wrestling / TV Reports

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 11.27.17

November 27, 2017 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Absulition Raw 112717
3.5
The 411 Rating
Community Grade
12345678910
Your Grade
Loading...
Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 11.27.17  

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 11.27.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Seth Rollins defeated Cesaro @ 18:30 via pin [***½]
– Samoa Joe defeated Titus O’Neil @ 2:33 via submission [NR]
– Bray Wyatt defeated Matt Hardy @ 3:28 via pin [*]
– Cruiserweight Contenders Qualifying Match: Rich Swann defeated Noam Dar, Akira Tozawa, and Ariya Daivari @ 12:32 via pin [***]
– IC Title Match: IC Champion Roman Reigns defeated Elias @ 14:50 via pin [**½]
– Asuka defeated Dana Brooke @ 0:05 via submission [NR]
– Kane defeated Jason Jordan @ 1:45 via countout [NR]
– Finn Balor defeated Kane @ 2:44 via DQ [NR]

– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– Wee open with highlights of the Kane vs. Braun feud.

The Big Dog Barks: Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring to kickoff the show. He says last week was a big week, the Shield reunited, they beat the New Day and he won the IC Title. The Miz cried and after Raw, he got put through a table. We see the footage. We won’t see the Miz for a while, but we w ill see a lot of him. This is his yard, he will be a fighting champion, and if you want a shot, step up and take it. The Miz’s music hits and Axel and Dallas arrive. Dallas is not impressed that Reigns disrespected the Miz. Axel can’t stand to see Reigns hold Miz’s title. But they have someone that can avenge the Miz. Elias arrives, and says Miz is a good guy. He knows he can guide Axel and Dallas. Tonight, he will take the IC Title. Reigns accepts, but tells him to look at Axel and says he hopes he can sing with a neck brace on. This was an ok way to kickoff the show, but nothing particularly exciting.

Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro: Commentary says Ambrose and Sheamus aren’t here tonight; last week, Ambrose defeated Sheamus. They work some basic back and forth to begin. Rollins uses his speed to counter out, but Cesaro cuts him off and lays the boots to him. Rollins battles back, and lays in rights and boots to Cesaro in the corner. Cesaro catches Rollins with a cheap shot and suplexes Rollins on the ropes. Post break, and Cesaro is in control, working an abdominal stretch. Rollins escapes, but Cesaro cuts him off with knees and grounds him. Cesaro now sets Rollins up top and looks for a superplex, but Rollins fights him off. Cesaro sent to the mat and Rollins looks for a high cross, but is caught by Cesaro, who hits a back breaker for 2. Cesaro maintains control, covering again for 2. Cesaro now works a grounded bear hug, but Rollins battles back with elbows, but Cesaro hits a belly-to-belly suplex, covering for 2. Rollins counters, gets the abdominal stretch but gets tossed aside. Rollins manages to hit the blockbuster, and both men are down. Rollins then sends Cesaro to the floor, and hits the suicide dive. Post break, and Rollins does the deal with a falcon arrow, covering for 2. They tease a ref bump and Cesaro gets an eye poke, covering for 2. Cesaro hits the swing and sharpshooter, Rollins fights and makes the ropes but Cesaro lays in mounted strikes, Rollins fights off the neutralizer and hits a superkick, covering for 2. Cesaro now lays in uppercuts, but Rollins gets a backslide for 2. Rollins cuts off the springboard uppercut with another superkick, and finishes Cesaro with the ripcord knee strike. Seth Rollins defeated Cesaro @ 18:30 via pin [***½] This was a very good match, as you would expect from these two. They got a ton of time, kept a strong pace, and Cesaro’s work of the back played into the match as it went on.

– Rollins is interviewed post match, and asked if the Shield is going in different directions. He says hell no, he’s only solo tonight because Ambrose is on his honeymoon. He hasn’t heard from him for a week and hopes Renee didn’t put the hotel on her credit card. Dean will be back next week, and so will Sheamus; Reigns inspires them and next week, they will cash in on their rematch clause and win back the tag titles.

– Ali, Swann, Tozawa, and Alexander complain about the Zo train, and not getting tile shots. Angle books a fatal four way match for this week and next week, with the winners facing off for a title shot at Enzo. I like that, as they locked in matches for the next three weeks.

Samoa Joe vs. Titus O’Neil w/Apollo Crews: O’Neil attacks at the bell, Joe quickly fights back but O’Neil escapes the clutch attempt. Joe connects with an enziguri, and they trade chops. O’Neil keeps fighting, getting way too much in here. He slaps Joe, and hits a big boot, covering for 2. O’Neil talks trash, continuing to work strikes but Joe cuts him off with a right, locks in the clutch and O’Neil taps. Samoa Joe defeated Titus O’Neil @ 2:33 via submission [NR] This was ok, but Titus got way too much in considering his position on the card and the fact that Joe just beat Balor.

– Post match, Crews steps to Joe and he gets choked out.

– The #GoodBrothers do a WWEShop commercial.

– We get highlights of Paige’s return and the debuts of Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose.

– Alexa Bliss joins commentary.

