wrestling / Video Reviews
Hall’s WWE Day 1 Review
Loading...WWE Day 1 2022
Date: January 1, 2022
Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 11,213
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
It’s a new year so we’ll look at a new concept which never took off in the slightest. The idea is just to have a pay per view on the first day of the year and that means….well nothing really. In this case though, the big deal is that Roman Reigns has Covid and can’t face Brock Lesnar, who is now in a five way for the Raw World Title instead. Let’s get to it.
Pre-Show: Ricochet/Cesaro vs. Sheamus/Ridge Holland
Sheamus backs into the corner to start and it’s off to Holland to lock up with Cesaro instead. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Holland and Ricochet comes in to get flipped into a splash (with his boot hitting Holland’s face). Sheamus comes in and gets dropkicked into a sliding legdrop as Holland is down on the floor with a bloody face. The Irish Curse cuts Ricochet off and Sheamus does it again, setting up the reverse chinlock.
Holland is taken to the back as Sheamus hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, meaning it’s time for the ten forearms to the chest. Ricochet fights up with a springboard tornado DDT and Cesaro comes back in to clean house. A springboard high crossbody gives Cesaro two and it’s the Swing into the Sharpshooter. The rope gets Sheamus out of trouble and he gives Ricochet White Noise on the floor. Back in and Cesaro’s uppercut gets two but the Brogue Kick gives Sheamus the win at 9:44.
Rating: C+. That’s quite the upset win given that Holland was gone after about a minute. I’d assume that was the planned finish, but dang it makes Ricochet and Cesaro look pathetic to lose what was a glorified handicap match. At least Sheamus got a win out of it, and you know his pushes are the most consistent in the world.
The opening video features Quavo from Migos talking about how it’s a new year and a chance for people to make their first impressions. Oh and Brock Lesnar is now in the main event because Roman Reigns has Covid.
Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Usos vs. New Day
The Usos are defending and Kingston has a bad knee. After praising his hometown, Woods takes Jey down by the arm to start and pins the arm down for an early two. Kingston comes in for a splash but Jey kicks him down and hammers away to take over. Some trash talk takes too much time though and Kingston kicks him down, only for Jimmy to superkick Woods off the apron.
Kingston counters something off the top into a DDT and there’s the diving tag to Woods. The Honor Roll hits Jimmy and it’s a running dropkick to Jey’s back. A Samoan driver gives Woods two on Jimmy but Jey is back with a pop up Samoan drop for two of his own. Back up and Woods forearms it out with Jey, leaving both of them down. It’s back to Kingston for a high crossbody to Jey but Trouble In Paradise is superkicked down.
The Superfly Splash gives Jimmy two and he goes after Kingston’s bad knee. That’s broken up and Kingston rolls Jey up for some near falls, including the SOS for two more. UpUpDownDown gets two on Jey but the Usos are back up with the collection of superkicks. The double Superfly Splashes get two with Woods making the save and everyone is down again. They all get up and Woods sends Jimmy outside, only to get superkicked out of the air. That leaves Kingston to walk into the 1D (which McAfee seems to name on the spot) for the pin to retain at 17:04.
Rating: B+. This match was as much of a layup as you could have in WWE around this time and they had another great match here. These guys know each other so well and they had another classic right here. Sometimes the best solution is just to put a match out there that you know is going to work and that’s exactly what we saw here. Heck of an opener.
Video on Big E, the reigning Raw World Champion.
Big E. didn’t expect Brock Lesnar to be added to the title match but he doesn’t care who he has to face. Bring them to him (like the people at Ellis Island) and he will mow them all down.
Migos is happy to be here and want to get in the ring. This has been your celebrity appearance of the day.
Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre
Happy Corbin is here with Moss and this is over the two of them mocking McIntyre’s sword. Before the match, Moss mocks McIntyre, saying that after this match, he’ll be WHO McIntyre. The sword (it’s named Angela) is here too and McIntyre powers Moss back into the corner to start. A shoulder knocks Moss up against the ropes and McIntyre doesn’t seem overly worried here.
Moss stomps him down in the corner, earning himself a toss into the same corner and a rather loud chop. A running clothesline sets up a rather nice suplex to drop Moss for two. McIntyre clotheslines him to the floor for a heck of an overhead belly to belly suplex. Corbin’s distraction lets Moss get in a posting though and things slow way down. Moss’ suplex gets one and we’re off to the chinlock.
That doesn’t last long as Moss gets up to miss a charge in the corner, allowing McIntyre to suplex him down again. A Sky High of all things gives McIntyre two more but Moss is back with a fall away slam for two of his own. The Futureshock gives McIntyre two more but a superplex is broken up. That leaves McIntyre in the Tree Of Woe and of course he sits up to choke throw Moss down (that always looks cool). The Claymore finishes for McIntyre at 9:43.
Rating: C. The problem here is rather obvious: it’s a former multiple time World Champion against a literal comedy goof. That only gets you so far, as there is no reason to believe that Moss has a serious chance. Outside of Corbin interfering for a fluke, it just was not going to happen. For reasons I cannot fathom, this feud went on for another THREE MONTHS, including a rematch with Moss at Elimination Chamber and the blowoff with Corbin at Wrestlemania.
