Rate RAW 1/18/16

[Prince Bálor]

You know the drill, ladies and gents. Vote above and give your thoughts below!

Raw Results:

Spoiler

1. Roman Reigns defeated Rusev. The show opened with Chris Jericho adding Roman Reigns to the night’s Highlight Reel, and the duo being interrupted by The League of Nations. That led to Reigns vs. Rusev with Jericho as the special guest referee. Jericho elaborately ejected the League, freeing up Roman to pin Rusev.

2. Natalya defeated Brie Bella. Paige returned to be in Natalya’s corner. Natalya won by submission with a Sharpshooter.

3. The Wyatt Family defeated The Dudley Boyz and Ryback. Luke Harper pinned Bubba Ray Dudley after a discus clothesline.

4. Big Show defeated Heath Slater. Show defeated Slater with a KO Punch. After the match, Show knocked out all the other Social Outcasts and took a selfie with a fan at ringside.

– Vince and Stephanie McMahon announced that Roman Reigns will be the #1 entrant in the Royal Rumble.

5. Becky Lynch defeated Tamina. Lynch won by submission with the Dis-Arm-Her. After the match, Lynch goaded Ric Flair into agreeing to a Becky vs. Charlotte Divas Championship match at Royal Rumble on Charlotte’s behalf.

6. Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio defeated Dean Ambrose and Kalisto. Kevin Owens was on commentary. Sheamus pinned Kalisto after a Brogue Kick.

7. Big E defeated Jey Uso. Before the match, The New Day held a funeral for their broken trombone. Xavier Woods distracted Uso, allowing Big E to hit a Big Ending and win the match.

8. Neville, Mark Henry, Titus O’Neil and R-Truth defeated Tyler Breeze, Stardust and The Ascension. Neville pinned Stardust with a Red Arrow.

– Chris Jericho and Paul Heyman argued with each other about what will happen in the Royal Rumble. Brock Lesnar finally arrived, but Roman Reigns interrupted. Reigns speared Lesnar. The League of Nations interefered, but Lesnar fought them off, opening him up to a second spear from Reigns. The Wyatt Family then attacked, beating up both Reigns and Lesnar.

Source: Uproxx

In-depth review: WrestleView

 

[Snowman1]

Dear WWE:

Why the hell did you call up Tyler Breeze?

 

[Rogue]

Dear WWE:

Why the hell did you call up Tyler Breeze?

Because him vs Ziggler had such longevity, that by time it would be over they'd have a new plan for him. SURELY that was the case, right? It's not like it was intentional, at least that's what I tell myself.

Watched The New Day segment and the closer via YouTube, I regret doing so. At least watching the closer anyways. Wyatt vs Lesnar would be cool if it doesn't follow the route it looks like it's going. Don't make Lesnar the sympathetic face who seems like he can't overcome the odds. Make it badass vs badass, two dudes who just want to beat each other up.

And no Rumble teaser? Looks like it'll be on Smackdown.

 

[TheArabHammer]

I hope it's a battle of the beast vs the new face of fear. Wyatt needs a strong feud like this even if it's temporary to make him the monster heel he should be.

 

[C.M. Shaddix]

fell asleep during it, 2/10

 

[The GOAT]

I haven't skimmed through all of Raw yet, but I had a feeling Lesnar would become a target of the Wyatt Family at some point during the build-up. i guess we know for sure who Brock's throwing out come Sunday.

And Reigns being forced to enter at #1? What a shock. Like, totally no one saw that coming.

 

[Prince Bálor]

What a snoozefest of a go-home show. Seriously, this show felt like it went on for 5 hours. 4/10

Positives:
- Rusev's off-the-cuff promo in the opening segment. Hilarious stuff. I laughed like a mad man.

- Becky Lynch's post-match promo was good and one of the best things on the show.

- Sheamus & ADR vs Ambrose & Kalisto was decent. The only downside is that someone had to eat the pin here, and that someone was Kalisto. WWE should learn to go for DQ endings when it would actually be of help. Oh, and KO was good on commentary, as always. Hope he gets to go Kill Owens Kill mode on Cole and Saxton someday.

- The New Day's backstage segment was a'ight. Hope Xavier introduces a new trombone (or a new instrument) at the Rumble.

- The closing segment was okay, although I was surprised Lesnar got zero offense in on Reigns before getting Speared. Hmm.
Wyatt/Lesnar seems to be in the works and the family looked strong and as an actual threat for once, so that's nice.