– James’ music hits, but she doesn’t come out. Bayley’s music hits, and no Bayley. Paige, Sonya Deville, and Mandy Rose make their way to the ring, and Paige says Banks looks surprisingly good considering what they did to her last week. Paige shows footage of Mickie and Bayley backstage, obviously the victims of a beat down. Paige says she has been hounded by everyone, asking her to explain her actions, One year ago she was the woman to single-handedly erase the term diva from WWE, and the matriarch of the WWE evolution, Last week she made a statement, showing who she is and that she’s back. Bliss bails to the back as Paige introduces her fiends, who she calls “Absolution.” Rose says others may have forgotten, but before there were goddesses, empresses and horsewomen, there was Paige. But they didn’t forget her. Deville says every woman has pushed the competition and upped the game, but nothing was possible if it wasn’t for Paige. And together, absolution will turn into a different kind of evolution. Paige asks if banks will pledge her allegiance to them. Banks attacks Paige, but Rose and Deville attack and beat her down. Banks keeps fighting, but Paige joins in and then Deville lays out Banks with a head kick, Rose hits a glam slam, and Paige finishes her off with ram-Paige. I liked this, there was no need to give away the match away right now, and it made “Absolution” come off as smart and calculating, taking out their opponents and beating down Banks. I also loved that Bliss totally bailed before another beat down came her way. Mandy and Sonya were a bit rough on the promo front, but Sonya did a good job of running through the what chants and didn’t let them phase her.

– Oh Christ, Bray Wyatt is here to talk. Thankfully he only said he was here.

photo jascck middle_zpsumhe7jma.gif

Bray Wyatt Talks: Oh God, Wyatt’s talking. He didn’t have a childhood and didn’t celebrate holidays. Apparently IRS was a shitty father. He says he tried to show the way, but no one believed him. The suffering brings him joy, because his eyes are wide open. You’re all dead, apparently Wyatt sees dead people. Matt hardy arrives. Bray tried to use words, it ended badly.

Bray Wyatt vs. Matt Hardy: JIP as Wyatt works over Matt. Matt tries to battle back, but Wyatt wipes him out with a running cross body. Wyatt hits a corner splash, but misses the senton. Matt fires back with rights and a bulldog. Matt follows with a side effect, covering for 2. Matt looks for the twist of fate, but Wyatt cuts him off but matt slams him down, and misses the moonsault. Wyatt spider walks, his sister Abigail and that’s that. Bray Wyatt defeated Matt Hardy @ 3:38 via pin [*] This was a completely flat and uninteresting squash.

– Matt sits sad and defeated in the ring and then does the delete deal, teasing that he’s breaking. Commentary even mentions it (but used the term breakdown). They need to do something with him; he’s dead without Jeff.

– Commentary breaks down the Kane vs. Strowman feud.

– Jason Jordan tells Kurt that he wanted to rematch Braun tonight. Jordan says people have been on him for faking a knee injury, and he wants to take on Kane tonight. Kurt books the match.

Cruiserweight Contenders Qualifying Match: Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari: Swann and Dar pair off as Daivari works over Tozawa. Dar and Daivari work over Tozawa, Swann joins back in and Dar and Daivari are sent to the floor. Swann and Tozawa work back and forth, really picking up the pace and both looking for pins. Daivari pulls Tozawa to the floor, and Swann follows with a tope as Enzo watches on from backstage. Swann works over Dar with chops, and they roll back in. Daivari back in and cuts off Swann with a spinebuster for 2. Tozawa back in, but Dar and Daivari cut him off. They send Swann back to the floor, Daivari follows but Swann fights as Dar rolls to the floor and they suplex Swann. Post break, Dar and Daivari are still in control. Tozawa tries to make a comeback, and takes out Dar and hits a senton on Daivari. Tozawa heads up top, but Dar cuts him off. Daivari tries to follow Tozawa up top but gets shoved off. Dar and Daivari follow him up, but Swann sneaks backing and we get the old tower of doom. Enzo is still watching on and talking to himself backstage. Swann kicks Daivari in the head, heads up top but Dar cuts him off again. Tozawa hits a dive to the floor, and Daivari hits a frog splash on Swann for 2. Tozawa takes him out, heads up top and hits the top rope senton on Daivari, but Dar posts Tozawa, but Swann makes the save. Dar rolls up Tozawa for 2. Dar hits Tozawa with a running kick, but Swann pulls Tozawa to the floor. Swann takes out Dar with a head kick and the Phoenix splash finishes it. Rich Swann defeated Noam Dar, Akira Tozawa, and Ariya Daivari @ 12:32 via pin [***] It was really nice to see the cruiserweights actually get time on Raw. They worked hard, made the most of the time given and had a good match.

– Elias is here to sing a pre-match tune about the Miz & The Miztourage. He brings out Axel and Dallas, and they play some bad dubbed in harmonica. Elias then busts out a solo as half the crowd chants for Reigns. Elias says no one wants Reigns more than him.

