WWE RAW Rebound (11/29/21): Monday Night Rollins
Big E may be the kingpin of Monday Night RAW currently, but he won’t be for long if what happened on the Nov. 29 edition of the red brand from Long Island, NY was a sign of things to come.
Rollins opened the show by letting the world know he will challenge one third of the New Day for the WWE Title on New Year’s Day from Atlanta. Finn Balor had enough of the “Drip God” and attacked him before their scheduled matchup the same way Rollins did last week. When the match got started after a commercial break, the “Prince” immediately kicked Rollins up into the turnbuckle and went for his Coup De Grace finisher, but the “Visionary” had it well scouted.
Playing off their SummerSlam 2016 Universal Championship match (the first one ever), Rollins and Balor went back and forth, reversing each other’s biggest shots. Towards the end of the contest, Balor went for a 1619 on Rollins, but the “Architect” smartly was able to wager a thumb to the eye of his opponent with the official’s vision obstructed. The underhanded tactic allowed Rollins to hit Balor with an elbow in the back of the head, followed by a Stomp for the victory in a terrific opening contest.
When RAW came back from a TV timeout, Kevin Owens came up to Rollins and told him Adam Pearce told him if he defeats the champ in the main event, he would be added to the WWE Title match on the first Saturday of 2022. Rollins called KO a liar and went to Pearce to confirm what KO told him. Pearce assured Rollins KO was lying to him.
However, later in the night, Sonya Deville told Rollins Owens was telling the truth. She thought Owens’ suggestion was “best for business”.
A pissed off “Visionary” made his way out to the ring for the main event. The champ and the “Prizefighter” participated in more of a slug fest than a match, with KO working on the thighs of the champion. Both executed extremely close near falls, with KO hitting a Pop Up Powerbomb while E nailed a Uranagie.
With E down and out on the outside, Owens had enough of Rollins running his mouth to Corey Graves at the announce desk, so he proceeded to beat the hell out of him. The Canadian-born superstar would then get E back in the ring, but Owens’ actions forced the “Drip God” to snap. Rollins entered the ring and started hitting Owens with rights and lefts, forcing the disqualification. Mike Rome announced Owens had won the match by disqualification, meaning the match at Day One turned into a three-way. Rollins couldn’t believe KO got the best of him, so he took his anger out on E, delivering a Stomp as Owens laughed on the stage to end the show.
I predicted this last week, and my prediction accurately came true. The original storyline to this feud was about who was the true leader of RAW, and with Rollins getting a lot more TV time over the last few weeks than the WWE Champion, I am fearful E’s WWE Championship reign will come crashing down in Atlanta on Jan 1. KO may be there just to take the pin to protect E.
Liv Morgan Isn’t Scared Of “Big Time Becks”
The “Man” invited Liv Morgan down to her first-ever contract signing. With Deville present to try to make sure the signing didn’t devolve into chaos, it didn’t take long for Morgan to rip into “Big Time Becks”. Morgan blamed Lynch’s big contract for why WWE has released so many women!
She added this isn’t the same Morgan who Lynch told her she would be Women’s Champion while she was away pregnant, but also, this isn’t the same Lynch either. Morgan claims this Lynch is exactly the same as Charlotte Flair!
Applaud her challenger compared her to the “Queen”, Lynch told Morgan the title match next week on RAW will be her first and only title match in WWE. Morgan thought the “Man” would say that, so she had the WWE production crew play a clip from after Survivor Series where Lynch legitimately was bawling her eyes out over her match with the “Opportunity”. Morgan told Lynch she wasn’t the crier, Lynch was, and the punch she gave her last week will be nothing compared to what she does to her next week in Memphis!
“Big Time Becks” then challenged Morgan to a tag team match later in the evening to show who was the better leader. Team Morgan consisted of Morgan, Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H., 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke and Bianca Beliar. Lynch’s team featured herself, Tamina, Doudrop and the new Women’s Tag Team Champions in Carmella and Queen Zelina.
Everybody got their spot in the match, and Morgan would eventually pin Tamina with Oblivion. The match was a way to get more women on the card, but I really only want to focus on Lynch V. Morgan next week from the FedExForum, the home of the Grizzlies, in Memphis. In only three weeks, Morgan has become a legitimate challenger to the “Man”, more than Toni Storm has to Charlotte over on FOX. After being apart of the Riott Squad for so long, this is Morgan’s breakout moment, and even though she won’t win the belt, I’m rooting for her. She’s done her job in this rivalry to earn my respect.
Edge Returns, So Does Miz and Maryse
The “Rated R Superstar” took six weeks off after Crown Jewel to plan out his new opponents. A.J. Styles, Damian Priest, Bobby Lashley and Big E are all on his radar now that he is a member of the RAW roster. He even credited Rollins for the character work he’s been doing since their Hell in a Cell match in Saudi.
