The October 28th, 2019 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
Paige Got Hit With The Green Mist
Paige kicked off the show and introduced Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane & Asuka). Paige began speaking about their accomplishments but Asuka interrupted and ripped the microphone away from her. Paige grabbed the microphone back and Asuka spit green mist in Paige’s face.
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch rushed the ring and a brawl broke out. Lynch then battled Kairi Sane in a singles match and The Man dominated the bout early. Sane rolled out of the ring but Lynch followed her and connected with a Clothesline. Asuka distracted Lynch and Sane capitalized by shoving Becky into the ring post.
Back in the ring. Sane connected with a DDT and went for the cover but Becky kicked out at two. Asuka caused another distraction and Kairi capitalized with a spinning elbow to the face for another near fall. Lynch battled back and applied the Dis-Arm-Her for the submission victory.
Lynch and Sane had a very good match tonight but the ending was bizarre because it didn’t appear like Kairi Sane tapped out. I would have preferred a DQ finish with Asuka and Sane attacking Lynch than what we saw tonight. It was still a solid match but I thought it took away from their promo with Paige. Sane and Asuka are also defending the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Team Kick on NXT this Wednesday night. I don’t understand why the audience needs to see one of them pinned heading into the title match.
Team Flair Sent A Message To Team Hogan
Drew McIntyre (Team Flair) battled Ricochet (Team Hogan) tonight on RAW. Hogan, Jimmy Hart, and Ric Flair were ringside for the match. McIntyre controlled the action early and hurled Ricochet across the ring. McIntyre followed it up with a Suplex and then applied an Armbar as Jimmy tried to get the crowd behind Ricochet.
Ricochet escaped and planted McIntyre with a Hurricanrana. Ricochet went for a Crossbody but Drew caught him and slammed him to the canvas. McIntyre connected with a Buckle Bomb and mocked Hulk Hogan’s poses to a smattering of boos from the crowd.
Ricochet hit a boot to the face and followed it up with some chops in the corner. McIntyre shrugged them off and leveled Ricochet with a kick to the head as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, McIntyre went for the Claymore Kick but Ricochet countered with an Enziguri. Ricochet climbed to the top rope but McIntyre rolled out of the way. Ricochet hopped down and Randy Orton hit him with an RKO out of nowhere to end the match in a DQ. Ricochet sold the hell out of the RKO and you can check that out below.
Seth Rollins Used A Forklift To Defeat Rowan
Seth Rollins squared off against Erick Rowan in a Falls Count Anywhere match tonight on RAW. The action quickly exited the ring and the two superstars battled through the crowd. They then fought in the concourse area and Rowan launched Seth into a merchandise stand. Rowan followed it up with a Chokeslam through a table for a near fall as RAW went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Rollins was in control and connected with a Suicide Dive that knocked Rowan into the barricade. Seth shoved Erick into the steel steps a couple of times and rolled back into the ring. Rollins went for another Suicide Dive but Rowan was ready for it and hit Seth in the face with the steel steps.
Rowan Dropkicked Seth out of the ring and hit him with a Crossbody for a two count. Erick Powerbombed Rollins into the ring post and went for the cover but the Universal Champion was able to kick out at two. Rowan brought Rollins to the entrance ramp and hit him with a Clothesline.
Erick cleared off the announce table and went for the Iron Claw but Seth escaped. Rollins hit Rowan with a Superkick and followed it up with a Stomp on the announce table for a two count. Rollins hit Rowan with a Crossbody and followed it up with a chair shot as the superstars made their way backstage once again.
Rowan threw Rollins into some pipes and then bounced Seth’s face off a road case. Rollins hit Rowan with a ladder and followed it up with a Stomp on top of the ladder. Seth demanded that a worker turn on the forklift and lower it on top Rowan. Seth stood on top of Rowan for the pinfall victory. Rollins will defend the Universal Championship against Bray Wyatt in another Falls Count Anywhere match this Thursday at Crown Jewel.
I liked this finish better when it was Mankind versus The Rock at Halftime Heat in 1999. Rollins isn’t getting a ton of reaction anymore and I would like to see him turn heel at this point. Seth mentioning the city name they are in during his promos and throwing in a “burn it down!” isn’t getting it done anymore.
AJ Styles Tapped Out Humberto Carrillo
AJ Styles faced Humberto Carrillo tonight on RAW. Carrillo dominated the match early and hit a springboard kick for a two count. Gallows and Anderson were ringside for the match and tried to fire AJ up but Humberto stayed on the attack. Carrillo connected with a Moonsault for a near fall and Styles rolled out of the ring to regroup. Carrillo hopped out of the ring and Styles hit an awesome Tornado DDT off the barricade as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Humberto connected with a Dropkick and made his way up to the top rope. Carrillo hit another Dropkick and followed it up with a Moonsault for a two count. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Humberto tripped him up. Carrillo hit another Moonsault and went for the cover but AJ kicked out. Styles went after Carrillo’s knee and applied the Calf Crusher for the submission victory. After the match, The OC attacked Carrillo and the Street Profits made the save.
Lashley Hit Rusev With A Low Blow
Lana and Rusev joined Lawler for an episode of “Divorce Court” in the final segment of this week’s RAW. Rusev had a smile on his face as Lawler introduced Lana. Jerry pointed out that Rusex is still wearing his wedding band and hopes that they can get back together.
Lana faded in and out of her accent and claimed that Rusev only wanted sex from their relationship. Rusev joked “can you blame me?” and Lana claimed that he was a sex addict. Lana then stated that Rusev wanted to impregnate her and she couldn’t do that because she is a model.
She added that Bobby Lashley told her that Rusev was cheating on her and Rusev claimed that Bobby was just “talking sh*t”. Lashley interrupted and a brawl broke out as the crowd chanted “Rusev Day!”. Rusev took off his wedding band and started beating the hell out of Lashley.
Lana got in the ring with a kendo stick and hit Rusev a few times. Rusev ripped the kendo stick away from Lana but Lashley hit him with a low blow. Lashley hit Rusev with another low blow and then made out with Lana to mercifully end the segment.
A fan in the crowd shouted, “this is weird!” as RAW went off the air and it couldn’t have been more perfect. I find this storyline to be embarrassing for all involved and cannot wait until it is over. The only part I enjoyed during this segment was Rusev completely no-selling the kendo stick shots. The rest of it was an episode of Jerry Springer and didn’t interest me at all.
Overall, RAW wasn’t a good show again. Andrade versus Sin Cara wrestled again and for some reason, the Viking Raiders are still wrestling enhancement talent despite being the RAW Tag Team Champions. I don’t care about Team Hogan versus Team Flair at Crown Jewel. I’ve used this word several times now but it still applies, these shows are completely lifeless right now. The crowds are never into the show because they have no reason to and it makes RAW and SmackDown a very tough watch.
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