Monday Night Raw 24-2-14 *EC Spoilers*

SlickRic

make no mistake about it, making the title match Orton v Batista is a solid "fúck you" to the fans.

it's not like Rock's rematch with Cena at Wrestlemania. there was a sound argument that that was the biggest match available to them - getting the most buyrates for the PPV.

there is no argument that Orton v Batista is the biggest title match they can do this year. none. nada. zilch.

Bryan v Batista should be the title match, with Batista obviously as a heel. it makes sense. it's organic. Batista is the big, arrogant, boss's favourite whose come straight back into the title picture after a long absence, hurdling the fans' favourite whose been screwed over and over and over again.

it writes itself and would be the easiest build in the world.

and, IMO, it would draw.

utter and complete madness.

Trippie

Quote from last night as gf watched raw for 2nd time ever. She saw some taker WM build up last year.

"There is no way that contract would stand up in court of law"

Why's that?

"because he is dead"

lols

beakerjoe

Trippie wrote: »

Quote from last night as gf watched raw for 2nd time ever. She saw some taker WM build up last year.

"There is no way that contract would stand up in court of law"

Why's that?

"because he is dead"

lols

Shes a keeper!

watching the PPV on Sunday and my misses dozes off during the pre show while im watching on the couch. She wakes up during the promo for Hogans return and says "Whats that ejit doing back ?!"

God I love her

DM_7

I still don't know why they brought Batista back for this match. Del Rio v Orton would be as interesting which says it all.

beakerjoe

A Del Rio Gauntlet match versus Dolph, Kofi, Rey and Ryder would be better. Del Rio spins the wheel to see who his next opponent is.

Wheel of Agression match!

GTR63

DM-ICE wrote: »

I still don't know why they brought Batista back for this match. Del Rio v Orton would be as interesting which says it all.

Don't know why he came back either. His whole demeanor just says he doesn't give a shït. Right down to the pink boots he wears. The lack of effort he put into them 2 matches against Del Rio was embarrassing as a fan to watch.

Moneymaker

GTR63 wrote: »

Don't know why he came back either. His whole demeanor just says he doesn't give a shït. Right down to the pink boots he wears. The lack of effort he put into them 2 matches against Del Rio was embarrassing as a fan to watch.

I was more embarrassed about his abysmal conditioning. He's literally close to death after 5 minutes. You'd think with the sizable paycheque WWE are giving him he'd at least have the professionalism to get in decent ring shape. He's only been gone 4 years, the Rock was gone close to 10 so it was somewhat understandable for him.

SlickRic

the one thing is, if it does end up as Orton v Batista, it'll be in the mid-card.

absolutely no doubt about it. at least then if it's sh*t on, which they have to know it will be, then it can be forgotten about by the end.

they may even put it on before Bryan v HHH.

mrkiscool2

What do we think? Apparently Cena's injury is a work so do people think it'll go in this order

Main Event:
Cena vs Wyatt or Bryan vs Triple H

Co-Main Event:
Orton vs Batista (give crowd a break between two biggest matches)

Taker vs Lesnar

HHH vs Bryan or Cena vs Wyatt

Lord TSC

After being all over thw PPV, where was #BnB tonight?

Mr.Nice Guy

SlickRic wrote: »

make no mistake about it, making the title match Orton v Batista is a solid "fúck you" to the fans.

it's not like Rock's rematch with Cena at Wrestlemania. there was a sound argument that that was the biggest match available to them - getting the most buyrates for the PPV.

there is no argument that Orton v Batista is the biggest title match they can do this year. none. nada. zilch.

Bryan v Batista should be the title match, with Batista obviously as a heel. it makes sense. it's organic. Batista is the big, arrogant, boss's favourite whose come straight back into the title picture after a long absence, hurdling the fans' favourite whose been screwed over and over and over again.

it writes itself and would be the easiest build in the world.

and, IMO, it would draw.

utter and complete madness.

Orton and Batista is a train wreck waiting to happen. They have to insert somebody into the match to save it because we're looking at a Goldberg/Lesnar WM20 situation if they don't. I've no doubt the match will be hijacked even if it's put on at the start of the show.

I still reckon Bryan will close off Mania by winning the title. There's a few options they can do.

1) They make a stip in the HHH/Bryan match that if Bryan wins then he will be allowed compete in the main event later on. The downside of this is that everyone will expect Bryan to win the match with this stip in place, but I think most people expect Bryan to win it anyway.

With a bit of creativity, perhaps adding in HBK as special ref, as they did with the Taker/HHH match a few years back, that could suffice; and tease that Michaels is going to screw Bryan again only for the opposite to happen.

2) Bryan beats HHH and in the course of the match there are a few run ins. Vince being one of them. Hunter accidentally nails Vince and afterwards a pissed off Vince, angry at being laid out and angry than Hunter let the family down, inserts Bryan into the main event.

