By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,547)
Live from Cincinnati, Ohio at Heritage Bank Center
Aired January 16, 2023 on USA Network
[Hour One] The Raw opening aired (and did include shots of The Bloodline). Pyro shot off on the stage. Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves were on commentary. Patrick announced that the show would include Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin vs. Finn Balor in a six-way elimination match for a shot at the U.S. Championship on next week’s 30th Anniversary episode…
Solo Sikoa made his entrance with Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso. The Usos delivered a promo and said Kevin Owens wouldn’t get away with disrespecting the Tribal Chief. They also announced that there would be an acknowledgement ceremony for Roman Reigns on next week’s show, and they will defend the Raw Tag Titles against Judgment Day on the same show.
“Judgment Day” Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest made their entrance. Ripley spoke as they walked to the ring and said they run Raw. Balor said they run the show and they ran the gauntlet and ran through the entire Raw tag team division last week.
Once in the ring, Balor praised “the ex-con Dom” for stepping up last week and replacing him in the tag team gauntlet. Balor winced when he spoke about how they would win the tag titles to sell his injury from last week. Priest said the red tag team titles would be returning to Monday nights.
Priest said The Bloodline claims to run Raw and yet they’ve never stepped to them. Dom said he smelled fear. Jey pointed out that he and Jimmy started their historic tag title run by beating Dom and Rey Mysterio. Dom told them they would last a minute in the cell with the prisoners that he was in with. Dom said they call Usos wannabe ese’s.
Sikoa stepped up and got in Dom’s face. Ripley pushed Dom back and stood face to face with Sikoa, who eventually stepped back, then moved forward and went face to face with her again. Dom hit Sikoa, who took the shot and then knocked Dom down with a forearm. The two factions brawled.
Ripley told Sikoa to bring it. Sikoa let out a primal scream. Suddenly, Mustafa Ali dove from the top rope onto Sikoa. Ali threw punches at Sikoa while the broadcast team said that Sikoa would face Ali after the break…
Powell’s POV: I’m not sure who they want viewers to cheer for, but I enjoyed the dynamic between the Bloodline and Judgment Day members. I missed it last week when they said the winners of the gauntlet match would earn a shot at the Raw Tag Titles rather than the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, but I did catch it on Smackdown when they set up the Usos defending the Smackdown Tag Team Titles against thew winners of an upcoming tournament. If they are starting to take this approach with the tag titles, then one can only wonder if Roman Reigns will start defending his titles separately.
1. Solo Sikoa vs. Mustafa Ali. The match was joined in progress. The Usos were not at ringside with Sikoa. Footage aired of Byron Saxton interviewing Ali earlier in the day. Ali said he didn’t get to fight back when The Bloodline attacked everyone recently, but he was fighting back tonight.
Sikoa turned Ali inside out with a clothesline and covered him for a two count. Sikoa talked trash and then threw punches at Ali. Sikoa went for a running hip attack, but Ali rolled out of the way. Sikoa grabbed Ali on the apron and ran him into the ring post. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso hopped the barricade and hopped onto the ring apron.
Kevin Owens made his entrance. Graves said there was no way that Owens was anywhere near 100 percent. Owens roughed up both Usos at ringside. Ali hit a distracted Sikoa with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Sikoa avoided a 450 splash. Ali rolled through, but Sikoa put him down with a Samoan Spike and pinned him.
Solo Sikoa defeated Mustafa Ali.
After the match, Owens performed a Stunner on Sikoa. Owens took Sikoa to ringside and placed him on the broadcast table. Owens went to climb on the timekeepers barricade, but the Usos returned. Owens threw a chair at one of them. Adam Pearce and other producers showed up and stop Owens while the Usos and Sikoa headed toward the back. Sikoa yelled that he’s going to kick Owens’ ass… [C]
Bobby Lashley delivered a backstage promo. He said that the six-way elimination match meant that five people would be tapping out to The Hurt Lock. Lashley said that Austin’s Theory’s title reign comes with an expiration date. He said he would take the title back at Raw XXX… An ad aired for the Raw XXX event…
Powell’s POV: Sikoa going over was no surprise because it’s the right move, and it was an entertaining match. They have to make Owens look as strong as possible heading into his title match, though I don’t know if anything he does will convince viewers that he’s going to beat Reigns. I believe the Raw XXX ad is the same one they played on Smackdown. For those wondering, they did show a Vince McMahon clip and they also had an audio clip of him welcoming viewers to Raw.
