Heel turns, tournaments, the return of a Conquistador, CM Punk chants and many, many setups for either Crown Jewel or Women’s Evolution.
I don’t mind set ups, but man, they are really pushing these overseas Network Specials. I guess it keeps us away from having too many PPVs to watch.
RAW kicks off with Triple H and Shawn Michaels talking about events at Super Show Down. Long story short, we get the next hyped up legends match, DX vs. Brothers of Destruction. HBK back in a ring? Either this will be great, or a train wreck. Triple vs. Taker at the Showdown was pretty decent, but what happens when you add yet another retiree into the mix?
Things take a turn… twice. Bobby Lashley is accompanied by Lio Rush. The voicebox for Lashley easily becomes hated by the live crowd with his painfully annoying cliched banter. Jumping up and down, running around, shouting on the mic during the match… Geez. Well, Lashley get the win, using some shady tactics towards the end. The crowd has already turned on Lashley thanks to Rush, which becomes more natural as Lashley then returns to the ring after it’s over to beat up Owens.
Owens goes face, which wasn’t too far of a stretch anyway, and Lashley goes heel with Lio Rush. Fine. I can live with that. We all love Owens anyway.
Lashley and Rush interrupt a segment with Finn Balor and Bayley. Okay, I don’t think there was any confusion, Lashley and Rush are heels.
Elias performs, making fun of John Cena’s hair style stolen from JBL. He then turns on Chicago and uber-heel achievement has been unlocked. His segment is interrupted by Ronda Rousey.
I think whenever Brie Bella is out to wrestle, the creative staff hides in a corner, covering their eyes. The team of the Bella Twins and Rousey defeat The Riott Squad, but not without a number of botches and clearly mistimed mistakes. The inevitable happened after it was over, with the Bellas turning on Rousey. This means, it will be Nikki Bella facing Ronda Rousey for the Women’s Championship at Evolution.
Yawn.
Finn Balor and Bayley defeated Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox.
Unfortunately, I have nothing to say about this match. It happened.
Backstage: Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre are not on the same page. Seems McIntyre and Ziggler aren’t seeing eye-to-eye so much anymore. Must be those damn tag titles. Win them and suddenly you realize your on a losing streak? I swear, this always happens. Teams are great units, suddenly win titles, and then said team is scripted to have trouble holding it together. Bizarre formula WWE.
Bacon Rorbin’s Global Battle Royal – This is to be included in a World Cup Tournament for Crown Jewel. It’s Corbin vs. Jobbers. Corbin almost wins, until Los Conquistador IX is at ringside biding his time. He enters and suddenly goes to town with German suplexes and… and Angle Slam? Corbin is eliminated as the masked man is revealed to be… KURT ANGLE!
Pretty funny stuff.
Ember Moon defeats Nia Jax via DQ
Once more, not sure what I can say. This match happened, and no one seemed interested.
Trish Stratus is in the ring to promote Women’s Evolution. She is interrupted by Mickie James and Alexa Bliss. They decide to challenge Trish to a tag match at Evolution. Trish then brings out Lita! Nice crowd pop, and now a featured match at the PPV now involved three women who wrestled about 10-15 years ago and, Alexa Bliss. Not sure if I’m liking this change.
Chad Gable & Bobby Roode defeat The Ascension
This was interesting. Gable looks way too happy. Way to happy. Bit scary. Ascension seem to have found their stride since being used for comedy. Roode is on a roll until Gable blind tags in, and hits a rolling arc German suplex for the pinfall win. Cool move. However, post-match, The Authors of Pain charge the ring and decimate both teams. Everyone approves!
Rabbi Paul Heyman comes out to cut a promo how it seems silly how guys like Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman beat the hell out of each daily just to entertain fans. Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar sits at home comfortably, biding his time. He promises at Crown Jewel, he client will regain the WWE Universal Championship.
Honestly, sign Reigns back as part of the Shield, I feel as though the title has been all but forgotten.
Main Event: Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre defeat The Shield.Â
This was a really good match. Strowman seems to spend more time on the floor, or yelling at his partners for being morons. Tons of rapid paced action, and I’ll give Reigns credit, he knows where he can be comfortable. The finish sees Rollins and Ziggler with a dangerous-looking reverse suplex spot over the ropes and to the outside, while Ambrose turns and eats a Claymore by McIntyre. The heels celebrate, while Ambrose suddenly bails on Reigns and Rollins.
If Shield is done already, all I can say is: “That was quick.”
Not a bad episode. Could have been better at points, but ranked high on the entertainment-O reader
