The Raw Exposé: Special Edition - Hey Pretty Girls...The Revolution Is Being Televised (3-12-2018)

By: Keila Cash 

I’ve been blessed to have several platforms to speak my mind as a wrestling fan over the past five years. Whether it’s via my blog or podcast, it’s been an honor to connect with fans all over the world to talk about the craziness of WWE. Normally, I use this space to talk about the highs and lows of Monday Night Raw. However, a segment that aired tonight has some fans on social media pissed off and I wondered if their feelings were justifiable. Did they blow things out of proportion or is there something at work that needs to be addressed on a larger scale?

Before the segment in question took place, Asuka and Mickie James had a match that was pretty good for the most part. The in-ring action was clean and crisp, but the Detroit fans took it upon themselves to chant for Rusev and CM Punk. So much for a Women’s Revolution. Two women kicking ass and they get treated like shit. Where’s the outrage? Where’s the anger? Fans will be fans is what the consensus says. I don’t buy that. Despite the strides that have been made over the past couple of years, we still have a long way to go to ensure that the women are respected on the same level as the men.

Speaking of respect, this brings us to the main event. No, I’m not talking about Braun Strowman winning a Tag Team Battle Royal for no apparent reason. The main course is Nia Jax getting fat-shamed by Alexa Bliss and Mickie James on national television.

At first, I thought nothing of the segment because Bliss and James were using Jax for their own purposes. Bliss compared Jax to Shrek which elicited quite the response from some fans on social media. Once again, watching it unfold in real time didn’t bother me because the tea was being spilled for the world to see from a storyline standpoint.

Charly Caruso had to remind Alexa and Mickie that they were talking into a live boom mic which meant that everyone could hear their not-so-private conversation. Realizing that their hands were caught in the cookie jar, the Mean Girls decided to run for the hills before Jax caught up to them.

Nia stormed into the dressing room and tore shit up as the segment came to an end.

As a fan, I enjoyed the segment because Alexa got exposed for being a fake ass friend. Nia found out that her so-called bestie was a liar which sets up their Raw Women’s Championship Match at WrestleMania next month. Everyone played their part well which should make most fans excited to see Nia get her hands on Alexa next week in Dallas.

Usually, I refrain from reading social media during the show because I don’t want my judgment to be clouded. However, it’s good to test the temperature on the internet streets to see whether a certain segment was a hit or a miss.

The reaction ranged from comedic to dead ass serious. Some viewed it as Nia finally learning the truth to others calling out WWE for fat-shaming one of their stars. Most importantly, the people doing the bullying have been teased in the past about their weight in both the real and fictional sense.

Mickie James was the punchline in one of the most tasteless storylines in WWE history when Michelle McCool and Layla called her Piggie James over and over again during the late 2000s. There were visual graphics and other assorted nonsense that rubbed fans the wrong way. It was hard to watch because making fun of someone’s physical appearance is never cool and it seemed as if some people in upper management were getting their rocks off at James’ expense.

The storyline tainted the end of James’ first run in the company. She had a memorable tenure in TNA and is a future WWE Hall of Famer because she’s an awesome wrestler who rose above the bullshit while staying true to herself.

In Alexa Bliss’ case, she has been very public about her eating disorder over the past several years. Bliss never shied away from the subject which speaks to her bravery and ability to connect with fans that are dealing with their own weight issues. Seeing both ladies take part in a segment that hits a little too close to home is a hard pill to swallow in hindsight.

However, they are playing a role on television. If WWE is in the business of making movies every week, this was simply another scene being played out for the world to see. Is it classless? Is it a good enough reason to boycott the company because they’ve gone too far? If Triple H humping a mannequin didn’t kill my fandom, this storyline barely registers on the Richter scale.

Fat shaming is very common on social media these days. Whether you are famous or not, trolls will pick apart your imperfections because they have nothing better to do. Paige has defended herself against people who called her fat on Twitter and Instagram over the past couple of weeks. Paige has also been very open about her eating disorder over the past few months. Some fans were right to express their concern about her being too skinny. Now that she’s back to her normal weight, she is considered “too fat.” It’s a vicious cycle that never ends, but Paige is proud of her body and is not afraid to give people the middle finger because she is too blessed to be stressed.

