WWE Raw TV Results
August 26, 2013 - Episode #1,056
Live in Phoenix, Ariz.
Aired on USA Network
Report by James Caldwell (@JCTorch), PWTorch assistant editor

THIRD HOUR RAW RESULTS

Back from break three minutes before the top of the hour, Randy Orton's music played to bring out the WWE champion. Lawler accused Orton of the only voice in his head being that of Triple H's. Lawler and JBL debated Orton's merits as the "Face of WWE" before the bell sounded to begin the match.

[Q9 -- third hour]

6 -- WWE champion RANDY ORTON vs. CHRISTIAN -- non-title match

Orton and Christian started with a tight lock-up as the announcers debated the merits of Orton vs. Bryan as WWE champion. Orton took control of Christian as Cole wondered aloud if Hunter is going to cost every champion in WWE his or her title if he doesn't like the person, ruining the spirit of competition. Christian fired back with a slap to the face, but Orton suddenly two-hand chest-pressed Christian over the top rope to the floor. The announcers snapped out of their ongoing debate to shout that Christian could be hurt after that. Raw cut to break with Orton in control.

[Commercial Break at 10:06]

Back from break, Orton was controlling Christian with a mid-ring reverse chinlock. On commentary, Lawler said he doesn't think the fans want to be force-fed anything, referring to Hunter hand-selecting Orton to be WWE champion. Christian mounted a comeback with right hand strikes to the face before Orton exploded on him with a knock-down clothesline. But, Christian came back with a top-rope cross-body splash for a nearfall.

At 13:00, Orton came back with a kick to the gut before measuring him for a second-rope DDT, but Christian escaped. Christian teased the Killswitch, but Orton blocked. Christian followed with a Tornado DDT attempt, but Orton absorbed. Orton then entered That Place and dropped down to the mat to deliver the RKO, but Christian pushed him away. Christian regrouped in the corner, then measured Orton for The Spear, but Orton jumped over Christian. Christian responded with a Spear when Orton turned around, but Orton managed to kick out just before three. Lawler said it was because Christian didn't get a running start on the move.

[Q10] Christian wanted the Killswitch, but Orton delivered a thumb to the eye. Orton took advantage of "stooping to the level of a thumb to the eye," according to Cole, and nailed an RKO. It was good for the pin and the win. Cole sarcastically said there's the Face of the Company.

WINNER: Orton at 16:04. Good TV match. Orton and Christian really work well together in the ring.

Post-match: Daniel Bryan appeared on the Titantron with sarcastic applause for Randy Orton's "A-Plus" performance in the ring. Bryan, standing backstage in front of Orton's shiny, new vehicle, asked what would happen if he beats Orton at Night of Champions. Would that make him the new Face of WWE? Bryan pulled back to reveal "Yes!" spray-painted all over Orton's new vehicle. Cole called it a "Yes-calade." In the ring, Orton seethed as Bryan gloated about his graffiti work.

[Commercial Break at 10:18]

Backstage: Raw GM Brad Maddox evaluated the damage done to Randy Orton's vehicle. Triple H surveyed it as Randy Orton paced around. Hunter said this vehicle is his personal property and this WWE Title is his personal property, which he is letting Randy Orton hold onto. Hunter went from calm to angry and told Maddox to line up the entire roster and put them on-stage to watch what happens to Daniel Bryan tonight. Hunter shouted that if anyone decides to walk down the entrance ramp and get involved, he will fire that person. Every last one of them. Maddox scurried off, then Orton told Hunter that he will make Bryan pay for this.

[ JC's REAX: So, when does the Walk-Out portion of this angle occur? ]

In-ring: Prime Time Players were introduced to the ring for the next match. Titus O'Neil was announced for singles action as Darren Young talked him up. The Real Americans were introduced next. Zeb Colter cut a promo on the Players, then accused the crowd of being on welfare. "If you can't feed them, don't breed them," Colter said, drawing boos and ooohs from the crowd. Colter did the "We The People" sing-along before Jack Swagger entered the ring to face Titus.

[Q11]

7 -- TITUS O'NEIL (w/Darren Young) vs. JACK SWAGGER (w/Antonio Cesaro and Zeb Colter)

Swagger was the aggressor early on before Titus fought back with an elbow strike. Titus followed with a fallaway slam as the announcers discussed Cole vs. Lawler at WrestleMania two years ago. Swagger tried to come back with the Patriot Lock, but Titus blocked. Swagger then rolled up Titus and tried to use his feet on the ropes, but D-Young shoved Swagger's feet off the ropes. Swagger and D-Young argued, then Swagger turned around and ate a power move from Titus for the pin and the win.

Post-match, Titus sold a left knee injury, which required help from D-Young to get him to his feet. The Players completed the victory with a post-match dance, then Titus went back to selling a knee injury.

WINNER: Titus at 3:17.

Announcers: Cole tried to do the Players's dance before they transitioned to Bray Wyatt's feud with Kane, including Bray beating Kane in a Ring of Fire match at Summerslam. Up Next: They hear from Bray Wyatt.

[Commercial Break at 10:34]

Back from break, the Wyatt Family's video feed cut into Raw. In a video, Bray Wyatt sang a hymn while sitting in a rocker from his cabin in the woods. Bray talked about a female figure teaching him about the world being an evil place and fire being their friend. Bray said he was there when she took her final breath and he was chosen. Bray said her touch could save the world, but her kiss burns it to the ground. "I love you, Sister Abigail," Bray said. Bray resumed his hymn as Luke Harper and Erick Rowan held the light behind Bray.

