Raw Review 11/21/2016

Tonight on Raw live from the Air Canada Centre we see the fallout from last night’s Survivor Series! After Goldberg defeated Brock Lesnar in less than two minutes what is next for these too? Also after getting the win for Raw’s tag team’s last night can Sheamus and Cesaro capitalize on the momentum when they square off with The New Day for the Raw Tag Team Championships. Plus after a strong performance and ultimately getting the final pin for Raw’s Women’s team will Bayley finally be put in line for a title shot against Charlotte. What will be next for Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho after last night’s list fiasco? Now that we know the Cruiserweights will stay on Monday night’s what will be next for The Brian Kendrick and his Cruiserweight Championship? Finally after strong showings from both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins last night what will be next for these two men? Find out as Raw comes from Toronto, Ontario, Canada tonight!

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Raw is live tonight from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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

In Ring Segment: Goldberg
Starting off Raw is Goldberg! Goldberg starts off by saying he wants to thank the WWE Universe as they have given him the ability to come back and be Goldberg again. (The crowd breaks out in an “you still got it chant”) He then goes on to say that he wants to thank his wife for putting up with him. Next he thanks his son for giving him the ability and the desire to be that superhero again. He states that he did what he said he was going to do. He conquered the beast. He claims though that there is a simple reality that all good things must come to an end. Goldberg tells that on his way to the back last night he ran into Stephanie McMahon. He tells that she looked him in the eyes and said “ do you have one more title run left in you?” He says you beat your ass I have one more title run left in me. Goldberg then says that Stephanie stated that the road to the title match is through the Royal Rumble. Goldberg says that at the Royal Rumble match everyone’s NEXT!
My Opinion:
This was simple, straight to the point and awesome. If given more time to train and prepare I can’t wait to see what Goldberg will do at the Rumble. I love that they announced it now because it gives us fans something to look forward to. You know that Goldberg is going to be giving it all he has and overall it is just great to see Goldberg back. I expect him to enter the Rumble like a dynamite. Hopefully when January rolls around he is ready and puts up a fight and maybe gets that championship run. Hopefully, even after the Rumble if he is not victorious he still comes back for one more last match at Mania. I don’t know about everyone else but I am not ready to see Goldberg leave anytime to soon. He brings an energy to Raw that its been lacking, even if you dislike him you know its true.

Match 1: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs Sheamus & Cesaro: WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Match
Cesaro starts off the match with Big E. Big E gets Cesaro in a headlock and bounces Cesaro off the ropes. Cesaro catches Big E and slams him down. Sheamus gets the tag and Big E is hit with the battering ram. Cesaro gets the tag. They double team Bie E and hit a suplex on him. It is not enough to keep him down. Kofi gets the tag and hits a crossbody on Cesaro. The two share moves until Cesaro goes for the Cesaro Swing. Kofi grabs the ropes to counter but Sheamus gets the tag. We head to break with Sheamus on the outside. We return and Sheamus goes for a high risk move but is met with a drop kick by Kofi. Sheamus gets back up and blast Big E off the apron. He hits Kofi with the Irish Curse but it isn’t enough to keep Kofi down. Sheamus hits a big right on Kofi. Kofi is able to get off of Sheamus and Sheamus inadvertently hits Cesaro. Big E gets the tag and hits three belly to belly suplexes. Big E sends Cesaro over the ropes. Cesaro on the outside is taken out by Kofi. Big E hits the Big Splash but Sheamus kicks out. Big E looks for the Big Ending but Sheamus rakes his eyes. Sheamus hits White Noise but Big E is able to kick out. Cesaro and Kofi get the tag. Cesaro goes on an UpperCut Train but is stopped by a kick from Kofi. Cesaro is able to catch Kofi out of mid-air and hit a devastating backbreaker but Kofi kicks out. Kofi hits the S.O.S but Cesaro now kicks out. Kofi hits the Boom Drop and looks for Trouble in Paradise but he is caught by Cesaro. Cesaro locks in the Cesaro Swing. Cesaro locks in the SharpShooter. Big E tries to break it up but Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick on him. Kofi taps but the ref is distracted by Xavier Woods. Kofi capitalizes on the distraction and rolls up Cesaro for the win.
Winners: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston): Still the WWE Raw Tag Team Champions
My Opinion:
The match itself was good. The teams went back and forth and hit series of signature and finishing maneuvers. The teams worked well together and it was great seeing Sheamus and Cesaro on the same page. They are really shaping into quite the team. I am disappointed that they lost. I think The New Day gimmick is getting old and them as tag champs has to go soon. I believe that Sheamus and Cesaro really deserve a title run and are the best tag team on Raw. I think they proved that last night and are both being held back.

