11/20 WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT: Cedric Alexander in competitive match with Eric Young, Mojo Rawley toys with Boston Rob

WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT
NOVEMBER 20, 2019
HULU STREAMING TV
REPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Announcers: Vic Joseph, Byron Saxton

REASONS TO WATCH…

• If you skip this episode, you’ll probably never see Boston Bob again

(1) MOJO RAWLEY vs. BOSTON BOB

Bob, sporting a heather gray Boston Celtics t-shirt, was already in the ring as Rawley made his entrance. Byron said he recognized Bob, and noted that he ate the last crab cake in catering. Rawley held out his arm toward Bob, saying, “Who is this guy?”

After quickly knocking Bob to the mat, Rawley turned to the ref to ask who he is. The ref did not know. Bob eventually shouted, “I’m Boston Bob!” and erupted with a flurry of right punches, then a front kick. Rawley put an end to this token offense with a big clothesline, turning Bob inside out.

Rawley lifted Bob to his feet, then leveled him again with a headbutt. “There goes Bob again! Give it up for Bob!” shouted Rawley to the crowd, mock clapping. Rawley applied a chinlock. Rawley threw Bob to the mat again before posturing to the crowd.

Bob managed to break free and landed some more rights and a running clothesline to actually knock Rawley to the canvas. Bob charged at Rawley in the corner, but Rawley ducked and hoisted him into the Alabama Slam. Rawley covered for the three-count.

WINNER: Mojo Rawley by pinfall.

(Meyers’s Analysis: I sighed with boredom when I heard Rawley’s music, but gasped with excitement when we were shown the unimpressive presence of Boston Bob. I was hoping they’d take this Main Event slot for a true squash match, but unfortunately, it followed a typical Main Event formula. Rawley couldn’t resist a chinlock, and Bob got in more offense than was deserved. For what it’s worth, the commentators noted that Rawley may have been toying with Bob, without taking him seriously enough. A straight squash would’ve been more effective, but there was still some amusement to be had in Rawley’s treatment of hapless Bob.)

-Main Event recap session:

Replay of Miz TV with Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt from Smackdown

Match rundown for upcoming PPV Survivor Series

Replay of IIconics vs. Flair & Lynch from Raw

Replay of Viking Raiders vs. Orton & Ricochet, ending with three-brand mayhem, from Raw

(2) CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. ERIC YOUNG

As the bell rung, Byron pointed out that this was the first time these two have faced off since they were in NXT. Alexander controlled early with an arm drag takedown, a hurricanrana, and a drop kick that sent Young out to the floor to recover. Alexander set up to dive at Young over the ropes, but Young swept his foot, causing him to land back-first onto the apron. Young ran at Young on the floor and hit a swinging neckbreaker. Alexander clutched the back of his neck as we cut to break.

Young had been maintaining control back in the ring after the break. Alexander kicked out of a cover at two. Young fired Alexander face-first into the corner, then hoisted him up into a suspended dragon sleeper while sitting on the top turnbuckle. He dumped Alexander to the mat as the ref counted the hold, then jumped and clubbed Alexander with a forearm to the back. Young covered for another two-count, then applied a chinlock. In a bit of odd timing, Byron took this moment to say that Young has recently exhibited a better sense of urgency.

Alexander eventually fought free, then took down Young with a double barreled drop kick. Alexander landed some elbows and a handspring kick. Young rolled outside again, but this time Alexander was able to land a somersault senton onto Young on the floor. Back in the ring, Alexander executed a springboard flatliner DDT, but Young kicked out at two.

Young hit Alexander with a DDT of his own, but Young also kicked out at two. In the corner, Alexander appeared to be setting up for a superplex, but Young knocked him off the turnbuckle to the canvas. Young seized the moment and hit an elbow drop then covered for a near fall. Moments later, Alexander ducked a clothesline and hit Young with the Lumbar Check, finally good for the three-count.

WINNER: Cedric Alexander by pinfall.

(Meyers’s Analysis: Above-average match that felt like it could’ve gone either way. The crowd got involved, even chanting for Alexander.)

SHOW SCORE (0-10): 7.8

FINAL THOUGHTS: Main Event back to normal after a week in the U.K., and between Boston Bob and the athletic second match, it wasn’t too bad.

CATCH UP… 11/13 WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT: An extra special edition featuring all clips of Raw and Smackdown hosted by Scott Stanford in the wood-paneled confines of WWE studios