Acero’s WWE RAW Review 10.17.22

Hey everyone! Sorry bout the mix ups! I have no idea why my Mac chooses to update every Monday, but it’s gotta be the Devil, I’m sure.

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We start with Lashley, mid sentence, in the middle of the ring, calling Lashley out immediately

And Lesnar is here to answer the call! Cowboy Brock tips his hat to the crowd as he walks down the ramp, and Lashley is over the waiting game.

He leaves the ring, and goes to attack, but Lesnar sends him into the post. He lifts Lashley and looks to F5 him but Lashley lands in his feet and sends Brock into the post, then hits a huge spear to Brock into the barricade!

We got security and some lower level stars running out to stop Lashley and hold him back. Lashley breaks through them and runs to spear Brock onto the announce table. Lashley on the attack again, but refs and goons are back to try to hold him back, only for him to hit a spine buster to Brock onto the table!

Huge support from the crowd for Lashley

We come back to RAW live and AJ and his brothers in arms are here to give us some Too Sweet. The OC is in action…next

Considering I was not a big fan of Gallows and Andersons’ last foray in the WWE, I’m hoping for the best here.

Match 1: The Alpha Academy vs The OC
Lockup from Gable and Anderson! Gable works the left arm, Anderson reverses. Gable rolls out of it into a side headlock takedown. To the ropes. Tackle from Gable. He runs the tops. Hip toss from Anderson. Chop. Whip to Gable and a back elbow sends him down to the mat hard. Tag to Gallows. Tag to Otis. They try and do the big man v big man bit. Crowd ain’t interested. Right hands to Otis! Knee from Otis. He clubs the back and misses a splash in the corner. Gallows with a back elbow. Rights. Lefts. Uppercut. Ohhh Otis with a back elbow! He tries to swipe at Anderson, but there’s Gallows with a Big Boot! Tag to Anderson. Running uppercut. Gable with a surprise knee and Otis hits a clothesline, sending Anderson outside. Gable with a knee to the back on the outside!

We are BACK and Otis misses a big splash off the top rope to Anderson. Anderson slow to stand, tags in gallows. Tag to Gallows. He runs in with a pump handle, tag to Anderson, they try for a Magic Killer. Otis in to stop the move! he sends Gallows outside while Gable hits a Northern Lights with a bridge! Pin for 1..2..N!O!! Gallows sends Otis into the ring steps as Gable heads to the top for a moonsault,

Anderson with the foot up, Gable lands on his feet, picks the ankle, Anderson reverses, huge spine buster. Magic Killer! Cover! 1..2…3!!!!

Winners: The OC
Well, they got time, they looked good, they seem happy to be there. I’ll give it to em for now.
Total Rating: **
Match Time: 8:40

Finn and Co come out to challenge The OC to a match. He is the one who created this little club, so he can end them. He wants them at The Crown Jewel.

AJ says they accept first of all, and second, they can’t understand why everyone does this. This is RAW. AJ wants them now. Dom tells him to shut his mouth, unless he’s like his dad running to another brand.

AJ calls him coo, bad, as long as he is standing next to Judgment Day. Dom is a piece of trash. Turning his back on his own father? He’s a little punk, so how bout AJ vs Dom tonight.

Rhea says Dom will rip him limb from limb. Cuz he’s a man.

AJ tells him to come down, then, and let’s see what he’s got. Dom says he aint ready right now. But when he is ready, he’s going to mop the floor with AJ. Give him about an hour or so. AJ tells him to drink some water, and he’s going to do something his father should have done and beat the piss out of Dom.

AFTER A BREAK, Seth Rollins is here to grace us with his patriotic presence.

He is wearing gold and wearing crushed velvet red, like a real man.

Seth says this is for all the haters and doubters. They can all kiss his big beautiful red behind.

For those fine folks that have always believed in him, though, go on ahead and sing his song…

And sing, they do.

Seth says he will be wiping the mat with Matt Riddle’s face, and in doing so, he will be clearing up a miscommunication at Extreme Rules. He says him tapping out at Extreme Rules was a strategic move, because he needed to be in the best of health only two days later. He tapped out for us, so that he could become OUR US Champion.

Mustafa is here to interrupt, and he tells Seth congrats, first of all, then wonders when the shoutout to Brock was going to happen. Ali then says that the former US Champion, Lashley, promised Ali was next in line for a shot at the title. He wants to fight Seth for the title.

