Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 12.25.17

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 12.25.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– John Cena defeated Elias @ 15:55 via pin [***]
– Hideo Itami defeated Brian Kendrick @ 4:05 via pin [**]
– Paige, Mandy Rose, & Sonja Deville defeated Bayley, Sasha Banks, & Mickey James @ 10:18 via pin [**¾]
– Kane defeated Heath Slater @ 2:17 via pin [NR]
– Finn Balor defeated Curt Hawkins @ 1:30 via pin [NR]
– Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Ali, Alexander, & Tozawa defeated Enzo, Daivari, & Gulak @ 7:50 via pin [**]
– IC Title Match: Samoa Joe defeated IC Champion Roman Reigns @ 12:55 via DQ [**¾]
– BRAUN defeated Axel & Dallas @ 1:00 via pin [NR]
– Raw Tag Team Title Match: Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan defeated Champions Sheamus & Cesaro @ 15:30 via pin [***]

---

– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– I ranked the Raw women’s division from worst to first at this link.
– I ranked the Smackdown women’s division from worst to first at this link.
– I wrote about the winners in the battle for the Broken Universe at this link.
– I wrote about the top 10 female NXT stars at this link.
– I wrote about how quickly the WWE can change in just 6-years at this link.
– I wrote about 8 possible surprises for the women’s Royal Rumble at this link.

– We get highlights from last week’s show.

– The first hour of tonight’ show is commercial free.

John Cena’s New Shirt Kicks Off Raw: Cena immediately gives his shirt and hat to what appeared a make a wish kid. Cena plays up the holiday edition of the show, calling WWE & the fans his family. THE DRIFTER IS HERE and he has no time for John Cena’s shit. He says “WWE” now stands for “Walk With Elias.” Cena says he’ll walk with Elias, and Elias is here interrupting because everyone interrupts him, and says CM Punk sure the hell won’t interrupt him tonight. That of course brings out the Punk chants, but Elias plans to perform. Elias keeps cutting Cena’s attempted advice off, so Cena gives him his stool and backs off. Elias starts to sing and gets booed out of the building as he buries Chicago. Cena interrupts him, and says Elias shouldn’t have said bad things about Chicago, kisses up to the crowd but Elias says he speaks the truth. Cena calls him a jerk, and those are fighting words. Elias says he never thought of things that way. So he’d love t do another song. Elias sings again, playing it nice. Cena joins in and Elias lays him out. He runs down Christmas and Cena. He works over Cena and says he’ll give him the gift of challenging Cena.

John Cena vs. Elias: The bell rings and Elias attacks. Cena fires back, and hits rights and a hip toss. Cena grounds the action, but Elias quickly fights back, and again takes control as they spill to the floor. He works him over, and rolls him back in, covering for 2. Elias tosses Cena across the ring and covers again for 2. Elias puts Cena in the tree of WHOA, heads up top and hits a double stomp, and that gets 2. Cena starts to fight back, but gets cut off. Back to the tree of WHOA, Elias back up top, but Cena avoids the double stomp and hits a clothesline. Rights follow, they trade center ring and Elias hits a back breaker for 2. Elias continues to control, laying in rights and then laying the boots to Cena in the corner. Elias back up top pulls Cena up with him and Cena fights, but Elias hits a spin out powerbomb for 2. Cena rolls to the floor. Cena makes it back in, but Elias covers for 2. Elias grounds things with a side headlock. Cena fights to his feet, and hits shoulder blocks, but Elias rolls to the floor. Cena follows, rolls him back in and Elias hits a clothesline for 2. The side back breaker follows for 2 by Elias. Cena counters into an STF, Elias fights, escapes and hits a running knee strike as Cena rolls to the floor. Cena to the apron, Elias follows with rights, but Cena gets a sunset flip and into the STF. Elias fights again, and makes the ropes. Elias hits drift away, but Cena kicks out at 2. Elbows follow by Elias, he poses, but Cena gets a sunset flip for 2. Shoulder blocks follow and then the proto bomb. Cena follows with the five-knuckle shuffle and AA; that’s that. John Cena defeated Elias @ 15:55 via pin [***] Good match overall, with Elias controlling most of the match, and continuing to improve.

– We get a Samoa Joe promo video.

