Opener
Raw started a tad unusually this week, but in a BIG way! It began with Roman Reigns heading towards the ring when he met Bobby Lashley in the hall and Lashley just straight up warns Reigns that if he calls him out, he’s not coming out there to talk, he’s going out there to tear him apart. I liked that. Felt, once again, very shoot. I appreciate stuff like that. Roman then went out to the ring and absorbed all the boo’s, then, he calls Bobby Lashley out. Which was great! Because out comes Lashley and these two absolute Juggernauts got in the ring and stated eachother down until Kurt Angle and Constable Corbin came out and tried to stop it, but they didn’t listen and they just started clubbing eachother! Corbin runs to the ring with about 10 Superstars from the back to separate them, but 10 measly Superstars aren’t enough! They keeps running back to eachother to slug it out and then 10 more guys come out. One was Finn Balor, who just smacked Corbin in the face and then got out of the ring to hold Reigns back, which was quite funny. The two keep getting separated and then getting to the other one until Lashley just flattens Reigns, Reigns recovers and does that Flying Plancha over the top rope thing he does and then he walks up the ramp with his music playing. Changes his mind and runs down and just smashes Lashely again! Was a great way to open Raw again. Kudos for mixin’ it up, WWE. I like it.
Alexa Bliss & Mickie James vs Nia Jax and Natalya
We have to go into the Nia Jax/Alexa Bliss stuff now for their match with their respective buddies, Mickie James and Natalya. Which I’m not invested in at all, but every week I’m hoping they’ll do something that isn’t cheesy, samey or just downright confusing. However WWE decided that half way through the match it’d be a great time to air an advert for Extreme Rules, you know the PPV this Sunday, but not to worry because they gave us a tiny window where we could still see the match. Like a tiny, muted, “we don’t care about this feud” message. It ended with Nia who was totally over with the crowd tonight, Gorilla Press Slammed Mickie, dropped the leg and got the 3. But as soon as this happened, Alexa hit Nia with a Kendo Stick, then Nia snatched it and hit her back and snapped it over her knee, then Bliss and James ran off to the back with Nia looking strong. Which means we can safely assume Bliss isn’t dropping the title this Sunday.
Video Package
We then got a Braun Strowman and Kevin Owens video package where it showed that last week, Braun Strowman pushed Owens off of the stage, whilst KO was in a port-a-loo, KO then came out covered in the blue stuff and what we can only presume was poop. How dignifying.
KO then shows up to give Kurt Angle a Doctors note to say he’s not medically fit to work tonight. So he says he’s gonna stay in Kurt’s office where it’s safe from Mr Monster In The Bank
Mojo Rawley vs No Way José (for the 3rd week in a row? Really?)
I put the bracketed questions up there, but really I just want to see these two get a decent match and TV time for this feud. They’re both so good and I think this could really be something to create 2 new stars if done right! Once again, a shout out to CFO$ for Mojo’s new theme. It truly is a banger! There were some cool strikes from these two dudes in the match, Mojo hit a Pounce which José sold like a champ! Lots of power move shows from Rawley too. Mojo is displaying a lot of his moves library in this Match and it’s decent to say the least, José displaying his resiliency mainly, but he definitely came off as the underdog in this one, which shows where they’re going with Mojo JoJo. Mojo won after an Alabama Slam. Yup. You read that right. Mojo Rawley has returned the Alabama Slam to finishing move status. Nice to see homage paid to the great Hardcore Holly. Match was okay. I kind of liked it, I think they have more to show though. I predict HUGE things for Mojo Rawley, but if No Way José manages to get his gimmick over on the main roster, with their crowds, we all know dancing gimmicks are a hard sell and sadly not a lot of people watch NXT, then he deserves every success. He’s so talented and as I said this match was fairly good, I just wish it didn’t take 3 weeks to get it.
Promo
“The Kingslayer”, “The Man”, “The Architect”, “Monday Night Rollins”.. that’s right, it’s GANGREL… No. One day. One day. Seth Rollins is out to cut a promo on Dolph for their Iron Man Match this Sunday (which I’m really psyched for!). He doesn’t bury Ziggz, he says he’s tough and he is determined but that HE is still Seth Freakin’ Rollins! Out comes Dolph and Drew (Michaels and Diesel 2.0) they say he’s still Seth Freakin Rollins, he’s one of the best “WRESTLERS” (Yes, he actually said a banned word) to ever step foot in the ring, which is accurate. But he says he’s “No Dolph Ziggler, Brother.”. They basically then go on about what an Iron Man Match is and somehow they get to an odd subject, Seth basically insinuates that McIntyre is Seth’s pet and says it’s lonely in Scotland and makes a reference to Ziggler having a photo of Drew McIntyre.. um.. banging a sheep..? Understandably this winds the big Scotsman up enough that he demands a fight and Rollins is happy to oblige. Rollins makes another sheep joke which then forced Drew to run to the ring to get Rollins, who just rolls out between the ropes and goes up the ramp. Was pretty funny, but the Sheep reference is inconsistent with the myth. That’s all I’ll say.
