This is the strangest episode of RAW I have seen in a long time. I started watching late, then my USA Network feed cut out, and then I found myself feeling really confused to a point where I thought members of NXT UK were going to show up. It’s as though Vince McMahon is getting really tired, and since he couldn’t resurrect the nWo without risking Kevin Nash hurting another toenail, we went with a new concept called The Wild Card where SmackDown and RAW wrestlers can just go brand-hopping.
So, we had a brand split, a superstar shake up, a draft lotto, and in the end it doesn’t matter because they want Roman Reigns on RAW anyway.
Cue the Benny Hill theme.
RAW kicks off with Vince McMahon. Almost immediately interrupted by Roman Reigns who talks about how Vince and HHH lied to the fans since clearly nothing has changed despite their claim they listen to the fans. I guess this is somewhat true. Just then, Daniel Bryan’s music hits. until He complains about everything. But wait, HERE COMES KOFI KINGSTON. He gets into it with Bryan. However, Drew McIntrye comes out. Valid talk. Keeping score? AJ STYLES arrives to vent about his altercation with… the next guy to hit the ring, Seth Rollins, and Vince puts Rollins and Styles in a match against Bacon Rorbin and Booby Looshey because I have nothing nice to say about them.
This opening was both insane and awkward. Insane because having McIntyre interrupt could have been his segue into main eventing, and the sudden appearance of Bryan had us thinking there could have been more going on. Maybe Vince’s new buddy, maybe Bryan vs. Reigns, Kofi showing up made this crazier, and Vince booking a WWE Championship match tonight just went crazy.
However, it did throw things off as it seemed to favor the former RAW wrestlers rather than the current ones. As I said, both insane, but at the same time just a bit awkward to see it all play out.
Forget the match. This went way too damn long and ended in the most predictable way, per usual, the faces “miscommunicate” giving the heels the victory and adding to the feud.
Sami Zayn is out to run down the fans, but this time Braun Strowman enters. Zayn leaves. Buh bye!
Please let this not be a feud. I feel like we saw this already.
The Lucha House Party defeats a trio of nobodies. Yep, we’re back in 1990.
Lacey Evans invites various women to watch her upcoming massive match. This is a big deal folks, and all the women are invited to sit ringside as Lacey faces her biggest challenge yet.
Performing.
In other news, if a guy switches brands, gets rebranded, one would think a push would be next. NOPE! Robert Roode loses to Ricochet. Again. I love Ricochet as much as the next fan, but he can be allowed to lose once-in-a-while. This is getting ridiculous. WWE is going to ruin him before he can make it big.
Samoa Joe finds Dominic, the son of Rey Mysterio who just happens to be lumbering around backstage. Joe sends a message, first verbally, and then whacks him. Didn’t see that coming. Well, we all did because we’ve seen this script before.
Lacey Evans defeats a local jobber. We really have time traveled here. No one looks impressed, Evans sucks. Move on. Wait… Becky Lynch has to scare her off first.
The Viking Raiders destroy Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins. Yep, we may soon see the Thor Warriors as both NXT and RAW Tag Champions. Not much more to say than that.
OH THANK YOU It’s the Firefly Funhouse. Apparently, Mercy the Vulture has murdered the Rambling Rabbit. We wind up with a very sad picnic. This is amazing.
This show has been strange, and when Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House is the sane part, you know there is a problem.
Get your scorecards out… Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntrye goes to a no-contest. Reigns is staging his claim for victory, when Shane McMahon and Elias rush out and stomp away. Suddenly The Miz arrives with a chair to chase of Shane while Elias and McIntyre continue the beating. Shane hightails it to the limo, but Miz catches up and starts clobbering away until a low-blow allows Shane to escape.
Don’t ask me who is on which brand anymore.
In further burial, The Revival is defeated by Icy Hot, instead of the Good Brothers (Gallows and Anderson). If you are wondering who is being buried here, it’s all four. The Usos laced Dash and Dawson’s trunks with Icy Hot and it burns. What really burns is how this is a stupid shtick which should have stayed in the Attitude Era because this humor absolutely sucks. It buries everyone as Gallows and Anderson have barely been on TV, when they are, it’s to job. Revival did nothing until winning tag team titles, even then, they still lost every non-title match, and now they are reduced to sheer stupidity.
Where is The Great Khali to remind us things CAN BE WORSE?!
Lars Sullivan murders No Way Jose. I have nothing to add.
Our main event features a WrestleMania rematch between Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship. Thank the Creator something was good tonight. Bryan and Kingston put on a fantastic match, as expected, and having a clean finish was one hell of a way to send off the show, and possibly the end of this feud. Kofi has really stepped it up and proving (to me at least) that an 11-year midcarder can be deserving of a WWE Championship.
It does seem strange to put this as the main event on RAW. The detractors will likely say it’s because there is no more star power, but I think this is likely one big big buildup past Money in the Bank, but to the new PPV addition, Stomping Grounds.
