The SmackDown Files: Welcome to Shane McMahon's Going Away Party From Hell (3-13-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Date: 3-13-2018

Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana

·        SmackDown Live kicked off with AJ Styles talking about overcoming the odds in order to walk into WrestleMania WWE Champion. Styles’ road to New Orleans hit some speed bumps, but he managed to navigate the waters to ensure that his dream match against Shinsuke Nakamura came true. The fans started up the always annoying “You Deserve It” chant, but The Phenomenal One said that he earned it which makes him even more likable. He respected Nakamura and admitted that their respective paths to WWE were similar, but the similarities came to an end because Styles was the Champ.

·        Nakamura came out and shared the same sentiment, but vowed to make his dream come true at Mania by kneeing Styles in the face in order to become WWE Champion. Styles and Nakamura went face-to-face, but Rusev and Aiden English made their way to the ring to put the kibosh on any physical confrontation as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a good way to start the show. Styles was the humble babyface thankful for everything he’s earned in order to reach the pinnacle of WWE while Nakamura is ready to knock him off his perch at WrestleMania. This is a lock to be a great match, but there needs to more tension between both men to ensure that this bout lives up to the hype next month. The creative team doesn’t have to do anything batshit crazy, but I expect tempers to boil over sooner or later.

·        AJ Styles defeated Rusev via disqualification when Aiden English saved Rusev from tapping out the Calf Crusher. Before the DQ finish, Styles and Rusev were having a good match that featured hard-hitting action throughout. Rusev has had an impressive week in the ring despite eating a couple of high profile losses. Hopefully, this is leading up to an Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal victory at WrestleMania because Rusev Day is going to be one of the most over things on the PPV. If not, my faith in WWE will take another kick to the gut.

·        English and Rusev double-teamed Styles while Shinsuke Nakamura sat at ringside watching the beat down unfold as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Nakamura stood up, but he still took his time getting in the ring before making the save. He laid out the heels as Styles recovered in the corner. Nakamura bid his Mania opponent adieu as the segment came to an end.

·        As I mentioned earlier, the Mutual Admiration Society between Styles and Nakamura can only last for so long. This was a nice way to build tension between them without going too over the top. Let’s hope WWE keeps it simple because overcomplicating things might water down the hype for this dream match at WM.

·        The Bludgeon Brothers defeated Jimmy Uso and Big E when Rowan pinned Jimmy Uso with the double chokeslam in a solid match. Jimmy and Big E put up a good fight, but Harper and Rowan were too much to handle on this night.

·        Harper added insult to injury when he charged into the barricade while Big E was leaning against it. Rowan did further damage when he laid out E with a cross body before the duo headed backstage with their mallets in tow. This was another impressive performance by two of the baddest men on SD Live. Rowan and Harper are in the thick of the Tag Team Title chase heading into WrestleMania, but the field is crowded as The Usos still want to keep the division on lockdown while The New Day attempts to become five-time Tag Team Champs. I smell a Triple Threat Match in NOLA. Just a hunch…

·        Charlotte and Asuka exchanged words about being the best heading into their SmackDown Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania. It was a nice repartee that wasn’t over scripted in nature. How refreshing!

·        Jinder Mahal defeated Bobby Roode with the Khallas thanks to an assist from Sunil Singh. Singh climbed on the ring apron to distract Roode, but The Glorious One shoved him against the ring post before heading to the top rope. However, the diversion gave Mahal enough time to knock Roode off the turnbuckle which set up the finish moments later.

·        Mahal didn’t get a chance to celebrate the win because Randy Orton laid him out with an RKO. This is another Triple Threat Match in the making because all three men have an outstanding beef over the idiotic SD Live Top Ten List and United States Championship. This is the weakest feud heading into WrestleMania, but the work rate should be fine considering the talent involved.

·        Carmella defeated Naomi with a rollup in a decent match. Carmella channeled her inner Liv Morgan by becoming a windmill dodging Naomi’s kicks until she got kneed in the face. Naomi went for the Springboard Enzuigiri, but Carmella kicked her off the middle rope and yanked her hair first onto the mat to pick up the win. Ms. Money the Bank is on a winning streak heading into the heart of WrestleMania season. Color me pleasantly surprised.