3) Bryan beats HHH. After the match we have a segment with Hogan and Vince in the ring where Hogan appeals to Vince to allow Bryan compete in the main event later on. Vince agrees. Easy enough situation.

I quite like option 3 as it has the guy who closed off the first Mania putting over a guy who closes out Mania 30.

There's probably a few other ways that could work well too. Mania should end with Bryan winning the title though. This is the moment to do it.

Moneymaker

If they are going to do anything Hogan should be involved.

Like MNG said, it is an awesome bookend if it happens.

I'm not expecting it at all though.

JP Liz V1

Am I the only person not interested in Taker Vs. Lesnar at Mania

gnfnrhead

What sense does it make to advertise a main event and then change it on the night? They rarely ever do that on a B-level PPV let alone Wrestlemania.

Not having a confirmed main event is even worse. It's why the KOTR buyrates were always crap.

Bryan has practically no chance of being in the title match now. He wasnt even asking for it on Raw. He wants Triple H and that's all. There is no way in hell he goes over Triple H AND Batista AND Orton in the one night. Best case scenario is likely being named as number one contender for Extreme Rules as a result of beating Triple H.

Mr.Nice Guy

It makes even less sense to go with Orton vs Batista though. At Mania, with that crowd, it would be effectively heel vs heel.

I would be gobsmacked if Bryan is not placed in the match. He's been screwed over numerous times and it makes sense to have him secure his big moment on the biggest show of the year. To me it's just a case of how it happens.

gnfnrhead

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

It makes even less sense to go with Orton vs Batista though. At Mania, with that crowd, it would be effectively heel vs heel.

I would be gobsmacked if Bryan is not placed in the match. He's been screwed over numerous times and it makes sense to have him secure his big moment on the biggest show of the year. To me it's just a case of how it happens.

It made sense for Bryan to win the Rumble and we all know what happened there.

Bryan wont go over all three of them in the one night. Last night was pretty definitive in what they have planned. Bryan was nowhere close to Orton/Batista and made no mention of it when he challenged Triple H.

Tinie

Have even less interest in this mania than last year.

I'm talking I'll download and skim through it in an hour the next day style interest,

Lesnar vs taker is meh. Was hoping for cena vs taker (haven't watched raw in weeks so don't know his current storyline).

CastorTroy

Dunno if said already, but at this rate the Orton/Batista match has the potential to be Brock/Goldberg II.

If Cena is injured, then now would be the time for a push for JTG.

Where is the whole "The future has got to go through me" coming from? It sounds very heelish from Cena.

I agree as someone said that Emma doing the Emma the whole way to the ring looks kinda stupid. But I think she would've been better debuting without Santino and putting her straight into a match. But good to see a divas match that doesn't involve the Bellas, the funkadactyls or Jojo or Eva Marie.

Meant to say for the Chanber last night, I noticed that if anyone was to eliminate Bryan without getting booed, I think it would've been Cesaro. If he did get booed it would've just been heel boos and not hate filled booing.

Oh and as someone already called dibs on Emma, Paige, AJ and Summer Rae, I'm glad Renee is free for me to call dibs on. :pac:

Oh and meant to say I was left very confused. They kept telling me I could get the WWE Network on their app, but they never told me how to download the app.

JP Liz V1

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

What do we think? Apparently Cena's injury is a work so do people think it'll go in this order

Main Event:
Cena vs Wyatt or Bryan vs Triple H

Co-Main Event:
Orton vs Batista (give crowd a break between two biggest matches)

Taker vs Lesnar

HHH vs Bryan or Cena vs Wyatt

Mania should end with a huge yes chant but instead will probably be Cena and Hogan in the ring posing after clearing house of Duck Wyatt Dynasty

Mr.Nice Guy

gnfnrhead wrote: »

It made sense for Bryan to win the Rumble and we all know what happened there.

Bryan wont go over all three of them in the one night. Last night was pretty definitive in what they have planned. Bryan was nowhere close to Orton/Batista and made no mention of it when he challenged Triple H.

Well they referenced the fans turning on Batista which is usually a sign that a guy is about to turn. I expect a Batista turn in the near future if they haven't lost their senses.

That means someone has to be placed into the match and while they didn't tease anything yet, Bryan seems the only logical candidate.

Do you expect them to go with Orton and Batista as the title match? I just can't see it.

Bandana boy

Jester252 wrote: »

So the Rock is now black?

? now, then, always

gnfnrhead

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Well they referenced the fans turning on Batista which is usually a sign that a guy is about to turn. I expect a Batista turn in the near future if they haven't lost their senses.

That means someone has to be placed into the match and while they didn't tease anything yet, Bryan seems the only logical candidate.

