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KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT
NOVEMBER 12, 2018
KANSAS CITY, MO.
AIRED ON USA NETWORK
Announcers: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Tonight after WWE Raw, join me live with guest cohost Cameron Hawkins to break down the show with live callers, mailbag, and an on-site correspondent from Manchester.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They aired a video on veterans and their sacrifices to secure America’s freedom from tyrants and oppressive forces worldwide.
-They went to the arena where fans applauded the video and chanted “USA!” Cole said they were in Kansas City, Mo. this week.
(1) TAG TEAM BATTLE ROYAL
Cole explained the Raw Tag Team Division was already in the ring for a battle royal where the winners will be captains of the Raw Tag Team Elimination match at Survivor Series on Sunday. Just over a minute in, Cole complained that the Lucha House Party had three members. Graves agreed. Renee condescendingly pointed out “yeah, but they’re small.” At that point Braun Strowman came out and knocked Konnor and Viktor down as they came after him in the aisle. He tossed the Lucha House Party members onto each other and then entered the ring. He took out the Revival members and then was swarmed by the others – Rhyno, Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, and Chad Gable. He threw them all off him, sending them flying to the floor. He roared and fans cheered. Graves was against Strowman’s interference, while Renee ridiculously defended it as “a perfect way to get some attention.” (They’re ruining Renee with awful commentary here.)
WINNER: No content.
(Keller’s Analysis: Talk about burying an entire division. I know they want to get Strowman over as a monster, but they’ve made the entire tag division more irrelevant than it was before the start of the show. Was it worth it? Especially when there’s a tag team match on Sunday with bunch of teams wrestling. Why would anyone care when ten of them aren’t tough enough to take out one guy?)
-Strowman said, “Tonight’s Monday Might Raw is brought to you by the monster among men.” He said he’s tired of chasing Acting G.M. Baron Corbin around and isn’t resting until he gets these hands. Stephanie McMahon walked out instead to her music. The referee was tending to several of the fallen tag wrestlers at ringside who still hadn’t gotten up from Strowman tossing them around.
Stephanie said he has every right to be upset after what Corbin did to him in his Universal Title match against Brock Lesnar. (She didn’t say when or where it happened. Last week they referred to CROWN JEWEL IN SAUDI ARABIA as “last Friday” only.) She said it’s time Braun rechannels his anger to what really matters, which is this Sunday at Survivor Series. Stephanie said her brother Shane McMahon disrespected the entire locker room when he stole the World Cup and declared himself the best in the world. She asked if he’d let Shane disrespect him.
Braun yelled, “Look, I don’t give a damn about Shane and I don’t give a damn about representing you at Survivor Series.” Stephanie said she does give a damn, and Braun better give a damn. She got in his face. He said, “With all due respect, Stephanie, I know how you corporate types look at me like I’m some kind of corporate meat castle, but I know when someone is trying to manipulate me.” He asked her to bring her “lapdog Corbin” out so he can get this over with. Stephanie said she doesn’t underestimate him and she knows he is smart, but she is a businesswoman and she has a business proposition for him. She said Team Raw has defeated Team Smackdown two years in a row, and when he leads Team Raw to victory again, he can have anything he wants – money, plane, trains, automobiles. She said her word is her bond. Fans booed.
Braun said he doesn’t care about planes or trains. He said he wants another Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar. She said, “Done.” He said, “But before that, I want Baron Corbin.” She said, “Done.” He said he wants to pick the stipulations. She said, “Done.” Braun said she should make Corbin sign a waiver so he’s not responsible for the damages. Stephanie said it might take some time to run it by the lawyers, but she’s confident she can get it done. She said he has to agree not to lay a hand on Corbin until after Survivor Series to prove he’s a team player, then he can have whatever he wants. Strowman said that better be true or else he’ll go to WWE headquarters and destroy the whole building. She said she’s not trying to manipulate anyone; she’s being honest about what she wants and how she wants to get it. She said she wants to motivate everyone. Ronda Rousey’s music played.
