WWE RAW Review: December 2, 2019

WWE RAW Review: December 2, 2019 by Felix Pichler

Opening segment and Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley (w/ Lana)

The first scenes of this episode of RAW showed us “AOP” Akam and Rezar in the parking lot who got asked by Charly Caruso why they have attacked Kevin Owens last week. They answered in their mother tongue and as the interviewer asked them to say it in English, they told her that she would look lovely and walked away.

Then, Seth Rollins made his entrance in street clothes to hold a promo. He recalled his statements from last week and noted that he was too harsh. After that, he added that wrestling wouldn’t be his job, but his life and also said that the wrestlers would be his family. Then, he added that he would have thought for one week about his statements and he apologized. He called out KO to apologize to him too.

Owens made his entrance. In the ring, KO questioned if the two closest members of Rollins’ family would be AOP. The Architect swore that he would have nothing to do with that. KO didn’t believe him and then AOP made their entrance as they positioned themselves on the stage. However, in the end, they spoke English and challenged Rollins and Owens for a match which Rollins accepted, but Owens noted that the three men would beat him up.

KO said that if this was their plan, then they just get it over with and threw away the mic. Rollins said that he tried, but then left the ring and told Owens that he would be on his own. The Beast Slayer walked up the stage and both members of AOP backed up to let him through. AOP teased to make their way to the ring, but then also went to the backstage area. Owens called someone out for a fight while we saw Bobby Lashley and Lana walking backstage.

Lana’s entrance theme played, and she came on the stage. She said that she wouldn’t want to make it all about her, but it’s all about her. Owens told her several times that no one would care. Owens asked her if she could say anything that would make our lives better. Lana said that Rusev wouldn’t show up since she filed another restraining order.

Lana added that Rusev would be a danger for the society and added that the Bulgarian Brute would go to jail if he appears. Owens said that he has never met somebody who talked so much but said absolutely nothing. Owens continued by saying that Lana is repulsive on the inside. Lana answered that Lashley would come out to finish Owens who then came out and the match started. We also had two police officers in suits at the ringside to protect Lana.

The match didn’t take long at all since AOP interfered, bet up Owens and dragged him to the backstage area while Lashley was just watching. Then, Caruso interviewed Lashley and Lana in the ring. Lana noted that she would be tired of everybody booing them. Rusev entered the ring to attack Lashley with a kick and then he ran away while the cops really slowly got on the apron. As Rusev was away, they went back to the ringside. Lashley recovered and went to the ringside to confront them. One police officer said that he would be a WWE fan and that they do things differently in Tennessee. Lashley shoved him and walked up the ramp, but the cop stopped him and handcuffed him. Lana slapped another cop and told them that they should arrest Rusev. However, they also handcuffed her and they escorted Lana and Lashley to the backstage area.

Opinion: No good start to kick off the show. The only one who was good in this segment was once more KO. I guess some fans like the storyline about Rollins, but not in my case. If they wouldn’t include Owens in the promos, it would be by far not that good. Meanwhile, I just can’t watch the Rusev-Lana feud anymore. At least it finally seems as the creative team would have a real plan for AOP.

Rating: C-

Drew McIntyre vs. Akira Tozawa

McIntyre mocked Tozawa throughout the match several times due to the size difference before he pinned him after the Claymore Kick. After the match, McIntyre called Randy Orton out since he would have a problem with him. Then, they showed last week’s chop battle between him and Orton which ended with the Apex Predator poking in McIntyre’s eye. He described this footage with Orton’s famous “stupid, stupid, stupid”. The Viper made his entrance to join McIntyre in the ring. McIntyre talked trash and Orton laughed to then walk off. McIntyre told him that he shouldn’t disrespect him once more. He added that the Viper would walk around as he would own this company and doesn’t show any respect for anyone.

McIntyre continued by saying that back then Orton was the most ferocious man in the ring, but now he’s just the most ferocious man on social media. He added that he would be now the most ferocious man in the WWE and that he would be future.

Orton answered that he does what he wants since he earned that right while McIntyre wouldn’t have earned a damn thing. The Viper also noted that he thought that he and McIntyre would be cool, but if there’s a problem they could solve it on the spot.

“The OC” AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made their entrance. They talked about how Orton cost Styles his U.S. Championship. McIntyre said that it seems as there would be a problem between the OC and Orton. After that, he left the ring and went backstage. The OC surrounded the ring, entered it a and bet up Orton. Ricochet, Humberto Carrillo and Rey Mysterio came out to save the Apex Predator. Later, we saw Orton who told Ricochet, Carrillo and Mysterio in the backstage area that he would appreciate the help, but he didn’t need it.

Opinion: The next segment in which we have once more way more talking than actual wrestling. McIntyre and Orton are great at the mic while the OC continues to be more the comedians. The save by the three high-flyers made sense, but we’ll surely see an RKO against Styles within the next time.

Rating: C+

Aleister Black vs. Tony Nese

Black finished his opponent off after about three minutes with the aid of the Black Mass Kick. We saw how Buddy Murphy watched the fight in the backstage area. Caruso interviewed Murphy who said that Black would take himself way too seriously. He said that Black would need to calm himself don, otherwise he’ll do.

Opinion: Finally, we see Black more frequently in action and the feud between these two is until now also really promising.

Rating: B+

Andrade (w/ Zelina Vega) vs. Eric Young

The match did almost take five minutes what is longer as expected and Young also had some chances to show his offence. However, in the end, Andrade showed his Hammerlock DDT for the win. After the fight, R-Truth ran out to hide behind the barricade where the NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Michael Waltrip were standing. Some wrestlers ran out to look for R-Truth. Busch and Waltrip tole them that Truth would have been running in a certain direction and the wrestlers ran away. Truth thanked the two men, but then Waltrip opened his jacket and showed that underneath he wore a referee shirt. Busch rolled up Truth to win the 24/7 Championship. They ran to the backstage and Truth followed them.

Opinion: Good to see Young getting at least a little chance to show his offence. Besides, hopefully, these several wins for Andrade will lead to something meaningful. Meanwhile, the 24/7 title really is getting completely boring and useless.

Rating: C+

Rollins’ backstage interview and Erick Rowan vs. No Way Jose

The Architect was shown walking backstage with his luggage as he was about to leave. Caruso asked him why he didn’t help Owens even though he said that the wrestlers would be his family. He answered that he offered his help, but KO didn’t want it. Caruso went on by saying that people were wondering about the sincerity of his apology. Rollins seemed angry and said that he would be always the bad guy no matter what he does or says. His final words were that everyone would be a critic while no one has the guts to be a leader of the locker room.

Next, we once more saw Erick Rowan making his way to the ring with his cage on which a blanket was placed. One of Joe’s people took a sneak under the blanket to see what would be in the cage. Rowan went to the ringside and destroyed everyone who was in his way. Then, he returned into the ring where he hit Jose two times with the Claw Slam for the win.

Opinion: I liked Rollins in this interview way more than during the opening segment of the show. Besides, I really hope for Rowan that the creature in his cage is that surprising or dangerous that this build-up makes sense.

Rating: B

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions “The Kabuki Warriors” Asuka and Kairi Sane vs. Charlotte Flair in a handicap match

Until then this was by far the best match of the whole show. All three women worked well together and Charlotte also had her moments in which it looked as she would win this match. In the end, she applied the Figure Eight to Asuka who seemed to be not far away from tapping out. However, Sane hit Charlotte with a great InSane Elbow to break up the submission hold and also to pin her for the win after about 16 minutes.

After the match, Sarah Schreiber asked Charlotte in the backstage area if she would regret challenging the Kabuki Warriors. “No,” Charlotte answered and walked off.

Opinion: Charlotte looked strong in this match and they just didn’t give her the win to let the Women’s Tag Team Championship still look important. The interview after the match was also interesting and we’ll see where this will lead us.

Rating: A

RAW Tag Team Champions “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar vs. Mark Sterling and Mitchell Lyons in a non-title match

The Viking Raiders logically destroyed their opponents and pinned them after the Viking Experience. The match didn’t even take two minutes.

Opinion: Can please someone explain to me why they still face jobbers as the Tag Team Champions? I thought that would be over after their win against the New Day and the Undisputed Era at Survivor Series, but they just continue to put them in such matches which let them look more silly than dangerous.

Rating: D-

Rey Mysterio, Ricochet and Humberto Carrillo vs. “The OC” AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Throughout this match, we permanently saw any high-flying moves by Carrillo, Ricochet or Mysterio which Anderson and Gallows sold while Styles at least fought them off a bit. It was quite entertaining to see so much speed and high-flying moves, but in the end, Ricochet wanted to perform a Huracanrana against Styles who was positioned on the middle rope. However, the Phenomenal One blocked the move to then hit his opponent with the Styles Clash from the second rope to then pin Ricochet for the win. After the match, we saw an RKO from out of nowhere against Styles by Orton to close the show.

Opinion: Together with the handicap match of the women this was clearly the highlight of the show. Good to see Styles picking up a win after his loss against Mysterio during last week’s episode. It looks like we really would get a feud between Orton and Styles what could be really interesting.

Rating: A-

Summary

Not the best episode of RAW within the last weeks. With the backstage interview of Rollins, they finally hooked me up for the storyline. The handicap match of the women and the main event were great, but the Rusev-Lana storyline and the way how they use the Viking Raiders are horrible. However, there were also some great moments and I’m just looking forward to how the feud between Orton and Styles will continue.

Rating: C+