By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,489)
Live from Memphis, Tennessee at FedExForum
Aired December 6, 2021 on USA Network
[Hour One] Raw opened with highlights from last week… Backstage, Seth Rollins welcomed viewers to “Monday Night Rollins.” He spoke about the Big E facing Kevin Owens in a cage match and said they will rip each other apart and he will enjoy every second of it. Rollins also spoke of starting off the year by becoming the WWE Champion at WWE Day 1…
Big E spoke backstage and said he went to hell and back to get his WWE Championship. He said tonight is no different. He said he wouldn’t just beat Owens, he would punish him… The broadcast team of Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton checked in on commentary… Big E made his entrance for the cage match…
Kevin Owens delivered a backstage promo. He said Big E calls him a liar, but he’s the liar for saying that the WWE Championship is his. Owens said the truth is that he is going to punish Big E. “And that is no lie,” Owens said. Owens made his entrance…
1. WWE Champion Big E vs. Kevin Owens in a non-title, steel cage match. Both men ended up fighting on the top rope. Owens knocked Big E back into the ring with elbows. Once Owens dropped down, Big E ran the ropes and speared him. Big E ran Owens into the cage twice. Big E went for another spear, but Owens moved, causing Big E to crash into the cage heading into a commercial break. [C]
Owens made a play to escape over the top of the cage. Big E caught him at the top of the cage and put Owens in an electric chair position on his shoulders. Owens slipped away and performed a sunset flip powerbomb from the middle rope and then covered Big E for a two count. Big E no-sold some forearm shots, then suplexed Owens three times.
Big E ran the ropes and then had to catch Owens, who tried to escape through the door. Owens threw a superkick and performed a cannonball in the corner, which led to another two count. Owens went for another cage door exit, but Big E cut him off. Owens put Big E in a Boston Crab. Big E crawled toward the open cage door. Owens gave up the hold and leaned through the ropes to stop Big E. Seth Rollins showed up at ringside and slammed the cage door on the heads of both men. [C]
Powell’s POV: A local ad listed Big E, Randy Orton, and Riddle vs. Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, and Omos as the dark main event for next week’s Raw in St. Paul.
Rollins watched from ringside while Big E and Owens fought inside the cage. Owens performed a top rope frog splash for a two count. Big E came right back with a uranage slam for a two count of his own. Owens performed a Popup Powerbomb for another two count.
Owens made a play to escape over the top of the cage, but Big E caught him and they fought on the top rope again. Big E got the better of it and hit a Big Ending from the ropes. Big E crawled to the door. Owens grabbed Big E’s feet, but Big E kicked Owens and then escaped through the cage door to win the match.
WWE Champion Big E defeated Kevin Owens in 20:05 in a non-title, steel cage match.
Seth Rollins attacked Big E at ringside. The cage was raised. Rollins went after Owens and set up for a Stomp, but Big E suplexed Rollins. Big E hit Owens with a Big Ending and then celebrated his win… [C]
Powell’s POV: Raw opened hot with a cage match, which is a good idea considering that there’s a big football game that will be played in the snow tonight. I was surprised to see Big E get the better of both men after the match. I wonder if they will do something to put heat back on the heels, particularly Owens, before the end of the night.
Coming out of the break, Big E was lying at ringside while Owens and Rollins were still selling inside the ring. Footage aired from during the break of Bobby Lashley coming out and spearing Big E. Lashley also hit a Flatliner on Owens and a Dominator on Rollins, then performed his one-armed slam on Big E. Graves speculated that Lashley was feeling disrespected with so much attention being given to the Triple Threat for the WWE Championship…
Smith turned the focus to promoting the remainder of the show. Saxton announced an RK-Bro-Nament for a future tag title shot. A graphic listed The Street Profits, AJ Styles and Omos, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio, and Chad Gable and Otis as the entrants…
WWE Tag Team Champions Queen Zelina and Carmella made their entrance. Zelina spoke as they headed to the ring and took a jab at Memphis. Nikki ASH and Rhea Ripley made their entrance…
2. Nikki ASH (w/Rhea Ripley) vs. Queen Zelina (w/Carmella). Zelina tried to use the ropes for leverage while covering ASH, but the referee caught her. ASH performed a neckbreaker and tried to follow up with a top rope cross body block, but Zelina moved. Zelina followed up with a Code Red and scored the pin…
Queen Zelina defeated Nikki ASH in 2:05.
Powell’s POV: It seems like the creative forces have lost their love for ASH’s superhero gimmick. If so, then hopefully there’s a plan to do something else with her. I’m guessing we get the obligatory rematch for the tag titles first and then hopefully Ripley can move on from the tag division.
Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviewed Raw Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Riddle. They told conflicting stories about the tournament came about. Riddle said they would be special correspondents providing exclusive interviews. Orton said he never agreed to do that. Riddle, who was wearing a WWE blazer, tried to give one to Orton. After firing up the crowd, Orton agreed to wear the blazer… [C]
A graphic noted that Carmella opened her own wide label and is a former Laker Girl…
Backstage, Ripley was trying to cheer up ASH when an autograph seeker showed up. Even though the woman was clearly looking at someone else, ASH assumed she was talking to her. Jerry Lawler showed up and signed the autograph. Lawler offered ASH an autograph to cheer her up. ASH shook her head and walked away. “Was it something I said?” Lawler asked…
Powell’s POV: It looks like I wrote too soon about creative losing their love for ASH. They seem to b telling a frustration story of some kind. I’d love to she her snap and play a variation of the character she played in Sanity.
3. AJ Styles and Omos vs. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins in a tournament match. Both entrances were televised. The Profits had a pre-taped promo. They still want the smoke. Orton and Riddle sat in on commentary. Styles knocked Ford off the apron with a forearm shot and then dove to ringside and hit Dawkins with a shot heading into a break. [C]
[Hour Two] Ford removed one of his gloves and walked over to the corner and backhanded Omos. Dawkins entered the ring and slapped Omos too. The Profits dropkicked Omos off the apron. Styles performed an enzuigiri and a Pele Kick on Ford, then followed up with a brainbuster. Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Omos tagged himself in as he was leaping over the ropes.
Dawkins pulled Styles to ringside. Omos dropped off the apron and clotheslined Dawkins. Ford dove onto Omos, who caught him and slammed him on the apron. Ford rolled inside the ring while Omos continued to go after Dawkins on the floor. Styles tried to get Omos to return to the ring, but he was counted out.
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated AJ Styles and Omos via count-out in 9:45.
After the match, Styles told Omos that he needs to listen to him. “That’s how this team works,” Styles said. Omos left the ring without Styles, who yelled Omos’s name to no avail.
Riddle entered the ring and said he was on-scene reporter “Bro-Sell” (a take on Howard Cosell for those of you under the age of 40). Riddle asked Styles about the situation with Omos. Styles said it was a disagreement and told him to get the mic out of his face before he shoves it down his throat.
Once Styles left the ring, Riddle said the tournament was anybody’s game other than Styles and Omos. Riddle asked Orton, who was seated at the broadcast table, if he had anything to add. “Nope,” Orton said. Riddle threw it back to “Jimbo Slice” (Jimmy Smith) and tried to play to a half-interested crowd…
Powell’s POV: Less is more with Riddle humor. It looks like we’re finally working toward the Styles and Omos split. I’m curious to see who plays the heel and who plays the babyface. Styles was being pretty mellow when he spoke to Omos afterward. It wasn’t an over the top heel tongue lashing by any means.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviewed Becky Lynch, who said it was the biggest night of Liv Morgan’s career. Lynch said Morgan has never been hotter and the crowds are fired up behind her. She said the real battle for Morgan won’t be in the ring, it will be in her own head. Lynch said nobody really wants Morgan to win the title. She said that if you do well enough, the people turn on you.
Powell’s POV: Lynch borrowed a line from her husband, who has claimed in interviews that fans turn on top babyfaces. That was not a problem with Lynch. She turned her heel and the fans still cheer her.
U.S. Champion Damian Priest made his entrance for an open challenge… [C]
Backstage, Riddle spoke to Orton, who told him that his broadcast career was finished at least for now. Orton removed his jacket and put it on Riddle…
4. Damian Priest vs. Robert Roode (w/Dolph Ziggler) for the U.S. Championship. The entrance of Roode and Ziggler was not televised. Ziggler took a swing at Priest, who ducked it. Priest followed Ziggler to ringside. Roode shoved Priest into the ring steps, then tossed him over the ringside barricade. [C]
Roode caught Priest going for a springboard move and put him down with a nice spinebuster for a near fall. Priest eventually came back and hit The Reckoning and scored the clean pin.
Damian Priest defeated Robert Roode in 9:40 to retain the U.S. Championship.
After the match, Ziggler superkicked Priest and then joined Roode at ringside…
Powell’s POV: The match was well worked. There’s just zero mystery regarding the outcome of a title match with Roode or Ziggler challenging a singles wrestler no matter how many near falls they get. We didn’t see Priest show off his mean streak, but I’m sure he will with Ziggler either later tonight or next week.
