RAW Retort – AJ Lee drops a Diva pipebomb

Randy Orton‘s Car

Randy Orton

I’ve loved that the WWE is pulling up old storylines that worked so well and reusing them in new and creative ways. The way Bryan talked about Triple H being the rebel back in the day should have clued me in that he was going to do something in the latter’s rebel way. That he covered Orton’s new car with Yes! Yes! Yes! is absolutely something that Triple H and HBK would have done back in their DX days. I see a lot of hilarity ensuing!

I also have to give Maddox props for the way he handled Triple H when they were standing around the car. Maddox seems to have discovered a personality this week on RAW, and for the first time I actually don’t loath the man right now, and that’s huge as I thought he was a waste of a pay check until now.

Prime Time Americans

I understand that the WWE is riding the wave of Young’s media since coming out of the closet, and that does make sense, but to put O’Neil, a man who can barely hit half of his moves on a good day in the ring, with the man whose ego is so big that I think he’s dangerous to anyone in the ring with him, is a recipe for disaster. The WWE was very lucky that it wasn’t a bigger mess than it was. The match just looked sloppy, but it could have been tragic.

Bray loves Abigail

The Wyatt Family has taken the WWE by storm, and the WWE has done a lovely job with their creative use of the faction. That they have gone at them in non-traditional ways has made the group that much more interesting and compelling. Their promo videos, the WWE reporter going to find them in the woods, the way Bray works the mic and his body, and his sheep has made this faction unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

I’m enthralled with Bray and The Wyatt Family, to the point that I see them at the top of the food chain before very long. World Heavyweight Champion at some point before too long? Wouldn’t surprise me in the least!

Running the Gauntlet

I thought Triple H and all the Superstars he was trying to intimidate on stage handled themselves wonderfully. I loved Miz’s interview with Renee, but even better was Big Show Yes-ing with Bryan as he came out, but then kowtowing to Triple H’s threats.

What I don’t like it that they have suddenly forgotten that Big Show had an iron-clad contract with the WWE when he was a heel, but now that he’s a face and disobeying Triple H, his contract doesn’t seem as iron-clad as it once was. Hopefully this isn’t more of the WWE suddenly conveniently forgetting plot points and expecting the fans to do the same. It seems as though the WWE sometimes thinks their fans are the stupidest in the world.

I’m supposed to be pissed off that Triple H was being so mean and unfair to Bryan, but in reality, if anyone could handle The Shield in a Gauntlet Match, it’s Bryan. Seeing Bryan back in the ring with Rollins was a treat for all watching, and I had hoped the same would happen with Ambrose, but then things crumbled.

I’m not surprised as Bryan was looking too strong, like he might actually beat Ambrose as well, but it was great while it lasted. For the second week in a row Bryan took quite the beating, but he sure won over the fans that much more. The reaction Bryan has been getting from the fans is something that no Superstar since the Attitude Era got, and something all WWE Superstars should aspire for.