July 4, 2016
Episode 1206
(aired live)
#RAW
City: Columbus, OH
Venue: Nationwide Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, JBL
Spanish Commentary: Jerry Soto, Marcelo Rodriguez
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Backstage
The superstars have gathered for a 4th of July feast. Everyone is eating and having a good time until The Vaudevillains attempt to perform a musical rendition of the Declaration of Independence. Someone throws food at Aiden English, but Miz and Maryse attempt to stop a food fight before it starts. They fail.
The food fight ends when Kane and Big Show double-chokeslam Heath Slater through a table. Kevin Owens, who has been hiding under a table, seems to have escaped unscathed, but even after everyone leaves, he gets a mysterious pie to the face.
** There was some strange editing for the pie to Owens (including a strange and very out of place POV shot), but other than that it was pretty fun. **
Intro Video
“The Night Remix” by CFO$/KromestatiK
Ring Area
Lilian Garcia performs the National Anthem.
Match 1
US Title Match
Rusev (US Champ) w/ Lana vs Titus O’Neil
(referee: Dan Engler)
#USTitle
Result: Rusev wins via submission with the Accolade and retains the title
Time: 5:43
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was possibly the most hard-hitting of their matches. It seems like it’s probably over, but I’ve liked this feud. It’s really helped both guys show their strength and toughness.
Ring Area
After the match, Rusev wishes America a happy birthday and encourages everyone to celebrate with their hamburgers and “little weenies.”
Video
The Bella Twins are on the cover of Latina magazine.
Ring Area
The Social Outcasts come out dressed like the “Spirit of 76.” Bo Dallas starts to speak when he is interrupted by Enzo and Cass and their “star-spangled banter.”
Match 2
Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel w/ Heath Slater) vs Enzo Amore & Big Cass
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Result: Enzo Amore pins Bo Dallas after a rocket launcher
Time: 2:04
Match Thoughts
This was a fun match, but very standard from Enzo and Cass. Enzo got beat up, Cass beat up everyone else, then Enzo tags back in for the pin.
Ring Area
Charlotte and Dana Brooke are in the ring. Charlotte talks about Sasha Banks being jealous of her. Sasha comes out and reminds Charlotte that she has never beaten her. Charlotte feigns incredulity. Sasha responds by explaining to Charlotte what a “boss” is. The ladies brawl for a bit until Charlotte ends up in the Bank Statement.
** I still don’t like Charlotte’s vocal delivery. At all. I really want Sasha to win the title and for Charlotte to take a break. **
Match 3
The Miz (IC Champ) w/ Maryse vs Dean Ambrose (WWE Champ)
(referee: Rod Zapata)
#ChampionvsChampion
Result: Dean Ambrose wins via pinfall after Dirty Deeds
Time: 6:36 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match, though their SmackDown match last week might have been a little better. Still, they have pretty good chemistry.
Ring Area
After the match, Seth Rollins passes Ambrose on the way to the ring for the next match. When he gets to the stage, Ambrose turns around and runs through the ring all the way to the Spanish commentary table. He’s apparently decided to stick around for the next match. And do Spanish commentary.
Match 4
Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler
(referee: Darrick Moore; guest commentary: Dean Ambrose)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via pinfall after a Pedigree
Time: 8:16 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match. Dolph Ziggler made a case for himself being inserted into the WWE Title picture with this one. He had Rollins on the ropes more than anyone in recent memory. Ziggler took it to Rollins with amateur-type moves and a very high pace. Both guys really looked good in this one.
Ring Area
After the match, Rollins gets on the mic and says that he works harder than anyone and that he won’t have Reigns tarnish his legacy. He again says that Reigns should be taken out of the triple threat. Reigns was supposed to be a role model. Dean Ambrose shakes his head then attacks Rollins, hitting Dirty Deeds on the Spanish announce table.
Video Promo
The Wyatt Family talks about where they come from and invite New Day to come over for a visit.
Video
Baron Corbin walks alone. Oh yeah, and he also won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, just in case you forgot.
Ring Area
Vickie Guerrero shows up and makes a case for running SmackDown when it goes live.
** Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, because I really enjoyed this segment. Not so much when she was around all the time though. **
Backstage
Big Show gives his team for tonight’s “America Versus the World” match a pep talk by saying that they aren’t friends.
