The Raw Exposé: You Can't See Us - How John Cena and Casper The Friendly Ghost Became Kindred Spirits (2-5-2018)

By: Keila Cash 

Date: 2-5-2018

Location: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa

Homecoming from Hell: Jason Jordan burned Seth Rollins’ championship dreams to the ground.

Casper’s New Best Friend: John Cena because no one can see his worth as of late. #SpittingTruth

·        Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt with the Spear to secure a spot in the Elimination Chamber match. The match started off sluggish, but the action picked up after the commercial break. Wyatt had Reigns on the ropes with a couple near falls, but the outcome was never in doubt despite Reigns kicking out of Sister Abigail.

·        Corey Graves oversold their rivalry on commentary by putting them on the same pedestal as Superman vs. Lex Luthor and Batman Vs. The Joker. The Reigns-Wyatt feud from 2015 was terrible, but their matches made up for the shit fans had to deal with on a weekly basis.

·        Minor criticism aside, I thought the announcers did a nice job emphasizing the importance of the Chamber match being the final playoff game before WrestleMania. It’s the last chance for someone to main event the biggest PPV of the year and that point should be hammered home over the next few weeks.

·        After the match was over, Matt Hardy nailed Wyatt with the Twist of Fate to get a measure of revenge after Wyatt cost him a spot in the Chamber last week. Their never-ending feud continues. Yay! *Insert Sarcasm Here*

·        Karl Anderson and Finn Bàlor defeated The Revival when Bàlor pinned Scott Dawson with the Coup De Grace in a solid match. Anderson shouting Kiai after kicking Dash Wilder in the face was unintentionally hilarious. I’m not thrilled with The Revival and Bàlor Club going 50/50 as of late, but it’s understandable because the tag team ranks are thin at the moment when it comes to the heel : face ratio.

·        Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander defeated Tony Nese and Drew Gulak when Alexander nailed Gulak with the Lumbar Check for the win. The match was fine, but it lacked heat despite the acrobatic feats of Alexander down the stretch.

·        Kurt Angle announced the five women who will face Alexa Bliss inside the Elimination Chamber for the Raw Women’s Championship. They are: Bayley, Mandy Rose, Mickie James, Sonya Deville, and Sasha Banks.

·        Nia Jax isn’t in the Chamber match, but she will face Asuka at the PPV with possible WrestleMania ramifications. If Jax defeats Asuka, one of the Women’s Title matches will become a Triple Threat affair. The streak and a spot at the biggest show of the year are on the line. Talk about high stakes!

·        Alexa Bliss made her way to the ring and complained about being treated unfairly when it comes to defending her title inside the Chamber. The Universal Championship isn’t on the line in the Men’s Chamber Match which should automatically exempt her from competing in the women’s bout.

·        Angle stated that Bliss hasn’t defended her title since October. Bliss shot back by saying that he’s responsible for making the matches. Feeling exasperated, Angle asked the audience if they wanted to see Bliss defend her title inside the Chamber. This was a risky move because the fans actually backed Bliss’ argument, but they stayed on the script by chanting “Yes!” as the segment came to an end.

·        Bliss had a great point, but she was overruled in the end. If she tried to state her case to Stephanie McMahon, things would’ve ended badly for Little Miss Bliss. It’s like leading a lamb to slaughter…

·        Asuka defeated Bayley with an Armbar in a solid match. Both ladies delivered the goods, but the outcome was never in doubt.

·        The Miz defeated Apollo Crews with the Skull Crushing Finale to advance to the Elimination Chamber match. Miz vs. Crews was surprisingly competitive as Crews had a nice showing. Jonathan Coachman was astute on commentary as he criticized Crews for going to the well too many times instead of finishing Miz off when he had the chance. Crews went for pay dirt, but he got caught between the ropes which set up the finish moments later.

·        The fact is not lost on me that Reigns will get one of his wins back against Miz when he pins him clean inside the Chamber. Just a hunch…

·        Jason Jordan is still not medically cleared to compete which put Seth Rollins in a bind leading up the Raw Tag Team Championship against Sheamus and Cesaro. Roman Reigns was more than happy to provide the assist as Kurt Angle nodded in approval.

