RAW LIVE Coverage & Discussion - November 16, 2015
Tonight's show will feature the next WWE World Heavyweight Title tournament matches with Cesaro vs. Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens vs. Neville, Dolph Ziggler vs. Dean Ambrose and Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio. WWE is focusing on the following points for tonight:
* Is the Roman Empire simply too powerful for Cesaro to overthrow?
* What shape will Ambrose and Ziggler be in for their match?
* Can Kalisto clear this obstacle to stick his landing in the semis?
* Will NXT alumni Owens and Neville make magic in the ring?
* Expect the Brothers of Destruction vs. Wyatts battle lines to become clearer
Cesaro - WWE RAW Pre-show
Cesaro will be appearing on tonight's WWE RAW Pre-show to promote his match with Roman Reigns. Fans can tweet questions with the hashtag #CesaroSection and they may get answered on the show.
RAW kicks off tonight with a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist attack in France this past week. Classy move by the WWE.
A procession of druids walk down the ramp as the light dim in the arena. A familiar gong blares as The Undertakers music hits. Kane and Undertaker make their way to the ring.Undertaker tells us that the Wyatts took their bodies and tried to claim their souls. There is no man living or dead that can contain the power of the dark side. Kane adds that when you try to steal the flames of hell, you will get burnt. Undertaker says Bray to choose whichever of his family members he wants to sacrifice. And they will never rest in peace.
Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family come out on the ramp. Bray tells the Brothers of Destruction that their time is done. Undertakers army belongs to Bray. The lights come on and the druids at ringside are all wearing sheep masks. The druids attack Kane and Undertaker, but are quickly dispatched. Bray tells taker to follow the buzzards and disappears.
WWE Title Quarterfinals match- Neville vs Kevin Owens
Neville rolls up Owens for a quick two count. Neville works on Owens’ arm as Owens retreats to the corner. Owens cheap shots Neville before locking in a side headlock. Neville fights out, hits the ropes and hurricanranas Owens. Drop kick by Neville. Neville is about to hit the red arrow, but Owens rolls to the outside. Neville moonsaults onto Owens on the outside of the ring.
Neville rolls up Owens for a quick two count. Neville works on Owens’ arm as Owens retreats to the corner. Owens cheap shots Neville before locking in a side headlock. Neville fights out, hits the ropes and hurricanranas Owens. Drop kick by Neville. Neville is about to hit the red arrow, but Owens rolls to the outside. Neville moonsaults onto Owens on the outside of the ring.
After a short break, Owens tosses Neville into the barricade, stomach first. Back in the ring, Owens tries a suplex but Neville knees Owens in the head. Neville gets back body dropped, but lands on the apron. Owens super kicks Neville off the apron. Neville manages to get back in the ring at the count of nine. Owens flattens Neville with a gut buster. Owens charges Neville in the corner, but Neville moves out of the way. Neville grabs Owens by the waist and hits a snap German suplex, followed by a second rope phoenix splash for a two count.
Neville tries the red arrow again, but Owens knocks him off the top rope. Owens almost hits the pop up power bomb, but Neville jumps over him. Neville follows that with a reverse- hurricanrana for another two count. Neville misses the red arrow, but lands on his feet. He turns around and gets obliterated by a pop up powerbomb.
Winner- Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens advances to the semi-finals of the WWE title tournament.
Tyler Breeze vs R-Truth
Breeze charges Truth but Truth drop toeholds him. Truth dances around hits a leg drop and a high arm drag on Breeze. Breeze retreats to the corner as Summer Rae applies lip-gloss to Breeze. Breeze kicks Truth in the leg and applies a rolling single leg crab. Truth gets to the ropes, but Breeze holds on till the count of five. Truth hits the lie detector and the axe kick for a two count. Breeze hits the beauty shot outta nowhere for the win.
Winner- Tyler Breeze
WWE Title Quarterfinals Match- Dolph Ziggler vs Dean Ambrose
Ziggler and Ambrose feel each other out. They lock hands and take turns winning the test of strength. Ambrose grounds Ziggler with a side headlock. Ziggler turns it into a pin attempt for a two count. Ziggler almost hits a super kick but Ambrose ducks it. Ziggler lowers his head prematurely for a back body drop, but Ambrose kicks him in the head and clotheslines him over the top rope. Ambrose is about to fly, but Ziggler rolls back in the ring.
Ambrose gets back in the ring, and Ziggler puts him in a modified surfboard stretch. Ziggler hits the ropes, but gets caught in a sidewalk slam. Ambrose is working over Ziggler’s back. Ambrose locks in a single leg crab, followed by a body slam. Ambrose goes up top and takes Ziggler out with a standing elbow drop, but Ziggler rolls through and almost pins Ambrose. After trading multiple pin attempts, Ziggler and Ambrose both go for a cross body at the same time. Ambrose climbs to the top turnbuckle once again, but Ziggler hops up there as well. After a brief exchange, both Ziggler and Ambrose fall off the top ropes and tumble to opposites sides of the floor.
Ambrose and Ziggler are on wobbly legs. They trade punches. Ziggler hits a straight head-butt. Ziggler almost hits the zig-zag, but Ambrose holds on to the ropes. Ambrose hits dirty deeds for the three count.
Winner- Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose advances to the semi-finals of the WWE title tournament.
