The John Report: The WWE Raw Deal 07/08/19 Review
Welcome to another edition of the WWE Raw Deal review for the final Raw before Sunday’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view. It’s the second edition of Raw since Paul Heyman was named the Executive Director of the Raw brand. There was clearly some Heyman influence last week, so we’ll see what the evil mastermind has in store for us this week.
There were two tag team matches announced for this show. The first match will see Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch teaming up with her boyfriend, the WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins, to take on the team of Andrade and business manager Zelina Vega. The other tag team match will see Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre team up against Roman Reigns and a partner of Shane’s choosing. In addition to that, there should be a follow up to AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson beating up US Champion Ricochet to end last week’s show. It was a heel turn for Styles while Gallows and Anderson signed new contracts to remain in WWE, so they are going to be used more regularly as well.
Live from Newark, New Jersey, this is the Raw Deal for episode #1362 of Monday Night Raw. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Please visit TJRWrestling.net daily for our regular updates on the wrestling business featuring WWE news coverage along with reviews about wrestling’s past and present. This review is sponsored by ICOPRO.
There was a shot of the crowd in Newark as Michael Cole welcomed us to the show. Becky Lynch, the Raw Women’s Champion, entered first followed by her boyfriend Seth Rollins, who is the WWE Universal Champion. Thankfully, Rollins is not wearing “The Man’s Man” t-shirt that WWE released earlier on Monday. He had on one of his regular shirts. The announcers are Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Renee Young as usual.
Andrade and his business manager Zelina Vega made their entrance. They are from Smackdown although the brand split doesn’t matter and they barely mention the “Wild Card Rule” anymore. They said it was an elimination match.
Analysis: It’s the second straight week with a match in the opening segment instead of a promo. I’m all for it.
Elimination Match: Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch vs. Andrade and Zelina Vega
Lynch with a waist lock takedown. When Vega broke free, she tried to tag out, but Lynch stopped her with a hard slap to the face. Vega got back into it with a kick followed by a DDT for two. Vega with a step up kick to the face against the turnbuckle. Vega pulled back on the arms of Lynch while against the ropes. Lynch came back with a suplex, so Vega tagged out and that meant that Andrade had to face off with Rollins. Andrade and Rollins did some nice mat wrestling, each guy with an arm drag takedown and they did a sequence that included some more takedowns. Andrade with a hard chop, but Rollins came back with a Slingblade followed by a clothesline over the top. Rollins hit two suicide dives on Andrade on the floor. Lynch tagged in, Bexploder on Vega, forearm to the chest and Lynch slapped on the Disarmher armbar submission. That led to Vega tapping out after about five minutes.
Zelina Vega has been eliminated
Lacey Evans was in the first row in the crowd, so Lynch went after her. They punched eachother. Rollins broke it up and the show went to break.
Analysis: The reason why it was an elimination match was so that they could keep the match going during the commercial since WWE doesn’t have action during commercials anymore.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Andrade hitting Rollins in the back. Lynch was on the apron even though there’s no man vs. woman action, so it’s a singles match. Vega was at ringside watching the match. Andrade with a running kick to the head. Andrade went up top, Rollins went after him and Andrade hit a double foot stomp off the top rope for a two count. Rollins with a Falcon Arrow slam on Andrade for a two count. Rollins with a forearm to the face followed by a springboard knee to the face for another two count. Andrade sent Rollins out of the ring and Vega gave Rollins a headscissors on the floor. Lynch went after Vega with punches. Andrade charged, Lynch moved Rollins out fo the way and Andrade ran over Lynch with a running shoulder tackle into the barricade. Rollins was concerned with Lynch, so Andrade sent Rollins into the barricade. Back in the ring, Andrade with a double knee attack on Rollins for two. Vega tried an attack on Rollins again, but Lynch was back with a dropkick on her. Rollins with a double knee to block an Andrade attack and Rollins hit The Stomp for the pinfall win after 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch
Analysis: ***1/4 That was pretty good with some exciting action when Rollins was in there with Andrade. That’s a feud I would love to see. Lynch and Vega did well too, especially considering Vega doesn’t wrestle on TV that much. The logical flaw in this match was that they didn’t explain what would happen if Andrade beat Rollins. That would mean it was one elimination for each side. It’s WWE, though, and we know they don’t explain things well. They need to do a better job of that.
