After weeks of preaching "change," WWE started the new year off with a good overall show.
Raw Thoughts (Written LIVE as the show aired)
- The show begins with Mean Gene Okerlund's image showing. The actual show shows a brawl happening through backstage and Gorilla between Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley with a bunch of people trying to break them up. Rollins jumps on Lashley and attacks him. I guess this has something to do with last week's steel chair assault by Rollins. Hot open to the show. However, I'll be honest: I almost completely forgot what led to Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley having a problem up to this point.
- John Cena is out next. WWE takes the bottom half of the screen to promote some of the other segments coming up. The crowd is mixed in its response for Cena: some cheering and some booing. In other words, it's a normal day for John Cena. He puts over The Road to WrestleMania and not letting himself get lost in the shuffle like he was last year. Cena officially enters into the Royal Rumble match. Drew McIntyre interrupts. He doesn't care who John Cena shares his bed with. He doesn't care about his haircut. McIntyre only cares about what Cena does in WWE: his championships, his main events, and the love Vince McMahon gives him. McIntyre tells Cena that he's gone through many greats, and he considers Cena the greatest. He's the most dangerous man in WWE, and now, McIntyre is coming for Cena. Cena is now sad because he's heard the same thing over and over and over again from every WWE superstar. What makes Drew McIntyre think he's any different? "They were all talk. I'm going to bloody show you."
Lio Rush comes out and says there's a situation. Lio says he's going to get a lawyer if nothing is not done about Seth Rollins. Lio threatens to shut down the show, but Rollins jumps Lashley from behind. Dean Ambrose is out now to attack Rollins. Cena and McIntyre get involved. The heels get the advantage, but Finn Balor runs down to get some of Drew McIntyre. He dives over the top rope onto everyone!
(This was a very hot open to the show. I found it ironic that Cena asks McIntyre what makes him think he is any different. It was almost a mirror to what Kurt Angle said to Cena on Cena's WWE debut all those years ago. I don't know if Cena was going for that, but it definitely had that echo. I also liked the hot open with Lashley and Rollins. I'm glad Lio Rush mentioned the steel chair attack from last week to remind all of us exactly what had happened.)
- We return from break to a 6-Man Tag as Cena, Rollins, and Balor taking on Lashley, Ambrose, and McIntyre. All 6 men are confirmed to be in the Rumble. Orlando is pretty active tonight as Balor is worked over by Ambrose and McIntyre. A nice fake tag sequence by Lashley and Balor as Balor tried desperately to tag his partners to no avail. Cena gets tagged in and goes crazy on Ambrose, but a Glasgow Kiss headbutt by McIntyre ends that as we go to commercial break.
We return to see the heels continue to beat down Cena, including a spinebuster into a jackknife cover by McIntyre for a 2 count. Lashley beats down on Cena and gets a sucker punch in on Rollins, but Cena hits an AA on Lashley. Lashley gets the tag to Ambrose, who locks in a sleeper on Cena to prevent the tag. Cena is continuing to be beat up as we head to another commercial break. (Again, they are milking the eventual hot tag here. And this is an excellent way to kick off this "change" era of Raw thus far.)
We once again return to see Cena again taking the punishment from the heels. Cena does wheel steps towards the corner, but Ambrose rakes the eyes. Cena is able to knock Ambrose down. Cena and his balding hair get the tag to Finn Balor to a nice pop. Sling Blade for Lashley. Double Stomp to Ambrose's chest. Shotgun Dropkick by Balor. Coup de Grace by Balor to Ambrose. Claymore Kick by McIntyre stops all momentum. McIntyre gets on the apron and asks for the tag. Rollins similarly gets up in his corner for the tag. Tags to McIntyre and Rollins. Rollins is on fire springboarding onto McIntyre and moonsaulting onto Lashley on the floor. Falcon Arrow gets a 2 for Rollins. BURN IT DOWN stomps. McIntyre avoids the stomp. But he eats an AA. Cena gets speared, but Rollins fights him off. Frog Splash to McIntyre misses. Ambrose tags in. Dirty Deeds is blocked. CURB STOMP! 1-2-3! Cena holds up Rollins' and Balor's arms in victory. Very good TV match here with Cena helping to put over a lot of the other younger talent on the full-time roster.
