Judging from the limited “information” WWE issued for tonight’s Raw, we’re in full on coast mode into Battleground. Will they address the Reigns suspension tonight? Unlikely. Will Sasha Banks challenge Charlotte for the title? Maybe. Will we get any more information on the upcoming draft? Hopefully. WWE is in Florida tonight so perhaps we’ll get a NXT related surprise, but I doubt it. Three hours aren’t going to watch themselves so let’s get to the recap.
WWE Raw 06/27/16 Recap
WWE. Then. Now. Forever. It’s a “cold open on the crowd with Michael Cole welcoming us to Raw” kind of night. We’re live in Tampa and Seth Rollins’ music hits first. Rollins is out to a nice pop and the Raw and SmackDown lecterns are pushed off to the far side of the stage tonight. Bryon and Cole hype the Triple Threat so I suppose that is still on for Battleground. Seth starts to cut a standard promo putting over the Shield triple threat. He then pauses and says “let’s talk about Roman Reigns”. Seth says he’s not supposed to talk about it, but he’s got a live mic so why not. Seth turns Roman’s suspension around by saying it “soiled” Seth’s name due to him being the one that invited Roman into the Shield. Odd logic, but okay. Seth then has Roman’s apology tweet put up on the screen. Uh, so is the suspension a work? Are they doing a worked shoot? I’m not really sure what WWE is doing here. Seth then psychoanalyzes the tweet and ends by saying Roman may own the suspension, but he owns Roman. This gets him cheers because the crowd is even more against Roman now. Seth then starts campaigning to have Roman removed from the Triple Threat match. This brings out Ambrose.
Dean comes out and mocks Rollins with the title belt. Dean is “wacky Dean” and makes a joke about Seth wearing skinny jeans. Dean isn’t worried about Roman and wants the Triple Threat match to continue as planned. This brings out AJ Styles.
AJ wants himself inserted into the match to replace Roman. The crowd seems to enjoy this possibility. AJ puts himself over for beating Cena in the “dream match”. Dean says he doesn’t make the decisions, but as far he knows Roman is still in the match. AJ then suggests a Fatal Four Way match instead. Dean is cool with it, but Rollins wants a one on one match with Ambrose. This brings out John Cena.
Cena comes out and puts over Dean as a fighting champion. Cena mentions he’s a fifteen time champion (boos) and today is his “WWE birthday” (mostly cheers). Cena then demands a “Fatal Five Way” at Battleground. So, Jericho interrupts next? Seth immediately starts freaking out. This brings out Stephanie McMahon.
Stephanie calls Roman’s suspension an embarrassment, but that Dean as champ is even more embarrassing. Stephanie mentions that Shane isn’t here tonight so she’ll have to take matters into her own hands. Stephanie says she likes the idea of the “Fatal Five Way” (ugh) and makes Cena vs. Rollins and Styles vs. Ambrose. If Cena and Styles win their matches, they’re in the title match at Battleground. Someone is holding up a sign that says “Ashley Lynn Lied and Destroyed the Family”. Damn, that’s harsh.
Meanwhile, Dana Brooke and Charlotte are walking. And Sasha Banks and Paige are also walking.
Back from break, Paige and Sasha Banks make their entrances. Dana and Charlotte then enter together. We then see Chekhov’s Spanish Announce Table and Cole calls the Spanish announce team “dapper”.
Match #1: Sasha Banks & Paige vs. Charlotte & Dana Brooke
What an interesting match. It’s your standard face / heel tag match, but the crowd is super hot for it. Paige plays the baby in peril for most of the match, but finally breaks away. Sasha gets the hot tag and goes nuts on Dana. Sasha goes for a pin and is dragged out of the ring by Charlotte. Sasha dodges a clothesline and Charlotte eats a kick from Paige. Sasha then hits the Backstabber and puts Dana in the Banks Statement. Dana taps immediately. While this did run through a commercial break, it wasn’t very long but was still super effective.
Verdict: Thumbs Up – A solid tag match that gave the crowd a chance to be excited about a women’s match on Raw for the first time in months.
Post-match, Sasha tosses Dana out of the ring like she’s getting rid of a bag of garbage.
Next, the announcers let us know that Raw is airing live for the first time ever in China tonight. Where’s the Chinese announce table and who will be the first guy to get put through it? The announcers then show us footage of Titus O’Neil destroying Rusev last week. Maybe this match actually happens this time? We’ll find out next!
Back from break, Lana is in the ring and introduces Rusev. During Rusev’s entrance we see the MITB footage of Rusev mocking Titus’ kids. Halfway through Titus’ entrance the crowd pops huge for something. Before the match can even start, Titus attacks Rusev again.
Match #2: Titus O’Neil vs. Rusev (w/ Lana)
Nice booking decision in this incredibly stiff match. Instead of having Rusev go over yet again to build no drama for their presumed PPV match, WWE give O’Neil the win here. Rusev tries to bail on the match when Titus gets the upper hand. They then double clothesline each other, but Titus is able to dump Rusev into the timekeeper’s area and beat the ten count.
