Rate Raw 1/1/2018

[Jacob Fox]

Rate the first Monday Night Raw of the new year and leave comments to let us know what you thought of the show!

Spoiler: Raw Results

Opening

Alexa Bliss confronted Kurt Angle about her match with Asuka and told Angle to call off the match. Angle told her she was lucky that it wasn't a championship match, but added "yet" to the end of it. He then left and went to the ring.

Angle announced that John Cena would be in the men's royal rumble match. He announced that there would be 30 entrants in the women's rumble. Before he could go much further, he was interrupted by the Bar who complained about losing their tag championship. They demanded a rematch but Angle said they would get it when he said so. They were then interrupted by Jason Jordan. He denied that he got the title shot because of favoritism. So he made a match between Cesaro and Jason Jordan. Before the match started, Seth Rollins came to the ring and accussed Jordan of not thinking he was outnumbered 2 to 1. He told Jordan to stop being so self absorbed because he had to protect his half of the tag team championship and would be in the corner but he was out there to watch Jordan lose.

Cesaro vs Jason Jordan.

Jordan won by pin fall.

Apollo Crews vs Bray Wyatt

Wyatt defeated Crews by pin fall and then Matt Hardy appeared on the screen, letting Bray know he would delete Bray. Wyatt looked very confused.

Backstage

Alexa Bliss tried to get Nia Jax in her corner for her match with Asuka. Nia told Alexa that she had to get chicken soup to Enzo Amore. Bliss made Nia choose between Enzo and her, and Nia left, claiming the soup was getting cold.

Alexa Bliss vs Asuka

Asuka defeated Alexa Bliss by submission.

Braun Strowman vs Rhyno

During the match, Strowman told Heath Slater to either join the match or leave and Heath joined. However Braun quickly defeated Rhyno. Slater tried to help after the match but to no avail. Strowan continued to body slam them over and over.

Backstage

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns were talking about Roman's match with Joe. They were interrupted by Jason Jordan, who was acting like he was a member of the Shield. When he left, the other two looked confused at why Jordan was behaved that way.

In another segment, Finn Balor entered himself into the Royal Rumble. He also choose Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson as his partners vs the Miztourage and Elias for a six man tag.

Intercontinental Championship: Champion Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe

A stipulation in this match was the if Roman Reigns got disqualified, he would lose the title.

Roman Reigns won by pin fall

Cedric Alexander and Goldust vs Ari Devari and Drew Gulak

This was supposed to be a cruiserweight championship match but Enzo was out sick so it became a tag match.

Cedric Alexander and Goldust won by pin fall.

Miztourage and Elias vs Finn Balor and the Club

Finn Balor and the Club won by pin fall

Brock Lesnar

Paul Heyman decried yet another multiple man title match but claimed Lesnar would prevail. Kane came to the ring and chokeslammed Lesnar. As Kane was leaving, Lesnar sat up like Kane or the Undertaker and laughed at Kane. He knocked Kane out of the ring with the belt and then many wrestlers got between the two as the show went off the air.

 

[Zany Clowny]

Didn't watch it but I'm sure it was another 10/10 classic

 

[bullyballmm]

The best moment of the show was the start. Everything else was meh and the ending felt like an anticlimax. When I have to go "wait, that was the end of the show?" you know that's a forgettable ending

 

[Doxo]

There wasn't anything bad, but oddly enough nothing felt great. Every match except the cruiserweight match was really good, but nothing FELT big, and the match that felt the biggest (Club v Miztorage) lasted like, a minute. Nia Jax looked like garbage, the Hardy segment was the weakest so far, and Bliss losing clean - while cool - is super confusing. It's strange, I want to feel like this is an 8/10 based on the great matches, but I actually feel like this is a 6/10 because nothing really connected with me, so I'm cutting it down the middle and giving it a 7/10

Also, I'm glad Reigns is actually getting over, but I kinda miss the boos. They were fun to listen to, now that he's being cheered , he doesn't really have anything. It's like how I liked Jinder beating Nakamura and Orton out of sheer ridiculousness, but him beating someone like Tye Dillanger and Aiden English/Xaiver Woods really doesn't do anything for me

Also, Curt Hawkins was there, that was nice

 

[Grievous 3D]

Also, I'm glad Reigns is actually getting over, but I kinda miss the boos. They were fun to listen to, now that he's being cheered , he doesn't really have anything.

