Skip to main content

My Thoughts on RAW (9/26/16): Man of 1004 Stupid Idiots

  • Roman Reigns (c) vs Rusev for the United States Championship-Rusev got a jobber entrance. That is not OK. The match starts with Rusev mat wrestling Reigns to the ground. Rusev locks in a front facelock before Reigns switches it and locks in a hammerlock. Rusev powers out, but Reigns knocks him back down with two shoulder tackles and locks in a headlock. Rusev counters and goes back to mat wrestling, taking Reigns down with a double leg takedown. Rusev hits a suplex for a one count before hammering away at Reigns with elbows. Reigns fights back with punches before hitting the ten clotheslines in the corner. Reigns goes for the school boy powerbomb, but Reigns back gives out, allowing Rusev to boot Reigns from the ring before the commercial break. We come back to Rusev working over Reigns with a waist lock. Reigns tries to fight out, but Rusev knocks him down with a dropkick. Rusev overhead gutwrench-suplexes Reigns twice, getting two near falls. Rusev continues to beat down and work over Reigns before Reigns hits a big clothesline. Reigns runs wild, hitting a bunch of clotheslines followed by a big boot. He wanks his fist calls for the Superman Punch, but Rusev counters and sends both of them out of the ring before another commercial break. We come back to Rusev getting a near fall on Reigns. Rusev tries for a superplex, but Reigns knocks him down and hits a diving clothesline. Reigns hits a Samoan Drop for a near fall and tries for a powerbomb, but Rusev breaks out. The two trade blows before Rusev hits a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Rusev goes to the top rope, but Reigns springs up and knocks him down to the outside. Reigns throws him back in the ring, only to take a roundhouse kick for a near fall. Rusev calls for the superkick, but Reigns dodges and goes for the Superman Punch. Rusev catches him and after a series of reversals, hits the superkick for another near fall. Rusev calls for the Accolade, but Reigns counters and hits the Superman Punch for another near fall. Reigns calls for the Spear, but Lana hopes up on the apron to distract him. Rusev goes for another superkick, but Reigns catches him and sends him from the ring. Reigns hits the drive-by dropkick and Rusev hopes the barricade. Reigns follows him out and the two both get counted out. Man, a really dull match for the majority of it. It picked up at the end, but it was boring for the most part. After the match, the two brawl at ringside, ending with Rusev beating down Reigns with a chair. Rusev throws Reigns back in the ring, only to take a Spear. After opting not hit Rusev with the chair, he decides to hit Rusev with the chair after he sees him trying to get up. Man, if they really wanted to sway people into watching this show instead of football or the Presidential Debate, then they did a bad job.
  • Outcomes Mick Foley. He addresses the end of Cesaro vs Sheamus at Clash of Champions. He says it's unfortunate that the match had to end to due to a medical stoppage and brings both men out. The two argue with eachother over who is tougher and say they are both done with eachother. Foley says that they are both right and they have both earned a title opportunity...a Tag Team Championship opportunity. The two will team up to face the winners of the Tag Team Championship match tonight. They oppose, but Foley says they have to do it. Honestly, I think they could be pretty dope as a tag team.
  • The New Day (c) vs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson for the Tag Team Championships-The New Day starts out hot, taking out both men quickly the same way Gallows & Anderson took them out at Clash of Champions. The New Day start the Unicorn Stampede, but Gallows breaks it up. Anderson hits a single leg dropkick on Kofi on the outside before rolling him back in and bringing him to his team's corner. Gallows & Anderson beat down Kofi before going to commercial break. We come back to more of the same, with Anderson hitting a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Kofi ends up dodging a knee drop and makes the hot tag to Big E. Big E hits three belly-to-belly suplexes in a row on Anderson while Kofi takes out Gallows. Anderson side-steps Big E and sends him into the ring post for a near fall. Big E sends Anderson through the ropes and hits the spear through the ropes. The New Day hits the Midnight Hour on Anderson, but Gallows breaks up the pin. Kofi calls for Trouble in Paradise, but Anderson rolls out. Gallows takes out Kofi and Anderson hits a diving neckbreaker on Big E. Gallows & Anderson hit the Magic Killer, but Kofi makes the save. A busted open Kofi hits a jumping DDT on Anderson followed up by Trouble in Paradise for the win. Great match, even better than last night's.
