WWE RAW Rebound (12/13/21): The All Mighty Gauntlet
Bobby Lashley and MVP opened up RAW by explaining to the St. Paul, MINN crowd that the “All Mighty” doesn’t wine and complain about WWE Championship opportunities like Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins. He just makes a statement.
KO interrupted Lashley and MVP. He told the duo he earned his WWE Championship chance by beating Big E, just like Rollins earned his chance by winning the Fatal-4-Way Ladder Match. The “Visionary” made his way down the stage with his purple suit, complimented Lashley’s red suit, and then agreed with Owens.
But, this segment wouldn’t end without a word from the champ himself, who said he had already defeated Lashley for the WWE Title by cashing in his Money in the Bank. Lashley said that only happened because he was “injured”, but then Big E reminded him he also dropped him with a Big Ending inside of a Steel Cage, just like he did to Owens last week.
With everyone’s opinion heard, Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville made their way to the stage to give theirs. After careful consideration, management decided if Lashley could defeat all three opponents in separate one-on-one encounters throughout the show, the WWE Title match at Day 1 would become a 4-Way.
In the back, it was determined KO would start first. At the 9:00 Eastern Time hour, the “Prizefighter” made his way out to the ring to get destroyed by the “All Mighty”. Lashley showed his dominance in this contest, tossing around the former Universal Champion like a chew toy. Owens also suffered from a nasty miss on a senton from the apron to the outside.
Eventually, Lashley would go to lock in the Hurt Lock and before he could even clasp his hands together, Owens tapped. That was obviously met with criticism from Rollins in the back — who was scheduled to face Lashley at the top of the third hour — but Owens told the “Drip God” he had a plan if Rollins would just listen to him!
That plan? Let the former WWE Champion beat the hell out of Rollins, and then come down to the ring and punch Rollins, who was trying to get away from Lashley by ducking to the outside, and force the disqualification win for Rollins, so Lashley wouldn’t be added to the Day 1 match. It was a genius plan, but Pearce and Deville had none of it! They ordered the match to restart under no DQ rules, which allowed Lashley to Spear Rollins for the win as soon as he hopped back inside the ring, setting up the main event, which was also made a no disqualification match.
The Xcel Energy Center wanted tables, and the WWE Champion intended on giving them tables, but MVP put the table that was set up on the outside away once Lashley got control. A great back and forth ensued between the two bulls that led to E slamming Lashley’s head into a chair that was set up in the corner, allowing E to set up three tables, one in the middle of the ring, one in the corner turnbuckle and one on the outside.
Lashley would execute a vicious Spinebuster on E through the table that was set up in the middle of the ring. E would kick out but a worried Rollins and Owens rushed the ring and attacked the “All Mighty”. When E wouldn’t help them and wanted to do it the right way — in the middle of the ring — Rollins and Owens attacked him as well. Eventually, E got the upperhand on Owens and delivered a Urangie through the table on the outside while Lashley Speared Rollins through the table that was set up in the corner. E waited till Lashley got up to continue their war, but that hesitation provided the opening for MVP to bash E in the back of the knee with his cane, leading to a Lashley Spear for the win.
Yes, the night was all about the “All Mighty”. Yes, he had four entrances throughout the night.
But, WWE made Lashley and the champ look strong with this booking, and I have no problem with the title match becoming a Fatal-4-Way. The story here crafted throughout the evening, and this 4-Way involves arguably the Top 4 RAW superstars in the men’s singles division right now. I still think Rollins walks away champion as WWE is going to want to create a major surprise to kick off 2022. My guess is Owens eats the Stomp for the victory.
Becky Lynch Stomps Liv Morgan’s Arm
The “Man” said something very true this week during her promo on Liv Morgan. She said that the chase is better than the title reign, and if, IF Morgan somehow won the title last week, she would get booed and turned on immediately. “Big Time Becks” has reinvented the wheel at every turn of her career, and she doesn’t care if she’s cheered or booed by the audience. She’s just a winner, unlike Morgan, who is now 0/1 in Women’s Championship matches in her career.
Morgan interrupted and played the cheating card. At the same time, a Lynch superfan was screaming right beside Morgan she sucked in a true LOL moment! Morgan ignored the fan the way Lynch ignored her challenge, so the challenger ran to the ring and had a brawl with the champ. Lynch would gain control and trap Morgan’s arm inside the steel steps. She kicked it a few times, then accepted Morgan’s challenge for Day 1, before telling the audience she’s gonna go home to her HOT husband and her baby and train.
I’m excited for the rematch at Day 1 for one reason: I believe it leads to another rematch at Wrestlemania 38. There’s not really a ton of women that Lynch can face for a “Wrestlemania worthy” contest, and WWE can easily keep this feud going. Most of the WWE Universe wants to see Morgan as RAW Women’s Champion. Lynch has been cheating to retain her title. If Morgan gets screwed again at Day 1, there’s no better tale for Morgan to tell than winning the Royal Rumble.
