REVIEW: Monday Night Raw: December 21, 2015: Envelopes Please
Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling presentations for over ten years now and feature reviewed over 5,000 presentations. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a brand new assessment right here on Wrestlingrumors.internet. It might be anything else from trendy WWE to oldschool to indies to anything else in between. Note that I price the usage of letters as a substitute of stars and I don’t price fits below 3 mins as in point of fact, how excellent or dangerous can one thing that quick be?
Monday Night Raw
Date: December 21, 2015
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Byron Saxton
It’s the Slammy Awards! Tonight is all about choosing the most productive of the 12 months, or no less than whoever the lovers select as the most productive of the 12 months. The large award is in fact Superstar of the Year which is most probably going to Roman Reigns once more. The different primary tale regardless that is fallout from final week’s World Title exchange, which most probably approach Stephanie going after Reigns. Let’s get to it.
We open with an extended recap of Reigns beating Sheamus and infuriating the McMahons final week.
Here’s a more than happy Stephanie to open issues up. She thinks we’re puzzled via her temper however it’s quite simple: McMahons are combatants and this night is all a few birthday celebration. Cue Roman Reigns who says everyone seems to be in a excellent temper this night. Stephanie is in point of fact now not satisfied that he’s right here however Reigns says he doesn’t sweat any person, together with the League of Nations, any of the McMahons or HHH himself.
That’s an excessive amount of for Stephanie as she begins shrieking at him to get out of her ring and does her standard whining about her circle of relatives and her legacy and all that jazz. Reigns doesn’t in point of fact care and turns his again on her, ultimately leaving very slowly. This makes Stephanie call for that he come again right here however Reigns simply assists in keeping going. Stephanie says that suggests penalties so she makes the Usos vs. the New day in a handicap fit and Ambrose vs. Sheamus within a cage. Reigns assists in keeping going up the stairs and posing with the identify.
It’s time for the primary award with Dolph Ziggler (in a tuxedo) presenting Breakout Star of the Year. Here are the nominees:
Kevin Owens
Neville
Charlotte
Tyler Breeze
Braun Strowman
After a smash, the winner is…..Neville. Neville says he’s fascinated by this and fully stunned till Kevin Owens comes out to break. Owens says that’s his award and will get in a struggle with Ziggler till……cue the Wyatts for an absolutely unrelated fit.
Bray Wyatt vs. Kane
Bray will get punched into the nook to begin however a Harper distraction we could him come again with a large operating clothesline. The Wyatts move after Kane so he heads out of doors after him, drawing a snappy DQ at 54 seconds.
Kane will get crushed down put up fit till the Dudley Boyz and Tommy Dreamer pop out for the save as a result of that is nonetheless a feud.
Kane/Dudley Boyz/Tommy Dreamer vs. Wyatt Family
This is joined in growth with Dreamer in bother and the announcers evaluating Kane to Chewbacca. Dreamer briefly fights up and makes the tag to Kane for a kick to Harper’s face. It’s off to Bubba for some space cleansing however the whole thing breaks down a couple of seconds later. There’s What’s Up to Harper, which JBL says is sort of a settee. 3-D to Rowan however Strowman takes Bubba and D-Von down with a double clothesline. The discus lariat places D-Von out for the pin at 2:43 proven.
Here’s the returning (for one evening most effective I consider) Santino Marella to give the LOL Laugh Out Loudest Moment of the Year. The nominees are:
Edge and Christian vs. New Day in a trombone vs. kazoo fight
The Bushwhackers’ Hall of Fame induction speech
Miz’s “commercial” for erectile disorder
The Authority dances with New Day
R-Truth thinks he’s within the Money within the Bank ladder fit
After a smash, the winner is R-Truth. Well that’s one out of 2 no less than. Santino tries to simply accept the award for himself however Truth comes out and begins a mild brawl for the trophy.
We get a snappy consult with from Old Saint Mick (with elf Noelle). He needs us all Happy Holidays and says he’s very sorry for giving Xavier Woods that trombone final 12 months.
