By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live on September 16, 2019 from Knoxville, Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena
[Hour One] WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins made his entrance to open the show. Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Renee Young were on commentary. Cole dorked it up again by saying they should refer to Rollins as the Monster Slayer. Rollins acknowledged that he and Strowman lost the Raw Tag Titles, then spoke of beating Strowman after four Stomps and a Pedigree.
Rollins said he’s happy that Strowman isn’t getting a rematch anytime soon given the way he feels today. Rollins recalled being attacked by “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. A “yowie wowie” chant broke out. Rollins said he gets to face Wyatt in three weeks inside Hell in a Cell.
The Firefly Funhouse music interrupted Rollins. Wyatt appeared on the big screen in his sweater persona and labeled Rollins his “future best friend.” Wyatt said he’s super glad that Rollins is okay. Ramblin’ Rabbitt popped up and said Rollins should run. Wyatt slammed his fist on the puppet. Wyatt said Rollins has made a lot of mistakes and people have forgiven him because friends forgive but The Fiend never forgets.
Wyatt said that’s why The Fiend attacked Rollins at Clash of Champions, then added that The Fiend might even have more to say to Rollins tonight. Wyatt stood with his arms crossed and stared into the camera before laughing and telling Rollins that he would see him in hell…
Upside down graphics were shown for the King of the Ring finals and Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley, and Rollins vs. Robert Roode. Young questioned if the graphics had been upside down the entire time.
They cut backstage where Braun Strowman was walking with a purpose. Charly Caruso approached Strowman and said she was under the impression that Strowman wouldn’t be there and said she was curious to know what he has planned. Strowman said the next guy who steps foot in the ring is going to “get these hands”…
An ad for NXT’s premiere on USA Network aired…
Powell’s POV: Join John Moore for his weekly live review of NXT every Wednesday night. As for the opening, Wyatt seems much more over than Rollins right now and it’s going to be interesting to see how WWE navigates those waters. The segment came off well and I’m genuinely looking forward to this match more than anything WWE has delivered in some time.
A graphic boasted that WWE Clash of Champions was more socially active than anything on television, including the Sunday Night Football game…
New Raw Tag Champions Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler entered to Ziggler’s atrocious wretched theme. New Smackdown Tag Champions “The Revival” Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson made their entrance and joined Roode and Ziggler in the ring. Roode spoke about how no one believed he and Ziggler were forming a tag team. Roode took a verbal jab at Cole, saying he didn’t believe it and thinks he knows everything.
Braun Strowman’s entrance music played. Strowman headed to the ring and destroyed Ziggler and The Revival. Roode got away while Cole reminded viewers that he would be facing Rollins later in the show. Cole also said the segment was intended to be a tag team champions summit…
Backstage, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross drank coffee while talking about their match against Sasha Banks and Bayley…
The OC made their entrance for a six-man tag match heading into a single advertisement. Cedric Alexander and The Viking Raiders made separate entrances…
1. “The OC” AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson vs. Cedric Alexander and “The Viking Raiders” Erik and Ivar. Graves tried to tell viewers that Alexander came close to beating Styles, then Cole correctly stated that Styles dominated the match. The OC worked over Erik at ringside heading into a break. [C] Late in the match, Styles caught Alexander with a Phenomenal Forearm and pinned him.
AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson beat Cedric Alexander and The Viking Raiders in 8:30.
Afterward, Styles put the boots to Alexander, then rolled to ringside when the Viking Raiders approached him. Gallows and Anderson attacked the Viking Raiders from behind. Erik fought with Gallows and Anderson on the floor, then Ivar went up top and performed a senton onto them. In the ring, Alexander caught Styles on the ropes and set up for a move, but Styles put him down with a Styles Clash from the middle rope…
Powell’s POV: Alexander was pinned in his home area last night, took the loss in this match, and then took a Styles Clash afterward. Ouch. The only thing more painful was watching Ivar’s senton, as no one bothered to break his fall and he landed hard on the mat at ringside.
The broadcast team set up footage of R-Truth and Carmella getting a tour of the Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame. Glenn “Kane” Jacobs showed up and mentioned legendary coach Pat Summitt. Truth thought he might know Jacobs, who invited them to join him on a tour. R-Truth indicated that he thought Jacobs was the president…
Baron Corbin made his entrance for the King of the Ring finals. The broadcast team hyped Rey Mysterio wrestling later in the show. The broadcast team read through a tale of the tape for the KOTR finals. Corbin was listed as being a foot taller than Gable… [C] Chad Gable made his entrance coming out of the break…
2. Baron Corbin vs. Chad Gable in the King of the Ring tournament finals. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions. Gable dropkicked Corbin to ringside. Gable followed and charged at Corbin, who backdropped him onto an office chair in the timekeepers area. [C] The broadcast team said Corbin dominated the match during the break.
