RAW 11/21/16 Review

So seeing as how I started reviewing shows again, I thought I'd catch up on what all was happening on RAW and Smackdown Live, especially concerning it is the shows right after the PPV, so here is my two cents on tonight's RAW.

Goldberg Promo

So Goldberg came out to an awesome ovation and announced that he will not only be going for a title run, but he will be participating in the Royal Rumble match as well.  While this is pretty awesome, it brings predictability to the match itself, lessening the value.  At this point either Goldberg wins the Royal Rumble, or he gets screwed out of it by Brock Lesnar and we have Goldberg V Lesnar III at Wrestlemania.  I am excited, but at the same time I think creative could have done a lot better...

Cesaro & Sheamus VS The New Day (c) for the RAW Tag Team Championships

Just by the way that The New Day came out and the push and Cesaro & Sheamus were getting before this match, I really expected The New Day to drop the titles this close to their passing of Demolition for longest reigning Tag Team Champs, I really did.  WWE is weird like that, especially with a Tag Team that is becoming stale and desperately in need of something new.  However, I'm glad that Cesaro & Sheamus didn't go over because that would've been a gigantic slap in the fact to the entire Tag Team division.  It was a very entertaining match that I enjoyed thoroughly, and these teams also have room for a rematch once Cesaro & Sheamus establish themselves a little more as a Tag Team due to the ending.  Kofi tapped to Cesaro, but Xavier was distracted the referee and stopped Sheamus from breaking Kofi's roll up on Cesaro.  I'm fine with Cesaro and Sheamus winning the titles and having fresh tag champs, but the two need to establish themselves more as a Tag Team first, and having them come this close to Tag Team gold may allow them to do just that, and win the titles for themselves whilst not trashing the name of the Tag Team Division at the same time.  I still feel like Cesaro should be going for a midcard title on his own...but beggars can't be choosers.

3.25 out of 5 Stars

Enzo Promo

Ok, this part was hysterical.  Just gonna say that much.

Cedric Alexander VS Ariya Daivari

Daivari generated a decent amount of heat with the Canadian crowd by cutting a promo before the match.  True to form, these cruiserweights put on one hell of a show.  Not sure if it was a botch or a spot, but Cedric came down off the top rope and whiplashed hard on the way down.  It could've been a good bit longer, as I was just getting into the match when Cedric got the win over Daivari.

2.75 out of 5 Stars.  Needed to be longer

The Highlight Reel Ft. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens

Just when I think these two are going to break up and form a feud...it doesn't happen.  The blame is placed on Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins for losing the Survivor Series Tag Team Match, and a No DQ match is made for the main event.  Seth Rollins VS Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship.

Rusev (w/ Lana) VS Enzo Amore (w/ Big Cass)

Definite build up to a big man feud here, as Rusev completely dominated Amore in no time flat.  

Golden Truth VS The Club

If there is one thing that the Golden Truth is good at...it is being entertaining and it is being damn hard to hate.  I hate the fact that Goldust and Truth are both in a jobber Tag Team when they deserve so much better, but they definitely make the most out of what they have.  They performed and gave a very fun to watch match, despite The Club getting the win

2.75 out of 5 Stars

Sami Zayn VS Braun Strowman (punishment for Zayn not winning the IC Title at Survivor Series)

I can't even watch this shit anymore...Zayn just needs to be traded to Smackdown at this point.  I hope this is where they are going with this whole thing...This was literally painful for me to watch.  Foley finally came out and called the damn match...

Charlotte Promo Turned Sasha Banks & Bayley VS Charlotte and Nia Jax

Sasha Banks VS Charlotte next week on RAW for the Women's Championship. This impromptu Tag Team Match really exemplified the excellence of the RAW Women's Division.  All 4 of these women are extremely gifted competitors and have definitely helped to reshape the Women's Division for the better.  Great match as Sasha Submits Charlotte.

3.25 out of 5 Stars

Seth Rollins VS Kevin Owens (c) No DQ Match for the Universal Championship

This match was definitely one of the better matches we have seen on RAW in a long time, and we really haven't seen this much extreme action in a long time regardless.  So many chair shots, crowd spots, and tables that I couldn't really keep track of them all.  It was an intense matchup that saw both men going over at certain points and kept the pace of the match at a nailbiting area.  Some of the downfalls, though, was that WWE is starting to subliminally advertise the Network by taking away awesome spots from the televised match and putting them in the commercial breaks for the Network viewers to see.  Also, Jericho (despite being banned from ringside) interfered and cost Rollins the match.  I knew the title wasn't going to change hands because, you know...RAW, but it didn't have to end like that.  Also, the table spots and the crowd diving spots were INSANE and the amount of chair shots that both men took were awesome.

4 out of 5 Stars

Overall

Overall, I liked the show this week.  There were definitely some weak links (Zayn V Strowman) but overall it was an entertaining show that kept me on my feet and wanting to see more, especially the main event.  I'm not normally a main event guy, and I usually space out during, but this match had me reeling.  Let's see how Smackdown Live fairs with this edition of Monday Night RAW!

Let me know what you guys thought of RAW this week!