Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
How do you make a great pay-per-view? The answer is pretty simple: create a card people will pay to see, give those matches people paid to see the time they deserve to deliver, and book them to make sure people remember them long after the hours are up. This is a formula WWE should have mastered years ago.
Somehow WWE has failed consistently in making complete compelling programming. Whether it is odd booking, weird time management, or only focusing on a few matches, only the talent can be trusted to make these shows worth watching. To be fair though, the talent is stellar.
No Mercy had a chance to either buck the trend or continue to drag down the product. There were a few obvious stellar matches and several more with the potential to steal the show. It was a night where Monday Night Raw needed to deliver for the sake of fan sanity. For the sake of MY sanity having to review these shows.
This Week's Monday Night Raw Review
Somehow WWE has failed consistently in making complete compelling programming. Whether it is odd booking, weird time management, or only focusing on a few matches, only the talent can be trusted to make these shows worth watching. To be fair though, the talent is stellar.
No Mercy had a chance to either buck the trend or continue to drag down the product. There were a few obvious stellar matches and several more with the potential to steal the show. It was a night where Monday Night Raw needed to deliver for the sake of fan sanity. For the sake of MY sanity having to review these shows.
This Week's Monday Night Raw Review
I guess since Akira Tozawa disappeared, Titus had to turn back to his failure project. Poor guy.
Elias def. Apollo Crews
Overview: Elias made sure to run down the crowd before the match with a new song. Apollo Crews was quickly grounded by Elias but managed to get rolling back with a fury only to run right into the turnbuckle followed by the Drift Away for the Elias victory. Afterward, Elias added an extra shot on Crews before escaping to the outside.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a pretty standard affair match with little impact as a whole. Maybe if there was an actual story here, it would have been more interesting to watch. Instead it was just another chance for Elias to show off some impressive moves and walk out with a victory.
Highlights:
- Elias tripped Crews as he jumped, slamming him into the apron.
- Crews fought through a snapmare and hit his own before catching Elias in the corner only to take a mule kick from Elias.
- Crews caught Elias with a suplex then a dropkick into a standing moonsault.
Analysis: This was a pretty standard affair match with little impact as a whole. Maybe if there was an actual story here, it would have been more interesting to watch. Instead it was just another chance for Elias to show off some impressive moves and walk out with a victory.
Rating: 6.5/10
At least we still have the greatest of champions.
The Miz def. Jason Jordan to Retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Overview: The Miz tried to contain the explosiveness of Jason Jordan with the help of The Miztourage early, but he was still unable to get him slowed to a crawl. Jordan rolled up Miz, but Bo Dallas was in the ring, distracting the referee for Curtis Axel hitting him to set up a Skull Crushing Finale. Afterward, Jordan was interviewed and showed his disappointment.
Highlights:
Analysis: Jordan put on some great matches recently, and it made me almost forget how boring he can be. This match with Miz was a mess, completely devoid of any energy and not just because the crowd hated Jordan. Miz had absolutely no chemistry with Jordan. The post-match promo was a mistake and further proved Jordan needs to turn heel.
Highlights:
- Jordan caught Miz with a diving clothesline then ran into the knee of Miz.
- Miz hit Jordan with the shoot kicks then ran into an exploder suplex.
- Miz flipped out of the grip of Jordan then went for the Skull Crushing Finale only to be rolled up with Jordan then walking into back-to-back German suplexes.
- Jordan caught Miz in the crossface, but, after Miz got out, he missed a Spear in the corner then took a corner clothesline.
Analysis: Jordan put on some great matches recently, and it made me almost forget how boring he can be. This match with Miz was a mess, completely devoid of any energy and not just because the crowd hated Jordan. Miz had absolutely no chemistry with Jordan. The post-match promo was a mistake and further proved Jordan needs to turn heel.
Rating: 7/10
Finn Balor may get injured easily, but let's be serious: this move couldn't put down Enzo Amore. It certainly wouldn't make Balor unable to wrestle.
