Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Last week's Monday Night Raw was not widely watched by the general public. The first Presidential Debate along with a mildly competitive game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons were both airing at the same time.
This did not mean that WWE took the night off though as it the post-Clash of Champions show with multiple rematches and some strong segments to continue to build the stories on Raw each week.
That show also set up this show with a huge title match between Charlotte and Sasha Banks as well as a non-title clash between TJ Perkins and The Brian Kendrick. That made this an exciting show from the outset.
This did not mean that WWE took the night off though as it the post-Clash of Champions show with multiple rematches and some strong segments to continue to build the stories on Raw each week.
That show also set up this show with a huge title match between Charlotte and Sasha Banks as well as a non-title clash between TJ Perkins and The Brian Kendrick. That made this an exciting show from the outset.
Surprise Roman Reigns out of nowhere!
Roman Reigns Accepts Rusev's Challenge But Only in Hell in a Cell
Overview: Roman Reigns opened the show but was quickly interrupted by Lana who offered Rusev's rematch for the United States Championship. Eventually Reigns made fun of her and Rusev too many times with Rusev coming down to the ring to attack Reigns.
Reigns sent Rusev to the outside, but Rusev ended up catching him with a side kick then sent him over the barricade with another side kick. As Rusev tried to walk off with Reigns' US Title, Reigns returned from the side of the stage with a Superman Punch then accepted a rematch with Rusev but only inside Hell in a Cell.
Analysis: The sooner they stop giving Reigns testicle jokes, the sooner he gets over with the crowd which is a long time away at this point. He was not bad here, but it was a fairly standard segment for this feud.
There was too much time spent putting over jokes and not enough developing the heat between these rivals. That is not even mentioning that Reigns still keeps winning the fights even though he doesn't need to. The Hell in a Cell match should be strong, but there's no way Rusev wins.
Reigns sent Rusev to the outside, but Rusev ended up catching him with a side kick then sent him over the barricade with another side kick. As Rusev tried to walk off with Reigns' US Title, Reigns returned from the side of the stage with a Superman Punch then accepted a rematch with Rusev but only inside Hell in a Cell.
Analysis: The sooner they stop giving Reigns testicle jokes, the sooner he gets over with the crowd which is a long time away at this point. He was not bad here, but it was a fairly standard segment for this feud.
There was too much time spent putting over jokes and not enough developing the heat between these rivals. That is not even mentioning that Reigns still keeps winning the fights even though he doesn't need to. The Hell in a Cell match should be strong, but there's no way Rusev wins.
Great, it only took WWE 2 weeks to have their champion losing matches that don't matter.
The Brian Kendrick def. TJ Perkins
Overview: The Brian Kendrick mockingly shook hands with TJ Perkins, but Perkins dropped kicked him from the handshake as the bell rang. Kendrick managed to target the right hand of Perkins to slow him which allowed him to dominate for a while.
Perkins came back with a flurry, but he kept finding himself countered. When Perkins hit the wrecking ball dropkick right into the Detonation Kick, Kendrick stopped the kick by raking the eyes then locked in the Captain's Hook for the non-title submission win over the champion.
Highlights:
Analysis: I was originally under the assumption that this was a championship rematch. They even had a video package hyping this match, but it turned out to be a non-title contest to give WWE an excuse to book the official rematch later. This just ends up hurting Perkins' momentum.
The match itself was solid though a good section of it happened during the commercial break thanks to the pacing of the contest. It would have been nice to see these two battle in a longer contest or without a commercial to break it up.
Perkins came back with a flurry, but he kept finding himself countered. When Perkins hit the wrecking ball dropkick right into the Detonation Kick, Kendrick stopped the kick by raking the eyes then locked in the Captain's Hook for the non-title submission win over the champion.
Highlights:
- Perkins skins the cat to avoid Kendrick's grasp then hits a corkscrew plancha to the outside.
- Kendrick traps Perkins' hand in the top steel connecting the turnbuckles and wrenching back on the hand.
- Perkins fought back with a Frankensteiner then managed to hit the double chickenwing gutbuster into the kneebar.
- Kendrick sends Perkins face fist into the turnbuckle then hits the Sliced Bread #2 for a nearfall right into the Captain's Hook.
Analysis: I was originally under the assumption that this was a championship rematch. They even had a video package hyping this match, but it turned out to be a non-title contest to give WWE an excuse to book the official rematch later. This just ends up hurting Perkins' momentum.
The match itself was solid though a good section of it happened during the commercial break thanks to the pacing of the contest. It would have been nice to see these two battle in a longer contest or without a commercial to break it up.
That's true conviction and fire. I almost cared.
