WWE Raw results (10/14/13): Big Show helps Rhodes brothers win tag titles; CM Punk to face Paul Heyman, Ryback inside Hell in a Cell
Here's a rundown of the Oct. 13 edition of Monday Night Raw:
This edition of Raw came to us live from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
We started this week's show with WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, who will be the special guest referee for the WWE Championship match at Hell in a Cell between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton.
Michaels (or HB-shizzle) began his promo by thanking everyone who voted him into the position of being the special guest referee.
Michael once again brought up his personal feelings toward Bryan and WWE COO Triple H. He also brought up the fact that he's never liked Orton.
He said he can see why everyone's concerned about his role in the match, but the match isn't about him. It's about crowning a new WWE Champion.
Michael then talked about his experience in the Hell in a Cell match as he was in the very first one back in 1997 and it was apparently in St. Louis. What a coincidence.
He said the more he thought about Hell in a Cell the more and more glad he got about being retired.
Michaels went on to say that he saw the horrendous finish at Battleground and promised the fans that it would not happen at Hell in a Cell.
He even went as far as to guarantee that one man would walk out as the new champion.
As Michaels finished his sentence, the St. Louis native Orton walked to the ring. He grabbed a microphone and told Michaels that he was going to make his spiel quick because he had match coming up against The Miz.
He said that Michaels had all of the fans convinced. Orton then told Michaels, in a very babyface manner, that he was born and raised in St. Louis, which obviously drew a nice pop from the crowd.
Orton said that he knew the people of St. Louis a lot better than he did and said, in a great heel manner, that they are not all that bright, which drew a chorus of boos.
Orton then said that he could see right through Michaels. He said that Michaels resents him more than he dislikes him. He told Michaels that it didn't matter how great he once was, he will always be better than him.
Michaels shrugged that comment off and pretended he wasn't listening to Orton speak. Michaels then said that Orton doesn't need to worry about him. He needs to worry about Bryan.
Orton then said that he's not only going to beat Bryan, but he's going to destroy him at Hell in a Cell.
He then said that Michaels is going to have no other choice but to watch, enjoy and count to three.
Orton then told Michaels that everyone knows that he's no stranger to screw jobs (Montreal still hates Michaels) and said that they're practically his thing. Orton warned Michaels to not screw him over at Hell in a Cell.
Michaels told Orton that he's not going intimidate him and if tries to put his hands on him, he was going to kick Orton's head off.
Michaels then turned his back only to have Orton attempt to hit him with an RKO. Michaels fought out of it and attempted sweet chin music, but Orton ducked out of the ring.
Before Orton could leave, however, The Miz attacked Orton from behind until officials separated the two as the telecast went into commercial break.
Match 1 – Randy Orton vs. The Miz
After the break, The Miz was momentarily in control of Orton until Orton fought him off and got in some offense.
The two went back and forth until The Miz knocked Orton out of the ring. The Miz went for a drop kick through the ropes, but Orton ducked out of the way.
The Miz landed on his feet, but was met by clothesline from Orton. The Viper took control of the match from there.
Orton eventually attempted to hit his patented DDT from the barricade outside the ring, but The Miz countered and built up some momentum back inside the ring.
The Miz then went for the skull-crushing finale, but Orton countered. The Miz then backed Orton into a corner and kicked him in his hamstring area to set up the figure four.
The Miz eventually attempted the move, but before he could lock it in, the lights went out.
When they came back on, the Wyatt Family was standing at the top of the stage. The Miz was distracted long enough for Orton to hit the RKO and pick up the win.
Winner: Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt got on the microphone and told The Miz that he was the epitome of everything that he loathes in the world.
He asked The Miz what is it going to take to satisfy his craving, his obsession with fame and fortune.
He told The Miz that he didn't want to see him suffer anymore and that he was just going to put him down and out of his misery. That's probably the first promo from Wyatt that I've actually fully understood.
Match 2 – Fandango vs. Santino Marella
Fandango and Santino started the match with some comedic spots before Fandango gained the initial upper hand in the match.
Fandango held court for the most of the match until Santino finally mounted some form of a comeback.
Santino built up enough momentum to attempt the cobra, but Summer Rae distracted him, which allowed Fandango to roll him up for the pin.
Winner: Fandango
After the commercial break, Paul Heyman was in Brad Maddox's office and showed him footage of CM Punk hitting Ryback with a low blow at Battleground.