Kevin Owens doesn’t like Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley being added to the title match because it was originally Owens and Seth Rollins against Big E. It’s a tragedy or a travesty (whichever you prefer) so he’s off to talk to Rollins.
Video on Seth Rollins.
Raw Tag Team Titles: RK-Bro vs. Street Profits
The Profits are challenging after winning a tournament and Migos are here with the champions. Riddle and Dawkins start things off with a show of respect, followed by Riddle grabbing a headlock. Ford comes in for a quick dropkick and a bit of a surprised face on the kickout, despite us being about forty five seconds into the match. It’s off to Orton (with his mustache) and the fans are WAY into this.
Dawkins actually takes him down and the Profits mock Orton’s pose, which means it’s time to get serious. Ford comes in for some dancing and takes Orton into the corner, where Orton pokes him in the eye and hits a dropkick for two. Dawkins comes in and gets stomped down as well until it’s back to Riddle. The Silencer drops Riddle in a hurry and Ford grabs a waistlock to keep him down.
Riddle gets stomped in the corner but he fights up for a kick to the head. That’s enough for Orton to come in and clean house, including a double hanging DDT to the Profits. Ford blocks the RKO though but it’s back to Riddle to start cleaning house. Ford hits a big running flip dive to take out the champs on the floor but misses a frog splash back inside. Instead it’s Riddle tossing Ford into the RKO (Orton approves) to retain at 11:14.
Rating: B-. It was a fine match, but there was no way they were going to match the opener. RK-Bro was definitely something different for the division as the fans were getting way into the team’s weird chemistry. Beating the Profits is a nice moment, though these teams and the Alpha Academy feuded for the better part of ever.
Post match respect is shown, with Migos getting in to celebrate as well.
Drew McIntyre is happy with his win but Madcap Moss and Happy Corbin jump him with a chair.
Video on Bianca Belair.
Brock Lesnar does his own Paul Heyman impression to say he does what he wants to do. Thanks to Heyman, he’s a free agent, so he’s going to leave the World Champion.
We recap Miz vs. Edge. When Edge came back to Raw, Miz (with Maryse) interrupted and they argued a lot, with the focus being on Miz running his mouth (shocking) and Edge earning respect. The idea is that Edge is old and Miz is smarter, which naturally led to Miz and Maryse renewing their wedding vows (as officiated by Eric Bischoff). A Bloodb…er, black liquidbath ensued.
Miz vs. Edge
Maryse is here with Miz and Edge has the old Brood entrance (including the song) to really make this work. Thankfully it does turn into the Rated R version, as the multiple time World Champion era might be better than the lower midcard tag team era. They start fairly fast with Miz knocking him into the corner and posing on the ropes. Edge’s headlock works a bit better and he scores with some hiptosses for two.
It’s way too early for the crossface though and Miz bails into the ropes. Miz knocks him back down but the dropkick misses, allowing Edge to get a quick rollup for two. Edge is sent outside for a distraction from Maryse, allowing Miz to get in a posting. Back in and Miz starts in on the leg but misses a charge into the buckle. A reverse hanging DDT gives Edge two, followed by a Boss Man Slam for the same.
Miz goes back to the knee and grabs his own (regular) DDT for two and frustration is setting in. Edge knocks him down and goes outside, where it’s a swinging sitout DDT to drop Miz face first in quite the crash. Back up and Miz sends him into the apron, followed by some face first rams into the announcers’ table as well. The Skull Crushing Finale is countered into Edge’s half nelson faceplant onto the table.
Back in and a high crossbody gives Edge two but neither of them can get their finisher. The Figure Four is kicked away, though Miz is able to kick Edge into the post as well. Now the Figure Four can go on, but Edge just gets fires up and glares a lot before turning it over, as good guys tend to do. Miz lets it go and catapults him into the buckle for two, albeit with feet on the ropes so the referee doesn’t approve. Edge grabs the crossface so Maryse helps Miz get his foot to the ropes.
Back up and they hit stereo big boots but Miz hits his running corner clothesline. Edge kind of super hiptosses him off the top but the spear hits corner. Maryse’s cheap shot sets up the Skull Crushing Finale for two….and it’s Beth Phoenix (with her, uh, not great hair style) to glare. After the awkward staring before her music starts (that was weird), Phoenix stalks Maryse up the ramp and the spear finishes Miz at 20:04.
Rating: B. The match was good and pretty standard WWE fare, but I’m still not entirely sure why I’d want to see these two fight. They were pretty clearly setting up the tag match at the Royal Rumble, which went about the same as this. It felt like something of a waste of Edge, though I’m sure it was probably more he and Phoenix wanting to work together, which was fine.
MVP, with Bobby Lashley, doesn’t want to hear about Brock Lesnar, because Lashley is the yin to Lesnar’s yang. Lashley wants to feel Lesnar tap out.
