WWE RAW
Episode 1280
#RAW
Original Air Date: December 4, 2017
Event Date: December 4, 2017 (aired live)
City: Los Angeles, CA
Venue: Staples Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Video
Last Monday, Roman Reigns overcame Elias, Bo Dallas, and Curtis Axel in his first IC Title defense. After the match, Samoa Joe attacked Reigns from behind.
Ring Area
Kurt Angle heads to the ring. He announces a tag title rematch for tonight and is about to announce a challenger for Reigns’ IC Title when Jason Jordan interrupts and heads to the ring. Jordan practically begs for a match with Reigns. Before Angle can respond, Roman Reigns heads to the ring.
Reigns doesn’t want Jordan. He wants Samoa Joe. He also tells Jordan not to run to his “daddy” when he wants to issue a challenge. Jordan insinuates that Reigns was handed opportunities, but Reigns says he’s earned everything he’s gotten. Samoa Joe then heads to the ring.
Joe’s patience is wearing thin. He accepts Reigns’ challenge. He also gives Reigns five seconds to take back his challenge so he won’t be embarrassed. Jordan is the first to respond, saying he doesn’t have to attack people from behind. He challenges people to their face, so he challenges Joe right now. Reigns tells Jordan to back off, so Jordan attacks Reigns from behind.
Match 1
Intercontinental Title Match
Jason Jordan vs Roman Reigns (IC Champ)
(referee: John Cone; watching from the stage: Samoa Joe)
Result: Roman Reigns wins via pinfall after a spear and retains the IC Title
Time: 13:44 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Interesting match. Jordan got a ton of offense. Probably more than he really should have. He dominated Reigns for long stretches of this match even though he was still selling the knee injury he’s been nursing for a while. Even though Jordan had a surprising showing for himself, it wasn’t a great match in my opinion. Jordan’s style is all about power moves, and a lot of his moves are similar. That kind of thing worked in tag matches when he would get the tag late in the match and explode with suplexes for a minute or two, but trying to stretch that over a full match wears thin. He still has some work to do on constructing a compelling story in the ring.
Regardless, this match did serve a number of purposes. Jordan is built up as a credible threat (even though he still acts like a child), and Reigns got beat up a lot going into the rest of the night.
Ring Area
Samoa Joe heads to the ring after the match. He brawls with Reigns and puts him in the Coquina Clutch. Jordan runs into the ring and suplexes Joe. Joe rolls out of the ring. As Jordan yells at Joe, Reigns punches Jordan in the back of the head.
Backstage
Jordan approaches Angle and demands another title match next week. He also demands a match with Joe tonight. Frustrated, Angle says he’ll take it under advisement. Angle tells Jordan to go cool off when Samoa Joe blindsides Jordan and runs him into the wall. Joe tells Jordan that if he wants him, he’s got him.
Video
Absolution has arrived in the RAW women’s division.
Match 2
Paige w/ Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville vs Sasha Banks w/ Bayley, Mickie James
(referee: Darrick Moore; guest commentary: Alexa Bliss)
Result: Paige wins via pinfall after Ram-Paige
Time: 12:42 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The first part of the match focused on each woman trying to wear the other down with a long sequence of holds and submissions. They worked their way up to some big, impactful moves later on, and finished the match in a nice way that got everyone involved without really interrupting the flow of the match. It’s nice to have Paige back in TV.
Ring Area
Rose and Deville attack Banks after the match. They hit Banks with a double-team gut-buster before celebrating with Paige.
Backstage
Elias isn’t happy that Angle gave Jordan a title opportunity. Elias calls Jordan a “bastard,” so Angle tells him he’ll find Elias a worthy opponent for tonight.
Ring Area
Machine Gun Kelly is in the crowd.
Video
Kane and Braun Strowman don’t like each other.
Backstage
Enzo Amore tells Tony Nese and Drew Gulak that they better take advantage of their opportunity tonight. He’s also unhappy about Noam Dar and Ariya Daivari losing last week. Enzo sends the Zo Train on their way when Nia Jax walks up. She smiles and asks Enzo how he’s doing. Enzo looks confused.
Match 3
Fatal Four Way Match
Tony Nese vs Drew Gulak vs Mustafa Ali vs Cedric Alexander
(referee: Shawn Bennett; watching in the back: Rich Swann; stipulation the winner will face Rich Swann to determine a number one contender for the Cruiserweight Title)
Result: Drew Gulak wins via pinfall on Mustafa Ali after Alexander hit Ali with a Lumbar Check
Time: 11:44 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match! Like last week’s fatal four way, all four wrestlers were given many opportunities to shine. Everyone looked great, and everyone wrestled a smart match. The pace was high and the dives were higher, but there was also a fair amount of hard-hitting action. These matches make me wonder if the Cruiserweight Division really needs Enzo or Kalisto or anyone else like that. Well, I’m not really wondering. The division doesn’t need them at the top. Not when the guys who have been there all along are consistently putting on matches like this.
Ring Area
Charly Caruso asks Gulak if he’s conflicted about possibly facing Enzo Amore if he beats Swann next week. Gulak wants to respond by using a Power Point presentation, but the segment has run out of time.
Ring Area
Elias says things to make Los Angeles angry. Then he sings until he is interrupted. By Braun Strowman. Strowman beats up Elias for a while, then Elias hits Strowman with a guitar. Strowman isn’t affected. He hits Elias with a running powerslam and is about to use the ring steps when Kane appears on the tron.
Kane says that next week, he and Strowman will battle. Two monsters will descend into the abyss, but only one monster will emerge.
Backstage
Roman Reigns tells Rollins and Ambrose that it’s time for them to do their part. Rollins knows they’ll win. Ambrose smells gold.
Match 4
Asuka vs Alicia Fox
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Asuka wins via submission with a cross armbreaker
Time: 2:21
Match Thoughts
Fox went after Asuka to start the match and had some success, but Asuka turned things around pretty quickly. Fox hit a brutal-looking big boot, but it wasn’t enough to make this more than an exhibition for Asuka.
Ring Area
After the match, Absolution heads to the ring. Paige, Rose, and Deville surround the ring, but they allow Asuka to leave. Asuka backs away up the ramp as Alicia Fox is left in the ring. Paige gets on the mic and tells Fox to calm down. Paige says Fox is her best friend on RAW. Unfortunately, Rose and Deville don’t feel the same way. Rose and Deville attack Fox.
Video
Behind the scenes of Psych: The Movie featuring Charlotte Flair.
Match 5
Finn Balor vs Bo Dallas w/ Curtis Axel
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Finn Balor wins via pinfall after a Coup de Grace
Time: 5:38
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Dallas got some nice offense, but this was Balor’s match. They really need to give Balor more to do. It’s getting frustrating just watching him float around with nothing to do.
Backstage
A video feed switches between Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy as they talk about stuff. Bray Wyatt has reached a breaking point, but Matt Hardy has woken. Then they laugh.
Match 6
RAW Tag Title Match
Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs Cesaro & Sheamus (RAW Tag Champs)
(referee: Shawn Bennett; watching in the back: Roman Reigns)
Result: Cesaro pins Ambrose after Sheamus hits Ambrose with a Brogue Kick, Sheamus & Cesaro retain the titles
Time: 15:11 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This one went on for a while and had big moves, great psychology and teamwork, and a whole bunch of drama at the end. It felt important, and I think it’s going to lead to some very interesting interactions over the next few weeks.
Show Impressions
This week’s show was way better than last week’s. They seemed to give a lot of the matches more time to develop, and there were three very good matches on the show. Some actual story development felt like it took place here, and there weren’t a lot of segments where I felt compelled to fast forward (except maybe the segment with Elias and Strowman).
Match of the Night
RAW Tag Title Match
This was actually kind of tough. I think the women’s match and the cruiserweight match were very good as well, and on most night they might have been my favorite. I think the tag match wins for me tonight because it did feel important, and the last few minutes were pretty crazy. Lots of stuff happening, and lots of fun pro-wrestling drama.