  • Now, I'm assuming a lot of people have turned off the show to watch the Presidential Debate tonight at this point, so I could probably just make up whatever I want at this point because something a lot more important is happening right now. So yeah, Sin Cara unmasked and revealed himself as the Great Khali. The Bullet Club invaded RAW and jobbed in 90 seconds to the Shining Stars & Curtis Axel. Eddie Guerrero rose from the dead and challenged Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship. Yeah, that's about it.
  • Backstage, Cesaro & Sheamus argue before Foley shows up. Sheamus asks for Foley to reconsider his decision, but Foley says he won't because he can't risk losing one of them by putting them in an 8th match. He tells them to trust him and give it a chance.
  • Bayley vs Ana Feels-Feels rushes Bayley and beats her down for a while. Bayley turns the tides and runs through Feels, finishing her off with the Belly-to-Bayley for the win. Yeah, could Bayley like...not struggle against jobbers. Like, it was fine in NXT because those women usually become part of the roster when they face Bayley afterward. There's a big difference between struggling against Peyton Royce or Billie Kay and struggling against a jobber who's name I'm entirely sure I heard right. Just saying.
  • Backstage, Foley confronts Stephanie McMahon about the main event of Clash of Champions and how she only found a referee after all the interference. Stephanie then berates Foley for accusing her of doing something wrong. Foley apologizes before Stephanie drops the news that Seth Rollins is not medically cleared tonight, and tells Foley to keep him away from Kevin Owens if he shows up.
  • Rich Swann & Cedric Alexander vs Lince Dorado & Drew Gulak-Swann & Dorado kick off with fast-paced exchanges, ending with a double dropkick and a double kip up. Dorado hits a backward facebuster, but Alexander breaks up the pin. Alexander & Gulak fight to the outside before Swann gets back body dropped onto Gulak and Dorado takes out everyone with a moonsault before the commercial break. We come back to Gulak working over Swann in his team's corner. Swann is able to dodge a dropkick in the corner and makes the tag to Alexander. Alexander runs wild on Gulak, hitting an enziguri and a springboard clothesline. Dorado breaks it up, only to take the Lumbar Check, a side-suplex backstabber combo. Gulak hits a side suplex and tags Swann. Swann hits a Rich Kick, a spin kick, and make the jackknife cover for the win. Good match. 
  • Cesaro & Sheamus vs Nick Cutler & Willis Williams-Cesaro is more tape than man at this point. Also, how does beating two guys Gillberg & The Brooklyn Brawler could beat prove how well Cesaro & Sheamus can work together as a tag team. Cesaro kicks off by hitting a delayed vertical suplex on Cutler. Sheamus initially opts not to tag in, but then blind tags Cesaro. He beats down Cutler & Williams before Cesaro blind tags. The jobbers work over Cesaro's injured arm. He eventually beats them down and goes for the Neutralizer on Cutler, only for Sheamus to Brogue Kick both men. Cesaro hesitantly covers Cutler for the win.
  • Tom Phillips interviews TJ Perkins. He says becoming Cruiserweight Champion and competing on RAW is a dream come true. He is interrupted by Brian Kendrick, who says the Cruiserweight Championship was brought back for him and that Perkins owes him his career. Kendrick tells him that the next time they face off, he'll be the winner. Seeing this segment made me realize why TNA made Perkins wear a mask and be silent. Not a strong promo.
  • Outcomes Charlotte & Dana Brooke. Charlotte says Clash of Champions was her night. She says that she disappoints everyone who wants to see her fail before Sasha Banks comes out. She says the Women's Championship is still her's and says she was never pinned. She says she wants her one-on-one rematch for the title right now. Charlotte says that she is better than Sasha, but says she'll give Sasha a rematch next week. Sasha promises she'll beat Charlotte and become the face of the division. She slaps Charlotte before locking in the Bank Statement on Dana. Charlotte breaks up the hold, but Sasha gets the upper hand and tosses both of them from the ring. 
