Monday Night Raw – March 30, 2015: Title This Whatever Mr. Lesnar Prefers It To Be Called
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Night Raw
Date: March 30, 2015
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Booker T., John Bradshaw Layfield
Opening sequence with no recap from last night.
John Cena has issued an open challenge for the US Title and Daniel Bryan is defending the Intercontinental Title against Dolph Ziggler.
Intercontinental Title: Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler
Daniel wrestles him to the mat for some hard forearms but Ziggler changes control and hammers away, only to get kicked in the face to break it up. This is starting to get physical. They head into the corner with Bryan firing off some kicks and a hard forearm to the face, setting up the surfboard. Back up and Ziggler fires off a cross body to put both guys on the floor as we take a break. We come back to Bryan fighting out of a chinlock and hitting the running dropkicks in the corner. Those things just look good.
Both guys crotch themselves on top and Bryan nails a belly to back superplex for two. The YES Kicks look to set up the YES Lock but Ziggler counters into a pinfall reversal sequence, followed by sending Bryan shoulder first into the post. The running knee is countered by a superkick for two and the fans give them a standing ovation. It was good but a standing ovation? Really? They slug it out from their knees before turning to headbutts, only to have Bryan get knocked backed and come back with the running knee to retain at 11:53.
Seth Rollins has arrived.
We recap the Hall of Fame inductions.
Cesaro/Tyson Kidd/Ascension vs. New Day/Lucha Dragons
Woods is the odd man out here. We have our first NXT callup of the night with the Lucha Dragons of Sin Cara and Kalisto. The fans of course chant NXT as Cara and Cesaro get things going with the fans switching to Cesaro. He takes Cara down to start but gets caught in La Mistica for two. Off to Kalisto for some kicks at the arm before a HUGE backflip into a multi-spin headscissors, sending Cesaro out to the floor.
Video on Neville (no Adrian) but no date for his debut.
WWE World Heavyweight Title: Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins
Stardust vs. Damien Mizdow
Miz runs in and hits the Finale on Mizdow before talking a lot of trash.
Video on how Wrestlemania took over the Bay Area and the media appearances last week.
Curtis Axel says the entire roster is jealous of Axelmania. It took 29 men to eliminate him from the battle royal, but the road to Axtreme Rules stars right now.
Neville vs. Curtis Axel
Neville now has a hooded cape and is billed as the Man That Gravity Forgot. Axel goes right for him before the bell and gets a HUGE springboard moonsault to the floor. Back in and we get the opening bell as Neville starts speeding things way up with the front flips and some running forearms. Kicks to the ribs and a running kick to the face set up the Red Arrow for the pin at 1:13. Total squash.
We recap Lesnar attacking the announcers.
US Title: John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose
AJ Lee/Paige/Naomi vs. Bella Twins/Natalya
Sheamus/Barrett vs. Bryan/Ziggler on Smackdown. Cena, Orton and Reigns will be there in some capacity as well.
Rusev vs. Goldust
Ryback/Randy Orton/??? vs. Kane/Big Show/Seth Rollins
In a very obvious choice, the third man is Roman Reigns. Kane and Ryback get things going with Ryback shrugging off some right hands and hitting the spinebuster. An early Meat Hook attempt sends the Authority to the floor but Reigns dives on all three of them for a huge crash (beating from Brock Lesnar anyone?) as we take a break. Back with Kane getting stomped in the corner before Ryback suplexes him for two. Off to Rollins vs. Orton with the new champ getting uppercutted in the corner. A spinning kick to the face gets two on Randy as the fans chant HOW YOU DOIN.
Big Show comes in and gets a PLEASE RETIRE chant. Back to Kane for a chinlock followed by a big boot for two. The Wave breaks out and the camera actually follows it around. Rollins tells the crowd to suck it but Orton counters what looked to be a tornado DDT into a superplex. Fans: “WE ARE AWESOME!”
Results
Daniel Bryan b. Dolph Ziggler – Running knee
New Day/Lucha Dragons b. Ascension/Tyson Kidd/Cesaro – Salida Del Sol to Viktor
Damien Mizdow b. Stardust – Skull Crushing Finale
Neville b. Curtis Axel – Red Arrow
John Cena b. Dean Ambrose – Attitude Adjustment
Paige/AJ Lee/Naomi b. Bella Twins/Natalya – Rear View to Nikki
Rusev b. Goldust – Accolade
Roman Reigns/Randy Orton/Ryback b. Kane/Big Show/Seth Rollins – Spear to Kane
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