Highlight of the Night – Top 5 Moments from Raw

2:10 pm September 29, 2015

Welcome back to the Highlight of the Night: The Top 5 Moments from Raw . My name is Mark Haggerty and I'm back for another breakdown of the WWE's flagship show. This column is usually featured at Daily Wrestling News , but this week I've returned home to Cheap-Heat for a very special edition. This week's episode of Raw was pretty boring, huh? With Kane and Big Show playing prominent parts on TV each week, it's not hard to figure out why I turned the show off at about 10 o'clock , only to return later with my finger on the "fast forward." Eric Bischoff said that he doesn't watch wrestling nearly as much as he used to, and why would he? Someone like Bischoff isn't checking out the indies, and he sure as shit has no reason to tune into the WWE on a regular basis. I realize I'm preaching to the choir, but something has to be done about the WWE's relaxed approach to booking their product, or more and more of us will be flipping the channel far earlier than 10. That being said, there were still a few high spots peppered throughout the card, and I'm here to count them down.

5. The Big Show Has Words for Paul Heyman
While I'm not sold on the Big Show as a viable contender for Brock Lesnar, especially in 2015, I admire the WWE's wherewithal in terms of storyline. Wrestling fans like being rewarded for their continued patronage; when Superstars return or former friends reunite, it's as if WWE Creative is winking at those of us who paid attention. The WWE is using Big Show's 2002 Survivor Series win over Brock Lesnar as proof of what the Giant is capable of doing. The Big Show didn't just defeat Brock Lesnar, he defeated him for the WWE Championship when the former NCAA Champion was at the top of his amateur wrestling game. �Show wonders how Lesnar could possibly defeat him, and warns Paul Heyman that a "world without Brock Lesnar" is closer than he might think. It's interesting that no mention has been made of Heyman's former affiliation with the Big Show; in 2006 Paul Wight made history by becoming the first—and only—man to hold the WWE, WCW, and ECW world championship titles. Paul Heyman was basically his manager , just as he was years earlier when Big Show bested Brock. I'm not as down on this program as most pple, but it's very transparent. The Big Show cannot win, and there's no sign of this feud continuing as Lesnar is getting set to face the Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell . Still a very captivating segment nonetheless.

4. King Barrett is Back from Holiday
King Barrett came back. I didn't realize he was gone, but I suppose he was off shooting a movie for WWE Films, and it would be no surprise if he broke into Hollywood . It was exciting to see Barrett return to the ring, especially in such a dramatic way. He attacked both Stardust and Neville just as the " Man That Gravity Forgot" was set to hit the Red Arrow. He entered the ring and hit Neville with a Bull Hammer , followed by an equally forceful � Hammer to the jaw of Stardust. Barrett took the microphone and left the baffled arena with the words: "All hail the return of the King! "

3. Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns in the Main Event
I've been harping on Bray Wyatt's losing streak for months, and it seems the WWE has finally realized that the " New Face of Fear " is turning into the " New Tito Santana ." Why Tito? El Matador was in line to become the heavyweight champion of the world after Hulk Hogan, and opened the very first WrestleMania with a victorious effort against the Executioner. Tito's flame burned-out, and Santana never won another match at WrestleMania, save for a dark match in 1993. Bray Wyatt was pegged for greatness, but the ball seems to have been dropped in favor of something else. Bray and his Wyatt Family emerged victorious at Night of Champions , and tonight Bray is set for singles competition. Roman challenges him to a fight so the two can finally settle their differences. The bout grows increasingly tough to control, and both men are ultimately counted out. After the bell is when the real fight began however, as Wyatt and Reigns toppled over the barricade and into the audience. They fought amidst the people before returning to ringside, where Roman would deliver a debilitating spear to Wyatt through the announce table.

2. The New Day versus the Dudleyz & John Cena
The show opened with the return of John Cena's "U.S. Open Challenge ." Xavier Woods answered the call, and sought to steal the starred-and-striped strap from Cena. Things got out of hand, and the Dudley Boyz hit the ring to side with the champion. I'm very much over the Dudleyz by this point in their return, and can't imagine a scenario wherein I'd actually pop for Bubba and D'Von. An impromptu tag team match was announced between the three members of the New Day and the Cena-Dudley alliance. I thought this was a really cool way to open the show; all too often we're force-fed six man tag team main events featuring rivalries that are completely alien to one another. This was a little different, as the only added caveat was the United States Champion. I also liked the placement of this match on the overall card. Cena and the Dudleyz are both huge draws, and the New Day is perhaps the greatest new gimmick of 2015. The WWE leading with six of their top performers indicates to me that the company is actively attempting to raise the stock of the rest of the roster. The New Day stole a win over their veteran opponents after Kofi Kingston hit the " Trouble in Paradise " on D'Von, and Xavier Woods held Bubba back from making the save.

1. Glen Jacobs Becomes the Demon Kane
Kane is exponentially more interesting now than he's been since—2002? Is that fair to say? Granted he had some interesting times with Big Show, Daniel Bryan, and opposite MVP, but this is the most invested in the Kane character I've been since the Big Red Machine removed his mask. He returned last week, and it was unclear as to how this storyline would play-out. Is Kane merely playing Seth for a fool, or might Glen Jacobs be dealing with some "Abyss-style" split personalities? Kane spent the majority of his Monday Night with a member of WWE Human Resources, who was proud to declare Kane "sound-of-mind," and "more than capable of fulfilling his duties as Director of Operations." Seth Rollins went ballistic after the announcement, and commenced with a premeditated attack on the "Devil's Favorite Demon. " Kane was stretchered out of the arena, but returned moments later as the Monster Seth had rightfully feared. Seth tried to smack Kane with the chair, but the Demon choke slammed the champ to hell. Kane stood tall inside the ring with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in his hand, as he held it high above his head.
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