Here’s Paul Heyman to give the OMG Moment of the Year Award. After announcing that Brock Lesnar must win the entire awards save for LOL and Diva of the Year, listed here are the nominees:
Seth Rollins cashes in Money within the Bank at Wrestlemania
Brock Lesnar the evening after Wrestlemania
Kalisto’s Salida Del Sol in the course of the ladder at Tables Ladders and Chairs
Wyatt Family kidnaps Undertaker at Hell in a Cell
Sheamus cashes in Money within the Bank at Survivor Series
After a smash, Kalisto wins. Really? It used to be excellent however greatest surprise of the 12 months? Not in point of fact. Kalisto is right here in a swimsuit and with out a lot to mention as an acceptance speech.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens
Ziggler is going proper at him to begin and tries the sleeper so Owens drops again with all his weight for the smash. A large elbow sends Ziggler to the ground and Owens shouts that HE is the breakout celebrity. Well to be honest he’s proper. We hit the chinlock on Dolph and we in reality display the brawl from previous this night which set this up. Well no less than it’s right through a grasp however dude, it used to be lower than an hour in the past.
Back up and Ziggler grabs a rollup for 2, most effective to have his head taken off via a clothesline. After some other chinlock, Dolph grabs the operating DDT and we take a smash. We come again with Owens getting two off a superplex however consuming a superkick to position him out of doors. A snappy Fameasser will get two for Dolph (for those who idea Owens used to be doing it) however Owens comes proper again with the Pop Up Powerbomb for the pin at 11:08.
Rating: C. Well no less than Owens received. Unfortunately we’re nonetheless caught in the similar circle of chasing our personal tail with the midcard as a result of that they had one thing fascinating with Owens after which reverted him again to the similar personality only a week later. I’m positive it simply wasn’t getting over as a result of some social media rating figuring out that individuals didn’t care sufficient or no matter, as a result of that’s what turns out to run WWE nowadays.
Here’s Stephanie (in fact) to give Superstar of the Year with each member of the roster as a nominee. We get a snappy video of everybody at the roster ahead of the nominees are indexed as:
Roman Reigns
Sheamus
John Cena
Kevin Owens
Dean Ambrose
Bray Wyatt
New Day (all 3 contributors)
Undertaker
Kane
Sting
Brock Lesnar
Seth Rollins
Post smash the winner is……Seth Rollins, who in reality limps out on crutches. The lovers thank him however he says this used to be evident the entire time. Seth does his standard recap of his 12 months and says that his luck went away simply as briefly because it got here. That identify is coming again to him within the new 12 months as a result of he’s going to retake what he by no means misplaced.
John Cena returns subsequent week to stand Alberto Del Rio.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger
I KNEW IT WOULD BE SWAGGER!!! As quickly as I noticed Del Rio within the ring I knew it could be Swagger. It needed to be Swagger as a result of he’s Del Rio’s private jobber and that’s the one thought WWE has for Swagger. Non-title in fact. Del Rio kicks him to the ground and hits a snappy baseball slide as we take a smash. Back with Del Rio getting two off a DDT however Jack geese the low superkick and grabs a snappy stomach to stomach. The Vader Bomb will get two and Jack rather a lot up a superplex, most effective to slide and get stuck with the highest rope double stomp for the pin at 7:07. Not sufficient noticed to price however this used to be the similar stuff we’ve noticed from them each time.
The League beats Jack down put up fit.
Here’s Mark Henry to give the brand new Hero in All of Us Award, which appears to be for absolute best charity paintings. The nominees are:
Natalya
Roman Reigns
Big Show
Titus O’Neil
John Cena
After a smash, the winner is John Cena. He’s now not right here this night however Henry says that Cena and the entire different nominees do that out of the goodness in their hearts quite than for awards. Henry accepts the award on Cena’s behalf.
There had been every other awards given out ahead of the display went at the air, together with:
Rivalry of the Year – Lesnar vs. Undertaker
WWE Network Original Show of the Year – Steve Austin Show
Double Cross of the Year – Damien Mizdow
Extreme Moment of the Year – Reigns assaults HHH
Here’s Santa Claus (as performed via Bo Dallas) to introduce the Surprise Return of the Year. He’s the REAL Santa and now not the fats outdated guy on the mall. Here are the nominees:
Dudley Boyz
Chris Jericho
Alberto Del Rio
Kane
Sting
Post smash the winner is Sting, who additionally isn’t right here this night both.
