The December 4th, 2017 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s RAW:
Jason Jordan Challenged Roman Reigns
This week’s episode of RAW kicked off with RAW GM Kurt Angle coming down to the ring to “you suck!” chants from the crowd. Angle pumped up the crowd for the RAW Tag Team Championship match and announced that Roman Reigns will also defend his Intercontinental Championship tonight on RAW.
Jason Jordan came down to the ring and asked for a match against Roman Reigns for the IC Title. Angle once again brought up that Jason Jordan is injured and Roman Reigns’ music hit. Reigns told Jordan to earn a shot at the title instead of begging his father to give it to him. Jordan replied that Reigns is constantly given opportunities by WWE management.
Reigns added that he wanted to fight Samoa Joe tonight. Samoa Joe came out from backstage and accepted Reigns’ challenge. Jordan interrupted and challenged Samoa Joe to a match. Roman interrupted and stated that he wanted Joe first. Reigns started to say something to Joe but Jordan hit Reigns with a Belly to Belly Suplex. Angle shoved Jordan off of Reigns and Roman told Kurt to start the match. Angle called for a referee as RAW went to a commercial break.
Jordan had control of the match but appeared to re-injure his knee which halted his momentum. Reigns escaped a Suplex and connected with a Superman Punch and then a Spear for the pinfall victory. Samoa Joe was watching the match from a chair on the entrance ramp.
After the match, Joe grabbed a microphone and claimed that Jason Jordan wore Reigns out and that it will be easy for Joe to lock in the Coquina Clutch. Joe made his way to the ring and brawled with Reigns. Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch but Jordan made the save and connected with a Suplex on Samoa Joe. Reigns then hit Jordan with a Superman Punch and stood tall in the ring with his Intercontinental Championship.
Backstage, Jordan demanded that Kurt Angle give him another shot at Reigns next week. Jordan also wanted a match against Jason Jordan tonight on RAW. Angle said that he would think about and asked Jordan to leave his office and relax. Samoa Joe then appeared and tackled Jordan into a wall. Joe then got in Angle’s face before walking away.
Jordan put up another solid fight against Roman Reigns. He is an elite performer in the ring, but is still facing an uphill battle when it comes to getting the crowd on his side.
Paige Made Her Return To The Ring
Paige made her return to the ring tonight on RAW and faced off against Sasha Banks. Mickie James and Bayley were in Sasha Banks’ corner for this match. Paige brought Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville down to the ring for the match as well. Alexa Bliss joined commentary for the match.
Sasha Banks controlled the match early and stomped on Paige in the corner. The referee had to break it up and Paige took advantage of that and attacked Sasha. Paige connected with a knee to the face for a two count. Sasha battled back and hit a Hurricanrana and followed it up with a Crossbody off the top rope for a two count.
Deville and Rose distracted Banks from ringside and Paige attacked Banks from behind. Paige planted Banks with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a two count. Sasha once again battled back and locked in the Bank Statement. Paige was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold. Outside the ring, Rose and Deville started brawling with Mickie and Bayley. Banks lost her focus for a moment because Deville and Rose easily beatdown Mickie and Bayley. Paige took advantage and booted Sasha and then hit the Rampaige for the pinfall victory.
The crowd was heavily behind Paige as she made her return to the ring. Paige proved that RAW is still her house and Absolution has completely taken over the women’s division.
Kane Interrupted Braun Strowman
Elias confronted RAW GM Kurt Angle backstage and said that he wanted to face Roman Reigns tonight, but instead Angle gave that opportunity to his son. Elias stated that Angle needs to watch his bias towards his “bastard son”. Elias added that the Los Angeles crowd was going to have to settle for a concert tonight. Angle told Elias to head to the ring and that he will find him an opponent for tonight.
Later on RAW, Elias came down to the ring with his guitar. He started singing a song that poked fun at Los Angeles. Braun Strowman interrupted and stormed down to the ring. Strowman beat Elias down and Elias escaped out of the ring. Elias hit Strowman with his guitar but Strowman shrugged it off. Braun brought Elias back into the ring and planted him with a Running Powerslam.
