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5 Takeaways From WWE RAW (12/11)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

in

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The December 11th episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:

Samoa Joe Continued His Dominance Over The Shield

Samoa Joe came down to the ring to kick off this week’s episode of RAW. Joe boasted about costing Rollins and Ambrose their shot at the RAW Tag Team Championships last week and called Roman Reigns out. Joe said that he wanted Roman to come down to the ring alone. Joe claimed that Roman Reigns would be nothing without The Shield and dared Reigns to come down to the ring and prove him wrong.

Reigns was shown backstage with Ambrose and Rollins watching Joe on a monitor. Reigns said “I got this boys” and made the Big Dog made his way to the ring. Roman and Joe traded punches in the ring. Reigns got the upper-hand and beatdown Joe in the corner. Cesaro and Sheamus jumped into the ring and Joe locked Reigns in the Coquina Clutch. Rollins and Ambrose came down to the entrance ramp and started brawling with Sheamus and Cesaro while Joe still had Reigns in the Coquina Clutch. The Bar and Samoa Joe then systematically beatdown every member of The Shield one at a time.

Seth Rollins faced Sheamus later on RAW. Rollins got in some offense early and was in control of the match as RAW went to a commercial break. Sheamus took control during the break and focused his attack on Rollins knee. Sheamus locked in the Cloverleaf in the middle of the ring. Rollins reversed it into a roll-up but Sheamus kicked out at two. Rollins connected with a Falcon Arrow but clutched his leg in pain after hitting the move. Sheamus missed with the Brogue Kick and Rollins connected with the knee to the face for the victory.

Dean Ambrose was interviewed backstage after Rollins’ victory and Renee Young asked if the attack earlier tonight changed his strategy for his match tonight against Samoa Joe.

Roman Reigns defended his Intercontinental Championship against Cesaro later in the night. Cesaro controlled the majority of the match and focused most of his attack on Reigns’ arm. Roman battled back but Cesaro halted his momentum by launching him into the ring post. Roman hit a Superman Punch off the steel steps outside the ring and then went for the cover in the ring but Cesaro kicked out at two.

Cesaro connected with a gigantic uppercut and then locked Reigns in a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Reigns broke free and planted Cesaro with a Powerbomb. Cesaro connected with a flurry of uppercuts and went for his finisher but Reigns countered it with a Back Body Drop. Reigns followed it up with a Spear for the pinfall victory in an excellent match.

Jason Jordan approached RAW GM Kurt Angle and asked why he wasn’t given a match against Samoa Joe. Jordan said that he was the only one who could defeat Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle disagreed. Angle stated that he will determine when Jordan gets his match against Samoa Joe. Jordan then came down to the entrance ramp and set up a chair to watch the match between Ambrose and Samoa Joe.

Ambrose controlled the match early as Jordan watched on with a smile on his face. Joe battled back and connected with a kick that knocked Ambrose out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Ambrose connected with a series of chops and then slapped Joe in the face. Ambrose hit a couple of Clotheslines in a row and then knocked him to the canvas with the Lunatic Lariat. Joe connected with a Suplex and challenged Jordan to come down to the ring.

Ambrose went for a roll-up from behind and Joe kicked out. Both Superstars then spilled out of the ring and Jordan threw Ambrose back into the ring. Joe then locked Jordan in the Coquina Clutch and Ambrose hit them both with a Suicide Dive. Back in the ring, Ambrose connected with an elbow and went for the cover but Jordan was arguing with the ref on the ring apron. Ambrose exited the ring and started shouting at Jordan. Samoa Joe flew threw the ropes and took them both out. Joe then hit Jordan with a Senton and locked Ambrose in the Coquina Clutch in the ring for the victory.

It was looking like Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns were all going to overcome the odds and win their matches after the attack from Samoa Joe and The Bar to kick off RAW. Samoa Joe defeated Ambrose and beatdown Jason Jordan in the process. It looks like we are heading towards a clash between Reigns and Joe for the Intercontinental Championship and I can’t wait to see it.

The RAW Women’s Division Stood Up To Absolution

Paige and Mandy Rose faced Bayley and Mickie James tonight on RAW. Sonya Deville and Sasha Banks were ringside for the match. Mickie and Bayley controlled the match early and knocked Mandy Rose and Paige out of the ring. Mickie and Bayley then leaped off the ring apron and kneed them in the face as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Paige and Mandy Rose were in control and had Bayley isolated in the corner. Bayley slammed Paige face-first on the ring apron and finally was able to tag in Mickie James. Paige tagged in Mandy Rose as well. Mickie connected with a Crossbody but Sonya Deville hopped up on the ring apron. Mickie booted Deville off the ring apron and then went for a DDT on Rose but Paige broke it up. Paige then booted Mickie in the face and Mandy Rose pinned her for the victory.

Asuka was supposed to face Alicia Fox later in the night but Absolution came down to the entrance ramp. Paige showed Alicia Fox backstage being attended to by WWE medical staff. Paige stated that Asuka needed to move out of the way or Absolution will make her move out of the way. Asuka shook her head and remained in the ring.

Paige, Deville and Rose then surrounded Asuka on the ring apron. Asuka booted Mandy Rose off the ring apron and knocked down Deville. Asuka quickly locked in an Arm Bar on Paige but the numbers game caught up to her. Paige had Asuka set up for the RamPaige when the entire RAW women’s division sprinted down to the ring. The RAW women’s locker room beatdown Absolution until they retreated up the entrance ramp.

