Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 12.12.16

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 12.12.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Raw Tag Team Title Match: Champions New Day defeated Gallows & Anderson and Sheamus & Cesaro @ 11:45 via pin [***¼]
– Braun Strowman killed Curtis Axel @ 1:00 via pin [NR]
– Ariya Daivari defeated Lince Dorado @ 3:00 via DQ [NR]
– Brian Kendrick defeated TJ Perkins @ 8:00 via pin [**¾]
– Bayley defeated Alicia Fox @ 2:55 via pin [NR]
– Sami Zayn defeated Jinder Mahal @ 3:25 via pin [*¾]
– Raw Tag Team Title Match: Champions New Day defeated Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens & Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins @ 20:30 via pin [****]

---

– Holy shit, Raw’s not starting with a 20-minute promo. I approve.

Champions New Day vs. Gallows & Anderson vs. Sheamus & Cesaro: New Day cut a short promo to set the stage, Big E made sure to get in a joke about cock. Kofi and Cesaro started things off, working a nice power vs. speed opening. Anderson and Gallows took control and that led to the commercial break. Post break, the Club maintained the heat, scoring several near falls. Kofi made a comeback, slamming Gallows into Cesaro. Sheamus got the tag, ran wild and then beat the hell out of Gallows. Sheamus fought off both Anderson and Gallows by himself, it broke down, but the club hit the boot of doom for a great near fall; Cesaro made the save. Cesaro then got the hot tag, awesome fire from Cesaro, who may have the best hot tag in wrestling right now. Cesaro hit the swing and sharpshooter, Sheamus cut off New Day. It broke down into a big move buffet, and New Day retained. Champions New Day defeated Gallows & Anderson and Sheamus & Cesaro @ 11:45 via pin [***¼] It’s a shame that their title reign turned into nothing but another excuse to break a record and led to the Club doing shit comedy and killing any edge that they had. It really feels like they needed to change the titles, but they had to do the record first. This was a good match, with Gallows & Anderson looking revitalized and motivated working with Sheamus & Cesaro. Hopefully one of those teams win and then they can feud.

– New Day arrives backstage at their party. Stephanie got sprayed in the face with champagne and threw a fit. New Day better be careful, or she’ll have three new sets of balls on her desk.

– We get a video package regarding Zayn trying to force Foley into booking him in a match with Strowman.

Braun Strowman vs. Curtis Axel: After killing Axel, Strowman proclaimed that no one, including Zayn, can last two-minutes with him. Braun Strowman killed Curtis Axel @ 1:00 via pin [NR] This was exactly what it needed to be.

– Zayn demanded a match with Strowman, but Foley refused, saying Zayn can’t compete with Strowman and also noting that he was saving Zayn. Zayn then said maybe he shouldn’t be on Raw, so Foley agreed to call Bryan and work out a trade. That was a good promo segment to play into the angle, and I loved the trade tease at the end. Zayn would be a perfect surrogate for Bryan and has reason to want to beat Miz. But at the same time, you could tell Zayn really DOESN’T want a trade, he wants to prove himself against Strowman.

Ariya Daivari vs. Lince Dorado: They worked a basic back and forth, with Dorado picking up the pace and taking control until Daivari hit the lariat. Gallagher makes his way out and makes his intentions to interfere in the match, calling Daivari a scoundrel. He brawls with Daivari on the floor and then into the ring. Gallagher clears out Daivari and this feud will continue. Ariya Daivari defeated Lince Dorado @ 3:00 via DQ [NR] I dig Gallagher, but Daivari is beyond boring as a performer.

The Rollins Report: Kevin Owens is the guest. Rollins still wants Triple H, but first will face Chris Jericho at Road Block. He then introduces Owens, who stays on the ramp. Rollins asks him about his friendship with Jericho, trying to mess with him. Owens says he and Jericho will have each other’s back at Road Block. Interference confirmed. Owens then says that New Day will defend against he and Jericho tonight. Jericho arrives, and is still pissed at Owens, and doesn’t seem down with the tag title match, so Owens apologizes and says they can make history tonight. Owens says Stephanie made the match, and it is happening. Rollins continued to play mind games with them. Jericho then teased putting him on the list, they looked to attack Rollins and then beat him down. Roman Reigns then made the save, but got cut off until Rollins saved him. Reigns and Rollins fought back and cleared the ring. This was a solid segment to sell two of the top PPV matches for Sunday.

– We get highlights from 205 live, setting up this next match as well as the cruiserweight triple threat. Kendrick interrupts to try and play mind games. Perkins arrives to add to the tension.

TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick: These guys are facing Rich Swann at the PPV on Sunday in a triple threat for the cruiserweight title. Kendrick looked to ground Perkins, who quickly looked to lock in the knee bar. Perkins then clotheslined Kendrick to the floor, but missed the apron dropkick and we took a commercial break. Post break, Kendrick grounded Perkins, working a dragon sleeper. Perkins countered an attempt at the captain’s hook, hitting a spin kick. Perkins picked up the pace, taking control and setting Kendrick in the tree of WHOA and then hitting a dropkick and then the missile dropkick. Kendrick fought back, hitting a cradle suplex. Perkins countered the captain’s hook, scored with the knee bar but Kendrick made the ropes. Kendrick posts Perkins and then hits sliced bread for the win. Brian Kendrick defeated TJ Perkins @ 8:00 via pin [**¾] Pretty good stuff overall, they work well together, but I am burnt out on the pairing. I was also not a fan of Perkins losing ahead of the title match; there are approximately 15 cruiserweights doing jack and shit so why not book two matches so both challengers get wins and gain momentum ahead of the PPV.

