Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
As the lights went out, The Deadman walked out of a WWE ring for the last time, leaving his hat and robes in the ring. The Last Outlaw was riding off into the sunset, ending an era. This was the last mood left from WrestleMania 33 to set up the fabled Raw after WrestleMania.
However, Raw after Mania was not to be defined by who had left but who was still around. Roman Reigns retired The Undertaker while Brock Lesnar may have retired Goldberg. Kevin Owens took the United States Championship from Chris Jericho, and Seth Rollins conquered his former mentor Triple H and proved himself healthy again.
Much had changed about Raw since last week with the promise of a special night to come even if this was to be the first Raw after Mania with half the roster on SmackDown.
However, Raw after Mania was not to be defined by who had left but who was still around. Roman Reigns retired The Undertaker while Brock Lesnar may have retired Goldberg. Kevin Owens took the United States Championship from Chris Jericho, and Seth Rollins conquered his former mentor Triple H and proved himself healthy again.
Much had changed about Raw since last week with the promise of a special night to come even if this was to be the first Raw after Mania with half the roster on SmackDown.
How could not love a smile that smug?
The Crowd Speaks Their Mind to Roman Reigns
Overview: The show began with a pan over the crowd as a long Undertaker chant ran echoed around the arena. After a little while, Roman Reigns walked to the ring and let the crowd boo and chant obscenities at him. Eventually, he smiled and simply stated "this is my yard now".
Analysis: This was a perfect use of the crowds' energy. Reigns was the clear heel with this audience and played that to its fullest. Of course, he has played the heel before without actually turning, so it is hard to say what is next for him. That said, this was proof he could be the perfect monster heel for WWE with a simple smirk and cocky few words.
Analysis: This was a perfect use of the crowds' energy. Reigns was the clear heel with this audience and played that to its fullest. Of course, he has played the heel before without actually turning, so it is hard to say what is next for him. That said, this was proof he could be the perfect monster heel for WWE with a simple smirk and cocky few words.
Gallows and Anderson are getting closer and closer to the post-apocalyptic raiders gimmick.
The Hardy Boyz def. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to Retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
Overview: The Hardy Boyz came out swinging but were soon isolated and beat down by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. The former champion nearly had the veterans before Matt saved Jeff from the Magic Killer to allow Jeff to hit the Twist of Fate on Gallows. Matt followed with the Twist of Fate to set up a Swanton Bomb on Gallows for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was not much of a match with The Hardy Boyz clearly a bit sore and stiff from the last few days. Hopefully they get some time to rest up after this and start showing what gimmick the duo is actually using soon. It was surprising that Gallows and Anderson were dispatched so quickly, and I'd hope they get a real rivalry with The Hardys at some point.
Highlights:
- Gallows missed a running elbow drop to allow Jeff the hot tag.
- Jeff hit an inverted atomic drop, running splash, then followed Gallows outside for a Poetry in Motion off the steel steps.
- Gallows took out Matt before a Boot of Doom to Jeff for a nearfall.
Analysis: This was not much of a match with The Hardy Boyz clearly a bit sore and stiff from the last few days. Hopefully they get some time to rest up after this and start showing what gimmick the duo is actually using soon. It was surprising that Gallows and Anderson were dispatched so quickly, and I'd hope they get a real rivalry with The Hardys at some point.
Forget your flips, nothing is more glorious than Neville hurting people.
Neville def. Mustafa Ali
Overview: Neville mocked Austin Aries after his win at WrestleMania only to be interrupted by Mustafa Ali. Neville came out angry early and just dominated only for Ali to start pulling out huge comeback shots. Ali missed the 450 though with Neville teasing the Red Arrow only to lock in the Rings of Saturn instead for the submission.
Highlights:
Analysis: Ignoring this being the crowd's first takeover moment, this was a great match with Ali pulling out all the stops. Neville came off as even more angry and vicious than he has in the past. The two are a great pair with real potential in a rivalry down the line once Neville is done with Aries.
Highlights:
- Ali hit a dropkick for separation before an enzuigiri on the apron followed by a rolling neckbreaker.
- Neville almost instinctively turned around into a vicious clothesline.
- Ali caught Neville with a standing Spanish Fly off the top rope.
- Ali hit a headscissors suplex into a satelitte DDT.
Analysis: Ignoring this being the crowd's first takeover moment, this was a great match with Ali pulling out all the stops. Neville came off as even more angry and vicious than he has in the past. The two are a great pair with real potential in a rivalry down the line once Neville is done with Aries.
"Roman sucks" is the worst of heat, but "You suck" to Kurt Angle is the ultimate compliment. WWE is a weird world.
Kurt Angle Named New General Manager Ahead of New WWE Draft
Overview: Vince McMahon arrived to make some major announcements. First, he announced next week would be the WWE draft where the rosters would be shaken up. He then declared that Stephanie McMahon would be out for a while with the need for a new Raw General Manager now more than ever. Teddy Long came out but was ushered away for the real GM, Kurt Angle, who said it was great to be back.