After the match, Rollins and Lynch were on the ramp. Corbin decked Rollins with a forearm to the back. Lynch went after Corbin with punches. Evans showed up and decked Lynch with the Woman’s Right punch. Corbin beat up on Rollins again and the heels left. Rollins and Lynch were still on the ramp when Paul Heyman walked down to the ring. Cole asked if that means Brock Lesnar is there and that led to a break.
Analysis: It was a typical post match cheap attack by the heels. I don’t expect Rollins and Lynch to lose their titles to Corbin and Evans at Extreme Rules. That would be a bad idea.
(Commercial)
There was a commercial for NXT promoting The Street Profits facing Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan.
A replay aired from when Rollins and Lynch were attacked by Corbin and Evans. They had a slow-motion replay of Evans punching Lynch in the jaw.
Corbin and Evans were shown talking backstage. Corbin said that love does make you blind. Evans and Corbin laughed about it. Corbin said that he and Evans are strictly business. Evans said that caring about eachother is not an asset, it’s a liability. Corbin said it’s like that song, “Love Stinks.” They left.
Paul Heyman was in the ring doing a promo about how he is the advocate for Mr. Money in the Bank 2019. Heyman said that this Sunday is Extreme Rules and he knows something about Extreme while saying he knows a lot about extreme in Philadelphia (ECW memories). Heyman said that this Sunday at Extreme Rules, his client Brock Lesnar will cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase against either WWE Champion Kofi Kingston or Universal Champion Seth Rollins. Heyman said that wasn’t a prediction, it was a spoiler. Heyman said he hasn’t violated a spoiler since before WrestleMania 30, which was five years ago. Heyman said he had built up credibility. Heyman said that he’s either telling the truth about it or he’s lying. Heyman reminded us that only he knows along with Brock Lesnar. Heyman left.
Analysis: It was a quick promo to tease the possibility of Brock Lesnar showing up at Extreme Rules. Whether Lesnar actually cashes in and is successful, I don’t know, but I think it’s going to make some fans more interested in Extreme Rules because Heyman said it could happen. If it doesn’t happen then that’s fine with me. Heels are supposed to lie. It’s what they do.
A replay aired of the Braun Strowman match with Bobby Lashley last week when Strowman tackled Lashley through the LED boards on the stage and there was a big explosion. They showed clips of both guys being taken away in ambulances last week.
It was announced that Brown Strowman will face Bobby Lashley in a Last Man Standing Match at Extreme Rules on Sunday.
Analysis: Last week, WWE was making up a “ruptured spleen” injury for Strowman. This week, they didn’t even try to make up an injury and are putting him in a match on Sunday. It’s another example of things changing quickly from week to week.
The Miz entered for a six-man tag team match that is 2 out of 3 Falls.
(Commercial)
The show returned with a shot of a guy dumping some garbage into a garbage bin. Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon showed up with Drew saying that he probably thinks he’s the best garbage man in the world, then Shane asked if “Tony” the garbage man wanted to be Roman’s partner. Drew and Shane left.
The Revival and Elias were in the ring for this tag team match. The Usos entered and did a quick promo on the way to the ring while The Revival held up their Raw Tag Team Titles to remind them that they are the champions.
2/3 Falls Match: The Miz and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. Elias and The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder)
Dawson worked with Jimmy to start the match, then Elias tagged in and hit a clothesline to take control. Elias with a body slam on Jimmy to send him across the ring. Wilder tagged in with an armbar. Miz and Elias got into a brawl at ringside with Miz whipping Elias into the barricade. They went into the ring, then they left the ring and Elias went up the ramp. Back in the ring, The Revival hit the Shatter Machine on Jimmy leading to Wilder getting the pinfall.
Elias and The Revival lead 1-0.
