WWE Raw results: John Cena still without match at WrestleMania 31
Jon Stewart gets the better of Seth Rollins as red brand hits Newark
Last Updated: 03/03/15 2:34pm
John Cena’s participation at WrestleMania 31 is up in the air, with Stephanie McMahon banning him from the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and Rusev refusing to fight him again.
The 15-time world champion revealed on Raw that he planned to compete in ‘Mania’s multi-man melee, which was won last year by reigning WWE Tag Team Champion, Cesaro.
However, McMahon quashed Cena’s hopes by declaring that the only way he would get on The Show of Shows card was if Rusev, the man he lost to at WWE Fastlane, granted him a rematch for the United States Championship.
Cena aimed to prove himself to The Bulgarian Brute by knocking off Curtis Axel, who remains steadfast in his belief that he should be main-evening WrestleMania after never being officially eliminated from the Royal Rumble.
But the West Newbury native’s dominant victory, sealed with the STF, was not enough to convince Rusev to battle him inside Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, March 29.
Perplexed
Bad News Barrett, meanwhile, will defend his Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania in a multi-Superstar Ladder Match, with R-Truth the first challenger to be entered into the contest.
Plenty of other grapplers want a spot, though, including Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose, Luke Harper and Daniel Bryan and each of those – and Barrett – came to blows when Raw hit Newark.
Ambrose defeated Barrett with Dirty Deeds after the Brit became distracted by Harper wandering off with his belt, while Harper was latterly beaten by Bryan after the fan favourite countered a crossface and administered the “Yes!” Lock.
Bryan, however, was left with a perplexed look on his face after his win as Barrett, Harper, R-Truth and Ambrose squabbled over the Intercontinental Title, before Ziggler skipped away with it.
Elsewhere, Bray Wyatt set fire to a casket to try and tempt The Undertaker to combat him at WrestleMania; Naomi and The Usos overcame Natalya, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro in mixed tag-team action; and Triple H teased firing Booker T after the commentator expressed doubts over whether The Game could conquer Sting.
AJ Lee, meanwhile, made her return to Raw, helping Paige fend off an attack from the Bella Twins, plus Seth Rollins was victorious in the main event – but only after being kicked in the nether-regions by Jon Stewart!
Rollins profited from Randy Orton tripping up Roman Reigns to topple The Big Dog in singles action, though he was the one in pain earlier when Daily Show host Stewart – who he has been trading barbs with for weeks – attacked the Aerialist after his gaze had turned to Orton.
Watch the Raw repeat, from 10pm, Wednesday, Sky Sports 4 (channel 405).