Cincinnati Bengals’ imagery was shown (what a nice reminder for those who forgot about tonight’s football game)…
The third part of the Cody Rhodes video series aired. He spoke about training at the Nightmare Factory and announced that he will be returning at the Royal Rumble…
The broadcast team made a big fuss over Cody Rhodes returning at the Rumble. Graves said he had goosebumps on his goosebumps and guaranteed that Rhodes would pick up right where he left off…
Byron Saxton stood outside of Adam Pearce’s office. He said it’s been a revolving door of wrestlers trying to make their case for being in the Rumble match. Saxton introduced Elias, who said that when he wins the Rumble, the vengeance tour begins.
MVP exited Pearce’s office and told Elias not to bother Pearce about entering the Rumble because the winner is a done deal. Elias assumed that MVP was referring to himself and said that he hasn’t been relevant in the ring in years. MVP said he would get Elias a match with the 2023 Royal Rumble winner. Elias accepted and said they call it a tuneup in the music business. MVP returned to Pearce’s office…
Powell’s POV: So Elias will be destroyed by Omos later in the show? I might wonder if MVP was referring to Bobby Lashley if Lashley wasn’t already booked for the six-way elimination match. On a side note, it’s kind of strange to hear Graves gushing over a babyface like he did for Cody, but it’s the right move to take to build up Cody’s return.
Patrick announced The Street Profits vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin as coming up after the break… [C] Patrick spoke briefly about Baron Corbin and then promoted the six-way elimination match main event… Entrances for the tag team match took place…
2. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. Dawkins wore some Bengals gear to the ring. Graves said the Cincy native had been insufferable throughout the day because of the Bengals winning their playoff game. The bell rang and then Benjamin knocked Ford off the apron with a knee strike.
Ford returned and eventually tagged in and performed a high crossbody block on Alexander. Ford turned Alexander inside out with a clothesline and then played to the crowd with a primal scream that received a good reaction. Alexander came back moments later with a clothesline on the apron.
MVP walked to ringside. Patrick questioned why MVP was there. Graves told him to relax and said it was just business. [C] Dawkins tagged in and had a nice offensive flurry on Benjamin before tagging out. Ford performed a top rope frog splash and had the pin, but Alexander returned to break it up.
Dawkins put Benjamin on his shoulders while Ford went to the top rope. Alexander clipped Dawkins’ knee. Benjamin ran up the ropes and tossed Ford into the ring and then covered him, but Dawkins broke up the pin. A short time later, Dawkins performed a flip dive onto Ford and both opponents on the floor.
Back inside the ring, Dawkins went for a corner splash. MVP was late arriving to pull Alexander out of the ring. MVP distracted the referee while Benjamin tossed Dawkins into Alexander’s knee strike. Alexander went for the pin, but Dawkins reversed it and got the three count…
“The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin in 9:15.
Powell’s POV: The best way to send the message that Vince McMahon has not taken full control of creative is to have a wrestler win in his hometown. I’m only half joking. A good tag match. It looked like MVP was legitimately late, but I’m not entirely sure what they were going for. I don’t like Patrick having to act clueless about MVP coming out given that we just saw MVP speak about the duo during his backstage segment with Bobby Lashley last week.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley spoke with Judgment Day and asked Finn Balor about the main event. Balor called it a Six Pack Challenge and said if anyone is ready for that it would be him. Chad Gable and Otis showed up and took issue with Judgment Day claiming they ran through the tag division last week.
