Opener
The RAW after Money In The Bank opens this week with Kurt in the ring next to a table with the women’s MITB briefcase and the women’s title on it. Angle says he is proud to say that both the MITB winners came from Raw. Out came Alexa Bliss who teased a face turn with her speech, but the fans really weren’t buying it, then she says it’s all about her and no longer will we hear about “The Irresistible Force” or the “Baddest Woman On The Planet”. Kurt informs her that Nia is rehabbing her injury in Alabama, but will invoke her rematch clause at Extreme Rules. Alexa starts insulting Nia and Ronda Rousey and then boom. Rousey comes out to a HUGE pop. She charges the ring and is held back by Angle so she wouldn’t attack Bliss. Alexa says Rousey is only upset because all the headlines weren’t about her last night and that if she wants a title match she needs to get to the back of the line and called her an “Over-hyped Rookie”, which was great. Ronda, seemingly, then saw red and just took out Alexa’s leg, mounts her and punches her, Angle pulls Ronda off Bliss and Rousey judo throws Kurt and then gets the briefcase and starts hitting Bliss with it, then attacks Kurt with it as he tries to stop her, not accidentally either she hits him about 7 or 8 times, Referees then enter the ring to stop her, but Rousey attacks them with strikes and then she picks up Bliss from the floor in a dead lift gutwrench powerbomb and smashes her through the table. Seriously. WOW. What an opener to Raw! I loved this. It was full of energy and exactly what was needed off the back of MITB. Ronda is a legit badass and a natural in the ring. She is still green and needs some work, but if she’s this good this fast imagine where she’ll be in a year! Great start. Loved it.
Backstage
Ronda is with Kurt Angle and he tells her he has no choice but to suspended her for 30 days – which I’m guessing is down to her not being full-time even though they say she is – and she walks away, gets her stuff and goes to leave, Renee Young asks her for a comment and Ronda says, “I understand the 30 Day Suspension. That’s fine. But after those 30 days, whether Bliss is still champion or not, I’m coming to kick her little pink haired ass!” – Oh I cannot wait for that. Sorry Bliss, I love you but.. “Rowdy’s gonna kill you”
Seth Rollins Intercontinental Championship Open Challenge
Next was Seth Rollins issuing an open challenge, which seems odd considering his awesome bout with Elias the night before. It was then answered by none other than Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler stepped up. Great match, big spots, both men sold like hell and made the other look like diamond encrusted gold! Rollins is easily the best worker that RAW have right now. Everything he touches turns to gold. However, McIntyre got involved by climbing on the apron, Dolph rolls Rollins up for 2, Rollins reverses into a roll up for 2 and then Dolph rolls him up AGAIN for the THREE!!! -Your winner and the NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler, who is now a SIX time IC Champ. I was not expecting this at all. I thought Rollins and Elias would continue their feud to Extreme Rules. It’ll be interesting to see where this leads though. I feel that Rollins brought so much more to the IC Title than almost anyone but The Miz has done in the last decade. I hope Ziggler and McIntyre build the title even more, if they have it for any real length at all. Plus, if you’re gonna have Rollins lose it to a Heel the next night anyway, why not give Elias the push he deserves instead of strapping the belt to a dude who literally DUMPED his last mid-card title in the ring and walked away from It, vacating it in the process. Meh. Not the call I would have made, but I’m sure this will serve a purpose somewhere.
Bobby Roode vs Curt Hawkins
Hawkins was looking to end his losing streak, he got 2 shots in and a backslide pin attempt before eating a GLORIOUS DDT and taking the pin. – Your winner, Bobby Roode. Kind of a pointless match. Literally nothing happened after this Match. It was on for all of 6 minutes and 4 of those was for Roode’s entrance. The momentum of the show is standing still at this moment where it should be climbing after a new Champion being crowned!
