Edge, Christian. Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman & John Cena Open Up RAW
This week’s show opens up with a video package that begins with a look back at the 2011 retirement speech of Edge. Let’s not forget, Daniel Bryan has a major announcement for tonight. Could the two be related? We’ll find out on tonight’s RAW, the final edition of the show of 2014, live from Washington, D.C.
After the video package, Edge and Christian are introduced and this week’s guest hosts make their way out to the ring.
Their music dies down and Christian begins, explaining that he’s excited to be here hosting the final 2014 edition of RAW. He says they should do tonight’s show “E&C Style.” He says tonight there will be a very special “Peep Show.” As he goes to announcement his guest, Edge cuts him off and says it shouldn’t be the “Peep Show,” it should be the “Cutting Edge.”
Edge says tonight they’ll do the first ever, “Cutting Edge Peep Show.” Christian asks the audience what they think. They cheer. Edge says the first guest will be the self-proclaimed future of the WWE, Seth Rollins. Edge says Rollins will go one-on-one with Roman Reigns tonight. The crowd cheers. Christian then makes a match between Rusev and Dolph Ziggler will go one-on-one in a champion versus champion match. Christian mentions that Daniel Bryan will be here tonight. The fans break out in an enormous “Yes!” chant. Very big one. Edge says he will be out here later to address the WWE Universe on his future. Edge and Christian give Washington, D.C. a very special five-second pose. He says for the benefit of those with flash-photography.
Before they can do their pose, however, Brock Lesnar’s music hits and out comes the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, alongside his advocate, Paul Heyman. The two make their way down to the ring to confront Edge and Christian.
Lesnar music cuts and Heyman begins by introducing himself. He questions why a man with a broken neck and another man with far too many concussions would swim in the shark-infested waters that are inhabited by the biggest, most unmerciful predator in the WWE Universe, the reigning and defending WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar. Heyman tells them, “go ahead, make a move.” He says they know they can’t because one wrong move and they could end up in a wheel chair. Heyman says he wants to make it clear. Lesnar does not want to end the career of two men whose careers are already over. He says his client wants to conquer the virgin neck of everyone’s hero, John Cena. He talks about the final chapter and how at the Royal Rumble, it will be the last time Lesnar faces Cena.
Before he can continue, John Cena’s theme music hits and out he comes to a huge mixed reaction. Cena’s music cuts and he and Lesnar stare at each other. Lesnar smirks. The fans break out into a dueling “let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks” chant. Lesnar smirks again. Cena says the only reason he’s not gonna knock Lesnar into 2015 is because he doesn’t want him limping into Royal Rumble with an excuse. Cena promises to take the title at Rumble. He says he has a gift for Heyman. He goes to attack Heyman but Lesnar comes after him. Cena notices, however, and quickly hoists him up for an Attitude Adjustment. Lesnar escapes out the back door and he and Heyman spill out to the floor and back off. Cena takes his shirt off and stares them down from inside the ring. On that note, Cena’s music hits, Lesnar and Heyman make their way to the back and we head to our first commercial break of the evening. Up next is our champ vs. champ match.
Champion vs. Champion Match
– Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Rusev (c)
We return from the break and Lilian Garcia introduces Dolph Ziggler. The WWE Intercontinental Champion makes his way to the ring. Out next is the WWE United States Champion Rusev, who makes his way to the ring with Lana.
I’m assuming this is not a title unification match, because they aren’t selling it as that, but they do keep referring to this as a “champion vs. champion” match, assuming that means just what it says, two champions are competing against each other in a match.
Either way, the bell rings and here we go with our first match of the evening. The fans immediately break out into a “U.S.A.” chant.
Rusev starts off strong, charging right at Ziggler and immediately over-powering him. The fans start chanting “let’s go Ziggler” so he starts firing away with punches. Rusev cuts his offensive momentum short, however, and knocks him down to the mat with a big clothesline. He follows that up with several quick standing-elbow drops to the chest of Ziggler.
Rusev puts Ziggler in a lengthy choke-hold, but Ziggler uses the top of his head as a jawbreaker to break the hold. Ziggler hits a big DDT on Rusev and is now taking over control of the match. Lana freaks out on the outside of the ring as Michael Cole takes us to a mid-match commercial break.
When we return from the break, we see Rusev taking it to Ziggler in the ring as Lana smiles at ringside in approval. We see highlights of Rusev beating on Ziggler during the break via the WWE App, all-the-while Rusev continues his attack in the ring.
Rusev catches Ziggler coming off the top with a splash attempt, but Ziggler slides out the back door befoee Rusev can slam him down. Ziggler heads back up to the top rope and comes off with a missile dropkick, taking Rusev out in the process. Moments later, he nails him with his FameAsser finisher. He covers him, but Rusev manages to kick out at two. Both guys are down now as the referee begins his count.
Ziggler goes for the Zig-Zag, but Rusev avoids it. Ziggler goes for the super kick, but Rusev avoids that as well. Ziggler goes for the super kick again, and this time he hits it. He covers Rusev, but Rusev again kicks out at two. Both guys are down now and are slowly making their way back to their feet.
Ziggler comes charging at Rusev but Rusev takes him out by kicking at his injured knee. The rams him shoulder-first into the ring post from inside the ring. He begins stomping away at Ziggler. The ref tries to break them, but he won’t stop. He continues stomping Ziggler and won’t stop, so the ref calls for the bell. Rusev is being disqualified and the fans are boo’ing.
Winner via DQ: Dolph Ziggler
After The Match: Ryback To The Rescue
After the match, Rusev screams out and goes after Ziggler. He’s got Ziggler in the Accolate while Ziggler’s throat and arms are caught on the bottom rope. Several refs come out to try and break Rusev off of him, but they can’t.
Finally, Ryback’s music hits. Ryback hits the ring and nails Rusev with a Meat Hook Clothesline. He knocks him out of the ring. He’s all fired up and he and the fans both do a big “Feed Me More” chant as his music plays and Rusev and Lana retreat to the back. We head to commercial.