around Wade with a Crucifix pin, getting two! Barrett attempts Wasteland but Dolph reverses into a DDT! Barrett does hit Wasteland but only gets two as well! He winds up for the Bullhammer Elbow, but Dolph ducks and nails him with a superkick! Before he can go further, Sheamus walks out and reminds Ziggler that he kissed his “arse.” Barrett capitalizes on the distraction and hits the Bullhammer and covers for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall and ADVANCING: Bad News Barrett

Up next, new Tag-Team Champions The New Day, who appear to be going by “Freebird Rules” (where any of the three members can be the champs), will be in action!

Commercials.

Match #2: Single – Tag-Team Champion Big E. (with Tag-Team Champion and New Day partners Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) VS. Tyson Kidd (with Natalya and Cesaro) (Non-Title)

Prior to the bout, The New Day cut a promo, trying to entice the fans to chant “New Day Rocks” instead; it does not work, to say the least! Tyson immediately spin-kicks Big E. and dominates this contests. He mudhole stomps him in the corner, then delivers another stiff-kick off the apron. Big E. launches a clothesline and suddenly gets the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champion Big E. (with Tag-Team Champion and New Day partners Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston)

The announcers recap the Russian Chain Match at Extreme Rules and the impending I Quit Match at Payback on May 17th, then make it down that John Cena will continue to have is Open Challenge for the United States Championship.

Ryback makes his entrance and will be wrestling next!

Ads.

Match #3: Single – “The Big Guy” Ryback VS. “The Inspirational” Bo Dallas

Before this begins, Bo cuts a promo ripping on the fans and trying to convince Ryback to “Bo-lieve.” It doesn’t take, as Ryback slams Dallas down right away. Bo comes back fiercely and takes control. He kicks him hard and locks him in a rear chinlock. Ryback gets out of it and hits the Meathook Clothesline and Marching Samoan Drop for the W!

Winner via Pinfall: “The Big Guy” Ryback

Post-match, Bray Wyatt’s video plays and the lights go out. He appears behind Ryback, then drives him down with the Sister Abigail. Wyatt crab-walks to a laid-out Ryback, then kneels over him and screams something inaudible.

Up next, John Cena will give another person a chance at his U.S. Title.

Commercials.

Match #4: Single for the United States Championship – John Cena (Champion) VS. ??? (Challenger)

Ahead of this contest, Cena cuts his usual promo (great) of passion for wrestling and America. He amps up the I Quit Match at Payback, by supposedly laying his career on the line too. He then institutes the U.S. Open Challenge and the person to answer is ….

Heath Slater! Before wrestling, he talks on stage about becoming the new U.S. Champ and idol for Green Bay instead of Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers Quarterback.) From behind, Rusev pushes and kicks Slater off the stage, then Lana walks out to a massive pop. Rusev orders her backstage, to massive boos. He then rants to Cena about being the new U.S. Champ again himself and making the U.S. fail/quit. The Russian Flag is then displayed above the ring.

Segment #3: Office Promo

Kane is walking back-and-forth when WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins walks in with Noble and Mercury. He wants to know what Kane has in store for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Payback. Kane is going to let the WWE Fans decide who will challenge Seth – Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, or both! Rollins is irate at this decision, and Kane says the people can vote now.

Ads.

Match #5: King Of The Ring First-Round Qualifying (Single) – R-Truth VS. Stardust

Both trade moves to begin, then Stardust takes control. He dominates with a few kicks and hisses at Truth. He continues to rip at R with facelocks and stretches. He whips him hard into the corner, but Truth hits back with an elbow and a clothesline. He tries for the Axe-Kick, but Stardust reverses into a roll-up for two! Truth hits a spinning elbow, and the two trade pins again. Truth catches Stardust out of the Disaster Kick into a flatliner to take this one!

Winner via Pinfall and ADVANCING: R-Truth

Commercials.

Match #6: Single – Adam Rose (with The Rosebuds) VS. Fandango

Rose controls early, hammering Fandango against the ropes. Fandango comes back, sending Adam to the outside and then soars over the ropes onto him and a couple of the Rosebuds. One of the Rosebuds takes of a part of her costume and we see that she is Rosa! She dances around the ring, which averts Fandango’s attention enough for Adam drive him to the canvas with the Party Foul Cutter and succeed!

