OK, so unbelieveably we are getting to the end of our unforgettable journey as this is the sixth installment documenting our Wrestlemania 30 week experience.
However their is still MUCH to discuss as in this entry we will cover the always insane post-Wrestlemania Monday Night Raw, we also attended the Smackdown tapings in Lafayette on Tues and of course, the tragic and sudden death of the Ultimate Warrior.
If your reading this of course you already know what happened, and you can get results of the shows anywhere on the internet.
What I hope to bring you is a People’s History of the events from someone who was there.
Monday Night Raw – April 7th – Smoothie King Arena – New Orleans, LA
For those that don’t already know the Monday Night Raw the next night after Wrestlemania has become the most anticipated Raw of the year and in some ways the event of the year even more so than Wrestlemania as its just become an extension of that prestigious event.
Here’s why:
Think about it, if 80k people were in the stadium yesterday & this place next door holds less than 20k that means the house is full of die-hards.
As I mentioned in the previous entries, the WWE is so huge in the U.K. these days that of those 20k die-hards, the U.K. is prominently represented.
So what makes it such a wild night is that the UK/Euro influence in the house are made up of people that are used to loud soccer chants, it’s a part of their culture and they are just doing it here with the wrestlers.
Second, they are also smart to the work – they know it’s a work and they love to play along & since villians are more fun to play along with, they cheer the shit out of the heels and boo the good guys back to the Stone Age, so it creates this unique, bizarro world vibe.
Lastly, its also been said that the WWE “only gets it right one day out of the year, the day after Wrestlemania” – I don’t know if that’s because the creative team knows this is the one crowd they can’t bullshit or what gives credence to that but in many ways its a very valid claim.
Regardless, it’s always incredibly fun, full of surprises and twists & turns and along with the hyper-vocal crowd it’s a can’t-miss event, and tonight did not dissapoint.
Superstars taping
Instead of having what they used to call “dark matches” (unaired matches) They tape clip shows now – Before Raw is called Superstars and before Smackdown is called The Main Event. Both used to air on network TV but now air exclusively on the WWE Network (and I think their ratings might have had something to do with that.)
Along with these clip shows (and to get the live crowd ready) are two original matches.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Ryback
Strange seeing the opening bout with wrestlers that were in the main event scene just one year ago.
One of the biggest pops in WWE history came EXACTLY one year ago at the Post-Wrestlemania Raw in New Jersey when Dolph cashed in the Money in the Back contract and became World Champion over Alberto Del Rio. I was in the house that night too and it was truly something I’ll never forget. It was the same kinda support for Daniel Bryan, the talented but criminally underused scenario, so when he got his moment, the crowd roared. How has he sunk to this insane low level just a year later? It’s completely unfair, he’s magnificent in the ring, great on the mic etc. I don’t get it. – Here he is jobbing to Ryback in the opening act.
Kofi Kingston vs. Titus Oneil
Very similar situation here –
Kofi, another tremendous talent, lingering in mid-card hell – I don’t mind him getting Titus over because it’s part of Titus’s push which he deserves, unlike Ryback that needs to be sent back to the goddamned minors.
Main Card
After what happened at Wrestlemania XXX yesterday, they didn’t even wait or tease to bring Daniel Bryan out, they started the evening with him as its also custom to begin the show with the new champion.
For the first time it looked like Bryan was finally gonna crack and actually cry – I could see his lip quivering as the ENTIRE place errupted with his “YES!” chant.
It was a really special moment. I’m not his biggest fan but being in that stadium last night with just about everyone chanting “YES!” is something that I’ll never forget.
Not long before Triple H comes down to set up a re-match between them to set up tonight’s main event.
The Wyatt Family vs John Cena, Sheamus & Big E
The first actual match of the main show was a big one, extending the John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt feud but in a way to include a few others.
This crowd is really strong on creating new phrases of their own – Last year the crowd in New Jersey can lay claim to inventing “Fandangoing” & this year they can add singing “John Cena Suuuuuuucks” to the tune of his own entrance theme. Pretty brutal.
Bray Wyatt recreated that creepy ass crab walk he did yesterday, grabs Big and hits his finisher Sister Abigail for the win.
Crowd totally behind Wyatt and were singing “He’s Got the Whole World, in His Hands” thunderously, picking up what Bray started at their match yesterday.
The crowd is already louder than the 80k was yesterday.
