wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 1.18.16
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MONDAY NIGHT RAW 1.18.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Non-Title Match: Champion Roman Reigns defeated Rusev @ 13:55 via pin [**½]
– Natalya defeated Brie Bella @ 1:35 via submission [NR]
– The Wyatts defeated The Dudleyz and Ryback @ 6:45 via pin [*]
– Big Show defeated Heath Slater @ 0:52 via pin [NR]
– Becky Lynch defeated Tamina @ 4:08 via submission [**]
– Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio defeated Kalisto and Dean Ambrose @ 13:10 via pin [***]
– Big E defeated Jey Uso @ 9:40 via pin [**¾]
– Titus O’Neil, R Truth, Mark Henry and Neville defeated Stardust, Tyler Breeze and The Ascension @ 6:10 via pin [*½]
ROMAN REIGNS IS HERE TO TALK: Reigns spoke about the fact that Sunday it will be him against the world, but that tonight he was only concerned with Brock Lesnar and called him out. He got Chris Jericho instead, and Reigns did not give a single solitary fuck, because Jericho was in fact not Brock Lesnar. Jericho then told Reigns he’d have the top three guys in the Rumble in the same ring during the Highlight Reel, Reigns, Lesnar and Jericho himself. Reigns said he’d be there, and to believe that. The League of Nations made their way out, and reminded them that they were in the Rumble and that one of them would win the title. Sheamus welcomed Jericho back and mocked him for not wearing a shirt. Jericho then told bad jokes, thankfully Del Rio cut him off and reminded us all that he won the biggest Rumble ever. Rusev rambled on, he tried to save things and did well, but this segment started to feel as if it lasted the entire first hour. This all led to Reigns vs. Rusev with Jericho as the special referee. He just announced that he’d be the referee, because apparently he’s booking the show now with no explanation. Also I cannot decide if Jericho is just a horrible parody of himself right now, or if he’s working an angle to make it look that way before he goes heel. Right now I am leaning towards him being a horrible parody of himself. If there was any positive here it was that it at least broke up the Reigns/Vince/Stephanie opening segments we got the last five shows yes, it was the last five shows. And could we get a storyline reason why Lana is not out there with Rusev?
Non-Title Match: Champion Roman Reigns vs. Rusev: Jericho is the special referee, and Del Rio, Sheamus and Barrett are at ringside. I love that they took the time to explain where Jericho got his referee shirt, but not why he can make matches and appoint himself the referee. Anyway, they did some basic back and forth, Reigns went to the floor and got distracted by the League, Rusev attacked and took control. Reigns would fight back, but get distracted again, and Rusev took control of things and they worked through a commercial. When they came back, Reigns started to make his comeback and hit several clotheslines. They then went back and forth, Reigns hit a sitout powerbomb for a near fall. Sheamus got involved and slammed Reigns to the barricade as Del Rio and Barrett distracted Jericho. Jericho then booted Sheamus to the back, argued with Barrett and sent him to the back. Jericho then sent Del Rio to the back, all the while doing his best Enrico Palazzo impersonation. Reigns came back in, hit the Superman punch and spear, and that was that. Rusev and Reigns tend to work well together, and this one had some fun moments, but the long segment where Jericho was sending guys to the back killed the match’s momentum. Also, while that worked and got a crowd reaction, if Jericho really wanted to make the match a fair one, why didn’t he just send them to the back at the start of the match? Who cares, special ref stipulations mostly suck and lack any logic.
– Stephanie met with Jericho backstage, and scolds him for making the match and also for being the official. Well thank goodness. She also told him that it wasn’t 1999 anymore, and mocked him for his “original material.” Finally, she told him if he ever messed with her show again, he will never, ever be the same again. This really is Raw is Jericho, and not in a positive way.
Brie Bella w/Alicia Fox vs. Natalya w/Paige: This would be the “did you know that Total Diva’s returns tomorrow night” match. And if you think I am joking, they made a point to hype the show and then show a preview video for tomorrow’s show. Brie and Natalya had a match as commentary spent most of the time talking about Mandy, the former Tough Enough chick that will be on Total Divas. Brie did the Daniel Bryan kicks; Natalya ducked one and got the sharpshooter to score the win. There was really nothing here, they tried, but you can’t do much in 90-seconds when you’re just an advertisement for Total Divas. Also, who cares about faces and heels, because you can just say “women be crazy” and that’s how they book them.
– We get highlights from Smackdown, where the Wyatts lost to the Dudleyz in a tables match, but immediately got their heat back.
