The Official UKFF RAW Thread...

[Supremo]

Wih Meltzer reporting that Ziggler vs. Bryan is currently a planned Wrestlemania match, I assumed there was a chance of a Ziggler heel turn, perhaps joining the Authority tonight. Maybe Roman vs. Bryan in the main event, with Ziggler screwing Bryan.

 

Probaby just wishful thinking though, I just want some type of angle or storyline to build towards Ziggler and Bryan, if that's the direction. The idea of them doing a babyface vs. babyface, "this is for the workrate fans," match sounds fucking horrific.

[Guest]

A second rumble tonight with same winner, amd reigns aligning with authority. Chuck Ambrose back in too so main heels aren't big show and Kane.

[TildeGuy~!]

Probably be a Fatal Four way between the last 4 in the Rumble tonight, winner gets the title shot

 

Roman Reigns Vs. Rusev Vs. Kane Vs. Big Show.

 

At least they have announced that the announcement will begin Raw tonight so if it actually is that I can turn off straight away

[tiger_rick]

They've got a PPV in 2 weeks. Be madness, even in the current climate, to spunk a match that big on Raw tonight.

[TildeGuy~!]

No one gives a toss about Fast Lane though

 

I can see the main event being the Sting/Triple H confrontation the way things are going.

Edited February 2, 2015 by TildeGuy~!

[Shane O' Mac Version 2]

They've got a PPV in 2 weeks. Be madness, even in the current climate, to spunk a match that big on Raw tonight.

 

Doesn't mean it won't happen though.

 

I'm concerned about Fast Lane, hopefully the announcement will involve the announcement of a main event for it. Cena vs. Rusev doesn't seem to fit the bill, especially when they've outright said they were going to put the match on Wrestlemania (and likely still will) where the match might be 4th from the top or so- Lesnar vs. Reigns, Sting vs. Triple H, Wyatt vs. Taker, Cena vs. Rusev.

[DCW]

Ziggler vs Bryan would be a good match, but would pretty much be the death knell for whatever hopes left of Bryan's main event career. Beating Ziggler doesn't mean shite.

[Briefcase]

Triple H will probably say something along the lines that Roman Reigns needed help to win the Rumble and therefore for the main event at Wrestlemania in the interest of fairness there is going to be a special guest referee.....Seth Rollins. Then you have the whole Lesnar/Reigns/Rollins (cash in) build.

 

But before then of course you will have to stomach Reigns vs Big Show/Kane at fast lane. 

Edited February 3, 2015 by Briefcase

[Reznor]

Beating Ziggler doesn't mean shite.

It would be extremely funny if he did it in a manner similar to how Sheamus beat him a few years earlier though!

Edited February 3, 2015 by Reznor

[Mr.Showtime]

I'm super bored so decided to go over what happens as I watched the show. Having avoided any possible spoilers or speculation today we'll see if that makes a difference in my viewing pleasure!

We open with a clip from SmackDown in which Triple H announced he had a problem with the "controversial" Royal Rumble match. We also saw the footage of The Rock assisting Roman Reigns in said match. Trips is vowing to address the issue tonight - cue Raw intro!

We're in the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, and Lilian Garcia introduces us to The Authority of Trips and Stephanie! Both stylishly attired as usual. The roster is standing backstage watching a monitor - the most prominent ones at the front being Rusev, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston and Sin Cara...

Stephanie begins by mentioning the SuperBowl and gloating that the Patriots won. The fans boo. She says that they won because that's what's best for business. Weird. Triple H jokingly says he hopes the NFL survives with the trending hashtag #canceltheNFLnetwork going on. Nope, that didn't work.

Triple H says we can't let something like this happen, and points to footage (again) of Reigns getting an assist from The Rock. Triple H says the Big Show and Kane were unsportsmanlike getting back in the ring. But he doesn't mind that - he does mind The Rock sticking his nose in. The fans chant for The Rock. The Rock is no longer a WWE Superstar, but it's partly Triple H's fault for letting people back in once they disappear. Trips then moans about Sting and talks about calling him out at the next Pay-Per-View. Sting hasn't replied, but Stephanie confirms we can get Sting at the PPV, on the Network, for $9.99.

