WWE taped Monday’s RAW from Hartford, Connecticut. Credit to Bill Pritchard & WrestleZone.com for this report:
We kick things off with the return of Stephanie McMahon, and she says it’s good to be back but she needs to talk business. She says her husband, HHH, went through two brutal matches at Extreme Rules and on RAW, and eventhough he is medically cleared, she is barring him from competing. Stephanie says she is thinking about her family and business, and this isn’t about the fans, so she hopes they try not to be so selfish. ‘No Chance’ cuts her off and Vince McMahon makes his way out, and he says it seems like the fans are happy to see him. Vince says he doesn’t often do it, but he has a personal request, and he doesn’t want them to boo Stephanie, because she is right and they should have some compassion.
Vince says HHH has given everything, and they care more about him than the fans do, so he will say it again and HHH will not compete here tonight. Vince says they want too much from him, and WWE is entertainment, but it’s not a bloodsport so he needs to address what the fans want. He says Kofi Kingston got put through a table and they chanted ‘one more time,’ but there will be no more for HHH and he thinks Curits Axel is beneath his son-in-law. The Shield cuts them off and makes their way to the ring, and we get back to see Vince and Stephanie have left the ring and we are ready for six man tag action.
Randy Orton & Team Hell No vs The Shield
Bryan repeatedly kicks Ambrose in the corner, then he takes him to the mat and kicks him in the back before Kane tags in and dropkicks him for two. Kane powerslams Ambrose for another near fall, then he sends him into the corner and punches him before whipping him across the ring. Ambrose elbows him and dives for a tag, then Rollins runs in but Kane punches him and throws him in the corner before making a tag. Bryan kicks Rollins a few times before Kane gets back in, and he drops Rollins with a few clotheslines and a sidewalk slam for two. Kane heads up top but Rollins takes Kane out with an enziguiri, then Rollins rolls over and gets a two count as we head to a break. We get back to see Kane fight out of a headlock, then he uppercuts Rollins to try to create some separation but Rollins dropkicks him into the corner and Ambrose tags back in.
Ambrose kicks Kane in the shoulder a few times, then Rollins tries to assist with a double team move but Kane blocks it and suplexes them both. Orton gets the hot tag and he unloads on Rollins with punches and a powerslam, then he sets up for a hanging DDT when Ambrose tries to break it up. Orton kicks him and DDT’s them both, then he gets the crowd all fired up as he calls for a RKO. Reigns distracts him so Orton tries to DDT him, but Rollins kicks him in the back of the head and gets a near fall before tagging out. Ambrose stomps him a few times before putting him in a chinlock, then Orton breaks it and runs towards the ropes but Ambrose knees him in the stomach and gets a two count.
Rollins tags in and stomps him a few times, then he tags Reigns and he punches Orton in the head and puts him in a grounded full nelson. Orton makes it to his feet so Reigns knees him in the kidneys, then Orton drops to one knee before powering himself up and breaking the hold. Orton sends him into the ropes but Reigns reverses it and punches him in the stomach, then Ambrose tags in and stomps Orton’s chest a few times. Ambrose steps on his hands and punches him in the corner, then he whips him to the other side of the ring and watches as Orton falls to the mat. Reigns tags back in and punches Orton in the head, then he applies a side headlock but Orton fights to his feet and counters with a side suplex.
Rollins reaches for a tag and heads up top, but Orton dropkicks him in midair and finally dives for the tag, and Bryan runs in and ducks a clothesline from Ambrose. He dropkicks Reigns off the apron and runs back and dropkicks Ambrose, then he repeatedly kicks Ambrose in the chest before turning and kicking Rollins off the turnbuckles. Bryan kicks Ambrose in the head before superplexing Rollins onto Ambrose, then he hits a suicide dive before running back in and missile dropkicking Ambrose for a two count. Bryan puts him in the NO Lock but Reigns breaks it up, then Kane tries to help him out but Reigns spears him as Orton RKO’s Rollins. Reigns throws Orton into Bryan and knocks him down, then Ambrose grabs Bryan and hits a headlock driver to win the match.
Winners – The Shield
We get from a break to see Team Hell No and Orton arguing in the locker room, and Orton says it could have happened to everyone but Bryan isn’t happy. He says that’s not the apology he wants, then Kane tries to stay out of it but Bryan says Orton won’t apologize because it’s his fault. Kane says Bryan has lost touch with reality but they do respect him, then Bryan says they don’t respect him and he needs to find a new way to do it. Bryan says he will have another match and beat the respect out of someone, and maybe then they will show him the respect he deserves.