Finn Balor def. Bray Wyatt
Overview: Bray Wyatt clotheslined Finn Balor into the mat then uranaged him into the table before the match could begin. Wyatt bragged about the attack until Balor ran back to the ring and began a match he was dominated in early on. However, he managed to catch Balor with sequence into the Coup De Grace for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: I really enjoy this pairing, and the two continue to be great together. This match was their best yet and felt like the definitive finish. Balor was injured early and came back to win clean despite not wearing The Demon makeup. I wouldn't mind one more match between them, but this result did not set one up.
Highlights:
- Wyatt planted Balor with a superplex.
- Wyatt slammed the shoulder of Balor right into the apron. Balor knocked Wyatt to his knees followed by a running dropkick.
- Balor trapped Wyatt in the apron then pounded on him with fists then stomps followed by a soccer kick.
- Balor dived past Wyatt followed by a Slingblade only to run into a big boot followed by uranage and a standing senton.
- Balor tripped Wyatt off the Sister Abigail into a standing double foot stomp.
- Wyatt and Balor fought on the top rope with Balor catching Wyatt rising with the Coup De Grace only for Wyatt to kick out.
- Wyatt reversed the 1916 then hit a clothesline off the ropes. Wyatt lifted Balor for a suplex only to throw him across the ring then went to the top rope only to be caught Wyatt with an enzuigiri followed by a Slingblade and corner dropkick.
Analysis: I really enjoy this pairing, and the two continue to be great together. This match was their best yet and felt like the definitive finish. Balor was injured early and came back to win clean despite not wearing The Demon makeup. I wouldn't mind one more match between them, but this result did not set one up.
Rating: 9/10
Welp, Seth Rollins got another one injured.
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins def. Cesaro and Sheamus to Retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
Overview: This match was a masterclass in tag team strategy from Cesaro and Sheamus who isolated and dominated Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins throughout. However, The Bar simply could not match the determination with Sheamus taking the Kingmaker into Dirty Deeds for the win by the champs.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was incredible with Cesaro battling back from a ridiculous injury to exceed the already great match they had at SummerSlam. All four men went all out with Sheamus and Cesaro truly showing they are the best tag team in WWE. It was a brilliant brutal tag team classic.
Highlights:
- Cesaro swung Ambrose right into the steps.
- Rollings caught Cesaro with a diving clothesline then blockbuster before a suicide dive to Sheamus then a reverse STO on the turnbuckle into a low-angle superkick that took out Cesaro's two front teeth.
- Ambrose clotheslined Sheamus to the floor then hit him with a suicide dive into the barricade.
- Ambrose was just about to take a double Celtic Cross only for Rollins to pull him to safety with Cesaro locking him in the Sharpshooter then crossface, finally hitting the double Celtic Cross for a nearfall.
- Cesaro booted Ambrose right into a rebound clothesline then Sheamus tagged himself in to hit a bicycle knee with the two going for their tag finisher with Rollins getting involved as Sheamus and Cesaro hitting White Noise on Ambrose into Cesaro powerbombing Rollins into Ambrose off the second rope.
- Ambrose fell to the floor to block a Brogue Kick then a schoolboy that caught Sheamus off guard so much that he accidentally Brogue Kicked Cesaro.
Analysis: This match was incredible with Cesaro battling back from a ridiculous injury to exceed the already great match they had at SummerSlam. All four men went all out with Sheamus and Cesaro truly showing they are the best tag team in WWE. It was a brilliant brutal tag team classic.
Rating: 9.75/10
As if anyone would want to see this. Someone please ruin any momentum this match could have.
Alexa Bliss def. Sasha Banks, Bayley, Nia Jax, and Emma to Retain the Raw Women's Championship
Overview: Nia Jax was clearly the target of the women throughout as she dominated when allowed only for everyone to team up on her. When Jax ran into the post, Bliss finally found an opening, allowing Bayley to run into Emma on the apron then hit her with the DDT for the win. Afterward, Bliss bragged about her victory as a goddess in an interview.
Highlights:
Analysis: Jax's power display made her the set piece of the match that everyone was fighting around. This helped ground a match that was fun to watch throughout but messy most of the time. Bayley returning just to take the pinfall was frustrating and a showcase of just how little respect WWE has for her.
