Monday’s show didn’t make a whole lot of logical sense when it came to a standalone show. Hopefully they follow up quickly on what they’re trying to do.
HHH puts The Shield in a handicap elimination tag match.
On Smackdown, Vickie Guerrero tried to punish the babyface protesters who helped Daniel Bryan on Raw last week. But Triple H stepped in and stopped that. He’s trying to be nice to the babyface protesters. To start Raw, the babyface protesters were on the stage while Triple H and Stephanie were inside the ring. Those babyfaces were Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, RVD, Justin Gabriel, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Zack Ryder, Kofi Kingston, Darren Young, and Titus O’Neil. Triple H and Stephanie tried to turn them against Daniel Bryan, but RVD stepped in and said that if they tried to screw Bryan out of the belt, they’d try to screw them all too.
They made a main event of all the babyface protesters plus Daniel Bryan in an handicap elimination match against the Shield. This didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me both in trying to tell a story or making both sets of teams look good.
In the main event, The Shield quickly pinned RVD (who was beat up earlier in the show by Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio), Kofi Kingston, Titus O’Neil, Justin Gabriel, and Zack Ryder. Jey Uso pinned Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins pinned Darren Young. Dolph Zigger pinned Dean Ambrose. Daniel Bryan then hit Seth Rollins with the knee, who takes that move better than anyone.
The babyfaces had an 11-3 advantage and immediately lost the first five falls, including RVD who is supposed to challenge for the World title. Then, they finally “persevered” through a 6-3 advantage.
Goldust and Cody attack the Shield.
Every once in a while a surprise attack works great. You don’t have to focus the entire show on it. It comes out of the blue. You tease it. And bam! It delivers. That’s what happened here.
After Daniel Bryan cut a promo about why it’s illogical for him to request Scott Armstrong to help him beat Randy Orton with a fast count because Orton was knocked out, the Shield came down to get ready for their match. Before the match started, two men jumped out of the crowd and went after The Shield. One of these men had gold face paint. It was Goldust and Cody!
I’m a big fan of the Rhodes brothers working together and if this match is on Battleground, I may have to get the PPV.
CM Punk gets Ryback’d.
Punk came out in front of the Chicago crowd talking about the Blackhawks and how he hadn’t smiled in eight days (since the last PPV). Paul Heyman came out on a motorized scooter bragging that he’s the best in the world.
Heyman’s scooter wouldn’t start so Punk ran after him, but just as he reached Heyman, Ryback and Curtis Axel attacked him. He held them off for awhile. Ryback then slammed him on the edge of a table. Looked like it hurt. So I guess it’s a CM Punk vs. Ryback program. I just hope they don’t go to the tables or TLC match soon.
And the rest…
- Alberto Del Rio beat Kofi Kingston. Kingston did a sweet front flip to the outside and actually landed on his feet. Del Rio won with the arm breaker.
- Miz wanted Randy Orton again, but Triple H nixed it and instead had him interview Big Show.
- Wyatts beat the Prime Time Players.
- Miz interviewed Show and tried to get him to stick up for himself. Stephanie came out and chastised Miz for peaking too early. She then had Show knock out Miz.
- Orton and RVD went to a double count out but Orton DDTd him on the outside, while his legs were draped over the dasher boards.
- Randy wanted him some Brie in the back.
- Fandango beat Santino.
- The Total Divas beat the non-Total Divas when Brie pinned AJ.
For the most part, the show moved quickly. But I’m not sure where the payoff is in the main angle. Triple H wants to turn the babyfaces against Daniel Bryan by sucking up to them. And then what happens? And now that it didn’t work, do the babyfaces face the wrath now? What about the ones who got pinned? Do they face the wrath too?
The Goldust and Cody segment and the CM Punk stuff was the best on this week’s show. The end of the main event was fun too, even if it didn’t make any sense.