Tonight’s Monday Night Raw hailed from Columbus, Ohio, and there was fallout from RoadBlock everywhere. How did Sasha Banks handle losing the WWE Women’s Championship yet again? Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins had a tiny Shield reunion last night, is the group back together? And are Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho really best friends again? More importantly, has Emmalina debuted yet? Here’s the Monday Night Raw Review: RoadBlock Fallout.
Read More: Monday Night Raw Review: Tag Team Turmoil
Monday Night Raw Review: RoadBlock Fallout
JeriKO
The WWE Universal Champion, Kevin Owens, and his best friend, Chris Jericho were in the ring when the show started, and wouldn’t you believe it, Jericho was wearing a shirt. It wasn’t buttoned up, but he was wearing more than a scarf, so we’ll take it.
They recapped the events of the night before, and Jericho explained that the Codebreaker he hit on Owens last night hurt him more than it hurt Owens. But he explained that it had to be done, to convince all the “Muttonheads” that it was real.
Jericho then accused Santa Claus of stealing his gimmick, and put him on the list. That’s right, Chris Jericho put Santa on the list. Then, speaking of Santa, Mick Foley came out. I was complaining about Jericho wearing a shirt, but I wouldn’t have had I known that Foley would come out wearing a leather jacket and a gold chain… What the hell am I watching?
Foley took off the jacket to reveal a shirt that had I can’t describe with words. Really just google it. Good god. Foley accidentally said “Right here… in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania”. Foley… You’re in Ohio, they hate Pittsburgh.
Foley then revealed a shark cage, and announced that Owens would defend his title against Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble… and that Jericho would be in the cage, suspended above the ring. WWE Universe, you might cringe at the thought of another Reigns rumble match, but… At least we know he won’t be winning the match this year.
Swimming with Jericho
I love Mick Foley, but his promos are awful. He’s lost his touch, and too many of his promos are awkward and he stumbles through his words. He’s a treasure, one of the best of all time, but he doesn’t need to be cutting as many promos as he has been lately.
Foley wanted to prove the cage was safe, so he locked Jericho in it. Then Foley lost the key and proceeded to pull random WWE gimmicks out of his fanny pack. Everything from his teeth to a New Day shirt to a Dude Love wallet came out, but Jericho was locked in. Foley then had the cage raised high above the ring, telling him to have a nice day.
Segment/Match Quality- 8/10 Woo’s
Big Cass w/Enzo Amore vs. Rusev w/Lana
In a rematch of their pre-show match from last night, Rusev and Big Cass faced off. Cass cornered Rusev and was disqualified when he stomped away at Rusev for longer than the time allotted. With this happening, I’m forced to come to one conclusion.
Enzo Amore is the biggest heel in WWE. Rusev? Only defending his wife and marriage. Cass? Only defending his friend. Enzo? Tried to break up a marriage and then sent his best friend after her husband when he beat him up. Enzo Amore, there’s only ONE word to describe you, and I’m gonna spell it out for ya.
H-E-E-L. HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!
Segment/Match Quality- 8/10 Woo’s
Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks came to the ring leaning on a crutch. This is great, because A. It means she isn’t beating Charlotte for the title tonight, and B. She’s actually selling a move from the night before, something we don’t see very often. The legit boss recapped everything from RoadBlock, and then called Charlotte to the ring. Instead, she got Nia Jax.
Jax said Banks wasn’t a boss, but just a little girl, and she kicked Sasha’s crutch away before tossing her around the ring. Does this mean these two are about to feud? with Charlotte feuding with someone, we could have multiple Women’s feuds on Raw? That would be wonderful!
Segment/Match Quality- 8/10 Woo’s
Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar
Did I say wonderful? Because no sooner did I say that, than Alicia Fox walked on screen and I remembered the nonsense between her and Bayley. Oh well, at least this week, it was the wildly entertaining Cedric Alexander having a match.
This is good for many reasons. 1. A CruiserWeight with a story! Yay! 2. We finally see these two together on screen, so future feuds involving their love will make sense. Dear WWE, start doing this with Titus O’Neil and he won’t be the worst segment of the show every time you put him on.
The coolest thing about this match? Is that Austin Aries was on commentary. He’s been commentary on 205 Live, but Austin Aries is on Monday Night Raw. Say it again, Austin Aries is on Monday Night Raw.
The worst thing about this match? Is that they went to commercial right after it started. C’mon guys, if we’re gonna get invested in this feud, I need to actually see the people wrestle each other. Nawmsayin?
After literally four minutes of commercials, we came back to the match, where it looked like Alexander was starting his comeback. Unlike many cruiserweight matches, there were actually some aerial moves.
Unfortunately, Alexander won the match so quickly that we didn’t really get to enjoy it. It looks like it was a fun match, but we barely saw any of it. I’m torn because the segment looked like it was good, but we didn’t actually see it.
Dar cut a promo from outside of the ring, saying that Alexander still had what he wanted, and that was Alicia Fox. Dar blew her a kiss and Alexander yelled at him from inside the ring. Interesting. Looks like we’re gonna see more of this.
