RAW 8-6-2015

Lithium93_

Who deserves to hold the WWE World Heavyweight Championship? Well, the situation’s a bit murky right now, with The Lunatic Fringe — having had his victory at WWE Elimination Chamber taken away from him — stealing the title and demanding a Ladder Match at Money in the Bank. Ambrose got what he wanted, but he’s in no hurry to return The Architect’s property. Before the high-stakes battle between these former Shield “brothers,” will Rollins exact vengeance against his unstable foe? If so, will he do it alone and without the aid of The Authority?

I. Can Rollins be ‘The Future of WWE’ on his own?

II. How will John Cena respond to Kevin Owens?

III. What’s next for Dolph Ziggler and Lana?

IV. How will Paige begin to ‘change’ the Divas division?

V. Will Kane be laughing all the way to the ‘Bank’?

paulie21

VI. Will Big Show turn Face and back to Heel in the same show? Tune in to find out

Virtanen

VII. Are we really sticking with The Architect as a nickname for Rollins?

Mr.Nice Guy

VIII. Will King Barrett get a win over somebody?

Mr. Guappa

IX. Roman Numerals will just confuse the WWE Universe. Best to use symbols like a Play Button or Star instead.

Moneymaker

X. How many matches will Kane interfere in tonight? If it's more then this roman numeral, you win a prize!

the groutch

here comes shouty Cena.

Moneymaker

Yay its not an Authority promo.

Strongbow10

The crowd should stop with the Cena sucks nonsense aswell, dead air makes more of a statement.

After 10 years he is still explaining how its all cool that everyone isn't cheering him

RollieFingers

Moneymaker wrote: »

Yay its not an Authority promo.

Indeed, a refreshing start to Raw for a change!

ricero

Jasus **** Neville vs Owens.

JOHN CENA IS JOINING THE LADS ON COMMENTARY !

Stereomaniac

This has been pretty enjoyable for me so far. It's good to see Kevin Owens defending the championship. I'm really looking forward to the rematch on Sunday and I'm finding Cena likeable!

Rjd2

Owens needs better music, its very generic his current yoke.

J. Marston

I know Cena needs to sell the match but he could try not to sound so business-like when doing so.

Mr.Nice Guy

I thought that was the best opening half-hour of Raw in a long time.

Stereomaniac

Kevin Owens was great there. It feels like an event whenever he's in the ring since he's arrived.

J. Marston

I fecking love Truth.

the groutch

Truth should have said it's a conspiracy.

Mr.Nice Guy

I would rather listen to ten minutes of an Alan Carr comedy set than listen to Dolph Ziggler's material.

the groutch

are we going to get that stupid thing of 7 guys fighting over a ladder for no reason?

Rjd2

the groutch wrote: »

are we going to get that stupid thing of 7 guys fighting over a ladder for no reason?

It will be worth it if Truth interferes.

Professional Griefer

I only noticed recently that Joey never talks :pac:

booo

Stereomaniac

I picked up on it a while back. It was pretty funny when he was about to talk a few weeks back.

Mr.Nice Guy

Looking at some of those Tough Enough contestants...does the Wellness Test not apply for them?

That brunette lady - (Gabi was it?) she looks stunning.

RollieFingers

The Big Guy!

Mr.Nice Guy

I've warmed to Ryback a lot lately.

Mr.Nice Guy

I smell a match with Harper and Rowan vs the Dudley Boyz on the horizon.

Stereomaniac

I hope so. I really thought we'd have seen Buh Buh Ray back on television by now. It'd be cool.

Lord TSC

Thought it was a grand episode of Raw, but unspectacular.

Bellas seem to be heels again. I think. Cause Paige seems to just be whiney so its not as if she's a great face.

Cena/Owens worked far better this week than last, as Owens actually got to talk back to Cena, rather than be lectured.

Its so obvious Reigns is winning the briefcase.

Truth's moment was actually brilliant.

Joey Mercury pinned the WWE Champion in 2015. Guess we know who the Jannetty is of MNM :P

the groutch

not saying much when R-Truth was the best part of the show.

Stereomaniac

I thought J & J Security, The New Day, Kevin Owens and Sheamus vs. Randy Orton were decent.

Machismo Fan

It's sad (but not unexpected) that Rollins first reign as champ has come to this.

Cheese Wagstaff

the groutch wrote: »

not saying much when R-Truth was the best part of the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oggcnIKZ9Po

The fallout interview is arguably even better.

