WWE Roadblock: End of the Line (December 2016)

Original Airdate: December 18, 2016

From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Michael Cole, Bryon Saxton, and Corey Graves

Opening WWE RAW Tag Team Title Match: The New Day v Cesaro and Sheamus: Kofi Kingston starts with Cesaro, and immediately gets blasted with a dropkick for two, and whipped around in the corners for uppercuts. Kofi tires diving at him with a flying bodypress, but gets caught, and a reversal sequence ends in Cesaro trying for the giant swing, but Kofi hiding in the ropes. Sheamus tags in with a vertical suplex for two, then back to Cesaro for a rolling fireman's carry slam/double-stomp combo for two. An Irish whip/slingshot shoulderblock combo is worth two, and Sheamus clotheslines him down to setup a chinlock. Hey, they deserve a little break after those first few sequences. Kingston escapes with a jawbreaker, but Sheamus takes out Big E to prevent a tag, and Cesaro pop-up uppercuts him for two. Sheamus tries a side suplex, but ends up getting backdropped over the top, and Kingston finally makes the tag - Big E spearing a recovering Sheamus off the apron. He rolls him right back in for a splash for two, but Sheamus blocks a vertical suplex, so Big E powerbombs his ass instead, for two. Big Ending, but Sheamus escapes, and passes to Cesaro for a White Noise/2^nd rope flying clothesline combo for two. Big E blocks the Neutralizer, so Cesaro responds with a springboard corkscrew backelbow instead, but Kofi saves to prevent the giant swing, and Xavier Woods fires off a well placed cheap shot to allow Big E the Big Ending for two! Good near fall there. The champs go for the kill with the Midnight Hour, but Cesaro escapes, and brings Kofi off the top with a rana - which he shifts right into the giant swing! That, in turn, is shifted right into the sharpshooter, but Woods distracts the referee to buy time. Kofi tries capitalizing with a small package, but Cesaro rolls out of it and into the Neutralizer - only for Big E to save at two! Cesaro responds by taking Big E out with a dive on the floor, allowing Sheamus to go for the Brogue Kick on Kofi in the ring - only for Woods to get into the flight path and take a bullet for Kingston! That allows Kofi to try putting Sheamus away with the SOS, but it only gets two! Another quality near fall there. So that leaves both men down, and Sheamus dives for the tag - only for Cesaro to pull back at the last second. He comes in anyway, and Kingston (thinking the tag was made and that Cesaro is the legal man) hits him with an enzuigiri - only for actual legal man Sheamus to break it up and cradle Kofi for the title at 10:05! And thus ends the New Day's epic, record setting title reign in appropriately epic fashion! Fantastic match - one of the best main roster tag matches I’ve seen in a great many years, in fact - with the New Day trying every trick in the book to try and hang onto the belts one more time, but ultimately getting outfoxed. And what I loved about it is that it had tons of eye-popping spots, but never veered into the wannabe videogame territory that a lot of modern bouts do, instead using the spots to tell a story rather than as an exhibition. I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that this was easily one of the best matches of the year - the rest of the card is going to have a hard time following this one. **** ¾

10-Minute Time Limit Challenge Match: Braun Strowman v Sami Zayn: If Zayn can last the time limit, he wins. Zayn looks like he's put on a little holiday weight here. He sticks and moves in the early going, but gets dunked while trying a ten-punch in the corner, and Strowman hits an avalanche. The first match was so blistering that I didn't even notice the customized ring posts for this show, which are neat. Strowman's offense gives me plenty of time to look around at every little detail of the setup, until he misses a charge, and goes over the top - Zayn following with a plancha, but getting caught and dropping onto the apron with a snake-eyes. Back in, Braun delivers another avalanche to setup a short-clothesline, pulling Sami up at two. Do the heels ever learn? Strowman continues to work him over in painfully dull fashion, until Mick Foley comes out with a white towel in his hand. More interesting to me than anything going on here is I want to fucking know who dresses Mick? He looks like a substitute history teacher from the 1987. He's gonna rap with us about Columbus, guys! Anyway, with Foley here, we get an interlude with Strowman demanding that he throw in the towel, but Zayn begging him not to. That all ends with Sami throwing the towel into the crowd, and dodging a charge from Strowman that sees the big guy crash through the barricade with a minute left. Sami tries to put some distance between them, and manages to dodge a third avalanche, then hit a flying bodypress for two. Helluva Kick, but time expires at 10:00, meaning Sami wins anyway. Zayn made an effort with his selling, but ten minutes of Strowman's punch-kick offense is hard for a match to overcome. ½*