Gable said they had a shot at redemption. Ripley told Gable not to make her do something she would not regret. Dom said he’d been pumping iron in the yard all day and even he couldn’t hold Ripley back. Gable said Dom needed to work on having a strong body and a strong mind, and told him to sign up for an Alpha Academy course. Priest told them to take a walk or they wouldn’t make it to the ring…
Patrick hyped Becky Lynch calling out Bayley… [C] Graves touted WrestleMania Hollywood and set up footage of the wrestlers doing their Robert De Niro impersonations from the last WrestleMania in the area…
Becky Lynch’s music played and she walked her way down the steps and slapped hands with the fans. Lynch brought up the Bengals winning and said joked that she dyed her hair orange for them. Lynch entered the ring and called out Bayley.
“Damage CTRL” Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky made their entrance. Bayley wore a San Francisco 49ers jersey and said her name is Bayley, not Karen. Lynch said she is a Karen and said someone needs to explain to Bayley what a Karen is. Lynch called Bayley an entitled idiot with a crappy haircut.
[Hour Two] Damage CTRL entered the ring and then Bayley said that was real mature of Lynch, who said Bayley peaked in 2015. Bayley said she ran NXT that year when Lynch ran off with the other Horsewomen and took her spot. Lynch asked if Bayley was trying to recreate something with her faction.
Bayley said she wasn’t trying to recreate anything and accused Lynch of taking her spot. Lynch said she wasn’t brought up because they saw more in her than they did in Bayley. Lynch said Bayley was a champion and said she wanted to help the future. Lynch asked if that was true or if Bayley was full of crap like she always said she was.
Lynch said she wasn’t supposed to be The Man or headline WrestleMania, but she worked harder than anyone. Lynch said she knows Bayley loves the business, but Bayley whines and moans whenever she’s not the focus. Bayley told the crowd not to bother changing Lynch’s name, which led to some Becky chants.
Bayley said the only reason Lynch became The Man is because she was punched in the face by another woman. Lynch said she could punch Bayley in the face. Kai and Sky stepped forward. Lynch asked if Bayley was going to hid behind her allies. Bayley stepped forward.
Lynch asked if she would have a problem facing her in a one-on-one match. Bayley said no problem. Lynch raised the stakes by challenging her to a cage match next week. Bayley hesitated and then accepted. Lynch said it was official and she would see Bayley next week. Lynch dropped the mic and left the ring…
Powell’s POV: If these matches that they are advertising for Raw XXX don’t actually take place, then we’ll know Vince is running creative again. Again, I’m only half joking. Anyway, what’s up with DDB spending so much time in the crowd these days?
Dolph Ziggler was shown warming up in his locker room. Mustafa Ali entered the room and once again took issue with Ziggler refusing to team with him. Ali said it must be so good to be Ziggler, who gets opportunity after opportunity handed to him. Ziggler said no one gets anything handed to them. Ziggler said he needed to get in the zone. Ali punched Ziggler and asked if he had his attention, then left the room…
Powell’s POV: Ali’s character is the new Ziggler in that he’s complaining about opportunities even though fans see him lose countless matches. They deserve each other.
An ad for Smackdown hyped the Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens contract signing, and Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. The Viking Raiders in a tournament match for a shot at the Smackdown Tag Team Titles… [C]
Elias was in the ring coming out of the break. In a shocking development, MVP came out dressed in a suit and said Elias would be facing the winner of the 2023 Royal Rumble, but it wouldn’t be him. Omos made his entrance while Graves dropped some music references…
3. Omos (w/MVP) vs. Elias. Elias got the better of Omos at ringside briefly. MVP held up his cane. Elias grabbed his guitar. Omos stopped Elias from using the guitar as a weapon and then headbutted him. Omos smashed the guitar on the ground. Omos returned to the ring and was hit with a few jumping knees from Elias. Omos dropped to one knee. Elias went up top, but Omos grabbed him by the throat and then hit his finisher and scored the pin…
Omos defeated Elias in 2:25.
Powell’s POV: Hey, Omos got to destroy Elias as quickly as Solo Sikoa should have.