Backstage Segment:
Chris Jericho is stopped backstage by Charly. She asks what his reaction is to team Raw’s lost last night. He says the team fell apart when the list of Jericho was destroyed. He says someone is responsible for that and tonight on the Highlight Reel he will tell the world who’s to blame.

Backstage segment:
Enzo is banging on the locker room door and tells Cass to open the door. He is outside of the door with no clothes on. Cass doesn’t open the door and Enzo walks away. The Shining Stars ask if he wants a pamphlet. Titus walks by and tells him to put some clothes on. Enzo says take a picture any publicity is good publicity. He then stops in front of Lana, they have an awkward moment where Lana is trying not to look down (which she does twice) and he says “how you doin’.'” Rusev cuts into the picture pissed off and asks what Enzo is doing naked in front of his wife. Cass asks what he is doing naked. Enzo says that it is his fault. Rusev says that he will crush Enzo in the ring tonight. Why didn’t Rusev just kick his ass right there? Lana seemed to like what she saw to which was funny.

Backstage Segment:
Stephanie and Mick are backstage celebrating that Goldberg is in the Royal Rumble and it was their idea. Mick says you take the credit but for last night we can take the credit. He asks if she was serious about the firing. She says no that was just motivation. They are met by Sami Zayn. Mick says he is touched that Sami looked up to him, but there has to be ramification for failure. Mick says that tonight he is putting Sami in a match tonight one on one against Braun Strowman.

Match 2: Cedric Alexander vs Ariya Davari
Cedric quickly goes for an armbar before the bell rings. The bells rings and Cedric hits a dropkick. Davari goes back on the offensive and hits some shots on Cedric and takesz him down with a shoulder tackle. He looks in a chin lock on Cedric. Cedric breaks out with elbows to the gut. Cedric goes through the ropes but lands on the apron. Davari knocks Cedric down and cedric gets hung up on the ropes. Cedric goes down hard but is able to kick out. Davari hits anasty clothesline but that is not enough either. Cedric goes back on the offensive with some big hits and a head spring kick. Cedric is able to land a clothesline off the ropes. Cedric then lands the Lumbar check on Davari. Davari goes down for the 1 2 3.
Winner: Cedric Alexander
My Opinion:
It was a normal match for the Cruiserweights. Davari tried to draw heat at the beginning of the match but it just doesn’t connect that well. I think cedric Alexander always shines. He has many bright spots and I hope he will get a push soon and be in title contention. He took a big fall during the match but was able to tough it out and that is what you want to see. Cedric has become a staple of the cruiserweights as he is one of the ones seen weekly. Although a good wrestler it is hard to buy into Davari when he isn’t seen every week. Hopefully the 205 Live show will help boost the Cruiserweights before the division plummets.

The Highlight Reel:
Jericho welcomes everyone to The Highlight Reel. He calls this addition the autopsy to the biggest upset when team SmackDown beat team Raw. He says here right now he is going to let the world know why this tragedy happened. Out comes Kevin Owens.
Owens says that is a great question who is to blame? Owens proclaims that he knows the answer. Owens shows pictures from last night on the Jeritron 6500. Owens shows a picture of Jericho about to be hit with the Styles Clash. He then shows a picture of him saving Jericho from that move. Jericho questions if Owens is his best friend. He says how could you take The List and use it as a weapon. Owens says who cares. Jericho says I care, he claims that it means everything to him. Owens says he is his best friend and that he sacrificed himself for Jericho. Owens then states that Jericho being eliminated was a waste of his sacrifice and a waste of their friendship. Jericho says if that is how you really feel maybe we don’t have much of a friendship to being with. Jericho states that Owens is never there when he needs them. Jericho says he is finished with this conversation and he is finished with Owens. Owens says I’ll tell you who’s fault it is and they both say Roman Reigns. They then follow it up with a hug. Jericho and Owens agree they would never hurt each other. Jericho says Roman didn’t help either of them last night. Owens says that Roman just stood their last night and that Rollins wasn’t going to do anything either. Out comes Seth Rollins.
Rollins says he has a bone to pick. He says that he has to remind them that he was promised future opportunities. He says that the opportunity he wants is a one on one match for the Universal Title tonight. Owens asks who said you were going to get those opportunities? Jericho says they don’t believe a word Rollins is saying. Rollins says that he doesn’t give a damn what they believe and that he will take the title from Owens. Rollins hits the ring and goes after Owens and Jericho. The numbers game catches up to him but out goes Roman Reigns. Reigns takes out Jericho and Roman and Rollins take out Owens. Jericho comes back in the ring and is met with a Pedigree followed by a Superman Punch. Out comes Foley.
Foley says Rollins is correct. He says that Reigns and Jericho will be banned from ringside. He says that Rollins will face Owens for the title tonight in a no disqualification match.
My Opinion:
Jericho and Owens are magic together as always. Somehow they continue to keep this storyline going and entertaining for the most part. I loved that they had their fight but got right back on the same page. Seth needs to work on his talking a little more, but seeing him and Roman coming together as of late has been awesome. A huge announcement by Foley as well. I think it is good to keep Foley talking only when he has something important like that to say so it doesn’t wear out his welcome.

