The November 25th episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL. It was the first episode of RAW following WWE Survivor Series 2019. Here are 6 takeaways from the show:
Seth Rollins Finally Turned Heel
The RAW locker room surrounded the ring as Seth Rollins stood in the ring for a Town Hall meeting. The crowd chanted “CM Punk!” and Seth told the crowd that Punk wants to sit behind a desk in Los Angeles.
The crowd transitioned into an “NXT!” chant and Seth stated that NXT mopped the floor with RAW last night at Survivor Series. Rollins claimed that RAW is better than what they showed last night and told the entire RAW roster that they all sucked at Survivor Series.
Rollins pointed out that they have went from being the A-show to the C-show and that they need to make this place great again. Seth called Orton the weak link on the men’s team last night and asked if he had anything to say.
Orton walked away and Rollins turned his attention to Charlotte. Seth said that Charlotte wasn’t even the last one left in her match on Team RAW and Flair left. Rollins told AOP that they weren’t even at Survivor Series so they don’t need them tonight.
Seth told Rey Mysterio that he has beaten Brock Lesnar twice and that Rey couldn’t get the job done with a steel pipe and his stupid kid. The crowd chanted “a**hole!” and the entire RAW locker room left. Kevin Owens hopped on the apron as the crowd chanted his name.
Rollins told the crowd that Owens’ new name is “Mr. NXT” and told Owens to get into the ring and say what he has to say. Rollins told Owens that he was a lazy piece of crap and that he wants to be Seth Rollins. Seth told Owens that he will never be him and then tried to backtrack by claiming it was coming from a good place. Owens then hit Rollins with the Stunner and the crowd erupted.
RAW opened with a terrific segment and Rollins finally got his much needed heel turn. In the span of one promo, Rollins has become an interesting character again and will hopefully no longer get the Roman Reigns treatment from the crowd.
Rusev Got Some Revenge On Lashley
Bobby Lashley battled Titus O’Neil tonight on RAW. Footage was shown of Rusev being handed a temporary restraining order once again and thus was barred from the arena.
Rusev made his way back into the arena and attacked Lashley right when the match was about to start. Rusev then beat the hell out of Lashley as Lana pleaded with him to stop.
The crowd loudly chanted “Rusev Day!” as he brought Lashley towards the announce table. Several cops rushed the stage and handcuffed Rusev. He quickly escaped and hit Lashley with a shoulder tackle that sent Bobby falling off the stage and through a table. Rusev then booted a part of the stage and it fell on top of Lashley.
Lana was later interviewed backstage and claimed that Rusev should be fired.
I’ve absolutely hated this feud but I’d be lying if I didn’t find this hilarious. At the end of the day, it is all still just leading to a Lashley versus Rusev match so it difficult to be that invested in this feud. However, this was far more entertaining than Lana stumbling through a terribly written promo for ten minutes.
Aleister Black Sent A Message To Buddy Murphy
Matt Hardy faced Buddy Murphy tonight on RAW. Hardy got a great reaction from the crowd as he made his way to the ring. Buddy dominated the match early but Matt battled back and hit the Side Effect.
Hardy set up for the Twist of Fate but Murphy escaped and hit a knee to the face. Buddy hit two more knees to the face and pinned Matt for the victory. After the match, Buddy Murphy grabbed a microphone and stated that he has come to pick a fight with Aleister Black.
Black interrupted and ran down to the ring. Aleister hit Buddy with a massive knee to the face and Murphy tumbled out of the ring. Buddy made it seem like he was going to get back into the ring but opted to retreat instead.
Rey Mysterio Captured The United States Championship
AJ Styles defended the United States Championship against Humberto Carrillo tonight on RAW. Before the match, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows attacked Humberto from behind. Gallows hit Carrillo with a Chokeslam on the apron and then sent him flying into the steel steps. Gallows and Anderson followed it up with the Magic Killer on top of the steel steps.
Ricochet came down to check on Humberto Carrillo and then insulted AJ Styles by saying that he doesn’t have what what it takes to be a champion anymore. Ricochet challenged Styles to a match for the US Title but AJ declined. Randy Orton joined the party and stated that he is able to compete tonight. Orton added that the people of Chicago would love to see him RKO AJ Styles through the canvas.
