November 23, 2015
Aired Live
City: Nashville, Tennessee
Venue: Bridgestone Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, JBL, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Ring Area
The Authority’s music hits and Triple H and Stephanie strut down to the ring. They talk about the opportunity that they gave Reigns a few weeks ago, the opportunity he refused. They introduce a man who knows how to seize opportunities: Sheamus.
Sheamus is very happy. He won’t let “stupid” chants ruin his mood. He says he proved that he was just one Brogue Kick away from the title.
** He actually kicked Reigns twice though. **
Sheamus also holds up the title belt and asks, “who looks stupid now?”
** Well, Sheamus does. He’s just a stupid looking champ. **
Reigns comes out with a smile on his face. Sheamus asks how “that pride thing” is working out for him. Reigns stares at Sheamus and tells the crowd he wants his rematch tonight. Stephanie gets in his face and wants Reigns out of her ring. He and Triple H have a lengthy staring contest. Triple H then says that he will determine when Reigns gets his rematch.
Rusev appears out of nowhere and kicks Reigns. Then Sheamus does the same. They all leave Reigns in the ring. From the stage, Triple H informs Reigns that his rematch will take place at TLC in a TLC match. Stephanie informs Reigns of his match against Rusev later on tonight.
** I’m not the biggest fan of the Authority on their best days, but now that they seem to be aligning with Sheamus and Rusev I’m even less inclined to be excited by their presence. This isn’t a storyline I’m very jazzed about. They need to inject some Ambrose into this or something. **
Video
Earlier tonight, in a foggy black hole, Bray Wyatt says that the Dudley Boyz will pay for the sins of the Brothers of Destruction. He will show everyone their insides.
Match 1
The Dudley Boyz vs Bray Wyatt & Luke Harper w/ Erik Rowan, Braun Strowman
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Harper and Bubba Ray brawl to start the match, trading advantages. D-Von tags in and a couple of double teams give the Dudleys full control of the match. Wyatt pulls his partner out of the ring.
-commercial-
Wyatt is in control of D-Von after the break. D-Von is isolated and in trouble. Harper and Bubba Ray tag in at the same time and Bubba Ray controls his opponent. Rowan distracts Bubba Ray from the apron, and as he turns around he is put down with a clothesline from Harper.
Luke Harper pins Bubba Ray after a discus clothesline
Time: 4:23 (with 1 break)
** It was a fine match. Short, but not bad. The Wyatt Family needed to win this one, but I would have liked it if it had been a main event, or at least a top of the hour match so it had more time and allowed for more drama. Rolling over the Dudley Boyz doesn’t help as much as showing the Wyatt’s overcome a seasoned tag team with more adversity. **
Ring Area
After the match, the rest of The Wyatt Family enters the ring and attacks both of the Dudley Boyz.
Video
25 years of the Undertaker.
Match 2
Becky Lynch vs Sasha Banks w/ Tamina, Naomi
(referee: Rod Zapata)
They look pretty even to start, but Banks drives her knees into the midsection of Lynch in the corner for an early 2 count. Banks controls the match using the ropes and her friends to her advantage. Lynch comes back with a series of strikes, then hits a t-bone suplex on Banks.
Banks knocks Lynch back, but as she approaches Lynch puts on the Disarm-her. Banks starts to tap but Tamina distracts the ref as Naomi pulls Banks’ foot under the ropes for the break. Lynch goes after Naomi, and Banks uses the distraction to get apply a schoolboy for the win.
Sasha Banks wins via pinfall with a schoolboy pin
Time: 4:07
** A good match with very good heel tactics. I really like Banks and would like to see her challenge for the title. Hopefully this is part of building her in that direction. **
Backstage
Paige interrupts the commentators, saying that she is still next in line for the title because Charlotte cheated at Survivor Series. She shows footage of Charlotte being under the ropes while she applies the Figure Eight. She says Charlotte is an embarrassment, just like her Dad.
** Paige is actually correct. Charlotte was underneath the ropes, and even touched it with her head at one point. The hold should have been broken. I wonder if that was intentional or just a happy accident. Probably intentional. **
Ring Area
New Day comes out with stick horses for their “First Anniversary Country Music Jamboree & WWE Tag Team Championship Open Challenge!”
They’re not happy about having to spend their one year anniversary in the capital of country music. Big E nearly throws up. He gets really angry about songs with tractors. Seriously, why are there so many? But New Day is all about positivity. They show us what country music SHOULD be like. It involves booty. Also, Kofi breaks character. That’s how much country music sucks.
New Day decides to offer an open challenge for their titles. Because New Day rocks. The Lucha Dragons come out. Kalisto explains the “New Day runs.” The Dragons accept the challenge, but New Day tries to leave the ring.
