Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 9.19.16

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 9.19.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Non-Title Match: US Champion Rusev vs. Seth Rollins fought to a double countout 11:50 [**¾]
– Braun Strowman defeated Sin Cara @ 1:48 via pin [NR]
– Charlotte and Dana Brooke defeated Sasha Banks and Bayley @ 11:07 via pin [**½]
– Bo Dallas defeated Gary Graham @ 1:18 via pin [NR]
– Bets of Seven Series Match: Cesaro [3] defeated Sheamus [3] @ 8:51 via pin [***]
– Zayn, Kofi, Big E, Enzo and Cass defeated Jericho, Epico, Primo, Anderson and Gallows @ 5:28 via pin [**]
– #1 Contender’s Match: The Brian Kendrick defeated Cedric Alexander, Rich Swann and Gran Metalik @ 15:06 via submission [***¼]
– Non-Title Match: Roman Reigns defeated Universal Champion Kevin Owens @ 14:43 via escape [***]

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Roman Reigns Talks…?: before Reigns could get out five words, Stephanie interrupted him, She tried to claim she and Foley had a plan, and then Foley came out. Foley took blame for last week getting out of hand, but Reigns was pissed because Triple H and Rusev both screwed him. Foley booked Reigns vs. Rusev for the US Title at Clash of Champions. Reigns doesn’t care what Stephanie has to say and doesn’t believe her, so of course Foley is upset that no one is taking him at its word. Oh God it turned into Foley trying to say Reigns was great and didn’t understand why people boo’d him. Foley says if things go sideways, he is out and he knows that all he has is his word as his bond. So he then booked Reigns vs. Owens for tonight. Why are they even teasing another Reigns vs. Owens match after last week and with no build at that? Owens is out to dispute this, and while Stephanie makes it a non-title match, Foley makes the match a steel cage match. That comes off as completely desperate after last week’s ratings, and extremely short sighted. So Foley’s big punishment from last week regarding Rollins is a regular match with Rusev; this is poor because neither man should lose going into the PPV, so either one wins or we get a fuck finish and most people get pissed (I am fine with the non-finish). Then we get to blow through another Reigns vs. Owens match, with no build, in a cage.

– Mick and Stephanie argue backstage over the steel; cage match Mick booked tonight. Rusev then complained to Foley about his match, and was upset because the WWE Studios production of Interrogation comes out tomorrow, and stars Lana. Rusev then made fun of Holy Foley as this turned into one giant shill segment. When Rusev left, Foley answered a phone call from Chris Jericho.

US Champion Rusev vs. Seth Rollins: After some back and forth, Rollins took control and sent Rusev to the floor. Rusev then cut him off right away, posted him and took control as they went back into the ring. Rusev slowly worked over Rollins, who did fire up for a bit but then got slammed off the top rope for a commercial break. Post break, Rollins slowly started to mount his comeback, hitting sling blade and then corner clotheslines. Rollins then hit a falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) for a near fall. They went back and forth, Rusev scored with the knee strike and head kick for a near fall. Rollins fired back with kicks and then hit the jumping knee off the ropes, Rusev bailed and Rollins hit the suicide dive and then another. They brawled up the ramp and we got the double countout. Rusev tried to powerbomb Rollins off the stage, but Rollins fought back and then dove of the announce table with a high cross to take out Rusev. I liked the match and would love to see what they could do in a PPV environment. Also the finish worked because neither man should have taken a pin here.

– Backstage Dana Brooke makes her case to Foley that Bayley and Sasha’s shoulders were both down last week. Brooke wants Foley to make a new #1 contender’s match, but instead they are already jumping to the triple threat. Charlotte of course blames Brooke, and shoves her down. No one could possibly care about Dana vs. Charlotte, yet they are getting all of the focus and we’re likely going to get that as a man feud. Sasha and Bayley come off as secondary players here, which is a shame.

– We get a video package, featuring Cedric Alexander and The Brian Kendrick; CRUISERWEIGHTS.

– Chris Jericho is not happy that Foley is messing with Owens, and Owens feels Foley has it out for him. Jericho steals clipboard and is going to make a list of everything Foley has done wrong, and he won’t like… it.