Winner via Pinfall: Adam Rose (with The Rosebuds)

Post-match, Rosa tells Fandango she has now found a new man since Fandango has picked us, the fans. She turns around and goes into a full-on make-out session with Rose in the ring, while Fandango walks away disgusted and the Rosebuds cheer Rosa and Adam on.

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Rene Young asks Brie Bella about the health of her husband, current Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan. She puts him over with the passion he has for this business, but is quickly assaulted by Naomi.

Ads.

Match #7: Single – Brie Bella (with sister and Divas Champion Nikki) VS. Naomi

Brie jumps on Naomi with a Lou Thesz Pres right away, but Naomi soon dominates. She plants Brie with a backbreaker and drops a leg across her throat. She rips at her with a chinlock, but Brie flips her over to break it. Both rung and hit each other with a crossbody. Brie is fired up, hitting flying clotheslines and a smacking knee-to-the-gut! She runs at Naomi with another knee, then rockets off the middle turnbuckle with a missile dropkick. Naomi catches her with a roll-up for the win!

Winner via Pinfall: Naomi

Dean Ambrose makes his entrance for his KOTR bout, next!

Commercials.

Match #8: King Of The Ring First-Round Qualifying (Single) – “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose VS. “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus

They lockup and struggle in the corner, then Sheamus rolls over Ambrose while locked up with him. They continue to tussle until Sheamus gives Dean a shoulder block. He rips at Dean’s nose, but Dean ties him up with an Indian Deathlock and rips at his nose too! Ambrose kicks Sheamus in the back, but Sheamus slugs back with a hard punch. Ambrose runs Sheamus into the corner and follows with a clothesline, then puts him to the outside. He goes for the suicide dive, but Sheamus walks away and regroups.

Ads.

Sheamus dominating now, planting Ambrose with a flip-over suplex. Dean comes back with a clothesline and ferocious chops but Sheamus counters into an over-the-shoulder slam. He runs at Dean in the corner, but misses and falls to the outside. Dean follows up with the suicide dive, but is caught back in the ring with another over-the-shoulder-slam. Sheamus clamps on the Cloverleaf submission, but Dean manages to crawl to the ropes for a break.

Sheamus goes for 10 Beats Of The Baron, but Ambrose elbows out of it. He ascends the top rope and dives off with another elbow! 1 – 2 – Sheamus gets his shoulder up!

On the outside, Ambrose runs at Sheamus but is tossed onto the announce table. Sheamus pounds away, but Ambrose runs from the table onto Sheamus with a forearm! He shoves Sheamus into the ring post, but Sheamus hits back with The Brogue Kick! Dolph Ziggler now runs out and beats on Sheamus until “The Celtic Warrior” retreats through the crowd.

Winner via Disqualification and ADVANCING: Sheamus

Commercials.

Segment #5: Arena Promo

Ring Announcer Eden Stiles asks us to welcome Damien Sandow. He recaps his career thus far, which started out as a pompous aristocrat, then impersonations a plenty, and lastly ending up as The Miz’s sidekick and assistant. Sandow cuts the usual face promo, putting over the fans for making him a superstar. (To many nice cheers.) Curtis Axel interrupts, but gets mocked, mimicked, and laid-down by Damien to the enjoyment of the crowd.

It is announced that there will be a Tag-Team Championship rematch this week on Smackdown! as Cesaro and Tyson Kidd challenge The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E.)!

Segment #6: Video Promo

“Learn to play with fire. Tell me friend, will you ever learn? Will you ever realize who you truly are? Or will you always just be a man of obsessed with his own vanity? You may not know yourself, but I know you. I can see right through you; you’re transparent. I know what drives you, I know what motivates you, and I know what scares you. What you witnessed tonight, is only the beginning. Open your eyes, friend. RUN!” quips Bray Wyatt.

Ads.

Match #9: King Of The Round First-Round Qualifying (Single) – “The Man That Gravity Forgot, The New Sensation” Neville VS. Luke Harper

Harper lifts Neville right away, but Neville uses his skills to twist Luke around with a headscissors. He follows up with a hurricanrana from the stairs, but is caught off the top. Harper takes control leading to the break.

Commercials.

Luke has Neville gripped in a rear chinlock, but Neville gets out of it. He springboards onto Harper with a moonsault to the outside, then splashes him on the canvas with a standing-Shooting Star Press. He tries another aerial maneuver but is planted by Luke. He rolls out of Luke again and brings him back with a German suplex. He kicks Luke hard to the head, but then Harper drives him to the mat with a sit-down powerbomb! 1 – 2 – Neville kicks out!