·        Shane McMahon announced that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence as SD Live Commissioner, but he made sure to make a WrestleMania announcement before saying farewell. McMahon booked Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a one-on-one match at WrestleMania as a way to stick it to his long time enemies. Owens was happy to defeat his best friend at the grandest stage of them all, but he could do that at any time. Zayn felt the same way about Owens before focusing his attention on Shane for sucking up to the fans because they wanted to see him and KO rip each other apart at Mania. Zayn decided to give Shane-O-Mac a parting gift by attacking him from behind.

·        Owens joined in on the beat down as they attacked up Shane despite the Commish putting up a good fight. Zayn nailed Shane with the Helluva Kick before Owens finished him off with a Popup Powerbomb.

·        WWE officials tried to break things up, but Owens attacked them as well which should lead to a fine or suspension. Zayn grabbed a steel chair from the timekeeper’s area and wrapped it around Shane’s neck before slamming him into the ring post in a sick spot. KO and Zayn dragged Shane backstage and did even more damage as Owens dropped him with another Powerbomb onto a metal grate as Shane gasped for air.

·        One of the refs managed to shoo Owens and Zayn away as SD Live went off the air with medical personnel tending to Shane.

·        This was a great way to end the show. Shane McMahon got his ass kicked and I expect some crazy ass match at WrestleMania involving him, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn. It will be an unorthodox match because it’s two-on-one but it should be very interesting, to say the least.

·        A part of me thinks Daniel Bryan is secretly giddy about his boss getting destroyed by his former Ring of Honor buddies. Bryan’s reaction to what happened should make for some good television next week. Will he be pissed off or elated that he doesn’t have to answer to a McMahon anymore? This storyline has been simmering since late last year. Will the big reveal finally happen with three weeks to go until WrestleMania? We shall find out soon enough.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was decent at best. The shoe was bookended by major segments taking place at the top and bottom of each hour. From that respect, WWE hit a home run promoting the major title matches on the SD Live side of the WrestleMania card. The Shane McMahon-Kevin Owens-Sami Zayn saga is this year’s obligatory blood feud which gives them special billing because their storyline has the most longevity despite things hitting a lull in terms of excitement over the past couple of months.

·        The rest of the show featured so-so wrestling with AJ Styles vs. Rusev winning match of the night honors despite the disqualification finish. The rest of the in-ring action was middling which watered down the crowd heat in Indianapolis during the second hour. Things got better during the main event segment, but the creative team needs to put together a cohesive two-hour program during the height of WrestleMania season. Every week should be must-see TV. There were glimmers of that tonight, but WWE has to push through the noise and deliver the goods over the next three weeks. Let’s hope they can get the job done. Fingers crossed!

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

The SmackDown Files: Me, Myself and I - The One Where Sami Zayn Channels His Inner Kevin Owens (3-6-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Date: 3-6-2018

Location: Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Sing Like You Mean It: Shinsuke Nakamura Really Is a Rockstar…

·        SmackDown Live kicked off with Charlotte and Ruby Riott having a verbal confrontation leading up to their Women’s Championship Match at Fastlane on Sunday. Both ladies did fine, but the material they were given was weak. Ruby claiming that Charlotte was the Chosen One is a load of bullshit because Charlotte had an uphill climb to the top based on her last name alone. History has shown us that lineage can be a blessing or a curse depending on one’s ability to get over as a star. Charlotte shattered expectations and became one of the most decorated champions of all-time which is not a myth or fluke.

·        Ruby signaled Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan to get in the ring to help her triple team Charlotte, but Bobby Roode made the save as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was an okay way to start the show. The fans weren’t hot for the segment and there were a few vocal assholes who tried to rattle Charlotte early on, but she managed to maintain her composure. The SmackDown Women’s Title match at Fastlane should be good despite the lack of an emotional hook to push things over the top.

·        Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton with the Khallas thanks to an unlikely assist from Bobby Roode. After Orton almost killed Sunil Singh with a Belly-to-Back Suplex on the announce table, he tossed Mahal into Roode who was doing guest commentary at ringside.

·        Orton nailed Mahal with the Draping DDT and was about to finish him off with an RKO when Roode climbed on the ring apron to confront The Viper.

·        Both men exchanged words which gave Mahal enough time to shove Orton into Roode which set up the finish moments later. I have a feeling that Mahal will be added to the United States Championship Match in order to further tension between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan because Bryan wanted to add him to the match a few weeks ago until McMahon overruled his decision.

