WWE Monday Night RAW: Live coverage and results, 6th January 2014

Curtis Axel vs. Big E Langston with Ryback at commentary

Big E started aggressively with a rib breaker, but Axel came back with big punches in the corner. Axel stopped Big E with a chin lock in the center of the ring, but Big E drilled him with a chinbreaker and a spear in the corner, but Axel came back with a dropkick. Axel took Big E to the outside and drilled him with some punches, but Big E turned the tables around by drilling his head on to the table. Ryback distracted Big E for a moment, which allowed Axel to pick up a two count, but Big E came back with a huge clothesline and the Big Ending to pick up the victory in just under 3 minutes!

Winner and still the WWE Intercontinental Champion: Big E Langston

Rating: * ½

Analysis: That was a basic squash match, and WWE might go ahead with a Ryback – Big E Langston program. With Axel jobbing to Big E in just under 3 minutes, it looks like that’s the end of Curtis Axel’s push. With no more Paul Heyman by his side, there is little to no hope of Axel’s resurgence in the WWE. Big E continues to impress the WWE fans with his powerhouse performance.

We saw The Hot Rod ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper walking backstage, and the Piper’s Pit is next!

Piper came out to a good reaction, and Piper said that he was old school before “Old School was cool!”. Before he could say anything, The Shield’s music hit, as the trio made their way out to the Piper’s Pit. Ambrose asked who gave Piper a mic, and said we were live as he rambled on and on. Ambrose said Piper must thank God that they weren’t around when he was wrestling, as he wouldn’t have made it to a 112 years. Piper said no one gave him the mic, he took it. He said although he had been beat up, he could still go, and said only CM Punk matched him on the mic, as the crowd chanted for Punk! Ambrose looked ticked off, but Rollins interrupted. Rollins said Piper was jealous because Ambrose was a better US champion than Piper ever was. Piper said neither Ambrose nor Rollins could beat Punk one on one. Piper said Reigns would fight Punk later on, and would make him better than Ambrose or Rollins if he defeated Punk! Piper asked if Ambrose and Rollins were holding him back, as the crowd chanted “Yes”. Reigns said he would defeat Punk, and would break him in half if Piper ever touched him again. As The Shield was about to attack Piper, Punk made his way out along with the New Age Outlaws! The trio cleaned house and sent The Shield retreating to the back!

Analysis: That was a great segment. It showed the cracks in The Shield, as Reigns was once again made to see “the light”, and the question of him being better than Ambrose and Rollins still lingers in everyone’s mind. If he defeats Punk tonight, that would bring some legitimacy to the question. The seeds are being sown for a Reigns’ face turn some time soon.

WWE showed Brock Lesnar’s return last week, and him destroying Mark Henry and his interest in fighting for the WWE World Heavyweight championship!

Sin Cara vs. Alberto Del Rio

Cara made his way out first, followed by the former World Heavyweight champion, Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio started very aggressively, as Cara already defeated Del Rio twice before. Cara went for a pin early, but Del Rio kicked out. Cara went for an armdrag takedown turned into a pin for a near fall. Del Rio turned the tables and went for a chin lock. Del Rio pulled Cara down to the mat, but Cara took him down with a tilt – a – whirl leg scissors and a spring board elbow! Cara went to the top, but Del Rio avoided a Swanton and delivered a superkick to pick up the victory in just over 2 minutes!

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

Rating: *

Post match, ADR took the mic, and talked about Batista stealing his spot light from him. He said he would throw Batista over the top rope at the Royal Rumble, and said everyone would then talk about the Royal Rumble winner, Alberto Del Rio.

Analysis: That was a basic 2 minute match with both the performers getting their offenses in. Del Rio got the grudge victory over Sin Cara, and then drove the point home about the possibility of him winning the Royal Rumble. Is it possible? I don’t think so, but he has done it before.

Apparently Jerry Lawler had a stomach infection, and news came in that he was alright.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan talked about joining the Wyatt Family, and said he wanted to learn, to transform, and said he can also teach! He said he was a tag team champion before, and asked to team with one of them next week as Bray Wyatt watched him from the side.

The Real Americans (With Zeb) vs. Goldust and Cody Rhodes

Goldust started things off with Swagger, but Swagger tagged Antonio in. Goldust delivered an inverted atomic drop and a big right. Cody Rhodes came in and went for the cover early. Antonio came back with a huge clubbing blow, and Cody did his version of the cat on the ropes, and covered Antonio for yet another near fall. Goldust tagged in back, but Antonio took him to the opposite corner and tagged Swagger in. Swagger and Antonio took control over the match with some rights and knees to Goldust, and tagged Cesaro back in. Cesaro went for a cover but Goldust kicked out, as the fans started a “We The People” chant! Antonio with a chin lock, and tagged Swagger back in. They doubled teamed Goldust and went for the cover, but Goldust kicked out. Antonio with yet another chin lock, but Goldust fought out of it. Goldust went to the top and dropped Cesaro with a Hurricanrana! That was new. Cody came back, and went for a huge enziguri to Swagger on the outside, but Cesaro took advantage with a huge clothesline as WWE went into commercial.

