Opener
Kicking off Raw in Chicago, the very first Raw after Super Showdown, was our resident degenerates, HHH and HBK, but they looked super mad. To be fair to them though, jet lag and being beaten up by demons isn’t exactly a relaxing Saturday evening is it?
Metaphors galore and a video package later, their point was made. Taker and Kane pissed them off something chronic after disrespecting them in Australia. So, they talk about that for a bit and then.. they announced DX vs Brothers of Destruction at Crown Jewel. HBK is returning for a bloody match!! Yes!!
Cool promo. Oozing with nostalgia and what can I say? I just loves me a bit o’ that.
Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush vs Kevin Owens
Now this was something hugely unexpected. Lio was on the Mic and hyping up Lashley during the match, getting the crowd booing him and Lashley and talking down Owens saying he wasn’t an athlete, so Owens proved him wrong with Planchas and flips and generally just by being the best version of Kevin Owens. I thought it for a bit until it finally dropped, this was a straight up double turn, dude! Owens was so over as a Babyface in Illinois too! Lio Rush and Lashley turned Heel and Owens turned, somewhat, Face! That’s how it seemed to me anyway. Owens was playing up to the crowd and responding very positively to the “Fight Owens Fight” chants and Lashley was being a brute of a Heel and brushing off the fans with Lio Rush just, well, being Lio Rush. It really, really works! I hope this ends up rejuvenating both of these dudes. The Chicago crowd was chanting for Owens during the match and Lio tried to stop them by making them chant “Lashley” with him over and over until the whole place was booing, so Owens went after Rush to a big Pop! Then Lashley attacked Owens using the steps and the barricades and it all worked into the double turn. Owens was shown as the underdog too, which only added to the Face turn. Lashley beat Owens after targeting his leg, Owens sold the angle after and appeared legitimately injured. Lashley then attacked Owens’ legs after the match. I loved everything about this match, a double turn is a rare thing to witness and my word is it exciting!
Commentary Talky Bit
They announce the WWE World Cup and that there will be qualifying matches that are to follow this announcement.
We hear that Big Show has been announced for a qualifying match against Randy Orton, I also know that Samoa Joe is facing Jeff Hardy in one tomorrow on SmackDown Live too. Then a Global Battle Royal qualifier is announced for later in the show. That should be fun, but we will get to that later. Right now, it’s time to Walk with Elias!
Elias segment
Well, first there was a lovely little dorky interview between Bayley and Balor, then Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush showed up and talked smack to then a little. But now it’s time for Elias.
He is super over in Chicago. He starts going at Chicago’s sports team then he’s interrupted by Ronda Rousey and the next match is about to get underway. What the point of Elias being in the ring for a whole 45 seconds was, I don’t know, but anyway..
Ronda Rousey & The Bella Twins vs The Riott Squad
Morgan and Bella started off and their pop was so loud. Accidental rivals. The match it’s self was good, Rousey won with an Armbar.
Then the Bellas TURN on Rousey. Why? I don’t know. Ronda tries to fight back and does, but it’s too little for the Champ. The Bellas whooped her ass.. Evolution match on the horizon. Yeah this was alright actually. I really liked it. Lots of Heel turns and whatnot this day. Love it.
Bayley & Balor vs Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox w/ Sunil Singh
This was really fun. I am a fan of everyone involved in this match. It’s a nice little taster for the Mixed Match Challenge. Bayley and Balor won.
Backstage
The Dogs of War are backstage and Ziggles and Drew are arguing about what to do when McIntyre bites hard when he says that he’s sick of Ziggler thinking he’s the leader, he said neither he or Braun took the pin on Saturday. But Braun shuts them up and reminds them of why they’re there. To help him win the Universal Championship.
Backstage
Baron Corbin is stopped by Heath Slater and he said he wants to be in the Global Battle Royal, but Corbin declines and says he’s “just not any good”.