"Whatcha goin' do now?!?"

Outstanding.

Stereomaniac

I rarely ever sign into Facebook, but for some reason was logged in and looking at it during an ad break on the show last night. When I saw the video of R-Truth with the ladder, I laughed out loud to the point where I had to hop outside for a cigarette to be quiet.

Moneymaker

Machismo Fan wrote: »

It's sad (but not unexpected) that Rollins first reign as champ has come to this.

Come to what?

Rollins entire character is that of a spoiled, entitled brat who sold out before he was ready. He has NEVER been built as a strong dominant heel. He has never won anything on his own. He's cheated, someone has bailed him out or he has outsmarted his opponent or taken advantage of a situation. He is massively insecure because he knows deep down he can't do it alone right now. That is the entire Seth Rollins heel character. Strong dominant heels go one of two ways, they become badasses and turn babyface(Brock), or they make you turn off the TV(think HHH in 2003).

You build him up, you knock him down and he loses everything. His supporters, his title, this summer he's going to lose it all.

His redemption is turning baby face and proving he can do it by himself and he is the guy.

If Rollins isnt a babyface by this time next year i'd be amazed. It's the natural course for what is the best written character in WWE in a very long time.

Machismo Fan

Moneymaker wrote: »

Come to what?

You're giving WWE WAY too much credit. He's nothing but a terribly booked chickensh*t heel champion with absolutely no credibility whose title reign has devalued the title to the number 2 title in the company. He's a joke and he's supposed to be Word champion and I'm sick of every heel champion being booked like this because it never gets anybody over. The title reign will have done absolutely nothing for him. He's been more prominent but don't mistake that for him being better off.

I'll come back to you in a years time and eat my hat if Seth Rollins is the new star of this generation but I guarantee that isn't going to happen.

Moneymaker

Machismo Fan wrote: »

You're giving WWE WAY too much credit. He's nothing but a terribly booked chickensh*t heel champion with absolutely no credibility whose title reign has devalued the title to the number 2 title in the company. He's a joke and he's supposed to be Word champion and I'm sick of every heel champion being booked like this because it never gets anybody over. The title reign will have done absolutely nothing for him. He's been more prominent but don't mistake that for him being better off.

I'll come back to you in a years time and eat my hat if Seth Rollins is the new star of this generation but I guarantee that isn't going to happen.

Well Rollins is hugely over. He gets more heat then any other heel. Fans hate him and want to see him get humiliated. That's a successful heel.

He's a joke but that's the character. He's had everything handed to him and he never wins a fair fight. How many villains in every form of entertainment can you think of that are like that? It's a standard formula but it works.

Brock was a pretty good heel champion. Yeah Sheamus and Miz were failures but they were never main event level to begin with. Batista was a good heel champion too imo.

Heels aren't supposed to go over everyone on the roster, at least not for a length of time. As great as Kevin Owens is right now, fans will get sick of him if he just mows down everyone with no comeuppance of payoff like HHH in 2003 or the NWO in 98-99 when everyone got sick to death of them going over every time.

Rollins won't be THE guy. But I promise you he'll have a great run and win multiple world titles. He's too talented not to.

Machismo Fan

He'll have Chris Jericho title runs.

DM_7

Rollins is more Edge than Jericho.

I am conflicted with his booking, the idea that he got ahead of himself, took an easy route, is selfish, over confident but has skill, ability are all good.

But the way he is made to look an idiot does damage his credibility a lot and make it harder to sell a match to see him v a credible opponent.

He could be more like a Mayweather where you know he is really good but highly dislikable. A better example might be McGregor. unlikable, has skills but not proven, has the machine behind him.

Rollins looks like a complete dope far too often imo.

Agent Coulson

R-Truth is my new hero

CastorTroy

I was sure Truth was in that match as well. Think just had it in my head that a lot of the guys from the IC chamber match were in it. And it was done so well that it seemed like it wasn't a planned bit.

Just realised when Rollins was backstage setting up the J&J match that I don't remember Joey being so short in MNM.

Maybe I missed it, but why did Ambrose have to buy a ticket? Imagine if every fan got their song of choice played when coming into the arena. And apparently you can just set up a seat wherever you want.

Also for some reason, that Chelsea Green Tough Enough contestant looked familiar. After googling it turns out she was Bryan's Physio or something. Think was who he supposedly cheated on Brie with

Cheese Wagstaff

I wonder will Randy have gotten a telling off for essentially Curb Stomping Sheamus? It may not be the move to the letter, but it's very close to how the original was performed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F_S13EMoXE

Around the 2:33 mark for anybody that's interested.

