Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Can you smell that in the air? It's not anticipation. It's desperation. TLC is just six days away, and the only match WWE is actually interested in promoting for the event is The Shield. Okay, The Shield aren't a match, but they are the only thing that matters in their match.
While SmackDown has many stories going, some great, some forgettable with a month before Survivor Series, I could barely tell you what else is being built up by Raw for TLC this weekend. WWE probably couldn't either.
While SmackDown has many stories going, some great, some forgettable with a month before Survivor Series, I could barely tell you what else is being built up by Raw for TLC this weekend. WWE probably couldn't either.
Kurt Angle wants everyone to know, no matter how little anyone pays attention to him, he is still here.
The Shield Try to Start a Fight Early
Overview: General Manager Kurt Angle was quickly interrupted by The Shield who came in their old attire to their old entrance. They called out their opponents for Sunday with Braun Strowman, Cesaro, Sheamus, and The Miz all coming out. Angle calmed them down though, reminding them they would fight later on a "historic" night.
Analysis: The Shield will always be great, but this felt so unnecessary. The Shield came out old school unnecessarily early to cut a promo that meant nothing before they were all going to appear later in the show to wrestle anyway. This wasn't even about announcing one of the matches for later as they were already announced.
Analysis: The Shield will always be great, but this felt so unnecessary. The Shield came out old school unnecessarily early to cut a promo that meant nothing before they were all going to appear later in the show to wrestle anyway. This wasn't even about announcing one of the matches for later as they were already announced.
Titus O'Neil, Apollo Crews, and Jason Jordan def. Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Elias
Overview: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson sang with Elias before the match. That team synergy was not enough to allow the good brothers to defeat Titus O'Neil, Apollo Crews, and Jason Jordan with Crews catching Anderson with the spin-out powerbomb.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was nothing beyond extending the feud between Elias and Titus Worldwide. The opening with Gallows and Anderson singing was more entertaining than anything in the actual match, and Elias barely did anything throughout despite being one of the major stars in the segment.
Highlights:
- Titus clotheslined Gallows outside followed by Crews catching Elias with a dropkick and Jordan taking out Anderson with a diving clothesline.
- Crews leapfrogged Anderson to get the hot tag to Jordan who ran over Anderson with clotheslines and tackles into the corner before a release suplex.
Analysis: This match was nothing beyond extending the feud between Elias and Titus Worldwide. The opening with Gallows and Anderson singing was more entertaining than anything in the actual match, and Elias barely did anything throughout despite being one of the major stars in the segment.
What is this 205 Live on my Raw? We can't have Raw being the most exciting three hours on TV.
Cedric Alexander def. Jack Gallagher
Overview: The Brian Kendrick tried to back up Jack Gallagher from the start in this match, but Rich Swann made sure to even the odds. He took out Kendrick for a second time after Kendrick grabbed Alexander's leg to allow Alexander to hit the Lumbar Check on Gallagher for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match barely got started then it was over. This is why these feuds stay on 205 Live I suppose because 3 hours isn't enough to give the cruiserweights' second best feud two full segments. The two teams are just setting up a filler match anyway, so why care that they're actually telling a compelling story on the D-show?
Highlights:
- Alexander caught Gallagher's leg then hit him with a back elbow into a handstand springboard roundhouse kick.
Analysis: This match barely got started then it was over. This is why these feuds stay on 205 Live I suppose because 3 hours isn't enough to give the cruiserweights' second best feud two full segments. The two teams are just setting up a filler match anyway, so why care that they're actually telling a compelling story on the D-show?
The Miz Talks His Way Into Adding Stakes to Tonight's Main Event
Overview: Miz talked up his group's great dynamic and the reasons they would defeat The Shield. Strowman was introduced and made clear he was ready to destroy the reunited stable because none of them could beat him one-on-one. Miz then tried to add a fifth man to the handicap match.