Seth laughs this off, annoyingly, and asks Ali a question – does Seth look like Bobby Lashley? Sorry, pal, Ali’s gotta get in line. Seth is focused on Riddle tonight. Ali has two options – stay out here and party with all of us, or get out of Seth’s ring, because he doesn’t belong in the ring with Seth.

Ali takes the sunglasses off of Seth, and tosses them aside, literally throwing shade. Ali says it will not go down like that. He wants a fight.

Seth stops him, tells him he appreciates what Ali is trying to do. Seth actually likes him. Ali is one of the best performers in WWE but he’s also an even better human being. Seth sees what Ali does in the back, helping the young guys out. He’s a great friend, a great father

AND BOOM! Seth punches Ali in the face. Lol. He tosses Ali out of the ring with a smile. Seth puts his title over his shoulder, says the problem is now soled, and starts his trek to the back. BUT HERE IS ALI!!! He attacks!! Seth grabs him, sends him face first into the post! Seth grabs the title and walks back towards the ramp.

We go backstage, and JBL’s Limo is here! It’s horny.

Match 2: Damage CTRL vs Candice LeRae and Bianca Belair

Sky attacks the legs, mounts and punches, but LeRae reveres only for Sky to roll her over and beat down on her a bit. Both girls up, arm drag from Sky, head scissors from Candice, but Sky lands on her head, and flips to her feet. Dropkick from Candice, who tags in Bianca. Springboard moonsault and a pin for 1..2.NO!!! Sky up, tags in Kai, Bianca locks up and goes for a German, but Kai drops and runs into an elbow. Kai punches the mid section. Locks the head, backs into a tag from Sky. Tag to Candice, and we get a double dropkick. Bianca lifts Candice onto a fireman,s and wings her into Kai, then Sky. Baseball slide to Sky on the outside b Candice. Bianca looks for the Glam Slam, but sends Kai to the outside instead. Candice on the apron. She jumps, spins, and lands on the heels to take us to commercial.

We are back and Candice has both girls in the corner, stacked. She hits some rights, rolls out, places them both on their hands and knees and flies off of the back of Kai to hit a senton onto Sky. Candice with a boot out of the corner. Sky distracts, Kai pulls out the leg. Rights to the back from Kai. Tag to Sky. She sends Candice into the corner, Sky drives soeme knees into the face. Sky covers. 1…2..NO!!! Bianca is finally back on the apron. Sky locks up from behind, goes for a German. HITS IT! Tag to Kai. She gives Sky the boot to the face. Kai with a running boot to the face! Cover for 1..2..NO!!! Tag to Bianca! Tag to Sky! Dropkick! Gutbuster to the entering Kai! Back body drop to Iyo! Bianca mounts in the corner with a bunch of right hands! Fans are lovin it. She gets to 12. Sky escapes, gets kicked, tag from Candice, back flip from Bianca, she hooks the head, delayed suplex to Iyo, and Candice hits a dropkick and a cover for 1….2..NO!!!! Kai in to stop the pin! She scorpion kicks Bianca, misses a roundhouse, Bianca locks her up from behind, but Kai shoots Bianca to the apron, and kicks her off. Candice with a HUGE Codebreaker and Kai sells the shit out of it.

Bayley is off the commentary booth. She grabs a kendo stick from under the ring, but Belair grabs her from behind. Bayley misses a kendo stick shot and Bianca spears her onto the table.

IN the ring, Candice is grabbed by Sky, sets her up on the back, and we get a White Noise variation.

Kai gets a tag, comes in to flip Candice on her back with a double team move and a pin for 1.2….3!!

Winners: Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky
Started off rough, but ended well enough, I guess. I’d say there was a some miscues there. It’s a shame we didn’t get Dakota Kai’s triple inverted atomic spinning knees to the face. She really should name that move. It’s super cool.
Total Rating: **
Match Time: 12:06

Backstage, Riddle walks up to the hottie Cathy. He sees Ali nearby, and tells him that if Riddle wins the title, Ali is definitely next in line.

We hear someone screaming in agony nearby, and it’s Miz! He’s holding his knee, says he slipped and fell and now he’s injured. Miz says his knee is shattered, and he’s going to sue the entire building. He cant compete tonight, he needs help. Get a doctor or something. Riddle and Ali look for help.