  • Backstage, Seth Rollins walks up to Mick Foley. Rollins says nothing will stop him from interrupting the Highlight Reel tonight. Foley says he's not medically cleared, but Rollins doesn't care. He says he only hears Stephanie's words when Foley talks.
  • TJ Perkins vs Tony Nese-Tony Nese is dope. Therefore, Tony Nese on RAW is dope. Nese locks in a wristlock to start only for Perkins to turn it into a headscissor takedown. After a series of reversals, Perkins locks in the kneebar, only for Nese to quickly get the ropes. Outside the ring, Nese hits a superkick followed by a corkscrew plancha. Nese rolls Perkins back in the ring and gets a near fall before the commercial break. We come back to Perkins locking in an octopus hold, only for Nese to reverse it into a gutwrench suplex. Nese works over Perkins until Perkins hits a hurricanrana. C*nt fans chant "CM Punk" as Perkins hits a neckbreaker followed by a double chicken wing gutbuster for a near fall. Perkins goes for a tornado DDT, but Nese catches him and drops him on the ropes before kicking him for a near fall. Perkins hits a wrecking ball dropkick before locking in the kneebar for the win. Very good match, but it's a shame that the crowd didn't care for the majority of it.
  • It's the Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho, who still has the List of Jericho with him. He's the best. Also, after Enzo & Cass name dropped them last week and Jericho said he & Owens were better friends than them, Ashton Kutcher & Danny Masterson responded to him in a Twitter video and said they'll be on RAW next week. Jericho decides to add them to the List of Jericho, along with an unnamed cameraman who shot him from the wrong side. He actually straight up says "unnamed cameraman". He brings out his guest tonight, Kevin Owens. Owens says Cincinnati sucks for giving us Dean Ambrose and says he proved that he should have been the #1 pick for RAW. He says he's most dangerous man in WWE after taking out Rollins, which brings out Rollins. Security, the agents, Stephanie, and Foley run down to stop him from going in the ring. Owens & Jericho taunt Rollins before he is forced to the back. Outcomes Enzo & Cass. Jericho adds them to the list, so Cass calls him Santa Claus for having a list. Jericho threatens to sit on Cass' lap before retracting it. Cass mocks him for it before Jericho says he was gonna punch him in the face. Cass then tells Owens & Jericho that Foley told them that they have a match tonight against Jericho & Owens.
  • Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs Jeri-KO-Jericho & Enzo start, with Enzo dropping Jericho with a dropkick. Owens tags in and asks for Cass. Enzo & Cass work over Owens before tossing him & Jericho out of the ring and Cass tossing Enzo onto them. Owens takes control and the heels work over Cass. Owens rams Cass into the ring post before the commercial break. We come back to Cass making the hot tag to Enzo. Enzo runs wild on Jericho, hitting a crossbody before getting backbody dropped onto the apron. Jericho knocks Enzo down with an enziguri before Owens chucks him into the barricade and mocks Enzo's dance. He is also great. Jericho hits a suplex before doing the gun show pose & one-foot pin. He is still great. This team is great. Give them all the belts. Jericho sets up Enzo for a superplex, but Enzo knocks him down and goes for a diving DDT, but Jericho counters him with a dropkick. The heels beat down Enzo until Enzo makes the hot tag to Cass. Cass runs wild on Owens, hitting a fallaway slam and a Stinger Splash on Owens and a big boot on Jericho off a flying nothing. Cass hits the Empire Elbow on Owens and the East River Crossing on Jericho, followed by a big boot on Owens. Enzo & Cass set up for the Rocket Launcher, but Jericho stops them. Cass takes out Jericho and Enzo hits the DDG on Owens for a near fall. Owens takes Enzo out with a clothesline before hitting a powerbomb for the win. Really good match.
And that's about it. Overall, a good episode of RAW. It started off pretty shaky, but it ended up having a lot of good wrestling and a great main event.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to share if you enjoyed. Also, check out my Patreon