Rousey came out to her music. Stephanie seemed upset by the interruption. Stephanie tried to introduce Rousey, but Rousey yanked the mic away from her. She told Steph to save the pep talk. She said there’s nothing she could say to make her more motivated than she already is. She said she’s tired of hearing “The Man” threaten to rip her arm off, so she can’t wait to show “The Man” how it’s really done. Stephanie enthusiastically applauded. Some fans chanted “Becky!” Rousey said maybe she doesn’t have to wait to demonstrate. She walked toward Stephanie. Corbin walked out to his music.
Corbin said he is there to motivate Raw talent to focus exclusively on Survivor Series and proving they are better than Smackdown. Strowman then walked out. Corbin backed away and let Strowman enter, given his agreement with Stephanie. Strowman made it clear he was itching to attack him, though. Corbin said they cannot afford to get embarrassed again after what Shane did at the World Cup AT CROWN JEWEL IN SAUDI ARABIA. Rousey judo threw Corbin down and left the ring with her belt. Strowman stepped up to Corbin and stared him down. Stephanie told them to wait until after Survivor Series. She angrily told Corbin to “shut up” and get out of the ring. Strowman told him to enjoy his time being Stephanie’s lapdog “because after Survivor Series, I’m going to neuter you.” Braun’s music played as Corbin and Stephanie left. Corbin roared.
(Keller’s Analysis: They got a lot done in that segment. They had to create a reason Braun didn’t continue to seek out and destroy Corbin, so a deal was struck that makes sense for all parties involved. They also had Stephanie address Shane stealing the World Cup. I was disappointed she didn’t emasculate him for the ridiculousness of putting himself in that match, or at least make it more clear whether he’s supposed to be the babyface or heel in this situation. It’s starting to seem more likely Shane was booked to do that in part to just seem ultra-loyal to Smackdown. The problem is, fans don’t see “Brand Supremacy” as anything they have a stake in or care about, so Shane stepping in and abusing his power to steal the World Cup tournament after weeks of build up and fans speculating on who would win was seen as a heelish move. There wasn’t much Stephanie could do with it to fix it, so it wasn’t much of a payoff at this point. Ronda seemed to handle chants for Becky pretty well, sticking with the script and not letting it seem to get to her. When you’re building a PPV around Raw vs. Smackdown with the weak idea that fans at Raw are “Raw fans” more than “Smackdwon fans,” and then the Smackdown Women’s Champion gets favored over Rousey by a vocal group of fans, it undercuts the whole weak premise of Survivor Series even more.)
-Cole hyped that Brock Lesnar was at Raw live to talk about facing A.J. Styles on Sunday. Graves said he will interview Seth later. Renee said Nia Jax and Tamina will explain why they joined forces. They showed Jax and Tamina backstage being mean to producers. [c]
-They went to the announcers on camera. Renee said she’s been trying to get answers from Alexa Bliss regarding who will be on her team at Survivor Series, but Alexa has been tight-lipped.
(1) TAMINA (w/Nia Jax) vs. EMBER MOON
Cole asked Renee if she knows what this new friendship is about. Renee cited Kayla Braxton’s report that Jax said it was about family and timing. Cole noted that Ember idolized Jax and she betrayed her. They showed Bliss watching the monitor by standing sideways and looking at the monitor sideways from the side, you know, like everyone watches TV. Ember knocked Tamina to the floor and then leaped off the ring apron with a running kick. Jax walked up to her. Ember snarled at her. Tamina then caught Ember with a surprise clothesline. They cut to a break. [c]
Back live, Tamina had control of Ember. Ember ducked Tamina’s clothesline and dove through the ropes at Jax at ringside. She bounced off of Jax. Back in the ring Ember landed a lateral press on Tamina for a two count. Then she went for a springboard elbow in the corner, but miscalculated and it looked sloppy. Jax distracted Moon, so Tamina superkicked her off the top rope. Tamina then climbed to the to top rope and landed a Superfly Splash which called called merely “a splash.” (Just as they don’t mention Crown Jewel or Saudi Arabia, they also don’t mention “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka anymore.)
