GIVING IT TO YOU RAW…What Happened Last Night (Dec. 29th, 2014)

I came in expecting nothing, as I have come to do when it comes to RAW but, I could tell by the news coming from the Twitterverse that this was no regular RAW. Things were happening.  The plans for 2015 were beginning to take shape and it’s still hard to truly say that they are markers of the Revolution I so desperately seek.  It appears the WWE is adapting to our reactions and incorporating it into their scheme.  Is this a bad thing? It’s hard to say.  It is too soon.  Yet, I looked upon last night’s RAW knowing that not since the “season premiere” have I felt excited about it.  Last night, excitement returned.  Maybe RAW simply picks its spots or maybe it’s doing what it had to do eventually in order to survive.

To begin, the Washington D.C. crowd was greeted by the night’s joint General Managers in Edge and Christian to give us some good ol’Attitude Era memories of when they raised all sorts of tag-team hell.  I don’t remember Christian so much, but I remember Edge.  In my day, he kinda palled around with Test and I remember him having some shades of Heelitude. These are foggy memories but I’ll never forget Edge because look at him…he’s kinda got extreme features. Can’t miss that jaw line.  Yet, what I’m basically saying is that I didn’t really know what to expect with these 2 but I liked how they did what seems to be the general norm amongst many under contract to perform at the moment.  Going out there and not sucking and they didn’t.  They engaged the crowd merrily and did a great job of getting us lathered up for the night’s action.  They announce there will be a “Peep Show”, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are gonna dance and so are Rusev and Dolph Ziggler. But first, why don’t they do a “5-Second Pose” so everyone can get their social media photo hits in. Yet, before they can settle in, the striking music for the one and only Brock “Gun Jack” Lesnar comes on and he along with Paul Heyman make their entrance. 

Oh and Heyman is extra smug, this evening. He basically asks Edge and Christian why they dared to enter a place where carnage could so easily befall them, especially when we have the so-called “Beast Incarnate” present.  I’m sure it could be easily said that they wouldn’t have anticipated Gun Jack’s arrival but, we won’t go into that.  In any case, Heyman continues to subtly intimidate when we hear John Cena’s music come on and he makes his appearance because, oh yeah…Lesnar and Cena are currently booked to box at the upcoming Royal Rumble.  Cena has some choice words for Gun Jack.  Tells him the only reason they’re not going now is so that Lesnar can’t bitch come the Rumble.  Lesnar listens but Cena feels he doesn’t “hear” him and takes to Heyman to make an example. Heyman slips out of Cena’s grasp but no matter, he really wants a piece of the Beast and in swift fashion nearly sweeps him up into an Attitude Adjustment but Lesnar, paid only for the appearance this evening, gets out the ring and takes Heyman with him.  They’ll be seeing each other soon.

After a commercial break, we come to Rusev and Dolph Ziggler getting into the ring for the first match of the night.  These 2 work very well together and put on a fine match.  Rusev, as one would expect, tries to dominate early and basically just bullies our scrappy hero but Ziggler just doesn’t stay down and he fights back. Well, Rusev can’t stand that Ziggler doesn’t know when to quit and eventually loses his shit and just starts stomping on Ziggler after throwing him up against a turnbuckle.  He does this to the point of disqualification.  Well, with nothing left to lose, Rusev takes it upon himself to bend Ziggler through the ropes and settles into The Accolade.  Referees come streaming out to help pull Rusev off but he’s fixed on destroying Ziggler and all that he stands for.  Who will save our scrappy friend?  Ryback’s music hits and The Big Guy storms out to break up the party.  Rusev, only in the mood to pick on someone smaller, scurries off with Lana close behind and Ziggler is rescued yet again.