Global Battle Royal
Corbin has what looks to be 8 different wrestlers from different nationalities in the ring, you can tell this by the casual racist stereotypes that they’re dressed up as which as we know is just standard in WWE. Anyway, the guy from Spain dressed head to toe in a Golden Gimp suit rolled out when the bell rang and he just sat down outside. Was pretty funny. Once Corbin eliminated everyone he got back in and the Golden Gimp was doing rolls and weird dance moves, when he hit a triple German Suplex and an Angle frickin’ Slam, eliminated Corbin, pulled off this mask and revealed that he was of course not the Golden Gimp at all, it was GANGREL*!
*It was Kurt Angle. He’s in the World Cup tournament. Oh, it’s true.
Ember Moon vs Nia Jax
These two are good friends and this match was displayed as so. It was also flipping awesome! These two have amazing chemistry and can do so many crazy things together. Friends always have the best matches. Probably because of the levels of trust. Ember won via Count Out. It was a great taster of what’s to come between these two. They hugged it out after the match.
Trish Stratus Promo
She came out and cut a promo on “Little Miss Brat” for her “Moment of BS” last week. She is interrupted by Bliss herself and Mickie James. Alexa and Trish trade off verbal assaults and Trish then invited Bliss to have a match, so both Mickie and Alexa charge the ring, but Mickie stopped it and said Chicago doesn’t deserve it. Trish is still awesome on the Mic, Mickie asks for a tag match at Evolution, so Trish brings out Lita! They have a mini brawl and Alexa saves Mickie from a Litasault and they disappear up the ramp. I loved this! I felt all the feels here. Alexa, Mickie, Lita and Trish all in the ring together for the very first time.
Roode & Gable vs The Ascension (again)
Konnor cut a promo on his opponents and totally buried them. The fans were not with them on this. Even began the “CM Punk” chants again. But it ended as Gable tagged himself in again and stole the victory from Roode. Roode looked mad, but AOP then ran out and destroyed everyone and Chi Town just ate it up! Super Collider on Viktor and Gable and that was that.
Promo
Paul Heyman is out now to talk about Lesnar and what he’s going to do after his sleep. Have breakfast, go for a run, go to the gym, etc. Weird promo given who was cutting it. He’s normally flawless. But he was there simply to say “Oh yeah, Lesnar is still knocking about. But he’s not gonna show up.. because.. well he doesn’t want to. Please accept him as your next champion.” The Greatest Royal Rumble Champion is my pick to win the Triple Threat, this lead straight into the main event.
Braun Strowman & McZigglIntyre vs The Shield
Tensions flarin’, teeth were barin’ between the Hounds of Justice and the Dogs of War! This match was incredible. It was absolute chaos in the ring. The friction between The Dogs showed loudly when Braun grabbed Ziggler’s throat and McIntyre grabbed Braun and they had a stare down. Interesting development. Ambrose took the pin after a Claymore Kick. Then he left up the ramp after the match without Rollins and Reigns.
Draaaamaaa. We love it.
Conclusion
9/10 🌟
This episode was off its head on something truly spectacular. So much nostalgia and new stuff happening which is unusual for Raw! KO turning Face, Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush turning Heel, The Bellas attacking Rousey, Lita and Trish, potential break up for The Shield and Dogs of War and Kurt Angle winning a Battle Royal! This was just a stupidly fun show and it all served as a decent set up for the coming weeks leading into Crown Jewel.
Match of the Night: The Main Event. Shield vs Dogs of War. The match was so well put together that I couldn’t fault it. Not even a little bit. So that’s my pick as I believe it was flawless.
Performance of the Night: Kevin Owens. He really outdid himself and the crowd adoration suits him to the ground. I’m sure his Chris Jericho reminiscent Babyface character is going to be a treat and a half too!
Thank you all so much for stopping by, I appreciate every single one of you, please feel free to comment, like and share and make sure to Too Sweet that follow button on the Twitter machine @KayfabeToday. Peace and love to one and all! ✌🏻💚
– CB