Braun Strowman vs. Sin Cara: They tried this a few weeks back and it did not go well. Cara tried to use his speed, and got cut off with a head butt to the chest. Strowman did big man club spots and a nerve hold, and then sent Cara to the floor. This led to Cara fighting back, hitting a dive, but back in the ring Strowman caught a moonsault attempt and hit a powerslam for the win. Hispanic Heritage Month Sin Cara.

– Sasha and Bayley talk about Sunday’s title match, noting that they did make history, but Banks says this is Raw and she beat Bayley last week. They argued over that and said one of them would win the title on Sunday. Tag match is next.

– Bayley will be on ESPN on Wednesday night.

Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Charlotte and Dana Brooke: Banks’ ribs/back are wrapped, Charlotte forced Dana to start the match. They went back and forth, with Bayley tossing Charlotte into Dana and then tossing Dana to the floor, and we took a break. Post break, Charlotte had the heat on Bayley. She and Dana worked some quick tags, and kept Bayley isolated in their corner. Bayley countered a chop and hit a lucha arm drag, tagged in Sasha and they hit a double team suplex on Charlotte for 2. Lucha arm drag by Sasha, but Charlotte cut her off by attacking the back, and she took the heat on Sasha. The heels again worked quick tags as Charlotte tried to bend Sasha around the post. Sasha eventually scored with a head scissors; Charlotte went for a figure four but was kicked to the floor. Bayley got a good hot tag, hit the elbow off the ropes and then Dana tried to save Charlotte. Sasha took her out, and that allowed Charlotte to hit a big boot on Bayley for the win. So Dana and Charlotte are back on the same page, again, and had no issues despite the fact that Charlotte constantly abuses her. Also, I am not exactly thrilled with Bayley losing once again, but in WWE wins and losses do not matter. The match was fine, but never got out of second gear. It felt like the final night of a house show loop, not bad, just safe and unspectacular.

– Seth Rollins looked really happy about heading into Stephanie McMahon’s office.

– Tomorrow on Smackdown, Ambrose faces Cena and Miz defends the IC Title against Ziggler.

– We see Stephanie meeting with Rollins. He wants to know why she threw it all away for Owens, but she says she had no clue what Triple H was going to do. Rollins wants the truth and doesn’t trust her. Stephanie then said Owens was right, Rollins lost to on the WWE title and then lost to Balor. She then said “maybe” Triple H was sick of being disappointed in him. Rollins says when he wins the title at the Clash, they will come crawling back to him, or maybe he will be a problem for them because he knows what they will do before they do. Stephanie again refuses knowledge of anything, and I find this completely ridiculous that Stephanie and Triple H never talk. The complete lack of follow up here has been rather poor.

Bo Dallas vs. Gary Graham: Dallas delivered a nursery rhyme before the match. This is not good; he comes off as a Dollar Tree Bray Wyatt with it. The crowd cared so little for this that they chanted, “lets go jobber.” Dallas hit his cross Rhodes variation for the win. It’s nice that they have attempted to reboot Dallas, but between the lack of new look, the silly sign and the nursery rhymes, it has failed.

– We get another video package for the Cruiserweight Division.

Best of Seven Series Match: Cesaro [2] vs. Sheamus [3]: Sheamus smartly attacked the back of Cesaro to begin, trying to break him down and pick up a quick victory to end this. Cesaro was able to counter away and connect with an uppercut, but Sheamus quickly tossed him to the floor as Foley watched from backstage. After the commercial break, Cesaro managed to hit a dropkick and send Sheamus to the floor. He then wrecked Sheamus with the running uppercut on the floor. Back in, Cesaro hit the springboard uppercut for the near fall. Cesaro tried the dead lift superplex, but his back was too hurt, and Sheamus fought that off and hit white noise on the apron for the near fall. Cesaro countered the brogue kick, tried a sharp shooter, but Sheamus hit the Irish curse for 2. He then hit the toss up backbreaker and locked in the cloverleaf. Cesaro escaped, Sheamus tried a roll up with the ropes ala Cesaro last week, but got caught. Uppercut by Cesaro, Sheamus fought back but missed the brogue kick. Cesaro caught Sheamus on the slingshot shoulder block and connected with the neutralizer for the win. This was an overall god match that played well off of some of the previous matches, but likely the weakest of their six matches in the series. Also, I am completely shocked that the guy that took the 3-0 lead lost it and that this is heading to a seventh match.