Analysis: For months, Angle seemed like the obvious to replace Mick Foley, so this wasn't a shock. However, it was still fun to see. Angle with no McMahon influence will change the dynamic of Raw significantly. Hopefully he doesn't take too active a role, taking some notes from Daniel Bryan.
Analysis: For months, Angle seemed like the obvious to replace Mick Foley, so this wasn't a shock. However, it was still fun to see. Angle with no McMahon influence will change the dynamic of Raw significantly. Hopefully he doesn't take too active a role, taking some notes from Daniel Bryan.
What SmackDown tag team division?
The Revival def. The New Day's Big E and Xavier Woods
Overview: The New Day issued an opening challenge which The Revival answered, knocking down the ice cream truck on their way to the ring. After eliminating Big E from the match for a while, they isolated Xavier Woods for the Shatter Machine and the win. Afterward, they beat down Kofi Kingston and injured his knee with an assisted diving stomp on Kofi's knee.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was solid but felt a bit sudden in his finish. It is clear this rivalry is just beginning, so they were likely holding back for future clashes. Forget that though, The Revival are on the main roster! It's been too long, but these two are just about the best in the business. Raw's tag division will need to migrate to SmackDown a bit, but the divisions should begin to shape up now.
Highlights:
- Woods fought off a superplex and hit a missile dropkick.
- Big E was planted outside to stop his hot tag rally.
Analysis: This match was solid but felt a bit sudden in his finish. It is clear this rivalry is just beginning, so they were likely holding back for future clashes. Forget that though, The Revival are on the main roster! It's been too long, but these two are just about the best in the business. Raw's tag division will need to migrate to SmackDown a bit, but the divisions should begin to shape up now.
Months have all built up to this moment where Emma is a part of a losing heel team.
Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Dana Brooke def. Charlotte, Nia Jax, and Emma
Overview: Bayley was isolated early in this match while the returning Emma especially seemed to demand the tag to inflict punishment. Sasha Banks finally found her opening for the hot tag and ran over Charlotte, turning the Natural Selection into a Bank Statement after the ring cleared for the submission.
Afterward, Charlotte lost it on both her partners, pushing them around until Nia Jax knocked her down and hit a running leg drop.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was an interesting match as it reintroduced Emma and potentially set up a new feud, just not the one many were expecting. Charlotte pissed off the vicious Jax, and we may be seeing a rivalry emerging that would force a face turn. It would make sense for Charlotte to make the switch with Sasha's heel turn approaching.
Afterward, Charlotte lost it on both her partners, pushing them around until Nia Jax knocked her down and hit a running leg drop.
Highlights:
- Bayley annoyed Emma with the Slip 'N Slide which caused Emma to plant her with a straight forearm.
- Emma bent Bayley's neck back with her ponytail while in the tree of woe.
- Sasha trapped Charlotte on the second rope for a double knee drop.
Analysis: This was an interesting match as it reintroduced Emma and potentially set up a new feud, just not the one many were expecting. Charlotte pissed off the vicious Jax, and we may be seeing a rivalry emerging that would force a face turn. It would make sense for Charlotte to make the switch with Sasha's heel turn approaching.
Lesnar must be real confused about what Big Show has been getting into over the past year.
Brock Lesnar Challenges Roman Reigns Only to Get Braun Strowman
Overview: Paul Heyman gloated for Brock Lesnar about how The Beast Incarnate destroyed the superhero Goldberg. Once that was done, Heyman turned to the future with Lesnar ready to wrestle the other man in the 2 in 23-2, Reigns, tonight for the Universal Championship only for Braun Strowman to interfere instead and make clear Reigns was still his.
Analysis: This served its purpose, establishing Lesnar as a fighting champion and teasing a future second match between Lesnar and Reigns. More immediately, this may have set up Lesnar's first championship contender in Strowman. Lesnar has always been able to match up well with big monsters, so this should be a fun clash.
Analysis: This served its purpose, establishing Lesnar as a fighting champion and teasing a future second match between Lesnar and Reigns. More immediately, this may have set up Lesnar's first championship contender in Strowman. Lesnar has always been able to match up well with big monsters, so this should be a fun clash.
Cesaro truly hates Enzo at this point, for having such disrespect for the hair he actually has.
Cesaro and Sheamus def. Enzo and Big Cass to Become the New Number One Contenders to the Raw Tag Team Championships
Overview: This match went back and forth with it clear that all four men were feeling the effects of last night's ladder match. Big Cass' hot tag set up for the Bada Boom Shakalaka only for Sheamus to Brogue Kick Cass out of the ring followed by throwing Enzo Amore off the top rope into a European uppercut for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match shifted some of the dynamic of the Enzo and Cass match, but all four were still hurting here. The match was strong enough but could have been really good if they were working at full. Cesaro and Sheamus are the right team to pair with The Hardys first, setting up some exciting matches.
