Original Air Date: October 16, 2017
Event Date: October 16, 2017 (aired live)
City: Portland, OR
Venue: Moda Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Video
Previously on RAW, The Shield reunited.
Ring Area
Kurt Angle heads to the ring. He starts off by talking about the handicap TLC match this Sunday when The Shield (in matching vests) makes their entrance through the crowd. Angle seems slightly nervous as The Shield surrounds the ring. Angle hands a mic to Reigns and leaves.
Rollins talks about dominating when they first arrived, and he’s happy to be back with his brothers. Ambrose says it might have been a mistake to say The Shield would take on any number of people, but he’d say the same thing again if given the chance. He calls out Miz, Sheamus, Cesaro, and Strowman, and they (along with Curtis Axel) come out to the stage.
Angle stops everyone before they can brawl, saying tonight will be historic, but it won’t have a four on three match. That happens at TLC on Sunday.
Ring Area
Elias, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows are already in the ring. Elias starts to speak, but Anderson and Gallows need to warm up their vocal cords. They do so by singing “Cool, Cocky, Bad.” Elias then plays a song about Jason Jordan being a nerd.
Match 1
Elias & Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs Jason Jordan & Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Apollo Crews pins Karl Anderson after a spin-out powerbomb
Time: 3:21 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
An okay match. It was short and spotty, but it was fun enough. There was a short segment in the middle where they built up to one big tag, but other than that it was just everyone taking turns hitting a big move on someone on the opposite team.
Backstage
Renee Young begins to ask Emma a question, but Emma interrupts. She’s upset that all the attention is on Asuka. Alexa Bliss walks up and thanks Emma for starting the “Women’s Revolution.” Alex says she and Emma should stick together and team up tonight.
Video
Recently on 205 Live, Jack Gallagher joined The Brian Kendrick, but Cedric Alexander attacked Gallagher with his own umbrella.
Match 2
Cedric Alexander w/ Rich Swann vs Jack Gallagher w/ The Brian Kendrick
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Cedric Alexander wins via pinfall after a Lumbar Check
Time: 3:22
Match Thoughts
Good match. Kendrick helped make things interesting with his distractions and shenanigans, and Gallagher and Alexander both looked good in the ring. This was a good warm-up for the tag match in Sunday.
Ring Area
The Miz, Curtis Axel, Sheamus, and Cesaro head to the ring for “Miz TV.” Miz talks about shattering The Shield, then Cesaro and Sheamus talk about taking back the tag team titles. Miz says that his team is a family before introducing Braun Strowman. Strowman heads to the ring.
Strowman says he wants to shatter and eliminate The Shield. That starts tonight in a steel cage.
Miz points out that Ambrose said The Shield is willing to face five guys, so he begins to introduce the fifth member of his team when Kurt Angle comes out and interrupts. Angle doesn’t like the idea, but Miz wants The Shield to back up his own words. Angle tells Miz to “shut up.” He decides that if Strowman defeats Reigns tonight, Miz can add a fifth member to his team. If Reigns wins, Strowman is out of the match on Sunday. Strowman accepts on Miz’s behalf. Before leaving, Angle declares that everyone will be barred from ringside in tonight’s cage match.
Match 3
Alicia Fox vs Sasha Banks
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Sasha Banks wins via submission with a Bank Statement
Time: 2:43
Match Thoughts
An okay match. It was short, and I think they could have made it a little more competitive. I like the little feud they had earlier this year and wouldn’t mind seeing it revived.
Backstage
Charly Caruso congratulates Sasha Banks on her victory when Alicia Fox attacks her from behind. Fox yells at Banks, telling her that she should show Fox some respect. Fox shoves Darrick Moore before walking away, leaving Banks on the ground.
Ring Area
Enzo Amore heads to the ring. Enzo is upset about losing his Cruiserweight Title last week. He feels that he was robbed. As if in response to Enzo’s accusations, Kalisto comes out and heads to the ring.