·        Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns via disqualification to retain the Raw Tag Team Championship after Jason Jordan punched Sheamus in front of the referee. To say Rollins and Reigns were pissed off would be an understatement. Before the bullshit finish, this was a good match as Rollins became the hometown hero down the stretch. He was on fire like the flames on his pants as the Des Moines native put on a one-man show.

·        Jordan made his way to ringside to provide emotional support and helped his partner get out of a jam when he grabbed Cesaro’s leg which helped Rollins score a near fall.

·        Reigns told Jordan to hit the showers because he and Rollins had everything under control. Jordan started to head towards the back when The Bar tried to get counted out on purpose. This led to the ill-fated punch which set up the DQ finish moments later.

·        Jordan looked guilty, but it could’ve been an act because he didn’t want Reigns to steal his spotlight. If that’s the case, mission accomplished! If not, Jordan just became the most hated man in Iowa.

·        Kurt Angle just went Uncle Phil on Jason Jordan…

·        Nia Jax destroyed Vanessa Floyd with a leg drop in quick and decisive fashion.

·        Mickie James defeated Sonya Deville with a roll-up in a decent match. After the match was over, Mandy Rose and Deville double-teamed James until ALEXA BLISS made the save. James looked confused as Bliss helped her to the back. Something tells me that Bliss is trying to worm her way into James’ good graces ahead of the women’s Elimination Chamber match.

·        A Second Chance Fatal 4-Way featuring Matt Hardy, Bray Wyatt, Finn Bàlor, and Apollo Crews with the winner securing the final spot in the Elimination Chamber Match. It should be a good one if everything goes according to plan.

·        Elias will be the final man to enter the Elimination Chamber as he pinned John Cena thanks to an assist from Braun Strowman. The Triple Threat Match featuring Elias, Strowman, and Cena was fine but nothing special. Cena and Elias joined forces to take out Strowman as they laid him out at ringside before turning on each other.

·        Cena got back on offense as he nailed Elias with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena tried to finish off The Drifter when Strowman caught Cena and dropped him with a Running Powerslam. Elias knocked Strowman out of the ring and picked up the tainted win moments later.

·        Elias’ celebration was short-lived as Strowman laid him out with a Running Powerslam. Cena ate a second Powerslam as the fans egged Strowman on. He gave them what they wanted as he laid out both men two more times before Raw went off the air with Strowman fist bumping fans at ringside.

·        This was a good way to end the show. Outside of Seth Rollins, Strowman was the most over star in the building. It’s weird to see Cena almost treated like an afterthought, but it happened here tonight. This is becoming a disturbing trend as of late because Cena is usually positioned as a top star despite not being featured in a front-burner storyline. Elias needs the rub, but seeing Cena in such a nothing feud is surprising to see in 2018.

·        Despite his part-time status, Cena should still be a top five star in WWE. Unless the company is waiting to pull the trigger on his rumored match against The Undertaker the night after the Elimination Chamber PPV, I don’t get the creative direction thus far. I know that hardcore fans have been clamoring for Cena to take a backseat over the past several years, but he still has equity as a marquee draw and it’s stunning that the company is treating him like a random guy on the roster with zero cachet.

·        That might not be the case behind the scenes, but the presentation of his character has been lazy and uninventive ever since his ho-hum return at Survivor Series last November. Here’s hoping Cena has a meaty storyline to sink his teeth into as we head into the heart of WrestleMania season because seeing him swim in the shallow waters of mediocrity is so 2002.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was middling at best. The Des Moines crowd was lukewarm as the in-ring action ranged from decent to solid. This felt like a glorified house show that happened to air on live television. There was no spark outside of Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman kicking ass during the third hour. Outside of that, the fans were subdued most of the night.

·        WWE is doing a nice job hyping the Elimination Chamber PPV even though it’s predicated on the two chamber matches so far. The card should feature some decent mid-card bouts, but the show will be bookended by the Chamber matches. I have a sneaky feeling that Asuka vs. Nia Jax might steal the show if they are given enough time to do so. Their match on Raw a few weeks ago was a pleasant surprise. Let’s hope they can recapture the magic in Las Vegas later this month. Fingers crossed!

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls!

The Raw Exposé: Strowman Gone Wild (1-15-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Date: 1/15/2018

Location: AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas

Recurring Theme: Welcome To the Danger Zone (AKA Braun Strowman’s Rallying Cry)

Throwback Machine Monday: The Return of the Curbstomp!