With Ziggler saved and Ryback seemingly making a turn back to the Light, Ryback takes a moment to tell us about himself.  I suppose RAW Creative can sense the uprising and is doing what it can to earn its keep.  Seeing how Ryback may not have gotten the best deal, he’s given some time to let us get to know him.  I didn’t know Ryback’s story and to be honest, I don’t really need to but, I don’t knock the idea of developing him as a wrestler.  Ryback isn’t the most engaging character and so, him telling us about himself seemed a little out of place.  I could see him doing this at the local pub but not so much in the ring.  This probably should have been done as a filmed promo but I like that they’re trying to give him a fair shake…even if it isn’t in the best way for him.

Next up, we have a little Divas action as Nikki Bella, with Brie by her side, comes out to deal with Natalya with Tyson Kidd at hers. The focus appears to be the burgeoning feud brewing betwixt these ladies with Kidd at the center of it.  During this match, Nikki is sent out the ring where Kidd heroically catches her.  Charmed, Nikki flirts a little with Nattie’s husband, rattling the poor girl and making it easy for Nikki to execute her Rack Attack for the win. So…there’s that.

To follow, we have the Tag Team Championship match between The Usos and The Miz and Damien Mizdow.  The match was a lot of fun.  The Usos come ready to play and don’t waste much time in getting the party started.  Since these 4 have danced many times before, it would seem that they’ve got a good chemistry going that helps with the smooth flow of the match.  Not once was I wondering when they’d just get on with it.  The transitions were smooth and the action engaging.  In entertaining fashion, The Usos regain the title and perhaps denote the changes to come in the Tag Team Division.

After that, we have Cesaro tell us a little bit about himself as well.  He too has been hard done by the WWE and it’s not due to a lack of skill.  Cesaro is one of the best technicians they have and performs well every time he’s out there but, word is that he’s lacking something.  He just doesn’t appear to have “It”.  Well, Cesaro has something.  And he’s gonna show us and look who’s here to help with that. Bad News Barrett, fresh off the Disabled List. I’m not sure if I’m the only one but, something about Barrett being back makes me feel like it’s more like old times.  There was a time, a time before I started this blog, that I actually didn’t have a problem with the WWE product.  I don’t know if someone got fired, promoted or if there was some sort of in-fighting but whatever transpired behind the scenes, mucked up things good.  I mean I’m writing here tonight because I disapproved so greatly.  Yet, seeing Barrett back in the ring felt like before things sucked so badly and he and Cesaro put on a good match.  They’re good for each other.  Similar bookings, frames, there have the makings of a good rivalry but will it have any oomph?  Hard to say, hard to say…In any case, Barrett picks up the win and Cesaro continues to have something to prove.

Moving along, we have Jack Swagger and our touched soul in Luke Harper go for it.  This was a more interesting match than I thought it would be.  These 2 are “hosses” by definition so these big boys don’t waste much time when it comes to clashing.  This match even tumbles out the ring and just looks like something that would have spilled out the back of some dive bar, aside of Swagger’s onesie.  I liked it! Just 2 guys boxing for no real reason, that’s why I watch.  Yet, Creative appears to favor Harper because Swagger ends up with yet another loss.

This brings us to the Rollins vs. Reigns match which wasn’t a bad match but still not what I think these 2 should be doing.  First of all, this match was long. Why, I just don’t understand.  I don’t mind Reigns in epic battles, but they should be against someone where that would seem the case.  Like with a Rusev, a Ryback, Harper or Erick Rowan, Cena even, if they ever go, but with Rollins it should be like I said.  5 minutes, tops!  I’m telling you. Reigns should squash him every time and the matches should actually get quicker as time goes by.  I think doing this would assist in showing a bit of Reigns’ character.  There should be no fight between these 2.  What happened in the storyline is clear and so, how Reigns dispatches him should be the same. It should serve as a swift and acute justice.  Rollins stabbed him the back.  Each match should be payback.  That’s what happens, sort of thing. I’m pretty sure it would work. Perhaps in the New Year but for now, we sit through long-ass exchanges. 