(Commercial)
The bell rang for the second fall as The Revival double teamed Jimmy sending him into the bottom rope. Elias walked to the back, so he was out of the match. Wilder with a low dropkick to the face of Jimmy for a two count. Dawson tagged in and Jimmy sent Dawson into the ring post. Jey got the hot tag with punches, kicks and a spin kick to the ribs of Wilder. Jey with a running back splash on Wilder against the turnbuckle. Jey with a cross body block off the top and Wilder got a rollup for two. Jey with a Samoan Drop on Wilder, Dawson tagged in and he hit a brainbuster for a two count on Jey. Miz got the hot tag against Dawson, Jey hit an enziguri kick on Dawson and Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale on Dawson for the pinfall.
The match is tied 1-1.
Jimmy tagged in, double superkick on Wilder and a double superkick on Dawson. Jimmy with a dive over the top onto Wilder. Jey made a blind tag and hit an Uso Splash on Dawson for the pinfall win after 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall (2-1): The Miz and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)
Analysis: **3/4 The match was good. I don’t know why they felt the need to protect Elias by having him walk away and turn it into a handicap match. It was no surprise that The Usos and Miz would get the win from there. Miz felt like just another guy rather than a star. He hasn’t been booked well as a face. The story was that The Usos beat Revival in a non-title situation again.
The announcers talked about the crazy 24/7 Title situation with Drake Maverick taking the title on his honeymoon in Orlando, which is where they live. Renee Michelle, who is a wrestler that is Drake’s wife, was not happy about it.
There was a shot of Drake’s wife Renee Michelle looking great in a tight white dress while Maverick was hiding in a crate. Maverick got out of the crate. Maverick asked his wife to get it on inside the crate. Maverick will show the world he’s a great champion, a great husband and she said they can consummate their marriage. She seemed to be okay with that. Drake celebrated that, so other wrestlers chased him down the hallway.
Rey Mysterio was shown walking backstage because he’s up next.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre talking to a vendor with a tray of beers and Shane told the guy to take the beers to the dressing room. They teased the idea that the vendor may be the partner of Roman Reigns. Shane and Drew left.
Rey Mysterio made his return after missing over a month due to a separated shoulder. The injury was suffered when Samoa Joe gave him a uranage slam. He had to relinquish the US Title and now he’s back.
Mysterio did a promo saying he stood in this ring six weeks ago where he did something hard by giving up the US Title due to injury. Mysterio claimed he beat the doctor’s predictions by working hard to come back stronger. Mysterio said he’s ready to compete. Mysterio issued an open challenge to anybody in the back that is listening.
Bobby Lashley answered the open challenge showing no signs of injuries from last week. The announcers were shocked that Lashley was able to compete this week.
Rey Mysterio vs. Bobby Lashley
Mysterio hit a dropkick to the knee. Mysterio charged, Lashley put him on his shoulders and Mysterio hit a DDT. Dropkick to the back by Mysterio led to the 619 kick against the ropes. Lashley picked up Mysterio and dropped him with a flapjack. Lashley ran the ropes leading to an impressive looking Spear for the pinfall win. The match went one minute.
Winner by pinfall: Bobby Lashley
Analysis: * Easy win for Lashley thanks to two moves. I was a bit surprised that he no sold the big spot from last week, but that’s probably because WWE wants to make him seem like a larger than life superstar. This wasn’t good for Rey, though. He came back after six weeks to lose easily. I would have picked somebody else other than Rey to be in this spot.
After the match, Lashley grabbed Mysterio and sent him out of the ring by sending him under the bottom ropes with Rey bumping onto his chest. Lashley grabbed Mysterio and put him on the stage. Lashley looked at the LED board that he went through last week. Lashley teased throwing Mysterio through the screens, but referees prevented it. Lashley picked up Mysterio and tossed him onto the referees.
Lashley grabbed a microphone that was on the announce table. Lashley said that he was the only man standing. He said that this Sunday at Extreme Rules, he will be the Last Man Standing. The crowd booed as Lashley posed on the ramp.
Analysis: It was a good way to put over Lashley with some positive momentum as well as a heel that wanted revenge for what happened last week.
The announcers promoted matches still to come. There was another shot of the three referees and Mysterio down on the stage.
