WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for January 15

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The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus) vs. Titus Worldwide (Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews, w/ Dana Brooke)

Result: Titus Worldwide defeated The Bar via pinfall

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

Quick question: wasn’t Akira Tozawa part of Titus Worldwide? Like, the actual “worldwide” part of it? Maybe I missed the payoff to that whole thing, but I honestly can not for the life of me remember if Tozawa was fired, if he quit, or if the story was just abandoned. Please, someone, fill me in.

I will say this, though – I’m a fan of this new focus on Titus Worldwide, whoever is actually a member. The ridiculous punishment O’Neil had been subjected to finally seems to have run its course. Crews is way too talented to be the afterthought he has been for much of his main roster tenure. Getting a chance to work together as an actual tag team is the best thing for both – don’t forget Titus is a former Tag Team Champion.

Putting them in the ring with The Bar is a great way to build them up, too. Cesaro and Sheamus could pull an average match out of Mitch the Potted Plant (may he rest in peace), so actual, living, breathing superstars are no trouble at all. It’s not the world’s greatest match, but it’s not actively bad. The finish is junk, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

I especially like the callback to last week’s match – Crews goes for the same thing that helped bring about last week’s upset victory, but Cesaro has it scouted because he actually pays attention. Things like that make for compelling television – if you pay attention as a fan, you’re rewarded. Well, occasionally.

But then Jason Jordan uses a music distraction to ruin everything, and even Seth Rollins is peeved. This is why we can’t have nice things, I guess.