Back from commercial, and Swagger was in control over Cody. Swagger went for a big splash as Cesaro delivered the double foot stomp over Cody for a near fall! Swagger tagged himself back in and held Cody down with a front facelock. Cody tried to fight out of it, but Swagger pulled back the control. Cody dumped Swagger out of the ring, but Cesaro came back and kicked Goldust off the apron. Cody dropped him with a big back drop, but Cesaro came back with an upper cut to the back of the head for a near fall. Swagger came back in, and Cody went for the Disaster kick, but Swagger countered it into the ankle lock! Cody tried to fight off, but Goldust made the save! Goldust tagged himself in and dropped Swagger with a spinebuster. Goldust dropped both the men with a crossbody, and delivered a power slam on Swagger for a close fall! Cody dumped Cesaro over the top rope, as Goldust delivered his finisher on Swagger to pick up the victory after 15 minutes.

Winner (s): Goldust and Cody Rhodes.

Rating: *** ½

Analysis: That was an outstanding match between two great teams! Goldust and Cody looked impressive, but I’m blown away by Goldust’s improvement over the years. He has gotten better with time, and The Real Americans held their own against the tag team champions. I would like to see Cesaro pursuing a singles career, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the duo holding the WWE Tag team titles and having a decent run. The tag team division needs more good teams, so that can happen sometime soon.

Backstage, Booker T met DDP, and they did a bit of comedy. DDP plugged – in his DVD, and Ron Simmons came in and delivered a “Damn”.

Damien Sandow vs. The Great Khali (With Ranjin Singh)

Ranjin Singh was back for the old school episode! The fans voted for Sgt. Slaughter to be the special enforcer for the bout, as the Sarge made his way down to the ring. Sandow drilled Khali with a punch, but Khali stomped him in the corner. Khali delivered a huge chop, and then another one in the other corner! Khali went for a chop, but Sandow rolled out of the ring. Sandow came back with boots in the corner, but argued with Sgt. Slaughter which gave Khali the window to make a comeback! Khali dropped him with some rights and clotheslines, and ended things with a chop, but Sandow’s leg was on the bottom rope!

Winner: The Great Khali

Rating: *

Post match, Sandow argued with Slaughter, and went for a punch, but Slaughter locked him in the Cobra Clutch! Khali and Slaughter danced to end the segment.

Analysis: I’d rather not say anything about the gross injustice being done to Damien Sandow, or how he has become a joke in the WWE. It was nostalgic watch Slaughter back in the WWE, and he still looks to be in great shape.

Top of the third hour, and out came Brock Lesnar along with Paul Heyman to a mixed reaction! He talked about Lesnar being the new number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight championship! Heyman said “old school” wasn’t about giving the legends their last hurrah, but old school is when one man reigns supreme, and the locker room challenges that one man to be at the top of the food chain. Heyman then dropped names such as Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin, all reigning supreme and being at the top. Heyman said that it didn’t matter who the WWE World Heavyweight champion was after the Royal Rumble, as Lesnar would be going after them, and take back the championship. Heyman said there was no one either in MMA or in the WWE to challenge Brock Lesnar.

Heyman then said Lesnar took out Mark Henry last week, and said it didn’t matter who challenged Brock Lesnar, as Brock would lay waste to them. Heyman then said Lesnar’s motto was “Eat, sleep, conquer, repeat”, and this brought out Mark Henry! Henry went at it against Lesnar, but Lesnar locked in the Kimura lock and broke Henry’s arm, similar to Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Lesnar stood over Henry as he screamed in pain, as the trainers checked on Henry. But Big Show came out as Lesnar backed up into the ring! Show made his way to the ring, but Lesnar escaped! Show stared down Lesnar as he made his way back up the apron. Heyman distracted Show for a second, as Lesnar tried to attack Show! Show threw Lesnar out of the ring, as Heyman stopped Lesnar from going back again! The segment ended with Show standing tall in the center of the ring!

Analysis: That was a great segment, showcasing Lesnar’s ruthlessness. This may lead to a program between Lesnar and The Big Show for the Royal Rumble, but I don’t think that would do much good to either one of the superstars. Lesnar is a marquee name, and he should be in a program with a marquee player. Nothing against The Big Show, but there are others who can benefit from fighting Brock Lesnar.