(Commercial)
The trio of AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson were shown walking backstage. Charly Caruso asked AJ about his actions against Ricochet last week. Styles said he didn’t owe anybody an explanation and told her to get out of his face. Anderson didn’t want to say anything either.
No Way Jose was in the ring. They showed what happened last week when Cesaro beat him up. That set up a match for this week with Cesaro making his entrance looking like he was not impressed by the conga line that Jose brings to the ring.
Cesaro vs. No Way Jose
Jose went after Cesaro on the floor and he tossed Cesaro into the ring. Back body drop by Jose. Cesaro came back up with uppercuts followed by a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro did the Cesaro Swing for about three revolutions and then he slapped on the Sharpshooter. Jose tapped out to give Cesaro the submission win after just over one minute of action.
Winner by submission: Cesaro
Analysis: 1/2* Simple win for Cesaro. I hope he gets a good push as a singles star whether he’s a heel (for now) or if he turns face. He’s got so much untapped potential. Jose hasn’t had a meaningful role on Raw for a few years. I would put him in a tag team, but I don’t know who to team him with. I’m just saying it would give him something more to do.
The Street Profits, the NXT Tag Team Champions, were backstage for a promo. Montez Ford said you shouldn’t cross Cesaro. They talked about how this Sunday on WWE Network it’s Extreme Rules and Angelo Dawkins did a good “best in the world” introduction for Shane McMahon. They mentioned the other guys in the match and they said “holes and souls” about what The Undertaker does. Dawkins and Ford said that Shane can pick anyone, they Dawkins asked even Kawhi Leonard and that’s a sore spot for me since he left my Toronto Raptors. Anyway, they told “Kerwin” in the truck to transition.
Analysis: I guess the role for the Street Profits at this point is to be hype men for the show to try to get their personalities over.
Bayley and Nikki Cross were shown on a split screen for an interview up next.
(Commercial)
There were replays shown from last week when Maria Kanellis informed her husband Mike and the world that she was pregnant. That’s a legit pregnancy, so congrats to the couple for having a second child to go along with the daughter they already have.
Mike and Maria Kanellis were shown on a couch with Mike giving her flowers. They said they loved eachother, then she said she loved ice cream and pickles and he left to get her some food. Maria: “What kind of man taps out to a woman?” Her husband does.
Bayley and Nikki Cross were shown on a split screen. They are each in a Beat the Clock match to pick a stipulation for Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss (Bliss is not there because she’s sick). Cross said she feels like the world is on her shoulders and she said she has to win this for Alexa because she doesn’t want to let Alexa down. Bayley said that Alexa is using her and that Nikki is the reason that Alexa is getting the rematch. Cross complained about Bayley running down Alexa every single chance she gets. Cross said that the more Bayley bashes her, the more Cross wants to shut her up. The women were informed that Bayley will face Sarah Logan and Nikki Cross will face Dana Brooke. Bayley said she hopes Logan brings everything she has and she will beat the clock to make the stipulation at Extreme Rules. Cross said that Brooke is stronger and bigger than her, but she knows that she is tougher than Brooke. Cross said she knows she’ll win because she has to do it for Alexa Bliss. Cross said “let’s play” to Bayley.
Analysis: This was uneventful and boring. The dialogue was fine, but do we really need promos to set up a Beat the Clock challenge? I don’t think so. It just felt like filler.
Erik and Ivar were shown backstage getting ready for a match up next.
(Commercial)
The duo of R-Truth and Carmella were shown walking backstage looking for Drake Maverick. They are Smackdown stars, but again, the brand extension doesn’t matter. Truth said he needs his “baby” (the 24/7 Title) back. Truth said that the title needs her. Truth said some of the lyrics to the “With My Baby Tonight” song. Maverick went running down the hallway, so the midcard wrestlers chased after him and Truth put Carmella on his back. They ran the wrong way. It wasn’t that funny.
The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) vs. Colin Justin and Devin Justin
Erik with a German Suplex on Colin. Erik with a backbreaker on Devin, Ivar tagged in and Erik hit a Powerbomb. Ivar hit a splash off the top rope for two because he pulled the guy up. Erik hit a slam on both opponents. Erik launched Devin into the air leading to a powerslam from Ivar for the pinfall win after two minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar)
Analysis: 1/2* A dominant win for The Viking Raiders as expected considering who their opponents were. I like their offense a lot. They need a feud, but Raw is lacking in face teams other than The Usos.
