Raw Review 10/16/2017

Tonight is the Go-Home Edition of Monday Night Raw with TLC this Sunday. Tonight a rivalry is renewed as Roman Reigns is set to battle Braun Strowman inside a Steel Cage. Last week we were introduced to Sister Abigail, how will Finn Balor handle the situation with Sister Abigail looming in the shadows? Plus what will Emma say as she heads into one of the biggest matches of her career this Sunday when she takes on the debuting Asuka? Kalisto shocked the world last week after defeating Enzo Amore and capturing the Cruiserweight Championship. Will Kalisto be able to keep his momentum heading into Sunday? Alexa Bliss has done a lot of talking as of late when it’s come to Mickie James, but will Mickie have the last word and show that age is nothing but a number?

Raw is live tonight from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Raw kicks off with us being welcomed to the show by Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Booker T.

In Ring Segment: Kurt Angle
Angle says he thinks it’s safe to say The Shield is back together. He tells how they will face Miz, Cesaro, Sheamus, and Braun Strowman this Sunday. Out comes The Shield!
Angle gives the mic to Roman, Roman says that was a good choice and says you got two choices when they come to the ring get out of their yard or they will beat your ass. Rollins takes the mic and says it feels good to be out here. Rollins tells how The Shield had their first match at TLC and dominated and after that they continued to dominate. Rollins says that one day that all went away, but he’s proud to stand here five years later with his brothers because they are back and better than ever. Ambrose says Tables, Ladders, and Chairs and says that those aren’t why Miz, Cesaro, Sheamus, and Strowman should be sacred. He tells they should be sacred because they are the masters and the lines have been drawn. Ambrose says last week he might not have said the smartest things but he wouldn’t change it because he just doesn’t care. He then calls out the four. Out comes Strowman, Miz, Sheamus, and Cesaro.
Angle tells them they are not having the match tonight they are waiting for Sunday. Angle tells them to not make a move and says tonight will make history.
My Opinion:
I’m on the hype of The Shield. I think this is just surreal and amazing. Honestly yes they could’ve had a better promo and stuff like that, but overall I’m enjoying this. I think it’s incredible to see them back together and they hype overtakes everything else. To me right now Raw has a different feel than it has in awhile. It feels like last year when Goldberg returned, it’s just exciting.

Match 1: Elias & The Club (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews & Jason Jordan
Titus starts off with Gallows. The two lock up and Gallows gets the advantage early. He sends Titus into the corner, but Titus fights back. Titus fights him off and sends him out to the floor. Jordan and Crews come in and fight off Anderson and Elias. The three stand tall as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Gallows has control of Crews. Gallows lands a big shot and hits him with a big boot. Elias gets the tag and he and Crews trade shots. Elias gets the advantage and sends Crews to the mat. Crews kicks out of the cover and comes back hot with a huge drop kick. Anderson gets the tag and tries to prevent the Crews from getting a tag. Crews leap frogs him and tags Jordan. Jordan comes in and drives Anderson in the corner. He does it a second time and lands a belly to belly. Elias breaks up the tag, but Titus takes him out. Jordan drives into Anderson and Crews makes the tag. Crews hits Anderson with the sit down powerbomb and gets the three on the pin.
Winners: Titus O’neil & Apollo Crews & Jason Jordan
My Opinion:
Not a bad match, although I didn’t like the pace. I felt like they were trying to get in to much at once, but I liked that these 6 started off the night. I think all of them are misused in their own ways so I’m glad they’re getting some time. I always says it but I wish they had more match time to actually show what they are capable of. Sometimes though as I watch I wonder if some of the guys out of the 6 of them would be doing more meaningful things if they were working somewhere else.

Backstage Segment:
Renee asks Emma about her match with Asuka. Emma asks why the attention isn’t on here and says she is the one who started the women’s revolution. She tells how she beat four of the best last week and is a social media superstar. Alexa comes up and says she gets it. She says how Mickie is not a locker room leader and ask Emma if she’ll team up with her tonight against Mickie and her partner. Emma agrees.

Match 2: Cedric Alexander vs Jack Gallagher
Alexander lands a kick and comes off the top rope to take out Gallagher. Alexander knocks him to the ground and lands a big drop kick sending Gallagher to the outside. Gallagher takes advantage of the distraction from Kendrick and pounds on Alexander. Gallagher stomps on him and works Alexander on the mat. Alexander fights out, but Gallagher hits him with a drop kick. Gallagher lands a big stomp to his back and toys with him. Gallagher continues to work the neck of Alexander. He tries for a big kick, but Alexander catches him and lands a big kick of his own. Kendrick tries to get involved, but Rich Swann stops him. Alexander lands the Lumbar Check and gets the 1 2 3.
Winner: Cedric Alexander
My Opinion:
I wish there was more form this match. They did a lot of nothing with the time they had. It didn’t really connect with me, but unfortunately there’s not a lot they could do. I guess in a way it’s good because they need to save it for this Sunday.