Rollins sees that Triple H has been busy with other talent and runs backstage. He runs into him. He wants Ambrose. He wants the Intercontinental Championship. He wants it tonight! Triple H agrees: FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE! "Welcome back!"
- Hulk Hogan is shown walking around backstage with a Mean-Gene-O-Mania shirt on as the tribute to Mean Gene is next. Surprisingly decent reaction here.
- Ten bell salute for Mean Gene Okerlund happens. Then Real American plays. And Hogan gets a surprisingly decent reaction from the crowd. The boos are mostly drowned out as he gets a big "Hogan" chant. He puts over how much Mean Gene loved entertaining. He calls for a video to be shown about Mean Gene. And they end it with the iconic quote from Hall of Fame 2006. A loud "THANK YOU MEAN GENE" chant erupts. Hogan does one last "Let Me Tell You Something, Mean Gene." He names a bunch of legends that have passed on.
(If you read an earlier post by me this week, I was so afraid that this was going to turn ugly. I was afraid that the negative forces of Hogan's past transgressions would be visited on this night for this tribute. Thankfully, that was not the case, and I'm glad to have been proven wrong. Good tribute overall. I just wish Flair could have been out there to do a "Mean WOOO By God Gene" as well.)
- Next is the Raw Tag Team Championship Lumberjack Match between The Glorious Duo of Bobby Roode and Chad Gable and The Revival. The crowd seemed mostly quiet compared to the first hour of the show. Then again, there was a lot to take in after that first hour. And WWE hasn't exactly done a great job booking The Revival.
After the break, Gable gets a tag to Bobby Roode. The Revival have been masters of blind tags in this match thus far, which may play a role in the end. The Lumberjacks have been doing their job. Spinebuster by Roode. A German Suplex/Blockbuster by Roode and Gable only got a 2. Gable launches Wilder to the floor. Dawson almost gets a pin on Gable with a handful of tights. Another blind tag by The Revival almost catches Gable off-guard as Wilder comes off the top rope with a Frog Splash for a 2 count. Dawson now gets the tag, and he almost pins Gable with a Sunset Flip. Another garbage finish with Dawson's leg on the ropes while the referee counts to 3. They are milking The Revival not being able to get the titles here, and I have a feeling that once all the bases are covered in a blowoff match, Gable and Roode will still retain the championships. But we will be asked to believe that The Revival were built up in the process.
- Elias vs. Baron Corbin is next. Well, this show had to start going downhill sometime. Elias is in the ring and talks about all the success that he has. But 2019 will be even bigger. He's entering into the Royal Rumble. Corbin interrupts Elias. He cuts a heel promo on the fans and Elias. Corbin is going to enter the Royal Rumble. They finally get started with their match as Raw goes to commercial break.
We come back to more Charisma Bypass Surgery by Baron Corbin on the live crowd as he and Elias have a weak match. I'm sorry, folks. I'm completely soured on anything involving Baron Corbin. I feel bad for him for being put in the position he's in as a performer, but he's overexposed. (By the way, I saved myself during this match by watching a bunch of High Fly Flows from Hiroshi Tanahashi. Go Ace!0
- Dean Ambrose cuts a promo backstage about hurting Seth Rollins. He's hurting inside having to do this, but it is for the greater good. Ok then. (By the way, kudos to Dean for an awesome selling job at a house show this weekend. He took Seth Rollins' Curb Stomp and stayed on the mat for 15 minutes, even while they were taking the ring down after a house show. That's dedication and/or a great rib. Hats off to him.)