WINNER: Tamina in 8:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s still unsettling watching Jax conduct herself this way when just a couple weeks ago WWE was touting her winning an inspirational award and how likable she has been for months and months in her feud with the nasty demeaning Alexa Bliss.) [c]
-They showed some Kansas City Chiefs in the front row. Then they showed the exterior of the arena.
-A video package aired on the Seth Rollins-Dean Ambrose storyline (with no mentions of or allusions to Roman Reigns this week) including Authors of Pain beating Seth for the Raw Tag Team Titles.
-Seth made his ring entrance. The announcers hyped the Seth vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match at Survivor Series. Cole also plugged the new episode of “Chronicles” on WWE Network after NXT War Games airs Saturday night showing Dean’s path back from injury.
-Graves interviewed Seth in the ring. He asked where he is at mentally headed into this match. Seth smiled and said at this point, he doesn’t care at all about Nakamura even though it’s a first-ever match. Graves said if his head isn’t in the game, Nakamura will take his head off. Seth said he’ll be laser focused on Nakamura on Sunday, but tonight in Kansas City he wants answers and wants to know why Dean did what he did to him “and all of us.” Graves said Dean has never had a great way with words and lets his actions speak for him. Seth said Dean isn’t a stupid guy and he knows why he did what he did, but he’s not man enough to come out there and tell him. Graves pointed at the big screen.
Dean was sitting in the parking lot on the hood of an older model red car with a burning trash can next to him. He said he doesn’t owe Seth or anyone an explanation. He said the people who want to come up to him on the street who look like they need a shower and have no manners, asking him, “Why Dean? Why did you turn your back on your brothers? Why this night of all nights?” He said The Architect didn’t have all the answers this time. He said maybe they shouldn’t have talked to him like he was a charity case or an imbecile. He said Seth should consider whether he, Dean, has always been this guy, but he was too self-absorbed to see it. He said he used to think The Shield was stronger together, and wearing the vest made him strong, but the truth is The Shield made him weak. He said Seth and Roman made him weak and the burden of having to watch his back made him weak. He said every day is a new day, a chance to be reborn and “take the past and burn it down.” He poured gasoline on the Shield vest and threw it into the trash can. He scowled and walked away. Back in the ring Seth seemed emotional and threw the mic down and marched to the back without saying a word.
-Cole told Renee that she knows Dean better than anyone, so what’s going on. Renee said it’s Dean’s story to tell and maybe they need to wait to see it play out. She said he spoke in riddles and it doesn’t make sense to her. Cole mentioned Seth vs. Nakamura again. Renee shifted to saying Kurt Angle being dominated by Drew McIntyre was the most uncomfortable match off all-time in WWE and they’d take a look at what is likely Angle’s last match after the break.
(Keller’s Analysis: Dean was good there. He explained why he did what he did without seeming like he owed an explanation to anyone, and he did so in a way that didn’t undercut Seth’s popularity at all by making any “good points” that justified his actions. Seth was good here, too. I’m also glad to see they didn’t mention Reigns at all, which felt tacky last week.)
-They went to the announcers who hyped the WrestleMania “on-sale party” this Thursday at 6 ET which is open to the public at Met Life Stadium.
-They replayed highlights of Drew beating Angle last week and just playing with him in the process.
-Angle’s music played and Cole said maybe Angle isn’t done after all. But then Dolph Ziggler’s music took over. Graves said just a sign of disrespect from the Showoff. Then Drew McIntyre came out.
[HOUR TWO]
-Drew and Dolph stood in the ring as fans booed. Drew said when he first showed up on Raw, he said he was going to take over. He asked if they believe him now. He said first he broke The Shield and now he broke Angle. He said Angle went into their match as an Olympic Gold Medalist and national treasure and icon, but when he finished him he was nothing more than an embarrassment. He said Angle gave him everything he had, but when he looked into his eyes, he saw his will to win fading as he realized he was in the ring with a superior man. He said he was crawling on his hands and knees, and then he started crying. Ziggler mocked being sad. Drew said he’s never been more disgusted in his entire life. He said he was more than happy to humiliate Angle and put him down with his own ankle lock. He said he’s worked 18 long years to earn this moment, and has been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows and has sacrificed more than anyone can imagine to stand in the ring and say this: “Raw is my show. It belongs to me and I will mold it in my image.” He said there is no more room for weakness. He said he won’t allow any more nostalgia acts. He was interrupted by Finn Balor.