Back to Roman Reigns. Stephanie ponders what would have happened if the Rock didn't stick his nose in. They questioned the result, acknowledge they can't change the record books but wonder if Reigns should still get his title shot. Roman Reigns' music hits to a mixed reaction, but plenty of cheers.

Reigns isn't happy. He looks like he wants to smash Trips right up. Stephanie tries to calm things, telling Roman about his family. And then more music hits. It's Daniel Bryan! Bryan gets right to the point - the controversy is that he was stripped of the title and never given a rematch. Triple H says Bryan failed in his contractual obligations, threw himself in the Rumble and failed. But at the same time, Brock Lesnar never beat Daniel Bryan...and now here comes Seth Rollins! Rollins mic cuts off, Stephanie says "we can't hear you" and we are quickly taken to a break...

Advert thought: This is something I don't much like about Raw "announcements" that happens quite often...there's an announcement coming up, superstars interrupt, there's a discussion, then the announcement is made involving the superstars who showed up. What would the announcement have been if they didn't show up? Was their original idea that crap they could just throw it away when someone shows up to talk to them? Let's see...

Seth Rollins: "Live TV huh? Hahaha!" Rollins moans about Daniel Bryan. "Listen - Brock Lesnar would EAT YOU ALIVE." Rollins moans about The Rock helping Reigns. Randomly I just remembered the time the Shield tried to stop the Rock beating CM Punk for the championship. Reigns cuts off Rollins. Triple H talks to Steph then says: "Okay - change of plan...tonight, Daniel Bryan vs Seth Rollins. The winner will face Roman Reigns at Fast Lane. The winner of that match faces Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania."

Booker T: "Roman Reigns just got screwed here." Triple H likes Daniel Bryan all of a sudden. Trips and Stephanie psyche up Roman, telling him this is his chance to prove he belongs. Seth Rollins jokes about Bryan being out of his league and Roman being scared of him. Triple H gives Roman the choice to accept the challenge or not. Bryan gets the fans to chant yes. "Screw it," Reigns says, but he's not happy. Triple H tells Reigns he has a match now. You can already hear the theme music, can't you?

Advert thought: Rusev must be raging even more than he has been. Why didn't he go down to the ring? And it was weird seeing so many people jostle for a championship shot, with John Cena nowhere to be seen. He always butts in.

Roman Reigns vs The Big Show
Back from the break and the Big Show has Roman Reigns in a bearhug. At ringside stand Seth Rollins and J&J Security. Reigns gets and and batters Show with numerous clotheslines. J&J distracts letting Big Show hit a spear and a near three count. Reigns fights out of a chokeslam, hits Show with the superman punch - but Rollins uses the briefcase against Reigns' back, Big Show gets the chokeslam, and pins Roman Reigns 1-2-3! Jesus of Nazareth. JBL: "This is the worst night of Roman Reigns' life."

Triple H is watching a monitor: "Well, that was a lot easier than I thought it would be." Stephanie says they manipulated Reigns, said the right things so Bryan came out, and the whole intro worked perfectly. Seth Rollins will deal with both of them. Stephanie asks how he'll deal with Stone Cold Steve Austin in his podcast later on. "I'll manipulate Austin just like I did everyone else."

Advert thought: Props to whoever came up with the manipulation explanation for the announcement segment!

It's Curtis Axel! He storms to the ring. "Don't turn the channel, because I have something I want to say! I was never eliminated from the Royal Rumble! If I wasn't sucker punched I would have won it! I want justice!" He points to the WrestleMania sign. "I want Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania." He's super serious, and the commentators are laughing at him. I love this Curtis Axel. Dean Ambrose comes out, batters Axel, and throws him over the top rope. Ambrose takes a mic. "Now you're eliminated."

