This Week In WWE TV – April 14-20, 2014

This week: What was once old is now new again, as Evolution reunites to take on The Shield, not quite so much of a mystery ten years later. Meanwhile Kane decides it’s time to take the mask out of storage again, which is probably even less of a mystery. Plus, 2.5MB, El Torito versus Hornswoggle, the Intercontinental Title #1 Contender’s Tournament, a tribute to The Ultimate Warrior, Heyman reminds us who broke the streak a few times and modified Scorpion Cross Locks for all.

RAW

– The show started with a tribute video and a ten bell salute for The Ultimate Warrior with the roster on the stage. There were also career highlights of the Warrior shown throughout the show.

– Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament, First Round: Rob Van Dam d. Alberto Del Rio in 7:00. They showed Big E watching backstage. Back and forth match. One awkward moment where RVD missed on a kick off the second rope. Van Dam countered the cross armbreaker and after tripping Del Rio off the ropes causing him to hit the back of his head on the top turnbuckle, RVD won with the frog splash.

– Backstage, HHH and Stephanie told Batista and Orton wasn’t there tonight but they had a bigger problem with The Shield. HHH said he wasn’t sure if anybody could stop them, but Stephanie said she was looking at them. HHH said if they were on the same page, not even The Shield could stop them. Batista and Orton both told HHH he was on his own and they only cared about being champion. RybAxel d. Cody Rhodes and Goldust (Ryback pinned Cody) in 5:59. RybAxel cut off Goldust. Cody made a comeback and hit a dive on Ryback. Ryback countered a disaster kick with the meathook clothesline though for the win.

– Paige d. Alicia Fox by submission in 3:28. Alicia dominated to start, but Paige fought back and won with the modified Scorpion Cross Lock. Batista and Randy Orton d. The Usos by DQ in 4:09. Usos had Ultimate Warrior themed face paint and Warrior t-shirts, as many of the faces did. Usos attacked on the bell and hit a pair of dives. Orton and Batista took control but as Orton fought outside with Jimmy, The Shield appeared and attacked Orton. The Shield surrounded Batista and he tried to fight them off, but Reigns hit a superman punch knocking Batista out of the ring and he and Orton retreated. After the break Batista and Orton were shown walking backstage and HHH said he told them.

– Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament, First Round: Cesaro d. Mark Henry in 3:19. Heyman bragged, repeatedly, about Lesnar conquering the streak and showed photos from Wrestlemania before introducing Cesaro. Henry warned Heyman to stay out of his business before the match or he’d make him his business. Henry overpowered Cesaro early but Cesaro got some advice from Heyman. They showed Big E watching, again. Cesaro’s new strategy of hitting lots of european uppercuts worked much better and allowed him to hit the Neutraliser for the pin. This was well done.

– HHH and Stephanie told Brad to tell The Shield they had a match in the main event, but not to tell them who their opponents were. Alexander Rusev d. Xavier Woods by submission in 0:45 with the Accolade camel clutch. Truth attacked Rusev when he wouldn’t let go of the hold and Lana briefly held Rusev back, before telling him to hit Truth with a kick. Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament, First Round: Sheamus d. Jack Swagger in 6:55. Zeb’s distraction allowed Swagger to catch Sheamus off the apron and hit a big takedown slam on the floor. Big E was shown watching. Again. Sheamus made a comeback until Swagger got the ankle lock. Sheamus escaped and caught Swagger rolling back in the ring with a Brogue Kick for the victory.

– Sandow cut a promo, saying he was the most deserving person in WWE. Big Show interrupted but Sandow refused to stop talking. Sandow continued complaining and asked what Big Show had to say, but Big Show didn’t say anything. Sandow poked him in the chest, so Big Show hit a KO punch and then just left.