Santino Marella & Emma vs. Fandango & Summer Rae
This kind of match is totally up my alley. What most would call filler this is why I watch the show. While I appreciate athleticism and endurance, I’m a bigger fan of comic relief & other theatrics & pageantry. Not to mention as I stated earlier, I”m really only interested in the Divas currently and Summer Rae is one of my absolute favorites.
I like new girl Emma too & of course Santino & Fandango are always hilarious. Ultimately Summer is forced to tap to Emma’s finisher.
Next, the Undertaker’s broken streak is addressed in the form of the breaker, Brock Lesnar & of course speaking for him, Paul Heyman.
I’ve always found Heyman to be annoying but his promo work lately has just been exceptional and this maybe its peak as he KILLED on the mic here.
Heyman warns that he is going to get real for a moment. Undertaker collapsed after walking through the curtain last night. Vince McMahon left Wrestlemania to ride with Taker to the hospital. Taker almost had a broken neck. The Undertaker should be thankful that he did not kick out of the last F-5 because then Lesnar really would have broken his neck. Lesnar was not going to stop until the streak was dead.
He also took a shot at Hulk Hogan and his slip up of the calling the Superdome the Silverdome in a much less friendlier way that the Rock & Stone Cold did.
Batista & Randy Orton Vs The Usos
Now for me, this would be a bathroom break match – I think the Usos are great but Batista & Randy Orton are both yawnburgers with a large side of snores.
Apparently I’m not the only one has to why they had to change the Main Event at Wrestlemania to include Daniel Bryan.
This was only designed to use these guys and to not take the belts off the Usos – Nothing advanced, nothing gained.
Now here is where the show really picked up steam –
If yesterday’s Wrestlemania was all about reflection of the past & celebrating the legend’s accomplishments, tonight’s counter was all about the present with a strong look to the future. Besides the main event, the rest of the show was dedicated to returning stars, debuting new ones & teasing future ones with tons of twists & turns along the way.
Starting with:
Rob Van Dam vs Damien Sandow
A returning Rob Van Dam who kinda needed to hit the reset button on his false start last year.
Just a match to showcase him and have someone they can afford job to him like Damien Sandow (who is criminally underused).
Bad News Barrett vs. Rey Mysterio
After all the weeks of teasing with those awesome vignettes, Wade Barrett finally makes his debut under his new moniker – Bad News Barrett
He was drifting in forgettable mid-card hell for an eternity and would have continued to do so if he didn’t do something drastically different. His is new gimmick is super over with the crowd (and me, I love it and thought he was so boring before) and even if he, an Englishman, wasn’t in front of a largely British crowd, he still would have been over, but tonight the crowd went nuts. Same scenario as above, as Mysterio was only here to job to him.
Alexander Rusev vs Zack Ryder
Another debut but this time a true one as Alexander Rusev makes his in-ring debut on the main roster.
He comes out with CJ Perry who has a new gimmick as Lana, the Ravishing Russian – & looks amazing.
Now came something that none of us will forget even if you weren’t here in person for it. The arrival of the Ultimate Warrior –
Making his first appearance on RAW in over 18 years – Even if what happened to him just the next day hadn’t, this would still be something that will be looked upon with great pride and played again and again – The Redemption of the Ultimate Warrior.
Sure his induction into the Hall of Fame on Saturday and him taking an encore bow at yesterday’s Wrestlemania presentation – but he was humanized and here he could come and do a bit of his schtick.
If you haven’t seen the promo he cut – do yourself a favor, it’s unbeleivable, uncomfortable as always and given what happened totally eerie.
More on this and the life of the Ultimate Warrior in the next (& last entry of this series) –
AJ Lee vs. Paige
Now this (for me) was the highlight and the biggest and most welcomed surprise of the evening. As I’ve stated many times, I think AJ Lee is the best female performer they’ve ever had and one of the best ever period. Not to mention one of the most shockingly attractive persons you will ever have the fortune of seeing up close.
She was talking serious (awesome) trash and why shouldn’t she, at Wrestlemania, she beat the ENTIRE Divas division in ONE MATCH – Fucking buried them is more like it. Even gave a nod to CM Punk by claiming she’s the “Best Diva in the World” and the crowd at it up whole.