·        Kurt Angle fired Braun Strowman after he tried to kill Brock Lesnar and Kane last week. To say that the fans hated Angle’s announcement would be an understatement.

·        This was a shocking way to start the show. Strowman cut the best promo his career while Angle was showered with the dreaded “What?” chant. On top of that, the “You Suck” chant actually generated heel heat because of his controversial decision to fire Strowman two weeks before his Universal Championship match against Kane and Lesnar at the Royal Rumble. Despite what happened, I have a feeling that Angle’s decision will be overturned before the end of the night. Just a hunch…

·        Security tried to escort Strowman out of the building, but one of the dudes made the costly mistake of putting his hands on Strowman which lead to a 1-on-5 ass whopping. It was a glorious sight to behold.

·        For the second week in a row, Apollo Crews and Titus O’Neal defeated Sheamus and Cesaro when Crews rolled up Sheamus for the win thanks to an assist from Jason Jordan.

·        Sheamus and Cesaro had Crews dead to rites when Jordan appeared on the main stage. The distraction gave Crews enough time to pin Sheamus as Dana Brooke celebrated at ringside.

·        Seth Rollins came out to chide Jordan for unnecessarily poking the bear two weeks before the Rumble. Because of his actions, The Bar has extra incentive to kick their asses. Jordan’s slow-burn heel turn continues…

·        Poor Curt Hawkins. Braun Strowman put him through the catering table before eating a piece of chocolate cake to satisfy his hunger for violence and revenge.

·        Cedric Alexander defeated Tony Nese with the Lumbar Check in a good match. The crowd was invested in the action which was refreshing to see for a change. Goldust provided some star power as he taunted Enzo Amore at ringside. I am not a fan of Goldust being a part of the cruiserweight division because it’s a clear admission from WWE that the concept has failed on the main roster. However, Goldie still gets a pop from the crowd which might transfer to Alexander if he develops a personality.

·        Braun Strowman barged into the production truck and scared the shit out of everybody. No one was hurt, but he separated the tractor from the truck and flipped it over thanks to a slick edit from the production team. The irony is not lost on me that the same crew Strowman traumatized minutes ago still made him look good on television.

·        Strowman appeared on the main stage and made a beeline towards the announce table. Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Booker T tried to get the hell out of dodge, but only two made it out alive as Booker sacrificed Cole by giving him a hip bump that left him in the direst of straits.  

·        Strowman grabbed Cole and was about to destroy him when Kurt Angle came out to defuse the situation. Angle told Strowman that Stephanie McMahon overturned his termination which puts him back in the Triple Threat Match at the Rumble.

·        Strowman dropped Cole, but he wasn’t finished with him as he tossed Cole off the stage. The security guards broke his fall, but the spot was still cool.

·        This entire segment was batshit crazy. Strowman was awesome. The tractor flip was hokey as hell, but I still loved it. Cole almost getting got made my night as well. All in all, this was a classic Raw moment that will be part of the WWE Network Collection for years to come.

·        Asuka defeated Nia Jax when Jax was no longer able to compete after suffering a knee injury. Prior to the finish, Asuka and Jax had a good match that had the crowd hooked from start to finish. Jax dominated the action, but Asuka had a few hope spots by putting Jax in various submission holds. Jax powered out each time and took the action to ringside as she slammed Asuka back first into the ring apron.

·        Jax grabbed Asuka and tried to pull her up the steel steps when Asuka kicked her in the thigh. Jax lost her balance and slipped between the steps. She took a bad spill on the floor, but she made back in the ring before the count of ten.

·        Jax tried to stand up, but she fell to the mat. After falling down a third time, the referee called for the bell and awarded Asuka the win. The fans weren’t happy with the finish, but it was a competitive match while it lasted.

·        Jason Jordan continues to push his luck by putting Seth Rollins in unfavorable situations. Jordan asked Kurt Angle to book Rollins in a match against Finn Bàlor. Angle agreed and set the bout for later tonight. I’m sure Rollins is overjoyed at this news.

·        This year’s MLK Day package was great. The WWE production team continues to be first-class.

·        The Revival defeated a random tag team with the Shatter Machine in quick and decisive fashion.

·        Dash and Dawson prided themselves on being PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS who didn’t care about playing video games backstage. They were students of the game and vowed to school the likes of the APA, New Age Outlaws, Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin next week as Raw celebrates its 25^th anniversary. Something tells me that a Fameasser, Clothesline from Hell, Sweet Chin Music, and Stunner is in their not too distant future.

