The Raw Recap 11/12/18

What's up ladies and gentlemen! I'm happy to bring to you all a review of Monday Night Raw.

I'm going to be ed today by two great friends, Suplex. This blog may be a little long, but, it might be good for anyone who missed Raw. Plus, it might be fun to read the thoughts of other people's takes. So enjoy!

Match/Promo Segment #1

This was supposed to be a battle royal of all the tag teams on the show, but was interrupted by an enraged Braun Strowman as he called out acting Raw GM Baron Corbin. He instead got non other than the boss, Stephanie McMahon. She came out to convince Braun to the Raw mens's survivor series team. They would later get interrupted by Ronda Rousey, and Baron Corbin would come out just as Ronda was having bad intentions to Stephanie.

Vengeance: The First Tag Team Battle Royale looke kinda fun before Braun Strowman came out and interrupted it. I did not have a problem with Braun though , I had a problem with Stephanie coming out and actually getting in the ring before standing up to the Monster Among Men. Honestly , this made Strowman look a bit weak. On the other hand the deal was pretty good and raised the stakes for Survivor Series . But this ensured me that Team Smackdown are going to win. Ronda coming out was pretty good and Judo throwing Corbin , made her long more badass and stronger.

Suplex: I didn't really understand the whole segment of that. One thing I do not like about Monday Night Raw is how they treat their tag team division. We all know Braun strowman is a strong dude but does he need to come out and beat up everybody for no reason. This makes no sense to the tag team division at all and it makes them all look weak. And I didn't understand why Ronda Rousey came out after Stroman. Like for real what was the whole point of that. I mean seriously she could have just did an interview backstage like she did later on that night. I don't like how raw is doing things. It makes no sense at all. I was just shaking my head like what the f*** am I watching.

Booker: Yo. I completely agree with you there Suplex. I thought the whole segment was trash. One thing that I absolutely hate, and I mean hate, is when they have one superstar getting jumped by a gang of wrestlers, and they just break out and send everyone else flying around. It's the most unrealistic :poop: ever. I mean, there's no denying Braun Strowman is a big, strong dude, but you telling me, he broke out 5,6,7,8 dudes piling on him? It didn't make sense when Brock Lesnar did it. It didn't make sense when Roman Reigns did it. It didn't make sense when Goldberg did it. It didn't make sense with Mark Henry or Big Show. How about it didn't make sense when (insert name) did it. It's just trash. I don't really understand what Ronda had to do with that segment either, and her flipping Baron Corbin over with ease, makes him look like even more of a joke than he already does.

Suplex: Str8 :point_up_2: , one thing I didn't understand, the reason why the match happened so they could choose the raw tag team captains right? Please tell me how the hell Bobby Roode and Chad Gable became captains of the match, when the match was interrupted by Braun strowman. And another thing I'm noticing Ronda Rousey is always in the beginning of Monday Night Raw. I have no problem with that but we'll always seeing the same thing. She's always slamming a guy. Just to show how strong she is. It's really getting repetitive. I'm a fan of Ronda Rousey but come on now let's give it a break.

Booker: It was later in the show they had a reboot. You right and I foresaw this happening long ago. Not quite like this, but I knew Ronda was going to get a lot of camera time and squash all her matches. She's a damn hog. I don't like how they keep mentioning her in the women's evolution. She didn't have a damn thing to do with the women's evolution of wrestling.. at least in WWE. UFC.. Yeah I understand she started something there, but this ain't UFC.

Suplex: Now I agree with you on some things that you're saying right now book and I disagree with you at the same time. Now as far as the woman's Evolution yes Ronda Rousey did a lot that changed the way we look at women athletes. But as far as woman wrestling no she did nothing.

Booker: idk I guess it's just different for me. I grew up in a pretty competive, athletic family. I have four sisters and they were all athletes at one point in time or another. So, I've always seen women as being just as capable as men. Just not in strength.. you know..science. But I mean when Ronda was doing her thing. We had women here..killing it

Suplex: Tru. I mean there was so much history going on in NXT. I get what you're saying. I don't like it when they give Ronda Rousey credit for "women wrestling". Now I can understand when they give her credit for "women's Evolution" that's a different thing. But in all reality WWE is praising her like she's a God, and giving her way too much credit than she deserves. I feel like she should earn her respect in the wrestling business, and pay her dues. She needs to work from the bottom and start her way to the top. Instead of being handed opportunities.

Booker: Hmm.. Ok I feel you. I can agree with that.