The Dudleyz and Ryback vs. The Wyatts (Rowan, Harper and Bray) w/Strowman: This is the latest installment of the Dudleyz and Friends vs. The Wyatts. We were joined in progress, with the Wyatts getting the heat on Devon. It was rather lifeless, with almost no crowd reaction and the work resembling the end of a long road tour. Ryback eventually got the tag, ran wild on Harper to a mild reaction, Bubba tagged in and hit a uranage on Harper for 2. It then broke down; Ryback and Strowman went face-to-face, allowing Bray to attack from behind. Devon then got tossed to the floor, Harper hit a superkick and lariat and pinned Bubba. That was a bad match, featuring no heat because the crowd has seen it before, the work was lackluster and it feels like we’ve been watching this for six months. Can we please move on?
Big Show vs. Heath Slater w/Dallas, Rose and Axel: The Social Outcasts all cut a short promo about winning the Rumble as Show just stared at them. Slater ran a lot, mocked Show when he went to the floor and Show then killed him with the KO shot. And then Show hit the rest with KO shots to stand tall. They had a good two weeks or so.
– Stephanie meets with the League of Nations, and said that Jericho punked them out. She then hyped them up and they said that they aren’t afraid of Jericho and Stephanie told them to prove it.
WHO IS #1 IN THE RUMBLE?: Vince and Stephanie danced on out to announce who will be #1 in the Royal Rumble. They made sure to put over Vince, and drew the name, and it was… Roman Reigns to the shock of no one. They then draw another to make sure that this is in the up and up, and the name they drew is… Roman Reigns. Vince had issues opening the balls, someone will get yelled at backstage. They drew another name to make sure this is not rigged, and again, picked Roman Reigns. Vince vowed Reigns would not be the champion after Sunday. Well that was a segment designed to kill time, they could have just announced it to make it easier.
Becky Lynch vs. Tamina w/Naomi: Ric and Charlotte Flair are ringside for the match. After some back and forth, Tamina hit a superkick and took control with a chinlock. Lynch escaped, but Tamina hit a slam and covered for 2. Back to the chinlock, Lynch escaped again and landed forearms and then scored with leg drops and covered for 2. She then got the disarmher out of the corner and Tamina tapped. Tamina took too much of the match, considering that Lynch is supposed to be the top contender, but it was solid. Lynch cut a promo about wanting to win the title at the Rumble, and said she wanted an answer from Charlotte. Charlotte said she wouldn’t hand out a title match because Lynch already lost one. Lynch reminded her that Ric cost her the match for the title, and noted that Ric never backed down from a challenge and that Charlotte was the apple that fell far from the tree. She then called them cowards, and that caused Ric to accept for Charlotte, noting that the third time was the charm. Charlotte was not pleased by this turn of events. The post match really elevated this, as Becky has been great lately.
– Miz TV returns on Smackdown, featuring Owens and Ambrose. Also, Reigns will have to face the League of Nations.
– Del Rio defends against Kalisto at the Rumble.
Kalisto and Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio: It feels odd that Sheamus and not Owens is part of this match. Owens is out on commentary. Ambrose and Sheamus brawled to begin, it quickly broke down and the heels got sent to the floor, and Kalisto hit an assisted dive onto them as we headed to a commercial break. Post break the heels got the heat on Kalisto for a bit, with Owens laughing at “the little guy getting beat on,” and then Ambrose and Del Rio tagged in and Ambrose ran wild, hitting the running bulldog and then a neck breaker. He then sent Del Rio to the floor, and then connected with the suicide dive. Sheamus and Del Rio worked together to cut off Ambrose, and then they worked a heat segment on him. Del Rio had control, looked for the double stomp after putting Ambrose in the tree of WHOA, but Ambrose hit the suplex to send Del Rio to the mat. The top rope elbow drop connected. Sheamus tagged in and ate the jawbreaker lariat. Hot tag to Kalisto, he ran wild with head scissors and kicks to Sheamus. Their interactions were a little clunky, but not bad. He then hit Salida del sol on Sheamus, but Del Rio made the save. Ambrose and Del Rio brawled to the floor, where Owens distracted Ambrose, ands that led to Sheamus hitting the brogue kick and pinning Kalisto. That was a fun match, easily the best on the show, but I hated Kalisto losing again as he heads into a rematch with Del Rio.
– We get highlights of the Usos defeating New Day last week on Raw.
– Backstage, New Day holds a funeral for Xavier Woods’ trombone, Francesca. Woods was devastated as Big E tried to tell him that Francesca lived on in his heart. Big E will face Jay Uso, and he will beat him for Francesca. I hope that Woods debuts a glockenspiel at the Rumble.