As Balor walked out, Cole said he has a score to settle with Drew. Drew said he has to give him credit for guts coming to the ring after what he did to him last week. Balor said he couldn’t sit back and listen to him say he took no joy in what he did to Angle last week. He said he crossed a line last week. He said he could have just won the match instead of humiliating him. Drew said he has a lesson for him. “Dignity is not a right reserved for all, buddy,” he said. “I could have done so much worse to Kurt.” He said Balor is upset because “I kicked your little head off.” He said he is exactly what is wrong with this place. He said there are so many Superstars who are concerned with their feelings and emotions, it makes him sick. He told him to go cry to his little Balor Club. Balor interrupted and told him to shut up.
Balor said if he wants to act like a bully, he’s been dealing with bullies like him his entire life. He proposed they wrestle tonight right now. Fans chanted “Yes! Yes!” Drew said he doesn’t know what’s more fragile – his feelings or his body. He said if he wants a match, though, he’s got it. He then took a step back and said, “Not with me.” He said he’s having a match with the man who is the true Best in the World, Delph Ziggler. He said if he can defeat someone like Ziggler, maybe he’ll consider lowering himself to Balor’s level. Ziggler had a few words for Balor. Drew headbutted a distracted Balor.
(Keller’s Analysis: Promos like that are why I don’t believe for a second anyone with WWE who says it’s not about babyfaces and heels anymore, it’s just about getting a reaction. That was a heel promo, and very well delivered and effective, and it set up Balor to seem suddenly revitalized by pushing back against a remorseless bully like Drew.) [c]
(2) DOLPH ZIGGLER (w/Drew McIntyre) vs. FINN BALOR
Ziggler controlled early, but at a pace that suggested it’d be a long match. Balor made a comeback a couple minutes in and kicked Ziggler. He went to the top rope, but Ziggler knocked him off balance. They cut to an early break. [c]
Ziggler continued to control the match. He scored some near falls including after a Fameasser. Balor made a comeback and went for the Coup de Gras, but Ziggler avoided it. Ziggler rolled up Balor, but Balor countered with a leverage pin to get the three count. Balor rolled out of the ring as Cole said, “Balor steals one!”
WINNER: Balor in 13:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, and Balor needed a win here, overcoming the pre-match headbutt.) [c]
-Graves thanked Des Rocs for “Let Me Live/ Let Me Die,” the official theme for Survivor Series.
-Backstage Stephanie was walking with Corbin when they approached Balor. Stephanie congratulated Balor, who seemed happy she approved of his win. She said they want him to be on Team Survivor Series. Balor was proud and shook her hand. Corbin said they should have maybe talked privately first. Drew angrily walked up to them with Ziggler. She told Drew to “stand down.” She said she heard him out there, and Raw is her show, not his. She said she appreciates what he’s trying to do, but he cannot hurt his teammate. He said they will all be on Team Raw on Sunday. She said Ziggler can exact revenge on Shane for stealing the World Cup from him. Stephanie said what Corbin did to Angle last week was diabolical and it’s exactly what she wants him to do to Team Smackdown. She said they have to work together on Sunday. She asked if she is understood. She said after they win, feel free to tear each other apart. Balor and Drew exchanged some words.
-The announcers talked about Team Raw. Cole said Elias and Bobby Lashley would battle for the final spot later. He then threw to a video package on Becky Lynch on Smackdown last week.