Seth Rollins v Chris Jericho: Feeling out process to start, until Chris blocks a corner charge, and hits a 2^nd rope missile dropkick for two. Side suplex gets an arrogant covered two, but that just serves to piss Seth off, and he starts chopping at Jericho. That proves to be an unwise decision, and Chris smacks him around in the corner, so Seth hits a flying high knee of the apron on the outside, and tosses Jericho into the barricade. Chris goes to the eyes to allow himself a running forearm smash on the way back in, but a dropkick is countered with a slingshot into the corner, so Chris throws a springboard dropkick instead to send Rollins to the outside. This match has had some really awkward momentum thus far. Seth beats the count in, so Jericho grounds him in a chicken wing, then hits a dropkick. Walls, but Rollins is in the ropes, and he pops off an enzuigiri. Chris tries a one-handed bulldog, but ends up getting himself crotched in the corner, and Rollins is able to execute the sling blade, followed by a 2^nd rope flying somersault neckbreaker for two. Pedigree, but Jericho counters to the Walls, so Seth blocks. Chris responds with his own enzuigiri, but Rollins dumps him over the top during a Lionsault attempt, and dives out after him with a tope. Back in for a springboard flying high knee, but Jericho moves, and is able to apply the Walls - Rollins getting the ropes. Chris tries another springboard dropkick, but Seth kicks him out of the air to setup a flying frogsplash - only for Jericho to dodge, and execute the Lionsault for two. Seth fires back with the falcon arrow for two, and a high knee sets up a Pedigree - Jericho able to counter with a rana into the Walls. Seth counters with an inside cradle for two, so Jericho tries a flying axehandle, but gets superkicked. Rollins goes up with a flying frogsplash, so out runs Kevin Owens! Seth stops to deal with him, allowing Jericho a small package, but it only gets two. Pedigree, but Chris counters with a backdrop - only to have the Codebreaker countered back to the Pedigree at 17:13. This felt more like a collection of moves than a proper match, with really awkward transitions, and little in the way of flow throughout. * ½

WWE Cruiserweight Title Triple Threat Match: Rich Swann v Brian Kendrick v TJ Perkins: Ringo Starr sits on commentary for this one. Perkins tries a schoolboy on Swann right away, but Kendrick saves at two, and a sloppy criss cross ends with Brian down on the outside. That allows Perkins to try a rollup, but Rich blocks just in time for Kendrick to sweep him to the outside - Perkins hitting Brian with a baseball slide. He rolls Kendrick in for a flying sunset flip into a kneebar, but Kendrick is in the ropes before he can properly apply it. Swann rushes in with a neat double-rana, and then he springboards off of TJ with a seated senton on Kendrick for two. Wild! Swann missile dropkicks TJ, but that allows Brian to catch him in the Captain's Hook - only for Perkins to save by putting Kendrick in the kneebar! Rich saves by frog splashing TJ, but gets caught up with Kendrick, and Perkins traps him in a kneebar! Swann gets the ropes, however, and he superkicks Perkins to retain at 6:00. After really high hopes coming off of the Cruiserweight Classic over the summer, I think it's safe to say that this division is now dead in the water. ¾*

WWE RAW Women's Title Iron Woman Match: Sasha Banks v Charlotte: They fight hard over the initial lockup, but it ends in a stalemate. The second is won by Sasha with an wristlock, but Charlotte reverses, and they feel each other out. Charlotte tries to use her size to overpower the champ, but Banks blocks the Figure Four, and pops her challenger with a backelbow. Crucifix gets one, but the kickout allows Sasha to shift to the Bank Statement - only for Charlotte to immediately have the ropes. She bails to the floor to regroup, and dives back in with a slingshot schoolgirl for two, then adds a neat bridging cradle for two. Charlotte could have been one hell of a gymnast. Sasha hooks a backslide for two, and a schoolgirl of her own gets two. Dropkick follows, but Sasha wastes times showboating, and eats a big boot. She tenaciously manages to apply a sleeper anyway, but the challenger powers out, and bashes Banks in the corner with a few turnbuckle smashes. They spill to the outside, when Charlotte tries an alley-oop into the post, but Sasha counters with a flying double high knee. That gets two on the way back in, so Charlotte tries a jawbreaker, but gets caught in a lungblower, which Sasha holds onto for a straightjacket. People in the crowd are now actively trolling the production crew by making exaggerated faces, and hoping to get on camera. And it's WORKING, too. Charlotte escapes, so Banks starts throwing clotheslines, and she dumps her to the outside for a tope

Ten Minutes in, Charlotte manages to trip Sasha into the steps in BRUTAL fashion, but instead of leaving her out there to eat the countout, stupid Charlotte drags her in and only gets two out of it. Her dad would have never made that kind of mistake. They do shop at the same store for kneepads though, evidently. Charlotte with a series of three kneedrops for two, and she grinds a headvice onto her. Banks fights free, so Charlotte tries another kneedrop, but this one misses, and Sasha dives with a 2^nd rope flying bodypress for two. Charlotte responds with a uranage across the knee and a neckbreaker to properly setup the additional kneedrop, which gets two. What you get for fighting it, Sasha. Charlotte knocks her around with the headscissor facebusters (haven't seen her use those in a while, but she should, because they're still awesome) - only for Sasha to counter into a cradle for two. Sidewalk slam, but Sasha counters that into the Statement, so Charlotte tosses her into the turnbuckles to block. Dropkick hits, but Sasha fights her off in the corner, and delivers a running kneesmash. Flying bodypress misses, however, and Charlotte executes the Natural Selection for two! She's good and pissed about that one, and goes for the kill with a flying moonsault instead, but Banks is able to crotch her on the top. Vertical superplex, but Charlotte counters with a Selection off the top for the first fall at 19:20