Match 3: Rusev vs Enzo
Rusev stomps on Enzo. Enzo sends Rusev into the turnbuckle but Rusev goes back on the offensive. Rusev lands a big kick and locks in the Accolade. Enzo taps out.
Winners: Rusev
My Opinion:
A very very quick match. If this is supposed to show Rusev’s dominance again then well done. I think that Enzo shouldn’t have been in this match as they continue to make him look very weak and it doesn’t help his credibility. As for Rusev he needs this as he has been forgotten as of late and he has a match win Lesnar at a Live event coming up. I guess it just was what it was and Rusev went back to being the Rusev we once knew that destroyed his opponents.

Match 4: The Golden Truth (Goldust & R-Truth) vs The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows): Winner gets a Tag Team Championship match next week
Goldust catches Anderson with a big right. Truth gets the tag and lands a hip toss to Anderson. Truth follows up with a big leg drop. Gallows assists Anderson and Anderson goes back on the offensive. He lands shots on Truth and tags in Gallows. Truth fights out but Gallows meets him with a big boot. Gallows lands vicious headbutts to Truth and in comes Anderson. Anderson gets a tight headlock locked in on Truth. Truth gets to a vertical base but Anderson follows up with a clothesline. Anderson lands elbows to Truth’s head and follows with rights before tagging in Gallows. Gallows crushes Truth in the corner and lands a clothesline that turns Truth inside out. He then rains elbows on Truth and goes to a cross face into a chinlock. Truth fights out with punches to the gut and hits a heel kick to the jaw. Goldust and Anderson get the tags. Goldust hits a running bulldog and then ten shots to Anderson’s head. Anderson is planted with a spinebuster. He hits a double crossbody on The Club. Gallows breaks up the pin. Gallows and Truth go over the ropes. Goldust hits Anderson with a boot and goes to the top. Anderson catches him and Gallows gets the tag. They hit the Magic Killer on Goldust for the win.
Winners: The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows): Will face The New Day next week for the Raw Tag Team Championships
My Opinion:
A competitive match between the two teams. Goldust looked really good tonight. The match didn’t do much though. The Club don’t feel that special anymore as they have continued to just be diminished. There wasn’t much credibility to it as it seemed from the very beginning you knew who was going to win.

Match 5: Sami Zayn vs Braun Strowman
Strowman attacks Zayn attacks zayn before the match. He takes down Zayn and throws him into the barricade. He then throws Zayn into the ring and the match begins. Stroman flattens Zayn into the corner. He throws Zayn down and lands elbows to Zayn’s head. Strowman goes to flatten Zayn again but Zayn catches him with a big boot. He hits Strowman with punches and then elbows but Strowman pushes Zayn down. Strowman lands a huge chop to Zayn and takes him down. Strowman lands knees to Zayn’s head and a big punches to the back of the head to Zayn’s head. Strowman puts Zayn in the corner and before strowman can do anything else Foley comes out and says stop the match. Strowman wins via a match stoppage.
Winner: Braun Strowman
My Opinion:
Strowman just manhandled Zayn. I think Strowman needs this to keep up his gimmick and it did its job at making him look like a monster. He looked really special tonight and it shined. I believe zayn will get a good spot at some point even if that is on SmackDown. It will be interesting to see where this leads Strowman as he seems unstoppable at the moment.

