WWE 2018: The Road Rebooked

[enemyviolent]

WWE RAW February 5th 2018

 

The show opens up with a recap video of the events of the Royal Rumble, focusing on the three-way for the Universal title, and the Women's Royal Rumble. - D+

 

Stephanie McMahon runs down the Royal Rumble, books the Men's EC and that the winner will see who goes to Wrestlemania to face the champion, and then brings out Asuka. Stephanie tells Asuka that everyone wants to know which Champion she'll face, but she has to wait, because both the Raw and Smackdown women's titles will be defended before Wrestlemania.

 

Asuka gets on the mic. "RAW... Smackdown... it doesn't matter. Nobody is ready for Asuka!"

 

Out comes Alexa Bliss. "You know, I've been playing nice lately, but I'm through with that, so let me just tell you right to your face. You should really hop over to Smackdown and face that spoiled little Flair they've got, because you're not ready for Bliss."

 

Out comes Absolution. Paige gets on the mic. "You're wasting your time, Alexa, because you're not going to be Women's Champion come Wrestlemania. That title will belong to... either the Jersey Devil, Sonya Deville, or the Total Package, Mandy Rose. So that's who you should be worried about Asuka, not Little Miss Bliss."

 

Stephanie shuts everyone up. "Every major player in the RAW Women's Division is going to get a chance to go to Wrestlemania as the champion, because at the Elimination Chamber Pay Per View, the title will be defended in the first ever Women's Elimination Chamber." Alexa Bliss is aghast. "However, you two, I don't care what Paige says, you haven't proven yourselves around here yet. So you'll have to win a match to qualify for the Elimination Chamber." Paige is upset. Suddenly, Asuka kicks Alexa Bliss in the head, knocking her out. Absolution are shocked. Asuka gets up on the middle rope, facing Absolution, and makes the 'title belt' gesture across her waist. Absolution posture back as we go to commercial break. - D

 

Braun Strowman vs. Rhyno - Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

 

Rhyno opens up with a Gore, but Braun kicks out at one, much to Rhyno's amazement. The two start brawling wildly all over ringside, but Braun gets the better of him, beating him with a running powerslam in six minutes.

 

WINNER: Braun Strowman - D

 

After the match, Heath Slater comes out to check on his tag partner, and Braun destroys him too. - D-

 

Kurt Angle is in his office, and Jason Jordan comes up to him. Jason begs Kurt for a chance to keep his tag title despite his injury, and Kurt says he's got to take time off and heal, and says he wishes he hadn't made light of his neck problems or he'd still be wrestling today. Seth comes up tells Kurt he wants to compete for the Elimination Chamber, and Angle agrees. Jason tells Seth he knew he was being cocky, and a bit reckless, but he really didn't want it to end up this way, and he just wanted to show he could have the kind of attitude a WWE Superstar should have, and he apologizes. Seth accepts his apology and says it's not his fault he got hurt, it's Cesaro and Sheamus's. Cesaro and Sheamus show up, and brag about kicking Seth and Jason out of the tag division. Seth tells them they're lucky he has bigger fish to fry right now, but he'll get back to them, and Seth and Jordan take off. Cesaro and Sheamus claim they've defeated everyone in the tag division, and Angle says he'll find someone for them to defend the titles from at Elimination Chamber, and they have a match next. - C+

 

The Bar vs. Titus Worldwide

 

Despite Apollo Crews looking good, The Bar win via cheating in fifteen minutes. - D

 

Backstage, Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy meet. Bray and Matt both admit that working together during the Royal Rumble, they felt powerful. They also admit that they're similar, but Bray Wyatt insists that Matt would have to embrace the darkness of Sister Abigail, and Matt says Bray would have to face the darkness of Deletion. They get into each other's faces again, but then admit once more, they're better together than apart. Bray invites Matt to the swamp, to meet his Family, and Matt invites Bray to the Hardy Compound. The two agree that each will be open minded towards the other's way, and shake hands tensely, before laughing maniacally together. - B-

 

Sonya Deville vs. Dana Brooke - EC Qualifier

 

Dana gets some shine, but Sonya dominates her and beats her in six minutes. - E

 