– Foley meets with Reigns and Rollins, and he puts them in the tag title match later tonight.

– We get a video package for Sasha vs. Charlotte.

Bayley vs. Alicia Fox: The battle for Cedric Alexander’s heart continues. Bayley vs. Alicia Fox feels like a reenactment of ROH and WWE fighting for Cedric’s his love. Bayley controlled early, but Fox got aggressive, took control and hit the ax kick. Fox then hit some suplexes, scoring a near fall. The Bayley to belly finishes it. Bayley defeated Alicia Fox @ 2:55 via pin [NR] It was fine, the right person won.

Lana and Rusev Talk : Rusev claimed that he beat all of the American heroes, and then last week beat down Enzo and took out the trash. After the beating, he and Lana took care of business. Rusev then teases showing the footage, but we just saw Enzo’s beat down again, because they tricked us like they did to Enzo. Rusev was very proud of himself, and promises crush fools who mess with he and Lana. Big Cass arrives, minus the beaten carcass of Enzo. Cass hit the ring, they brawled and I would guess this sets up a PPV match, where Cass defends the honor of Enzo, while Rusev defends the honor of Lana. The segment was solid enough to set up the match, but it lacked any real heat or aggression; it existed.

– Owens and Jericho talked…

"It's US vs. The World!! Just like it always has been, just like it always WILL BE!" – @FightOwensFight to @IAmJericho #RAW pic.twitter.com/sDgPbMZWhT

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 13, 2016

– Emma speaks…

All you cared about were the #4Horsewomen…
Now I finally have your attention and I'm supposed to fall at your feet, yeah right! #Raw pic.twitter.com/f2d2c8US4E

— EMMA (@EmmaWWE) December 13, 2016

Sami Zayn vs. Jinder Mahal: Mahal took control almost right away, worked a boring heat on Zayn, taking way too much of the match. Zayn fires up, hits the lariat, XPLODER and helluva to thankfully end this. Sami Zayn defeated Jinder Mahal @ 3:25 via pin [*¾] This wasn’t bad, just boring with 100% too much Jinder Mahal.

– Foley says Zayn will be traded to Smackdown for a talent of equal value. Zayn again asks to face Strowman and Foley refuses and agrees to sign off on the trade. Foley reveals that Zayn was traded for Eva Marie. Zayn does not look amused. Zayn says he is worth 1000 Eva Marie’s, and says Foley used to be him and had to fight for all he had. Zayn is sick of paying for Foley’s mistakes. Zayn DEMANDS Strowman, and Foley tells him to remember this moment, bottle it up for when he faces Strrowman at Road Block. Foley reveals there was never a trade, he just needed to know if Zayn could tap into the dark part of his soul. Foley is giving Zayn 10-minutes to prove everyone wrong and to prove why people should believe in him. Really good segment, I have been on board with the Strowman vs. Zayn since the beginning, they can do a lot with it for both guys. These promos for Zayn have been great, and Strowman working with Zayn will help him grow as a performer.

Negotiations fell through #RAW can't afford my contract! @wwe #CallMyAgent ?

— Eva Marie (@natalieevamarie) December 13, 2016

– We get our 900th commercial for Sing.

Champions New Day vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins: Woods and Big E are in here for New Day. Woods and Rollins worked a good back and forth, leading to Reigns and Big E tagging in. Owens and Jericho then worked the heat on Big E. Big E tried to make a comeback, but Jericho cut him off and maintained control. Woods got the hot tag, ran wild on Owens until Jericho distracted him. We got a tower of doom spot, and post break, Owens was working over Woods, who slowly made comeback and tagged in Big E. Big E tossed Jericho around with suplexes, Rollins then sent Jericho to the floor and hit the suicide dive. He then hit one on Big E. Rollins hit another dive, Reigns countered the code breaker with the sit out powerbomb for a good near fall. Jericho, Owens and Reigns had some really good interactions, Woods in and hits the elbow drop onto Reigns for the near fall. Woods and reigns traded strikes, Rollins in and it breaks down into the signature move buffet, Jericho tosses Rollins off the top as frantic action continues. Jericho cuts off Woods, locks in the walls, but Woods escapes into a roll up for 2. Owens back in and he and Jericho hit the pop up code breaker for a great near fall. Rollins shoved Owens into Jericho, leading to them arguing. Rollins shoves Jericho into Owens, pedigree to Jericho and Woods falls onto Jericho and New Day retains. Champions New Day defeated Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens & Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins @ 20:30 via pin [****] I thought that was a great match, with a great pace and just a lot of fun action wise. They also weaved in a lot of story stuff for Rollins vs. Jericho & Owens vs. Reigns, and also did what appears to be the official break of Jericho and Owens, all while New Day sets the record.

– Post match, we hear some Hero chants as Owens and Jericho argue. Jericho says this is over as Owens apologizes; I think they have agreed to see other people. Reigns then spears Owens, and stands tall with the US & Universal titles.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.2

The final score: review Good

The 411

Tonight’s Raw was a good show, new Day sets the record and are way stronger leaving the show and feel as if they have a on of momentum; they also did a good job of setting the stage for Sunday’s PPV. This a truly felt like an effective go home show. I also felt that the show had a good flow and didn’t feel as long as it normally does.