Ambrose points out he beat Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett two weeks ago, and is now coming after the title at Fast Lane. Curtis Axel blind-sides Ambrose but quickly succumbs to Dirty Deeds.

The Ascension vs Goldust and Stardust
No intros for these guys. I can't see the match for the constant shouting match between JBL and Booker T about tag team history. About two minutes into the match, Goldust takes their finisher and is pinned, Stardust wasn't on camera so not sure where he was. He certainly wasn't hurt. Stardust moans at Goldie, annoyed, and walks off.

UP NEXT! John Cena welcomes Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan back to Raw! Aww, this is sure to be fun-filled and full of balloons and confetti and handshakes all round.

Backstage, Goldust is trying to speak to Stardust, who is muttering to himself. "Stardust! Stardust! CODY!"

Stardust: "Don't you EVER...call me Cody. HISSS!" Stardust storms off. Again.

Blue and Yellow John Cena enters the ring. It's confirmed that at Fast Lane Cena will challenge Rusev for the United States Championship. Cena looks a bit haggled - he has a dodgy eye and says he's beat up. Cena plugs the Stone Cold podcast after the show. Cena is irked at Triple H calling him the past last week. Cena acknowledges that Trips has a whole stable full of future WWE Superstars in NXT. He doesn't mind the fans saying what they think in Cena's face, but Triple H hides behind others. Cena says he's been put through crap by the Authority but will never give up. He does it for moments like 2 weeks ago when Sting assisted Cena with a win over Seth Rollins.

Cena introduces Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan, who all come down to Ryback's music. Cena doesn't talk to the three guys at all, and goes on about Rusev instead. Welcome back, guys. Stephanie McMahon hits up the TitanTron - Dolph Ziggler mouths off at her immediately, so Steph puts him in a match with Bray Wyatt. Erick Rowan is put in a bout with Rusev. And Ryback will be in action next! The fans chant feed me more...

Advert thought: After Reigns losing to Big Show earlier, we could have a clean sweep for the heels tonight if Ryback can't overcome his opponent...

Ryback vs Luke Harper
The fans are well behind Ryback tonight. Ryback keeps Harper up in a super delayed suplex for ages - the commentators don't exactly big it up though. Ryback then hits a splash from the ropes! Harper comes back at him and boots Ryback to the floor. Harper does that over-the-top-rope plancha back into the ring thing Eddie Guerrero used to do, prompting JBL to say it looked like a zombie version of Eddie Guerrero. Ryback makes a comeback with a roll-up, then a Thesz press, then another big splash, but Harper then hits a Boss Man Slam for a close count. Ryback gets the upper hand and goes for the Meat Hook clothesline but Harper cuts it off with a superkick and a very close count! Ryback lifts Harper up for Shellshocked, Harper rolls out of it, Ryback hits the Meat Hook and on the second attempt hits Shellshocked for the three count! A fine little match.

Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso & Naomi) vs Cesaro (w/Tyson Kidd & Natalya)
Not much to say for the first few minutes, then Cesaro takes over with a double foot stomp, a very short giant swing and a double underhook powerbomb. A top rope axehandle is countered with a superkick. Uso goes to the top for a finishing splash but Tyson Kidd distracts long enough for the splash to be countered with a huge uppercut for the one, two, three! As Jey Uso consoles his bro, Tyson hits a drive-by dropkick to the face, leaving both Usos laying and Kidd/Cesaro laughing. The commentators ponder what this means for the upcoming double-date between Natalya/Tyson and Naomi/Uso. Oh no!

Backstage, Damien Mizdow is eating fruit! The Miz tells a man who wants Mizdows' autograph to fuck off. The Miz rants and raves at Mizdow, who just stands and takes it. The Miz fires Mizdow as his stunt double and re-hires him as his personal assistant. He tells Mizdow to never mimic him again.

Erick Rowan approaches John Cena in the locker room, and tells him nobody has ever stood up for him before. Rowan wants to repay Cena by taking on Rusev tonight. Cena tells him to be on top of his game, and they shake hands. Aww.