Match #2

Ember Moon VS Tamina (w) Nia Max

Vengeance: I hate how WWE are giving filler matches towards women. Especially after Evolution just happened. As well as burying Ember Moon , who a couple a weeks ago would have been a good challenger for the Raw Women's Championship and I would have preferred her over Nia Jax. Plus they still have not explained how Nia Jax and Tamina Snuka have gone from rivals to best friends.

Suplex: I really don't know what to say about this. I'm really glad to see Tamina back in action. Not only that, but she's in a good storyline right now with Nia. I'm really liking this Powerhouse woman tag team division that they got going on right now. This is screaming out that we need a woman's Tag Team Championship. Now as far as Ember moon, this is going downhill for her career in the WWE in my opinion. Now it seems like she's getting herself in a match that's going to be squash and she's looking like a jobber. We all know that's the outcome of this match. And it was a waste of my time watching it. I'm just hoping that this becomes a great story line. I was really not that interested in this match to be honest with you. The only thing I would like to see is Ember finding a tag team partner and getting revenge. But I want to ask you a question Booker. If you was Ember the moon who would you pick as your tag team partner?

Booker: Michael Cole is famous for saying some pretty dumb :poop: , but when he said Ember grew up idiolizing Nia Jax.. Lmao I couldn't believe it. It was a short decent match. Ember Moon almost had a serious botch moment on that attempted suicide dive onto Nia Jax, as her leg almost got caught on the rope. Nothing memorable, nothing special. But, another headline to the evolving feud as Nia attacked Ember Moon after getting beat by Tamina. I wish Tamina could get a push without having someone by her side all of the time. The last time I can was during her short feud with Beth Phoenix..yeah..let that sink in. I think she's one of the most underrated, and underappreciated wrestlers in all of WWE. Hmm.. I don't know of the them are already paired up, but, I guess if I was Ember Moon I'd have to go with Sasha Banks. Those two seem like a pretty solid team.

Suplex: dude I totally forgot about that. I felt like ever since her injury, WWE is afraid of taking chances on her. And they look at her so fragile. And you're right, she's always being a crutch to somebody. Last time she was supposed to be like Lana's bodyguard, and then I feel like they scrapped that whole storyline. Like what the f*** yo. I just want her to hold the championship title for once. She's strong on her own, she needs to cut more promos, she needs more of the spotlight on her. Not with someone else. She's like Mickie James, but just a tall person that doesn't say anything. You know? Dude are you serious? Out of everyone you choose Sasha Banks as her partner... like really dude? Dude I don't know what to say that tag team seems okay on paper, but I feel like there's going to be too many botches in that match if they were a tag team. Ember and Sasha Banks. I don't know if I could agree with that. I rather put them together on WWE 2K 19 instead of seeing them in real life. But that's just my opinion.

Booker: Lmao come on bro what's wrong with Sasha? She's one of the best women on Raw. I think stylistically it makes sense to pair them up, and as far as attitude and aggression. I like Bayley and Sasha together, but in the ring as wrestlers, they just feel way too different. I know there have been many successful pairings in the past where two partners are different, but am I seriously the only one that finds Sasha and Bayley kind off odd. It seems as though they would make for much better rivals. But ok, Who would you team Ember up with on Raw?

Suplex: I don't know really, if Asuka was on raw. I would pick her.

Booker: Asuka is the obvious choice. I would've picker her too if only she was on Raw.

Promo Segment #2

Corey Graves has a brief in ring interview with Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins was being asked about Shinsuke at Survivor Series, but he had only one man in mind..Dean Ambrose. Dean would interrupt Seth on the titantron from somewhere backstage.

Booker: Alright, I want to know you guys feel about this rivalry. Are you guys excited about this?

Suplex: I mean in all honesty, the Waiting has been long. We've been waiting for this rivalry ever since last year, but due to Dean Ambrose injury, it got postponed it. And on the night they broke up the shield when Roman Reigns announced his cancer. It was unbelievable and shocking. And I felt like it was the right move. Now I'm a little bit 50/50 on this because when Seth Rollins broke up the shield all we seen was Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose for a whole entire year. And now we're going to get that again. I just want things to be different and I'm hoping that the matches have a stipulation instead of a regular no-disqualification Falls Count match which I find pretty boring. I'm just hoping that this storyline leads to somewhere. I don't want to see the same thing I seen 2 years ago I want to see something new you feel me. So that's how I feel about this whole rivalry thing. And I'm hoping that Seth Rollins could drop the belt to someone else. Because Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose doesn't really need the Intercontinental title in their story line. They could drop the title to someone else. And just focus on themselves because no matter what them to having this rivalry is like a main event. But this is my opinion. I just don't want to see the Intercontinental title not being used properly.

