WWE Roadblock 2016: Worst PPV Of The Year?

Hi, I’m Justin Watry. You may remember me from such classic columns as March 2012’s “WWE WrestleMania 28: Sheamus Should Defeat Daniel Bryan in Less Than a Minute” and October 2015’s “WWE NXT: Bobby Roode, You’re Next.”

12 Days of Wrestle-mas

Lame name aside, I have decided to join in the holiday spirit and write 12 columns in 12 days in the leadup to Christmas Eve. A tall task indeed. However, if anybody can do it, I am the man for the job. This is being done for two reasons. First is to spread the word about my Twitter giveaway, which has been ongoing since the summer (details at the bottom of the page). It needs a kick in the pants so to speak. Hopefully, this will help. Selfishness aside, it is also being done to promote the Love-Alive charity that I recently donated to. Any amount, big or small, is more than welcome. Even just $1 can go a long ways.

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Now to the column…

WWE Roadblock 2016 Review

Big Cass vs. Rusev – I didn’t watch any of the Kickoff Show until 6:30pm or so right when this match was beginning. From what I saw, it was the usual pre-show banter that is strictly filler and another added expense to the WWE Network which very little benefit. Ask USA Network for a quarterly Heat show for the major pay-per-view events. Other than that, I will continue skipping it. Big Cass vs. Rusev was fine. Clearly, the highlight was Enzo returning and firing up the Pittsburgh crowd early. Despite other fans thinking this was an obvious victory for Big Cass, I picked Rusev to win…and he did. Via count out. Eh. Rematch on RAW. Sure.

The New Day vs. Cesaro/Sheamus for the RAW Tag Team Titles – Here is The New Day’s “historic” tag team title reign:

– didn’t defend the titles at Survivor Series 2015 and lost
– didn’t defend the titles at Fastlane 2016
– didn’t defend the titles at WrestleMania 32 and lost
– didn’t defend the titles at Payback
– didn’t defend the titles at Battleground and lost
– lost at Summerslam 2016
– lost at Heck on a Deck 2016
– didn’t defend the titles at Survivor Series 2016

Then six days after dragging out their never ending run as the RAW Tag Team Champions to set the new mark, they lost clean.

Yep, that is the definition of a Honky Tonk Man style ‘record’ if you ask me. Congrats to Cesaro and Sheamus on the win; it was a great way to open the event. I enjoyed the match a lot, but the Raw tag scene really has died down a lot during the past twelve months. Compare from late 2015 and before the WWE Draft to now. Really felt like Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson could have used the big win at Summerslam back in August. Instead, we now see The New Day just held on long enough to break the record and move on. Kinda sad. Instead of actually attempting to build a legendary run as champs, it was the complete opposite. Mark it down: WWE history will not be favorable to this record being broken.

Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman – As entertaining as the Raw segment was last week, I didn’t need to see Mick Foley at Roadblock. It’s not like Sami Zayn even took some massive beating first. Nothing was out of control or THAT brutal. Felt like Foley just stalled and stopped Braun from an easy victory if anything – proving him wrong. That was the negative. The positive was Zayn got the sideways moral victory. He didn’t win by pinfall or submission but did survive Braun Strowman. Not only that, the under dog made a late push. Could he have actually won with more time? We’ll find out soon enough.

Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho – Pretty good. It was at this point that the live crowd started a downturn in enthusiasm. I wrote on Twitter last night that Seth Rollins really needs Triple H to return soon, and that is my main takeaway here. Chris Jericho will come and go, but Rollins is the full-time future headliner. Whatever needs to be done to salvage his face turn has to be done on the Road to WrestleMania 33. Up to HHH to save him. Until then, I expect one last Universal Championship match for Seth Rollins soon…that he will lose due to The Game coming back to screw him (again).

Rich Swann vs. TJ Perkins vs. THE Brian Kendrick for the Cruiserweight Title – Major changes need to happen for the entire division. Swann retains which is a plus. The real story came afterwards though…

Neville Is Back! – Besides the live crowd shots of the assumed drunk dudes dancing, this was the highlight of Battleground. Neville made his return to the Raw brand and made his presence known. In less than 30 seconds, he was more relevant than his previous year on television. I loved this segment big time. Neville taking out the cruiserweights one by one should be great. Send half of them to 205 LIVE or something. Having Neville as THE MAN of the division is what I would do now.

