Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
My favorite times in WWE are when multiple wrestlers are all competing for the same goal, particularly all fighting for one championship opportunity. While not a perfect concept, Money in the Bank has always been great because it means someone is coming out with a future title opportunity.
Earning title shots is often more exciting than the title shot that follows. MITB this Sunday will be crown one man and one woman set to more likely than not win a top championship. With just days remaining before such a big event, this go-home show needed to sell that simple but important concept.
Last Week's Monday Night Raw Review
Earning title shots is often more exciting than the title shot that follows. MITB this Sunday will be crown one man and one woman set to more likely than not win a top championship. With just days remaining before such a big event, this go-home show needed to sell that simple but important concept.
Last Week's Monday Night Raw Review
This probably looked way better in the writer's head.
Natalya def. Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon, and Sasha Banks
Overview: All eight Raw Superstar competing in the ladder matches on Sunday stood on ladders to start the night. They all argued while Kurt Angle tried to talk to them. The women then went right into their Fatal 4-Way with Natalya winning by trapping Alexa Bliss in the Sharpshooter.
Highlights:
Analysis: The opening promo was totally unnecessary, but the Fatal 4-Way more than made up for it. All four women went all out in a high-octane bout that felt like it was a true preview of what would come on Sunday, just add ladders. Moon especially was on fire here, showing she could be the highlight of the ladder match.
Highlights:
- Ember Moon caught Bliss with a fallaway slam with Bliss trying to then limp out of the ring only to have Natalya catch her and throw her into the barricade.
- Natalya planted Moon with a discus clothesline, but Sasha Banks planted her with a snapmare into running double knees.
- Moon sent Banks to the apron from which Banks caught Natalya with a diving somersault senton that Moon followed with a suicide dive to Banks.
- Natalya went for a Tower of Doom, but Natalya's leg gave out with Bliss holding on, setting her up for a Twisted Bliss that Banks blocked with her knees.
- Natalya broke up the Bank Statement on Bliss with a running stomp on Banks then a basement dropkick to both followed by a Sharpshooter on Banks that Moon broke up with a superkick to the back of the neck.
- Moon hit The Eclipse on Natalya, but Bliss pulled her outside and threw her into the steel steps to try and steal the pin that Bank broke up.
Analysis: The opening promo was totally unnecessary, but the Fatal 4-Way more than made up for it. All four women went all out in a high-octane bout that felt like it was a true preview of what would come on Sunday, just add ladders. Moon especially was on fire here, showing she could be the highlight of the ladder match.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre def. Breezango
Overview: Dolph Ziggler went after Tyler Breeze right at the bell, but he got cocky and took an enzuigiri. This forced Drew McIntyre into the match who barely had to move in his domination.
He tagged in Ziggler to finish this by hitting Breeze with a superkick then the two hit a Zig Zag/Claymore on Fandango for the win. Afterward, the two made clear they are the future and plan to save the division by taking out everyone in their way.
Highlights:
Analysis: Fire, aggression, and power are the defining traits of absolutely the best tag team in WWE right now. There are more athletic pairing who have higher in-ring potential, but no one is more fun to watch right now. With the tag division stagnating lately, McIntyre and Ziggler stand out even more with their intensity.
He tagged in Ziggler to finish this by hitting Breeze with a superkick then the two hit a Zig Zag/Claymore on Fandango for the win. Afterward, the two made clear they are the future and plan to save the division by taking out everyone in their way.
Highlights:
- McIntyre caught Breeze off the top rope for a powerbomb onto Fandango's back.
Analysis: Fire, aggression, and power are the defining traits of absolutely the best tag team in WWE right now. There are more athletic pairing who have higher in-ring potential, but no one is more fun to watch right now. With the tag division stagnating lately, McIntyre and Ziggler stand out even more with their intensity.
Poor Sunil Singh, he's just too good a stooge for his own good.
Roman Reigns def. Sunil Singh
Overview: Jinder Mahal made clear he challenged Roman Reigns to a match to prove that Reigns' stardom was waning. However, when The Big Dog came out, Mahal made clear he wasn't the one fighting tonight. He sent Sunil Singh in to lose quickly to a Spear then hit Reigns with The Khallas.
Analysis: This feud has been built as heavily heated, but this segment felt like a step back. Reigns did not seem all that bothered with waiting until Sunday to fight Mahal when last week he wanted to punch Mahal into the wall. This is a segment that should have happened earlier in the rivalry.
Analysis: This feud has been built as heavily heated, but this segment felt like a step back. Reigns did not seem all that bothered with waiting until Sunday to fight Mahal when last week he wanted to punch Mahal into the wall. This is a segment that should have happened earlier in the rivalry.
