The Usos and the Judgment Day, Solo Sikoa VS Mustafa Ali
This week’s edition of Monday Night Raw started with the Usos and Solo Sikoa. The Usos announced that the Bloodline will have a celebration of Roman Reigns next week before the Usos also said that they are going to beat the Judgment Day next week. The JD then came out and they brought up an interesting point about how every time the Bloodline have appeared on Monday Night Raw, they’ve never come up to them. Dominik Mysterio then took a dig at Solo Sikoa before the Street Champion starred down at him. Rhea Ripley then inserted herself into this and we got an awesome visual of Rhea Ripley and Solo Sikoa standing face-to-face. The six men in the ring then started to brawl before we got back to seeing Sikoa and Ripley standing face-to-face. When it looked like Sikoa might strike Ripley, Mustafa Ali jumped on him from behind. Overall, this was a really good opening segment and it highlighted how good these two factions have been for the past 8-to-9 months.
Grade: B+
Whilst Solo Sikoa and Mustafa Ali were having their match, a small box appeared and it showed Byron Saxton asking Ali why he wanted a match with Sikoa. Ali said that everyone who’s been attacked by the Bloodline has had a chance to get revenge except him. He’s right. The match itself saw Solo dominate for the most part before Ali got in a bit of his babyface offense that we’re used to seeing from the Heart of 205 Live. However, Sikoa didn’t allow Ali to get much in before he through Mustafa into the ring post. The Usos then came out to celebrate (for some reason) before Kevin Owens’ music hit and the Prizefighter attacked the Usos. This distracted Sikoa and this allowed Ali to hit a brilliant Tornado DDT for a really close near fall. It was so good even some of the crowd brought in too Ali being the first person to beat Solo Sikoa on the main roster. However, Ali went to the top rope and that usually signals the end for the Disruptor as Sikoa rolled out of the way before he hit the Samoan Spike to get the win. After the match, Kevin Owens attacked Sikoa before the Usos jumped Owens. KO fought back before officials and referees broke it up. I liked this, Ali is so good at making other people look good and Solo’s already pretty good. Just need Ali to start winning now.
Grade: B-
The Street Profits VS Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander, Becky Lynch and Bayley
Bobby Lashley cut a promo in the locker room about how he is going to win tonight’s main event before he beats Austin Theory next week on Raw. We then got the third installment of Cody Rhodes’ Road to recovery (really should’ve called it Rhode to recovery) where he announced that he is going to return in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. I’m fine with this as long as he doesn’t win. Also, Corey Graves acting like it was a massive surprise was a bit dumb. Byron Saxton was then backstage and he talked to Elias. Elias said that 2022 was a crazy year for him and he really wants to be in the Royal Rumble match. MVP then came out and said that it’s already been decided as to who is going to win the Men’s Royal Rumble. When Elias laughed about this, P said that the Musician could have a match with him tonight (the winner of the rumble). The Street Profits were then out as they were about to take on Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. These four men have done so many tag team matches so you knew there weren’t going to be any issues. However, MVP came out midway through the match and near the end, he miss-timed pulling Cedric out of the way. It didn’t change the finish though as Dawkins got the win with the rollup. I hope Cedric and Shelton start winning matches soon.
Grade: C+
Cathy Kelley was interviewing the Judgment Day before the Alpha Academy came up to them and said that they only just got through them last week. All four members then got into Chad Gable’s face before Gable said it was time to leave as Otis hadn’t got his steps in yet. That means Otis was standing there the whole time! Becky Lynch’s music then hit and the Man walked to the ring via the crowd. Becky Lynch asked Bayley to come out and when the Role Model did, she was wearing a George Kittle jersey. She also told the crowd to Shoosh so she deserves all of the belts. Becky Lynch then made an interesting comment about Bayley peaking in 2015 before the Role Model talked about how the 4 Horsewomen moved up to the main roster and left her behind. She then said that every success that Becky Lynch has had, it was meant for her. In the end, this led to Bayley accepting Becky Lynch’s challenge for a Steel Cage match on next week’s 30th anniversary of Raw show. I really thought this was good, it felt like one of the old-style Becky Lynch promos whilst Bayley continues to prove herself as one of the greatest females in WWE history.
