By Jason Powell
WWE Raw on the USA Network
Live from Los Angeles, California at Staples Center
[Q1] A graphic acknowledged the death of George “The Animal” Steele to open the show… A recap video focussed on the Festival of Friendship and Kevin Owens attacking Chris Jericho…
Ring announcer JoJo introduced Kevin Owens, who was already seated on a chair in the ring and was being booed. Owens, who was wearing a suit, opened by saying that now that the spotlight was where it belonged, he can answer the question everyone has. “Why?” he asked. “Why does Kevin Owens think he’s going to walk out of Fastlane still the WWE Universal Champion?”
Owens said that if someone had told him when he was 15 that someone had told him he would have told him he was going to defend the WWE Universal Championship against Goldberg, he would have said they were crazy. He said it’s not about the part that he’s the champion or main eventing pay-per-views, but who his opponent would be.
Fans chanted Goldberg. Owens acknowledged the chants and said they make Goldberg think he’s invincible and everyone believes the hype. Owens said he does not. “I never believed the hype,” Owens said. “Even when I was a kid and Goldberg was running through everyone in 15 seconds, I didn’t care. Goldberg never impressed me, not back then, not now, not ever.”
Owens brought up Goldberg beating Brock Lesnar. Owens said that only happened because Lesnar took Goldberg lightly and Goldberg got lucky. Owens said that won’t happen to him at Fastlane because he knows exactly what to expect and what to do. Owens said no one thinks he has a chance of keeping his title, but he will have to prove everyone wrong again because he knows he’s walking out as champion.
Owens said he hoped Goldberg was watching. Owens said he doesn’t have to beat Goldberg, he just has to outlast him. Owens said it’s a known fact that the longer that a Goldberg match goes, the more the scale tips in favor of his opponent. Owens said this is his match and he just has to outsmart him. Owens said he knows how to play the game better than anyone else. Owens said he waited to be a champion his entire life and there’s nothing he won’t do to keep it that way.
Owens recalled Goldberg saying he came back to show his wife and son and everyone that superheroes still exist. Owens said Goldberg wants to use his title as a prop in his superhero fantasy, but he’s not going to let it happen. Owens said he will show Goldberg, his son, and everyone else that superheroes don’t exist. Owens stood up and said that Goldberg can talk about him being next, but as far as he is concerned Goldberg is nothing.
“Now as far as Chris Jericho goes…” Owens said before stopping to listen to the fans. Owens then dropped the mic and left the ring to boos…
[Q2] The broadcast team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton checked in for the first time and hyped Big Show vs. Braun Strowman, and the Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Sheamus and Cesaro match to determine No. 1 contenders to the tag titles… [C] An ad for Smackdown hyped the battle royal to determine Bray Wyatt’s challenger at WrestleMania…
Powell’s POV: An excellent opening. The recap video was over five minutes in length and the Owens promo went roughly ten minutes. It was a unique opening that made the angle feel even bigger. It also served as a reminder of how good Owens can be.as a serious heel. The friendship was fun, but I still wish we had been able to see more of this Owens during his title reign. Meanwhile, we’ll see what WWE does over the next three hours, but so far only the death of Steele has been acknowledged. I know they had issues with Nicole Bass and I hope they will put that aside, but I can’t think of any reason why they wouldn’t acknowledge the death of Ivan Koloff.
A video recapped Enzo and Cass causing the disqualification when Cesaro and Sheamus had their rematch with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson…
1. Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass in a No. 1 contenders’ match. The winner challenges Gallows and Anderson for the tag titles at Fastlane. Enzo was knocked off the top rope and down to ringside. Cesaro ran at him and caught him with an uppercut, then mocked Enzo’s dance heading into a break. [C]
[Q3] Late in the match, Cesaro set up for a swing on Cass. Enzo climbed onto Cesaro’s back. Cesaro dumped him to ringside quickly, but Cass came back with the East River Crossing and pinned him. Saxton noted that Sheamus and Cesaro controlled the bulk of the offense despite losing. Afterward, Enzo took the mic and boasted that they have the kryptonite for the Swiss Superman. Sheamus blasted him with Brogue Kick…
Enzo Amore and Big Cass defeated Cesaro and Sheamus in 9:20 to earn a Raw Tag Title shot at Fastlane.
