WWE Raw 2nd January 2017

The first WWE Show of 2017! 

 Did the show meet expectations? No! Did it dissappoint? Not too much! 

 We start the show with a talk segment between Mick Foley, Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, and Stephanie McMahon.

Some entertaining interaction, mainly between KO + Jericho and Mick Foley, although Mick Foley did keep getting things mixed up, like trying to ban Jericho from his own match... But otherwise a strong segment that would lead to Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins, which was a solid match ending in Owens losing to Rollins, which isn't the worst. Keeps Rollins looking strong as the guy who doesn't have the title because he keeps getting screwed over. Although noteworthy is Owens lost via DQ, so he didn't lose cleanly, so he wasn't made to look weak either. The stipulation of this match would be that the loser is banned from ringside from the match later on in the night: Jericho vs Reigns for the US Title. So unfortunately no interference from KO would be allowed in that match.

Next we had Cesaro vs Anderson, showing that Gallows and Anderson are likely to be the next contenders for the Tag Team titles. Cesaro lost this match because of interference from Gallows and Shaemus, although Cesaro and Shaemus still looked strong as a team, so it doesn't look like they'll be breaking up just yet, which is a good thing, as they are quite entertaining and could have a good run as champs, until the inevitable 3rd-time crowning of the New Day.

Then we had the Last Man Standing match between Sami Zayn and Braun Strowman, which was actually a very good match. Zayn kept standing back up and giving back as much as he would take. Unfortunately we didn't get that 'miracle'. Zayn still lost to Strowman, which is a shame. It would've made Zayn look like a strong potential competitor for winner of the rumble, and ultimately the universal title, while having Strowman win didn't do anything for him.

We were given an entertaining segment with the New Day, finding out that they were going to be in the royal rumble, and Titus O'Neil came out, wanting to join the New Day. Luckily that didn't happen, and he was instead the bad guy in a match between him and Xavier Woods, and thank god, Woods won this match, showing that he is himself a very good wrestler. 

Backstage we had Bayley complaining to Stephanie about the unfair match she was put in against Charlotte with Dana Brooke as the referee. A fair complaint. Steph said she doesn't like Bayley, and Bayley gave a strong promo about how she deserves to be in the WWE, and will get her hands on the title. Steph seemed impressed and gave her a match against Nia Jax, with the winner going on to face Charlotte for the title at the Royal Rumble.

Then we had the cruiserweights! Alexander Cedric is dating Alicia Fox, and nobody cares! Why bother bringing it into WWE storyline? Who knows.

Finally we would have the US Title match. Jericho was brilliant in this match, attempting to disqualify Reigns. (There was a stipulation that if Reigns lost via DQ, he would still lose the title). Unfortunately it didn't happen.... although Jericho did manage to use the distraction to hit Reigns with the Code Breaker, although Reigns still kicked out! A real shame. It would've been nice to see the US Title on Jericho, with Reigns not taking the title into his already title opportunity at Royal Rumble.

Then we had cruiserweight action between TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick. Perkins wins. Not much else happens. Perkins will face Neville on 205 Live. Other than Neville winning, and going on to beating Swann for the Cruiserweight Title eventually, I don't see where else they're going to take this.

Also, Emmalina still isn't here.

Then we have a match of Big Cass vs Rusev and Jinder Mahal. Enzo is still hurt it seems. And unfortunately, it seems like this fued really is going to happen.

Tajiri is joining 205 Live, which is cool, I guess.

Then we have Bayley vs Nia Jax. Via a distraction from Sasha Banks, Bayley wins, and will go on to face Charlotte at Royal Rumble. Looks like Sasha vs Nia is going to happen too.

Last but not least, we have "The Kevin Owens Show", just like Miz TV, The Highlight Reel, and everything they can possibly use to spoof a talk show. I always thought the Kevin Owens Show was just meant to be Raw, but whatever. With some entertaining chat between KO and Jericho, we learn that Lesnar and Goldberg are apparently #1 and #2 in the rumble? Maybe? Apparently we already knew this, and I'm still not certain if it's true or not, and Jericho will be #3... maybe?

Goldberg is the guest for the KO Show, and he turns up, being intimidating. We get a nice showdown between him and KO, then Reigns shows up and we get a cool show down between them, then Braun Strowman shows up, and we get a Reigns + Goldberg double spear to take out Strowman to end the show. To be honest I was hoping Strowman would destroy them both.

So, all in all, this episode of Raw was jam-packed full of content, some of it pretty good. There weren't any real surprises for the new year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Rumours are still that Samoa Joe will make a debut either at or even before the Royal Rumble, and that Finn Balor won't be, because he won't be recovered in time (but we'll see), and that Kurt Angle will be back in WWE at some point in 2017. Also Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are advertised for Raw next week (even though I thought Undertaker was loyal to Smackdown....)