Vengeance: I love what WWE are currently doing with Dean Ambrose. His gimmick is awesome , proving that he deserves the nickname, 'Lunatic Fringe.' Him burning the Shield vest only added to the tension. The only problem I have is WWE are longing this out way too much only building to a Match at TLC unless they build it further, which they should but not the way they are doing it now. After Survivor Series, Dean should attack Seth and injure him in the process. Then Dean Ambrose should win the Intercontinental Championship or better yet, the Universal Championship at either TLC or at the Royal Rumble. Then Seth should return at the PPV before Wrestlemania, probably Fastlane and build up to a Match at Wrestlemania 35.

Booker: I feel ya. I like the storyline, but we had this before already. It seems as though WWE are running out of ideas. Well...actually it's been like that for years, they're always doing the same stuff if people pay attention they'll see all the patterns. But, they did have some great matches together, so, if they can repeat that magic... I'm all for it.

Promo Segment/ Match #3

Dolph Ziggler VS Finn Balor

Dolph and Drew came out to the ring after tricking the crowd in thinking it was Kurt Angle. Drew basically talked about his actions last week, and to promote himself. They would get interrupted by Finn Balor, whom in which would challenge Drew McIntyre to a match. Drew would say no and tell Finn he would be facing Dolph instead, right before delivering an impactful headbutt straight to Finn.

Vengeance: Finn Balor has been absolutely wasted on the Main Roster. This proves that WWE thinks he should be an underdog but he has his Demon gimmick as well, at least have him win properly not with a roll up. Plus, I hope he is not going to be wasted at Survivor Series like last year and WWE have kinda started a tension between Drew McIntyre and Finn Balor, so that reminds wheb they did the exact same to Balor last year but instead he had tensions with Samoa Joe.

Booker: This was a pretty good match, not great, but it was pretty good for a regular match on a Monday Night Raw show. Finn picks up the win after countering Dolph's roll up pin with one of his own. I don't really have anything to say about this match. But, I am glad that Stephanie picked Finn to be on the men's team for Raw.

Suplex: :sleeping: ......... Oh my bad I fell asleep in this segment. Now I have a lot to say about this I felt like Finn Balor and Drew McIntyre should have faced each other when they were in Manchester London in the UK. This whole storyline to me is just boring. I'm not really hyped up about it. I feel like I'm forcing myself to watch a train wreck that's going to happen and I'm not even going to be interested in the end. I don't know about you booker but, this was all booty.

Booker: lol I feel you.

Promo Segment #4

Ronda Rousey had a backstage interview to talk about, and react to her Survivor Series opponent, Becky Lynch.

Booker: Hmm... She says stuff last week, then tries to cover up for it by pretending to be nice and respectful somewhat, just to act tough again. Pick a direction to in and stick to it. Too much. Made me uninterested. Next

Vengeance: Ronda Rousey is getting way too much TV time. She has appeared a total of 3 times in this RAW episode. I understand 'give women more time' but that is the Women Division not one women alone.

Booker: I agree with you there Vengeance.

Suplex: Idk what to say for this really. Cuz she already talked about Becky in the beginning of raw. And I agree with vengeance. She getting WAY WAY WAY 2 MUCH TV TIME YO.

Vengeance: Thanks.

Promo Segment #5

Ruby Riot and her riot squad sisters Live Morgan, and Sarah Logan would come out to the ring. Ruby Riot would explain her actions against Natalya last week, when she snapped the supposed shades of Natalya's father, Jim 'The Anvil' Niedhart. Natalya would come out to throw hands, but the numbers game..too much.

Booker: I don't know about you guys... but yo seriously, Ruby Riot puts me straight to sleep when she's talking on the mic. It's like she tries to hard to sound evil..-ish? lol I don't know she just sounds creepy as all hell when she's on the mic. Not the good kind of creepy that might scare you or something, I'm talking cringe level creepy. Someone take the mic please. Let Liv do the talking. As for the rivalry..it's just boring and I wish for it to end.

Vengeance: I have never care for the Riot Squad, that does not mean they are bad wrestlers because they all have potential, especially Ruby Riott but WWE did not book them correctly and I doubt they will.

Suplex: I didn't watch this part. I actually fell asleep on this part for real.

Booker: You didn't miss much. I actually started drifting too.

