Seth Rollins opens to cut a promo ahead of Hell in a Cell. Braun Strowman comes out to confront Seth, which ends with Seth challenging Braun later tonight. I find it odd that they are still trying to play the angle between these two, I do not love them together, they are both too serious to be an entertaining pair, but given the fact that they are both great workers, I can see why this feud is enticing.
The first match of the night is The OC (Anderson & Gallows) vs The Viking Raiders. Early in the match AJ Styles, who is ringside, tries to trip up Ivar, but Ivar fights Styles off. The referee sends AJ backstage for interfering but before he can get there Cedric Alexander attacks Styles as they go backstage and brawl. The match continues on, many boots and back elbows traded between the two tag teams. Eventually the Viking Raiders win by pinfall with the Viking Experience on Karl Anderson. I am, personally, a huge fan of the Viking Raiders (and a fan of their formal moniker). They are always good at bringing a lot of energy to the matches they are in, so this was a good way to start Monday Night RAW.
There is a pre-taped interview between Becky Lynch and Michael Cole. They discuss Becky’s Hell in a Cell match against Sasha Banks for the RAW Women’s Title. It was a solid promo for Becky, I am excited for this match, but I do not know how long they can extend a feud between Sasha and Becky. Especially since Becky needs to hold the title.
Next is Rusev vs EC3 in a quick match. I loved EC3 in NXT and I am upset about how he has been used by RAW, as much of the NXT talent is brought up, there is not enough room for him to breath. I think the gimmick of the rich heel who is ripped could do really well today, but sadly, they have not used him properly in this way. Rusev wins by submission with the Accolade.
The next match of the evening is Nikki Cross vs. Sasha Banks with Alexa Bliss and Bayley at ringside, respectively. I do not think it is an understatement to say that Nikki Cross is one of the most exciting performers in the Women’s division. Every time Nikki is in a match I get excited to see what will happen, this match does not disappoint. It is a grueling match with Cross charging Sasha from the start. I lost count of the amount of neckbreakers Nikki tried to get off on Sasha. At one point Bayley tries to run interference but Alexa Bliss hits her and throws her into the timekeeper’s area. Cross tries to get a diving crossbody off the top rope but Banks is able to roll through and but the Bank Statement on Nikki, Sasha Banks wins by submission. I thought this match was one of the best matches of the evening.
Backstage, The Street Profits and the Miz cut a great promo, Miz announces the birth of his second daughter, as well as that he will be hosting a Miz TV next week for the season premiere for Monday Night Raw with guest Hulk Hogan!
Ember Moon and Lacey Evans face off in a relatively quick match. Ember Moon did a cool eclipse from the apron to the floor but unfortunately it was not enough, Evans gets Moon back into the ring, hits her with the Women’s Right and then lands a submission with the Sharpshooter.
The Firefly Fun House segment was not very good. Huskus and Rambling Rabbit get into a fight over a Seth Rollins action figure because they are both such big fans. Bray tells them that sharing is not easy but you should not become too attached because loving something makes you weak. He decides to go with the King Solomon solution and break the action figure in half.
There was a 24/7 segment that was actually quite good, especially compared to the previous segment. Carmella begs everyone to stop chasing her and R Truth. R Truth pulls her in for a hug, as they embrace Carmella gets the jump on him with a schoolboy pin and pins him for the title! R Truth does not seem mad though, and aids in Carmella’s escape as she flees from the women’s division chasing her through the stadium.
King Corbin comes out to say that the next match against his opponent Chad Gable will be rather short, and says that after tonight he will no longer have to compete against anyone under 5’5”. The match is fine, nothing spectacular. Near the end of the match, Corbin tries to get an End of Days on Gable, but Gable counters and gets Corbin in the ankle lock, left with no other choice, Corbin grabs his scepter and attacks Gable to get disqualified.
There is a backstage segment with The Authors of Pain, they are in suits and just start beating on production assistants backstage. It is a short segment but this appears to be some sort of “re-debut.” I am hoping WWE is able to properly re-tool AoP, I do not know if they need a manager but I think there is room for a menacing tag team on RAW.
The penultimate match of the evening is a Fatal Five Way between AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, Ricochet, Robert Roode, and Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender. This is probably the best version of a Fatal Five Way on RAW without involving someone like Braun Strowman. A diverse group of wrestlers and two high fliers who can take many of the high spots. Ricochet is the first to go out by pinfall from Nakamura via Kinshasa. Nakamura tries to take out Mysterio but cannot as Roode comes in for a Tower of Doom. Eventually Styles is able to take out Nakamura with a Phenomenal Forearm to get the pinfall. Immediately after that, Roode comes in with a Glorious DDT and pins AJ to eliminate him. Roode tries to take out Mysterio with a Glorious DDT, Mysterio reverses to a schoolboy, but Roode breaks out. Mysterio tries to 619 but Roode counters with a spinebuster. Rey Mysterio is able to land a frog splash on Roode and pin him to become the #1 contender for the universal championship. The match was very good, and it is nice to see Rey Mysterio getting to compete for the Universal Championship, it seems difficult that he will actually win but it should provide for a good match against Rollins.
The headline match is Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman. The match starts quite well, Seth Rollins is able to work well with Braun Strowman because he has ways of coming off as he can match up against Strowman without it seeming ridiculous. Strowman does a great job of throwing around Rollins for much of the match. Strowman is able to get a running powerslam on Rollins, which seems like it will be the end of the match. Suddenly, the lights dim and the Fiend is in the ring as he gets the mandible claw on Strowman, which brings us to the end of the episode.
Overall, I think this episode was fine, the Fatal Five Way and Nikki Cross’ match were the highlights for me. I look forward to Rey Mysterio facing off against Seth Rollins. Next week, the season premiere of Monday Night RAW, which is strange for an episodic series that has no breaks, but so be it.
