IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: January 9, 2020
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

It’s time to start setting up the Royal Rumble and that could go a few different ways. The big story this time around is having Brock Lesnar enter at #1, which could make for a few cool moments in the early going, plus a big deal when someone throws him out. I’m not sure what we’ll be seeing in the way of highlights but it’s nice to get a refresher. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Mojo Rawley vs. Curt Hawkins

Zack Ryder is here with Hawkins. Rawley chills in the corner to start before clotheslining Hawkins down and talking a lot of trash. Hawkins manages to knock him down and go up, only to have Mojo bail to the floor. That means a neck snap across the top rope and the chinlock is on. It’s broken up in a hurry though as Hawkins jawbreaks his way to freedom. Some dropkicks put Rawley in the corner and the top rope elbow gets two. Rawley runs him over though and it’s a fireman’s carry faceplant to put Hawkins away at 4:39.

Rating: D+. I know his career barely exists at this point but it’s great to see Hawkins trying so hard every time he’s out there. It means a lot to see someone working like that and it makes these matches a lot more fun. He likely won’t ever get anywhere significant, but he’s doing something and it’s better than just sitting around doing nothing for months at a time.

From Raw.

Here are Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman for a chat. Heyman talks about Brock wondering who will be facing him at the Royal Rumble but realizing that no one from Raw, Smackdown or NXT is worthy. That’s why Brock is going to do something unprecedented, which is what he does. Brock promised to beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania and then he did it. So what is his next unprecedented move? Brock is entering the Royal Rumble at #1 so he can fight twenty nine people at once. Heyman promises Lesnar will throw everyone out and win the whole thing and yes, that is a spoiler. No word on if the title will be on the line.

I saw someone suggest this same idea somewhere else and it’s an interesting idea. I’d prefer this over having Lesnar face and destroy someone else like he’d done over the last few years, though I’m almost scared to imagine who we might get as the person who throws Lesnar out. Still though, interesting idea.

We look at Daniel Bryan becoming #1 contender to challenge the Fiend at Royal Rumble.

From Smackdown.

Roman Reigns/Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin/Dolph Ziggler

Corbin jumps Reigns at the bell and gets punched in the face for his efforts. It’s off to Ziggler, whose neckbreaker is easily broken up so Reigns can hit a big boot. Bryan comes in and kicks away….but we have the Fiend laughing and lights flickering. Back from a break with Reigns kicking Corbin in the face but running into Deep Six for two. Corbin sends him into the steps and Ziggler begs Reigns to do something.

The Superman Punch finally gets Reigns out of trouble and it’s back to Bryan to pick up the pace. Bryan elbows Ziggler down and hits the YES Kicks, only to miss the big one. Ziggler’s rollup is reversed into the LeBell Lock with Corbin making the save. Reigns spears Corbin and Bryan knees Ziggler….as the lights go out. The Fiend is here so Bryan hits him with a suicide dive.

Fiend gets posted but is right back with the Mandible Claw to send Bryan through the barricade. The Claw goes on again and there go the lights, meaning the Fiend is gone. Ziggler and Corbin jump Reigns as he goes to check on Bryan, meaning it’s time for the handcuffs and dog food. Cue the returning Usos for the save though, which is pretty long overdue. We’ll say the match ended at about 10:00.

Rating: C-. This was all just a means to get to the end of the match and that’s fine as it didn’t exactly overstay its welcome. That being said, this didn’t help hide the fact that Ziggler and Corbin aren’t exactly as interesting as a lot of the other people on the show, including the three other people involved in the match. Not a bad match or anything, but a means to an end more than anything on its own.

Royal Rumble rundown.

Natalya vs. Chelsea Green

They go to the mat and trade headscissors until Chelsea is up with a wristlock. Natalya goes for more grappling though and Green dives over for the ropes in a smart move. A hammerlock doesn’t do much to Natalya and Green has to go to the ropes again. Green shoulders her down but gets sent into the corner, only to have to escape the Sharpshooter attempt. A cheap shot puts Natalya down though and we take a break.

Back with Green choking in the corner but getting rolled up for two. The chinlock goes on to keep Natalya down, followed by some choking on the rope for a similar effect. It’s another chinlock, as Green certainly likes working that neck. Natalya powers out and hits her slingshot belly to back drop for two. A hard clothesline sets up the Sharpshooter to make Green tap at 10:24.

Rating: D+. Green isn’t exactly thrilling in the ring but she has charisma and makes you pay attention, which is more than a lot of women on the main roster can say. The match was nothing we haven’t seen before, but it’s nice to see someone fresh getting a chance for once. Granted she’s already back in NXT, though at least she got her feet wet on the main roster for a bit.

Video on Bobby Lashley and Lana’s wedding, with Liv Morgan interrupting.

From Raw.

Here are Lashley and Lana with the minister from last week in the ring (apparently the minister was the fan, which would be some major miscommunication). Lana is furious about last week and wants things made right so they get married in a hurry, because the minister can officiate weddings in multiple states.

Lana kicks the minister out for being boring but still doesn’t seem happy. It’s because of all these people here who don’t want to see this ring on her finger. Last week a bunch of exes came out to interrupt the wedding over and over again because so many people are so jealous of their love. Lashley says Rusev is the sorriest of them all but here’s Rusev on the screen, standing in front of a superimposed island.

Since Lana and Lashley didn’t have a honeymoon, he’s taking it for them. But first, he needs to give them their wedding gift: a wedding album, with pictures from last week’s fiasco. Lana rants about how much she hates Rusev….and Lashley tells her to shut up. Lashley says Rusev used to be a man but they need to fight one more time. Rusev agrees to fight him next week and the Bulgarian Brute will be back. There was no reference to or mention of Liv Morgan.

From Raw.

Seth Rollins/AOP vs. Samoa Joe/Kevin Owens/???

Rollins is officially dubbed the Monday Night Messiah and says he knows what is best for everyone. The mystery partner is….the Big Show, who hasn’t wrestled in over a year due to hip surgery. Show cleans house to start and hits a big chop on Rollins to send us to a break. Back with Rollins still in trouble as Owens hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Rezar gets in a cheap shot though and sends Owens into the barricade, as the fans want Big Show.

Back in and we hit the neck crank on Owens to slow things down so Show starts playing cheerleader (the veterans are always good at that). The side slam/middle rope stomp combination gets two on Owens and it’s off to Rollins for a chinlock of his own. Owens fights up and hits an enziguri on Akam, so Rezar comes in to knock Joe off the apron. That earns him a superkick from Owens and the hot tag brings Show back in. Joe gets sent into the steps, leaving Show to pull Rollins out of the air. The double chokeslam to AOP is broken up with a chair shot from Rollins for the DQ at 10:15.

Rating: C-. I know the fans were chanting for him a bit during the match, but Big Show? I don’t think he’s going to be a big feature attraction but I don’t exactly see this as being the impactful move that WWE thinks it might be. It has been a long time and I was surprised to hear that music again, though the excitement died down in a hurry as you knew the DQ or countout was coming. It’s a nice surprise in the short term but long term, they’re going to need something else.

Post match the beatdown is on but Show punches Rollins out to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. This show did the same thing that so many bad episodes of Main Event have done over the last year or two: showed just how uninteresting Raw and Smackdown can be. The full shows have some different perks that you don’t see on here, but the shortened versions aren’t exactly making me want to watch more of the main shows in the future.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also -available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 13, 2020
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Vic Joseph

We’re less than two weeks away from the Royal Rumble and that means things need to pick up a lot. The Rumbles themselves have barely meant anything so far as it seems to be all about Brock Lesnar for the men and Charlotte seems destined for the women’s. You know, in case you were worrying about something fresh sneaking in. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

I was in the arena for this show, sitting in the end zone in the lower arena.

Opening sequence.

Your regular rant that only I care about: this show is not on the campus of the University of Kentucky. Rupp Arena is not owned by the University nor on its campus. I know just saying “Lexington” is too much to ask for WWE, but when you spend four years of your life at a school, it can get annoying hearing them get it wrong (or intentionally saying it wrong) EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Here’s Randy Orton for an opening chat. The music stops but Orton gets cheered so much that he has to get on the ropes for one more pose. Orton, not on the mic: “I had to.” Orton says he was asked to come out here and excitedly welcome everyone to Raw. He isn’t the excitedly kind of guy though so he’ll invited one single person out here instead.

That would be AJ Styles and sweet goodness that hair has a life of its own. AJ mocks Orton for faking a knee injury and having the gall to suggest that he is the favorite to win the Royal Rumble. Last week, the world saw AJ Styles hit the greatest RKO anyone has ever seen. AJ: “It was beautiful!” People even said it was phenomenal but AJ would rather talk about the Rumble, which draws out Drew McIntyre.

Drew says he’s been tested lately, with the Conga Line putting him on the ropes last week. Now he wants some more competition, so here are AJ Styles and Randy Orton having an RKO size measuring contest. Drew: “My Claymore is bigger.” That makes Orton drop his mic and McIntyre wants a triple threat right now. Ring the bell.

Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre gets knocked to the floor early on and Orton breaks up a way too soon Phenomenal Forearm attempt. Cue the Good Brothers in a hurry with an RKO taking down Anderson and a Claymore to Gallows as we take a break. Back with AJ sitting on top and getting chopped by Drew, who gets crotched on top. Orton joins them and tries a superplex on AJ, only to have Drew sit up and German superplex Orton who superplexes AJ for a rather cool spot.

The fans accurately think this is awesome as Drew beats on both of them in turn. There’s the Futureshock to AJ and a headbutt to Orton but the Claymore is cut off with a dropkick. They all head outside with Orton hitting Drew in the face to knock him silly before staring AJ down. Back in and AJ catches Orton with a hanging DDT but Orton blocks an RKO (that’s weird to say). Another attempt is countered….and that means a Styles Clash to AJ for a close two. AJ is back up but walks into the RKO, only to get Claymored by Drew, who pins Orton for the win at 10:22.

Rating: C+. This was a weird setup where they were trying to do two things at once: advance AJ vs. Orton and make Drew seem like more of a threat. That was a little hard to do in a match that has nothing to do with winning the Royal Rumble but it was good for him to get this kind of a win. The Styles Clash to AJ was a great touch and I’m curious to see how they blow the thing off. Good match too, even with the triple threat formula.

We recap Big Show returning last week to help Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe against Seth Rollins and the AOP.

Rollins talks to the AOP about how you’re either with us or against us but no one can stop them. That includes Owens, Joe and Big Show in case that wasn’t clear. Rollins has done everything to make sure their destiny is intact and tonight, you will see what happens when you don’t embrace his vision.

Ricochet vs. Mojo Rawley

Ricochet starts fast with an anklescissors into a dropkick, allowing him to get in a little dancing for a bonus. Mojo gets thrown outside and that means a big flip dive as the announcers talk about what that would mean in the Royal Rumble. Back in and Mojo hits a quick Pounce for two, followed by a corner splash to make it worse. The Alabama Slam out of the corner is blocked though and Ricochet kicks him in the head, setting up the Recoil. Ricochet hits the 630 for the pin at 3:21.

Rating: C-. Rawley is still someone who I’d like to see a bit more from but he was just a warm body for Ricochet to pin here. That’s all well and good too as Ricochet is one of the brightest stars around. I could go for seeing him get a big run in the Rumble, though there is no way he’s getting close to the main event because he’s never been in the main event before so we can’t put him there for the first time.

The Street Profits are excited about what is coming for the rest of the of the night, but Dawkins is too concerned with his Oscar ballot. Ford: “WOW! An important pop culture reference!” For now though, ring Charlotte’s music.

Charlotte vs. Sarah Logan

Fallout (not a rematch since the bell never rang) from last week when Sarah jumped Charlotte and attacked her robe. Charlotte kicks her in the face at the bell and Logan is already on the floor for a breather as Lawler recites nursery rhymes. Charlotte follows her outside for some chops so Logan hammers away at the ribs. The rather slow paced count continues as they keep brawling but they dive back in at nine. That works for Charlotte, who sends her into the buckle and slaps on the Figure Eight for the pin at 2:04. Just give Charlotte the Rumble already, unless there’s a heck of a surprise in the works.

Post match Charlotte puts on her robe and leaves but comes back to throw Logan over the top in a nice touch.

Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens are looking forward to the Fist Fight. Big Show comes in and says it’s time to reintroduce Seth Rollins to his fist.

Here are Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar, with Heyman making fun of the crowd. Heyman: “Ladies and gentlemen and things that live in Kentucky….” The fans then cheer his introduction so Heyman calls them stupid for not getting the idea. Now it’s a YOU SUCK chant so the two of them walk to the ramp and think about leaving. Heyman: “My client DOES NOT suck!” They get back in the ring so Heyman can recap the fact that Lesnar is in the Royal Rumble and entering #1, though it takes some shouting to get over the fans booing him out of the building.

Heyman talks about the new Streak in WWE, which is different from the one that Brock Lesnar broke. This Streak is made up of his spoilers, like the one where he says Brock will win the Royal Rumble despite entering at #1. The spoilers will set you free because they are truth….and here’s R-Truth to interrupt. He’s heard about the big man being in the Rumble and just like his childhood hero John Cena taught him, he’ll never give up. That’s why at the Royal Rumble, he’s throwing Paul Heyman over the top.