Heyman wanted Maddox to do something about CM Punk's transgression. Maddox told Heyman that he already gave Ryback a rematch with CM Punk at Hell in a Cell and wasn't sure what else Heyman wanted.
Heyman said he wanted a lot more than just a rematch. He said that CM Punk cheated on Maddox's watch and made him look ridiculous.
So to call it even, Heyman wanted the ability to choose the stipulation between CM Punk and Ryback. Heyman proposed a 2-on-1 handicap match for Hell in a Cell with Ryback and Curtis Axel against CM Punk.
Maddox said it wouldn't be necessarily fair for CM Punk, but still gave Heyman chance to have his wish granted. He proposed a beat the clock challenge where Ryback would face R-Truth and CM Punk would face Axel.
If Ryback beat the clock, Heyman would be able to choose any stipulation he wanted. However, if CM Punk beat the clock, he would be able to choose the stipulation.
Up next was a video package hyping the return of John Cena at Hell in a Cell where he will face Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Match 3 – 3MB (Drew McIntyre & Heath Slater) vs. Los Matadores
For the third week in a row, Los Matadores got to face a different combination of 3MB. This week, McIntyre and Slater were the unlucky tandem.
3MB weren't thoroughly dominated in this match as they were during the previous two, they still lost in rather quick fashion.
Winner: Los Matadores
After the match, El Torito got to do a pretty cool triple team spot with his tag team cohorts to Jinder Mahal.
After some commercials, Triple H came out with his wife Stephanie McMahon.
Stephanie McMahon got on the microphone first and said that after last week she learned to not let her kindness be taken for weakness.
She said that her and husband bought Big Show's mortgage and all he did to repay them was show them disrespect.
She went on to say that it's ok because they're going to sell Big Show's house and reposes anything worth of value he owns. She also said that they are formally pressing charges against him for trespassing and assault.
Stephanie McMahon said that reports of Triple H having a concussion and a broken jaw are false and that he was a 13-time world champion for a reason.
Triple H then took the microphone and said that rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
He then said that he became the COO of the WWE two years ago for all of the fans. He said took that position because he wanted to do what's right by the company despite all of the negative things that surrounds the position.
Triple H then said that despite all of that, the people still chanted yes while he was lying in the ring last week. That apparently pushed him past his breaking point.
He then said that if people want him to be the bad guy then he would indeed be the bad guy. Although he's clearly been the bad guy all along, but whatever.
Triple H then warned the entire locker room for if they crossed him in any way, they would beg for their jobs. After another yes chant, Bryan made his way into the arena and got the crowd going even more.
For whatever reason, Del Rio came out and attacked Bryan from behind. After Del Rio super kicked Bryan in the face, Stephanie McMahon got on the microphone and asked, "Oh, Daniel were you saying something? I guess you're finished."
She then told him that Del Rio was his opponent later in the show. Triple H then mocked Bryan's yes chant as the crowd chanted no.
Match 4 – R-Truth vs. Ryback – Beat the Clock Challenge
R-Truth started the match by taking a stroll around the ring, adding seconds to Ryback's time.
Ryback began to chase R-Truth and the combatants didn't get into the ring until about the 25-second mark. R-Truth got in and got right back out and ran around some more.
It wasn't until about the one-minute mark where R-Truth and Ryback actually began to work a match.
R-Truth jumped out of the ring again, but was distracted by Heyman. Ryback took advantage of the distraction by hitting R-Truth from behind and took firm control of the match.
Ryback spent of his time on offense trying to quickly pin R-Truth. R-Truth eventually made a comeback attempt and got in some offense on Ryback, including a couple of near falls.
R-Truth then went for the leg scissors, but Ryback countered it into the shell shock to pick up the win at 5:44.
Winner: Ryback
After the break, Stephanie McMahon was walking backstage when she bumped into the Bella Twins. She congratulated Brie Bella on getting engaged to Bryan.
She kind of made fun of the fact that Del Rio super kicked Bryan a couple minutes prior and then put her in a match with AJ Lee's bodyguard Tamina Snuka.
Match 5 – Tons of Funk vs. The Real Americans
This match had Antonio Cesaro swinging around someone written all over it.
Cesaro and Broadus Clay started the match as Clay assumed the early control. Clay then tagged in Sweet T and kept their momentum going.
Jack Swagger made a blind tag and immediately took out Sweet T's leg to get the big man down. From there, the Real Americans cut off the ring and worked over Sweet T.