A shot aired of Kevin Owens walking backstage with Mick Foley in hot pursuit. Foley told Owens that he couldn’t leave because he had a match with Sami Zayn. Owens laughed. Foley asked him if he thought it was funny. “I thought you liked Sami,” Owens said. He told Foley to be careful or he would end up with more guys on the injured list than in the locker room…
Powell’s POV: Enzo and Cass are becoming repetitive with their mic work, but the live crowd was definitely into the idea of seeing them win the match and get a title shot. Meanwhile, I despise the way WWE has turned Owens vs. Zayn into just another match by giving it away so many times.
A Braun Strowman video aired and the broadcast team promoted his matcha against Big Show… Cole said they would hear from Bayley during the show, then he set up a video package. It featured footage of her talking about her longtime WWE fandom and of her win over Charlotte with help from Sasha Banks…
Powell’s POV: I”m still holding out hope for this being a “Dusty finish” in that it’s overturned or Bayley gives the title back due to Sasha’s interference.
Cole pointed out a tweet from Charlotte, who demanded that Bayley do the right thing and give her the title back. Saxton said Bayley will address it later in the show…
Backstage, Foley was on the phone about having a guest at Raw. Roman Reigns entered the picture and Foley ended the call. Foley told Reigns he has to wait until Fastlane to get to Strowman. Reigns said Foley would have his main event. He mentioned something about what would happen once it was done, but he was interrupted by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson saying they have unfinished business. Foley told Reigns to find a partner and he would book the match. Reigns said he didn’t need a partner and would handle them on his own…
Powell’s POV: As if having the tag champs manhandled by one man last week wasn’t bad enough, WWE is now doubling down. Here’s hoping this is more of an angle than a match.
[Q4] [C] Cole spoke about how Raw had gone Hollywood because they are in Los Angeles…
Brian Kendrick made his entrance. Austin Aries replaced Saxton for the cruiserweight match. Footage aired from 205 Live of Akira Tozawa telling Kendrick that he doesn’t like him. Tozawa made his entrance. Kendrick offered a handshake prior to the match. Tozawa initially declined, then agreed, only to have Kendrick clothesline him. Kendrick applied the Captain’s Hook finisher. Cole pointed out that the bell never rang to start the match. Kendrick released the hold, put his jacket on, and left the ring…
Cole hyped the handicap match… Backstage, Charly Caruso asked Kendrick about his actions. Kendrick said no one disrespects him. He said he offered Tozawa his mentorship. He said this was a lesson in respect and it was just the first lesson… [C]
Powell’s POV: I’m all for holding off on the Kendrick vs. Tozawa match. They have very little to promote that matters in the cruiserweight division. This feels like one they can build to rather than just throwing it out there as it seemed like they were going to.
Ring entrances for the handicap match took place…
[Q5] 2. Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a handicap match. Reigns jumped out to a quick start, but Gallows caught him with a big boot to take control. There were dueling chants for Reigns. The heels worked over Reigns at ringside with punches and then rolled him back inside. Gallows grabbed a chair and wanted to use it as a weapon, but Reigns caught him with a boot to the face. Reigns picked up the chair and hit both men with it for the DQ. Afterward, Anderson caught Gallows with a Superman Punch, then speared Anderson as he leapt off the top rope…
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Roman Reigns by DQ in 4:00.
Powell’s POV: The spear on Anderson looked great. Sadly, Gallows and Anderson just can’t catch a break. They finally get the tag titles after being booked horribly, and now that they have the tag titles they are working handicap matches against Reigns. Why can’t they just book them as a badass heel duo? Is there some storyline purpose for this feud or are they just filling time?
The broadcast team hyped the Strowman vs. Show match and spoke about how Foley had to “fortify” the ring due to the size of the two men. They set up a recap of the Owens promo from the beginning of the show… Cole hyped a sit-down interview with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman for later in the show and how it could be affected by Goldberg vs. Kevin Owens. Graves hyped New Day vs. Rusev and Jinder Mahal for after the break… [C] Footage aired of New Day on TMZ Live, where they announced they will host WrestleMania…
[Q6] Lana stood in the ring and spoke in a foreign language briefly before introducing “Jinder Mahal and Handsome Rusev.” Saxton said Jinder calls himself Hardbody Mahal. New Day made their entrance. Big E poured cereal into the mouths of fans. Xavier Woods hyped that his Youtube Page is about to hit one million subscribers and that he will be hosting gaming awards.