Nia Jax was a plus-size model before joining WWE in 2013. Her curves put money in the bank, but she’s been ridiculed for her size as well. Over the past year, she has embraced every inch and curve on her body while enabling others to do the same. Jax has been presented as a badass since her call up to the main roster in 2016. She’s still green as a wrestler, but she has grown by leaps and bounds. Most importantly, the fans are starting to connect with her because she is a force of nature that you don’t want to mess with.

She’s powerful. She’s beautiful. She’s brave. She represents me and those who wish to live vicariously through her. WWE decided to go in a direction that is all too real, but it’s a great way to get her over as a star because Nia is going to do something to Alexa that’s long overdue. She is going to shut the Goddess up by unleashing holy hell on her former best friend. It’s a storyline that will make Nia a bigger star. Can she carry the division based on her wrestling alone? Time will tell, but she is going to be a player in the Women’s Division in 2018 because the fans want to cheer for her.

For those fans that think WWE is a classless organization for fat-shaming Jax, it should be noted that she was in a romantic storyline with He Who Shall Remain Nameless and some of the same fans wanted them to make out every time they were on-screen. There were no fat jokes or other snide remarks sprinkled in at her expense. Nia was presented as a desirable woman which should be the case for all women size 2 and up. If this was five years ago, the fat jokes would’ve been nonstop. However, the company has shown some progression which makes tonight’s fat-shaming segment a blimp on the radar compared to the Vickie Guerrero fat jokes that were a regular occurrence during the My Network TV/SYFY era of SmackDown in the early 2010s.

At the end of the day, Nia Jax is going to be the hero in this story. She is going to be the one to empower young men and women to embrace what the Most High gave them. There is a bigger endgame than WWE going the fat joke route for kicks and giggles. They are exposing a real-life issue that happens every day online. To say otherwise would be a lie. Were Alexa Bliss and Mickie James the right messengers to convey this point despite what they went through in reel/real life? They are characters playing a role on television. They are no different from actors and actresses telling similar stories on the small and big screen. While some fans are crying foul about tonight’s segment, I choose to take a different approach because I know what’s behind the third eye.

Lexi Kaufman (Alexa Bliss), Mickie James (Actual Government Name) and Savelina Fenene (Nia Jax) are driving around Detroit laughing their asses off because kayfabe is dead. How’s that for reality, ladies and gentleman.

On that note, I hope you enjoyed this special 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: Ghosting The Night Away - A Brock Lesnar Story (2-26-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Date: 2/26/2018

Location: Honda Center in Anaheim, California

Personal Mea Culpa: There was no SmackDown Files last week due to me being under the weather. I am doing better as the Cold 2.0 has been DELETED!

What Did The Five Fingers Say To The Face: Slap! Stephanie McMahon just dug her own grave when she slapped the baddest woman on the planet. We’re going to pray for her…

·        Raw kicked off with Alexa Bliss patting herself on the back after winning the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber match last night. Bliss thanked Mickie James for having her back despite their differences in the past. Bliss proceeded to run down her Chamber opponents before proclaiming that she was going to WrestleMania. She vowed to end Asuka’s streak and was thrilled that Nia Jax left the Empress of Tomorrow in dire straits after she rammed her through the barricade last night.

·        Asuka came out to confront Bliss which led to Nia Jax coming out moments later. Asuka attacked Bliss and James first, but Jax eventually laid her out. Jax hoisted Asuka up, but she countered with an armbar. James and Bliss broke things up as the triple beat down ensued until Bayley and Sasha Banks made the save.

·        Their efforts were quickly squashed when Jax nailed Bayley and Sasha with a double clothesline. Asuka tried to attack Jax with a series of strikes, but Bliss laid her out with a right hand as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a good way to start the show. Alexa Bliss is great on the mic when she has something meaningful to say. Bliss was given great material to work with which complimented her narcissistic character to a tee. It was a little surprising to see James aligned with Bliss, but it plays into their frenemies storyline which has been unfolding over the last couple of weeks.

·        Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Asuka defeated Mickie James, Nia Jax, and Alexa Bliss when Asuka made James tap out to the armbar. The six-woman tag team match was good, but the last three minutes were especially strong in terms of storytelling. Banks tried to make the hot tag to Bayley, but Bayley jumped off the ring apron and stared daggers at her so-called best friend. Sasha looked hurt, but she shouldn’t be surprised after putting the screws to Bayley at the last two PPVs.