Braun Strowman def. Chase Silver
Overview: Braun Strowman smiled as the local competitor stated he had a dream that he would beat down Strowman. Strowman threw around Chase Silver, splashed him in the corner, and tackled him into the turnbuckle before hitting an easy running powerslam.
Afterward, Strowman was interviewed and demanded better competition next week. He even threatened to cause destruction on Raw if he didn't get it.
Analysis: I guess this is the way Strowman officially starts facing real challengers. It took long enough. Too bad Sin Cara is being lumped together with the local competitors with this writing.
Afterward, Strowman was interviewed and demanded better competition next week. He even threatened to cause destruction on Raw if he didn't get it.
Analysis: I guess this is the way Strowman officially starts facing real challengers. It took long enough. Too bad Sin Cara is being lumped together with the local competitors with this writing.
Owens doesn't want to get on Jericho's bad side. That side gets you on The List.
Jeri-KO Set a Challenge to the Tag Team Champions
Overview: Kevin Owens walked to the ring in a suit flanked by Chris Jericho and mocked Seth Rollins. Owens offered for Jericho to be the referee in his future rematch with Rollins, but Jericho instead wanted the two to go after the Raw Tag Team Championships.
Owens was unsure of it, but he agreed after Jericho threatened to go after Owens' championship. This brought out The New Day who jokes around back and forth with Jeri-KO including the New Day all being placed of The List (Xavier Woods twice). Eventually, the match was made official for later.
Analysis: WWE is diving into a side story with Owens while Rollins recovers which is odd only in that it feels like KO is in two different stories right now. In fact, it feels like WWE is revisiting stories they had saved up before Finn Balor got injured.
Jeri-KO are great together, and we eventually need their friendship to blow up into a feud. This set up a potentially excellent match while hinting at the leverage Jericho has in not choosing not to go after Owens' title.
Owens was unsure of it, but he agreed after Jericho threatened to go after Owens' championship. This brought out The New Day who jokes around back and forth with Jeri-KO including the New Day all being placed of The List (Xavier Woods twice). Eventually, the match was made official for later.
Analysis: WWE is diving into a side story with Owens while Rollins recovers which is odd only in that it feels like KO is in two different stories right now. In fact, it feels like WWE is revisiting stories they had saved up before Finn Balor got injured.
Jeri-KO are great together, and we eventually need their friendship to blow up into a feud. This set up a potentially excellent match while hinting at the leverage Jericho has in not choosing not to go after Owens' title.
Zayn is so ready now to job out to Strowman next week.
Sami Zayn def. Titus O'Neil
Overview: Before the match, Titus O'Neil announced the launch of himself as an official brand. Titus seemed to have Zayn's number early by throwing him around then locked in a bear hug into a backbreaker. Titus though walked into a lariat then took an exploder suplex in the corner into a Helluva Kick for the win.
Analysis: For a match that was supposed to help reestablish Titus after his feud with Darren Young fizzled out, this was a weird decision for a Zayn squash. Titus dominated out the gate, but it took Zayn three moves to win which qualifies as a squash in my book.
Analysis: For a match that was supposed to help reestablish Titus after his feud with Darren Young fizzled out, this was a weird decision for a Zayn squash. Titus dominated out the gate, but it took Zayn three moves to win which qualifies as a squash in my book.
R-Truth is back on Raw to dominate and still lose.
Gallows and Anderson def. The Golden Truth
Overview: Before their match, Gallows and Anderson promised the fun and games were over. The Golden Truth started off hot against Karl Anderson, but Luke Gallows helped him begin to dominate. R-Truth got the hot tag and hit the scissors kick on Anderson.
Gallows broke up the tag, kneed Goldust off the apron, then tagged in officially to hit the Magic Killer on Truth. Afterward, they beat down on Goldust as well and hit the Magic Killer.
Analysis: This is how Anderson and Gallows should look on repeat from now on. They were dominant, vicious, and unnecessarily violent. They destroyed The Golden Truth as they should. It was weird that Golden Truth have been so useless lately and just came back to job.
Gallows broke up the tag, kneed Goldust off the apron, then tagged in officially to hit the Magic Killer on Truth. Afterward, they beat down on Goldust as well and hit the Magic Killer.
Analysis: This is how Anderson and Gallows should look on repeat from now on. They were dominant, vicious, and unnecessarily violent. They destroyed The Golden Truth as they should. It was weird that Golden Truth have been so useless lately and just came back to job.
This match is so much better experienced on mute.
The New Day def. Jeri-KO
Overview: With Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson watched on commentary, Chris Jericho struggled against Xavier Woods while Kevin Owens dominated him but couldn't beat Big E's power and speed. Despite an early broken nose, Jericho helped Owens beat up Big E in the corner behind the referee's back.