Woods said they have been working on their voiceovers because they want to voice the hyenas in the Lion King movie. Kofi Kingston said that’s not a joke, it’s true. Woods mentioned ice cream again. Woods also hyped that they will host WrestleMania. Kingston brought up the ice cream again and the fans chanted for it.
Woods recalled Bo Dallas destroying their blueprints. Kingston said they have photographic memories so they were able to put the blueprint back together. He held up an iPad and boasted that they went digital. Woods said it’s encrypted so only New Day can get their hands on it. Lana coughed to interrupt their closing line.
Lana showed that she had their plans on her iPad. Lana read from their plans and they looked shocked. “You know she’s Russian, right,” Big E said to some laughs. Funny. New Day entered the ring and bickered with their opponents heading into the break… [C]
3. Big E and Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods) vs. Jinder Mahal and Rusev (w/Lana). The match was joined in progress. Big E went for his finisher on Mahal, but Rusev caught him with a kick to break it up. Woods ended up stealing Lana’s computer by playing his trombone behind Lana. She threw up the computer and he caught it and then destroyed it. E and Kingston hit their finisher on Mahal for the win…
Big E and Kofi Kingston beat Jinder Mahal and Rusev.
Graves hyped the Neville vs. Jack Gallagher contract signing for their title match at Fastlane…
[Q7] Cole set up a video package on George “The Animal” Steele. The fans responded with a nice round of applause and then the graphic was shown again… [C]
Powell’s POV: A nice video that featured comments from Stephanie McMahon, David Arquette, Kevin Hart, Sheamus, Bruno Sammartino, and Bret Hart. It featured footage of his feud with Randy Savage over Elizabeth. That feud may not have produced classic matches, but it was very effective in terms of establishing Savage’s paranoia and the kindness of Elizabeth. Plus, Steele played his lovable simpleton role wonderfully.
Austin Aries hosted the WWE Cruiserweight Championship match contract signing. Aries congratulated Jack Gallagher, who was already in the ring, where a table was set up with tea and crumpets. Gallagher spoke about dethroning the “delusional king of the cruiserweights.”
Aries introduced Neville, who made his entrance dressed in his gear. Neville took the contract and signed his name, then started to leave. Gallagher called him back and said he was hoping they could have tea and biscuits. Neville mocked the idea and asked if Gallagher was for real. Neville said Gallagher was exactly what the American imbeciles expect an Englishman to be.
Neville said Gallagher should be ashamed of himself for being a stereotype. He said he is what a real Englishman looks like, whereas Gallagher is what the WWE Universe wanted him to be. Neville said the fans are not laughing with Gallagher, they are laughing at him. Neville said he will be the only person laughing at Fastlane.
Gallagher said he needed to correct Neville in that he doesn’t play a gentlemen, he is one. Gallagher said this is who he is and how he was raised. Gallagher said Neville’s problem is that he thinks he’s a king and thinks he’s better than everyone else, and he won’t stand for it.
Neville tossed the table on its side and then got in Gallagher’s face and asked him what he’s going to do about it. Neville pie-faced Gallagher, who tackled him. When they got up, Gallagher headbutted Neville’s face. Gallagher and Neville both sold the headbutt. Neville tried to run back to the ring, but Gallagher held up his umbrella at his throat, causing Neville to retreat…
A shot aired of Nia Jax walking backstage while Saxton said she would be in action after the break…
Powell’s POV: A good verbal exchange with Neville pointing out the complaints that some have had regarding the Gallagher character, while Gallagher held his ground while saying that’s simply who he is.
[Q8] An ad for NXT hyped Liv Morgan vs. Ember Moon vs. Peyton Royce in a Triple Threat to become No. 1 contender to the NXT Women’s Champion… [C]
4. Nia Jax vs. Sara Pierce. Pierce went for a dropkick once the bell rang, but Jax swatted her aside. Jax finished her off with a Samoan Drop.