- Next, we get the Face to Face confrontation between Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar. Strowman comes down first and gives someone back the mic. Heyman and Lesnar are on the video screen from backstage. Heyman goes through his routine. Heyman says "CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE." Lesnar will NOT be coming down to the ring for Strowman's own good. He doesn't need to thank Lesnar or Heyman. He's just welcome. Strowman gets on the mic. He's waiting for Lesnar, the "Beastie Boy." Heyman continues to egg on and antagonize Strowman. Strowman says Lesnar is a coward. Lesnar says he wants to see what Strowman has. He gives Heyman the belt and walks through Gorilla.
Here comes Brock Lesnar. Lesnar walks around the ring with Strowman just staring down at him. Lesnar continues to circle the ring and walks towards the back. Strowman gets on the mic. He tells Lesnar to turn around. Strowman declares that "they will declare me new Universal Champion."
(Waste of time. And not exactly a great delivery by anyone involved either. Strowman looked really awkward at a couple moments, and Paul Heyman sort of emasculated him with some of his jabs while Strowman was talking.)
- Alicia Fox, The Singh Brothers, and Jinder Mahal are in the ring. The people do not deserve to meditate with the modern day Maharaja. It's a Mixed Tag Match with Mahal and Fox facing Ember Moon and Apollo Crews. The match only lasts about two minutes, and Moon gets the win for her team with the Eclipse. The very definition of a throwaway match.
- And just what this show needed: Alexa Bliss getting her own talk show on the top of the ramp. "A Moment of Bliss." Or as I would call it if I were there live: A moment for a restroom break. Rousey comes out and puts over Sasha Banks as someone who deserves an opportunity. Nia Jax makes a gagging noise and comes out. Nia wants her rematch tonight. Sasha comes out and thanks Ronda for those words. She wants to face Ronda for her title to teach her how to lose with dignity and class. Nia and Sasha get in each other's faces. Sasha tells Nia she'll face her in the ring. The b-word is thrown back and forth between both women, and Nia doesn't want to face her at the moment.
- Sasha and Nia wrestle for the chance to face Ronda Rousey at the Royal Rumble. Nia has Tamina backing her up in her corner while Bayley is in Sasha's corner. Nia's power and size proves to be overwhelming to Sasha. Bayley and Tamina go at it with Tamina throwing Bayley into the barricade. Nia walks around with Sasha pressed over her head and slams her on a crate by the timekeeper's position.
We return from break and Nia Jax is still mostly having her way with Sasha Banks. Facebreaker misses, but the Samoan Drop does not. She only gets a 2 count though as Sasha gets to the ropes. Jax continues to flatten and destroy Sasha. Then she sets up the corner Samoan Drop. Sasha worms her way out. But Nia just drops Sasha throat first into the top rope while in a Samoan Drop position. Nia gets a 2 count in the ring. (One of these days, these risks that Sasha continually takes in the ring are going to end up biting her. And I never want to see that actually happen. I just fear that it will.) The running leg drop misses for Jax. Tamina attacks Sasha from the floor, but Bayley goes on the attack on Tamina. Nia gets dumped to the floor. Both women are on the apron, but Nia runs into the ring post. Banks tries to do a hurricanrana to Nia, but Nia doesn't really budge. Sasha takes another nasty fall on the floor. Sasha gets Nia in the ring and hits Bank Statement to get the championship opportunity. That was an ugly match. I was entertained, but there were a lot of ugly botches in there that made me fear for the health of Sasha Banks.
- The main event sees Seth Rollins face Dean Ambrose in a Falls Count Anywhere Match for the Intercontinental Championship. Rollins jumps Ambrose while he is walking down the aisle. And Rollins continues to go wildly at Ambrose around the arena. They fight around the equipment area in the arena and into the backstage area. They end up fighting on a bunch of cases backstage. Seth takes a backdrop on the cases for a 2 count. Ambrose goes on the attack with a ladder. Commercial break.