Twenty Minutes in, Charlotte hooks the leg again to get a few more two counts out of the deal, and she side suplexes the champion for two. Again, but Banks blocks, and hooks a sloppy Oklahoma roll to tie the ball game at 21:40. That was an ugly fall. Charlotte tries a big boot, but Banks counters to a sleeper - countered back by Charlotte with a big boot for two. Flying moonsault misses outright, however, and the Statement puts the champ up at 23:58. Charlotte unloads on her with chops and starts targeting the knee, but Banks manages to avoid the Figure Four. That just annoys the challenger though, and she punishes Banks by wrapping her knee around the post a few times. She keeps destroying the knee, but a leglock is countered with a cradle for two, so Charlotte clips her. She cranks on a toehold to try and get the submission, but Sasha keeps fighting. She's worn down enough for the Figure Four this time, however, and Charlotte has it well applied with less than two minutes to go on the clock! The hold kind of falls apart through all the escape attempts, but Charlotte manages to keep it convincingly applied before bridging up into the Figure Eight - Banks unable to hold on at 29:58. So close, Banksy! So now, the referee calls for sudden death overtime, and Charlotte is like a big blonde shark waiting for her prey to swim a little closer. She goes right after the knee, but Sasha manages to counter another Figure Four into a cradle for two. Charlotte responds with an exploder suplex, but a second one is countered with an inside cradle for two, as Sasha is now bleeding from the mouth. I cannot stand to see a woman bleed from the mouth. It reminds me of that Country & Western music, which I cannot abide. Despite the gusher, the referee doesn't even bother putting the latex gloves on, which is odd considering I've seen them stop matches dead in their tracks and bring EMTs out for the kinds of cuts you get while shaving. Bloody Banks manages the lungblower into the Statement, but Charlotte pulls at the bad knee to force a break, and she's able to get the Figure Eight on to win the title again at 34:45. These two have now traded the title so many times that this isn't even the first time they made an exchange in this CITY! Good match, but despite their undeniable chemistry together, this felt kinda forced. Even if a bit disappointing, it's yet another solid entry in their groundbreaking series, now adding the first Iron Woman Match in modern main roster history to their resumes. ***

Main Event: WWE Universal Title Match: Kevin Owens v Roman Reigns: Reigns is the United States champion here, but that isn't on the line. Owens stalls to start, so Roman follows him to the outside, and forces himself on him. No means no, big guy. Kevin tries a side-headlock, but Roman side suplexes his way out for two, then starts pounding him in the corner, but Owens bails again. Roman follows for a whip into the barricade, but wastes time prepping a table, and gets clobbered. Kevin with a senton splash for two on the way back in, so Reigns starts trying to grab at the champ's foot. Because he's fat and therefore might have gout? Owens bails to get away from some clotheslines, and manages to toss Roman into the steps when he follows again, then hits a flying senton splash off of the stairs. Inside, that gets Owens two, and he grabs a chinlock. I wonder if Kevin gets any endorsement money from Longhorn Steakhouse? Owens with a swinging neckbreaker and a cool somersault legdrop for two, then back to the chinlock again. Another senton splash misses, however, and a slugfest goes Roman's way with a jumping clothesline. These announcers are SOOOOO fucking annoying, with their shitty robotic boilerplate comments. Owens manages a release German suplex, but runs into a big boot while trying the Cannonball, and Reigns drops him like a Samoan for two. Superman Punch, but Owens counters with a DDT for two, and that's enough to setup the Cannonball - only for Reigns to pop right up and Superman him for two. Superplex, but Owens manages to block, so Reigns Superman's him on the top turnbuckle to daze him. Back to the superplex, but Kevin counters with a muscle buster off the top for two! Owens tries a flying somersault senton splash, so Roman lifts his knees to block, but Owens manages to bail to avoid another Superman. Reigns follows out with a Drive-By, but Owens refuses to go back in, so Reigns tries another one, but Kevin dodges and superkicks him. A second superkick puts Roman on an announce table, and Kevin dives off the barricade with a frogsplash. The table fails to break, however, and Owens is forced to repeat the spot to get the desired result. Boo. Reigns beats the count, so Owens gives him a flying frogsplash for two. I feel like Kevin is making too much frogsplash effort against a guy wearing a chest protector. Did we learn nothing from D-Lo Brown? Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Roman counters with a sitout version for two - only to have the Superman countered with a schoolboy for two. Pop-Up Powerbomb hits for two, so Kevin grabs the title belt to finish him off with, but Reigns Spears it out of his hands. That brings Chris Jericho out, and he hits Owens with the Codebreaker for the DQ at 23:25. Had some decent moments, but it overstayed its welcome, and had a shitty finish to boot. ** ¾

BUExperience: After starting off extremely well, the show sort of fell off a cliff for a while before ultimately recovering with the last two matches. The opener is definitely worth going well out of your way to see, but the rest not especially

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