They then beat down on Woods as well, refusing to let him tag out. Rollins came out for the distraction though, allowing a Woods enzuigiri and the hot tag to Big E. Jericho locked Big E in the Walls of Jericho, but Rollins pulled another distraction to set up a Midnight Hour for the win.
Afterward, Owens escaped to the top of the ramp while Rollins tried to goad him back to the ring and hit a Pedigree on Jericho.
Highlights:
Analysis: I tried to pay attention to this solid if unspectacular match, but Kutcher and Masterson were so distractingly bad on commentary. They seemed to fit naturally with Jericho's ridiculousness lately, but they had no idea how to talk on commentary.
This worked out as expected. Jeri-KO can't get into the tag team storylines right now, and Rollins had to do something without physically doing much. This worked out as a whole.
They then beat down on Woods as well, refusing to let him tag out. Rollins came out for the distraction though, allowing a Woods enzuigiri and the hot tag to Big E. Jericho locked Big E in the Walls of Jericho, but Rollins pulled another distraction to set up a Midnight Hour for the win.
Afterward, Owens escaped to the top of the ramp while Rollins tried to goad him back to the ring and hit a Pedigree on Jericho.
Highlights:
- Owens repeatedly jumped over Woods to prove he could jump before missing the running senton.
- Woods fought off Jericho and hit a rolling clothesline.
- After clotheslining Woods' tag attempt, he mimed tagging Big E.
- Woods began a fight back with a facebuster off the top and a crossbody.
- Big E hit three belly to bellies, but Owens stopped him with a superkick only to be thrown out and take a Woods suicide dive.
Analysis: I tried to pay attention to this solid if unspectacular match, but Kutcher and Masterson were so distractingly bad on commentary. They seemed to fit naturally with Jericho's ridiculousness lately, but they had no idea how to talk on commentary.
This worked out as expected. Jeri-KO can't get into the tag team storylines right now, and Rollins had to do something without physically doing much. This worked out as a whole.
Everyone in Cincinnati is chanting for Harambe from their homes as this match occurs.
Tony Nese def. Rich Swann
Overview: Nese said in a pre-taped interview before the match that he was the elite hybrid of the cruiserweight division. He showed it early and often with Swann struggling against speed and striking. Nese caught Swann mid-handspring, knocked him off the ropes, then hit a pump handle reverse piledriver for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: Everyone knew Swann would be a major part of the WWE cruiserweight division proven by three for three representation on the show so far. However, Nese wasn't even announced for the division originally. That made this win a surprise, but it is somewhat welcome as Nese is an insane athlete who has a high ceiling in WWE.
Highlights:
- Nese moonsaulted over Swann then ducked his punch only to immediately kip up and hit a low kick, high knee, kick to the chest, then leg sweep. He then did the Swann dance as a taunt.
- Nese immediately hit Swann's neck with vicious forearms.
- Swann caught Nese for the Frankensteiner.
- Swann hits running double boots to the neck.
Analysis: Everyone knew Swann would be a major part of the WWE cruiserweight division proven by three for three representation on the show so far. However, Nese wasn't even announced for the division originally. That made this win a surprise, but it is somewhat welcome as Nese is an insane athlete who has a high ceiling in WWE.
Cesaro learned a new move. Sheamus is a miracle worker.
Cesaro and Sheamus def. Raul White and Mark Carradine
Overview: Cesaro dominated until Sheamus forced the tag in. The two began fighting early on as both wanted to dominate. As Sheamus was holding down one man, Cesaro jumped off him to hit a DDT on the other. Sheamus then hit a Brogue Kick for the win.
Hot potato, hot potato, potato, potato, potato, potato.
Sasha Banks def. Charlotte to Become the New WWE Raw Women's Champions
Overview: With no Dana Brooke, Charlotte seemed confident coming in but struggled early against Sasha Banks. Charlotte ended up targeting the back of Banks again, but she refused to stay down long even as she felt the pain.
The two traded huge shots as the match grew closer. Banks refused to stay down after repeated nearfalls, and she ended up slipping Charlotte into the Bank Statement and refused to let go until Charlotte submitted. Banks celebrated with her championship to end the show.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was another top match from these women who continually evolve their style and dynamic against one another. They knew they needed to do some new things, and they did everything. There was great storytelling, new moves including a corkscrew moonsault, and physicality galore.
It needs to be said how good Charlotte is getting lately. Her consistent ability to improve every major match is just remarkable. She is at a point now where she is at least working at the same level as Banks and Bayley.
The two traded huge shots as the match grew closer. Banks refused to stay down after repeated nearfalls, and she ended up slipping Charlotte into the Bank Statement and refused to let go until Charlotte submitted. Banks celebrated with her championship to end the show.
