Kurt Angle is out to start the show. He is immediately interrupted by the music of the Shield. They enter through the crowd, wearing their tactical gear. I'm not gonna lie, it's a good sight. Angle gives them the mic and Reigns tells it that was a wise choice. Rollins says that their first match was at TLC 5 years ago and they were dominant from then on in. Ambrose says that Miz and Associates should be scared because nobody is better than the Shield. He admits that he got ahead of himself last week but he insists that the Shield are capable of taking on any amount of people. They call out their TLC opponents and they arrive. Angle tells them to wait til Sunday. He then books a tag title match. Entertaining opening segment. It's nice to see the Shield back together.
Jason Jordan, Titus O'Neil & Apollo Crews vs Elias, Gallows & Anderson - This was alright. Once again Anderson is the one that takes the loss. The crowd didn't really care, and they haven't been given a reason to.
Emma is tired of hearing about Asuka. She started the revolution and beat 4 other women last week. Bliss arrives and runs down Mickie James and says that she and Emma will team up tonight.
Cedric Alexander vs Jack Gallagher - This was a solid match that Alexander won with a spectacular looking Lumbar Check. Gallagher sold it like a champ.
MizTV with Braun Strowman is up next. Miz promises that Shesaro will win the tag titles tonight. Sheamus says that they will shatter the Shield on Sunday. Braun comes out and says that he will tear the Shield apart one by one for what they did to him last week. He will start with Reigns in a cage tonight. Miz says that he accepts Ambrose's challenge and will add a 5th member to his team. Angle interrupts and says that if they want to add a 5th member Braun will have to win tonight. If Reigns wins it will be a 3 on 3 match. Braun accepts but Angle says everyone is banned from ringside. Decent enough segment, even if it feels like Angle doesn't give a shit how many people the Shield face at TLC.
Sasha Banks vs Alicia Fox - This was a short match which Banks won. It helps her to remain relevant while other women take the bigger roles.
Charley interviews Banks but Fox attacks her. Apparently this will be a feud, so, yeah, okay, whatever.
Enzo is out, doing Enzo things, saying Enzo words. Enzo blames everyone but himself for losing the Cruiserweight title. Kalisto comes out and says that Enzo talks too much and that there will be no excuses at TLC. The Cruiserweight Heel Conglomerate of Daivari, Nese, Gulak and Dar come out to attack Kalisto but Mustafa Ali makes the save. Enzo cuts him off though and the heels stand tall. The fans want Neville but they ain't getting him. Decent segment that is building things for after TLC.
Ambrose & Rollins vs Sheamus & Cesaro (Raw Tag Titles) - This was a good match. Not on the level of their PPV encounters but fun nonetheless. The faces retain with the most preotected finisher in wrestling, Dirty Deeds.
After the match Curtis Axel gives everyone a pep talk but Braun convinces him to go and find Reigns.
Finn Balor comes out and rants about demons and monsters. He also morphs in and out of demon form. In other words he is turning into Bray Wyatt. The real Bray did not show up. This whole thing is spectacularly stupid and I will be very happy when it is all over.
Alexa Bliss & Emma vs Mickie James & Bayley - Like a large portion of matches on Raw these days this falls into the category of alright. Mickie picked up the win for her team. This of course means that she isn't winning on Sunday.
Sheamus, Cesaro & Braun tell Miz that Axel went to find Reigns. Miz knows that it will end in disaster.
Mickie James tells Charly that Bliss has pissed her off and she will win her 7th title on Sunday.
Sasha Banks vs Alicia Fox is on the TLC Kickoff show. That's about right.
Curtis Axel is hanging upside down from a forklift. Miz reveals that he was never the 5th man. Good call.
Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman (Cage Match) - This was a really good main event, as you would expect from these two. It ended when Kane made his return and attacked Reigns, allowing Braun to pick up the win. Kane is the 5th man. They didn't need a 5th man but if they insist on it Kane makes sense. He was in the first match the Shield had, he lost to the Shield a lot and Reigns retired the Undertaker. It fits.
Overall Thoughts
It had it's ups and downs but this was by no means a bad episode of Raw. The two matches involving the Shield were good and some of the segments were too. Not the Wyatt vs Balor stuff though, that is trash.
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