·        Asuka eventually got the hot tag and cleaned house as she delivered a series of vicious strikes to James. Jax tried to get involved but, Asuka laid her out with the hip attack which set up the tap out finish moments later. All in all, this was a nice way to forward several storylines at once while putting the heat back on Asuka after Jax’s attack last night.

·        Meanwhile, Bayley coming to Asuka’s rescue but not Sasha’s was emphasized nicely by the announcers as they sold the rift between the besties. After a year, it appears that Sasha vs. Bayley is a go at WrestleMania. It should be great based on their storied history in the ring.

·        John Cena’s path to WrestleMania gets murkier by the day after his perplexing promo. Cena admitted that he failed to punch his ticket to Mania by failing to win at the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. He could wallow in his self-pity or pick himself up and find another route to the biggest show of the year.

·        Therefore, Cena decided to do something unconventional by challenging The Undertaker to a match at WM. The crowd popped huge for the announcement as Cena explained that both men have been a part of 39 Manias during their respective careers, but they’ve never wrestled against each other at the grandest stage of them all.

·        However, Cena stated that it’s impossible for the match to take place which pissed the crowd off to no end. Since he can’t face Taker, Cena is taking his talents to SmackDown Live to see if he can earn a spot on the Mania card as the segment came to an end.

·        I think WWE is playing a game of chicken when it comes to prolonging the inevitable announcement of John Cena vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Cena going to SD Live has been expected for some time because he’s scheduled to appear at the Fastlane PPV in a couple of weeks. I fully expect Taker to accept Cena’s challenge which should get the ball rolling on their Mania match.

·        Cena hemming and hawing about not having a path to the biggest show of the year is comical. The fans booed his pity party speech until he challenged The Dead Man. This appears to a match the people want to see despite Taker’s disappointing string of WM matches since his shocking loss to Brock Lesnar at WM XXX in 2014. Here’s hoping The Phenom is capable of having one more show-stealing match against Cena because he deserves to end his career on the highest of notes.

·        Bray Wyatt destroyed Heath Slater and Rhyno before challenging Matt Hardy to another match. Zzz…I am so done with Wyatt that I can’t find a reason to get mad anymore. He shall be forever known as the Killer of Feuds. No shade, just facts.

·        Seth Rollins defeated The Miz with a Frogsplash in a good match. Miz was more than halfway across the ring, but Rollins still managed to hit his target as Michael Cole sold the moment beautifully on commentary. The crowd was hot for everything Rollins did which pushed the match quality over the top.

·        Prior to the match, The Miz cut a fiery promo about Kurt Angle yanking his chain when it comes to his Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania. Angle informed Miz that he might find out who his Mania opponent is later tonight. Rollins’ win suggests that he’s earned a shot at the IC Title at WM. Before that idea could percolate further, Finn Bàlor came out to rain on Rollins’ parade. Hmm…

·        After the first match was thrown out due to interference from The Miztourage, the second time was the charm for Finn Bàlor when he defeated The Miz with the Coup De Grace in a solid match. It appears that Bàlor has also punched his ticket to WrestleMania, but Rollins criticized him for picking the bones he left behind. I smell a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Title at Mania. Just a hunch. I think…

·        The face-to-face confrontation between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns never took place as Lesnar left the show 30 minutes before their segment was scheduled to take place. Supposedly… Reigns proceeded to read Lesnar for filth by stating that he always showed up to live events no matter how big or small the crowd was. It didn’t matter what city WWE was in, he always kept his word. Reigns put over the locker room for busting their asses night in and night out while Lesnar was a self-titled piece of crap who showed up on his own time.

·        Reigns didn’t respect Lesnar because he wasn’t bred the wrestling business. He capped things off by calling The Beast a bitch before heading backstage to get chewed out by the Powers That Be. Allegedly…

·        This was Reigns’ best promo of his career. He spoke with passion and conviction as he read Lesnar for 40 days and 40 nights. It’s hard to determine if The Beast went ghost, but shit just got real in a hurry.

·        Sheamus and Ceasaro defeated Titus O’Neil and Apollo Crews in a 2-out-3 Falls match when Sheamus nailed O’Neil with the Brogue Kick to score the first fall within seconds. The second fall was a bit more competitive as Crews tried his best to keep his team alive, but it was to no avail as The Bar laid him out with the White Noise/Diving Neckbreaker combination for the win. The outcome was never in doubt, but the work rate was good for the most part.

