RAW Retort - Cena's out, but who is in?

The Wyatt Family

The Wyatt Family

I don’t know why R-Truth has been the one taking Bray’s abuse lately, as he’s not on the level that Kane is, but really who is at this point? Everyone else on Kane’s level is in a huge, main event level feud, so I guess someone needs to take Bray’s abuse, and R-Truth has been solid about it.

I love that Bray is finally working matches, as he works his character with every bit of his being. He is Bray Wyatt and it’s startling to watch! Honestly, he hit that ring so hard with every move that it made sense that they kept his match to 1:37. I think it will take people like Kane to last much longer in the ring with Bray at this point.

Miz & Fandango

I was confused about Barrett working the ring with Miz, as it had appeared that they had been setting up for Miz and Fandango at SummerSlam. I was so excited to see Fandango drop his unique leg drop on Miz’s cruddy Figure 4. I was impressed that Miz and Barrett went for 4:51, and looked so good doing it, until that horrible Figure 4 from Miz. But in reality, I’d rather see Miz working against Fandango, who has personality, than Barrett who just can’t seem to get past how terribly boring he is all the time!

Sin Cara vs. ADR

I have been vocal about my lack of confidence in Sin Cara, and he continues to live up to my lack of expectations. I think the WWE would have been smarter to stick with Hunico in the Sin Cara role than Mistico.

Every time Sin Cara is in a match of any importance, and a number of matches of not so much importance, like this match with ADR, he doesn’t seem to be able to work the match without injury. Three moves into his match with ADR, under thirty seconds in, a simple dive from the ring, something that should be absolutely nothing for a luchador, and Sin Cara has to have the match stopped because he broke a couple fingers, possibly more.

If it had been anyone else, I’d say its pure dumb luck and move on, but this is Sin Cara, and he’s snake bit. I hope the WWE sees the light and realizes that Sin Cara just isn’t working out. They let Mr. Kennedy (Ken Anderson) go for much less, yet they hold onto Sin Cara. I just don’t get it. Add in that Rey should be back at any moment, and the writing is on the wall!

Speaking of Rey being ready to return to the ring, the fans in Anaheim were absolutely sure that Ricardo was going to announce that he would be moving forward with Rey. They were chanting for it to be Rey before Ricardo announced it was RVD. I wasn’t expecting RVD, but it sets up for a great RVD/ADR feud.

Maybe RVD will drag ADR out of the boredom he gives us each time he steps into the ring or picks up a mic. The only thing that bums me out about all this is that it doesn’t look like we will be seeing El Local anytime soon, but at least we get to see Ricardo as a face, something he’s great at.

Closing Segment

The subtlety in this segment was jaw dropping. The way they worked Orton as he came to the ring. Trip not liking Orton, but putting his feelings aside. The handshakes with McMahon and Trip, but then the big hug from Steph, the woman Orton tortured in the past. That she would rather hug Orton than have Bryan as WWE Champion shows just how far over the heel line she has stepped.

There are a few people who didn’t understand why Bryan opened and closed the show, but to me it showed just how much faith they have in Bryan. The boss – McMahon, Steph, Triple H, any of them – doesn’t abuse just anyone the way Bryan was abused on this episode of RAW.

Not only was Bryan verbally abused, he was thrown out of the arena, verbally taunted and abused some more before being physically destroyed by a number of people. That’s some serious respect and weight that they think Bryan can carry. Not bad for the guy from NXT season 1 who was fired after his first episode of RAW. The guy thought to have no personality coming into the WWE. Now he’s stepping into Cena’s shoes, no matter what Triple H said about Orton.

The final moment of the show was most telling of all. McMahon, Trip, Orton and Steph standing with their arms raised over Bryan’s beaten body. The camera looking up at them, making them look larger than life and stronger than ever. All of that, wrapped up together, shows that the WWE have put some serious thought into this storyline, and it will be ushering in a new era for the WWE. I’m floored by the past 36 hours of the WWE, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next – for the first time in a very long time.