The Usos come out and New Day immediately says that “open challenge” was just a figure of speech. Sin Cara proposes a triple threat match. Big E is upset. The Jamboree is ruined. They take back their challenge. They then get attacked.
** New Day is always fun and this segment was no exception. I’d like to see that triple threat match happen, and I expect it will. **
Backstage
Renee Young asks Charlotte about being a cheater. Charlotte says Paige is politicking, but that she’ll face her anyway.
** Paige wasn’t really politicking though. She was completely correct. Charlotte says “whether my hand was under the ropes or not,” but it clearly was. It’s like she was deflecting. She would have been better served to just say yeah, her hand was under the ropes and it was a bad call. Own up to it and fight again rather than accuse Paige of politics. **
Match 3
Mark Henry vs Neville
(referee: Jasone Ayers)
Neville tries to use his speed, but Henry catches him quickly. Henry tires to help Neville up, but Neville punches him. Henry is angry. He tosses Neville across the ring! Neville manages to avoid some follow-up moves and sets Henry up for the Red Arrow which he hits.
Neville wins via pinfall with a Red Arrow
Time: 2:27
** It really looked like Henry got his shoulder up. That wasn’t a good three count. Also, Henry hesitated in the match, seeming to be upset with himself for getting mad at Neville. It was an okay match for how short it was though. **
Ring Area
After the match, Henry shakes Neville’s hand and tells him he did a good job. Neville smiles.
Backstage
Stardust rants to himself about Goldust, Titus O’Neil got lost and ended up in Stardust’s domain. He barks in Stardust’s ear and disappears.
Match 4
Stardust & The Ascension vs Goldust & Prime Time Players
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Goldust and Stardust start, but Stardust tags out immediately. Viktor gets isolated in the wrong corner. He tags Stardust in. Young hits a strong belly-to-belly suplex for a 2 count on Stardust. The Cosmic Wasteland start to team up against Young though. He’s in serious trouble.
Young gets the tag to O’Neil who dominates with his power. He pumps up the crowd as he takes care of business. As everyone starts to get involved, O’Neil hits Clash of the Titus on Konnor for the win.
Titus O’Neil pins Konnor with Clash of the Titus
Time: 6:25
** A good match, though I would have liked to have seen more of Goldust. I thought Young was going to tag Goldust at the end, but it was still a good finish. Looking forward to more. **
Ring Area
Zeb Colter says Mex-America isn’t a failure, but that America is in trouble. He talks about his offer for Americans to join his country and their disappointing reaction.
** Isn’t America part of Mex-America though? I’m confused. I guess I just don’t know how this works. Politics. Meh. **
Colter publicly announces that his work and charity to help the people of America and Mexico are over. The borders are now closed.
** Again, they are the same borders that already exist, and we’re all within them. **
Jack Swagger hits the stage and can’t believe what he’s hearing. Colter calls Swagger a hater, and Del Rio tells Swagger to shut up. He approaches the ring, telling Del Rio to do something. They stare at each other. Del Rio backs away, holding up the US Title.
** It’s kind of interesting seeing them recycle this feud with the roles flipped. I’m cool with it. I like seeing those guys wrestle. **
Match 5
Paige vs Charlotte (Diva’s Champ)
Diva’s Title Match
(referee: Mike Chioda)
They get into a slap fight early with Charlotte coming out on top. She puts a Fujiwara arm bar on Paige. Paige gets to the ropes and rolls out to the apron. Charlotte brings her back in with a hip toss. Charlotte hits a knee drop and struts, getting a 2 count afterward.
Charlotte figure fours Paige’s head and flips her over. Charlotte is in complete control until Paige trips her on the ropes, causing Charlotte to hit her head on the turnbuckles. Paige takes control of the match and puts Charlotte in a modified STF. Charlotte gets to the ropes.
Paige figure fours Charlotte’s head, but Charlotte bridges into a pin, forcing Paige to let go. Paige then suplexes Charlotte into the ropes and goes after her legs. She suplexes Charlotte into the ropes a second time. Charlotte looks desperate, and Paige takes advantage of her desperation, catching her in multiple holds and submissions. Charlotte fights to her feet and both women connect with a big boot.
-commercial-
Paige still has a slight advantage in the match, but Charlotte comes back quickly, putting Paige in a reverse chinlock with a body scissors. Charlotte then spears Paige at the ropes sending both women out to the floor. Charlotte tries to get back into the ring but Paige prevents her from doing so, leading to a double count out.
