Skip to main content

My Thoughts on RAW (2/13/17): Friendship is Magic

  • We kick off the show with Stephanie McMahon...boo. She says she's given Mick Foley the week off. She is quickly interrupted by Roman Reigns...boo. He says he wants to fight Braun Strowman right now, so Stephanie asks the fans if they want to see Reigns vs Strowman tonight. The fans obviously say yes, which Stephanie uses to show that the fans want to see him get the piss beat out of him. Stephanie says Reigns won't face Strowman until Fastlane before announcing that Strowman will already be facing Mark Henry tonight. Reigns says he'll come out and watch the match up close, but Stephanie threatens to cancel his match and keep him off the WrestleMania card if he touches Strowman. They are interrupted by Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, who say that Reigns is disrespecting Stephanie. They challenge Reigns to a handicap match, which Stephanie books in honor of the newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame...Teddy Long. Ah yes, because that's what Teddy Long was famous for...booking handicap matches. Not tag matches, handicap matches. His habit for booking handicap matches is almost as famous as his catchphrase "Now hold on a second, homies". And who could forget how he'd always book people to go one-on-one with the Big Show. What I'm getting at is NO, THAT IS NOT WHAT TEDDY LONG IS FAMOUS FOR, STEPHANIE! YOU STUPID IDIOT! I'm sorry, where was I? Oh yeah, Reigns brawls with Gallows & Anderson before the commercial break.
  • Roman Reigns vs Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson-That match starts during the commercial break. Gallows & Anderson hit a belly-to-back suplex/neckbreaker combo for a near fall. Reigns is able to mount some offense and runs wild on Anderson, clotheslining him to death before hitting a big boot. Reigns calls for the Superman Punch, but Gallows distracts him, allowing Anderson to get a near fall off a roll up. Reigns hits the Superman Punch, but Gallows rushes him before he can hit a spear. Gallows & Anderson double team Reigns until they are DQ'd. Fun fact: Since becoming Tag Team Champions, Gallows & Anderson are 1-2, and the win was from a DQ. I'm sorry, that wasn't fun, that was just sad. Gallows & Anderson go for the Magic Killer, but Reigns fights out, Superman Punches Gallows, and boots Anderson, who was trying to attack Reigns with a chair, in the face.
  • Kofi Kingston with Big E & Xavier Woods vs Bo Dallas-Before the match, Kofi mocks Bo for being alone (a "social outcast", if you will...Kofi's joke, not mine) before Woods says they have plans for a New Day "ice cream machine", which they plan to share after Kofi beats Bo. Man...they're really out of ideas for the New Day, aren't they? The whole match, the crowd chants "We Want Ice Cream". Kofi dropkicks Bo out of the ring as the New Day dances while chanting for ice cream. Bo starts to dance to, but that's just so he can steal the plans (which Big E was carrying in a folder) and rip them up. This prompts Kofi to dive onto him and mourn the ice cream machine plans. Back in the ring, Bo takes advantage and hits a rope hung whiplash neckbreaker for a near fall, but Kofi quickly wins with the SOS for the win. Afterward, the New Day pours Booty-Os in Bo's mouth.
  • Charly Caruso interviews Neville. He says he'll beat Jack Gallagher in record time at Fastlane and says he doesn't pose a threat to him. Gallagher walks up, so Neville tells him he's not on his level. Gallagher says people don't like Neville because he's a "bloody pillock". And to save you the few seconds you'd spend Googling it:
  • Noam Dar with Alicia Fox vs Jack Gallagher-The two go back and forth to start before Dar kicks Gallagher's leg out from under him. Dar beats down on Gallagher, targeting the left leg to set up for the kneebar. Gallagher fights back and does a body scissor takedown followed by two dropkicks and a big headbutt. Gallagher finishes Dar off with a running dropkick in the corner for the win. After the match, Neville comes out and stares down Gallagher from the stage.
  • Triple H & Samoa Joe pull up in a limo. It looked badass and that's the only reason I'm bringing it up.
  • FINALLY! EMMALINA! Emmalina says we've waited seventeen weeks for the premiere of Emmalina. It feels like it's been seventeen years. She then says we will now see the makeover of "Emmalina"...to Emma, then leaves...ARE YOU F*CKING SERIOUS! YOU HYPED THIS SH*T FOR FOUR F*CKING MONTHS AND YOU GIVE US THAT! F*CK OFF! F*CK RIGHT OFF WITH THAT BULLSH*T!
  • So Charly Caruso interviews no I'm not done F*CK RIGHT THE F*CK OFF WITH THAT NONSENSE! OK, I'm good now.
  • Anyway, Charly Caruso interviews Bayley. She says she's nervous about her Women's Championship match tonight, but she's ready for it.
  • Backstage, Kevin Owens & Chris Jericho are talking about the Festival of Friendship when Triple H walks up. He asks to talk to Owens alone, so he & Owens walk off.
  • Braun Strowman vs Mark Henry-The two lock up, but are too evenly matched strength-wise. The two trade blows before Strowman floors Henry with a clothesline. Strowman beats down Henry until Henry blocks a punch from Strowman. Henry hits two corner splashes before going for the World's Strongest Slam, but he collapses under Strowman's weight. Strowman hits a big dropkick before hitting a powerslam for the win. Pretty boring match, nothing worth watching. Immediately after the match, Roman Reigns comes out and goes after Strowman. The two have a fight, ending with Strowman catching Reigns on a spear attempt and hitting a running powerslam.'
  • Backstage, Cesaro & Sheamus are teaching Bayley how to punch before Enzo Amore & Big Cass walk up. Sheamus gets pissed at them for costing them their Tag Team Championship match last week, but Cass justifies it because Gallows hit Enzo first. Enzo tells Sheamus & Cesaro to do something about it, so Sheamus & Cesaro get in his face. Cass then stands in the way and stares down Sheamus & Cesaro while Enzo talks smack from behind him. How is Enzo Amore still a babyface? Seriously, think of everything he's done for the last like two or three months. He's pursued a married woman, then slut-shamed her on RAW, and then made fun of a team for losing a championship match because of him? Nothing about any of those things makes me think "Hey, this guy is likable!"
  • Michael Cole interviews Samoa Joe. He says what he did to Seth Rollins was dishonorable, but he doesn't care because it was for a greater purpose. Joe says Triple H doesn't need to justify why he brought him up and the only reason he wasn't in WWE for the past 18 years is because they were scared to hire him. Joe gets annoyed at Cole for talking about Triple H more than about him, so Cole changes the subject to his debut next week. Joe says he hasn't beaten everyone in his way for 18 years and Roman Reigns was no different. He says he's on RAW to make a statement and nobody can stand toe-to-toe with him. Cole mentions Triple H again and all the people who have been chosen by him like Seth Rollins, but Joe says he's different because unlike them, he doesn't need to be propped up by Triple H. He then threatens anyone who wants to get in his way before walking off.
  • Sami Zayn vs Rusev with Lana-The two feel eachother out to start before Zayn barely dodges a roundhouse kick. Rusev takes Zayn down to the mat and works him over, but Zayn is able to fight back to feet and hits a pop-up dropkick that sends Rusev out of the ring. Zayn follows up with a somersault tope. Zayn throws Rusev back in the ring, but Rusev catches him with a superkick when Zayn tries to hit a springboard move before the commercial break. We come back to see Rusev give Zayn a forearm to the back. Rusev locks in a bearhug, but Zayn fights out, only for Rusev to catch him on a crossbody attempt and hit a fallaway slam. Rusev sets Zayn up on the top rope, but Zayn knocks him down, but Rusev gives him a roundhouse kick for a near fall. Rusev beats down Zayn in the corner until Zayn dodges a charging Rusev, who falls over the top rope and out of the ring. Rusev keeps control on the outside, but Zayn hits a Helluva Kick out of nowhere when Rusev gets back in the ring for the win. Pretty good match. After the match, Charly Caruso interviews Zayn. He says he got a huge win tonight and he won't stay down. He then calls out Samoa Joe for his jab at him during his interview and says Joe sold out. He gets interrupted by Joe's music, but Joe comes out from behind and blindsides Zayn on the stage. Joe beats down Zayn, throws him into the minitron, and locks in the Coquina Clutch. Zayn chokes out Joe.
  • As Stephanie McMahon said earlier, handicap match enthusiast Teddy Long is going into the WWE Hall of Fame.
  • Akira Tozawa vs Ariya Daivari-Brian Kendrick is on commentary for this match. The whole crowd chants "AH" for Tozawa. The two trade chops before Tozawa fakes a chop and slaps Daivari. Tozawa hits a senton and charges at Daivari in the corner, but Daivari sends him into the turnbuckle face first before clotheslining him. Daivari beats down Tozawa before locking in a sleeper hold, but Tozawa breaks out and hits a headscissor takedown. Tozawa sends Daivari out of the ring before hitting a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Tozawa hits a spin kick and one of the nicest & fastest German suplexes I've ever seen for the win. Tozawa is great.
  • It's time for the Festival of Friendship! It even got pyro! A bunch of Vegas showgirls come out before Chris Jericho comes out before introducing a rather unenthusiastic Kevin Owens. The showgirls accompany Jericho to the ring. Jericho reveals a piece of "minimalist-maximalist" art that cost $7,000. He then unveils the "Creation of Kevin", which is the Creation of Adam but with Owens & himself. Jericho says he wants Owens to hang it in his house, but he can't because he has kids. Also, Jericho isn't wearing pants in the picture. He then brings out a magician who pulls streamers out of his mouth before turning a piece of paper into a flower by lighting it on fire. Owens says the magician sucks because his nine-year-old son can do that. Jericho then turns on the magician, puts him on the list, and makes him leave. Jericho then calls out Goldberg to come out to the ring, and Jericho says that when Goldberg comes out, he's going to get...goes to commercial break...IT! That's incredible. And out comes...GILLBERG! Owens rushes Gillberg and throws him into the ring apron. Owens yells at Jericho and says he doesn't understand why Jericho did this if it wasn't just to beat up Goldberg. Jericho says he did to show Owens how much he means to him. He then says he'll make sure Owens wins at Fastlane because he always has his back. Owens apologizes for blowing up at him and they hug it out. Owens then gives him a present...the List of KO...and Jericho's on the list. Owens attacks Jericho and destroys the Creation of Kevin. Owens powerbombs Jericho into the apron before throwing him into the big screen in the ring. My heart. It hurts. In fact, I suggest listening to this song for the remainder of this review in order to feel what I felt watching it.
  • Enzo Amore with Big Cass vs Cesaro with Sheamus-I didn't pay attention to whatever Enzo & Cass said because everything is just darkness now. Cesaro uppercuts Enzo before hitting a gut wrench suplex before throwing him out of the ring. Enzo goes for a sunset flip, but Cesaro blocks it and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker followed by a double stomp. Cesaro hits two corner uppercuts before Enzo blocks the third one and hits the DDG. Enzo goes for a suicide dive, but Cesaro gets back in the ring and hits a Very European Uppercut for the win. Whatever, nothing is good right now.
  • I need to talk about these Black History Month vignettes. You know, where all the black wrestlers talk about influential black people throughout history, clearly reading lines that sound like they're directly from Wikipedia. I can't for when they talk about Martin Luther King Jr. so Alica Fox can be like "Martin Luther King Jr., the American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement." followed by Apollo Crews being like "Yeah, he is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs." 
  • Backstage, Charlotte walks into Sasha Banks and says she is depressing because of how far Sasha has fallen. Sasha says she'll beat her again anytime, any place. Sasha isn't the only thing that's depressing on this show.
  • Charlotte Flair (c) vs Bayley-RAW Women's Championship-I could use a hug right now. Charlotte takes control with a wristlock, cutting off any attempts by Bayley to mount some offense. Charlotte gets a near fall of a roll up before locking in a wristlock of her own. Charlotte leaves the ring before the commercial break. We come back to see Bayley no sell some headshots in the corner before ramming Charlotte's head into the turnbuckle. Bayley hits a springboard crossbody for a near fall, but Charlotte comes back and throws Bayley into the turnbuckle with a school boy, causing her to hit her neck. Charlotte works over Bayley with a sleeper before hitting a backbreaker followed by a neckbreaker, which she holds onto for a submission hold before hitting another backbreaker. Charlotte continues to work over with a dragon sleeper, which Bayley reverses and locks in one of her own before booting Charlotte back into the corner. Bayley is able to avoid a charging Charlotte in the corner but gets booted off the ring apron to the outside. Charlotte hits a moonsault off the barricade to a standing Bayley before rolling her back in the ring for a near fall. The two trade blows back in the ring until they both go down off a double crossbody. Bayley runs wild on Charlotte, hitting a scoop suplex and a diving back elbow for a near fall. Bayley hits a jawbreaker through the ropes followed by a side suplex before going to the top rope for an elbow drop for a near fall. Charlotte goes to the top rope, but Bayley meets her there and hits a Super Frankensteiner for a near fall. Bayley calls for the Belly to Bayley, but Dana Brooke distracts her long enough for Charlotte to almost get a roll up win. Bayley kicks out and locks in the Figure Four, but Brooke rakes her eyes behind the referees back, forcing her to break the hold. Charlotte locks in the Figure Eight, but Sasha Banks runs down, hits Dana Brooke with her crutch before hitting Charlotte without the referee seeing. Bayley gets up and hits the Belly to Bayley for the win. Great match, a great way to close the show. But me being cynical, I'm assuming Charlotte will just win the title back at Fastlane. 

Comments

More from The Wrestling Section

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: 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: 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: Eric Young & Shark Boy vs Generation Me-TNA Destination X 2011

Click the link here to vote in the poll and help decide the next edition of the Worst in the World. Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, few tag teams made as much noise on the independent scene as the Young Bucks. Really breaking out at a time when WWE made their tag division a borderline afterthought, Matt & Nick Jackson were almost unmatched in terms of elite matches on the indys, most notably in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla & Ring of Honor before joining New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Bullet Club, becoming mainstays of the group as it reached its peak throughout the mid-2010s. Sure, their style hasn't endeared them to old-school wrestling fans, but you can't deny their impact on wrestling. And with the arrival of All Elite Wrestling in 2019, North American fans would finally get to see the Young Bucks on national television for the first time... However... In what has become somewhat of a footnote in their careers, the Young Bucks had been on a nationally televised wrestlin...