Written by Brian McNamara
Kevin Owens is out to open the Monday Night RAW Holiday Edition. After a recap of the KO/AOP/Rollins feud, Owens goes to cut a promo and is cut off by Mojo Rawley. The two go back and forth, which is somewhat unfortunate for Mojo because KO comes off as natural and unscripted and Mojo feels too scripted and measured.
Kevin Owens vs. Mojo Rawley – Christmas Street Fight
A sort of “workaday” No DQ Match. Rawley isn’t quite the seasoned performer and you can see some seams as they go through. KO takes the majority of the hard bumps and does his best to make Rawley look like a threat. KO manages to turn the tide and popup powerbombs the hypéd-one through a table and then pins him with a knee across the throat. Shot from a low-angle, the pin looks nasty and cool.
Winner: Kevin Owens
After the match, KO calls out the Authors of Pain and Seth Rollins while wiping blood across his face like war paint – a great visual. “Making bad decisions is a part of my charm,” says KO as he demands they come down and beat him up in front of the crowd. Kevin Owens rules. That’s it, that’s the tweet.
Rollins comes down to ringside, backed up by the Authors of Dapperness. Rollins has an off-mic talk with KO and then extends his hand. KO ponders it before walking away and nailing Rollins with a superkick. The AOP run in and pickoff Owens before he can get a chair shot in. KO is able to get up enough to spear Rollins during a curb stomp attempt. But it’s a short-lived revival as they continue to roll him. They eventually leave KO bloodied in the ring. KO leaves shortly after, limping and in pain.
We cut to commentary and… Jerry Lawler is wearing… a pre-printed Christmas Sweater shirt? That has a necktie and collar printed on it. Samoa Joe on commentary does his best to put over the AOP as bad dudes.
During a video, we see R-Truth in NYC visiting the sites only to get taken out and pinned for the 24/7 Championship by Akira Tozawa! Neat little moment with Rockefeller Center in the background.
Bobby Lashley vs. Cedric Alexander
A good brawny guy vs. flippy guy outing. Lashley throws a punch here that looks pretty darn vicious. After Cedric knocks Lashley outside and takes him to the ground with a senton, Lana picks up a mic and interrupts the match, inviting everyone to her wedding next week – including Cedric, who does some fun interaction work off of this pretty tepid material. She also says Bobby should have a Greco-Roman match next week to keep him safe for their wedding. After the break, the two are back at it, though some of the energy from the first half seems gone. Lana spends a good deal of the match with a Terminator stare locked on Cedric which is a very good addition to the match. Cedric does a pretty nasty looking dropkick while Lashley’s on the second rope. Lashely ends up winning with a sloppy spear.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
A video shows Akira Tozawa and Truth having an encounter at Columbus Circle in which we learn Truth knows Japanese! Tozawa runs off into the night along Broadway, still 24/7 Champ.
Drew McIntyre vs. Zack Ryder
A real humdrum squash match, Zack barely gets any offense in before being handily beaten by the Scotsman. A particularly rough dropkick reversal ends the match. Curt Hawkins comes to Zack’s aid but is pushed out of the ring before Drew puts Zack through some more pain. He then beats up Curt. Drew cuts a promo in which he calls himself as “wise as [he] is jacked” and then declared 2020 his year.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Becky Lynch is out now demanding her match with Asuka. Asuka and Kairi are out now having the time of their lives. Asuka cutting promos in Japanese is amazing. Kairi’s parasol is fantastic. Asuka says she wants to be Asuka Two Belts. NOW BECKY KNOWS JAPANESE and issues her retort. Nice short and sweet promo that works for these specific competitors.
Aleister Black vs. Deonn Russman
The image of Aleister Black rising from the grave amidst Christmas Trees and presents makes for some great visual dissonance. Just some brutal kicks to some local talent for a quick squash victory for Aleister.
Winner: Aleister Black
Buddy Murphy and Aleister cross paths as Buddy too comes out to put some local.