·        Braun Strowman defeated Elias via disqualification when The Drifter sprayed a fire extinguisher in Strowman’s face. With Strowman temporarily blinded, Elias slammed him into the ring post before hitting him in the midsection with the extinguisher. Strowman fought back and nailed Elias with a right hand which sent him out of the ring.

·        Elias tried to run backstage, but Strowman caught him in mid-stride. Strowman attempted to powerslam The Drifter through the announce table, but he managed to escape.

·        Elias scampered backstage with Strowman not far behind. The chase was short-lived as a limo rolled up. Hmm…

·        Elias vs. Strowman was fine, but it was slotted in the 10:30 P.M. Lull Period of Death which did both men no favors.

·        The final segment of Raw featured Triple H and Stephanie McMahon trying to clear the air with Ronda Rousey after Kurt Angle dropped the dime on them last night. McMahon stated that Rousey was no longer in UFC and things worked differently in WWE when it came to respecting her superiors. Stephanie noted that Angle answers to her which means that Rousey ultimately answers to her as well. Steph claimed that Angle was suffering from Double Pneumonia which made him say crazy things last night. Therefore, she wanted to make amends and get everyone on the same page heading into WrestleMania season.

·        Rousey marched down to the ring to kill HHH and Steph on sight, but Angle managed to calm her down. Angle acted like a sad puppy as he told Rousey that he needed to keep his job. He claimed that everything he said last night was a lie. His “double pneumonia” made him delirious and apologized for his actions.

·        Rousey took Angle at his word, but she wanted Steph to apologize for the slap or she was going to rip her arm from her socket. Stephanie offered a mea culpa, but Triple H had the last unspoken word when he punched Angle in the face as Raw went off the air with Angle holding his jaw while Stephanie and Hunter headed backstage.

·        The show should’ve ended on a more explosive note, but Stephanie McMahon wasn’t dressed to fight based on her wardrobe choice. Ronda Rousey was much better on the mic tonight as she spoke with confidence while mean-mugging her ass off. She has a presence about her that stands out which will hush down any boo birds who try to throw her off mentally.

·        It appears that Angle and Rousey will team up to face Triple H and Stephanie in a Mixed Tag Team Match at WrestleMania. WWE has five weeks to milk this feud for all its worth. Here’s hoping they get the job done while getting over their newest acquisition at the same time. Fingers crossed!

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. The first two hours were very good, but the third hour hit a lull before the main event segment. That tends to be the case most weeks even though the show has been better from a wire to wire standpoint as of late.

·        WWE is slowly piecing together the WrestleMania card. The Universal Championship match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar is set in stone. Everything else is in limbo at the moment. The Fastlane PPV should provide more answers in a couple of weeks because I have a feeling that Asuka is going to challenge Charlotte for the SmackDown Women’s Title after The Queen defeats Ruby Riott.

·        Meanwhile, a desperate John Cena is trying to find a path to New Orleans. His Undertaker challenge was a swerve, but I still expect the match to happen. Cena being a Debbie Downer about the whole situation is unintentionally hilarious. The man has main evented WrestleMania FIVE times and been a part of WrestleMania 20-33 over the past FOURTEEN years. Hell, a rotator cuff injury didn’t prevent him from being part of WM 32 a couple of years ago. I’m sure the Wrestling Gods are on Cena’s side which should help everyone sleep easier at night. *Insert Sarcasm Here*

·        WWE has already announced a key match for next week’s show. Asuka will face Nia Jax in a rematch from the Elimination Chamber PPV. Asuka’s undefeated streak should remain intact, but I hope she is booked like a badass who doesn’t get beat up by Jax after she wins. If anything, Alexa Bliss and Mickie James should cost Jax the match which should set up the Raw Women’s Championship bout at WM minus Asuka.  

·        Most importantly, what is the status of Brock Lesnar? Did he walk out during a live broadcast or is this a straight up work to make Roman Reigns a beloved hero? WWE has gone down this rabbit hole too many times over the past four years. Is the fifth time the charm? We shall find out soon enough. In the meantime, the internet streets will be talking about Reigns’ blistering promo all week. To quote Eric Bischoff, “Controversy Creates Cash.”

