WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from November 24

On the heels of a historic Survivor Series pay-per-view that saw the rise of Dolph Ziggler, the fall of The Authority and the debut of Sting, a World Wrestling Entertainment in flux rolled into Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the November 24 episode of Monday Night Raw.

Who would assume power over the company with Triple H and Stephanie's reign at an end? More importantly, would Sting have anything to do with it?

Speaking of the Icon, why did he choose Survivor Series to make his first appearance inside a Vince McMahon-owned ring? Was it related to the tyrannical rule of The Authority, or was he simply looking to make a massive impact at an event closely associated with controversy? Would we find out exactly what Sting's agenda was Monday night?

Nikki Bella defeated AJ Lee to capture the WWE Divas Championship following a kiss of death from Brie Bella to Lee. Why would Brie knowingly assist her sister in victory, a sister who has tormented her for the last month?

What was the reasoning behind Big Show's shocking betrayal of John Cena during Sunday's main event? Why did he align himself with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon who, just a year ago, made his life a living hell?

Has any Superstar made more illogical heel and babyface turns as the World's Largest Athlete?

The answers to these questions and a new day in WWE awaited fans as the flagship show of sports entertainment hit the USA Network airwaves.

The Authority In-Ring Promo

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon kicked off this week's episode of Raw to say goodbye to the WWE Universe. The COO blamed Team Authority's loss on Sting. He vowed that the fans would one day beg for him and his wife to return and then was cut off by the playing of "Flight of the Valkyries" and the arrival of Daniel Bryan, who hit the ring to huge "Yes!" chant.

Bryan assumed control of the show for the evening and wasted little time in punishing the members of Team Authority by booking them in matches.

Mark Henry was paired with Ryback, Luke Harper was ordered to defend the intercontinental title against Dean Ambrose, Kane was forced into working as a concession-stand manager, Rusev and Lana were faced with the difficult decision to either defend the U.S. title or pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag and Seth Rollins was booked in a handicap match against John Cena and Dolph Ziggler, with the WWE Universe picking his partners.

Highlights and Quotes

"Sting, I'm not sure why you're here, why you stuck your painted face in our business. I don't know if you wanted to stand in the ring with me for 30 seconds or give your career some kind of meaning."—Triple H.

"Mark my words: You will beg us to come back."—Triple H.

"I don't know about you guys, but kicking The Authority out of the ring felt good."—Bryan.

"If Dr. Shelby could see you now, what would he say?"—Bryan to Kane.

Grade

C

Analysis

The opening segment of Raw felt very much like it was never going to end.

To really hammer home that The Authority was gone, they should have been kept off this week's show. Secondly, Bryan's arrival as guest GM indicates that fans will have to sit through weeks of guest GMs as WWE Creative tries to figure out who to stick in the role permanently.

Finally, Bryan has great charm, but he is not naturally charismatic enough to carry a segment as long as this one turned out to be.

It earns a "C" because it was effective in setting up the night's matches and segments, but otherwise, it was painfully long.

Ryback vs. Mark Henry

Credit: WWE.com

After suffering a loss to Mark Henry at WrestleMania 29, a loss that sent his career into a tailspin, a rehabilitated Ryback took to the squared circle to exorcise the World's Strongest Man skeleton that has haunted him ever since.

He did so decisively, running over him with the Meat Hook clothesline for the win in less than one minute.

Result

Ryback defeated Mark Henry.

Highlights and Quotes

"The match hasn't even started yet and Ryback is beating up on Henry." -Cole

Grade

B

Analysis

It does not get more impressive than that. Ryback steamrolled Henry, who never stood a chance.

Wins like that, over established talent and former heavyweight champions, are exactly what the doctor ordered for Ryback to climb back into title contention.

For Henry, though, it is a second straight night of humbling defeats following his KO Punch loss to Big Show at Survivor Series. Whether he is being punished by management for some unknown reason or simply pulled the short straw this week remains to be seen.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper

Credit: WWE.com

Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper have waged war in the past, particularly as members of The Shield and the Wyatt Family, respectively. Monday night, Ambrose had the opportunity to add to his championship resume as he squared off against the new WWE Intercontinental champion.

The competitors wrestled a very solid match that saw Harper use his size and strength to take the advantage, only for Ambrose to fight back like the scrappy underdog he is. Late in the bout, he appeared to be en route to an IC title victory when Harper shoved Ambrose into the official, drawing the DQ.

Ambrose retaliated, grabbing tables and a ladder but paying for it as Bray Wyatt attacked from out of nowhere and left him lying on the arena floor following Sister Abigail.