This storyline got a lot more interesting tonight. For the past couple of weeks, Absolution has spared Asuka from their attacks, but tonight they singled her out. I am all for a match between Paige and Asuka in the near future. I also enjoyed how the RAW women’s division responded tonight. Absolution has dominated the RAW women’s division since they made their debut and tonight the other Superstars finally stood up to them.

“Woken” Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt Shared A Laugh Again

Bray Wyatt cut a video promo tonight on RAW and kept getting interrupted by “Woken” Matt Hardy. Wyatt called Hardy a liar and said that his words mean nothing. Matt Hardy claimed that he has crossed paths with the soul of Sister Abigial several times in the past but her soul is now stuck in the vessel called Bray Wyatt. Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt then went back and forth laughing like they did on last weeks promo.

Last week’s promo between these two was very entertaining. Tonight felt like the same exact promo, only the crowd didn’t react to it. I am fine with WWE building up “Woken” Matt Hardy to an audience that might not be familiar with the character from TNA. However, I would like to see these two cut a promo in the ring next week.

The fear I have about this character in WWE is that it will be micromanaged to death. We saw some signs of that tonight during this promo. WWE added a transition of the word “Woken” with glass shattering every single time the camera cut back to Matt Hardy. It was unnecessary and added nothing to the promo. I’m hoping that WWE just lets Matt Hardy do his thing in the weeks to come because this storyline has the potential to be great.

Cedric Alexander Took Advantage Of His Second Chance

Last week on RAW, Nia Jax approached Enzo Amore backstage and flirted with him. Nia asked Enzo “how you doin?” and smiled at him. On this week’s episode of RAW, Enzo Amore was backstage with Drew Gulak. Drew stated that there will be a “second chance” Fatal 4-Way tonight to determine who will replace Rich Swann in the #1 contenders matchup against him next week. Enzo stated that he didn’t care if he wound up having to defend his title against Nia Jax. Gulak didn’t put it together that Enzo had Nia on his mind and thought Enzo was teaching him to be ready for any opponent that stands in his way.

Cedric Alexander, Mustafa Ali, Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari faced off later in the night. It was a very entertaining Fatal 4-Way match in which Cedric Alexander won. Drew Gulak was on commentary during the match and didn’t seem too excited about having to face Alexander next week to determine the #1 contender for thee Cruiserweight Championship. Alexander vowed to defeat Gulak and then Enzo Amore to become the new Cruiserweight Champion.

Gulak and Amore had a conversation backstage. Gulak said that he is going to defeat Alexander next week and then become the new Cruiserweight Champion. Enzo Amore then went on a rant about how Gulak isn’t on his level and insulted his powerpoint presentations. Nia Jax then appeared and flirted with Amore again. Nia compliment Gulak on his powerpoint presentations and Enzo said that he just finished telling Drew how great they were. Nia said that the two should talk when Enzo is not busy and walked away.

Cedric Alexander is a great talent and I’m happy he is now in the Cruiserweight Championship picture. He showed just how good he is in the ring during the Fatal 4-Way tonight. The storyline between Nia Jax and Enzo Amore is entertaining and it will be fun to see where this goes over the next few weeks.

Brock Lesnar Still Doesn’t Have An Opponent For Royal Rumble

Kane faced off against Braun Strowman tonight in RAW’s main event and the winner of the match will face Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble for the Universal Championship. Braun Strowman beatdown Kane in the corner to start off the match. Strowman connected with a big punch to Kane’s face and followed it up with a Splash in the corner. Strowman then hit a massive Dropkick for a one count.

Kane rolled out of the ring and Braun followed him and launched him into the steel steps next to the ring. Back in the ring, Kane planted Strowman with a Chokeslam for a two count. Kane planted Strowman with a second Chokeslam but once again Strowman kicked out.

Strowman blocked Kane’s third attempt at a Chokeslam and planted him with a Chokeslam of his own for a two count. Kane rolled out of the ring again and Strowman followed him out there. Kane connected with a right hand and the action spilled into the crowd. Strowman sprinted at Kane and drove him through the barricade. The referee then counted both men out but the fight continued.

Braun tossed Kane over the steel steps and then both Superstars grabbed a piece of the stairs. Kane and Strowman swung the stairs at each other and Kane fell to the floor. Strowman tried to slam Kane’s neck into the steps but Kane blocked it. Strowman grabbed a table from under the ring and slid it into the ring. Kane grabbed a chair from under the ring and hit Strowman with it.

Kane hit Strowman a few more times with the chair in the ring. Kane set up the table and then both Superstars connected with a Clothesline at the same time and fell to the canvas. Kane sat up first and then Strowman joined him. Kane couldn’t believe that Strowman sat up and retreated to the corner. Braun charged at Kane but Kane grabbed him by the neck. Strowman broke free and planted Kane with a Running Powerslam through the table as RAW went off the air.

Brock Lesnar will be on RAW next week, but as of now we still do not know who his opponent will be at Royal Rumble next month. Even though there was no winner tonight, Braun Strowman certainly made his case that he should be next in line to get a shot at the Universal Championship.

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