The February 24, 2014 Edition of RAW is a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE's RAW brand, which took place on February 24, 2014 at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It featured the return of The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan.
Summary[]
He's back, brother. Seven years after Hulkamania last ran wild in WWE, The Immortal One himself, Hulk Hogan, returned home to the unmitigated delight of the WWE Universe.
The Hulkster's first address to the WWE Universe – boa wrapped around his neck, biggest arms in the world proudly on display – was brief, but its effect was still incredibly profound. On a day when WWE both celebrated its history and paved the way for its future with the launch of WWE Network, the presence of Hogan proved very much appropriate, and the WWE Universe was more than happy to welcome him back into the fold. And, needless to add, he's already Hulking up over the prospect of hosting WrestleMania 30. So, once more with feeling: Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?!!
Against all odds and in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity, Alberto Del Rio's trickery couldn't get him that long-elusive leg up on Batista at Elimination Chamber. But that was then, and this is now. Despite being Batista Bombed into oblivion, Del Rio saved face the next night on Raw, although he had a serpentine Samaritan to thank, in part, for the win.
Del Rio zeroed in on the same leg he had targeted the night before to gain an early advantage, sweeping The Animal onto the edge of the apron. A superplex from Batista turned the tide against “Mexico’s Greatest Export,” and another Batista Bomb seemed inevitable ... until Randy Orton's music hit and Del Rio capitalized with a speedy roll-up.
With his No. 1 contender as a captive audience, Orton attempted to needle his former teammate by mocking the WWE Universe's frosty reception of his return. However, Batista invited the criticism and warned his former running buddy he wasn't getting off the hook quite so easily.
All Real Americans know that their colors don't run. That said, a fuming Jack Swagger certainly let his emotions get the better of him, and they treaded over Cesaro's efforts against Intercontinental Champion Big E in the process.
Cesaro, attempting to do what Swagger could not at Elimination Chamber and defeat the Herculean champion, seemed right at home against the powerful titleholder, though a pair of belly-to-belly suplexes diminished his enthusiasm early on. The challenger attempted to subdue Big E with holds after powering him to the mat, but both Superstars tapped into their inner fighters as the match went on, ditching wrestling moves for straight-up strikes.
After Cesaro sent a stunned Big E for a ten-rotation Cesaro Swing, Swagger – who had eaten a Big E clothesline at ringside only moments before – stormed the ropes and trapped the champion in the Patriot Lock. The interference stopped the match as a result, though Big E's attempt at post-match retribution was met with a vengeance by Cesaro, courtesy of an earth-shaking Neutralizer to the Intercontinental Champion.
For the second consecutive pay-per-view, John Cena found his chances at main-eventing WrestleMania dashed by The Wyatt Family. Therefore, the 14-time World Champion put aside his aspirations of title glory for one night and demanded that The Eater of Worlds answer for his actions on Raw.
Cena's bravery ended up costing him, however. Despite daring Wyatt to come get some, the Cenation leader found himself handily overpowered by the Family, who targeted his leg and left him a writhing heap on the mat. Bray then landed a final, running elbow to Cena's face that put him down and in need of medical attention. The buzzards are here.
The days of Christian asking for one more match are over; now he's just looking to fight anyone that looks at him sideways. That evidently includes Sheamus, who found himself tossed from the Elimination Chamber by Captain Charisma, then nearly threw down with the former World Heavyweight Champion on WWE Network's live Raw Pre-Show until Raw General Manager Brad Maddox stepped in to play peacemaker.
Christian's mean streak in the subsequent match stayed strong in the face of the Irishman; he seemed eager to resume their brawl from last night and immediately blasted Sheamus with three slaps to the face. The Celtic Warrior responded with manic enthusiasm and a lengthy beating followed, though Captain Charisma found his footing by tripping Sheamus up on the turnbuckle and laying into his tenderized gut with punches, a headbutt and a bear hug.
The former World Heavyweight Champion escaped the Cloverleaf and continued to target Sheamus’ midsection en route to an apparent win. Alas for Christian, a well-timed Brogue Kick cut Captain Charisma down in the midst of a top-rope attack for the three-count. Close one, fella.
If Daniel Bryan can't have The Authority's crown jewel in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, he has made it clear that he wants a piece of The Authority itself, challenging Triple H to a match at WrestleMania. But if he can't have that – and according to Triple H, he can't – he'll have to settle for a one-on-one match with WWE's Director of Operations and Bryan's former tag team partner, Kane.
