This week’s episode of RAW did its job at making WWE Fastlane pay-per-view sound appealing. Raw was all about adding to the feuds that will be competing this Sunday. The show opened up with a segment between John Cena and Rusev. Hats off to Lana for stating what the very thing that some of the WWE Universe are annoyed with when it comes to John Cena. Cena is always giving out the same speech he’s had for the past ten years. During this segment it was John Cena who had the upper hand and Rusev was the one who was left lying on his back.
Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose, as always, delivered tonight as the Lunatic Fringe. Recently Ambrose issued a challenge to the Intercontinental Champion Bad News Wade Barrett for a title match at Fast Lane this Sunday. Barratt initially refused but Dean Ambrose would take no for an answer.
Ambrose would go head to head against Luke Harper Monday night and rank in the pin fall. Later on in the night he would appear out of nowhere during Barrett’s match against Damien Mizdow. Ambrose attacked Barrett tied his arms around the ring post. Ambrose would retrieve a pin and used Barrett’s hand to forge his signature on the dotted line.
Lately there has been an uproar about this with critics. It’s been pointed out that this can’t be legal because it clearly isn’t and it was on live tv. Well this is the WWE and it isn’t the first time something like this has happened. We all remember the drive thru wedding between Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
Damien Mizdow and the Miz
Looks like Mizdow will be turning on Miz any day now. This past Monday night the Miz sat at ringside during Mizdow’s match against Bad News Barrett and did nothing but distract Mizdow. “The bell means stop!” Apparently Mizdow has been demoted from stunt double to personal assistant. Miz was constantly barking orders at Mizdow during the match and it started to get annoying.
Paige vs. Nikki Bella
Monday night the Bella twins stole Paige’s ring gear and Paige had no choice but to borrow clothes from one of Adam Rose’s Rosebuds. Paige walked out for her match against Summer Rae looking like she hopped of the game board for Candyland. Paige won her match against Summer Rae by getting her to tap out to the PTO. The Bella twins would then walk out to drop a segment but Paige cut them off and stated that she doesn’t need an outfit to make her look good. Paige promised Nikki Bella that she would win the WWE Divas Championship this Sunday.
Stardust
The growing friction between Gold Dust and Stardust lead to their father getting involved. In a segment backstage we saw The American Dream Dusty Rhodes give Stardust a talk about his actions towards his older brother in recent weeks. Stardust did not take in what his father was telling him as he would later turn on his brother after two lost their match against New Day.
Naomi and Jimmy Uso vs. Natalya and Tyson Kidd
Husband and wife vs. Husband and wife in this mix tag team mash up. Despite being just a filler match for the main event still to come, it was actually more an intense than expected. Natalya and Naomi put on a great match but it was Naomi who would get the win after getting out of a Sharpshooter and getting the upper hand. Naomi and Jimmy Uso would win via pin fall.
Darren Young
Darren Young made his return this past Monday night and found himself in a match against the Ascension. As Young started getting a brutal beatdown, Titus O'Neil made his way to the ring to help his former partner. It looks like the two have buried the hatchet on their rocky relationship as Young and O’Neil were able to fight off the new tag team. Looks like see ya later for Slater Gator.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins
Dolph Ziggler won his match against Seth Rollins Monday night but it would be a match against the Sell Out without interferences from somewhere. J and J security would step in but would eventually get themselves ejected from ringside. Ziggler would get the pin fall against Rollins. After a Superkick ZigZag combo J and J security rushed back into the ring to come to Rollins aid. Erik Rowan and Ryback would also get involved to fight off the members of The Authority.
Triple H cut a segment in the ring in response to Sting accepting his challenge last week. Triple H started to address the WWE Universe that he would beat Sting but was interrupted by his former Evolution member, Ric Flair. Ric Flair gave Triple H a warning about going up against Sting. Triple H, however, would not take Nature Boy's advice and even shoved him down to the mat. Triple H would then fire at Flair and the WWE Universe that he will beat Sting this Sunday at Fastlane.
Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan
After a week of having to be tag team partners Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan were finally able to build on their match for this Sunday as rivals. Reigns refused to say anything bad about Bryan in a backstage interview but that didn’t impress Bryan.
Roman Reigns would go head to head against Kane with Bryan sitting at ringside as guest commentator. During the match Bryan would cause a distraction by igniting a Yes! chant throughout the arena. The distraction caused a minor setback for Roman Reigns but he pulled through. Roman won the match but only via count out which doesn’t really build him as a worthy opponent for Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Reigns would return the favor for Bryan later on that night.
Daniel Bryan was set in a match against Big Show. Roman Reigns would walk out and sit at ringside to watch the match. Twice during the match Roman Reigns would cause a distraction outside the ring. Reigns was signing autographs, throwing out merchandise and even taking selfies. Reigns did this twice and after the second time Bryan managed to get Big Show to Spear Reigns to the floor.
Reigns may fall down but he doesn’t stay down. Reigns got up and entered the ring to attack Big Show. This cost Bryan the match and the two stood there face to face. A brawl broke out between the two men with fans chanting “Let them fight!” It took every referee to break the two men up. Finally! A decent build for the match between these two at Fastlane.