Gable showed some signs of life, but Corbin put him down with a big boot and then jawed to the crowd about Gable having no chance. Gable caught Corbin in an armbar over the ropes. Corbin simply powered him up and slammed him onto the mat and covered him for a near fall.
A short time later, Gable applied an ankle lock, which Corbin broke with a punch. Corbin charged Gable in the corner, Gable moved, and Corbin crashed into the post. Gable went up top and hit a missile dropkick. Gable performed a few kicks in the corner, then Corbin caught him going for another and powerslammed him for a two count.
[Hour Two] Corbin took Gable to ringside and ran him into the barricade twice. Cole said Corbin had dominated 80 percent of the match and Gable had spent most of his time trying to survive. Corbin charged at Gable, who moved, and Corbin crashed into the ring steps. Gable worked over the knee of Corbin by wrapping it around the ring post casing twice, then dropkicked it in the middle of the ring.
Gable threw some punches at Corbin and then ran the ropes and ran into a Deep Six for a near fall. Gable came back with a German suplex into a bridge for a near fall. Moments later, Gable applied an ankle lock in the middle of the ring. Corbin reached for the ropes, but Gable pulled him back. Corbin still reached the ropes to break the the hold. Corbin came right back with End of Days and scored the clean pin…
Baron Corbin pinned Chad Gable in 19:10 to win the King of the Ring tournament.
After the match, Gable made his sad face while a referee helped Corbin up the ramp. Corbin looked at the throne and shoved the referee aside. The broadcast tea hyped Rollins vs. Roode and didn’t show Corbin putting on the king garb…
Powell’s POV: A strong match that was given plenty of time and both men made the most of it. Unfortunately, the damage was done coming into the finals as they just never sold me on Gable winning because they were too busy telling short jokes in the early rounds of the tournament and having Gable make his sad face in return. Let me guess, a WWE website headline will read that Gable came up a little short? Anyway, Corbin deserves credit for delivering some strong in-ring performances during the tournament.
The Street Profits hosted Maria Kanellis’s gender reveal party. Mike Kanellis and a group of wrestlers and personalities were present. The Profits said the reveal was coming up next…
The broadcast team hyped the NXT on USA Network premiere for Wednesday night… An NXT on USA Network video package aired… [C]
Backstage at the gender reveal party, Maria Kanellis arrived and said she could finally reveal the gender of “my baby.” She announced that it’s a boy. Mike shook hands with the Profits and Titus O’Neil. Maria said we all know who the father of her child truly is. She said it was Ricochet, who was at the party and looked shocked.
Ricochet said she was obviously lying. Mike slammed Ricochet and said he was going to the ring. Titus told Ricochet he better get out there and fix the situation. Angelo Dawkins told Montez Ford he thought Maria was going to say he was the father. Ford said they could have a baby on a pole match. Dawkins asked about a Maria on a pole match. Ford said Maria on a pole is how they got into this mess in the first place…
3. Ricochet vs. Mike Kanellis. Mike came out dressed in street clothes while Ricochet had his ring gear on. Ricochet hit the Recoil and pinned Kanellis clean…
Ricochet beat Mike Kanellis in 1:05.
The broadcast team hyped Rollins vs. Roode before they were interrupted. Bray Wyatt was hanging up pictures of Finn Balor, Kurt Angle, and Jerry Lawlor on his “wall of friendship.” Each man had X’s over their eyes. Wyatt said something was missing and he needs to find more friends… [C]
Mike Kanellis was seated on the ring apron looking sad. Maria asked him what it’s going to take to motivate him. Maria said Ricochet isn’t the father, but she thought maybe he would be man enough to defend her unborn child’s honor if she embarrassed and humiliated him. Maria said she was going to introduce the father of her unborn child, but she was interrupted by Rusev’s music.
Rusev walked onto the stage with a mustache and was otherwise clean shaven and in great shape. Rusev stared at Mike as he walked to the ring. Mike took the mic and told him to hold on. Mike said he was having a really bad day and an even worse night. He said he wasn’t looking for a fight or another match. Mike said that if Rusev is the father of Maria’s child then he’s okay with it and congratulated him. Kanellis rolled out of the ring, but Rusev did as well. Rusev clotheslined Kanellis at ringside and then ran him into the barricade a few times. Maria smiled as she watched. Rusev brought Kanellis back to the ring and then the bell rang…
4. Rusev vs. Mike Kanellis. Rusev put Kanellis in the Accolade and won via submission.
Rusev defeated Mike Kanellis in 0:30.
