September 12, 2016
Episode 1216
(aired live)
City: Baltimore, MD
Venue: Royal Farms Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Video
Last week, Kevin Owens celebrated his title victory and Seth Rollins was upset.
Intro Video
“Enemies” by Shinedown
Ring Area
Mick Foley is already in the ring. He talks about the show and welcomes Charlotte. Charlotte heads to the ring with Dana Brooke. Charlotte thinks that Dana owes her an apology for causing her to lose her match to Bayley. Foley doesn’t really care about any of that, but as he starts to talk Sasha Banks comes out and heads to the ring.
Sasha says that’s she’s the face of the RAW women’s division and will win back the title at Clash of Champions. They stare at each other for a few seconds before Bayley comes out and heads to the ring.
Bayley points out that she beat Charlotte, so she thinks she might deserve a title shot. Respectfully, Shasha tells Bayley to get to the back of the line. Charlotte reminds Sasha that she is the only champion in the ring and Sasha can’t dictate when she defends her title. Foley agrees, but he also reminds Charlotte the Charlotte doesn’t dictate title defenses either. Foley does.
Charlotte suggests that Sasha and Bayley can’t get along. Dana Brooke suggests that Foley should make a best of seven series between Sasha and Bayley. Charlotte tells Dana to shut up. Foley finally decides to make a number one contender match tonight between Sasha and Bayley. Charlotte is angry and gets in Dana’s face, prompting Dana to slap her. Foley appears impressed and adds Dana to the number one contender match.
Match 1
Triple Threat RAW Women’s Title Number One Contender Match
Dana Brooke vs Sasha Banks vs Bayley
(referee: Shawn Bennett; guest commentary: Charlotte)
Result: Sasha Banks wins via pinfall with a roll-through pin
Time: 8:51 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was a little slow to start but the second half picked up the pace. The finish was simple but well done.
Backstage
Dana Brooke is in pain, but she apologizes to Charlotte. Charlotte doesn’t want to hear it and tells Dana to get her bags. She does.
Backstage
The Shining Stars try to convince R-Truth to invest in a time share in Puerto Rico. Goldust arrives just in time to save Truth from handing over the cash.
Big Cass and Enzo walk up and still seem upset about their loss last week. Enzo challenges Epico. He accepts.
Backstage
Tom Phillips welcomes Kevin Owens. Owens talks about some of the controversial things he might say. He doesn’t say them though. He does say that Clash of Champions will not be a triple threat match for his title.
Jericho calls Phillips a hack. He’s upset that Foley pulled Owens out of the Highlight Reel by putting him in a match. Instead, Jericho will have Sami Zayn on his show. Sami Zayn, the “stupid idi-IT.”
Match 2
Bo Dallas vs Brandon Scott
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Bo Dallas wins via pinfall after Rolling the Dice
Time: 1:14
Match Thoughts
Pretty much a squash, but I like Bo’s attitude. If he can’t be a misfit, being angry might help him gain some traction.
Ring Area
Chris Jericho heads to the ring for the Highlight Reel. He complains about Foley messing up his show by keeping the longest reigning Universal Champ from appearing. He then welcomes the lowest of the low, Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn heads to the ring and thanks Jericho for the introduction. Jericho wants to know what kind of man Zayn is for screwing up his friendship with Owens. He claims that Zayn was the problem. Zayn says that he doesn’t care about Owens anymore. He’s done with Owens. He says that Jericho is a stupid idiot if he thinks Owens it really his best friend.
Jericho calls Zayn a taker. Jericho is a giver. Before he can give the crowd the gift of Jericho, Zayn tells Jericho that Owens only cares about Owens. Jericho says Zayn is jealous. Zayn tells Jericho that he was one of his and Owens’ inspirations, but now he’s just Kevin Owens’ bitch. Jericho doesn’t seem to like that. He shows Zayn a text from Owens by smashing his phone into Zayn’s head and giving him a Codebreaker.
Match 3
Best-of-Seven Series – Match 5
Cesaro vs Sheamus
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Cesaro wins via pinfall with a rollup and his foot on the ropes (Series Standing: Sheamus 3 – Cesaro 2)
Time: 6:59 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
I like the match. Hard-hitting, and I liked the finish. It adds some intrigue for the remaining matches. It should add some anger and violence.
