WWE RAW retort - Bryan and Orton steal the show again

Yet again the crowning glory of RAW was Daniel Bryan. Actually, not just Bryan, but Bryan and Orton. I didn’t know if I would ever be impressed with Orton again as he has continued to shoot himself in the foot with Wellness Violations, but last week he stole my heart when he extended his hand to Bryan, pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the forehead. We were all lucky, especially Bryan, that he only had a stinger last week and wasn’t really injured, and I was worried when it was announced that they would be in a Street Fight, that they might go easy on each other.

My worry was for naught as those two men threw down in a way I never thought possible. Now, I’ve know for years, well before he came to the WWE, that Bryan was one tough little man, but I never thought I’d see Orton go to Bryan’s level. Those two men took everything they’ve been giving us the past couple months and wrenched it up a thousand percent. They hit moves, and worked more creatively than we’ve seen from Orton in years.

When Bryan first came into the WWE, he was really humbled, and treated rather sadly, especially in NXT as Miz’s Rookie. Then when Bryan was fired for working in a way he wasn’t told he couldn’t work, I was worried that was the last we were going to see of the man. Yet he returned quickly, and the matches he had with Jon Moxley while he was out were so recognized for their awesomeness that he was brought in, and is now the WWE United States Champ, so something fantastic came from Bryan’s time away.

But honestly, I never thought I’d see the WWE allow Bryan to work to that level, and I’m blown away by the fact that it’s happening. There’s only one thing that I worry about which happened in that match – the unprotected chair shot to Bryan’s head. The WWE is really becoming aware of the issues behind head injuries, and the last time there was an unprotected chair shot in the WWE, the people involved were fined $25,000 (or the WWE claimed they were fined, but as it was Triple H and Taker, they’re two of the few in the company making enough to get fined that amount and being able to afford it). I’m not sure what’s going to happen with the chair shot to the head, but I don’t see the WWE ignoring that it happened.

Then there was the way the main event ended. Bryan with the crossface on Orton; the crossface with a kendo stick was just sick. Whenever I see Bryan lock on the ‘NO! Lock’, I automatically think back to the man who made the crossface famous. But then Bryan took it to a whole new level in this match! These two men left it all out there physically, then they left it out there emotionally.

Orton offering his hand, Bryan shaking, then Orton leaving the ring looking so emotional choked me up, but then Bryan on his knees in the ring, looking so emotional himself, he actually reminded me of one of the men who trained him – HBK at WrestleMania XII. Bryan didn’t have a belt in his hands after this match, but he brought me back to HBK winning the WWF Title for the first time, and the emotion was very similar. It was a beautiful moment to end another fantastic RAW. If the WWE keeps this up, we might see the return of the glory days of pro wrestling. Could Bryan be as big as Stone Cold Steve Austin? From what he’s been showing us, I’d have to say Yes! Yes! Yes!

Thanks for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and feeling about RAW.