Highlights:
- Sheamus hit Enzo with a spinning heel kick into the Beats of the Bodhran, but Cass then dodged his diving clothesline and hit a body slam.
- Sheamus landed a rolling senton on Enzo into Cesaro's double foot stomp.
- Cass on the outside was taken out by a rope-assisted dropkick only to turn around into an Enzo tilt-a-whirl DDT.
- Enzo took a giant swing then was locked in the Sharpshooter only for Cass to make the save with big boots to both men.
Analysis: This match shifted some of the dynamic of the Enzo and Cass match, but all four were still hurting here. The match was strong enough but could have been really good if they were working at full. Cesaro and Sheamus are the right team to pair with The Hardys first, setting up some exciting matches.
Here we see the moment that Jinder's aspirations of midcard relevance crumbled.
Sami Zayn def. Jinder Mahal
Overview: Jinder Mahal attacked Sami Zayn before he could even get in the ring, viciously assaulting him. Once the bell rang, Mahal continued to dominate only to walk into an exploder suplex then the Helluva Kick.
Analysis: I suppose it was the right move to not have this match go too long, but it was a shame that Mahal couldn't get any more momentum from the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He was vicious early only to lose to two moves. Hopefully, the roster shakeup gives Zayn a fresh angle to work with or without a move to SmackDown.
Analysis: I suppose it was the right move to not have this match go too long, but it was a shame that Mahal couldn't get any more momentum from the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He was vicious early only to lose to two moves. Hopefully, the roster shakeup gives Zayn a fresh angle to work with or without a move to SmackDown.
Finn and Seth are best buddies now. Why? Because they're faces! You don't have a long enough memory to remember why Finn was injured.
Seth Rollins and Finn Balor def. Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe
Overview: Seth Rollins' mystery replacement partner for the injured Jericho was Finn Balor who looked fully healthy here. Rollins looked less healthy as his knee became a target early for the heels. Balor finally got the big tag and took the victory with a Coup De Grace on Kevin Owens after Rollins took out Joe.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a fine finish to the show with the crowd excited for the return of Balor who looked good here. For whatever reason, the crowd did get a bit distracted despite this which made this not quite feel like a main event, but the four worked hard to pull out a strong tag team contest.
Highlights:
- Joe drove Rollins into the corner and rained down fists and kicks.
- Balor sent Owens reeling with an apron enzuigiri then hit a running dropkick into the barricade.
- Rollins hit a suicide dive on KO then somersault plancha on both, hurting his knee on the impact to set up a DDT back in the ring by Owens.
- Rollins struggled to find separation from Joe with short arm elbow smashes only to take a sudden kneecapper.
- Balor caught KO with a step-up enzuigiri, but his Coup De Grace missed with KO hitting him with a spinning side slam.
- Joe locked Balor in the Coquina Clutch only to take springboard knee from Rollins with Balor quickly dropkicking KO into the corner to set up the finish.
Analysis: This was a fine finish to the show with the crowd excited for the return of Balor who looked good here. For whatever reason, the crowd did get a bit distracted despite this which made this not quite feel like a main event, but the four worked hard to pull out a strong tag team contest.
They're here! And ready to have mediocre matches to the thunderous cheers of fans.
Final Notes: Enzo and Cass talked to new general manager Kurt Angle and asked for another chance at the tag team championships with Angle booking Enzo and Cass vs. Sheamus and Cesaro for later. Zayn tried to find a good relationship with the GM before Jinder interfered, setting up a match between the two.
Jericho was interviewed about tonight and KO, living in the wild crowd, only for Owens to attack him and beat him down backstage with Samoa Joe joining in.
Conclusion: This was about as expected, WWE at its best. The surprises were plentiful while the matches were strong. More than a few matches were hurt most by the talent simply being wiped out from the previous night. Still, the action was always fast-paced and energized by the loud crowd.
The focus going forward for WWE was somewhat made more clear as the tag team title scene was developed and much of the rest of the feuds were refocused. The coming draft will make things more complicated but also hopefully revitalize both brands who have holes in several areas each.
Some great new stars returned and debuted, and it felt like a new season had begun. I have nothing to complain about for tonight as this was an excellent show from top to bottom that flew by. I was in shock when I realized the three hours were already over.
Jericho was interviewed about tonight and KO, living in the wild crowd, only for Owens to attack him and beat him down backstage with Samoa Joe joining in.
Conclusion: This was about as expected, WWE at its best. The surprises were plentiful while the matches were strong. More than a few matches were hurt most by the talent simply being wiped out from the previous night. Still, the action was always fast-paced and energized by the loud crowd.
The focus going forward for WWE was somewhat made more clear as the tag team title scene was developed and much of the rest of the feuds were refocused. The coming draft will make things more complicated but also hopefully revitalize both brands who have holes in several areas each.
Some great new stars returned and debuted, and it felt like a new season had begun. I have nothing to complain about for tonight as this was an excellent show from top to bottom that flew by. I was in shock when I realized the three hours were already over.