Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Call it a celebration. Call it a nostalgia trip. Call it WWE officials patting themselves on the back for last 25 years on air with Monday Night Raw. Regardless, the last time Raw has been this hyped up, it was Raw 1000, a show that had many great and many indulgent moments.
As someone who generally watched professional wrestling for the wrestling, I was skeptical about this show, but I knew if nothing else it would make three hours go by real quick with WWE even booking two stadiums for the event with many great legends returning.
Last Week's Monday Night Raw Review
As someone who generally watched professional wrestling for the wrestling, I was skeptical about this show, but I knew if nothing else it would make three hours go by real quick with WWE even booking two stadiums for the event with many great legends returning.
Last Week's Monday Night Raw Review
Austin got the best deal. He gets to open the show, get the biggest pop, and leave.
Stone Cold Steve Austin Gives Vince McMahon One Last Stunner
Overview: Stephanie McMahon and Shane McMahon opened the show celebrating the legacy of Raw with a special video package before introducing Vince McMahon. They presented Vince a plaque funded by the fans which he saw as flimsy and cheap, and his insults to the crowd brought out Stone Cold Steve Austin.
After Vince tried to call off Austin and gave him Shane, Austin stunnered Shane then had beers with Vince before stunnering Vince as well. He had a beer with Shane then stunnered him again.
Analysis: This was a great nostalgia trip with Austin and Vince getting one last moment to add to their legacy. The rivalry defined Raw, so it was appropriate it got one last moment to shine before Vince can't take even the most basic bumps.
After Vince tried to call off Austin and gave him Shane, Austin stunnered Shane then had beers with Vince before stunnering Vince as well. He had a beer with Shane then stunnered him again.
Analysis: This was a great nostalgia trip with Austin and Vince getting one last moment to add to their legacy. The rivalry defined Raw, so it was appropriate it got one last moment to shine before Vince can't take even the most basic bumps.
Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, and Asuka def. Absolution, Alicia Fox, and Nia Jax
Overview: The women of Raw set to compete in the Royal Rumble this Sunday faced off in an eight-man tag team match, and the heels dominated for a while. However, the action spilled outside before Sasha Banks caught Alicia Fox with the backbreaker into the Bank Statement for the submission win. Asuka then took out everyone and stood tall.
Highlights:
Analysis: I wanted wrestling, but this was so generic even WWE didn't care. There was more commercial break time in this match than actual in-ring time that fans saw. It was a shame that this was the way most of the women were used for the night, but there was limited time for this big show.
Highlights:
- Fox caught Banks with a Northern Lights suplex then big booted her into the mat.
Analysis: I wanted wrestling, but this was so generic even WWE didn't care. There was more commercial break time in this match than actual in-ring time that fans saw. It was a shame that this was the way most of the women were used for the night, but there was limited time for this big show.
So Taker either just challenged Cena to a match or retired or both.
The Undertaker Lays Out One Final Challenge
Overview: The Undertaker appeared and talked about all the people he had laid to rest over the years then he seemed to lay out a warning to one man he never laid to rest.
Analysis: This was surprisingly quick. This likely was a way to set up for Taker vs. John Cena. I am firmly against Taker getting back in the ring even for a match I have wanted to see for a long time.
Analysis: This was surprisingly quick. This likely was a way to set up for Taker vs. John Cena. I am firmly against Taker getting back in the ring even for a match I have wanted to see for a long time.
The Miz def. Roman Reigns to Become the New WWE Intercontinental Champion
Overview: Before this match, former and current general managers were celebrated with appearances from John Laurinaitis, William Regal, Eric Bischoff, and Daniel Bryan. The Miz made sure to stare down Bryan before he headed to the ring.
Miz used every trick in the book to take out Roman Reigns with the help of The Miztourage. Bo Dallas held Reigns leg to set up an Awesome clothesline only to get thrown out. Miz then threw Reigns into an exposed turnbuckle followed by a second Skull Crushing Finale for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: Reigns and Miz did their best here, but it felt like they were being rushed even though they got decent time. This should have been the main event and been a showcase of how WWE has evolved with the two pulling out their best match to date. Miz winning the IC Title again is cool, but it just shows Reigns title win was pointless.
Miz used every trick in the book to take out Roman Reigns with the help of The Miztourage. Bo Dallas held Reigns leg to set up an Awesome clothesline only to get thrown out. Miz then threw Reigns into an exposed turnbuckle followed by a second Skull Crushing Finale for the win.