-Charlie Caruso interviewed Rousey backstage. Rousey said Becky is “The Man” and she really can dish it out. She said Becky should know she wasn’t trying to offend her or mock her past or her path to becoming champion. She said she was just trying to point out how ridiculous her threats of ripping her arm off are. “While she was learning the alphabet, I was learning armbars. When she was learning how to juggle, I was learning armbars. When she learned that sometimes the exit sign is behind you, I was learning armbars.” (Okay, this isn’t helping Ronda make her case she wasn’t mocking Becky.) She said she can’t believe she has to point all this out. She said Becky can dish it out, but she can’t take it. “You aren’t just The Man,” she said. “You are the Millennial Man. You are the skinny jeans wearing, V-neck sporting, avocado toast munching, wing-shoed wearing millennial man with a bubble wrapped ego and a porcelain self-perception.” She said being offended doesn’t make you right. She said someone should tell Becky she isn’t Charlotte, Raw isn’t Smackdown, and being offended doesn’t make you right. She said to put the violins down. She said Becky isn’t Oliver Twist and she isn’t a trust fund golden child. She said everyone one of her fans has watched her sweat for every ounce of their respect, watched her bleed for every inch of progress, and mourned every single setback. She said she didn’t put her heart into changing the meaning of the phrase “fight like a girl” so the leader of the Women’s Evolution could call herself “The Man.” In walked Nia Jax and Tamina. Nia said they want to wish her luck at Survivor Series. The moment was tense. Nia poked her finger at Ronda’s belt.
-The announcers hyped the Rousey vs. Becky match at Survivor Series.
(Keller’s Analysis: Rousey is, well, strange, so it seems fitting her character is getting more strange by the week. She’s got strong opinions and just voiced them. Not sure how using the term Millennial as an insult is going to work in terms of crowd reaction on Sunday, though. She came across very judgy, and that’d be fine if she owned it but she started by saying she wasn’t trying to Becky last week only to go on to clearly and definitively mock her for learning the alphabet, how to juggle, and where exit signs are, as if those choices in life are laughably beneath a single-minded focus to win judo contests or MMA fights.) [c]
-The Riott Squad came out to the ring. They aired a video of Ruby Riott breaking Natalya’s father’s sunglasses last week and Natalya crying afterward. Riott sounded remorseful as she said she struck a chord with not just Natalya, but the entire audience. She said she understands why she’s gotten the backlash she’s gotten. She said she took all of the happy memories of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and mocked them in front of a worldwide audience. Fans booed. Then she smiled and said she enjoyed every second of it.
(Keller’s Analysis: Seriously, they have to have a moratorium on having women cut promos where they fake being apologetic before laughing and revealing they aren’t sincere. Is this just men writing these promos? It’s unimaginative and beginning to look like the writers have some issues they should deal with privately.)
As Riott continued to gloat and said Natalya wore sunglasses because Jim Neidhart was ashamed to look at his own daughter, Natalya’s music played. Natalya surprised Riott from behind. Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan had already walked up the ramp. They ran back to the ring to stop Natalya’s attack and beat her down. Riott and Logan gave Natalya the Hart Attack clothesline. Cole said it was absolutely humiliating to steal the finisher that Natalya’s father and Bret Hart made famous.
-They went to the announcers who hyped Survivor Series. Cole touted that it’s the second-longest running PPV in WWE history.
-Bobby Roode and Chad Gable began their ring entrance for the second try at the tag team battle royal. [c]
(3) RAW TAG TEAM BATTLE ROYAL – Winners Become Raw Team Captains
Graves complained about Lucha House party having three members. Cole said it makes it easier to eliminate them since there’s three to choose from. Heath Slater was the first out, so Rhyno had to leave, too. Next out was Dawson courtesy of Lucha House Party. B-Team “eliminated” Dash and celebrated, although Cole pointed out Dash didn’t have to be eliminated sine Dawson already was. Konnor eliminated Lucha House party and then B-Team. That left Gable & Roode and Ascension as the final two teams. Gable landed a top rope moonsault onto Viktor as Roode gave him a neckbreaker. Cole said he’s never seen anything like that before. Roode and Gable eventually won.