We return from commercial break and see Ambrose and Rollins fighting it out on steps up in the stands of the arena in Orlando. A crossbody block off a rail down to Ambrose on the floor gets a 2. It looked as if Rollins bopped Ambrose legitimately in the nose on a punch, which they show again on a replay. They are now fighting around the ring. Ambrose goes to work on Rollins with a chair, but he only gets a 2. (This is a MUCH better match than their one at TLC. This is actually the type of match they should have had in the first place.) Ambrose pulls the mat that surrounds ringside, exposing the concrete floor. But it is Ambrose who takes the backdrop onto concrete. Rollins and Ambrose are fighting in the ring now. Ambrose pokes the eyes and climbs the ropes. Rollins catches him and hits a Superplex, Buckle Bomb, and a Superkick. Burn It Down. Curb Stomp. Here comes Lashley. Lashley pulls out Rollins and smacks Rollins up against the barricade. Suplex on the floor. Lashley hits a Dominator in the ring. Spear. Ambrose crawls slowly over and covers. 1-2-3. (Good hardcore match here with an obvious ending. Still, Rollins and Ambrose vindicated themselves after their lackluster match the previous month.)
After the match, Lashley gets a table out. He picks up and puts Rollins through it. Lashley has gotten his revenge on Seth Rollins for what happened last week. To be honest, I don't know if Bobby Lashley has looked better since returning to WWE. Good booking overall here.
Overall, I enjoyed the first and last hours of the show well enough. The second hour to me was a little weak, but I will take a "little weak" as opposed to absymal and shameful as it had been for months. I don't know if this is truly long-lasting, but this was a good bit of change at least for this week. We only had a 10 minute Baron Corbin segment. So, I'll take it. Thumbs up for Raw this week.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
Raw Thoughts (Written LIVE as the show aired)
- The show begins with Mean Gene Okerlund's image showing. The actual show shows a brawl happening through backstage and Gorilla between Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley with a bunch of people trying to break them up. Rollins jumps on Lashley and attacks him. I guess this has something to do with last week's steel chair assault by Rollins. Hot open to the show. However, I'll be honest: I almost completely forgot what led to Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley having a problem up to this point.
- John Cena is out next. WWE takes the bottom half of the screen to promote some of the other segments coming up. The crowd is mixed in its response for Cena: some cheering and some booing. In other words, it's a normal day for John Cena. He puts over The Road to WrestleMania and not letting himself get lost in the shuffle like he was last year. Cena officially enters into the Royal Rumble match. Drew McIntyre interrupts. He doesn't care who John Cena shares his bed with. He doesn't care about his haircut. McIntyre only cares about what Cena does in WWE: his championships, his main events, and the love Vince McMahon gives him. McIntyre tells Cena that he's gone through many greats, and he considers Cena the greatest. He's the most dangerous man in WWE, and now, McIntyre is coming for Cena. Cena is now sad because he's heard the same thing over and over and over again from every WWE superstar. What makes Drew McIntyre think he's any different? "They were all talk. I'm going to bloody show you."
Lio Rush comes out and says there's a situation. Lio says he's going to get a lawyer if nothing is not done about Seth Rollins. Lio threatens to shut down the show, but Rollins jumps Lashley from behind. Dean Ambrose is out now to attack Rollins. Cena and McIntyre get involved. The heels get the advantage, but Finn Balor runs down to get some of Drew McIntyre. He dives over the top rope onto everyone!
(This was a very hot open to the show. I found it ironic that Cena asks McIntyre what makes him think he is any different. It was almost a mirror to what Kurt Angle said to Cena on Cena's WWE debut all those years ago. I don't know if Cena was going for that, but it definitely had that echo. I also liked the hot open with Lashley and Rollins. I'm glad Lio Rush mentioned the steel chair attack from last week to remind all of us exactly what had happened.)