Result

Dean Ambrose defeated Luke Harper by disqualification.

Highlights and Quotes

"Luke Harper has the best clothesline since, well, me."—JBL.

"After last night, I don't think Home Depot will be happy."—JBL.

"More chaos...that's all we need is for Roman Reigns to come back."—JBL.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Ambrose and Harper have some stellar chemistry and really delivered a quality match Monday evening. Unfortunately, as was the case with the Ambrose-Wyatt match at Survivor Series, a clunky finish devised by WWE Creative ruined the flow of the match and helped kill its quality.

Wyatt's Sister Abigail to the arena floor worked nicely as it not only was retaliation for the assault from the previous night, but it was also a tip of the hat, per say, to his former partnership with Harper.

It was easily the best segment on the entire broadcast.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Miz and Damien Mizdow vs. Gold & Stardust

Credit: WWE.com

After watching Damien Mizdow earn the adulation of the fans in St. Louis for Survivor Series, The Miz was determined to steal the spotlight back Monday night.

Goldust and Stardust cashed in their rematch clause and worked over Mizdow. The Miz, after suffering a shot to the face, received medical attention, as JBL worried about the status of his so-called "moneymaker."

Mizdow suffered the Disaster Kick from Stardust but was tagged in by The Miz, who landed the Skull Crushing Finale on the second-generation star and scored the pinfall victory.

Result

The Miz and Damien Mizdow defeated Goldust and Stardust to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.

Highlights and Quotes

"That stunt double does come in handy to do distractions."—Michael Cole.

"That's the best reaction The Miz ever got."—JBL on Miz mooching off of Mizdow's heat.

Grade

B

Analysis

The Damien Mizdow character is working as the crowd gets hotter and hotter for it every week. The nice touch came Monday night in the form of the replica tag belts, since the stunt double most definitely was not allowed to touch the real thing.

The Miz clearly is intimidated by the popularity of his tag partner, causing a great deal of insecurity on his part. Want proof? The sneaky nature in which he allowed Mizdow to do all the work and then tagged in just in time to reap the rewards the spotlight brings.

It should be interesting to see if this leads to an eventual split and face turn for the stunt double.

Rusev In-Ring Promo

Credit: WWE.com

On the orders of Daniel Bryan, Rusev could either compete in a Battle Royal for the WWE United States Championship or he could pledge allegiance to the American flag. Despite a protest from Lana, it appeared as though he was about to partake in the latter before Sgt. Slaughter arrived to oversee the entire ordeal.

Rusev attacked the WWE Hall of Famer, only for Jack Swagger to make the save, revisiting the rivalry between the Real American and the Bulgarian Brute from this past summer.

Swagger and Slaughter were left inside the squared circle, while Rusev retreated up the ramp.

Highlights and Quotes

"What kind of country forces its will on other people?"—Lana.

Grade

C-

Analysis

So Rusev winds up not pledging to the flag but also not defending his title in the Battle Royal, per the orders of Daniel Bryan?

Bryan really needs to work on his whole "dishing out revenge" shtick.

Revisiting Swagger vs. Rusev may not be a terrible idea, especially given the hard work put in by both competitors last time they battled, but it feels very much like a step back for the champion, who has been nothing short of excellent over the last month.

Justin Gabriel vs. Fandango

Credit: WWE.com

Fans who did not tune into the Survivor Series pre-show were treated to essentially the same match they witnessed there, as Fandango introduced the WWE Universe to the darker side of his character and then dispatched of Justin Gabriel in just over one minute with a top-rope leg drop.

Result

Fandango pinned Justin Gabriel. 

Highlights and Quotes

"If I looked like that, I'd parade around too."—JBL on Fandango.

Grade

D

Analysis

The only upside of the new and improved (?) Fandango is that he is slightly more intense and aggressive between the ropes. Otherwise, it still feels very much like a gimmick rather than a character, and in the pro wrestling business, gimmicks very rarely succeed. 

Big Show In-Ring Promo

Credit: WWE.com

Big Show made his way to the ring to explain his actions from the Survivor Series. Chalking it up to a rash decision, a mistake on his part, Show cried a little, then got angry and even cracked a few jokes as he took a stroll down the emotional spectrum.

Erick Rowan interrupted, to which Big Show seemed both amused and offended. Rowan stated that he did not like bullies and then caught the giant with a hard right hand and a big boot that left Big Show scurrying away. 

Highlights and Quotes

"I'm a human being who made a mistake."—Big Show.

"The upside-down Sheamus has something to say."—Big Show on Rowan.

