wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s WWE Roadblock Review 12.18.16
Loading...
Csonka’s WWE Roadblock II: Electric Boogaloo Review 12.18.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Kick-Off Match: Rusev defeated Big Cass @ 4:30 via countout [*]
– RAW Tag Team Title Match: Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Champions The New Day @ 10:30 via pin [***½]
– Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman went to the 10-minute time limit [***]
– Seth Rollins defeated Chris Jericho @ 17:35 via pin [***½]
– WWE Cruiserweight Title Match: Champion Rich Swann defeated TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick @ 6:30 via pin [**¾]
– Thirty-Minute RAW Women’s Title Iron Man Match: Charlotte defeated Champion Sasha Banks @ 34:20 via submission [****¼]
– WWE Universal Title Match: C [**½]hampion Kevin Owens defeated Roman Reigns @ 25:20 via DQ
– We get the usual pre-match promo time from Enzo and Cass.
Big Cass vs. Rusev: Lana & Enzo are at ringside. This is a huge test for Cass, Vince breaking him away from Enzo was always going to happen because Cass is the kind of guy Vince sees as a star; Enzo is not good in the ring, but is a hell of a talker and can be great in a manager’s role. Rusev and Cass brawled at the bell, with Cass sending Rusev to the floor and we took a break. Post break, Cass was in control, working over Rusev with rights. Rusev cut him off, but Cass hit a slam an elbow drop. Rusev took a powder; they brawled on the floor and into the crowd. Lana distracted Enzo and Rusev laid out Cass, leading to him being counted out. Rusev defeated Big Cass @ 4:30 via countout [*] It was an ok, but short hoss brawl. This feud must continue. Unfortunately it was not designed to allow either guy to shine, just to set up a rematch.
– New Day cut a promo, claiming tonight would not be the end of the line for their tag title run.
RAW Tag Team Title Match: Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Champions The New Day: New Day are represented tonight by Kofi & Big E. Cesaro ran wild at the bell, that fella’s pretty good. Sheamus in after a cheap shot to work the heat on Kofi. Great pace early from Sheamus and Cesaro, mixing in some double teams and then Sheamus grounded Kofi. Sheamus sent Big E to the floor as he and Cesaro continued to work over Kofi and constantly getting near falls until Kofi sidestepped Cesaro, who then posted himself. Kofi then sent Sheamus to the floor, and finally tagged Big E in, he hit the spear to the floor and took control, hitting the running splash for 2. Big E countered the brogue kick with a powerbomb for the near fall. Big E fought off the neutralizer, but Cesaro hit the springboard uppercut. Kofi in and he caused Shamus to hit Cesaro, allowing Big E to hit the big ending on Cesaro; Woods with a cheap shot on Sheamus. Kofi sent Sheamus to the floor, Cesaro roll through a RANA off the ropes into the swing as Shamus takes out Big E on the floor. Cesaro locked in the sharp shooter, Woods distracted the ref, but Cesaro hits the dead lift into the neutralizer for a near fall as Big E makes the save. Brogue kick to Woods, who shoved Kofi out of the way, SOS to Sheamus but he kicked out. Cesaro in, eats trouble in paradise but, Sheamus rolls up Kofi for the win (but commentary says Cesaro never actually tagged in). Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Champions The New Day @ 10:30 via pin [***½] That was a very good match, with a lot of energy and a creative finish, where the challengers were finally one step ahead of the crafty tag champions. This was a great way to open the show. These two teams developed a good chemistry, and I really enjoyed the match due to the great pacing and quality false finishes. New Day got their record, but I think it was time to make the switch.
– Owens insulted random interview chick #27, and then apologized to Jericho for Raw and gave him a holiday scarf, which Jericho tossed on the floor.