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: Prelude To A Shield Reunion - The Big Dog Goes Down (Chapter One)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. No Mercy lived it up to its namesake as Roman Reigns proved that he was The Guy by defeating John Cena in the most important match of his career thus far while Brock Lesnar schooled Braun Strowman that bigger doesn’t always mean better by successfully defending the Universal Championship. Word on the internet street suggests that Lesnar vs. Reigns II is set in stone for next year’s WrestleMania. Did WWE start planting the seeds or did they throw fans a curveball 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 Miz invited Roman Reigns to Miz TV so they could shoot the breeze about Reigns defeating John Cena at No Mercy last night. Reigns respected Cena and thanked him for holding down the fort for the past 15 years. It was time for the Big Dog to focus his attention on winning the Universal Championship from Brock Lesnar instead of wasting his time talking to Miz.

·        Miz felt disrespected by Reigns’ comment because he was the only one in the ring with a title draped over his shoulder. Reigns noted that Miz needed help in order to retain the Intercontinental Championship and asked The Miztourage to fetch him a beer.

·        Miz shot back by saying Reigns rode the coattails of The Shield and claimed that he and his crew could beat them if they were around five years ago.

·        Reigns laughed at Miz’s assertion and stated that The Shield would kick their asses in quick fashion. Miz scolded Reigns for choking in big matches against Brock Lesnar, Samoa Joe, and Braun Strowman in recent months. Miz wanted the spotlight on him since he held the most important title on Raw.

·        Reigns agreed and challenged him to a match. Miz declined and made a hasty exit when Kurt Angle stopped him in his tracks.

·        Angle announced that Miz will face Reigns later tonight while Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel teamed up against Matt Hardy and Jason Jordan which took place after the commercial break.

·        This was a fine way to start the show. Reigns held his own on the mic while Miz heeled it up for maximum effect by teasing a Shield reunion. It’s a surefire way for Reigns to get unanimously cheered by the crowd. It might do him a world of good heading into his presumed Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania next year.

·        Matt Hardy and Jason Jordan defeated Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel when Hardy pinned Dallas with the Twist of Fate in a decent match. The crowd was lukewarm throughout, but they popped for the finish. Kurt Angle announcing Jordan as Hardy’s tag team partner during the opening segment killed the fans’ enthusiasm which carried over into the match. The Jason Jordan Experiment is hanging on by a thread. Let’s hope he gets a character revamp because his in-ring work is not enough to overcompensate for a storyline that has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese.

·        Elias defeated Apollo Crews with the Drift Away in an okay match. Crews dominated the action and was over with the crowd until Elias kicked Titus O’Neil in the leg at ringside which led to the distraction finish moments later.

·        Elias continued to attack O’Neil until the founder of Titus Worldwide fought back which sent The Drifter into retreat. An Elias-O’Neil feud is not going to set the world on fire, but it gives both men something to do. Something is better than nothing I suppose.

·        Finn Bálor is done with Bray Wyatt and plans to reclaim the Universal Title that he never lost in the first place. Interesting development…

·        Curt Hawkins provided the perfect pick me up for Braun Strowman as he got destroyed in epic fashion. Strowman chased Hawkins down and chokeslammed him through a table near the production area. He followed things up by powerslamming Hawkins through the LED screen. It was a sick spot that popped the crowd something fierce.

·        Strowman got back in the ring and demanded a fight against anyone in the locker room. Living up to his Lunatic Fringe moniker, Dean Ambrose was more than willing to accept the challenged. Does Ambrose have a death wish? We shall find out soon enough.

·        Braun Strowman returned to max power by defeating Dean Ambrose with a Powerslam in a good match. Ambrose was scrappy and had Strowman down for a ten count, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Monster Among Men. Dare I say Strowman had a better match against Ambrose than he did against Brock Lesnar last night? I dare.

·        Alexa Bliss and Mickie James had quite the exchange in the ring. James delivered her best mic work since returning to WWE earlier this year as she schooled Bliss on respecting those that paved the way for her. Bliss made fun of James being an old lady who was clinging on to her glory years. In return, James slapped her before kicking Little Miss Bliss in the face for good measure.

·        The segment started a little rough with the crowd chanting “What?” at Bliss, but things got better once James made her way to the ring. Their previous matches haven’t been great, but I expect both ladies to deliver the goods if they are given the chance to do so. Most importantly, it’s a different feud that fans might care about on an emotional level for a change. How refreshing!