IC Champion Roman Reigns vs. Elias: Dallas and Axel are at ringside. They lock up to begin, Reigns hits a shoulder block, and covers for 2. Elias fights back, hits a knee to the gut and covers for 2. He then posts Reigns, and covers for 2. Elias grounds the action, working a long chinlock. Reigns fights to his feet, but eats a clothesline and Elias covers for 2. Elias now works a side headlock, and after a minute or so, Reigns fights out and hits clotheslines. Reigns takes out Dallas, but Axel distracts him allowing Elias to hit a running knee for 2. Post match, and Elias has things grounded again as we’re working a 1980’s house show formula here. Reigns finally sends Elias to the floor, and hits the drive by kick, he takes out Dallas, and Axel begs off so Reigns spears him. Elias then posts Reigns, and backing heads up top and hits an elbow drop, covering for 2. Elias now hits a sitout powerbomb, but Reigns kicks out at 2. Reigns is down, Elias tries to pick him up instead of covering him again. Reigns gets a roll up for 2. Reigns then hits the superman punch, but Elias kicks out at 2. really, we’re having Elias kick out of the superman punch? Why not I guess, everyone else has. Reigns looks for a spear, but heats a knee. Reigns rebounds, hits the spear, and that’s that. IC Champion Roman Reigns defeated Elias @ 14:50 via pin [**½] Commentary tried to sell this as a classic or a coming out party for Elias, and it wasn’t either of those things. This was 90% of a house show match, slow and uninspired, with some kick out finishers to try and trick you into thinking it was special. Plus the super big dog comeback ending out of nowhere is such a shit way for Reigns to win matches, I hate the super Cena comeback as well, it just rarely works for me.

– Post match, SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER…

…Samoa Joe attacks Reigns and chokes him out with the clutch.

Asuka vs. Dana Brooke: Delusional Dana is back to get murdered again; Asuka beat her in 2:40 last week. Brooke charges Asuka, because she thought Asuka was a slow starter. Asuka catches her charge and locks in the flying arm bar for the instant victory. Asuka defeated Dana Brooke @ 0:05 via submission [NR]Nobody is ready for Asuka; if I am Dana Brooke, I may want to update my résumé. But if I can be serious for a minute, I don’t understand why they flew Dana to Raw when her mother was having surgery today. I mean, was Alicia Fox busy in catering? They couldn’t find a local talent?

– Post match, Paige, Rose, and Deville arrive and surround the ring, but end up backing off and allowing Asuka to leave. If I had to guess, Paige wins the title at the Rumble, building to Paige vs. Asuka (and hopefully not another fucking multi-person match) at Mania.

– Jordan cuts a boohoo promo about people claiming that he’s faking his knee injury. He gets the “what” chants big time. He is here to now do what Braun couldn’t do, and that is shut down the big red machine. Yeah, just turn him heel.

Jason Jordan vs. Kane: Jordan runs wild early, hits the corner spear and looks for a belly to belly, but Kane cuts that bullshit off. Kane tosses Jordan to the floor, and Jordan starts yelling and grabbing at his knee. He gets counted out. Kane defeated Jason Jordan @ 1:45 via countout [NR] This was a thing that happened, hopefully it plays into Jordan’s heel turn.

– Kane kicks the shit out of Jordan post match, but Finn Balor arrives to make the save.

Kane vs. Finn Balor: So we’re getting a match. Balor tries to run wild early, using his speed, but Kane cuts him off and starts working him over in the corner. Kane follows with a corner clothesline and side slam. This is so exciting that we have “let’s go mayor” chants. Balor manages an enziguri from the apron and then dropkicks Kane to the floor. The plancha follows, and then a shotgun dropkick on the floor. Kane uses a chair and that’s a DQ. Finn Balor defeated Kane @ 2:44 via DQ [NR] It existed, Finn still looks like a loser, but Kane looks strong in 2017. And yes, I get that they are going to sacrifice Kane to BRAUN, but there is no reason to destroy Balor along the way when there are so many disposable bodies backstage.

– Kane beats the shit out of Balor with the chair and teases Pillmanizing his neck, but BRAUN is back. Kane lays into him with chair shots, but BRAUN no sells him. BRAUN then sends him to the floor, follows and nails Kane with the steps. Back in the ring and powerslams Kane on the steps. BRAUN then slams the chair into Kane’s throat two times as payback for last week. Hopefully Kane brings back the voice box and they book the big match to main event the Christmas show.

– Kane slowly escapes through the crowd.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

photo GorgeousSharpCottonmouth_zpsmkdmwgzx.gif

~GLORIOUS~

3.5
The final score: review Bad
The 411
This was not a good show overall. We had two good matches, I liked the Absolution segment, and they set up matches for next week. But so much of the show feels like filler or that it doesn’t matter, the rehash of the open challenge didn’t come off well, and overall I find it really hard to care about the show, especially when the third hour consistently falls off so badly. I want to care, I want to be entertained, but there’s just not enough quality to fill three hours on a weekly basis. I shouldn’t have to go on what feels like an archeological expedition to find the few good things each week, but it’s about that difficult.
legend

More Trending Stories

article topics :

RAW, Tremendous Tirades, WWE, Larry Csonka

More Stories

loading