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My Thoughts on RAW (6/20/16): You Can't Flex With Us

  • We kick off the show with WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEAN. F*CKING. AMBROSE. Holy sh*t that feels so good to type. Ambrose stands in the ring as the crowd chants "YOU DESERVE IT!" Ambrose name drops the Cavaliers winning the NBA Championship (YES! YES! YES!), which the crowd boos, and then he says he didn't like them anyway because they were freakishly tall. He says Seth Rollins was the right guy in the wrong place, that what goes around comes around, and that hard work pays off. Ambrose says there he isn't having anymore hard times, and outcomes Roman Reigns too a chorus of boos. Those boos quickly die out, so Kevin Dunn is clearly working hard tonight. The two circle each other, and Reigns says last night was Ambrose's night, not his. He congratulates him, says he doesn't care if the crowd boos him for him, and asks how it felt to cash in on Rollins. The crowd chants "YOU CAN'T WRESTLE" at Reigns, which is very annoying. I don't like the guy...at all, but he definitely can wrestle. You can't honestly say his matches with guys like AJ Styles are ones where he's being carried. You don't have to like him, but you can at least acknowledge the guy is capable of putting on good matches. Reigns says he wants his rematch, but outcomes an angry Seth Rollins who tells Reigns to get to the back of the line and that Ambrose screwed him. He says at least he cashed in without blindsiding Reigns. Reigns & Rollins argue, and outcomes Shane McMahon. He congratulates Ambrose on his two wins last night, and says Reigns & Rollins should fight to see who faces Ambrose first. Rollins argues and asks what Stephanie thinks, but Shane says she's not at RAW, which the crowd pops for. Shane books Reigns vs Rollins for tonight and dances off. Great segment, although the fact that Rollins is still the heel is so dumb. Everybody loves him, and they keep doing things to book him as a face (the match promo package a few weeks ago the WWE 24 documentary, the beginning of his match last night). It makes no sense.
  • Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens-How Kevin Owens is still walking after that bump on the side of the ladder last night, I'll never know. The two brawl to start before Owens rolls out of the ring. Zayn rolls out, clotheslines him, and rolls him back in the ring. Owens rolls back out, Zayn follows and reverses a Irish whip for a barrier moonsault. Owens tries to escape through the crowd, but Zayn brings him back in. Owens catches a diving Zayn and drives him into the barricade. He rolls him back in the ring before a commercial break. We come back to the Headlock Master doing what he does best; headlocks. Zayn blocks a senton with his knees and makes Owens fall out of the ring. Zayn hits a big tope to the outside. Zayn goes to the top rope, but Owens meets him there for a superplex. Zayn blocks the attempt and jumps over Owens only to eat a Superkick for a two count. Zayn blocks the weird sort-of Package Piledriver Owens does and goes for a Helluva Kick, but Owens counters with a Superkick again. Owens goes for the Pop Up Powerbomb, but Zayn rolls him up for the win. Great match, could have been a bit longer. Afterwards, Owens attacks Zayn and threatens to Powerbomb him off the stage, but Zayn fights out and the two brawl. A bunch of referees run down to hold them off. This is still the best feud in WWE today.
  • After a commercial break, Owens & Zayn are still fighting, finally being restrained by referees, security, and Finlay.
  • Outcomes JOHN LAURINAITIS! BIG JOHNNY IS BACK! PEOPLE POWER IS BACK! He comes out in a amazing bright red suit with white shoes. He starts talking, but Shane comes out to ask what he's doing here. Big Johnny says he wants to run SmackDown, but Shane says he won't have a "Yes Man" running SmackDown, and says he's going to run SmackDown. Johnny agrees, and says he'll run RAW. Shane says to leave, and Johnny yells "PEOPLE POWER" one last time before running off.
  • Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs The Vaudevillians-Enzo & English start off in the ring, with English stomping away and beating down Enzo. The Vaudevillians work over until Enzo breaks free and makes the tag to Big Cass. Cass runs wild, hitting an Empire Elbow on English, a big boot on Gotch, and a fallaway slam on English. Enzo & Cass hit the Rocket Launcher for the quick win. That's concerning for the Vaudevillians, hopefully this isn't the end of their push
  • Outcomes AJ Styles. He says he should be happy that he beat John Cena, but that his win was tainted by Anderson & Gallows. He tells them to come out and apologize, or the Club won't continue. Gallows & Anderson come out, and Styles chews them out for cheating, and giving Cena an excuse for why he lost. They say they were trying to help, but Styles is having none of it and demands an apology. Anderson & Gallows apologize to Styles, and Styles tells them to apologize to Cena too. Styles asks Cena to come out, and Cena comes out and says Styles broke the contract. Anderson says Styles had no idea he & Gallows were coming out, and apologizes, but says they didn't sign any contract. Cena says Styles did anything he could to beat Cena, and says Styles isn't as good as he says he is. Styles fires the insult right back, and Cena says he respects the win, but not Styles. Styles says Anderson & Gallows did him a favor by giving him an excuse, and says Cena can fight any Club member he wants, except for himself. Cena says it doesn't matter, because it's still him versus the Club, so Styles picks Anderson for him.
  • John Cena vs Karl Anderson-Match starts with Cena in control. The Club left ringside, so Cena keeps looking down the entrance ramp for them. Cena dominates the majority of the match, quickly hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle and an AA, but the Club runs down for the DQ. So much for having a singles career in WWE, Karl Anderson. The Club beats down Cena, ending with a Styles Clash. It's really scary seeing Styles do the Styles Clash on Cena, considering his head almost touches the mat when he's hanging upside down. 
  • Backstage, JoJo interviews Seth Rollins. He says last night was about proving he was the best, that Reigns never deserved to be champion, and says Ambrose proved he was thief last night. He says he'll prove himself again tonight. 
  • Backstage, Renee Young interviews Becky Lynch. Lynch says all her friends turn on her, and she's done trying to figure out why people turn on her. Natalya attacks her from behind, and says she's going to take care of herself from now on.
  • Zack Ryder vs Baron Corbin-I swear to God if Ziggler comes out at any point during this match, I'm turning off the show. Corbin feigns an eye injury and gets a cheap shot on Ryder to start. Corbin beats him down for a bit, Ryder gets his spots in, including a nice dropkick off the ring apron, and hits a El-Bro Drop for a two count. Corbin slickly slides out of the ring off an Irish whip and quickly slides back in for a clothesline. Corbin punches Ryder down on a springboard attempt and hits the End of Days for the win.
  • THE WYATT'S ARE BACK! A new vignette plays for them. It's a shame he got injured when he did, it looked like he was set to have a big babyface run.
  • Backstage, Renee Young interviews Paige. She says she & Charlotte are strangers, but she gets mad that Renee is looking at Charlotte & Dana behind her. Paige says Charlotte won't let anyone else have the spotlight. Charlotte says last week's loss to Paige was Dana's fault, and that she was the star of Team PCB. Paige says the ring is her house.
  • Charlotte vs Paige for the Women's Championship-Wait, so Paige gets arrested and her punishment is getting a Women's Championship match? Damn, everyone should do that. Someone go tell Zack Ryder to go break the law, he'll get a WWE Championship match next week. The two go back and forth to start before Paige starts kneeing Charlotte in the face. Dana pulls Charlotte out of the ring, so Paige hits her, which allows Charlotte to hit Paige. Charlotte & Dana stand over Paige while Dana yells "SHE CAN'T FLEX WITH US!" as the two flex. Dana Brooke is the best. After a commercial break, we come back with Charlotte in control before Paige takes control. Paige hits about four superkicks and a Shining Wizard for a two count. Paige hits a fallaway slam, sets up Charlotte on the top rope, but Charlotte front suplexes her and hits a moonsault for a two count. The two exchange crucifix pins before Paige hits a Ram-Paige. Charlotte is out, but Dana pulls her foot on the ropes. Dana gets ejected, but it's enough of a distraction for Charlotte to hit Natural Selection for the win and to retain her title. Fine match, nothing special. I don't know what it was, but something about the finish looked really wonky. The two beat down Paige, but outcomes SASHA BANKS! She hits Dana and hits a backstabber on Charlotte. She holds up the title, but Dana blindsides her. She beats down Sasha, but Paige makes the save and the faces toss the heels from the ring.