New Day vs. Usos
Non-title handicap fit. Before the fit, New Day blames the lovers for spoiling the Tag Team of the Year award. Therefore, they’re going to SPOIL STAR WARS! Kofi cuts Big E. off as a result of he hasn’t noticed it but. Woods: “YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET?????” Dancing solves the issue and we’re able to move.
Jimmy and Kofi get issues going with the twins beginning in at the arm. Kofi works on Jey’s arm as neatly, most effective to get kicked into the nook. Big E. and Xavier get a divorce the Rikishi assault and all 3 have to transport ahead of the Usos can dive on them. Back with Jey being dragged into the nook for the Unicorn Stampede with Woods shedding to the ground for some musical accompaniment.
Big E. slaps at the belly stretch for a little and will get two off the Warrior splash. Jey fights up and makes the new tag to Jimmy for some excellent space cleansing. The Samoan drop will get two on Woods and New Day heads out of doors, most effective to have Big E. get a divorce the double dive. Not that it issues as Jimmy rolls Woods up for the pin at 10:59.
Rating: C-. For each few steps this corporate takes ahead, we get one thing like this. You make this a handicap fit so the Usos can lose, however oh no as a result of you want to stay them having a look robust for later so let’s put them over the champions right here as a result of we haven’t any different option to in reality get them over. Like giving them an award or one thing. This is the type of stuff that drives me the craziest and it simply assists in keeping taking place time and again. Also there used to be no point out of the Stephanie/Reigns tale from previous.
Here’s R-Truth to give Diva of the Year. The nominees are:
Nikki Bella
Naomi
Paige
Sasha Banks
Charlotte
Back with…..Paige profitable. Well that’s slightly the marvel. Oh wait it’s in reality a Steve Harvey comic story as a result of Truth learn it unsuitable. Therefore, Nikki Bella wins. See, in WWE, simply announcing one thing exists signifies that it’s humorous. Nikki comes out and has Paige stand there subsequent to her as she dedicates this to each girl within the corporate. So she’s a face once more.
Rusev vs. Neville
The League is right here and Miz is on remark. Rusev stomps him down within the nook to begin and we hit an early chinlock as Miz says Neville may just move even additional with the fitting control. Neville fights up and kicks Rusev to the put up, most effective to be despatched into the put up. A stomach to stomach sends Neville crashing down and we take a smash.
Back with Neville moonsaulting to the ground as JBL will get in his weekly “THERE’S YOUR SPORTSCENTER HIGHLIGHT” line. Neville rather a lot up the Red Arrow with Rusev around the ring. That is going in addition to you might assume as he dives into the leaping superkick, putting in place the Accolade to present Rusev the win at 7:38.
Rating: D+. So they’ll give protection to the Usos however now not Neville, who received an award previous this night at the display? Another not anything fit right here as Neville remains to be a jobber however no less than Rusev were given a win for a metamorphosis. He’s nonetheless a multitude after Lana got here again so it’s cool to look him performing like his outdated self for a minimum of one evening.
The League beats Neville down as neatly.
Miz is presenting the THIS IS AWESOME Award. After complaining about now not being nominated, he introduces the nominees as:
Brock Lesnar destroying J and J’s automobile
Randy Orton’s RKO to Rollins at Wrestlemania
Stephanie McMahon beginning the Divas Revolution
The Shield reuniting to overcome down Orton
Rock and Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania
After we come again, Stephanie FINALLY will get her award as Rock and Ronda Rousey wins. Miz accepts on Rock’s behalf and plugs Santa’s Little Helper.
