Take away a wonderful main event between Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks and this was a mediocre episode of RAW.
Growing pains are rough in wrestling. With Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho over as a team and Seth Rollins surging as a face, this week’s RAW had a few fun moments, but this week’s episode was all about building for the future.
Make no mistake- Roman Reigns and Rusev have the best United States title feud in years and the resurgence of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson make the Tag Team Division far more formidable. Add in the promise of Braun Stowman facing a quality competitor next week and no squash matches for Bo Dallas and Nia Jax and it’s easy to see RAW is moving in a much better situation.
Matches:
Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick: Perkins started off hot, but Kendrick told a different story as he nailed Perkins with a Big Boot and a Neckbreaker (while he had Perkins’ hand in the turnbuckle post.) After the commercial break Perkins fought back and locked on the Knee Bar, but Kendrick escaped and went on the offensive again, hitting the Sliced Bread #2 for the near-fall. Kendrick then latched on the Bully Choke, but Perkins escaped. After a Wrecking Ball Dropkick, Perkins looked to go for the Fireman’s Pele, but Kendrick raked Perkins’ eyes and then went for the Choke again, this time getting the submission victory.
Braun Strowman vs. Chase Silver: Another squash as Strowman hit a few modified Shoulder Blocks and won with the Running Powerslam. After the match, Strowman demanded tougher competition.
Sami Zayn vs. Titus O’Neil: Zayn got the win with the Exploder and Helluva Kick, putting an end to the “Titus Brand†nonsense.
The Golden Truth: Goldust and R-Truth vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson: R-Truth had his moments, but Gallows and Anderson won with The Magic Killer.
WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Day: Big E. Langston and Xavier Woods w/Kofi Kingston vs. Chris Jericho and WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens: Seth Rollins played a key role as his interference cost Jericho the win as he had Woods in the Lion Tamer. With Owens out of the equation, Woods and Langston won with the Midnight Hour. After the match, Rollins hit Jericho with the Pedigree.
Rich Swann vs. Tony Nese: Best match of the night up until that point as there was plenty of back and forth. Ness got the win with the Pump-Handle Driver.
Sheamus and Antonio Cesaro vs. Raul White and Michael Carradine: Another ugly match that saw Sheamus and Cesaro dominate. Sheamus got the win with the Brogue Kick.
RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair w/Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks:A ton of consenters and near-falls and in spite of a few botches, this was a war. Flair hit the Corkscrew Moonsault on the outside, the Natural Selection and plenty of Boots, but couldn’t put Banks away. On a counter of a Tilt-a-Whirl Slam, Banks was able to lock on the Bank Statement and then counter Flair’s pinning combination into the maneuver again, earning the RAW Women’s Championship for the second time in her career.
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