Paul is stunned and Lesnar is DONE, laughing his head off and not being able to look at Truth. That doesn’t stop Truth from talking about how he’ll get rid of Heyman, who calls Truth “Bong Hit” and says Brock is the one in the Rumble. Truth unenters the Rumble and says it’s hard to keep track of what Heyman says because “you talk a lot”. Brock can barely stand up straight from the laughter and even Heyman can’t calm him down.

Truth says he doesn’t want to be taken to Sioux Falls City. Heyman: “IT’S SUPLEX CITY! SUPLEX CITY! SUPLEX CITY! YOU’RE NOT FUNNY!” Brock gets in Truth’s face so Truth asks what’s up and starts dancing, only to get taken down by a clothesline. The F5 leaves Truth laying and Brock picks up the 24/7 Title, which he throws back at Truth. Brock: “That’s what’s up.” This was hysterical, even if it added nothing. Seeing Brock not being able to control himself was a special feeling and I can’t blame him as Truth was great here, as always.

Post break Truth is being helped to the back so here’s Mojo Rawley to pin him and steal the title.

Earlier tonight, Lana and Bobby Lashley arrived. They’re not happy with being asked about the wedding and we see some highlights. Lana understands that everyone is jealous of them because they’re so amazing. They’ve made some New Year’s Resolutions: accept that everyone is jealous of them and CRUSH RUSEV.

Bobby Lashley vs. Rusev

They go straight into the brawl and Rusev gets two off a spinwheel kick. Lashley is right back with right hands in the corner but a suplex gets Rusev out of trouble. Some kicks to the back and another suplex have Lashley down, and the Cannonball gets two. A thumb to the eye and a running clothesline put Rusev on the floor though and a spear takes us to a break.

Back with Rusev fighting out of a chinlock but getting kicked in the knee to cut that off in a hurry. Rusev kicks his way out of trouble and hits a Samoa drop. Lashley’s German suplex is no sold and it’s the jumping superkick to put Lashley down. Lana offers a distraction though and Lashley gets in a cheap shot.

Cue Liv Morgan to go after Lana and threaten to rip the wig off her hair, among other insults that we can’t make out due to rapid fire camera cuts. Lana steals a drink from a fan to throw in her face and send her into the barricade, leaving Lashley to hit the spear and finish Rusev at 14:22.

Rating: C-. This felt a lot shorter than it was and the match wasn’t all that good. That’s a big part of the feud as we are not in the fifth month and we have only seen two matches. Neither of them have been very good either, and now we are likely setting up a mixed tag with the men needing to take care of the not very good women. How is this supposed to be an upgrade?

Post match Lana rants about how no one mistreats her because she’s a supermodel, a fashionista, a fashionista and a celebrity. Therefore, next week it’s a mixed tag, with Lashley not exactly being happy with needing to take care of Rusev and Lana at the same time.

Here are the Viking Raiders to issue an open challenge because they want to fight.

Viking Raiders vs. ???

Non-title, Open Challenge, Singh Brothers, Viking Experience, 38 seconds. That’s still too much Singh Brothers.

Rusev and Liv accept, with Liv saying she is the “living embodiment of karma and karma isn’t a goddess.” NO ONE TALKS LIKE THIS! And they’re never going to go into what could have been an interesting story with Liv and Lana are they?

Here’s Becky Lynch to sign the contract for her Royal Rumble title defense against Asuka. Before Asuka comes out, Lynch can’t manage to say anything, which is rather out of character for her. Asuka comes out with Kairi Sane and rants in Japanese. Kairi messes with Becky with the umbrella so Becky throws it out in an emotional outburst.

Asuka, looking bored, signs and Becky, with a heavy sigh, does as well. Becky says may the best woman win and takes the mist to the face as Asuka laughs a lot and leaves with Sane. Replays show that it hit her square in the eyes too. The medics come out and work on Becky’s eyes as she screams in pain.

She demands a microphone though and talks about how the money and the fame are poison to people who fight for a living and her veins are full of it. Asuka has brought out something in her and she is coming to the Rumble to fight. If she goes down, she is going down swinging and taking Asuka with her. This was the fired up promo that Becky can deliver very well and I really, really want to see this match.

We look back at Andrade retaining the United States Title over Rey Mysterio and stealing Mysterio’s mask, only to have Rey snap and take it back later in the night.

Next week: Andrade defends against Mysterio in a ladder match.

Zelina Vega talks about how Andrade was man enough to take the title from Mysterio and then beat him again last week. Then Andrade was man enough to take Rey’s mask but Rey had to attack and steal the title from them. That’s why they have filed a criminal complaint against him and why Mysterio is a horrible example to Latinos everywhere. Andrade promise to defeat Mysterio again and then rants in Spanish about keeping his title.

Mysterio talks about representing Latinos with all of his heart. He’s coming for the title next week and will give it everything he has because he’s fighting for respect as well.

Video on Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy.

Buddy Murphy vs. Aleister Black

They go straight for the strikes until Black just glares at him. The threat of Black Mass sends Murphy to the floor and they brawl against the barricade. Black gets the better of it and they fight up the aisle with Lawler talking about various opponents he just could not beat over the years. Black gets slammed hard onto the ramp but Murphy is smart (I think?) enough to break up the count.

Another kick to the leg knocks Murphy off the barricade though and they head back inside for the first time in a good while. Back in and Black gets sent into the post, setting up a suplex to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Black hitting a running knee to send Murphy into the timekeeper’s area. They get back in with the fans finding it awesome as Black strikes away.

Neither Black Mass nor Murphy’s Law can connect though so Murphy sends him outside again, only to have Black slide back in for a running knee to the face. Murphy hits a kick to the head though and drops Black off the top. He spends too much time on top though and gets kicked out to the floor for the massive crash. Black crashes to the floor also though and we need a bit of a breather.

They both crawl back in to beat the count and the slugout is on again. Black gets the better of it again by kicking him in the head, only to get superkicked out of the air on a moonsault attempt. Murphy’s Law connects for two as Black puts his foot on the rope. With nothing else working, Murphy tries his own Black Mass, only to get caught with the real thing. That’s only good for two, due to what seems to be a ridiculous complaint from the referee about a shoulder being up. That’s fine with Black, who hits a second for the pin at 13:48.

Rating: B. These two have awesome chemistry together and I could watch Black strike away for days. Murphy has been excellent as well as he tries to figure out a way to stop the monster that is Black. They have found a nice feud here and even though Buddy has lost three times in a row, he has moved forward and away from 205 Live so it’s a step in the right direction.

Erick Rowan vs. ???

Murphy is still sitting at ringside and says not now on the questions. Rowan throws him outside and then into the barricade but it’s time to look into the cage. Rowan even reaches inside, only to be bitten to draw some blood. That’s not cool with Rowan, who takes it out on the jobber. The Iron Claw finishes at 1:32.

Big Show/Kevin Owens/Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins/AOP

Fist Fight, meaning anything goes and the only way to win is for the referee to say your team can’t continue. The AOP and Rollins jump Show during his entrance so here are Owens and Joe with kendo sticks for the save. The fight is on and it’s Show and Rollins in the ring while the other four fight by the entrance.

Show chops Rollins against the barricade but Rollins manages a posting. Owens one ups that by running up the curved set and flip diving onto the AOP on the floor (very cool moment). Joe dives off the ramp onto Akam and everyone is down again. Rollins is sent outside and finds the still seated Murphy, who he begs for help.

That’s just what happens, as Murphy gets in and hits Show low, allowing the two of them to put Show through a table in the corner. Joe and Owens are sent through the announcers’ table for the huge crash and now it’s time to surround Show. The AOP powerbomb Show and it’s the Stomp to make the referee end it at 5:17.

Rating: D+. The angle with Murphy was the point of course and that’s the right way to go. Rollins as the Monday Night Messiah is interesting and having him get some followers is a good idea. What matters most here though is getting someone fresh on a higher level and that includes Murphy. I don’t know if he’s the big solution, but you have to upgrade someone at some point and they tried it here. The surprise was better in person as Murphy wasn’t shown on the big screen, or at least not shown for more than a split second, so it was an even bigger surprise.

Post match Rollins hugs the AOP and then Murphy to end the show. Nothing happened after the show went off the air.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a show dedicated to moving things forward but at the same time they had some pretty good wrestling to go with it. The deal at the end with Murphy helped more than anything else and it was a show that helped get things ready for the Rumble. Throw in Lesnar dying of laughter as he couldn’t handle Truth’s antics and I had a rather good time with the show. Maybe part of it was being there live, but I had fun with this one.

Results

Drew McIntyre b. AJ Styles and Randy Orton – Claymore to Orton

Ricochet b. Mojo Rawley – 630

Charlotte b. Sarah Logan – Figure Eight

Bobby Lashley b. Rusev – Spear

Viking Raiders b. Singh Brothers – Viking Experience to Samir

Aleister Black b. Buddy Murphy – Black Mass

Erick Rowan b. ??? – Iron Claw

Seth Rollins/AOP b. Big Show/Kevin Owens/Samoa Joe via knockout

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also -available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: January 2, 2020
Location: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Chelsea Green vs. Sarah Logan

Logan goes straight for the armbar so Green forearms her in the face. A kick to the ribs puts Green on the floor and a headbutt knocks her silly back inside. Green grabs a side slam and puts on a camel clutch, followed by a running dropkick to the side of the head. That’s fine with Logan, who BLASTS her with some forearms and gets two off a bridging suplex. Running knees in the corner get the same on Green, who pulls Logan face first into the middle buckle. An Unprettier gives Green the pin at 5:24.

Rating: C. That was a rather snappy little match and the two of them looked solid out there. Green is brand new and it’s cool to see her putting in this kind of effort so early on. I’m not sure if she was the top choice to jump up to the main roster with so little time in NXT but she has shown she is good enough to hang at this level.

From Smackdown.

The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin

The winner gets Wyatt at the Rumble, though Cole calls Bryan the Fiend as we get things started. Miz and Bryan kick away at Corbin to start so he bails to the floor, leaving Miz to roll Bryan up at one. Bryan posts Miz on the floor and hits the big running knee off the apron, only to get sent over the barricade by Corbin (with Bryan seeming to hurt his knee). The chokebreaker drops Miz as well and it’s Corbin completely dominating early on. Back in and the Reality Check drops Corbin, setting up the running corner dropkicks. Corbin runs both of them over though and we take a break.

We come back with Miz and Bryan trading near falls until Miz sends him outside. Miz fires off the kicks to Corbin in the corner, including some to the leg to set up the Figure Four. Bryan comes in with the headbutt for the save and gets two, as Miz looks on in shock for a cool visual. The hold is turned over so Bryan grabs the LeBell Lock on Corbin in a combination you don’t often see.

With that broken up, the End of Days gets two on Miz as Corbin has to make a save. There’s the running knee to Corbin but Ziggler runs in for the superkick to give Corbin two as Reigns makes the save. Reigns knocks Corbin over the barricade and we take another break. We come back with Corbin and Reigns gone, leaving Miz to hit the running corner clothesline.

Bryan gets taken up top and it’s a super shinbreaker (that’s a new one) to work on the knee. A Codebreaker to the knee drops Bryan again and a DDT to the other leg has Bryan in more trouble. Bryan grabs a quick cross armbreaker but Miz bites his hand to break up the LeBell Lock. The running knee is countered into the Skull Crushing Finale for two so Miz goes right back to the Figure Four. That’s reversed as well and Bryan slaps on the LeBell Lock for the tap at 20:18.

Rating: C+. They went with some different stuff here and of course we can’t beat Corbin because the show needs his head or whatever they want to call it. At least they got to the right result and we can move on to the big Fiend vs. Bryan rematch. That being said, oh come on with starting with the triple threat, going to a singles match and then doing a triple threat which turned into a singles. You think they might be overdoing it a bit there?

Post match Bray pops up on screen to say Bryan is about to have all kinds of fun. See, HE isn’t done with Bryan so Bray wants to know if Bryan will let him in. Bryan: “YES!”

Video on the AOP and Seth Rollins’ path of destruction.

From Raw.

Here’s an annoyed Kevin Owens to get things going. Owens gets right to the point and promises fireworks for what happened last week. We see a clip of Seth Rollins and the AOP laying out Samoa Joe last week. Owens promises to take one of them out with him because he saw someone he respects get taken out.

That would be Rey Mysterio, and it made him sick to see Mysterio get beaten down a few weeks back. The beatdown is why Andrade defeated Mysterio for the United States Title and we see a clip of the title change. Cue Rollins and the AOP to say this wasn’t Seth’s decision. He was forced into this roll and now the AOP will enforce his will.

The fight is on with Owens getting crushed in the corner, only to have Samoa Joe come down for the save. Joe beats up the AOP and chokes Rollins but AOP comes back in. Owens makes the next save with some chair shots to the back as security comes down to break it up. Owens hits a bit flip dive onto the three of them plus security, with Joe joining in.

Here’s what’s coming on next week’s Raw.

