Opening Segment
Drew McIntyre comes out, happy to be back and says that Goldberg keeps unseating people as champion when he comes back. Miz and Morrison rub it in Drew's face that they might cash in because both guys are likely to get injured. Goldberg shows up and just says Drew is next. I mean, cool I guess! Miz and Morrison keep talking that trash, and Goldberg and Drew McIntyre kick their asses. A pretty predictable segment, but a harmless one headed into this match.
Charlotte Flair defeated Shayna Baszler (w/ Nia Jax) via DQ
Charlotte, Mandy & Dana Brooke defeated Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax & Lacey Evans via countout
Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler & Lacey Evans defeated Dana Brooke, Charlotte, Mandy
3/10
Charlotte vs. Shayna Baszler ends in a DQ quickly when Nia Jax attacks. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke make the save, but at this point, it'd be more shocking if they just booked the 6-woman tag from the start. Eventually Shayna Baszler gets counted out, and complains to the referee. Oh, okay. This was pointless. This whole segment was a gigantic waste of time. How stupid was this booking?
Oh! They restart the match because that wasn't supposed to happen. Jesus Christ. Nia hits a cool spinebuster on Dana Brooke and pins her. I feel so bad for the people involved here. This was a mess.
After the match, Ric Flair is teaching Lacey Evans how to "wrestle," when an incredulous Charlotte Flair walks in. Flair says he's still got a place in the locker room, and Lacey punches Charlotte. Ric tries to check on her, but Lacey pulls him away.
Xavier Woods defeated Slapjack (w/ Retribution)
5/10
We see more good promos from Ali, especially the line talking about Xavier looking more like a peasant than a King of the Ring. This match is really short and Xavier Woods wins, but he gets his ass kicked after the match. This is repetitive, 50/50 booking, but I like the ingredients involved and the double team elevated chokeslam after the match was worth seeing. Mustafa Ali tough talks Xavier Woods after the match, but his boy just lost.
R-Truth interrupts a Hurt Business segment where MVP was being presented a gold chain. R-Truth thinks this is for his birthday. Truth makes Bobby Lashley laugh during this.
Sheamus defeated John Morrison (w/ The Miz)
6/10
Miz & Morrison defeated Sheamus
5.5/10
To this day, I can't stand John Morrison's theme. John Morrison has thrown about 4,000 kicks tonight and they all looked great. Sheamus hit Morrison with everything he had. Sheamus with another bad ass match on Raw, and gets the win with a White Noise. Miz wants a handicap match right after this, and Sheamus agrees. They beat the piss out of him, including a big dive from Morrison. Miz wins with a Skull Crushing Finale and Sheamus looks more stupid than brave.
Royal Rumble Qualifier For R-Truth
AJ Styles (w/ Omos) defeated R-Truth
5/10
AJ Styles volunteers to compete against Truth in a qualifier. Enjoying this story of AJ Styles destroying people's Royal Rumble hopes before they even get a chance. Truth goes through the Cena offense, but gets tapped out with a Calf Crusher.
Other Stuff
- Randy Orton cuts a masked promo again, and Alexa Bliss has her playhouse. I'm kind of surprised that they think this stuff makes us want to see more of the Fiend against Orton. Alexa Bliss is really good though. Well, until the ridiculous finish of the promo with the Fiend voiceover. It's just not for me.
- Edge is back, and he's entering the Royal Rumble. He cut a great promo about what his mother would want him to do. It's great to see Edge back!
US Title Qualifier For Riddle
Riddle defeated The Hurt Business
5.75/10
Riddle and Shelton Benjamin have a really good, hard hitting fall, but Cedric Alexander costs Shelton the falls. Riddle wins with an incredible victory roll.
MVP is tapped out immediately with a heel hook after he's stuck between an arguing Shelton and Cedric.
Cedric Alexander is next and is killing it. An amazing dropkick and DDT, as well as a brainbuster. This is Riddle's eighth straight match and tenth straight fall against a member of The Hurt Business. Did they need to have Riddle beat the entire faction? Amazing last fall, but how does that help? WWE loves to make title holders look like chumps
WWE Raw Women's Champion
Asuka (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
3/10
Asuka gets the offense early on, but Alexa is riding a muscial horse inside the ring before the commercial. I can't believe they think this is good. They did a bunch of cinematic cuts that changed Alexa's attire. She goes to the Goddess, and now her new gimmick. Randy Orton shows up and RKOs her. That's it. Wow.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