The two former World Champions were alongway from hugging it out in Green Bay; Bryan targeted Kane's right knee, The Devil's Favorite Director of Operations zeroed in on the “Yes!” man's already-aggravated shoulder, and they were both a mess before long. Bryan, as ever, powered his way into the advantage in a display of what he's capable of doing to anyone The Authority throws at him. He kicked out of one chokeslam, escaped a second one and finally obliterated Kane with a running knee to close the match.
The only thing stronger than Bryan's efforts were his words after the match, in which he labeled Triple H a “coward” and demanded he honor the WWE Universe's wishes to see the two collide at The Show of Shows. Will Triple H say ... “YES”?
Let the #EMMAlution begin: Just three days before she challenges for the NXT Women's Championship on NXT ArRIVAL, Emma made waves on the main roster by defeating her rival Summer Rae on Raw. Summer didn't take kindly to Emma's dancing, knocking the newcomer to the mat with a roundhouse to the face and forcing her against the ropes in front of Emma's budding paramour, Santino Marella. A second kick didn't find its mark, though; Emma blocked the strike and threw Summer to the ground before applying her signature “Emma Lock” for a tapout victory. Time to dance, WWE Universe.
Oh, you should have known that The New Age Outlaws hadn't lost their veteran trickery, especially after they employed some well-timed misdirection to thwart The Usos’ challenge to their comeback reign as WWE Tag Team Champions at Elimination Chamber. Thing is, The Usos can also throw down when necessary, and they didn't waste any time in targeting Road Dogg & Billy Gunn the following night on Raw, jumping The Outlaws only seconds into the duo's customary greeting to the WWE Universe.
Road Dogg had just to announced himself and Gunn as "The New Age Outl—" when he ate a rather enthusiastic superkick from Jey Uso. Meanewhile, Jimmy laid out Billy Gunn and followed up with a – two words for ya – Superfly Splash. They didn't win the titles, but the message was still clear: Two can play that game.
The Wyatt Family won the war against The Shield at Elimination Chamber 24 hours earlier, though a late-game rally by Roman Reigns nearly pulled the match out of the fire for The Hounds of Justice. Therefore, it was only fitting that Reigns was fixing for some payback against The Eater of Worlds himself on Raw.
A giant slap from the Superstar he dubbed “a fascinating creature” briefly left Bray Wyatt reeling. “The Man of 1,000 Truths” recovered quickly, however, and delivered some punishing strikes of his own to the former WWE Tag Team Champion, flattening Reigns with a running cross body. Dodging a splash into the turnbuckle, The Shield's juggernaut battled back and started to roll, though the rest of The Wyatts arrived before he could administer the Superman Punch. Reigns’ Shield teammates stormed the ring to even the odds, allowing their powerhouse partner to unleash his “secret weapon.” Unfortunately, Dean Ambrose's zeal proved costly when he jumped Wyatt, bringing the bout to a sudden halt and saddling his fellow Hound with the disqualification loss.
Brock Lesnar, despite his demands to the contrary, is not the No. 1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, The Anomaly received the first-ever “open contract” to name his own opponent at WrestleMania 30. With Paul Heyman, as ever, acting as his mouthpiece, The Beast Incarnate condemned the offer as little more than a “consolation prize” for a Superstar who demanded nothing less than history to conquer.
Enter The Undertaker. The gatekeeper of WrestleMania's sole, unbroken winning streak returned after nearly a year's absence and got right in the face of The Beast Incarnate, to the overwhelming delight of a raucous live crowd in Green Bay. Lesnar immediately put pen to paper and offered The Deadman the opportunity to sign as well – which he did, in a fashion. The Phenom drove the pen through the back of Lesnar's hand and chokeslammed him through a table, leaving him so dazed he refused to answer Renee Young's questions on WWE Network's Backstage Pass. Signed in blood and set for The Show of Shows. The devil himself couldn't have asked for more.
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the lengththe match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Alberto Del Rio defeated Batista (9:33)
- Big E defeated Cesaro (w/ Jack Swagger & Zeb Colter) by disqualification (15:45)
- Sheamus defeated Christian (15:47)
- Daniel Bryan defeated Kane (15:40)
- Emma (w/ Santino Marella) defeated Summer Rae (w/ Fandango) (3:30)
- The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) defeated The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn) (1:15)
- Bray Wyatt defeated Roman Reigns by DQ (13:56)
Other on-screen talent[]
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