WWE RAW Results and Review December 3 2018 : Bowen’s Botches and Bodyslams
WWE Monday Night RAW is from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and Natalya will face Nia Jax and Tamina. We are coming off of one of the most critically panned episodes of RAW in the show’s history and the fans have been very vocal on social media regarding the quality of the show. It should be interesting to see what WWE does to right the ship this week.
Ronda Rousey and Natalya vs. Nia Jax and Tamina
This match never officially started. Before the bell rang Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan of the Riott Squad came out with a table. Nia Jax and Tamina attacked Ronda Rousey while the Riott Squad attacked Natalya, eventually putting her through the table at ringside from the apron with a Superkickick/Double Powerbomb triple team.
It’s not a good start for @NatbyNature on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/l22my6mMXB
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Ronda Rousey and Natalya Backstage
Don’t mess with @RondaRousey‘s friends. #RAW pic.twitter.com/Kr2XrDk80w
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
Alexa Bliss In Ring for Open Forum with Sasha Banks and Bayley
.@AlexaBliss_WWE is trying to hold another open forum and things aren’t going exactly as she planned…#Raw @SashaBanksWWE @itsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/WfwgR4j5AW
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Shasha Banks and Bayley vs. Mickie James and Alicia Fox with Dana Brooke
Bayley lands the Bayley-to-Belly Suplex on Mickie James and scores the Pinfall victory.
It’s starting to get extremely competitive in this #TagTeam Match as @itsBayleyWWE & @SashaBanksWWE take on @MickieJames & @AliciaFoxy on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/iaSK3j01nH
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey Backstage
#RAW #WomensChampion @RondaRousey is going to find her OWN tag team partner to take on @NiaJaxWWE and @TaminaSnuka tonight! pic.twitter.com/4UzCW0OUgt
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
Acting General Manager Baron Corbin Backstage with Bobby Roode and Chad Gable
Tonight, @REALBobbyRoode & @WWEGable can earn another opportunity at the #RAW #TagTeamTitles IF the #GloriousOne can defeat @WWEMaverick! pic.twitter.com/S73C0XJoq6
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Lucha House Rules 3 on 1 Match
Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado) vs. Scott Dawson with Dash Wilder
Gran Metalik scores the Pinfall victory after a Springboard Senton on Scott Dawson.
.@ScottDawsonWWE might have his hands full tonight because he’s battling #LuchaHouseParty under Lucha House rules! #Raw @WWEGranMetalik @KalistoWWE @LuchadorLD pic.twitter.com/lse3mIFk1N
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
General Manager Elect Baron Corbin In Ring for Drew McIntyre Appreciation Day
It sounds like there’s some trouble brewing between @HEELZiggler & @DMcIntyreWWE on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/oudNw8zo4E
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew McIntyre
Dolph Ziggler scores the Pinfall victory after a Superkick on Drew McIntyre, with the help of a a sneak attack from Finn Balor while the referee was distracted.
.@DMcIntyreWWE is absolutely annihilating his former friend @HEELZiggler on #Raw. pic.twitter.com/Tj3RoTYMR5
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Drew McIntyre Backstage
“He knows how sick and twisted I can be.”@HEELZiggler has made a clear ENEMY out of @DMcIntyreWWE. #RAW pic.twitter.com/OxmeTfLqS2
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
Elias In Ring
.@IAmEliasWWE has a few things to say to @fightbobby on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/7AHpynvAYJ
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Just another one of @IAmEliasWWE‘s GREATEST hits! #RAW pic.twitter.com/xCq4y7B9Iy
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
General Manager Elect Baron Corbin Backstage
There’s only room on #RAW for EITHER @HeathSlaterOMRB or @Rhyno313?!
Per @BaronCorbinWWE, they’re facing off tonight, and the loser of the match…is getting FIRED! pic.twitter.com/FvW7JsPii8
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
Bobby Roode vs. Drake Maverick – Akam, Rezar, and Chad Gable are Barred from Ringside
If Roode wins he and Chad Gable get a RAW Tag Team Title Match
After the match starts Akam and Rezar are seen attacking Gable Backstage. Baron Corbin appears and says this is now a Handicap Match. Drake Maverick pins Bobby Roode after Akam and Rezar hits the Supercollider on Gable and Roode.