  • Backstage, JoJo interviews Roman Reigns. Reigns says he's got nothing to prove tonight, and that he'll beat Seth Rollins. 
  • Another Wyatts segment, this time a promo. Bray says they're here and blows out the lantern. 
  • Outcomes The Wyatts. Luke Harper is still injured, so it's just Wyatt, Rowan, and Strowman. The fans chant "WELCOME BACK!" Wyatt says they were locked away, but they haven't forgotten what they stand for and that they are as strong as they've ever been. He gets interrupted by the New Day. Woods says the Wyatt's need to CUT IT! and they take a knee. Big E says Rowan has a big booty, and Kofi says the Wyatt's make everything negative instead of being positive like the New Day. Woods stares down Wyatt strangely, and Wyatt says the New Day will fall for interrupting him. He even says it to the tune of the New Day chant, with Strowman clapping behind him. That was pretty funny. He tells them to run to end the segment.
  • More "Life Lessons with Coach Backlund." Young says he's been reading poetry, and Bob Backlund says you should never take advice. Backlund then tells Young to do 100 high knees. Bob Backlund is still great.
  • Backstage, Renee Young interviews Titus O'Neil. He says tonight's not about anything except beating Rusev for insulting his children.
  • Rusev vs Titus O'Neil-Titus comes out all serious. The two have a long brawl to start, rolling out to ringside and throwing each other into barricades and poles. Titus clotheslines Rusev into the crowd, and Rusev flees
  • Chris Jericho is waiting in Shane's office for him. Jericho says Shane has it out for him and that he deserves to be the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship. He calls Ambrose a barbarian who shouldn't be champion, and calls Shane a stupid idiot. Shane threatens him, and Jericho says he'd rather work for Stephanie than Shane.
  • Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns for the #1 Contendership for the WWE Championship with Dean Ambrose on commentary-Reigns dominates early in the match, tossing Rollins around the outside . Reigns starts taking apart the Spanish announce table, but Rollins hits a diving neck-breaker back in the ring. Rollins takes control, stomping Reigns in the corner and hitting a dropkick for a two count. The two brawl at ringside before going back in, where the two quickly go back outside. Reigns dodges a dive by Rollins and hits a big boot before the commercial break. We come back to Rollins locking a sleeper hold in the ring. Reigns fights out and beats down Rollins with punches. Rollins flips up and hits an enziguri, and the two trade punches, before Reigns runs wild, hitting the corner clotheslines until Rollins counters and knees Reigns out of the ring. Rollins hits a suicide dive and brings him back in the ring, but Reigns school boys and lifts into a powerbomb for a two count. Reigns goes for a Superman Punch, Rollins counters into a Pedigree, but Reigns flips him and hits a Superman Punch off a springboard by Rollins. Reigns goes for a Spear, but Rollins blocks it with a kick. Rollins hits a springboard knee and a superkick for a two count. Rollins goes to the top rope, but Reigns dodges the Frog Splash. Reigns hits hanging dropkick and sets Rollins up on the table on the outside. Reigns goes for a powerbomb, but Rollins escapes and hits an enziguri. Reigns spears Rollins over the announce table, causing both men to barely get counted out. Shane comes out, and says there needs to be a #1 Contender. Ambrose says he'll fight both of them, and Shane books Ambrose vs Rollins vs Reigns for the WWE Championship at Battleground. Ambrose talks trash to both men and Reigns grabs him, but Ambrose hits Dirty Deeds and walks off, only to return and hit Rollins with Dirty Deeds as well.
And that's about it. Overall, an alright show. There wasn't a lot of wrestling, but good talking segments made up for it a bit.

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