Back live in the arena, Cole and Lawler looked at each other with quizzical looks. JBL said he can't explain it. Cole then transitioned to a look back to the top of the show when Triple H gifted Randy Orton a Cadillac Escalade. Then, a look to earlier in the hour when Daniel Bryan revealed his graffiti work to Randy Orton's new vehicle.

GM's Office: Brad Maddox was shown talking to Dr. Sampson. Someone was refusing medical attention. C.M. Punk then barged in. Apparently Punk is refusing medical attention. Punk shot down medical attention after the beating from Paul Heyman an hour-and-a-half ago, then told Maddox to book him in a match with Paul Heyman. Or else. Maddox said it will be Punk against Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman in a handicap elimination match. And if Heyman tries to back out, he will never be seen again. Punk said that better happen or else they'll never see Maddox again.

[ JC's Reax: So, what happens to IC champion Axel's mandatory title defense at Night of Champions? ]

In the arena, members of the locker room walked out on-stage. The camera focused on Mark Henry, Big Show, and Dolph Ziggler. Also, World champion Alberto Del Rio, Great Khali, Renee Young with a mic in-hand, and others leading to break.

[Commercial Break at 10:42]

[Q12] Vignette: Another look at Los Matadores. Soon, they arrive "in the new world."

Back live on Raw, WWE focused on the wrestlers assembled on-stage. Daniel Bryan was then introduced first, drawing applause from the babyface members of the roster. Bryan "Yes!ed" in the ring before The Shield's music played to bring out Seth Rollins as Bryan's first opponent. Before Shield hit the ring, Renee interviewed Big Show on-stage. Show offered a nothing about what happened at Summerslam, then Dolph Ziggler also said nothing. Renee tried to get a word from Miz, who started to talk, but then stopped himself. Renee said apparently he doesn't want to get fired, either.

Does anyone on-stage have any manhood left in them? Doesn't Big Show have an iron-clad contract? Never mind, the entire roster was emasculated in the opening segment.

8A -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. WWE tag champion SETH ROLLINS (w/The Shield)

Bryan quickly pounded on Rollins with a surfboard stretch, but Rollins escaped. Bryan then clotheslined Rollins and himself over the top rope to the floor. Suddenly, Reigns and Ambrose circled the ringside area, distracting Bryan. As Rollins rolled Bryan back into the ring, Cole wondered aloud what happened to Shield going from the "hounds of justice" to Triple H's personal security.

Bryan made a comeback with kick strikes, but Rollins ducked a roundhouse kick blast. Rollins tried to his signature flying knee smash, but Bryan ducked and flowed into a half-crab, targeting Rollins's "injured knee" from last week. Rollins grabbed the bottom rope for a break, then Bryan knocked him to the outside. Bryan followed with a flying suicide dive that sent Rollins flying over the announce table into JBL's lap. The crowd popped for Bryan's impressive-looking dive, then Raw cut to break with Bryan in control on the outside.

[Commercial Break at 10:53]

Back from break, Rollins was in control back in the ring and Cole said the Superstars on-stage can do nothing because they risk being fired. Rollins taunted Bryan, who answered with a flying dropkick in the corner. Bryan fired up with kicks, then Bryan and Rollins traded pin attempts at a rapid-fire pace.

[Q13 -- over-run] Bryan crotched Rollins on the top turnbuckle at the top of the hour. Bryan then delivered a super overhead-release German Suplex, popping the crowd. Bryan then got super-hyper working himself into a frenzy to capitalize. WWE went to a camera shot of the crowd and missed Bryan delivering his knee-strike finisher. Bryan covered Rollins for the win.

WINNER: Bryan at 11:59. Solid singles match with a fired-up crowd invested in the action.

8B -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. U.S. champion DEAN AMBROSE -- non-title match

Ambrose immediately attacked Bryan, who fired back with a Cross Arm-breaker. But, Reigns attacked Bryan, causing a DQ.

WINNER: Bryan via DQ at 12:30.

8C -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. WWE tag champion ROMAN REIGNS

Bryan tried to fight back on Reigns, then Shield hit the ring and the ref called for a DQ before bailing from the ring.

WINNER: Bryan via DQ at 12:45.

Post-match: Triple H walked out on-stage to survey the ring and his roster on-stage. Hunter gave the nod to the ring, where Shield delivered a triple powerbomb to Bryan. Hunter locked eyes with Big Show, who clenched his fist, but sold not being able to do anything. Hunter looked at Titus O'Neil to his left, then Randy Orton's music played. Orton walked out on-stage and Hunter gave him his blessing to get revenge.

In the ring, Shield held up Bryan for Orton to deliver an emphatic RKO. Hunter and Show continued to go back-and-forth glaring at each other, then Orton hit the entrance ramp and stood tall with the WWE Title belt held high in the air as the crowd chanted for Big Show. Triple H then turned to the roster and asked if they want to laugh. Hunter parted the Red Sea on-stage for him to walk through, followed by Orton. WWE framed Orton and Ziggler in the same camera shot before Orton sneered and walked off. WWE cut to a final shot of Bryan selling in the ring and Shield standing tall over Bryan as Raw signed off at 10:06.

FINAL THOUGHTS: So, WWE's roster of schoolchildren has been emasculated, but can WWE build up enough heat on Triple H and Randy Orton for the roster to make the big comeback and be restored to their pre-emasculated position? That's the big question, especially when dealing with these types of storylines where it's Heel Management/Invading Force/Outlaw Group vs. The Roster. But, there were signs of that being a possibility with the crowd practically begging Big Show to do something. Also, will Daniel Bryan be allowed to show more than just spray-paint a vehicle as his "big response" to the power-abusing Hunter and Orton?

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