WWE: HAPPY NEW YEAR! FIRST MONDAY NIGHT RAW of 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS!!!!!

Alright It's time for a Monday Night RAW RECAP!

RAW kicks off with Kurt Angle letting the WWE Universe know that John Cena has announced himself as an entrant in the 2018 Royal Rumble. He did so on twitter like a BAWSE or rather like our current president...hmmm (I'm kidding!). So...yeah there's that, no shocker there. Hopefully, he'll get an early slot or middle slot and then towards the end get tossed out. No disrespect but John definitely needs to NOT take the rumble this year!!

Kurt Angle also touched on the rules of the Royal Rumble. The women are competing for the first time ever in an all Women's Royal Rumble match. Now women have competed before in the Royal Rumble showing up as surprise entrants to give the royal rumble some shock value. Like Beth Phoenix, Chyna, & Kharma, But never before has the Royal Rumble been in an all-inclusive event where the women competed in the same capacity! So having this match is monumental and I'm sure the great female champs of the past are beyond proud of this new venture and investment the WWE is taking with the women's division.

Side Note: One of the most dominating and captivating females superstars of our era was Beth Pheonix. She was a Glamazon! I loved her and I wished she continued her career. But she went on to marry Edge, have a baby girl and she's just living her best life. Couldn't be happier for her. I'm glad to see her return for other things in the WWE. I'll elaborate in another blog but Beth is returning for commentary for the Mixed Match Challenge that will debut exclusively for Facebook TV, January 16th! The some of the teams have been chosen and I will elaborate on that tomorrow evening!

Back to RAW...
The Women's Royal Rumble match will have the same rules as the men's. Both feet must touch the ground and you must go over the top rope. Last man/woman standing has a free ticket to the main event of Wrestlemania! The Women's Royal Rumble match will have 30 entrants as well. Which means some old faces and NXT brought ups will be included in this match. There are a little less than 23 women on the WWE roster as a whole excluding NXT superstars. So expect some surprises from this Rumble.

Well, the love for his announcements lasted for about 30 seconds then The Shower Rod Bros aka Cesaro and Sheamus came out. They were voicing their anger accusing Kurt Angle of favoritism toward his so-called son Jason Jordan. I call bullshit if you ask me. The Shower Rod Bros have been cutting corners this last set of championship runs they've had. If Angle were showing favoritism a title defense would've happened a long time ago. And Jordan would've faced Samoa Joe a long time ago. I'll admit it does look shady when he comes out and holds up their hands but at the end of the day, they won those titles fair and square.

Now Jordan comes out cocky and stupid with no backup and causing a raucous. Addressing Sheamus and Cesaro alone. Demanding a fight. SMDH. Then Rollins comes out. He tells his partner that he has to start acting like a team and not a selfish brat. Coming out alone with no back up can have dangerous consequences. Which it did. Kurt Angle made a match Cesaro vs Jordan. And then he was attacked. The very thing Rollins warned him about.

Now here's my issue with this whole scenario. This thing would work IF Jordan wasn't a former champion. He has now held every tag team title available in the WWE. So treating him like he's a rookie seems a little annoying and stupid. Why? He's a decorated champion that WAS trying to making it on his own. Having him play this role of a man who is too overzealous and needs to be "trained" as a partner is just silly, laughable. He knows how to be a partner on a team and he also knows how to wrestle. What he needs is a persona change. Ugh..let's get to the matches...

MATCHES

First Match of the Night Men's Division: Cesaro vs Jason Jordan

Winner: Jason Jordan

I didn't care for this match. It was unnecessary and honestly, I was checked out. It wasn't a bad match I just wasn't interested and didn't care about it. I was just expecting the Walrus, Brock, Braun, and Kane to headline the beginning of the show as usual. And I would've preferred that to this. So do me a favor and check it out for yourself. With some match highlights courtesy of WWE's YouTube page.