Promo
Next, out comes Mr MONSTER in the Bank, Braun Strowman. He says the MITB contract is the best thing he’s ever won. Which I’d agree with. He says once he sees Lesnar he is going to cash in and become the new WWE Universal Champion. Out comes Kevin Owens. He says he’s not here to get retribution or to steal his spotlight, he came out to say congratulations and Braun deserves it. He explains that he knew Braun would win, that’s why he tried to get everyone on his side to take him out, they didn’t listen and now Braun is, as he says, Mr Monster in the Bank. He says Braun needs to have a game plan and that’s where he comes in. He says they could “use each other” he could help him and once he wins the title, they could have a match for the title. KO extends a hand to Braun and wants him to shake it, he does, then keeps hold of it and goes for the Powerslam, KO gets out and leaves up the ramp clutching his ribs.
Backstage
Sasha and Bayley are backstage and Bayley tells her to stop sulking, she should get motivated and better herself, Sasha gets offended and stands up, but then cools down as Bayley says things have been weird between them lately and that this could be a new start for them. Sasha extends her hand and Bayley takes it and they seem to have made up. But… how great would it be if they FINALLY pulled the trigger on Bayley vs Banks with Banks as the Heel again. Her Heel persona in NXT was amazing! Here’s hoping it happens soon!
Deleters of Worlds vs Heath Slater and Rhyno
Out come the Deleters of Worlds for their match against Heath Slater and Rhyno. Bit the Wyatt vignette plays and The B Team show up on the screen dressed as the Deleters and they cut a hilarious promo mimicking their mannerisms. Bo was dressed as Bray too which I thought was a nice little nod to their relation. They disappear and the match begins. The match was good, almost a squash but not quite. Deleters virtually decimated Slater and Rhyno though. The Kiss of Deletion ended it once again. – Your winners, The WWE RAW Tag Team Champions, The Deleters Of Worlds. Thus pretty much cementing inevitable breakup of Beauty & The Manbeast in my opinion.
Backstage
Kurt Angle is met by Constable Corbin who informs him that Steph McMahon is pleased with how he handled Rousey. Kurt says he didn’t do it to please her. Corbin says to tell her himself as she’s on the phone and Corbin hands it to Kurt. Then Kurt says he will make an announcement later and run everything passed Constable Corbin, Corbin laughs to himself. End. – This left lots of questions to be answered. Which is a good way to keep people watching the second hour of Raw. Clever move.
Jinder Mahal vs Chad Gable
Jinder Mahal is out now. Cutting a promo on Chad Gable who is waiting in the ring for him. He says he won the battle for self-improvement. Gable vs Mahal starts off with Jinder going at him and then Chad fights back. I love Chad Gable. He’s a future World Champion, easy. He reminds me so much of Kurt Angle. This match was actually pretty good. Chad hit a GORGEOUS Moonsault on Mahal for a 2 count. Jinder finishes the match almost immediately after kicking out. – Your winner, Jinder Mahal. I don’t know why, but I’m expecting Jason Jordan to appear each time I see Chad Gable lose now. Jordan’s been cleared for a month but there’s no sign of him. Perhaps WWE Creative have finally realised how DREADFUL the ‘illegitimate son’ angle was and now have no idea where to take his character. I mean, it didn’t work for Vince and Hornswoggle and it ain’t gonna work for Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle.
Backstage
Riott Squad are backstage throwing things around again, including a dude’s laptop. Which he was working on when they shut it and smashed it. Then Ruby drew an R on a mirror. Why? What is the point of this attitude they have? I really don’t like it. It’s like a weird, 90s sitcom bully gimmick they’re pulling. It’s honestly one step away from them looking like a joke. Now if they started setting fires, smashing windows and keying cars and stuff, that would work with their whole Punky Anarchist shtick, but these childish, bratty, crisp throwing, tie cutting antics are not working for them. At all.
Riott Squad vs Bayley and Sasha Banks
Bayley ignored Sasha’s request for the tag, to be fair Bayley had it under control and didn’t need to tag, but Sasha tagged herself in anyway. After a bit of action, Bayley tags herself in. The friction is building between these two. After the break it comes back and seemingly Banks and Bayley are working together okay now. Until Bayley gets control and then Banks tags herself back in. Sasha takes control and with a full head of steam attacks Liv Morgan and hits a really decent Meteora from the ropes for a 2 count. Morgan turns the tables and is attacking Banks now, Sasha needs the tag, Bayley isn’t there though, which allows a distraction and roll up from the Riott Squad for the win! – Your winners, Riott Squad. Bayley apologised to Sasha after the match, but Sasha shrugs her off. They then have a rather intense stare down and Sasha pushes Bayley over on to her bum, which honestly looked like when my 2 eldest boys want to play with the same toy and can’t agree so they push each other and fall just like that.