Grade: B+
Elias VS Omos, Alpha Academy VS The Judgment Day
Dolph Ziggler was getting ready in the locker room before Mustafa Ali came up to him and congratulated Dolph on getting handed another main event opportunity. Dolph Ziggler then told Ali that he doesn’t have time to pay attention to Ali so Mustafa punched Dolph from behind before he said the words “have I got your attention now”. Whether this is a heel turn or not for Ali is unclear, but it does give him an edge that will probably help his character. Elias was then out in the ring before MVP came out. P said that he isn’t the one who’s going to win the Men’s Royal Rumble match before Omos came out. The two had a pretty quick match which saw Omos get the win with the Tree-Slam. I’m happy to see Omos back on tv as I think he’s decent for his role, but he should be going against cruiserweights that can sell his offense way better than Elias.
Grade: C-
Adam Pearce was backstage being interviewed by Byron Saxton before Akira Tozawa came up to them and said that he wants to be in the Royal Rumble match. Adam Pearce said that’s not how it works (double standards) before Tozawa requested a match to prove why he deserves to be in the match. It was then time for a tag team match between the Alpha Academy and the Judgment Day. Chad Gable did a lot of good technical offense on Dominik Mysterio, but as soon as Dom tagged in Damian Priest, the Judgment Day took control. The interesting part of this whole thing was how both teams were being cheered and booed at different points. Otis is so over with the crowd and he hit a modified version of the Caterpillar (that’s being nice). However, Damian Priest returned and he hit a South of Heaven chokeslam onto Otis off the middle rope. Rhea Ripley then distracted the referee and this allowed Priest to hit the SOH onto Gable from behind before Dominik crawled over and got the win for the number 1 contenders. I like both of these teams so this was solid stuff.
Grade: B-
Mia Yim VS Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair and Alexa Bliss, Akira Tozawa VS Bronson Reed
Iyo Sky’s music hit so I was already in a good mood going into her match with Mia Yim. Yim was accompanied by Candice LeRae and this match fully showed who’s in charge of WWE Creative. The two had a decent encounter, but it still feels like something’s not quite right with Mia Yim yet. In the end, Michin managed to get the win with her finisher (Eat-Da-Feet). After the match, Dakota Kai attacked Yim before Candice LeRae dropped Dakota Kai meaning the good guys stood tall.
Grade: C
It was then time for another women’s segment as Bianca Belair came down to the ring and she quickly called out Alexa Bliss. Bliss came out and told Belair that she’s afraid of her because she doesn’t know what to expect from her. Belair then challenged Bliss to a match at the Royal Rumble before the two brawled into the crowd. When it looked like Bianca was going to hit the K.O.D onto a couple of chairs, Uncle Howdy all of a sudden appeared and this distraction allowed Alexa to plant the champion with a DDT onto the concrete floor. Solid stuff, but there’s only going to be one winner.
Grade: C+
Akira Tozawa was then in the ring and he had been granted his match by Adam Pearce. However, he wished he had kept his mouth shut as Bronson Reed came out to make his main roster in-ring debut. I had a great time with this match; it reminded me just how good Bronson Reed is. He literally decimated Tozawa in this match about 6 times including powerbombing him onto the barricade. He ended up getting the win with his awesome Tsunami splash. This is how you introduce the main roster audience to a talent like Bronson Reed. Also, it shows Tozawa’s talents as he did a great job making Reed look so cool. This is why bigger men should fight cruiserweights if they want to look awesome (like I said earlier).
Grade: B
Six-Pack Challenge Number 1 Contenders Elimination Match
After Seth “Freakin” Rollins cut a promo about how he wants to win everything, it was time for an elimination six-pack challenge to determine the number 1 contender for Austin Theory’s United States Championship. Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Baron Corbin and Finn Balor were all a part of this match as they were all once called the United States Champion. The Miz was the first one to be eliminated after being stomped by Seth Rollins before the Visionary eliminated Dolph Ziggler with the Pedigree. Rollins then got his third elimination of the match by hitting the Stomp onto Finn Balor. During this, MVP and Omos came down to the ring and Omos threw Seth Rollins over the announce table before Theory wrecked Lashley with his US title. When Austin smiled at Omos, the Nigerian Giant grabbed Theory by the neck before the Champion pulled him down and Rollins stomped Omos onto the announce table. Rollins then jumped onto Theory before he rolled back into the ring and got met with a spear meaning Bobby Lashley is now the number 1 contender for the United States Championship. Overall, I thought this match was pretty solid and the appearance of Omos creates a lot of questions, particularly surrounding the All Mighty. His match with Theory should be good fun.
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