One minute they’re banned from ringside attacking @WWEGable…
The next, #AOP is being inserted into a now #HandicapMatch against @REALBobbyRoode?! #RAW pic.twitter.com/XmNkuguzeW
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
With the help of #AOP, @WWEMaverick gets a leg up over @REALBobbyRoode on #Raw. pic.twitter.com/3wjbN1ZISK
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Dean Ambrose In Ring
It appears @TheDeanAmbrose needs protection from the @WWEUniverse…and @WWERollins. #RAW pic.twitter.com/ngiHAppsg1
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
.@WWERollins has had ENOUGH of @TheDeanAmbrose. #Raw pic.twitter.com/8yti0qAuHo
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Nia Jax and Tamina Backstage
Whether it’s @WWEEmberMoon or @CharlyCarusoWWE, @NiaJaxWWE & @TaminaSnuka don’t care WHO @RondaRousey‘s partner is tonight on #RAW… pic.twitter.com/s0nK1ckUuC
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
Heath Slater vs. Rhyno
Loser is Fired from RAW
Heath Slater wins by Pinfall after the Neckbreaker.
Someone’s job is on the line in the matchup between @HeathSlaterOMRB & @Rhyno313, as the loser of the match will be FIRED from #Raw. pic.twitter.com/20Klo8aLiw
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
General Manager Elect Baron Corbin and Heath Slater Backstage
“I think you could have a long and successful career…as a referee.”#GeneralManagerElect @BaronCorbinWWE is at it again. #RAW pic.twitter.com/CDmemkjQbm
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 4, 2018
Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal with Samir and Sunil Singh
Finn Balor wins by Pinfall after the Coup de Grace after Apollo Crews came out to attack the Singh Brothers and prevent their further interference.
.@FinnBalor looks to be in complete control of @JinderMahal on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/u3lCoV6M88
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Finn Balor Backstage
WOW. @FinnBalor‘s night just came CRASHING down at the hands of the #ScottishPsychopath @DMcIntyreWWE. #RAW pic.twitter.com/4om12JUXRp
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and Ember Moon vs. Nia Jax and Tamina
Ronda Rousey forces Tamina to tap out to an Armbar for the Submission victory.
.@RondaRousey isn’t called The Baddest Woman on the Planet for nothing! #Raw pic.twitter.com/DmtfIlRJAD
— WWE (@WWE) December 4, 2018
Botches
- One of the worst segments from last week was the Open Forum with Sasha Banks and Bayley. I think it was brought back this week out of spite for the fan’s reaction.
- Drew McIntyre Appreciation Day was boring and started with a longer than necessary promo from both Corbin and McIntyre.
- Dean Ambrose’s promo was also far too long. All of these segments bored my ten year old son out of the room, and WWE is his favorite thing on television.
Bodyslams
- Sasha Banks and Bayley making mention of the Women’s Tag Team Championships. It’s finally happening. Not tonight, but if they’re talking about them on the air, they are coming.
- We finally got Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler as these two have broken apart. This goes a long way to freshening up a stale position for both men.
- Finn Balor being the thorn in the side of all of the heels, including the Acting General Manager, is a much better place for him than being squashed week after week, and it gives the fans something to cheer for. Apollo Crews coming out to fill that role during Balor’s match
After last week there was nowhere to go but up for RAW. This was by no means a perfect episode, but this was a marked improvement. The performers are still fantastic, and all of the in ring work was well done. This episode had exciting matches, big spots, and good stories. The Riott Squad put Natalya through a table. Elias blasted Lio Rush with a guitar. Finn Balor got to do extraordinary things. The women’s division shined once again. There was nothing silly or ridiculous. But the show was not without its negatives either. It is not normal for my son to leave the room while WWE is on television, but the promos were too long and boring even for him. The Open Forum was just unnecessary, Drew McIntyre Appreciation Day was more than necessary to get to where it was going, and Dean Ambrose could have done more with less. If the writers shaved a few minutes off of the promos and added them to the matches, this show would have been much better. But nothing was left unsaid. This is the biggest problem I see with RAW right now, and the fastest route to a fix is simple. Less talking, more action.