Bianca Belair made her entrance. Doudrop ran out and hit her from behind. Smith said their match was coming up next… [C] The broadcast team hyped Lynch vs. Morgan for later in the show…
5. Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop. Belair used her speed to frustrate Doudrop early. Doudrop dodged a dropkick and then performed a running senton splash. A short time later, Belair knocked Doudrop off the apron. Doudrop reached in the ring and pulled Belair to the floor and then drove her into the apron. Doudrop splashed Belair on the floor at ringside. [C]
Belair performed a spinebuster. She followed up with a cross body block from the middle rope and got a two count. Belair acted surprised that she didn’t win. Doudrop came back and performed a Vader Bomb for a near fall of her own. Doudrop headbutted Belair, who ended up in the corner. Doudrop went for a cannonball, but Belair moved. Belair powered up Doudrop for her finisher, but Doudrop held the ropes and eventually rolled out of the ring and took the count-out loss.
Bianca Belair beat Doudrop by count-out in 13:00.
Once Doudrop made it to the stage area, she turned and slapped her ass, mimicking one of Belair’s signature mannerisms…
Powell’s POV: An entertaining match. I like the count-out finish to extend the feud. Doudrop is so much better as a heel. Now if they would just ditch the awful Doudrop name.
Footage aired of Vince McMahon slapping Austin Theory after telling him to expect the unexpected last week…
Backstage, Vince was on his phone when Theory knocked on the door. Vince excitedly greeted him. He explained that no one cares if they greet someone by asking how they are doing. Vince said he hoped Theory would learn something this week by putting him in a match. Vince asked if Theory was expecting to be put him in a match. Theory said absolutely not. Vince asked if he was surprised. Theory said yes. “Oh, man,” Vince said…
The Miz made his entrance for the Miz TV segment… [C] A Smackdown recap video aired…
The Miz spoke in the ring and then introduced Edge, who came out wearing a Faith No More “Angel Dust” t-shirt (great album). Edge said the meant the compliments he gave Miz last week and said he still means them. “Oh, that is so sweet,” Miz said before accusing Edge of losing his edge. He said the old Edge would have speared him out of his $9,000 shoes.
Edge took issue with Miz paying nine grand “for those ugly ass shoes” and said his Jordan 3’s were way cooler. Edge told Miz not to mistake his kindness for weakness. Miz said he needed Edge’s kindness earlier in his career when he was ostracized.
[Hour Three] Miz said he was treated like a peasant when he was more famous than 90 percent of the locker room. Miz said he doesn’t want or need Edge’s kindness. Edge recalled pulling Miz aside in the same arena they were in and telling him that he had something. Edge said Miz brushed him off. Edge said he went through the same things before Miz did and would have listened if someone tried to talk to him.
Edge said he doesn’t hold people down, he sees opportunity when new people show up. Edge told Miz to look in the mirror and it would tell him that he’s an ass, just like it did in 2006. Miz told Edge that he’s a hypocrite and is vulnerable. He said 2022 is going to be the year of Miz and he can’t think of a better way to usher it in than beating Edge at WWE Day 1.
Edge accepted the challenge, then pointed out that they were in the ring and there was nothing between them. He asked Miz what he had to say. “No,” Miz replied. He tried to downplay the idea that he was afraid or scared. Edge apparently teased a punch (production missed it) because Miz dropped to his back. “Not afraid?” Edge asked before tossing the mic down and leaving the ring. A replay showed that Edge did tease throwing a punch…
Powell’s POV: I was having a hard enough time being excited about this feud before Miz cowered in fear over Edge cocking his fist. I really hope Miz comes out the other side of this as something more than a pest heel who is always put in his place.
Liv Morgan was interviewed by Schreiber in the backstage area. Morgan said it scares people that the people want to see her take the title. Morgan said she would do everything in her power to get what she wants, which is the Raw Women’s Championship…
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance for their tag team tournament match. A pre-taped promo aired with Rey saying they always show up for a fight… [C] A Veer Mahaan video aired. He’s still listed as “coming soon to Raw”… Alpha Academy made their entrance…
6. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio vs. “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis in a tournament match. Riddle sat in on commentary. Gable performed a dragon screw leg whip on Dom in the ropes. Gable went for a top rope moonsault and landed on his feet when Dom avoided it, but Dom rolled up Gable and pinned him. The broadcast team pointed out that Otis never even got to tag into the match.
Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio defeated “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis in 3:15 to advance to the finals of the tournament.
Afterward, Riddle entered the ring and tried to interview Otis and Gable. Otis picked him up and power slammed him. Graves hyped The Street Profits vs. The Mysterios in the finals of the tournament for next week’s Raw…
Powell’s POV: A great babyface turn for Otis! Wait, power slamming Riddle isn’t a babyface move? Never mind.