– Post match Foley booked the final match for Clash of Champions. Jericho then arrived and ran down Foley for messing with Owens. Jericho then shared his list of things he doesn’t like about Foley. Hilarity ensued. Since Foley was mean to him, Jericho will share the list later tonight.

Chris Jericho Talks: Jericho ran down Foley, and did a short Foley-themed play off of the man of 1004 holds promo. It didn’t last wrong as Enzo and Cass made their way out. They then clamed that Jericho and Owens weren’t even real friends, so they ran down a list of famous friends. The Shining Stars then arrived and tried to sell time-shares, and then New Day cut them off. Woods prompted his iPhone giveaway and his Youtube Channel. And now the Club is here, it’s the long revolving door opening segment at 9:50! They ran down all the teams and said that they would win the tag titles on Sunday. Jericho then said that they were all on the stupid idiot list. Sami Zayn of course arrived and attacked Jericho. He beat in Jericho and then tossed him into the ring and everyone brawled. In theory that could have been a segment to advance some feud and ad to the PPV build, but it was so fast and no one really got to say anything, so all it ended up as was a clusterfuck segment to set up a big tag match, which they hope will serve as build for the PPV matches.

Zayn, Kofi, Big E, Enzo and Cass vs. Jericho, Epico, Primo, Anderson and Gallows: The heels cut off Kofi early, and worked the advantage for about three minutes. Kofi got the hot tag to Bog Cass, he ran wild and hit the empire elbow and it then broke down. Bodies flew to the floor, Big e tossed Kofi out onto the Club but Jericho tossed him, allowing Zayn and Jericho to brawl. Zayn hit a tornado DDT, Jericho avoided the helluva but Primo ate it for him. Rocket launcher on Primo and Enzo scores the win for the faces. This was ok to get some eye on the various feuds for the PPV, but it never had time to really develop and felt completely rushed.

– We get a video package for Gran Metalik and Rich Swann. We’re finally going to get the Cruiserweights at around 10:10PM ET. With all of the hype they put into the division, they really should have had an earl segment and then one on the third hour in this spot.

– We get a video package for Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring Eddie Guerrero.

– Mick Foley is in the ring, messes up his lines and immediately reminded everyone that the Cruiserweight are small. But it’s not about size guys. Jesus Mick just introduce them as great wrestlers and move on. There are four Cruiserweight here tonight for the first match. I think the plan here was that if Foley introduced them that the crowd would care, but between messing up lines and the fact that he’s reading off of cards and seems to know nothing about the guys, it has felt like a complete mess.

– We did get some inset promos.

– Perkins will defend his title at Clash of Champions, against the winner of this match.

Rich Swann vs. Gran Metalik vs. Cedric Alexander vs. The Brian Kendrick: Kendrick bailed to the floor early, allowing the others to battle. Swann and Metalik had some nice back and forth until Kendrick cut them off. They worked through the various parings, working the bland and basic one on one with the others on the floor. Commentary was pretty awful here, comparing these guys to “watching the Power Rangers wrestle” and “who says these guys can’t throw hands” and other demeaning lines as Swann and Alexander did some athletic shit and were peppering each other with strikes. The worst part is that they were trying to save the match from just existing. Alexander and Metalik both hit dives, and finally woke up the crowd. Kendrick cut off Metalik, he and Swann battled on the floor, and Swann was slammed to the barricade and then the steps. Kendrick then trapped his foot in the steps and kicked him in the face as we took a break. Post break Metalik hit a ropewalk elbow drop for a near fall. Metalik then got to run wild for a bit, as he worked over Swann. The moonsault ate knees and Swann hit the powerbomb for a near fall as Alexander made the save. It broke down into Swann vs. Alexander, with Alexander hitting a back handspring kick for a near fall. he and Swann have worked very well together here. Kendrick sent Alexander to the floor, Metalik back in and ct off sliced bread but ate a DDT from Kendrick for the near fall. it broke down, Swann set Alexander for the standing 450, it connected by Kendrick tossed him and Kendrick locked in the Saka Otoshi, but Metalik broke that up. Alexander shoved Metalik into Swann and hit the lumbar check, but Kendrick ran in and locked in the Saka Otoshi and Alexander tapped. The match was good and a lot of fun at times, but far from the homerun that I feel they needed to have coming off of the CWC. There were certainly fun spots, but it felt too chaotic and lacked a good flow to be great. I love that they got the time, but the set up really lacked. In my opinion, shoehorning this all into one segment was poor planning. I think that this could have worked better in two segments. Do two singles matches, leading to a pre-show PPV match to crown a contender and then the title match is on the PPV. This felt very thrown together, as if they weren’t advertising this for over a month. Also, by introducing the four guys at once, you’re forcing four new people onto the crowd and asking them to invest in a match with four guys a lot of them maybe unsure of. Which is another reason I feel that the two singles matches, 7-9 minute a piece with the guys going a bit more rapid fire, would have worked better. Kendrick winning works because he’s the established heel persona out of who they brought up, and is a first good challenger for Perkins to defeat, but the lack of Perkins being there for some sort of face off was not a good choice. Hopefully going forward the division won’t just be random multi-man matches, as that is the trap the X-Division has been locked into. Alexander and Metalik shined here as stars. It was an overall good, but flawed beginning for the division on Raw.

