Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 12.27.16: RAW Chicago Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you the RAW Recap for the week.

This week RAW was live in Chicago, Illinois. WWE RAW World Tag Team Champions Sheamus and Cesaro defended the titles against The New Day. Nia Jax battled Scarlett in one on one Women's Division action. Charlotte battled Bayley in Women's Division action with Dana Brooke as special guest referee. Neville battled TJ Perkins in one on one Cruiserweight Division action. The Shining Stars battled Bo Dallas and Darren Young in tag team action. Seth Rollins battled Braun Strowman in one on one action. The Club battled The Golden Truth in tag team action. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann battled Ariya Daivari in a one on one non title match. The main event saw WWE United States Champion Roman Reigns defend the title against WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens.

** RAW **

- Stephanie McMahon Promo: Stephanie is immediately interrupted with CM Punk chants. Stephanie takes a verbal shot at Punk and then Seth Rollins interrupts. Rollins wants Triple H, but Stephanie says it isn't happening because he's busy running the company. Roman Reigns is out next and he and Rollins both want Braun Strowman. Stephanie teases a possible Shield reunion, with Smackdown Live being in town this week too, but lies and says it won't happen on RAW. Stephanie announces it'll be Rollins vs. Strowman tonight and Reigns will defend the WWE United States Championship against an opponent of her choice.

- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship Match": Sheamus and Cesaro (c) vs. The New Day: The match closes out with Kofi going for Trouble in Paradise, but gets trapped in the Cesaro Swing. Cesaro then tosses Kofi onto Big E as Woods goes for the Honor Roll on Sheamus. Sheamus counters, hits the Brogue Kick on Woods and scores the pinfall.
Winners: Sheamus and Cesaro, by pinfall, to retain the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship.

- Backstage, Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho try to butter up Braun Strowman by saying he should get the next title shot after Owens beats Roman Reigns at the WWE Royal Rumble. Strowman tells Owens to be careful for what he wishes for.

- Backstage, Bayley gives Goldust a polka dot bear in tribute to Dusty Rhodes, hugs Goldust and says if it wasn't for Dusty she wouldn't be where she is right now. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson interrupt and rip the head off the bear.

- Nia Jax vs. Scarlett: Nia makes quick work of Scarlett and hits a Samoan Drop for the pinfall. After the match, Nia drops a leg drop on Scarlett, adding insult to injury.
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho complain to Stephanie McMahon about Mick Foley and ask to make one of them Roman Reigns' opponent tonight.

- Bayley Promo: Charlotte immediately interrupts Bayley and says she didn't win last week cause Charlotte got her shoulder up before the three count. Charlotte says her lawyers have spoken to Stephanie McMahon and that loss no longer exists on her record. Charlotte says she will give Bayley a rematch, but Dana Brooke will be the referee.

- Charlotte vs. Bayley, Special Guest Referee: Dana Brooke: The match closes out with Dana trying to get involved and then getting laid out by a Bayley To Belly. A second referee hits the ring as Bayley hits Bayley To Belly on Charlotte and makes the cover. Dana pulls the second referee out of the ring and makes a fast three count as Charlotte rolls up Bayley.
Winner: Charlotte, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Stephaine McMahon grants Braun Strowman a Last Man Standing Match against Sami Zayn next week.

- Neville vs. TJ Perkins: The match closes out with Perkins nailing the Detonation Kick on Neville and going for the knee bar submission. Neville counters, rolls up Perkins, grabs his tights and steals the pinfall.
Winner: Neville, by pinfall.

- Enzo and Big Cass Promo: Enzo rolls out in a wheelchair. Enzo and Cass talk smack and get interrupted by Rusev and Jinder Mahal. Mahal slaps Enzo in the face. Enzo pops out of the wheelchair and pulls Mahal off the apron. Cass lays out Rusev as Enzo hits the Bada Boom off the steel steps, sending Mahal into the wheelchair.

- The Shining Stars vs. Darren Young and Bo Dallas: The match closes out with Braun Strowman arriving and destroying all four men and Bob Backlund too.
Winners: No Contest.

- Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman: The match closes out with Strowman catching Rollins midair and tosses Rollins into the ring post. Rollins lands a kick and a top rope blockbuster, then goes for the Pedigree. Strowman counters and sends Rollins to the floor. Sami Zayn hits the ring and attacks Strowman from behind, causing a DQ. After the match, Strowman chases Zayn out of the building and Chris Jericho suddenly hits the ring and lays out Rollins with two Code Breakers.
Winner: Braun Strowman, by DQ.

- Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Goldust and R-Truth: The match closes out with Goldust tossing Anderson into the barricade and then drops Anderson with a running bulldog. Goldust hits a clothesline on Gallows, but gets caught from behind by Anderson, rolled up and pinned.
Winners: The Club, by pinfall.