Men's Division Match: Apollo Crew vs Bray Wyatt

Winner: Bray Wyatt

This match I knew who was going to win as soon as Apollo Crews music hit. I don't expect Apollo to make a turn around anytime soon although its possible. They set Apollo up to wrestle Bray. Smdh...Ok. Bray came down and the match started. Now Apollo has the Titus Worldwide brand in his corner. His shifty manager and their strategist, statistician I don't know what the hell Dana Brooke does if she does anything. But I can tell you this she damn sure interfered in this match in the funniest way possible. Seriously that was the best of the match. She saw Apollo was in trouble and was trying to rally him through it. She was loud and cheering. Bray stared through her and it scared her shitless. I laughed my ass off. The second time he was in trouble she got on the apron calling to Apollo while Bray was in his pose in front of the turnbuckle. But what made it so freaking hilarious was that when she got on the apron Bray saw her and locked on to her. She didn't move. Titus was screaming at her to get down off the ring apron and she didn't move. Wyatt lunged and she fell back ASS FIRST DEAD ON TITUS ONEIL'S FACE. I WAS EFFING DYING! LMAO I'M LAUGHING NOW JUST TYPING THIS. OMG, THAT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER SEEN HANDS DOWN! LMAO

Matt Hardy made an appearance and he was very clear that he was not finished with our resident eater of worlds. And planned to eradicate Sister Abigail and finally DELETE Bray. LMAO, its good to see some aspect of Broken...I mean Woken Matt LOL. Hopefully, Brother Nero will appear to make this Woken Family complete.

Scheduled Cruiserweight Championship Match: Enzo Amore vs Cedric Alexander

Winner: Cancelled (Enzo not cleared to compete)

Well, our Realest Champ wasn't in the room this past Monday. He was actually ill. Came down with the flu and was not medically cleared to compete. Nia Jax went to go see her boo and ran into Alexa Bliss in the process. Alexa asked Nia to be in her corner again Asuka. But Nia was going to see her man and take him some chicken noodle soup. Well, Alexa was not having it! She told Nia its either me or Zo. And well just like any woman in love she chose Enzo. Lmao! Sucks to be you little Miss Bliss. We'll get to Asuka and Bliss next.

Women's Division Match: Alexa Bliss vs Asuka

Winner: Asuka

This was a good match. Bliss looked very good. Although in the beginning, she was more scared than anything. She was bested but she did take it to Asuka. Asuka a submission specialist and Bliss made the mistake of getting too comfortable. Asuka locked in that armbar and it was murder she wrote! The commentators, Corey especially was making it seem like Alexa gave Asuka the business the whole match. Like she was extremely tested in the ring with the champ. That wasn't the most Asuka's been tested in her WWE career the way the commentators would have you believe. Asuka is no slouch and she's fought Bayley, Nia Jax, Ember Moon, and Sasha Banks in NXT. She even REQUESTED a fatal five-match during her time in NXT as the champ and she remained champ. And she currently the only undefeated champion and one of the most captivating in WWE history. So no Alexa wasn't one of her biggest challenges but she was a challenge. She had a similar match with Emma last year.

All in all, after Alexa, stopped with all the antics they put on a quality match. I'd watch a championship match between Alexa and Asuka. And I think at the Royal Rumble that's what we're going to see. This may be the last time you see Alexa as champ. And if they make the match, place it early in the rumble and she loses. She may have a slot in the Women's Royal Rumble. I'm almost sure that whoever loses will enter the Women's Rumble.

Men's Division Match: Rhyno vs Braun Strauman vs Heath Slater

Winner: Strauman

This match just made me laugh. The BEST PART was Strauman telling Heath Slater in that he can get these hands too! I effing lost it again! I could not believe it! The match was originally a one on one match with Rhyno. It was then changed in the middle to a handicap match that Braun took over and manhandled. He won the match and power slammed Rhyno and Slater too many times to count (per the crowd's request).

After the match, Braun was approached by a calm monster Kane. He proposed that the two work together to get rid of Brock Lesnar and then fight it out amongst themselves. Braun refused and vowed to fight his battles his own way.