The New Day vs Ryback and The Usos
Xavier Woods and Jimmy Uso start off. Jimmy sends Woods over the top. Jimmy tags in Jey, and Jey dives over the top rope onto all three members of The New Day. Jey gets back in the ring and woods traps him in the corner. The New Day takes turns stomping Jey in the corner. Woods take a moment to play us a tune on the trombone. The New Day tag in and out, each taking a moment to work over Jey. Kofi Kingston has a front face lock on Jey. Jey struggles, but manages to tag Ryback, but the referee did not see the tag. Big E. Tags in (the referee somehow see that tag). Big E. taunts Ryback. Ryback has had enough. Ryback runs in the ring and attacks Big E. Ryback shoves the referee and Ryback gets his team disqualified.
Winners- The New Day
After the match Ryback and The Usos beat down New Day.
Backstage, Triple H approaches Cesaro. Triple H puts over Cesaro’s ability. Cesaro thanks him. Triple H says he will be siting in his own personal Cesaro section. Maybe its time for Cesaro to become the man.
Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring. He recounts the events of last week’s episode of RAW. Reigns says he thought long and hard about Triple H’s offer, but he will never sell out.
WWE Title Quarterfinals Match- Roman Reigns vs Cesaro
Reigns and Cesaro lock up, but neither can get an advantage. They end up in the ropes. Before a clean break, Cesaro feigns a European uppercut, just to show Reigns what he is in for. Head scissors takedown by Cesaro. Reigns kips out of it, and Cesaro kips up off the mat. So far, this match is a total stalemate. Reigns whips Cesaro into the ropes, Cesaro manages to kick Reigns in the head, then mount the top rope. Reigns charges Cesaro, but Cesaro does a cartwheel off the top rope (yes, you read that correctly). Multiple pinning attempts by Cesaro.
Cesaro and Reigns struggle over a suplex, but Reigns managed to lift Cesaro up for a tilt-a-whirl slam. Reigns goes for a clothesline, but Cesaro ducks, and springboards off the second rope for a flying European uppercut. Cesaro drives Reigns shoulder first into the turnbuckle twice. Reigns tumbles to the outside. Cesaro follow Reigns and delivers a roaring European uppercut.
After short break, Reigns tosses Cesaro across the ring. Reigns tries to charge Cesaro, but Cesaro sends Reigns to the outside. Cesaro goes for another roaring European uppercut, but Reigns kicks Cesaro right in the head. Reigns is favoring his arm, but manages to muster up the strength to clothesline Cesaro. Reigns misses a another clothesline, which allows Cesaro to hit multiple European uppercuts. Reigns explodes out of the corner with another clothesline. Reigns tries the drive-by, but Cesaro moves, grabs Reigns legs and Cesaro swings him. Cesaro turns that into a sharpshooter, then into the crossface. Reigns stands up with Cesaro on his shoulders and Samoan drops Cesaro for a two count.
Reigns back body drops Cesaro over the top rope. On the way down Cesaro slams his injured arm on the apron. Before Cesaro can get in the ring, Reigns runs to the outside and hits the drive by. Reigns pulls Cesaro back into the ring. Reigns rolls up Cesaro, then picks him up and slams him down with a sit-out powerbomb for another two count.
Reigns calls for the Superman punch. Cesaro reverses it into the Swiss death uppercut. Reigns somehow manages to kick out. Cesaro sits Reigns on the top rope and drop kicks him off. Cesaro almost deadlift suplexes Reigns back into the ring. Reigns manages to hit the Superman punch on the apron. Reigns goes for the spear, but Cesaro uppercuts him. Cesaro attempts the neutralizer but Reigns back body drops him. Cesaro lands on his feet. Reigns Superman punches Cesaro and hits the spear for the win.
Winner- Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns advances to the semi-finals of the WWE title tournament.
The Dudley Boyz vs The Ascension
Viktor and Bubba lock up. Viktor slaps on a side headlock, but Bubba suplexes Viktor. Konner tags in and kicks Bubba in the head. Konner and Viktor take turns beating down Bubba. Konner gets distracted while trash talking D-Von. Konner turns around and walks right into a uranage suplex. D-Von tags in and cleans house. The Dudleys hit the 3D for the win.
Winners- The Dudley Boyz
Backstage Triple H courts Alberto del Rio
WWE Title Quarterfinals Match- Kalisto vs Alberto del Rio
WWE Title Quarterfinals Match- Kalisto vs Alberto del Rio
Del Rio immediately overpowers Kalisto. Del Rio sends Kalisto to the outside. Del Rio misses a running kick. Kalisto hits a running hurricanrana off the apron that sends Del Rio careening to the outside. After a short break, Del Rio catches Kalisto in a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Kalisto kicks out at two. Kalisto hits goes for a handspring elbow, but he just bounces off Del Rio. Del Rio picks Kalisto up and backstabs him. Del Rio tries to pull off Kalisto mask. Del Rio misses a shoulder block in the corner. Kalisto hits his spinning springboard. Kalisto attempts his finish, but Del Rio tosses Kalisto onto the top rope. Del Rio reverses Kalisto’s top rope hurricanrana into a tree of woe double foot stomp for the win.
Winner- Alberto del Rio
Michael Cole calls Paige and Charlotte down to the ring for the contract signing. Paige tells Charlotte she is going to kick her butt at the PPV. Charlotte says she wanted to be like Paige when she first arrived. Charlotte said Paige was there for her when her brother passed away. It’s supposed to be about whose got your back. Paige lost sight of that. Charlotte says she will eventually lose the title, but it wont be this Sunday, and it damn sure wont be to someone like Paige. Charlotte later says that her family is made up of fighters. Paige retorts that Charlotte’s little brother didn’t have that much fight in him. Charlotte tackles Paige and beats her in the ring, to out of the ring. Charlotte tosses Paige over the announce table. A slew of referees fight to break them apart as the show comes to a close.
