Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
What madness is this that I have enjoyed Monday Night Raw repeatedly as of late? This year has brought with it a host of changes to the characters that have made Raw a fresh product for a first time in a while. While I am skeptical of some of the decisions, I appreciate the fresh nature more than anything.
This week though was always going to be prime for a lapse. The top featured match going into this show was Asuka vs. Nia Jax, a match that was barely well built back in NXT when Jax at least was sometimes built as a monster. Plus next week was set to be the huge 25th Anniversary Special and the go-home for Royal Rumble.
All that could come of this was lazy distracted writing and booking with the hope the talent would rise to the challenge and put on some quality matches.
Last Week's Monday Night Raw Review
This week though was always going to be prime for a lapse. The top featured match going into this show was Asuka vs. Nia Jax, a match that was barely well built back in NXT when Jax at least was sometimes built as a monster. Plus next week was set to be the huge 25th Anniversary Special and the go-home for Royal Rumble.
All that could come of this was lazy distracted writing and booking with the hope the talent would rise to the challenge and put on some quality matches.
Last Week's Monday Night Raw Review
"You know, I could still fight you. I could. They just won't let me. Yeah, that's it."
Kurt Angle Fires Braun Strowman For His Brutal Destruction Last Week
Overview: Braun Strowman came out to brag about his latest attempted murder, this time dragging down a truss on top of Brock Lesnar and Kane. Kurt Angle interrupted, flanked by security, and declared that, for his actions last week, Strowman was fired.
Strowman was shown being escorted out of the building before he threw around security and promised to make everyone pay before he leaves.
Analysis: This looked like a bad opener at first with Strowman starting up a 15-minute promo before Angle's appearance changed the whole tone. Setting up the whole show as Strowman's angry playground of destruction was the ideal way to sell an expected filler show.
Strowman was shown being escorted out of the building before he threw around security and promised to make everyone pay before he leaves.
Analysis: This looked like a bad opener at first with Strowman starting up a 15-minute promo before Angle's appearance changed the whole tone. Setting up the whole show as Strowman's angry playground of destruction was the ideal way to sell an expected filler show.
Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews def. Sheamus and Cesaro
Overview: Sheamus and Cesaro had some trouble with Apollo Crews and Titus O'Neil early on, but they managed to take control. However, as they set up the diving neckbreaker/White Noise, Jason Jordan's music hit, and Crews used the distraction to roll up Cesaro for three. Seth Rollins came out after to question Jordan.
Highlights:
Analysis: I don't know what the plan here is with this booking. The back-to-back upsets could set up Titus Worldwide in the tag team division, but I have no idea where they fit unless it is all about making sure they have a spot at WrestleMania in a multi-team tag title match.
Highlights:
- Cesaro escaped a delayed vertical suplex to get the tag to Sheamus who caught Crews with a knee into a Cesaro uppercut then Sheamus's diving clothesline.
- Cesaro cheap shot Titus with an uppercut to set up a roll up nearfall.
- Titus flipped Cesaro off him to escape the Neutralizer followed by Crews taking the tag to hit a diving crossbody into a standing moonsault.
Analysis: I don't know what the plan here is with this booking. The back-to-back upsets could set up Titus Worldwide in the tag team division, but I have no idea where they fit unless it is all about making sure they have a spot at WrestleMania in a multi-team tag title match.
Nice of Enzo to get out of bed quickly this week to make it to Raw.
Cedric Alexander def. Tony Nese
Overview: Goldust and Cedric Alexander mocked Enzo Amore after he said Alexander had to go through Tony Nese before he could face the champ. With Goldust intimidating Enzo, Alexander showcased his ability to hit the Lumbar Check at any moment, catching Nese with it for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was fine, but it was a fairly bland encounter especially for Nese's first appearance on Raw in a while. This segment also did a poor job showcasing the story of Nese trying to prove himself again to Enzo after he was kicked out of the Zo Train last year.
Highlights:
- Nese trapped Alexander in the tree of woe for knee strikes then a series of air bike boots to the chest.
