WWE Raw results: John Cena and Roman Reigns jockey for momentum

The build-up to Battleground is beginning to form some very enticing rivalries, but future opponents end up arm-in-arm at the end of the night

Roman Reigns raises John Cena's arm at the end of Raw (WWE.com)

This week’s Raw comes from Montreal, Canada, so expect some bizarro-land chants from the enthusiastic audience. Roman Reigns kicks off the show and we’re told The Authority is on holiday this week. Reigns tells us that he’ll take everyone out at the Battleground PPV and become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Kane appears on the entrance ramp and stares Reigns down. After some very un-PG language, the two brawl on the outside of the ring, with Reigns getting the better of the Big Red Machine in the crowd. Kane gains the upper hand and takes it back into the ring, prompting referees and senior officials to run out to separate them (mark-out moment* Fit Finlay is among them). Cue a flurry of chokeslams and spears, before ordered is restored.

Lights out, The Wyatts are here. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan go in against Jimmy and Jey Uso. Frantic action in the early going sees the tag champs force their challengers to the outside. Harper regains the advantage for his team with a wicked shot. The Wyatt’s slow the pace and grind down the Samoan brothers. A double team backfires though allowing the hot tag to the fresh Uso, who cleans house with clotheslines, Samoan drops and a twisting top rope corkscrew. A failed outside dive by Harper is countered into a super kick. The end comes when Rowan pulls one Uso to the outside, causing enough of a distraction for Harper to hit his colossal discus clothesline for the win. A return match for the tag titles is clearly on the cards.

Randy Orton is in the back telling Kane he’ll support him at the PPV. Seth Rollins enters the frame to remind both of them he’s Mr Money in the Bank. Tension among the ranks of The Authority it seems.

Nicki Bella takes on Alicia Fox, with the stipulation that both competitors have one arm tied behind their backs. This is just a pretext for Alicia to attack a one armed Nicki before the match even begins.

Rusev and Lana are out next to tell everyone about Vladimir Putin, again. RVD will serve as opposition for the Bulgarian Brute, in what is his toughest test yet. Van Dam catches him with a few kicks and hits a nice springboard DDT. The ECW original goes for the Five Star Frog Splash but gets brought down. We then see a mid-match promo from Zeb Colter challenging Rusev to face Jack Swagger at the PPV. In the ring, the beat down on Mr Monday Night continues. Van Dam gets a bit of offence in, but catches a brutal jumping thrust kick after missing Rolling Thunder. Rusev locks in his version of the Camel Clutch for the tap out victory.

It’s a Smackdown rematch as Randy Orton faces off against Dean Ambrose. The former Shield member takes control in the early going, dropping Orton and rubbing his face into the mat. Lots of old school offence from Ambrose, including mounted punches in the corner and running The Viper’s head along the top rope. It almost seems to be all Ambrose in the first half of the match.

Friday night Smackdown results

However, Orton rallies after throwing him into the steel steps. The Apex Predator focuses his attention on his opponent’s injured shoulder. However, Ambrose fights back with various strikes, and hooks in the Figure 4 Leg Lock. He sends Orton to the outside and proceeds to throw at least half a dozen chairs into the ring. This allows Orton enough space to regain the advantage, hitting his elevated DDT from the barricade on the outside. Ambrose beats the count back in the ring. A flurry of false finishes leads to the Viper hitting the RKO for 3. Fantastic match.

Renee Young is joined by ‘her guest at this time’, John Cena. The champ talks about having a target on his back when he’s cut off by Roman Reigns, who wishes him luck in his match. Exchange of snarky comments ensue.

Fandango is jiggling on commentary for the match of Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler. The Show Off gets hung up on the ring apron and catches an enziguri. The pace is frantic as the two trade offensive moves. At times they seem like they’re sprinting into one another. Fandango makes his presence felt when he jumps on the announce table and distracts Ziggler. Del Rio catches him with a kick to the back of the head for the win.