In Ring Segment: Charlotte defends her actions from last night
Charlotte shows the picture of her landing a big boot to Bayley last night. She states that the Queen rules the ring. She says that she is the Wayne Gretzky of the WWE and then says she is better than him. She claims that she is above them all and is then interrupted by Sasha Banks.
Charlotte asks Sasha how she is. Sasha tells her to shut up and that she is owed her rematch and that she wants it right now. Charlotte says Sasha doesn’t quit and gives her credit for coming back for more. Charlotte says that Sasha is on but not tonight. Charlotte says that boo’s don’t get a champion to change her mind. She states that Raw is in Charlotte, North Carolina next week and that she will get to beat Sasha in her hometown. Out comes Nia Jax.
Nia says she is not here for Charlotte and that she is here for Sasha. She proclaims that she dominated the SmackDown team last night and that Sasha didn’t dominate last night. Nia says that Sasha is an overrated purple headed barbie doll. Sasha says that once she gets her title back she’ll show Nia how overrated she can be. Nia says that Sasha will learn that she is not the boss when she stands next to her. Nia then goes and attacks Sasha. Charlotte contributes with some cheap shots. Out comes Bayley. Bayley tries to enter the ring but Nia knocks her off the apron.
My Opinion:
I was really oping that out of this we would see Bayley get the title shot. Then again I could always watch Sasha and Charlotte as their in ring work is on point together. This segment just dragged on and honestly I don’t really like listening to them too much. Charlotte does well but Sasha gets annoying after a while and I just don’t don’t buy into Nia when she talks. She is dominate in the ring but the talking isn’t there. This is your problem though with too little of Women talent there isn’t much to do or go to.

Match 6: Sasha Banks & Bayley vs Nia Jax and Charlotte
Sasha takes down Charlotte. Bayley gets the tag and lands a shot on Charlotte and Sasha comes back in. Sasha lands a move and back in comes Bayley. Charlotte lands an elbow to the jaw of Bayley and Nia gets the tag. Nia goes for a cover but Bayley kicks out. Bayley gets tossed out of the ring. She comes back in but Nia meets her with a stomp. Charlotte gets the tag. She lands a snapmare to Bayley and locks in a chinlock. Charlotte throws Bayley down as Bayley tried to get back to her feet. Charlotte drags Bayley to the corner and Nia gets the tag. Nia crushes Bayley. Nia locks in a bear hug and tosses around Bayley. She slams Bayley. Bayley is able to get out-of-the-way of Nia. Nia tags in Charlotte. Charlotte stops Bayley but Bayley lands a modified monkey flip and tags in Sasha. Sasha comes in hot and lands double knees. After a couple moves Sasha goes for the pin but Nia breaks it up. Bayley and Sasha are able to suplex Nia. Charlotte gets a rolls up but it is reversed into the Banks Statement. Charlotte gets out but Sasha is able to get it locked in again and Charlotte taps out.
Winners: Bayley and Sasha Banks
My Opinion:
The match wasn’t bad. Sasha and Bayley looked well together. Nia was dominating and intimidating. As again her in ring work does the talking for her. I don’t know about them allowing the double suplex on Nia as it drops the intensity level of her some. It was what it was and eventually i think it segways into Bayley and Charlotte and Nia and Sasha in rivalries.

Backstage Segment
Charley asks Seth about his title match tonight. Seth says that Jericho is banned from ringside. He says that he can do anything to take that title. He states that everyone knows that when it is him verses anyone he is the man. He proclaims he will take the title tonight.

Match 7: Rich Swann vs Tj Perkins vs Noam Dar :Winner becomes #1 Contender for the Cruiserweight Championship at 205 Live
Dar lands a right to Swann immediately. Dar slams Tj down and then throws him out of the ring. Swann tries to roll up Dar but he kicks out. Perkins comes in the ring but Swann lands a shot to him. Tj reverses and lands shots to Swann in the corner. Tj takes down Swann and stands tall as we go to break. We return and Perkins Lands a suplex and a bridge cover oon Dar but it is not enough. Swann lands a right to Dar. Dar lands a big uppercut to Dar. Perkins catches Dar. Dar locks in a ankle lock but Swann lands a kick to Dar and then catches Perkins. Perkins locks in the knee bar but Dar breaks it up. Dar lands a huge drop kick to Perkins in the corner. Perkins locks in the knee bar again but Swann breaks it up with a rolling thunder splash. Swann lands a huge kick to Perkins for the win.
Winner: Rich Swann: Is now the #1 Contender for the Cruiserweight Championship at 205 Live
My Opinion:
I like the decision of Swann winning. 205 Live is set up well with the title defense being on the first show. It was entertaining and the three men shared some awesome moves. I really think Dar is starting to get his footing and this new show will help people like him.
Backstage Segment:
Charly asks Owens about his match. Owens says he is ready but it is not what he expected. He states he expected last night to be great but it wasn’t. Owens says he never got pinned last night and held up his end of the bargain. He says Rollins failed team Raw and failed him. Owens claims that Rollins doesn’t realize that his reward will be his punishment. Owens says there will be a winner and his name will be Kevin Owens.