Byron Saxton interviewed Adam Pearce and asked him for a taste of what was in store for Raw XXX. Pearce said it would be an unforgettable night. Akira Tozawa showed up and asked for a spot in the Royal Rumble. Pearce said he had to earn it. Tozawa asked for a match to prove it. Pearce said he couldn’t make any guarantees, but he could give him a match and a win would go a long way…
Judgment Day was shown walking backstage while Patrick hyped the tag team match… [C] Patrick spotlighted Finn Balor briefly while also noting his rib injury before noting that he’s in the main event…
“Judgment Day” Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest made their entrance. Graves was great as he warned Patrick about the things that Dom could do to him with a toothbrush or a bar of soap. Alpha Academy came out to a flat reaction…
4. Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio (w/Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor) vs. “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis. Gable caught Priest in a standing ankle lock. Priest made it to the ropes and then kicked Gable away. Gable came right back with a dragon screw leg whip. Otis tagged in and got a nice pop. Graves said he was half expecting Otis to break through a brick wall and pour him a beverage. Nice.
Gable tagged in again. Priest whipped Gable toward the ropes. Dom held the ropes down and then Gable tumbled to ringside. [C] Otis powerslammed Priest for a good near fall. Otis performed a hilariously terrible version of the Caterpillar and then went to the ropes, but he was distracted by Gable suplexing Dom on the floor.
Priest slammed Otis from the ropes. Gable returned to the ring and suplexed Priest. Dom rolled up Gable, who countered into the ankle lock. Ripley distracted the referee and then Priest hit his South of Heaven chokeslam on Gable, which led to Dom scoring the pin…
Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio defeated “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis in 11:00.
Powell’s POV: A fun match. Alpha Academy got a flat reaction coming out and then totally got the crowd behind them by the end. The fans still love quirky babyface Otis, and I think it’s only a matter of time before they get behind Gable if he’s consistently pushed as a babyface.
The broadcast team set up the annual video tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr… [C] An ad for NXT focused on Gallus, Tyler Bate, and Jinder Mahal returning, and Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams vs. Apollo Crews and Axiom for Tuesday’s show… Patrick spotlighted The Miz briefly as part of the main event build…
5. Iyo Sky (w/Dakota Kai) vs. “Michin” Mia Yim (w/Candice LeRae). Bayley walked onto the stage with her team and applauded Sky before heading to the back. Graves said Michin was cosplaying as prison Dom. Michin performed an early neckbreaker and then had a series of strikes. Michin dropkicked a kneeling Sky.
Sky threw a kick that Michin ducked before performing a German suplex. Michin set up for Eat Defeat, but she was distracted by Kai on the apron. LeRae pulled Kai to the floor. Sky kicked LeRae through the ropes. Michin hit Eat Defeat on Sky and pinned her.
“Michin” Mia Yim beat Iyo Sky in 4:40.
After the match, Kai attacked Michin. LeRae ran in and ended up performing a Codebreaker on Kai. LeRae raised the arm of Michin…
Powell’s POV: The live crowd was a quiet as they were during the Alpha Academy entrance, only this time they didn’t come to life as the match went on. Nevertheless, I assume this is leading to a tag team title match.
The broadcast team set up a video package on Alexa Bliss… Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair was shown walking through the backstage area… [C]
[Hour Three] The broadcast team hyped the Royal Rumble event. Cody Rhodes was shown front and center in the graphic that displayed the men’s Rumble match entrants. The same four women who were previously advertised for the women’s Rumble match remained the only entrants…
Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair made her entrance for an in-ring promo. Belair said she knew it had only been a couple weeks, but she missed the fans so much. She said she would never miss Raw if it were up to her. She said there are risks in her job, such as when she had her face busted on the ring steps.
Belair said that she would face Bliss over and over again despite the scar she left on her face. Belair said that with every risk comes the reward of remaining champion. She paused for a faint EST chant that never developed. Belair said she heard everything Bliss had to say and questioned whether she had the guts to come say it to her face.