However, Miz wasn’t on his list, and he was offended, so he and Maryse made their way out to the ring to confront the “Ultimate Opportunist”. From there, Edge and the “A-Lister” would shoot on each other’s careers.
Miz said he main-evented Wrestlemania 27 and defeated John Cena on the same night Edge opened the show. Miz said every time he leaves WWE, he promotes it in a good way, such as on Dancing with the Stars, while Edge — every time he leaves the company — he returns singing a sad story about how his career should be over. Miz told Edge he wished he would have stayed home because even though he looked up to him as a kid, now he’s just in his way.
Edge responded by telling Miz he’s so good on the mic that some other company is name dropping him for cheap heat, but at the same time, he’s the reason why John Morrison is no longer employed! Edge dared Miz to fight him right then and there in Long Island, but Miz politely declined and backed away with his wife by his side.
It was unexpected to see Edge and Miz mix it up in the ring, but I love it! They’re two veterans of the business who are great storytellers and can cut great promos. They haven’t really ever had a program before, and when Beth Phoenix, the Hall of Fame wife of the “Rated R Superstar” eventually gets involved, and we have ourselves a mixed tag team match, it’s going to be some fun times on Monday nights ahead.
Riddle and Randy Orton Retain Their RAW Tag Titles Against Dirty Dawgz
Riddle wondered why Orton didn’t dress up like him this week! Orton told him they don’t need to dress like each other to be a successful tag team. Riddle didn’t believe him and forced the “Viper” to close his eyes. A reluctant Orton did so, and the “Original Bro” put a blonde wig on top of Orton! Orton saw himself in the mirror and demanded Riddle take it off him before he became brain dead!
Back to the regularly scheduled program, and the Dirty Dawgz took control of the title match early. With Riddle incapacitated, Dolph Ziggler nailed Orton with what looked to be a title-clinching Zig Zag, but the veteran just got his shoulders off the canvas. Orton’s kick out inspired Riddle to go vintage Orton and DDT “Big Bob” from the middle rope. The champs pounded the mat and attempted double RKO’s. The challengers reversed, but eventually Orton would roll through another attempted Zig Zag by Ziggler and finish him off with a 10/10 RKO.
I was a little nervous this would be the spot where RK-BRO loses their belts, considering it feels like Riddle and Orton are not on the same page, but I think WWE wants those RK-BRO merchandise sales to go through the holiday season before the turn happens. We know it’s coming; the question is when, and I hope they hold it off because they make RAW entertaining with whatever they do.
Vince McMahon Teaches Austin Theory A Lesson
The boss was back on RAW! This week, he made Theory watch the whole show with him, so that way, he could learn to expect the unexpected! We kept getting check-ins on how things were going throughout the evening, and every time we would see Theory in Vince’s office, he was distracted. So much to the point that late in the night, Vince asked Theory to shake his hand, and the Chairman slapped him right in the face and told him he needs to learn his lesson!
This was a classic Vince McMahon segment, and one that bodes well for Theory. Whenever you work with the boss, you have a chance to do something special! I’m interested to see how this storyline progresses as we head into Wrestlemania season.
Damian Priest Retains United States Championship Against Apollo Crews (W/ Commander Azeez)
Azeez got involved. Priest got angry. Priest hit Crews with the Reckoning to retain the title. All of Crews’ momentum before Wrestlemania 37 is completely gone, and him and Azeez are now practically non-factors in the mid-card division, something I wouldn’t have said a year ago.
The Street Profits Defeat Alpha Academy
The “Phenomenal One” and his colossus were at ringside for the match, but Graves had to describe the action to A.J. Styles because he couldn’t see following the Profits using a fire extinguisher on him last week! Graves did a great job describing the action until Styles had enough and tried to distract Ford and Dawkins, but it didn’t work. A From the Heavens Splash on Gable secured victory for the Street Profits and forces the Alpha Academy to go back to the drawing board. It also makes Omos more mad at the Profits — which is not good news for them.
Rey and Dominik Mysterio Defeat Cedrick Alexander and Shelton Benjamin
No “All Mighty” and no MVP for the Hurt Business meant the two weak links were dominated by the Mysterio’s, who showed no sign of dissension this week. A Double 619, followed by a Splash from Dominik to Alexander earned the victory.
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Next Week
“Big Time Becks” defends her RAW Women’s Championship against Liv Morgan from the FedExForum in Memphis, TN.
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This RAW originally looked like it was going to be the RAW of the year through 9:15 Eastern Standard Time. The opening with Rollins and Balor, the contract signing, the Tag Title match, and the Edge-Miz segment were all out of this world entertaining. After that, the show dragged a lot, with only E/KO/Rollins, and the slap from the boss to the “Blue Chip Prospect” being the only entertaining parts of the last hour and 45 minutes. That’s not an A show; that’s more of a C show, but the fire first hour bumps the grade to a B. I’m ready for Morgan V Lynch next week and more RK-BRO, E, Rollins, KO, Styles, Omos, Edge and Miz.
GRADE: B