- We return from break to a 6-Man Tag as Cena, Rollins, and Balor taking on Lashley, Ambrose, and McIntyre. All 6 men are confirmed to be in the Rumble. Orlando is pretty active tonight as Balor is worked over by Ambrose and McIntyre. A nice fake tag sequence by Lashley and Balor as Balor tried desperately to tag his partners to no avail. Cena gets tagged in and goes crazy on Ambrose, but a Glasgow Kiss headbutt by McIntyre ends that as we go to commercial break.
We return to see the heels continue to beat down Cena, including a spinebuster into a jackknife cover by McIntyre for a 2 count. Lashley beats down on Cena and gets a sucker punch in on Rollins, but Cena hits an AA on Lashley. Lashley gets the tag to Ambrose, who locks in a sleeper on Cena to prevent the tag. Cena is continuing to be beat up as we head to another commercial break. (Again, they are milking the eventual hot tag here. And this is an excellent way to kick off this "change" era of Raw thus far.)
We once again return to see Cena again taking the punishment from the heels. Cena does wheel steps towards the corner, but Ambrose rakes the eyes. Cena is able to knock Ambrose down. Cena and his balding hair get the tag to Finn Balor to a nice pop. Sling Blade for Lashley. Double Stomp to Ambrose's chest. Shotgun Dropkick by Balor. Coup de Grace by Balor to Ambrose. Claymore Kick by McIntyre stops all momentum. McIntyre gets on the apron and asks for the tag. Rollins similarly gets up in his corner for the tag. Tags to McIntyre and Rollins. Rollins is on fire springboarding onto McIntyre and moonsaulting onto Lashley on the floor. Falcon Arrow gets a 2 for Rollins. BURN IT DOWN stomps. McIntyre avoids the stomp. But he eats an AA. Cena gets speared, but Rollins fights him off. Frog Splash to McIntyre misses. Ambrose tags in. Dirty Deeds is blocked. CURB STOMP! 1-2-3! Cena holds up Rollins' and Balor's arms in victory. Very good TV match here with Cena helping to put over a lot of the other younger talent on the full-time roster.
Rollins sees that Triple H has been busy with other talent and runs backstage. He runs into him. He wants Ambrose. He wants the Intercontinental Championship. He wants it tonight! Triple H agrees: FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE! "Welcome back!"
- Hulk Hogan is shown walking around backstage with a Mean-Gene-O-Mania shirt on as the tribute to Mean Gene is next. Surprisingly decent reaction here.
- Ten bell salute for Mean Gene Okerlund happens. Then Real American plays. And Hogan gets a surprisingly decent reaction from the crowd. The boos are mostly drowned out as he gets a big "Hogan" chant. He puts over how much Mean Gene loved entertaining. He calls for a video to be shown about Mean Gene. And they end it with the iconic quote from Hall of Fame 2006. A loud "THANK YOU MEAN GENE" chant erupts. Hogan does one last "Let Me Tell You Something, Mean Gene." He names a bunch of legends that have passed on.
(If you read an earlier post by me this week, I was so afraid that this was going to turn ugly. I was afraid that the negative forces of Hogan's past transgressions would be visited on this night for this tribute. Thankfully, that was not the case, and I'm glad to have been proven wrong. Good tribute overall. I just wish Flair could have been out there to do a "Mean WOOO By God Gene" as well.)
- Next is the Raw Tag Team Championship Lumberjack Match between The Glorious Duo of Bobby Roode and Chad Gable and The Revival. The crowd seemed mostly quiet compared to the first hour of the show. Then again, there was a lot to take in after that first hour. And WWE hasn't exactly done a great job booking The Revival.
After the break, Gable gets a tag to Bobby Roode. The Revival have been masters of blind tags in this match thus far, which may play a role in the end. The Lumberjacks have been doing their job. Spinebuster by Roode. A German Suplex/Blockbuster by Roode and Gable only got a 2. Gable launches Wilder to the floor. Dawson almost gets a pin on Gable with a handful of tights. Another blind tag by The Revival almost catches Gable off-guard as Wilder comes off the top rope with a Frog Splash for a 2 count. Dawson now gets the tag, and he almost pins Gable with a Sunset Flip. Another garbage finish with Dawson's leg on the ropes while the referee counts to 3. They are milking The Revival not being able to get the titles here, and I have a feeling that once all the bases are covered in a blowoff match, Gable and Roode will still retain the championships. But we will be asked to believe that The Revival were built up in the process.