Kane’s music hit and the lights went out in the arena. Kane appeared on the jumbotron and stated that he will face Strowman again next week. Kane claimed that will go the abyss next week and that only one monster will emerge. Kane laughed as Braun watched on with an angry look on his face.
“I delight in PAIN. I delight in HORROR. And, next week, I will delight as you and I step into the ring AGAIN!” Only one MONSTER will emerge when @BraunStrowman and @KaneWWE battle next week on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/z3tIla7wCH
— WWE (@WWE) December 5, 2017
Kane and Braun Strowman will face off next week on RAW. I hope that is the end of their feud. I would like to see Braun Strowman in a more important role on RAW every week.
Samoa Joe Cost Rollins & Ambrose The Tag Titles
Sheamus and Cesaro defended their RAW Tag Team Championships tonight against Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose in the main event of RAW. The Bar controlled the match early and took turns beating down Dean Ambrose. Cesaro connected with a cheap shot to Ambrose while the referee wasn’t looking. Ambrose finally was able to escape and tagged in Seth Rollins.
Rollins planted Sheamus with a Blockbuster and followed it up by hitting a SLingblade for a two count. The Bar once again captured control of the match and took turns beating down Rollins. Sheamus and Cesaro took turns beating down Rollins for the next several minutes. Eventually, Rollins was able to tag in Ambrose, but Sheamus and Cesaro once again were able to beat him down. Dean tagged Rollins back in and he immediately hit a Suplex on Sheamus. Rollins followed it up with a Falcon Arrow and went for the cover but Cesaro dove into the ring and broke it up at two.
Cesaro and Rollins traded shots in the ring and Sheamus knocked Rollins to the canvas. Sheamus started stomping on Rollins and wouldn’t stop as the referee tried warning him. The referee had no choice but to call for the bell and disqualify Sheamus and Cesaro. RAW GM Kurt Angle came down to the ring and ordered that the match be restarted as a No DQ match.
Rollins and Ambrose immediately went after The Bar and took control. Ambrose leveled Cesaro with a Clothesline and Rollins followed it up with an Elbow Drop. Ambrose went for the cover but Cesaro kicked out at two. Samoa Joe stormed down to the ring and took Ambrose and Rollins out. Reigns came down to the ring but Joe escaped through the crowd. Sheamus connected with the Brogue Kick onto Ambrose for the pinfall victory.
Wait… what's HE doing here?!? #RAW #TagTeamTitles @SamoaJoe @WWERollins @TheDeanAmbrose @WWESheamus @WWECesaro pic.twitter.com/WlFdHDbktX
— WWE (@WWE) December 5, 2017
I thought that Rollins and Ambrose would leave RAW tonight as the new Tag Team Champions but that wound up not being the case. This match was solid. I like how Samoa Joe has just made it his mission on RAW to piss off Roman Reigns as much as possible. Instead of attacking Reigns again tonight, Joe cost his best friends a shot at retaining the RAW Tag Team Championships.
Matt Hardy Sentenced Bray Wyatt To “Deletion”
Bray Wyatt appeared on the jumbotron but was quickly interrupted by Matt Hardy. The crowd erupted as Matt Hardy appeared to be “Broken”. The two Superstars went back and forth as Hardy responded to everything that Bray Wyatt said.
Matt stated that he has laid dormant inside this vessel called Matthew Hardy but claimed that he has now become “Woken”. Wyatt said that last week was not Matt Hardy’s breaking point and that it was actually his. Wyatt claimed to feel alive again and that his fire will make sure that everyone burns.
Matt then sentenced Bray Wyatt to deletion and Wyatt was shown chuckling. Matt Hardy then started laughing as well and the two went back and forth as the crowd chanted “delete!”.
This was amazing. Matt Hardy has instantly become relevant again in WWE now that he has finally become “Woken”. Bray Wyatt also benefits from this as he is now in an entertaining storyline for once. “Woken” Matt Hardy is off to a great start in WWE and it will fun to see this storyline progress over the next several weeks.