Ten-Minute Time Limit: Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman: I like this feud and how it has played out, and again, Strowman working with Zayn will be really good for Strowman’s growth as a performer. Strowman claimed Zayn couldn’t last 2-minutes, so the ultimate underdog gets 10-minutes tonight to prove himself. Strowman slowly stalked him to begin as Zayn used his speed to stay away. Lots of hit and run by Zayn, but he couldn’t get Strowman off his feet. Strowman started to toss Zayn around and then took the heat. Zayn has already lasted two-minutes, and then low-bridged Strowman to the floor and was caught on the plancha and slammed to the apron. Back in and Strowman hit the corner splash and clothesline. Strowman takes his time as he slowly beats on Zayn. Strowman covered for 2, but pulled up Zayn, which is usually a mistake. Strowman was very pleased with the amount of violence he was dealing out here. Under five-minutes left here, Strowman continued his assault, leveling Zayn with repeated clotheslines. Mick Foley then walked out with a towel, Strowman demanded he throw in the towel and then tossed Zayn to the floor. Strowman repeatedly told Foley to save Zayn, Foley teased doing it, but Zayn begged him not to. The crowd chanted, “Let him fight.” Zayn got to his feet and tossed the towel into the crowd, Strowman attacked and told Foley Zayn’s blood was on his hands. Strowman got posted, Zayn avoided the charge, and Strowman speared through the barricade as we enter the final minute. Strowman beats the count, back in and Strowman eats a post again missing a corner spear. High cross by Zayn, gets 2. Back in, helluva kick by Zayn, and the time expires. Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman went to the 10-minute time limit [***] I love that they teased Foley throwing in the towel in the same town where the HIAC match took place, the same town that for better or worse, immortalized Foley for his bumps off the cell. I really enjoyed this, Zayn is the first man to survive Strowman, and now you have to think that Strowman will be on the warpath because he couldn’t finish Zayn. Zayn not only survived Strowman, but you can sell that he was close to a victory after the helluva. I thought that both men played their roles very well, and that Strowman worked really hard in his first major singles match, and I thought they told the right story here; I felt that this was exactly what it needed to be as Strowman played monster well, and Zayn was great as the resilient babyface.
Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho: Rollins was aggressive to begin, sending Jericho to the floor and hitting the knee strike off the apron. Back in and Jericho used the ref as a shield, raked the eyes but Rollins battled back. Jericho again used the ref as a distraction, allowing Jericho to dropkick him to the floor. Back in and Jericho took the heat, grounding Rollins. Rollins fought to his feet, escaped, but ran into a Jericho dropkick. Jericho then slapped Rollins around, which fired up Rollins a bit but Jericho kept cutting him off. Enziguri by Rollins to turn the tide, he then countered the bulldog, crotching Jericho in the corner. Rollins with rights, hits sling blade and follows with corner forearms. Rollins then hits the blockbuster for a near fall. He teased the pedigree, but escapes into the walls, but Rollins escapes. Lionsault stopped as Rollins sends Jericho to the floor. Suicide dive by Rollins, back in and Rollins goes for the springboard knee strike, but Jericho counters into the walls. Rollins counters the springboard dropkick, up top and misses the high fly flow. Lionsault by Jericho connects for 2. Falcon arrow by Rollins (HE DID THE DEAL!) Jericho fights off the pedigree, counters into the walls again. Rollins fights, counters into a small package for 2. Jericho up top, jumps off into a pair of kicks and Rollins up top, high fly flow connects and here comes Kevin Owens. Rollins fights him off, Jericho yells at Owens after countering another pedigree. Rollins then counters the code breaker into the pedigree for the win. Seth Rollins defeated Chris Jericho @ 17:35 via pin [***½] This was a very good outing overall, good back and forth and some creative counters. Thankfully the Owens involvement was minimal, and the homestretch was strong.
– Austin Aries is out for commentary.
– Cass vs. Rusev will rematch on Raw tomorrow.