Powell’s POV: It’s nice to see Rusev, but this was a strange way to reintroduce him. There’s no reason to think that he’s being pegged as the father of Maria’s child, but you’d think they would have saved Rusev’s return for something more high profile. That said, he looks better than ever from a physical standpoint. It’s worth noting that the broadcast team tried to position his return as being strategic with the draft approaching.
Glenn “Kane” Jacobs took R-Truth to the University of Tennessee football stadium. Jacobs introduced a police officer who had been sworn in by Jacobs. However, Jacobs informed Truth that the cop was actually a referee. Truth turned to run and ran right into the goal post. Jacobs covered Truth and pinned him to win the WWE 24/7 Championship. Jacobs said he still has it. Cole said Jacobs was the first mayor to win the title, then said the Tennessee football team is about as good as Mike Kanellis is. Ouch… [C]
The broadcast team recapped Baron Corbin becoming King of the Ring, then announced that Corbin’s coronation will be held on Smackdown…
5. Rey Mysterio vs. Cesaro. Before the match, came out and said that if Dominick ever shows up he would beat the hell out of him like he was going to beat the hell out of his father. Cesaro worked the match in pants with short legs and tennis shoes. Mysterio caught Cesaro with a DDT on the floor heading into a break. [C]
Late in the match, Cesaro caught Mysterio going for a 619 and then powered him up and dropped him abdomen first onto his knee. Cesaro covered Mysterio for a two count. A short time later, Mysterio hit the 619 and then followed up with a top rope huracanrana attempt. Cesaro caught Mysterio, who countered into a Canadian Destroyer and pinned him…
Rey Mysterio beat Cesaro in 11:30.
Powell’s POV: Are Cesaro’s pants an example of something being Too Swiss? If so, I finally understand where Vince McMahon is coming from. Or maybe I’m just getting old like, well, Vince McMahon. But I’m not old enough to understand why Cesaro is stuck in the good hand position.
Young hyped the women’s tag match and then the Firefly Funhouse music played again. Wyatt was shown adding a photo of Seth Rollins with Xs over his eyes to his Wall of Friendship… [C]
Powell’s POV: My Wall of Friendship has a picture of Kirk Cousins with Xs over his eyes.
Cole touted the WWE Draft and said there won’t be a wild card rule…
An AOP video package aired. It opened with a question of Who Is AOP. Akam and Rezar were shown sitting down while dressed in suits. They switched to speaking in another language, which was translated via subtitles. They said no one has seen them in a match since before WrestleMania because they haven’t had a match. They said they are fighters who get paid to fight, but everyone complains they are hurting them in the ring. They said they couldn’t make a living in MMA because no one wanted to fight them, but now they are in WWE and no one wants to fight them. They said every tag team in WWE is soft and none are hard enough to fight them. They closed by saying it was a warning and that they are the future of the tag team division…
Powell’s POV: A fresh start for AOP. They came off well in the sit-down setting and one can only hope that the company gets it right with them this time around.
Sasha Banks and Bayley made their entrance.
[Hour Three] Cole narrated still shots of Banks beating Becky Lynch by DQ at Clash of Champions. In the ring, Banks held her shoulder. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross made their entrance…
6. WWE Women’s Tag Champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley in a non-title match. Graves was silent during Bliss’s entrance. Young asked him if he was going to freak out. “Nope, over it,” Graves replied. Bliss sold a knee injury. Bayley picked her up at ringside and spun her bad knee into the ring steps. Cole said Bayley would not have done this a month ago. Trainers came out and checked on Bliss heading into a break. [C]
The broadcast team said Bliss was receiving medical treatment backstage, meaning Cross was left fighting on her own. Cross worked over both opponents for a stretch and got the crowd behind her. Cross performed a cross body block on Bayley for a two count. A short time later, Cross hit a clunky tornado DDT and then hit a neckbreaker, but Banks returned to break it up. Banks hit a Backstabber and applied the Bank Statement and got the submission win.
Sasha Banks and Bayley beat Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross in 12:50 in a non-title match.
After the match, Banks brought a chair into the ring. Becky Lynch’s music played and she came out carrying her own chair. Once Lynch arrived in the ring, she and Sasha had a chair duel. Bayley entered the ring with a chair and stood by Banks. Charlotte Flair’s music played and she headed out. Bayley ran up to stop her, but Flair hit her with a big boot and then took the chair and hit her with it. In the ring, Banks swung the chair at Lynch, who ducked, jabbed Banks with a chair in the gut, then slammed it over her back…
A graphic hyped Rollins vs. Roode… [C]
Powell’s POV: The match was fine in that they protected the tag champions to some extent by having Bliss make an early exit due to the knee injury. The post match angle was decent, though if I didn’t know better I’d think TLC was approaching and they were working toward a chairs match. Banks will need to get some real heat on Lynch if they are setting up a Hell in a Cell rematch.