It has always been a wonder to me if he could work as a heel (didn’t see his pre-NXT stuff). With what we caught at Roadblock, it is a wonderful start. The guy instantly showed fire and hopefully is frustrated enough with his WWE run thus far to turn the energy up and make it come across on TV. Seriously, two thumbs way up on his appearance Sunday night. Gravity may have forgotten him, bu none of us will forget this moment.

Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte for the RAW Womens Title in an IronMan Match – Unpopular time: I didn’t enjoy this match too much. No, it is not due to the IronMan stipulation. I actually was fine with that as the feud closer and have loved past IronMan matches. It may have been the crowd. It may have been me being awake for 30 hours straight over the weekend. Whatever the reason, this one pales in comparison to other Sasha/Charlotte matches. Not even close to their RAW battles, much less the triple threat at WrestleMania 32 or even the NXT IronMan match with Sasha Banks vs. Bayley last October. Still okay but not the epic conclusion many envisioned.

As for the outcome, the no rematch clause should have been the dead giveaway. Still, I held out hope that Sasha Banks would actually be able to keep her title belt for more than a cup of coffee in her third run. Nope. Charlotte is champion again and with no more Sasha bouts, who knows what is next for the division? I have long said Bayley will get her championship moment at Mania, but that is in April. We still have three months to fill. Does that include my much discussed Sasha Banks heel turn? Emmalina finally shows up? Dana Brooke back in the fold? Lots of ways to go here. Maybe WWE thinks Charlotte vs. Bayley is bigger than Sasha vs. Bayley…questionable logic indeed…

Best Friends Drama – Didn’t care for the Kevin Owens/Chris Jericho pairing back in the summer. Didn’t fall in love with The List or any other nonsense that was taking up FAR TOO MUCH time on television each week. However, I was all for a Canadian Clash at WWE Survivor Series 2016 with their friendship and feud ending (and Jericho’s 2016 run). Instead, that breakup was delayed (again), and now here we are! Still together. Still dragging its feet, to Mania perhaps? Could be wrong, but I think the momentum is being lost at every ‘swerve.’ Every time Jericho Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens reunites, it means less and less. We are beyond that point now.

Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Title – Liked this more than the Womens Title match. Not sure why exactly. Unlike most negative naysayers out there, I actually predicted Kevin Owens to retain his belt. Didn’t feel like Roman Reigns was being set up for a crowning moment at Roadblock or anything. By Jericho interference or whatever, I always assumed there was another story to come. Not the assumed Reigns Show. What that is? I have no idea. We are embarking on the Road to WM, and you be rest assured Reigns will be in a great position on the card – with a belt or not. United States or Universal.

As for Kevin Owens? This is where it gets tricky. His title reign is not exactly breaking ratings records or doing much for business. On the same note, he has been basically portrayed as a lackey and suckup to Jericho. Begging for a friendship and taking cheap wins rather than being the mean bruiser we all know and love. How does that match up with any other face on the roster right now? If Jericho is back by his side, I do assume he will defend the belt against Seth Rollins one more time in January, with *somebody* being next in line. Can’t be his best friend if they are on the same page. Can’t be Sami Zayn; that’d be ridiculously out of left field and feel too much like Dolph Ziggler on Smackdown LIVE magically getting all these ‘filler’ opportunities in the main event.

Really is going to be interesting if WWE simply pulls the trigger on Owens/Jericho soon, waits until Mania, or has another idea in mind.

The Royal Rumble is next…

Summary: Maybe the worst pay-per-view WWE Network special of 2016. Not an uplifting way the end the year. I am trying to think if there was another show that was this average or NOT must-see. Hopefully, Raw just had a slow night, and this is not a sign of things to come in 2017 with the added live specials. I’m attending the next RAW exclusive event in March (Fastlane). Fingers crossed it is better than Roadblock!

Finals Plugs

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