Styles told Ricochet and Orton that he already defeated them in the past and has nothing to prove. Drew McIntyre interrupted and said that he has never had an opportunity at a singles title. McIntyre boasted about pinning Walter last night and challenged Styles to a title match tonight.
Rey Mysterio told AJ Styles that he was just making excuses and that he wasn’t going to let him cheat Chicago out of a title match. Ricochet suggested that they compete in a Fatal 4-Way match and the winner faces AJ Styles for the title tonight.
Orton, Ricochet, Mysterio, and McIntyre competed in the Fatal 4-Way match. Orton had the match won but the OC dragged Randy out of the ring. Mysterio rolled up Ricochet for the pinfall victory and earned a shot at the United States Championship.
AJ beat Mysterio down to start off the match and kept grinning at Gallows and Anderson while doing so. Styles charged at Rey but Mysterio got out of the way and crashed into the ring post. Mysterio went for the 619 but Anderson tripped him up. The referee then kicked Gallows and Anderson out from ringside as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Styles once again charged at Rey in the corner and wound up flying crotch first into the ring post. Mysterio capitalized with a Bulldog and went for the cover but AJ kicked out at two. Rey hit AJ with the 619 but AJ stumbled back and knocked over the referee.
Gallows and Anderson rushed back down to the ring and beat Mysterio down while the referee was laid out. Randy Orton made the save and Rey hit another 619. Orton then planted AJ Styles with an RKO and Rey followed it up with a Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. After the match, Rey celebrated with his son Dominick in the ring.
I thought this was awesome. I don’t expect Rey’s title reign to last too long but this was a great moment. It would be nice to see WWE build up superstars in the midcard and have storylines surrounding the US Title. While I enjoyed this, it was still just a random collection of wrestlers vying for the title with no buildup at all.
Asuka Defeated Charlotte Flair
Asuka faced Charlotte Flair tonight. Last night at Survivor Series, Charlotte and Asuka were on Team RAW. Charlotte and Asuka started arguing and shoving each other. Asuka spit green mist into Flair’s eyes and it led to Charlotte’s elimination from the match.
Charlotte dominated early and taunted Asuka bout ending her streak a couple years ago at WrestleMania. Asuka battled back and locked in an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring. Flair broke free and connected with a big boot for a two count.
Asuka rolled out of the ring and regrouped with Kairi Sane. Charlotte chased Sane through the crowd as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Asuka applied another Arm Bar in the ring. Flair escaped and countered a Hip Attack with a kick to the back.
Asuka connected with a German Suplex and went for the Asuka Lock but Flair escaped. Charlotte hit a flurry of chops and followed it up with a Fallaway Slam. Charlotte hit a Senton and went for the cover but Asuka kicked out at two. Asuka went for a Crossbody but Flair got out of the way.
Charlotte went for the Natural Selection but Asuka countered into a a Triangle submission. Flair countered into the Boston Crab in the middle of the ring but Asuka was able to reach the bottom rope to break the hold.
Flair connected with a Spear for a near fall. Kairi Sane showed up again and distracted Flair once again. Sane then distracted the referee and Asuka spit the green mist in Charlotte’s face and rolled her up for the pinfall victory.
AOP Attacked Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens faced Seth Rollins in the main event of this week’s RAW. Owens started off the match in control and hit Seth with a couple chops in the corner. Owens connected with a Senton for a two count.
Rollins hit a Suicide Dive and then grabbed a steel chair as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Rollins and Owens were once again battling in the ring as the crowd chanted “CM Punk!”.
Owens sent Rollins to the corner and hit a Cannonball. Kevin climbed to the top rope and hit a Frog Splash for a two count. Rollins hit a Falcon Arrow and went for the cover but Owens kicked out at the last moment.
Kevin planted Rollins with a Pop-Up Powerbomb for another near fall. Seth hit a series of Superkicks and went for the Stomp but Owens got up and hit the Stunner. AOP marched down to the ring and Owens slapped Akam in the face. Akam and Rezar beat Owens down and threw him into the ring post.
AOP turned their attention to Rollins in the opposite corner. Seth got up and dared them to attack him but they left the ring instead. Seth then hit Kevin Owens with the Stomp and then delivered another one as RAW went off the air.
This week’s episode of RAW was a very solid show. It will be interesting to see where the Rollins and Owens feud goes over the next few weeks and how AOP will factor into it.
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