Vince was on the phone in his office while Theory did jumping jacks behind him. Once Vince was finished with his call, he told Theory he could stop. Vince told Theory that he would not be having a match. Vince told him that he would have to find another way to impress him. Theory unbuttoned his jacket and went back to doing jumping jacks. Vince told him to stop and said that’s not what he was thinking. Vince told him to find another way and told him to use his brain. Theory smiled and left the room…
Powell’s POV: Am I the only one who was hoping that Theory would return the favor by slapping Vince across the face?
Finn Balor made his entrance for a match against T Bar… [C]
7. Finn Balor vs. T-Bar. The entrance of T-Bar was not televised. T-Bar got a little offense in and picked up a near fall. Balor eventually rallied and went up top for his finisher, but T-Bar cut him off by grabbing his him by the throat. Balor fought him off and knocked him back into the ring and then hit the Coup De Grace for the win.
Finn Balor defeated T-Bar in 3:40.
After the match, Theory attacked Balor and put him down with his finisher. Theory knelt over Balor and took selfie photos…
Powell’s POV: A bounce back win for Balor coming off of his loss to Seth Rollins last week. But Theory has to know that if you want to impress Vince, you have to attack a wrestler who stands at least 6-3.
WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke was sneaking around backstage when R-Truth show up in his bush outfit and Akira Tozawa popped up out of the trash. Reggie flipped his way into the picture. Reggie told Brooke that he was impressed by the move she used on Cedric Alexander and the title looked good on her. Tamina entered the picture with a referee, but Reggie alerted Brooke to it and she was able to run away…
Becky Lynch made her entrance for the main event… [C] Memphis imagery was shown… The broadcast team recapped Bobby Lashley attacking Big E, Kevin Owens, and Seth Rollins after the opening match…
Backstage, Kevin Patrick asked Bobby Lashley and MVP about the attack. MVP said we live in an era where people have become way too comfortable disrespecting other people because there are no consequences. He said that’s not the case in the Almighty Era. MVP said the disrespect was the three men having the audacity to have a WWE Championship match without Lashley, who then said that’s what happens when he’s disrespected…
A Liv Morgan video package aired. She spoke about being raised by a single mother. Her mother spoke about how she tried and sometimes it just didn’t work. She said it was always about WWE for Liv since she was a young girl. Morgan spoke about having a dream that she couldn’t articulate and only she could understand. She said the confused kid has grown into a confident woman who isn’t afraid to fight for her dream. Morgan said she knows who she is, the next Raw Women’s Champion… Morgan made her entrance… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s about time they tell Morgan’s story on the television show rather than assume that everyone has watched their documentaries.
8. Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan for the Raw Women’s Championship. Mike Rome stood in the ring (it’s a miracle!) and delivered introductions for the championship match. Morgan performed an early missile dropkick from the middle rope. She went for a double stomp that Lynch avoided before dumping Morgan to the floor. Lynch slid to ringside where Morgan performed a Codebreaker and then returned to the ring.
Morgan ran the ropes and performed a suicide dive. Morgan came up holding her elbow. Back in the ring, Morgan covered Lynch for a two count. Morgan shook the bad arm before going to the ropes and was cut off by Lynch, who superplexed her. [C]
Morgan capped off a flurry of offense by springboarding off the ropes into another Codebreaker and got a near fall. Morgan went up top a short time later and hit a missile dropkick that led to another two count. Morgan applied a Rings of Saturn. Lynch rolled onto her to break it, then applied a Disarmer. Morgan reached the ropes with her feet to break it. Lynch dragged Morgan back to the middle of the ring where Morgan caught her in an inside cradle. Lynch went for a Manhandle Slam, but Morgan rolled her into a pin. Lynch rolled her over and held the bottom rope while scoring the pin…
Becky Lynch defeated Liv Morgan in 14:50 to retain the Raw Women’s Championship.
After the match, Saxton laid it on thick while talking about how Morgan had the performance of a lifetime. A graphic listed The Miz, Bianca Belair, and Austin Theory for Raw Talk…
Powell’s POV: A good match with the right outcome. The fans are not behind Morgan yet based on this live crowd’s reaction. But it’s possible they will get there if it’s portrayed as if she’s close to winning and keeps getting cheated out of the title. The airing of a portion of her story was a start, but they still have a lot of work left to do when it comes to getting her character over.
Overall, the show had good bookends with the cage match and the main event. They tried to give some meaning to a couple of the tag matches with the tournament, but three hours is a lot of time to fill. That said, the show is still in a much better place than it was prior to the draft. I will be back shortly with my weekly same night audio review of Raw for Dot Net Members. Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Have you seen Livs fanbase and people were booing Becky from the beginning. what show did you watch?