Highlights:
- Jax splashed Bliss in the corner then was triple dropkicked outside.
- Emma was caught by Jax for a sudden spinebuster.
- Bliss slapped Jax repeatedly then booted her only to run right into a fireman's carry with Jax then catching Banks as well for a double Samoan drop.
- Emma went for a powerbomb on Jax, but she needed Bayley to help then Banks and Bliss to boot her off balance.
- Banks caught Emma with a running bulldog and a single-leg low angle dropkick with Bliss breaking the pinfall up and going for a DDT only to have it reversed into a backbreaker into the Bank Statement.
- Bayley caught Bliss with the Bayley-to-Belly with Banks and Bayley fighting for the cover only for Jax to destroy Bayley and hit the running leg drop on Banks.
Analysis: Jax's power display made her the set piece of the match that everyone was fighting around. This helped ground a match that was fun to watch throughout but messy most of the time. Bayley returning just to take the pinfall was frustrating and a showcase of just how little respect WWE has for her.
Rating: 7.5/10
"Could you please not Shawn Michaels me here, John?"
Roman Reigns def. John Cena
Overview: John Cena teased leaving the match early then was forced to return by Roman Reigns who quickly dominated Cena. Cena fought back and repeatedly hit Reigns with his best moves including the Super AA and the roll-through double AA, but Reigns kept kicking out before winning with a Superman Punch into a Spear. Afterward, Cena hugged Reigns and raised his hand.
Highlights:
Analysis: If you asked me beforehand, I would say that the minimum I could give this match was an 8. I had no idea what I was getting into. If you went into this with no knowledge of the wrestlers or investment, you could enjoy it as it was fine wrestling, but Cena was completely out of sync in this match and likely frustrated with the booking here.
This was a complete miss of booking with Reigns looking like some incredible powerhouse who could not be defeated. I have no idea how WWE thought this would make everyone like Reigns. It was the most blatant one-sided passing of the torch stories ever told with little investment on Cena's part for good reason.
Highlights:
- Cena whipped Reigns right into the steps with Reigns then whipping him into the steps in return.
- Reigns caught Cena's second shoulder tackle with an uppercut only to fall right into the sequence again with Cena running into a Samoan drop out of the Five Knuckle Shuffle.
- Reigns fought out of the AA and hit a big boot. Cena reversed the Superman Punch into an STF which he then reapplied after pulling Reigns back to the center of the ring with Reigns turning it into a deadlift powerbomb.
- Cena caught Reigns off the rebound into an AA with Cena then going for the diving leg drop right into Reigns' powerbomb and the Superman Punch.
- Cena sidestepped a Spear, sending Reigns' shoulder into the post, then went for the super AA which Reigns still kicked out of.
- Cena went for an AA through the announce table and had Reigns turn it into a Spear through the table.
- Reigns went for a Spear but walked right into an AA rolled into another AA with Reigns still kicking out.
Analysis: If you asked me beforehand, I would say that the minimum I could give this match was an 8. I had no idea what I was getting into. If you went into this with no knowledge of the wrestlers or investment, you could enjoy it as it was fine wrestling, but Cena was completely out of sync in this match and likely frustrated with the booking here.
This was a complete miss of booking with Reigns looking like some incredible powerhouse who could not be defeated. I have no idea how WWE thought this would make everyone like Reigns. It was the most blatant one-sided passing of the torch stories ever told with little investment on Cena's part for good reason.
Rating: 7.5/10
Why, Neville? Why couldn't you just destroy Enzo and wipe him from WWE existence?
Enzo Amore def. Neville to Become the New WWE Cruiserweight Champion
Overview: Enzo Amore talked up how he would do better by the WWE Cruiserweight Championship than Neville ever could, but, once the match started, he was clearly outmatched. Enzo grabbed Neville's title, setting off Neville who broke the count out only to take a low blow with the referee distracted then rolled up Neville to win.
Highlights:
Analysis: Neville really tried his best here, but Enzo was all over the place, either flipping randomly or lying around all over the ring. It does not help that Enzo ended up winning, ruining Neville's story of dominance, but the match itself was just boring all on its own. Why is Enzo champion? The world may never know.
