-Daniel Bryan and AJ have a backstage segment. AJ says Bryan will face Sheamus tonight. Nice work between both former lovers, working off one another's strengths.
Sheamus def. Daniel Bryan in a Street Fight
What I Liked:
This is a tricky match to put together because you have two guys who need to win. Sheamus is being protected and rarely loses these days. His championship reign has not had much of competition. Bryan needs a win too to continue to be viewed as championship material. The fans love to see Bryan, whether to cheer or hate him. The match itself gave you everything you could ask for. Bryan and Sheamus put on excellent matches because of their unique chemistry. Bryan leads the attacks with fast paced and technical wrestling, but added the street fight mentality with a Kendo Stick. Sheamus connected with a brutal backdrop on Bryan onto the stage, and then launched him into the WWE logo. You felt the tides turning back and forth in this match. They were given plenty of time to work in the match, and it felt like a PPV quality match. Bryan and Sheamus put on a complete match with the right stuff. Street Fight matches could easily become repetitive, but the veterans in the ring showcased everything in their arsenal. This was absolutely excellent, and if Raw is 3 hours, I expect a match like this every week.
Grade: A
–Daniel Bryan gets mental help after the match when R-Truth and Kofi Kingston come out. Bryan refuses to leave the ring, but AJ send the psychic team out to get him. This was comical and came off very real. Daniel Bryan does not have any weaknesses in his game, and adapts to whatever role is given to him.
Titus O'Neil def. Kofi Kingston
What I Liked:
I was a fan of this matchup for a few reasons. Kingston has not had a match on Raw in quite some time, and his opponent is very friendly towards his strengths. Kingston can sell any move, similar to Ziggler. O'Neil has the brute strength, but lacks the overall experience in a big match. This is a big match for him because it basically shows you that they still want to build some Tag Team wrestling in the WWE. With three hours each week, this is a necessity. I liked the pace of the match, and O'Neil benefitted from the valuable victory.
What I Disliked:
O'Neil is still very far away from being a complete wrestler. I see many weaknesses, including a slow transition from move to move, as well as not having the right timing and placement in the ring. These are small things, but it is good to point out. I want the tag team division to thrive, but are these four guys the answer? They are not really tag team wrestlers, are they? Also, there is going to be another down time, I am sure of it. There is no consistency from these guys in getting television exposure. Also, the title belts are ugly. Get rid of those pieces of tin.
Grade: C+
