RAW kicks off with the recap of Roman Reigns going public about Leukemia. Bacon Rorbin has the WWE Universal Championship over his shoulder pretending to be a champ and discusses at Crown Jewel, a new champ will be crowned. Brock Lesnar and Rabbi Paul Heyman address the crowd and the rhetoric of Lesnar walking out champ. Strowman interrupts, Corbin gets in his face, and eats a few powerslams as a result. After number three, Lesnar then tosses Strowman for an F5, and it looks like he lands awkwardly. Hope that wasn’t an injury.
Corbin plays the heel, wishing Reigns a recovery, but hopes he goes to SmackDown.
I have a hard time caring about the Universal Championship. If Lesnar wins, we’re back to square one. If Strowman wins, I’ll have it in my head he’s going to drop to Lesnar at Survivor Series.
Finn Balor defeats Bobby Lashley by DQ
Somewhat decent match. Ruined by Lio Rush and his grating “Lash-Lee! Lash-Lee!” Man, he’s like a more annoying Bill Alfonso, but not in the good way.
Post match, Lashley puts the hurt on Balor. As a result, Bacon Bits Rorbin says he’s in the Crown Jewel Tournament and replaces John Cena, “who didn’t do a thing to qualify.”
Shots fired?
It’s a bit strange how this tournament is billed to find the “best wrestler in the world.” Wouldn’t that be the WWE Champion? Please, they are going to let an American Gold Medalist win? I’d laugh if they did.
Natalya, Lita, Trish, Bayley, and Sasha Banks defeated Mickie James, Alicia Fox, and Riott Squadd.
Decent match as well, I guess gave the faces time to hit all their finishers to go out on a high note. Yay.
In a very strange segment: Elias mocks Bacon Rorbin, because this seems to be tonight’s theme. He replays the El-Kabong from last week and then decides to go backstage to pay Corbin a visit. He plays a song outside the locker room door.
Dana Brooks showed up because she wanted a song. Elias said… No.
Jinder Mahal arrives and beats up Elias. They have a match, Elias wins. Que?
Chad Gable and Bobby Roode defeat The Ascension and the Authors of Pain
Come on WWE, the AOP is supposed to be dominating by brutalizing everyone. This was not it. This shouldn’t have been a match. AOP should have gone into the ring, and just mauled everyone. No match, just a wrecking crew. Instead, Roode pins Viktor for a quick win, and then AOP attacks.
Not a good way to book tag teams WWE. Then again, history shows this is one thing WWE has been consistent in during the past decade.
Seth Rollins in the ring, demanding answers from Dean Ambrose. If you expected a confrontation, you weren’t getting it. Instead, Rollins cuts the segment promo all by himself while Ambrose says nothing. Just builds the uber-heel status of Ambrose.
Nia Jax defeats Ember Moon. Suddenly, a wild Tamina Snuka appears! There is a staredown. Then Michael Cole talks up Crown Jewel.
Up next, it’s the Lucha House Party debut on RAW. I just noticed their logo font is the old In Your House pay-per-view logo. They assist with the continued burial of The Revival. Sigh.
Dolph Ziggler is out with Drew McIntyre for his match against Apolo Crews. Before the bout, Ziggler cuts a solid promo about his hard work and easily segues into the Crown Jewel World Cup tournament. I was more into hearing McIntyre say he wants the winner of Strowman vs. Lesnar. Watchable match, Crews got to show off more of his impressive strength and aerial skills. But, while Ziggler put over Crews’ abilities, selling the hell out of them, Ziggler would still go over in victory.
Final segment of the night, Kane and The Undertaker come out with the usual evil promos, “darkness falls” and “eternal damnation” and some “impending doom of darkness eternal falling something something.” Typical Deadman promo. DX comes out, well, Triple H does the distraction, allowing a disturbingly bald Shawn Michaels to superkick the Undertaker. The DX celebration does not last as lightening strikes and ‘Taker awakens.
Not a bad show tonight. Seemed decently paced, but I feel the star power is lacking and with the return of Lesnar, we are either back to the drawing board or hopefully we can all move on.