The match ends in a double count out
Time: 12:07 (with 1 break)
** A really good match with really good submission strategies and believable emotional influences. Everything before the commercial break was good, I just don’t get the ending. Paige didn’t look at all interested in winning the match when she held Charlotte on the outside. If she just wanted to hurt Charlotte and didn’t care about winning then she could have done that at any time. She didn’t have to wait twelve minutes into a match before doing it. She didn’t look frustrated either, so I don’t fully understand her motivation. **
Ring Area
Paige continues to attack Charlotte after the bell, throwing her into the ring steps and putting her in PTO on the announce table. “Paige has snapped.”
Ring Area
Heath Slater is in the ring with a guitar. He brought some rock ‘n roll to Nashville. As he’s about to start, Ryback interrupts. Slater hits him with a guitar. Ryback destroys Slater.
Match 6
Kevin Owens (IC Champ) & Tyler Breeze w/ Summer Rae vs Dolph Ziggler & Dean Ambrose
(referee: Dan Engler)
Breeze and Ziggler start by feeling each other out. Owens tags in, then Ziggler tags Ambrose prompting Owens to tag back out. Breeze gets an advantage on Ziggler with a kick, then Owens tags back in and continues the beating. Owens and Breeze isolate Ziggler in their corner.
Ziggler and Breeze get tags, and Ambrose takes quick control, diving on Breeze on the floor. Breeze gets a roll-up from a distraction, but he kicks out. Ziggler and Owens fight on the outside while Ambrose hits Dirty Deeds.
Dean Ambrose pins Tyler Breeze after Dirty Deeds
Time: 5:48
** A pretty good match. The story was mostly about Owens avoiding Ambrose which will surely further a feud between them. I approve. **
Video
Earlier today, JBL argued with El Torito over Tex-Mex food. Mark Henry has a dream about El Torito in a cowboy hat. He then eats a Tex-Mex burger.
Match 7
Rusev w/ Sheamus (WWE WH Champ) vs Roman Reigns
(referee: John Cone)
Both men start fairly evenly, but Reigns takes control quickly with a series of power moves. Rusev trips Reigns in the corner and takes control until he’s hit with a big boot from Reigns. Rusev rolls out, only to be followed by Reigns and sent into the barricade. Reigns stares down Sheamus at ringside.
-commercial-
Rusev is in control after the break. He sends Reigns to the floor where Sheamus attacks out of view of the ref. Reigns tries to mount a comeback but is tripped up by Sheamus from the floor. The ref decides to toss Sheamus from ringside.
Reigns gets a schoolboy for 2 then follows up with a Samoan Drop. Both men are down. Back up, they exchange punches until Reigns takes control with a series of strikes. Rusev answers with a heel kick for a 2 count. Rusev goes to the top and hits a diving head-butt for 2. Rusev calls for the Accolade, but Reigns fights it off and hits a Superman punch. 2 count!
Rusev rolls out to the floor. Reigns follows and takes a kick from Rusev! Rusev then throws him into the barricade. Rusev breaks the count and continues his assault on Reigns. On his way back into the ring, Reigns hits some knees and a Superman punch, sending Rusev falling to the floor. Drive By from Reigns. While he’s admiring his work, Reigns is blindsided by a Bull Hammer from King Barrett.
Roman Reigns wins via DQ after King Barrett attacks
Time: 15:20 (with 1 break)
** Not a bad match, but it was obviously just an excuse to have Reigns stand in the ring with a chair at the end of the night. **
Ring Area
Barrett throws a chair into the ring, but Reigns gets it and fights off Barrett, Rusev, and Sheamus with it. The show ends with Sheamus backing up the ramp and Reigns standing defiantly in the ring with a chair in his hands.
Show Impressions
A pretty good show. The Ryback/Slater segment seemed out of place, or at least unconnected to anything else with no real potential. I’m glad to see Mark Henry, and his attitude of appreciating the younger guys might be interesting. I’m not really into the WH Title story right now though. It seems like they’re just taking random bad guys to do The Authorities bidding. I guess it makes sense, it just seemed kind of like it’s being thrown together at the last minute. We’ll see where it goes.
I liked the New Day segment, as I always do, and am looking forward to more from what they started tonight.
I also really think the Diva’s Title match could have (and maybe should have) been the main event match. It was a better match and it has more emotion invested into it (in my opinion). I understand that the next PPV is TLC and they want to highlight that, but they could have just as easily done that with the women rather than having Reigns hold a chair. Like maybe, a ladder match for the Diva’s Title. They should do that.
Match of the Night
Paige vs Charlotte
Even with the confusing ending, this was easily the best match of the show. The emotions actually came through in the way the two women wrestled. That’s one of the marks of good performers.