This week on Raw, John Cena and a horde of wrestlers from both sides of the aisle went at it in a Six Man Strap Match. In the end, John Cena pinned Charlie Pattinson after a spine-crushing FUW-approved maneuver. This of course, led to the usual post-match shenanigans, including Charlie taking a nasty beatdown from Cena, who then proceeded to beat him with his boots, and even the entire arena joining in on the fun.
While Cena was busy being the big man on the scene, a much smaller man named Lance Ford was working his magic. Ford, who makes his living as a personal fitness trainer, took it upon himself to give Charlie a workout, setting up a match with him on this week’s Raw. The bout was contested under modified rules. The two would go at it until a winner is determined by submission or knockout. To the delight of Ford’s fans, the big man brought his A-game, and even brought down the house (knee)witness, which is what led to this week’s instalment of the “Raw N’ Dr. Gay” series.
Lance Ford’s TKO Highlights
The contest itself was pretty even. Both men began the bout cautiously, taking the fight to the mat a few times before getting back up. When they were both on their feet, it was business as usual. The two circled each other, testing the other’s endurance, or looking for an opening. As the match wore on, it became clear that Ford was tiring, while Charlie remained fresh. Towards the end of the first round, Charlie managed to catch the taller man on his shoulder, leading to a quick victory.
The victory earned Charlie a spot in the Six Man Strap Match. And as luck would have it, the opponents were John Cena, Kane, and The Undertaker. Of the three, Charlie enjoyed the most success, winning all three of his matches, including a rematch with Ford.
The next week, Charlie faced off against Kane in the main event, with the victor advancing to the finals of the tournament. Again, the match was even, with Kane ultimately prevailing after an okay match-length. The finals were to determine who would face The Undertaker in a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Championship. In what was billed as “the fight of the century,” Charlie took on Cena once more, teaming with Kane and The Undertaker against their nemesis, John. It was a classic matchup, with each man going all-out for the win. Like in the first match, Charlie was the first to go to the mat, but the fight never really materialized. Near the end of the second round, Charlie’s left hand was raised in triumph, as he and Kane were the last men standing. Unfortunately, Kane eventually tapped out, and The Undertaker was declared the winner, with the WWE Championship once more in his grasp. That was quite the story, but it’s all in the past now. Charlie Pattinson has moved on to the next chapter of his life, while John Cena continues to hold the Universal Championship, and the fans are glad to have him around for the time being.
The Best Part Of This Match Was…
This was all fun and games up until this point, but it was time for the real fights to begin. Ford went for the throat from the get-go, taking full advantage of his size and strength. The smaller man was no match for the bigger one, and was quickly taken out with a simple arm drag. That was the end of that match. The fans really came alive when Charlie’s turn came around. He eliminated the former champ with relative ease, and went on to the finals of the tournament, only to be sent home by Kane, the same man he defeated previously. But that wasn’t the end of the story. He went one more round, defeating Ford in the rematch, to become the first-ever winner of the Universal title.
This is the part of the story that the fans really got into. It was a classic tale of Rocky versus Apollo, with each man giving it their all, and neither backing down. In the end, the fans got to see the best of both worlds, as Charlie’s aerial maneuvers were on full display, while the brawn of the big man was also on display. Like I said before, it was a lot of fun, but it was time for the real fights to begin. Now it’s time for the afterburners. Let the battle begin.
Ladies’ Night: Are We Having Fun Yet?
What’s the use of having a female wrestler if you don’t give her an interesting match? The ladies of Raw had a really good run these past few months, and with Smackdown Live coming up, they are going to need a break. Not to mention the numerous injuries that some of them have suffered. It’s good to see them getting some well-deserved attention. On this week’s installment of “Ladies’ Night,” the ladies competed in a Battle Royal where the last woman standing would face off against Sasha Banks in a singles match. Things didn’t start well for the “Maids” of Raw. The very first competitor, Natalya, was eliminated quickly, leaving only three women competing. The other two would go on to have a bit of a dance off, before the real match got underway. It was a pretty entertaining segment, with the ladies giving it their all, and leaving the audience wanting more. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the end of the match, as the ref was knocked out cold before the end. Hopefully he is okay, as there were no officials or medical personnel in sight. We would assume that he is, as the episode aired live. So there you have it, the best part of “Ladies’ Night.” Three interesting matches, but not much in the way of storytelling. The last woman standing gets a Sasha Banks match, but it wasn’t the most logical outcome, as she was not injured in the battle royal. While we were entertained, it was not the most logical result in the world. They could have just as easily chosen another opponent, given that it is now months since Sasha’s last match. Hopefully the ladies get a better episode next week, as they gear up for another pay-per-view (PPV), called Money In The Bank. That is probably going to be the best pay-per-view this year. Some great matches and great story-lines. We can’t wait.
The Main Event: The Golden State Warriors Were Not Invited To Stay
One thing that has made this year so much fun is the high level of competition. Whether it was in the form of a tournament or a war where the victor is determined by submission or knockout, the level of competition was unprecedented. One man that benefited from this is the Golden State Warrior, who is currently in the midst of a major shake-up, as he attempts to restore order to his roster. This week on “The Main Event,” the Dubs faced off against the defending champion, Andre the Giant, in what was billed as a “retirement match”. Unfortunately for the Warriors, it wasn’t all glitter and sunshine. They arrived at the arena, only to discover that not only was the arena sold-out, but so was the entire city. This was a major problem, as the arena could not hold everyone, and the fans were treated to a shortened version of the match. While they did get a decent amount of time on the platform, the arena was undoubtedly not designed with an NBA crowd in mind. The floor was way too narrow, and there were no seats in the area behind the stage, where the majority of the fans were located. It was also announced that the arena would be closing down soon, making this match even more historic. The Golden State Warriors were not invited to stay. This is the kind of competition that everyone has been waiting for this year. Let the battles begin.