Do you expect them to go with Orton and Batista as the title match? I just can't see it.

Orton was acting very babyface-ish during his promo. Looks like a double turn.

JP Liz V1

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Orton was acting very babyface-ish during his promo. Looks like a double turn.

Even if they both turn, it still don't make the match interesting and more appealing

JP Liz V1

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Even if they both turn, it still don't make the match interesting and more appealing

Completely agree. Orton was getting the boring chants etc even as a face.

DM_7

Impressed with the Cesaro v Big E match

Could only be better if it was two Japanese lads :-p

I think Bray Wyatt should just call himself Bane Wyatt, really hamming up the Bane stuff as each week passes.

Have only got as far as Bryan match so far and was good show so far.

Manning3000

Cesaro v Big E was very enjoyable, Cesaro's strength is scary


Also isn't cena from Boston, why the hell does he have a Southern American accent. Baffeled

GTR63

Bandana boy wrote: »

? now, then, always

Is it not Now, Then, Forever

Professional Griefer

Then, Now, Forever.

GTR63

Professional Griefer wrote: »

Then, Now, Forever.

Damn rovert and them gifs.
I remember the Cena-Win-lol & Bury-Daniel-Bryan ones but not the actual one.

SureYWouldntYa

I reeeehhhheeallllyyyy dont want to see Bryan win the title at Extreme Rules.

Be like orgasming after the hooker has left. It's still good but.......

A Primal Nut

SlickRic wrote: »

make no mistake about it, making the title match Orton v Batista is a solid "fúck you" to the fans.

Totally agree. Michael Cole, the face commentator, even admitted it; "Batista is in the main event whether you people like it or not". No doubt he was prompted by HHH/Vince.

It's funny when I hear rumours that they are concerned about Punk chants in Chicago, which will be forgotten about a few weeks later. Yet they don't care that the crowd are going to take a massive dump over the main event one of one of the most important PPVs they will ever do, and also in every show which contains segments to promote that match.

Their priorities always seem to be misplaced.

A Primal Nut

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

After being all over thw PPV, where was #BnB tonight?

I actually like the Bad News idea, a simple way to get heat. But how they are actually carrying out that idea is strange. It doesn't seem to be going anywhere and I don't think he's wrestled for a while.

gnfnrhead wrote: »

They kinda made it pointless by then showing it anyway later on in the show.

Well, that was just a replay - most people want to see it live. In the same way, people aren't going to stop watching RAW because the main parts are replayed on Smackdown (not sure if they still are, haven't watched Smackdown in years). Also by replaying it on Raw, they are saying "this is what you missed by not buying the network or by not watching the preshow."

Deleted User wrote: »

Something has to be changed with the Emma gimmick. Don't think think it would be too bad if she just did the dance when she got into the ring or after the match but it looks stupid doing it the whole way down to the ring, before the match in the ring, during the match and after the match.

I don't watch NXT, so when I see Emma coming out all I think is "she's pretty hot, but why is she dancing like a retard". Listening to Meltzer on f4wonline radio, he was explaining that this is something that started small and took off with NXT fans and grew over time so it made sense and there was a story behind it. I was thinking "ah right, maybe that explains it" although I still can't get my head around it. Anyway he was saying that to suddenly bring that in front of millions of fans who don't know the back story makes her look stupid, which is pretty much exactly how I feel about her.

Vision of Disorder

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Am I the only person not interested in Taker Vs. Lesnar at Mania

I came searching for this thread to echo those very sentiments. Two part-timers in a match that has a nailed on result before the bell rings. Zero suspense. Nothing to get excited about at all.

CastorTroy wrote: »

I agree as someone said that Emma doing the Emma the whole way to the ring looks kinda stupid.

Emma is grand (though I have been watching Nxt so I suppose I was kinda prepared for her) but she always looks kinda like a drunk sorority girl throwing sloppy fascist salutes to me as she meanders to the ring. Puts a sinister spin on the whole Emmalution thing (and a potentially outstanding heel turn in place for down the line).

gnfnrhead

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

I reeeehhhheeallllyyyy dont want to see Bryan win the title at Extreme Rules.

Be like orgasming after the hooker has left. It's still good but.......

My fear is the fact that it is incredibly hard to see Batista not having a title reign. Meaning, if Bryan wins at Wrestlemania it will quickly be dropped to Batista. I'd rather the other way around. Batista wins, gets shit on, Bryan comes to the rescue at Extreme Rules which in recent years has been what Wrestlemania should have been.

It would also likely mean he gets a long title reign for a change. During the summer is when WWE are willing to let the full timers have the spotlight. Batista has a movie to promote so wont be around for that long after Wrestlemania. Lesnar likely wont be seen again until towards Summerslam. Undertaker wont be around. Triple H wont be wrestling. Punk may not be around. That leaves Bryan, Cena and Orton to carry the show. Bryan is the obvious choice there.

