WWE RAW Opener:
RAW opens with a recap video highlighting everything that went down in the absence of The Authority last week. Big E. Langston vs. Curtis Axel for the WWE Intercontinental Championship is announced for tonight, as well as a 12-man tag-team main event featuring CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, The Usos, and Goldust & Cody Rhodes vs. The Wyatt Family and The Shield.
In-Ring Segment: The Authority, Randy Orton, Brad Maddox & Vickie Guerrero
Triple H’s music hits and down comes The Authority, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. HHH talks about how vital The Authority’s presence is at RAW each week. He says that was proven in their absence last week. He talks about being disappointed in how RAW turned out last week. HHH says Brad Maddox and Vickie Guerrero will be dealt with tonight. Stephanie McMahon says the great news is that they are incredibly well rested and they’re back. She says this Sunday is Survivor Series. With that said, Randy Orton’s music hits and out comes the WWE Champion. Orton doesn’t look pleased as he heads to the ring. Orton blames Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for not spelling out who was supposed to remain in charge. He says they didn’t make sure to tell The Shield not to watch his back last week. He says they’re the ones who gave Big Show an undeserved title shot. He holds them directly responsible for being chokeslammed through the table last week. He says they should be protecting their most valuable asset, the face of the WWE, a little bit. Stephanie says he’s probably right. Orton says he probably won’t be able to beat Big Show by himself at Survivor Series, so he asks them what they plan to do about it. HHH yells and asks who he thinks he’s talking to. He says the face of the company. HHH says he means the face of their company. Stephanie continues to talk and we hear Vickie Guerrero say “excuse me” in a very soft voice. Brad Maddox and Vickie come out to the top of the stage. Brad says last week was all Vickie’s fault. HHH says it doesn’t matter who’s at fault, they all have to pay tonight. Stephanie says with all the handicap matches they made last week, they’ve become desensitized to how difficult it is to compete week-in and week-out. Because of that, they will both compete in matches tonight. Vickie will go one-on-one with the Divas Champion, AJ Lee. Brad will go one-on-one with the WWE Champion, Randy Orton. Their match is no disqualification. And that match is right now. HHH says “that’ll do.” Brad turns to run away but is stopped by Kane. Kane forces Brad to turn around. HHH’s music hits and The Authority head up the ramp. We head to our first commercial of the evening.
No Disqualification Match:
Randy Orton vs. Brad Maddox
We return from commercial and the bell rings. Maddox, still in a suit, is out on the floor while Orton is in the ring staring him down. Maddox has his suit coat off, but is still wearing a button up shirt and dress pants. Maddox runs behind the announcers and grabs a mic. Maddox tells Orton he doesn’t have to do this. Orton chases him down and grabs Maddox. Maddox blasts Orton with the mic. Orton drops. Maddox shoves Orton into the ring post. Back in the ring, Maddox nails Orton with a DDT while Orton was on his knees. Maddox quickly covers Orton and gets a two count. Orton is finally recovering and he does the slow head-turn and looks at Maddox. Orton grabs Maddox and throws him out to the floor. Orton throws Maddox across the announce table. Orton slams Maddox into the ringside steps. He tears Maddox’s shirt off and chops him. Orton drapes Maddox across the ringside barricade and hits his trademark DDT spot onto the floor. Orton drags Maddox by his shirt across the ground. Orton grabs the mic that Maddox hit him with earlier and throws it in the ring. He then throws Maddox into the ring. Orton lays across Maddox in the ring and blasts Maddox repeatedly with the microphone. Orton has the psycho peepers going now, as he looks crazy and pissed. The referee calls for the bell. The referee just yelled out to the floor that Randy’s the winner. Remember, this was a no-DQ match, so I guess the referee forfitted for Maddox. Who knows.
Winner: Randy Orton
– Big Show vs. Ryback is announced for later in the show.
– Curtis Axel is shown walking by himself to the ring. His opponent, Big E. Langston, is shown walking to the ring next. The WWE Intercontinental Championship match is after this commercial break.
– A Hall Of Fame panel is announced for the WWE Survivor Series Kickoff Show. The panel will consist of Mick Foley, Booker T and Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
Backstage: Brad Maddox Stretchered Out, Vickie’s Next
We see highlights courtesy of the WWE App of Brad Maddox getting stretchered out of the building. We return live and we see Maddox being carried backstage. Vickie Guerrero sees him going by, and her jaw drops, knowing she’s got the same potential fate later tonight.
WWE Intercontinental Championship:
Curtis Axel (c) vs. Big E. Langston
Langston comes out first, followed by the current Intercontinental Champion, Curtis Axel. Paul Heyman is not coming out right Axel, for whatever that’s worth. Justin Roberts does the official ring introductions, pay-per-view style, after each guy’s entrance. The bell rings and Langston immediately takes Axel down. Axel starts fighting back with punches. Langston catches Axel coming off the ropes with a big shoulder tackle. Langston follows that up with a backbreaker and a near fall. Langston hits a big back-suplex on Axel for another near fall. Axel rolls out to the floor to recollect himself. Langston goes out after him. Axel rolls back in the ring. Langston does as well. Axel curls up in the corner like a baby. He gets up and Langston clotheslines him down. Langston is in complete control of this match early on. Axel manages to clothesline Langston with the top rope. He follows that up by going to work on Langston with punches. We head to a mid-match commercial. We return from commercial and Axel has Langston in a headlock. Langston powers out. Langston spears Axel in the corner. Axel responds with a perfect dropkick on Langston for a near fall. Axel goes to work on Langston with a bunch of clubbing blows. Michael Cole mentions on commentary that both Ryback and Axel dumped Heyman last week and declared themselves “no longer Paul Heyman guys.” Axel has Langston in a front facelock, but Langston powers out and throws Axel half-way across the ring. Langston hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Axel. Langston comes off the ropes and hits a big splash on Axel for a close near fall. Langston goes for his finisher but Axel escapes. Langston goes for it again and this time he hits it. 1-2-3. We have a new Intercontinental Champion.
Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion: Big E. Langston