Backstage
Vickie is escorted away by security when Dolph Ziggler intervenes. Sort of. He says he’s never seen her before. Vivkie screams.
Match 5
The Vaudevillains vs Golden Truth
(referee: Dan Engler; at ringside: Breezango)
Result: R-Truth pins Aiden English after Solid Gold
Time: 1:26
Match Thoughts
An okay match. It consisted of a lot of running around, a few tags, then a double team to finish it. It seemed like there really should have been more to it, especially with Breezango at ringside.
Life Lessons with Coach Backlund
Bob Backlund wants Darren Young to be problem free by making his problems submit. Young doesn’t have a submission hold, so Backlund gives him the crossface chicken wing.
Ring Area
John Cena heads to the ring and wonders if everyone is excited. He’s unsure at first, but then feels it. He was also excited when he met Styles in the ring, but he’s tired of The Club’s interference. He tells The Club to “come get some.”
The Club comes out to the stage. AJ Styles is disappointed in Cena’s whining. Styles was disappointed when he saw Cena’s face all over the Japanese tour poster. He does love beating up John Cena though. He goes on to say that no one will come out to help Cena. No one can relate to him, but they can relate to The Club. They then head to the ring to beat up John Cena.
As Cena is getting beat up, Enzo and Cass head to the ring to help him clear the ring.
Video Promo
The Shining Stars enjoy freedom every day in paradise.
Match 6
Summer Rae vs Becky Lynch
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Becky Lynch wins via submission with Disarm Her
Time: 2:59
Match Thoughts
Not a great match. Summer carried most of it, and she’s not great at carrying matches. The worst part was a scary suplex by Summer that nearly dropped Becky on her head.
Backstage
Chris Jericho wishes his foreigner team a “happy Canada Day.” Then everyone starts speaking different languages until Kevin Owens yells for everyone to be on the same page.
Backstage
Enzo and Cass do a backstage commercial for Sonic.
Ring Area
New Day heads to the ring. They say that they like the Wyatts and will take a big bowl og Booty-Os to the Wyatt Compound as a gift. The Wyatt Family shows up on the Tron and talks about positivity versus fear. Bray invites them to seek the truth. New Day accepts the challenge. Kofi and Big E are pumped, but Xavier talks about the danger of the Wyatts. Can New Day survive The Wyatt Family?
Match 7
16 Man Elimination Tag Team Match
Cesaro & Lucha Dragons & Alberto Del Rio & Sheamus & Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens & Chris Jericho vs Big Show & Apollo Crews & Zack Ryder & Dudley Boyz & Mark Henry & Jack Swagger & Kane
(referee: Charles Robinson)
#EliminationMatch
Result: Bubba Ray Dudley pins Sin Cara after 3D
Kalisto pins Bubba Ray Dudley after a Brogue Kick from Sheamus
Cesaro submits D-Von Dudley with a Sharpshooter
Chris Jericho pins Jack Swagger after a Code Breaker
Mark Henry pins Kalisto after a World’s Strongest Slam
Kevin Owens pins Mark Henry after a pop-up powerbomb
Kevin Owens is disqualified for hitting Sami Zayn with a chair
Kane is disqualified for hitting Kevin Owens with a chair
Apollo Crews pins Sami Zayn after a standing moonsault
Sheamus pins Apollo Crews after a Brogue Kick
Zack Ryder pins Cesaro with a jacknife cover
Big Show pins Chris Jericho after a knockout punch
Big Show pins Alberto Del Rio after a chokeslam
Zack Ryder pins Sheamus after a Rough Ryder
Zack Ryder and Big Show survive to win the match for Team America
Time: 15:31 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
This was a silly match, but it was fun. The disqualifications made no sense, but whatever. Standout moments included Cesaro chain wrestling with Swagger, Zack Ryder surviving an extended segment, Cesaro turning on his whole team, and Zayn and Owens going after each other.
Show Impressions
Not a bad show. It didn’t feel like a lot of important stuff happened, but there were some good matches and fun segments.
Match of the Night
Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler
We need to see more of this. Maybe when they get done with The Shield stuff, they can put Ziggler in a feud with Rollins. Please.