·        Rusev is going to avenge the vocal chords of Aiden English by challenging Shinsuke Nakamura to a match at Fastlane. Nakamura agreed and vowed that Sunday would be Nakamura Day as he hit that high note like a boss. Very impressive!

·        Becky Lynch made Carmella tap out to the Dis-Arm-Her in a decent match. Carmella dominated the action for the most part, but the outcome was never in doubt because it is an unwritten rule that all Money in the Bank winners must go on a losing streak before cashing in the contract.

·        Another match is set for Fastlane as Natalya and Carmella will team up to face Naomi and Becky Lynch. It’s a random match, but it’s a fine way to get more people on the card since the lineup was paper thin until now.

·        AJ Styles’ Road to WrestleMania has been a bumpy ride so far as he’s been put in matches that have put him at a disadvantage due to the numbers game. However, Styles overcame the odds and will jump through one more hurdle in order to face Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship at Mania. Styles scoffed at Cena’s offer to invoke his rematch clause in order to main event WM in a Triple Threat Match because fans have been clamoring to see Styles vs. Nakamura since both men arrived in WWE two years ago.

·        Dolph Ziggler made his way down to the ring to confirm that he was still a heel after straddling the fence over the past couple of weeks. Ziggler claimed that Styles was wasting his time doing things for the fans because they will turn on him the moment he slips up. Ziggler learned that lesson the hard way and promised to do things for himself because he’s the only one that matters.

·        Ziggler has been in WWE for thirteen years, but he’s never had a singles match at WrestleMania. That would change on Sunday when he walks out of Fastlane WWE Champion.

·        Since Ziggler was already in the ring, Styles wanted to get down to business. Ziggler agreed as the match took place after the commercial break.

·        AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler ended via disqualification when Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ran down to the ring and attacked both men. Styles and Ziggler were having a good match, but it was pretty one-sided as Ziggler dominated the action for the most part. Styles took some crazy bumps which had me fearing for his safety because he does so much in order to put over his opponent’s offense that it looks a little too real at times. That’s why Styles is my favorite wrestler in WWE today. He goes above and beyond in order to get the job done.

·        Shane McMahon appeared on the main stage and booked a Fatal 5-Way match featuring Styles vs. Ziggler vs. Owens vs. Zayn vs. Corbin which took place after the commercial break.

·        In what has to be considered a shocking turn of events, Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens with the Helluva Kick to solidify that it’s every man for himself at Fastlane. Zayn was elated that he beat his best friend while Owens looked on in shock that he got duped by a man that claimed he would lie down for him at the PPV on Sunday.

·        The Fatal 5-Way Match was a total spot fest in the best possible way. The action was fast-paced and frenetic throughout as everyone got a chance to shine. The fans woke up down the stretch as they got a sneak preview of what’s to come during the Six-Pack Challenge once John Cena is added to the mix.

·        For the second week in a row, SD Live ended on a weird note as Zayn was in the middle of cutting a promo when the show went off the air. I don’t know if Billy Kidman is still in charge when it comes to timing out the broadcast, but someone needs to get his or her shit together because WWE doesn’t have the luxury of using an overrun on Tuesday nights. Outside of that, this was a good way to end the show as the march towards WrestleMania continues. Five weeks and counting…

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was decent at best. The second hour saved the show from a wrestling standpoint while the first hour set up a couple of mid-card matches for Fastlane which should boost the overall quality of the PPV.

·        Like Elimination Chamber, Fastlane is going to feature good wrestling action with predictable finishes because WWE already has a game plan in mind for WrestleMania. That’s one of the drawbacks of having a PPV in March because the company isn’t going to deviate from the formula unless something unforeseen happens. After Sunday’s PPV, every episode of SD Live should feel special because we heading into the home stretch of Mania season.

·        The show has been stagnant from a creative standpoint over the past few months. Is the E waiting for the right time to pop the trunk or is the blue brand doomed to wallow in its own self-pity until the next Superstar Shakeup after WM? Here’s hoping the answer is the former because I believe SD Live is still a good show when it’s firing on all cylinders. We shall find out if that’s the case when the broadcast emanates from Indianapolis next week.

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

The Raw Exposé: The Original Big Dog vs. The New Big Dog - A WrestleMania Story (3-6-2017)

By: Keila Cash 

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The fallout from the Fastlane PPV would reach a fevered pitch because the Windy City is notorious for having raucous fans who have no shame in unleashing their fury if they smell bullshit coming from a mile away. With Fastlane being riddled with iffy booking decisions, Raw was ripe for a hijacking. Did Goldberg quell the noise or was he public enemy number one after defeating Kevin Owens in 21 seconds to become the new Universal Champion? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of Raw in no particular order.

