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Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 11.21.16

November 21, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Credit: WWE
6.6
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 11.21.16  

 photo Kevin Owens Show_zpsqmvkrp5s.jpg

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 11.21.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Raw Tag Team Title Match: Champions New Day vs. Sheamus and Cesaro @ 12:06 via pin [**¾]
– Cedric Alexander defeated Ariya Daivari @ 3:30 via pin [**]
– Rusev defeated Enzo Amore @ 1:05 via submission [NR]
#1 Contender’s Match: The Club defeated Golden Truth @ 6:05 via pin[**]
– Braun Strowman defeated Sami Zayn @ 4:20 via [**]
– Bayley and Sasha defeated Nia Jax and Charlotte @ 5:45 via submission [**]
#1 Contender’s Match: Rich Swann defeated Noam Dar and TJ Perkins @ 6:30 via pin [***]
WWE Universal Title NO DQ Match: Champion Kevin Owens defeated Seth Rollins @ 23:15 via pin [***¾]


– We get highlights from Survivor Series.

Sorry about missing last week guys, I had some severe migraine issues.

GOLDBERG PROMO TIME: Goldberg kicks off the show, thanking the fans for allowing him to be Goldberg again. He then thanked his wife, because he can be very moody. He also thanks his son for giving him the desire to be a superhero again. He did what he set out to do, conquer the beast, but all good things may come to an end. But then he ran into Stephanie, and she agreed he had one more ass kicking left in him. She then asked if he had another title run in him. He says he does, and brought up the Royal Rumble, noting that every one is next. Good segment to kick things off, the crowd reacted well to the announcement and we have the first man set for the Rumble. Putting him in the rumble works because you can protect him and allow him to hit all of his big spots. Plus if someone eliminates him, that could be huge heat.

– New Day admits to getting eliminated early, but said they led the Raw team to factory. They are about to demolish Demolition’s record.

Champions New Day vs. Sheamus and Cesaro: Cesaro and big E started things off, Cesaro tossed Big E around a bit, because he is great. Sheamus in and kept control, until Kofi hit a high cross and went back and forth with Cesaro. They did some nice, athletic counters and then Kofi got sent to the floor. Kofi cut off Sheamus with a dropkick after the break, but Sheamus then hit the back breaker to slow Kofi down. Big E then got the tag and tossed both Sheamus and Cesaro around. Big splash to Sheamus by Big E, set for the big ending, Sheamus escaped and raked the eyes, and then hit white noise. Cesaro then hit the uppercut train on Kofi, caught the high cross and the back breaker got 2 for Cesaro. STRUMPH! SOS by Kofi got the near fall. The boom drop hit, but then Cesaro got the big swing on Kofi. Sharpshooter by Cesaro, Kofi fights center ring, Sheamus then takes out Big E as Kofi taps while Woods districts the ref. Kofi then got the roll up for the win. Champions New Day vs. Sheamus and Cesaro @ 12:06 via pin [**¾] This had it’s moments, and I felt it was going well but lost it’s steam down the stretch. I really thought commentary missed a chance to play up New Day’s desperation to keep the titles and break the record.

– We see a naked Enzo, locked out of the locker room. The Shining Stars try to sell him a timeshare. Titus O’Neil arrives and we get jokes. Lana gives him the once over, and Rusev arrives and then Cass. We get more dick jokes.

– Stephanie and Mick gloat about their Survivor Series domination and Goldberg being in the Rumble. Zayn arrives and Foley says they let Raw down when he lost. Since he failed, he has to face Braun Strowman. This pleased Stephanie, but felt out of character for Foley. I hope they explain he did it to please Stephanie and save his job or something.

