Monday Night RAW and Smackdown split the score on Survivor Series last night, but Team RAW was victorious in both the men’s and women’s traditional elimination matches. It seems last night’s show doesn’t matter much to the WWE, though, as the show opens with the recap of Drew McIntyre recapturing the WWE title from Randy Orton. Time to head into the ThunderDome!
The victorious men from Team RAW are in the ring with WWE official, Adam Pearce. Keith Lee, Sheamus, Riddle, Brawn Strowman and AJ Styles listen to the praise from Adam Pearce, who may have some rewards for them. Each man states his case on why he should get a chance to face Drew McIntyre for the title. Sheamus hijacks the mic, trying to sell himself as the MVP. Keith Lee points out he saved AJ and also pinned the captain of Team Smackdown. Riddle wants to know if he gets a crown after beating King Corbin. He thinks that if he beats McIntyre he get the claymore sword. Brawn Strowman isn’t pleased he has to plead his case last and puts his hands on Pearce, shoving him to the ground.
Earlier today, the Hurt Business and the New Day crossed paths. MVP told Kofi and Xavier they embarrassed themselves at Survivor Series. Cedric and Shelton want another shot at the titles. Xavier decided to grant them a shot.
The New Day (champions) vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin (challengers) w/MVP – RAW Tag Team Championship Match
Shelton lays the woods to Xavier to start the match. Woods tries to fight back, only to get slammed to the mat. A knee strike knocks Kofi off the apron as we go to commercial. Kofi gets the tag after the break. Benjamin ducks Trouble in Paradise and catches Kingston on the top turnbuckle. A head butt sends Shelton to the mat, but Alexander yanks Kofi to the floor. Shelton attacks Kofi on the floor, but takes too much time and the ref makes the ten count.
Double Count Out
MVP tries to claim a victory as the New Day heads up the ramp. He then wants the match restarted, calling the champs cowards. Kofi and Xavier head back to the ring.
The New Day (champions) vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin (challengers) w/MVP – RAW Tag Team Championship Match
Kofi is sent over the top rope, landing hard on the floor. Woods checks on his partner, who is brought back into the ring by Benjamin. Shelton works over the knee. Cedric tags in, keeping the pressure on Kofi’s lower body. Kofi breaks a pin by Cedric. Kingston dumps Alexander over the ropes and limps to his corner. Cedric pulls Woods off the apron, preventing the tag. Cedric with a chop block and locks in a leg grapevine.
Kofi finally makes the tag and cleans house. He slams Cedric to the mat, but can’t get the pin. Alexander with a DDT and Benjamin tags in to hit the Olympic slam. Kofi makes the save and takes out Alexander. Woods counters a powerbomb from Benjamin with a sunset flip into a pin. Woods gets the three count to retain the titles.
Winners…and still RAW Tag Team Champions…via pinfall: The New Day
Adam Pearce can’t speak to what will happen to Brawn Strowman, but if he had any say Strowman would be fired. Pearce is about to tell Charly Caruso his announcement, when Bobby Lashley wants to talk. He was the only RAW champion to win last night.
After his discussion with Lately, Pearce is approached by Randy Orton.
Last night Lana was the sole survivor in the women’s match. She tells Sarah Schreiber that she is on top of the world; she doesn’t even want to think about a possible title match with Asuka.
Charly Caruso wants an answer from Adam Pearce about the WWE title. He wants this settled in the ring with three matches. The winners of those matches with move onto a triple threat match next week, with the winner facing Drew McIntyre at TLC.
Riddle vs. Sheamus
Riddle wants some respect from Sheamus, who won’t give him any. Sheamus with a head lock take down and follows with a double wrist lock. Riddle breaks free to deliver strikes, but Sheamus cuts him down with a clothesline. Sheamus is focused on keeping Riddle on the mat. Riddle locks in an armbar, but Sheamus gets to the ropes to break the hold. A clothesline sends Riddle over the top rope to the floor. Riddle catches him with a knee and hits an exploder on the floor. Back in the ring, Riddle hits the Bro-ton, but Sheamus kicks out.
Riddle get caught in mid air and Sheamus hits the Irish curse back breaker. Sheamus misses a corner spear and eats the turnbuckle. Riddle unloads with kicks to the chest. Sheamus counters with an Alabama Slam and we go to commercial.
After the break, Sheamus connects with a pump knee strike. An overhead kick sends Sheamus to the floor and Riddle connects with a moonsault. He rolls Sheamus into the ring, but is caught on a cross body. Riddle is slammed into the mat. Sheamus locks a cloverleaf, but Riddle is able to get to the bottom rope. Sheamus locks in a heel hook. Riddle breaks free and hits a knee to the face. Riddle goes up top, but Sheamus catches him. Sheamus delivers White Noise from the second rope. Riddle some how kicks out.
As Sheamus talks trash, Riddle delivers a head butt. Sheamus geos back to the cloverleaf, but Riddle counters into rollup to get the three count for the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Riddle
Asuka wants to know if Lana really wants to challenge her. Lana does not want that smoke. Asuka accepts, as she is never one to turn down a challenge.
Firefly Funhouse
Tonight’s episode is all about friendship and how those friends will let you down. The Friendship Frog is here to tell Alexa to stay friends with Nikki Cross. Alexa shows that frog what she is planning on doing to Nikki. She beats that poor amphibian to death. Bray calls for moment of silence to honor Friendship Frog.
Asuka (champion) vs. Lana (challenger) – RAW Women’s Championship Match
Before the bell, Nia Jax an Shayna Baszler make their way to ringside for commentary. Lana with an early pin, but Asuka kicks out. Lana whiffs on a kick. Asuka slides to floor. Nia and Shayna get in her face. Asuka splashes them with water. Shayna and Nia attack the champ and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner via disqualification: Asuka
Nia picks up Asuka for the Samoan drop through the table, but Lana makes the save. She smartly runs off. Nia and Shayna challenge Asuka and Lana to a match.