No Way Jose vs. Mojo Rawley

This is becoming the new Dana Brooke vs. Sarah Logan. Rawley actually gets promo time (!) saying that of course Jose is partying because he does it every day. Here in Hartford, nothing is changing because the people aren’t smart enough to understand what he’s talking about. Instead, Mojo will just embarrass Jose again.

Jose hammers away in the corner to start and it’s an armdrag into a dropkick to put Mojo on the floor. Back from a break with Mojo hitting a flapjack and firing off the shoulders in the corner. Jose fights back again and hits a high crossbody for two, only to get Pounced straight back down. A Backstabber gives Jose two more but Mojo crotches him on top. The running punch finishes Jose at 10:04.

Rating: C. These two have fought each other so many times that it doesn’t mean anything anymore, despite their matches being pretty watchable. Neither is going to be getting anywhere anytime soon and that has to be setting in for them. At least they’re still trying, which is a good sign for both of them, though I don’t know what kind of a future they have.

From Raw to wrap it up.

They get to read their own vows but Lana screeches about the fans chanting RUSEV DAY and how they’re trying to make this day anyone but her. Lana tells Lashley about how awesome she is and starts her own LANA DAY chant. She’s so happy that she wants to jump on him right now….and so she does.

With that broken up, Lana hands Lashley the vows she wrote for him. Lashley reads the very complimentary statements about Lana but has to pause for the WHAT chants. Those don’t sit well with Lana, who spells her name because it’s WHO, not WHAT. He finally wraps it up, with the minister saying that was different. The ring statements go on so long that Lana says “ok we’ve got it, thank you.”

Now we get to the part the minister really dreads and he asks if anyone has reason why they shouldn’t be married. This brings out an unidentified man who says that he’s Lana’s first husband. They got married when she was 18 and then she left him for Rusev, just like she’ll leave Lashley for someone else. Lashley chokeslams him so the minister asks again, which draws out Lashley’s first wife (Minister: “WHO ARE YOU???”), who Lana didn’t seem to know about. Lana beats her up so we ask one more time….and here’s Liv Morgan.

She talks about how she was a lost soul earlier this year but the love of her life brought her to where she needed to be. How could they do this to her? Lashley insists he never laid a finger on her (Minister: “OH COME ON!”), but Liv is talking about Lana. That finally gives the fans something to care about and Liv is near tears, only to be driven into the corner.

A flower pot to the head starts the catfight as Lashley isn’t sure what to do. They’re taken to the floor but Lana gets back in so we can try this one more time. Cue Rusev out of the cake and the fight is on again, with Liv getting back in as the wedding set is destroyed. Lana gets sent into the cake but manages to slap Rusev to end the show.

This was REALLY long at nearly thirty minutes, including an eleven minute overrun. The Liv stuff is at least a twist, but it took so long to get here (both tonight and for the last three months) that it didn’t have much of an impact. This could have been worse, but they needed to cut out a lot of the same stuff going on over and over again.

Overall Rating: C+. Better show than usual here as the two matches surprised me in a good way each. The wedding is what matters the most here though as it was the big angle to end the year. That being said, the thing gets a little better each time I see it, putting it dangerously in the realm of watchable. This gives me no extra confidence for next week, but it’s nice to have a decent week like this one.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 6, 2020
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler

It’s a big night as we get some fallout from last week’s messy/controversial wedding plus the return of Brock Lesnar as we are less than three weeks away from the Royal Rumble. That means things need to pick up in a hurry and something needs to be done around here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap from the wedding, focusing on Liv Morgan’s big surprise of course.

Opening sequence.

Here are Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman for a chat. Heyman talks about Brock wondering who will be facing him at the Royal Rumble but realizing that no one from Raw, Smackdown or NXT is worthy. That’s why Brock is going to do something unprecedented, which is what he does. Brock promised to beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania and then he did it. So what is his next unprecedented move? Brock is entering the Royal Rumble at #1 so he can fight twenty nine people at once. Heyman promises Lesnar will throw everyone out and win the whole thing and yes, that is a spoiler. No word on if the title will be on the line.

I saw someone suggest this same idea somewhere else and it’s an interesting idea. I’d prefer this over having Lesnar face and destroy someone else like he’d done over the last few years, though I’m almost scared to imagine who we might get as the person who throws Lesnar out. Still though, interesting idea.

Rey Mysterio is fired up for his United States Title shot and thanks his son for being his inspiration. Tonight, he’s taking the title back to represent Latinos.

United States Title: Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio

Andrade is defending and has Zelina Vega with him. Andrade starts punching away to start so Rey climbs onto his shoulders so they can fall outside. A victory roll sends Andrade face first into the steps and Zelina panics. Back in and Andrade dropkicks him out of the air as we take a break.

Back with both guys staggered but Rey gets to the apron for a springboard seated senton. The tornado DDT gets two but Andrade ties him in the ropes. The top rope double stomp misses so Rey tries the sliding sunset bomb, only to have Andrade roll through and hit double knees to put Rey down again. Back in and Rey busts out a Canadian Destroyer to knock Andrade silly for the pin….but Vega got the foot on the rope just in time. Rey celebrates but we have to keep going so we take another break.

We come back with Rey hitting a running hurricanrana off the apron to send Andrade crashing into the barricade. A sunset bomb sends Andrade into the post and the springboard Fameasser gives Rey two more. Andrade is back with a wheelbarrow faceplant for the same but Rey hurricanranas him into the ropes for the 619.

Andrade manages to roll outside so Rey dives onto Zelina by mistake. The distraction lets Andrade send him into the post and Rey is staggered. He’s so banged up that the referee breaks up the hammerlock DDT so Rey staggers to the floor, where he seems to check on Zelina. Back in and the hammerlock DDT retains the title at 19:52.

Rating: B. These two are incapable of having a bad match and WWE knows they can put them out there for a good match every single time. I’m curious about how they’re going somewhere with the tensions between Andrade and Vega, though Andrade getting the big win is what matters most here.

Post match Andrade rips off Rey’s mask. A Rumble rematch with some stipulations could work well.

We look back at Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens fighting back against the AOP.

Owens and Joe confirm that they are usually out for themselves, but Joe has someone to join in with them. Joe tells Owens not to worry about who it is.

The AOP doesn’t seem thrilled but Rollins isn’t worried. Rollins has overcome challenges forever and is used to it because he is the chosen one of Monday Night Raw. Anyone who steps up to them will be taken care of by the AOP.

Tag Team Titles: OC vs. Viking Raiders vs. Street Profits

The Raiders are defending but first, the Profits say they’re blinging in the new decade. Tonight, they want the smoke. Erik throws Anderson down to start and it’s Ivar coming in to send him face first into Erik’s knee. A blind tag lets Dawkins come in to dropkick Anderson but Ford does the same, meaning it’s a flip off with Ivar.

Gallows, a self described non-fan of cartwheels, unloads on Ford in the corner before Anderson knocks Ford down for two. That’s enough waiting around for the Raiders as they both come in to clean house with Gallows having to save Ford after the Viking Experience. Everyone fights to the floor with the OC getting the better of things as we take a break. Back with Anderson chinlocking Erik but the comeback is on in a hurry.

Erik jumps over Anderson in the corner and dives over for the hot tag to Erik. House is cleaned in a hurry but the Bronco Buster misses. Dawkins and Eric tag themselves in with the spinebuster into the frog splash connecting on Erik. Ivar makes the save and it’s Ford hitting the running flip dive onto Gallows and Dawkins. That leaves Anderson to get powerbombed into a splash from Ivar to retain the titles at 15:13.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of action packed match that you would have expected here, though I’m curious to see who the Vikings can face now. There isn’t really anyone left but the AOP and the good thing is that doesn’t need much of a build. Just let them hit each other a lot at the Rumble and everything will be fine.

Joe won’t say who the partner is but he’ll show Owens. They go to a locker room and Owens sees the partner, which makes him very happy.

Here’s Becky Lynch to talk about her match with Asuka. Becky has been the confident champion but now she needs to rethink things. Yeah she’s been on the cereal boxes and walked the red carpets but there is one person she can’t beat. We see clips of Asuka beating her multiple times but here’s Asuka to cut her off. Asuka shouts in Japanese but Becky punches her down and walks off.

Mojo Rawley gets to look inside Erick Rowan’s cage and screams a lot.

We recap the US Title match.

Andrade and Zelina brag about the win but here’s an unmasked Rey to jump Andrade from behind and take the mask back. With the mask on again, Mysterio steals the title and leaves.

Erick Rowan vs. KJ Orso

Rowan grabs him before the bell and says he knows Orso wants to see what’s in the cage. Orso gets back inside and says bring it on so Rowan kicks him in the face. The Iron Claw is good for the pin at 23 seconds.

Post match Rowan puts Orso’s head near the cage and Orso comes up with a bloody face, sending him running away.

AJ Styles vs. Akira Tozawa

We see a clip of last week’s surprise RKO from Randy Orton, who faces AJ again next week. Tozawa kicks away to start but AJ gets in a shot out of the corner. The Phenomenal Forearm connects, but AJ pulls him up at two. A Randy Orton hanging DDT drops Tozawa again and an RKO gives AJ the pin at 2:20.

Post match AJ strikes Orton’s pose to really rub it in. AJ leaves and a fan runs in so security deals with him as we take a break.

We look at the wedding again.

Here are Lashley and Lana with the minister from last week in the ring (apparently the minister was the fan, which would be some major miscommunication). Lana is furious about last week and wants things made right so they get married in a hurry, because the minister can officiate weddings in multiple states.

Lana kicks the minister out for being boring but still doesn’t seem happy. It’s because of all these people here who don’t want to see this ring on her finger. Last week a bunch of exes came out to interrupt the wedding over and over again because so many people are so jealous of their love. Lashley says Rusev is the sorriest of them all but here’s Rusev on the screen, standing in front of a superimposed island.

Since Lana and Lashley didn’t have a honeymoon, he’s taking it for them. But first, he needs to give them their wedding gift: a wedding album, with pictures from last week’s fiasco. Lana rants about how much she hates Rusev….and Lashley tells her to shut up. Lashley says Rusev used to be a man but they need to fight one more time. Rusev agrees to fight him next week and the Bulgarian Brute will be back. There was no reference to or mention of Liv Morgan.

R-Truth is ready for the new decade but Liv Morgan interrupts to say she’ll be in Rusev’s corner next week. It’s a moment she lives for.

Charlotte vs. Sarah Logan

Logan jumps her before the bell and they fight to the floor with Charlotte hammering away against the barricade. They go into the crowd for a bit until Charlotte throws her back over, only to get posed for her efforts. With Charlotte down, Logan grabs the robe and slams it onto the mat a few times. A spear puts Logan down on the floor and Charlotte suplexes her into the barricade. Charlotte sends Logan into the post, puts the robe on, and leaves. No match as the bell never rang.

Erick Rowan, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Ricochet are official for the Rumble.

Drew McIntyre vs. No Way Jose

Jose starts fast but gets kicked in the ribs for his efforts. An overhead belly to belly sends Jose flying but Drew heads outside to beat up the Conga Line. Back in and the Future Shock sets up the Claymore to finish Jose at 1:45.

Post match McIntyre asks if the fans want to see another Claymore. Drew throws Jose back in and kicks his head off a second time. It’s interesting that Drew has never had a World Title shot, so he’s in the Rumble as well.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Aleister Black

Black grabs a rollup for an early two before having a seat to mess with Benjamin’s mind. What looked like a Rings of Saturn attempt is countered into a deadlift to put Black down. Some forearms have Black rocked but he’s right back with Black Mass for the pin at 1:58.

Post match Buddy Murphy jumps Black and sends him into the post. Murphy tosses Black into the timekeeper’s area and hits the running knee to the face. A chair is put under Black’s face and it’s a knee to smash the chair into Black. Murphy sits on the barricade as medics come out.

Seth Rollins/AOP vs. Samoa Joe/Kevin Owens/???

Rollins is officially dubbed the Monday Night Messiah and says he knows what is best for everyone. The mystery partner is….the Big Show, who hasn’t wrestled in over a year due to hip surgery. Show cleans house to start and hits a big chop on Rollins to send us to a break. Back with Rollins still in trouble as Owens hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Rezar gets in a cheap shot though and sends Owens into the barricade, as the fans want Big Show.

Back in and we hit the neck crank on Owens to slow things down so Show starts playing cheerleader (the veterans are always good at that). The side slam/middle rope stomp combination gets two on Owens and it’s off to Rollins for a chinlock of his own. Owens fights up and hits an enziguri on Akam, so Rezar comes in to knock Joe off the apron. That earns him a superkick from Owens and the hot tag brings Show back in. Joe gets sent into the steps, leaving Show to pull Rollins out of the air. The double chokeslam to AOP is broken up with a chair shot from Rollins for the DQ at 10:15.

Rating: C-. I know the fans were chanting for him a bit during the match, but Big Show? I don’t think he’s going to be a big feature attraction but I don’t exactly see this as being the impactful move that WWE thinks it might be. It has been a long time and I was surprised to hear that music again, though the excitement died down in a hurry as you knew the DQ or countout was coming. It’s a nice surprise in the short term but long term, they’re going to need something else.