In Ring Segment: Miz TV w/ Braun Strowman
Miz welcomes everyone and tells how angle sent them away earlier and tells how he was probably afraid that they would’ve shattered The Shield. Miz tells how cesaro and Sheamus will beat Ambrose and Rollins tonight for the titles. Cesaro comments and says how he and Sheamus don’t just set the bar they are the bar. Sheamus says at TLC The Bar is gonna shatter The Shield into three pieces. Sheamus tells that tonight he and Cesaro will take the championships and The Shield will break. Miz, Cesaro and Sheamus tell how they are gonna use the weapons against The Shield. Miz says they will expose them for being an overrated nostalgia act. He tells that they aren’t as good as you think and they can’t conntend with his team because they are family. He then introduces Braun Strowman.
Braun tells Miz he would have shattered The Shield tonight. Braun tells how he was powerbombed through a table last week and says it’s because they couldn’t stop him on their own. He proclaims he will tear them apart until The Shield is gone forever. Braun says it starts tonight with Roman in the steel cage. Miz says they are no match for them. Miz tells how Ambrose keeps running his and tells Ambrose that he expects the challenge and at TLC The Shield will face him, Cesaro, Sheamus, Strowman and is then interrupted by Kurt Angle.
Angel tells him that he is taking this too far. Miz pleads with him and tells him to make them prove that they can take on that many guys. Angle tells Miz to shut the hell up. Angle says he is the Raw GM and he told him so. Angle tells Miz to get a fifth partner Braun has to win tonight, but if Braun loses then they loses Braun as a partner at TLC. Braun accepts. Angle says just so tonight is not filled with chaos everyone is banned from ringside during both matches tonight.
My Opinion:
I like this segment. I think though they are getting to the point where the talking needs to end and the action needs to start. Also I don’t know if it’s just me but Angle isn’t delivering tonight with his promos it just feels a little off. I hope the matches tonight will deliver and this match can get the proper hype it deserves.

Match 3: Sasha Banks vs Alicia Fox
Sasha sends Alicia to the mat and locks in the Banks Statement. Alicia gets to the ropes and breaks the hold. Alicia goes to the outside, but Sasha hits her with a drop kick. Alicia gets back in then ring and stays on Sasha. Alicia drives her knee in her back and gets her in a chin lock. Sasha fights back and lands a crossbody. Alicia comes right back with an elbow. Alicia brings Sasha back to the mat and goes back to the chinlock. Sasha fights back and is able to wrestle Alicia to the mat. Sasha locks in the Banks Statement and Alicia taps.
Winner: Sasha Banks
My Opinion:
Not a bad match. I think Alicia made the best of her opportunity tonight and delivered. Sasha impressed me with her wrestling skills tonight. I like how she wrestled Alicia to the ground and showed more of what she can do.

Backstage Segment:
Charly congratulates Sasha. Sasha says she is crazy. Alicia comes from behind and attacks her. Sasha tries to fight back, but Alicia gets the better of her and lays out Sasha.

In Ring Segment: Enzo Amore
Enzo says he’s doing alright, but he heard a few boos. Enzo then shows the footage from last week where he lost the Cruiserweight Championship. Enzo tells how he got robbed of the title. He goes on about Mustafa Ali and Kalisto and out he comes.
Kalisto tells Enzo enough is enough. He says Enzo can blame whoever he wants, but tells that there won’t be any excuses at TLC. Enzo says he isn’t getting his hands dirty tonight and tells Kalisto that the Zo train is comin through. Kalisto is then attacked from behind by Gulak, Nese, Dar, and Daivari. Out comes Mustafa Ali.
Ali takes out Nese and Gulak. He goes after Enzo and then takes out Dar and Daivari. Enzo comes from behind they jump Ali. Nese then goes to Kalisto and hits him with a running knee. The five stand tall as Kalisto and Ali are down. Enzo then asks the two how they’re doin.
My Opinion:
Not a bad segment, I like the intensity in Enzo, but he needs to find a new go to than just the money stuff. Also Kalisto didn’t help because he wasn’t great on the mic tonight. I just feel like Enzo and Cruiserweights don’t connect with the crowd. They were doing well for a couple weeks, but to me they just don’t keep the momentum.

