After a whirlwind week that started seven days ago, tonight WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament continues tonight with quarter-final bouts. Roman Reigns meets Cesaro; Dolph Ziggler takes on Dean Ambrose; Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens faces Neville; and Mex-American Champion Alberto Del Rio wrestles Kalisto. Who will be on and win, then advance to the Semis?

We saw the return of “The Brothers Of Destruction” last week, as Kane and The Undertaker laid out The Wyatt Family; this Sunday, they will wrestle two members of the Family.

All this and more, so read on.

Monday Night Raw TV Report for November 16th, 2015

Introduction Segment: Commemoration

The roster is out on stage as Lillian Garcia asks everyone to stand and be silent, paying respect to the victims of the terrorist attacks in France this past Friday.

Segment #2: Welcoming

The regular opening video plays and the announcers gives us the run down of the Tournament Matches that will happen on Raw – Roman Reigns/Cesaro, Ziggler/Ambrose, Neville/Owens, and Kalisto/Del Rio.

Segment #3: Arena Promo

The lights dim and The Druid’s voices sound over the speakers. Undertaker’s music follows, as do himself and Kane. In the ring, they eerily berate The Wyatt Family for trying to take them out. “The Brothers of Destruction” vow to gain settle the score at Survivor Series, this Sunday.

Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erik Rowan, and Braun Strowman wander to the stage, where Bray professes that he will be the one to conclude ‘Taker and Kane’s lead for the last eighteen years, and become the “new face of fear” himself.

The arena goes black, then a bunch of druids in sheep masks are suddenly at the bottom of the ramp. They charge the ring but are dismantled rapidly by “The Phenom” and “The Big Red Machine.” Bray yells at them to “follow the buzzards.”

Commercials.

Match #1: Single (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Second-Round) – Neville VS. Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens

Fast-pace start with a roll-up and wristlocks by Neville, then Owens comes back with a standing headlock. Neville counters and runs off the ropes with a hurricanrana, then flips out of the turnbuckle and kicks Owens down. he leaps to the top turnbuckle, but the I.C. Champ moves, however Neville hits him with a moonsault to the floor!

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Owens is now in control for a bit; he runs at Neville with the Cannonball in the corner, but Neville moves! “The Man That Gravity Forgot” hits the Red Arrow Splash from the second-turnbuckle; he covers, but Owens kicks out at two! Neville regains himself and climbs the opposite turnbuckle, but has to leap over a standing Owens. He runs back at Kevin with a running-enziguri, then attempts a third Red Arrow; Owens trips him and slings him off the ropes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Neville hops over and hits him with a high-kick! He flips him back with a reverse-hurricanrana, and almost gets this!

Again, Neville goes to the top, but has to flip and ends up on his feet. He runs back at Owens, but Kevin slams him down with the Pop-Up Powerbomb and covers for the well-earned victory!

Winner via Pinfall and Advancing: Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens

Segment #4: Video Promo

A clip of Paige’s debut, where she won the Divas Championship form A.J. Lee on Raw in 2014 is shown, to build towards current Divas Champion Charlotte VS. Paige at Survivor Series.

Commercials.

Owens is seen talking to HHH but nothing is heard.

Segment #5: Video Promo

Recap of last week’s Raw featuring COO Triple H’s announcement about Seth Rollins and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament, as well as his offer to Roman Reigns and Reign’s subsequent match with The Big Show, airs.

Still-footage of Rollins’ surgery is shown, and a tweet from him that says “#Redesign, #Rebuild, #Reclaim.”

Tyler Breeze and Summer Rae make their entrance for his bout, next.

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Match #2: Single – Tyler Breeze (with Summer Rae) VS. R-Truth

This is actually a great back-and-forth contest, with both being pretty even. Truth almost takes it after a front-slam-suplex and the Lie Detector spinning elbow, but he is shoved into the ropes and hit with a spinning-heel-kick for the 1 – 2 – 3 by Breeze!

Winner via Pinfall: Tyler Breeze (with Summer Rae)

Following the break, it will be Ziggler and Ambrose in another Tournament Qualifier!

Commercials.

Match #3: Single (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Second-Round) – Dolph Ziggler VS. Dean Ambrose

They begin with a test-of-strength, which bends Ziggler over, but he turns it into a roll-up for a quick two! I.C. Champ Kevin Owens is shown watching backstage. Ambrose waist locks Dolph, then takes him down with a side headlock on the mat. He turns it into an armbar/wristlock, but “The Show-off” switches that into another pin combo for a two!

They stand and run off the ropes. It is now a match of “one-ups-manship” until Dean clotheslines Dolph over the ropes, but he can’t follow with the dive as Ziggler moves. Dolph takes Dean down and ties him up in a hold, then hits a dropkick soon later. He whips Ambrose into the corner, but “The Lunatic Fringe” leaps over him and puts him to the canvas.

