The WWE Raw Reaction for 8/30/21
Welcome to the Raw Reaction, where I offer my take on this week’s show in Oklahoma City. As always, you can check out John’s full in-depth review here.
We start off with Promo Time with the United States Champion Damian Priest. Priest talks about how honored he is holding the US Title and lists off some of the greats that held it in the past. Priest decides to hold an open challenge tonight. I like that idea. The challenge is answered by Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, and RK-Bro? Don’t call us WWE Commissioners Adam Pierce and Sonya DeVille show up to sort things out. They make two title matches for tonight. The United States title will be defended in a triple threat match between Damian Priest, Sheamus, and Drew McIntyre. The other title match will be a Raw Tag Team Title match between RK-Bro and the team on Bobby Lashley and MVP. That was a good opening segment, but I thought Bobby Lashley was going to beat up Sheamus tonight because of what happened between them last week? Vince the Paper Shredder strikes again!
Our opening bout has Rhea Ripley taking on Shayna Baszler with Nikki A.S.H. and Nia Jax in their respective corners. The match was pretty good for the time allotted. Both have similar styles and could put together a nice little feud. I don’t know whose Cheerios Baszler pissed in because she picks up another L tonight. Jax destroyed both Nikki and Ripley and let’s hope this means Jax isn’t getting another push over the far more deserving Baszler. #FreeShayna
Tag Team action is next with the Viking Raiders taking on Jinder Mahal and Veer. Shanky was outside the ring because he is the lesser talented of the three, I guess. The match achieved its goal of reestablishing the Viking Raiders as possible contenders for RK-Bro. I’m surprised they did not pick the titles up when the live crowds returned.
The United States Title triple threat match is up next. This was the best televised Raw match in like a month. All three did a great job and made the match excellent. If you missed it, seek it out. It was a back and forth and hard-hitting match. All three got their spot to look like they were going to be the victor but, in the end, Priest retains by pinning McIntyre. After the match, McIntyre shook Priest’s hand and gave him a nice little rub there. I see big things in the Archer of Infamy’s future.
We get an update from Goldberg on his knee and his son. It was a good promo for Goldberg standards, but we all know that Goldberg will not beat Lashley.
Also earlier today, Reggie got to do some flips evading R-Truth in a blonde wig and Akira Tozawa in a dog costume. Really?
In the most highly anticipated match that was promoted last week, Eva Marie squared off against Doudrop. There was a video package that hyped the match and it never got started. Doudrop wasted Eva before the bell rang. Can we mark this feud as over, please?
Speaking of people getting destroyed, Humberto Carrillo is out to be Karrion Kross’s next sacrifice. At least Carrillo got to hit a couple of moves. Remember when Carrillo had the possibility of being the WWE’s next big Latino star?
Up next is Charlotte Flair taking on Nia Jax. The match started off okay for a Jax match. Things get sloppier than a Godwin’s slop bucket and the match flies off the rails. It looks like we’ve got a legit shoot fight in progress folks. Things finally settle down and Jax picks up a clean win over Flair. Why is Jax gifted a clean win over Flair when Nikki was given that character killing clean win and Rhea can’t get one?
Vince the Paper Shredder strikes again and changes John Morrison fighting the Miz to John Morrison fighting Omos. I’m not sure the logic here, since Logic was released in 2006, but Morrison got destroyed by Omos. There’s a good way to sell Morrison’s face turn, squash him to someone greener than freshly watered grass.
This leads us into our next match, AJ Styles taking on Xavier Woods. Woods is a man without a feud or tag team partner. The match we got was good for the time given. Styles picked up the win but the match wasn’t anything really special.
Main event time with RK-Bro defending the Raw Tag Team titles against Bobby Lashley and MVP. AJ Styles and Omos are still hanging around at commentary. We get a good title match to close out the show but the US title match was way better. While Orton took care of everyone outside the ring, Riddle finished off MVP to retain the titles. After the match, Lashley speared Riddle and Orton dropped Lashley with an RKO to send the fans home happy.
Let’s take a look at tonight’s highs and lows
The Highs
WWE was actually capable of running Raw without a single rematch tonight. It was great to see no rematches all night. I just wonder if this will be a thing going forward or if it just happened to be a one-off kinda deal. We’ll see next week, I guess.
The United States title triple threat match was the match of the night. If you missed it, serious, go watch it.
The Lows
Shayna Baszler lost another match. Can we please get her some wins? #FreeShayna
I’m not quite sure what happened in the Flair/Jax match, but it was not pretty. It made Eva Marie/Doudrop look really good by comparison. I’ll be happy if all parties just moved on to others.
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Plug Time: Check back on Thursday when I present a very special Reaction column. You won’t be disappointed.
I’m on Twitter @Ciscowebwiz76 if you’re on there with any thoughts or comments. That’s all I’ve got, until next time.