MARKED OUT! ...checked out... RAW 08/19/13

MARK OUT: To temporarily forget that wrestling is fake because something cool happened. Urban Dictionary

JOHN CENA / DANIEL BRYAN / STEPHANIE MCMAHON segment: MARKED OUT!

I thought this was a great way to start RAW. Cena comes out and puts Bryan over, saying that he fought a great match and deserved to be WWE Champion. Then Bryan enters, followed by McMahon. Bryan was excellent in this segment. Great emotion, great intensity.

Having him escorted out was VERY “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. the Corporation, but I am definitely ok with that. Wrestling is cyclical, and one of the best ways to build Bryan as the ULTIMATE underdog that will overcome all odds (likely at WrestleMania) is to have him be told that he’s not “big or good” enough to represent the company.

Bryan having to fight EVERY odd against him, including all of the big wigs of the company who have chosen their “Corporate Champion,” will pay-off in the end when he becomes WWE Champion for real. Great segment.

CODY RHODES def. DAMIEN SANDOW: MARKED OUT!

Good match. It wasn’t as good as the bout these two put on during SummerSlam, but solid nonetheless. I don’t understand why people are hating on either of these two guys. Sandow is heel money, and Rhodes is constantly great in the ring. Good form chaps. Good form. NEXT!

PAUL HEYMAN promo: MARKED OUT!

Heyman says that he forgives Punk for everything and wants him to come home. He wants to represent Punk again. Punk wasn’t seen during this segment, but Heyman was gold as always. It’s rare when Heyman doesn’t deserve a MARK OUT.

THE FUNKADACTYLS def. *Divas Champion* AJ LEE / LAYLA: …checked out…

This match wasn’t awful…but it wasn’t a MARK OUT segment. Just good enough for me not to call it a waste. NEXT!

[button color=”eg. orange” link=”https://wrestlingrumors.net/marked-out-checked-out-raw-081913/10345/2″]Hour 2…[/button]