After being beat on for a couple of minutes, Sweet T eventually got to his partner for the hot tag. Clay then jumped in the ring and began to clean house. Cesaro managed to get as hold of Clay, however, and put him in the neutralizer to pick up the win.
Winner: The Real Americans
After the match, Cesaro went to swing Clay around the ring, but Sweet T tried to break it up. Swagger jumped on him and took him down. Cesaro decided to pick Sweet T up instead and was successful.
Match 6 – Brie Bella vs. Tamina Snuka
Snuka is supposed to be Lee's big bag bodyguard, but Brie Bella threw her around in the early going of the match, which didn't make a lot of sense to me.
Eventually, Snuka used her power to gain momentum over Brie Bella. Brie Bella mounted a brief comeback, but Snuka put her away with a big boot right to the face.
Winner: Tamina Snuka
Snuka picked up Brie Bella after the match and put her in a Samoan drop. She then went to the top rope and hit a big splash a la her father Jimmy Snuka.
Lee then got in the ring and put here in the black widow submission.
After the break, Bryan stormed into Maddox's office as he and Stephanie McMahon were watching the new Goldberg DVD.
He asked Stephanie McMahon he would make life harder on his wife Brie Bella. Stephanie McMahon simply told Bryan to calm down and tend to his fiancée.
Match 7 – CM Punk vs. Curtis Axel – Beat the Clock Challenge
CM Punk went into the match having to beat Ryback's time of 5:44.
Surprisingly, Axel didn't take off and run away from CM Punk. He went right after him, which turned out to be bad move as CM Punk took the early control of the match.
Axel fended off CM Punk and was able to get in some offensive moves of his own. Cm Punk made a comeback and hit the big elbow drop from the top rope at the 2:18 mark, but Axel kicked out.
CM Punk then went for the GTS at the 2:00 mark, but Axel fought his way out of it. Over the next minute or so, CM Punk tried numerous pin attempts, but came up short every time.
Finally, with less than 30 seconds to go CM Punk hit the GTS and beat the clock with 11 seconds to spare.
Winner: CM Punk
Heyman walked up the ramp in disgust as CM Punk grabbed a microphone to announce his stipulation.
CM Punk said that Heyman would be proud of his choice. He said that he liked Heyman's idea of a handicap match, but with a change. It will be Ryback and Heyman against CM Punk — inside a Hell in a Cell.
Match 8 – Daniel Bryan vs. Alberto Del Rio
Bryan jumped on Del Rio from the outset as he was still fuming from getting beat down earlier in the night.
Del Rio withstood Bryan's initial onslaught and began to go back and forth with Bryan.
Bryan managed to hit his patented kicks to the chest, but Del Rio countered the last one into a back stabber and took control of the match.
Bryan fought Del Rio off and tried to go for his drop kick in the corner, but Del Rio stepped out of the way and reassumed control.
After a commercial break, Bryan is on the top rope as he attempted a diving head butt, but Del Rio managed to step out of the way again.
Del Rio went over taunt Bryan, but Bryan locked in the yes lock. Del Rio managed to break the hold by crawling to the bottom rope.
Del Rio cut off Bryan's momentum by hitting a back breaker. Del Rio then mocked Bryan's chant and backed into a corner.
Del Rio came out of the corner, but was met by a flying elbow from Bryan. Bryan's momentum was short-lived as Del Rio hit him with an arm bar.
Bryan fought off Del Rio once again in time to string together his big string of moves that concluded with a drop kick in the corner and a hurricanrana from the top rope.
Out of nowhere, Del Rio hit Bryan with a super kick. Del Rio charged at Bryan who was leaning against the ropes, but Bryan ducked and pulled the rope down, sending Del Rio spilling out of the ring.
Bryan then hit a suicide dive for god measure. Once back in the ring, Bryan hit a big drop kick from the top rope.
All of a sudden, Orton popped up on the big screen and called for Bryan's attention. Orton said that he saw what happened to Brie Bella earlier and said he was going to check on her.
Orton then walked into the trainer's room where Brie Bella was being tended to and closed the door. Screams then rang out from the room.
Bryan tried to go make the save, but Del Rio rolled him up for the pin. Bryan kicked out, however. Bryan tried to leave again, but Del Rio hit him with another super kick.
Bryan managed to hit Del Rio with big kick of his own and immediately took off for the trainer's room.