– Alicia Fox faces Nia Jax on the Clash of Champions kick off show.

Non-Title Steel Cage Match: Universal Champion Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns: Owens talked trash and tried to escape right away, but Reigns kept cutting that off. Reigns took control for a bit, but Owens cut him off with the superkick and near fall as we went to break. Post break they battled on the ropes, with Owens raking the eyes and then Reigns crotched Owens. Owens was trapped in-between the ropes and cage, Reigns beat on him and then hit the Samoan drop. Reigns continued to control with corner clotheslines but Owens scored a desperation German suplex and cannonball to stop the momentum of Reigns. Owens tried to escape, was stopped and then Reigns countered the running senton. Owens latched onto a leg to stop Reigns from escaping, and they traded strikes center ring. Superkick by Owens, but Reigns countered the pop up powerbomb with a superman punch for 2. Reigns set for the spear, ate a knee and then the pop up powerbomb, which got a great near fall. Owens climbed to escape, Reigns grabbed a leg to stop that and they battled up top once again as Owens slammed Reigns’ head to the cage repeatedly yelling that this was his show and he as the guy. Reigns hit the superman punch to send both men to the mat. Reigns looked to climb over the top as Owens went out the door, but Reigns fell to the floor first to pick up the win. The good news is that the cage meant something as no one got involved, and if Reigns had to get a win back from last week, this was the way to do it as the escape doesn’t hurt Owens. The match overall was good.

– Rusev arrived post match and brawled with Reigns. Reigns had control until Owens kicked the cage door into his face. Rusev tossed Reigns into the cage and Owens attacked as Rusev locked the cage door shut. Rusev locked in the accolade, and then super face Seth Rollins arrived and scaled the cage, he sent Owens to the mat and then kicked Rusev to the mat. Rollins then hit the big high cross onto both Rusev and Owens! All four men laid on the mat, staring each other down for the final hype for the PPV’s top two matches. Rollins making the heroic save is exactly what I expected when Rusev ran out, and that’s what they did. He’s getting the face reactions, and I think that they want to show a loose relationship with Reigns (he saved him even if that wasn’t his real intention).

CLASH OF CHAMPIONS CARD
* Pre-Show Match: Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox
* Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho
* Best of Seven Finals: Sheamus [3] vs. Cesaro [3]
* WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match: Champions New Day vs. Gallows and Anderson
* WWE Cruiserweight Title Match: Champion TJ Perkins vs. The Brian Kendrick
* WWE US Title Match: Champion Rusev vs. Roman Reigns
* WWE Raw Women’s Title Match: Champion Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley
* WWE Universal Title Match: Champion Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

An overall solid, but unspectacular show, especially when it is the go home show for a PPV. This felt like a show that with a few changes could have been a lot stronger, but I didn’t hate it. The PPV card is locked in, but the build could have been better to really sell the show. They did things to build to the show for sure, but it felt very “go through the motions” for the most part. Unfortunately I can’t remember when WWE actually hit a homerun with a go home show.