After the match, Drake Maverick and the midcard wrestlers ran in through the crowd. Ivar hit a slam on Curt Hawkins. Truth was in the ring with the Viking Raiders. They had a staredown and then Truth just left without getting into a fight with them. Maverick went running through the crowd, the other wrestlers chased after them and then Truth went running (with Carmella) in the opposite direction.
Ricochet was shown walking backstage because he faces Gallows up next. Huskus from Firefly Fun House was in the background.
(Commercial)
Roman Reigns was interviewed in the locker room by Charly Caruso. It was just a quick interview with him saying he had nothing to say about Shane picking his partner and he had no idea who it was going to be.
Ricochet made the entrance with the United States Championship. He will defend the title against AJ Styles at Extreme Rules on Sunday. That’s going to be awesome and the good thing is that they will have a longer match than what they had on Raw the last two weeks because they won’t be limited by commercial breaks.
Ricochet said he proved himself last week when he beat AJ Styles. He said before he could celebrate, the trio of Styles, Gallows and Anderson gave him one of the biggest beatings of his life. Ricochet talked about how we all know what’s going to happen here tonight because Gallows will have Styles and Anderson with him. Ricochet said that in the end, he’ll have to fight all three.
The trio of Styles, Gallows and Anderson made their entrance to AJ’s music.
Analysis: Gallows and Anderson have signed new contracts to remain in WWE for the next five years. Styles signed his new deal earlier this year, so this trio can be together as a heel group for several years. They were apparently huge money deals that were a raise over the $500k per year deals they were originally offered that they turned down. Since WWE didn’t want them to leave, they were offered more money. Good for the wrestlers in WWE getting in raises because WWE has more money thanks to the increase in TV deals this year as well as wanting to keep people going to other companies.
Styles told Ricochet to slow down and appreciate the moment. Styles told Ricochet that Gallows is going to stomp a mudhole in him. Styles said let’s appreciate the moment from Raw last week. A video package aired showing the Styles heel turn against Ricochet last week.
Luke Gallows (w/AJ Styles and Karl Anderson) vs. Ricochet
This is not for Ricochet’s US Title. Gallows hit a huge one-armed slam. Ricochet got back up running the ropes leading to a boot to a face by Gallows. Chinlock by Gallows followed by a headbutt to the back. Gallows whipped Ricochet to the turnbuckle, Ricochet with a kick to the face and Gallows hit a huge clothesline with Ricochet doing a flip bump to sell it. Styles was excited about it. Gallows picked up Ricochet for a slam and Ricochet countered it into a rollup for the pinfall win after three minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ricochet
Analysis: * It wasn’t the dreaded ROLLUP OF DEATH~!, but that was the idea behind the surprising rollup win. Gallows got most of the offense and then Ricochet came back using his quickness. They do those kinds of finishes all the time with a smaller guy against a big opponent.
Post match, Styles said we can leave it right there or we can do what Ricochet said he was going to do – go through all three of them. Styles told Ricochet to take on Anderson right here, right now…unless he’s not man enough.
(Commercial)
Ricochet vs. Karl Anderson (w/AJ Styles and Luke Gallows)
This was not for Ricochet’s US Title. Ricochet was aggressive as he hit a springboard clothesline. Styles with a distraction, so Anderson whipped Ricochet into the turnbuckle to take over. Anderson with a back elbow to the face for a two count. Ricochet with a headscissors takeover, kick to the ribs, punch to the face and Anderson hit a spinebuster for two. Anderson with an uppercut punch, Ricochet with a jumping kick and Styles grabbed the foot of Ricochet. Anderson capitalized with an uppercut on Ricochet. When Ricochet was whipped into the ropes, he jumped over the top with a corkscrew attack on Gallows on the floor. Ricochet with a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle onto Styles. Ricochet with a corner dropkick on Anderson. Ricochet up top and he hit a 630 Splash on Anderson for the pinfall win after four minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ricochet
Analysis: *1/2 It was more of an even match compared to what Ricochet did with Gallows. The 630 Splash is one of my favorite finishers in WWE.