- Rich Swann vs. Arya Daivari: The match closes out with Swann hitting a double foot stomp on Daivari and then the Swann Song for the pinfall. After the match, Swann accepts Neville’s title challenge. Neville attacks Swann from behind and tosses Swann into the apron LED. Neville hits the Red Arrow on Swann and leaves him laid out.
Winner: Rich Swann, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Daivari says he was distracted by Jack Gallagher that's why he lost. Gallagher appears, slaps Daivari in the face with a glove and challenges Daivari to a duel.

- "WWE United States Championship Match": Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens: The match closes out with Owens and Reigns trading punches. Reigns plants Owens with a power bomb for a near fall. Reigns hits the Superman Punch on Owens, but Owens again kicks out of the pinfall. Chris Jericho distracts Reigns, allowing Owens to hit a Code Breaker on Reigns for a near fall. Seth Rollins hits the ring and drops Jericho with a Pedigree. Reigns charges, hits a spear on Owens and scores the pinfall. After the match, Reigns spears Jericho and Rollins hits a Pedigree on Owens.
Winner: Roman Reigns, by pinfall, to retain the WWE United States Championship.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 12.8.16: NXT Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you this week's NXT recap.

This week's NXT featured DIY, The Revival and The Authors of Pain arguing over the #1 Contendership. No Way Jose and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann battled SAnitY. Ember Moon battled Kimber Lee in Women's Division action. In the main event, Samoa Joe defended the NXT World Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. 

** NXT **

- DIY Promo: Gargano and Ciampa immediately get interrupted by Paul Ellering and The Authors of Pain. Ellering reminds us that the AOP are undefeated and the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament. The Revival interrupt next, state they are the rightful #1 Contenders and the only reason AOP won is because The Revival helped them. Both AOP members shove Wilder and Dawson to the mat. Ellering says the next chapter has been written already and it ends with the Authors of Pain winning the NXT World Tag Team Championship.

- No Way Jose and Rich Swann vs. SAnitY (Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe): Before the match, Young throws a jacket down in the middle of the ring, stomps on it, then tossed it out of the ring. The jacket is believed to be Sawyer Fulton’s and it appears he's been kicked out of SAnitY. The match closes out with Jose hot tagging and clearing the ring. Swann hits a corkscrew senton on Wolfe. Wolfe tosses Swann into the steel steps. Big Damo suddenly appears and attacks Jose. Young hits the wheelbarrow neck breaker on Jose and scores the pinfall.
Winners: SAnitY, by pinfall.

- Backstage, NXT GM William Regal announces that DIY will face The Revival for the NXT World Tag Team Championship with the winners facing Authors of Pain at NXT Takeover: San Antonio. Tye Dillinger interrupts and says he doesn't deserve to be in NXT. Regal announces that he's also booking a tournament to crown a #1 Contender to the NXT World Championship.

Ember Moon vs. Kimber Lee: The match closes out with Kimber missing a kick and Ember getting a near fall roll up. Kimber goes to the corner where Ember hits a front flip elbow on Kimber. Ember hits the O Face Stunner on Kimber to score the pinfall.
Winner: Ember Moon, by pinfall.

- "NXT World Championship Match": Samoa Joe (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: The match closes out with Joe and Nakamura brawling on the floor. Nakamura blocks a Uranage Slam and hits the Kinshasa on Joe, sending Joe into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Nakamura and Joe trade strikes. Nakamura hits an axe kick, follows that with a knee to Joe's head then picks Joe up in a fireman's carry. Joe escapes, however, Nakamura hits a Super Kinshasa off the ropes on Joe. Nakamura hits another Kinshasa, covers, scores the pinfall and wins the title from Joe.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, by pinfall, to win the NXT World Championship.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 11.22.16: RAW Toronto Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, brings you the RAW Recap for the week.

This week RAW was live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for day 3 of the huge 4 day live NXT/WWE weekend! Goldberg kicked off RAW to give thanks and to give the WWE Universe a big announcement. WWE RAW World Tag Team Champions The New Day defended the titles against Sheamus and Cesaro. Cedric Alexander battled Ariya Daivari. Chris Jericho brings us another edition of The Highlight Reel. Rusev battled Enzo. Golden Truth battled The Club in a #1 Contenders Match. Sami Zayn gets punished for not winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship and had to battle Braun Strowman. Sasha Banks and Bayley battled WWE RAW Women's Champion Charlotte and Nia Jax. Noam Dar battled TJ Perkins and Rich Swann in a #1 Contenders Triple Threat Match. In the main event, WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens defended the title against Seth Rollins.

*** RAW ***

- Goldberg Promo: Goldberg arrives, gives thanks to his wife and son and thanks the WWE Universe for letting him be Goldberg again. Goldberg says that after he conquered Brock Lesnar at WWE Survivor Series, Stephanie McMahon asked him if he had one more title run left in him. Goldberg told her that he does so......at WWE Royal Rumble in January, Goldberg is entering the Royal Rumble and 29 other wrestlers are "NEXT"!

- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship Match": The New Day (c) vs. Sheamus and Cesaro: The match closes out with Cesaro countering Trouble in Paradise, spins Kofi in the Cesaro Swing and then locks in the Sharpshooter submission. Big E tries to help Kofi reach the ropes, but Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick on him. Kofi taps out....BUT....the referee is distracted by Woods on the apron playing his trombone. Kofi escapes the Sharpshooter, small packages Cesaro and steals the pinfall.
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall, to retain the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship

- Backstage, Chris Jericho says he's going to tell the world who's to blame for Team RAW losing at WWE Survivor Series.

- Backstage, Enzo gets locked out of his locker room naked by Big Cass. Enzo roams the halls naked and flirts with Lana. Rusev appears, pissed off. Big Cass arrives and asks if there's a problem. Rusev tells Enzo to go put on clothes because they're fighting tonight.

- Backstage, Sami Zayn meets with Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley. Foley says there has to be repercussions for Zayn not bringing the WWE Intercontinental Championship to RAW. Tonight, Zayn battles Braun Strowman.

- Cedric Alexander vs. Ariya Daivari: The match closes out with Alexander unloading on Daivari and then hits a kick. Daivari tosses Alexander out onto the apron, but Alexander springboards back in and hits a clothesline. Alexander hits the Lumbar Check on Daivari and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Cedric Alexander, by pinfall.

- The Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho: Jericho gets interrupted by Kevin Owens. Owens says he knows who's to blame for Team RAW losing at WWE Survivor Series. Owens shows clips of him hitting AJ Styles with "The List" clipboard and says he saved Jericho and that's what best friends do. Jericho wonders if he's really his friend because Owens should know how much "The List" means to Jericho. Owens doesn't care about "The List" and thinks that maybe Jericho is to blame because Owens sacrificed himself only for Jericho to get an RKO from Randy Orton and then eliminated. Jericho and Owens argue and decide that maybe they don't have much of a friendship after all. Jericho and Owens decide to both yell out who's to blame and they both yell out "Roman Reigns". Jericho and Owens laugh and share a hug as they fooled everyone into thinking that they were really going to blame each other and fight.

Owens says that while he helped Jericho, all Reigns and his buddy Seth Rollins did was stand there and watch. Rollins interrupts and informs Owens that he was granted a title shot for fighting on Team RAW and wants it now. Rollins ends up brawling with Jericho and Rollins. Rollins gets beat down until Roman Reigns makes the save. Owens gets taken out, as does Jericho with a Superman Punch. Mick Foley arrives and announces that Owens will defend the WWE Universal Championship against Rollins tonight in a No DQ Match with Jericho and Reigns banned from ringside.

- Rusev vs. Enzo: The match closes out with Enzo dodging a Rusev charge and gets a near fall rollup. Rusev plants a thrust kick, stomps on Enzo's back and then makes Enzo tap out to The Accolade. After the match, Cass hits the ring, as Rusev escapes. 
Winner: Rusev, by submission

- "#1 Contenders Match": Golden Truth vs. The Club: The match closes out with Goldust hitting a boot on Anderson and climbs the ropes. Gallows attacks Truth, but Goldust makes the save and kicks Gallows away. The Club double team Goldust, hit the Magic Killer and score the pinfall.
Winners: The Club, by pinfall, to become the new #1 Contenders.

- Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn: The match closes out with Strowman dropping Zayn with a punch. Strowman hits a clothesline and another punch on Zayn. Strowman lands a knee and unloads strikes on Zayn. The referee checks on Zayn, as Strowman shoves him away and flips Zayn off the top rope. Mick Foley hits the ring and orders the referee to stop the match because Zayn can't defend himself.
Winner: Braun Strowman, by stoppage.

- Charlotte Promo: Charlotte calls Team RAW peasants and gets interrupted by Sasha Banks. Sasha says she wants her rematch that she's owed right now, but Charlotte says it isn't happening tonight. Charlotte agrees to fight next week in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Nia Jax interrupts next and says she's here for Sasha, because Sasha wasn't very dominant at WWE Survivor Series and is over rated. Sasha says she'll show Nia how over rated she is after she wins back her title. Charlotte and Dana Brooke instigate things further, leading to Sasha punching Dana. Nia hits a corner splash on Sasha and then Charlotte gets a couple shots in. Bayley hits the ring and Sasha gets tossed at Bayley as Nia stares her down.

- Bayley and Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax and Charlotte: Mick Foley makes this an official match after what just went down. The match closes out with Sasha in control and tagging in Bayley. Nia grabs both Sasha and Bayley by the throat, but Nia gets a double team suplex. Charlotte tags in and gets a near fall roll up on Sasha. Sasha goes for the Banks Statement submission on Charlotte. Charlotte fights it, but eventually gets locked in it and taps out.
Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley, by submission.

