The Authority stripped Daniel Bryan of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Monday Night Raw Results 6/9: It's official: Daniel Bryan's WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign is no more. Despite optimistic reports of the Champion of Champions' recovery heading into WWE Money in the Bank, Dr. Joseph Maroon, the Vice-Chairman, Dept. Of Neurological Surgery of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the surgeon who performed Bryan's neck surgery, relayed news of a slower-than-expected recovery. In response, Stephanie McMahon immediately stripped Bryan of his title. Triple H then entered Randy Orton into the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, now to be contested for the vacant title.
U.S. Champion Sheamus def. Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett to qualify for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match
Despite the brawling offense of the fighting Irishman, the Intercontinental Champion Barrett was able to muscle his way back into contention with a wild Winds of Change and the back-catalogue resurrection of Wasteland. Barrett took a leaf out of Sheamus' book with a flurry of fists and a headbutt that knocked the Celt loopy. Thankfully, it only takes one burst to connect with the Brogue Kick and a punchy Sheamus was able to do just that, putting the boot to Barrett's mug to book his ticket to Boston.
Rusev def. Zack Ryder
Sporting the Gold Star around his neck, The Bulgarian Brute turned Ryder into a black spot with a kick to the face that reverberated all the way to Long Beach, and a backbreaking Accolade that sent Long Island Iced-Z home cold.
RybAxel def. Goldust & R-Truth
The only opening Goldust & Truth had came from a miscommunication between their foes, and Ryback took advantage of a hot run by The Bizarre One with a timely distraction so hometown hero Curtis Axel could steal the win with a roll-up and a handful of tights.
The Shield addressed Seth Rollins
The Hounds of Justice, Ambrose nor Reigns was in the mood for explanations, just retribution. "When I get the opportunity to rearrange your face, which I will ... I'm gonna rip your dirty, stinking hair out by the roots," promised Ambrose. "You're the scum of the earth," followed Reigns, who also promised to get his hands on Randy Orton. But he saved his final warning for Triple H, promising his own "Game of Thrones" for The King of Kings.
Bo Dallas def. Xavier Woods
Dallas knew just when to make his move, knocking Truth out of the air and whirling him around for the Running Bo-dog and the extension of his debut winning streak. Call him 6-0 Bo.
Cesaro def. Rob Van Dam to qualify for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match
RVD didn't exactly hold back in his pursuit of the victory either, kicking Cesaro in the head all the way across the ring. The Swiss Superman countered by reversing Rolling Thunder into the Very European Uppercut and didn't let up from there, cranking RVD's legs against the turnbuckle to ground the former WWE Champion and following with a Neutralizer that was, well, money.
Seth Rollins broke his silence
Rollins revealed he subscribed wholeheartedly to Triple H's "adapt or perish" philosophy, and hadn't so much sold out as bought into a better opportunity than the "business relationship" he'd had with The Shield. Having said his words, Rollins then dared The Shield to make good on their earlier promise to make him eat them, but The Aerialist took flight when the timely arrival of The Wyatts provided him cover for a quick escape. It took none other than John Cena to even the odds and send The Wyatts scurrying, which led to the upside: Looks like The Shield found themselves a partner for later in the night.
Jack Swagger def. Santino Marella
The good news was that it was all gravy from there for the former World Champion, who punched Santino in the face to stymie The Cobra and unconventionally - but effectively - finish the deed with a gutwrench powerbomb.
John Cena & The Shield def. The Wyatt Family
Maybe the Cenation and The Hounds of Justice should have joined forces sooner. Despite the stiff resistance The Wyatts met from the impromptu team of their most recent enemies, the unlikely allies proved every bit as dominant as the original-recipe Shield had been not two weeks ago.
Dean Ambrose shouldered the majority of the load early on, starting against Erick Rowan but throwing punches at Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt as well. The Eater of Worlds and his brood wisely let The Lunatic Fringe punch himself out and held strong once Cena finally entered the fray. Bray Wyatt, no longer the shepherd in the valley of darkness but rather "reborn" as a destroyer, all but feasted on the Cenation leader, but it was Roman Reigns - as ever - who proved to be the equalizer when he cut Luke Harper down with a massive Spear. If the victory served as a warning to Seth Rollins, it's safe to say The Architect - observing on a monitor with Triple H backstage - got the message loud and clear.