·        Roman Reigns defeated Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match when Reigns nailed Axel with a Spear for the win. The Miztourage dominated the action early on, but the outcome was never in doubt despite The Miz’s outside interference. The San Antonio crowd was pro-Reigns which is a marked improvement from last week’s so-so response in Memphis.

·        The Brooklyn and Philadelphia fans are going to boo him mercilessly over the next couple of weeks, but that’s par for the course at this point. Perhaps the short-term Shield reunion garnered some goodwill amongst hardcore fans. Nah!

·        Sonya Deville defeated Sasha Banks with a kick to the ribs after catching Banks in midflight. It was a great spot that made Deville look badass. Paige was at ringside cheering on her fellow Absolution member. There was no mention of her probable retirement from in-ring competition.

·        Perhaps WWE is saving the announcement for a later date because there is so much going on between Raw 25 and the Royal Rumble. Here’s hoping the company offers some kind of confirmation because the internet streets are talking.

·        Matt Hardy defeated Heath Slater with the Twist of Fate in a quick match. Slater’s deletion went off without a hitch.

·        Seth Rollins defeated Finn Bàlor with the CURBSTOMP in a very good main event match. The match started off slow, but the action picked up after the commercial break. The counters were on point as Rollins and Bàlor traded slingblades and superkicks down the stretch.

·        Bàlor went up to the top rope to hit the Coup De Grace, but Rollins caught him with a superplex from the top rope followed by the Falcon Arrow for a near fall.

·        Balor countered with an inside cradle for a 2 ¾ count. Instant replay showed that the ref’s hand hit the mat three times, but he was out of position which played into the controversial finish.

·        Sheamus and Cesaro came out to attack Jason Jordan, but Jordan found himself in a tight squeeze when he bumped into Gallows and Anderson at ringside. He ducked out of the way as The Bar inadvertently went after Gallows and Anderson. Bàlor broke things up with a flip dive before heading back to the top rope to hit his finisher.

·        Rollins rolled out of the way and bounced off the ropes to charge after Bàlor. Jordan tripped Bàlor behind Rollins’ back which set up the throwback finish moments later.

·        Jordan and Rollins celebrated on the main stage while Bàlor tried to gather his bearings in the ring. The camera stayed on Bàlor, Gallows, and Anderson for an uncomfortable period of time until the show went off the air.

·        This was a very strange way to end the show, but it left the door open for a rematch between Bàlor and Rollins because the ref botched the pin count. They could have a great feud with the babyface-heel roles being reversed this time around. Their in-ring chemistry is off the charts and I hope both men get more chances to shine because they bring out the best in each other.

·        Rollins being unaware of Jordan’s shady tactics will cause this team to blow up sooner or rather than later. Jordan is trying to act chivalrous, but he’s a snake in the grass who is only using Rollins in order to get ahead. It’s a brilliant storyline that’s playing out perfectly. Jordan still needs to generate legit heel heat, but he’s well on his way based on his actions tonight.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. Braun Strowman’s rampage carried the first hour as he destroyed people and inanimate objects with the greatest of ease. It was campy, but fun to watch nonetheless. The in-ring action ranged from decent to very good as Asuka vs. Nia Jax delivered the goods while the cruiserweights didn’t die on the proverbial vine thanks to the star power of Goldust. That is not a typo.

·        The San Antonio crowd was hot all night which helped the show breeze by for the most part. The show hit a lull during the third hour, but the main event ended the night on a high note.

·        Next week is the biggest episode of Raw since the flagship brand celebrated its 1000^th episode five years ago. Raw 25 promises to be a stacked show from top to bottom. It should be a special evening filled with nostalgia while offering a glimpse into the future at the same time. WWE can’t cling to the past by relying on legends and part-timers in order to get over the hump in 2018. The well is running dry and it’s time for the company to bank on the future because they have the talent to pull it off.

·        This year’s Royal Rumble should be a sign of what’s to come. Fresh Faces! Innovation! Deviation from the norm! Here’s hoping the creative team keeps that in mind while paying homage to the past. Fingers crossed!

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls!

