Raw Review (2021-12-21)
Updated: Dec 28, 2021
MVP started by saying that some people might think what Lashley did last week was impossible. MVP went on to say that Lashley beat Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and the WWE Champion Big E and that nobody can disrespect Lashley now and must acknowledge that we are living in the All Mighty Era.
We all wanna go big?
Big E, the WWE Champion, made his entrance. Big E got into the ring saying that the Lashley he knows is strong, he’s dominant, he’s got a lot of sisters but when it comes to getting done in the ring, he does it all on his own. Lashley claimed he didn’t need MVP’s help to beat Rollins, Owens or “Little E”. Lashley said that if MVP takes out Big E’s knee then Lashley is going to take advantage of that, so that’s what he did, Big E mentioned if Lashley couldn’t beat him on his own then maybe MVP could. Lashley stood at ringside to see if it’s true that MVP could beat Big E.
Big E faced off with MVP while Lashley was standing at ringside, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens attacked Lashley from behind at ringside and threw Lashley into the ring post. Big E went to the ringside to fight Rollins and Owens as well. Rollins and Owens overpowered Big E to send Big E into the barricade. Back in the ring, Rollins and Owens went after Lashley with Rollins going for The Stomp, but Big E intercepted with a clothesline and belly to belly suplex. Lashley caught Rollins with a dominator slam off the shoulders. Rollins and Owens retreated to the back while Big E and Lashley stood together in the ring.
Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins were shown talking to each other in a hallway. Owens said that they need to take Lashley out of the match because he’s like “a Super jacked Benjamin button” with Rollins telling him to shut up. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville came to tell Owens and Rollins that the match was now a tag team match. Pearce said it’s going to be Owens and Rollins vs. Big E and Lashley.
Fantastic work from all involved, they all have great chemistry when doing mic work and bounce off each other brilliantly, this feud and title picture is probably my favourite thing in wrestling right now.
KO and Seth particularly have great chemistry, Kevin Owens has been pure gold for the last couple of weeks.
They’re hilarious when they’re together, genuinely entertaining to watch, if creative have produced this pairing just off the back of their chemistry during this feud then good work creative, which is something I don’t often say.
Bianca Belair vs Doudrop
We start off the match with some pushing, Bianca goes for an early KOD attempt Doudrop gets away and then starts showing off her power throwing her weight around, Bianca gains some momentum with some typically athletic offence, goes for a cross body from the top but is caught in mid-air and hit with a power slam Bianca gets a reversal and goes for her flippy moonsault thing and Doudrop gets knees up, they come out the ring and Bianca hits a spine buster on Doudrop at ringside, when we come back from break, Bianca goes for a corner power slam, Doudrop reverses then tries a 2nd rope splash but there’s nobody home, Doudrop goes for a corner cannonball for a 2 count Doudrop gets some ground and pound, then throws Bianca across the ring a couple of times, I mean she really launches her.. Bianca gets some dodges and gains some momentum culminating in a 2nd rope cross body, then hits her flippy Moonsault for a 2 count, next gets 4 hits in the corner before Doudrop again reverses with a power slam, instead of going for the pin she drags Bianca back to the corner to attempt a 2nd rope splash again nobody home.
Bianca hits the KOD for the 3 count.
Winner: Bianca Belair
A very good match this week, probably the best match they have had so far. Feels like they’re trying to put Piper into the Nia Jaxx mould, the match had the end of feud feel about it, and it ended in the right way with Bianca finally hitting the KOD on Doudrop which was an incredible show of power from Bianca and a clean pin. I’ve enjoyed this feud for what it has been so far, but if they try to make it go any longer it will feel somewhat like flogging a dead horse.
Bianca is such a versatile performer, it really feels like there is nothing she can’t do. She could quite easily use the current gimmick she is doing in a heel mould as well as Face, I hope she goes back into the title picture again or maybe a NO1 contenders feud with Rhea. Would be a fantastic watch in my opinion.
Video package of Austin theory and Finn from the last 2 weeks, Austin Theory has an interview backstage and says he thinks Mr McMahon sees him as the future WWE champion.
Finn Balor vs Austin Theory
Finn starts aggressively attacking Austin in the corner before giving chase to Austin out the ring, Finn carries on the attack at ringside before both come back in the ring, Austin then gets a reversal on a Finn move before slowing down the match and establishing some control, Finn gets a dropkick reversal from a Panama flip before sending Austin back out the ring, Austin gets a neck breaker reversal on a kick from the apron as we go to break.
When we return Austin has again got Finn in a face lock, Finn gets out and hits a dropkick in the corner before a sling blade and a double stomp to the chest, Finn continues his attack till Austin is on the apron but Austin reverses with a shoulder to the stomach before hitting his signature diving roll into a dropkick, the height he gets on the jump for this move is insane.
Austin goes to attack Finn in the corner but he reverses with a Pele kick before going up for a coupe de gras, Austin gets up to pull Finns legs out meaning he is sitting on the top of the corner before hitting a new move I can’t say I’ve seen before.