R Truth promotes the WWE’s Black Friday sale only to get hit from behind by Drew Gulak. The lights go out, so Truth and the ref run off. It’s not the Fiend, though, it’s Akira Tozawa in a Fiend mask.
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka and Lana – Non Title Match
Nia lays out Lana with a clothesline, talking trash to her the whole time. She chokes her on the ropes and dumps her to the floor. Baszler and Jax take turns just toying with Lana, who tries to fight back. Nia drives her into the corner. Lana avoids a baseball slide and kicks Baszler to the floor. Asuka gets the tag, taking out Jax. She hits Shayna with double knees and a hip attack. The champ connects with a spinning back fist and a shining wizard. Baszler kicks out. Lana calls for the tag, but Jax yanks her off the apron. Nia tears apart the announce table, but Lana fights back. Jax misses a spear and crashes over the announce desk. Baszler grabs Lana, locking in the Kirifuda Clutch. Asuka rolls up Baszler from behind and gets the pin.
Winners via pinfall: Asuka and Lana
Riddle runs into MVP backstage and wants to talk some business investments; like pizza flavored yogurt. MVP appreciates the spirit, but wants Riddle to come back in a few weeks with his ideas.
Keith Lee vs. Bobby Lashley w/MVP
Lashley uses his speed early, only for Lee to lock in a head lock. Lashley applies a head lock, taking Lee to a knee. Lashley with a shoulder block, but Lee doesn’t budge. He pounds Lashley into the corner and delivers a double palm strike to the chest. Lashley answers with a flat-liner. He looks for the Hurt Lock, but Lee fights it off. He drops Lashley with a shoulder blocks and sends him to the floor. Lee looks to fly, but MVP distracts him. Lee goes after MVP, only to get decked by Lashley. He slams Lee into the barricade and then picks him up and slams him into the ring post. We go to commercial.
After the break, Lashley has Lee in a wrist lock. Lashley runs into a forearm smash. Bobby gets Lee up for suplex and looks for the Hurt lock. Lee fights free, catching Lashley with an elbow. He leaps over a charging Lashley, who crashes into the ring post. Lee crushes him in the corner and sends him out of the ring with the pounce. He crushes Lashley on the floor with a cross body and rolls him into the ring. MVP shoves Lee into the ring post. Lee just beats the count. Lashley wants the Hurt Lock, but Lee keeps him from locking it in. Lee drops Lashley in middle of the ring, only to have MVP jump into the ring. He attacks Lee and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner via disqualification: Keith Lee
Nikki Cross doesn’t want to hear from Sarah Schreiber that she has given up on Alexa Bliss. Cross has tried and she is done. Bliss doesn’t want her or her help. She wants the Fiend. All Nikki wants to do is beat the Fiend out of Alexa.
Nikki Cross vs. Alexa Bliss
Nikki is in no mood to play, but that’s all Alexa wants. Bliss does take Nikki down with a toe hold and then takes a lap around the ring. Cross gives chase and then pulls her out of the ring. Bliss gets stomped into the corner and Cross takes he down with a clothesline. Its all a game to a laughing Bliss. Nikki tries to beat some sense into her former friend. Nikki with a cross body in the corner and follows with forearm strikes. Bliss begs for mercy in the middle of the ring. Nikki stops the beating as Alexa cries for her, calling for help. Cross helps her up and gives her a hug. Only for Bliss to hit her with a Sister Abigail and get the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Alexa Bliss
Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles w/Jordan
Styles goes for a quick pin, unsuccessfully. Orton stops Styles in his tracks and boots him in the face. He follows with a thumb to the eye and dumps AJ to the floor. Orton whips AJ into his own body guard, who gives him an assist onto the apron. AJ delivers a knee strike as Orton argues with the ref. He then slams Orton onto the announce table.
After commercials, Orton has Styles on top of the turnbuckle. AJ slips out and yanks Orton to the mat, taking him down with a chop block. Styles looks for the Calf Crusher, but Orton rolls through and kicks AJ in the face. Styles floats over on a suplex and hits another chop block. Orton fights off of AJ’s shoulders and hits a neck breaker. AJ slips off the ropes and is able to lock in the Calf Crusher. Orton is able to grab te ropes to break the hold. Styles runs into a powerslam, but is able to kick out of the pin. AJ blocks the RKO, countering with an enziguri.
Orton rolls to the floor, baiting AJ into following. Orton strikes and rolls AJ back into the ring. The ThunderDome goes dark for a moment and the Fiend’s shriek echoes throughout the arena. Orton is spooked but the Fiend is nowhere to be seen. Orton slips into the ring, hitting AJ with the draping DDT. The Viper looks to strike, as the ThunderDome powers down. The Fiend appears behind Orton on the apron. The lights go out and come back up. In the confusion, AJ connects with a Phenomenal Forearm and covers Orton to get the pin.
Winner via pinfall: AJ Styles
Laughter echoes in the ThunderDome as Orton seethes in the ring. See you next week!
Monday Night RAW 11/23/2020
The ThunderDome at Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
It’s amazing how good Monday Night RAW can be when it is wrestling focused. All three matches to decide who wrestles in the triple threat match were very good. Alexa Bliss is doing the best work of her career as Bray Wyatt’s/The Fiend’s partner. He match with Nikki Cross may not have been a technical showcase, but it sure was a phycological one. The Hurt Business cant quite get over the hump and RETRIBUTION was no where to be seen. And it looks like we are heading toward a Randy Orton/Bray Wyatt clash sooner, then later.