Backstage
Curtis Axel is doing his Matt Hardy impression when Bo shows up and freaks him out as Bray. Once again it’s really funny. They laugh maniacally and go to the ring dressed as them, cut a promo and they’re interrupted by the real Deleters. This leads into the match
Bo Dallas w/Curtis Axel vs Matt Hardy w/Bray Wyatt
The match was okay. Some good offense from Matt. He looked really strong. Once again, another video package during the match, where they show the match in a little square, but muted. This time, promoting SmackDown Live’s match James Elsworth vs Asuka. Why they’re promoting their competition to their viewers is a confusing, I know in theory it’s for business purposes, but in terms of kayfabe, it doesn’t make any sense. Oh, Bo got the win. Which means they may actually take the titles from the Deleters. Let’s hope not. The Deleters feel like a legit threat to the division. Let’s keep them going strong for a while!
Liv Morgan vs Ember Moon
Tyler Breeze is backstage, who is now alone for the next 6+ months due to my boy, Fandango, being sidelined with an undisclosed injury, we wish him a speedy recovery! But Tyler gives free Fashion Police T-shirts to Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, who once again make themselves look ridiculous by ripping them up, throwing them and.. blowing a raspberry at Breeze.. I mean.. What in the name of Michael Hayes is going on with these ladies? Seriously.
However this does lead to a rematch between Liv Morgan and Ember Moon! Which I’m excited for as they had a cracking match last week! They enter to a new remix to their music, it’s less annoying, but still really grating. The match though, another really good one. Lots of cool spots and reversals, including a kip up Hurricanrana into the turnbuckle! Loved the finish. Pin reversals, and Ember into a Jacknife Cover for the 3. That was that. I liked it. Decent match.
Promo
Balor and Roode have a promo backstage as they are teaming against Constable Corbin and, my absolute Dude, Elias! I’m excited about this.
Promo
Angle and KO are backstage and Drew and Ziggler come to his office and he reveals that the stipulation of the match Rollins tonight will be if Drew loses, he’s banned from ringside at Extreme Rules, which would work well if they want a classic between Dolph and Seth. If he does win however, I’m sure it could be match of the year contender still!
Finn Balor and Bobby Roode vs Constable Baron Corbin and Elias
Slow start, then they show yet ANOTHER video package through the match, this time for Extreme Rules! This is literally the go home show for the PPV, I’m pretty sure we know Extreme Rules is coming and what matches are on it. You’ve reminded us every chance you’ve gotten! Enough of this, WWE! You get mad when the fans throw beach balls and chant stuff that isn’t relevant to the matches, yet you show bloody promo packages and adverts through matches whenever you want and it’s fine? Hypocrisy, much?? The match picks up though and there are some awesome spots shooting out of this match now. Everyone hits big moves, but Roode ends up taking the pin after End of Days. Match was actually really good all in all. I do think a Roode heel turn is in the works though. His general demeanour and his promo he cut witg Balor had a certain TNA World Champion Bobby Roode twang to it. His overconfidence shone a bit ‘Heely’ for me.
Backstage
Angle tells KO that he will be locked inside a Steel Cage this Sunday with Braun Strowman.
Promo
Muted segment for Bayley and Banks just arguing on a sofa. That’s all. So disappointed in the way this has been handled.
More adverts for Extreme Rules. I’m starting to feel like Extreme doesn’t Rule at all, in fact, Extreme is getting kind of irritating now.
Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre w/ Mr Ziggles
Now this was a great match! Thoroughly enjoyed it. A true showing of McIntyre’s ability. Seth proving yet again that he’s the best RAW has. Amazing showing and the intensity is something to behold. Even Ziggler was great at ringside with his reactions to kick outs and big moves. This may well be a rivalry between two of the biggest stars in the company right now. Its ironic how Ziggler’s new “I don’t care about your approval” attitude has won him the approval of so many fans! I’m one of them. For many years we’ve been crying out for Ziggler to get his storyline that catapults him. This could be it. Sure, the similarities between the pair of Drew and Dolph and Michaels and Diesel are almost funny, but it just sort of works I think. It gives them a certain threat level that neither had before. I think that’s great.
Conclusion
6/10 🌟
All in all it was an okay Raw. Didn’t seem to build anything between Sasha and Bayley and the Braun and KO stuff seemed on the back burner and to be honest, there’s no Lesnar, no multi man match, no Sasha vs Bayley, no Elias after his terrific match with Rollins at MITB, a half-arsed mini filler feud based around someone who is apparently suspended for the Women’s Division, they showed promos throughout matches and muted the match to do so, which kind of felt like a cluster of annoying YouTube ads that you can’t skip, it kind of feels like they don’t care about this Extreme Rules PPV at all to be honest. If they don’t care, it makes it hard for us to connect to the stories. Sure there are some good things to look forward to like the Iron Man Match, the WWE Title Match with Rusev and AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy vs Nakamura for the US Title, I’m still slightly reserved on whether Roman vs Lashley will be any good but I feel like it could be the dark horse in terms of story and legitimate feel to it. Basically I’m left feeling kind of deflated and confused by the build to this PPV. I hope it surprises us all and turns out to be a great show.
Until next week, guys and gals. Peace and love as always. Be sure to superkick the like and follow buttons on Facebook, Instagram and Too Sweet the follow button on our Twitter handle @Kayfabetoday. Feel free to comment and share this review, even if you hate it and want to tell me, please go ahead!
– CB