However, Angle interrupted and stopped him. He decided to add a stipulation to Strowman vs. Reigns where the heels could add a fifth man if they won but a loss would take Strowman out of the match. Strowman accepted, confident he would win while the rest of the heels looked worried with Angle also banning everyone from ringside later.
Analysis: This segment could have been a better way to open the show. It had promos that were a bit more effective and had much more weight with the addition of real stakes to the match. This still felt a bit extraneous though with so much of the show being taken over by one match with no long term stakes.
However, Angle interrupted and stopped him. He decided to add a stipulation to Strowman vs. Reigns where the heels could add a fifth man if they won but a loss would take Strowman out of the match. Strowman accepted, confident he would win while the rest of the heels looked worried with Angle also banning everyone from ringside later.
Analysis: This segment could have been a better way to open the show. It had promos that were a bit more effective and had much more weight with the addition of real stakes to the match. This still felt a bit extraneous though with so much of the show being taken over by one match with no long term stakes.
Alicia Fox is back... because Sasha Banks needs to stay on TV.
Sasha Banks def. Alicia Fox
Overview: Alicia Fox complained in a pretaped interview about losing the match last week. However, after an early flurry, she walked into a tilt-a-whirl right into the Bank Statement for a tap out. Afterward, Fox lost it, angrily yelling at the world.
Analysis: It is good that WWE is using its women's roster, but this just feels like stalling. Banks and Fox have already feuded. It's the only reason Fox was on TV in the past year. They couldn't even have Fox vs. Bayley instead?
Analysis: It is good that WWE is using its women's roster, but this just feels like stalling. Banks and Fox have already feuded. It's the only reason Fox was on TV in the past year. They couldn't even have Fox vs. Bayley instead?
Enzo Amore Introduces His Posse to Kalisto and Mustafa Ali
Overview: Enzo Amore looked less frustrated than expected after last week, but he lost it when talking about how Mustafa Ali cost him his match against Kalisto. This brought out Kalisto with the WWE Cruiserweight Championship only to be ambushed by Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese, Noam Dar, and Drew Gulak.
Ali ran down to try and make the save, but he was taken out as well with the heels destroying both men and Enzo gloating over them.
Analysis: Kalisto is a talented performer who should not never talk on the mic. It is a clear and ridiculous weakness. The rest of this segment was pretty strong particularly establishing Ali more as the babyface star on the rise of the division as he tried his best to save Kalisto.
Ali ran down to try and make the save, but he was taken out as well with the heels destroying both men and Enzo gloating over them.
Analysis: Kalisto is a talented performer who should not never talk on the mic. It is a clear and ridiculous weakness. The rest of this segment was pretty strong particularly establishing Ali more as the babyface star on the rise of the division as he tried his best to save Kalisto.
They're such marks. Couldn't wait to get back in those vests.
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins def. Cesaro and Sheamus to Retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
Overview: Sheamus and Cesaro continued to show they were the more intelligent and cohesive team in this match, but they still could not contain the unbridled energy of Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Rollins broke up a double Razor's Edge and took out Sheamus to set up a short-arm high knee into Dirty Deeds for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was nowhere near the top level these two teams have shown, but it was still a strong TV match. Ambrose looked more energized than usual but was even more sloppy than in recent weeks. The big issue though was that Sheamus and Cesaro were working a bit contained here, perhaps saving up for a huge performance on Sunday.
Highlights:
- Ambrose and Rollins dropkicked Sheamus back-to-back followed by clotheslining Cesaro outside to join him and hitting them with side-by-side suicide dives.
- Rollins began unloading strikes on Sheamus then sent Sheamus shoulder-first into the post before rolling out of Cesaro's grip and sending him outside.
- Ambrose got the hot tag for a series of forearms and clotheslines only to miss a bulldog followed by a swinging neckbreaker.
- Ambrose nearly hit Dirty Deeds before sending Cesaro outside then Sheamus to set up suicide dives from each on perpendicular sides of the ring.
- Sheamus and Cesaro hit Ambrose with a spinebuster/springboard uppercut combination with Rollins breaking up the pin.
