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6 Takeaways From WWE RAW (2/5)

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Robert Lentini

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The February 5, 2018 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA. Two more Superstars qualified for the men’s Elimination Chamber match and it was also determined who will enter the match last.

Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s episode of RAW:

Roman Reigns Qualified For Elimination Chamber

Roman Reigns (photo: WWE.com)

WWE RAW kicked off this week with Bray Wyatt cutting a promo backstage. Wyatt brought up how he won the WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber last year and called Reigns his nemesis. Bray claimed to see Roman for who he truly is, “a failure that wants to be put out of his misery”.

Bray stated that he is happy to oblige. Roman responded and stated that a failure is someone that stays down when they get knocked down. Roman added that he has had his share of ups and downs, but that is a sign of a great journey and note failure. Reigns then said that his his road to WrestleMania concludes with a trip to Suplex City and that nobody will stop him.

Bray Wyatt faced Roman Reigns in a Elimination Chamber Qualifying match. Matt Hardy was shown backstage during the match watching on a monitor. Bray controlled the match early and sent Reigns into the steel steps as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Reigns battled back and connected with a Samoan Drop.

Wyatt went for a Suplerplex but Roman escaped and hit a Powerbomb for a two count. Wyatt avoided a Superman Punch and countered with a Uranage for a two count. Reigns then hit the Superman Punch and went for the cover but Bray kicked out. Wyatt avoided a Spear and hit the Sister Abigail for a close two count. Bray went for another Sister Abigail but Reigns fought back as the crowd booed. Roman then hit the Spear for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Matt Hardy appeared behind Bray Wyatt and planted him with the Twist of Fate.

Reigns and Wyatt had a good match tonight that brought out some “this is awesome!” chants from the crowd. The outcome of the match was pretty predictable and the fans started to reject it once they saw the end was near. Reigns qualifying for Elimination Chamber is no surprise. When he most likely wins the match it will be no surprise. I’m still baffled as to why the feud between Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt is so generic.

Jason Jordan Cost Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins 

Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan had a conversation backstage. Rollins wanted to make sure that Jordan was 100% healthy for their rematch for the RAW Tag Team Championships tonight. Jordan assured Rollins that he has been medically cleared and is ready to go.

Later on RAW, Seth Rollins approached Jason Jordan once again backstage. Jordan was with a member of WWE’s medical staff and Kurt Angle. Jordan informed Rollins that he couldn’t compete tonight. Rollins was pissed off and Angle stated that Rollins and Jordan will have to forfeit their match. Roman Reigns then showed up and Angle agreed to let Roman be Seth’s partner tonight.

Sheamus and Cesaro were pissed off about having to defend their RAW Tag Team Championships against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Rollins and Reigns controlled the match early and trapped Cesaro in the corner. Sheamus leaped into the ring but was immediately knocked out by a Clothesline by Rollins. Seth went for a Suicide Dive but Sheamus caught him and planted him with an Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus then launched Reigns into the barricade as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, Sheamus and Cesaro were still in control and had Reigns trapped in the ring. Roman connected with a Superman Punch to Sheamus and then Jason Jordan came down to the ring to a chorcus of boos. Jordan got Rollins attention and Seth tagged into the match. Seth went on a run and knocked both Sheamus and Cesaro out of the ring. Rollins connected with a Suicide Dive to Cesaro that knocked him into the front row of the crowd.

Back in the ring, Cesaro perched Rollins up on the top turnbuckle and hit him with an uppercut. Seth rolled through and hit a Suplsex and followed it up with a Falcon Arrow for a two count. Jordan tripped up Cesaro and Rollins went for a roll-up for two. Reigns started yelling at Jordan to get out of here and that they got this. Cesaro and Sheamus tried to leave the ring and head backstage. Jordan tried to prevent them and wound up trading punches with Sheamus and Cesaro. Rollins and Reigns wound up getting disqualified because Jordan struck them.

After the match, Rollins and Jordan were shown arguing backstage. Kurt Angle broke it up after Rollins shouted that Jordan was a son of a bitch. Angle shouted at Jordan to go home until he is medically cleared. Jordan tried to say that Rollins cannot talk to him like that and Angle shouted “damn it go home!”. Jordan then walked away as Angle’s face was bright red with anger.