When suddenly some unfamiliar music hits and its Paige from NXT – instantly the whole crowd is “OOOOHHH SHIT”
Here it is, I’ve been following Paige through NXT after seeing a great match between her and Summer Rae at Axxess last year. Paige is not Total Divas material bullshit, like AJ, she’s the real deal. Paige only barely 21, also British (& also unbearably hot) – and here is finally AJ vs Paige in front of a crowd that actively watched NXT that will appreciate it most.
AJ charges straight at Paige and beats her down to the mat. AJ prances around the ring. AJ uses her tilt-a-whirl to work into her Submission. Paige breaks free and hits the Paige Turner for the win, followed by an incredibly emotional outpouring not just from the crowd but from Paige herself.
A truly great moment and my favorite of the night.
Also included were vignettes for Adam Rose & Bo Dallas as it appears the two are due a call-up to the big-leagues any time now.
Hulk Hogan comes down to the ring and poses for the crowd. He says that last night was full of Wrestlemania moments but his favorite one took place in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. This is when Big Show was tossed over the top rope. Hogan brings out the man who won it all – Cesaro.
Hogan congratulates Cesaro and does his best to makeup for yesterday’s flubbing and correctly says SUPERDOME –
Zeb Colter talks for Cesaro first. He explains that he brought him into the fold even though he isn’t a real American. He is proud to call Cesaro a Zeb Colter guy.
Cesaro has a microphone and politely interrupts. He says that he is not a Zeb Colter guy – he is a PAUL HEYMAN GUY!!
Paul Heyman appears on the entrance ramp and then makes his way into the ring. Zeb is furious, but the fans are absolutely on their feet. Heyman says that he is going to head over to the commentators and instruct them how to introduce Cesaro from now on. Heyman slides out of the ring.
Jack Swagger charges in and hits a sneak attack that sends Cesaro out of the ring. Swagger takes aim at the Andre the Giant trophy and breaks it in half.
Cesaro gets back into the ring and beats Swagger to the outside to the pleasure of Paul Heyman.
Daniel Bryan Vs Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Title
Daniel Bryan makes his entrance for the main event. Before Triple H makes his entrance, Batista and Randy Orton come into the ring and attack Bryan. After the initial attack Orton hits an RKO. Batista follows with a Batista Bomb.
Kane’s music hits and he comes down to the ring. Kane stands over the fallen body of Bryan. He grabs Bryan by the neck and delivers a choke slam.
Triple H finally makes his entrance with Stephanie.
Bryan is flat on his back as the bell is rung. The referee tries to get a medic but Triple H tells him that if he wants his job then he better ring the bell. Triple H mocks the Yes chant and then turns his attention to Bryan.
Sierra. Hotel. India. Echo. Lima. Delta.
The Shield come down to the side of the ring. They climb up on the apron and stand opposite Kane, Batista and Orton. Triple H stands in the middle and tells them that this is not going to happen.
All six men enter the ring. Just when it looks like Triple H has convinced them to back down – Reigns hits him with a spear! Rollins and Ambrose send Batista and Orton out of the ring and then them out with a suicide dive. They rejoin Reigns in the ring and fight off Kane. Bryan has just enough strength to get to his feet and hit Triple H with Knee Plus! HHH rolls out of the ring to try and regroup. Bryan celebrates with The Shield.
There is a changing of the entire guard upon us. Gone are the legends of the past two decades, and never was that more evident than at Wrestlemania XXX with both the ceremonial closing of an era that opened the show between Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock, and the end of The Undertaker’s winning Streak. What we have right now with WWE is more than a YES Movement, the arrival of the new generation of stars is here.
The truly promising NXT class has now taken hold of the WWE. By simple headcount we could see this has come to fruition over a matter of years right before our eyes: Sheamus, AJ Lee, Cesaro, Big E, Summer Rae, Emma, Paige, The Shield, The Wyatt Family, Fandango, and Daniel Bryan are all the most recognizable faces among an even larger group of talent that are finally coming into their own. The next generation of WWE Superstars have arrived: The Uso’s are your WWE Tag Team Champions, Paige is your WWE Divas Champion, Big E Langston is your WWE Intercontinental Champion, and Daniel bryan is now your WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The future is now –
Stay tuned for the SEVENTH and final installment of this long journey chronicling Wrestlemania 30 week in New Orleans that was truly one of the most pivotal weeks in the company’s entire history.
Photos –
Roy Turner
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