·        Chris Jericho will face Kevin Owens for the United States Championship at WrestleMania. This news was expected as Owens and Jericho kicked off the show.

·        Jericho wanted to know why Owens betrayed him and proceeded to call KO out.

·        Owens made his way onto the main stage and explained that he needed a tool to do his dirty work after he won the Universal Championship last August. Jericho was gullible enough to get the job done. However, his usefulness ran its course when he booked Owens in a Universal Title match against Goldberg at Fastlane. This led to the Festival of Friendship debacle a couple of weeks later which ended their business relationship.

·        Owens allowed Jericho to walk away because he was a good man. Jericho changed all that by costing him the Universal Title last night. Therefore, he vowed to take Jericho’s United States Title at WrestleMania. Y2J agreed and invited Owens to the ring. Owens accepted and the brawl was on.

·        Samoa Joe attacked Jericho from behind which made things a 2-on-1 situation. Sami Zayn ran down to the ring with a steel chair to even the odds. Joe and Owens double teamed Zayn for a bit until Jericho made the save as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a hot way to start the show. Jericho was entertaining on the mic while Owens showed his true colors by telling Jericho that he was never his best friend. Their match at Mania for the US Title should be very good with their promos setting the stage for an epic showdown.

·        Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had a solid match, but it was short on time. Zayn had a few hope spots including an awesome flip dive which saw him sail over the referee and onto Owens onto the outside.

·        Owens recovered and dropped Zayn with the Popup Powerbomb. He added insult to injury by drilling Zayn with a Pumphandle Neck Breaker before winning the match with a second Popup Powerbomb.

·        This was more about getting heat on Owens than having a competitive back and forth match against Zayn. It makes sense, but Zayn deserves better than being a setup man for other high profile matches on the Mania card.

·        Neville and Rich Swann had a very good match for the Cruiserweight Championship despite dealing with CM Punk chants early on. The action was fast paced and hard hitting throughout. Swann landed some sick kicks and almost had the match won, but got a little overzealous when he tried to hit Neville with the Phoenix Splash. Neville moved out of the way and made Swann tap out to the Rings of Saturn moments later.

·        After the match was over, Austin Aries interviewed Neville in the ring. The King of the Cruiserweights did his usual spiel while the fans chanted for Aries. Aries asked if there was another Cruiserweight that could go toe-to-toe with Neville. Neville assumed that Aries was talking about himself and proceeded to shout him down while spraying spit in his face.

·        Aries had one more question to ask Neville but decided to make a statement instead when he clocked Neville with a couple of stiff elbow shots to the face as the crowd erupted. Aries is now a major player in the Cruiserweight Division. His personality screams heel, but he is a cool face that fans are ready to get behind. Aries could be a breakout star on Raw and 205 Live if he’s booked properly. His presumed WrestleMania against Neville for the Cruiserweight Title should be great if both men are given enough time to shine.

·        Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar were the perfect equalizers to neutralize the CM Punk chants that rained down on Goldberg during the onset of his promo. It was very hostile until Heyman came out with Lesnar in tow.

·        Heyman stated that Lesnar wanted to shake Goldberg’s hand for winning the Universal Championship at Fastlane last night. From one beast to another, he wanted to show his respect. From one conqueror to another, he wanted to show his admiration for a job well done.

·        However, these pleasantries would come to an end at WrestleMania when both men face off for the Universal Championship. Heyman provided a spoiler that Lesnar would walk away as the new Universal Champion. To cap things off, Lesnar would prove to the world that Goldberg was his bitch.

·        Goldberg took offense to that, but his reaction time was a little off as Lesnar dropped him with an F5. It was a great moment that caught everyone off guard as the segment came to an end.

·        For the first time since Goldberg’s return in October, he was staring up at the lights instead of standing tall. Lesnar made quite the statement while Heyman did a great job laying the sticks for the big surprise at the end. WWE was smart to keep things short and sweet. The Chicago fans smelled blood in the water, but the company did enough to salvage the situation. All in all, everything went according to plan.

·        Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson retained the Raw Tag Team Championship thanks to Cesaro attacking Anderson which led to the automatic disqualification. Gallows and Anderson vs. Enzo and Big Cass was fine, but the outcome was never in doubt after Cesaro and Sheamus appeared at ringside before the commercial break.