Wrestlemania: Batista wins, Bryan beats Triple H to become number one contender.
Extreme Rules: Bryan beats heel Batista
Payback: Bryan wins the rematch
MITB: Bryan retains against Orton or Cena, or both. Batista has his last match against someone else as Guardians is out soon so he will be off to promote it.
Battleground: Bryan retains against someone like Cesaro
Summerslam: Bryan retains against Lesnar
Night of Champions: Bryan retains against someone like Cena
Hell in a Cell: Bryan drops the title after a long-ish title reign
Survivor Series: Bryan loses the rematch due to outside help
TLC: Bryan beats outside help
Royal Rumble: Bryan wins the Rumble and main events Wrestlemania where he can regain the title as he is now a proven main eventer, potentially leading to an even longer title reign this time around.

They cant possibly hold off on giving him the title for another whole year, while another short reign would be a disaster. He is already a 2 time WWE Champion and both title reigns are two of the shortest ever.

A Primal Nut

Hmm I wouldn't want to keep the title on him too long or he'll lose his underdog status. A bit like how Austin never held the belt for more than a couple of months.

I guess it depends on how things are going after a couple of months, if interest in him is sustained or not.

gnfnrhead

A Primal Nut wrote: »

Hmm I wouldn't want to keep the title on him too long or he'll lose his underdog status. A bit like how Austin never held the belt for more than a couple of months.

I guess it depends on how things are going after a couple of months, if interest in him is sustained or not.

The underdog has a certain lifespan. Eventually you have to move on or it will quickly become stale. Look at Mysterio. He's always been the underdog and now nobody cares.

rossie1977

extreme rules will be orton vs batista rematch whatever happens at mania.

Ridley

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Orton and Batista is a train wreck waiting to happen. They have to insert somebody into the match to save it because we're looking at a Goldberg/Lesnar WM20 situation if they don't. I've no doubt the match will be hijacked even if it's put on at the start of the show.

I still reckon Bryan will close off Mania by winning the title. There's a few options they can do.

1) They make a stip in the HHH/Bryan match that if Bryan wins then he will be allowed compete in the main event later on. The downside of this is that everyone will expect Bryan to win the match with this stip in place, but I think most people expect Bryan to win it anyway.

With a bit of creativity, perhaps adding in HBK as special ref, as they did with the Taker/HHH match a few years back, that could suffice; and tease that Michaels is going to screw Bryan again only for the opposite to happen.

2) Bryan beats HHH and in the course of the match there are a few run ins. Vince being one of them. Hunter accidentally nails Vince and afterwards a pissed off Vince, angry at being laid out and angry than Hunter let the family down, inserts Bryan into the main event.

3) Bryan beats HHH. After the match we have a segment with Hogan and Vince in the ring where Hogan appeals to Vince to allow Bryan compete in the main event later on. Vince agrees. Easy enough situation.

I quite like option 3 as it has the guy who closed off the first Mania putting over a guy who closes out Mania 30.

There's probably a few other ways that could work well too. Mania should end with Bryan winning the title though. This is the moment to do it.

I'd have Triple H making a vague, sarcastic promise to Bryan that if he could beat him, Bryan would get a proper one on one match with the champion in the future. Ostensibly making him #1 contender, after Bryan beats HHH, the COO gets knocked out/called away/whatever and someone like Brad Maddox or Vickie Guerrero gives Bryan the shot right after a surprise victory for Orton against Batista. Cue Flight of the Valkyries. Then you have two guys facing each other who have already been worn down earlier in the night. (Or maybe a relatively fresher Orton after a cheap win.)

Hunter can flip his shizzle on Raw.

----

Not keen on Taker vs Lesnar but for a ten minute build I liked what They did with it to set the match up.

colmufc

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Wow. As J.R. would say that was bowling shoe ugly.

As ugly as this

beakerjoe

Ridley wrote: »

I'd have Triple H making a vague, sarcastic promise to Bryan that if he could beat him, Bryan would get a proper one on one match with the champion in the future. Ostensibly making him #1 contender, after Bryan beats HHH, the COO gets knocked out/called away/whatever and someone like Brad Maddox or Vickie Guerrero gives Bryan the shot right after a surprise victory for Orton against Batista. Cue Flight of the Valkyries. Then you have two guys facing each other who have already been worn down earlier in the night. (Or maybe a relatively fresher Orton after a cheap win.)

Hunter can flip his shizzle on Raw.

Something like this could work but its unlikely.

HUnter makes that sarcastic promise. Bryan wins and Hunter is taken to hospital and Steph goes with him. Bryan demands his title shot from Vicki/Maddox, both are unsure of what to do when the host Hulk Hogan strolls in and says "Your in the match Brother".