Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 12.29.14

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

“FOR ONLY $9.99 MICHAEL!”

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW 12.29.14

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Champion vs. Champion Match: Dolph Ziggler defeated Rusev @10:15 via DQ [***½]
– Non-Title Match: Brie Bella © defeated Natalya @ 1:10 [NR]
– Tag Team Title Match: The Usos defeated Miz & Sandow © @ 13:00 via pin [***¼]
– Bad News Barrett defeated Cesaro @ 3:40 via pin [*½]
– Luke Harper defeated Jack Swagger @ 9:40 via pin [**½]
– Roman Reigns defeated Seth Rollins @ 16:15 via DQ [**]
– The Ascension defeated Miz and Sandow @ 1:15 via [NR]

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Opening Talky Bit: Edge and Christian were out to kick off the show. It was nice to see them, the crowd was happy; they made matches and hilarity ensued. But the fun times were cut off by Heyman and Lesnar, which led to Heyman cutting a promo, noting that Lesnar was not there to take out men that were already injured and retired. Commentary also used retired for Christian, which I think is the first acknowledgement from WWE that he’s done. It’s a bit sad that it was just mentioned in passing. Heyman discussed Lesnar wanting to “penetrate the virgin neck of John Cena,” which brought out Cena. We had a brief scuffle, Cena stood tall as Lesnar retreated. It was fine, but was the same 15-minute opening deal we see every week because WWE either doesn’t know how to start Raw a different way or simply refuses to start the show in a different way. Moving on.

Champion vs. Champion Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev: You know what sucks? Champion vs. Champion matches in WWE. Over the last few years they have done them way too often, and also do them with next to no build, pillaging them of any importance that the match could have. Also, this is the kind of match you simply do not book right now. Rusev surely cannot lose to Ziggler right now, and Ziggler’s been booked so well since the big win at Survivor Series, that having him lose is stupid. Which leads me to think we’re either going to see Ziggler lose for no reason or a shit finish. We got the shit finish when Rusev got disqualified for kicking too much ass. Then post match Rusev got to make Ziggler look like a bitch until Ryback made the save. This would have been a great place for a time limit draw, let them go 20, have a great match and end with the draw and then do the Ryback angle post match. But WWE has abandoned all basic wrestling tools, and that’s why we can’t have nice things. I felt that the work from both was really good. Ziggler has been on and busting his ass, and I really think Rusev is good and plays his role perfectly. I’d love to see an extended program with these two. It’s just the poor booking that let them down here.

Ryback Tells His Life Story: Ryback stayed in the ring and cut a promo, essentially telling his life story of wanting to become a wrestler, failing, going into depression, getting his job back, breaking his ankle and leg and then being reborn as the Ryback. In theory it’s a great (and true story) about his path to where he is now and is a connection piece that they’ve not done with him. I liked this, it felt different because there was an actual reality to it, which is rare for WWE. He didn’t act like a caricature or a simple meathead; the man came across as a real person. I don’t think that the crowd reaction was what they had hoped for, and it felt as if it went a little to long, but I appreciated the effort to do something different and to try and give the audience a legit reason to connect to Ryback. I hope it works.

Non-Title Match: Brie Bella © vs. Natalya: This was the rematch from last week, and is a continuation of the drama between Natalya and Tyson Kidd. They got about 70-seconds and Nikki won with the rack attack. I do not understand putting on a match this short, with an actual angle behind it, on a THREE HOUR (and 20-minute) SHOW. This was the drizzling shits, either give the match and angle time to play out or skip it and move it to Main Event or Smackdown. But hey, lets see how things play out on Total Divas this Sunday….

* Naomi ran up to Miz and gave him a big hug and thanked him for getting her a meeting with his producer. She thanked him again since he took a lot of crap, since no one believed he was actually trying to help her.

Tag Team Title Match: Miz and Sandow © vs. Usos: So we had our tag team title match, which seems to be more about the angle with Naomi, Miz and Jimmy than the tag titles. I really enjoyed the match; the Usos are very good and have been for some time. They are almost automatic these days, having good to great matches with just about anyone they are put in there with. The match was really good, and overall I felt that the title change came at the right time since the Miz/Sandow angle only has so much shelf life. Also, the faces win and also admit that they knew Miz was trying to mess with them, so they messed with him in return. Faces that do NOT look stupid! Add in the fact that they gave them the promo time post match to make the title change feel important, and this simply worked for me.