Highlights:
- Enzo flipped through a wrist lock only to be tripped into the mat.
- Enzo skinned the cat only to run right into a superkick.
- Neville hit Enzo with a series of kicks and a dropkick to set up the Red Arrow with Enzo dodging then hitting a diving DDT nearfall.
- Neville caught Enzo's suicide dive with an enzuigiri then threw him into the timekeeper's area.
Analysis: Neville really tried his best here, but Enzo was all over the place, either flipping randomly or lying around all over the ring. It does not help that Enzo ended up winning, ruining Neville's story of dominance, but the match itself was just boring all on its own. Why is Enzo champion? The world may never know.
Rating: 6.75/10
Glad everyone did so much work building Strowman to this moment.
Brock Lesnar def. Braun Strowman to Retain the WWE Universal Championship
Overview: Braun Strowman continued his reign of dominant resilience against Brock Lesnar, but Lesnar answered with German suplexes until he finally got them rolling in sequence. Strowman came back only to take a sudden F5 with The Beast Incarnate retaining barely.
Highlights:
Analysis: The formula here works. I get that, and I am giving it a decent grade because it was probably the best use of the formula to date. However, I personally could not stand sitting through this match because it became so predictable. Lesnar took Strowman's best shots, hit some Germans, and retained with an F5. Like Reigns, he also took multiple finishers and got right back up to win with one.
Highlights:
- Strowman's immediate takedown was stopped by Strowman who threw him into the corner twice.
- Strowman took a German suplex then immediately got up to hit a chokeslam and running powerslam for a nearfall.
- Lesnar nearly hit the F5 but fell to his knees with Strowman body checking him out of the ring.
- Lesnar trapped Strowman in the Kimura Lock for a while before Strowman made it to the ropes only to respond with a quick spinebuster.
- Lesnar hit Strowman with five Germans only to have an F5 turn into a running powerslam then hit a second for a nearfall.
Analysis: The formula here works. I get that, and I am giving it a decent grade because it was probably the best use of the formula to date. However, I personally could not stand sitting through this match because it became so predictable. Lesnar took Strowman's best shots, hit some Germans, and retained with an F5. Like Reigns, he also took multiple finishers and got right back up to win with one.
Rating: 8/10
Final Notes: In an interview just before their match, The Bar made clear that they would defeat Ambrose and Rollins because they are the greater team. Miz told Angle he would have a Miz TV with Reigns to talk about his wins for Undertaker and Cena.
Conclusion: This show opened with such promise. The wrestlers were on point. We got improvements from both Wyatt/Balor and Ambrose-Rollins/Cesaro-Sheamus that seemed to showcase that this would be a night to remember. However, the energy in the show evaporated after that.
Somehow the two WrestleMania-worthy matches were forgettable bouts that managed to be booking disasters, attempting to continue the blatant booking that will never get over in this day and age. Lesnar vs. Reigns may be the plan, but it is looking less and less appealing by the month.
For the opening half, I was entertained, but it is rare a show can just drain the life out of me like the second half of this show did. So much promise was wasted, and the talent hardly showcased what they can do. It was the worst Reigns has looked. It exposed Lesnar more than ever. It made Cena look old. What does anyone make of any of this?
Conclusion: This show opened with such promise. The wrestlers were on point. We got improvements from both Wyatt/Balor and Ambrose-Rollins/Cesaro-Sheamus that seemed to showcase that this would be a night to remember. However, the energy in the show evaporated after that.
Somehow the two WrestleMania-worthy matches were forgettable bouts that managed to be booking disasters, attempting to continue the blatant booking that will never get over in this day and age. Lesnar vs. Reigns may be the plan, but it is looking less and less appealing by the month.
For the opening half, I was entertained, but it is rare a show can just drain the life out of me like the second half of this show did. So much promise was wasted, and the talent hardly showcased what they can do. It was the worst Reigns has looked. It exposed Lesnar more than ever. It made Cena look old. What does anyone make of any of this?