Remember, this story all started because when Lynch was pregnant, she told Morgan she would be RAW Women’s Champion during his absence. That didn’t happen, and now Lynch wants no part of Morgan because she embarrassed her. Lynch is not going to want another match with Morgan after Day 1 unless Morgan forces it. The 2021 Royal Rumble made Bianca Beliar into a star. It’s time for the 2022 match to shoot Morgan into superstardom.
Edge Forces Tension Between Miz and Maryse
Maryse was supposed to be the special guest host for Miz TV this week. Her job was to interview her husband about his upcoming Day 1 showdown with Edge. Instead, Miz showcased his resume as Hall of Fame worthy and disrespected his Hall of Fame opponent, forcing the “Ultimate Opportunist” to take action.
Edge said Miz’s career is Hall of Fame worthy. The problem is that so many people have told Mike Mizanin his whole life he was a failure in WWE that he still believes it. Miz tried to take a swing at the “Rated R Superstar” just like Edge did last week, but Edge was able to bounce back and hit the Impaler DDT. He set up for a Spear in the corner, but as he was about to nail Miz in the heart, Miz put his wife in front of him, which was not cool with Maryse. She slapped her husband across the face, and Miz chased Maryse to the back to end the segment.
This segment added another layer to the story. Unfortunately for me — as the biggest Edge fan in the universe — this smells like Maryse and Miz are going to have disfunction until the Pay-Per-View in Atlanta, until Maryse helps Miz defeat Edge, forcing Edge to have to call on his wife, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix, for a mixed tag match down the road. I’m not against seeing Edge and Phoenix team up, but Edge losing is never a good thing!
Otis (W/ Chad Gable) Defeats Riddle (W/ Randy Orton)
The RK-BRO-NAMENT finals between the Street Profits and the Mysterio’s has been pushed back due to multiple “injuries” (although more than likely COVID-19 related) until the Dec. 27 RAW in Detroit. The winner will face RK-BRO at Day 1.
In the meantime, the “Original Bro” retired his broadcasting career to go one-on-one with Otis. The “Viper” needed Riddle to focus on Otis and the RAW Tag Team Titles before focusing on his podcasting career and his acting career and trying to hang out with Pat McAfee and the cast of Jackass Forever, like he did at SmackDown. Riddle was focused, but Otis was just too much, planting him with the Compactor for the sudden victory. Orton tried to jump the big man with the RKO, but Otis countered it right into an RKO from Orton to Gable. Otis, mad that Orton RKO’ed his Full Sail University graduate partner, took out the “Apex Predator” as well with a Compactor. A nice showing for Otis, and this could be a cool mini feud before RK-BRO has to defend their titles on the first day of the new year.
The Dirty Dawgz Defeat Damian Priest and Finn Balor
The United States Champion took on Robert Roode, leaving the “Prince” mono y mono with Dolph Ziggler. Balor dropkicked Ziggler in the corner. As he went for the Coup De Grace, Austin Theory distracted Balor, opening the door for a Zig Zag from Ziggler from the win. Theory took a selfie with Balor on the mat afterwards, and he interrupted a meeting between Apollo Crews, Commander Azeez and the boss to show Mr. McMahon his selfie, but Vince wasn’t happy! He grabbed a pencil and told Theory the most important part of the pencil is the eraser, not the tip!
Mr. McMahon is still great! Everybody else in this is not, and it feels like this story — including Priests’ title reign — has no direction. It’s being booked on the fly, and something has to change for this story that had great promise to mean something again.
Bianca Beliar Defeats Doudrop Again
This time by pinfall. Doudrop dominated most of the match, including a nasty whiplash to Beliar’s legs in the corner. With Doudrop on the top rope, the EST was able to slam her head against the turnbuckle and impressively powerbomb her off the top rope. A 450 Splash would finish Doudrop off, but as Beliar was celebrating on the stage, Doudrop attacked her.
It’s a nice feud that gives Beliar time, but now that Beliar has pinned Doudrop, the continuation seems unjust.
Queen Zelina (W/ Carmella) Defeats Rhea Ripley (W/ Nikki A.S.H.)
This match lasted about 2 minutes. Nikki A.S.H. got cut off the apron by Carmella as Ripley went for Riptide, allowing Vega to roll up Ripley for the victory. The storyline and eventual break up of Ripley and Nikki continues.
A.J. Styles and Omos Are Back Together?
They say they are. I think not.
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I thought this RAW was pretty good. Carried by the Lashley segments, Edge/Miz and Lynch/Morgan and RK-BRO, the rest kinda seemed lost in the shuffle right now, especially Austin Theory, Damian Priest, Finn Balor and Bianca Beliar. With that said, there was some good wrestling and some good promos. I was sports entertained throughout most of the show.
GRADE: B+