Nia Jax beat Sara Pierce in 0:35.
After the match, Caruso entered the ring and asked Jax about the controversy in the women’s title match last week. She said the only controversy is that she hasn’t been given a title shot yet. She said she would take the crutch and shove it down their throats if they tried something like that to her. Jax said she was putting the champion on notice…
Saxton set up the latest Black History Month video. The video paid tribute to Barack Obama… A shot aired of Bayley high-fiving people backstage… [C]
Powell’s POV: Another dominant win for Jax, and another promo with her sounding like she’s delivering lines rather than speaking in her own voice. Meanwhile, Bayley’s happy demeanor would seem to suggest that she’s keeping her title.
Cole once again played up Raw going Hollywood because the show was in Los Angeles…
Bayley made her entrance and was all smiles. Cole narrated footage of Bayley winning the title last week with help from Sasha Banks. The camera showed the new Bayley side plates on the title belt and then she played to the crowd. The fans clearly didn’t watch Smackdown (or they just don’t care what John Cena thinks), as they chanted “you deserve it” to Bayley.
[Q9] Bayley thanked the fans and spoke about how she grew up in California. She said she had the best friends and family. She recalled some of the dreams of her friends, and she said she just wanted to be the WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley said that dream came true last week. She said she was in the Figure 8 one second, and then she had her hand raised in victory the next. She said the moment was awesome.
Bayley recalled calling her father and spoke about how he took her to events and bought her action figures. Bayley got emotional and said he was in the crowd. “Dad, I did it,” she said. Bayley said Charlotte tried to make up an excuse for her loss. She told her to face the facts that she is the new Raw Women’s Champion.
Stephanie McMahon’s music played and she headed to the ring. Stephanie spoke Bayley’s hand and then grabbed a mic. Stephanie brought up Bayley talking about her dream and asked if she envisioned people chanting “you deserve it” or to have someone else come in and cheap shot her opponent. Stephanie called it a tainted victory. Stephanie asked if when Bayley called her father, was he silent for a minute while thinking that Sasha did it for Bayley.
Stephanie spoke about how her own three daughters look up to Bayley because she is uncompromisable, moral, and honest. Stephanie asked if she’s ready to throw away who she is to hold a championship that she didn’t really earn. Stephanie said the Bayley she knows would do the right thing and relinquish the Raw Women’s Championship. Fans chanted no.
Stephanie said Bayley doesn’t want to win that way no matter what the people say. “You’re better than that,” Stephanie told her. Bayley removed her title belt and looked conflicted. Bayley looked at the title. Stephanie continued to pressure her by telling her to win it on her own terms for the right reasons. Bayley held onto the title while Stephanie held her arms out waiting.
Sasha Banks headed to the ring. “Here comes Sasha Banks once again to interfere in your business, Bayley,” Stephanie said. She also questioned whether Sasha thinks Bayley can’t win or is some type of charity case. Sasha told her not to listen. She said Bayley won it fair and square and she wouldn’t let her give up everything she worked for.
Sasha told her to listen to the fans, who cheered. Sasha polled the crowd, which did not want her to give up the title. Stephanie asked Sasha if she was there because she loves Bayley or because she knows she can’t beat Charlotte, but thinks she can beat Bayley.
“Stephanie is right,” Bayley started. She said the title means everything to her and she didn’t work to be a champion and have it look like it was handed to her. Bayley asked if she should give up the championship. “There’s only one answer,” she said. “Hell no I’m not giving up the Raw Women’s Championship.” She boasted that she pinned Charlotte and she is champion and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Charlotte made her entrance. She said she doesn’t want Bayley to give up her title because she’s going to take it back. She announced that she was invoking her rematch clause. Sasha cut her off and said Bayley will prove that Charlotte is no queen. Sasha said her knee feels 100 percent, then challenged Charlotte to a match. Charlotte agreed to the match. Stephanie said the match would happen now. Cole called it the renewal of a classic rivalry…
Powell’s POV: The purest babyface in pro wrestling just gleefully accepted that her first title win was handed to her by outside interference. She’s a hero to little girls, yet she’s perfectly fine with having a tainted championship win? She didn’t even have a good comeback for what Stephanie accurately pointed out about the way she won. Put any love of the character aside and think about that for a moment.