Post match the beatdown is on but Show punches Rollins out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. There was more of an effort this week and that was noticeable all night long. It’s clear to tell when they are trying and when they aren’t and it was the former this week. I’m glad to see that as we are getting close to the Royal Rumble, though it would be nice to see it take place more often than just this time of year. Anyway, good wrestling tonight but some of the angles weren’t that thrilling. There’s a good chance I’ll be at the show next week and I really hope I don’t regret the decision (again).

Results

Andrade b. Rey Mysterio – Hammerlock DDT

Viking Raiders b. OC and Street Profits – Frog splash to Anderson

Erick Rowan b. KJ Orso – Iron Claw

AJ Styles b. Akira Tozawa – RKO

Drew McIntyre b. No Way Jose – Claymore

Aleister Black b. Shelton Benjamin – Black Mass

Big Show/Samoa Joe/Kevin Owens b. Seth Rollins/AOP via DQ when Rollins used a chair

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 30, 2019
Location: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Vic Joseph

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here’s an annoyed Kevin Owens to get things going. Owens gets right to the point and promises fireworks for what happened last week. We see a clip of Seth Rollins and the AOP laying out Samoa Joe last week. Owens promises to take one of them out with him because he saw someone he respects get taken out.

That would be Rey Mysterio, and it made him sick to see Mysterio get beaten down a few weeks back. The beatdown is why Andrade defeated Mysterio for the United States Title and we see a clip of the title change. Cue Rollins and the AOP to say this wasn’t Seth’s decision. He was forced into this roll and now the AOP will enforce his will.

The fight is on with Owens getting crushed in the corner, only to have Samoa Joe come down for the save. Joe beats up the AOP and chokes Rollins but AOP comes back in. Owens makes the next save with some chair shots to the back as security comes down to break it up. Owens hits a bit flip dive onto the three of them plus security, with Joe joining in.

Post break, here’s everything you just saw before the commercial.

Joe and Owens are talking in the back when Charly Caruso comes in to say security is going to be coming after them. Joe says he doesn’t have a choice to do what he did, just like Rollins. Owens is glad to have someone like Joe by his side. Security comes in and the two of them leave, with promises to be back next week.

Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy

Rematch from TLC. Murphy wastes no time in hurricanranaing him to the floor and having a seat ala Black to get in his head. Back in and Black sends him outside, only to have a seat of his own when Murphy comes in again. Black elbows him down and we hit the front facelock to slow things down a bit. That’s broken up with some shots to the face so Black shows him how it’s done with a sliding kick to the face.

The armbar goes on for a bit until Murphy sends him face first into the buckle. He takes too long going up though and Black kicks him in the face, setting Black to go up top. That earns him a face first drop onto the turnbuckle though and we take a break. Back with Black hitting a middle rope moonsault, followed by even more kicks to the face and chest.

Another shot to the face looks to set up the top rope moonsault but Murphy rolls away instead. A corner dropkick sets up a rollup with feet on the ropes for two but the referee catches him red footed. Black gets sent outside again for the big flip dive and seems to be favoring his knee.

Back in and Murphy’s top rope Meteora gets two as they’re both spent. Murphy is up first and goes to the top, only to have to reverse a superplex attempt into a rolling sitout powerbomb for a very close two. For some reason Murphy tries his own Black Mass and gets superkicked for his efforts. A brainbuster gives Black two so it’s time for Black Mass. That’s blocked so Murphy grabs a quick Murphy’s Law attempt. That’s reversed into a victory roll and Black Mass connects for the pin on Murphy at 14:31.

Rating: B. This might not have been as good as their first match but it is still a heck of a match. What they did here was the same match they had before but it was very entertaining with Black looking like a killer while Murphy looks like someone who could wrestle with anyone. They’re both benefiting from these matches and that’s exactly the point.

Rollins and the AOP want revenge but are willing to leave peacefully when security shows up.

Erick Rowan comes up to Lana to ask why he wasn’t invited. He and whatever is in the cage don’t care anyway.

Erick Rowan vs. Kip Stevens

Just like every week, Stevens goes for the cage and gets mauled for his efforts. A ram into the apron, a big boot and a splash inside set up the Iron Claw for the pin at 1:37. Same as always.

Lana is getting ready and talks about Rowan being obsessed with her.

Here’s Charlotte for a chat, after the pyro of course. She’s here to announce her introduction into the Women’s Royal Rumble, which isn’t a surprise. Charlotte lists off some of her accomplishments and thinks she needs something else on her list. As for tonight though, let’s hit that open challenge. Like she said: did anyone expect otherwise?

Charlotte vs. Natalya

Charlotte starts fast with a headscissors takeover and then a headlock takeover, only to have Natalya nip up. The Flair Strut is on but Natalya sends her to the apron. That’s fine with Charlotte, who shoulders her in the ribs and hits a clothesline to drop Natalya again. A hard clothesline gives Natalya her own two and the surfboard is on. That’s broken up in a hurry as well and Charlotte boots her down for another near fall.

Natalya is right back up to send Charlotte face first into the steps and then suplex her on the ramp. Back in and Natalya kicks away in the corner, only to miss a charge into the post. Charlotte poses while Natalya is mostly done on the floor….and here’s the Mob to chase R-Truth. A big boot drops Eric Young and we take a break with Truth running away. Back with Natalya getting two off a high crossbody but Charlotte kicks her away.

The moonsault is countered into a sitout powerbomb though and Charlotte is rocked. Natalya slugs away but the discus forearm is cut off with a big boot to the arm. The spear gets two on Natalya but she sends Charlotte face first into the corner. It’s too early for a Sharpshooter attempt though as Charlotte kicks her in the face for two more. Another big boot rocks Natalya and it’s the Figure Eight to give Charlotte the win at 14:31.

Rating: C+. These two always work well together and that was the case here, albeit made slightly better for the lack of a mention of either of their older male relatives. Charlotte winning makes sense and it’s not like Natalya has any real reason to exist other than to put someone over like this most of the time. Just find something else for Charlotte to do, as in without making her champion again.

Becky Lynch is ready to face Asuka at the Royal Rumble. She knows that to be the golden child, you have to be ready to be the golden goose. Maybe she can’t beat Asuka, but she has to know.

Liv Morgan video on wanting to be different. Someone has made her feel different.

Here’s the OC for a chat. We see a clip of the OC beating the Viking Raiders two weeks ago and then the whole team winning a six man tag last week. Anderson talks about the Vikings being unbeatable but the OC has beaten them twice now. So they should get the next title shot, but here are the Street Profits to interrupt. The Profits talk about the OC’s resume before throwing in that they beat the OC in their debut. The OC calls them lucky for that win but the Profits want the smoke so ring the bell.

OC vs. Street Profits

Anderson is taken into the corner to start and it’s Ford snapping off an armbar to take over early on. AJ offers a quick distraction to trip up Dawkins but that’s an ejection as we take a break. Back with Anderson holding Ford in a chinlock after a Gallows drop onto the barricade during the break. A neckbreaker gives Anderson two so he pulls Ford back to the corner by the ear (that’s too far). Gallows gets two more off a suplex and we hit another chinlock.

The legdrop sets up the third chinlock but Gallows spends too much time going after Dawkins, allowing Ford to hit an enziguri. One heck of a diving tag brings Dawkins in and it’s time to clean house. A powerslam gets two on Anderson but Anderson’s spinebuster connects for the same. There’s the belly to back neckbreaker for another two and everything breaks down with Ford making the save. A big running flip dive hits Gallows and it’s the Sky High to Anderson, setting up Ford’s frog splash for the pin at 11:36.

Rating: C-. Pretty standard match here with Ford getting to showcase himself as usual, though Dawkins had some highlights of his own. The Profits are showing some staying power so far and that’s a great sign for their future. Their natural charisma is more than enough to keep them around and the fact that they can have some exciting matches makes things even better.

Post break the Profits are fired up over their win, which makes them the best tag team in the multiverse. Ford: “The multiverse???” Dawkins then explains the multiverse and Ford is rather confused, meaning we should talk about the wedding again. All Dawkins wants to know is where his bridesmaids are. Ford on the other hand wants the smoke.

Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins vs. Drew McIntyre

Before the match, Drew says he doesn’t think he’s the one in a handicap here, but he does a poll to see what the audience thinks. Hawkins and Ryder jump him before the bell but get beaten down as well, meaning it’s a suplex to send Hawkins flying. The Claymore drops Hawkins and it’s a Future Shock to Ryder, with McIntyre nipping up for the double pin at 51 seconds. Remember when these guys won the Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania?

Next week: Brock Lesnar is back, Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio for the US Title and Street Profits/OC/Viking Raiders in a triple threat match for the Tag Team Titles.

Here’s Randy Orton in street clothes and on crutches to slowly make his way to the ring. Orton talks about how you never know what is going to happen in this ring and sounds a lot more serious than usual. He has seen titles lost over injuries, including Edge, who is someone he respects.

Last night he hurt his knee really badly but we need to pause for the RANDY chants. He’s going to be out for a long time and he might not be able to come back at all. Orton promises to try to RKO someone at Wrestlemania but here’s AJ Styles to interrupt. He isn’t waiting until Wrestlemania to get his hands on Orton and teases taking Orton out right here.

AJ is feeling sporty though and sticks out his chin so Orton can RKO him. Since Orton didn’t do it, AJ says he can’t wait until Wrestlemania to end Orton’s career in the Calf Crusher. AJ kicks the crutch away and laughs but Orton calls him back over. Orton says AJ may be patient but he isn’t….and there’s the RKO on a completely healthy leg. That was a great one and they sold me on the injury. It’s a unique enough segment too and I was suckered in on the whole thing. Nicely done.

We look at Andrade winning the United States Title from Rey Mysterio at Madison Square Garden.

Mysterio promises to win the title back. Then he’s coming for Rollins and the AOP.

Andrade vs. ???

Non-title and the beating is on in a hurry. Some stomping in the corner sets up some knees to the face, but Zelina Vega calls off the hammerlock DDT. She wants the floor mats pulled back but cue Ricochet for the save and I think we have a replacement.

Andrade vs. Ricochet

Non-title again. Feeling out process to start with Ricochet being sent to the apron but having to deal with a Zelina distraction. That lets Andrade dropkick a springboard out of the way. There’s a back elbow to keep Ricochet down as the ring mats are still pulled up. A standing double underhook pull has Ricochet in more trouble but Ricochet slips out and sends him outside.

Now the twisting flip dive to the floor puts Andrade down again. The tease of Andrade leaving draws Ricochet over so Andrade can sent him back first into the apron. A backdrop onto the concrete has Ricochet screaming and we take a break. Back with Ricochet fighting up from a chinlock and rolling forward for a dropkick.

Vega grabs Andrade’s hand for a failed save attempt but Andrade is able to block to Recoil. The spinning back elbow gives Andrade two more but Ricochet is back with a superkick. A swinging suplex looks to set up the 630, only to have Vega offer another distraction. Andrade is right back with the hammerlock DDT for the pin at 11:33.

Rating: C+. This worked quite well for a thrown together match. It’s a case where you probably knew it was going to go well because of who was in the ring. Ricochet can wrestle a good match with anyone and Andrade looks like the star of the future. Give them time and a reason for a rematch and it’s a nice combination.

Post match, Vega and Andre aren’t worried about the title match next week.

Preview of next week’s show.

They get to read their own vows but Lana screeches about the fans chanting RUSEV DAY and how they’re trying to make this day anyone but her. Lana tells Lashley about how awesome she is and starts her own LANA DAY chant. She’s so happy that she wants to jump on him right now….and so she does.

With that broken up, Lana hands Lashley the vows she wrote for him. Lashley reads the very complimentary statements about Lana but has to pause for the WHAT chants. Those don’t sit well with Lana, who spells her name because it’s WHO, not WHAT. He finally wraps it up, with the minister saying that was different. The ring statements go on so long that Lana says “ok we’ve got it, thank you.”

Now we get to the part the minister really dreads and he asks if anyone has reason why they shouldn’t be married. This brings out an unidentified man who says that he’s Lana’s first husband. They got married when she was 18 and then she left him for Rusev, just like she’ll leave Lashley for someone else. Lashley chokeslams him so the minister asks again, which draws out Lashley’s first wife (Minister: “WHO ARE YOU???”), who Lana didn’t seem to know about. Lana beats her up so we ask one more time….and here’s Liv Morgan.

She talks about how she was a lost soul earlier this year but the love of her life brought her to where she needed to be. How could they do this to her? Lashley insists he never laid a finger on her (Minister: “OH COME ON!”), but Liv is talking about Lana. That finally gives the fans something to care about and Liv is near tears, only to be driven into the corner.

A flower pot to the head starts the catfight as Lashley isn’t sure what to do. They’re taken to the floor but Lana gets back in so we can try this one more time. Cue Rusev out of the cake and the fight is on again, with Liv getting back in as the wedding set is destroyed. Lana gets sent into the cake but manages to slap Rusev to end the show.

This was REALLY long at nearly thirty minutes, including an eleven minute overrun. The Liv stuff is at least a twist, but it took so long to get here (both tonight and for the last three months) that it didn’t have much of an impact. This could have been worse, but they needed to cut out a lot of the same stuff going on over and over again.

Overall Rating: C-. This show was trying to be good but that wedding just did not have the lift to get where it needed to go. It could have been a lot worse and there was some good wrestling, but the wedding/love….shape with a lot of sides is hurting things badly. Maybe Lesnar being back next week will help, but if he goes away again right after the Rumble, we’re right back where we were before. In other words, we’re going to be right back where we started in about four weeks. Not a bad show this week, but the big problems remain

Results

Aleister Black b. Buddy Murphy – Black Mass

Erick Rowan b. Kip Stevens – Iron Claw

Charlotte b. Natalya – Figure Eight

Street Profits b. OC – Frog splash to Anderson

Drew McIntyre b. Curt Hawkins/Zack Ryder – Double pin

Andrade vs. ??? went to a no contest when Ricochet interfered

Andrade b. Ricochet – Hammerlock DDT

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: December 12, 2019
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

It’s the go home show for Tables, Ladders And Chairs and that means most of the card is set. Now that being said, I’m not sure how many things they can really do to make the card all that interesting at the last minute. Hopefully this gives it a much needed boost, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

No Way Jose vs. Eric Young

Yes again. Jose dances a lot and grabs a wristlock, followed by the airplane spin for two. Young takes it to the floor and knocks down the entire Conga Line to make things serious. Back in and Eric chokes out of the corner before dropping a forearm for his own two. Jose’s comeback doesn’t last long as he gets sent face first into the corner, setting up Young’s wheelbarrow neckbreaker for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: D+. A few weeks back, these two had a rather nice little match on this same show. This was nothing like that and felt like it could have been any two people filling in about six minutes between the two of them. I wasn’t exactly expecting much but this was a bit of a disappointment after what I saw them do the last time.

Video on Daniel Bryan being attacked and behaired by the Fiend.

From Smackdown.

Here’s the Miz to get things going. He has been looking for Daniel Bryan since Bray Wyatt attacked him last week and will find him no matter what. Miz knows what Bryan has meant for Smackdown since he arrived and that can’t go away because of the Fiend. Bray pops up on screen to say that something bad happened to Bryan last week. Bryan was supposed to come play at TLC and now that might not be happening. Maybe Miz can come play instead!

Miz isn’t sure, but that makes Bray unhappy. Ramblin Rabbit pops up to tell Miz to run while he can but Bray scares him off. The Word of the Day is family, because Bray used to have one. Now Bray has a chance to join a new family, so he holds up a picture of Miz, his wife Maryse and his two daughters. Does Miz want to come play with him now? Miz storms to the back.

Post break, Miz calls Maryse and tells her to lock the doors. He wants to do something about this but she wants him to come home.

From Smackdown.

Miz is marching through the back and hears a noise. He goes into a room and finds the same photo of his family, but with Bray’s picture over his face. Bray jumps him from behind and hits Sister Abigail before singing a little There’s No Place Like Home.

Batista and the NWO are going to the Hall of Fame.

We look at the AOP/Seth Rollins/Kevin Owens issues.

From Raw.

Owens finds the AOP’s van and unloads on it with the pipe. The AOP comes in and beats him down. Someone is in the back of the van and….of course it’s Rollins. Seth says it’s come to this and Stomps him onto the bare concrete. Rollins looks at the AOP and they leave together. So to recap, here are the last few weeks:

Owens: “You’re with the AOP!”

Seth: “No I’m not!”

Owens: “Yes you are!”

Rollins: “No I’m not! Ok I am!”

Post break Rollins is in the arena to rant about how everything should have gone perfectly for him. He gave everything he had for every one of the fans but they booed him anyway. Rollins doesn’t care for the fans getting on the Owens’ bandwagon because Owens if the flavor of the month. It was true that he wasn’t with the AOP but no one believed him. What does Rollins have to do to get the people’s respect? All of this negativity has turned into a self fulfilling prophecy as he is now standing with AOP. They come out to stand by his side and all three leave together.

We look at the Kabuki Warriors destroying Becky Lynch.

Cedric Alexander vs. Ricochet

Cedric was supposed to face Seth Rollins on Raw but Rollins was injured so this was made instead. They fight over wrist control to start until it’s a flip off for a staredown. Back from a break (We get No Way Jose vs. Eric Young in full but THIS needs a break???) with Ricochet hitting the springboard clothesline into the running shooting star for two. They head to the apron with Alexander hitting something like a Rock Bottom for two of his own. Ricochet avoids the Neuralizer though and hits a superkick into the Recoil for the pin at 7:12.

Rating: C. What we got was entertaining but clipping this one down was criminal. Ricochet vs. Cedric Alexander sounds like a good match but we have to get in all kinds of recaps instead of something a little more interesting. Ricochet continues to look like a star and while Cedric seems to have already hit his peak, he can still do a heck of a match when he’s got the right opponent, and Ricochet certainly qualifies.

From Raw.

Jerry Lawler is in the ring with table and chairs so Rusev and Lana can get divorced. Lana and her lawyer come out and Lawler reads off a statement, saying that the restraining order has been lifted. Rusev, in a Donald Duck shirt, comes out and has a seat as Lana rants about she never loved him. He isn’t allowed to speak because this is always about him. Rusev Day went to his head and it’s time to get on their feet to yell at the fans.

Rusev says this is how his marriage went and Lana needs to calm down. He’s the one who needs protection this week and we see a clip of Lashley and Lana being arrested last week. Lana rants about how Rusev will never have anyone like her, but Rusev says he can’t stand her now so why would he want another. Lana screams about how Rusev Day and the WWE Universe destroyed her marriage, nearly breaking down in tears. Rusev says this is ridiculous and wants to sign the divorce papers.

They’re ready to sign but Lana insists that she sign first. Lana: “I get the dog!” They get in an argument over the dog, which is giving me flashbacks to HHH and Stephanie back in the day. Lana emphatically signs but Rusev needs something from her before he signs. Lana thinks he means sex in a variety of places but instead it’s a match with Lashley. Cue Lashley to say he wants the divorce finalized so he can marry Lana. They agree to a match at some point and Rusev signs, triggering the brawl. Lashley beats him up on the floor but Rusev suplexes him through the table back inside.

From Smackdown.

Roman Reigns vs. Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler can’t wrestle him down to start but he can go to the knee for some more success. The chinlock and a hair pull put Reigns down again and Ziggler sends him into the steps to make it worse. Back with Reigns still in trouble, including being sent hard into the corner. We hit the chinlock again with Ziggler cranking away until Reigns powers up to his feet. Reigns’ running clothesline misses and they fight to the floor where Ziggler dropkicks him out of the air.

Cue King Corbin, complete with the throne being carried to the ring of course. We take another break and come back with both guys down. Reigns gets back up and hits the Superman Punch for two but Ziggler is right back with the Zig Zag for the same. That doesn’t work for Corbin, who gets on the apron and is punched right back to the floor. The spear finishes Ziggler at 17:48.

Rating: C-. The chinlocks hurt this one a bit but the longer run time didn’t hurt things all that badly. Reigns wasn’t about to lose to Ziggler here because he’s Roman Reigns in a match against Dolph Ziggler. The match was littler more than a way to advance Reigns vs. Corbin, and if that has to happen, there are worse ways to get there.

Post match Corbin’s handlers jump Reigns and Corbin gets involved too with Reigns fighting them off. Someone underneath the ring grabs Reigns’ leg but he beats Corbin up some more. Ziggler superkicks Reigns and grabs some handcuffs from underneath the ring. Reigns fights them off again but the guy from underneath the ring grabs his foot again and the numbers get the better of him.

They handcuff him around the post and unload on Reigns before pulling out….dog food. It’s poured over Reigns’ head and rubbed in his face to end the show, with Reigns screaming as the other two leave. Really effective angle here as it’s the first time Corbin and Ziggler have actually done something to get to Reigns rather than just making stupid dog jokes.

Overall Rating: D+. That Ricochet vs. Cedric match being clipped hurt this one a lot as they could have done something interesting but instead we got something as standard as possible. The rest of the show was exactly what you have come to expect from Main Event and that isn’t a good thing. The dog food angle is still good but everything else is your usual up and down mess, which has become the standard for both Raw and Smackdown.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 16, 2019
Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Samoa Joe, Vic Joseph

We’re done with pay per view for the year and it’s time to get started on the Road To The Road To Wrestlemania. That being said, odds are we aren’t going to really head in that direction until after the new year, as tends to be the case. I’m not sure how much to expect from this week, but maybe we could see some hints of what is coming. Let’s get to it.

Here are last night’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at Seth Rollins denying being in league with the AOP and then announcing that of course he is. Kevin Owens doesn’t seem happy.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Rollins to open things up and he wastes no time in bringing out the AOP. Rollins talks about how this has been his year because he’s beaten Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title twice. That made people think he was the future but then the mood changed, with people questioning his leadership.

Being a leader is about making decisions for the sake of progress and he’ll make decisions some people don’t like. Rollins is a leader and visionary who will lead this brand and this business into the next decade. He will drag you into 2020 and if you resist, the AOP will enforce his will. That brings him to tonight, and he has a score to settle, whether people like it or not.

The announcers talk about how dangerous AOP can be.

Viking Raiders vs. OC

Non-title rematch they went to a double countout last night. Hold on though as the OC needs to talk about how dominant the Vikings are. That being said, only one team has beaten the Vikings and that would be the OC. Erik knees Anderson into the corner to start and it’s off to Ivar, who gets slammed down onto Anderson for a bonus.

Some forearms from Ivar set up Erik’s delayed vertical suplex into an armbar. That goes nowhere so it’s off to Gallows, who is knocked to the floor in a hurry. The suicide dive is blocked and Gallows hits a fall away slam into the barricade. Back from a break with Erik still in trouble as Gallows hammers away in the corner.

A big boot sets up the chinlock, followed by Anderson’s boot to the face for two. Erik gets up and shrugs Anderson away for the hot tag to Ivar so the pace can pick up. The Bronco Buster in the corner connects but a charge into another corner misses, allowing the belly to back neckbreaker to hit for two.

Ivar’s double handspring elbow takes both of them down and the Vikings hit stereo suicide dives as we take another break. Back with Ivar coming in off the second hot tag as everything breaks down. Ivar gets driven into Gallows in the corner for two and Erik adds a spinebuster to Anderson. In what can only be a bad idea, Ivar goes up but misses a moonsault (which would have barely made contact in the first place), allowing Anderson to kick Erik off the apron. The Magic Killer finishes Ivar at 19:26.

Rating: C+. Well it was better than last night due to the clean finish, but at the same time it was a clean pinfall over the Vikings. If you’re setting up for the eventual showdown with the AOP (as you should be), the Vikings should be unbeatable. There’s nothing wrong with pushing the OC, but it’s not exactly helping the Raiders at the moment. At least cheat to win here somehow.

When asked what is in his cage, Erick Rowan offers the following response: mind your own business.

AJ Styles is ready to destroy Randy Orton on his own tonight. Anderson and Gallows are down with that.

Erick Rowan vs. Dante Leon

Leon goes straight for the cage but is smart enough to dive underneath the ring to get there. He trips though and the beating is on in a hurry. The Iron Claw finishes Leon at 1:55.

Andrade is ready for tonight’s gauntlet match for a shot at the US Title. He doesn’t like being asked about Humberto Carrillo being in the same match. Zelina Vega yells at Charly Caruso for bringing it up and says the win was bad for Carrillo because they’re ready for him.

Liv Morgan, in a bathtub, narrates about having to destroy herself so the real her can emerge.

Here are Bobby Lashley and Lana for their celebration. Lana explains what happened last night when Lashley beat Rusev in the tables match. After swooning over how beautiful Lashley is and telling the fans that they’re the ones who suck, Lana pulls out a ring….so Lashley can propose. That’s a no though, because Lashley doesn’t like being told what to do….except her, so he proposes. Lana is so happy that it went like they rehearsed and she says yes a lot.

We look back at the opening segment.

Here’s R-Truth to talk about how inspiring John Cena’s open challenges were when he was a kid. Now he wants to become the United States’ (yes with the apostrophe) 24/7 Champion. Then he can take it all the way to Wrestlemania. R-Truth: “WHERE’S THE SIGN???”

Gauntlet Match

Non-title, for the #1 contendership to the US Title, no number of entrants is given but it’s R-Truth in at #1 and Akira Tozawa in at #2. Truth shouts a lot to start and then misses a charge into the post. Tozawa hits a running Cannonball off the apron and a missile dropkick gets two back inside. Instead it’s a quick rollup to get rid of Truth at 2:11, meaning the Mob comes out to chase Truth off.

Ricochet is in at #3 and we come back from a break with Tozawa jumping over him in the corner. Ricochet starts snapping off the flips though, setting up an anklescissors into a dropkick to the floor. Tozawa is right back with Trouble in Paradise to the floor, setting up the suicide headbutt. Back in and Ricochet grabs a rollup for two, followed by an over the back backbreaker.

With that broken up, Ricochet slips out of a Black Widow and kicks Tozawa in the head. Another kick misses though and Tozawa deadlift German suplexes him for two. Ricochet is right back with the springboard clothesline for two but the running shooting star press hits knees. Tozawa has to roll out of the top rope backsplash though and it’s a superkick into the Recoil to give Ricochet the pin at 13:00.

