With the injury to Finn Balor forcing him to relinquish the WWE Universal title, a two-week tournament began this week on RAW to crown a new champion.
Talk about a bummer.
Add in awful promo from Titus O’Neil and a dragging pace and the first RAW after Summerslam was a complete bore. If it wasn’t for the RAW debut of Bayley and retiring Dudely Boys (and Anderson and Gallows’ decimation of them), this week’s RAW would have been a complete waste of a time.
Matches:
WWE Universal Championship Tournament: Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins: Zayn worked the injured ankle angle the entire match as Rollins and Zayn traded strikes and signature maneuvers throughout. Zayn nearly won with a top rope Sit-Out Powerbomb and the Exploder, but Rollins hit a vicious Knee Lift and continued to work on Zayn’s ankle. After a Hell Hook submission from Rollins, Zayn went for the Michinoku Driver, but Rollins countered into the Pedigree for the win.
WWE Universal Championship Tournament: Kevin Owens vs. Neville: Owens got help from Chris Jericho who appeared as soon as Neville started gaining momentum. Owens proved his mettle though kicking out of a German Suplex and Corkscrew Moonsault. Owens was unable to hit the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Jericho’s antics stopped Neville from going for the Red Arrow. A Torture Rack Neck Breaker later from Owens and he got the win.
WWE Tag Team Champion Big E. Langston w/Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. Karl Anderson w/Luke Gallows: Langston wasted little time and got the win over Anderson with The Big Ending.
WWE Universal Championship Tournament: Colin Cassady w/Enzo Amore vs. United States Champion Rusev w/Lana: Rusev walked out of the match to give Cassady the count-out win.
Bailey vs. Dana Brooke w/WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair: Bailey made quick work of Brooke, winning with the Bayley-to-Belly.
Braun Strowman vs. Johnny Knockout: Strowman won with the Reverse Chokeslam and then hit The Big Ending after the match.
WWE Universal Championship Tournament: Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns:Â Help from Kevin Owens nearly got Jericho the win on several occasions, but Reigns eventually got the win with the Spear.
Leave a Reply