Segment/Match Quality- 6/10 Woo’s
Tag Team Turmoil
The New Day came out, and for the first time since “Haha, Drumpf isn’t actually going to run for President” was a viable joke, they came out without the tag team championships. Big E cut the joke of the century.
They explained that Ric Flair couldn’t win the belt 16 times if he didn’t lose it 15 times first.
Then Big E said, and I quote, “Which will be Charlotte in a couple months”
I. Am. Dead.
The New WWE Tag Team championships came out with the brand new belts, and I’ve gotta tell you, I didn’t think the tag belts could get any uglier, but they did. The two kept teasing the “Anything you can do, I can do better” gimmick, and they played on how much more over Cesaro is than Sheamus.
The two teams were having a promo battle when Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson came out. Anderson called them Nerds and said they weren’t good brothers. It looked like we were headed towards an awesome tag team triple threat when… *sigh* the Shining Stars came out.
A brawl broke out, and soon only the New Day and Sheasaro were in the ring.
There’s gonna be a garbage tag match on TV when we get back from break… won’t there?
— Ryan (@RyanSmithLWOS) December 20, 2016
The Shining Club vs. New Shea
Yup. Called that garbage. But when we came back from break, the heels were on one team, and the faces were on the other. Diego and Epi- No, wait. Primo and Fernan- Dammit. The Shining Stars are talented wrestlers, but they are forever stuck with stupid gimmicks. Even Carlito had something to work with at least.
In fact, everyone in the ring is criminally underused. Sheamus has been pushed too hard at points, but they never really ran with him. They brought him back with a monster heel gimmick, and he still lost matches. A monster heel needs to be unstoppable. Don’t mix Monster Heel with Chickenshit.
Anyway, it was a solid match. Technically, it was very clean, and oddly, Kofi worked almost the entire match. The Club hit Kofi with the Boot of Doom, but Kofi kicked out.
Authors Note. This was not a pay per view. It was not a title match. This was an 8 man tag on Monday Night Raw. Nobody else has kicked out of that yet, and it shouldn’t have happened here. Period. Protect finishers, not wrestlers.
Big E got the hot tag, and he began throwing everyone around. He was going for his big move, and Sheamus tagged himself in. Eventually, things fell apart and everyone got to do their thing. People were thrown here and there and eventually Cesaro hit the swing into the sharpshooter and earned the win for team babyface.
I think Tyson Kidd is retired, but wouldn’t it be great if he came back as a heel and feuded with Cesaro?
Segment/Match Quality- 7/10 Woo’s
CruiserWeight Chaos
Neville, now a heel, came to the ring, and I’ve never been so happy to see a cruiserweight in my life. For the first time since the debut of the division, the purple ropes were in the background and they meant something.
Neville recounted how he destroyed T.J. Perkins and Rich Swann, and then he berated the crowd for feeling sorry for him. Neville seemed determined, furious, and I actually want to watch 205 Live now. Then Rich Swann came out..
Neville cut another fantastic promo on Swann, asking where the respect and gratitude was, calling himself the King of the CruiserWeights.
Dear WWE,
If there isn’t a King of the CruiserWeights shirt on WWEShop soon, then you guys aren’t doing your job.
Sincerely,
Everyone.
Next, Brian Kendrick came out, standing up for Neville. He said “When the CruiserWeight division was being put together, I kept asking, Where’s Neville, How can you have a CruiserWeight division without Neville?”
I know he’s a heel… But he’s not wrong.
The heels began beating Swann up, and T.J. Perkins came to the rescue, only to get beat down by Neville. Neville walked away, leaving Kendrick to heat Sliced Bread #2 on Perkins. What an absolutely fantastic cruisweright segment. Is this going to be a 10/10? I think so.
Segment/Match Quality- 10/10 Woo’s
Titus O’Neil vs. Sin Cara
Oh look! The favorite for best segment of the night is followed by the wo-
JUST KIDDING.
Early in the Titus O’Neil/Sin Cara match, Braun Strowman Braun STORM-man’ed to the ring, destroying everyone. He was furious that Foley gave Sami Zayn the right off, and he wrecked house. After decimating both superstars, he carried Sin Cara to the top of the stage, laying him at Foley’s feet.
“I told you, OR ELSE” he barked at Foley, before throwing Sin Cara through a tree and several gifts. He looked like a monster, and his feud with Sami Zayn continues to entertain. Should I make a joke about Strowman stealing Christmas? What about Sin Cara being Santa’s least favorite elf? No? Okay.
Segment/Match Quality- 8/10 Woo’s
Charlotte and Bayley
Charlotte cut a promo about how she beat Sasha Banks last night, and about how she’s the Queen of the Pay Per View, and she absolutely worked the crowd, stirring them up until Bayley came out.
Bayley pointed out that she was still up 2-0 on Charlotte, and that she hadn’t forgotten about what happened after Survivor Series. Charlotte brought up the four horsewomen, and said she was number one, and that Bayley would always be number four. Then Bayley challenged Charlotte to a fight, which she accepted.
