It’s one of the biggest nights of the year – the #RAWafterGRR! Hot on the heels of the huge house show, only one question is on people’s mind: will we get to see Titus World-slide in action?
Apart from that, attention will now firmly turn to the build to Backlash. Which rivalries will intensify> What matches will be added to the card? Let’s find out.
Roman Reigns Promo
A shock to kick things off as Corey Graves acknowledges the hostile crowd reception for Reigns, noting that he was much better received in Saudi Arabia. The announce team also play on the controversy surrounding the cage match with Lesnar in which Reigns’ feet actually hit the ground first. The Big Dog wastes no time in declaring himself the real Universal Champion as the crazy Canuck crowd inform him that he sucks.
A huge cheer as Samoa Joe appears on the big screen to remind Reigns he will lose yet again at Backlash. The impossible then happens as Jinder Mahal appears and actually gets a pop from the crowd as he declares Roman will lose tonight once again. It doesn’t last long though as the crowd soon get a chant of “You both suck!” going.
Who appears next but Sami Zayn, who gets a hot reception from the Montreal crowd. After declaring himself recovered from the case of vertigo Bobby Lashley caused last week, he declares himself as Roman Reign’s opponent for the night.
The superstars are filling the ring faster than the 50-man Battle Royale as Kevin Owens makes his way to ringside, also to a white-hot Montreal reception. He speaks French to get a ‘Oui!’ chant going before putting himself forward as the man to take down Reigns.
After asking the crowd to cheer for the match they want to see, a beatdown on Reigns ensues. Bobby Lashley attempts to make the save but it is Braun Strowman who clears house, closing the segment by launching Sunil Singh onto the heels on the ramp.
Hmmm…. Strowman helping Reigns? The same Reigns who tried to kill him in an ambulance less than a year ago? The inevitable six-man tag is announced – a damp squib of an ending to what started out as a red-hot segment.
Elias v. Bobby Roode
A rematch from last week (let me guess – 50-50 booking sees Roode get his win back before a pre-show rubber match at Backlash?) After Elias does his usual performance and Roode does the usual interruption, the match gets underway. Elias has the better of the match, snuffing out any attempts at a comeback quickly.
A spinebuster puts Roode in control. He then draws out a huge ‘Glorious!’ pop but Elias manages to escape the DDT. Each man gets a near fall off a reversed small package before Elias slams Roode into the turnbuckle throat first. The docs come out to check on Roode while Elias announces himself as the winner.
OK, so they didn’t go down the 50-50 route, which is fine by me. That was a slow burner with the pace really picking up towards the end. We will have to wait and see how the injury angle plays out.
Authors of Pain v. Jean-Paul and Francios
The local jobbers get an interview before the match revealing they specifically requested this match. They very soon regret it as they are on the wrong end of the Super Collider and the Last Chapter. Quite literally a squash.
After the match, they promise to open a new page of destruction in their book for every team on RAW.
Winners: Authors of Pain
This is the best way to build up a monster team. AoP’s story is just beginning.
Monday Night Rollins
Greeted by an ovation that Roman Reigns can only dream of, Rollins recaps what was a marquee month of April for him. The crowd get even wilder like they are watching Canada win the World Cup. Rollins wastes little time in stating he doesn’t want to be like Brock. He wants to be a fighting champion.
Cue Finn Balor, who seemingly hasn’t lost out to Rollins enough recently. He points out that in singles competition they are tied at 2-2 so challenges the champ to a decider. After consulting the crowd, Seth accepts.
But then Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas show up to suggest they all form a stable. They even have t-shirts prepared (you probably won’t be seeing those in the WWE store soon!) but soon get frustrated a try to jump the faces. In the midst of the melee, Balor lays out Rollins and warns him to keep his eyes on him at all times.
The crowd made that segment though they were clearly invested in Rollins far above anyone else. And did we see a tease of a Balor heel turn there? If it can do for him what it has done for Nakamura, bring it on.
Ruby Riot v. Sasha Banks
This is a fast-paced even match with both superstars gaining the advantage at different points and duelling chants erupting for them both at one point. Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan are a constant menace to the Boss, however, with a lot of emphasis placed in Bayley not being a ringside.
