Sorry to be MIA the last week, but hey, the blog is a hobby, and life happens. I’m back though for your weekly recap of Monday Raw as it comes to us from London, England! Yes, that means tonight’s show is pre-taped, but I have not looked at any spoilers, meaning my reaction will be genuine. Hope you enjoy, and please like, share, and follow me on Twitter @GeCWrestling!
Dean Ambrose Promo
Looks like Dean Ambrose is starting the show off with his usual goofy shtick. It may or may not be growing on me. Having him as the GM for the night should at least make for an entertaining night.
The Miz continues his feud with Ambrose by interrupting. Miz has been on the best run of his career, and it really hasn’t shown signs of going stale. Pre-taped shows are always a bit awkward with the editing though, as the crowd reactions seem oddly cut around Miz’s promo. Miz says that Stephanie McMahon has made him Ambrose’s co-GM. We’ll see how this works.
As Ambrose and Miz close their promo, BRAUN decides make his presence known. Braun Strowman wears the sling to sell the injury, then get’s his now frequent, “Thank you, Strowman” chant. That’s your true #1 face right now.
As Strowman calls out Lesnar, Kalisto comes out. Cause, you know, sure, let’s keep doing that. Kalisto’s going to get his beating tonight from the one-armed Strowman. Why isn’t he in the cruiserweight division?
Ambrose makes the first match of the night, and we get Finn Balor taking on Miz. Why not just start with that? Another opening promo, and another shoulder shrug.
2.5 Chair Shots out of 5
Finn Balor vs The Miz (w/ Maryse)
Finn Balor should get a massive reaction from the crowd this whole match. The man is a special talent, and the UK certainly knows what he has done in his career pre-WWE. Ok, I promise I’m done gushing over Balor…
I’m lying obviously.
I can’t help but wonder what match Miz will end up putting Ambrose in. Miz will probably get beat by Balor, leaving him upset, meaning we’ll get Ambrose vs Samoa Joe maybe? Balor controls the match early, with Miz being saved from a top rope move from Balor prior to the commercial break.
Watching Maryse dance around outside of the ring as he husband takes control is in itself entertaining. You know, I miss watching valets and managers and their antics outside of the ring. It seems rarer these days.
Miz shoves Balor into the ref as Maryse distracts him, and Miz leaves the ring and demands the ref disqualify Balor. Interesting twist to the end of that match as Miz wins? Weird.
Ambrose comes out and reverses the decision though and demands the match restart while banning Maryse from ringside. Balor quickly brings Miz to the ring, hits the Sling-blade, as drop kick, and finishes the match with a Coup de Grace. Balor ends with the win after the match is restarted.
Solid match with the appropriate ending.
3 Chair Shots out of 5
Alexa Bliss (w/ Nia Jax) vs Mickie James (w/ Bayley)
Crowd loves Bayley tonight. And Mickie. Two raucous chants for the two faces to get things rolling. The crowd is always fun in London. Well, whatever they don’t cut out.
I really enjoy Nia Jax. She’s gotten considerably better since first debuting on the main roster, and they’ve done well to build her up. And a Jax/Bliss match could be really interesting down the road, even if they’d need one to turn face (which I don’t see working for either one of them).
James and Bliss are putting on a good enough match too. I’m enjoying the crowd, the action, everything. Jax distracts James, is hit by Bayley, and Bliss capitalizes on the chaos by taking out James for the 3 count. Post-match, Bliss continues beating James before Bayley makes the save chasing Bliss up the ramp.
Jax then gets in the ring, beats James down some more, before walking up the ramp herself.
Not bad, although a bit of a crowded segment. Enjoyed it.
3 Chair Shots out of 5
Braun Strowman vs Kalisto
Well, Braun said he’d beat Kalisto with one arm. I have no doubt about that.
Braun takes the mic, and says he won’t accept the match because he’s injured. He turns to leave, but then the bell rings and Strowman decides screw it, let’s kill Kalisto tonight. As he begins the beating, Reigns’ music hits and the boos begin. Looks like Braun’s going to beat Roman with one arm now.
Reigns’ kicks Strowman in the injured arm, staggering the Monster, before Reigns hits him with 3 Superman punches. Strowman and Reigns then fight for a bit outside of the ring and Reigns releases his sadistic side, targeting that injured arm of Strowman. A number of chair shots on the injured arm, and Strowman escapes through the crowd as Reigns is booed standing tall in the ring.