HHH is shown entering the arena, and he asks where Vince’s office is and greets Stephanie as he opens the door. HHH says he is wrestling and wants to know what’s going on, then Stephanie says they can’t let him and they talked about this before. Stephanie says they were worried enough about him and Curtis Axel isn’t worth it, then Vince says he was the Cerebral Assassin but he’s not being too smart right now. Vince says Axel is good and HHH was unconscious, then Vince says he isn’t wrestling tonight but HHH asks who will stop him? Vince hands him some papers and says he shouldn’t do something he’ll regret, then he walks out of the office and closes the door.
The Usos vs Prime Time Players
We get back from a break to join the match in progress, and Jey runs into a kick by Titus before Titus hits a backbreaker and throws him across the ring. Young tags in and puts him in a headlock, but Jey tries to push to his corner so Young knees him in the ribs and tags Titus back in. Titus slams him on the mat for a near fall, then he applies a headlock but Jey breaks it with some punches, only to have Titus drop him with a right hand. Jey fights out of another headlock and Titus knees him in the stomach, then he throws him into the corner but Jey ducks a running shoulder tackle. Both men tag out but Jimmy hits a Samoan drop, then Jey prevents Titus from interfering with a thrust kick and Jimmy hits a Superfly splash for the win.
Winners – The Usos
Alberto Del Rio (w/ Ricardo Rodriguez) vs Big E Langston (w/ AJ Lee)
Alberto kicks Langston out of the ring and sets up a suicide dive, but Langston moves out of the way and kicks him in the head before throwing him into the barricade. Langston rolls him back in and gets a near fall, then Alberto fights back with some right hands before heading up top. Langston catches him and hits a few backbreakers, then he gets another two count before choking him on the ropes and kicking him in the stomach. He applies a side headlock but Alberto kicks him to break it, then Langston tackles him in the corner but Alberto comes back with a kick to the ribs.
Langston knocks him down and blocks a suplex, then he counters a Cross Armbreaker attempt but Alberto superkicks him for a two count. Alberto calls for the Cross Armbreaker again and locks it in, but Langston rolls through and deadlifts Alberto up and throws him over the top rope. Alberto continues to lock the hold in until the ref reaches a five count, then Langston tries to hit him but Alberto suplexes him and puts him back in the Cross Armbreaker. Langston rolls again and tries to get up, but Alberto hooks his leg and rolls him up to get the pinfall.
Winner – Alberto Del Rio
Sheamus vs Cody Rhodes (w/ Damien Sandow)
Sheamus punches Cody in the corner and whips him across the ring, then Cody ducks a clothesline but Sheamus turns and drops with a successful clothesline. Cody kicks him into the ropes and attempts to whip him across the ring, but Sheamus blocks it so Cody throws him outside and kicks him in the chest. Cody rolls him in and gets a near fall, then he repeatedly stomps his chest and kicks him in the face for another near fall. Cody applies a front facelock, but Sheamus breaks it with some punches to the kidneys, then he throws Cody across the ring and clotheslines him. Sheamus connects with a kneeelift and a rolling senton, then he hits the Battering Ram and attempts to hit Wihte Noise. Cody counters with a rollup and ducks a Brogue Kick, then he hits a neckbreaker for two before setting up for Cross Rhodes. Sheamus counters and Cody attempts to hit a moonsault, but Sheamus rolls away and hits White Noise and a Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner – Sheamus
HHH is shown packing his luggage into a car, and he says he’s not leaving because Stephanie asked, but it’s because he doesn’t want to beat his children’s grandfather on live TV. He says he will be ready to wrestle Curtis Axel when he gets back, then he slams the car door and takes off as Stephanie calls him Paul and shakes her head. We cut to see Daniel Bryan walking backstage and kicking a table, then he runs into Ryback who tells him to watch what he’s doing. Bryan asks if he’ll put him through a three tables like Kofi Kingston, then Ryback laughs and says he had the flu and had pukes bigger than Bryan. Ryback tells him to shut up and prove himself, but he says Bryan will be the missing link after he’s done with him and walks away.