Backstage
Seth Rollins has a bone to pick with Mick Foley. He questions Foley about giving Reigns a chance at a title shot. Foley says that Reigns was wronged in the Universal Title match too. He also gets angry when he feels that Rollins is questioning his integrity. Rollins says that if Foley unquestioningly supports Stephanie, then he’s a fool.
Match 4
Alicia Fox vs Nia Jax
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: The match ends in a No Contest when Jax spears Fox through the breakaway section of the barricade
Time: 1:33
Match Thoughts
This wasn’t really a match so much as it was a way to show Nia destroying someone actually on the RAW roster. This was probably the best segment for Jax since she’s been on RAW, but that’s not saying a whole lot. Even so, seeing her swing Fox around by her hair was pretty entertaining.
Ring Area
New Day heads to the ring. They are angry about Anderson and Gallows attempting to be “entertaining” last week. They point out that Anderson and Gallows wasted five minutes and thirty seven seconds of everyone’s time. Anderson and Gallows aren’t happy as they head to the ring.
Match 5
New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston w/ Big E) (Tag Champs) vs Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Karl Anderson pins Xavier Woods after a Magic Killer
Time: 9:53
Match Thoughts
Very good, straightforward match. Anderson and Gallows were in control for most of the match. They isolated Kofi for a very long time and destroyed him. When Woods managed to get the tag he looked very good, but the lack of help from Kofi (being beaten up) led to New Day’s loss. Lots of logic to this one, it really made Anderson and Gallows look good, and it adds interest for the upcoming title match.
Backstage
Tom Phillips asks Roman Reigns what’s going through his mind. Reigns says he’s only thinking about winning the Universal Title at Clash of Champions.
Ring Area
Jinder Mahal explains that he felt hate for everyone, and that’s why he left the WWE. But now, he’s found inner peace. He wants to share that peace with the WWE Universe.
Match 6
Jinder Mahal vs Jack Swagger
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Jinder Mahal wins via pinfall after an arm trap neckbreaker
Time: 3:18
Match Thoughts
An okay match. Nothing special about it. It was really just a way to get a win for Mahal and his new “inner peace” gimmick.
** I do find it funny when people start chanting “USA” in matches like this. Does the USA really have problems with India (or Canada since that’s where Mahal is actually from)? I know it’s just because Swagger is in the ring, but I sometimes find it strange that WWE pushes such strong patriotic sentiments when they seem to go out of their way to promote a pretty diverse group of nationalities on their rosters. It makes for some odd situations like this when it feels like people are chanting USA against a guy billed from India. **
Backstage
Tom Phillips asks Jack Swagger about his expiring RAW contract. Swagger breathes heavily and walks away.
Match 7
Enzo Amore w/ Big Cass vs Epico w/ Primo
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Epico wins via pinfall with a lateral press while Primo holds Enzo’s feet
Time: 3:20
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was short, but I thought Epico looked good. The best moment was Epico’s Tripleta, a belly-to-belly, German suplex, stalling suplex combination.
Backstage
Seth Rollins wishes Kevin Owens luck in his match against Reigns tonight. He wants to tears Owens to pieces all by himself at Clash of Champions. Owens says that Rollins should want Reigns in the match because other people always do his work for him. He also points out how Rollins has repeatedly failed to win a title since his return. Foley walks up and tells Owens to take a walk, and he reminds Rollins not to interfere in the next match.
Match 8
If Reigns wins he is added to the Universal Title match at Clash of Champions
Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens (Universal Champ)
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Kevin Owens wins via pinfall after a pop-up powerbomb
Time: 18:15 (1 break, match restart)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The first part seemed pretty standard until Rollins came out and attacked Owens. The ref called for the bell and Owens was announced as the winner by DQ, but Foley (along with Fit Finlay and Adam Pearce) restarted the match. The pace picked up considerably and led to a nice finish, even with a distraction distraction from Rusev.
Ring Area
After the match, Rusev attacks Reigns and puts him in the Accolade.
Show Impressions
Not a bad show. Nothing really jumps out as being particularly noteworthy, but it was enjoyable. I liked the women’s stuff and the tag title stuff the best.
Match of the Night
New Day vs Anderson & Gallows
This was a good, solid, no nonsense match. It served it’s purpose well in building interest in the PPV without resorting to interference or other gimmicks.