Dean dives off the turnbuckle with an elbow-clothesline, but only gets two. They trade pin attempts, then both hit each other at the same time with a crossbody! Dean climbs the turnbuckle again, but Dolph leaps up and meets him! They slug away, and punch each other to the point of both falling to the outside!

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Ambrose is now able to hit his dive through the ropes on Dolph, then clotheslines him but is caught. “The Show-Off” plants him to the canvas with the Fameasser, but only gets a near-fall after a cover! He splashes Dean in the corner then drives him head-first with his leaping-DDT! 1 – 2 – Ambrose kicks out! Dolph emulates Shawn Michaels by trying his Sweet Chin Music Superkick, but Ambrose fends him off! He hits his unique clothesline, but also only gets two!

Dean is on the top, but Dolph jumps up again and face-busts him off the top turnbuckle! Ziggler looks like he hurt his knee, and Ambrose rolls to the outside to prevent the cover. Ambrose catches Dolph with an inside cradle, but Dolph kicks out and hits the superkick! He rolls up Ambrose again, but “The Lunatic Fringe” turns him around into the Dirty Deeds DDT and finishes this one!

Winner via Pinfall and Advancing: Dean Ambrose

Post-match, Dean goes on a rant that he will turn this place into the “Ambrose Asylum” if he becomes WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Segment #6: Video Promo

The birth of the “Divas Revolution” is shown from July, with Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks making their Raw return (Charlotte) and debus (Banks/Lynch).

Commercials.

Segment #7: Arena Promo

Tag-Team Champions The New Day are out and talk about the 25th Anniversary of The Undertaker; they take umbrage to this and says everyone should really be celebrating the one-year anniversary of them forming. Big E. talks about their opponents, The Usos, mocking Jey on his shoulder injury. They will be in action, next!

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Match #4: Six-Man Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E.) VS. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) and Ryback

The Usos start quickly, particularly with Jey soaring over the ropes onto Kofi with a plancha! Xavier uses the ropes to kick Jey, then The New Day dominate for a long while. This breaks down, with Ryback slamming all members of The New Day, but also hitting the referee in the process and getting DQ’d.

Winners via Disqualification: Tag-Team Champions The New Day

Segment #8: Video Promo

Charlotte winning the Divas Championship from Nikki at Night Of Champions is broadcast.

Commercials.

Segment #9: Locker Room Promo

Cesaro is shown lacing his boots when the COO walks in. Cesaro doesn’t want to hear it if it is the same thing HHH told Owens. “The Game” denies that, and talks about how it is now that he can “grab that ‘brass ring,’” and “be the man.”

Segment #10: Arena Promo

Roman Reigns makes his way through the fans and takes the microphone in the ring. He recalls his championship match at Survivor Series getting cancelled because of Seth’s injury, then Triple H offering the easy route for him by joining up with him. Roman admits he pondered for a while, but realized he is “not a sell-out!” He is prepared to go through the competitors in the tournament and become WWE World Heavyweight Champion at the Pay-Per-View/Network show. “You can believe that!”

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Match #5: Single (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Second-Round) – Roman Reigns VS. Cesaro

An elbow/collar tie-up between the two begins, and referee Andrew has to break them up. This contest is much like Ambrose/Ziggler with more “one-ups-manships” for the first while. Cesaro catches Roman rolling through and gives him a gutwrench-suplex! Reigns then gives Cesaro a tilt-a-whirl slam off the ropes and gets two!

Cesaro hits a springboard-tornado-uppercut then attempts the Big Swing, but Roman fights him off. Cesaro throws Reigns into the ring post, which seems to have hurt Roman’s shoulder. Cesaro follows with a running uppercut on Reigns into the corner of the barrier!

Commercials.

“The Swiss Superman” is governing with an armlock, then chucks Reigns to the outside. He runs at him, but Roman counters with a boot-to-the-face! Both slug it out until Reigns hits a clothesline in the ring, but Cesaro gives him a few more uppercuts. Roman turns it around into three consecutive clotheslines in the corner, then German-suplexes Cesaro!

He runs for the Drive-By running-front-dropkick, but Cesaro catches him and swings him around, then locks him in The Sharpshooter! As Reigns struggles for the ropes, Cesaro turns around and clamps on the Crossface1 Roman reverses, standing up and giving Cesaro a Samoan Drop for two! He tosses Cesaro over the ropes, and Cesaro’s elbow hits the apron on the way down.

Cesaro breaks the count with his arm, but Roman got him with the front-dropkick, and now gives nine clotheslines in the corner. Cesaro stops a tenth one, then tries to prop Roman on the top rope, but Reigns flips over and drops him with a sit-down powerbomb! 1- 2 – kick out by Cesaro!

Roman signals for the Superman Punch, but Cesaro reverses into a launching-uppercut for a near-fall! Cesaro dropkicks Reigns from the top turnbuckle to the apron, then tries for a suplex back in the ring but Roman wiggles and hits the Superman Punch!