Sasha Banks looked into the camera while standing in her locker room. She said she is the star of the division and challenged Lynch to a rematch at Hell in a Cell. “Your move, bitch,” Banks said…
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Glenn Jacobs arriving in a limo at Raw. R-Truth was lying on top of the limo as Jacobs exited the limo and said it was great to be back on Raw. Truth rolled up Jacobs and pinned him to reclaim the WWE 24/7 Title. Jacobs grabbed Truth by the throat. Truth told him about about the 24/7 nature of the title. Jacobs let him go and they walked arm and arm into Raw…
Backstage, Becky Lynch said she loved going to war with Banks. Lynch said Banks brought the chair to the ring and then cried when she beat the hell out of her. Lynch said she received a $10,000 fine. Lynch said she’s not interested in facing Banks at Hell in a Cell, she’s interested in destroying her in Hell in a Cell…
Lacey Evans made her entrance for a match heading into a break… [C]
7. Lacey Evans vs. Dana Brooke. Evans threw her skirt at Brooke and then attacked her to start the match. Brooke came back with a handspring elbow. Evans went to ringside. Brooke followed and tried to pull her back inside the ring, but Evans swept her legs under the ropes. In the end, Evans hit Brooke with the Woman’s Right and then put her in a Sharpshooter for the submission win…
Lacey Evans beat Dana Brooke in 3:15.
Powell’s POV: I can’t say I’m into what’s been a parity booking feud between Evans and Natalya thus far, but at least creative came up with a feud for women who are not feuding over one of the women’s titles.
The broadcast team hyped the NXT premiere on USA Network for Wednesday and listed Velveteen Dream vs. Roderick Strong for the NXT North American Championship…
Seth Rollins was shown standing backstage preparing for his match with Robert Roode… [C] Ring entrances for the main event took place. Cole hyped Rollins vs. The Fiend in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Universal Championship at Hell in a Cell. Cole also hyped the Raw in San Francisco for next week at the new Chase Center (Smackdown will be at the same venue and Dot Net’s own John Moore will be attending both nights)…
8. WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins vs. Robert Roode (w/Dolph Ziggler) in a non-title match. Roode targeted the ribs of Rollins early on. Rollins fought back. Ziggler distracted Rollins, who chased him around the ring and then caught Roode going for a cheap shot. Rollins went Roode back into the ring and then Ziggler distracted him again long enough for Roode to knock him off the apron. [C]
Rollins superkicked Ziggler at ringside. In the ring, Rollins hit the Stomp on Roode and had him pinned, but Ziggler ran in and broke it up for the DQ finish.
Seth Rollins defeated Robert Roode by DQ in 10:00 in a non-title match.
After the match, AJ Styles’s music played and he ran out with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. All five heels ganged up on Rollins. Gallows and Anderson hit the Magic Killer and then Styles performed a Styles Clash. Ziggler superkicked Rollins.
Kane’s entrance music played and he came out wearing the mask and hair in his full gear. Kane punched Ziggler and Roode at ringside, then punched Styles and Anderson in the ring. Kane chokeslammed Gallows, then chomeslammed Styles and Anderson simultaneously. Kane set up to pump his arms for pyro, but the lights went out.
The strobe effect started and then The Fiend could be seen standing behind Kane. The Fiend applied the Mandible Claw on Kane. The Fiend released the hold and then crawled toward Rollins and hovered over him and laughed. A distorted version of the Firefly Funhouse video played while the graphic bounced between being right side up and upside down to close the show…
Powell’s POV: I’m shocked that Rollins didn’t get a clean pin over Roode given that Roode beat him to win the tag titles on Sunday. The main event wasn’t hot by any means, but the company did a good job of making it clear throughout the night that The Fiend would be appearing. Plus, they threw in the fun appearance by Kane to boot. It wasn’t a strong show, but they overdelivered at the end. I’ll be back later tonight with my weekly same night audio review of Raw exclusively for Dot Net Members.
Cheer’s Ziggler’s great Theme song
“I’m here to show the world , I’m Here to show the World Come on.”
wish they would get around and have Mike embarrasse Maria Kanellis and end this stupid storyline.
Cesaro is the new Frank Williams, S.D. Jobes, Jose Luis Riviera and Johnny Rodz. Glorified jobber. What a waste of a talent
What did Cousins do at the game?
They have women wrestlers beating the crap out of men physically and verbally, but women vs men matches aren’t allowed anymore? lol sounds like social justice weirdos