- Alexander caught Nese with an uppercut before tripping Nese into the turnbuckle then catching Nese with a snap knee before diving into the ring for a DDT.
- Nese repeatedly blocked the Lumbar Check first with a headlock then a roll up nearfall before going for a gut wrench that Alexander easily countered.
Analysis: This match was fine, but it was a fairly bland encounter especially for Nese's first appearance on Raw in a while. This segment also did a poor job showcasing the story of Nese trying to prove himself again to Enzo after he was kicked out of the Zo Train last year.
Asuka def. Nia Jax By Referee Stoppage
Overview: Nia Jax looked dominant throughout in this match. Asuka kept trying to knock Jax down with submissions, but it looked like nothing would work. Outside the ring though, Asuka tripped Jax, sending her leg hard between the steel steps and turnbuckle, and the injury made it so that she was unable to continue.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match impressed me more than I could have expected. This was NXT Jax (it's weird WWE won't acknowledge Jax's NXT career including her past matches with Asuka) with dominance on display throughout. Asuka sold perfectly for her to make it clear Jax was a real threat to Asuka's undefeated streak. The finish helped sell Asuka's ingenuity and keep the feud moving.
Highlights:
- Asuka caught Jax with an octopus hold until Jax threw her off and hit a backbreaker.
- Asuka managed to catch Jax slacking with a sudden cross armbar, but Jax powered out and powerbombed Asuka into the bottom turnbuckle.
- Jax blocked a sunset flip, but she missed a standing senton and took a Shining Wizard then a series of strikes from Asuka.
- Asuka rolled out of the Samoan drop, but she could not keep Jax down and took a powerbomb with Asuka's strikes making Jax take too long to cover.
- Asuka rolled Jax into a kneebar with Jax making it to the ropes.
Analysis: This match impressed me more than I could have expected. This was NXT Jax (it's weird WWE won't acknowledge Jax's NXT career including her past matches with Asuka) with dominance on display throughout. Asuka sold perfectly for her to make it clear Jax was a real threat to Asuka's undefeated streak. The finish helped sell Asuka's ingenuity and keep the feud moving.
Glad The Revival appeared this week so they could show everyone they can still beat random jobbers not even worth giving names.
The Revival def. Local Competitors
Overview: The Revival toyed with their local competition, showing how easily they could take out their opponents but letting the first man tag out to inflict more damage on the second. They finished up with the Shatter Machine. Afterward, they were interviewed and made clear they were old school, more old school than any legends at Raw 25.
Analysis: This was a waste of Revival, but at least they got on TV. The interview at least finally allowed them to establish their message as a team. Now get these two in the title picture. The division needs them more than ever.
Analysis: This was a waste of Revival, but at least they got on TV. The interview at least finally allowed them to establish their message as a team. Now get these two in the title picture. The division needs them more than ever.
Roman Reigns def. The Miztourage
Overview: Elias wrote a song for one man in particular he expected to see in the Royal Rumble match, John Cena, then he introduced The Miz and Miztourage. Miz then bragged about being Raw's spark before making clear Roman Reigns was holding his title. Even with Miz's help, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas got destroyed by Reigns with Axel taking the Spear for the loss.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a fine handicap match where Reigns made The Miztourage look as good as he could without losing his obvious much higher status over his opponents. Miz did look a bit silly here, but that should be remedied next week, win or lose, as Miz should give Reigns an impressive fight.
Highlights:
- Miz distracted Reigns to set up Axel's running double axe handle off the apron.
- Reigns nearly suplexed Dallas outside with Axel pushing Dallas out of position to then hit a DDT.
- Reigns planted Axel with a Samoan drop then charged him into the corner before taking out Dallas on the apron and running over Axel with clotheslines.
- Reigns set The Miztourage up so that he could big boot Axel into hitting an impact DDT on Dallas.
- Reigns gave Axel a Superman Punch then tried to give Miz one off the steps with Miz pushing Dallas in the way followed by Axel almost rolling up Reigns.