Verdict: Thumbs Up – I’m not sure why, but I’m enjoying this feud and I like that they had Rusev take the protected loss here.
Back from break, Stephanie is backstage on the phone. She runs into DOO Kane who just wants a minute of her time. He really wants to run SmackDown and Stephanie again claims she’s going to be sole show runner for SmackDown. Meanwhile, The Miz and Maryse approach in the background. I guess the Marine 5 finally wrapped. Thank god. Miz and Maryse start complaining about the welcome back that they’ve received. Man, I hope he loses the IC title tonight for not defending it at MITB. Kane then puts over his own movie that is now available. This offends The Miz. Kane then brings up the damn “must defend the title within 30 days” thing I’ve been harping about for the last few weeks. THANK YOU, KANE. Kane suggests an IC title match tonight and Stephanie agrees. The Miz wants to know who his opponent will be, but Stephanie says that will be a “cliffhanger”. Man, if Stallone shows up and becomes the IC champ, I’m going to pop so huge.
Back from break, Rollins is out. Cena is out next to a weirdly mixed reaction – more cheers than he usually gets.
Match #3: John Cena vs. Seth Rollins (If Cena Wins He Goes to the Battleground Main Event)
Damn. This was a really good match. In fact, I think it is the closest we’ve had to a “PPV quality” match on Raw so far this year. The match is booked even, as would be expected, so the main question here is how they have Cena lose without taking a clean loss. The “Fatal Five Way” thing just sounds like a plot device to keep the “water treading” until Battleground interesting. They opted for the Club coming out and distracting Cena long enough for Rollins to hit him with the Pedigree. I’ll accept it. I would have preferred the more edgy version though. How about the Club coming out and just randomly attacking Rollins. Seth would then win by DQ and Cena doesn’t go to the Battleground main event. You follow this up with a backstage segment where a hot Rollins confronts the Club, but they explain how he actually benefitted from it. Sounds like the kind of sleazy tactics that Rollins would appreciate.
Verdict: Thumbs Up – The in ring work on this Raw episode has been great so far.
Back from break, it’s Enzo and Big Cass. We’re in Florida so two “local talents” are already in the ring. Last time these were NXT guys that they gave fake names to. Since this is going to be a by the numbers squash match, Enzo encourages the crowd to do “the wave” during the match.
Match #4: Enzo & Cass vs. Carlos Toche (?) & Mitch Waldy (?)
This match lasts thirty seconds. I don’t even need to bother typing out what happened.
Verdict: Thumbs Down – So much for that run of awesome matches on this show.
Post-“match”, Cass starts to cut the “sawft” promo and they’re interrupted by the returning Social Outcasts. Bo Dallas says they’re not “sawft” and then they spell out that they’re “hard”. Yikes. Axel calls Enzo and Cass “softies” and says they’re some “real hard OGs”. Cass wants to know which one of them is the hardest. Bo immediately answers that he is. They start arguing but Bo sees through Enzo & Cass’ ploy. The Outcast then storm the ring and Slater immediately eats a big boot from Cass. Axel and Dallas back down and Cass cuts the “sawft” promo on them.
Back from break, we see the Backlund / Darren Young vignette from SmackDown.
Next, we see a video package on WWE Superstars training with Special Olympians at the WWE Performance Center.
Back live, Renee Young is on the stage with The Big Show, North American President of the Special Olympics, Marc Edenzon, and several Special Olympians. Wow, it might be the perspective, but one of the Olympians is nearly the same size as the Big Show. That guy is giant!
Back from break, Summer Rae is already in the ring. Natalya is out at guest commentary. My God… did WWE finally decided they can handle two women’s programs at the same time?!?!?! Cole wants to know why Nattie attacked Becky and she throws a Owen Hart quote back at him. Nice. Becky is out next. Wow, I’m shocked WWE decided they could handle Sasha / Charlotte and Becky / Natalya going on simultaneously. We’re almost back to where we were six months ago. REVOLUTION!
Match #5: Becky Lynch vs. Summer Rae
This match does not happen.
Verdict: No Thumbs – No match.
After entering the ring, Becky immediately slides out and dives onto Natalya at commentary. Becky beats the crap out of Natalya outside the ring while the crowd chants “Becky”. Finally, the ref is able to get between them and holds Becky back. Natalya leaves looking annoyed.
Back from break, it’s Jameis Winston. Next, Jericho is out for the Highlight Reel with guests Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Heel Jericho starts off the segment by saying “quiet” a dozen times and getting the crowd riled up. Jericho introduces Owens first. Jericho introduces Zayn next. Jericho starts stirring the pot on the Zayn / Owens feud, but Sami interrupts him. Sami is here tonight to put an end to their feud. Zayn says neither of their careers will go anywhere until they put an end to the feud. He wants a match at Battleground to settle the feud. Why do I get the feeling these guys are going to be split up in the brand extension anyway? Owens doesn’t respond, so Zayn cuts a promo on him calling him a coward. Zayn then tells Owens to “grow a set”, which the crowd then starts chanting at KO. Owens finally speaks and says everything he’s done to Sami is just business to forward his career. Owens then turns it around and says that Sami has an issue with him because Kev’s success was at Sami’s expense. Owens then agrees to the match at Battleground. Jericho then gets in Sami’s face and cuts a promo on him. Jericho then starts putting himself over, which leads into the “gift of Jericho”. Owens and Zayn don’t “drink it in” and give him stereo superkicks.