Jordan is hated at the crowd, but it seems to be for the right reason now. Being announced as Angle’s son was rejected by the WWE Universe. Jordan wound up getting eaten alive by the crowd every week as he struggled through his promos. At least now he is portraying an annoying and hatable character. The negativity directed at Jordan now is because of his actions, not just a total rejection from the audience. I’m interested to see where this storyline goes.

Bayley Stood Up To Sasha Banks & Had A Solid Match With Asuka

Bayley and Sasha Banks had a conversation backstage. Banks was convinced that she could defeat Asuka and vowed to win the Elimination Chamber match if RAW GM Kurt Angle puts her in the match. Bayley said that she was thinking the same thing and added that she was facing Asuka tonight. Banks essentially laughed in Bayley’s face and asked her if she really thought she could beat Asuka. Bayley replied “well I know I can beat you, and if you are good enough to beat Asuka so am I” and walked away.

It was nice to FINALLY see some fire and anger from Bayley here. I feel like most people have been waiting for that since she joined the main roster.

Bayley faced Asuka later on RAW. Bayley controlled the match early but Asuka shrugged off her attack and got right in her face. Asuka connected with an Arm Drag and a couple of kicks to Bayley’s back. Bayley punched Asuka in the face and knocked her out of the ring. Bayley brought Asuka back to the ring but Asuka got up and hit a Hip Attack that knocked Bayley to the floor. Asuka went to attack Bayley outside the ring but Bayley launched Asuka into the barricade as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned. Bayley connected with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Bayley connected with a couple of elbows to Asuka’s back. Asuka battled back to her feet and hit Bayley with a series of forearms to the face. Asuka hit Bayley with a knee to the face and followed it up with a sliding knee to the face for a two count. Asuka went for a Dropkick off the top rope but Bayley got out of the way and connected with a knee of her own for a two count.

Bayley connected with a Neckbreaker on the apron and then booted Asuka in the face. Bayley tried to leap onto Asuka outside the ring but Asuka was ready and kneed Bayley in her face. The action returned to the ring and Asuka went for the cover but Bayley kicked out. Bayley went for the Bayley to Belly but Asuka reversed into an Arm Bar. Bayley escaped and went for a Clothesline but Asuka once again locked in the Arm Bar in the middle of the ring for the submission victory.

After the match, Asuka and Bayley shook hands.

This was the first time in a while on RAW where I thought Bayley actually stood out. I liked the backstage segment she had with Sasha Banks and she had a good match with Asuka tonight.

Bayley’s feud with Alexa Bliss last year was a disaster and it had a negative impact on her. Bliss’ beatdown of Bayley in the Kendo Stick on a pole match at WWE Extreme Rules 2017 was the icing on the cake. The whole build to the match was that Bayley was going to prove that she can get “Extreme” at Extreme Rules. What wound up happening is Bayley got squashed by Alexa Bliss at the PPV.

A week later, Bayley made it seem like losing in embarrassing fashion wasn’t a big deal and vowed to stay true to herself in a backstage interview with Corey Graves. She stated that “she wasn’t here to put bruises on people’s back, she was here to put smiles on people’s faces”. I remember that line because it was that bad. It was the exact opposite of what fans wanted to hear from her at the time. She then awkwardly asked Graves for a hug and it came off as pathetic. The crowd completely turned against her and she has never really recovered from it.

Hopefully WWE can continue to show that Bayley isn’t just a pushover and can hold her own in the ring like they did tonight. She was a pretty easy character to get behind in NXT and there really isn’t any reason for that not to translate to the main roster.

Kurt Angle Announced The Superstars In The Women’s Elimination Chamber Match

RAW GM Kurt Angle came down to the ring to announce the competitors in the first-ever women’s Elimination Chamber match. Kurt Angle announced that Alexa Bliss will defend her title against Bayley, Mandy Rose, Mickie James, Sonya Deville and Sasha Banks at Elimination Chamber match. Angle noted that Nia Jax was not in the match because she will be facing Asuka at the PPV. If Nia Jax wins that match, she will be added to the RAW Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania.

RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss came down to the ring and complained about Brock Lesnar not having to defend his title at the PPV. Bliss asked Kurt why she doesn’t get that privilege and accused Angle of being sexist. Angle said that Bliss was just trying to get out of her match. Angle asked the crowd if they wanted to see Alexa Bliss defend her RAW Women’s Championship at Elimination Chamber. Bliss then walked away as the entire crowd chanted “yes!”.

Kurt Angle had a big time brain fart during this segment and completely forgot the name of PPV and match. He finally remembered that it was Elimination Chamber and announced the participants. Alexa Bliss actually had a solid point here. It is silly that Brock Lesnar doesn’t have to defend the Universal Championship at the PPV. I also find it odd that Kurt Angle simply selected the Superstars that are going to be in the women’s Elimination Chamber match.

RAW is featuring all these qualifying matches for the men’s match. RAW is a pretty long show every week, I don’t quite get why there couldn’t be qualifying matches for both. It is just a random selection of Superstars thrown in this match while the men’s is getting weeks of build. It is just lazy to me.

The Miz Qualified For Elimination Chamber

IC Champion The Miz came down to the ring with Bo Dallas. The Miz boasted about defeating Roman Reigns twice in a row. The Miz then vowed to win the Elimination Chamber match. The Miz added that his daughter will be born before WrestleMania 34 and that she will get to see the first ever Intercontinental Universal Champion. The Miz then faced Apollo Crews in an Elimination Chamber Qualifying match.

The match started during a commercial break and Crews beatdown The Miz early as Dana Brooke and Titus O’Neil cheered Crews on. Crews slammed The Miz to the canvas and went for a standing Moonsault but Miz got his knees up. Crews battled back and slammed The Miz back to the mat. Crews hit the standing Moonsault this time and followed it up with a Standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. The Miz crotched Crews on the top rope and planted him with the Skull Crushing Finale for the pinfall victory.

The Miz now joins Roman Reigns, Elias, Braun Strowman and John Cena in the Elimination Chamber match. There is still one more Superstar that has to qualify for the match.

Elias Will Be The Final Superstar To Enter The Elimination Chamber

John Cena, Elias and Braun Strowman faced off in the main event of RAW in a Triple Threat match. The winner of the match will be the final entrant in the Elimination Chamber match.

Elias rolled out of the ring right when the match started. Strowman knocked Cena to the mat and RAW went to break. When RAW returned, Elias was still avoiding Strowman and Cena. John tried to lift Braun up on his shoulders but he wound up collapsing under Strowman’s weight.

Strowman continued to dominate and beatdown Cena and Elias outside the ring. Elias and Cena teamed up for a bit and slammed Strowman into the ring post a couple of times. They then threw Strowman into the steel steps. Cena grabbed the steps and bashed Strowman in the face with them.

Elias smashed his guitar across the back of Strowman. Cena then planted Strowman with a massive Attitude Adjustment on the steel steps.

Elias attacked Cena from behind and brought him back into the ring. Elias connected with a Backbreaker for a two count. Elias controlled the match for the next couple of minutes before Strowman got back in the ring. Braun planted Cena with a Running Powerslam. Elias shoved Strowman out of the ring and then pinned Cena for the victory. Elias will now be the 6th and final Superstar to enter the Elimination Chamber match.

Strowman got back into the ring and planted Elias with a Running Powerslam. Braun hit another one to Cena and the crowd chanted for more. Strowman delivered another Powerslam to Elias and then posed for the crowd. The crowd chanted again and Braun hit Cena with yet another Powerslam. Strowman brought Elias back into the ring and hit a final Powerslam to Elias before RAW went off the air.

Braun Strowman is one of the most popular Superstars in WWE right now. The crowd is behind him and it was entertaining to watch Strowman play to the crowd tonight. He pointed at his ear so the crowd would get louder when he was delivering the Powerslams. They went along with it and enjoyed it. Elias is the heavy underdog in the Elimination Chamber match, but I feel like he is going to eliminate a big name or two at the PPV. It was also announced tonight that there will be Fatal 4-Way match next week with the Superstars that have already lost. Finn Balor will face Bray Wyatt, Apollo Crews and Matt Hardy to determine the final entrant in the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

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