– The Wyatts came out. Bray cut a promo on Cena and called him out. Cena then came out and said he wanted to have some fun, which involved making fun of them and putting Photoshop pictures up on the big screen. Bray said Cena always did this when a serious threat got in his face. Cena then got serious and said when he got serious, Bray Wyatt got beat. He said the tables were turned this time and asked what happened if Bray lost again. He claimed Bray couldn’t back up what he said without Harper and Rowan and he challenged Bray to a cage match. Bray accepted and sung he’s got the whole world in his hands.

– Fandango and Layla d. Santino Marella and Emma (Layla pinned Emma) in 1:38. Fandango and Layla did an inset promo, telling Summer it was nothing personal and he didn’t blame Summer for falling in love with him. Santino went for the Cobra early but Layla tagged in. Layla won after pulling Emma off the middle rope, after Fandango distracted her and was knocked off the apron by Santino.

– Backstage, Stephanie criticised Kane for the job he’d been doing. She called him pathetic and berated him until Kane got angry and grabbed his mask out of the display box. He threatened Bryan in Kane like fashion and Stephanie smiled. Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament, First Round: Bad News Barrett d. Dolph Ziggler in 8:56. Some chants for Bad News Barrett at the start. Barrett took control after sending Dolph into the post, but he then posted his shoulder and Ziggler got back into it. Crowd got into this at the end for the back and forth finish. Barrett hit Wasteland but Ziggler kicked out. Ziggler then got a near fall with a fameasser and another after a top rope facebuster. Barrett hit the Winds Of Change for a near fall and teased the elbow. Ziggler ducked and got a roll up, but Barrett kicked out and countered a DDT before hitting the Bull Hammer to advance. After the match, Barrett said he had some Bad News and claimed he was the next Intercontinental Champion.

– 11 On 3 Handicap Match: The Shield versus Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Fandango, 3MB, Titus O’Neil, RybAxel, Alexander Rusev, Bad News Barrett went to a Double DQ in 3:09. The Shield managed to isolate Slater for a while before the heel team worked over Rollins. Ryback taunted Reigns and Ambrose but got speared by Reigns outside, which lead to a brawl breaking out. Ambrose and then Rollins hit dives onto everybody, before trying to fight everyone off. They got beaten down though. Once they’d been beaten down, Evolution’s music then hit and HHH, Orton and Batista came out. Evolution beat down Rollins, then when Reigns tried to make the save, Orton gave Reigns an RKO. Batista then gave Reigns the Batista Bomb, before they resumed beating down Rollins. Orton gave Rollins the RKO before Ambrose tried to make the save as Batista went for a Batista Bomb. Batista hit the Batista Bomb on Rollins, then Ambrose took a Batista Bomb RKO double team. Reigns tried to get up and HHH told him to believe in Evolution while Orton and Batista held him up, before giving him the Pedigree.

MAIN EVENT

– Los Matadores versus Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre of 3MB went to a no contest in 2:26 when El Torito and Hornswoggle interfered. Before the match, Jinder said El Torito was a bunch of bull and they had a mascot of their own, making them “2 and a half MB”, before Hornswoggle came out dressed like 3MB. Hornswoggle distracted Diego and avoided a gore from El Torito, leading to them brawling in the ring and the referee throwing the match out. Slapstick ensued, resulting in 3MB and Los Matadores suffering low blows. Torito and Hornswoggle then squared off and got in another brawl until Hornswoggle was sent outside. 3MB held Hornswoggle back and Los Matadores stopped Torito from hitting a dive.

– Bad News Barrett d. Sin Cara in 3:19. Before the match, Barrett had some Bad News for Sin Cara. Which could have been many things with Sin Cara involved, but was actually Barrett telling Sin Cara that his friend Scooby Doo couldn’t help him tonight because this wasn’t a cartoon, but he said Sin Cara was still a joke. Sin Cara hit a dive early on, but Barrett came back to win with the Bull Hammer.

– Tamina Snuka won a 10 Diva Battle Royal, last eliminating Natalya, to become the #1 Contender to the Diva’s Title at Extreme Rules.