Cesaro Talks – Bad News Barrett Returns: Cesaro cut a promo, about the office telling him that he “doesn’t connect” with the audience, which is an obvious play on the Vince McMahon interview with Steve Austin. He then says he delivers each and every time out and that no one does it better than he does. He sent out an open challenge, and Bad News Barrett returned. Barrett got the predicted face reaction and picked up the win in a match that felt a bit disjointed to me. It appeared as if they wanted to set up a hard-hitting match, and then it just ended. Barrett winning on his return was the right call, but I had hoped for more from the actual match as I really enjoy both men’s work.

Luke Harper vs. Jack Swagger: Luke Harper defeated Jack Swagger in a fine back and forth match. There was nothing really wrong here, but I cannot shake the feeling the Swagger is beyond damaged goods at this point, and that this was simply a repeat, filler match. I enjoyed the work here, but there was simply so substance. This was just here for Harper to win, which I am cool with, I just wish either guy had some direction, and the crowd seemed to feel the same way as they were pretty cold for this overall.

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins: Am I the only one bothered with the fact that this should be hyped as a more important match, and maybe given at the very least a one week build? I mean, these guys were part of the biggest stable in wrestling for two years. I know they did have one Raw match back in September, but this is still more than just a regular match; make it feel important and not just like another match. And Big Show is out for commentary. Big Show as the obnoxious cheerleader for Rollins worked well here. He put over Rollins, and also continued to sell his feud with Reigns. Unfortunately this led to arguing with the announce team and losing focus on what should have been presented as a big time match. They worked a long match, with not the best layout. Lots of rest segments and the repeated chinlocks killed a lot of the heat. It was basic “WWE long match with shit finish” layout. The crowd responded well to Reigns’ comeback stuff, but really did not care much for the middle portion, I didn’t either. There was just no juice for the heat segment, at all, and it felt way too long. And then after 16-minutes, we got out predictable run in/DQ finish with Big Show. He then tossed Reigns over the announce table and then turned it over on him. I see no reason why this couldn’t have been trimmed by five-minutes, and that time given to the ladies earlier. It would have tightened this up and given time to a match that had a story but was given no time to elaborate on that story.

* Seth Rollins has big plans for tonight’s Cutting Edge Peep Show.

* Highlights of the Ambrose vs. Wyatt feud.

* Wyatt faces Ambrose in an ambulance match next week.

Daniel Bryan Reaches a Crossroads: Daniel Bryan came out, and got emotional telling his story of reaching beyond his goals with his WrestleMania win and then the issues with his neck. Bryan was real here, the emotion was real and the reaction from the fans was real. The good news, he’s not retiring, he’s coming back and will be in the 2015 Royal Rumble. This worked because they didn’t do any bullshit, they just let the guy go out there, speak from the heart and he got a genuine reaction in return. This is what happens when people are actually emotionally invested in a character and when that investment comes organically. I for one am thrilled that Bryan is returning, excellent news to close out a lackluster 2014 for WWE. Also, JBL, go fuck yourself with that GOAT shit.

* Miz bitched about wanting a tag title rematch to Edge and Christian. After some kazoo play, Edge made a match, but not for the titles…

Miz and Sandow vs. The Ascension: Miz essentially sacrificed Sandow here, and the Ascension won with ease after hitting the Fall of Man. It was what it should have been, nothing spectacular, but the right execution of the right plan. Now have then tighten up their finish and do this for a few more weeks beating the Matadores, Slater Gator and some other sacrificial lambs to see how the crowd responds.

The Cutting Edge Pee Show Main Event Talky Segment: The main event segment fell completely flat. The basis is that Rollins attacked Edge and Christian, and then threatened to break Edge’s neck if Cena would not bring back the Authority. First of all, there was no heat for Rollins and his evil monologue. It went way too long, and the fans just didn’t buy into this as a serious angle. Also, I know Cena is the “ultimate good guy,” but we’re supposed to believe that he and Edge are the best of friends after one brief backstage segment where he and Edge joined the mutual admiration society? No one cared about Edge being in danger, they did not care about evil Seth Rollins and they didn’t care about the Authority coming back. To say that this fell flat may be an understatement. Lesnar, HHH and Steph joined with Rollins and crew after they laid out Cena to close the show. Happy 2014 everyone, the heel authority figure is back.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

5.5

The final score: review Not So Good

The 411

We had some good wrestling, a title change and the announcement that Daniel Bryan is returning. Unfortunately, we had a lot of the same issues. The opening-talking segment is there as always, questionable booking, the Authority is back in a completely heatless segment, the champion vs. champion match with out any build or feeling that it was special and or had any meaning to it. In many ways it is more of the same, out with the old and in with the… same old.

Overall I didn’t hate the show, but to be honest, I feel completely apathetic about the current WWE product.