- Elias vs. Baron Corbin is next. Well, this show had to start going downhill sometime. Elias is in the ring and talks about all the success that he has. But 2019 will be even bigger. He's entering into the Royal Rumble. Corbin interrupts Elias. He cuts a heel promo on the fans and Elias. Corbin is going to enter the Royal Rumble. They finally get started with their match as Raw goes to commercial break.
We come back to more Charisma Bypass Surgery by Baron Corbin on the live crowd as he and Elias have a weak match. I'm sorry, folks. I'm completely soured on anything involving Baron Corbin. I feel bad for him for being put in the position he's in as a performer, but he's overexposed. (By the way, I saved myself during this match by watching a bunch of High Fly Flows from Hiroshi Tanahashi. Go Ace!0
- Dean Ambrose cuts a promo backstage about hurting Seth Rollins. He's hurting inside having to do this, but it is for the greater good. Ok then. (By the way, kudos to Dean for an awesome selling job at a house show this weekend. He took Seth Rollins' Curb Stomp and stayed on the mat for 15 minutes, even while they were taking the ring down after a house show. That's dedication and/or a great rib. Hats off to him.)
- Next, we get the Face to Face confrontation between Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar. Strowman comes down first and gives someone back the mic. Heyman and Lesnar are on the video screen from backstage. Heyman goes through his routine. Heyman says "CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE." Lesnar will NOT be coming down to the ring for Strowman's own good. He doesn't need to thank Lesnar or Heyman. He's just welcome. Strowman gets on the mic. He's waiting for Lesnar, the "Beastie Boy." Heyman continues to egg on and antagonize Strowman. Strowman says Lesnar is a coward. Lesnar says he wants to see what Strowman has. He gives Heyman the belt and walks through Gorilla.
Here comes Brock Lesnar. Lesnar walks around the ring with Strowman just staring down at him. Lesnar continues to circle the ring and walks towards the back. Strowman gets on the mic. He tells Lesnar to turn around. Strowman declares that "they will declare me new Universal Champion."
(Waste of time. And not exactly a great delivery by anyone involved either. Strowman looked really awkward at a couple moments, and Paul Heyman sort of emasculated him with some of his jabs while Strowman was talking.)
- Alicia Fox, The Singh Brothers, and Jinder Mahal are in the ring. The people do not deserve to meditate with the modern day Maharaja. It's a Mixed Tag Match with Mahal and Fox facing Ember Moon and Apollo Crews. The match only lasts about two minutes, and Moon gets the win for her team with the Eclipse. The very definition of a throwaway match.
- And just what this show needed: Alexa Bliss getting her own talk show on the top of the ramp. "A Moment of Bliss." Or as I would call it if I were there live: A moment for a restroom break. Rousey comes out and puts over Sasha Banks as someone who deserves an opportunity. Nia Jax makes a gagging noise and comes out. Nia wants her rematch tonight. Sasha comes out and thanks Ronda for those words. She wants to face Ronda for her title to teach her how to lose with dignity and class. Nia and Sasha get in each other's faces. Sasha tells Nia she'll face her in the ring. The b-word is thrown back and forth between both women, and Nia doesn't want to face her at the moment.
- Sasha and Nia wrestle for the chance to face Ronda Rousey at the Royal Rumble. Nia has Tamina backing her up in her corner while Bayley is in Sasha's corner. Nia's power and size proves to be overwhelming to Sasha. Bayley and Tamina go at it with Tamina throwing Bayley into the barricade. Nia walks around with Sasha pressed over her head and slams her on a crate by the timekeeper's position.