The B-Team def. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Overview: Heath Slater never tagged in Rhyno before he missed a leg lariat on Curtis Axel then ran into a tandem neckbreaker. Immediately, Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt appeared to mock Axel and Bo Dallas, making clear they were not ready for their future title match.
Analysis: This felt like a half-hearted attempt to keep this feud going. There wasn't much here with the short match and the promo without substance. Maybe the two teams will eventually get to an interesting point in this story, but they're just stalling right now.
Analysis: This felt like a half-hearted attempt to keep this feud going. There wasn't much here with the short match and the promo without substance. Maybe the two teams will eventually get to an interesting point in this story, but they're just stalling right now.
So did John Mayer paint the guitar for Elias or just give him the guitar for Elias to paint it with his name?
Seth Rollins Ruins Elias' Special John Mayer Guitar
Overview: Elias sang a song about Seth Rollins then promised a very special concert next week with a guitar he was given by John Mayer after he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Rollins ran Elias off then took the special guitar and stomped a hole right through it.
Analysis: This feud has really developed quickly. Rollins and Elias have a strong dynamic helped by how few legitimate rivals Elias has had in his career so far. Eventually, it will get old to see faces destroy his guitars, but it still works for now. This pairing could steal the show at Money in the Bank.
Analysis: This feud has really developed quickly. Rollins and Elias have a strong dynamic helped by how few legitimate rivals Elias has had in his career so far. Eventually, it will get old to see faces destroy his guitars, but it still works for now. This pairing could steal the show at Money in the Bank.
Ruby Riott def. Bayley
Overview: The Riott Squad were shown backstage causing wanton destruction for the sake of it. While Bayley gave Ruby Riott a tough fight, Live Morgan and Sarah Logan distracted her too much, allowing Riott to throw her shoulder-first into the post then hit the Riott Kick for the win. The three then marked Bayley with an R.
Highlights:
Analysis: It feels like WWE is getting a better sense of who The Riott Squad are as a trio, amplifying their wild nature and making them out to be hazing bullies. Add to that a solid match between Riott and Bayley that was better than their Backlash clash, and this was a strong showcase of the secondary story in the women's division.
Highlights:
- Bayley took down Riott with a running bulldog into a diving spinning elbow with Riott escaping outside only to take sliding double boots under the bottom turnbuckle and a side suplex onto the floor.
- Bayley dropped Riott on the top turnbuckle followed by a running back elbow and high knee into the turnbuckle to set up a diving elbow drop she missed.
Analysis: It feels like WWE is getting a better sense of who The Riott Squad are as a trio, amplifying their wild nature and making them out to be hazing bullies. Add to that a solid match between Riott and Bayley that was better than their Backlash clash, and this was a strong showcase of the secondary story in the women's division.
You can already see Rousey questioning why she accepted appearing tonight as she listens to Coachman.
Ronda Rousey Makes Nia Jax Tap to the Armbar Early
Overview: Jonathan Coachman hosted a face-to-face confrontation between Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey. Jax admitted that she was pushing Rousey's buttons while Rousey continued to say she will simply take Jax's arm. Jax responded by threatening to take Rousey's reputation.
The two came to blows with Jax hitting a headbutt then Rousey fighting into the armbar with Jax unable to escape and tapping out.
Analysis: This is signature reverse momentum booking by WWE. There's no way that Rousey gets that armbar on early and makes Jax tap out tonight and does the same on Sunday. WWE doesn't book like that. The segment here was all right, but it showed the flaws both women have on the mic.
The two came to blows with Jax hitting a headbutt then Rousey fighting into the armbar with Jax unable to escape and tapping out.
Analysis: This is signature reverse momentum booking by WWE. There's no way that Rousey gets that armbar on early and makes Jax tap out tonight and does the same on Sunday. WWE doesn't book like that. The segment here was all right, but it showed the flaws both women have on the mic.
No Way Jose def. Curt Hawkins
Overview: Curt Hawkins snuck into the conga line and tried to take a cheap win on No Way Jose only to have Jose hit him with the pop-up Fastball Punch to take the win.
Analysis: This was a simple and effective segment to keep Hawkins' story going with Jose also getting a needed victory to stay relevant. They should have been doing this more often with Hawkins fighting more high-profile opponents in the past few months.
Analysis: This was a simple and effective segment to keep Hawkins' story going with Jose also getting a needed victory to stay relevant. They should have been doing this more often with Hawkins fighting more high-profile opponents in the past few months.
This is what Lashley signed with WWE for.