Backstage
Continuing with Sasha and Bayley, all of the nonsense and hoopla for the last few months was finally fixed after the break though and of all people it was actually BAYLEY who grabs Sasha by the hair and throws the first punch! Hair pulling, punches, throwing to the ground and Sasha gets the upper hand. She said she’s done and I think we have at long last entered the physical rivalry between these two!
Promo
Angle is out to talk about who might face Lesnar next for the title and before he can say another word Roman Reigns comes out to a fairly loud mixed reaction. He says to Kurt that the answer to that question is standing right in front of him. He says he’s the rightful champion after beating Lesnar in Saudi Arabia. Out comes Lashley, who’s actually done nothing to deserve being in this conversation.. Lashley says he can beat Brock and beat Reigns. So then Kurt says there will be a ‘Multi Person Match’ at Extreme Rules which will determine who will face Lesnar for the title. Once again, no Lesnar title defence but a whole multiple person match, not for a title, but to decide who will get a chance to go after Lesnar for the title. Lesnar must’ve broken the 30 day non compete clause about 8 times by now and is still champ. It’s ridiculous. I cannot wait for him to lose the title and disappear. Its Elimination Chamber all over again. Then The Revival are out to challenge Lashley and Reigns. Why? I don’t know. But any time The Revival are out there, I’m invested.
Roman Reigns and Lashley vs The Revival
This match was awesome. Roman… GOT OVER! The fans changed from predominate boos to cheers about half way through. Lashley killed any buzz whenever he got in the ring. Except when he tagged himself in as Reigns was setting up the Spear, hit a spear of his own and.. FLIPPED into it! It was really cool. Lashley gets the three count. – Your winners, Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns. Roman looked pretty miffed. But that was it. Lashley walked away to lukewarm reaction. Mostly boos. Michael Cole made a reference to the spear saying that’s how Roman finishes a match, like Lashley stole Roman’s finisher, uh… Cole, have you forgotten that Lashley was in the WWE when Reigns was still trying to break into the NFL? Because one of his main Finishers was a Spear.. Ridiculous.
Backstage
Corbin and Angle are backstage and Balor comes up to say he wants in on the multiple man match. Corbin says Balor can’t be serious and mocks him for injuring his shoulder and having to vacate the title. KO comes up and says he agrees with Corbin. Balor says that Corbin can’t talk and that KO can’t even tell when danger is right behind him, the camera zooms out and we see Strowman standing behind KO, Owens is startled and goes to stand next to Corbin, then Strowman says KO and Corbin can face him and Balor. Corbin looks confident and smiles it off and KO is definitely bricking it.
No Way José vs Mojo Rawley
My 5 month old son’s favourite, No Way José, is out next with an even bigger conga line this week! Mojo Rawley is waiting for him in the ring. Corey Graves put it perfectly when describing Mojo, he says that he feels that there is a “missing puzzle piece that’ll never be found”. But… Then he absolutely smashed José’s head off with a forearm and hit that weird Fireman’s Carry into a World’s Strongest Slam move he does, honestly, the Running Forearm Smash in the corner would suffice. It was brutal. 1, 2, 3. – Your winner, Mojo Rawley. Hopefully this will be the beginning of something for Mojo. It’s about time.
Parking Lot Confrontation
Next Sasha is packing her car and Bayley comes up and says she’s not finished, but Sasha says she’s done being her friend. Gets in the car and leaves. Leaving Bayley in her headlights looking like that scene in Fox and the Hound. Only in this reimagining of the old Disney classic, the Fox tried to break into the vehicle and upon failing to do so, threw a full bottle of water at the car.