Vince McMahon is shown talking to Paul Heyman and shaking Curtis Axel’s hand, then he says Axel has potential and a good future, but they won’t see him fight HHH. Vince says it won’t happen next week either, then Heyman says they’ll see him on Smackdown but Vince says Axel fights tonight. Heyman says ‘oh crap, here it comes,’ then Vince says Axel faces John Cena, but it’ll be a no disqualification match. Heyman shakes his head and Vince asks if he needs to say it in yiddish, then he tells Axel to go get ready and wishes him luck tonight.
Fandango (w/ Summer Rae) vs The Great Khali
Khali knocks Fandango on the mat and mocks him with a dance, then he chops Fandango a few times until Fandango fires back with some punches and kicks. Khali kicks him back and drops him with a big boot, then Khali clotheslines him and tries to chop his head so Fandango rolls outside. Fandango tries to leave with Summer Rae but Miz cuts him off, then Wade Barrett appears behind Miz on the stage and drops him with the Bullhammer.
Winner (by countout) – The Great Khali
The Miz vs Wade Barrett
Wade knocks Miz down with a few strikes and chokes him on the ropes, then Miz punches him and pulls the ropes to knock Wade out of the ring. Miz dropkicks him through the ropes and throws him into the barricade, then he rolls him in but Wade throws him on the turnbuckles and kicks him in the head. Miz comes back with a kick to the leg, then he sets up a Figure Four but Wade kicks him back and hits Winds of Change for two. Fandango’s music interrupts the match and Wade gets pissed at Fandango dancing with Summer Rae on the stage, then Wade turns and Miz puts him in the Figure Four and gets him to tap.
Winner – The Miz
Jerry Lawler is in the ring for the contract signing between Chris Jericho and CM Punk’s representative Paul Heyman, then both men come out and King says they just have to sign it. Heyman takes the contract and says they could have just signed this privately, but he’ll feed Jericho’s ego and tell him this to his face. He starts to talk about Punk’s accomplishments but Jericho cuts him off and says he doesn’t give a damn, because all he cares about is Punk showing up at Payback. Heyman smirks and signs the contract, then he slides it to Jericho and tells him he has a question for him. Heyman asks if he’s really ready to face his client in Chicago, because they might cheer him tonight, but Chicago is a biased and they will be behind Punk no matter what. Heyman says Jericho might be the best at what he does, but Punk is the best at making liars out of people who don’t think he’s the best in the world.
Heyman smiles as Jericho says he might be right, so Jericho says maybe they should have the match at Summerslam in Los Angeles, or Madison Square Garden in New York. Heyman says no, so Jericho says they should do it here it Hartford, but Heyman says no and throws the mic on the table. Jericho says he guesses they will fight in Chicago, but it doesn’t matter where you are from because you get treated like a jackass if you are one. Jericho says they need to file the contract now and he has a good idea where to put it, then he tells Heyman to get out of his chair and stand up. He tells Heyman to unbutton his jacket before he rips it off, then he rolls up the contract and puts it in Heyman’s waistband before leaving.
AJ Lee & The Bella Twins vs Kaitlyn & The Funkadactyls
AJ slaps Kaitlyn and taunts her, then Kaitlyn grabs her by the hair but AJ breaks away and tags out. Kaitlyn tags in Naomi, and she drops Nikki and splashes her, then Nikki ducks a crossbody and slams her head on the mat. Nikki taunts her opponents on the aporn before tagging Brie in, then she stomps Naomi from the middle rope before kicking her in the face. Nikki pulls her hair and puts her in an armbar, but Naomi punches her in the stomach to break it and follows with a kick to the face. Kaitlyn tags in and knocks Brie down with a clothesline, then she hits a DDT for two before throwing her into Nikki on the apron and setting up for the finish. Nikki counters with a knockdown and reaches for a tag, but AJ leaves her high and dry and leaves as Kaitlyn hits a spear for the win.
Winners – Kaitlyn & The Funkadactyls
Daniel Bryan is preparing for his next match when Kane walks in, and he says he needs to go but Kane tells him he is crazy for doing this. Kane says he already fought tonight and Ryback is an animal, and he doesn’t need Bryan to prove himself because he has more heart than most guys he’s ever seen. Bryan says he is going to do this without Kane, then Kane asks what he means and Bryan tells him to stay far away from him. Kane says he’s done and he’s leaving, then he tells Bryan to call him when he finds his mind because he’s obviously lost it.