Next, we see highlights from the opening promo.
Back from break, The Miz and Maryse are out. The mystery opponent is Dean McCain. Sigh. Oh well.
Match #6: The Miz (w/ Maryse) vs. Dean McCain (WWE Intercontinental Championship match)
Wow, this show just went right down the drain after the Cena / Rollins match. So Kane dominates this match, Maryse fakes falling off the apron, Miz fakes concern and carries her to the back. Miz loses by count out. I mean, this was going to be a stinker either way. Putting the title on Kane is a bad idea. Having Miz sneak away with a garbage victory like this is not quite as bad, but still bad.
Verdict: Thumbs Down – Nope.
Back from break, we learn that Maryse was faking the injury. We’re then sent to Cesaro’s theme. Apparently he’s now saddled in a pointless feud with Alberto Del Rio, and he’s been glued to the equally pointless Crews / Sheamus feud. Cole then claims the leaders of SmackDown and Raw will no longer be called GMs but will be COOs instead. Hey, remember when the League of Nations all beat each other up and ended the faction? Yeah, WWE doesn’t apparently. This match shouldn’t even happen because Del Rio and Sheamus should start brawling.
Match #7: Cesaro & Apollo Crews vs. Sheamus & Alberto del Rio
Well, I’ll give WWE credit… the team of Del Rio and Sheamus did not work out. Del Rio ends up tagging in Sheamus and enziguri-ing him to the outside. This leads to the predictable spinning sit out powerbomb from Crews who gets the win for his team. Cesaro was also in this match.
Verdict: Thumbs In The Middle – If anything this seems to be setting up a Del Rio / Sheamus feud which makes no sense. A great waste of Cesaro this week too.
I was just about to say “we haven’t had many annoying ‘interview segments’ backstage this week” when we’re sent to JoJo who is with Dean Ambrose. Dean cuts a promo saying he’s bummed that he didn’t get a parade with elephants because of permit issues. He then turns the talk to his match later with AJ Styles. Stephanie then appears and cuts a promo on Dean, reiterating how upset she is that he’s champ.
Back from break, we learn that Dean will be on Miz TV on this week’s SmackDown.
Next, we get the Wyatt Family sound effect, we’re sent to the smoky room, and… it’s the New Day doing Wyatt Family cosplay. Kofi is Rowan, Woods is Harper, and Big E is Bray? The New Day then come out in the Wyatt costume and cut a promo mocking the Wyatts. The Wyatt Family video stinger then hits. The Family is out and Bray starts out by mocking the New Day. Bray continues by saying that the New Day tells the people what they want to hear. Bray is here to tell us what we need to hear. The world is not made up of rainbows and unicorns. Ain’t that the truth. Kofi and Big E try to counter Bray’s promo, but Woods looks freaked out. Bray once again says we’ll be saying “New Day Falls”.
We’re then sent to a shot of The Club hanging out backstage.
Back from break, the New Day are walking but Woods looks less than enthusiastic. Renee Young appears and asks them if it was a good idea to mess with the Wyatts. Kofi thinks it is a great idea, but Xavier Woods just kind of wanders off. The more I think about it, nearly the only way I would be okay with a New Day break up would be if Woods becomes the next Wyatt Family member.
Next, we’re sent to Dean Ambrose’s entrance for the main event. Rollins is out for commentary for the main event. AJ is out next, sans The Club.
Match #8: Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles
This is essentially the same match as the Cena / Rollins one from earlier but not quite as good. They brought out Rollins on commentary as the red herring. I thought it would have been infinitely more interesting if he ended up intervening to help Dean win. Instead, when Dean looks like he has the match wrapped up, The Club are out for the distraction. Dean avoids the pin attempt by AJ and Cena comes out to deal with the Club. AJ then rolls into a Dirty Deeds and Dean gets the clean win over AJ.
Verdict: Thumbs In The Middle – The action was good, but the finish was more than a little cheesy. I think this one suffered from essentially happening during the over run whereas Cena / Rollins was given more time to develop.
Post-match, the Club attack Cena. While Ambrose is distracted, Rollins runs in and gives Dean a Pedigree. The Club continue to beat Cena down and Gallows and Anderson give him Magic Killer on the stage. Back in the ring, Rollins gives Ambrose another Pedigree. We go off the air with The Club and Rollins standing tall.
Well, that show definitely happened. The first hour had some great wrestling, but the final two hours were severely lacking. The whole scenario this episode posited, the Fatal Five / Four Way match, was a non-issue by the end of the night. So, like I predicted, this was all just window dressing to make the four-week water treading until the PPV at least somewhat interesting television.
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