Advert thought: Only now thinking about the upcoming main event and looking forward to it. Bryan and Rollins should hopefully be given enough time to make it a worthwhile match.

Dolph Ziggler vs Bray Wyatt
As Ziggler waits for Wyatt we see a sign in the crowd: "Paige is as pale as WWE booking". Heh. There's a duelling chant for the two competitors early on. We notice this won't be a non-starter or a short match as they're promoting a #WyattvsZiggler hashtag in the top corner. We get rest holds and stalling tactics early on. Wyatt keeps leaving the ring. Booker T: "Ziggler needs to just go out there and get him!" Ziggler goes out to get him and immediately gets his head smacked off the apron. Booker T: "That was a bad move."

After the break Ziggler keeps trying to fight back. At one point Wyatt hits a mean clothesline which stops Ziggles dead. Wyatt takes control again and signals for the end. Ziggler avoids some attacks and knocks Wyatt down for a two-count. The two go toe-to-toe with punches, Ziggler gets the upper hand and hits the Famouser - but Wyatt no-sells it and grabs Dolph with Sister Abigail and picks up the win.

Backstage Seth Rollins asks Trips and Steph about the plan. They tell Seth not to worry about Daniel Bryan. They bring up Randy Orton getting taken out ages ago. Rollins vows to stamp out the Yes Movement once and for all.

Alicia Fox vs Paige
The Bellas are on commentary. After a move, Paige wrestles with her top, I assume trying to make sure it doesn't unzip away from her boobs. Alicia Fox gets a rest hold on her, and then...and then the feed cuts out! A WWE fault screen shows, and then a Sky Sports "temporary fault" screen. Well if it was gonna happen at any time, during the Divas match was probably the best idea.

After around a minute the feed returns, and we see Paige upset in the ring. The Bellas are gone. Alicia Fox is gone. The commentators turn their attention to Triple H and Sting.

Sin Cara vs The Miz
Damien Mizdow tries to copy the Miz's entrance but Miz quickly tells him to stop and stand still behind him. Sin Cara gets a full intro. Mizdow looks like he'd finding it difficult to stand still at ringside, as the fans chant for him. He thinks about getting involved and the Miz again gets in his face. The Miz is getting rather annoyed that Mizdow is not doing a thing yet getting all the crowd attention.The inevitable happens when Mizdow distracts the Miz once too often, and Sin Cara rolls up Miz for the win.

Bray Wyatt talks. In short: "I've been watching you for quite some time. Oh, how they used to fear you. But look what you gone and did. I am the new face of fear! The devil is real man - and he can't wait to see you again. I know you're listening. Find me."

Rusev vs Erick Rowan
Rusev attacks Rowan before he even steps through the ropes, he then throws him into the ring post as the fans chant USA. The fans are trying, bless them. The referee is trying to get Rusev to lay off Rowan so he can, y'know, ring the bell to start the match, but Rusev just bleats at him in Russian. Or Bulgarian. Poor Rowan is getting hammered, and the camera doesn't pick up the kick to the head first time but we see it on replay. "It's a message to Cena, Rowan never had a chance!" says Cole as Rusev locks in the Accolade and refuses to let go for quite a while.

Lana: "Now that we have your attention...we want to invite you to a special movie surprise. It's Oscar season! But this movie will not have a fairytale ending." We get a video package of Rusev smashing everyone up. Great, short video. Rusev looks hyped up. His music hits. The Russian flag lowers from the roof...but the flag doesn't unfurl properly and gets stuck! The fans laugh, and Rusev is livid! Don't think that was meant to happen but it worked out okay.

Backstage Daniel Bryan sits next to Roman Reigns. He tells Roman he'll be facing him at Fast Lane. Roman isn't taking any shit from Bryan, doesn't care who he's facing at the PPV, and tells Bryan to "get the hell out of my locker room."