After the match, AJ Styles went into the ring and beat on Ricochet with punches. Gallows joined the fun with punches for Ricochet. Styles hit a brainbuster on Ricochet. Gallows lifted up Ricochet leading to Anderson joining in for the Magic Killer slam. Styles teased doing a Styles Clash off the middle ropes, but then he tossed Ricochet down. The fans were all over Styles with boos.
Styles: “I’m a good guy.” Styles said he’ll leave a little bit of Ricochet left so that he has no excuses when Styles beats him at Extreme Rules. Styles told Ricochet to stay down. Styles left with Gallows and Anderson, but then Ricochet pulled himself to his feet by using the ropes for assistance. Anderson and Gallows held Ricochet, so Styles hit a springboard into the Phenomenal Forearm. The heels celebrated with the Too Sweet hand gesture to end it.
Analysis: It was a classic heel beatdown. It was what it needed it to be with The Club dominating to show how strong they are as a group. The problem with segments like this is they have a beating for five minutes with no referees or other wrestlers out there trying to help, yet in most other segments, there are always people trying to break things up. There’s no explanation given, nor do the announcers question it, so it leaves us viewers wondering why they ignore it. Of course, we won’t get an answer to that either. I’m not saying all of that to be picky. I would just prefer some consistency.
There was a video package promoting Evolve’s 10th Anniversary Show on Saturday night on WWE Network. It featured some WWE guys that were in Evolve before they got to NXT or the WWE main roster. It airs this Saturday night on WWE Network. They showed Matt Riddle, Adam Cole, Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa on the graphic.
Analysis: I plan on watching AEW’s Fight for the Fallen event on Saturday and reviewing that on TJRWrestling. It might not be live, but I will review it. I don’t expect to write a review of the Evolve show although I will check it out.
The announcers went over some of the big matches at Extreme Rules. The full card is at the bottom of this post.
There was a shot of Renee Michelle still sitting on a crate as Drake Maverick showed up saying he survived the night as the 24/7 Champion. Truth and a referee were inside the crate. Truth told Maverick (who he called “Hornswoggle” again) that was his “baby” and Carmella (who was in another crate) told Truth to get him. All of them ran away as Bayley walked down a hallway for her match up next.
There was a shot of a janitor walking down a hallway with a limp when Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre said that’s their guy. They tried to talk to him, which led to a break.
(Commercial)
Shane and Drew were in the locker room talking to the janitor named Gary. Shane asked him if he wants to make $5,000 and Gary said sure, he’ll do anything for that. Gary said that he didn’t want to wrestle. Shane just told him he just has to stand on the apron. They had a deal with Shane/Drew thinking he needs a mask too.
Analysis: Gary the Janitor in action later tonight. Thrilling.
Bayley made her entrance with the Smackdown Women’s Championship on around her waist. Sarah Logan entered as the opponent. She hasn’t done much of anything on Raw for the past three months.
Beat the Clock: Bayley vs. Sarah Logan
Bayley got a sunset flip. Bayley with a cross body block off the middle ropes for a two count. Bayley with a knee to the face. Logan launched Bayley into the air followed by a headbutt and a dropkick that sent Bayley to the floor. Back in the ring, Logan with a dropkick that sent Bayley into the turnbuckle for two. Bayley took down Logan followed by punches and Logan came back with a dropkick for two. Logan slapped on a submission on Bayley’s legs and Bayley got to the ropes. The fans were bored, so they chanted “CM Punk” as if that’s going to do something. Bayley avoided a sliding kick, she hit a knee to the face and a clothesline. Logan came back with a clothesline. Bayley got a rollup for two. Bayley with a knee to the face and a sunset flip where she sent the back of Logan’s head into the turnbuckle. Bayley covered for the win at 4:32.
Winner by pinfall: Bayley
Analysis: **1/4 Good showing by both women. Logan got way more offense than I thought she would and she was impressive. The problem is the crowd didn’t care much at all, so that hurt the match.
Nikki Cross entered for her match after the break.