The Raw Exposé: WWE Presents - How To Get Away With Attempted Murder Starring Braun Strowman (1-8-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Location: The FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee

Date: 1/8/2017

Sad Refrain: Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel (Leave the light on for the Georgia Bulldogs L)

Happier Refrain: The Miz is back, baby!

·        Raw kicked off with Roman Reigns putting his feud with Samoa Joe behind him. Reigns was greeted with a mixed reaction that verged on more boos and cheers until Jason Jordan came out to congratulate him.

·        Jordan tried to make it a “we” moment, but Seth Rollins was having none of it as he made his way down to the ring. Rollins admonished his tag team partner for stealing Reigns’ spotlight, but Jordan still wanted to celebrate the win as a team while being oblivious to the fact that he is the dreaded third wheel.

·        Jordan claimed that their championship pedigree automatically made them the most dominant team in WWE. Rollins and Reigns gave him the side eye for making such a delusional statement.

·        Finn Bàlor, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows came out to assert themselves as the most dominant group in WWE as Bàlor touted his ten-year friendship with Gallows and Anderson while taking a dig at Jordan’s daddy issues. Anderson bragged about his crew’s respective resumes which allowed them to do their own thing before joining forces to take on what’s left of The Shield.

·        Gallows called Jordan a nerd which almost led to a brawl until Kurt Angle booked a six-man tag team match featuring Rollins, Reigns, and Jordan vs. The Bàlor Club which will take place later tonight.

·        This was an okay way to start the show. It was rough in spots because the crowd didn’t care about Reigns or Jordan early on. Jordan is trying to maneuver his way into Dean Ambrose’s spot, but Rollins and Reigns are not here for it. It’s an interesting storyline that should make Jordan a hated heel sooner or later, but he’s generating go away heat at the moment. Here’s hoping he can actively get the crowd to hate him for all the right reasons because he has potential to get over as an oblivious heel that overestimates his worth.

·        Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville when Banks made Rose tap out to the Bank Statement. The match was decent as Rose and Deville worked over Banks until Bayley made the save towards the end. This was the babyfaces’ first win over Absolution which should’ve been hammered home by the commentary team, but they dropped the ball. Storyline continuity, be damned!

·        Woken Matt Hardy defeated Curt Hawkins with the Twist of Fate in a quick match. Hawkins losing streak has carried over into 2018. At least he’s consistent…

·        After the match was over, Bray Wyatt appeared in the ring to have a laugh off with Hardy. To say this was weird would be an understatement.

·        The Miz put Roman Reigns on notice when it comes to regaining the Intercontinental Championship. Miz vowed to become the longest reigning IC Champion of all-time in 2018 while etching his name in the history books alongside the likes of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. It’s a ballsy goal, but Rolling Stone Magazine’s Superstar of the Year is willing to go for broke while proving the naysayers wrong at the same time. Good for Miz!

·        Cedric Alexander defeated Enzo Amore via count out, but Enzo retained the Cruiserweight Championship because the title can’t change hands unless the match is contested under no DQ rules. Enzo got busted open with a sick kick by Alexander before getting laid out with a flip dive moments later. Alexander landed on Enzo’s ankle which led to the count out finish. It appeared to be a legit injury, but we shall see if WWE releases a medical update later this week to legitimize or downplay the situation.

·        I had an issue with Alexander smiling after the ring announcer informed the crowd that Enzo was still the Cruiserweight Champion. He didn’t sell frustration or anger. Alexander posed on the top rope like he didn’t have a care in the world. If he doesn’t care about winning the title, why should we? This division continues to circle the drain. It’s sad but true.

·        Kurt Angle booked two huge matches which will take place over the next few weeks. Sheamus and Cesaro will face Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan in a rematch for the Raw Tag Team Championship at the Royal Rumble while Roman Reigns defends his Intercontinental Title against The Miz during Raw’s 25^th Anniversary special on January 22^nd.  

·        In the first shocker of 2018, Titus O’ Neil and Apollo Crews defeated Sheamus and Cesaro when O’Neil pinned Sheamus with a roll-up. It was a solid match as Crews laid out Cesaro with a beautiful moonsault which set up the finish. Titus Worldwide has a much-needed win under their belt for the first time since forever while noted statistician Dana Brooke narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction because her twins were on the verge of popping out for the world to see.

·        Paul Heyman talked a big game on Brock Lesnar’s behalf, but Braun Strowman single-handily destroyed Kane and Lesnar without breaking a sweat. Strowman slammed Lesnar against some production equipment backstage while throwing a road case on top of Kane with the greatest of ease.

·        Strowman saved the best for last when he grabbed a grappling hook and yanked down the truss on top of both men as Heyman looked on in horror. It was a great spot to wrap up an insane segment.

·        Samoa Joe defeated Rhyno with the Coquina Clutch in a quick match. This was a nice bounce-back win for Joe after coming up short in his Intercontinental Title match against Roman Reigns last week.

·        In other news, Joe announced that he was entering the men’s Royal Rumble match and promised to eliminate John Cena. I’ve been pining for a feud between Joe and Cena since last year. Here’s hoping WWE pulls the trigger because it has the potential to be great due to their history on the California indie circuit during the early 2000s.

·        Asuka’s match against {Insert Opponent Here} never got underway as Nia Jax attacked her from behind. Jax sent a clear message that she was winning the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble.

·        Bàlor Club defeated Seth Rollins, Jason Jordan, and Roman Reigns when Finn Bàlor pinned Rollins with the Coup De Grace in a good main event match. Jordan made two costly mistakes which cost his team the win. Rollins made the hot tag to Reigns, but the referee never saw it because Jordan distracted him. The ref told Reigns to get back in his corner, but the Big Dog didn’t listen as he took out Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows by nailing the former with a Superman Punch and the latter with a Spear.

·        Jordan tried to make up for his mistake by helping Rollins to his feet, but Bàlor was charging towards them which caused Rollins to push Jordan out of the way as he ate a running dropkick into the turnbuckle. This led Balor’s first meaningful win in months as The Bàlor Club celebrated on the main stage.

·        Reigns confronted Jordan, but they didn’t come to blows as Jordan rolled out of the ring to apologize to Rollins. It appeared that Raw was about to go off the air, but The Miz and his Miztourage ambushed Jordan, Rollins, and Reigns from behind.

·        Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel double teamed Reigns before Miz laid him out with the Skull Crushing Finale.

·        They weren’t finished with Reigns as they dropped him with a Triple Powerbomb to add insult to injury as Raw went off the air with Miz and his minions standing tall in the ring.

·        This was a good way to end the show. Jason Jordan continues to be the dreaded third wheel as Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins scoff at the notion that he is on their level. Rollins’ patience continues to wear thin which plays into Jordan’s slow-burn heel turn. He’s owning the role, but he still needs to make the fans hate him for being a spoiled brat instead of hating him because he’s been saddled with a lame storyline. There’s still time to get it right, but it’s been rough sledding so far.

·        Meanwhile, The Miz and Roman Reigns renew their feud which might hint at a title change because Reigns needs to drop the IC Title before WrestleMania if he’s going to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Miz and Reigns have good in-ring chemistry which should create an electric atmosphere inside the Barclays or Manhattan Center in a couple of weeks as Raw celebrates its 25^th anniversary. To quote Good Ol’ JR, “It should be a slobber knocker!”

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. The in-ring action was so-so until the main event. WWE made the broadcast newsworthy when Braun Strowman destroyed Brock Lesnar and Kane during the College Football Playoff National Championship halftime show. That gave viewers enough time to witness the carnage before switching back over to the game.

·        Outside of that, this was a placeholder show as the company continues to hype Raw 25 which takes place in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, The E has done a good job promoting the Royal Rumble PPV which is a sign that their priorities are in order heading into the first major show of the year. Here’s hoping they can build momentum next week because it’s basically a go-home show leading into another one due to the anniversary tie-in. 

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new edition of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls! 

The Raw Exposé: Paul Heyman vs. The Plural - Welcome To The First Great Feud Of 2018 (1-1-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Raw Exposé of 2018. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The New Year represents a fresh start for WWE as the Road to WrestleMania makes its first pit stop at the Royal Rumble in a few weeks. It’s a new year that should bring change in the best possible way. Did the E give us a sampling of what’s to come or did they drag along the carcass of 2017 instead? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s show in no particular order.

·        The first Raw of 2018 kicked off with Kurt Angle making a major announcement regarding the men and women’s Royal Rumble matches. The rules for the men’s Rumble match will apply to the women’s as the inaugural bout will feature 30 entrants with each elimination consisting of the women being tossed over the top rope with their feet hitting the floor. Parity is alive and well!

·        Sheamus and Cesaro interrupted Angle mid-promo and blamed him for costing them the Raw Tag Team Championship last week. The Bar accused Angle of favoritism as he gave Jason Jordan a title shot based on his DNA alone. They wanted a rematch tonight, but Angle turned them down.

·        Jason Jordan came out to defend his father by referencing his track record for earning a shot at the Tag Team Titles last week. Cesaro and Jordan got into which resulted in Angle booking them in a singles match which took place after the commercial break.

·        Seth Rollins came out to support Jordan, but he didn’t do it out of the goodness of his heart. Rollins accused Jordan of being self-absorbed which could result in his downfall if he wasn’t careful. Despite winning the Tag Titles last week, there is still tension between Rollins and Jordan which could lead to a heel turn from the latter sooner rather than later.

·        Jason Jordan defeated Cesaro with an Elevated Neckbreaker thanks to an assist from Seth Rollins. Jordan and Cesaro had a good match, but it lacked crowd heat because the fans are not buying Jordan’s goody-two-shoes act. Cesaro targeted Jordan’s left knee and dominated the action from the mat with a series of submission holds. Jordan made a comeback by dropping Cesaro with back-to-back Northern Lights Suplexes for a near fall.

·        Cesaro countered by putting Jordan in the Boston Crab, but Jordan grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Sensing that Sheamus was about to take another cheap shot at Jordan behind the referee’s back, Rollins laid him out at ringside which led to the finish moments later.

·        Rollins wanted to celebrate the win with his tag team partner, but Jordan hogged the spotlight for himself instead. WWE is not veering off course when it comes to turning Jordan heel. It’s a slow burn process that feels inevitable based on his shaky partnership with Rollins. He still needs to draw the right kind of heat because the fans should want to see him get his ass kicked instead of chanting “This Is boring” during his matches. Jordan is getting better, but there is still room for improvement when it comes to fleshing out his quasi-heel character.

·        Bray Wyatt defeated Apollo Crews with Sister Abigail in a solid match. Crews got in a surprising amount of offense and almost won the match when Dana Brooke climbed on the ring apron to distract Wyatt. Brooke’s plan backfired when Wyatt scared her off the apron which caused her to fall on top of Titus O’Neil. The distraction allowed Crews to nail Wyatt with an Enzuiguri which stunned the Eater of Worlds. Crews tried to finish him off with the Spin-Out Powerbomb, but Wyatt countered with Sister Abigail for the win.

·        After the match was over, Woken Matt Hardy appeared on the big screen and dropped some whimsical knowledge on Wyatt before laughing manically to end things on a bizarre note. The Great War of 2018 is upon us, ladies and gentlemen.

·        Asuka defeated Alexa Bliss with an armbar in a good match. Asuka dominated in the action early on, but Bliss took control after the commercial break when she targeted Asuka’s midsection. Bliss’ ground game was impressive as Asuka did a great job selling the rib injury.

·        Bliss’ cockiness got the best of her when she slapped Asuka in the face which resulted in the Empress of Tomorrow returning the favor. Asuka nailed Bliss with a serious of stiff kicks and knee strikes before making her tap out for the win.

·        This was one of Asuka’s better matches since coming to the main roster. If both ladies are given more time to clean up the choppiness, they can deliver an even better match down the road. All in all, this was an enjoyable non-title bout.

·        Samoa Joe throwing shade in front of Renee Young when it comes to Dean Ambrose living off her paycheck was awesome. Joe is the best heel in WWE because he gives zero fucks about other people’s feelings. I love it!

·        Braun Strowman defeated Rhyno with a Running Powerslam in a quick match. Heath Slater got involved at the behest of Strowman, but he took both men out with the greatest of ease.

·        After the match was over, Strowman put on a show as he dropped Slater and Rhyno with a series of powerslams that popped the crowd something fierce. This was the best thing on the show by far. Big Hoss FTW!

·        Jason Jordan trying to talk tough to Roman Reigns was hilarious. The best part was Reigns and Seth Rollins giving Jordan the side eye after he left the locker room. My theory of Jordan trying to become an honorary Shield member might come to fruition after all…

·        Roman Reigns retained the Intercontinental Championship when he nailed Samoa Joe with the Spear in a very good match. It was a hard-hitting bout that had the crowd hooked from start to finish.

·        It should be noted that Reigns could lose the IC Title if he was disqualified. He was tempted midway through the match when Joe slammed his head into the steel steps. Reigns wanted to retaliate by throwing the steps on top of Joe, but the referee talked him down. Reigns eventually nailed Joe with a pair of Superman punches for a near fall.

·        Reigns had the match in hand when Joe shoved Reigns into the ref. The official was about to disqualify Reigns, but Joe took advantage of the situation by dropping the Big Dog with an Urnage for a near fall.

·        Joe tried to put Reigns in the Coquina Clutch, but Reigns rolled through and hit Joe with the Spear for the 1-2-3.

·        This was a strong match, but it hurt Joe because his tough talk rang hollow in the end. This would’ve been the perfect time for a title switch unless WWE is holding it off until the Rumble. It should be interesting to see how Joe gets a rematch after losing so decisively tonight.

·        Cedric Alexander and Goldust?!? defeated Drew Gulak and Ariya Daivari when Alexander pinned Gulak with the Lumbar Check. I guess the 205 Live weight limit doesn’t apply to Goldust…The match was fine while it lasted.

·        Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Finn Bàlor defeated Elias, Curtis Axel, and Bod Dallas when Bàlor pinned Dallas with the Coup De Grace in a decent match. Seeing The Bàlor Club team up was “too sweet” (pun intended). A part of me wants to see them feud against The Shield, but Dean Ambrose’s injury has put the kibosh on that for now. *sniff*

·        Paul Heyman cut a fiery promo about how WWE likes to stack the deck against Brock Lesnar by booking him in a match against multiple opponents. Back in the day, the challenger would face the champion one-on-one. In 2018, the challengers didn’t have to pin the champ in order to win the Big One.

·        Therefore, the odds would always be in Lesnar’s favor because no can beat him. Heyman was bold enough to say that Lesnar would destroy everyone in the Royal Rumble match which caused Corey Graves to say that such an assumption was a slight exaggeration. Heyman read Braun Strowman and Kane their last rites in Latin before dropping the mic like a boss.

·        Kane came out to confront Lesnar. Both men eyeballed each other until Kane dropped Lesnar with a chokeslam. The Big Red Machine was about to leave the ring when Lesnar sat up and laughed at Kane for not finishing the job. Lesnar grabbed the Universal Title and knocked Kane off the ring apron as both men fell to the floor.

·        Kurt Angle called for reinforcements as the locker room cleared out to separate both men. Lesnar got in one more cheap shot as Raw went off the air with The Beast standing tall.

·        This was an anti-climactic way to end the show. The brawl between Lesnar and Kane was fine, but it ended abruptly. Strowman watched the action unfold backstage and kept his word that he would take care of Lesnar on his own time. The Triple Threat Match featuring Strowman, Kane, and Lesnar for the Universal Championship should be a beautiful disaster if it’s booked properly. The Philly fans will either push things over the top or hijack the Rumble PPV because they want to see Finn Bàlor vs. Brock Lesnar instead. We shall see how it all plays out soon enough.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. The first hour was so-so, but the second and third hour featured good wrestling action that kept the crowd awake. The nail-biting conclusion of the Rose Bowl probably drew viewers away from the USA Network early on, but the rest of the broadcast gave diehard fans a reason to tune in once the insanity was over.

·        The build for the Royal Rumble continues with more stars on the men and women’s side throwing their names in the proverbial hat. It should be a star-studded night in Philly if everything goes according to plan.

·        Meanwhile, the Jason Jordan Heel Turn is back on track based on his actions tonight. Jordan tried to elbow his way into The Shield as Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins brushed him off.

·        Jordan turning heel should remain the end game because it helps him generate heat for all the right reasons. Rollins doesn’t trust him while Angle remains the doting father who is blind to his son’s underhanded ways. It’s a good storyline that can go in several directions if the creative team plays their cards right.

·        Besides The Miz’s return, nothing else was advertised on next week’s show in Memphis. The College Football Playoff Championship Game is going to kill WWE in the ratings unless they load up the broadcast. Here’s hoping the social media team generate some buzz online because I have zero incentive to watch the show at the moment because my Georgia Bulldogs are one step away from winning their first national championship since 1980. Go Dawgs! Just saying…

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. Happy New Year, boys and girls!