Lumberjack Match Between Cena and Rollins
Seth Rollins starts off in control. All of the Lumberjacks are heels and Rollins works at his neck. John Cena tosses Seth Rollins to the outside and we head to a commercial break. We come back from break and both men punch away. Cena hits some shoulder blocks and then tries a Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena hits a side slam and a fist to his fist. John Cena connects with an AA and all Lumberjacks pull him away. John Cena flies and takes out all the heels. He throws Rollins back into the ring and gets another two count.
Seth Rollins heads up top but gets caught by Cena. Rollins rakes his eyes and then hits a sunset flip into a corner powerbomb. He gets a two count and Seth Rollins is upset at the referee. Both men exchange blows. Seth reverses it and hits a reverse neckbreaker for a close call. John Cena hits another AA and all the Lumberjacks attack Cena. Cesaro hits a swing on him into the barricade. He reverses a Curb Stomp and locks in the STF. Big Shows hit a Knockout Punch and the heels throw him back into the ring. Seth Rollins picks up the win.
The first 35 minutes of WWE Raw features a storyline that has NOTHING to do with the main event of Royal Rumble. Aside from that, this was a really good opening. The Lumberjack match was more entertaining than most because of the dynamics of John Cena trying to overcome everyone on the outside. I just wonder if WWE really cares about the championship match in less than two weeks. Wouldn’t you want to use your champion as much as possible on his part-time schedule?
Cesaro and Tyson Kidd vs. The New Day
Cesaro tosses Kofi up and Tyson hits a big kick. Kidd gets into the ring and applies some submission moves. Cesaro gets back into the ring and they double team Kofi. Cesaro hits an uppercut and then another. Kofi rolls up for a two count. Cesaro hits a Cesaro Swing and Tyson Kidd connects with a dropkick as he is spinning. Kofi fights out of multiple kicks and punches from both men and is able to get to Xavier Woods. He hits a hammer drop and then a spinning kick to Kidd’s stomach. Adam Rose distracts Woods and Tyson Kidd rolls him up. Kofi hits a big double stomp for the win.
This was not a bad match, even though I disagree with who they decided to win. I still do not really get Rose’s involvement with Cesaro and Kidd, but I do think that their tag team has plenty to look forward to. They should have won. They are better. They connect more. They have a brighter future.
