A Day to Celebrate Women's Wrestling!
wrestling 024 & tv review 065
Let's try this one more time... again.
WWE
RAW
December 05th, 2022
Review
I've been tuning back in ever since Triple H took over and it had been such a change of scene! Certainly burning back up my wrestling passion, hence here's me trying to channel that into words. Let see me try...:
the Usos v Matt Riddle & Elias Kevin Owens {Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships} (14m10s) [3.5/5]
Having this Title match in the weekly show is almost always a guarantee the champions would retain, and it was no exception this night, but it doesn't means that everything around it is not stellar! Subbing in Kevin Owens certainly makes more sense than giving this new makeshift musical duo a shot at the Title after a couple of matches, continuing on with the storyline between the Prize Fighter and the honorary Uso by trying to get on the redhead's nerves by facing off against the Ones and indirectly getting in on his face. The result was never in doubt but the journey is pure modern wrestling goodness, with of course now the signature distraction and blind tag finish. Speaking of which, talk about that beatdown afterwards! Solo Sikoa hasn't been used as much as the other Bloodline members so it's a good opportunity for him to remind people of his title 'the Enforcer' by (shoot) benching a prominent talent. Great callbacks to his uncle, Umaga! Certainly fitting, with the stable as well as with his son having his first training at Booker T's Reality of Wrestling promotion. Oh, that chair to neck spot looks nasty!
+ Surprising detour at the front to continue the angle | Great clash of contrasting style between two single competitors & two brothers + Starts with a lighter note (scooter) and ends it with a literal squash (stretcher) | Keep using Sami Zyan's conflict between his former best friend and new 'family' as the central storytelling device.
? Poor Elias... hoping he would be used better in the future. | Matt Riddle does need to be changing his overall demeanor and attitude since he could be too grating for some as of late. Great potential but bogged down with the 'chill' booking. ? Didn't Kevin wanted to go for Roman Reigns' Titles...? I guess this is a step towards that.
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Bayley v Asuka v Rhea Ripley {Triple Threat Match for Finals for RAW Women Championship's no.1 Contender } (15m15s) [3.75/5]
Having Becky back is a great addition to the show especially to inject a fresh dosage of excitement to the Damage Control's leader, teasing a one-on-one confrontation after three years hiatus after a failed challenge for the Title. The banter between them is always a highlight, with the heel speaking a little bit of truth while the face still basking in the return glow. Another tasteful tease is a possible clash between the Man and the Mama of the Judgement Day with a prolonged staredown at the entrance, certainly boding well for the Women Division moving forward.
Having prolonged women matches two times one after the other on the same night is a golden up for me, especially with the amount of talents presented here and then again later this night. Asuka who has returned from shoot injury is the reliable third in this trio, going into this with a win over the two heels in WarGames but coming out with another possible feud that's going to unfold. The match itself is great, between them first ganging up against Ripley and then Asuka herself, eventually turning against each other unsurprisingly. The Australian dominates, the Japanese perseveres, and the American sneaks. The Nightmare's on the way to a win but too eager to inflict pain against the leader that's getting on her nerve, suffering a bump on the side mat that's long enough for Rose Plant to be planted against the Empress to give Bayley the win. Ripley vents out her frustration after feeling robbed against the already downed Asuka, certainly looks much more intense than ever before. The returning faces now have their storylines to follow moving forward, from Becky to Asuka to Bliss later, giving them something tangible to sink their teeth into without getting involved with Title picture... well, that's still remains to be seen for one of them at least.
+ Fitting talking segment between Bayley and Becky, playing off last week's segment as well as their history together... a heel speaking sense is always a plus | Great equal showing from all three | Rhea is the top female heel on the roster + ? Asuka has been middling as of late... a return to a more feared force ala her post-NXT debut would do wonders. Ripley would be a good foil! | Bayley needs to earn her edge back... maybe Becky would be it?