(Commercial)
Beat the Click: Nikki Cross vs. Dana Brooke
The clock counted down from 4:32 as Bayley watched from ringside. Brooke, who is a face, left the ring, went back in and left the ring again to hug her buddy Bayley. Back in the ring, Cross with a headbutt to Brooke and Brooke tossed Cross out of the ring. Cross with a kick for a two count. Cross sent Brooke into the turnbuckle. Brooke countered a suplex leading to a front suplex. Brooke went up top for a Swanton Bomb, but Cross moved and Brooke hit the mat. Brooke rolled up Cross for a two count. Cross with a backslide, Brooke on her feet and the rollup got a two count for Brooke. Cross hit a kick to the gut followed by a swinging neckbreaker for the win with 1:50 left. That means the match went 2:42.
Winner by pinfall: Nikki Cross
Analysis: * It was passable wrestling for the women’s division. Cross gave Brooke a lot of offense and then Cross finished her off with her finish. Brooke has improved this year from what I’ve seen of her on Main Event.
Post match, Cross called for a microphone. Graves said he’s going to ask questions of Rollins and Lynch. Cross told Bayley to come into the ring because she has something to say to her.
Cross said that Bayley doesn’t understand what a real friendship means. Cross told Bayley she’s going to show her what it means to have a friendship and Cross said that it’s going to be a 2 on 1 Handicap Match at Extreme Rules. Cross said she’ll help Alexa win the Smackdown Women’s Title. Cross told Bayley that she needs to find a friend that will slap some sense into her. Bayley slapped Cross in the face. Bayley hit a Bayley to Belly suplex on Cross. Bayley went up top and hit the elbow drop on Cross. Bayley posed with her title.
Analysis: The 2 on 1 Handicap Match suggests that Bayley might lose her title. The way Cross did the promo about Bayley needing a friend makes me think Sasha Banks will return at Extreme Rules to help Bayley retain. Banks is expected to return any week now.
After the break is a Corey Graves interview with Rollins and Lynch.
(Commercial)
Maria and Mike Kanellis were back in their dressing room. Mike had her ice cream and pickles, she said that it will make her fat and yelled at him. Maria asked if he wanted to impregnate her, he said he would do it right now if he could and she said maybe he didn’t impregnate her this time. She yelled at him, so Mike left.
Analysis: There was some overacting by Maria there with the yelling, but I guess that’s the point since she’s a pregnant woman. They teased the idea that somebody else could be the father of the baby although I have no idea if they are going to go far with it. This could be something where it’s just Maria trying to motivate her husband or she’s just a crazy wife.
Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch were interviewed backstage by Corey Graves, who asked how their personal relationship will affect their Extreme Rules. Graves asked how it will feel if Becky loses both their titles or how will she feel if Seth loses their titles. Lynch called Graves an “emo head” for trying to be a journalist. Lynch did a fired up promo about how it’s Extreme Rules, so there are no rules and then there will be no more chances for Evans or Corbin. Lynch said that they are going to walk out the same way they walked in as champions. Rollins: “Uh yeah…what she said.” He left.
A video aired from Smackdown showing Samoa Joe and Kofi Kingston having a face to face showdown that saw Kofi give Joe the middle finger instead of shaking his hand.
The Street Profits were backstage again with Ford trying to impersonate The Rock, but Dawkins told him they aren’t doing that. Dawkins said he’s picking Samoa Joe since he’s new there and he didn’t want to get choked out. Dawkins joked that he was picking Baron Corbin to him, then said Corbin’s mama is betting against him. Dawkins said he’s picking Becky Lynch. Ford got into his “we want the smoke” song to end it.
Analysis: There are a lack of babyface teams on Raw and Smackdown, so The Street Profits would fit in well whenever WWE decides to put them in the ring on the main roster.
Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre were backstage getting ready for the main event match.
(Commercial)
Roman Reigns made his entrance with Michael Cole screaming about the Big Dog. Reigns teams up with The Undertaker at Extreme Rules against Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon. It’s a No Holds Barred Match that could be the main event of the show.