That is so funny...I'm literally laughing out loud...

Don't worry...I'm sure the boos will return at Wrestlemania...

+++

Okay RAW...its 2018 & I'm going to try & be more positive this year...

Yeah...lets see how long I can keep that going...

Anyway...let's have a look at you...

~ I know this is going to sound horrible...but I hope Asuka breaks Alexa's jaw
so she will SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

~ 30 Women...Sweet! Call Lita & Trish...& give the Iconic Duo numbers 4 & 5...

~ I'm actually really happy to see Jason Jordan getting a few wins...

~ Skip!

~ As much as I'd like Sasha to win...she isn't white & blonde...so she has no
chance...

~ I feel sorry for DDana Brooke...plus Stacy Keibler pulled off the sexy secretary
look way better than DDana ever could.

~ Bray Wyatt wins...but it doesn't matter anymore...Woken Matt laughs...and I'm
wondering when they are going to stop repeating the same segment every week.

~ I have to be honest & say I'd rather hang out with Alexa then Enzo...but...I'm
not really sure what kind of relationship Nia has with Alexa or Enzo anymore.

~ Okay...Asuka wins...shame it wasn't a title match...but I find it hard to believe
that the World's Sexiest Hobbit lasted 15 minutes against the Empress.

Man...the WWE is really protecting Alexa...15 minutes against Charlotte & 15
minutes against Asuka...plus this is the first time Alexa has wrestled a televised
match since Survivor Series & she hasn't defended the title in 84 days.

But the belt on Asuka before the Rumble WWE!

It will only hurt the Rumble having Asuka involved at this point.

~ I'm sorry Joe...but you have no chance...

~ So...are they trying to book Braun as a heel or a face? I'm confused...

~ Kane is old & boring...Skip!!!

~ Yay! Finn is teaming with Gallows & Anderson! Its about time!

~ FUCKING SKIP!

~ Go film a porno Paige...you & your bitches" are fucking boring me already! But I
guess this is a permanent arrangement seeing as they have a shirt now.

~ I like Goldust...I always have. Good to see him involved with a win.

~ I'm glad "the Club" had a win...but...can the Drifter be protected? The guy is
starting to "smell" like Bray Wyatt. That means he's beginning to be smell like a
loser.

~ If I was the Miz...I'd just stay home with Maryse till someone else has the
Intercontinental title.

~ I would have rather seen Finn vs. Brock at the Rumbe...but Finn isn't a big, sweaty
man so I understand why he isn't getting a shot.

And I'm done...

Asuka vs. Alexa for the title next week please...

 

[Koko B.]

I really wanted Brock to come out instead of Goldie.

 

[Rosie]

Matt Hardy, but he laughs 1000 times.

 

[SWL]

what an enthusiastic crowd.. they even popped for a sister abigail, when was the last time that happened? To be honest, I prefer those types of crowds over the usually praised, smarky and hard to please type of crowds

 

[alexb]

First off, my best wishes to everyone for a very happy new year, hopefully one that treats us all a lot better then 2017 probably did in every aspect.

As for this first edition of Monday Night RAW for 2018, I'd say it was an average show at best, with really very little noteworthy things to talk about. Few quick thoughts:

- So, apparently they are treating the first ever Woman's Royal Rumble just like the Men's one, with 30 entrants and pretty much the same rules. To be honest, I thought they'd probably go with 20 given the number of gals combined on both shows rosters but it ain't something I'm going to complain about. I'm sure we'll get some gals from NXT and it's a given we are in for a few surprises (Trish, Lita, Victoria would be amongst them) so, yeah, sure, why not?