Negatives:
- The opening segment was horrific, besides Rusev's promo. Plus, LOL at Y2J for trying to convince everyone he stands a chance at winning the Rumble. He has as much chance as that roody-poo Big Show. Turn heel, Y2J. Please and thank you.

- Reigns vs Rusev was boring and predictable. 14 (or whatever) minutes of their match didn't exactly fly by.

- Nattie vs Brie sucked, but good to have Nattie back, I guess.

- The Wyatt Family vs The Dudleyz & Ryback. Please, feed us more with this match. I wouldn't mind seeing it another 350 times.

- Big Show destroying Social Outcasts. Why? Man, I wish I could pretend Show's an actual threat to win the Rumble.

- The Vince/Steph segment was a trainwreck. Who the hell could've seen Reigns at #1?! Unheard of! So unpredictable!
Man, Vince's been a (hilarious) calamity ever since he came back to TV.

- Becky vs Tamina was boring. I would've preferred if Becky wrestled a mannequin. It would've been a better match, for sure.

- Big E vs Jey Uso was meh. I wish this wasn't done. I'm pretty sure Kofi loses to Jimmy on SD, because that's how they book these things.
50/50 booking that gives no one momentum FTW!

- Titus, R-Truth, Henry & Neville vs Breeze & Cosmic Jobberland was garbage filler.

Now, the same match-ups we've been seeing for the last 5 weeks will be seen again, at the Royal Rumble. Let's all try and enjoy that...
And hope the Rumble itself isn't a total clusterfuck.

Also, obligatory Lucha Underground plug: The second season premieres on January 27th. Get ready!

 

[Mr. Roman Empire]

1/10 wasn't entertained by any of it. I live in Ohio and was very close to going to the show but I'm glad I didn't waste the money.

 

[Jacob Fox]

1/10. A boring show that I was only able to get through by patiently waiting for Lesnar to show up and kick some ass at the end... only to get Lesnar getting his ass kicked.

And yay! Reigns is number one so now Reigns can:

Become the third guy to win at number 1

Become only the fourth man to win 2 Rumbles

Become the only man to ever defend his belt....something akin to Ric Flair's accomplishment in 1992 but almost MORE SO because Reigns enters a full 2 spots earlier than Flair and he will be more of a target this time.

Honestly if Roman Reigns wins this match, I'm not really sure how much more of this crap I can take. And it's not even Reigns' fault because I like the guy... but the way they keep trying to up his accomplishments is WWE'S way of telling the fans "We know better than you and you WILL like Reigns as champion no matter what!" No one needs to be built up that much at the expense of everyone else... that's not why I watch wrestling...

I dunno, I might be just pissy today but WWE Raw (The PPVs are generally good other than Survivor Series last year) has quickly become the worst wrestling that I watch (I don't watch TNA)...I just have a feeling they're going to push Reigns to be so completely invincible and It'll be Cena for another 10 years. I understand why many of us are only watching the PPVS

The Rumble is my favorite event and if they fuck it up again...

Blech.

 

[Prince Bálor]

 

[Mr. Roman Empire]

fell asleep during it, 2/10

I figured this picture could be potential meme heaven for you lol

 

[alexb]

Just when you think it can't get any worse and quite frankly, so bad it doesn't even deserve a write-up....plain and simple 2/10 and that's being rather generous...

 

[Snowman1]

Holy shit they broke the trombone!? :why: Forget about Reigns winning or not winning, these assholes broke the trombone!!! What. The. Fuck. WHO DID IT! LEMME AT HIM. I'LL JUMP THE BARRICADE FASTER THAN A FAT KID INTO A POOL OF BUTTER JUST YOU WATCH!
Man, I remember PB saying the trombone breaking was unacceptable... I miss those days, feels like it was yesterday... lease: Back when they were cool and over and...

I tried to turn this show on but man, Jericho is really rough to watch. :urm: Not that his work right now is diabolical or anything but it's just so sad watching him in front of crowds killed off by 2015 WWE that couldn't pop if you stucin firecrackers in their seats.

Lucha Underground: OMG IT'S NEXT WEEK! Be there or meet Matanza.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Storytime with Rusev: Life in Bulgaria. 1:

 

[Swift]

Roman Reigns is really dull. Yawn. . 4/10