– Kurt Angle decorates a tree as Jason Jordan arrives for family time. Seth Rollins arrives and he wants revenge against Joe, for injuring Ambrose. He and Jordan argue, but Angle says Jordan & Rollins need to take out the Bar first. Angle says they will face the Bar tonight for the tag team titles.

– Roman Reigns arrives and Angle books him vs. Joe tonight, and the IC Title will be on the line.

– Charly interviews Kendrick, who will face Itami tonight. He wants to find out if Itami belongs.

Hideo Itami vs. Brian Kendrick: Jack Gallagher is at ringside. Kendrick attacks at the bell, they trade strikes and knees. Itami follows with kicks, demanding respect. Gallagher distracts him, allowing Kendrick to attack and cover for 2. Kendrick hits a butterfly suplex, covering for 2. Kendrick then grounds the action; Itami fights to his feet, lays in boots and stuns Kendrick off the ropes. The top rope clothesline follows. Clotheslines and kicks follow, and then the suplex connects. Itami fires up with strikes and then the hesitation dropkick connects; Itami hits the GTS and that’s that. Hideo Itami defeated Brian Kendrick @ 4:05 via pin [**] This was an ok little match, with Itami continuing his winning ways.

– We get a video package on the women’s Royal Rumble.

– Sasha, Bayley, and Mickie walk and meet with Dallas & Axel who sing Miz themed Christmas songs. The ladies walk away.

Paige, Mandy Rose, & Sonja Deville vs. Bayley, Sasha Banks, & Mickey James: Paige and Banks to begin. Paige connects with strikes, tags on Rose, and Banks hits a dropkick. Banks takes control, tagging Mickie in and they work double teams. She works the arm of Rose, lays in kicks and then the clothesline for 2. Bayley tags in, she and Mickie work double teams and Bayley covers for 2. Deville gets the tag, and starts tossing Bayley around, lays in kicks, but Bayley powers her to the corner and Banks tags back in. The running knees sorta hits for 2. Banks fights off Rose, follows Deville to the floor and gets planted with a clothesline. Paige tags in, and lays the boots to Banks in the corner. Rose tags in, as they isolate banks and work the quick tag. Deville back in and lays in strikes on Banks, covering for 2. She grounds the action. Banks keeps fighting, but Paige tags back in and grounds things. Banks gets to her feet, but Paige hits a clothesline for 2. More quick tags follow, Rose in and picks up a cover for 2. Rose cuts off the tag and knocks Mickie & Bayley to the floor. Banks slams Rose into Paige, and we get wholesale changes to Bayley & Paige. Bayley is fired up and runs wild, taking out Deville. Paige fights back but runs into a Bayley to belly, but Deville & Rose pull Paige to the floor. It breaks down on the floor with a big brawl. Bayley & Paige back in, but Paige cuts her off and hits ramPaige for the win. Paige, Mandy Rose, & Sonja Deville defeated Bayley, Sasha Banks, & Mickey James @ 10:18 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good tag overall, with a strong layout, and good aggression overall. Rose and Deville worked really hard and put in quality performances.

– We get highlights of the Ambrose injury angle from last week. Commentary says he’ll be out for upwards of 9-months.

– Renee interviews Joe, who has no sympathy for what he did last week. His actions earned him an IC Title shot tonight, he’s systematically taken out the Shield, and tonight, finishes things when he finishes and owns Reigns.

Kane vs. Heath Slater: Rhyno is at ringside. Slater looks to play stay away, but Kane cuts him off and starts kicking his ass. The side slam gets 2 and Kane then kicks him to the floor. Rhyno tries to motivate Slater, but he’s immediately tossed back to the floor. Rhyno and Slater argue, so Kane looks to attack but Slater fires up starts connecting, but is almost immediately cut off. Chokeslam, pin, finish. Kane defeated Heath Slater @ 2:17 via pin [NR]It was what it needed to be, a segment to keep Kane strong for the Rumble title match, which he is unfortunately involved in.

– Post match, Kane & Rhyno brawl. Rhyno hits the corner spear, but the gore is cut off. Kane chokeslams him and stands tall.

– Curt Hawkins is here to face the facts, 2017 wasn’t a good year for him as he’s been winless. But he feels a Christmas miracle coming and issues an open challenge. He’s like 0-146 right now. Balor is decked out in red for the holidays.

