WWE RAW
Episode 1373
#RAW
Original Air Date: September 16, 2019
Event Date: September 16, 2019
(aired live)
City: Knoxville, TN
Venue: Thompson-Boling Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
Seth Rollins heads to the ring. He says Clash of Champions didn’t start well since he and Strowman lost the tag titles, but then he and Strowman had to battle in the main event for the Universal Title. Rollins respects the fight Strowman gave him, but in the end Rollins put Strowman down with multiple stomps and a Pedigree. Rollins says a rematch with Strowman won’t be happening any time soon, because after their match Rollins was knocked out by The Fiend. In less than three weeks, Rollins is happy to announce that he and Bray Wyatt will face each other in Hell in a Cell.
As Rollins continues, the Firefly Fun House starts on the video screen. Bray Wyatt is happy that Rollins is okay after last night. Rollins starts to talk back, but Rambling Rabbit shows up and warns Rollins to run. Wyatt makes Rambling Rabbit go away. Wyatt says Rollins has made a lot of mistakes. Friends forgive, but The Fiend never forgets. After staring straight ahead for a while, Bray Wyatt laughs, waves, and says he’ll see Rollins in Hell.
Backstage
Charly Caruso wonders why Braun Strowman is here tonight. Strowman says he’s here to give someone his hands.
Ring Area
The new RAW Tag Champs, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, head to the ring for a tag team championship summit. Next, the new SmackDown Tag Champs, The Revival, head to the ring.
With everyone in the ring, Roode tells eveyone to “take a good hard look at greatness.” As he speaks, Braun Strowman heads to the ring. Strowman beats up all the tag champs…
Backstage
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross drink coffee and gloat about their win last night. They talk trash about Fire & Desire, then they talk trash about Sasha Banks.
Match 1
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson & AJ Styles (US Champ) vs Cedric Alexander & The Viking Raiders
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: AJ Styles pins Cedric Alexander after the Phenomenal Forearm
Time: 5:05 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Cedric was angry after his loss on the Clash of Champions Kickoff, and he took out his anger on Styles to start the match. Cedric dominated Styles, then the Viking Raiders started to dominate Anderson and Gallows. Unfortunately for Cedric and the Raiders, they seemed more interested in getting out their aggression rather than winning the match. Specifically, the Raiders allowed their opponents to tag a few times even when they were in complete control of the match. That led to The OC being able to formulate a comeback that involved superior teamwork. In the end, both teams looked very good for different reasons.
Ring Area
After the match, Styles stomps on Cedric until the Viking Raiders chase him out of the ring. Anderson and Gallows brawl with the Raiders, leading to Ivar taking a dive out of the ring onto three men. In the ring, Cedric stops Styles as he was going for a dive. Cedric attempts a hurricanrana out of the corner, but Styles counters and turns it into a second-rope Styles Clash on Cedric.
Video
Earlier today, R-Truth and Carmella were at the women’s college basketball hall of fame. Glenn Jacobs is also there, and he says it’s an honor to have the 24/7 Champ in his city. Jacobs offers to give R-Truth a ride in his limo. R-Truth is confused as usual, but he accepts. Carmella is suspicious.
Match 2
King of the Ring Final Match
Baron Corbin vs Chad Gable
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Baron Corbin wins via pinfall after End of Days
Time: 15:35 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The first few minutes were just Corbin dominating Gable, but once Gable started to mount a comeback, the match got quite exciting. Gable looked great, and he helped Corbin look very good. This was incredibly tense as it went longer and longer, and there were lots of near falls which were all extremely effective. The result is agonizing, but the match itself was very entertaining. I just wish someone else had been in Baron’s Corbin’s place. They had lots of options. McIntyre or Joe could have filled the same role Corbin did as a despicable bad guy, and the matches leading up to tonight would have been even better.
Backstage
The Street Profits get excited for Maria and Mike Kanellis’s baby gender reveal party. It’s coming up next.
Backstage
The Street Profits, Mike Kanellis, Sarah Schreiber, Kayla Braxton, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Ricochet, Titus O’Neil, Heath Slater and Sarah Logan are ready to find out the gender of Maria’s baby. Maria shows up and thanks everyone for being here. Maria says it’s a boy. Maria also tells Mike that Ricochet is the father. Ricochet denies it, but Mike slaps him and says he’s heading to the ring. Titus tells Ricochet he better go fix this, so Ricochet heads off towards the ring as well.
Angelo Dawkins is relieved that Maria didn’t day he was the father. Ford suggests Ricochet and Mike Kanellis should have a baby on a pole match. Dawkins says why not a Maria on a pole match? Ford says that’s how they got into this situation in the first place…
Match 3
Mike Kanellis vs Ricochet
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Ricochet wins after the Recoil
Time: 1:06
Match Thoughts
This was a microwave match. Ricochet didn’t want to fight, but he did anyway. Mike Kanellis didn’t stand a chance.
Firefly Fun House
Bray Wyatt hangs up Mick Foley’s picture (with his eyes crossed out) on his wall of friendship that also includes Finn Balor, Kurt Angle, and Jerry Lawler. He says it’s about time to go find some more friends.
Ring Area
Maria Kanellis asks Mike Kanellis what it will take to motivate him. Obviously Ricochet isn’t the father of her baby, but embarrassing Mike didn’t even get him to win a match. Maria decides to reveal the true father of her child… and Rusev comes out to the stage.
Rusev walks to the ring, but Mike tells him to hold on. Mike says he’s having a really bad day and a worse night. Mike doesn’t want another match. At this point, if Rusev is the father, he’s fine with it. Mike tries to leave the ring, but Rusev blocks his path. Rusev attacks Mike and throws him all around ringside.