Participants: Nikki Bella, Cameron, Naomi, Emma, Tamina Snuka, Alicia Fox, Aksana, Eva Marie, Layla, Natalya

Early eliminations were Eva by Layla, Emma and Aksana both by Nikki and Layla by Natalya after a missed crossbody off the second rope. Naomi hit a Rear View on Alicia before Tamina eliminated her, then eliminated Cameron soon after. That left Tamina, Nikki, Natalya and Alicia. As Alicia tried to pull Nikki out from the apron, Tamina intervened and eliminated them both. She then sent Natalya out with a superkick as she was climbing the ropes to win the battle royal and become #1 contender.

– Before the main event, Zeb called Cesaro a traitor but thanked him for validating what he’d been saying for a year, because “once a sneaky immigrant, always a sneaky immigrant”. He also insulted Heyman who he called “big, fat, obtuse, obnoxious, bald headed” and said he “couldn’t get a woman if his life depended on it”. We need Zeb and Heyman in a face to face segment. He called Big Show the poster child for American laziness and said he didn’t miss the Swiss. Big Show d. Jack Swagger in 6:10. Swagger worked on Big Show’s leg. Big Show fought back but Swagger countered a chokeslam and got the ankle lock. Big Show eventually managed to get out though and hit the KO punch for the win.

NXT

– Aiden English d. Colin Cassady in 4:05. Renee joined commentary for this show. English won with a roll up holding the tights. Devin interviewed Breeze, who insisted she read a personalised intro from his phone. Breeze said he didn’t have anything to say, he just thought this episode of NXT needed someone who was gorgeous. And then he left. Camacho d. Oliver Grey in 2:01. Camacho dominated, surprisingly, considering this was Grey’s first match back and won with a samoan drop.

– Devin interviewed Bo. Bo claimed the reason his Occupy NXT movement was “slightly underwhelming” was that his Bolievers were law abiding citizens and they didn’t want to do anything unlawful. He claimed the Bo Dallas hotline was ringing off the hook with support for the BO Movement and told Devin don’t stop BOlieving. The Ascension d. Wesley Blake and Cal Bishop (Konnor pinned Blake) in 2:20. The Ascension dominated Blake and Bishop didn’t even get to tag in, before Blake took the Fall Of Man for the pin.

– Devin interviewed Sasha and Charlotte about Sasha’s recent defeats. Charlotte interrupted Sasha and said giving her the reigns was an epic fail. She mentioned a tag match with Emma and a partner next week and said it was time someone with a little more ‘Flair’ took charge. CJ Parker came out. He said without the NXT Universe there’d be no litter in his streets, no animals in his zoos and no such thing as an SUV. Khali interrupted him though. Great Khali d. CJ Parker in 2:36. Crowd chanted for global warming during this match. Khali won with the Punjabi Plunge.

– In a backstage exclusive, Sami said he was fine and he could have hung in there against Graves, but he was looking forward to his six man tag team match next week. Sami said he didn’t like Graves and he needed to be put in his place before stating The Usos could expect him to be 100% next week. Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger d. Baron Corbin and Sawyer Fulton (Dillinger pinned Fulton) in 4:29. Dillenger and Jordan had matching tights and are apparantly an official team now. All four guys looked pretty good here. Dillinger and Jordan won with a double team DDT, similiar to MNM’s Snapshot.

– Adrian Neville d. Brodus Clay by count out in 6:33. Speed versus power match. Brodus was able to ground Neville for a while. Neville countered the powerbomb and fought back. Brodus avoided a 450 and hit a running headbutt, before slamming Neville on the floor. Neville avoided a splash off the ring steps though and beat the count back in. Neville prevented Brodus from getting back in the ring after the match.

SUPERSTARS

– Big E d. Titus O’Neil in 4:51 in a competitive match with the Big Ending and Los Matadores d. Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre (Diego pinned Jinder) in 7:15 in a Main Event rematch, but with Slater in 3MB’s corner and not Hornswoggle. 3MB worked on Fernando’s leg. Diego ran wild before a collision of heads with Jinder lead to Slater and Torito trying to out cheer the other. Slater ended up on the top rope and got crotched by Torito. Diego then pinned Jinder after a hammerlock DDT.