Luke bashes Neville’s head against the turnbuckle repeatedly, then props him up there. Neville fights back with fists and headbutts, and kicks him hard in the head again too! He flips over with a sunset powerbomb, then tornadoes off the turnbuckle with the Red Arrow Splash! 1 – 2 – 3!

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

Roman Reigns makes his entrance for the Tag-Team main-event, next!

Ads.

Match #10: Tag-Team – Roman Reigns and “The Viper” Randy Orton VS. Kane and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (with J & J Security)

Roman and Rollins begin, with Reigns flipping Seth over; the Authority converse strategy on the outside. Back in the ring, Rollins kicks at Roman, but is quickly spun around with a tilt-a-whirl slam! Reigns switches with Orton, who slowly picks apart Rollins. Reigns back in and picks up Seth, who wiggles out and slides to the outside. He tags in Kane to square off with Roman. He tags Rollins back in, who tosses Orton to the floor.

Commercials.

Seth is back in control over Randy with a rear chinlock. He continues to work over Orton until “The Viper” tosses him with a t-bone suplex! Roman and Kane are tagged in respectively, with Roman getting the better of Kane! He hits 10 short-clotheslines in the corner, then. He throws both Kane and Orton to the outside, and goes to run, but is caught by Mercury. Around the ring, Roman gets an uppercut and run into the ring post a couple times by Kane, then put back in the ring. Rollins and Reigns punch away, then Kane is back in. He dominates over Roman, as does Rollins, for a while.

Roman blocks a suplex and gives Kane one of his own, but cannot tag Randy as Seth was tagged first and stopped Reigns. He rolls up Rollins, then powerbombs him, and gets the hot-tag to Orton! He is all over Rollins with punches and clotheslines. Orton powerslams Seth, but Kane breaks up the subsequent pin attempt. Reigns is in and pushes Kane’s hand off a Chokeslam, then punches Rollins down. He gears for the Superman Punch on Seth, but Mercury hops the apron and is hit instead!

Rollins shoves Reigns out of the ring, but is slingshot-DDT’ed by Orton. “The Viper” goes for the R.K.O., but it is reversed into a roll-up by Seth for two! Rollins kicks Orton hard out of the ring, then suicide dives onto Kane, as both Orton and Reigns moved! He puts Orton back in the ring, but Kane hurls Mercury and Noble over the announce table, then rolls Rollins back in the ring who is Superman Punched and R.K.O.’ed for the victory!

Winners via Pinfall: Roman Reigns and “The Viper” Randy Orton

Post-match, Kane reveals the results of the poll for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match at Payback. The winner(s) is (inevitably) a Triple-Threat Match! Seth is not pleased, then turns around into a Spear from Roman Reigns! Roman stands tall as Orton smiles from the stage to close the show.

End Of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp

This was a pretty-good Raw, especially for in-ring action. While most of it was taken up by the King Of The Ring Tournament, the storylines from Extreme Rules and before still continued and were intertwined nicely. Onto the in-depth review:

Excellence: The “Freebird Rules” for the Tag-Team Titles. Glad they are doing this with The New Day and keeping us guessing who will defend the straps. I hope these guys get a long run, as they have been really entertaining and picking up their game since the night after WrestleMania.

KOTR matches of Ziggler/Barrett, Neville/Harper, and Truth/Stardust. Nice to see Truth get the win, but overall, it’s either going to be Barrett or Neville to get the crown. My only complaint about this is that it is not a Pay-Per-View/Network monthly show; they should really bring it back again and make it the June one like years gone by.

Promos by Wyatt, Sandow (really deserves a big face-push), Cena, Rusev, Rollins, Reigns, and Kane. Still liking Naomi’s new attitude too, and her light-up shoes taboot!

Some great back-and-forth action to cap off the Tag main as well!

Bogus: losing interest in Fandango/Rose/Rosa; this needs to end quickly. Also, I really hope they give Bo Dallas a push again; he didn’t merit the “downsize” since he got injured, as he’s great on the mike and superb at annoying the fans, so he really makes a great mid-card heel that should be winning a decent amount.

All-in-all, a nice Raw and looking forward to seeing who wins the King Of The Ring, plus more build for Payback! Until next week, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!