WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for February 27

Cesaro vs. Samoa Joe

Result: Samoa Joe defeated Cesaro via pinfall

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

I’m nearly 100% confident that Cesaro’s knee injury is a work. Commentary picked up on it right away, and while they’ve been consistently good as of late, I wouldn’t expect that to be weaved into the call so seamlessly if it was legit.

Since his arrival on the main roster, we’ve come to know Joe as the “destroyer.” Going up against Cesaro gives him an opponent who is basically inhuman, and makes him look even stronger and more terrifying. Even on one leg, Cesaro is one of the toughest WWE Superstars out there.

But the knee “injury” gives the Swiss Superman an excuse (man, I hate using that word) when he comes up short. He still goes for all of his normal moves, but on one leg he can’t plant for the swing, and he stumbles on the ropes for his springboard uppercut. It’s a kind of stubbornness, thinking you can do more than you physically can.

Kudos to both guys for – I’m assuming – calling the match on the fly. There was an appropriate amount of leg/knee submission maneuvers by Joe, and Cesaro fought out of them to play face in peril.

Following Joe’s victory – via urinage, which is a nice alternate finisher for him – he’s assaulted by Sami Zayn. Sami used the same path of attack that Joe has used many times – and Joe didn’t see it coming. Their match at Fastlane is now official, and if it’s half as good as any of their bouts in NXT it’ll be a match of the night contender.