Highlights:
- Curtis Axel distracted Reigns from a Drive By on Miz, but Miz missed a baseball slide and took an uppercut with another distraction allowing Miz to boot Reigns off the apron then throw him into the steps.
- Reigns big booted Miz then caught him with a Drive By, but Miz then sent Reigns shoulder-first into the post to nearly roll him up with the ropes for leverage.
- Reigns gave The Miztourage a Drive By then threw both into the ring before Miz threw Reigns into the timekeeper's area only to return to the ring and walk into a Superman Punch.
- Reigns Superman Punched The Miztourage as they tried to return only to turn into a Skull Crushing Finale for a nearfall.
Analysis: Reigns and Miz did their best here, but it felt like they were being rushed even though they got decent time. This should have been the main event and been a showcase of how WWE has evolved with the two pulling out their best match to date. Miz winning the IC Title again is cool, but it just shows Reigns title win was pointless.
Glad you got in one question, Christian. It was worth the paycheck.
The Bar Ruin The Peep Show and Show Off the Problems
Overview: Christian hosted a Peep Show with Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan until Cesaro and Sheamus interrupted to tease the Raw tag team champions. They incited Jordan into attacking them with The Bar managing to dodge Rollins and send him diving knee first into Jordan.
Analysis: This segment felt incredibly rushed for no particular reason. I barely even noticed what happened. This was such a waste of Christian, and the feud leading into Rumble got nothing here.
Analysis: This segment felt incredibly rushed for no particular reason. I barely even noticed what happened. This was such a waste of Christian, and the feud leading into Rumble got nothing here.
Bray Wyatt def. Matt Hardy
Overview: Matt Hardy had Bray Wyatt off his game early on, constantly going for a home run. However, Matt walked into the Sister Abigail for the loss.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was such a waste. Why not build this up beforehand? Why not give them more time? Matt isn't a great performer at this point, but this was a squash.
Highlights:
- Matt caught Wyatt with a Russian leg sweep into a diving elbow and went for a Twist of Fate with Wyatt countering by hitting a running crossbody.
- Matt hit Wyatt with a Side Effect then went for the Twist of Fate, but Wyatt ran him into the ropes.
Analysis: This match was such a waste. Why not build this up beforehand? Why not give them more time? Matt isn't a great performer at this point, but this was a squash.
So does Cena not count as a legend of Raw's past? Because all the legends got to look good.
John Cena Ruins Elias's Song and Pays the Price
Overview: Elias sang a song about the legends returning to Raw after making clear Jimmy Fallon should learn his lesson here. John Cena interrupted with Elias saying he ruined everything then trying to attack him from behind, only to take the Five Moves of Doom.
However, Elias low blowed him before he could take the Attitude Adjustment. He then laid out Cena with a guitar shot.
Analysis: This was probably the best segment (not match) on the show just because it mattered. Cena looked to be destroying Elias and stand tall, but instead he went down for Elias. This "feud" (if it can be called that) has actually helped Elias a ton who continues to get more and more over.
However, Elias low blowed him before he could take the Attitude Adjustment. He then laid out Cena with a guitar shot.
Analysis: This was probably the best segment (not match) on the show just because it mattered. Cena looked to be destroying Elias and stand tall, but instead he went down for Elias. This "feud" (if it can be called that) has actually helped Elias a ton who continues to get more and more over.
Titus Worldwide vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno Goes to a No Contest
Overview: This tag team match broke down into a no contest before The Dudley Boyz appeared. Rhyno and Titus Worldwide fed Heath Slater to Bubba Ray and D-Von who took him out and hit him with a 3D with the table.
Highlights:
Analysis: I have no words at this point. This match happened more during the commercial break than on air. Then Rhyno turned on his partner and celebrated in the destruction as if Slater was some annoying heel.
Highlights:
- Crews dodged Slater then took him out with a dropkick then hit a delayed suplex.
Analysis: I have no words at this point. This match happened more during the commercial break than on air. Then Rhyno turned on his partner and celebrated in the destruction as if Slater was some annoying heel.
They put over Finn Balor, so they had to make sure to bury The Revival twice as much.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson def. The Revival
Overview: D-Generation X made their appearance with just Triple H and Shawn Michaels as HBK tried to tell risque stories while HHH shut him down. After thanking the fans, New Age Outlaws came out to give their classic promo with X-Pac then joining them before Scott Hall came out.
After Hall made a Too Sweet taunt, The Balor Club came out, and everyone Too Sweeted together. The Revival then arrived for a match with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. After a quick match, Gallows and Anderson won with the Magic Killer.