Comments

More from The Wrestling Section

Worst in the World: The Gimmick Battle Royal-WrestleMania X-Seven

(Special thanks to Frost for suggesting this match. If you'd like to see a match covered on the Worst in the World, leave a comment down below.) WrestleMania X-Seven. Heavily considered the not just the best WrestleMania, but the greatest wrestling show of all time, WrestleMania X-Seven took place during the hottest period in the WWF's history, and features just about every one of the hottest acts in wrestling at the time. An undercard featuring the likes of Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, William Regal, Kane, and the Big Show. One of the biggest female stars in the history of wrestling in Chyna. A killer TLC match between the Dudley Boyz, the Hardy Boyz, and Edge & Christian. A wild brawl between The Undertaker and Triple H. A massive main event between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. Hell, even the father vs son Street Fight between Vince & Shane McMahon. It's a star-studded affair. However, there's one match that sticks out like

Worst in the World: The Last Rites Match-TNA Destination X 2007

(Special thanks to an anonymous user for suggesting this match. If you'd like to see a match covered on the Worst in the World, leave a comment down below.) An often discussed aspect of professional wrestling is the backstage politicking of Hulk Hogan. Throughout his career as a major attraction in wrestling, Hogan's philosophy has always been to protect Hulk Hogan...OK, sometimes he'd help Ed Leslie, but most of the time it was to protect Hulk Hogan. Because of that philosophy and Hogan's influence as a top guy, there have been multiple instances where a company's booking and other wrestlers have suffered as a result. Would having Mr. Perfect win the 1990 Royal Rumble made sense and could have elevated a rising star and potentially created a new main event player? Yes, but that would require Hogan to not win, and that doesn't work for Hogan, so he wins the Rumble even though he doesn't need elevating. Would booking Randy Orton to beat Hogan at SummerSlam 20

Worst in the World: D-Generation X vs Brothers of Destruction-Crown Jewel

This match didn't need to happen. After Triple H and the Undertaker had one of the most brutally bad matches of 2018 at Super Show-Down not even a month earlier, nobody wanted to see them try to wrestle again. Also, nobody wanted to see Shawn Michaels come out of retirement after his fantastic sendoff in 2010, especially for a match like this. But here we are, Triple H & Shawn Michaels facing The Undertaker & Kane in 2018. The combined ages of these four at the time is 206. That's a number you'd expect to see from a match at Heroes of Wrestling. And anyone can come up with their own reason as to why this match is happening, but that would just be ignoring the actual reason. For those of you who don't know, Crown Jewel was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That might not seem like important information, but you can't really discuss this match without mentioning it. Despite the numerous reasons that running shows in Saudi Arabia is morally wrong (their abuse

Worst in the World: Nia Jax's Worst Matches

Click the link here to vote in the poll and help decide the next edition of the Worst in the World. Nia Jax's first run with the WWE can really only be described as hard to watch. Sure, she had a few stand-out matches, most notably (and surprisingly) her match with Ronda Rousey at Money in the Bank, and an underrated gem with Bayley at NXT TakeOver: London, but those were always outshined by her most infamous matches and moments. She's since returned to WWE and, for the most part, seems to have improved a bit, but the reputation she got from her initial run is gonna be hard to shake off. This week, I'll be looking at some of Jax's worst matches. These include just flat-out bad matches, and matches that have become infamous examples of her reckless in-ring work. Match #1: vs Charlotte Flair-April 10th, 2017 Raw The first match we'll be looking at is from the April 10, 2017 episode of Monday Night Raw, when Nia took on Charlotte Flair. The two had been on the losing e

Worst in the World: Carmella vs Asuka: How to Destroy an Aura

Throughout the entire history of the WWE, we've never seen, and probably will never see again, a woman booked as strong as Asuka was to start her run. Coming into WWE in 2015 with over a decade of experience wrestling in her native Japan as Kana, Asuka was immediately treated like a huge deal. Hell, even from the first time we saw her on a WWE broadcast, she was seated in the crowd of NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn next to two Hall of Famers in Ric Flair & Sgt. Slaughter. Officially debuting in October 2015, Asuka would go her entire NXT career, nearly two full years, without being pinned or submitted. She was booked so strong, in fact, that instead of dropping the NXT Women's Championship in what would be her last match in NXT at the time to Ember Moon (even after sustaining an injury), an act that is almost always the case for champions leaving NXT for the main roster, Asuka retained and later vacated the title, keeping her streak intact. For a company that is more than willing t