Eight months removed from their WrestleMania Moment, AJ Styles and Randy Orton are back together to close 2019. Now part of Paul E. Dangerously’s RAW roster, they’d bring in the new year as opponents, sharing seven untelevised matches on the road. Along the way, their rivalry closes an episode of the former (?) flagship, concluding its December 16th edition in Des Moines, Iowa. Once again, Orton and Styles’ roles have reversed, for now at least.
Right or wrong, I always think of this as the period in which Styles’ standing began to slide somewhat. Perhaps that’s unfair, I don’t know, but it sure felt like Heyman’s role for him was slightly lower: almost a workrate gatekeeper. He’s back with Gallows and Anderson for this run, which probably infects my memory on some level. Orton is a babyface here, but that’s a temporary thing before his programme with Edge and all that’d follow.
This is a fascinating time. I mean, not really, but to me it’s interesting. The announce team for this show is Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler and Samoa Joe. There are clear undercard projects taking shape, almost all of which would soon leave the promotion. This particular night was a double-taping, extending every match about four beats too long. Orton and Styles both pulled double duty in Des Moines, later working a six-man tag that went 15 minutes.
The Viking Raiders accompanied Orton for that bout, with The Good Brothers obviously being Styles’ partners. In the initial RAW’s first match, those two teams shared a 20 MINUTE non-title match, with the famed podcasters scoring a surprise victory. At this time, they were branded “the best tag team in the world,” winning an alleged world cup that I can’t recall. Erik and Ivar were champs, fooling poor Sam Joe who declared “new champions” as Gallows got the pin.
Anyway, this is quite good. The Orton – Styles bout, not that tag I was just talking about. It’s a limb work match, almost entirely in fact. They don’t have an easy time hooking this crowd though, being greeted by virtual silence at the bell. Styles’ aggression remains intact regardless, attempting a jumpstart only to eat a flurry of right hands. Styles’ chops in response seems to greatly upset Randal, who then goes to his traditional RKO tease.
We are three for three on that front by the way, each tease coming in the first 90 seconds or so. Orton’s shine is not very shiny, leisurely kicking ass at a very methodical pace, shutting down multiple signs of life. They do something interesting from there though, as Styles takes over by snatching his Calf Crusher, wrenching it for an extended early false finish. It’s basically his cutoff, which is a neat reversal of the norm.
From there, they go back to some of the original’s strengths, with Styles working Orton’s leg ferociously. At one point, he sprints around ringside for a running chop-block. It’s increasingly apparent to me that this is the correct babyface – heel dynamic for these two. Styles is superb in either role but Orton’s work is just more interesting as a babyface. Well, I should be more specific there, his in-ring work. As a character, he’s miles stronger as a heel but his selling is truly unlocked as the protagonist.
Speaking of such, a single “RKO” chant emerges from the silence and in response, Orton looks out to the people. In an instant, that single chant expands and while it’s never thunderous, motivates brief duelling chants to boot. Orton builds on that support with a gradual comeback that’s spread across the remaining runtime. He can barely stand here, it’s really remarkable in its consistency and logic. In the process, those “RKO” chants get louder and louder.
Down the stretch, they do a very restrained finishing stretch of sorts, with Orton’s ill-advised superplex attempt opening the door for Styles. Along the way, Styles slips slightly on his springboard moonsault, which Joe uses as a chance to compliment just how great he is to still stick the landing. The finish itself again builds on the famed springboard fake-out, with Styles hilariously diving right into Orton’s second RKO after earning a stagger with his initial feint.
Owned.
This is a good match but is very much wrestled in a fashion befitting the occasion. What does that mean? Well, this is the first RAW of a double taping and across that six hours of content, not a single match was of any importance. They had sixteen minutes to fill here though and that’s the gig, so they go about it professionally and sprinkle in a cool idea or two along the way.
To quote a famed journalist, “well worked match with two high level pros.” Tidy.
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