Match #1 recontinued

Tag Team Battle Royal

Booker: This match was aboulute :poop: ...and pointless. Bobby Roode and Chad Gable wins. Moving on

Suplex: I apologize but I was asleep at this part as well. That's why I said what I said in the beginning.

Booker: Lol all good.

Vengeance: I did not see the point of this as all the tag teams that were in this Battle Royale got added to the Team anyway... and what are the Captains suppose to do anyway.

Booker: Exactly. Being captain mean nothing. I mean, Alicia Fox was a captain last year. She was jobbing then, and she's been jobbing ever since.

Promo Segment #6

Paul Heyman along with Brock Lesnar would come out to the ring. Paul Heyman was in the middle of his promo when he got interrupted by...who? who? who? Jinder freaking Mahal. Jinder would come to the ring and offer to help Brock Lesnar. Everyone knew how it would end.

Booker: I mean...of course they had to feed somebody to Brock Lesnar right? Jinder's championship run is so pointless now it's unbelievable how WWE does things sometimes. It wasn't even really entertaining either.

Vengeance: I found this a bit funny but it reminds me why Jinder Mahal was WWE Champion in the first place

Suplex: I was kind of happy to see this. I mean last year it was supposed to be Jinder Mahal vs Brock Lesnar but things changed to AJ Styles vs Brock Lesnar. And I'm happy that he acknowledged that to the fans. One thing I did notice the Singh Brothers took a hard suplex from Brock Lesnar. As you could tell the way he was holding his head it look like he hurt himself. I was getting a little bit worried myself. But this whole segment was just boring pointless and really had no meeting. Every single time will Brock Lesnar shows up he always suplex pointless weakless jopper.

Match #4

Bobby Lashley (w) Lio Rush VS Elias

Lio and Lashley would come down and Lashley would perform various poses on command from Lio. Including him, uhh...bending over and showing his ass. Elias would interrupt and pretend to be on the phone with child protective services and say that Lashley kidnapped Lio Rush a few weeks ago.

Suplex: I really enjoy this segment. This actually woke me up. I know a lot of people are getting annoyed with Lio rush. But it's starting to grow on me. I was very surprised that Bobby Lashley came out with Shades. It made me feel like he has stage fright's similar to Batista that's why he came out with shades. I really like how Elias was roasting Lio rush. It was very funny and entertaining. I could see these two having a good story line rivalry. I'm just hoping they continue to book this right. Now for me what I was saying earlier with the Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins toy why doesn't need it to Continental Title belt. I'm hoping that Seth Rollins could drop the title to either Elias or Bobby Lashley and have these two feud over the Intercontinental title. Cuz it would make sense for Elias versus Bobby Lashley for the Intercontinental title. This will be perfect and I feel like this will give a chance for a liars and Bobby Lashley to go for a title shot instead of just having a mad for no reason. But one thing I want to see in the near future is Elias and Lio Rush to make a track together.

Vengeance: I agree with Suplex and this proves Elias is the funniest person on the RAW Roster

Booker: Interesting thoughts. Ok Suplex now I can get behind what you said. It would be great for them to have a title to fight for. I really enjoyed the segment before the match. I just didn't like Lashley spreading his cheeks. Elias is comedic gold so I think you might be right Vengeance. The match itself though, I thought was very short, and not meaningful at all.

Match #5

Sasha Banks VS Bayley

Before the match, Alexa Bliss would come out ed Mickie James, Nia Jax, and Tamina, to announce her team for Survivor Series. She announced that Nia, Tamina, Mickie, and Natalya would be on the team, with the 5th and final member battling it out for the spot.

It was a damn good main event match. Sasha and Bayley lit it up. They were tearing the crap out of each other. Double knees all over, a crazy Bayley to Belly on the ring apron. Too bad it was stopped short.

Vengeance: This was a waste of a Match and I believe that WWE could have done so much better with a Banks Vs Bayley feud.

Booker: Exactly yo. Just like I was saying earlier, they make much greater rivals than tag partners. They always have good matches against each other.

Suplex: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley main eventing Monday Night Raw is something that needs to happen frequently. I mean we all how NXT takeover Brooklyn to went when they main event with the very first woman Iron Man match. Now to be real with you guys I really fast forward this match. I didn't really watch the whole thing but I always wanted to see these two go at it. I'm sick and tired of seeing Sasha Banks and bayley hugging each other and being tag teams that gets so boring I want Sasha to turn heel and I want this feud to be the best. Right now Monday Night Raw needs a good rivalry and as of right now the Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose is okay but as far for the woman division they need this type of rivalry to happen. Sasha Banks and bayley they don't need to fight each other for the Women's Championship they just need to fight each other for hatred. I like how the beginning of this year we were going to see this rivalry happen but they scrapped it. I was so disappointed. This match could have been a very good match if they had a winner in the outcome.