Matt Hardy is in at #4 and we take another break. Back with Matt hammering away in the corner and sending Ricochet into all three buckles in a row. A suplex gets two more and we hit the cravate to keep Ricochet down. Matt gets two off a Razor’s Edge powerbomb but Ricochet is back with a dropkick. A kick to the head in the corner has Matt down but the springboard clothesline is countered into a heck of a Side Effect for two. Matt’s moonsault misses and Ricochet hits the running shooting star press for his own near fall. A quick Twist of Fate attempt is countered into a rollup and Matt is done at 23:40.

After a look at the replay to make sure it was a pin (I’m not sure what was in doubt), Humberto Carrillo is in at #5 as we take another break. Back again with Carrillo dropkicking him down for two and scoring with an enziguri for a bonus. The high angle armdrag sends Ricochet outside and there’s the big spinning flip dive. Back in and we hit the armbar, followed by a kick to the arm to cut off the comeback. An armdrag sets up another armbar as Lawler says Carrillo is the embodiment of a babyface.

Ricochet fights up again and gets two off a sunset flip, followed by a Landslide for the same. Zelina Vega comes out to watch them both needing a breather as we take a break. Back with Ricochet hitting the springboard clothesline into another running shooting star press for another two. Vega looks impressed and seems to be scouting both of them. Ricochet hits a running crossbody to send them both outside for the big crash.

They dive back in at nine and Ricochet catches him with a palm strike on top. A heck of a top rope superplex plants Carrillo for another near fall and he barely gets the shoulder up. Back up again and they slug it out until Ricochet grabs a northern lights suplex into a regular suplex for two. Ricochet goes up but has to flip out of the super reverse hurricanrana. Carrillo is right back up with a running Canadian Destroyer into the moonsault for the pin at 46:40.

Andrade is in at #6 and jumps Carrillo from behind as Vega is looking very pleased. Back to back running knees in the corner connect but Andrade throws him outside instead of covering. The floor mats are peeled back (you don’t see that one very often) and Andrade sends him into the barricade. The hammerlock DDT onto the concrete ends Carrillo so here’s Rey Mysterio to chase Andrade away. I’m not sure if the match is done or not but we’ll say it’s over at 49:00.

Rating: B-. This was long, but my goodness the Carrillo vs. Ricochet part was some good stuff and carried a lot of what we got. As a whole it wasn’t all that great with the stuff at the beginning (though Tozawa got to look great) and the ending was annoying, but when a good chuck of the match is awesome, it’s more than enough to call it a big positive.

Post break Carrillo is taken out on a stretcher but here are Rollins and the AOP, with the steel pipe, to beat down Mysterio. Rollins says he was just giving Rey his pipe back and that Rey owes him one. They go to leave but Rollins comes back with a Stomp.

Post break, Rollins didn’t think Rey would be able to answer the challenge. What challenge? The challenge for the United States Title that Rollins lays out for next week that is.

Randy Orton promises to remind AJ of who he is so AJ will never forget.

Asuka vs. Deonna Purrazzo

I wouldn’t have bet on this one. Purrazzo kicks Asuka to the floor before the bell and we take a break before things are officially going. Asuka returns the kick as we come back but Purrazzo pulls her down into an armbar. That’s broken up so Asuka tries her own cross armbreaker. With that not working it’s switched into a kneebar and then a modified STF. Purrazzo gets out of that as well and hits a quick Downward Spiral for two. Asuka unloads with strikes though and pulls her into the Asuka Lock for the tap at 4:13.

Rating: C. I can appreciated the idea of bringing in someone new and it’s not like losing to Asuka is that big of a shock. Purrazzo can go in the ring and getting to hang with Asuka in an exchange of submissions shows that they know how to use her. The division could use some fresh blood so maybe Purrazzo can be something.

We get a sitdown interview with Becky Lynch, who isn’t happy with her loss last night. She didn’t like being put in a tag match but above all else, she doesn’t like her record against Asuka. Becky looks at the camera, saying she needs to face Asuka. That could be interesting.

Mysterio says he’ll defend the title against Andrade at any time, but he isn’t happy with what Andrade did to Carrillo. Then there’s Rollins, who showed why no one respected him tonight. Next week, the title match is on.

Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles

Orton wastes no time and the early RKO attempt sends AJ bailing to the floor. Back in and Orton starts in on the leg but AJ hits him in the face for a breather. The springboard is cut off but the hanging DDT is countered into the Calf Crusher. Orton makes the long crawl, only to get dragged back into the middle to slap the hold on again. This time Orton makes the rope, though he certainly looked to be tapping when he was missing. Orton bails to the floor but AJ chop blocks the leg out again as we take a break.

Back with AJ still on the knee and kicking Orton down in the corner. Orton drops him onto the buckle though and gets himself a breather. The powerslam plants AJ and the backbreaker out of the corner does the same but Orton hurts the knee even more. Orton’s superplex attempt is broken up and there’s another chop block to take the knee out again.

AJ scores with a Lionsault for two and we’re into an overrun. Orton breaks up another springboard forearm and hits the hanging DDT but the RKO is countered into the Calf Crusher. That’s broken up as well so AJ tries the Phenomenal Forearm, only to dive into the RKO for the pin at 16:32.

Rating: C+. These two work well together and I liked the slower pace for a change. It’s ok to mix things up a bit and while their feud over the last few weeks hasn’t exactly been thrilling, this felt like a fresh match and something that they had put some effort into. Nice main event, with the leg stuff being a focal point to hold things together.

Post match the OC runs in to beat down Orton but the Viking Raiders come out for the save. The OC gets the better of it and it’s a Magic Killer to Erik to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a rather different kind of show and I’m not sure how well it worked. The wrestling was mostly good but almost everything else wasn’t so strong. The Rollins/AOP stuff isn’t clicking yet and the Lashley/Lana stuff has completely worn out its welcome. Then there’s the ending to the gauntlet match, which felt like some big joke after spending the better part of an hour on one match. Granted it was good action, but pulling the rug out from under your feet to set up Rollins vs. Mysterio for next week isn’t a smart move. Overall, not a terrible show, but it would have been MUCH better at two hours, as usual.

Results

OC b. Viking Raiders – Magic Killer to Ivar

Erick Rowan b. Dante Leon – Iron Claw

A Gauntlet match went to a no contest

Asuka b. Deonna Purrazzo – Asuka Lock

Randy Orton b. AJ Styles – RKO

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Main Event
Date: December 5, 2019
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Mickie James

We’re on the way to TLC and things are starting to get tight as far as setting up the actual card. WWE doesn’t exactly seem interested in building up the show or setting matches for the thing, but to be fair it’s not like the show is going to mean anything in the first place. I’m sure this one will be thrilling too. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Natalya vs. Sarah Logan

So Natalya is the new Dana Brooke? Logan takes her down to start and we’re in the chinlock in the first minute. That’s broken up so Natalya claps a lot before they fight over the leg. The grappling on the mat nearly sets up the Sharpshooter so Logan bails to the floor. Back in and Natalya unloads in the corner, setting up a snap suplex to put Logan outside again. Logan gets in a neck snap though and the chinlock goes on again. Natalya’s belly to back faceplant gets two so Logan sends her into the corner. Not that it matters as Natalya grabs a small package for the pin at 4:55.

Rating: D. This was short and not very good but what worries me even more is the idea of them having another long term feud on here. You never can tell what they’re going to do as far as continuing with the same matches over and over but it can get really annoying. Logan isn’t the best in the world but she deserves better than doing the same stuff week after week.

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens with the AOP interfering to attack Owens but not Rollins.

From Raw.

Here’s Seth Rollins to apologize for last week. Rollins talks about how everyone in the back is his family and as the head of the family, it is his job to get the best out of everyone here on Raw. Maybe he went a bit too far with that last week though and he needs to apologize. Lawler does not approve of this and it’s even worse when Rollins asks Owens to come out here and accept his apology man to man.

Owens comes out and says he thinks the only family Rollins has is the AOP. Rollins denies it, but Owens calls (uncensored) BS. Cue the AOP to make the offer of a tag match. Rollins says he’s in but Owens says he sees three scenarios, all of which end in him getting beaten down three on one. Therefore, let’s get it over with now. Rollins walks out and the AOP lets him go, but Owens offers to fight them one at a time. For some reason the AOP leaves so Owens issues an open challenge.

Cue Lana to handle Bobby Lashley’s introductions and shows off her rather revealing outfit as Owens facepalms in the ring. Owens: “NO ONE CARES! I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE NOT DONE TALKING! I AM VOMITING IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW!” Lana isn’t done and makes it clear that Rusev isn’t here tonight because the restraining order is on again. Owens says she is repulsive on the inside so Lana calls him a “basic pizza eater”. She threatens to have Lashley come out here and finish him. Owens: “LET’S GET TO IT!!!” Owens as the voice of the fans here is hilarious because he’s absolutely right, but I doubt WWE gets the point.

Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens

There is security on the floor waiting for Rusev. Lashley knocks him to the floor to start but Owens gets in a shot of his own, setting up the frog splash off the apron. Back from a break with Lashley hammering away until a superkick gets Owens out of trouble. The spinning Big Ending gives Lashley two but the full nelson is blocked. Owens hits the Pop Up Powerbomb but here’s the TOP to beat up Owens for the DQ at 8:49.

Rating: C-. Well they didn’t have Rusev interfere, which is actually a bit of a surprise. I’m still not sure what is going on here with the AOP as they could have Rollins as the boss or go in the other direction with a surprise leader. The AOP still aren’t the kind of people you have as the big bads so the leader is necessary. Getting the right one can make it work, but how much confidence should I have in WWE to pull it off?

Post match AOP beats Owens down and drags him off.

Post break Lana and Lashley talk about how tired they are of dealing with Rusev, which has caused Lana to have to hire security. Cue Rusev through the crowd to superkick Lashley and beat him down as Lana screams for the guards to come in. They take their sweet time getting up onto the apron as Rusev bails. They never even got in the ring so Lashley goes outside to yell at them, but since they’re detectives, Lashley gets arrested for getting physical. Lana slaps one of them and is going to jail too.

From Raw again.

The Kabuki Warriors rant in Japanese before their match. They promise to beat Charlotte tonight.

Charlotte vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors now have their own single theme instead of the pretty bad mashup. They jump Charlotte before the bell and the beatdown is on, with the referee giving Charlotte a breather before starting it off. Sane chokes Charlotte in the corner but she fights back, only to get caught by Asuka to keep her in trouble.

Charlotte knocks both of them outside but gets rammed into the barricade to cut her off again. With Sane being sent into the barricade, Asuka kicks Charlotte down to put her right back down. The hip attack hits Sane though and Charlotte kicks Asuka in the face. Back from a break with Sane pounding away but getting kicked out of the air.

The moonsault hits double knees though as Charlotte can’t keep anything going. Sane gets caught in the Boston crab until Asuka kicks Charlotte in the head for the break. Asuka kicks away and grabs the armbreaker, which is reversed into the sitout powerbomb for two with Sane making the save.

Charlotte takes both of them to the top but a double superplex is broken up because it would probably kill everyone involved. Sane hits some top rope knees to the back to give Asuka two but Charlotte is right back with the double spear. The Figure Eight has Asuka in -big trouble until the Insane Elbow (to Charlotte’s bridged ribs) breaks it up for the pin at 16:00.

Rating: C+. Charlotte got too much in here but at least she lost clean in the end, which is how this should have gone. The fact that it was a possibility to see Charlotte get a win over both champions at once though is a bit disturbing, but at least they got it right in the end. Just find some challengers for the champs instead of Becky and Charlotte.

The champs celebrate in the ring until Asuka tries to leave, only to get pointed back in by a production guy’s hand. Nothing happens after that, but they needed to fill in some time.

We look at Roman Reigns destroying Robert Roode on Smackdown.

Cedric Alexander vs. Mojo Rawley

Rawley chills in the corner to start before sending Alexander into another one. A hard whip has Alexander in more trouble and we take a break. Back with Alexander getting two off a crucifix, followed by the Neuralizer for the same. The springboard is countered into an Alabama Slam though and Alexander is done at 6:14. Not enough shown to rate but it wasn’t anything that hasn’t been done before.

From Smackdown.

Here’s Daniel Bryan to talk about everything going on with Bray Wyatt tonight. Earlier today the Miz talked about how the Fiend will change him. Back at Survivor Series, Bryan felt the change from the people. For the last year, Bryan has talked about how the YES Movement is done, but now something has changed. So does he accept Bray’s challenge? YES he does! Cue the Firefly Fun House and Bray is very excited to get to play again but if Bryan does it again, we will see his true form. Bryan helped Bray change in the first place and the Fiend remembers that.

Oh he almost forgot: Bray promised a new face tonight and he is a man of his word. The lights go out in the arena and it’s the Fiend popping up through the ring. Bryan fights him away but gets Mandible Clawed down into the hole. Fiend pulls his hands out of the hole and has a bunch of hair in his hands. He does it again with a bunch of hair being left on the mat and the laughter ends the show. So he’s a Brutus Beefcake fan now?

We look at the setup for Raw’s six man main event.

From Raw.

