WWE non-Raw report from Minneapolis: Superstars, Brock Lesnar speech, Wade Barrett media day
Submitted by Eric Thibault
– WWE Monday Night Raw returns to Minneapolis, Monday December 21st. Pre-sale password: WWEPRE
– Wade Barrett, billed as King Barrett, was doing Twin Cities media throughout the day.
– The gates were packed wall-to-wall one hour before the dark matches started. Chants were already starting in the hallways and before the show. Guy sitting in front row handed out 500 Cesaro signs before the show.
Superstars
Adam Rose vs Curtis Axel: Rose came out and cut a promo about nobody wanting to party when he was having fun and now he was the party pooper. Rose said he’d poop on Minneapolis’ party and challenged anyone in the back. Curtis Axel came out to a loud pop being the hometown guy. Rose hit a top-rope axe handle splash onto Axe’s back and Axel won in 2:52 with the Hangman’s Facebuster.
R-Truth & Fandango vs Ascension: Crowd into everything tonight. Loudly chanting what’s up and doing the Fandango. Fandango and R-Truth dance in the ring together until the Ascension’s music hit. Not many boos for Ascension. R-Truth and Fandango hit a weird double team before commercial break. Ascension worked over Truth for the heat. Truth got tired or hurt in the corner. Fandango hot tag. Action broke down. Fall of Man for the win at 7:15.
– Orton and Cesaro were super over. They were doing barrel rolls together around the ring during Sheamus’ entrance.
– During the break of Reigns vs Harper, Reigns came out of the ring and made Saxton sit down. Crowd loved it. Harper gave a cheap shot to Reigns for the heat. The crowd knew Ziggler was coming and he still received a massive pop. The ring crew got a big pop for pulling the Rusev flag down.
– The fans were getting tired at the end of hour two but kept trying to stay alive.
– Cena and Rollins lit the show back up. Rollins promo was well received and Cena got a really good pop. The fans really amped up during Cena’s promo.
– Lots of dancing when the Primetime Players were introduced. New Day received the biggest reaction and the crowd loved chanting New Day sucks.
– Crowd wasn’t into Banks vs Nikki because everyone was waiting for Lesnar. Crowd turned on match and chanted for Lesnar. Before the Sasha Banks match a WWE employee put a grey tote with a white paper shopping bag on top under the ring. Later, during commercial before the main event an entourage came to the ring and a hooded individual went under the ring.
– Lesnar was super over! Undertaker had a definite mixed reaction. After the show Lesnar rose to his feet to applause and had a smile on his face. Crowd chanted Suplex City loudly after.
– Lesnar called for the microphone and went to one knee: “I have to take a knee. Undertaker. Good one buddy. I don’t what to say but thank you very much. Come this Sunday at Summerslam, Undertaker it will be your last ride. And where we going to go?” Crowd yelled Suplex City.
– I’ve been to about two dozen WWE shows in MPLS over the last ten years and this was easily the most entertaining show since the Eddie Guerrero tribute shows. Totally different circumstances, obviously, but awesome show start to finish.