We come back to RAW and Cora Jade backstage asking Rhea to be her poison. Rhea is down.

JBL IS HERE!

He says he’s got an announcement that will shake the foundation of RAW, but before he does that, he wants to say something to the world. He apologizes…for doing this in Oklahoma. The Great State is RIGHT THERE and these trailer park living hillbillies don’t even have the common sense to leave? JBL puts his longhorns up and calls the crowd Boomer idiots. Lol. Great. Just great. Lol. He says he’d love to just stand out here and bash OK, but he’s got great news.

Rey has left RAW, Dom has figured out what we knew decades ago. Rey is one of the worst human beings on the planet. He wears a mask because he is ashamed of himself. That void has created the greatest trade since the Bambino came to The Bronx, and he is talking about…

BARON CORBIN!

Corbin is here with no real discernable differences.

JBL says Corbin is 2-3 times the man Rey Mysterio is. He asked for some competiton, and the WWE gave us a former champ and MitB champion. Dolph Ziggler stole the show? No, he’s stolen money from the WWE for 15 years, because if he was around during the Attitude Era, he wouldn’t have made the cut. The only way most of this roster would have made it is if they bought a ticket and celebrated the stars like Corbin. This is a star, a champion in any generation. Remember these words: Today Starts The Monday Night RAW Emergence of the Modern Day Wrestling God.

OK then…

Match 3: Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin

We come back to the match going down already, and Corbin is already takin care of bidness. Ziggler kicks off a whip and dodges a splash in the corner. JBL is on commentary. Ziggler attacks in the corner, but Corbin shoots Ziggler off his shoulders. Ziggler lands on his feet, hits a DDT. Cover for 1..2..NO!! Ziggler beats down Corbin in the corner with a bunch of right hands. Ziggler scrapes Corbin’s forehead on the top rope. He then tries for a stunner only for Corbin to lift him up and hit an inverted suplex. HUGE clothesline ala JBL! Corbin leaves the ring to pick up the pieces. He sends Ziggler into the steps shoulder first.

We are back and Ziggler is trying to fight back only for Corbin to shove him. Corbin on the apron, hops into the ring, misses a right, Ziggler with a right. Another. Mounted punches in the corner. Neckbreaker. Elbow drop from Ziggler. Cover for 1..2..NO!!! Corbin catches Ziggler off the ropes. Fallaway Slam to Ziggler! Cover for 1.2..NO!!! Corbin swings Ziggler into his grasp, but Ziggler reverses, slams Corbin down with a Fameasser. Cover for 1..2..NO!!! JBL is unflinching. Ziggler and Corbin fight on their knees. Headbutt from Ziggler. Tries for. Zig Zag, Corbin holds the ropes, turns for a Deep Six onto Ziggler! Corbin corners Ziggler, sits him up top, spreads the legs. Ziggler with right hands as the crowd chants BUM ASS CORBIN! Ziggler hops off the top rope, Corbin tries for a chokeslam, dropkick from Ziggler. Rope work. ZIG ZAG!!! Cover! 1……2……NO!!!!!

Ziggler is up, ready to end it. He waits for Corbin to stand. SUPERKI—NO!!! Corbin pulls Ziggler in. End of Days. Cover for 1..2…3!!!!

Winner: Baron Corbin
Adding JBL to Corbin will certainly work wonders, although I’m not sure it’s going to do what they want it to. The lack of significant change really bothered me, although I love the small additions such as the Fallaway Slam and Clothesline from Hell to his moveset.
Total Rating: **1/2
Match Time: 12:07

Miz is backstage complaining about his knee more. Saxton comes in to check on him with a mic. Miz says he is in immense amount of pain. He cannot compete tonight. Saxton says custodians saw Miz pouring water on the floor, and even set up the wet floor sign. Apparently, the floor has not been mopped since last night.

Miz wonders if we think he made this whole thing up. How dare Saxton. Of course they’d say he staged it. They’re trying to fabricate an alibi because he has a huge lawsuit on his hand.

Gargano walks by, says, “OMG it’s Dexter Lumis,” and Miz hops up to run, only for Gargano to say common mistake, and Saxton says looks like Miz CAN compete.