Drake Maverick visits Stephanie backstage, and claims he wants the Cruiserweight title match at Elimination Chamber to be exciting and one of a kind, to show his new vision for 205 Live. Stephanie says he can't have a Chamber match, but Drake is thinking of something else that hasn't been done in a long time... a Scramble match. Stephanie approves, and TJP appears to claim a future victory is assured. Drake books him in a qualifier match next, and Stephanie approves. - D+

 

TJP vs. Cedric Alexander - Scramble Qualifier

 

In a high paced, heavily worked match, TJP wins in eight minutes. - E (bad chemistry)

 

Backstage, Kane is attacked by Braun who puts him through several tables. Kane is wheeled out on a stretcher. - C

 

Kurt Angle comes out to the ring, and announces that every title on RAW is going to be defended in an exciting match at Elimination Chamber, including the IC title. He calls out The Miz. The Miz comes out with The Miztourage, and The Miz claims there's already too much happening at EC, and asks for the Elimination Chamber night off. Kurt Angle denies him, and says the IC Title should be about opportunity, about fresh young talent getting a shot at Championship glory. Kurt Angle announces The Miz will be defending his title against a fresh opponent, and to decide that, he'll be holding an Opportunity Knocks tournament. The Miz claims there is no fresh young talent here that can stand up to him, and Kurt says they're actually standing right behind him. The Miztourage look surprised, and Kurt Angle declares that Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel are in the tournament. The Miz tells Bo and Curtis to tell Kurt Angle they don't want to be in the tournament. Neither say anything, but look happy. The Miz demands that they refuse to be in the tournament, tells them they're only where they are because of him. They get upset, and shake their heads. The Miz tells them to refuse or they'll be fired from the Miztourage. Bo Dallas says thanks, but if that's how it is, they quit. The Miz swears they'll never be anything in this business and curses them out as Kurt chuckles to himself. - C-

 

Curtis Axel vs. Goldust - Opportunity Knocks Quarterfinal

 

For the finish, The Miz tries to interfere, but hits Goldust instead. Curtis Axel wins in ten minutes. - D-

 

John Cena cuts a selfie promo backstage. He claims that while he may be doing movies, he's still not The Rock, and he's still not going anywhere, and he's going to be in the Elimination Chamber, no question about it. - B

 

Sasha Banks vs. Mandy Rose - Women's EC Qualifier

 

Sasha Banks wins via submission in eight minutes. - D-

 

After some promo videos, Gran Metallik and Lince Dorado prepare for a Scramble qualifier, but Samoa Joe comes out and destroys them, and chokes them out. He makes the 'title around my waist' gesture and walks out. - D

 

Finn Balor is hanging out backstage, and Gallows and Anderson walk up to him. They decide it's finally time to ask him why he wouldn't Too Sweet them when he debuted those many months ago. Finn says he's sorry, but when he was running with The Club, they would beat people up together, and cheat, but right now, he really wants to prove he can do this on his own, and do it the right way. Gallows and Anderson say they want things to be like they were in the old days, when they ran the place together, but Finn says, things are different, but they can still run together if Gallows and Anderson are willing to do things his way, to really prove they're the best by competing fairly, and not interfering in each other's matches, or ganging up on anyone. Gallows and Anderson say they'll think about it, and the three Too Sweet each other. - D+

 

Bo Dallas vs. Scott Dawson - IC Opportunity Knocks Quarterfinal

 

Bo Dallas wins in six minutes. - D-

 

Elias sings a song about winning the Elimination Chamber, how the town sucks, and Roman sucks. - D

 

Roman Reigns vs. Elias

 

Elias cheats early to get the heat, but Roman wins in sixteen minutes, pointing to the Wrestlemania sign. - D+

 

Samoa Joe sneak attacks Roman Reigns from behind and starts to choke him out. Seth Rollins comes out to peel Samoa Joe off of him and he starts brawling with him. Referees and staff come out to break it up, and John Cena comes out to check on Roman Reigns too. Braun Strowman's music hits, and he comes out. John Cena takes his shirt off to face him, and the two start brawling. Roman Reigns joins the brawl, only for Samoa Joe to attack him again. Seth joins the melee, and it devolves into a massive brawl all around the ring and the arena as the show ends. - C-

 

SHOW RATING: C-