·        Seth Rollins defeated Sheamus with a knee to the face in a solid match. Cesaro played the role of cheerleader at ringside, but the outcome was never in doubt.

·        I guess Goldust’s babyface turn lasted for a week because he attacked Finn Bálor backstage. Goldust claimed that Bálor viewed him as a victim who needed to be saved from Bray Wyatt a few weeks ago. Bálor apologized, but Goldust responded by kicking his ass.

·        If this is leading to a Goldust vs. Bálor match, I am all for it. Goldust is a very good wrestler who can show up and show out when the lights are on bright. This could be a sleeper hit if everything goes according to plan. Hollywood pun intended.

·        Roman Reigns defeated The Miz when he nailed Miz with a Spear for the win. Reigns didn’t get a chance to celebrate as The Miztourage jumped him from behind. Reigns fought back and nailed Miz with a Superman Punch and was about to finish him off with a powerbomb when Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel hit him with a chair shot to the back.

·        The chair attack continued until Miz dropped Reigns with the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz and his crew headed up the ramp when Miz noticed that Reigns was starting to get up.

·        They ran back in the ring and continued to kick Reigns’ ass. Miz hit Reigns with another SCF on the chair before striking him in the back once more. The heels stood over Reigns as they did The Shield fist bump which added insult to injury.

·        This was a great way for Miz and his Miztourage to get heat while setting up a presumed Shield reunion in the process. It would be fitting for the gang to get back together at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs because their in-ring debut took place at this very PPV almost five years ago. Miz is a proxy when it comes to former friends reconciling in recent months. Did he receive his group therapy certification from Dr. Shelby?

·        Finn Bálor defeated Goldust with the Coup De Grace in a decent match. Goldust put up a good fight, but the outcome was academic. I wished the match was more competitive, but Goldust’s job is to enhance talent at this stage of his career. It’s sad but true.

·        After the match was over, Bray Wyatt spooked Bálor by having a little girl sing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” I thought this feud was over. Bálor beat Wyatt clean with and without face paint. It’s time for both men to move the hell on at this point.

·        Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Nia Jax and Emma when Bayley pinned Emma with the Bayley-to-Belly in a decent match. Jax targeted Bayley’s arm throughout, but the Hugger Extraordinaire gutted it out and made the hot tag to Banks. Banks cleaned house and helped Bayley take out Jax at ringside which led to the aforementioned finish. Unfortunately, the match took place during the 10:30 Lull Period of Death which left the crowd listless for the most part.

·        The main event segment shined a spotlight on the Cruiserweight Division as Enzo Amore embraced being an arrogant asshole who wasn’t ashamed to admit that he cheated his way to victory by defeating Neville for the Cruiserweight Championship at the No Mercy PPV last night.

·        Enzo was so proud of himself that he decided to retire his Certified G Jersey. The rest of the Cruiserweights came out and Enzo threw shade at Rich Swann for being irrelevant, accused Cedric Alexander of having no personality, and claimed that Gran Metalik was too big for 205 Live.

·        Neville came out to confront Enzo, but Enzo took potshots at Neville’s ears looking like a pair of satellite dishes. Neville laid into him for being a slug who was dumped at the doorstep of 205 Live because no one else wanted him. The wrestlers vouched for him, but he’s bought a toxicity to the division that must be removed. Neville was the man for the job as he made his way to the ring.

·        Enzo warned Neville that he couldn’t touch him if wanted another shot at the Cruiserweight Title. Enzo continued to run his mouth about Neville not sniffing the main event scene until now. He bragged about his merchandise sales and told Neville to get the hell out of his ring.

·        Neville responded by attacking Enzo and slamming him head first into the framed Certified G Jersey.

·        He tossed Enzo into the barricade as the fans cheered him on. Enzo tried to run away, but rest of the Cruiserweights forced him to get back in the ring. Neville finished him off with the Red Arrow as Raw went off the air with Neville standing tall while Enzo was laid out in the ring.

·        This was a very interesting way to end the show. One has to assume that Enzo Amore is a full-blown heel at this point. He was totally unlikeable which plays into his real-life persona behind the scenes. If WWE wants to make him the most hated man in the company, they are doing a very good job at the moment. However, the Cruiserweight Division needs to be elevated in the process.