Now, there were some impressive power moves displayed by Reigns and Rollins showed some scrap of his own yet, it was Big Show who kinda stole the show, I’d say.  He was funny on commentary, just being all surly and having nothing but shit to say about Reigns, it was hilarious. Reminded me of an Attitude Era kind of feud, which is a fine way to go.  And just as Reigns seems to finally get a handle on the match, Big Show intervenes and tosses Reigns onto the announce table.  Then, Show tosses the table onto him.  Needless to say, Reigns officially wins via Disqualification but he gets the proverbial shit end of the stick by being metaphorically “buried”.  I liked the way this match ended.  It just seemed appropriate.  We can see that Reigns is steadily improving so, I’m not really worried about him in terms of how he develops.  I think he’ll be fine.  This time next year, we can probably start seriously talking about his push.  Whether the WWE waits that long is another matter but I bet if we all did, there’d be a lot less questioning of it.  Nevertheless, he has to “lose”, from time to time.  He’s not invincible and though they may try to book him like he is, the more “human” he’s portrayed, the less push-back there will be from We the Audience.  WWE Creative cannot deny the facts. He still needs work so, let’s not make believe that’s not the case but at the same time, doesn’t mean he can’t do entertaining work now.  He does take hits like a champ.  Why I don’t know (^_~) but let’s continue to accentuate the positive and downplay the negative…unless it serves our purpose to play it up.

Following that, The Babyface of all Babyfaces, Daniel Bryan comes out and talks to us for a moment.  He’s had a hard time of late.  He’s had a surgery or 2.  He’s been recuperating and contemplating.  He has his health to consider and his career.  And there was a time that it was a little iffy as to whether he should even return but here’s what it comes down to people…Daniel Bryan is back, baby!  He’s here and he’s gonna compete in the Royal Rumble so, get your index fingers ready because The Yes Movement has returned!  And it is glorious!

To keep the excitement going, we also get the official debut of the new Tag Team duo, The Ascension.  So far, I wasn’t really sure what to expect with these guys.  They remind me of dressed down members of Gwar so, already I’m having a hard time taking them

seriously because they come off like a SNL sketch but, their entrance music is pretty heavy so, I’m willing to give them a chance.  The night’s General Managers feel that it’s good to have The Miz and Damien Mizdow serve themselves up as offerings to the new NXT call-ups.  Well, in quick fashion The Ascension make their mark.  I wasn’t all that impressed with the match but, I get the feeling that this was more due to opening day jitters so, I’ll leave my full critique until the next time we see them.

To close, we don’t really have a main event as so much as a hostile takeover.  In the final moments of the evening, we have an Edge infused Peep Show where Christian and Edge come out to question Rollins and see why he’s such a punk.  Well, Rollins doesn’t really have much to say other than get over here Edge!  I hear you got yourself a nasty little neck injury that keeps you from wrestling and Gramps (Christian), you’re just fucking old!  Where the fuck is Cena at!  Cena, I swear-to-GOD if you don’t get your ass out here, Edge is gonna fucking get CurbStomped so bad, he won’t be able to kiss his kid good night!  Well, any mention of the youngins gets Cena to come a-runnin’ and this night is no different.  Ready to come to the rescue, Cena comes out but Rollins, with Big Show and J&J Security at his side, stops him at ringside.  Come any closer and Edge gets it.  No one’s worried about Christian because he looks like someone’s dad. Anyway, Rollins looks to Cena and demands that he bring The Authority back.  If you don’t do it, Edge gets Stomped! What’s it gonna be?  What else could it be?  With Cena’s hands tied, he caves like a sinkhole in Florida.  And like that, the Heels rejoice as they are reunited with their leaders in Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.  Stephanie played this up real well and I actually like her more and more as Queen Heel.  She greets us, shares a toast with Triple H and gives us nothing but “love”.

We’ll see what the New Year brings!

See You Friday & Happy New Year!

-Nicole Alexis