Analysis: This was nowhere near the top level these two teams have shown, but it was still a strong TV match. Ambrose looked more energized than usual but was even more sloppy than in recent weeks. The big issue though was that Sheamus and Cesaro were working a bit contained here, perhaps saving up for a huge performance on Sunday.
Finn Balor Promises to Fight Sister Abigail with The Demon
Overview: Finn Balor came out and promised he would slay Bray Wyatt's demon Sister Abigail with his own demon. The video shifted showing Balor speaking half as himself and half as the Demon.
Analysis: This really did not need to happen in the ring and probably was really awkward to see live. It lasted only a few minutes with the main focus a camera trick that was pretaped. They also messed up the recap of this segment by not including the voice modification for Wyatt as Sister Abigail, showing off its ridiculousness more.
That said, I still feel like I am the only one willing to give this one a chance. The two have had multiple great matches, and this could be their best yet. I really like the idea of Wyatt having a higher power to tap into to turn his direction around. That said, it could just be Wyatt wrestling in drag, and this ends like Wyatt "taking Undertaker's power".
Analysis: This really did not need to happen in the ring and probably was really awkward to see live. It lasted only a few minutes with the main focus a camera trick that was pretaped. They also messed up the recap of this segment by not including the voice modification for Wyatt as Sister Abigail, showing off its ridiculousness more.
That said, I still feel like I am the only one willing to give this one a chance. The two have had multiple great matches, and this could be their best yet. I really like the idea of Wyatt having a higher power to tap into to turn his direction around. That said, it could just be Wyatt wrestling in drag, and this ends like Wyatt "taking Undertaker's power".
Glad Mickie is letting the younger talent do all the work while she takes all the credit, proving she's still young and spirited I guess.
Mickie James and Bayley def. Alexa Bliss and Emma
Overview: Bayley was isolated and taken out by the impressive teamwork of Alexa Bliss and Emma, ground down as Mickie James waited for her chance to fight Bliss. When Mickie finally got it, she rolled over Bliss, looking like the better woman with a Mick Kick to take the clean victory.
Highlights:
Analysis: The women in recent weeks have been putting on some strong tag team matches despite the contests having nothing on the line. Emma is putting on some impressive showings each time, pulling out great tag team maneuvers. It is a shame that this is all Mickie and Bliss got this week, but it was a quality match.
Highlights:
- Bayley got fired up after turnbuckle shots and grabbed Emma for her own turnbuckle shots into a snapmare, running low clothesline, and running elbow.
- Emma booted Bayley into the barricade then tagged in Bliss for an assisted running slap.
- Mickie caught Bliss with a flapjack then a diving senton with Emma saving the pin.
Analysis: The women in recent weeks have been putting on some strong tag team matches despite the contests having nothing on the line. Emma is putting on some impressive showings each time, pulling out great tag team maneuvers. It is a shame that this is all Mickie and Bliss got this week, but it was a quality match.
Braun Strowman def. Roman Reigns to Add Kane to the Handicap Match at WWE TLC
Overview: This started as a physical war inside the steel cage, but the moment Reigns managed to get Strowman down, Sheamus and Cesaro stormed the cage before being fought off by Ambrose and Rollins with the two fighting backstage and being sealed away from an entrance back to ringside by Miz who was on commentary before.
As Reigns closed in on a win, Kane sprung out from under the ring and chokeslammed Reigns. Strowman hit Reigns with a running powerslam followed by Kane hitting a Tombstone Piledriver to seal the win for Strowman. Miz then announced officially Kane was their fifth man for Sunday.
Highlights:
Analysis: All of this for Kane? To be fair, it was a shock to see Kane return (before his mayoral campaign is even over) as a member of Raw and be the fifth man, but there was no reason a fifth man was needed at all. For Kane to be the one they felt needed to be added, he will have to have a serious role here and likely will begin a feud with Reigns after.