[Q10] [C] 5. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks. Bayley sat in on commentary and said the only thing that matter is that she has the title. Graves pressed her. Bayley said Stephanie’s words got to her a bit, but there was no way she could give up what she worked for. Cole pointed out that she didn’t know Sasha interfered. Charlotte controlled the majority of the early offense and dumped Sasha to ringside before the break. [C]
Sasha went on the offensive after the break. Charlotte avoided a double knee stomp on the ropes. However, Sasha caught her with double knees from the apron. Dana Brooke jogged toward the ring. Bayley caught her from behind before she could interfere. Sasha performed the Backstabber into the Bank Statement and got the submission win…
Sasha Banks beat Charlotte in 10:00.
[Q11] The Dallas Page video aired for the WWE Hall of Fame. The crowd cheered afterward…
Powell’s POV: A televised win over Charlotte means little at this point. They’ve established that Charlotte wins on pay-per-view, yet is highly beatable on Raw for some strange reason. As for Page, a nice video package. I spoke about him on today’s All Access Daily Podcast.
Backstage, Charly asked Sami Zayn if any part of him wants to say he told Chris Jericho so regarding Kevin Owens. Zayn said Owens and Samoa Joe will justify whatever they do in the name of excuses they make up for themselves. Zayn said Joe blindsiding him is okay in Joe’s mind because he did so in the name of Triple H. He said time catches up to those people. Zayn said the real Owens who has no one to hide behind has to deal with Goldberg at Fastlane and him kicking his teeth in tonight…
An ad for 205 Live hyped a cruiserweight showcase with three matches: Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick, Mustafa Ali vs. Noam Dar, and Jack Gallagher vs. Tony Nese…
Powell’s POV: Isn’t every 205 Live a cruiserweight showcase with three matches? They listed those matches so quickly that I actually had to rewind and watch it three times.
Cole once again boasted that they were in Los Angeles as a brief video played. Kevin Owens made his entrance. Footage of his turn on Chris Jericho was replayed. Sami Zayn made his entrance only to be attacked from behind by Samoa Joe, who ran him into the ring post multiple times. “Say my name again,” Joe said before performing a running senton. Joe picked up Zayn and barked, “This is your world now.” Joe threw Zayn inside the ring, where Owens was calmly waiting…
6. WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn in a non-title match. The referee checked on Zayn before the match. Zayn wanted to fight. The bell rang and Owens immediately clotheslined him in the corner. Owens performed multiple cannonballs while Cole said it was a different Owens and that something changed last week. Owens eventually performed a Popup Powerbomb for the win…
Kevin Owens beat Sami Zayn in 1:15 in a non-title match.
Graves hyped Big Show vs. Braun Strowman… A shot aired of Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman backstage. Cole said he was heading back to conduct the interview…
Powell’s POV: That was terrific. The idea of another Owens vs. Zayn match without any real build did nothing for me, but Joe attacking Zayn was violent and perfect. It’s nice to hear the broadcast team openly speaking about the change in Owens. It’s just a shame this change didn’t occur much sooner. I assume Joe vs. Zayn will be announced for Fastlane.
[Q12] [C] A graphic acknowledged the death of Ivan Koloff…
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon asked Mick Foley where he was when she was embarrassed by Bayley and Sasha Banks. Foley said Stephanie put herself in that position and he enjoys every moment of it. Stephanie told Foley not to test her like one of her children. She said his behavior is nothing short of insubordination.
Foley said he asked her not to treat her like he’s stupid. He said he was no longer asking, he was telling her. Foley said he believed in her, but now Seth Rollins is on the shelf for another WrestleMania due to Samoa Joe and her husband. Foley said he knew he was committing career suicide, but he refused to be belittled or let her greed get in the way of what’s right. Stephanie told Foley to be careful of a cord on the floor. “I wouldn’t want you to have an accident,” she told him…
Graves said you don’t cross the boss. Saxton set up the Lesnar and Heyman interview…
Backstage, Cole interviewed Lesnar and Heyman. Cole brought up Lesnar facing the man who beat him in 1:26 and eliminated him from the Royal Rumble match. Cole shifted to the ramifications of Owens vs. Goldberg. Heyman cut him off and said it would behoove Cole to lower his tone.