WINNERS: Gable & Roode in 3:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: That match was so fast-paced, you’d think we were back in the Monday Night War era where both shows were scared to have segments like that have where there was even a second of down time for people to change channels.)
-They showed Paul Heyman getting Brock Lesnar from his locker room. [c]
-The announcers showed all of the wrestlers in the Raw vs. Smackdown tag team elimination match.
-Lesnar and Heyman came out. While Lesnar was booed, there was also a buzz in the arena that suggested he was a big star in their presence. Heyman introduced him. Heyman congratulated Strowman for proving he is an “almost unbeatable monster.” He said he lost after he received five F5’s from Brock Lesnar. He congratulated the entire Smackdown roster for avoiding a beating that will be handed down to the WWE Champion this Sunday. He congratulated A.J. Styles, too. A loud “A.J. Styles!” chant started. Heyman said they chant for him because they believe he has a fighting chance because on what Styles did last year at Survivor Series in his match against Lesnar. Heyman said Styles will fly into Los Angeles and check into the Hotel California and go all the way to the top where a suite is marked Suplex City. He said if some fans don’t get the reference to Hotel California, “Google it, bitches, because I’m not here to educate you.” Heyman said there is no one in WWE or UFC that Lesnar wants to beat up more than Styles. “F5, 1-2-3,” Heyman said, predicting Lesnar would be the winner and champion of all champions. He said it’s not just prediction, it’s a… at which point he was interrupted by Jinder Mahal’s music. (Oh, a clue that Styles might be winning since Heyman didn’t actually say it’s a “spoiler.”)
Jinder said he respects Heyman’s goal to have his man be a two-sport champion, but he shouldn’t underestimate Styles. He said he was focused on having a dream match against Lesnar just over a year ago, but that focus gave Styles an opening to steal his championship. He offered his services to help his client focus on Styles. He said he can show the Beast his mantra. Heyman mocked him. Heyman asked Lesnar if he wants to listen. Lesnar said, “Come on in. You really ought to hear this. After all, you are Jewish.” Jinder entered the ring and began his session. Lesnar laughed and then clotheslined him. He suplexed Sunil Singh, who took a nasty bump on the back of his neck. He knocked Jinder out of the ring. Then he gave a suplex to Samir, too. Then he gave a second one to each. Geesh, they bumped hard on the backs of their heads on those. Lesnar smiled at his deeds. He tossed Sunil onto Jinder on the floor. He went after Jinder on the floor and gave him an F5. Graves said he’ll need a new mantra after that.
(Keller’s Analysis: The crowd was backing Styles and booing Lesnar, and then they have Lesnar beat up three heels and the fans weren’t sure what their emotions were.)
-They showed Bliss chatting with Stephanie backstage. [c]
-Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush made their ring entrance. Rush praised Lashley’s physique and said it’s art. He led him through various poses. He closed with Lashley bending over and showing off his butt. Lashley patted his own cheeks. Renee said, “This is excessive.” Elias then sat on the stage and pretended to call child services because Lashley seems to be accompanied by a lost little boy who can’t be more than ten years old. Fans laughed and cheered. Lashley had enough and called Elias a clown. Elias played his guitar and made his way to the ring for the scheduled match. [c]
(4) BOBBY LASHLEY (w/Lio Rush) vs. ELIAS
The match was in progress after the break. Lashley was in control. Elias made a comeback and threw Lashley to the floor. Lashley whipped Elias into the ringpost. Lashley rolled into the ring as the ref was counting them out. Elias tried to roll into the ring at nine, but Rush popped out from under the ring and held Elias’s leg, so Lashley won by countout.
WINNER: Lashley in about 4:00 via countout.
-Elias went after Rush at ringside. Lashley charged, but Elias whipped him into the ringpost. Elias then dragged Rush into the ring. He threw him through the ropes onto Lashley on the floor. They bumped into the security barricade. Elias’s music played, but he expressed frustration with the loss.
(Keller’s Analysis: Not sure you’d want those two to have a long match at this point, but it seemed like a lost opportunity also to have them prove they could have a longer match that would hold the audience’s attention.) [c]
-The announcers hyped Survivor Series again.
-In the ring, Alexa Bliss stood with Mickie James, Nia Jax, and Tamina. She said she sent Natalya home so she can refocus and channel her rage toward Smackdown on Sunday. She introduced Mickie and called her a loyal friend, six-time champion, and future Hall of Famer. She introduced Jax as Evolution’s battle royal winner “and someone I hope we can put our past differences aside,” Nia Jax. Mixed reaction. She finally introduced Tamina, complimenting her killer instinct. (That seemed really inappropriate, all things considered, like the kind of joke only bad people would laugh at.) She said her team is “one Superstar short.” She said she has been thinking long and hard who deserves to be on her team, who would do anything to win and risk anything to win, including friendship. She said Corbin agrees with her that the winner of the next match will be the fifth member of Team Raw. Sasha Banks came out first. Then Bayley. Cole said Bliss is matching two best friends against each other. [c]
-A commercial aired for the new Marine movie.
(5) SASHA BANKS vs. BAYLEY – Winner Joins Team Raw
Bliss, Tamina, Jax, and James stood at ringside to watch the match. The announcers discussed who would be a better fit for Team Raw. Renee picked Bayley because of her heart, whereas Banks can be a bit of a wildcard. Cole said they both want to be part of Sunday’s event. Renee said they both are big on nostalgia and want to be part of history. Cole noted that Los Angeles has never hosted a Survivor Series. They fought on the ring apron. Bayley gave Sasha a suplex on the ring apron. They cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Bayley leaped off the top rope with a flying elbow, but Sasha lifted her knees. Tamina, Jax, and Mickie attacked Bayley and Sasha.
WINNER: No contest in 8:00.
-Alexa announced the fifth partner would be Ruby Riott. Cole wondered why she had Sasha and Bayley fight. Graves said it was just for Alexa’s amusement, apparently. Riott came out with her Riott Squad partners and stood with her partners.
-They abruptly went backstage to Becky Lynch who had Rousey in an armbar on the floor. Rousey was screaming in pain. Producer Adam Pearce and a referee pried Becky off of Rousey. Rousey groaned in pain.
-They went back to the ring where the Raw Women’s Team stood. Becky marched out to her music. Cole said she’s outnumbered seven-to-one. She strutted out almost Conor McGregor style. Then Smackdown’s women charged into the ring and attacked all of the Raw women. Graves said it’s strange seeing Charlotte and Becky fighting side-by-side. Ronda ran out and tried to help, but she was holding her damaged arm. Becky jabbed her and bashed her with a chair. Fans were on Becky’s side. They chanted “One more time!” She did, and fans popped. Cole said Becky is upset the world is talking about Rousey and not her. The Smackdown women left through the crowd. Becky’s face and hands and forearms were covered in blood from her nose bleeding. Her hands and face were covered in blood. An iconic moment for her. Graves said she might have a broken nose. Cole said she might have worse than that come Survivor Series because Rousey is irate. Graves wondered if Rousey is hurt going into Survivor Series, though. Rousey’s left eye was twitching. Cole said Rousey and Raw were humiliated by Smackdown. Becky stood at the top of the arena steps and held her arms out as her music played. Cole wondered if the annihilation will continue on Sunday after what has becomes deeply personal between Rousey and Becky.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a blast. Becky just solidified her huge babyface advantage on Sunday, yet it seems the angle and commentary were meant to point fans toward booing Becky.)
-Backstage Stephanie yelled at Corbin that Smackdown just invaded. Corbin said he doesn’t know how they got in the building. Stephanie asked how in the hell he didn’t know what happened. She chewed him out and said this cannot happen on Sunday. She asked what he’s going to do to fix it so they win at all costs on Sunday. He said he’d find a way.
“Graves said it’s strange seeing Charlotte and Becky fighting side-by-side.” He meant stupid, insipid, idiotic, puerile.
Your comment describes the whole show. What a cluster.