– We finally get the Rumble by the numbers video.
When it comes to this year's @WWE #RoyalRumble…it's all about the numbers! #RAW #OneVsAll https://t.co/tgxJjS9DYL
— WWE (@WWE) January 19, 2016
– The Usos will not only be on ESPN tomorrow night, but they will challenge the New Day at the Rumble for the tag team titles.
Big E w/Woods and Kofi vs. Jey Uso w/Jimmy: Big E controlled early with his power game, Jey countered and used his speed to turn the momentum his way. Jey sent Big E to the floor, and went to attack but Big E hit a backdrop and we headed to a commercial. They worked through the commercial and after the break, Big E maintained control, getting some help from Kofi and Woods. Big E missed the apron splash, which had to suck for him. Jey hit the shotgun dropkick on the floor, and then ran wild back in the ring, scoring a near fall off of the superkick. Big E tried to battle back, but missed his spear through the ropes and spilled to the floor. Big dive from Jey, Kofi and Woods helped Big E back in but Jimmy wiped out Kofi with a cross body off the steps. Jey up top for the splash, Woods distracted him and that led to him going to the mat, tweaking his knee and Big E hitting the big ending for the win. That was a fun outing from these two, with the expected shenanigans, I fully expect Jimmy to defeat Kofi on Smackdown, because that’s how they book these things.
– Titus, Truth and Mark Henry all meet backstage, talking about having a dream and about winning the Rumble. Neville joins them, and apparently they are in a tag match next.
– The League of Nations act like they are actually talking about something backstage, but are only pantomiming for the camera.
Titus O’Neil, R Truth, Mark Henry and Neville vs. Stardust, Tyler Breeze and The Ascension: This is a reminder of the collection of losers that will be tossed by Big Show, Kane and other big men during the Rumble. The Ascension tried to work over Titus, he fought back and tagged in Neville. Team Stardust worked him over for a few seconds, Mark Henry tagged in and worked him over as commentary told us that all of these guys would be in the Rumble on Sunday. Truth came in and danced a bit, Stardust hit him with the kick off the ropes and then Breeze hit a superkick on Truth. The crowd interaction here is almost in negative territory. I am pretty sure I can hear people making dinner plans in the third row. After about 54-minutes, Neville got a tag and ran wild, and people in the crowd actually made sounds in reaction to the match; not a lot, but some. It broke down, guys hit their moves and Titus tossed Breeze over Henry’s head (ruining a potentially cool looking move), so he had to pick him up and then hit his slam, Neville did his cool move, because that’s what he does, and that was that. You know you’re fucked when you take the pin and the Ascension is on your team. Poor Tyler Breeze. They did stuff, no one cared, and we move on.
THE HIGHLIGHT REEL: Chris Jericho was in the ring to hype the big segment, and Heyman then came out to introduce himself. They had some back and forth, with Heyman reminding Jericho that Brock previously destroyed him. But Brock isn’t interested in Jericho, he is interested in Reigns. Jericho said that Heyman failed to get Lesnar in the Mania main event last week, and now has to fight for it in the Rumble. Jericho insinuated that Heyman wanted to keep Brock from the Rumble because he feared he would lose. Heyman says that Lesnar was never pinned for the title and should have been in the Mania main event. Heyman then hyped Lesnar’s box office appeal, and promised Brock would turn the Rumble into Suplex City (which even that got a weak chant). Jericho then teased himself vs. Lesnar as the final two in the Rumble, and asked what would happen if he won the title. Cue Brock, and before he cold enter the ring, here comes Reigns. Heyman smartly bailed, and Brock walked around as Reigns and Jericho were in the ring. Brock entered and Reigns speared him and attacked with mounted rights. The League of Nations hit the ring and attacked Reigns and Brock then started to suplex people until they attacked him. More suplexes, F5 for Sheamus and then reigns speared Lesnar. The Wyatts gimmick hit and then they appeared in the ring. Jericho mysteriously disappeared as the Wyatts attacked Reigns, with Bray hitting Sister Abigail. Ambrose and the Usos are shit friends. They then attacked Brock, and Bray hit Sister Abigail on him. The Wyatts stood tall to end the show. That was not a good final segment, It’s one thing to have the stables out there and to have a big battle, but I think at the end of the day people wanted to see Brock and Reigns have a big ass pull apart like Brock and Taker had to sell the heat between them. Instead, the guys that have been feuding with the Dudleyz and friends for what seems like six months laid them out. Jericho was essentially useless there, Heyman didn’t even deliver and the heat for the segment (outside of pops for entrances) was almost non-existent.
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