Men's Division InterContinental Championship Match: Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe Pt. 2

Stipulation: If Roman is disqualified he will lose the match and the InterContinental Championship

Winner: Roman Reigns

Earlier in the night, Samoa Joe is still cocky and blindly disrespectful. Samoa Joe was being questioned by Renee (Dean Ambrose's wife). His answers were totally and unequivocally eff'd up! He basically said that he put Dean Ambrose on the shelf and now all he's good for is living off his wife's paycheck. He boasted that Dean had to live with the fact he was able to injure him, systematically breakdown The Shield, and cost them the tag titles. And now he was being rewarded for his hard work with an InterContinental Championship match with a special stipulation just for him. He was so gitty about it, it was sickening. I don't know how Renee keeps her composure but she did. She is a true professional!

I get it Samoa Joe is a great heel and he can get under the skin of anybody. But Renee is better than me. I would've slapped the shit outta Samoa Joe and shoved that towel down his throat.

via GIPHY

That's yo husband girl stand up for your man. I have two rules when it comes to fiancees' and wives. IF your husband is in a fight and he's getting jumped or beat down you are supposed to kick off your shoes, take off your earrings, remove your wig if you got one on and help your man. IF your man is being insulted or disrespected and he can't speak for himself you speak up for him. Don't you EVER let somebody disrespect him like that? That's my rules. Work or not. Samoa Joe would've been back on the shelf again nursing ruptured balls and a broken orbital bone messing around with me. But that's just me. Thank god I don't work at the WWE! Lol

*Clears throat*

via GIPHY

Anyway back to the show.

Roman's Shield-brother Seth Rollins came to talk to Roman about controlling his rage and keeping his belt. Roman assured Rollins that he's calm and he'll stay calm. But he was clearly frustrated by Samoa Joe's comments. And to make matters awkward, in walks Baby Breath Jordan cocky and arrogant for no damn reason. Just talking mad ish. It was awkward as hell and I hated it. He proclaimed that if Sheamus and Cesaro tried to interfere in the match that he and Seth would be there to handle it. Yawn...

Moving on to the match.

It was good. There were punches thrown, submissions hit, and yet it continued to push on. I was interested to see how it would play out.

But admit it, we were all looking for the part where Samoa Joe would use the stipulation to his advantage. And he did. He pushed Roman into the ref and was hoping for a DQ. Roman assured the ref he was pushed into him by Joe and the ref allowed the match to continue. Samoa Joe tried several times to get Roman DQ'd. But it didn't work.

Roman was able to hit Joe with a spear and pick up the win. Roman will likely defend his IC Championship belt again at the Royal Rumble against The Miz. He is rightfully deserving a rematch. Which I'm sure we will hear about on Monday since the D-List stat is set to make his return from filming his 86th Marine movie. Lol.

Cruiserweight Division: Dru Gulak & Ari Daivari vs Cedric Alexander and uh Goldust?

Winner: Cedric and Goldust

Due to Zo being out of action a replacement match was put in his place. And Dru Gulak read a letter sent by the beloved Cruiserweight champ. Then Cedric Alexander came out and got an unlikely partner...Goldust. I'm sure he's not even close to cruiserweight weight class. But ok...WWE I don't know what yall doing but its weird and I guess its right up Goldust's alley. LMAO, Honestly we all know what happened the last time Goldust had a friend he wound up quoting movies and having a camera following him around capturing his every move! Bruh they picked up the win. It was an okay match just the components were thrown together because of Enzo's sickness it derailed a lot of things.

The WWE has to work on contingency plans. If someone misses a flight, gets sick or injured you have to have a backup storyline and plan ready to go to ensure the show can maintain its momentum.