SMACKDOWN

– Big E d. Alberto Del Rio by DQ in 6:05. Big E did an inset promo saying only one of the four men in the #1 Contenders Tournament would have the opportunity to be dropped with the Big Ending. Big E speared Del Rio off the apron and took a rough landing himself. Big E then posted his shoulder, but caught Del Rio coming off the top rope and hit a backbreaker. Del Rio escaped the Big Ending and hit a backstabber for a near fall before putting on the cross armbreaker. And Big E got the ropes, but Del Rio apparently didn’t break before five and got DQed. They played it off like Del Rio accidentally didn’t break in time rather than him keeping the hold on deliberately, which might have been more unsatisfying. Decent match until the strange and not very satisfying finish. Presumably there was some reason behind it. Del Rio attacked Big E after the match, but Big E avoided a kneeling superkick and hit the Big Ending.

– HHH came out. He said nothing made him prouder than seeing talent succeed and The Shield were top of the list. HHH said he gave them too much power and The Shield crossed the line, so on Monday they paid the price. HHH talked about offering The Shield the chance to grovel at his feet because it was best for business and announced a six man tag between The Shield and Evolution at Extreme Rules.

– Heyman came out. He bragged about Lesnar conquering the streak again. Repeatedly. And by bragged I mean he said “my client Brock Lesnar conquered the streak” over and over again. And that was basically the entire segment.

– Paige d. Aksana by submission in 2:58. Tamina did an inset promo, saying the Divas Title would be around the waist of someone who deserved it at Extreme Rules, by any means neccessary. Before the match Aksana said all the divas were jealous of Paige, but she got lucky and her luck would run out tonight, then attacked Paige before the bell. Aksana took control after hitting a clothesline on the floor. Paige fought back though and won with the modified Scorpion Cross Lock again. Renee interviewed Sheamus. They showed footage of Batista using a chair on him three weeks ago. Sheamus said winning wasn’t about who hits the hardest, it was about who could get hit the hardest and kept going and last time Batista got his shots in, but tonight was his turn.

– El Torito d. Hornswoggle in 4:33. Hornswoggle had Jinder and Drew in his corner. Commentators were comically over selling the big fight feel. Hornswoggle hit a bottom rope bansai drop and a Stan Hansen lariat. Torito fought back though and gored Hornswoggle into the turnbucklers, then hit a bronco buster, before getting the win with a moonsault. After the break, Bad News Barrett and the return of his giant podium on a forklift had some Bad News, because the crowd applauding that match showed their low standards and how small their brains were.

– Alexander Rusev d. R-Truth by submission in 1:41. Truth started hot but Rusev blocked the Little Jimmy. And Rusev won with the Accolade camel clutch. Xavier tried to break up the camel clutch afterwards and was beaten down for his troubles. Fandango d. Santino Marella in 1:32. Layla stole the Cobra and Emma took her out, before Santino caught Fandango with a sunset flip for the pin. Santino put the Cobra on to chase off Fandango, but then when he and Emma high fived her arm went limp because it had been struck by the Cobra. Wrestling! How I love it so.

– In the main event, Batista d. Sheamus in 10:21. Brawl outside early. Sheamus was on top at the start until Batista kicked the steps into Sheamus and threw him into the barrier. Batista posted Sheamus’s shoulder, then gave him a slingshot under the bottom rope which looked really painful. Sheamus was able to reverse and post Batista’s shoulder before fighting back. He countered a Batista Bomb and got a near fall with a shoulder block from the apron. Batista kicked out after an Irish Curse backbreaker and avoided the cloverleaf. When Sheamus set up a Brogue Kick, Batista then rolled outside. And after ducking a second one Batista hit a spear for a near fall. Sheamus avoided another Batista Bomb but was crotched on the top rope, allowing Batista to finally hit the Batista Bomb for the victory. This got really good by the end. Best match Batista’s had since coming back, Wrestlemania aside of course.