Miz says this is due to his super human healing abilities. Lol.

Backstage, Cameron Grimes walks up to The OC to ask if they’ll partner with him tomorrow night. Gallows wonders if this is the guy with all the money. Luke says sure. Grimes tries to hit a Too Sweet. AJ is a little annoyed, but Anderson calls this a payday for the boys.

Match 4: AJ Styles vs Dominik Mysterio

AJ takes it to Dom quickly, sending him into the corner, hitting a right, then doing the same in the next corner, and the next. Dom hits the center of the ring, AJ lifts and hits a back breaker. Aj with a snap suplex. AJ with an enziguri. He beatin that ass. AJ sends Dom into the corner again, then mounts and hits a few punches. Dom rolls to the outside. AJ follows and sends him into the barricade. AJ sends Dom back into the ring. He follows, and there’s Rhea to distract. Aj taunts her, Rhea offers her cheek. AJ stalks her, saying “this chick needs to be blasted.” Lol. Dom flies off the top rope with a right to AJ on the outside. He sends A J back into the ring. Dom with a right hand. He mounts and punches down on AJ. Dom celebrates with his hands in the air. Stomps in the corner to AJ. Dom gloats on the top rope. Suplex and a covr for 1…NO! AJ hits a clothesline to send Dom reeling. Dom rolls to the outside. AJ flies over the top rope with a right to the head. AJ sends Dom into the timekeepers area.

We are back, and Dom is standing tall. He taunts Gallows and Anderson, then turns into a right hand from AJ. Another. Whip to the corner. AJ misses a splash, kicks out of the corner, runs with a clothesline. Again. Snapmare, hits the ropes, and AJ with a sliding forearm. Pumphandle from AJ into a gutbuster! Cover for 1.2..NO!!! Dom is up. He waits. He dropkicks AJ to the back of AJ! Dom wants the 619, misses it as AJ ducks, AJ with a Calf Crusher! Dom reaches for the ropes! He gets them! Ref breaks it. AJ grabs the ankle, pulls Dom, but Finn and Priest are there to pull Dom out of the ring. The OC come over to point and yell as AJ attacks Dom with a fist.

The ref holds back The OC. AJ sends Dom into the ring. Rhea is there to tug on AJ. AJ turns, rollup from Dom! Stacked for 1…2…3!!!!

Winner: Dominik Mysterio
AJ is a solid hand to do this for Dom, because this fourteen minute match was not worthy of the win for Dom. Not that anything was bad, Dominik is just uninteresting, still, after all this time, and no amount of A1 can help that. Sucks to see AJ round on his back.
Total Rating: **1/2
Match Time: 14:24

Gargano is backstage with Miz, says he feels compelled to help Miz. He knows the real story between Miz and Dexter. Gargano tells Miz to tell everyone the truth. That’s all.

The Miz says he has been victimized by a demented stalker, and after he beats Dexter tonight, he’ll be banned forever.

Gargano wishes Miz luck, tells him not to say that he didn’t warn him.

Lumis makes his entrance after the break, and he comes out to put on a glove. The Miz is here to attack with a chair!! He hits Lumis with chair shot after chair shot, then hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Dexter!

Backstage, Saxton is with Damage CTRL. He wants to know what’s next!

Kai says they just beat the champion! What’s next? How about appreciate what’s currently unfolding. The NOW needs to be appreciated. Here’s a question: Where’s Alexa Bliss? Where’s Asuka? Both gone. This is a preview on how they will continue to reign over the tag team division. They put Raquel and Shotzi on notice. As for Bayley, she is over what Bianca pulled and Extreme Rules. She did not pin Bayley. Next week, she will show Bianca what it’s like when she is back in control.

Up next, Elias is back.

Elias is in the ring with a keyboard, and just as he’s about to play a tune, Riddle comes out with some bongos! Elias says it’s great to see Riddle, but come on bro.

Riddle says he is here to rock, offering Elias to hit his bong. Elias says it’s not really his thing. Riddle says it’s ok, and starts a Walk with Elias chant and plays the bongo.

Elias thanks Riddle, says this is great, he appreciates Riddle, but how bout he take a front row seat.

Riddle asks if maybe one day they could play together. Elias promises that one day they will. Riddle tells Elias if he needs anything, he is right here.