Alexa Bliss made her entrance and accused Belair of fearing her because she doesn’t know what to expect from her. Bliss started to mention the Royal Rumble, but Belair cut her off and assumed she was going to enter the Rumble. Belair asked if she would rather face her for a shot at the belt. Bliss asked what the catch was.
Belair stood on the apron and said that Bliss wanted to be in control, so the choice was hers. Bliss said she would see Belair at the Rumble. Belair dropped off the apron and said she could see her tonight too. Belair roughed up Bliss and ran her into the ring post and barricade. Bliss shoved Belair toward the steps, but Belair blocked it.
Belair dove at Bliss, who ducked, causing Belair to leap over the barricade. When Bliss stood up, Belair stood up behind her and pulled her over. Belair roughed up Bliss and then positioned two chairs next to one another on the floor. Belair set up for a KOD onto the chairs, but she stopped. Uncle Howdy could be seen in a lit area that led to the concourse. Bliss slipped away and put Belair down with a DDT… [C]
6. Bronson Reed vs. Akira Tozawa. Tozawa’s entrance was not televised. Reed dominated early on. Tozawa caught him with an enzuigiri and took him down with a huracanrana. Reed rolled to the floor. Tozawa hit him with a suicide dive and then played to a receptive crowd. Tozawa went for a cannonball from the apron. Reed caught him and tossed him at the barricade. Reed went back to the apron and then hit a running elbow on Tozawa on the floor. Back in the ring, Reed performed his Tsunami splash and scored the pin…
Bronson Reed defeated Akira Tozawa in 4:20.
Powell’s POV: Reed’s offensive moves looked terrific and this was an impressive squash style match with Tozawa getting just a bit of offense. This was not billed as a qualifying match, so Reed winning doesn’t mean he’s officially in the match.
Seth Rollins was interviewed by Byron Saxton, who said he was going to the Rumble and to WrestleMania, but the U.S. Title keeps calling him. He said he would win the main event, the U.S. Title, the Rumble, and then beat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. “I want it all and I want it now,” Rollins closed while acknowledging that it was a Freddie Mercury lyric…
The broadcast team hyped the following matches for Raw XXX: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a cage match, The Bloodline’s acknowledgement ceremony, The Usos vs. Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest for the Raw Tag Titles, and Austin Theory defending the U.S. Title against the winner of the six-way elimination match…
A graphic listed the following legends for Raw XXX: Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Teddy Long, Jerry Lawler, X-Pac, Ron Simmons, and Road Dogg…
Entrances for the main event took place. Graves said Corbin needed to put up or shut up because things haven’t gone great for him despite being aligned with JBL. Just as the referee was about to start the match, Austin Theory made his entrance…
7. Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin (w/JBL) vs. Finn Balor in a six-way elimination match for a shot at the U.S. Title. Balor had his ribs wrapped to sell last week’s injury. Theory remained on the stage as the bell rang to start the match. They cut to commercials seconds into the match. [C]
Rollins and Balor were fighting inside the ring while the others brawled at ringside coming out of the break. Theory joined the broadcast team as a guest commentator. Theory said he was looking at the past and grew up watching all of the match entrants.
The wrestlers did a four-man tower of doom spot with Rollins on top, Balor and Corbin in the middle, and Lashley underneath. Lashley tried to spear Rollins, who moved. Miz cleared Rollins from the ring. Ziggler and Miz hit their finishers on Lashley. Miz went for a pin, but Lashley kicked out.
Miz threw his kicks at Ziggler when Balor rolled him up. Miz threw harder kicks at Balor, who sold his injured ribs. Miz put Ziggler in a figure four. Ziggler rolled it over and then Rollins hit Miz with a Stomp and pinned him. [C]
The Miz was eliminated by Seth Rollins in 8:45.
Corbin and Balor ran Lashley into the ring post. Balor returned to the ring and was worked over by Rollins. Balor returned to ringside. Rollins hit him with a flying knee. Rollins grabbed a bottle of water, got a mouthful, and spat it at Theory.