Scott Dawson then got angry at the legends and started a destruction of The Revival by the legends before a Coup De Grace to Wilder.
Analysis: This almost worked perfectly even with the match far too short. The legends got a few words in then The Balor Club got a rub, and The Revival got some comeuppance for their comments. I don't know why they then had to be buried by every single move DX and Hall could still do.
After Hall made a Too Sweet taunt, The Balor Club came out, and everyone Too Sweeted together. The Revival then arrived for a match with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. After a quick match, Gallows and Anderson won with the Magic Killer.
Scott Dawson then got angry at the legends and started a destruction of The Revival by the legends before a Coup De Grace to Wilder.
Analysis: This almost worked perfectly even with the match far too short. The legends got a few words in then The Balor Club got a rub, and The Revival got some comeuppance for their comments. I don't know why they then had to be buried by every single move DX and Hall could still do.
Braun Strowman Once More Stands Tall Ahead of Royal Rumble
Overview: Kurt Angle brought out everyone he could to surround the ring and make sure nothing bad happened in this final facedown. Angle then introduced Braun Strowman and Kane with talent coming in to make a wall to separate the wrestlers. Paul Heyman then introduced Brock Lesnar who only wanted a fight.
The wrestlers escaped the ring as Lesnar made his way down. The Beast F5ed Kane then Strowman running powerslammed Lesnar through the announce table to end the show standing tall.
Analysis: Strowman looks strong again in a segment that was moving in fast forward. Glad this was the main event. I guess this just defined the night. All the legends and special guests appeared just to stand around as the current wrestlers rushed through fighting each other.
The wrestlers escaped the ring as Lesnar made his way down. The Beast F5ed Kane then Strowman running powerslammed Lesnar through the announce table to end the show standing tall.
Analysis: Strowman looks strong again in a segment that was moving in fast forward. Glad this was the main event. I guess this just defined the night. All the legends and special guests appeared just to stand around as the current wrestlers rushed through fighting each other.
And your future first-ever Royal Rumble winner is probably in this group.
Backstage Notes: Jonathan Coachman, Harvey Wippelman, Brooklyn Brawler, Teddy Long, Bruce Pritchard, and the Boogeyman all shuffled into Angle's office for a quick appearance. Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, Jacqueline, Michelle McCool, The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, Maria Kanellis, and Lillian Garcia all were celebrated on the stage.
APA were having a poker game with Slater and Rhyno easily winning until Ted DiBiase appeared to buy in. The poker game kept growing with MVP, The Usos, and The New Day among the added men. It all led to Titus and Slater fighting, setting up their match. Mark Henry met Godfather who was with his wife.
Alexa Bliss was interviewed about the Rumble, making clear she didn't care who stepped up, until Charlotte Flair interrupted and teased her with Ric Flair also backing up Charlotte. Elias and Chris Jericho met up before Jericho sang and made fun of Elias before putting him on The List.
Conclusion: This was such a garbage show. I have no words. WWE did not seem to write anything. They just booked the talent and winged it. Beyond the opener and Reigns vs. Miz, there was nothing on this show worth watching, and it felt like there were more commercial breaks than ever before.
They booked two arenas for this Raw, and they did not even find a way to fill the time for both arenas. It sounds like the Manhattan Center crowd mostly watched the show on the screen. Somehow those fans got a worse show than what was aired on TV.
With more eyes on Raw than ever before, this was about as bad as WWE could have been, and I would have given this an F if it was a regular show. I need something worse than an F.
APA were having a poker game with Slater and Rhyno easily winning until Ted DiBiase appeared to buy in. The poker game kept growing with MVP, The Usos, and The New Day among the added men. It all led to Titus and Slater fighting, setting up their match. Mark Henry met Godfather who was with his wife.
Alexa Bliss was interviewed about the Rumble, making clear she didn't care who stepped up, until Charlotte Flair interrupted and teased her with Ric Flair also backing up Charlotte. Elias and Chris Jericho met up before Jericho sang and made fun of Elias before putting him on The List.
Conclusion: This was such a garbage show. I have no words. WWE did not seem to write anything. They just booked the talent and winged it. Beyond the opener and Reigns vs. Miz, there was nothing on this show worth watching, and it felt like there were more commercial breaks than ever before.
They booked two arenas for this Raw, and they did not even find a way to fill the time for both arenas. It sounds like the Manhattan Center crowd mostly watched the show on the screen. Somehow those fans got a worse show than what was aired on TV.
With more eyes on Raw than ever before, this was about as bad as WWE could have been, and I would have given this an F if it was a regular show. I need something worse than an F.