Segment/Match Quality- 7/10 Woo’s
Charlotte vs. Bayley
It was so refreshing to see Charlotte wrestling someone other than Sasha Banks, but it was even more refreshing to see Bayley wrestle someone who has won a match this year. Unlike most of Bayley’s matches, this one was really back and forth. It wasn’t the typical “she gets beat up and makes a comeback” match, which for future reference, will know be known as a “Sami Zayn match”, she actually kept pace.
I love Bayley, but that “All around the world” move is absolutely ridiculous. Up there with the worm and the people’s elbow. The rest of her moves are fine, and I even like the Belly to Bayley, but that move is nonsense.
It was a really great match, and that seems to be the case every time Charlotte steps in the ring. She has incredible presence and has improved by leaps and bounds since she debuted last year.
In this match, when Bayley finally started her comeback, it felt real. Charlotte had been pushing her around the ring. Making it seem like Alicia Fox was doing damage is one thing, but getting worked over by the Women’s Champion is another.
Charlotte hit her Moonsault on Bayley, but she kicked out. She was so astonished by this that Bayley almost rolled her up. This infuriated the champion so much that she began tossing everyone’s favorite underdog around the ring. She went for one of her father’s patented chops when Bayley rolled her up for the win. However, upon further review, Charlotte’s right shoulder was up before the three count. This will be interesting to follow.
Segment/Match Quality- 10/10 Woo’s
Editors Note- Anyone else think Bo Dallas kinda looks like Jon Snow?
JeriKo vs. The Shield (Yup. Doing it)
Disappointingly, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns came out to their own music, and not the Shield’s theme… which I guess is Roman’s music, so really, only Seth didn’t, but still. On the way to the ring, Rollins pointed to a kid wearing his shirt, and I’ve gotta say… I’ve never been more jealous of a child in my life.
Quick Poll! Which is more likely to happen?
A. Owens turns on Jericho now that he can’t help him retain.
B. Triple H returns and attacks Seth Rollins.
C. Roman Reigns turns heel!
Quick! Vote quickly because by the time you read this… the match will have already happened.
Jericho quickly got Rollins into the corner, and they isolated the Architect. Owens is a great wrestler, but his best work comes on the microphone. After kicking Rollins in the corner, he said “I’m so good at kicks, here, you kick him a little”. The little things.
Halfway through the match, Owens and Jericho tried to walk away, but the Shield had other things in mind. The duo dragged JeriKO back to the ring and continued to brawl. Rollins and Reigns are still so good as a team, and it makes me sad that Reigns is going to get heel heat by turning on Seth.
There was a particularly great spot where Rollins hit a neckbreaker and a DDT on Owens and Jericho at the same time. After that, he pulled off this beauty. He was going to hit a pedigree on Jericho, but Jericho flipped him over. Rollins adjusted into a flip mid-air before hitting an enziguir on Y2J, ejecting him from the ring, where he would hit a suicide dive. Love him or hate him, he’s fantastic in the ring. Not a bias ROH mark at all.
BRAUUUUUN
Roman reigns was hot for the tag when Braun Strowman interfered, knocking Reigns from the apron. Jericho and Owens were attacking Rollins when Strowman came into the ring. The Wyatt beast tossed Rollins around, and stared down the camera. This is what Strowman should have been doing for months.
Owens and Jericho tossed Reigns into the ring with Strowman, and he met the same fate as his teammate. Strowman looked like an absolute monster, and even in kayfabe, I feel sorry for what’s coming to Sami Zayn.
Segment/Match Quality- 9/10 Woo’s
Best Segment/Match of the Night- CruiserWeight Chaos
How good is Neville? No, no, no, I said, HOW GOOD IS NEVILLE? Anyone who doubted him as a heel A. Needs to go back and watch the good NXT, and B. Has been prove wrong now. The CruiserWeights had purpose, and now they have identities. This was the best Raw for the division so far, and I really hope Neville gets the belt soon.
Bayley vs. Charlotte was an actual match, and should also win this honor, but I already care about the Women’s Division. Bayley already gets a pop in every arena around the country. Neville, Kendrick, Swann, and Perkins made people care about a division that has struggled, so it gets the nod tonight.
Worst Segment/Match of the Night- Emmalina’s Debut
What’s that? You don’t remember Emmalina’s debut? Well you shouldn’t, because yet again, it didn’t happen. Another week where we were promised Emma’s new fiery gimmick, and another no-show.
Honestly, this show was so solid all around, it didn’t feel right saying that any match or promo battle was the worst of the night. So instead, it’s the lack of Emma that gets the wag of the finger tonight.
Show Quality- 8/10 Woo’s
Good show! Good, solid show. There were some really good segments, and some really great ones. Plenty of storylines were continued, and honestly, it was better than RoadBlock was last night. RoadBlock was basically a Super Raw, so I guess this Raw was a Super RoadBlock. Raw has been pretty good since Survivor Series, and I really hope they keep it up.
For more WWE analysis, check out my LWOS page, and for rants about nonsense, follow me on the Twitter @RyanSmithLWOS!
