WWE Raw Pre-show Notes 11/30/15
– This week we have Kyle Edwards replacing Scott Stanford (for now), along with Otunga and Graves. After some early minute humorless banter we take on the discussion of the awesome new Sheamus/Reigns feud. And by awesome, I mean shitty. Barrett and Rusev are in the new heel clique too, how cool is that? And by cool I mean shitty.
– Dean Ambrose won some triple threat Smackdown match over Ziggler and Breeze to get a IC Title shot at Kevin Owens. What a quality push for Deano.
– The Dudleys are now feuding with the Wyatts for some reason. Tonight on Raw, the Dudleys have a message for the Wyatts.
– We learn that Rusev will be on MizTV… Because that’ll fix the ratings…
– The guys begin to discuss the Paige/Charlotte feud when we abruptly go to a video from backstage at Raw with Paige trying to turn Becky Lynch against Charlotte.
– An even more uneventful than usual preshow, and give the current product I can understand why. I can deal with this Edwards guy a little better than Stanford.
The WWE Raw Report 11/30/15 from the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA
NEW DAY / SHEAMUS CELEBRATION SEGMENT
– A light bit of confetti begins to fall from the ceiling as NEW DAY make their way out. Apparently, tonight is a celebration. Big E is sweating so he takes a Pittsburgh Steelers terrible towel and wipes under his arms for some cheap heat. After some of the typical New Day promo stuff, they introduce…. SHEAMUS…. Oooooo-K. So we get Sheamus coming to the ring in a suit. Yes, in a suit. So I guess we’re still celebrating Sheamus’ title win and I can only imagine ratings are going through the roof now. Sheamus continues to bask, and thanks Roman Reigns for making this all happen.
They all have fun with the fact that Reigns title run lasted 5 minutes and 15 seconds. “Sheamus 5:15” says I just kicked your arse. And apparently that closes the segment with some pointless fireworks and more confetti… Sheamus gets down off the ropes and turns into a SUPERMAN PUNCH from Roman Reigns….
Reigns leaves with the WWE Title with about 50% of the fans booing him. Reigns stands at the top of the ramp with the belt smiling like a goof. Lame.
— Commercial Break —
– Backstage, Reigns is bragging with the WWE Title along with the Usos and Dean Ambrose when HHH and Stephanie show up. They force Reigns to give the WWE Title back. HHH informs Reigns that Sheamus wants to defend his title against Reigns TONIGHT on Raw… Stephanie explains that Reigns will have to win the title within 5:15….
1. Tyler Breeze (w/Summer Rae) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ohh goody, we kick off with a repeat match. Breeze dominates early on with some 2 count falls and continues to work over Ziggz. Dolph finally tries a comeback but runs shoulder first into the ring post and flies to the floor. We head to break with Ziggz down and out.
Back from break, Breeze still in control. But Ziggles finally begins to take over control. Dolph lands a series of his usual comeback routine, but misses a splash in the corner and eats an enzuigiri from Breeze, and Tyler gets a near fall. Breeze hits the catapult in the corner for a near fall and then a variation of the back stabber and again gets a near fall. Ziggler tries to come back with a Superkick, but Breeze catches it. Tyler tries for the Unprettier, but Ziggler counters with a backslide for 2… The two then trade several pin fall attemptes before Breeze runs right into a Superkick from Zigglesworth, and Dolph gets the pin. These two just don’t click.. at all. 10:32 was the time. Ziggz is your winner. This did nothing for either man and it was barely there as a match.
— Commercial Break —
MIZ TV WITH RUSEV AND LANA
We return from break with Miz and Rusev already in the ring. The fans want Lana, but Rusev informs them that she is his. Rusev says Lana is the one who helped him rehab back to 100% after his injury. Rusev brings Lana to ringside and they hug. Miz begins to question all of the cheating and other things that happened, but Rusev cuts him off. Lana says she forgot everything when Rusev asked her to marry him. Lana says she never went all the way with Dolph, but the crowd says she did. Lana says her heart belongs only to Rusev, her Bulgarian Sunshine. Rusev says he didn’t sleep with Summer either… Ugh, this is poo.
Rusev says he’s going to break bodies in the ring, but out of the ring his heart is for Lana. Then they make out in the ring.
Finally, this mess is cut off by RYBACK for some reason. Ryback has seen enough of this garbage… And I agree. Ryback calls out Rusev, and it’s next!
— Commercial Break —
2. Ryback vs. Rusev (w/Lana)
This match is in progress as we return from break. Rusev has control but Ryback comes back with a flying dropkick that sends Rusev out of the ring. Rusev spears Rusev into the steps which somehow bump into Lana and causes her to fall. Lana sells her thigh and Rusev comes over to help her instead of reentering the ring… Rusev is counted out in about 1:40 of televised action. WOW….
– Backstage, Dean Ambrose runs into HHH. Trips congratulates Dean on becoming #1 contender to the IC Title. HHH also informs Ambrose that if Reigns doesn’t win against Sheamus tonight in 5:15, that Ambrose will also lose his IC Title shot. What would they do with this Authority power abuse shit they’ve been doing for what seems like years…
— Commercial Break —
THE DUDLEY BOYZ ADDRESS THE WYATT FAMILY
They Dudleys are in the ring with four tables propped up on the ropes. Each table is covered with a black cloth. They Wyatts beat down the Dudleys last week, but they didn’t finish the job. By doing what they did to the Dudleys, the Wyatts put their names on the tables. And sure enough, each table has a name of a Wyatt family member. I give Bubba credit, for as crappy as this storyline is, Bubba delivers a promo as serious as possible. D-Von reminds us of the old Dudley commandments. Bubba calls the Wyatts out right now.
The Wyatts stop at the top of the ramp. Bray accepts the Dudley’s challenge. The lights go out and come back on and Rowan, Harper, and Strowman are now at ringside!!! But the Dudleys aren’t alone… They have Family too…. IT’S TOMMY DREAMER, complete with trash can of weapons…. Bray sends the family in after the Dudleys and Dreamer, but the ECW-ites fight them off with kendo sticks… Fans chant “this is awesome” as the Wyatts take off… And we head to an abrupt commercial break.
— Commercial Break —
3. The Dudley Boyz & Tommy Dreamer vs. The Wyatt Family (Strowman, Harper & Rowan)
And this match is joined in progress. I hope this isn’t the new thing. Double flapjack by the Dudleys on Harper, and Dreamer tags in on fire. Dreamer nails Rowan on the apron but runs into a Harper spinning sidewalk slam. Strowman tags in and beats down Dreamer. Rowan tags in and applies the KNUCKLE DRILL TO THE TEMPLE!!! Old school baby!!! Rowan misses a splash and Dreamer hot tags to Bubba. Bubba is all over Harper and hits the ROCK BOTTOM, but the heels break it up. We end up with all 6 men in the ring and a DOUBLE DQ…. 3:30 or so is shown. BLAH AGAIN…
The Wyatts beat down Tommy and the Dudleys, and Bray instructs them to “get the tables”. Bray begins to instruct from the apron, but Bubba Ray jumps up and knocks Wyatt off the apron and through a table!!! The Wyatts immediately go out to check on Bray as Dreamer and the Dudleys are able to escape and save some face. Wyatt sells the table bump like he’s half dead.
— Commercial Break —
4. US Champ Alberto Del Rio vs. Goldust
Colter starts it off with a promo he says that everyone in Amerca has hate, Del Rio needs to beat it out of them. ADR starts to cut a promo on Goldust, but Goldie slaps him and the match begins. Goldust attacks but ADR takes over and a DDT gets a near fall. Goldust comes back with a snap powerslam and spinebuster, both for two. Goldust goes for the bulldog, but ADR sends Goldie off and into the corner for the perfect position for his double stop finisher, which ends it in 2:00. Jeeze.
After the match, Del Rio puts Goldust in the Cross Armbreaker, but Jack Swagger heads out to break it up. ADR takes off and escapes Jack Swagger who leads the fans in a “We The People” chant.
– Backstage Beck Lynch asks Charlotte for a match tonight on Raw…. “for fun”. Charlotte hesitantly agrees, under the condition that Ric Flair can be at ringside… Woo…
— Commercial Break —
5. The Usos vs. The Lucha Dragons
This match is for the #1 contenders for New Day at TLC… Speaking of New Day, they’re on commentary… The match starts to get going when NEW DAY attacks both sides causing a quick DOUBLE DQ… The idea being neither team wins so neither team gets a title shot… Another short match, another non-finish. Some of the worst crap ever is what this Raw is. Was looking forward to this one too.
— Commercial Break —
– Back from break, both Usos and Lucha Dragons claim since neither team lost they should both get title shots in a Triple Threat at TLC. Stephanie agrees with them. The Dragons get the Title shot…. As do the Usos… IF Reigns can beat Sheamus in 5:15. Oh that Reigns, causing problems for everyone.
6. Sasha Banks (w/Team BAD) vs. Brie Bella
Supposedly Alicia Fox has been taken out, so Brie is by her lonesome. Team BAD get a corny pre-taped promo before the match. Sasha pretty much dominates early on. Brie fights back with the middle rope dropkick and the YES kicks. Brie knocks Naomi and Tamina off the apron, but Banks takes the advantage to land the Back Stabber and the Banks Statement for the tap out win in 4:57
– Backstage, the Usos and Ambrose pump Reigns up for his match next.
— Commercial Break —
7. WWE Champion Sheamus vs. Roman Reigns
Sheamus is sporting a “Sheamus 5:15” shirt. So the title is on the line, but Reigns only has to WIN to get everybody their title shots at the PPV. Reigns starts off fast and hot, he gets a near fall off a roll up and continues to control. Sheamus takes over and hooks a chin lock to eat up the clock. Reigns breaks free and lands a nice tackle and a big boot for a near fall with 2:45 to go. Sheamus escapes to the floor to eat up clock but Reigns retrieves him and lands a Samoan Drop for 2… Again, Sheamus lures Reigns to the floor and sends Roman flying over the top of the announce table and into the barricade with 2:00 left. The referee begins to count but Roman comes back and sends Sheamus face first into the post with 1:30 left. The two are back in the ring with 51 seconds to spare. Reigns sets up for the spear when RUSEV drags Reigns to the floor. And that’s the DQ win for Reigns in 4:36. So that’s four non-finishes.
Del Rio and King Barrett show up to save Sheamus. Sheamus introduces the world to his “League of Nations”. It’s King Barrett, Sheamus, Rusev, and… Del Rio?!?!?!???? Ummm, isn’t Del Rio already doing another gimmick?
The Usos and Ambrose join Reigns in the ring to even the odds. Reigns just wants Sheamus one on one and whacks Sheamus with a hard right hand to knock him off the apron. And the segment just ends that way.
– Lengthy Cyber Monday promo from New Day, and more interesting than most of the show thus far.
— Commercial Break —
8. WWE Divas Champ Charlotte (w/Ric Flair) vs. Becky Lynch
Remember, this match is non-title, just “for fun”. If you remember my preshow notes, Paige instigated this match. Paige is on commentary for this one. It’s a lot of back and forth feeling out, Lunch has control through most of it with some submissions and pinning combinations. Charlotte takes over with a neckbreaker and some chops. Charlotte’s Web gets a 2 count. Team BAD are in the back watching and eating popcorn. The crappy Paige interview upstages most of the match as the announcers pay more attention to Paige. BLAH. Charlotte appears to have injured her ankle, Becky looks concerned, Ric Flair gets up on the apron to check, but Charlotte is faking, and she nips up and rolls up Becky from behind for the win in 4:37.
I’m not sure WTF just happened there???
I mean, I get that Charlotte just tricked her friend to beat her and then celebrated with Ric Flair all the way to the back, but WTF was that? So Paige is the heel, but she just proved to Lynch that Charlotte is an asshole too. Becky just looks on in astonishment in the ring as Charlotte celebrates to the back. I don’t know how any of that helped anyone involved.
— Commercial Break —
– Becky Lynch confronts Charlotte backstage. She is upset with Charlotte and says she cheated. Charlotte says she didn’t cheat, she just took advantage, and it was tough love. Charlotte tells Lynch she needs to step up her game and says they’re still friends. Charlotte comes off as a douche as she walks off. Becky is left standing there when Paige walks in and continues to stir the pot. Lynch looks confused and hurt. I feel bad for her, but only because of this stupid high school storyline…
– Oh dear God, Adam Rose has another new gimmick. “The Rosebush” is some sort of new segment where he discusses recent WWE happenings and makes crappy jokes about them. He’s some sort of really shitty version of TMZ or something. This may be the worst thing yet. Dear God. That poor guy.
– Stardust Christmas promo. Interrupted in Stardust world once again by Titus O’Neil. Some back and forth “comedy” ensues and Titus throws a present at Stardust.
— Commercial Break —
Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & The Usos vs. Sheamus, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio, & King Barrett
Noticeably absent is Zeb Colter, who apparently doesn’t exist when the League of Nations is around. So much for Mex-America.
And as all 8 men are in the ring. NEW DAY comes to ringside as well. New Day joins the League of Nations to make this SEVEN ON FOUR.
Who writes this shit? Are we seriously back to the handicap matches for heat? Garbage.
Anyway, match starts with New Day trying to work over Jey Uso, but Xavier ends up in the face corner and all 4 faces stomp the crap out of Woods and Reigns tosses Xavier to the floor. New Day & Rusev drag Woods back to the heel corner as we take a break.
Back from break, the Usos take over on Woods, but Jimmy appears to jam his knee and the heels take back over and dominate Jimmy’s ankle for the next several minutes. Kofi misses a top rope splash and Jey gets the hot tag. Jey clears house and Samoan drops Kofi, but Big E blasts Jey from the blindside with a clothesline. Meanwhile, Jimmy Uso lays outside clutching his knee on the floor. We go to break.
Back from break, we learn Jimmy Uso was taken to the back with a knee injury. Now the heels work over Jey Uso. Jey eventually lands an enzuigiri on Kofi to hot tag to Reigns… Roman comes in a house of fire, laying out New Day and landing a Double drive by dropkick on Kofi & Woods. But the heel numbers are too much and they jump Reigns on the floor and Rusev sends Roman into the barricade. The heels now take over control on Reigns.
After working Roman over, he manages the inevitable hot tag to Ambrose and Dean goes crazy on the heels, taking everyone out inside the ring and on the floor with flying elbows, suicide dives, and beyond… Dean drops Sheamus, but Rusev stops the count. Jey Uso climbs back inside and superkicks Rusev, but then ADR superkicks Jey Uso. Reigns fires back up and starts taking out heels all over on the arena floor, but back inside Ambrose is distracted and eats a BROGUE KICK that ends this in 24:00.
The heels win and begin to attack Ambrose after the match, but Reigns attempts to aid his friend. The heels beat down Dean and Reigns and all 7 celebrate as Michael Cole tells us to take a look at the new state of the WWE…. May God help us all….