Match is a no contest, but this rivalry between Reigns and Strowman really is a fun one.
3 Chair Shots out of 5
Tag Team Turmoil (#1 Contender’s match)
I don’t like this match very much. I just am not a fan of the set up for these turmoil matches, so I apologize now. It could be a 5 Chairs rating and I may not see it because of my bias. And of course Enzo and Cass start.
Cesaro and Sheamus really revitalized their careers by getting together. Whether heel or face, they seem to work well as a team. Cesaro looks so big next to Enzo. Enzo and Cass are eliminated after a tap-out while Enzo is locked in the Sharpshooter.
Rhyno and Heath Slater are the second team, but Cesaro and Sheamus beat them down before the second match begins, giving the heels an edge as the crowd chants “He’s got kids”. This turns into “no more kids” after a Cesaro lays a legdrop on Slater’s nether regions. This match doesn’t last long, and the heels win with a Brogue Kick.
Round 3 gives us The Club vs Sheamus and Cesaro, the rare heel vs heel match. They’ve really gone out of their way to make Sheamus and Cesaro look very strong. The Club put up a better fight, but The Golden Truth come out fresh for the final match.
The Golden Truth get a hot start, but it’ll be interesting to see what they do with the two. If they lose, do they go the break-up route? They aren’t going to win, are they? Not when Sheamus and Cesaro have unfinished business with the Hardyz. Golden Truth come close, but ultimately fall to Sheamus and Cesaro, who look super impressive tonight.
Not a fan of this match type, but I did enjoy the way that all played out.
The Hardyz come out post-match to confront the #1 Contenders, who roll away.
4 Chair Shots out of 5
Seth Rollins vs Samoa Joe
I’m a bit surprised that this match is happening on Raw. I know they need to build this rivalry up, and a few more matches would create more tension between the two, but it just feels a bit out of place. They should be better together than they have so far, so I had hoped they’d create a bit more outside the ring first. That said, I do like watching them fight. I just wish I cared more.
I’m really over the knee thing with Rollins too. I get it; he hurt his knee and almost had to miss WrestleMania, but there’s only so long you can milk an injury before fans start to get bored with it. There’s no emotional build or investment when you keep limping around for 2 months. Time for a new approach, because we know you aren’t doing a spring-board clothesline or a Falcon Arrow with a knee that’s barely functional.
Match ends when Joe is disqualified for using an exposed turnbuckle. The rating is low because I still haven’t found reason to invest in this rivalry.
2.5 Chair Shots out of 5
TJP vs Gentleman Jack Gallagher
TJP the heel is far more intriguing than TJ Perkins the face. Gallagher certainly isn’t going to get the win, since he’s in his home country. TJP gets the win in a relatively short match, pulling the tights in a roll-up. TJP beats Gallagher down post-match, before Austin Aries comes out to save the face, and exact a little revenger on TJP. The match served its purpose, building the story lines of the cruiserweight division, but these four guys seem to be the only ones ever featured…
3 Chair Shots out of 5
Sasha Banks vs Alicia Fox
Probably another quick match. Also likely a squash. Banks doesn’t have much going on, but should be featured because of her popularity. Fox actually controls the match for the most part early on, but Banks does get the win, albeit not as convincingly as I thought it may be. They also try throwing some controversy about a raised shoulder, but still just there.
2 Chair Shots out of 5
Dean Ambrose vs Bray Wyatt
Of course, in response to the match Miz was put in earlier in the night, we have Dean Ambrose being put in a match against Bray Wyatt thanks to Ambrose’s co-GM. The match is pretty good, with some decent back and forth, but ultimately Miz distracts, then hits Ambrose with the belth to give Wyatt a near-fall. Wyatt then follows it up with a Sister Abigail, and Miz announces Bray Wyatt the winner to the arena. Miz avoids Wyatt, then gets into the ring for a beat-down. Good enough match.
3.5 Chair Shots out of 5
Final Grade
You know, it was a show with a hot crowd, but a pretty average over all outcome. The matches were a bit flat at times, and uninspired stories were either progressed or forgotten (Uh, Wyatt/Balor anyone?). This show just kind of happened. I don’t really have much to say about it.
2.5 Chair Shots out of 5