Men's Division: The Balor Club aka Bullet Club vs Elias and MizTourage

Winner: The Balor Club

Finn Balor made it very clear he was not pleased with the way he was being treated. He was the very first WWE Universal Champion. And was frustrated about getting a proper one on one rematch for his title. A legitimate gripe that he has every right to complain about. And it's a damn good question. When will Balor get a rematch for the WWE Universal Championship? Brock has been champion since Wrestlemania of last year and yet has not wrestled Finn Balor for the belt. Balor has wrestled for an opportunity but not for the belt itself! Finn has been back in action for quite some time. I find that to be odd. However, he stated if it meant he had to go through 29 other competitors to get his opportunity to regain his championship then that's what he would do.

He also was tasked with finding 2 partners for his 6 man tag team match. And found them in the form of his former Bullet Club members Gallows and Anderson. Now reunited with the Balor Club.

Most people were happy to see Finn back with his old stomping buddies Gallows and Anderson. The internet and the whole world knows of Balor, Gallows, Anderson, and Aj Styles' Bullet Club roots. So Elias and his Miz Bitches decided to sing once again and it didn't work as it never does. The Balor Club entered the arena and it was pure pandemonium. Fans went ABSOLUTELY NUTS. The simplest explanation of this match. Gallows and Anderson hit Dallas with the Magic Killer, then Finn hit him with the Coup de Grace. Game Over...

In Other News

Throughout the night announcements were made. Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Absolution all declared themselves as entrants into the Women's Royal Rumble

Finale: Paul Heyman and his mute Brock Lesnar address the WWE Universe and his opponents at the Royal Rumble.

Brock Lesnar and his advocate the Walrus aka Paul Heyman came down to make a statement about the impossible "odds" the champ is constantly being put in and the vast conspiracy against him to get the belt off of their resident UFC fighter *clears throat (cause we all know he longs to be back in UFC but he fears another good ass whooping. I hear Overeem is looking for a fight. maybe Lesnar should look him up. HA! THE SHADE HONEY!), I mean our champ. He ended his epic rant by speaking in LATIN! I was effing floored bro! Paul Heyman is ONE of the greatest on the mic to EVER do it! Paul Heyman your the greatest! I may tease ya and get on your back a lot but you sir are a true showman!

Anyway, Kane came out, got in the ring, choke slammed the champ and got out the ring. Then this weak ass fool sat up the same way Kane and Undertaker does. Laughing at the Big Red Machine. It was weak and had little to no effect at least to me. He just looked like a big ass dog in heat. I was not shocked or surprised that he sat up. It was tired and I'm sick of his bullshit as the champ. It's time for something new. It's been time!

Overall...

I liked the show. It was good solid entertainment. It had some moments that could've been left alone but they didn't drag the show and that I can get with. The only thing I take issue with is the end. I thought RAW could've ended on a better note than that ish!

via GIPHY

I will say this. I'm sick of Brock Lesnar. Everybody hates on Roman Reigns and dogs him like he's some weight holding the regime back from moving forward. But the dead weight isn't Roman its Brock. Brock is the cookie cutter wrestler of days past that Vince and the rest of the old school meatheads love. I, on the other hand, don't mind guys like Finn, Kevin Owens, The Miz, Sami Zayn, Aj Styles, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt or Roman Reigns being champion. It changes the game and forces something new. Plus every person I mentioned brings something to the table besides being a giant man-baby with limited wrestling moves bringing their dad to work with them every day to speak for them every time they need to convey their grievances. Yet every freaking fan that sits in an arena cheers when this meathead comes out there. He says and does nothing except for bounce, says suplex city bitch (ONCE), use the German suplex and a few strikes he learned from UFC. That's it! You get absolutely nothing from him. Oh, and he only wrestles maybe 4 to 6 times a year. Limited pay per view appearances. While everyone else is grinding hard and putting in time and work. I'm sick of this. I want it to change.

Anyway, I liked this week's show and I'm looking forward to Monday and the 25th Anniversary of RAW on the 22nd! I hear Triple H, Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels and other special guests/surprises are in store for the 25th!

Check out my SDLIVE blog! Also, the Mixed Match Challenge has been announced and its time to learn the teams. Be on the lookout for that blog coming up Sunday (at the latest. yall know I'm late on my blogs ok lol)!

Until next time folks...