Cedric Alexander vs. Ariya Daivari: Daivari got some promo time, running down Canadians for being as bad as Americans. Alexander took control right away, looking or an arm bar and then hitting a dropkick. Daivari cut him off, grounded him with elbows, and then a neck crank. Alexander fought back with elbows and then a head scissors. Daivari stunned Alexander off the ropes, took the heat for a bit and then Alexander hit a back handspring kick for 2. A springboard clothesline followed, and then the lumbar check and Alexander wins. Cedric Alexander defeated Ariya Daivari @ 3:30 via pin [**] This was short, but fine for the time given. I really wish that they would open up if they are only getting that much time.

– 205 LIVE debuts next Tuesday night.

The Highlight Reel: Chris Jericho arrived to explain why team Raw lost last night. Before Jericho can explain, his best friend Kevin Owens arrived. Owens says he knows the answer and asks to use the Jeritron. Owens then reveals how he saved Jericho by using the list to attack AJ Styles. Jericho questioned if they were still best friends, and was disgusted that Owens used the list like a common weapon. Owens did not care, there is tension here. Jericho says the list means everything to him, and Owens says he sacrificed himself, but Jericho cared too much about his list and got eliminated. Jericho then said that Owens never really had his back and they both blame Roman Reigns for the loss and hug. They made up and continued to blame Reigns and to make fun of his over conditioned hair; they also blamed Rollins. Rollins then arrived, admitted that he was amused by all of this and says he was made promised for being on the team. He wants his title match with Owens, and wants it tonight. Jericho and Owens didn’t believe him and ran him down for being the architect of lies. Rollins then attacked them both, and then Roman Reigns arrived to make the save. Reigns and Rollins cleared the ring, and then Foley arrived. Rollins will get his match, with Reigns and Jericho banned from ringside and the match is no DQ. That was a lot of fun, Jericho and Owens always entertain, they set up the main event and also the two top singles programs.

– We got more dick jokes pre-match.

Rusev vs. Enzo Amore: We’re getting this because Lana saw Enzo’s dick backstage. Rusev attacked and mauled Enzo early, Rusev then posted himself and survived a roll up. Accolade by Rusev and Enzo taps. Rusev defeated Enzo Amore @ 1:05 via submission [NR] A squash, exactly what it should have been.

#1 Contender’s Match: Golden Truth vs. The Club: I have no idea what Golden Truth did to earn a potential title shot. The winners get their title match next week. Golden Truth controlled early, Byron Saxton compared them to salad looking for the proper dressing. Fucks sake. The Club cut off Truth, and worked the heat, which was ok. It just had no real sense o urgency and there was zero sympathy for Truth. Truth finally fired up, made the comeback and got the tag to Goldust. Goldust is awesome, working his ass off as always. The Club fought him off, it broke down, Anderson cut off Goldust and then they hit the Magic killer for the win. The Club defeated Golden Truth @ 6:05 via pin [**] Of all the matches on this show, this was one of them. I like the idea of New Day having to go through team after team each week to get to the record, but it would have mean more if they hadn’t lost so many Non-Title Matches as of late. This just lacked the fire of guys actually fighting for something, which they were, but you couldn’t tell by the in ring.

Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn: Strowman attacked Sami during his entrance. Strowman then just beat the shit out of Sami, decimating him. Sami did fire up and fight back, but Strowman kept beating on him. Sami kept trying to get back to his feet, but Strowman was too much. Foley then arrived and stopped the match. Ok, that makes sense for Foley to do. Braun Strowman defeated Sami Zayn @ 4:20 via [**] They put a lot of wok into making Braun Strowman a monster, including at Survivor Series. He looked like a killer here, and Sami is such a great and sympathetic babyface, that he sold this exactly the way it needed to be sold. The goal was To put Strowman over as monster and this did a great job of that.

– EMMALINA.