Finn Balor vs. Curt Hawkins: Hawkins attacks at the bell, but Balor cuts him off and hits a dropkick. Chops follow, but Hawkins gets a roll up for 2. He gets another rollup and then a cradle for 2. Balor hits a standing double stomp, and the sling blade; the shotgun dropkick and top rope double stomp finishes things. Finn Balor defeated Curt Hawkins @ 1:30 via pin [NR] The streaks continue, Hawkins losing and Balor facing geeks.

– Axel & Dallas meet with Goldust. They sing to him and bury his career. They give him a copy of the Christmas movie Miz did. Goldust then gives it to Titus O’Neil.

– We get a spooky Bray Wyatt promo, noting Sister Abigail hated Christmas. He’s here.

– Not good if true…

INJURY UPDATE: @TheDeanAmbrose's injury will keep him out of action for approximately nine months. https://t.co/q7mmvhgJIp

— WWE (@WWE) December 26, 2017

– Wyatt makes his way to the ring, but Matt appears and attacks, running him off to chants of delete. Thank you Matt for saving me a Wyatt match. Matt then addresses Wyatt, laughing like a mad man.

– Sheamus & Cesaro argue about having to defend their titles. Sheamus gives Cesaro a give, and it’s a Dean Ambrose action figure, including missing arm. Cesaro gives Sheamus a gift, it’s a Rollins action figure, they hope to break it just like they will break the real thing. He then gives him a Jason Jordan action figure, Sheamus doesn’t want it, and Cesaro says Rollins and Angle don’t want him either.

– Enzo talks and makes holiday themed jokes.

Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Enzo, Daivari, & Gulak vs. Ali, Alexander, & Tozawa: So the cruiserweights are replacing the divas in holiday themed matches. Enzo defends against Alexander next week. Alexander and Daivari start things off, Alexander dumps him and dropkicks Gulak. Tozawa & Ali hit dives. Post break, and trees and gifts are in the ring. The heels are in control, working the heat on Tozawa. Tozawa cuts off Enzo with a kick, allowing Daivari and Ali to tag in. Ali hits a dropkick, enziguri and x-factor, Ali up top, the imploding 450 follows, but Gulak makes the save with a cookie tray. Enzo and Alexander tag in, Alexander takes his Kendo candy cane stick. Gulak accidentally hits Enzo and Alexander attacks him with kendo shots. Daivari in, eats the lumbar check and that’s that. Ali, Alexander, & Tozawa defeated Enzo, Daivari, & Gulak @ 7:50 via pin [**] This existed only to fill the holiday themed match quota, there wasn’t much to it, but Alexander winning made sense.

– Enzo is sad backstage and meets with Nia Jax and her amazing Technicolor hair. They are under mistletoe, and as they tease kissing, Alexa Bliss interrupts them.

– Renee interviews Roman Reigns. Reigns doesn’t care about Joe and won’t leave without the IC Title. Tonight is about Ambrose, and sending a message to Joe.

IC Champion Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe: They trade back and forth right away, and Reigns hits the drive by kick, but Joe hits a belly to back suplex, covering for 2. Joe follows with forearm strikes, but Reigns cuts that off with a clothesline. Corner clotheslines and a big boot follow. Reigns sets, wants the superman punch but Joe suckers him in and works jabs. Post break, and Joe is still in control, slapping Reigns around. Reigns cuts him off, hitting a Samoan drop, and covering for 2. Joe fights off a powerbomb attempt, they trade strikes and Joe hits a snap suplex, but misses the senton. The superman punch by Reigns gets 2. Reigns looks for the spear, but runs into a boot and uranage for a good near fall. Reigns stuns Joe off the ropes, Joe looks for the clutch, and drops to the mat with Reigns locked up. Reigns fights out and makes the ropes. Joe sends Reigns to the floor and hits the elbow suicida. Reigns is selling his left arm now. Joe rolls him back in, and starts working the arm. Reigns fights back with head butts and rights. Reigns lays in the boots and shoves the ref away for a DQ. Samoa Joe defeated IC Champion Roman Reigns @ 12:55 via DQ [**¾] This was an overall pretty match that was heating up until the really flat finish. It would have been better with a stronger finish, but they went with one to extend the angle instead.