Promo Segment #7

The official team raw with the exception of Natalya beat up Sasha and Bayley to end what was looking to be a great match. Alexa would announce the final member as Ruby Riot... Thr camera was cut backstage as Becky Lynch would attack Ronda Rousey in a dis-arm-her. After she was done, she marched to the ring, where all the team raw were standing, and signaled the assault, as the entire Smackdown Women's locker room would initiate a beatdown on team raw.

Vengeance: Becky looks like a badass here. Becky getting busted open was unfortunate, but it added to the moment.

Booker: I really enjoyed this segment. An invasion was very predictable and expected. However, I was glad at how they carried it out. Vengeance you right. Becky looked like a boss in this whole segment. I didnt even see when she got busted up, but it added to the moment in a way. The only thing I'm upset about..Ruby Riot on the team? What the hell? No Sasha? Bayley? Ember? That's some straight up robbery bull :poop: . I don't like it.

Suplex: I don't know how I feel about this to be honest with you. Last year we see both male and female superstars invading Raw and SmackDown last year. This year it was all just the women invading raw. It was okay. But it was so predictable. The only thing I love about this was Becky Lynch making Ronda Rousey scream like a b****. And Nia Jax punching Becky Lynch and her nose was busted open and her face was all covered in blood and her hands. I can't think of the last time I ever see a woman WWE Superstar bleeding all over her face and hands. This made me wanted to cheer for Becky Lynch so much more. And I think the fans and everyone else in the WWE Universe was loving this. I was worried that damn she might be injured and that happened. But this segment was truly great and it made Becky Lynch look more powerful dominant than ever. Everything else in this segment was a okay. But the only highlight of this was Becky Lynch leading the woman Smackdown roster. She should have been captain in my opinion.

Closing Remarks

Booker: Alright fellas, now that the show is done, I want to know what your overall thoughts on the show are? Also, who was the best tonight, and who was the worst?

Vengeance: RAW was actually pretty good and I hope this good form will carry on. The best was definitely The Man Becky Lynch. She was a total badass here but if you mean RAW Superstars only then Elias because he is the funniest man alive. While the worst was Ronda Rousey, I am just getting too annoyed on how much time she is stealing from others who can actually do much better with it like Sasha Banks and Bayley.

Booker: That's interesting Vengeance. I thought this whole Monday Night Raw was pure booty. It had some good moments throughout, but not enough for me to have a positive reaction. This is supposed to be the flagship show? The "A" show? I don't see it. The one thing I agree with you on, Becky Lynch. She was absolutely the standout on this show, and she didn't even have a match. I'm glad to see WWE finally giving her that push she deserved so long ago. The worst for me, Ruby Riot. Now, some people like her on the mic, some think she's one of the best on the roster. I say bull :poop: . She's got a helluva long way to go before she's to be considered one of the best. Just on Raw alone. She's not better than Sasha, Bayley, Ronda, Ember, Tamina, Natalya, or Mickie. Hell, I'd rather watch Liv and Sarah Logan over her. Her voice..omg. I don't know how but I can tolerate Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. Ruby Riot is just awful. I'm so pissed that she was named as the final member of Team Raw. I'm not even hating on her, it's just damn, isn't it supposed to be the best vs the best? She's just not one of the best yet. One more thing, the AoP have an match against the Bar. They are the champs and they were no where to be found...wtf?

Vengeance: I forgot about the tag team match. AoP have been :poop: since leaving Paul Ellering.

Booker: Lol. Maybe so Vengeance. Maybe so. But still, they're the Raw tag team champs, and they no where. Everyone else was out to talk about beating their smackdown counterparts, except them. What was the point of them becoming champions? I'm confused.

Suplex: You guys already basically say everything I was going to mention already. So there's not much for me to say on this point. The best part was Becky Lynch and the worst part was the beginning of raw. Point Blank does nothing else that really stood out as far as Becky Lynch having a busted nose and her face was covered in blood and her hands. The beginning of raw put me to sleep especially with the Ruby Riot match going against Natalya and the tag team match that I missed. I fell asleep through that part for me if I had to give Raw a grade, I will just give it :star2: :star2: .

Alright everyone that's it. Thanks if you stuck through to the end. Hopefully it was a good read. I had fun making it, and sharing thoughts with two good dudes. :v: