WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for January 30

Tony Nese vs. Mustafa Ali

Result: Tony Nese defeated Mustafa Ali via pinfall

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

The frustrating cruiserweight division continues to frustrate. Nese is a phenomenal athlete and a hell of a wrestler. Ali is incredibly talented as well, and actually has a somewhat compelling character. But the layout of the match doesn’t really highlight either man’s skills – though it is an improvement over the usual “cruiserweights on Raw” fare. Once the cruiserweights are actually allowed to do what made them so coveted by WWE in the first place, you’ll have more Jack Gallaghers than, well, Tony Neses.

In this one here, the focus is clearly on the battle between power and speed/agility – even though Nese is incredibly quick and agile, and Ali has the size to be strong. Turns out in WWE’s cruiserweight division, power is better than speed/agility, because Nese comes out on top.

Following the match, Austin Aries tries to help Tony Nese be a bit more charismatic by asking a few questions on the stage. Nese refuses to answer, because “the Premier Athlete doesn’t need to answer his critics.”

It’s a bold strategy, to be sure. Nese has the look, he has the talent – just like Austin said. But I don’t really understand how calling attention to the one area he’s lacking in – charisma – is going to fix it. There’s no attempt at even a band-aid for this flaw – “You can’t talk? Don’t talk, then!”

Put it this way: If a match between two very talented wrestlers ends with an injured wrestler on commentary as the strongest one involved, it’s a dud.