We return from break and Nia Jax is still mostly having her way with Sasha Banks. Facebreaker misses, but the Samoan Drop does not. She only gets a 2 count though as Sasha gets to the ropes. Jax continues to flatten and destroy Sasha. Then she sets up the corner Samoan Drop. Sasha worms her way out. But Nia just drops Sasha throat first into the top rope while in a Samoan Drop position. Nia gets a 2 count in the ring. (One of these days, these risks that Sasha continually takes in the ring are going to end up biting her. And I never want to see that actually happen. I just fear that it will.) The running leg drop misses for Jax. Tamina attacks Sasha from the floor, but Bayley goes on the attack on Tamina. Nia gets dumped to the floor. Both women are on the apron, but Nia runs into the ring post. Banks tries to do a hurricanrana to Nia, but Nia doesn't really budge. Sasha takes another nasty fall on the floor. Sasha gets Nia in the ring and hits Bank Statement to get the championship opportunity. That was an ugly match. I was entertained, but there were a lot of ugly botches in there that made me fear for the health of Sasha Banks.
- The main event sees Seth Rollins face Dean Ambrose in a Falls Count Anywhere Match for the Intercontinental Championship. Rollins jumps Ambrose while he is walking down the aisle. And Rollins continues to go wildly at Ambrose around the arena. They fight around the equipment area in the arena and into the backstage area. They end up fighting on a bunch of cases backstage. Seth takes a backdrop on the cases for a 2 count. Ambrose goes on the attack with a ladder. Commercial break.
We return from commercial break and see Ambrose and Rollins fighting it out on steps up in the stands of the arena in Orlando. A crossbody block off a rail down to Ambrose on the floor gets a 2. It looked as if Rollins bopped Ambrose legitimately in the nose on a punch, which they show again on a replay. They are now fighting around the ring. Ambrose goes to work on Rollins with a chair, but he only gets a 2. (This is a MUCH better match than their one at TLC. This is actually the type of match they should have had in the first place.) Ambrose pulls the mat that surrounds ringside, exposing the concrete floor. But it is Ambrose who takes the backdrop onto concrete. Rollins and Ambrose are fighting in the ring now. Ambrose pokes the eyes and climbs the ropes. Rollins catches him and hits a Superplex, Buckle Bomb, and a Superkick. Burn It Down. Curb Stomp. Here comes Lashley. Lashley pulls out Rollins and smacks Rollins up against the barricade. Suplex on the floor. Lashley hits a Dominator in the ring. Spear. Ambrose crawls slowly over and covers. 1-2-3. (Good hardcore match here with an obvious ending. Still, Rollins and Ambrose vindicated themselves after their lackluster match the previous month.)
After the match, Lashley gets a table out. He picks up and puts Rollins through it. Lashley has gotten his revenge on Seth Rollins for what happened last week. To be honest, I don't know if Bobby Lashley has looked better since returning to WWE. Good booking overall here.
Overall, I enjoyed the first and last hours of the show well enough. The second hour to me was a little weak, but I will take a "little weak" as opposed to absymal and shameful as it had been for months. I don't know if this is truly long-lasting, but this was a good bit of change at least for this week. We only had a 10 minute Baron Corbin segment. So, I'll take it. Thumbs up for Raw this week.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
Don’t you dare disparage the good gd name of Alexa Bliss. She is an angel.
ReplyDeleteI like Alexa when her promos are kept to 1-2 minutes. She has not shown an ability to cut a promo longer than that without 1) reverting to the sweet talk into a heel snark routine she did for about a year straight or 2) boring a crowd to tears. A lot of that is bad writing (cue the “Woe is me 5 hours” replies by those writers). But it’s also just not her thing to do long promos. Even tonight, she didn’t have much of a dance partner in Rousey to do a promo with. Instead, they brought Nia and Sasha our to help spice up the segment.
DeleteBottom line is I have no confidence in this new talk show. She’s not that great on a live mic.