- Backstage, Seth Rollins is happy that Chris Jericho is banned from ringside, because everyone knows that Seth Rollins is THE MAN in one on one matches. Rollins says everything will turn out right when he finally wins the WWE Universal Championship tonight. 

- #1 Contenders, Triple Threat Match": Noam Dar vs. TJ Perkins vs. Rich Swann: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Brian Kendrick is on commentary. The match closes out with Perkins applying the knee bar submission on Swann, but Dar breaks it up. Dar hits a corner drop kick on Perkins, but Perkins comes back and applies the knee bar submission on Dar. Swann breaks it up with Rolling Thunder, kicks Perkins right in the head and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Rich Swann, to become the new #1 Contender.

- Backstage, Kevin Owens makes fun of Seth Rollins' performance at WWE Survivor Series. Owens promises that Rollins' title shot reward will be a failure.

- "WWE Universal Championship, No DQ Match, with Chris Jericho and Roman Reigns banned from ringside": Kevin Owens (c ) vs. Seth Rollins: The match closes out with Rollins and Owens fighting out into the crowd where Rollins climbs on top of the balcony, leaps off and cross body blocks Owens below. Owens and Rollins brawl back to ringside. Rollins goes to step over the barricade, but gets tripped by a fan in a Lucha mask. Rollins and the Lucha fan start fighting with each other and Rollins pulls off the mask, revealing Chris Jericho. Rollins drops Jericho with the Pedigree on the floor, but then gets attacked from behind by Owens. Owens hits the apron power bomb on Rollins, rolls Rollins into the ring and scores the pinfall. RAW closes out with Owens and Jericho celebrating.
Winner: Kevin Owens, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon 10.5.16: NXT Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE, is here with your NXT Recap Edition.

This week's NXT took place at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. The Second Annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament Classic got underway. Rich Swann battled Patrick Clark in one on one action. Peyton Royce battled Danielle Kamela in one on one women's division action. Dan Matha gets his NXT debut spoiled. Samoa Joe sends out a warning to NXT GM William Regal.

*** NXT ***

- "Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament Classic Match": The Authors Of Pain vs. The Bollywood Boyz: The match closes out with Rahzar and Akum double teaming Harv. Harv hits a chin breaker on Akum and tags in Garv. Garv gets destroyed with a clothesline on his way in. The AOP hit their double team finisher, score the pinfall and advance to the Final Eight.
Winners: The Authors Of Pain, by pinfall, to advance to the Final Eight.

- Rich Swann vs. Patrick Clark: The match closes out with Clark charging at Swann in the corner, but Clark eats a Swann boot. Clark comes back and tries a Stinger Splash, but again misses and kisses the turnbuckle. Swann lands a spin kick into Clark's gut and then follows that with the Swann Kick. Swann hits a handspring moonsault on Clark and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Rich Swann, by pinfall.

- Peyton Royce vs. Danielle Kamela: The match closes out with Peyton delivering a knee and a cross arm strike before locking in a rear chin lock on Danielle. Danielle is able to finally escape the hold and drill Peyton with a somersault back elbow. Peyton unloads a forearm to the back of Danielle and then hits a Perfect Plex for the pinfall.
Winner: Peyton Royce, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Tye Dillinger gives a speech on what Dusty Rhodes meant to him. Dillinger's partner, Bobby Roode, doesn't let Dillinger finish his speech as he is more worried about being GLORIOUS!

- Dan Matha's Debut: Dan Matha heads to the ring for his debut match, however, gets attacked from behind by an angry Samoa Joe. Joe lays out Matha with a beat down and grabs a microphone. Joe blames William Regal for his anger and promises to continue to destroy NXT talent until Regal either gives Joe a rematch with Shinsuke Nakamura or just gives Joe back the NXT World Championship. Joe gives Regal one more week to make his decision.

- Backstage, Rich Swann and No Way Jose decide that they will team up together and enter the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament Classic.

- "Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament Classic Match": The Revival vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas and Cedric Alexander: The match closes out with Almas tagging in a hot Alexander. Alexander hits a running knee on Dawson and follows that up with a handspring enziguri. Wilder breaks up a pinfall attempt and tries to help Dawson double team suplex Alexander. Almas catches Alexander on the landing and Alexander gets a near fall sunset flip with a bridge on Dawson. Alexander charges, but gets destroyed with the Shatter Machine by Dawson and Wilder. The Revival score the pinfall and advance to the Final Eight. After the match, Almas snaps and attacks Alexander for losing the match. Almas beats Alexander down to the floor and then hits a fireman's carry face buster on Alexander right into the steel steps.
Winners: The Revival, by pinfall, to advance to the Final Eight.