Sasha gets to play the gutsy babyface as she kicks out of a number of pin attempts including after an impressive reverse senton from Riot. She then locks in the Banks statement, but the Riot Squad cause the distraction to allow Ruby to escape.
Just as it looks like Banks will win, another distraction from the outside leaves Sasha exposed for a Riot Kick. A three count later and it’s all over.
Winner: Ruby Riot
A pleasant surprise to see Ruby Riot get the win here even if it was by nefarious heelish means. I am growing bored of the Banks-Bayley ‘feud’ though. It has been so slow that I have simply lost interest.
Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley, & Braun Strowman v. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, & Jinder Mahal
Echoes of the attitude era as the Montreal crowd cheer on KO and Zayn (Jinder, not so much) and turn on the faces (or Reigns at least). Lashley takes a beating early on as KO and co isolate him. He eventually tags in Roman (anyone else and we could call it a hot tag), who unloads on Sami Zayn.
A blind tag brings Owens in, who gets a huge cheer after a near fall. After commercials, we now see Reigns isolated from his team and the heels in control. A bizarre exchange then follows as Reigns seems to have no idea how to build tension for a hot tag. He oversells likes nobody’s business, at one point strolls over to his corner, and yet still summons the energy to deliver a Superman Punch and a Samoan Drop.
Strowman eventually gets in and, in a repeat of last week, immediately starts attacking the opponents not currently tagged in. He gets topped in his tracks by a ringpost, allowing the heels to almost take advantage but Lashley and Reigns fend them off while Strowman recovers enough to deliver a powerslam to Owens.
Winners: Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley, & Braun Strowman
That was a fun match at points, but Reigns is obviously far more used to receiving hot tags than making them. Ultimately, the match means nothing though and only leaves us wondering when Bobby Lashley will start having singles matches?
Baron Corbin v. No Way Jose
The Lone Wolf, who earlier interrupted Titus O’Neil’s over-scripted reaction to his slide under the ring last week, cuts a promo before the match pitching himself against the fun-loving style of both No Way Jose and O’Neil (could we see No Way Jose added to Titus Worldwide?)
The match doesn’t go long before Titus Worldwide interrupt. O’Neil feigns running down the ramp before attempting to climb into the ring and falling off the apron. The distraction allows No Way Jose to roll Corbin up for a shock win. He celebrates with Titus on the ramp.
Winner: No Way Jose
So, Corbin talks about focus and being here to win matches and promptly loses his focus and the match. Will he ever be booked to be anything other than comically inept?
Mickie James v. Natalya
Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey are ringside for this one. James is still selling the armbar from last week. The match in unremarkable with the fans only interested in seeing Ronda in action. Alexa Bliss causes a distraction, which sets off a chase round the ring. While all that is going on, Natalya pins Mickie James (we never see how she manages it).
After the match as Alexa stands on the ramp, Nia Jax comes out forcing Little Miss Bliss to escape through the crowd.
Winner: Natalya
That mirrored the opening segment in the speed with which different members of the division came into action. The match itself was nothing worth mentioning and ultimately little came of the segment other than teased beatings for Bliss.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) v. Finn Balor
The crowd are hot for this one! Both men get their signature moves in and near falls keep the tension high. The shouts of ‘this is awesome!’ start early and deservedly. We see both guys do their trademark dives to the outside. We witness both wrestlers trade strikes, kicks and aerial moves. We gasp as Balor gets near fall after near fall. We watch finishers countered and roll-ups reversed.
Eventually, Rollins gets the opening for Stomp and is able to use, getting the win and ending this chapter of his rivalry with Balor.
Winner: Seth Rollins
These are two of those guys who, just when you think you’ve seen it all already, manage to pull another great match out of the bag. This was a great way to end the show and the rivalry. Hopefully, Balor will move on now.
Final Thoughts
The crowd was the star of this show. They were into almost every segment and you could sense how the likes of Rollins fed off their energy. The main event was great, and Ruby Riot’s win over Sasha Banks was fun to watch as well. Other matches were more about storyline advancement but at least there were only two tag matches this week. See you at Backlash!