The lights dim, Riddle is seated cross-legged, and Elias starts to play the keyboard. His lyrics don’t start, as here comes Seth Rollins to interrupt.

Match 5: United States Championship Match
Seth Rollins vs Matt Riddle

As soon as the bell rings, Riddle tries to lock in the submission that got him a win at Extreme Rules. It’s worth noting that Elias is ringside, watching. Rollins re-enters the ring after rolling out, then heads back to the outside. Riddle hops to the 2nd rope, telling Riddle o get his ass in the ring. Rillins back in, he eats a kick, another, kicks in the corner, and Rollins rolls to the outside. Riddle follows this time, and attacks from behind, then rolls Riddle back into the ring. Riddle gutwrenches, and suplexes Riddle over his head. Throat thrust from Riddle, then an axe to the back. Stomps to Riddle. Set sends Riddle into the corner, again, back first hard. Rollins with a right hand. Another. He punches forward, Riddle blocks, hits a right, another, they go back and forth. Seth with a kick, suplex, cover for 1..2..NO!!! Seth chops Riddle. Again. He pulls on the nose. Rollins swings, Riddle locks the body and tosses Seth over the top rope to the outside. Riddle looks to fly, but Rollins moves out of the way as Elias makes a joke. Seth shoves Elias. Elias hits a HUGE knee to Seth. The referee was distracted!!!

We back and Seth has the upperhand with a stomp. He tries for a cover but doesn’t get the win, so he yells at the ref. Seth with some short kicks to Riddle. He tries for another stomp, Riddle ducks under, pele kick. Riddle kips up. He rushes the corner with an elbow, another elbow off the roeps. Seth hits a back elbow, runs right into a T-Bone suplex from Riddle!!! Running broton, but Seth has the knees up! Back elbow out the corner from Riddle. Riddle climbs, he waits, Floating Bro to Seth!!! Cover for 1..2…NO!!! Riddle up, tries for a powerbomb, Seth looks for The Pedigree! Riddle escapes, Seth with a right, Riddle with a knee to the jaw! Riddle locks him up with Bro Derek! Cover for 1..2…NO!!! Riddle to the top, Seth climbs up, locks up from behind, suplex off the top into a Falcon Arrow and a pin for 1..2…NO!!! Rollins to the top rope! He tries for a Frog Splash! Riddle catches him!!! TRIANGLE!! Rollins lifts Riddle! Powerbomb, but Riddle wont break the hold! Seth lifts him up again! Buckle Bomb!!! Riddle still wont let go!!! Riddle tries for a powerbomb and gets a pin for 1..2..NO!!!! RIDDLE KICKS OUT WITH THE SUBMISSION STILL INTACT!!! Rollins gets a rope break! Ref breaks the hold at 4! Rollins cant breathe.

Seth rolls to the outside. He begs Elias to hit him. He’s over it! Elias doesn’t hit him, so Seth superkicks Elais! Riddle there to punt kick Rollins!!! He sends him in the ring! Scoop powerslam!!!!

Riddle with the Orton DDT! Riddle ready for an RKO, tries for it, but Elias enters the ring! Seth shoves Riddle into Elias! Riddle falls! STOMP TO RIDDLE! Cover for 1..2..3!!!

Winner: Seth Rollins
Easily the best match of the night and best thing on the show outside of that hot interviewer.
Total Rating: ***1/2
Match Time: 15:00

Rollins with a stomp to Elias, too!

Rollins isn’t done. He sets the title underneath Riddle’s face and looks to stomp his head in, but here comes Ali to interrupt and hit a kick to Seth!! Alic with a suicide dive! Damn,Ali attacks Seth into the crowd! Ali stands on the barricade to tell Seth that Ali is now his problem!

End Show

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

Welp, as with most of the matches tonight, RAW was just kinda there. Nothing stood out as great, and the show plodded along at times. We saw an attempt to get over some returning people with varying results, and matches where the quality was just so so. Stuff moved along, although at a snails pace, and we got the first ever HHH-less show. The main event was easily match of the night, but that’s to be expected considering who was involved. I will say this though, a 6.5 RAW today is significantly different than a 6.5 RAW just a few months ago, significantly bringing in the law of averages. Simply put, as the quality of the show goes up, the ratings become more stringent. Then again, all of these rules are made up solely by me with no set adherence to them, so what do I know?