Promo
Next, my boy, Elias is in the ring looking magnificent and very Messiah like. This week, possibly for the first time in history, He actually gets to sing a whole 3 minute song. It was brilliant. Capo on the first fret this week and his voice sounded great. He sang about Rollins losing the title to Ziggler and that he wants to face Brock and wants to be in the multiple man match. The segment ended as the song ended. Massive cheers from the crowd and they were silent when listening too. Elias captivates an audience with this gimmick more than anyone else I feel. He’s so over with the audience that Vince surely cannot ignore it for much longer and he will need to push him to the Moon!
Interview
Next was a segment with Rollins who told Renee he was shocked and disappointed in himself that he lost and that he would be invoking his rematch clause next week and he will get HIS title back.
Main Event – Finn Balor and Braun Strowman vs Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin
Balor is out first with Braun, KO next and Constable Baron Corbin last sporting his suit to wrestle in. Odd choice but it actually worked for him. The match is virtually a handicap as KO isn’t able to do much after being almost murdered by Strowman last night at MITB by being thrown off of a 20 foot ladder on the stage through 2 tables. Corbin and Strowman have a decent back and forth, they compliment each other well. Strowman tags in Balor and Military Press Slams him out of the ring onto KO and Corbin. Corbin is doing great on his own though. Owens finally makes a blind tag and drags Balor out of the ring. Vicious knee strikes to the back of Balor. KO keeping him grounded which is working for KO’s injuries. Strowman is trying to get Balor pumped and is literally roaring at him like a T Rex to get up. Strowman is pacing and wanting in the match. Corbin gets tagged in. He’s destroying Balor on the outside, throwing him back first into the barricade multiple times. Corbin gets in the ring and taunts Strowman. Balor tried to get back in the ring and then Corbin virtually knocks Balor out mid-air when Balor goes for a springboard, Balor and Corbin take the action back into the ring and Balor starts coming back, runs against the ropes for a Slingblade and the Constable counters into an amazing Deep Six on Balor. KO tags in and misses a Senton, Balor takes the opportunity and crawls to get the tag to Strowman. Corbin tags in and stops Balor just as he’s literally a fingertip away. Strowman will be like an erupting volcano when he eventually gets tagged. Strowman gets fed up, illegally enters the ring and attacks both Corbin and KO, then slings Balor over to their side like a bag of sand, gets to his corner and tags himself in, much to the crowd’s, and my, amusement. It was hilarious. KO realises Strowman is the legal man and makes a run for it around the ring, Braun begins running around trying to catch KO, but then out of nowhere Corbin leaps off of the side of the ring and takes out Strowman with am attempted Tomahawk Strike Tatanka style, but actually just knees Strowman in the side of the head! At this point I want to say that I’ve always been a fan of Corbin and knew even from NXT he had legs to go to the top, but since having his head shaved he looks so much more like a ‘top guy’, his whole demeanour has changed and you can see his confidence has risen tenfold. It really works for him. Balor tags in and then Strowman is out of the ring to shoulder tackle KO through the barricade. Which he does. Balor and Corbin are left in the ring, Corbin slaps his hand around the throat of Balor but then Balor reverses the Chokeslam Backbreaker into a DDT, then hits a Shotgun Dropkick, which sets up the Coup De Gras, but as he’s ascending the top rope he gets knocked down last-minute by Corbin and dragged into the End Of Days for the 1, 2, 3! Winners – Corbin and KO. This match was.. dare I say.. GLORIOUS! I loved it. Every man worked it well. The finish was excellent and was just the perfect way to end RAW. The Heels winning. Cleanly too, may I add! It made Corbin look like a beast and hopefully somewhere down the line he and Strowman could be battling out to be Champion of the Universe.
Verdict
This was a great episode of RAW in my opinion. I had a lot of fun watching it and I feel this has set up a whole catalogue of storylines for the coming months. I’m left feeling excited for next week’s RAW and that is exactly what you should be feeling after watching 3 hours of wrestling. Which I still think is a bit too long on a weekly basis, despite my unconditional love for the art form. This episode really was Heel heavy in terms of who went over in their story set ups and the winners of their matches too, which was great because I love a good Heel much more than I do the Babyfaces.
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Peace and good vibes as always, guys and gals. Until next week!