Daniel Bryan vs Ryaback
Bryan repeatedly kicks Ryback in the legs but Ryback shoves him in the corner, then he tries to hit him but Bryan drop toe holds him into the corner and kicks him again. He goes back to kicking him in the legs but Ryback drops him with a strike, then he tries to splash Bryan but Bryan gets his knees up. Bryan hits him a few more times but Ryback tosses him in the corner and knees him a few times, then he steps on Bryan’s head and knees him in between the shoulders. Ryback sends him into the ropes and takes him down with a Thesz press, but Bryan rolls through and puts him in a single leg Boston crab.
Ryback breaks it so Bryan repeatedly elbows him in the face, then he backs him into the corner and kicks him in the chest. Ryback sends him across the ring but Bryan runs the turnbuckles and tries to strike back, but Ryback counters it and throws Bryan out of the ring as we go to a break. We get back to see Ryback slam Bryan on the mat for a two count, then he stomps Bryan in the corner before he taunts him and elbows him in the chest. Ryback puts him in a side headlock but Bryan wills himself to his feet, then he breaks it with some elbows and hits the ropes, only to get taken down with a running elbow.
Ryback kicks him a few times and throws him across the ring, then he runs and tries to spear him but Bryan dives away and Ryback hits the ringpost. Bryan dropkicks Ryback into the turnbuckles and follows with a second, then a third for a near fall before hitting a top rope missile dropkick. Bryan fires the crowd up and goes back up top, then he hits a diving headbutt (almost coast-to-coast) for two before kicking Ryback in the chest. Ryback ducks one and powerbombs Bryan, then he tries to powerbomb him again but Bryan counters by grabbing his arm and putting him in the NO Lock.
Bryan fights to get him to tap but Ryback finally makes it to the ropes to break it, then he rolls outside to regain his composure as the ref tells him to get back in. Bryan hits the ropes and goes for a suicide dive, but Ryback sidesteps him and throws him headfirst into the broadcast table. Ryback picks him back up and throws him into the ringpost a few times, then he rolls him in the ring and stares at him before going back out for a table. Ryback sets the table up in the ring and powerbombs Bryan through it, then the ref calls for the bell but Ryback just goes for another table. He sets it up and leans it against the barricade, but John Cena runs out and makes the save, and Ryback teases getting in the ring with him before heading to the back.
Winner (by disqualification) – Daniel Bryan
No Disqualification Match
John Cena vs Curtis Axel (w/ Paul Heyman)
Cena goes right for a bulldog off the ropes but Heyman trips him, then Axel sends him outside and hits a shoulder tackle off the apron before rolling him outside. Axel kicks him a few times before Cena punches him back, then he hits the ropes but Axel hits a side slam for a near fall. Axel calls for a chair and Heyman slides it in the ring, then he swings at Cena but Cena blocks it and hits him in the back before throwing him outside. Cena throws him into the broadcast table, then he takes the table apart before noticing the ref’s count, so he rolls Axel back in the ring. Axel comes back with a strike and tries to swing at Cena, but Cena ducks then they have a standoff with Axel holding the chair.
Cena ducks another strike and dropkicks him for a near fall, then Cena grabs the chair and wedges it in the corner but Axel clotheslines him and gets a two count. Axel punches him in the head and taunts Cena, then he puts him in an extended armbar but Cena powers out so Axel kicks him in the ribs. Axel kicks him in the corner and stomps on his head, then he sends him into the corner but Cena fights back with some right hands. Cena shoulder tackles him and hits a sitout side slam, then Cena hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle and sets up the Attitude Adjustment, only to have Axel float over. Axel retreats into the corner and Cena tries to spear him, but Axel dives away and Cena hits the chair (wedged in the corner) before falling out of the ring.
Axel hits him a few times before getting the chair, then he hits Cena in the back with it and gets a two count before hitting him in the back again. Axel repeatedly hits Cena with the chair before laying it on the mat, then he hits a swinging neckbreaker on the chair but Cena narrowly kicks out at two. Axel sets up a Perfect Plex but Cena counters with a STF, then Heyman runs over and hands Axel a tablet computer. Axel hits Cena in the head with it to break the hold, then they roll outside and Cena sets up an Attitude Adjustment through the table. Heyman gets in the way so Cena chases him off, then he goes back after Axel but Ryback runs out and spears Cena through the table and Axel wins by countout.
Winner (by countout) – Curtis Axel
* CM PUNK’s Return Storyline Revealed, WYATT FAMILY’s Debut & More