We recap Becky Lynch defending the Raw Women’s Title against Liv Morgan. Lynch cheated to beat her in their first title match and then mocked her so it’s time for a rematch.
Raw Women’s Title: Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
Lynch is defending and Morgan gets quite the positive reception. An early springboard spinning Codebreaker sends Lynch outside, where it’s time for some rams into the announcers’ table. Morgan’s dive is cut off with a kick to the head but the Manhandle Slam is blocked as well. Morgan stomps her down in the back and stomps away on the back for two. Lynch has to slip out of the Disarm-Her before getting caught in the Rings Of Saturn for some screaming.
That’s broken up as well as Morgan is fired up here. Back in and Lynch gets slammed off the top for two but manages an elbow to the face. Morgan gets tied in the ropes for the middle rope Fameasser and a near fall. Lynch is annoyed at the kickout and wants a faster count, allowing Morgan to kick her face first into the buckle.
Morgan kicks her in the face and hammers away, setting up a double springboard dropkick for two. Lynch butterfly suplexes her into a quickly broken cross armbreaker but Morgan gets in another knockdown. The fans are rather pleased as Morgan goes up top, where Lynch catches her again. Morgan reverses into a sunset bomb for two and they’re both down. A belly to back faceplant gives Lynch two but she misses another Fameasser. Morgan’s missile dropkick sends Lynch outside and the suicide dive connects.
Lynch is able to send her into the announcers’ table for a nine count, only for Morgan to send her into the steps. Morgan stomps on the arm on the steps and it’s a super Codebreaker onto the arm for two back inside. The Rings Of Saturn goes on again but Lynch stacks her up for the escape. Oblivion is loaded up but Lynch reverses into the Manhandle Slam (and can’t get her feet on the ropes) for the pin to retain at 16:58.
Rating: B+. I didn’t remember liking this one the first time but DANG they pulled me into it this time. This was Morgan throwing everything she could at Lynch despite not being nearly on Lynch’s level. It was a heck of a performance, with Lynch having to hang in there until she could catch Morgan in the end. Lynch looked like she survived in the end and I liked the whole thing far more than I was expecting. Heck of a match here.
Seth Rollins talks about how this was supposed to be a one on one match for the title but everyone else has gotten in through one way or another. All of those people have one thing in common: they’re not Seth Rollins, who is going to go out there and win the title.
We look at Ridge Holland’s injury on the Kickoff Show but his team won anyway.
Johnny Knoxville is going to be in the Royal Rumble.
We recap the main event. Seth Rollins got a title shot against Big E. but Kevin Owens and Bobby Lashley got involved. Then there’s the whole Brock Lesnar thing, which was added earlier in the day.
Raw World Title: Big E. vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar
Big E. is defending and Lesnar gets double teamed by Rollins and Owens to start fast. You don’t do that to Lesnar though, who German suplexes both of them multiple times, leaving Big E. and Lashley to fight on the floor. Owens saves Rollins from an F5 and gets German suplexed for his efforts. Big E. gets inside for some running clotheslines, including one to knock Lesnar outside.
Lashley posts Big E. (OUCH) and spears Lesnar through the barricade for a less painful looking but more impactful crash. Back in and Owens and Rollins superkick Lashley to the floor before Rollins dives onto Lesnar. Owens is right there with a frog splash off the apron to crush Lesnar as well. They’re not done though as Owens and Rollins use the steps on the other three before clearing off the announcers’ table.
Big E. is back up to release Rock Bottom Lashley through the table but Owens is there with a superkick. Owens and Rollins DDT Lesnar onto the steps, leaving Big E. to fight the two of them inside. The sitout powerbomb gives Owens two but the Swanton hits raised knees. Rollins’ frog splash hits Big E. for two more but Lesnar is back in with an F5 to everyone not named Lashley. Speaking of Lashley, he spears Lesnar down for two but Big E. breaks up the Hurt Lock. The Big Ending hits Lashley, only for Lesnar to F5 Big E. for the pin and the title at 8:19.
Rating: B. Well it certainly wasn’t boring. This was five guys going nuts for about eight minutes, which might sound short, but they did quite a bit in that amount of time. It made for a rather entertaining match, though Lesnar winning the title was hardly the most thrilling. Worry not though, as Lashley would get the title at the Royal Rumble, then Lesnar would win the Rumble, then get the title back at Elimination Chamber, then lose to Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania, because Lesnar gets to do a lot of stuff. Anyway, nice stuff here, due to the all action style.
Lesnar glares down at an annoyed Lashley to end the show.
Results
Sheamus/Ridge Holland b. Ricochet/Cesaro – Brogue Kick to Cesaro
Usos b. New Day – 1D to Kingston
Drew McIntyre b. Madcap Moss – Claymore
RK-Bro b. Street Profits – Pop up RKO to Ford
Edge b. Miz – Spear
Becky Lynch b. Liv Morgan – Manhandle Slam
Brock Lesnar b. Big E., Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens and Bobby Lashley – F5 to Big E.