Analysis: This was a fine handicap match where Reigns made The Miztourage look as good as he could without losing his obvious much higher status over his opponents. Miz did look a bit silly here, but that should be remedied next week, win or lose, as Miz should give Reigns an impressive fight.
Good to Paige looking healthy and happy. Now let's all just not talk about her injury that will forever keep her out of a wrestling ring.
Sonya Deville def. Sasha Banks
Overview: Sasha Banks came into this match moving quick and trying to put it away quickly, even going for the Bank Statement right away, but Sonya Deville turned the pace around with her technical style. As Banks dived off the top rope, Deville caught her with a kick to the gut and took the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was an interesting decision. WWE did not make any statements on Paige tonight, but this could be a sign that Absolution is shifting with Deville now taking the lead role. The clean win was huge in establishing the newcomer though the performance did not wholly earn it. Deville seemed to lose track of the structure of the contest plus the match was weirdly short.
Highlights:
- Deville caught Banks out of the corner with a kick to the gut then a knee to the face that planted her.
- Deville caught Banks with a leg scissors until Banks got to her feet and slammed her into the corner.
- Banks took out Deville with a headscissors then a dropkick followed by repeated double knee strikes in the corner.
Analysis: This was an interesting decision. WWE did not make any statements on Paige tonight, but this could be a sign that Absolution is shifting with Deville now taking the lead role. The clean win was huge in establishing the newcomer though the performance did not wholly earn it. Deville seemed to lose track of the structure of the contest plus the match was weirdly short.
Woken Matt Hardy def. Heath Slater
Overview: While Heath Slater got Matt Hardy off his game for a moment, Woken Matt simply had the power in this contest. He hit his best shots on Slater repeatedly before connecting with the Twist of Fate for the win.
Analysis: This was another week of Woken Matt that hardly felt that interesting. I am more interested in Slater's continued story with Rhyno, trying to toughen himself up. It was weird to see Bray Wyatt not on the show at all though.
Analysis: This was another week of Woken Matt that hardly felt that interesting. I am more interested in Slater's continued story with Rhyno, trying to toughen himself up. It was weird to see Bray Wyatt not on the show at all though.
Jason Jordan is such annoying little nuisance, and I love him for it.
Seth Rollins def. Finn Balor
Overview: Finn Balor promised in a pretaped interview to defeat Rollins once again. Rollins and Balor were clearly evenly matches throughout until The Bar interfered and started a war with everyone, including brawling with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson with Balor hitting a somersault plancha on everyone.
Balor then caught Rollins with an enzuigiri before missing the Coup De Grace. Cesaro distracted Balor then the referee to set up Jordan to trip Balor to take a Curb Stomp and give Rollins the win. Afterward, the cameras lingered on Balor as he struggled to get to his feet.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a pretty solid match though felt a bit rushed to set up a weird finishing series that I am still trying to piece together. Rollins seems to have been allowed to use the Curb Stomp again at least for tonight as a way to set up what may be a concussion storyline for Balor which is a weird choice of story if it's the plan.
I really don't know what the point of all this was. Clearly Jordan was set up more as a heel with his cheap tactics. Less clearly, The Club seem to be setting up for inclusion in the tag team championship feud. And least clear, Rollins seems to now have two finishers, one of which could have been setting Balor on a new path.
Balor then caught Rollins with an enzuigiri before missing the Coup De Grace. Cesaro distracted Balor then the referee to set up Jordan to trip Balor to take a Curb Stomp and give Rollins the win. Afterward, the cameras lingered on Balor as he struggled to get to his feet.
Highlights:
- Balor rolled through the grip of Rollins and dropkicked him before clotheslining Rollins to the outside then took out Rollins off the apron with a soccer kick.
- Rollins booted Balor off him and hit a blockbuster before kneeing Balor to the outside into a suicide dive.
- Balor planted Rollins and hit a standing double foot stomp then the two fought in the corner before Balor took Rollins off the top rope with a step-up enzuigiri then hit a standing elevated elbow drop.