Reigns watches and goes for The Spear, but Cesaro hits another uppercut! He sets up for The Neutralizer, but Roman backdrops him. Cesaro lands on his feet and backslides him for a very close-call, but is Superman Punched again and Speared. Reigns covers and receives the very hard-wrestled success!

Winner via Pinfall and Advancing: Roman Reigns

Post-match, the Cesaro and Reigns hug as Roman looks at the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

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Segment #11: In Memoriam

Nick Bockwinkel, Hall Of Famer and former American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Heavyweight Champion passed away on Saturday, November 14th. The announcer’s talk about the man and wrestler he was.

Match #6: Tag-Team – The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) VS. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von)

The “brothers” from “Dudleyville” complete this one quickly after giving Viktor a 3-D for the 1 – 2 – 3!

Segment #12: Backstage Promo

Zeb Colter and United States Champion Alberto Del Rio are in the halls when Rene Young walks up and interviews them. Zeb starts to talk, but is cut off by Triple H who wants to convince Alberto how he can “be the guy” by winning the WWE World Heavyweight Champion at Survivor Series.

Commercials.

Match #7: Single (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Second-Round) – United States Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Zeb Colter) VS. Kalisto

Del Rio locks on a standing side headlock and kicks Kalisto in the back hard to start, but the Lucha Dragon gives him a hurricanrana from the apron to the outside!

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Alberto is back in control, stretching him with a chinlock. Kalisto tries to leap back, but is driven after with The Backstabber (double-knees-to-the-back). He tries to tear off the mask while atop the turnbuckle backward, but Kalisto fights him away. He dives off the top, then springboards from the middle rope with a spinning elbow! The self-declared Mex-American champ quickly capitalizes with kicks, but Kalisto regains after another hurricanrana! He tries his finisher, but Alberto hangs him on the top rope.

Del Rio sets Kalisto upside down on the corner and goes to the top, but Kalisto kicks away. He tries another hurricanrana but is caught and driven to the canvas with the Double-Stomp! Del Rio covers and takes the victory!

Winner via Pinfall and Advancing: United States Champion Alberto Del Rio (with Zeb Colter)

Segment #13: Video Promo

Paige’s win to become #1 Contender to the Divas Championship is the last in the review of their rivalry.

Commercials.

It is announced that Roman Reigns, United States Champion Alberto Del Rio, Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens, and Dean Ambrose will be on MizTV this week on Smackdown!

Segment #14: Arena Promo

Michael Cole is in the ring, which is decked out in a red carpet with the table and chairs in the ring. He announces both Paige and Divas Champion Charlotte to join him. Cole wonders why they have become bitter with each other, after having a strong bond as they began together at NXT.

Paige puts down the notion of companionship, telling Charlotte there is no room for that to when someone wants to be a champion. She says she will imprint that into Charlotte at Survivor Series, and quickly signs the contract. Charlotte reminds Paige of their heritage, talking about both have parents who wrestled. She says she “wanted to be like you; I was the ‘sweet, naïve, Carolina girl.’ You were the ‘British bad-ass.’” She cites her late-brother, Reid (1988-2013; R.I.P.) as the reason she is where she’s at. “I am here today because of him; and that’s the only reason – to fulfill his dream. We were family.”

The former “Diva of Tomorrow” reveals that she had been “using you since day one.” Charlotte says that this didn’t have to go this way, as the true goal of Team P.C.B. was to “change the Divas Division,” much like former factions Team Extreme, D-Generation X, and The Four Horseman. Paige informs Charlotte that it was about being champion for her, but Charlotte tells her, “you’re not a champion; you never were! A champion is a role-model; a champion is someone those little girls sitting at home and sitting in the audience want to be like. I won’t be champion forever, it won’t be this Sunday, and it DAMN sure won’t be to someone like you.”

Paige starts up the fake tears, and goes to leave. Michael reminds Charlotte about the contract when Paige comes back and puts down Charlotte’s Dad, legendary wrestler/Hall-Of-Famer/Sixteen-Time World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair.

Charlotte retorts, “I will continue to fight, each and every day. Just like everyone in my entire family has; just like my Dad did, just like my little brother did, and just like I do!” Paige makes a cheap-remark about Reid, which infuriates Charlotte and the brawl begins! The two women fight in and around the ring until several referees finally break it up. Paige is in the aisle and Charlotte is in the ring to close the show.

End Of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings

In lieu of my usual title and review again, I will instead give my thoughts on another wrestler gone, Nick Bockwinkel.

Unfortunately, this writing on him will be a bit shorter than my previous ones on passed away wrestlers, as I did not grow up watching him for the most part, as I was not even around for a lot of his career. What I do know is some stories of how he carried himself out of the ring, always dressed in a suit and looking very elegant, especially when he was champion.

He was one of the few who represented what a World Champion should look and act like, in terms of attire and manners. He spoke like he was, well-educated, but was not condescending to anyone outside of his character. He seemed like a nice, friendly man, and a rare gentleman in this business. He will be missed, but his contributions and memories will remain. God rest your soul, Nick Bockwinkel.