With one final Raw before this Sunday’s Survivor Series, WWE set out to solidify their title picture if nothing else. With only five actual matches announced for Sunday, we left Raw with a lot of questions about what exactly to expect this weekend. Let’s take a look at what went down.
The Final Four Is Set
With the WWE title picture still up in the air, the quarterfinals of the WWE Title Tournament helped narrow the field down to our final four contestants.
Our first match of the night was nothing short of phenomenal. Pitting Kevin Owens against Neville in a bout of indy superstars, this thing was awesome and really showcased how unique these two stars are. Neville in particular put on a show with some of the most innovative offense we’ve seen in years in WWE.
Seriously, look at this freaking reversal.
As the match broke down, Neville went big and hit this incredible poison frankensteiner.
Neville goes for a Red Arrow and the win, but Owens rolls out of the way and then ends Neville with a vicious Pop-Up Power Bomb.
Owens advances.
Next up we have Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler in what was a pretty good match. The two actually put on a pretty long match with some great moves that were typical Ambrose and Ziggler hallmarks before Ambrose reverses a roll-up attempt and hits Dirty Deeds for the 1-2-3.
With that, our first semifinal is set as Dean Ambrose takes on Kevin Owens in what should be an AWESOME match.
Sadly, I can’t get as excited for the other side of the bracket.
We see Cesaro backstage talking to Triple H who is really putting the Swiss Superman over and he tells Cesaro it’s time to grab the brass ring and become the man. Cesaro with the Authority? Sign me up.
Too bad he’s taking on Roman Reigns in the quarterfinal and LOL REIGNS IS GONNA BE CHAMP.
Okay but seriously, this match. THIS MATCH.
Cesaro and Reigns put on a freaking wrestling exhibition in this one and seriously, you need to watch it if you missed out.
Take some grappling, mix it with some hard-hitting moves like this…
Add some innovation like this…
Build to an awesome finish with near-falls following big moves like this…
And guess what? You have an incredible match and none of us are pissed when Reigns wins this thing with a Superman Punch and a Spear.
Seriously, AWESOME MATCH.
The same can’t be said about the other quarterfinal match between Alberto Del Rio and Kalisto. All you need to know is that Del Rio took Kalisto’s mask off at one point and the match featured moves like this.
Yeah.
Del Rio continues to toy with new finishers and closed this thing out with a double stomp in the corner.
Del Rio advances to be Reigns next sacrifice and REIGNS-AMBROSE IS COMING PEOPLE. PREPARE YOURSELVES.
Other Results –
Destiny Awaits The Wyatts – We start things off with the Brothers of Destruction making their way to the ring with their druids which signal DEATH TO ALL COMERS. Taker says the true army of darkness is the Undertaker and Kane and vengeance awaits the Wyatt Family. Taker says that the Wyatts will never rest in piece which brings out Bray and Co. Bray says 25 years is long enough and he will command the new army of darkness.
CUE WYATT INTERRUPTION.
CUE CONFUSED UNDERTAKER FACE.
All the druids that entered with Taker and Kane turn around and suddenly they’re wearing sheep masks. They enter the ring to attack and we all know how this ends.
The Wyatts tease entering the ring but Bray stops them and we wait til Sunday.
Stay Classy, WWE – So WWE did something pretty cool in giving a Divas Title match contract signing the main event spot to close out a go-home show. That’s pretty much all they did well with this segment.
Paige tried to heel it up and Charlotte played the face who never quits… and then things turned dark. Charlotte says that her family is made up of fighters and then Paige replies that her brother Reid didn’t have that much fight in him which if NO. BAD BAD BAD WWE.
For those who don’t know, Charlotte’s brother Reid died of a drug overdose. In real life. His death is what pushed Charlotte to join WWE and was probably the most traumatizing event of her life. For WWE creative to use that as part of this feud, and have Paige say what she said, was crossing the line. Even for a company known for crossing the line at times.
There is already a ton of backlash over this online and I don’t blame people for reacting badly at all. This was just in poor taste.
Ryback Ruins Another Feud – So the New Day-Usos feud has potential to be pretty damn good and easily the best feud of the New Day’s title reign. Which means WWE has decided to put Ryback in the middle of it and ruin everything. Ryback gets DQ’d and then clears the ring because screw the tag team division AMIRITE?
Breezing Into Creative Purgatory – Tyler Breeze was in the WWE Title tournament last week and headed for a feud with Dolph Ziggler just two weeks ago. Now he’s fighting R-Truth. WWE Creative everyone!
The Dudley Boyz Toil Away – The Dudley Boyz fought the Ascension. The Dudley Boyz won with a 3-D. Nobody cares about any of this.