OC vs. Humberto Carrillo/Rey Mysterio/Ricochet

Carrillo takes over on Anderson’s arm to start and it’s Ricochet coming in with an ax handle to stay on it. AJ comes in and gets taken down by Humberto’s springboard crossbody. They head outside with Carrillo being sent into the barricade and it’s Gallows coming in for an elbow to the back of the head. Joe drops a Red Neck Kung Fu reference as Gallows takes Carrillo down for elbows to the chest.

Carrillo flips over the back and scores with an enziguri. The hot tag brings in Mysterio to pick up the pace and it’s Anderson and Gallows being sent outside. The 619 to AJ is broken up by Anderson and we take a break. Back with Gallows suplexing Mysterio, which is a lot better than having Mysterio fighting out of another chinlock. Anderson comes in for the trash talk into the chinlock but Mysterio sends him into the corner for the break.

Ricochet gets the hot tag to pick up the pace, meaning it’s a bunch of kicks to a bunch of heads. The springboard clothesline into the standing shooting star press gets two on AJ. Styles is right back with the belly to back faceplant for his own two as everything breaks down. The 619 hits Anderson but Gallows superkicks Mysterio down. Ricochet counters the Styles Clash with a hurricanrana for two so Ricochet loads up a super hurricanrana. AJ isn’t about to let that happen though and it’s reversed into a super Styles Clash for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard main event tag here, which worked well enough but was nothing that is going to be remembered beyond….oh I’m thinking tomorrow morning. AJ vs. Orton could be interesting with McIntyre as a nice bonus. I’m not sure about Carrillo being thrown in, but Ricochet will be fine against the OC with the right partner.

Post match AJ poses and gets caught with the RKO to end the show.

Overall Rating: D. I had forgotten how uninteresting so much of the previous week had been. This was a show that didn’t do much and was little more than a show that filled in its requirements. That is the case with Main Event more often than not and it can become a lot to sit through, despite it not being anything in the first place. Bad show here, as the winter funk is strong at the moment.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 9, 2019
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Samoa Joe, Corey Graves

I know it seems ridiculous but we are only six days away Tables, Ladders and Chairs. There are only a handful of matches confirmed for the show so tonight is going to be all about rapid fire build, because that’s the best thing this company knows how to do these days. Expect some more from AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton, and of course Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Jerry Lawler is in the ring with table and chairs so Rusev and Lana can get divorced. Lana and her lawyer come out and Lawler reads off a statement, saying that the restraining order has been lifted. Rusev, in a Donald Duck shirt, comes out and has a seat as Lana rants about she never loved him. He isn’t allowed to speak because this is always about him. Rusev Day went to his head and it’s time to get on their feet to yell at the fans.

Rusev says this is how his marriage went and Lana needs to calm down. He’s the one who needs protection this week and we see a clip of Lashley and Lana being arrested last week. Lana rants about how Rusev will never have anyone like her, but Rusev says he can’t stand her now so why would he want another. Lana screams about how Rusev Day and the WWE Universe destroyed her marriage, nearly breaking down in tears. Rusev says this is ridiculous and wants to sign the divorce papers.

They’re ready to sign but Lana insists that she sign first. Lana: “I get the dog!” They get in an argument over the dog, which is giving me flashbacks to HHH and Stephanie back in the day. Lana emphatically signs but Rusev needs something from her before he signs. Lana thinks he means sex in a variety of places but instead it’s a match with Lashley. Cue Lashley to say he wants the divorce finalized so he can marry Lana. They agree to a match at some point and Rusev signs, triggering the brawl. Lashley beats him up on the floor but Rusev suplexes him through the table back inside.

Kevin Owens accuses AOP of attacking him because Seth Rollins ordered them to do so. Last week he got away though, and that’s a problem for AOP. Owens walks off and runs into Rey Mysterio, who offers to have his back against the AOP if he needs someone. Actually make that the pipe has Owens’ back and Owens accepts.

Matt Hardy vs. Drew McIntyre

On his way to the ring, Drew talks about Matt having a newborn son and the cross eyed look shows that it really is Matt’s. Drew knows Matt is a true professional, but he’s made some mistakes outside of the ring and maybe him reproducing isn’t a good idea. Hardy slugs him into the corner and hits a Twist of Fate as we take a break. Back with the bell ringing and Matt clotheslining him out to the floor. Drew breaks up the Twist of Fate with a shove into the steps though and Matt is in trouble. The Futureshock into the Claymore finish Matt at 2:21.

We look back at the Kabuki Warriors defeating Charlotte last week.

Charlotte offers Becky Lynch some help against the Kabuki Warriors but Lynch has this one on her own.

Owens and his pipe look for the AOP, though Mojo Rawley isn’t sure which way they went. He suggests three directions so Owens hits him in the face, saying Mojo just went in the down direction.

Here are the Viking Raiders to issue an open challenge for their gold. Or silver.

Batista is going to the Hall of Fame. Well deserved.

Tag Team Titles: Viking Raiders vs. Street Profits

The Profits are challenging. Erik misses the shotgun knees in the corner and it’s a spinebuster into the frog splash for two on Erik with Ivar diving in for a save. We settle down to Ivar and Ford trading cartwheels until a spinwheel kick gets two on Ford. Dawkins plants Ivar for two more but it’s back to Ford, who walks into the Viking Experience for the pin at 3:12.

Rating: C+. They packed some stuff in here, just like they would do down in NXT. That being said, I’m rather surprised that the Profits lost so quickly. It’s not like they were severely damaged though as they got in the best near fall on the Raiders yet and it’s not like they got squashed. It was fun while it lasted if nothing else.

Post match respect is shown but here is Seth Rollins for a chat. Everyone else leaves though because the respect is gone. Rollins wants the AOP out here right now but gets Owens instead. Rollins says there is no need for the piper but Owens begs to differ. We see the AOP arriving in the back and it’s off to a break. Back with Rollins saying the AOP is going to come out here and beat Owens up but it has nothing to do with him.

That’s enough to make Rollins leave so here’s the AOP to speak their native languages. Owens says those are all good points and he wants them down here one at a time. Cue Sami Zayn and Mojo Rawley with Sami saying he has a managerial license to jump from Raw and Smackdown. Rather than just being a manager though, Sami is a liberator and that’s what Owens needs right now.

What Owens did to Mojo backstage was too far and Sami wants an apology. They’re about to fight but Sami intervenes, citing the STEEL PIPE in Owens’ hand. Mojo: “Anyone is tough with a pipe in their hands.” Owens wants to test that and throws it to Mojo, setting him up for the Stunner. A few pipe shots to the back leave Mojo laying and send Sami running.

Post break, Owens’ hunt continues.

Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy is set for TLC so Murphy promises to beat him on Sunday.

Aleister Black vs. Akira Tozawa

Tozawa works on the arm to start and has to bail into the corner off the threat of a kick. Some armdrags let Black grab the arm again but a spinning kick to the head misses again. Tozawa snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor but the suicide headbutt is kneed out of the air. Black Mass finishes Tozawa at 3:35.

Rating: C-. The slaughter of the cruiserweights continues as Black claims another one. That being said, the image of Black Mass hitting Tozawa in the face was a great visual as that thing hit to perfection. In theory that makes Buddy the next big challenger but I’m not sure how that is going to go.

Video on Humberto Carrillo.

Humberto is ready for an interview but Zelina Vega and Andrade come in. Yelling ensues and a match is set for tonight.

Liv Morgan’s makeover is coming soon.

Andrade vs. Humberto Carrillo

Andrade won’t let Carrillo start with the flips so it’s a backdrop into a chinlock. Back up and an elbow to the face sets up a running kick to the same face for two. Carrillo gets sent to the top but spins around and hits a high crossbody. Andrade is sent to the floor for the big moonsault and we take a break.

Back with Carrillo backflipping into a moonsault for two but Andrade blocks a superplex attempt. That means the top rope double stomp can get two but Andrade misses the running knees in the corner. Carrillo scores with a missile dropkick into the Aztec Press (which almost completely misses) for two, as there was no way you could give up a fall off something like that.

A spinning back elbow to the face gives Andrade two and now the double knees in the corner connect. Carrillo pops back up with the running dropkick in the corner though, drawing Vega to the apron. Andrade is sent into her though and it’s a victory roll to finish Andrade at 11:04.

Rating: C+. This is how you give Carrillo a push if they insist on doing so. Andrade and Vega having some issues may not be the best idea in the world but it’s better than just having Andrade go nowhere. At least now he’s got some kind of a story to go with it, which hasn’t been the case for a long time.

Post match Andrade blames Vega for the loss and they argue a lot.

Rey Mysterio isn’t ready to lose his US Title back to AJ Styles tonight.

Remember how Owens couldn’t find the AOP? He still can’t.

Zack Ryder vs. Buddy Murphy

During the entrance, Aleister Black says Murphy will regret picking a fight with him. Buddy starts fast and takes him down for some knees to the back. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Ryder is back with a faceplant and the running forearm in the corner. The Broski Boot sends Murphy outside but Curt Hawkins gets taken out. Back in and the jumping knee to the face sets up Murphy’s Law to give Buddy the fast pin at 2:00.

Owens finds the AOP’s van and unloads on it with the pipe. The AOP comes in and beats him down. Someone is in the back of the van and….of course it’s Rollins. Seth says it’s come to this and Stomps him onto the bare concrete. Rollins looks at the AOP and they leave together. So to recap, here are the last few weeks:

Owens: “You’re with the AOP!”

Seth: “No I’m not!”

Owens: “Yes you are!”

Rollins: “No I’m not! Ok I am!”

Post break Rollins is in the arena to rant about how everything should have gone perfectly for him. He gave everything he had for every one of the fans but they booed him anyway. Rollins doesn’t care for the fans getting on the Owens’ bandwagon because Owens if the flavor of the month. It was true that he wasn’t with the AOP but no one believed him. What does Rollins have to do to get the people’s respect? All of this negativity has turned into a self fulfilling prophecy as he is now standing with AOP. They come out to stand by his side and all three leave together.

Owens is loaded into an ambulance.

Becky Lynch vs. Kabuki Warriors

Non-title. Becky suplexes Asuka to the floor to start but the numbers advantage lets Asuka choke away in the corner. Back from a break with Becky hitting a dropkick and kicking them both down. A double DDT gets two on Kairi but she’s back up to slam Becky off the top. Asuka’s missile dropkick misses though and there’s the Bexploder. The middle rope legdrop misses though and it’s the Asuka Lock, only to have Lynch reverse into one of her own.

The Warriors are sent to the floor but Asuka knees Becky in the face to put them all down. Lynch beats the count back in, where Asuka hits a Shining Wizard for two more. A Doomsday forearm gets the same but the Insane Elbow hits raised knees. Asuka breaks up the Disarm Her but it’s a Rock Bottom to plant Asuka. The Disarm Her is broken up by Asuka and Becky doesn’t know what else to do. They go outside again and Asuka chairs her in the ribs for the DQ at 13:04.

Rating: C. I didn’t like the ending here but it’s time to set up a TLC match on Sunday so we need to get that out of the way. The Tag Team Title match should be fun but I’m not exactly looking forward to the rapid fire “hey we’re friendly enough now to fight the champs”, which is likely taking place later tonight.

Post match the Warriors pull out a chair and another Insane Elbow puts Lynch through the table.

The OC is ready to get the US Title back. If Randy Orton gets involved, they’ll end his career, either forever or for life.

The NWO is coming to the Hall of Fame as well. As they should, though Syxx being included is a bit of a stretch.

Charlotte interrupts Becky getting treatment on her shoulder. Becky doesn’t want to hear it so Charlotte leaves….and gets jumped by the Warriors.

Erick Rowan vs. ???

The jobber hits the floor at the bell and grabs Rowan’s cage. He runs it up to the stage, leaves it there, goes back to the ring and tells the referee to count. That’s good for eight and there’s the Iron Claw (make it two) to give Rowan…..a win via referee stoppage for a change of pace at 1:18.

In the back, the Warriors challenge Becky and Charlotte to challenge them to a match at TLC.

Charlotte and Becky agree to fight the Warriors. For the titles. In a TLC match.

And now, the Monday After Weekend Update with the Street Profits. It’s more or less Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update with a bunch of jokes hyping up the TLC card.

US Title: Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles

Mysterio is defending. AJ takes him down to start but a rollup gives Rey a fast two. The frustration is already high for AJ so he sends Rey chest first into the corner. A catapult sends Rey into the corner again, albeit a little harder this time. The chinlock goes on for a bit but Rey sends him outside and hits the Asai moonsault for the big knockdown. Cue the OC and the distraction lets AJ send Rey into the post as we take a break.

Back with AJ dropkicking him out of the air for two as Mysterio is in trouble. AJ sends him outside but Rey gets back in for a slingshot sunset bomb into the barricade. That’s only good for nine each so Rey starts slugging away back inside. The springboard seated senton and a legdrop give Rey two, followed by a tornado DDT for the same. An Alley Oop plants Rey on his face but he sends AJ into the ropes for the 619.

Rating: C+. Good enough stuff here with the ending being a nice little surprise instead of the expected RKO. Mysterio retaining the title works well, though I’m not sure who he is supposed to defend against next. Maybe McIntyre, but I’m not sure how much good that title would do him. At least we should get AJ vs. Orton on Sunday.