·        Neville gave up a title shot in order to stand up for a division he has carried on his back for over nine months. He’s a great heel, but his offense and high-flying prowess scream lovable babyface. Enzo being the pest heel who gets on everyone nerves is Neville’s way to get back in the fans’ good graces. The Ontario crowd wasn’t super hot for the final segment, but there are signs that Neville can be a strong face that could put Enzo in his place if or when he gets another shot at the Cruiserweight Championship.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was middling at best. The in-ring action was nothing to write home about, but WWE did a nice job foreshadowing The Shield reuniting after Roman Reigns got ambushed by The Miz and his Miztourage. It should be quite the moment when the Hounds of Justice bump fists once more. *Sniff*

·        The Ontario crowd was pretty lukewarm throughout the broadcast. The company didn’t give them a lot to get excited about as the show started to drag after the second hour. My guilty pleasure of the night goes to the entertaining exchange between Mickie James and Alexa Bliss and Enzo Amore being the world’s biggest asshole during the main event segment. Everything else was sort of there without the star power of John Cena and Brock Lesnar.

·        Here’s hoping the creative team has something up their sleeve because now is not the time to shrink away from Monday Night Football. There are moving pieces navigating across the chess board, but there needs to be a level of consistency and excitement to keep fans hooked as the fall television season gets underway. The Shield reunion is a nice start, but more needs to be done to make up for Brock Lesnar chilling on his farm for the foreseeable future.

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 SmackDown Files: Through The Fire and Into The Woods - Randy Orton Punches His Ticket to WrestleMania...For Real This Time

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The SmackDown Files. Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live emanated from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. After Randy Orton burned down Bray Wyatt’s house along with the spirit of Sister Abigail last week, the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania was placed in limbo after Orton decided to cash in his Royal Rumble win.

AJ Styles defeated Luke Harper to become the new number one contender for Wyatt’s WWE Title. In an attempt to resolve the situation, WWE announced that Orton and Styles will face off in a match with the winner moving on to face Wyatt for the Championship at Mania. Who finally punched their ticket to the big dance? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of SD Live in no particular order.

·        After much debate and consideration, Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon announced that Randy Orton will face AJ Styles with the winner going on the face Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This news originally broke this past Friday on the WWE App. The fact that the company decided to waste 12 minutes of television time to regurgitate this information was pointless. This was a bland way to kick off the show.

·        John Cena and Nikki Bella picked up the win against James Ellsworth and Carmella when Cena made Ellsworth tap out to the STF while Nikki had Carmella in the Fearless Lock to keep things in perfect stereo.

·        Cena and Bella’s celebration was short-lived when The Miz and Maryse attacked them at ringside. Miz rammed Cena into the steel steps while Maryse slammed Nikki back-first into the ring post.

·        Miz proceeded to cut a cringe-worthy promo about how he and his wife were fighting for real love by discrediting the plastic relationship between Cena and Bella. The only thing that somewhat saved Miz’s performance was when he discussed the contract Cena made Nikki sign before they moved in together during the first season of Total Divas.

·        The material was too insider and Miz’s comments on guest commentary were equally as bad. Last week’s segment between the foursome was better in terms of execution and entertainment value. This week’s verbal joust session sucked. Hopefully, they get back on track next week because my guilty pleasure turned into a waking nightmare.

·        Thanks for coming, Curt Hawkins! Dean Ambrose laid out Hawkins for the second week in a row when he dropped him with Dirty Deeds onto the floor.  

·        Ambrose called out Baron Corbin, but Corbin refused to take orders from Ambrose. Their game of cat and mouse continues leading up to their presumed Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania.

·        Who knew Mojo Rawley could be so shady? Dolph Ziggler tried to rain on Rawley’s parade by telling him that WrestleMania moments are earned and not given away freely. Rawley had a great retort when he asked Ziggler if that’s why he hasn’t had a Mania moment yet. Ziggler told the former Hype Bro to keep chasing that brass ring as he walked away. This was a decent way to setup Rawley’s announcement that he was entering the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WM.

·        Dean Ambrose tracked down Corbin, but he was met with a lead pipe attack instead. The Lone Wolf laid Ambrose out, but The Lunatic Fringe managed to make light of the situation by saying that they had a good talk.