Buddy Murphy vs. Joeasa
Buddy Murphy lands a sick knee strike and Murphy’s law on another local performer.
Winner: Buddy Murphy
Aleister marches down to the ring and offers Murphy his hand. Murphy snubs him but Black delivers Black Mass to end any opposition. Backstage, Rey cuts a promo for his match tonight against Seth Rollins.
Tony Nese vs. Ricochet
Tony Nese looking like a Golden God tonight. A really good quick match between the two, could have used even more time between these two.
Winner: Ricochet
Another great segment with Akira Tozawa hiding behind christmas trees for sale on the streets of New York.
Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green
Charlotte coming down to the ring in full Snow Queen attire. The match started out interestingly enough with Chelsea getting an early advantage before Charlotte brought it home with the Figure 8. Would have loved to have seen a longer outing for the two. It was nice to finally see someone with the size match on Charlotte.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Santa Claus uses trickery to clock Tozawa, win the 24/7 built and give us a reason for Tozawa and Truth to team up.
Randy Orton & Viking Raiders vs. The OC
A bit of a slow-burn 6-man tag. Everyone involved is functionally very good and the match is paced just like every other 6-man you’ve ever seen. It’s not bad but it’s not setting the world on fire. I feel like all these talents could have been used a little better. Orton’s knee injury is played up, but just as quick Eric and Ivar are back in. The OC eat some RKOs in order for AJ to get in a phenomenal forearm for the win.
Winners: The OC
The 24/7 title interstitials give us a low-speed horse carriage race! This is the content right here.
Weird Erick Rowan POV ASMR promo video?
Erick Rowan vs. Travis Horn
This enhancement talent is bribing Rowan with a candy cane they were… keeping in their tights? Rowan demolishes the local grappler with a few chokeslams after the unwitting jobber tried to give candy canes to Rowan’s mystery pet.
Winner: Rowan
In the height of art, Truth pinned Santa on the steps of Lincoln Center, in front of the MET Opera House. Truth calls the ref Micahel Cole which got a chuckle. Truth & Tozawa make friends after the ref quits for the night. These bits have been great. More, please.
Rusev is out, looking handsome as ever. He holds up some crowd signs from fans offering to his new girlfriend. He cuts a great promo and the crowd is on his side.
Rusev vs. No Way Jose
A very quick match as Rusev delivers a powerful kick to Jose. After taking him out, Rusev helps him up and then break dances with him. He then takes charge of the Conga Line. And some of Jose’s dancers plant kisses on his cheeks. A weird, but very good Rusev Day.
Winner: Rusev
Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship
As commentary reminds us, this is a first-time-ever match up between the two. It starts off well, if a little slow. They trade tempo a few times, but Rollins avoiding an early 619 led to a Rollins advantage. Rey whips out a sunset flip wall-bomb that looks absolutely devastating in the second act of the match. There does seem to be a bit of a size mismatch between the two, like Seth isn’t used to wrestling someone as small as Rey. There are some small issues with moves. The AOP interfere, costing Rollins the match and put the pain to Rey.
Winner by DQ: Rey Mysterio
The AOP drag Rey up to the announce table and go to smash him through but Samoa Joe remains sitting, blocking them. They unceremoniously dump Rey into the presents as Samoa Joe rises to take on the AOP. Rollins “talks” Samoa Joe Down, but then whispers Finish Him to the AOP, who put Joe through his paces before smashing him through the announce desk.
Monday Night RAW Holiday Edition was an uneven show. It wasn’t bad, but it felt like nothing was given time to breathe. Charlotte/Green should have spanned at least two act breaks. There were too many squash matches to keep interest. The most interesting part of the show was the R-Truth/Tozawa runner – pretapes from NYC. Even the main felt like an afterthought. It’s just not quite there. A three-hour Main Event. With some fine tuning this could have been a pre-taped holiday win, instead it’s a pair of socks on Christmas morning, maybe needed but not quite flashy enough.
