WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for December 4

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WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jason Jordan

Result: Roman Reigns defeated Jason Jordan via pinfall

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Samoa Joe decided to stick around for this one, pulling up a chair at the top of the ramp. And what he saw in the early stages of the match was total domination by The Big Dog. Reigns didn’t let up an ounce for the first several minutes.

But despite the punishment sustained off the bat, Jordan managed to create an advantage for himself. He literally manhandled Reigns, eventually catching a huge opportunity when Reigns missed a shoulder tackle and went shoulder-first into the ring post.

After the commercial break, Jordan was in the driver’s seat. He was working the weakened arm with an armbar until Reigns fought his way out. Roman was reduced to fighting one handed due to the punishment to the left arm, but a series of clotheslines and a big boot led to a near fall.

Jordan countered an attempted Superman punch with a dropkick to regain the upper hand. On the arena floor, Reigns went for another Superman punch off the ring steps, but Jordan caught him out of mid air and threw him into the steps. It was an impressive display of strength by the young superstar, but not quite enough to get the victory.

Following the second commercial break, Reigns proved to the naysayers how good of a wrestler he really is. Not only did he bust out a DDT, but he locked in a half crab to apply pressure to Jordan’s injured knee. For all the “Roman does nothing but strikes, Samoan drops, and spears” talk, there was a bunch of variety tonight. It really enhanced the match, in my opinion.

Not to be outdone, Jordan pulled off a double Northern Lights suplex, bridging on one leg to sell the knee injury. The weakened bridge prevented a possible pin, allowing Reigns to kick out. The Big Dog came back with a Superman punch and a spear to seal the victory.

Samoa Joe – still on the stage – told Reigns he was coming down to finish what “the kid” started and put him to sleep. Joe almost immediately locked in the Coquina Clutch, but Jordan saved Reigns with a suplex – only to be Superman punched to the floor for his troubles.

The match was good, but not quite as good as the Jordan/Reigns match back in September. Not sure what the end game is with this story – is Jordan turning heel, or just going rogue? – but it bears watching. Good start to the show.

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But Wait, There’s More…

Backstage, Kurt Angle is on the phone, presumably with Stephanie McMahon since he’s apologizing for things “getting out of hand.” I love his excuse that “testosterone runs high” – that’s not how hormones work, Kurt!

He’s interrupted by Jordan, who’s in a gimme gimme gimme mood. You know, gimme a rematch with Reigns next week, gimme a match with Samoa Joe tonight, gimme gimme gimme. Angle understandably doesn’t want to play favorites, but he agrees to take it under advisement.

And that’s when Jordan gets run over by Joe, who just threw the youngster into a wall. Joe proclaimed “you want me, you got me,” then left.