JUST ANNOUNCED: @BigCassWWE gets a #WWERoadblock rematch vs. @RusevBUL tomorrow night on @WWE #RAW on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/CgnN3awdwE
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2016
WWE Cruiserweight Title Match: Champion Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick: Swann and Perkins both attacked Kendrick right away. Kendrick and Swann had a bad miscommunication spot on a leapfrog, Kendrick then recovered and pulled Swann to the floor. Back in and a sunset flip off the ropes by Perkins to Kendrick for 2. Swann returned with a kick to Kendrick, and then hit a double RANA to Kendrick and Perkins. Kendrick then ran wild with kicks, Swann up top and hits a missile dropkick, Kendrick attacked and applies the captain’s hook on Swann. Perkins broke it up, working the knee bar on Kendrick. Rolling thunder to Perkins by Swann, it broke down as Perkins caught Swann with the knee bar. Swann teased tapping, but mad the ropes and Perkins held on for a bit as there is no DQ. Perkins and Swann traded rights, Kendrick back in and they laid out Kendrick, Swann hit the superkick to Perkins and covered to retain. Champion Rich Swann defeated TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick @ 6:30 via pin [**¾] Pretty good match overall, they made the best of the time given and worked well together. It was smooth and effortless, but it unfortunately didn’t have much heat, I feel that’s due to the poor booking of the division overall.
– Post match, Neville arrived and attacked Swann and then took out Perkins, because he ain’t got time for this shit. FINALLY we get Neville involved, as he destroys Swann at ringside to “Thank You Neville” chants. Neville then bailed. Great post match angle to get some new blood, and an underutilized guy, into the mix. If we get Swann vs. Neville vs. Tozawa, I will love it.
– Kevin Owens tried to meet with Jericho, but Jericho locked him out of his locker room. Owens tried to apologize again, and told Jericho he could put him on the list.
Thirty-Minute RAW Women’s Title Iron Man Match: Charlotte vs. Champion Sasha Banks: Commentary plays up Charlotte’s PPV record as well as the fact that Banks beat her for the title in this building. There is allegedly no rematch after tonight. They stalled a big early, and then locked up and Charlotte took Banks down, using her size to control her. Banks would escape, fire back with chops as they started to pick up the pace. Banks applied the banks statement, but Charlotte escaped to the floor. Charlotte then went for a bunch of pinning attempts, Banks fought back and talked trash, noting that “your daddy loves me more.” Banks works the sleeper, taking Charlotte to the mat. Charlotte powered up and hit a stunner to escape, they then brawled to the floor; Banks hit meteora off the apron and then rolled Charlotte back in, covering for the near fall. Banks worked a straightjacket hold, which looked as if it sucked for Charlotte. Charlotte powered out, got some separation, but Banks connected with a series of clotheslines. Knee by Banks, and tosses Charlotte o the floor and then the suicide dive connects for Banks. Charlotte then trips Banks off the apron into the steps. Charlotte rolled Banks back in, worked her over and took the heat as she choked her out in the ropes. Charlotte picked up the intensity really well here, delivering knee strikes to a grounded Banks. Banks fought back and hit the high cross, but Charlotte continued to attack with knee drops. Charlotte then worked the skull fucker on Banks, and keeping the head scissors applied, but Banks scored a roll up for 2. Charlotte fought off the banks statement, cut her off, slamming Banks to the corner. Dropkick by Charlotte, but Banks keeps firing back and slams Charlotte to the buckles. Great fire up spot by Banks, she hits the charging knees in thee corner but missed the high cross; Charlotte hits natural selection for a near fall. Charlotte fights off the back stabber, slams Banks to the mat and heads up top. Banks cuts off the moonsault attempt, follows Charlotte up top and they trade strikes. Charlotte then comes off the ropes, hitting natural selection and goes up 1-0 with just over 10-minutes left. Charlotte kept covering and going for more pins, but Banks kept kicking out as Charlotte slaps her and talks trash. Charlotte hits the belly to back suplex for 2, but Banks then scores a cradle to even things up with 8-minutes left. Banks avoids the big boot, but Charlotte hits it on the second attempt. Charlotte looks for the figure eight, heads up top now and MISSES the moonsault; Banks locks in the banks statement and has to tap after banks rolls the hold. It’s 2-1 Banks with under 6-minutes left. Charlotte tried to fire up with chops, Banks fired up with crazy fists, but Charlotte attacks the knee and looks to dismantle it in the ropes. Charlotte then works the knee off the post, just brutalizing Banks and picking apart the knee. Charlotte controlled the final three minutes, destroying the knee of Banks. She finally got the figure eight, Banks reversed it, but Charlotte turned it back and Banks submitted in the final seconds to tie it up and send us to overtime.