Heyman said Lesnar disagrees with the notion that Goldberg vs. Owens could affect his prominence at WrestleMania. Lesnar stood and ran off Cole, then took a set and stared into the camera while Heyman spoke behind him. Heyman said he thinks Owens established himself last week and is prepared to shock the world at Fastlane and has a shot to walk into WrestleMania as champion.
Heyman said Lesnar disagrees. Heyman said if Goldberg hits a spear and a Jackhammer on Owens, then Goldberg goes to WrestleMania as champion. Heyman said it’s just one more thing that The Beast will conquer at WrestleMania. “And on that my client, Brock Lesnar, agrees,” Heyman closed…
The ring crew was shown working on the ring as Graves said they were reinforcing it due to the “800 pounds of humanity competing in this matchup.” Braun Strowman made his entrance… [C]
The broadcast team hyped Goldberg for next week’s Raw. Cole hyped a sit-down interview with Seth Rollins for next week…
[Overrun] Big Show made his entrance for the main event. Strowman wins the battle of the beards…
7. Braun Strowman vs. Big Show. The bell rang and they had a staredown. Cole noted it’s not often that Strowman looks up at an opponent. Strowman wiped his foot on the mat like a bull. A “this is awesome” chant broke out as they locked up. Show put Strowman in a wristlock. Strowman did a summersault in attempt to break it. Strowman also kipped up to his feet.
Strowman backed Show into the corner and jawed at him. Show put his foot behind him and shoved him over. Cole said Show was using some of the old tricks. They replayed it and Cole said it was old school. Strowman put Show down with a running clothesline at 2:30. Show caught Strowman charging at him in the corner, but Strowman kicked him and DDT’d Show for a two count at 4:20.
At 4:55, Strowman performed a running clothesline. The broadcast team said Show seemed to be out on his feet. They raved about how impressive Strowman was. At 5:30, Strowman put Show down with another clothesline and got a two count. Strowman looked pissed that Show kicked out.
At 6:30, Show blocked a suplex and instead suplexed Strowman. Show splashed Strowman in the corner and then knocked him down with a running shoulder block. Show chokeslammed Strowman and covered him, but Strowman kicked out aggressively at two. Show looked frustrated.
Show went to the ropes where he was tripped up by Strowman. Show regained control and positioned Strowman on the top rope. The fans stood up in anticipation. Show went for a superplex. Strowman threw punches to avoid it and fans booed. Strowman leapt off the second rope. Show punched him and covered him for a near fall.
Show went to the corner and set up for a Vader Bomb, but Strowman snuck underneath him and then powerslammed Show for a two count. Cole noted that no one had kicked out of Strowman’s powerslam. Another “this is awesome” chant started up. Strowman pulled down the straps on his gear. Show grabbed him by the throat, but Strowman fought that off and performed another powerslam on Show for the win…
Braun Strowman defeated Big Show in 12:15.
After the match, Roman Reigns’s entrance music played and he came to the ring. Reigns caught Strowman with a Superman Punch that didn’t knock him down. Reigns threw another Superman Punch that put Strowman down. Reigns went to the corner and charged, but Strowman dropkicked him. Strowman picked up Reigns and powerslammed him. Strowman left the ring, looked back at Reigns, and smiled to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A really good super heavyweight match. The fans were hot for this from the start. It was a big time showcase for Strowman, who performed a couple of new moves early on and looked really badass in kicking out of some of Show’s top offensive moves. It wasn’t pretty at times late, but this was still so much better than anyone would have expected a Show vs. Strowman match to be even a few months ago. The post match angle was great in that they let Strowman leave a monster rather than having Reigns get the better of him even after a tough match. Overall, the show had some negatives, but they closed things out nicely and provided good followup to the recent developments involving Owens and Joe. I will have more to say ini my member exclusive audio review later tonight. Thanks for watching along with me.
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