1/8 WWE Raw in Mobile, Ala.: Braun vs. Sami, Reigns vs. Owens, Big Cass vs. Rusev, Swann vs. Perkins, six-woman tag match

WWE LIVE EVENT REPORT – RAW BRAND
JANUARY 8, 2017
MOBILE, ALA.
REPORT BY KAVONTAE SMALLS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Attendance: 2,500-3,000 (estimate)

Jo Jo handled ring announcing duties.

(1) Cesaro & Sheamus defeated New Day (Kofi Kingson & Xavier w/Big E) and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship. New Day entered the arena with their giant inflatable ‘Booty-Os’ cereal box. For the finish, Sheamus delivered the Brogue Kick to Anderson after New Day were outside the ring.

(2) Rich Swann defeated T.J. Perkins and Neville to retain the Cruiserweight Championship. Swann won with a spinning heel kick following a suplex from the top rope Neville performed onto Perkins, with Swann powerbombing Neville.

-Sami Zayn cut a backstage promo on Braun Stroman.

-Byron Saxton was ringside with a young fan who announced the next match.

(3) Bayley & Sasha Banks & Alicia Fox defeated Dana Brooke & Nia Jax & Charlotte. Alicia is very graceful in the ring and her moves are very crisp. Fox took most of the offense until she made the hot tag to Bayley who won with the Bayley-to-Belly. After the match, Bayley, Fox, and Banks hugged and shook fans hands.

(4) Big Cass (w/Enzo) defeated Rusev (w/Lana). Enzo was on a crutch at ringside. Pre-match, Lana cut a promo in which she spelled out C-R-U-S -H leading to Rusev’s entrance.  After Lana slapped Enzo and Cass, she was ejected from ringside. Big Cass picked up the win shortly after.

(5) Seth Rollins defeated Chris Jericho. Pre-match, Jericho cut a promo on Alabama and said he wouldn’t put Mobile on “The List” because Mobile is full of Stupid Idiots. Jericho’s promo was the first real promo of the night. Jericho jumped from the top rope into a Pedigree for a Rollins pinfall.

Intermission: During intermission, Saxton picked a fan and did a “what happens next” segment. A video plays on the Titantron and suddenly stops. The scene was the infamous McMahon limo explosion.

(6) Goldust & R-Truth & Big Show defeated Titus O’Neal & Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel & The Shining Stars. Darren Young & Sin Cara were attacked during their entrance making it a handicap match. Mid-match, Big Show came out and chokeslammed the opposing team for the win.

(7) Braun Strowman defeated Sami Zayn. Strowman caught Zayn in a crossbody attempt from the top and powerslammed him for the win.

(8) Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens to retain the U.S. Championship. Before the match, Owens cut a heel promo on the city of Mobile. Reign’s music interrupted him. Reigns came out to a good pop as he should with Pensacola, Fla. being 30 minutes away. Reigns won with a spear.

FINAL NOTES: The talent wrestled very safely tonight… The ring was heavily mic’d. I heard a lot of conversation from the ring over the speakers… Saxton may not be strong on commentary, but he is very serviceable at house shows… Based on the few chants from the crowd, there were very few bellwether fans in attendance. However, the crowd was rather flat for most of the show… Having been to several NXT house shows in Central Florida in recent months, I’ve noticed most of the talent’s interactions with (ringside) fans are very similar to NXT…

NOW CHECK OUT THIS RECENT WWE LIVE EVENT REPORT: 12/28 WWE in Nashville, Tenn.: Wyatts joke around with crowd and get cheered, Miz and Ziggler for IC Title in bloody cage match

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