Stereomaniac

Is Randy Orton not still above the law backstage? They should just have him bring back in the Punt Kick whenever he's in these brawls outside of the confines of a match. For all the things they've banned, some characters are really not the same as they used to be, Orton, Rollins.

Mr.Nice Guy

With regards the Rollins debate, I agree with Machismo Fan. I've been very disappointed with the reign of Rollins and I don't think it's the chap's fault; it's the way they have booked him.

He has been made to look like a complete geek by HHH and Stephanie on multiple occasion who have make him the butt of their jokes, and if that's not bad enough he has been saddled with two comedy guys as his henchmen for months now. Hopefully that is now over.

Geeks and jokes will never be treated as stars. I thought he had a standout performance in the triple threat match at the start of the year, holding his own against Lesnar and Cena. At Mania he had another strong match with Orton despite losing and was left standing tall by the end of the show. Since then he has dropped in stock big time. His match quality is fine - in fact it's very good and he's one of the best in the company - but the presentation of his character is woeful.

The guy is supposed to be the future of the industry in what is the McMahon/Helmsley regime 2.0. So why is it that Rollins is presented much weaker than Triple H when Triple H himself led the original McMahon/Helmsley regime 15 years ago? Triple H back then was a chicken sh*t heel 90% of the time, relying on D-X and Steph and Vince etc. to win him matches. But there were also times when his back was against the wall that he actually stood up for himself too, particularly against The Rock.

It doesn't have to be an either/or situation: either you are a monster heel mowing through guys, or a complete windy bag like The Miz who needed help to win matches. There can be a middle ground where you cheat, and take every easy option imaginable, but when there is no other option left but to fight - then you fight.

They have made him look a weak champion and I don't think it's getting him strong heat. In fact, I think it's making main events less special. It's all the more baffling if the plan is for Lesnar vs Rollins at Summerslam because whereas that match may have seemed special following Rollins' Rumble performance, now it's got the feel of a main eventer vs a mid-card guy, with Rollins's only hope being via outside interference.

Ridley

Rollins is supposed to be a tool of The Authority. He's only the future of the company so long as he's being what the Helmsley and McMahon want him to be.

His title reign is the antithesis of uncontrollable, dominant, absent Brock Lesnar.

Stereomaniac

Seth Rollins should drop the title on Sunday I think. I'd rather see Dean Ambrose carry it for a while. He's the one who has lay there waiting for the chance since The Shield broke up.

Lithium93_

Bank on Rollins, pardon to pun to legitimately take back his title from Ambrose on Sunday

Stereomaniac

I'd imagine they're going to use Dean Ambrose to legitimise Seth Rollins. I'd rather they didn't.

Cheese Wagstaff

Stereomaniac wrote: »

I'd imagine they're going to use Dean Ambrose to legitimise Seth Rollins. I'd rather they didn't.

I'm glad they are to be honest. There isn't really any depth to Ambrose, I'd liken him to the child who tries to burn insects with a magnifying glass. Perhaps it's the way he is being booked, but I need to see more from him rather than just snarling all of his words and rebounding off the second rope every 5 minutes (his promo at EC was really good however). Every little thing he does is justified with this crazy look (where the eyes widen and the tongue lolls out), as if this is supposed to vindicate him? I'm not convinced now, when I used to be before.

Rollins is far more nuanced, and he is deserving of a win to legitimise a title run that hasn't been befitting of his talent. The Wrestlemania cash-in was arguably the greatest WWE moment of this decade, so it's time to build on that with victories when they really matter.

My own opinion is that Rollins will win, for the simple fact that Ambrose has been holding the title and running around with something that isn't his for the past two weeks. It's far too poetic for him to ultimately not be able to legitimately get it when it matters, the hard luck story. It would also be suicide for them to let their main heel not get any retribution after being messed around for two weeks. I can't see it happening, unless they are planning on turning him immediately after, as a sympathetic figure. The return of Brock suggests that will not happen for a while.

JP Liz V1

Stereomaniac wrote: »

I'd imagine they're going to use Dean Ambrose to legitimise Seth Rollins. I'd rather they didn't.

I think Rollins needs a clean win going into a SS title match with Lesnar

CastorTroy

Dunno if it has been said, but Rollins reminds me of Magnus in TNA when he was champ. Think his first match without any outside interference was his last as champion