No DQ Match
Kevin Owens defeated Mojo Rawley
6/10 (Segment and Match)
- Kevin Owens comes out after a video recap runs about his last few weeks.
- Mojo Rawley comes out, without his licensed manager Sami Zayn. That renders Zayn's appearance on Raw pointless. He wants an explanation for the pipe attack last week.
- Owens makes some pretty solid jokes and says he just wants to beat up Mojo Rawley. This exchange was pretty good. Both guys are fantastic talkers.
- Mojo calling Owens a pretty boy was great.
- Mojo does a nice fireman's carry face-first slam into chairs, after Owens got a great pop for getting a table out.
- Owens hits a nice Swanton Bomb, Stunner and Pop Up Powerbomb through a table to win. This was a lot of fun.
- Owens says he knows AOP and Rollins are going to jump him, so they might as well do it.
- I find myself incredibly interested in everything heel Rollins and AOP do. Owens attacks Rollins and they all beat him up.
- The camera zooms and shakes have to stop.
- Rollins ends up stomping Owens, who stumbles out of the ring after.
- There was a really good monologue from Samoa Joe that went a long way in putting AOP over.
WWE 24/7 Championship
Akira Tozawa defeated R-Truth (c) to become champion
Santa Claus pins Akira Tozawa (c) to become champion
R-Truth pins Santa Claus (c) to become champion
- R-Truth is walking around outdoors, saying the Rock invited him to light his Christmas tree. Nope. Tozawa ambushed him.
- They gotta do something else besides the roll-up. I get that the title is good natured, but c'mon.
- Tozawa was running away from Truth, who was hiding next to a statue.
- SANTA HITS TOZAWA WITH A BAG AND WINS THE TITLE.
- Missed opportunity by WWE to have R-Truth slip on Micro Machines and get pinned by Macaulay Culkin for the 24/7 Title.
- Santa is having a low-speed chase with Tozawa/Truth on horse drawn carriages.
- Truth pins a worn down Santa for the title. The ref gets mad and leaves because he's tired of chasing people around.
- Tozawa and Truth call a truce.
Bobby Lashley (w/ Lana) defeated Cedric
5.75/10
- This is a good matchup for both from a stylistic standpoint.
- Cedric is all over the place and getting some good offense in.
- I like that Lawler said Lashley was too worried about his wedding next week to focus on the match.
- Lana gets in the ring on the mic. She says they need to have a Greco Roman match to avoid strikes to Lashley's face.
- This stalls through the commercial and Lashley takes over. He does a nice elevated reverse STO.
- Cedric gets great offense, springboard clothesline, tope con hilo.
- Lashley hits a Yokosuka Cutter, and sets up for the spear. Cedric stifles him briefly, but eventually it lands.
- This was a good match that had the momentum halted by the Lana spot, but it did what it was supposed to do, I guess.
Drew McIntyre defeated Zack Ryder (w/ Curt Hawkins)
SQUASH
- Drew crushes Zack Ryder, then beats up Curt Hawkins after this.
- We're finally seeing some flavor, character and humor out of Drew.
Becky and Asuka
- Becky Lynch says she has to face Asuka next.
- She wants to collect her debt.
- These segments were a nice way to buy Kairi Sane some time to heal up over the holidays, hopefully.
- Asuka wants to be Asuka 2 Belts.
- Becky Lynch seems surprised that Asuka would want a title match for some reason, but says she'll do it.
- Becky speaks Japanese to Asuka.
Aleister Black beats Jobber
SQUASH
Buddy Murphy defeated Jobber
SQUASH
- The rematch between Black and Murphy is set for next week.
- Black crushes a jobber who sells really well.
- Buddy Murphy's theme sucks ass. They meet each other on the ramp.
- Murphy knees his jobber and hits Murphy's Law and wins. He raised the jobber up just like Black did.
- This is a lot of fun.
- Murphy passes on a handshake and get Black Massed.
Ricochet defeated Tony Nese
5/10
- This is a great opponent for Ricochet.
- I've always loved that Nese uses that Randy Savage hangman over the top rope.
- Recoil beats Nese.
Charlotte Flair defeated Chelsea Green
5/10
- There's a Chelsea Green package that airs. She looks like a million bucks.
- She does a great turnbuckle stomp and a dropkick.
- Green has a good showing and gets in good offense, but Charlotte wins with a big boot and a Figure Eight.
Backstage Crappenings
- Another Liv Morgan vignette. She says she's anything but typical.
- More Street Profits segments backstage that are totally pointless.
The OC defeated Randy Orton & Viking Raiders
5.75/10
- This is solid work, but the crowd isn't there early. There's some crowd sweetening though.
- Orton gets tagged in after Erik is worked over. The crowd comes alive.
- I like Orton as the utility player who can be a face or heel depending on the situation.
- Orton still selling the knee, having it taped up and selling it just getting dumped to the outside is good.
- Orton one leg suplexes, then Erik is in throwing some of his own. The crowd is awake for this now.
- The Viking Experience gets broken up.
- Orton hits an RKO on Anderson, but his leg gives out and Styles wins with a Phenomenal Forearm. This was an outstanding finish.
- If this wasn't largely pointless, it'd hit higher. It was good, though.
Rowan crushes jobber
SQUASH
- The jobber offers candy canes to Rowan, and whatever is in the crate.
- Nope. Iron Claw slams. This was MESSY.
Rusev defeated No Way Jose (w/ Conga Line)
SQUASH
- Rusev cuts a promo, he's not upset that Lana is getting married to Bobby Lashley. He says it's the biggest punishment Bobby Lashley can endure.
- No Way Jose dances and chops Rusev, who doesn't sell.
- Machka Kick. Pin.
- Rusev helps Jose up and dances. He then takes the conga line.
- Rusev has leaned out so much.
WWE United States Championship
Rey Mysterio (c) defeated Seth Rollins via DQ
5.75/10
- Mysterio misses a 619, and then Rollins ends up sending him outside.
- The ol' SUNSET FLIP WALLBOMB hits, but Rollins gets a Buckle Bomb of his own.
- Mysterio hits a 619, but Rey gets attacked by AOP.
- I guess I don't get why they would get Rollins DQ'd but wouldn't let him get pinned.
- AOP want to put Rey through the announce table. Joe says if he has to get up, it's AOP's asses.
- Rollins tries to play peacemaker, but then has AOP finish him.
- Rey gets Stomped on the stage.
- AOP put Joe through a table.
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!
