September 26, 2016
Episode 1218
(aired live)
City: Cincinnati, OH
Venue: US Bank Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Match 1
WWE US Title Match
Rusev w/ Lana vs Roman Reigns (US Champ)
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: The match ends in a double countout
Time: 18:30 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The PPV match might have been a little more exciting, but this was comparable. I liked how Rusev started the match trying to out-wrestle Reigns. It showed strategy and though on Rusev’s part. The match kind of strayed from that, but it was still a good way to start.
Ring Area
After the match, Rusev attacks Reigns with a chair. He goes or a shot in the ring and is put down by a spear from Reigns. Reigns pick up the chair and thinks about things for a while, but then he just sits in the chair and holds up the US title belt. As Rusev starts to get up, Reigns does give him one shot across the back with the chair.
Ring Area
Mick Foley is in the ring. He talks about the draw ending to the best of seven series and brings out Sheamus and Cesaro. Sheamus gets in Foley’s face and says that he was more “physically dominant” in the series. Cesaro disagrees. They argue until Foley says they are both going to get a championship opportunity: a tag team title match.
** It might make for interesting TV, but that’s a pretty terrible decision or a GM to make. Putting two guys through a grueling series of matches only to basically screw them out of a promised (even if it was only assumed) singles title opportunity is kind of a jerk thing to do. As a GM, Foley is not making great decisions. Or, at least, his making some pretty bad ones along with the good ones. **
Match 2
RAW Tag Team Title Match
New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods) (Tag Champs) vs Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Kofi Kingston pins Karl Anderson after Trouble in Paradise
Time: 8:08 (joined in progress, 1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It built upon what happened at Clash of Champions with Kofi cutting off Gallows’ attempt at an outside attack early in the match. Both teams brought out moves that weren’t seen last night and both hit their finishers, but the match still went on. This one got pretty physical, including Kofi getting busted open pretty badly towards the end of the match.
Video
In a WWE.com exclusive, last night at Clash of Champions, Tom Phillips watched Stephanie McMahon get into a limo with Triple H after the show.
Backstage
Cesaro and Sheamus are still arguing with each other. Mick Foley says they stole the show last night, but he can’t put them against each other again. If they team up though, they could change tag team wrestling.
** I still thinks it’s a wrong decision, but Foley’s words are pretty persuasive. **
Match 3
Bayley vs Anna Fields
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Bayley wins via pinfall after a Bayley-to-Belly
Time: 2:06
Match Thoughts
Anna attacked Bayley from behind before she was ready, allowing Bayley to come from behind in a match where she probably didn’t need to. So, not a squash, but not far from it.
Ring Area
Tom Phillips asks Bayley how she’s feeling after losing last night. She says she’s just getting started on her journey to the title.
Backstage
Foley tells Stephanie that he was a fool to believe her. Stephanie lays into Foley and questions him about who is supposed to uphold the integrity of the main event. Foley admits that he was out of line.
** Wow, Stephanie kind of destroyed Foley. He sort of had it coming, but I still felt bad for him. **
Match 4
Rich Swann & Cedric Alexander vs Drew Gulak & Lince Dorado
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Rich Swann pins Drew Gulak after a spin kick into a sunset flip and jackknife pin
Time: 4:51 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It felt a little short, but that allowed the energy to stay pretty high.
Match 5
Cesaro & Sheamus vs Nick Cutler & Willis Williams
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Cesaro pins Nick Cutler after a Brogue kick from Sheamus
Time: 3:33
Match Thoughts
An okay storyline match. Cesaro and Sheamus were just trying to outdo each other. Cutler and Williams were just props.
Video
TJ Perkins is the Cruiserweight Champ.
Backstage
Tom Phillips welcomes TJ Perkins. Perkins talks about living his dream. Brian Kendrick walks up and asks Perkins if it feels good to deny him his dream. The :next time they meet in the ring, Kendrick will wake Perkins up from his dream.
Ring Area
Charlotte and Dana Brooke head to the ring. Charlotte talks about disappointing everyone by continually winning. Sasha Banks interrupts and points out that Charlotte pinned Bayley, and that she is still owed a one-on-one rematch. She wants her rematch right now.
Charlotte agrees to a title match. Next week. Sasha then slaps Charlotte and puts Dana in the Bank Statement. She then clears the ring.
Backstage
Seth Rollins encounters Mick Foley. Rollins is going to attack Owens during Jericho’s Highlight Reel, but Foley says this isn’t the right time. Rollins can only hear Stephanie’s words coming out of Foley’s mouth.
Match 6
TJ Perkins (Cruiserweight Champ) vs Tony Nese
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: TJ Perkins wins via submission with a knee bar
Time: 5:18 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Tony Nese looked really good, showing his combination of strength and agility. If Perkins wasn’t the champ, I would have believed that Nese could have won this one. Perkins also looked good, being more crisp with moves that he didn’t completely hit at Clash of Champions.
Video
Remembering Pedro Morales for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Ring Area
Chris Jericho, list in hand, makes his way to the ring for the Highlight Reel. Once in the ring, he asks for quiet. Before the show starts, he addresses the muttonheads Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson. After that, he adds the cameraman to the list. Seth Rollins is also on the list for being injured again. The man who injured Rollins is Jericho’s guest and best friend, Kevin Owens.
Owens talks about proving that he is the main event on RAW. He says that Rollins’ injury is karma for all of the people he injured. Owens took out the most dangerous man in WWE, making him the new most dangerous man in WWE.
Rollins then starts to head to the ring but is stopped by officials includingMickk Foley, Fit Finlay, and Adam Pearce. Reluctantly, Rollins heads to the back. Owens and Jericho gloat when Enzo Amore and Big Cass come out.
Jericho puts Enzo and Cass on the list. Big Cass wonders if Jericho is “Sandy Claus,” so Jericho threatens to sit on his lap. Or maybe he said he was going to punch Cass in the face. Either way, Cass informs everyone that Foley made another match for tonight.
Match 7
Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens (Universal Champ) vs Enzo Amore & Big Cass
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Kevin Owens pins Enzo Amore after a powerbomb
Time: 12:39 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Pretty straightforward, but it was entertaining.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. Starting with a long title match is usually going to make for a good beginning. There were enough minor developments in storylines so that the show felt like it mattered.
Match of the Night
New Day vs Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
I really liked how this match was made better by having seen the match at the PPV.