Looked sort of like springboard Spanish fly, Austin gets his phone and tries to take a selfie as he’s making the cover 1… 2… Finn reverses into a pin of his own which Austin kicks out of Austin goes for his finisher which Finn reverses into a reverse DDT before hitting a shotgun dropkick and going up for another Coupe de gras, This time he does get a 3 count for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
An entertaining match and the new move spot was great, Finn kicking out because Theory tried to take a selfie while making the cover is great storytelling and shows the youthful naivety of Theory which has always been his storyline downfall in WWE, I have a horrible feeling this is leading to a ridiculous, “First selfie wins” gimmick match or something similar, hopefully not though!
We have a video of the events of MizTV last week and Miz is backstage with Omos he says he had a nice chat with him, Miz leaves Aj comes over and says he’s glad him and Omos are on the same page before setting out a plan for them, Omos ominously says “can’t wait” before smiling and walking away.
MizTV
He starts off by apologising and grovelling to his wife Maryse before announcing Aj and Omos, Omos throws a chair out of the ring for what seems no reason, Miz and AJ have some witty back and forth, Aj starts saying about Omos potential and says they’re on the same page now, Miz says he has heard differently to that from Omos, he says Omos said that AJ is holding him back and he doesn’t need him.
Aj starts asking Omos is this true and says he all ears for what Omos needs to say, before Omos can say anything BOOYAKA BOOYAKA the Mysterios make their way down to the ring for their match against Aj and Omos
Aj and Omos vs Mysterios
Dom and Aj start in the ring, there is some early back and forth, Dom with a springboard arm drag when going for his next move Aj reverses with a back breaker, there is some more general offence from both before Dominik gets a reversal and Aj reverses that with a Pele kick, Dom tags in Rey who starts fast with a hurricanrana before a tornado DDT and a 619, he goes up for the frogsplash, Aj gets his knees up and goes to tag in Omos who refuses the tag, they stare at each other for a moment before Rey rolls up Aj for the 3 count.
Winner: the Mysterios
Aj starts shouting at Omos before attacking him, Omos throws Aj across the ring before going for the PF Omos reverses by getting Aj in a fireman carry and launching AJ in the air. He stands over him and says “The next time you see me, will be in a match, against you!” Not very well delivered, Omos could probably do with Paul Heyman if they want to push him…
The match itself was good, fairly short but it was mainly to create this AJ and Omos split which has been coming for a few weeks. Decent match in itself and did what it needed to with regards to storytelling.
Personally, I’m glad they have split AJ and OMOS up, he feels wasted currently they will probably have a feud which Omos will probably win, that will be a poor decision for me as I don’t rate Omos and I don’t particularly want to see him near any titles, he was okay as AJs big intimidating silent bodyguard but I don’t think he should have progressed beyond that, but then it is no secret that Vince is a fan of big monstrous wrestlers like Omos.
Randy Orton is out next, but first, we go backstage and Austin theory is reeling from his match
Randy Orton vs Chad Gable
Start off with some standard lockup back and forth, Randy gets out the ring for a 5 count to get some respite, he comes back to get the better of Chad with a headlock body slam, Chad reverses with a leg chin lock followed by a great arm drag, there is some more back and forth before Chad gets another couple of really picturesque arm drags, Randy gets a reversal and throws Chad out the ring as he’s coming back in Randy kicks him to set up for the draping DDT, chad reverses with an attempt at a suplex and an arm drag, chad goes for another arm drag which Randy reads and dodges and hits a RKO for the 3 count.
After the match Otis comes into the ring to defend Chad Gable and pushes away from 3 RKOs in a row.
Winner: Randy Orton
I loved this match. Really good in-ring work, Chad Gable was hitting Randy with arm drags galore, Randy got wise to it and dodged one to hit an RKO which Chad Gable sold like a dream by the way.
Showed real in-ring intelligence from Randy. It was a good match to watch, I really enjoyed it and It again played Otis up as the monster they’re pushing him to be at the moment, it’s another feud on Monday night raw that I’m genuinely interested to see where it goes.
MVP is backstage with Bobby Lashley asks if he can trust big E, he says no but he’s going to beat KO and Seth Rollins, and if Big E looks at him wrong he’ll beat him too.
MVP asks if the earlier events was a setup, and that wasn’t Bobby bailing on him, Bobby dodges the question and asks for some water.
Great work from MVP here and again sort of teasing a Hurt business split which could be a good storyline to delve into after Day 1.
Damien priest is out next
But first we have more 24/7 shenanigans, and Reggie is hanging out with Dana again Akira is looking for RTruth and Tamina is following them and goes for a roll up but Dana gets out, Reggie fights off Akira and RT, and Dana quite easily gets the better of Tamina.
They both run away.
Please stop this now, I thought we were going to get some change with this title, but unfortunately, it’s just the same old shtick, I can’t be the only one that’s bored to death of these segments.