·        Corbin continued his assault which led to Ambrose getting pinned underneath a forklift while Corbin pressed the machinery against his chest and waist.  WWE officials pulled Ambrose from the contraption as Corbin marveled at his handiwork from behind the wheel. 

·        Alexa Bliss declared that she was the best woman on SD Live. Daniel Bryan decided to put that theory to the test by booking Bliss in a match against every available female superstar on the SD Live roster at WrestleMania with the Women’s Championship on the line.

·        Bryan also announced that Becky Lynch and Natalya would team up against Alexa Bliss and Mickie James after the commercial break.

·        The segment almost went off the rails with the women gossiping like a gaggle of hens in the ring, but it was saved by Bryan’s announcement that Bliss would defend her title against every available woman on the roster at Mania. This might open the door for Naomi to make a surprise appearance in her hometown of Orlando if she is medically cleared within the next few weeks.

·        It was only a matter of time until Mickie James put Alexa Bliss on notice that she was gunning for the Women’s Title when she nailed Bliss with the Mick Kick after Bliss stole the pin during their tag team match against Becky Lynch and Natalya.

·        Lynch had the match well in hand until Natalya dropped her with a German Suplex. James was about to capitalize on the situation when Bliss made the tag and cover moments later.  

·        The announcers stressed that they don’t know what type of match the women will have with the title on the line. I guess we shall find out the special stipulation soon enough.

·        Randy Orton officially punched his ticket to WrestleMania when he defeated AJ Styles with an RKO out of nowhere. Orton will face Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship at the biggest show of the year while Styles’ dream of headlining Mania was dashed in heartbreaking fashion.

·        Orton and Styles had a very good match that served as a nice appetizer of what’s to come in the future. Styles worked on Orton’s left leg throughout the match which grounded The Viper’s offense for the most part.

·        However, Orton got back on track when he nailed Styles with a Draping DDT. Orton was about to nail Styles with an RKO when Styles countered with a Pele Kick.

·        Styles was about to hit Orton with the Phenomenal Forearm, but he noticed that Orton was in position to hit him an RKO in mid-air. Styles psyched Orton out by jumping off the top rope while Orton fell back first against the mat.

·        Styles attempted to hit Orton with the 450 Splash, but Orton moved out of the way which led to the finish.

·        SD Live went off the air with Orton doing his signature pose while Styles sat on the bottom of the entrance ramp with a sad look on his face.

·        It should be noted that Bray Wyatt never appeared on the show. I guess he is rebuilding his house after Orton burned it to the ground last week. Poor thing..,

·        After several weeks of twists and turns, the SD Live main event is set. Will Orton complete his mission by defeating Bray Wyatt for the WWE Title? We shall find out soon enough.

·        As for Styles, he’ll probably face Shane McMahon in a gimmick match at Mania. It’s not the dream scenario most fans were hoping for, but The Phenomenal One will try his best to turn these sour grapes into a vintage fine wine. The idea of Styles vs. McMahon still sucks, though. L

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was middling at best. WWE took a step back after last week’s strong show. The John Cena/Nikki Bella-Miz/Maryse feud went from a soap opera delight to an E! News hit piece with information sourced from Star Magazine. It was a hot mess that needs to be rectified next week.

·        The Women’s Division is a little bit more interesting with Mickie James finally turning on Alexa Bliss. Let’s hope James reverts to her babyface ways because she was super over at NXT Takeover: Toronto last November. She is too talented to let a character miscast derail her second run in WWE.

·        The Tag Team Division remained MIA with American Alpha and The Usos not appearing on the show for the second week in a row. WrestleMania is three weeks away and it’s time to kick this feud into high gear. They don’t have to trade wins back and forth, but some mic time would go a long way towards getting their presumed WM match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship over in a meaningful away. The 12-minute segment that kicked off tonight’s show could have been used to add heat to this lifeless feud. At this rate, the Tag Team Titles will probably be the first match on the Mania Kickoff show which is a shame considering the talent involved.

·        The rest of the show was fine, but it was nothing special. With SD Live emanating from Pittsburgh next week, they need to turn up the heat as the Road to WrestleMania hits the home stretch. Unfortunately, the Steel City isn’t known for having hot crowds which might make next week’s show a chore to get through. Let’s hope the creative team remedies the situation by giving the crowd something to cheer for. That goes for the viewing audience at home as well. 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 girls!