Charlotte Explains Attacking Bayley: SHE’S THE FUCKING HEEL and wanted the glory for herself. Charlotte and Dana Brooke head to the ring. Charlotte shows footage of herself kicking Bayley in the face last night. She’s the queen and rules the ring. She’s says above all the peasants, and then Banks arrived. She wants her HIAC rematch tonight. Charlotte agrees, but for next week. Raw is in Charlotte, NC next week. I am glad that they are advertising this ahead of time. But Wait, Nia Jax says fuck this bullshit and says she dominated at the PPV, but Banks didn’t. Jax says the fans are fooled by the overrated, purple-headed Barbie Doll. Jax claimed that Banks was not the Boss, and then beat her down. Charlotte was pleased with this and helped until Bayley tried to make the save. I liked that they finally got Jax into the mix, the division needed to move beyond Charlotte, Banks, and Bayley.

Charlotte and Nia Jax vs. Bayley and Sasha Banks: Charlotte and Jax took the early heat on Bayley, odd spot as Bayley got a monkey flip. Banks then got the hot tag, she ran wild for a bit, hitting the corner knees to Charlotte. Bayley and Banks worked together to take Jax down. Banks made Charlotte tap to set the stage for nest week’s title match. Bayley and Sasha defeated Nia Jax and Charlotte @ 5:45 via submission [**] This was another solid, but forgettable match.

#1 Contender’s Match: Noam Dar vs. TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann: The winner gets a title shot on next week’s debut of 205 live. Kendrick was on commentary, noting that 205 live was created just for him. Swann and Perkins had some very good back and forth, it was crisp and clean and had great energy. Kendrick was completely arrogant and unlikable on commentary and that’s a compliment. Perkins smartly attacker the knee of Swann to slow him down. Dar cut off Perkins and worked an ankle lock. They worked well together down the stretch, largely avoiding the pitfalls of the triple threat match. They had some good teased finishes down the stretch and then Swann scored the pin to earn a title shot. Rich Swann defeated Noam Dar and TJ Perkins @ 6:30 via pin [***] I enjoyed that, it was fun, had good energy and I feel the right guy won.

Champion Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins: Reigns and Jericho are banned from ringside, and this is a NO DQ Title Match. They worked a good and aggressive beginning portion, which I felt played well and played off of their past issues. Post break, Owens scored a near fall after a DDT into the chair. He then beat on Rollins with the chair to maintain control and then choked out Rollins. Rollins picked up the pacing, hit sling blade and took control back. The suicide dive followed, Rollins then ran off the chair and slammed Owens onto the chair and we took another break. Post break they went back and forth, traded kicks center ring and then did a double down. Rollins up top and misses the high fly flow. Owens then hit a chair-assisted cannonball for the near fall. Owens then set up chairs, teased a powerbomb but got backdropped onto them. Rollins then got a table, set it up in the corner, but Owens got a roll up to cut him off. Rollins up top again, Owens stopped that, followed Rollins up top but Rollins slipped out and powerbombed Owens through the table for s near fall. Owens rolled to the floor, Rollins followed and sent Owens into the crowd. He followed and continued his attack in the crowd. Owens tried to run away, Rollins followed and kept attacking, and threw a trashcan at Owens. Rollins fought off a powerbomb, into the stands and then dove off onto Owens. Rollins kept attacking as they brawled to ringside. “A masked man” attacked Rollins but it was Jericho. I FOR ONE AM SHOCKED. Pedigree to Jericho on the floor, but Owens then hit Rollins with apron bomb to retain the title. Why ban Jericho and Reign when you were never going to follow through, it’s no DQ so there is no punishment for it. Also, where was Roman? I thought they were buddies again? Champion Kevin Owens defeated Seth Rollins @ 23:15 via pin [***¾] I get heels winning by cheating, I don’t have a big issue with it, but I also think Owens could be presented better as champion. This was an overall very good main event, with a great crowd and both guys working the stipulation well, creating some good near falls.

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“Mama says these my magic shoes. Mama said they would take me anywhere…”

6.6
The final score: review Average
The 411
I felt tonight was a very solid follow-up to last night’s PPV, and they actually set two title matches for next week’s Raw and one for 205 live, that is a refreshing change.
legend

article topics :

RAW, Tremendous Tirades, WWE, Larry Csonka