Match 4: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins(c) vs Sheamus and Cesaro:
WWE Raw Tag Team Championships
Sheamus and Ambrose start off the match. Sheamus backs ambrose in the corner, but Ambrose comes back with a series of kicks. Sheamus fights him off and lands a knee to the mid-section. Ambrose backs him to the ropes and tags Rollins. Rollins and Ambrose send Sheamus and cesaro to the outside and then fly take them out. Sheamus comes back in the ring and Rollins tries to fly, but Sheamus catches him and Cesaro assists in taking Rollins to the gorund as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Sheamus takes it to Rollins. He sends him into the corner and then hits him with a back breaker. Cesaro gets the tag and the two double team Rollins. Cesaro uses the ropes to wear down Rollins. Cesaro hits him with an uppercut. Rollins tries to get a tag, but Cesaro stops him. Cesaro take out Ambrose. Rollins takes out Cesaro but has no one to tag. Sheamus gets the tag and the two double team Rollins, but Rollins kicks out of the pin. Rollins unloads on Sheamus and hits him with a kick. Sheamus tries to come back, but is ent into the ring post. Cesaro gets the tag, but Rollins sends him to the floor. Ambrose gets the tag. Ambrose unloads on cesaro. Ambrose lands a wicked clothesline and finishes with a neckbreaker. Ambrose send Cesaro into the corner. Ambrose sends him to the floor. Rollins and Ambrose hit suicide dives and are in control. Ambrose goes to the top and hits Cesaro with an elbow. Sheamus breaks up the pin. Ambrose sends Sheamus to the floor. Cesaro takes advantage and hits a back body drop. Sheamus tags in and the two double team Ambrose. This time Rollins breaks up the pin. Cesaro takes out Rollins with an uppercut. The two try for another double team, but Rollins and Ambrose fight them off. Ambrose hits Cesaro with Dirty Deeds. 1 2 3 Ambrose and Rollins are still champs!
Winners: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins:
Still Raw Tag Team Champions
My Opinion:
This was a very exciting match. I love seeing these two teams go at it. It’s not the best match they’ve had, but it felt very fast paced and kept you into it. I think letting Rollins and Ambrose keep the titles was smart because the titles aren’t of importance right now. Right now The Shield needs to be strong and they need to be ready to fight. A title change would be to much going on at this point. I hope they will face again in the future and can have more time to really get into it.

Backstage Segment:
Axel tells Sheamus and Cesaro they need to stay strong. He tells them they need to do this so he can be the fifth partner. Braun comes in and Axel tells him that his life is all about moments. He tells Braun that if he loses he’ll be on the sidelines with him. Axel says he wants to fight and says he wants some of Roman Reigns. Braun tells him to go find him, but Axel isn’t into the idea. Sheamus tells him that he can’t be afraid if he’s gonna be the fifth member. Axel says he will go find him.

In Ring Segment: Finn Balor
Balor tells that he didn’t know what to think of Sister abigail. He questions if it was just another trick, but says he was wrong. He tells that he use read stories of the dead walking the earth but thought they were just stories, but he sees now that they were real. Balor tells Wyatt that he has his tricks too. He says he will slay a monster with a demon of his own. Balor says his Demon has no fear, his demon dreams about nightmares, and his demon is dying to meet Sister Abigail.
My Opinion:
I love this. I like seeing this side of Balor. I like when he gets dark and brings out the demon because you just know he means business. Hopefully he and Wyatt will deliver at TLC. I still wish though that Balor was higher on the card. One thing I can say about this feud is it makes Balor have to think and try to match Wyatt which will make him better in the end. I hope after this he will go on and maybe get back into the Universal Championship picture.

Match 5: Emma & Alexa Bliss vs Mickie James & Bayley
Emma gets Mickie in a headlock brings her to the mat. Mickie is able to counter and send Emma to the mat. Bayley gets the tag anbd tow double team Emma. Emma backs Bayley into the corner and tags Alexa. Alexa stomps on here, but Bayley fights back. Bayley sends her to the outside. The two teams argue on the floor as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Emma has Bayley in a side headlock. Bayley fights back and Emma tries to bounce her off the turnbuckles, but it doesn’t work. Bayley turns it on here and bounces her off instead. Bayley lands a snap mare and hits a running knee. Bayley goes for a cover, but only get a two count. Emma sends Bayley to the outside. Emma works Bayley to corner and Alexa gets the tag. Alexa lands a big slap. Alexa keeps bayley on the mat and gets a chinlock in. Alexa gets Bayley in the corner again and stomps on her. Bayley fights out and tries to make a tag, Bayley is able to fight off Alexa and tags Mickie. Mickie unloads on her. Mickie lands a series of clothesline and follows pup with big kicks. Mickie hits a neck breaker and looks for a kick, but alexa slaps her. Mickie sends her face first into the mat. Mickie goes to the top and flies taking down Alexa. Mickie hits the big kick and pins Alexa.
Winners: Mickie James & Bayley
My Opinion:
Mickie proved a lot tonight. She showed that she can still hang and definitely proved she can beat Alexa. I don’t know if she will get the win Sunday, but she sure does look better than ever. It will be interesting to see if her wrestling will overpower Alexa. I love Alexa, but honestly can she keep up with someone like Mickie?

