What Happened Last Night At Survivor Series: Raw displayed BRAND SUPREMECY like never seen before. Lana displayed how less effort is better. The Hurt Bidness displayed that teamwork makes the dream work. Drew McIntyre displayed GRIT AND MOXY even in defeat.
Let’s talk about the issue with Survivor Series
The overall issue with the idea of Survivor Series as it is currently presented is that NONE OF IT MATTERS. They just throw action figures at each other once a year because REASONS and we all hate it and they barely even try.
It’s finally over so we can move on but I have another issue with Survivor Series, and last nights Raw doesn’t really help me out in that regard.
There is no logical reason The Miz wouldn’t have Cashed In Last Night
I understand subverting expectations can be fun and all that. Setting up Miz with the Battles Royal win to keep him in our minds as we looked towards the Drew and Roman matchup. However when that match ends the way it did, with Drew getting two on one attacked and LITERALLY CHOKED OUT in the middle of the ring.
How do you not have Miz cash in? I understand “WWE Champion The Miz” was never your original plan because YOU NEVER HAD AN ORIGINAL PLAN, beyond “lol Otis won that’s such good shit”
Was it just because of The Undertaker? You didn’t want a title change to steal any of the moment away from him? Why book the match to end in such a PERFECT way for a cash in? If you don’t want Miz to have the briefcase just have him lose a Cash-In already. It’s not like you really care about the fans perception of him anyways.
Anyways, I’m sure all these questions will be answered during Raw when Miz and Drew McIntyre [checks notes] aren’t on the show at all? Oh come on!
RAW Emotions during November 23rd
I can haz Consequences?
Wait hold up, you’re telling me that something from Survivor Series actually technically kind of sorta in a way MATTERED? Holy poop sticks man I don’t know If I am equipped to handle this right now.
Adam Pearce getting his dome crushed by Strowman aside, we actually have a quasi tournament to set up a challenger for Drew McIntrye’s next challenger?
I LOVE TOURNAMENTS.
It may be only two rounds and apparently to get into it all you had to do was interrupt Pearce talking to Charly in the back. But I will take it.
Seven more matches and I win my Parlay
I was technically joking when I said last week that the Over/Under for New Day and Hurt Bidness matches was 8.5, but I guess hitting the over wasn’t that crazy of an idea if we are going to get two matches per show?
I don’t generally like talking about “burying” people, especially when it comes right after really good matches, which this was. However I don’t see how this really helps either team. New Day still has no one else to wrestle, and now Cedric and Shelton have “lost” to them basically three straight times if you ignore the count out victory.
I would question it a bit more, but some other Hurt Bidness related activities this evening have me worried about the group as a whole going forward.
I’m not your Bro-gue, Bro
Hang on a minute here. You’re telling me I get a quasi tournament, and in that tournament I get a baller twenty minute matchup? Is it my birthday or something?
I think we knew going in Riddle and Sheamus could absolutely sync up and produce something really good. I’m just surprised WWE let them, I will end up being very surprised a few times tonight in fact.
There is a general theme to Sheamus matches in that you can tell how good they were after the fact by how pink to red his skin tone has become. And let me tell you Sheamus looked like a white sock got washed with all of Team Raw’s shirts after this one.
My absolute favorite moment in this match was a very small one. As Sheamus had Riddle yet again in a leg lock of sorts, Riddle slowly raised his free leg up, and the look of “aw shit” on Sheamus’ face just brought me so much happiness I can’t even describe it.
Ribbeting, Unfrogettable, I am Toadally Kermitted to these Videos
I don’t think I have to really go in any more depth about how great the Fire Fly Fun House has been with the addition of Alexa Bliss. Bray continues to be what he is, really good at pretty much everything, and she continues to surprise us all to a point that I don’t think we should be surprised any more.
And I’m even more excited to see Nikki Cross!
Nikki is doing some great work here. I’m glad they didn’t just also throw her into the group because “omg crazy amirite”. Her sincere promos have almost to a point had to carry this angle, and she’s absolutely nailing it.
I have no idea where they are going to go with it from this point as I don’t feel like this match is viewed as some blow off and it’s not really a feud at this point. But I am excited!
CRISIS AVERTED, RETURN TO DEFCON 3
Here we are again with this subverting expectations thing and WHOO BOY did they really try to send us on a trip.
I was fully prepared as soon as Asuka vs. Lana was booked that Lana was going to somehow win, and then when Nia and Shayna came out I was almost positive it was somehow going to happen. I mean first off, if you are Nia or Shayna, wouldn’t you prefer Lana as Women’s Champion over Asuka? That makes a lot of sense.
What doesn’t really make any sense is Nia and Shayna attacking Asuka of all people, beyond the fact that it’s freaking ASUKA. However we may be in for a reprieve from Women’s Champion Lana in return for Lana and Asuka as Tag Team Champions. And I am honestly here for it. Should be fun.
No seriously. Why are you laughing, I’m not joking. Whatever.
STOP BOOKING MATCHES YOU DON’T WANT ANYONE TO LOSE
I don’t really know what the issue is here honestly. But it is an issue that WWE has had for a long time and refuses to give up. If you don’t want Keith Lee to pin Lashley for WHATEVER reason.. You know what, no. There is a reason, BECAUSE YOU WANT KEITH LEE TO WIN. SO JUST HAVE HIM WIN.
In what sense can you justify MVP coming in to attack Keith Lee, costing Lashley the match, if the reason he’s attacking Keith is because Lashley is potentially about to lose anyways?
Why didn’t MVP just get into the ring and start “beating up” Lashley to give his guy the win? Is there going to be some, I don’t know, repercussions from Lashley to MVP? Is Riddle going to be involved due to his interests in “Bidness”, even if it is actually just Yogurt?
If everyone in The Hurt Bidness keeps losing, is it going to be time for a shift in who is or isn’t good for bidness? I have no idea, but I am excited to find out!
NASA Lies – Never trust a Snake
ANOTHER REALLY GOOD MATCH?
WITH RANDY ORTON IN IT?
WHAT IS GOING ON?
I’m honestly starting to wonder if Randy Orton has decided to hang up the boots soon, and has decided to go out on a baller 2020. This year has been some of it not the best work of his long and storied career. If he wants to maybe end that at this years WrestleMania with a Firefly Funhouse match the way Cena did? I am here for it.
Styles and Orton jell very well together, and while this wasn’t what you would call a “clean” victory thanks to some well times Fiend jump scares, it was still Styles getting the win not absolutely handed to him.
Well that was a really good edition of Raw. I guess this is what that sweet sweet Brand Supremacy feels like, eh? We have stories moving forward and an absolute banger of a triple threat match planned for next week. I am excited.
So if you enjoyed Raw, Enjoyed this Column, or just enjoy life in general, give this a share. Leave a comment below with your thoughts. Don’t forget to check out our own Tara The Ref’s reflection on The Undertaker and feel free to stop by the SRP Discord and say hi. Until next time, I’m HGR and Tango Mike.
