WWE Monday Night Raw Aug. 26: Match of the Night, Most Memorable Moment and More

The last episode of Monday Night Raw in Aug. 2013 was a good one. The Triple H dictatorship was further established, and in turn, so too was the rapidly building love affair with Daniel Bryan and the WWE Universe. With all the love Bryan is getting, it makes me wonder how long it will be before snarky WWE fans hate him like they hate John Cena.

At any rate, Bryan is clearly the most beloved face in the business right now. His mic work is actually getting better, but it is still leagues behind his impressive in-ring capabilities. His performance between the ropes leads off the nightly awards.

Match of the Night: Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins

In what was supposed to be the first of the three falls in a gauntlet match against The Shield, Bryan defeated Seth Rollins in a great matchup. Dean Ambrose jumped Bryan after the win only to have the Yes Lock slapped on him almost immediately.

Roman Reigns attacked and got Ambrose disqualified, and mayhem ensued. However, the quality of the Bryan-Rollins match wasn't lost upon anyone in the know.

These two were holding back a bit as it seems certain they'll be pitted against each other as main-eventers for years to come.

Even still, Monday's match had its share of awesome moments. There was a Mexican Surfboard and a belly-to-back suplex off the top rope. This was really good stuff.

Grade: eight out of 10

Promo/Mic Work of the Night: Bray Wyatt's Haunting Speech 

There was a ton of good mic work done on Monday night, but Bray Wyatt continues to show why he's the most exciting heel in the company. His eery dialogue about Mrs. Abigail was just spooky.

Something tells me he'll be appearing in a horror movie as a psychopath sometime very soon. 

Grade: nine out of 10

Honorable Mention: A.J. Lee Insults the Entire Divas Division

A.J. Lee is quite simply the best WWE Diva since Trish Stratus. She's gorgeous, awesome in the ring with her submission and the female equivalent to Dolph Ziggler when it comes to selling opponents' moves.

On Monday, she shed the scatterbrain, psycho angle long enough to deliver an "I'm better than you" speech, and it was hot.

Were it not for Wyatt's disturbingly brilliant work, this would have been A.J.'s spot alone.

Grade: 8.75 out of 10

Most Memorable Moments: Triple H, Randy Orton and Bryan Opening the Show, and Paul Heyman Beating C.M. Punk with a Kendo Stick

The little mic duels between Trips, The Viper and Bryan haven't gotten old yet. Bryan is driving home the "pretty" insult on Orton, and Triple H called Bryan Jiminy Cricket and sang "When You Wish Upon a Star." 

To add even more for us to remember the sequence by, a brand new Cadillac Escalade was brought out as a gift from Triple H to Orton. Of course, we all knew that vehicle would be ruined in some way by show's end.

After the Viper defeated Christian in a non-title match, Bryan did this to Orton's new ride:

Grade: nine out of 10

It is only right to also acknowledge the brilliantly violent sequence between C.M Punk, Paul Heyman and Curtis Axel. The Punk-Axel match was decent, but the over-the-top beating and berating Heyman laid on Punk after the match will stick with me.

Punk defeated Axel, and the stipulations from the WWE Universe dictated that Heyman would have to get in the ring with Punk as punishment for Axel's loss.

Of course things didn't go as planned as Punk ended up handcuffed and smashed with a kendo stick for his troubles. Punk's back was legitimately bloodied from the whacks with the stick.

Grade: nine out of 10

Look into the Crystal Ball: Will Big Show be the Man to Challenge Authority?

Of all the Superstars and Divas being threatened by Triple H's authority, the Big Show seems to be showing signs of challenging the powers that be. The crowd even chanted for Show to save Bryan as the Shield Triple Powerbombed him.

Show gritted his teeth and clinched his fists as Triple H intimidated the entire roster. It could be a smoke screen, or just the next step in Big Show's involvement in a major storyline. 

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