In the ring, Rollins and Ziggler took turns roughing up Corbin and then squared off. They ran past one another to take turns hitting Corbin and Balor in opposite corners. Ziggler rolled up Rollins for a two count and then Rollins returned the favor. Rollins performed a suicide dive onto Lashley and Corbin.
Balor performed a flip dive onto the three men on the floor while Theory was shown fuming near the broadcast table. Ziggler went up top and dove onto Corbin and Balor. All five men were down at ringside for a moment.
Ziggler rolled Corbin back inside the ring and then ate a kick from him when he tried to return to the ring. Ziggler escaped a powerbomb and then superkicked Corbin. Ziggler caught Balor with a superkick when he leapt off the ropes. Rollins hit Ziggler with a Pedigree (for having shitty entrance music) and then pinned him. [C]
Dolph Ziggler was eliminated by Seth Rollins in 16:35.
Corbin hit Balor with a Deep Six for the usual near fall. Lashley went on an offensive roll on Balor and Corbin. Rollins ran in and Lashley performed a double move on him and Balor. Lashley slammed Rollins to the mat and covered him for a two count. Lashley suplexed Balor and then played to the receptive crowd.
Lashley set up for the Hurt Lock, but he was distracted by Omos and MVP walking out. Corbin entered the ring and ran the ropes and then clotheslined Lashley. Balor put Corbin down with a sling blade. Balor dropkicked Lashley in the corner and then followed up with a Coup De Grace. Rollins hit Balor with a Stomp and pinned him.
Finn Balor was eliminated by Seth Rollins in 24:20.
The crowd chanted Rollins’ entrance music. Rollins went for another Stomp on Corbin, who rolled to the floor and brought Rollins with him. Rollins caught Corbin with a superkick. Rollins tried to return to the ring, but Omos grabbed him and tossed him over the broadcast table. Corbin was next to Omos and was leery of him. Corbin returned to the ring and was speared and pinned by Lashley.
Baron Corbin was eliminated by Bobby Lashley in 25:35.
Lashley jawed at Omos. Theory took a cheap shot at Lashley with his title belt. Theory boasted to Omos and looked for a high-five, but Omos grabbed him by the throat. Theory was able to climb over the desk while still being choked and then Rollins performed a Stomp on Omos.
Rollins took out Theory. Rollins returned to the ring and set up for a move on Lashley. MVP climbed onto the apron. Rollins superkicked MVP from the apron. Rollins ran the ropes and was speared by Lashley, who pinned him.
Bobby Lashley defeated Seth Rollins, Baron Corbin, Finn Balor, Dolph Ziggler, and The Miz in 26:45 in a six-way elimination match to earn a U.S. Championship match next week.
The broadcast team hyped Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley for the U.S. Championship for next week’s Raw XXX. They narrated highlights of the main event finish. Austin Theory stood on the broadcast table and held up his title belt while Lashley glared at him. Patrick and Graves hyped previously advertised matches for Raw XXX. A graphic listed Becky Lynch, Kevin Owens, Mia Yim, and Candice LeRae for Raw Talk to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A fun main event and seemingly the next step toward the formation of the new Hurt Business. Rollins was picked up multiple pins and was wisely protected despite taking the final pinfall. Overall, this was a better episode than I anticipated given the strong competition from the NFL Playoff game. It was a semi-newsworthy show with the announcement of the Raw XXX matches and legends, as well as some Royal Rumble developments. I will have more to say about it in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading it below.
“Rollins hit Ziggler with a Pedigree (for having shitty entrance music)”
Jason, I truly hope one day you get to interview Ziggler and ask him “what the fuck is up with your shitty entrance music?”
That would be money
I actually feel bad for him. The same entrance presentation for how many years? Shake it up. Do something new.
Why is being a Vikings fan like living in Arkansas?
You’re always getting screwed by Cousins.
Funny (sorry Arkansas). But Cousins wasn’t the problem aside from that last pass. Great season with him leading a lot of comebacks. The problem was the defense. I never got my hopes up for a real run despite their regular season record. The Greatest Show on Turf team would have struggled to win a Super Bowl with that dreadful defense.