Kalisto tells Enzo that he can blame whomever he wants, but there will be no excuses when Kalisto leaves TLC with the Cruiserweight Title still in his possession. Enzo replies by saying the “Zo Train” is coming through. That prompts Tony Nese, Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, and Noam Dar to run into the ring and attack Kalisto from behind. After a few moments, Mustafa Ali runs to the ring and manages to knock everyone down except for Enzo. The numbers are too much though, and Ali gets overrun and beat up alongside Kalisto.
Match 4
RAW Tag Team Title Match
Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins (RAW Tag Champs) vs Sheamus & Cesaro
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Dean Ambrose pins Cesaro after Dirty Deeds
Time: 8:53 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This one was extremely fast-paced and had a ton of energy. It started of good, but once Ambrose and Cesaro got in the ring together, it broke down and never got back together. There were lots of dives and running around, and it was all fun.
Backstage
Curtis Axel tries to keep up the morale of Sheamus and Cesaro. He’s excited about the prospect of being the fifth man on Miz’s team, so he also attempts to give Braun Strowman a pep talk. Axel says he wants to fight Roman Reigns, so everyone tells him to just go find him. Right now. Reluctantly, Axel heads off to pick a fight.
Ring Area
Finn Balor heads to the ring. He says that even though BRay Wyatt has tricks, Balor has tricks as well. Balor will slay the monster of Sister Abigail with a demon. The Demon. They then cut to a close-up of Balor where his face is altered (via editing) to show him in demon makeup. Balor tells Bray to “run.”
** Stop with the editing and special effects! This isn’t a movie, nor should it be presented as one! **
Video
Asuka is coming to TLC.
Match 5
Emma & Alexa Bliss (RAW Women’s Champ) vs Mickie James & Bayley
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Micki James pins Alexa Bliss after a Mick Kick
Time: 7:51 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Bayley was in peril for a lot of the match which let Mickie come in hot and have her way with her opponents. Bliss let Emma do a lot of the work initially, only coming in when she felt things were under control. This was good buildup for Bliss vs James, but maybe not as much for Asuka vs Emma (although, Bliss vs James promises to likely be more competitive, so the focus in this match makes sense).
Backstage
Curtis Axel works himself up and approaches The Shield as we cut to a commercial break.
Backstage
Miz finds out that Axel went hunting for Roman Reigns. He doesn’t seem happy and excuses himself from the room.
Backstage
Carly Caruso congratulates Mickie and Bayley. She then asks Mickie about Alexa’s age-shaming. Mickie says Alexa’s words hurt, but she will have the last laugh when she takes the RAW Women’s Title away from her.
Backstage
The Miz finds Curtis Axel hanging upside down from a forklift. Axel appears to be unconscious.
Backstage
Renee Young asks The Miz what he’s going to do about a fifth teammate if Strowman beats Reigns tonight. Miz looks down at Axel (now writhing in pain on the floor) and says that everyone knows Axel was never going to be the fifth man.
Match 6
Steel Cage Match
Braun Strowman vs Roman Reigns
(referee: John Cone; outside referee: Rod Zapata; guest commentary: The Miz; stipulation: If Strowman wins, The Miz can add a fifth member to his team at TLC. If Reigns wins, Strowman will be out of the TLC match and it will be contested three vs three.)
Result: Braun Strowman wins via pinfall after a running powerslam
Time: 13:49 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was fun. It was all about spectacle, and for that it delivered. Lots of stipulations, lots of people, lots of big slams. That’s what this was all about. I liked the twist in this match. They went for the unexpected and it worked for a nice, if somewhat inexplicable, surprise.
Show Impressions
This was a fine show. The Shield stuff carried the show, and it worked well. There was also a decent amount of time given to the Cruiserweights and the women. Overall I think this was a pretty good last show before TLC. They didn’t give away too much, but they did make me want to watch the show. Mostly for Asuka, but the other matches currently on the card have me at least a little interested.
Match of the Night
RAW Tag Title Match
The main event was all spectacle, but the tag title match was all about energy. This was a fun match.