We are off the air IMMEDIATELY with the ring announcer only saying “And still the United States!”

Overall Rating: B-. This was a different kind of show with a hard focus on a few stories. Those stories worked out well enough with a few matches being good enough to back things up. They had to hit the hard sell to TLC because they have no time to get there any other way. It felt like a different kind of show and that’s a good sound after everything else that this show has done in the last few months. Just get us to next week’s show so we can move on to the Royal Rumble build and some actual time. Not a great show, but a different enough style to make it work.

Results

Drew McIntyre b. Matt Hardy – Claymore

Viking Raiders b. Street Profits – Viking Experience to Ford

Aleister Black b. Akira Tozawa – Black Mass

Humberto Carrillo b. Andrade – Victory roll

Buddy Murphy b. Zack Ryder – Murphy’s Law

Becky Lynch b. Kabuki Warriors via DQ when Asuka used a chair

Erick Rowan b. ??? via referee stoppage

Rey Mysterio b. AJ Styles – Small package

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: WWE

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 2, 2019
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler, Samoa Joe

We’re less than two weeks away from Tables, Ladders and Chairs and you can probably piece together a lot of the card from here. That being said, there is a lot that still needs to be done so expect tonight to be thrown into overdrive in a hurry. It is hard to say how well that could go for the show, but I’m guessing it’s going to feel long. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The AOP arrives in the back and speak Punjabi/Albanian. The translation: Charly Caruso looks lovely tonight. Charly: “What?”

Here’s Seth Rollins to apologize for last week. Rollins talks about how everyone in the back is his family and as the head of the family, it is his job to get the best out of everyone here on Raw. Maybe he went a bit too far with that last week though and he needs to apologize. Lawler does not approve of this and it’s even worse when Rollins asks Owens to come out here and accept his apology man to man.

Owens comes out and says he thinks the only family Rollins has is the AOP. Rollins denies it, but Owens calls (uncensored) BS. Cue the AOP to make the offer of a tag match. Rollins says he’s in but Owens says he sees three scenarios, all of which end in him getting beaten down three on one. Therefore, let’s get it over with now. Rollins walks out and the AOP lets him go, but Owens offers to fight them one at a time. For some reason the AOP leaves so Owens issues an open challenge.

Cue Lana to handle Bobby Lashley’s introductions and shows off her rather revealing outfit as Owens facepalms in the ring. Owens: “NO ONE CARES! I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE NOT DONE TALKING! I AM VOMITING IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW!” Lana isn’t done and makes it clear that Rusev isn’t here tonight because the restraining order is on again. Owens says she is repulsive on the inside so Lana calls him a “basic pizza eater”. She threatens to have Lashley come out here and finish him. Owens: “LET’S GET TO IT!!!” Owens as the voice of the fans here is hilarious because he’s absolutely right, but I doubt WWE gets the point.

Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens

There is security on the floor waiting for Rusev. Lashley knocks him to the floor to start but Owens gets in a shot of his own, setting up the frog splash off the apron. Back from a break with Lashley hammering away until a superkick gets Owens out of trouble. The spinning Big Ending gives Lashley two but the full nelson is blocked. Owens hits the Pop Up Powerbomb but here’s the TOP to beat up Owens for the DQ at 8:49.

Rating: C-. Well they didn’t have Rusev interfere, which is actually a bit of a surprise. I’m still not sure what is going on here with the AOP as they could have Rollins as the boss or go in the other direction with a surprise leader. The AOP still aren’t the kind of people you have as the big bads so the leader is necessary. Getting the right one can make it work, but how much confidence should I have in WWE to pull it off?

Post match AOP beats Owens down and drags him off.

Post break Lana and Lashley talk about how tired they are of dealing with Rusev, which has caused Lana to have to hire security. Cue Rusev through the crowd to superkick Lashley and beat him down as Lana screams for the guards to come in. They take their sweet time getting up onto the apron as Rusev bails. They never even got in the ring so Lashley goes outside to yell at them, but since they’re detectives, Lashley gets arrested for getting physical. Lana slaps one of them and is going to jail too.

Post break we see exactly what happened before the break.

Lana and Lashley are put in the car and taken away. R-Truth and the Street Profits find this funny.

Drew McIntyre vs. Akira Tozawa

McIntyre drops to his knees to make it even and offers Tozawa a chance to leave. That earns him a running dropkick and Tozawa sends him to the floor for a suicide headbutt, which doesn’t even knock McIntyre off his feet. The reverse Alabama slam on the floor knocks Tozawa silly and we hit the reverse chinlock with a knee in the back. One heck of an overhead belly to belly drops Tozawa again and we hit the chinlock. Tozawa gets up and manages a kick to the head, followed by a missile dropkick to finally put McIntyre down. A victory roll gives Tozawa two but it’s the Claymore for the pin at 4:12.

Rating: D+. They had a little something with Tozawa not being able to knock McIntyre down, until he knocked McIntyre down and then got pinned about thirty seconds later. I can go for McIntyre winning a glorified squash though and while I don’t believe that he’s going to become a big deal, at least he has something other than taking loss after loss.

Post match McIntyre calls out Randy Orton for taking some shots at him on social media. He wants Orton out here right now but after a break, there is no Orton. McIntyre calls Orton attacking him last week STUPID STUPID STUPID so here’s Orton to interrupt. Orton doesn’t seem to think much of this and tries to walk away, but McIntyre goes on another social media rant. He’s going to make this simple enough for Orton or the Nashville fans to understand.

McIntyre didn’t think much of the RKO last week and it won’t be happening again. Orton says he thinks of this as a Drew McIntyre attitude problem. He can do these things because he has earned it but McIntyre hasn’t earned a thing. Cue the OC to blame Orton for costing Uncle Alan the US Title.

No, AJ isn’t happy here and yes it’s Orton’s fault. AJ wants to get his hands on Orton tonight so McIntyre bails, leaving Orton alone against the three of them. They get up on the apron and the fight is on until Ricochet runs in for the save. He gets beaten down as well so it’s Humberto Carrillo making a failed save attempt of his own. Rey Mysterio makes the real save and I think you know where this is going.

Post break, Orton tells the three of them thanks for the help, but he didn’t need it. Well at least they weren’t just waiting for the match to start when we got back.

Aleister Black vs. Tony Nese

Nese goes straight at Nese and grabs a headlock as Buddy Murphy is watching in the back. Black flips over him and sweeps the leg, setting up the moonsault into the sit in the middle. Back in and Nese takes the eyes to take over and snaps Black’s throat over the top. The springboard moonsault hits….something close to Black’s knees and it’s a jumping knee to the face. Black Mass (or Black Magic as Lawler puts it) finishes Nese at 3:27.

Rating: C-. I know Black’s sitting in the room deal doesn’t work very well but dang that kick looks incredible. How else are you supposed to top that? It’s a knockout shot that can end anyone and Black has the look to make it seem like something that could take your head off. Great finisher to a great looking star, who shows off whenever he can get out of that room.

Murphy doesn’t regret going after Black and says Black takes himself way too seriously. Murphy is cool, calm and collected while Black is a hothead. Black needs to calm down and if he won’t, Murphy will do it for him.

Eric Young vs. Andrade

Young works on a wristlock to start and knocks Andrade off the top for the big elbow and a near fall. Andrade pulls him off the middle rope though and hits a running kick to the head for two. The armbar goes on for a bit until Young fights up and gets in a shot to the face. The big elbow is broken up again though and the running knees in the corner rock Young. Andrade hits the hammerlock DDT for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: D+. Young was trying here but it was little more than a glorified squash, which has been a trend on the show for the last two weeks. Andrade is someone else who could be someone around here if he is given a chance to shine, meaning not losing or getting put into something that doesn’t matter.

Post match R-Truth runs out with the Mob following, as Truth is hiding behind some NASCAR drivers. One of them is a referee BECAUSE OF COURSE HE IS and the other rolls Truth up for the pin. It’s Michael Waltrip and Kyle Bush in case you need to know that before they lose the title back and disappear after tonight, only to show up in some talking head bit where they say they’re big fans and had a great time.

The Street Profits shill stuff with the No Way Jose conga line.

We recap the AOP stuff throughout the night.

Rollins doesn’t like the suggestions that he did anything wrong. Everyone may be a critic, but not everyone has the guts to be a leader.

We look at Rey Mysterio winning the US Title last week.

Erick Rowan talks to whatever is in his cage.

No Way Jose vs. Erick Rowan

The conga line goes over to check out the sack so Rowan destroys them, as you might expect. Rowan beats up Jose for trying to make a save and hits the Iron Claw. A second one finishes Jose at 2:06. I’m not sure what is in that sack and yet I’m still sure it is going to be a big disappointment.

Post break Rowan won’t say won’t in the cage and is annoyed at being asked about it.

The Kabuki Warriors rant in Japanese before their match. They promise to beat Charlotte tonight.

Charlotte vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors now have their own single theme instead of the pretty bad mashup. They jump Charlotte before the bell and the beatdown is on, with the referee giving Charlotte a breather before starting it off. Sane chokes Charlotte in the corner but she fights back, only to get caught by Asuka to keep her in trouble.

Charlotte knocks both of them outside but gets rammed into the barricade to cut her off again. With Sane being sent into the barricade, Asuka kicks Charlotte down to put her right back down. The hip attack hits Sane though and Charlotte kicks Asuka in the face. Back from a break with Sane pounding away but getting kicked out of the air.

The moonsault hits double knees though as Charlotte can’t keep anything going. Sane gets caught in the Boston crab until Asuka kicks Charlotte in the head for the break. Asuka kicks away and grabs the armbreaker, which is reversed into the sitout powerbomb for two with Sane making the save.

Charlotte takes both of them to the top but a double superplex is broken up because it would probably kill everyone involved. Sane hits some top rope knees to the back to give Asuka two but Charlotte is right back with the double spear. The Figure Eight has Asuka in -big trouble until the Insane Elbow (to Charlotte’s bridged ribs) breaks it up for the pin at 16:00.

Rating: C+. Charlotte got too much in here but at least she lost clean in the end, which is how this should have gone. The fact that it was a possibility to see Charlotte get a win over both champions at once though is a bit disturbing, but at least they got it right in the end. Just find some challengers for the champs instead of Becky and Charlotte.

The champs celebrate in the ring until Asuka tries to leave, only to get pointed back in by a production guy’s hand. Nothing happens after that, but they needed to fill in some time.

Viking Raiders vs. ???/???

Non-title and all the usual sets up the Viking Experience for the pin at 1:37.

Ricochet, Humberto Carrillo and Rey Mysterio are ready to shut the OC up tonight.

We look at Lashley and Lana getting arrested.

The OC are going to win tonight and then get Randy Orton.

OC vs. Humberto Carrillo/Rey Mysterio/Ricochet

Carrillo takes over on Anderson’s arm to start and it’s Ricochet coming in with an ax handle to stay on it. AJ comes in and gets taken down by Humberto’s springboard crossbody. They head outside with Carrillo being sent into the barricade and it’s Gallows coming in for an elbow to the back of the head. Joe drops a Red Neck Kung Fu reference as Gallows takes Carrillo down for elbows to the chest.

Carrillo flips over the back and scores with an enziguri. The hot tag brings in Mysterio to pick up the pace and it’s Anderson and Gallows being sent outside. The 619 to AJ is broken up by Anderson and we take a break. Back with Gallows suplexing Mysterio, which is a lot better than having Mysterio fighting out of another chinlock. Anderson comes in for the trash talk into the chinlock but Mysterio sends him into the corner for the break.

Ricochet gets the hot tag to pick up the pace, meaning it’s a bunch of kicks to a bunch of heads. The springboard clothesline into the standing shooting star press gets two on AJ. Styles is right back with the belly to back faceplant for his own two as everything breaks down. The 619 hits Anderson but Gallows superkicks Mysterio down. Ricochet counters the Styles Clash with a hurricanrana for two so Ricochet loads up a super hurricanrana. AJ isn’t about to let that happen though and it’s reversed into a super Styles Clash for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard main event tag here, which worked well enough but was nothing that is going to be remembered beyond….oh I’m thinking tomorrow morning. AJ vs. Orton could be interesting with McIntyre as a nice bonus. I’m not sure about Carrillo being thrown in, but Ricochet will be fine against the OC with the right partner.

Post match AJ poses and gets caught with the RKO to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a show that came and went as you can still see most of TLC coming, though nothing has actually been announced for the show with less than two weeks to go. I know that’s become the trend around here, but I have no idea why that is the case. You would think they would have this stuff set up weeks in advance but WWE doesn’t seem to agree, no matter how much chaos it tends to cause. Anyway, watchable show here, but not exactly a memorable one.

Results

Kevin Owens b. Bobby Lashley via DQ when AOP interfered

Drew McIntyre b. Akira Tozawa – Claymore

Aleister Black b. Tony Nese – Black Mass

Andrade b. No Way Jose – Hammerlock DDT

Erick Rowan b. No Way Jose – Iron Claw

Kabuki Warriors b. Charlotte – Insane Elbow

Viking Experience b. ???/??? – Viking Experience

OC b. Ricochet/Humberto Carrillo/Rey Mysterio – Super Styles Clash to Ricochet

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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