- Speaking of which, the Women Tag Team Champions are being sidelined, and not even on the show. At least before they have some screen time despite the lack of spotlight on their belts... Wait, they did showed up in the end, right? They distracted Becky... -
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Seth “Freakin" Rollins & Bobby Lashley got into a wild brawl
Austin Theory v Mustafa Ali {United States Championship} <DQ> (8m05s...) [3/5]
In the absence of the World Championship as a constant weekly top title to have in contention for, they have been doing a great job of elevating the US Title ever since the change of hand on the wheels. Seth provides his shine on top of the solid foundation Bobby laid down before, with Austin sneaks through and steals the title from underneath them. He certainly gives his darnedest in that Survivor Series match with that extra mean streak after losing the Money in the Bank briefcase and just squeaks through after a match with these two athletes is a correct finish for me. His arrogance would cost him possibly in the future, accepting the challenge from Ali for the Title after just a little prodding despite Rollins and Lashley is still set to fight each other next week for that opportunity. Mustafa needs to win a match sooner rather than later, being a spunky underdog who never gives up for weeks now but still loses (rather valiantly always) and while he's never has a chance to win the match at all here at first, the inclusion of Dolph Ziggler would finally be his chance to have a tick in the win column. Any match with Ali would be a sight to see and this bout with Theory was on its way (despite an unfortunate yet scary botch of reverse to Hurracanrana) before being cut short. Dolph is a hardworker and one of the best sellers so he would do his best to put him over.
+ Pull apart brawl is one of WWE's signature segments | Seth is the best tweener on RAW time and time again! | +
? Bobby is having a tantrum after losing to Brock but where could it lead to...? The best of three match to break the tie is probably on Wrestlemania... | The increase of intensity for Austin is great and it could blow off next week in that number one contender match | Ali needs to move forward from this stagnant position he is in ?
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The JBL Poker Invitational
+ Goofy wrestling is always entertaining for me | Using wrestlers that have storylines over the weeks (i.e. Dexter & Akira) as well as those in the catering so to speak (i.e. Tamina & Shelton) | A showcase of personalities +
? Baron really doesn't need a mouthpiece... this character seems stuck. Shouldn't he just return back to the Lone Wolf persona? | Shelton & Cedric was on the show back to back a couple of weeks before... but where are they now? Shouldn't they revive the Hurt Business stable already? Include Omos as well, they would be formidable!
- Tamina just couldn't catch a break... and Dana Brooke! -
the O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) (w/ Mia Yim) vs Alpha Academy
(Chad Gable & Otis) & Baron Corbin (14:30) [3/50]
It's a good bout following up with the Poker kerfuffle. Nothing much to write down but a good match to watch especially to see how well the chemistry is between all six, with Chad Gable's the MVP, as always!
+ Good watch. +
? ?
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Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rhea Ripley, Finn Bálor & Damian Priest) vs Akira Tozawa [2.5/5]
Ah, I'm just so happy that Akira Tozawa is returning to his old getup! A short but impactful match showcases what he could do in the ring between a speedy veteran and a springy newcomer. More, please!
+ A good outing for both of them | Dominik is going from strength to strength! +
? I'm just hoping that Akira would be involved in more serious altercations ?
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Alexa Bliss v Nikki Cross v Becky Lynch {Triple Threat Match for Finals for RAW Women Championship's no.1 Contender } (16m30s) [3.75/5]
Of course all the focus on the imminent turn or return of Alexa Bliss to possibly Bray Wyatt's side, slowly teased even before Survivor Series and then again last week, actually showing visible physical effect on her who was on a trance during the interview. This time around, she's just acting normally despite being accompanied by Bray's Moth a couple of times before the match but the most telling action is her in the unmistakable pose for the Sister Abigail with a serious expression. The match itself though is as much of delight as the first, with Lynch as the dominating veteran, Cross as the unpredictable wild card and Bliss as the skilled underdog. Adding this layer of mystery on top of the constant threat from the Damage Control is providing a lot more intrigue to the Red Brand's Women Division than ever before. I just can't wait to see where this would go next week!
+ Awesome tease of a possible turn | Another great display of women wrestling | Damage Control plays a part +
? Would she stay here as an agent for the Wyatt Family? Would she change brand? | Becky would definitely not just stay still and take this interference by the Damage Control laying down, interfering herself next week in that number one contender match | Nikki is okay taking the pin here since she's a bit in a gray area right now ?
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