Match to determine opponent for Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns at Fast Lane
Seth Rollins vs Daniel Bryan
Bryan goes straight for the left arm early on, and then gets a Del Rio armbar but Rollins gets to the ropes. Bryan is turfed out of the ring, and J&J Security throw Bryan back-first against the barricade before Rollins hits a suicide dive through the ropes. Bryan clutches his neck as we head to the last (I bloody hope) break.

Advert thought: Good to see Kane nowhere on the show (yet) after being chucked into a casket last week.

The Big Show is now at ringside. Great. Bryan tries to make a comeback but Rollins pulls him into the turnbuckles, giving him another opportunity to pull the ref aside as his security gets a cheap shot on D-Bry. The fans get right behind Bryan, as he kicks Rollins again and again but only gets a two count. Bryan attempts a top-rope huricanranna but Rollins rolls through into a pin and almost gets the three. Bryan knocks J&J off the apron, then Rollins onto them both, then throws himself through the ropes onto all three, sending Rollins and his security over the announce table! Seconds later Bryan hits Rollins with a top rope back bodydrop, landing right on his neck. He's not giving a shit about his neck, that's for sure. A close two-count.

A running knee is countered into a powerbomb by Rollins onto the turnbuckles, then a kick to the face for a two count. Bryan suckers Rollins in and locks in the Yes lock, but Rollins gets his long legs back onto the ropes to break the hold. Rollins rolls outside and is comforted by the Big Show. Big Show, who has done nothing all match yet, is speared outta nowhere by Roman Reigns. Jamie Noble hits the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase, but the referee stops him. Reigns hits Rollins with the Superman punch with the ref's back turned, Bryan gets the running knee and wins the match.

Renee Young asks Triple H what he thinks about the telly tonight. Trips says he'll tell Stone Cold Steve Austin, not Renee Young. Michael Cole asks Daniel Bryan how he feels in the ring. Bryan says the fans have put him in this spot - he's going to beat Roman Reigns and main event WrestleMania. It just doesn't feel the same as last year...

Raw goes off the air with the fans chanting with Daniel Bryan.

Final thought: the show takes so long to get through live, with all those adverts, at 4am, that I'd pretty much forgotton Reigns got beat by Big Show in four minutes at the start of the show...

Edited February 3, 2015 by Mr.Showtime

[undercover elephant]

No one gives a toss about Fast Lane though

I can see the main event being the Sting/Triple H confrontation the way things are going.

With Hunter training twice a day and not giving too much away right now, it's bloody obvious when asked by Austin will he be back anytime soon and he said its coming.

[LaGoosh]

After this spear I don't know how anyone could ever boo Roman Reigns ever again.

 

[WyattSheepMask]

I just sat watching that gif for about 2 minutes. Best spear I've ever seen.

So now we've got Bryan v Reigns in a #1 contenders match. Whever it's a case of their hands have been forced or it was the plan all along we'll never truely know. Gut tells me they've gone with it to try and take some heat off, but if Roman wins (which I expect he will do) you run the risk again of the live crowd shitting on it

[d-d-d-dAz]

Considering Roman Reigns is almost certainly going to beat Daniel Bryan, the Wrestlemania main event could be a real car crash. I'm presuming the thinking is have Bryan pull a five star match out of Reigns, give him his breakthrough moment, and fans will accept him. Which is crazy, because kayfabe wins and losses won't turn that crowd around.

 

They've put themselves in the shit. Again.

 

Reigns wins and he's probably going to be forever the no.1 dickhead and the Bryan fans dicklist; Bryan wins and you've Rybacked off you're most potential filled star in years.

 

Fucking idiots.

[UK Kat Von D]

Unless Reigns is going to lose it's a baffling match to make. Reigns needs protecting and that means keeping him away from opposing Bryan.

 

If Reigns does lose then he could use that to turn heel on Bryan post Mania, align with Heyman and feud with Bryan. If Reigns wins then people are just going to shit all over him.

 

I don't see what the point of having Reigns lose to anyone is, especially Big Show. Counter productive at best