March 7, 2016
Episode 1189
(aired live)
#RAW
City: Chicago, IL
Venue: Allstate Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, JBL, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia
Video
Last Monday, The Undertaker confronted Vince McMahon, and Vince renounced his son.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon heads to the ring. He says that Vince has completely lost touch with everything and everyone. His tyrannical grasp on everything is about to stop though, when Shane beats The Undertaker and takes control of RAW. A bell tolls, but Vince McMahon comes out to the stage.
Vince brings out a photo of himself and Shane from years ago. He smashes the photo frame. He also talks about how disappointed Shane’s kids will be when he loses at Wrestlemania. He then asks security to help remove Shane from the building. When they try to approach him, Shane goes nuts and attacks.
Match 1
Kevin Owens (IC Champ) vs Neville
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Kevin Owens wins via pinfall with a schoolboy
Time: 6:49 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. There were some really great spots in this one. Neville was flying all over the place, but Owens wouldn’t be outdone. One of the best sequences in the match was an attempted double jump moonsault from Owens, followed quickly by a second rope Phoenix Splash from Neville.
Ring Area
After the match, Owens attacks Neville. As he’s about to powerbomb Neville on the floor, Sami Zayn runs out and attacks Owens. With a little help from Neville, Zayn dumps Owens out of the ring and forces him to back away.
Video
Last Monday, Dean Ambrose convinced Triple H to give him a title match, then Triple H beat the crap out of him.
Backstage
Zack Ryder backs away as Stephanie McMahon approaches Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler talks about The Authority losing power, so Stephanie puts him in a handicap match.
Match 2
Brie Bella vs Summer Rae
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Summer Rae wins via pinfall with an O’Connor Roll (after a distraction from Lana)
Time: 2:06
Match Thoughts
An okay match. There wasn’t much to it, and it was mostly an excuse to have Lana come out and cost Brie a win.
Ring Area
After the match, Lana hits an X-Factor on Brie Bella.
Ring Area
Dean Ambrose heads to the ring. He talks about messing up the road to Wrestlemania and the fact that he doesn’t care. He’s hijacking Wrestlemania whether anyone likes it or not. Last week Triple H tried to beat respect into Ambrose, but Triple H will respect Ambrose when he beats him at Roadblock.
Triple H comes out to the stage and ruins Ambrose’s fantasy. Ambrose isn’t a roadblock, he’s a speed bump. Triple H is tired of Ambrose’s delusional act. Ambrose wants Triple H to head to the ring so he can hear him better. Triple H doesn’t fight on anyone else’s time though. Instead, he makes a match for Ambrose versus Bray Wyatt.
Match 3
Elimination Handicap Match
Dolph Ziggler vs League of Nations (Sheamus & Rusev & King Barrett)
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: League of Nations wins via pinfall
First Fall: Ziggler pins and eliminates King Barrett after a superkick
Second Fall: Sheamus pins Ziggler after a Brogue Kick
Time: 6:35
Match Thoughts
A surprisingly pretty good match. Most of the match was exactly what you’d expect (Ziggler surviving despite the odds), but the end got pretty good. It almost felt like Ziggler could win. Almost.
Video
Taking a closer look at the in-ring career of Shane McMahon.
Backstage
Sasha Banks blames Becky for costing her a one-on-one title match at Wrestlemania. Becky blames Sasha for costing her one.
Match 4
Naomi & Tamina vs Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks
(referee: Darrick Moore; at ringside: Charlotte, Ric Flair)
Result: Sasha Banks makes Naomi submit to the Bank Statement
Time: 1:53
Match Thoughts
An okay match. It was very short and Tamina seemed a little slow. This was mostly here to show the dominance of Sasha and Becky, and to allow Charlotte to attack them both afterwards.
Backstage
R-Truth is dressed as a pizza delivery man (and Mark Henry wants to know if he actually has something in the pizza box). Goldust questions why R-Truth is delivering him a pizza since he is lactose intolerant.
Ring Area
New Day heads to the ring and explains that they’re a real team. Big E definitely didn’t get a team tattoo on his butt though.
Match 5
WWE Tag Team Title Match
New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods) (Tag Champs) vs Chris Jericho & AJ Styles
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: Big E pins Chris Jericho after a Big Ending
Time: 8:32 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match. Really great, and it could have gone either way. There were two very believable false finishes, and both teams worked great as teams. Surprisingly, Woods played a very minor role, as the two teams just put together a great tag title match. The match played on previous results, and the finish to this felt very real and satisfying.
Ring Area
After the match, Jericho gives Styles three Code Breakers. He then puts a Y2AJ shirt in Styles’ mouth.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Jericho for a comment. He’s tired of the “AJ Styles” chants.
Match 6
Kalisto (US Champ) vs Tyler Breeze
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Kalisto wins via pinfall after Salida Del Sol
Time: 2:11
Match Thoughts
Pretty good, entertaining match. It was very short, but the pace was extremely high throughout. I like the finish in that is was very sudden.
Video
Big Boss Man is the newest inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Backstage
Jojo asks Kalisto (with Sin Cara) about Wrestlemania. It’s always been a dream of his to perform at Wrestlemania. Ryback walks up and wonders why he doesn’t have a match. After all, he’s a lot bigger than Kalisto. He suggests that Kalisto go out on his own.
Ring Area
Bo Dallas is sad that Ryback doesn’t want to be part of a team. But tonight, the axe man cometh.
Match 7
Curtis Axel w/ Adam Rose, Bo Dallas, Heath Slater vs Ryback
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Ryback wins via pinfall after Shell Shock
Time: 2:09 (joined in progress)
Match Thoughts
Not a good match. It mostly consisted of punches from Ryback, and the finish wasn’t in any way built up to.
Backstage
Stephanie wonders “what if?” Vince says “he’s got this.”
Match 8
Dean Ambrose vs Bray Wyatt
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Dean Ambrose wins via DQ after the Wyatt Family attacks
Time: 8:17 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. There were some nice counters (especially by Wyatt), and it felt like a slightly chaotic, hard-hitting match.
Ring Area
After the match, the Wyatt Family attacks Dean Ambrose. Triple H comes out and walks past the Wyatts, but Bray gets in his face. Bray touches the title belt, then walks away with the family. Triple H then sets up the announce table, but when he gets back in the ring he’s met with Dirty Deeds.
Show Impressions
This was a good show, mostly because of some very good matches. It also built the title match at Roadblock very well.
Match of the Night
New Day vs Y2AJ
This was a great match. PPV quality.