Match 8: Seth Rollins vs Kevin Owens(c): No Disqualification WWE Universal Championship Match
Owens rolls out of the ring but Rollins catches him. Rollins meets him on the outside and beats away on him. They go back in the ring and Rollins catches him with a knee but Owens kicks out from it. Rollins goes for a table but is caught when he comes into the ring by Owens. Owens goes for a cover but Rollins kicks out. Owens throws the table back out of the ring as we go to break.
We return and Owens gets a two count on Rollins. During the break Owens used a chair on Rollins. Owens connects again with the chair but it is not enough to put away Rollins. Owens lands a series of punches on Rollins and the crowd is behind him. Owens hits Rollins with the chair again. Rollins catches Owens with an elbow to the jaw and lands the Slingblade. Rollins then sends Owens over the top rope. Rollins hits a suicide dive to out Owens. Rollins hits Owens hard in the corner. Rollins uses the chair to launch himself into Owens and flattens Owens on the chair. Owens kicks out at two as we go to break.
Raws back with Rollins and Owens trading punches. A side step by Rollins and Owens follows up with a clothesline. Both men are down. (During the break Owens put Rollins throw a table and hit a Cannonball on the outside.) Rollins lands rights to Owens. Rollins misses a splash from the top as Owens rolls out-of-the-way. Owens hits a Cannonball with the chair on Rollins but Rollins kicks out from the damage. Owens looks for a powerbomb through the chairs but Rollins reverse into a back body drop through the chairs. Owens though is able to kick out. Rollins goes to the outside and grabs another table. Rollins sets the table up in the corner. Rollins hits Owens with a superkick. Rollins makes it to his feet and launched out to the apron bt catches Owens with a kick. Rollins climbs to the top but Owens prevents it. Owens looks for a suplex from the second rope but Rollins counters and sends Owens through the table with a powerbomb. Owens kicks out at two and a half. Owens rolls out of the ring. Rollins goes to the outside and sends Owens into the barricade. Rollins launches himself over the barricade. Owens tries to get away from Rollins but Rollins keeps on him. Rollins continues his pursuit throughout the arena. Rollins hits Owens with a trash can and both men are exhausted. Owens looks for a powerbomb on the concrete floor but Rollins scales the stands and launches himself onto Owens. Rollins stays on Owens as the men battle back to the ring. Rollins launches Owens over the barricade back into the ringside area. Rollins gets on the barricade but is hit off by Jericho who was wearing a mask. Jericho gets Pedigreed by Rollins. Off the distraction Owens hits Rollins with a kick and then powerbombs him on the apron. Owens pins Rollins for the win.
Winner: And still your Universal Champion, Kevin Owens 
My Opinion:
That is how a Raw main event is done. These two are so good together. The finish was annoying but again it will be another thing that will be interesting to see where it goes. The match was off the charts. We saw some big spots and Owens was magic. He is very funny in what he does. I love that Seth was able to get the crowd on his side. I found it odd that the table spot was during commercial break. The commercials during this match were out-of-place. Also some of the other things on the show should have been cut down so that the match could have got going sooner and we could have seen more as this was the match of the night.

Final Thoughts:
This show wasn’t bad. I don’t think it dragged on. It had a nice flow to it. It went by fast which says a lot. The main event was fantastic and I think that is how you do a Raw main event right there. The divas match was good and even the Cruiserweights were really entertaining tonight. Strowman looked very dominate so it will be very interesting to see what they do. Plus we had some huge announcements. It is so awesome that Goldberg will be in the Rumble next year. We have a good setup for Raw next week as we will see two title matches. Overall a solid Raw.
Overall Rating: 8/10