While on the subject, I find it funny how they are doing all these backstage little promos with, like, all the girls declairing their participation in the woman's royal rumble, as if we have too many of them and not enough spots....

- If there was ever a time to pull the trigger with the IC title change, last night was the time to do so. I've said it before, it appears as if WWE are looking to go a la Wrestlmania 6 and give us a modern version of the Hogan vs. Warrior match when both were holding the respective belts but, honestly, I don't feel it's really that necessary. As if it isn't enough already that the universal belt is practically hijacked and out of reach, now this? What good does it serve for keeping the IC strap on Roman, while at the same time practically burying guys like Samoe Joe? You mean to tell me Samoe Joe hasn't earned at least an IC title run yet for all his incredible work thus far? So fuckin annoying...

- I've asked this numerous times but what the fuck is so devistating about Roman's spear? Such a lame finisher, if you ask me.

- It took them - how long? - to finally put Balor with Anderson and Gallows together. Better late then never, I guess...

- So Alexander needs a partner for this cruiserweight tag and out comes...Goldust? Talk about bizzarre...

- Well, you know Brock ain't getting paid by the hour so didn't expect too much last night, though I must admit that sit up was a pretty neat touch. The brawl afterwards I feel has been overplayed already and if I were WWE, I'd at least save it for the go home and with all three participants involved...Oh, wait, Brock isn't advertised for that one, is he? Sigh....

 

[Mr. Roman Empire]

The potential or the Club getting back together is a great idea. It would really give Finn, Anderson, and Gallows a fresh new direction. The Club vs The Sheild (w/Jason Jordan) would be a good feud because Seth/Jordan could drop the tag titles to Anderson/Gallows all because Jason Jordan would choke. Finn could take the IC title off Roman in a huge crowd pleaser moment and so then Roman could move on to chase the Universal Title from Brock. Thats how i would like to see it booked

 

[InSaNe]

I also thought putting Balor with Anderson and Gallows was a good move. Not just any business move, but good move. Hopefully, this leads to The Club vs The Shield at some point. I guess I somewhat agree with @Mr. Roman Empire.

If there was ever a time to pull the trigger with the IC title change, last night was the time to do so. I've said it before, it appears as if WWE are looking to go a la Wrestlmania 6 and give us a modern version of the Hogan vs. Warrior match when both were holding the respective belts but, honestly, I don't feel it's really that necessary. As if it isn't enough already that the universal belt is practically hijacked and out of reach, now this? What good does it serve for keeping the IC strap on Roman, while at the same time practically burying guys like Samoe Joe? You mean to tell me Samoe Joe hasn't earned at least an IC title run yet for all his incredible work thus far? So fuckin annoying...

WWE's booking system is trying to frame Samoa Joe as this "killer machine," but as a heel, though. I think WWE is planning a Strowman vs Joe match somewhere down the road. Strowman is this "monster machine" and is face, while Joe is the "killer machine" and is heel. So, I mean...

I've asked this numerous times but what the fuck is so devistating about Roman's spear? Such a lame finisher, if you ask me.

You know, spears are quite dangerous if you really meant to spear a person. You can get broken ribs for that, you know that, right? You can even get broken bones JUST for kicking another fighter's bone.



If you don't have the stomach to watch that, don't click, but that shit is "pull your hair, and scream like a bitch" painful.

Well, you know Brock ain't getting paid by the hour so didn't expect too much last night, though I must admit that sit up was a pretty neat touch. The brawl afterwards I feel has been overplayed already and if I were WWE, I'd at least save it for the go home and with all three participants involved...Oh, wait, Brock isn't advertised for that one, is he? Sigh....

I think they're trying to market the match enough to create talk for weeks before Raw 25th anni, and Royal Rumble. At this time of the yaer, traffic's down. So, this is actually necessary.

 

[Crash]

6/10

Wasn't a terrible RAW but was also kinda boring and long. I like that they finally put Finn with Gallows & Anderson.