Match Ratings For WWE Monday Night Raw 12/23/19 For Sean Ross Sapp

SeanDecember 24, 2019

No DQ Match
Kevin Owens defeated Mojo Rawley
6/10 (Segment and Match)

Kevin Owens comes out after a video recap runs about his last few weeks.
Mojo Rawley comes out, without his licensed manager Sami Zayn. That renders Zayn’s appearance on Raw pointless. He wants an explanation for the pipe attack last week.
Owens makes some pretty solid jokes and says he just wants to beat up Mojo Rawley. This exchange was pretty good. Both guys are fantastic talkers.
Mojo calling Owens a pretty boy was great.
Mojo does a nice fireman’s carry face-first slam into chairs, after Owens got a great pop for getting a table out.
Owens hits a nice Swanton Bomb, Stunner and Pop Up Powerbomb through a table to win. This was a lot of fun.
Owens says he knows AOP and Rollins are going to jump him, so they might as well do it.
I find myself incredibly interested in everything heel Rollins and AOP do. Owens attacks Rollins and they all beat him up.
The camera zooms and shakes have to stop.
Rollins ends up stomping Owens, who stumbles out of the ring after.
There was a really good monologue from Samoa Joe that went a long way in putting AOP over.

WWE 24/7 Championship
Akira Tozawa defeated R-Truth (c) to become champion
Santa Claus pins Akira Tozawa (c) to become champion
R-Truth pins Santa Claus (c) to become champion

R-Truth is walking around outdoors, saying the Rock invited him to light his Christmas tree. Nope. Tozawa ambushed him.
They gotta do something else besides the roll-up. I get that the title is good natured, but c’mon.
Tozawa was running away from Truth, who was hiding next to a statue.
SANTA HITS TOZAWA WITH A BAG AND WINS THE TITLE.
Missed opportunity by WWE to have R-Truth slip on Micro Machines and get pinned by Macaulay Culkin for the 24/7 Title.
Santa is having a low-speed chase with Tozawa/Truth on horse drawn carriages.
Truth pins a worn down Santa for the title. The ref gets mad and leaves because he’s tired of chasing people around.
Tozawa and Truth call a truce.

Bobby Lashley (w/ Lana) defeated Cedric
5.75/10

This is a good matchup for both from a stylistic standpoint.
Cedric is all over the place and getting some good offense in.
I like that Lawler said Lashley was too worried about his wedding next week to focus on the match.
Lana gets in the ring on the mic. She says they need to have a Greco Roman match to avoid strikes to Lashley’s face.
This stalls through the commercial and Lashley takes over. He does a nice elevated reverse STO.
Cedric gets great offense, springboard clothesline, tope con hilo.
Lashley hits a Yokosuka Cutter, and sets up for the spear. Cedric stifles him briefly, but eventually it lands.
This was a good match that had the momentum halted by the Lana spot, but it did what it was supposed to do, I guess.

Drew McIntyre defeated Zack Ryder (w/ Curt Hawkins)
SQUASH

Drew crushes Zack Ryder, then beats up Curt Hawkins after this.
We’re finally seeing some flavor, character and humor out of Drew.

Becky and Asuka

Becky Lynch says she has to face Asuka next.
She wants to collect her debt.
These segments were a nice way to buy Kairi Sane some time to heal up over the holidays, hopefully.
Asuka wants to be Asuka 2 Belts.
Becky Lynch seems surprised that Asuka would want a title match for some reason, but says she’ll do it.
Becky speaks Japanese to Asuka.

Aleister Black beats Jobber
SQUASH

Buddy Murphy defeated Jobber
SQUASH

The rematch between Black and Murphy is set for next week.
Black crushes a jobber who sells really well.
Buddy Murphy’s theme sucks ass. They meet each other on the ramp.
Murphy knees his jobber and hits Murphy’s Law and wins. He raised the jobber up just like Black did.
This is a lot of fun.
Murphy passes on a handshake and get Black Massed.

Ricochet defeated Tony Nese
5/10

This is a great opponent for Ricochet.
I’ve always loved that Nese uses that Randy Savage hangman over the top rope.
Recoil beats Nese.

Charlotte Flair defeated Chelsea Green
5/10

There’s a Chelsea Green package that airs. She looks like a million bucks.
She does a great turnbuckle stomp and a dropkick.
Green has a good showing and gets in good offense, but Charlotte wins with a big boot and a Figure Eight.

Backstage Crappenings

Another Liv Morgan vignette. She says she’s anything but typical.
More Street Profits segments backstage that are totally pointless.

The OC defeated Randy Orton & Viking Raiders
5.75/10

This is solid work, but the crowd isn’t there early. There’s some crowd sweetening though.
Orton gets tagged in after Erik is worked over. The crowd comes alive.
I like Orton as the utility player who can be a face or heel depending on the situation.
Orton still selling the knee, having it taped up and selling it just getting dumped to the outside is good.
Orton one leg suplexes, then Erik is in throwing some of his own. The crowd is awake for this now.
The Viking Experience gets broken up.
Orton hits an RKO on Anderson, but his leg gives out and Styles wins with a Phenomenal Forearm. This was an outstanding finish.
If this wasn’t largely pointless, it’d hit higher. It was good, though.

Rowan crushes jobber
SQUASH

The jobber offers candy canes to Rowan, and whatever is in the crate.
Nope. Iron Claw slams. This was MESSY.

Rusev defeated No Way Jose (w/ Conga Line)
SQUASH

Rusev cuts a promo, he’s not upset that Lana is getting married to Bobby Lashley. He says it’s the biggest punishment Bobby Lashley can endure.
No Way Jose dances and chops Rusev, who doesn’t sell.
Machka Kick. Pin.
Rusev helps Jose up and dances. He then takes the conga line.
Rusev has leaned out so much.

WWE United States Championship
Rey Mysterio (c) defeated Seth Rollins via DQ
5.75/10

Mysterio misses a 619, and then Rollins ends up sending him outside.
The ol’ SUNSET FLIP WALLBOMB hits, but Rollins gets a Buckle Bomb of his own.
Mysterio hits a 619, but Rey gets attacked by AOP.
I guess I don’t get why they would get Rollins DQ’d but wouldn’t let him get pinned.
AOP want to put Rey through the announce table. Joe says if he has to get up, it’s AOP’s asses.
Rollins tries to play peacemaker, but then has AOP finish him.
Rey gets Stomped on the stage.
AOP put Joe through a table.

Rating guide

10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a “star rating,” which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive “TV match” lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!