"I don't like bullies."—Rowan.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Poor Big Show.

The guy underwent what felt like the one thousandth turn of his career Sunday night and then was left to try to make sense of underwhelming material scripted for him by WWE Creative. His reasoning made no sense and was about as lackluster as possible.

The introduction of Erick Rowan could make for some very interesting matches as the big ginger has improved by leaps and bounds over the last year and could provide some quality competition for the big man.

Big Show has a history of working well with other hosses, as Jim Ross would say, and Rowan is just talented enough to get some hard work and motivation out of the World's Largest Athlete.

Brie Bella vs. AJ Lee

Credit: WWE.com

After losing the Divas Championship in controversial fashion at the Survivor Series, AJ Lee struck back with words that hurt almost as much as her in-ring assault of Brie Bella.

Moments after referring to Brie as a skank, AJ lost a match to the Total Divas star following a well-timed bit of interference from the new titleholder.

Following the decision, AJ bit back with another venomous verbal assault, ending with what may be the line of the year, which you can read for yourself below.

Result

Brie Bella pinned AJ Lee.

Highlights and Quotes

"Brie...lesbi-honest: You should be proud of yourself. Brie, you did the impossible. You proved you are a bigger skank than your sister."—AJ.

"It takes two Bella Twins to be Divas champion. The two of you are half the woman I am."—AJ.

"Talent isn't sexually transmitted."—AJ.

Grade

A

Analysis

That pipebomb of a line from AJ was more than enough to earn this segment an "A."

For whatever reason, watching and listening to AJ pick apart the prototypical Divas in the company with the vast array of verbal assaults she keeps in her arsenal will never get old. Ever.

While Nikki may have emerged as Divas champion after Survivor Series and Brie may be friendly with her sister once again, it was AJ who stole the spotlight in the same manner her real-life husband used to on a weekly business.

Adam Rose and the Bunny vs. Tyson Kidd and Natalya

Credit: WWE.com

The fractured relationship between The Bunny and Adam Rose continued to worsen as an attempt at interference by the costumed competitor backfired. He tripped up Rose, allowing Kidd to capitalize and score a pinfall victory.

Larry The Cable Guy and Santino Marella sat in on commentary and added absolutely nothing to the proceedings.

Result

Tyson Kidd and Natalya defeated The Bunny and Adam Rose. 

Highlights and Quotes

Highlights? Ha!

Grade

F

Analysis

This Bunny-Adam Rose nonsense HAS to stop. It is exactly the type of angle that makes fans ashamed to be wrestling fans. That there is literally nothing good that can come from it only makes the entire ordeal that much worse.

Handicap Match: John Cena and Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins and J&J Security

Bryan made his way to the ring to reveal that, based on WWE App votes, it would be Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury that joined Seth Rollins for the night's main event. 

Noble pounded away at Cena post-commercial break as Michael Cole informed fans that it was interference from Rollins that turned the tide in the favor of the heels.

Cena made the hot tag to Ziggler, who was clearly fired up and worked over the former cruiserweight champion. Mercury broke up a pin, while Rollins delivered a clothesline that took out Ziggler behind the officials back.

Rollins took control, working over Ziggler. The survivor from the previous evening's main event found himself on the receiving end of a beating at the hands of his three opponents, who manipulated the referee to sneak in a cheap shot.

Ziggler caught Noble with a big dropkick that allowed him to score a hot tag to Cena, who exploded into the ring with his trademark babyface comeback.

The babyfaces hit their finishers on Mercury and Noble, respectively, for the win.

After the match, Bryan threw Rollins into the ring, and Cena planted him with the Attitude Adjustment.

The ringtone of the anonymous Raw GM sounded throughout the arena, and Michael Cole read a message.

The tone sounded repeatedly to close out the show.

Result

Dolph Ziggler and John Cena defeated Seth Rollins, Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury.

Highlights and Quotes

"I don't know if anyone other than The Authority thought he was the future of the company."—Jerry Lawler on Seth Rollins.

"Take your tie off! You can't wrestle with a tie on."—Rollins to Noble.

"I think when the world realizes how much they miss The Authority, the fans will turn on Sting for doing that."—JBL.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The main event was a flat way to end a fairly flat show, especially coming off an eventful conclusion to the Survivor Series pay-per-view.

Ziggler and Cena worked well as a team, but the crowd was so flat that it really hurt the effectiveness of the contest. Rollins barely got any comeuppance, which the match was designed to ensure.

Add that to the revelation that the anonymous Raw GM returns next week and there was not much excitement to be had coming out of Monday's broadcast.