Sami Zayn Challenges Bobby Lashley to an Obstacle Course Challenge
Overview: Sami Zayn set up an army obstacle course to see if Bobby Lashley was truly a member of the US Army. After Lashley finished the course in 45 seconds, Zayn attacked Lashley from behind then planted him with a Helluva Kick.
Analysis: This was less objectionable than most of the segment in this feud, but it was still silly nonsense only set up to prove Lashley is an athletic freak. He is, but this is such a bland way of showcasing it. This whole feud is a bland showcase of two talented performers who should hopefully have a great match together at the end.
Analysis: This was less objectionable than most of the segment in this feud, but it was still silly nonsense only set up to prove Lashley is an athletic freak. He is, but this is such a bland way of showcasing it. This whole feud is a bland showcase of two talented performers who should hopefully have a great match together at the end.
Braun Strowman def. Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, and Bobby Roode
Overview: Kevin Owens' plan to eliminate Braun Strowman from this match worked with Strowman taken out on the stage. The Monster Among Men recovered and dragged himself down the ramp. He never stayed down from there, eventually hitting KO with a running powerslam onto a ladder to take the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was the Strowman show, and it was a lot of fun as always. He did a great job selling the impact of the offense without stopping altogether. The storytelling was the real key here, and the ultimate goal was achieved: making clear Strowman will be nearly unstoppable at Money in the Bank.
Highlights:
- KO convinced Strowman to go outside for Balor to hit him with a jumping knee to the back, but the attack did not last long before Strowman threw everyone off him.
- Owens tried to escape backstage but was dragged back and thrown into the screen, but Roode caught Strowman with a ladder to the gut.
- Balor and Roode set up Strowman on the announce table before holding a ladder steady for KO to hit a frog splash through the table on Strowman.
- Roode booted Balor and went to the top rope only to take a step-up enzuigiri that sent him to the floor with Roode recovering quickly and hitting a blockbuster.
- Balor took down Roode with his signature sequence to set up the Coup De Grace, but KO returned to distract Balor long enough that Roode tripped Balor.
- As Strowman returned to the ring, he caught Balor with a right hand then Roode with a big boot which sent KO running through the crowd with Strowman catching him and dragging him back.
- Even injured, Strowman hit a trio of running shoulder tackles to all three men.
- Roode saved KO from a powerslam only for both to get splashed in the corner with Balor taking advantage to hit a step-up enzuigiri.
- KO saved Balor from a powerslam with a superkick then called for Roode to hit the Glorious DDT, only to try and roll up Roode.
- Strowman took the Coup De Grace, Glorious DDT, and frog splash but still kicked out of KO's pinfall.
Analysis: This was the Strowman show, and it was a lot of fun as always. He did a great job selling the impact of the offense without stopping altogether. The storytelling was the real key here, and the ultimate goal was achieved: making clear Strowman will be nearly unstoppable at Money in the Bank.
All the faces of Raw's women's division do not care about Bayley getting bullied and hazed on live TV.
Backstage Notes: Before his match, Reigns was interviewed and called Mahal an idiot who would get punched in the face. KO offered Balor olives as a sign of good faith to get his help against Braun Strowman, but Balor did not seem convinced.
Owens tried the same thing with Roode later. Balor and Owens then talked over the idea together. Strowman mocked all three just before the match, unafraid of them teaming up on him.
Conclusion: It is remarkable how easily WWE can mess up a good thing. There were three strong matches tonight, but WWE broke that action up with unnecessary commercials for Money in the Bank. They also complimented that wrestling with unnecessary and poorly conceived promo segments.
It did not feel like a real go-home show as there was a lack of immediacy. No one was really showing off how ready they were for Sunday. It doesn't help that so much of the card for Money in the Bank is not all that interesting, and what is interesting is focused on SmackDown.
That said, there was clearly work that could have been done on this show to make for a more compelling Raw that drove forward toward a big show.
Owens tried the same thing with Roode later. Balor and Owens then talked over the idea together. Strowman mocked all three just before the match, unafraid of them teaming up on him.
Conclusion: It is remarkable how easily WWE can mess up a good thing. There were three strong matches tonight, but WWE broke that action up with unnecessary commercials for Money in the Bank. They also complimented that wrestling with unnecessary and poorly conceived promo segments.
It did not feel like a real go-home show as there was a lack of immediacy. No one was really showing off how ready they were for Sunday. It doesn't help that so much of the card for Money in the Bank is not all that interesting, and what is interesting is focused on SmackDown.
That said, there was clearly work that could have been done on this show to make for a more compelling Raw that drove forward toward a big show.