Stardust and Goldust cut a backstage promo about how weird they are. 'Nuff said'. (Standout line: "Where we’re going we don’t need Rhodes…")

Bret Hart is trotted out next – we’re in Canada, after all. Damien Sandow interrupts dressed as 90’s Bret and gets a fist in the face from the Excellence of Execution for his trouble. Sheamus comes out and is revealed to be Sandow’s opponent. After our former Intellectual Saviour tries to lock in the Sharpshooter, the Celtic Warrior takes control and hits the brogue kick for the win.

The Miz is backstage reading a fan letter running down the man who interrupted his return last week, Chris Jericho. In the ring, Y2J takes control of the Awesome One, who favours his face – on account of being a mega, big-time movie star. Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but gets pushed over the top rope. The Miz slows the pace of the match, hooking in the figure 4 leg lock. Jericho responds by slugging him on the nose and clinching in the Walls of Jericho for the tap-out. Lights out again, and Bray Wyatt is sitting in his rocking chair on the entrance ramp. The pair trade verbal barbs, and Jericho makes his way up the ramp, before Harper and Rowan appear by their master’s side. A tasty encounter is shaping up here.

Divas title rivals AJ and Paige team up to take on the troubled Funkadactyls. Paige does the introduction for AJ, and shakes her hand. Naomi tries to tag Cameron but she’s not interested (understandable). Paige and AJ take turns to beat her down. Cameron eventually does tag in and is immediately pinned by Paige. The Funkadactyls finally implode and attack one another.

Santino Marella forced to call it a day after third neck injury

Cesaro and Paul Heyman are next in the ring. Cesaro runs down French Canadians as neither French nor Canadian. Kofi Kingston is out looking for revenge for the beating he took last week. He explodes out of the corner with a drop kick, but is quickly overpowered by the Swiss Superman. However, somehow again Kofi gets a quick pin on Cesaro. Big E runs out before he can continue the attack.

Cena and Rollins are backstage and exchange words ahead of their match. Rollins tells Cena he will prove he’s the best by beating him. Cena says Rollins is good but is in the pocket of The Authority.

Bo Dallas takes on Los Matadores mascot, El Torito, because hey, why not? Some fun comedy spots with El Torito getting in some good offence. However, the Inspirational One quickly takes over and hits the Running Bo-Dog for the pin.

The main event is next as Cena goes in against Rollins, with Money in the Bank briefcase in hand. Rollins gets the best of the early offence. Cena shows his power by deadlifting and slamming his opponent multiple times. Rollins misses with a flying knee, catches 4 of Cena’s 5 Moves of Doom. Rollins flips out of an attempted Attitude Adjustment, and Cena picks the leg into the STF. Kane and Orton interfere, causing Roman Reigns to join the fray. In the chaos, Rollins cracks Cena over the head with the briefcase.

Before he can cash in, Ambrose runs out and chases him to the back. In the ring Cena delivers an AA to Orton, Kane goes for a chokeslam, but is speared by Reigns. Both Cena and Reigns raise the others hands in respect to close the show.

All in all, an average Raw. No major revelations. Rivalries continue to stew, looking ahead to the Battleground PPV in 2 weeks. Wyatt and Jericho looks like a hot ticket, the IC battle royal builds momentum, and the WWE World Heavyweight Title fatal four-way participants jockey for position. The Authority’s return next week will undoubtedly reveal more.

Catch up: Last week's Raw results

Results

Luke Harper and Eric Rowan Def. The Uso’s via pinfall

Rusev Def. Rob Van Dam via submission

Randy Orton Def. Dean Ambrose via pinfall

Alberto Del Rio Def. Dolph Ziggler via pinfall

Sheamus Def. Damien Sandow via pinfall

Chris Jericho Def. The Miz via submission

AJ and Paige Def. Naomi and Cameron via pinfall

Kofi Kingston Def. Cesaro via pinfall

Bo Dallas Def. El Torito via pinfall

John Cena Def. Seth Rollins via disqualification