Match 4
Mike Kanellis vs Rusev
(referee: Eddie Orengo; watching from the stage: Maria Kanellis)
Result: Rusev wins with the Accolade
Time: 0:31
Match Thoughts
Squash. Where does Mike Kanellis go from here?
Video
Earlier today, Glenn Jacobs gave R-Truth a tour of Neyland Stadium. R-Truth asks some strange questions, then Jacobs introduces R-Truth to a police officer. The officer reveals that he’s also a referee. R-Truth tries to excuse himself, but he trips and gets pinned. Glenn Jacobs is the new 24/7 Champ.
Backstage
Sasha Banks and Bayley prepare for their tag match.
Match 5
Rey Mysterio vs Cesaro
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall after a Code Red
Time: 7:55 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Cesaro insulted Rey’s son Dominic before the match, so Rey started strong with a bit of brawling. Cesaro came back with some great power moves, and he began to dominate Mysterio. Mysterio managed to get in some moves here and there, but Cesaro seemed to have a counter for a lot of Rey threw at him. I liked how Cesaro incorporated some of Eddie Guerrero’s signature moves to try to get into Rey’s head (some of the moves were less obvious than others, including a slingshot senton into the ring which Cole attributed to Rey instead of Eddie). This was a fun match.
Firefly Fun House
Bray Wyatt hangs up Set Rollins picture in his wall of friendship.
Video
The Authors of Pain complain that no one wants to fight them because they hurt people in the ring…
Match 6
Sasha Banks & Bayley (SD Women’s Champ) vs Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss (Women’s Tag Champs)
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Sasha Banks submits Nikki Cross with the Bank Statement
Time: 8:58 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Alexa Bliss was strong early in the match, but a dive to the outside followed up by some dirty ringside action from Bayley caused Bliss to be taken to the back with an injured knee. For some reason, the match went on. Nikki Cross was essentially in a handicap match, but she did well against Banks and Bayley. The numbers caught up to her in the end though. I like the action in the match, and even though continuing the match after Bliss got hurt didn’t make sense, the way Cross fought well against two opponents didn’t seem too unrealistic. It was handled well.
Ring Area
After the match, Sasha Banks brings a chair into the ring. Before she can use it, Becky Lynch heads to the ring with a chair of her own. Becky and Banks have a sword fight, and neither woman connects. Bayley enters the ring with her own chair, but Charlotte Flair comes out and heads to the ring. Charlotte takes Bayley’s chair and hits her with it. Then Becky knocks Sasha’s chair away and hits Sasha. Bayley and Banks regroup at ringside as Charlotte and Becky look at each other.
Backstage
From the safety of her locker room, Sasha Banks challenges Becky Lynch to a rematch at Hell in a Cell.
Video
Earlier today, R-Truth wins back the 24/7 Title by pinning Glenn Jacobs after hitching a ride on top of his limo. Jacobs grabs R-Truth by the throat, but Truth convinces Jacobs not to beat him up.
Backstage
Becky Lynch says Sasha Banks is like a trapped rat. She’s not interested in facing Sasha at the Hell in a Cell PPV, she interested in destroying Sasha IN Hell in a Cell.
Match 7
Lacey Evans vs Dana Brooke
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Lacey Evans wins via submission with a Sharpshooter
Time: 3:13
Match Thoughts
This was okay. I’m still not a fan of Evans. Most of her movements are too deliberate. It makes it look like she’s going through the motions rather than actually fighting someone. I wish the finish to this match had backfired on her.
Backstage
Seth Rollins prepares for his match.
Match 8
Seth Rollins (Universal Champ) vs Robert Roode w/ Dolph Ziggler (RAW Tag Champs)
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via DQ when Dolph Ziggler breaks up a pin attempt from Rollins
Time: 6:27 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was a little short and felt like just an average bout with no real meaning. Both guys are great, but they didn’t really do anything more than they needed to tonight. It felt like all the action was just filling time until the inevitable interference and post-match shenanigans.
Ring Area
Dolph Ziggler continues to beat on Seth Rollins after the match. After a while, The OC comes out to help beat up Rollins. After another while, Kane comes out to help Rollins. Kane beats up everyone he comes across, but then the lights go out. The Fiend appears behind Kane. Kane suffers the Mandible Claw from The Fiend, then The Fiend stalks Seth Rollins.
The show ends with the Firefly Fun House song playing as the Firefly Fun House title screen distorts and breaks down.
Show Impressions
Despite some annoyances (mainly Baron Corbin winning King of the Ring), this was a good show. There was a decent amount of good wrestling, and the overall story with Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins was very entertaining. I also really enjoyed how they tied the video segments with R-Truth and Glenn Jacobs into the main event, as well as tying The OC, Ziggler, and Roode all into the same segment. This was a good example of having multiple story lines all having a purpose on the show, and having them all mean something in the end.
I was less happy with how Braun Strowman just destroyed all the male tag champs. That was lame, but it wasn’t surprising considering WWE’s history with undercutting tag champs pretty much all the time.
Match of the Night
Baron Corbin vs Chad Gable
As much as I hate to say it, the match between Corbin and Gable was probably my favorite tonight. The match was very tense and quite good, I’m just beyond annoyed that they keep giving Corbin accolades even though he has never really capitalized on the momentum they should give him. The Andre Battle Royal, Money in the Bank, and now this. WWE kept saying the King of the Ring was a star-making tournament, but if that’s the case, there were a whole bunch of other guys who could have used that momentum. Ricochet, Ali, Andrade, McIntyre, and Samoa Joe could all be on the verge of breakout success on the highest level, but they decided to go with Corbin instead. All that aside though, the Gable story was pretty good, and the match he put on tonight was very good.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-16-09