Highlights:
- Charlotte caught Banks' first suicide dive with a vicious forearm, but Banks immediately rebounded and hit the dive successfully.
- Charlotte tripped Banks off the top, back first into the turnbuckle.
- Charlotte hit a backbreaker into a side slam into the turnbuckle.
- Banks repeatedly dodged Charlotte's attempts at blasting her back on the apron but was then thrown head first into the rope.
- Banks dodged a big boot then hit the double knees only to be tripped from the top face first into the top rope.
- Charlotte big booted Banks into the turnbuckle then hit a second big boot for the nearfall.
- Banks blocked the superplex repeatedly, headbutt Charlotte off, then hit the diving double knees for a nearfall.
- Charlotte blocked the backstabber and threw Banks over the top rope, following up with a corkscrew moonsault to the outside.
- Charlotte hit the Natural Selection but only for a nearfall then lost it with repeated forearms and slaps.
Analysis: This was another top match from these women who continually evolve their style and dynamic against one another. They knew they needed to do some new things, and they did everything. There was great storytelling, new moves including a corkscrew moonsault, and physicality galore.
It needs to be said how good Charlotte is getting lately. Her consistent ability to improve every major match is just remarkable. She is at a point now where she is at least working at the same level as Banks and Bayley.
Wow, Charlotte dropped the title three more times tonight. She's really doing the job lately.
Final Notes: Rollins sat down with Michael Cole to talk about Owens. Rollins called Owens the teacher's pet who didn't deserve to take Rollins spot. He then promised to tear apart the machine now that he had seen the light. Cesaro and Sheamus kept arguing while Mick Foley couldn't calm them.
Bayley congratulated Banks before she even wrestled about being Raw's main event, but she was more concerned with winning and getting back her title as soon as possible. In the ring, Enzo and Cass put over a few breast cancer survivors and gave them Raw Women's Championships.
Kutcher and Masterson found Jeri-KO backstage with Masterson stealing The List and mocking Jericho while Owens walked out on the conflict. They promised to be ringside later for their match. Charlotte was interviewed and refused to admit any worry about Banks.
Stephanie found Rollins backstage and mocked him until Rollins demanded a title shot and promised to ruin Raw if he didn't get it. Charlotte mocked Bayley, and Brooke continued after Charlotte left only to be thrown into the wall and hurt her knee.
There was a vignette announcing that Emma was returning as Emmalina which could be either the thing that gets her over or ruins a potential star once more. We will see, but she needs to be a major part of the women's division on Raw.
Conclusion: This show dragged a bit with too many too short matches that were close to squash quality. Still, the highs here were great. The storytelling quality has improved tremendously lately for Raw. The women deserved to main event as they easily were the best part of the show.
While Kutcher and Masterson hurt them, Owens and Jericho were highlights this week and hilarious once more which also helped the night. It was just about weak decision coupled with strong performances.
We are now headed straight for Hell in a Cell with Raw. Owens and Rollins will likely fully take over the show. Rusev and Reigns will continue to get more physical. I would hope even the women are allowed to get more physical in a potential final clash between Banks and Charlotte. There's a lot of excitement potentially here.
Bayley congratulated Banks before she even wrestled about being Raw's main event, but she was more concerned with winning and getting back her title as soon as possible. In the ring, Enzo and Cass put over a few breast cancer survivors and gave them Raw Women's Championships.
Kutcher and Masterson found Jeri-KO backstage with Masterson stealing The List and mocking Jericho while Owens walked out on the conflict. They promised to be ringside later for their match. Charlotte was interviewed and refused to admit any worry about Banks.
Stephanie found Rollins backstage and mocked him until Rollins demanded a title shot and promised to ruin Raw if he didn't get it. Charlotte mocked Bayley, and Brooke continued after Charlotte left only to be thrown into the wall and hurt her knee.
There was a vignette announcing that Emma was returning as Emmalina which could be either the thing that gets her over or ruins a potential star once more. We will see, but she needs to be a major part of the women's division on Raw.
Conclusion: This show dragged a bit with too many too short matches that were close to squash quality. Still, the highs here were great. The storytelling quality has improved tremendously lately for Raw. The women deserved to main event as they easily were the best part of the show.
While Kutcher and Masterson hurt them, Owens and Jericho were highlights this week and hilarious once more which also helped the night. It was just about weak decision coupled with strong performances.
We are now headed straight for Hell in a Cell with Raw. Owens and Rollins will likely fully take over the show. Rusev and Reigns will continue to get more physical. I would hope even the women are allowed to get more physical in a potential final clash between Banks and Charlotte. There's a lot of excitement potentially here.