OVERTIME: This is sudden death overtime. Banks can’t get to her feet, so Charlote attacks the leg right away, tries for the figure eight, but Banks got a cradle for 2. Charlotte started to slam Banks around, but Banks got another roll up for 2. Banks hit the backstabber into the banks statement, and doing so busted her nose and mouth open and was bleeding. Charlotte countered into the figure eight, Banks struggled, but couldn’t make the ropes and tapped.Charlotte defeated Champion Sasha Banks @ 34:20 via submission [****¼] They made a big deal about the no rematch deal in the build, and hope that they stick to it. They heave had some great matches, but they desperately need some time apart. They delivered again here, and while both were great, I feel that this was Charlotte’s best singles performance from bell to bell, ever. The work was smart, she was confident and it just all clicked for her here tonight. Charlotte’s aggressiveness played off of the selling and emotion of Banks made for a great closing stretch. Excellent work from both ladies, I really enjoyed this and felt that they delivered big time.
WWE Universal Title Match: Roman Reigns vs. Champion Kevin Owens: Lots of stalling from Owens early on, Reigns followed him to the floor and attacked. But Owens bailed again, leading to more floor brawling. Owens got sent to the barricade, but back in he hit the senton to take control. Reins cut off Owens with a clothesline, Owens again bailed to the floor. Owens hit a stunner on the barricade and then hit another senton. I am not a fan of this Owens heat segment, between the early bailing and bland control, it is doing nothing for me. Owens is doing that, “Yell a lot and not do much” heel work. This shit only really works when you have a face that the fans unconditionally love (and even then it doesn’t always work), and Roman is not that guy to WWE fans. Yes, by all means grab a hold and kill time before Jericho runs in (because that’s what everyone is waiting for, they are just killing time). Reigns finally fought to his feet after several minutes of nothingness, and hit the repeated clotheslines in the corner. They traded rights, Owens hit the cannonball, but then ate the superman punch and reigns covered for the near fall. Owens fought off the superplex, hitting elbows and then eating another superman punch. Owens then hit the fisherman’s suplex off the ropes, which got a near fall. Owens then went for the senton, but ate the knee of Reigns. Owens bailed to the floor, Reigns followed and we got more floor brawling. Superkick by Owens, another and Reigns was down on the announcer’s table. Owens to the barricade and hit the splash onto Reigns, but the table didn’t’ break. He hit a second splash, and the table finally broke. Reigns beat the count, but Owens hit a frog splash and covered for the near fall. Reigns fights off the pop up powerbomb, and then hits a sitout powerbomb for 2. Owens finally hits the pop up powerbomb for a near fall, Reigns survives. Owens grabbed the universal title belt, but Reigns speared him and cut him off. Here comes Jericho, teasing who he may attack, but hits Owens with the code breaker, meaning Reigns gets DQ’d. Champion Kevin Owens defeated Roman Reigns @ 25:20 via DQ [**½] This was a painfully bland and lethargic match, designed to kill time until Jericho ran in. This felt like one of those Seth Rollins “Authority Era” title defenses, where they teased issues and then played “LOL we out-smarted you.” This felt like a complete disappointment as a PPV main event, and came off as a TV main event at best. Unfortunately, I just wanted this to end.
– Post match, Jericho hands Owens the title and they celebrate. Seth Rollins arrives, and Jericho eats a pedigree as Reigns spears Owens. Shield bomb to Jericho post match. These feuds must continue, as they also attack Owens. Shield bomb for Owens as well.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