Backstage Segment:
Axel finds Reigns and he is with The Shield. Raw goes to break as Axel approaches.

Backstage Segment:
Miz tells Braun that when he wins tonight they will be destined to beat The Shield. Miz asks where Axel is and he’s told that Axel is off looking for Reigns. Miz goes to find him.

Backstage Segment:
Bayley tells Mickie she had a lot of fun. Charly asks Mickie if Sunday is about the title or about taking it to Alexa. Mickie says Alexa’s words cut her deep, but she’s proud of who she is and everything that she’s accomplished. Mickie says she has a three year old waiting for her. She says one of the greatest feelings she could have is taking the title home to her little boy. She tells that she will whip Alexa and walk out the 7 time Women’s Champion.

Backstage Segment:
Miz calls for Axel and finds him hanging upside down form a forklift. Renee asks Miz about the situation and Miz says Axel was never the fifth man.

Match 6: Braun Strowman vs Roman Reigns:
Steel Cage Match
Reigns hits him with a big right. Braun backs him in the corner and throws him across the ring. Braun hits a big splash in the corner. Braun tries to slam Reigns into the cage, but he counters. Reigns hits him with a big boot and tries for a Samoan drop. Braun doesn’t allow this but is sent into the ring post. Reigns hits a series of clotheslines in the corner. He gets caught by Braun and is slammed to the mat. Braun goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Braun throws Reigns off the cage. Braun throws Reigns against the cage and then squashes Reigns against the cage. Braun tries to do it again, but Reigns sidesteps. Reigns lands a series of kicks and keeps unloading. Reigns lifts Braun and hits the Samoan drop. Reigns tries escaping but Sheamus and Cesaro come out and stop him. Rollins and Ambrose come out to even the odds. Ambrose and Rollins brawl with Cesaro and Sheamus on the outside. Reigns climbs out, but Braun pulls him back in and hits a thunderous suplex. The two teams continue to battle on the outside. They fight to the backstage and Miz closes the door to keep all four out of the arena. Back in the ring Reigns fights out Braun. Reigns pounds on him and sends him to the mat. Braun gets back up and climbs the cage along side Reigns. Braun hits a big headbutt and another one to send Reigns to the mat. Reigns gets up and sends Braun crashing onto the top rope. Reigns hits a Superman Punch and another to follow. Reigns goes for the spear, but Braun counters for a second until Reigns hits him with a superman punch again. Reigns hits a huge spear, out from under the ring comes Kane! Kane chokeslams Reigns twice. Braun picks the scraps and hits a running powerslam. Kane then hits the tombstone on Reigns. Braun comes again and hits one more powerslam and picks up the win.
***Miz sits on the ladder and says the fifth member of the team is Kane.
Winner: Braun Strowman
My Opinion:
Awesome way to end Raw. This was so cool to see Kane back. Someone needed to come along and avenge Undertaker. I think the match wasn’t the best, but it was exciting. I’m hoping this Sunday will deliver. There are so many moving parts it’ll be interesting to see how they put it together. Overall this was a great.
Final Thoughts:
This was a pretty good Raw. For me it didn’t top last week, but it worked. I liked the opening with The Shield I thought it was awesome to hear their theme music and have them come out through the crowd. After that segment things slowed down for me. It wasn’t that matches weren’t good, but nothing really hit. The tag team match came and those teams delivered. I liked the decision to have Dean and Seth retain that was the smartest move. I liked Finn Balor’s promo tonight. I thought it was awesome to see him bring out the demon. Balor did his best to really hype this match, but without Wyatt there it didn’t have the same connect. I thought Mickie James really killed it tonight. She was all over the place during her tag team match and showed that she can still hang. Also the backstage segment with Curtis Axel was really funny. Plus Miz did well with says he was never the fifth member, it was subtle but it makes you think and I love things like that. The main event was pretty good too. It was a shock to see Kane, but it makes a lot of sense. Now we are set of Sunday and TLC is shaping up to be something special.
Overall Rating: 7/10