·        After Enzo laid out Gallows with a Tope, Enzo got a little overexcited and accidently bumped into Cesaro which caused him to spill his coffee all over Sheamus. Cesaro chased Enzo back in the ring which led to the DQ finish.

·        All three teams got into a brief scuffle which ended with Sheamus nailing Enzo with a Brogue Kick while he was draped over Cesaro’s shoulder.

·        Mick Foley announced that Cesaro and Sheamus will face Enzo and Big Cass next week with the winners going to face Gallows and Anderson for the Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania.

·        Akira Tozawa and Ariya Daivari had a solid match that featured a fun exchange of knife-edged chops until Tozawa eventually picked up the win with a Snap German Suplex.

·        After the match was over, Tozawa called out The Brian Kendrick after Kendrick’s series of attacks over the past few weeks. Kendrick vowed to answer his challenge tomorrow night on 205 Live. It was short and to the point.

·        The New Day made quick work of The Shining Stars when Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated Primo with The Midnight Hour. The match was fine while it lasted.

·        Stephanie McMahon laid down the law and announced that Charlotte would get another shot at the Raw Women’s Championship when she goes one-on-one with Bayley at WrestleMania. Sasha Banks threw her name in the hat and Mick Foley was about to make things official until Charlotte interrupted.

·        Stephanie came out to read Foley the Riot Act moments later. Foley tried to explain that Banks shouldn’t be left off the biggest show of the year. Therefore, he decided to book Banks in a match against Charlotte next week with the winner going on to face Bayley for the Women’s Title at WM.

·        Stephanie appreciated Foley’s passion but decided to flip the script by booking Banks against Bayley. If Banks won, the Women’s Title match would become a Triple Threat affair.

·        This was a nice way to set up the Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. Stephanie got the biggest heat of the night so far as she was showered with CM Punk chants. She tried to shut them down by calling the fans losers, but it didn’t work. She mustered enough gusto to power through the segment, though.

·        Bayley feeling conflicted about retaining the title under a cloud of controversy makes sense, but Sasha Banks continues to justify her actions which will probably come into play via a heel turn in the very near future. It needs to happen soon because Bayley’s Goody Two-Shoes character has taken a hit due to questionable booking as of late.

·        Sasha Banks punched her ticket to WrestleMania by making Bayley tap out to the Bank Statement. Charlotte and Dana Brooke interfered, but it was to no avail as The Boss turned the one-on-one Women’s Championship match into a Triple Threat.

·        Sasha and Bayley had a decent match, but it was very methodical in nature. The crowd could have easily turned on them, but they remained on their best behavior by being lukewarm at best. The face vs. face dynamic is always a killer because the fans are forced to choose a side. Tonight was no different as they were muted for most of the match.

·        Charlotte nailed Sasha and Bayley with a pair of big boots and raised the Women’s Title in the air to signal that she was 27 days away from becoming a five-time champion.

·        Samoa Joe defeated Chris Jericho via count-out when he put Jericho to sleep with the Coquina Clutch outside the ring.

·        Joe tried to do more damage to Jericho, but Y2J nailed him with a Codebreaker which kept The Destroyer at bay.

·        The match was decent while it lasted, but it was slotted during the 10:30 p.m. Lull Period of Death which is known to kill segments dead prior to the main event.

·        Who knew Braun Strowman was a crowd panderer?

·        Strowman is a smart man. Respect your elders and take your leave. That was a classy move on his part.

·        Roman Reigns learned a valuable lesson tonight. Never a claim a yard that isn’t yours because the previous owner might have something to say about that. The Undertaker glanced at the WrestleMania sign and choke slammed Reigns in the middle of the ring. It appears that Reigns vs. Undertaker is set for Mania.

·        Raw went off the air with Taker standing tall while Reigns was shaking away the proverbial cobwebs in the ring.

·        This was a hot way to end the show. The crowd erupted when Taker’s gong hit. It was an amazing prolonged pop that was breathtaking to witness at home, but it had to be unreal watching it in-person.

·        Reigns was booed out of the building and got schooled by The Dead Man leading up to their match at WM.

·        It’s an interesting match that might become another passing of the torch moment for Reigns if he beats Taker at the biggest show of the year. It’s a tricky balancing act because Reigns is the de facto heel in this feud which might finally give people a taste of what it would be like if he truly went rogue. If Taker’s health holds up, they could have a very good match. It’s been a few years since The Phenom has had a show-stealing match at Mania. Will he reverse that trend this year by having a classic battle against Reigns? We shall find out soon enough.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. The main event segment made the show feel newsworthy, but it appeared that WWE was in damage control by trying to keep the Chicago crowd in check throughout the night. The Goldberg-Brock Lesnar confrontation was ripe for a hijacking, but Paul Heyman saved the day by delivering a great promo that set up Lesnar hitting Goldberg with the F5. Things might get dicey as the Road to WrestleMania makes pit stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia on March 20^th and 27^th. If the creative team plays it smart, Heyman should be able to keep the boo-birds at bay.

·        The rest of the broadcast was inoffensive, but it didn’t feel like a hot post-PPV show until Taker’s appearance at the end. Over the next three weeks, Raw needs to feel like a must-see show. The groundwork has been laid, now it’s time to put the wheels in motion.

·        Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho for the US Title writes itself. The Tag Team Championship situation will be resolved next week. The Women’s Division is in a quagmire due to problematic booking decisions as of late. Bayley, Charlotte, and Sasha Banks are capable of rising above the noise to deliver a good match at WrestleMania with the Women’s Title at stake. Nia Jax is still a wild card, but we shall see where she fits in the Mania picture soon enough.

·        WWE tried their best to right the ship after the Fastlane fallout. They have a few more weeks to make the Raw side of the WM card feel special. It’s touch and go at the moment, but there’s still time to get it together. Fingers crossed!

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

The Raw Exposé: The Braun Strowman Destroys Roman Reigns 4X Over Edition (2-27-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This is the go-home show for Fastlane which takes place this Sunday. Goldberg is set to respond to Kevin Owens’ promo from last week while Seth Rollins addresses the rumor that he might miss WrestleMania for the second year in a row after suffering a torn MCL during Samoa Joe’s ambush nearly one month ago. Did Raw end with more questions than answers heading into the last Raw-exclusive PPV before WM? Keep reading to find out. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of Raw in no particular order.

·        Goldberg kicked off Raw by promising his wife, son, and fans that he would defeat Kevin Owens and become the new Universal Champion at Fastlane.

·        Owens had something to say about that as he appeared on the main stage to fire off a list of people he has defeated in WWE so far. The List of KO includes John Cena, Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, and Chris Jericho. Goldberg would be next as he will contribute to the Evolution of Kevin Owens at Fastlane. According to Owens, the “Goldberg” chant will die when he retains the Universal Title and walk into WrestleMania with the Big Red Kryptonite Belt draped over his shoulder as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a good way to start the show. The material for Owens and Goldberg was a bit on the skimpy side which might explain why this segment was slotted first. Both men held their own on the mic, but they didn’t add any additional heat to their Universal Title match at Fastlane on Sunday. Their title bout should be an enjoyable spectacle, though.

·        The New Day spoofing the La La Land-Moonlight Oscar snafu was pretty lame.

·        Xavier Woods and Big E defeated Rusev and Jinder Mahal when Woods pinned Mahal with a rollup/bridge combo. The match was decent and I’m glad that Rusev is not the fall guy during these meaningless tag team matches.

·        By the way, it appears that New Day Pops are coming to a store near you in the very near future. A certain Punk in Chicago is probably fuming at this news.

·        It’s official. The creative team is deliberately turning Enzo into an annoying pest. This might not bode well for his future as a singles star because his in-ring work leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, he is better with Big Cass because they feed off each other in terms of chemistry and energy. One can’t do without the other when it comes to getting over. Cass’ size gives him an out, but he’s wooden on the mic without Enzo to play off of. Let’s hope this experiment is short-lived because Enzo and Cass are better together than apart.

·        Samoa Joe and Cesaro had an intense backstage exchange that might lead to a future match between the two. Their battles in Ring of Honor was hinted at, but not overtly stated. Just the thought of Joe vs. Cesaro makes me giddy like a child on Christmas morning.

·        Stephanie McMahon emasculated Mick Foley by calling him a weak and feeble man. At this rate, Foley should quit and tell Stephanie to have a nice day.