Shane McMahon made his entrance with Mike Rome not doing the “best in the world” introduction for him. Drew McIntyre was up next. Shane made Rome give him the proper introduction. Greg Hamilton aka The Ham does a better job of it. Graves said that was atrocious.
Shane said that Roman knows Shane is the best in the world since he beat him at Super Showdown. Shane said they’ll put Roman and The Undertaker right in the ground. McIntyre said that Reigns had no respect for Shane McMahon or authority because the only person he respects is Roman Reigns. McIntyre said that he’s going to beat the respect into him. McIntyre told everybody to shut up and listen to what the Best in the World has to say.
Shane introduced Roman’s tag team partner…the 5th grade Spelling Bee champion, the three-time Prudential employee of the month and he introduced Gary “The Goat” Garbutt aka the guy that was a janitor earlier. Gary had a mask on and he limped his way to the ring. They went to break with eight minutes left.
Analysis: This angle is lame just like the push of Shane McMahon. I know it’s done to get heat, but it’s been boring for months now.
(Commercial)
Roman Reigns and Gary “The Goat” Garbutt vs. Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre
There were four minutes left in the show. Reigns was in control against McIntyre with a Samoan Drop. McIntyre with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt, Reigns bumped into the turnbuckle and Garbutt was the legal man. McIntyre whipped Reigns shoulder first into the ring post and he bumped to the floor. McIntyre tossed Garbutt into the ring. Garbutt hit a jumping kick to Shane. Garbutt slipped on a springboard clothesline on Shane, but Shane sold it anyway. Garbutt sent McIntyre out of the ring and hit a somersault dive over the top onto McIntyre on the floor. Everybody was freaking out about the Garbutt offense. Garbutt went back into the ring with a springboard cross body block on Shane. McIntyre went back into the ring, hit a Claymore Kick on Gary and Shane covered to win after three minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre
Analysis: *1/2 It was no surprise that “Gary” would lose the match. What was a surprise was seeing some of his offense, but we would find out more about him after the match. They have done a great job of putting over the Claymore Kick as a deadly finisher that very few people ever kick out of.
After the match, Reigns went back into the ring and hit McIntyre with a Superman Punch. Shane and Drew left.
They replayed some of the Garbutt spots that were impressive. Shane demanded an announcement as the winner of the match. Garbutt took the mask off to reveal that it was Cedric Alexander. Shane and Drew were on the top of the ramp celebrating while Roman and Cedric were in the ring as Raw ended that way.
Analysis: It was nice to see WWE remembered that Cedric Alexander was on Raw since he has done nothing for three months.
Three Stars of the Show
- Seth Rollins
- Andrade
- The Usos
The Scoreboard
4.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.5
2019 Average: 5.59 (Smackdown is 6.72)
Last 5 Weeks: 7.5, 6.5, 7, 5.5, 5.5
2019 High: 7.5 (January 14, July 1)
2019 Low: 3.5 (May 27)
Final Thoughts
This week’s Raw gets a 4.5 out of 10.
Bad show. This was a big step back from the great show that we got last week. There wasn’t as much exciting content in terms of storylines or big moments.
There were too many matches that were three minutes or less. I realize that they need to do shorter matches due to their “no matches during a commercial” rule, but I think they could have booked some of this show better. The first hour was the best part and then things went downhill from there.
The next WWE PPV is Extreme Rules on July 14 (this Sunday) in Philadelphia. Here’s what we know so far.
No Holds Barred Match: Roman Reigns and The Undertaker vs. Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon
Extreme Rules Match for the Universal and Raw Women’s Championships: Seth Rollins (c) and Becky Lynch (c) vs. Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans
WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Samoa Joe
United States Championship: Ricochet (c) vs. AJ Styles
Last Man Standing: Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley
Smackdown Tag Team Championships: Daniel Bryan and Rowan (c) vs. New Day (Big E and Xavier Woods) vs. Heavy Machinery (Tucker and Otis)
Smackdown Women’s Championship Handicap Match: Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
Aleister Black vs. ???
Cruiserweight Championships: Drew Gulak (c) vs. Tony Nese
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You can contact me using any of the methods below. See ya next time for the Smackdown review. Thanks for reading.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport