It was a pivotal week in the world of WWE. The company presented Crown Jewel, which showcased the first timewomen wrestled in Saudi Arabia, and it announced that the upcoming Survivor Series would be a three-brand affair, with NXT going to war with Raw and Smackdown. The next night stars from the developmental brand invaded Smackdown, andput the whole WWE Universe on notice in one of the most eventful and important broadcasts in some time. Raw this week was tasked with maintaining this momentum and ramping up the excitement ahead of what promises to be a monumental Survivor Series on November 23.
Brock Lesnar kicks off Raw
The Beast, accompanied by advocate Paul Heyman, announced on Smackdown last Friday that he was switching to Raw, bringing the WWE Championship with him, looking to hunt Rey Mysterio. Heyman claimed that the rules don’t apply to Lesnar, and that he will go wherever he wants. The Mayor of Suplex City went on the hunt for Mysterio, furiously destroying anyone in his path backstage, and then took out Dio Maddin on the announce tale, prompting Mysterio to appear and take out the Beast with a Kendo stick.
WWE looks to be setting up a David vs. Goliath story with these two, and the WWE Universe seems to be buying it for now, given the reception the veteran received when he made the save. It could be the product of creative going cold on the Cain Valasquez narrative, who seems off the pace at the moment, but if booked right, has the makings of a great storyline, which may just yield another Kofi Kingston-esquefairytale ending.
Charlotte Flair and Natalya vs. The Kabuki Warriors
Flair and Nattie formed an uneasy alliance to take on the Women’s tag team champions. Natalya showed her strength and technical prowess early on, grounding Asuka. She tagged the Queen, who doubled teamed the tag champions with a couple of suplexes, to send them reeling. After the break, Asuka was sent flying, but Natalya failed with a Sharpshooter attempt, instead running into a ferocious kick. The heels were now in control, and the Queen of Harts in peril, as the champs made quick tags to isolate Natalya. Kairi Sane hit a neat drop kick for the near-fall, and Flair was tagged in, exploding into the match and taking out both competitors, unloading with chops and a Natural Selection to Sane, who was saved by Asuka, who ate a big boot for her troubles. Flair followed this with a Moonsault to both women, for the two count. The numbers game became too much though, as Sane began the beatdown on Flair, who eventually countered with a vicious kick and made the hot tag to Natalya. She burst in with a Jim Neidhart style clothesline and a German Suplex. She locked in the Sharpshooter, but Asuka was saved by Sane, who was subsequently took out by Flair with a spear. With their opponents cleared, the Sharpshooter finally succeeded, giving the patched up team the win.
This marked the second time Flair and Natalya got a win over the tag team champions, which would suggest they are being positioned to be the next pretenders to the throne. It is a sad indictment of the depth of quality in the women’s tag team division that these two single superstars are next in line, but with either seemingly having anything better to do at the moment, they may just have a run with the gold in their near future.
Cedric Alexander vs. Buddy Murphy
It was a frantic opening between two of Raw’s most exciting recruits, with both men getting offence in early on. Alexander created separation though with a drop kick as the action spilled outside. Back in the ring, Murphy sent Cedric crashing into the ring post to gain control. Alexander tried to fight back but the Best Kept Secret went to work on the injured arm of the high flyer, cutting off his aerial prowess. Alexander somehow managed to fight back, stunning the Australian with a drop kick and a couple of dives over the top rope for a near-fall. He countered a Murphy’s Law with a michinoku driver for another two count. Sensing victory, Alexander looked to put his opponent away but had no answer for a successful Murphy’s Law, giving Buddy the hard-fought victory.
This was a solid showcase of two outstanding talents, which could have been spectacular given more time. It was the right move for Murphy to go over as he continues to build momentum and look to position himself in the picture for potential gold.
What’s Next for Seth Rollins?
The former Universal champion took to the squared circle to a reception of indifference from the WWE Universe. The crowd seemed pleased about the Crown Jewel result in which The Fiend took the gold off the Beast Slayer. Rollins seemed nervous and stumbled over his words as he claimed he was unsure what was next for him. Triple H’s music hit, and Rollins former mentor and NXT head honcho entered the fray. He alluded to Rollins’ NXT past and his subsequent success in WWE, before Undisputed Era stormed the ring, to the delight of the WWE Universe. The Game asked whether Rollins was with him or against him, at which point the OC appeared. Undisputed Era were joined by more from the NXT roster and attacked the OC, until members of the Raw roster chased them off, as Rollins looked bewildered in the ring.
Sin Cara & Carolina vs. Andrade & Zelina Vega
The two Mexican superstars know each other well, and the programme should have been done and dusted after Andrade’s recent 2-0 record in recent weeks. The subplot has involved the meddling of Zelina Vega costing Sin Cara the wins, so this match was quickly made into a mixed tag team affair. Sin Cara sent El Idolo flying off the top turnbuckle as both men lay prone. The two managed to make tags to the women, as Carolina hit Vega with a sloppy cross body off the top ropes. She nearly scored the win, but Andrade made the save, prompting Sin Cara to get involved, somersaulting onto his foe to the outside. Back in the ring, Vega quickly dispatched of the newcomer to hand yet another victory to the heels.
That should finally put paid to that programme, given that it had become a little tired very quickly. It was a fresh narrative to have the women involved, but if it was an audition to see if Carolina could hang with elite superstars like Vega and Andrade, the jury is still out. Vega was mightily impressive, though, and her and Andrade make a dangerous combination, and are a threat to the mid to upper card babyfaces on the Raw roster.
Rusev challenges Bobby Lashley/Rusev vs. Drew McIntyre
The latest chapter in the frankly bizarre story involving Rusev, Lashley and Lana unfolded as the Bulgarian Brute called out Lashley over his cavorting with his wife. Lashley appeared on crutches with the Ravishing Russian on tow, claiming he’d sustained an injury pleasuring Lana (yes, really). Lana said somebody else would take Lashley’s place, and that somebody else would be Drew McIntyre. Rusev’srecent frustrations boiled to the surface as he unloaded on the Scottish Psychopath in the early going, wearing him down with a series of kicks as Lana and Lashley looked on. The monstrous McIntyre didn’t stay grounded for long, though, as the tide turned, Drew stomping the popular Bulgarian to the ground. Rusev countered with a throwaway slam, before Drew levelled the score with a spine buster for the near-fall. A desperate Rusev dug deep to produce a couple of clotheslines and a spinning heel kick as chants of ‘Rusev Day’ rang round the arena. A big kick followed as Lana’s estranged husband looked to score a big victory, but Lashley, clearly feigning injury, intervened with his crutch. Rusev cleared the ring of the heels until he succumbed to an RKO as Randy Orton appeared from nowhere. Ricochet made the save and the babyfaces stood tall to close the segment.
Rusev looked good here, playing the face seeking revenge role well. The storyline is still bizarre, though, and it’s anybody’s guess what the end result is. What is more clear, though, given the cameos from Ricochet and Randy Orton, is that this feud’s next chapter could take place at Survivor Series, maybe in a traditional elimination match scenario.
Street Profits & Humberto Carillo vs. The OC
These six men have had their issues over the past few weeks and looked to resolve them on WWE’s flagship show in six-man tag action. Recently seen battling over the United States championship, Styles and Carillo started the match. After a back and forth, the Street Profits continued their impressive form and double teamed Karl Anderson, Montez Ford eventually thwarted when Styles grabbed the leg at the ropes. Ford was then taken out by Luke Gallows on the outside. The OC worked over Ford, cutting the ring in half and isolating him from his team mates, rapid tags from the heels ensuring Ford was kept grounded. Ford bravely fought back and managed to create separation from Gallows with a snap suplex, barely making the hot tag to Carillo, who entered opposite Styles, unloading on the US champ with a moonsaultoff the top, nearly putting the Phenomenal One away, but for the interference of Anderson. As the rest of the men brawled outside, Styles powerbombed Carillo and pinned him, using his legs on the ropes for leverage.
Styles is an undoubted superstar, and Gallows and Anderson are in the midst of a push themselves, having been crowned best tag team in the world in Saudi Arabia, though any momentum they have gained in the past has always been a false dawn in this company. Carillo and the Street Profits are making big waves themselves, making it a little surprising that they were beaten here. However, the nefarious manner in which Carillo ate the pin gives him a legitimate gripe with the champion, and will allow him another shot at the gold further down the line.
NXT Championship Match: Adam Cole vs. Seth Rollins
Another dream match main-evented Raw on Monday, Cole fresh off his victory clean over Daniel Bryan. Rollins’ fortunes of late haven’t been as grand, losing the Universal title to the Fiend at Crown Jewel. The two sussed each other out early doors, neither man giving an inch, until Rollins vaulted over the top rope onto his opponent. As Triple H watched on intently, Cole blocked the buckle bomb and then the stomp, but was subsequently tossed into the barriers outside. After the break Cole was in charge, levelling the Architect with a big boot, before the two traded blows. The two went back and forth until Rollins nearly captured the gold with a superkick. Cole hit a superkick of his own and scored a near-fall as the action continued to ebb and flow. Rollins hit the buckle bomb for the two count as he showed his frustration at not being able to put away the Undisputed Era leader. Cole responded with a suplex and a running knee before a failed attempt at a Last Shot. The two then lay prone after a double clothesline. Cole was first to his feet and to the top turnbuckle, but Rollins was right behind, hitting him with a superplex into a Falcon Arrow for the two count. As Rollins geared up for the Stomp, the rest of the Undisputed Era stormed the ring and took out the Beast Slayer, prompting Team Raw to get involved. A mass brawl broke out as more NXT members joined the fray, and an almighty fight broke out to close the show.
Rollins and Cole meshed brilliantly, and their pairing has the hallmarks of a classic in the making. It was inconceivable, though, that Cole was going to drop the title here. The main narrative centred around the NXT invasion, and it is going to be intriguing seeing where this goes in the weeks leading up to Survivor Series.