·        Akira Tozawa defeated Noam Dar with the Snap German Suplex in a decent match. The Brian Kendrick attacked Tozawa from behind afterward to teach him another lesson on how to always keep your eyes peeled because you never know who’s lurking in the shadows. Kendrick is doing a good job playing the surly veteran who is trying to beat some respect out of Tozawa. It’s a feud that has legs on both Raw and 205 Live which keeps things fresh each week.

·        My dream scenario has come true as Mick Foley booked Samoa Joe in a match against Cesaro set for later tonight. They should have a great match if they are given enough time to shine. Fingers crossed!

·        Charlotte vowed that Bayley would be a one hit wonder heading into their Raw Women’s Championship match at Fastlane this Sunday. Bayley came out and stated that she defeated Charlotte three times which makes her a three hit wonder. Her main dream was to go into WrestleMania with the title. Charlotte chided Bayley some more until Sasha Banks made her way to the ring.

·        Banks spoke up for Bayley, but Charlotte made a good dig at Banks being exhausted from stealing Bayley’s spotlight. Banks stated that she was tired of looking at Charlotte’s stupid face and wanted the tag team match to get underway. Charlotte agreed, but The Queen had a trick up her sleeve when she announced that Nia Jax was her partner instead of Dana Brooke.

·        The promo exchange was a fine way to set up the tag team bout after the commercial break.

·        Nia Jax put herself in championship contention by pinning Bayley with a Leg Drop after slinging Sasha Banks on top of Bayley leading up to the finish. Bayley eating the pin six nights before her title defense sucks and conventional WWE wisdom suggests that Bayley is walking out of Fastlane Women’s Champion. However, I don’t foresee Charlotte’s winning streak coming to an end at a Raw-exclusive PPV. That should be held off until WrestleMania. The same thing could’ve been said for Bayley’s coronation, but I digress.

·        Braun Strowman wants Roman Reigns’ name on the dotted line to make their match at Fastlane official. As with all contract signings, expect a fight to break out at some point. It’s a tradition that will stand the test of time.

·        Enzo and Cass got little heat during their signature introduction. With Enzo acting like an ass as of late, the tepid crowd reaction shouldn’t come as a shock.

·        Big Cass pinned Luke Gallows with a big boot in a decent match. Cass had the match won after dropping Gallows with the Empire Elbow, but Karl Anderson climbed on the ring apron which caused Cass to break up his pin attempt. Enzo ran interference by slamming Anderson against the steel steps which led to the finish. Conventional WWE wisdom suggests that Gallows and Anderson will retain the Raw Tag Team Titles at Fastlane. Expect Enzo’s latest antics to play a role in the outcome.

·        Titus O’Neil got the jump on Sheamus before their match officially got underway, but it was short-lived when Sheamus nailed O’Neil with the Brogue Kick for the quick and decisive win.

·        Are the fans seriously doing a CM Punk during Seth Rollins’ promo?

·        Seth Rollins announced that the doctors might not clear him in time for WrestleMania. Triple H was thrilled with this news and made fun of Rollins for making a deal with the devil nearly three years ago. HHH noted that Rollins knew what he signed up for and reaped the benefits of being by his side.

·        Hunter told Rollins to get over being used and spit out and move on with his life. In fact, he warned his former protégé to skip WrestleMania or run the risk of never being seen in a WWE ring again.

·        Rollins was defiant and vowed to be WrestleMania. It might be his last night in a WWE ring, but he would make sure it was HHH’s last night as well.

·        The interview portion of the segment between Seth Rollins and Corey Graves was not very good. Rollins took too many pregnant pauses which caused the crowd to go into business for themselves. Most of the fans shut down the small cluster of CM Punk chants. It was out of place and disrespectful. The scripting should have featured less exposition and got to the point, but the crowd didn’t help matters by being halfway dead or chanting things out of boredom.

·        The backstage interview setting utilized by Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar in recent weeks would have worked better with Triple H’s response coming at the end to quell the crowd noise.

·        However, I can’t completely blame the fans’ tepid reaction because Rollins’ babyface run has been hit and miss. Rollins was a spoiled brat who got rejected by his father figure. His remorse should have kicked in months ago. The fans would be more sympathetic to his plight if he owned up to his shortcomings, but he was a little late coming to that revelation. The CM Punk chants were still inexcusable, but the creative team hasn’t done Rollins any favors when it comes to getting him over as a face that should be admired and respected. Here’s hoping they figure things out before Mania because Triple H might be walking into the biggest show of the year as the de facto babyface due to his cult status as the Creator of NXT and all things professional wrestling. WM taking place in Orlando gives Papa Hunter the home field advantage which might hamper things on “The Get Seth Rollins Over” front.

