The last Monday night RAW before Crown Jewel this Friday was…ok I guess.  I honestly had a hard time watching it thoroughly.  Honestly I fast forwarded most of the show.  About the only segment I watched all the way through was Rollins and Amborse, which clearly is going to be a slow build.  But we will get into that a little later, there were some interesting segments, but over all a “meh” from me.

Finn Balor wins again

Finn Balor went one on one with Bobby Lashley for the second week in a row, and was able to pick up a victory via dis qualification.  Lio Rush interjected himself in the match and knocked Balor off the top rope before he could hit his finisher.  Lashley then went on to beat up Balor pretty bad, with Rush slapping Balor across the face several times.  So after losing the match, acting general manager Baron Corbin awarded Lashley, John Cena’s spot in the World Cup tournament.

John Cena officially out of Crown Jewel

It has been reported that John Cena was no longer interested in going to Saudi Arabia to perform at Crown Jewel, and it was made official last night when Bobby Lashley was put in the World Cup tournament as his replacement.  Cena has been vocal about not going once the tragedy occurred several weeks ago.  WWE didn’t even announce they were going until late last week.  Daniel Bryan has also been vocal about not going, and I look for some type of angle tonight, that will get Bryan out of the trip.  I don’t blame any wrestler for not wanting to go there right now.  Especially someone like Cena who doesn’t need the pay-day, and I honestly think it would be detrimental to his acting career.  Hopefully it doesn’t strain the relationship that WWE and John Cena have.

Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch at Survivor Series

I giggled like a school girl when I heard about this match.  I have been clear that I am not a fan of Rousey as a WWE superstar.  Becky Lynch is as over as it gets right now.  I think this match will be the first loss for Ronda Rousey.  The match was announced almost in passing, which didn’t make much sence.  A match like this should be big news!  A match like this should have a contract signing.  But WWE is protecting Rousey again, because verbally and technically Becky will destroy Rousey.  It will be great to see the build to this match heat up.

Staying on the topic of women’s wrestling, there was a ten woman tag match last night that involved hall of famers Trish Stratus and Lita.  Natalya looked great in the match picking up the submission victory over Alicia Fox.  It would appear they are cooling the women off for a while, and will focus on the Champion vs Champion match for the next couple of weeks.

Baby-face Elias

Anyone else a fan of baby-face Elias?  I am so glad they turned him, and what a perfect heel target to start with in Baron Corbin.  Elias with guitar in hand was backstage to sing Corbin a song.  After the song, Corbin went back into his office, and Elias was attacked by Jinder Mahal.  This lead to a match between Elias and Mahal, which Elias won easily.  Mahal would appear to be enhancement talent once again.  Just one year ago he was WWE champion.  He will need to do something to get over.  Clearly the writers have nothing significant for him.

Triple threat tag match

Before the teams came out, I thought this is going to be great.  Ascension was already in the ring and then came Roode and Gable.  Gah!  I do not like this team.  Then AOP came out as the third team.  Roode and Gable picked up the win in about two minutes and then AOP beat everybody up.  Next time it would be better if they put something like this on Main Event so that I don’t have to watch it.  Sorry to be blunt, but give me a legit tag team division.

The tag team titles were not even on the show last night.  The championships in WWE have become irrelevant.  Seth Rollins hasn’t defended the IC title in quite some time, the U.S. title is nowhere to be seen and the RAW tag team titles have basically been thrown away.  They only titles that matter are the Women’s titles, WWE and Universal.  Sorry, went on a little rant.  But C’mon man, you can do better with those titles.

Rollins wants answers

Seth Rollins came to the ring wanting some answers last night.  Dean Ambrose did show up, but in the crowd.  Rollins went off on Ambrose verbally, but Amborse did not say a word.  Instead he paced back and forth and looked as if someone in the area farted.  There were no answers, just more build to what will be a long rivalry, I’m sure.  My biggest concern are the tag team titles.  Either give them up or set up some type of angle to get the belts from the former best friends.

Nia Jax

Nia Jax beat Ember Moon last night.  End of story.  Tamina came to the ring to have a stare down with Nia, but no altercation.  I wish they would turn Nia heel.  She is better as heel in my opinion.  Very lame as a face, and not that great on the mic.  Her backstage interview was very phone callish.  She’s very monotone and her mic work is lame.  I would turn her heel and not have her speak.  Keep her mysterious and strong.  That would make me more invested in Nia.  But show’s like Total Diva’s would ruin her mystique.  I get it may be another source of revenue for her, but if she really wanted to succeed as a wrestler, I wish she would be used differently.  Just my humble opinion.

More tag teams being buried

I am see a theme with today’s blog.  I am frustrated with RAW last night.  Especially the tag team division.  The Revival, who should be in a tag title picture was beat by the Lucha House Party?  Yes, I know that is a question mark at the end of the last sentence.  Where did they come from?  I will admit I haven’t watch 205 live since… um, ever.  So maybe it has been a faction for a while, but my first thought is, it’s a hispanic version of the New Day.  They could have been a little more original with the faction, but lame creative writing is to blame.

Ziggler beat Apollo Crews

This should tell you just how bad RAW was last night.  Dolph Ziggler vs Apollo Crews was the main event.  I am a huge Ziggler fan, but this is not a main event match.  I just don’t understand the entire RAW show last night.  Definitely a throw away RAW.

Sweet Chin Music is played

The only thing that could have saved RAW last night was an altercation between the Brothers of Destruction and DX.  Kane and Undertaker had a brief promo and DX came out at the end, but it was just Triple H.  Kane left the ring to attack Triple H, when Shawn Michaels came in and surprised the Undertaker with sweet chin music.  DX went on to taunt the Brothers of Destruction, before the Undertaker sat up in classic fashion and scared off DX.  This will lead to an easy prediction for the winner this Friday at Crown Jewel.  Spoiler alert, WWE is notorious for fifty-fifty booking.

I have to apologize for the negativity in today’s writing.  But I was honestly so bored watching RAW last night.  I watched a three-hour show in about an hour.  Hopefully, WWE steps up their game her soon.  I think that after Crown Jewel, WWE will be better.  I have the feeling that the consensus is that most people in WWE just want to get Crown Jewel over with.  It’s been a hard time to follow wrestling with all the different pay per views lately.  Super Show-Down, Evolution and Crown Jewel all within a month’s time.

My personal opinion on shows in Saudi Arabia, is why twice a year.  I think the Greatest Royal Rumble in April was a success, and they could have left it at that.  I don’t know the details of the deal between the WWE and Saudi Arabia, but if your going over there twice a year, I think it will burn people out on it.  Especially the wrestlers, Australia and now Saudi Arabia all within a month.  I am sure it is a big pay-day for them and I totally get it, you don’t want to miss out on that kind of pay.  And at the end of the day, I guess that answers my question.  It doesn’t matter the details of the deal, if it wasn’t lucrative for WWE, I don’t believe they would take their product over there.

I have also heard that WWE has announced that Daniel Bryan will not go to Saudi Arabia.  I heard it on Sirius XM fight nation 93 busted open this morning.  We will have to stay tuned to Smackdown Live tonight to see how WWE will tackle the situation.

Thanks for reading, and sorry for the negativity.  Hopefully Smackdown puts me in a better mood tonight.  Thanks for checking out gohomepwb.com and be sure to check out tomorrow’s Smackdown Live review.