Becky Lynch vs. Brie Bella
Rematch from Smackdown as it’s a meaningless display. Brie takes over to begin and places on a briefly damaged chinlock, most effective to knee Becky down. The YES Kicks get two and we hit a seated belly stretch. Well stretch is a relative time period as Brie isn’t pulling again or anything else however she’s making an attempt. We hit some other armbar as this has been all Brie up to now. Becky makes her comeback with clotheslines however THIS IS A BRIE BELLA MATCH so she cuts her down with a dropkick, most effective to get rolled up into the Disarm-Her for the faucet at 5:14.
Rating: D+. As I feel we’ve discovered via now, Brie in point of fact isn’t that excellent. They had an concept right here with the arm however Brie in point of fact couldn’t elevate this to anything else past the run of the mill Divas fit. She nonetheless has no thought if she’s a face or a heel and it makes for some in point of fact awkward fits.
Ric Flair introduces the nominees for Match of the Year:
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins – Royal Rumble
Sting vs. HHH – Wrestlemania
John Cena vs. Kevin Owens – Elimination Chamber
Roman Reigns vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens vs. Alberto Del Rio – Raw – October 26
Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar – Hell in a Cell
The ultimate award of the evening is going to Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar and for the fourth time this night, the large title isn’t right here to simply accept. Heyman comes out as a substitute and says Brock doesn’t pop out and settle for awards. Brock needs a struggle however no person within the again is guy sufficient to stand Brock Lesnar. One phenom this 12 months stood up and took a beating however there is just one conqueror.
The cage is reduced.
In the again, the League assaults the Usos with Rusev and Del Rio hanging on their submissions. Both of them get Brogue Kicks as neatly.
Ambrose defends the following day evening towards Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler. Why must Ziggler get a shot when Owens pinned him previous this night?
Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose
Non-title. Sheamus Brogue Kicks Dean ahead of he can get within and because referees haven’t any authority in WWE, the fit begins anyway. We get the 10 forearms to the chest because the lovers chant SHEAMUS IS BORING. Sheamus in reality recognizes them and waves the chants on, most effective to get backdropped into the cage wall. Dean is going for the climb however Sheamus is correct up after him for White Noise off the highest for 2.
Now it’s Sheamus going up however getting crotched down, most effective to be met via the League as he tries to flee. That’s fantastic with Dean as he dives down onto Sheamus with the elbow for a VERY shut two. Del Rio slams the door on Dean’s head regardless that, drawing out Reigns to take out the League with a chair. Thanks for coming BEFORE they price your friend the fit Roman.
The League runs off and Sheamus climbs up, most effective to have Reigns ready on him with a chair. Roman throws it to Dean and Sheamus is stuck. Dirty Deeds onto the chair doesn’t even get a canopy as Dean climbs, permitting Sheamus to catch him on most sensible. They slug it out on most sensible of the cage and slowly come down with Dean getting headbutted off for the win at 10:45.
Rating: C. This used to be fantastic with Ambrose and Reigns surviving yet another time. They’ve accomplished an excellent task of surroundings the ones two up as unbreakable brothers, which means that the eventual break up goes to be even higher. Sheamus dropping right here is ok sufficient as a result of no person buys him as an actual risk to win the identify once more and his rematch is most probably coming at the first Raw of the 12 months as a substitute of on the Rumble or on every other large degree.
Tom Phillips asks Stephanie for her response so she beats him down with slaps. Tom sells them like dying to finish the display.
Overall Rating: C-. I’m a large sucker for the Slammy Awards however this didn’t do it for me. The large stars now not being there to simply accept in point of fact crippled issues and many of the award selections had been fantastic, which means there wasn’t a lot to get frustrated about. Cena being again subsequent week will lend a hand and there are puts they may be able to move from right here, however the display as a complete used to be in point of fact not anything nice. That places it WAY forward of new weeks regardless that so it’s indisputably now not terrible, however nonetheless not anything I’m going to keep in mind via the brand new 12 months.
Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has noticed over 50,000 wrestling fits. He has additionally been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 complete presentations lined. You can to find his paintings at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or take a look at his- Amazon creator web page with 30 wrestling books. Get the newest and biggest in skilled wrestling information via signing up for our day by day e mail publication. Just glance under for “GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES” to enroll. Thank you for studying!
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