·        The Big Show got a nice bounce back win over The Shining Stars in a two-on-one handicap match. The action was serviceable while it lasted.

·        Jack Gallagher and TJ Perkins vs. Neville and Tony Nese was decent, but the crowd was dead for the most part. Gallagher made Nese tap out to a unique leg lock submission hold as Neville teased breaking things up before walking away from his tag team partner. This did very little to hype the Cruiserweight Title match between Gallagher and Neville at Fastlane.

·        Stephanie McMahon booked Sasha Banks in a match against Nia Jax at Fastlane. The outcome might prevent Banks from being in Bayley’s corner during her Women’s Championship match against Charlotte.

·        Samoa Joe defeated Cesaro with the Uranage Slam. Cesaro injured his knee early on which allowed Joe to take advantage of the situation. The Swiss Superman put up a good fight, but The Destroyer was too much to handle on this night. The match was good, but it wasn’t meant to be great because they were positioned in the 10:30 Lull Period of Death. The fans were awake for the most part, but this bout was more about putting over the dominance of Joe instead of showcasing Cesaro.

·        After the match was over, Charly Caruso interviewed Joe on the main stage. Joe stated that he defeated a world-class grappler in Cesaro and promised to keep making examples out of him along with Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn.

·        Zayn’s music hit as Joe waited for Zayn from the main entrance way. Zayn gave Joe a dose of his own medicine by attacking him from behind. They brawl offed the stage as officials and security guards tried to break things up. Zayn dived off the stage and wiped out Joe as officials finally separated both men.

·        Zayn got a measure of revenge on Joe leading up to their bout at Fastlane. The match should be very good if they are given enough time to shine.

·        Hope sprang eternal for a brief moment when Roman Reigns speared Braun Strowman through the barricade. A random dude was inadvertently taken out as well which added to the destruction at ringside.

·        Reigns was about to sign the contract when he noticed that Strowman was on his feet. Strowman got back in the ring only for Reigns to nail him with a Superman Punch. He was about to spear the big man, but Strowman caught Reigns and rammed him into the turnbuckle which caused the ring ropes to snap. Satisfied with his handiwork, Strowman left the ring and headed backstage.

·        Despite getting laid out for the fourth week in a row, Reigns signed the contract as Raw went off the air.

·        This was a nice way to end the show. Strowman did a great job bullying Mick Foley early on by telling him to get out of the ring. He even called Foley a broken suburban dad before Foley manned up and reminded Strowman whose boss despite his tenure as Raw General Manager sinking faster than sand in an hourglass. Strowman was about to lay waste to Foley until Reigns came out.

·        Strowman and Reigns brawled at ringside and amongst the crowd which led to the spear through the barricade spot. After that, it was all Strowman as he left Reigns in a bad place heading into their match at Fastlane.

·        Strowman has been built up like an unstoppable monster in recent weeks. Reigns has had a few hope spots here and there, but he has been kept in check for a full month. Will the streak continue on Sunday? If WWE is smart, Strowman vs. Reigns will end via count out or disqualification. Strowman should be kept strong heading into WrestleMania. Reigns can save face by getting his licks in, but he shouldn’t be the conquering hero in this situation. Perhaps The Undertaker’s Gong will provide the perfect distraction leading up to their presumed match at WM. Let’s hope my theory checks out because Strowman should remain undefeated heading into the Showcase of the Immortals. Anything less would be asinine.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was middling. The show lacked a certain spark and buzz that comes with a final broadcast before a PPV. The promo segment between Kevin Owens and Goldberg hyping their Universal Championship match was so-so while Rollins’ interview and subsequent showdown with Triple H was decent at best.

·        The third hour wasn’t the surprise savior this week as all three hours dragged with the exception of the contract signing featuring Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns. The wrestling action was okay, but nothing special. It should be noted that the Raw crew just got back from a four-day tour in Germany which might explain why things felt a little off. The Green Bay crowd was lukewarm, but they weren’t given much to sink their teeth into in terms of excitement outside of Goldberg and Triple H appearing live in the flesh.

·        Fastlane should be a very good show with a few twists and turns thrown in heading into the home stretch on the Road to WrestleMania. Let’s hope WWE has a nice rebound after tonight’s ho-hum show.

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