The match here was fine but so filled with interference that it was hard to pay much attention. It was also one too many segments for everyone in this feud. Clearly WWE had no goal other than to sell this match for all its worth tonight even though it was the match that needed it least.
As Reigns closed in on a win, Kane sprung out from under the ring and chokeslammed Reigns. Strowman hit Reigns with a running powerslam followed by Kane hitting a Tombstone Piledriver to seal the win for Strowman. Miz then announced officially Kane was their fifth man for Sunday.
Highlights:
- Reigns failed to hit Strowman with a Samoan drop but managed to sidestep Strowman and send him shoulder-first into the corner before pelting him with clothesline only to have Strowman catch him with a spinebuster.
- Strowman pulled Reigns with one hand back into the cage and superplexed him off the cage.
- Strowman got caught on the top rope and took back-to-back Superman Punches followed by a Spear for a nearfall.
Analysis: All of this for Kane? To be fair, it was a shock to see Kane return (before his mayoral campaign is even over) as a member of Raw and be the fifth man, but there was no reason a fifth man was needed at all. For Kane to be the one they felt needed to be added, he will have to have a serious role here and likely will begin a feud with Reigns after.
The match here was fine but so filled with interference that it was hard to pay much attention. It was also one too many segments for everyone in this feud. Clearly WWE had no goal other than to sell this match for all its worth tonight even though it was the match that needed it least.
Glad The Demon is taking this seriously enough to put on his Halloween paint.
Final Notes: After an Asuka video package aired, Emma was interviewed, asking why not everyone was paying attention to her, before Bliss asked her to team with her. In an interview after her win, Mickie promised to have the last laugh Sunday and take home her seventh championship to her son.
As Banks headed backstage after her match, she was asked about her win only to be assaulted by Fox who had to be forced away by officials. Curtis Axel tried to get Sheamus and Cesaro fired up after their loss before Strowman appeared with the three heels convincing Axel to go fight Reigns on his own.
Axel found The Shield and walked in confident before Raw cut to commercial. Miz was surprised to hear Axel had gone after The Shield and looked worried. Miz found Axel hanging upside down unconscious. Miz admitted just before the main event Axel was never the fifth man.
Conclusion: The opening was written before I started watching this show, and it made my point all the clearer. The Shield match dominated time on Raw this week, basically showcasing how little Raw needs all three hours right now. This was honestly a bit embarrassing to watch as WWE relied so much on this feud.
To be fair, the matches throughout the night were strong, but this show did nothing to improve TLC. It may have actively hindered it. The whole card looks desperate with WWE throwing together multiple matches from the lesser promoted divisions to salvage a heavyweight division woefully understaffed.
It could be an interesting chance for the rest of Raw to deliver with the women getting multiple spots on this card and the cruiserweights even slipping on for multiple matches. However, it is likely WWE will also give all that time on Sunday to the handicap match.
As Banks headed backstage after her match, she was asked about her win only to be assaulted by Fox who had to be forced away by officials. Curtis Axel tried to get Sheamus and Cesaro fired up after their loss before Strowman appeared with the three heels convincing Axel to go fight Reigns on his own.
Axel found The Shield and walked in confident before Raw cut to commercial. Miz was surprised to hear Axel had gone after The Shield and looked worried. Miz found Axel hanging upside down unconscious. Miz admitted just before the main event Axel was never the fifth man.
Conclusion: The opening was written before I started watching this show, and it made my point all the clearer. The Shield match dominated time on Raw this week, basically showcasing how little Raw needs all three hours right now. This was honestly a bit embarrassing to watch as WWE relied so much on this feud.
To be fair, the matches throughout the night were strong, but this show did nothing to improve TLC. It may have actively hindered it. The whole card looks desperate with WWE throwing together multiple matches from the lesser promoted divisions to salvage a heavyweight division woefully understaffed.
It could be an interesting chance for the rest of Raw to deliver with the women getting multiple spots on this card and the cruiserweights even slipping on for multiple matches. However, it is likely WWE will also give all that time on Sunday to the handicap match.