He was soon counted out, giving Del Rio the win.
Winner: Aberto Del Rio via countout
Bryan finally made his way to the trainer's room where he found the Bella Twins and the trainer, but no sign of Orton.
Orton then came and attacked Bryan from behind and threw him into the cold tub. Officials quickly ran in and broke up the beatdown.
After the break, The Shield made a rare appearance in Stephanie McMahon's and Triple H's office.
Triple H told them that their match against the Rhodes brothers was no-disqualification and that the gloves were off.
WWE then ran another video package about Cena, this time about his recovery process from his most recent injury.
Match 9 – The Shield (Seth Rollins & Roman Reins vs. Cody Rhodes & Goldust – WWE Tag Team Championship
Before the match, John Bradshaw Layfield and Michael Cole mentioned the fact that the Usos weren't very happy about being passed over for a tag team title match.
The Usos won a match a couple of weeks ago that earned them a future opportunity at the tag titles.
Apparently they weren't too happy about not getting their shot before the Rhodes brothers.
Rollins and Cody Rhodes started the match off with Cody Rhodes taking the initial control.
He quickly tagged in his brother Goldust and he kept the momentum going. Goldust made a quick tag as well and helped in a double team move onto Rollins.
The Rhodes brothers beat on Rollins for another couple of minutes before Reins clotheslined Cody Rhodes from outside the ring.
Rollins was finally able to mount some offense during the match as a result. The Shield began to cut off the ring from Cody Rhodes with quick tags of their own.
Cody Rhodes made a miracle tag to his brother Goldust, who began to take back the momentum.
Rollins used Goldust's momentum against him as he ducked under a cross body attempt. The Shield then took control of big brother.
Every time Goldust attempted to tag his little brother, The Shield had an answer for it. That was until Rollins went to the rope and mocked Goldust. But when he jumped off, the real Goldust countered it into a power slam.
Goldust was then finally able to tag in his little brother. Cody Rhodes took the tag and cleaned house in the ring.
Cody Rhodes did enough that he gained a near fall onto Reins, but Rollins broke it up. Goldust and Rollins then took their fight to the outside of the, leaving Cody Rhodes and Reins.
Cody Rhodes attempted the cross Rhodes to Reins, but Ambrose jumped him from behind. The official could not do anything as it was no disqualification.
The Shield then put the boots to the Rhodes brothers and laid them both out. Goldust had enough and picked up a steel chair and walloped all three members of The Shield with it.
Reins recovered quickly, however, and picked up Goldust's chair. He attempted to hit Goldust with it, but Goldust ducked, hit the ropes and hit a cross body onto the chair and Reins.
While they were both laid out in the ring, Rollins and Cody Rhodes went at it outside the ring. Rhodes attempted his disaster kick, but was caught by Rollins who then tossed him back first into the barricade.
Goldust and Reins were back up and going at it again in the ring. Rollins attempted to hit him with a knee from the top rope, but Goldust caught him with an atomic drop and knocked him out of the ring. Goldust then took Reins and himself out of the ring.
Ambrose then jumped on Goldust again, but Goldust just kept fighting off The Shield.
St. Louis was going crazy for this match and even gave it a "This is awesome" chant.
Out of nowhere, Reins speared Goldust through the barricade. Meanwhile, Ambrose put a chair in the ring with Cody Rhodes and tried to get Reins back into the ring.
All of a sudden, the crowd in St. Louis started to erupt as Big Show came through the crowd (in plain clothes this time) and hopped the barricade.
Ambrose grabbed a chair and went after him, but had the chair kicked back into his face and was knocked out soon thereafter.
Rollins was the next to be taken out as he was knocked out as well. Reins was the last one standing in the ring, but Cody Rhodes went for the disaster kick. Reins ducked under it, but he was met by a knockout punch from Big Show.
Cody Rhodes covered Reins and won the match to win the tag team titles with his brother. What a match.
Winners and NEW Tag Team Champions: Cody Rhodes and Goldust
After the match, Big Show walked through the crowd and did a yes chant with the fans. Triple H jumped in the ring and was furious.
As much as I enjoyed that match, something still tells me that Big Show is becoming the big star of this program and not Bryan.
Big Show is the one looking like the man of the people whereas Bryan is simply happy-go-lucky. I guess it would all made up for if Bryan wins the WWE title at Hell in a Cell, but who knows.