– Reigns is a sore loser, attacking Joe and posting him after the match. Reigns then get the steps, and hits Joe with them. He then gets a chair, but Joe seemingly escaped more damage.

– Seth Rollins watches on backstage and laughs. He meets with Jordan and says they are teaming because he owes Kurt and wants revenge for Dean. Rollins says just hanging with top competition is not enough for Jordan any longer. Jordan says he makes a pretty good replacement for Ambrose, but Rollins says he’ll never be Ambrose. Jordan promises to be better.

– Axel & Dallas are in the ring now. They have a “secret Santa” match tonight. They sing and BRAAAAAAAAAAAUN arrives.

BRAUN vs. Axel & Dallas: BRAUN kills Dallas with a clothesline and then tosses him across the ring. Axel in and gets tossed into Dallas. BRAUN hits the powerslam and wins. BRAUN defeated Axel & Dallas @ 1:00 via pin [NR] Fuck your Christmas spirit.

– Post match, at the urging of the crowd, BRAUN delivers several more powerslams to both.

– Alexa Bliss arrives and is giving us the gift of a goddess. She wants to reflect on her 2017, which was the year of Bliss, starting the year as Smackdown women’s champion and finishing as Raw women’s champion. She did it without the fans, and doesn’t need them now. She then starts to talk about the Women’s Royal Rumble and last week’s announcement, which was the moment of the year. She then says you’re welcome, because every moment is because of her. Asuka then arrives and Bliss is not pleased. Asuka says she’s entering the women’s rumble and she will win, because nobody is ready for Asuka. Bliss now looks terrified. She should be, because Asuka laid her out with a head kick.

The women of @WWE better get READY, because @WWEAsuka is ENTERING the first-ever Women's #RoyalRumble Match! #RAW @AlexaBliss_WWE pic.twitter.com/lQVZVKAgDJ

— WWE (@WWE) December 26, 2017

– Brock will be on Raw next week; hopping around, doing nothing, and making more money than we’ll ever see at one time.

Tag Team Champions Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan: Sheamus and Jordan begin. Jordan looks to take control, but gets quickly cut off. Rollins blind tags in and wipes out the champs with a high cross. He tosses them and hits a suicide dive. Jordan looks pissy. Post break, and Sheamus has taken control. Cesaro tags in for double teams and he covers for 2. Cesaro grounds the action, but Rollins fights to his feet and looks for a tag, but Cesaro cuts that off and tags in Sheamus. He follows with clubbing strikes, Rollins battles back again and looks for a tag, but Sheamus cuts that off. Rollins keeps fighting, but Cesaro tags in and hits a leg drop, covering for 2. The champions keep Rollins isolated, working quick tags and double teams, and Sheamus covers for 2. Rollins is tossed to the floor, Cesaro attacks as Jordan makes the save, but the champions slam him to the barricade. Rollins takes out Sheamus with a DDT, but Jordan is still down and Rollins has no one to tag. The champions attack with double teams, and pick up another near fall, but Rollins survives. The pop up uppercut follows for 2. Rollins again fires up, Jordan returns and takes out Sheamus, and Rollins finally makes the tag. Jordan in and he runs wild. He slams Sheamus to the buckles repeatedly, the spear and overhead belly to belly gets 2. He takes out Cesaro, but Sheamus decapitates him with a lariat. The demolition decapitation gets 2. Cesaro locks on the sharp shooter. Rollins takes out Sheamus, and Jordan gets a roll up for 2. Sheamus is back and the doomsday device connects. Rollins returns, takes out Cesaro but eats a brogue kick. Sheamus locks on the cloverleaf on Jordan, but he makes the ropes. Cesaro tags in, the double team white noise is stopped by Rollins, and he then sends Sheamus to the steps but Cesaro take him out. Cesaro back in and Jordan hits the pop up neck breaker and we have new champions. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan defeated Champions Sheamus & Cesaro @ 15:30 via pin [***] This was an overall good main event, and an interesting change due to Ambrose’s injury and the reported injury issues with Sheamus. I am curious to see how this plays out with Jordan moving forward and how it affects his heel turn he had been working towards.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

~GLORIOUS~

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

For a holiday show, this was solid episode of Raw. We had some good wrestling, some solid angle advancement and it was largely fun.