- Rollins took out Balor with a Slingblade then hit repeated corner forearms only to run into a Slingblade before Rollins answered with a superkick.
- Balor reversed the Revolution Knee into a forearm only to take an enzuigiri followed by a missed Phoenix Splash into a running corner dropkick to set up the Coup De Grace with Rollins catching him for a superplex into a Falcon Arrow.
- Rollins got caught mid-Frog Splash with knees and seemed to get the three.
Analysis: This was a pretty solid match though felt a bit rushed to set up a weird finishing series that I am still trying to piece together. Rollins seems to have been allowed to use the Curb Stomp again at least for tonight as a way to set up what may be a concussion storyline for Balor which is a weird choice of story if it's the plan.
I really don't know what the point of all this was. Clearly Jordan was set up more as a heel with his cheap tactics. Less clearly, The Club seem to be setting up for inclusion in the tag team championship feud. And least clear, Rollins seems to now have two finishers, one of which could have been setting Balor on a new path.
Backstage Notes: Strowman found Angle's office and trashed the place, throwing around chairs, tearing down posters, and breaking the TV. Strowman destroyed catering and stole a piece of cake. Angle found the mess of his office and was told Strowman was headed to the TV trucks. Strowman invaded a truck and considered smashing computers and TVs to stop the show altogether.
He tipped a tractor as Angle said he had called the police with Strowman heading back to the ring. He looked ready to throw Michael Cole off the stage before Angle announced Stephanie had reinstated Strowman and given him back his title match with Strowman then deciding to throw Cole anyway.
Jordan suggested to Angle that Rollins be in a match tonight with Balor to stay up to speed for Royal Rumble. Alexa Bliss was looking after the injured Jax before Enzo came in and ushered her out to check on her personally. Rollins made clear he did not appreciate Jordan's methods.
Two unique video package were shown celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. A video package was also shown for Goldberg's Hall of Fame induction. There were also a variety of moments from past Raws shown to hype Raw 25.
Conclusion: Strowman was the reason to love this show. His first hour of storyline on this show was better than everything else on the show by a wide margin. The wrestling for the week was serviceable. Asuka vs. Jax was a great first series for the feud, and Rollins vs. Balor was great beyond somewhat cut time and a weird finish.
Overall, I still appreciate how unique Raw feels right now. They are taking risks and moving everyone in interesting directions. I do wish this week had had more wrestling and not just relied entirely on Strowman, but I will take this show being far better than I expected.
Next week is likely to be a mess of legend appearances and not much wrestling, but the direction for Royal Rumble is set and has been great to watch. WWE probably cannot mess up what they have going right now.
He tipped a tractor as Angle said he had called the police with Strowman heading back to the ring. He looked ready to throw Michael Cole off the stage before Angle announced Stephanie had reinstated Strowman and given him back his title match with Strowman then deciding to throw Cole anyway.
Jordan suggested to Angle that Rollins be in a match tonight with Balor to stay up to speed for Royal Rumble. Alexa Bliss was looking after the injured Jax before Enzo came in and ushered her out to check on her personally. Rollins made clear he did not appreciate Jordan's methods.
Two unique video package were shown celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. A video package was also shown for Goldberg's Hall of Fame induction. There were also a variety of moments from past Raws shown to hype Raw 25.
Conclusion: Strowman was the reason to love this show. His first hour of storyline on this show was better than everything else on the show by a wide margin. The wrestling for the week was serviceable. Asuka vs. Jax was a great first series for the feud, and Rollins vs. Balor was great beyond somewhat cut time and a weird finish.
Overall, I still appreciate how unique Raw feels right now. They are taking risks and moving everyone in interesting directions. I do wish this week had had more wrestling and not just relied entirely on Strowman, but I will take this show being far better than I expected.
Next week is likely to be a mess of legend appearances and not much wrestling, but the direction for Royal Rumble is set and has been great to watch. WWE probably cannot mess up what they have going right now.
