This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw kicked off with the entire roster on the stage and Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon in the ring. Mick Foley then announced that there will be a new Heavyweight Championship on Monday Night Raw and that belt will be called the WWE Universal Championship. Mick Foley announced that there will be two fatal four way matches tonight on Raw, the winners of those two matches will face off against each other in the main event. The winner of that main event will go on to face Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship at Summerslam. Stephanie McMahon also made it a point to state that Roman Reigns cost Raw the title last night at WWE Battleground. It was also announced that Charlotte will be defending her Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks later in the show.
Reaction: Great way to kick off the new era of Monday Night Raw. The redesigned set also looks excellent.
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Universal Championship Qualifying Fatal Four Way Match: Cesaro vs Rusev vs Kevin Owens vs Finn Balor
The match started off with Balor going right after Kevin Owens. Cesaro and Rusev battled outside the ring. Rusev and Kevin Owens took turns Suplexing Finn Balor. Owens and Rusev continued to work together and beatdown Cesaro. Eventually, Cesaro battled back and hit the Uppercut Train on Balor, Owens and Rusev. Kevin Owens hit a giant Frog Splash on Balor, but Finn was able to kickout. Owens followed it up with a Pop-up Powerbomb on Balor but Cesaro broke up the pin. Rusev locked in the Accolade on Owens and once again Cesaro broke it up and hit Rusev with a powerful Suplex. This led to Cesaro hitting the Cesaro Swing on Rusev and then proceeded to lock in the Sharpshooter on Rusev but Kevin Owens broke up the hold. It came down to Rusev and Finn Balor after Balor knocked Kevin Owens out of the ring. Balor hit the Coup de Grace on Rusev for the victory.
Winner and Advancing to the Main Event of Raw: Finn Balor
Reaction: This was an awesome match and an awesome debut on the main roster for Finn Balor. The main event of Raw tonight will no be Balor versus whomever wins the second fatal four way match and the winner of that match faces Rollins at Summerslam for the Universal Championship.
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Nia Jax vs Britt Baker
Nia Jax dominated this match versus local wrestler Britt Baker. This was a good old fashion enhancement match and it’s sole purpose was to make Nia Jax look strong. Mission accomplished.
Winner: Nia Jax
Universal Championship Qualifying Fatal Four Way Match: Chris Jericho vs Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn vs Sheamus
Just like the first fatal four way match, this one was highly entertaining. There were points in the match where it seemed like Sheamus was going to finally get back on track in the WWE. He had a strong showing but wound up falling short. Sami Zayn was flying all over the place and got in a ton of offense in this match but ultimately it wasn’t enough. Sheamus and Zayn were outside the ring when Roman Reigns went for a Spear on Jericho. As Reigns was running towards him, Jericho hit Reigns with a kick to the face and followed it up with a Codebreaker. Reigns powered out at two and Jericho became frustrated. He was yelling at Reigns to stay down and then mockingly did Reigns’ roar before he goes for the Spear. Jericho ran at Reigns and Roman avoided him and hit Jericho with a Spear for the victory.
Winner and Advancing to the Main Event of Raw: Roman Reigns
Reaction: Roman Reigns was the clear favorite in this match and he would up victorious. This match was solid and it sets up a very interesting main event between Reigns and Finn Balor, with the winner of that contest to face Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship at Summerslam.
The New Day come down to the ring to celebrate their reign as Tag Team Champions as well as the release of the new Booty-O cereal. They state that they want to celebrate with an honorary fourth member of the New Day and select someone randomly from the crowd. The guy is clearly a plant in the crowd, but still it is supposed to be random. They ask the man’s name and he replied with “Sonny Boy”. The New Day simply cannot believe that this guy’s name is Sonny Boy and proceed to rattle off several unfunny jokes about his name. Anderson and Gallows interrupt this never-ending promo and demolish the New Day.
Reaction: This promo was so unfunny that when the Club interrupted it brought a tear to my eye. This segment aside, I’m looking forward to the Club versus the New Day.
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Curtis Axel vs Neville
Neville made his return and quickly disposed of Curtis Axel.
Darren Young and Bob Backlund are shown backstage. Backlund was offering words of encouragement when Goldust and R-Truth appeared. Goldust asked Backlund not to move because he was trying to catch a Jigglypuff on Backlund’s bowtie. This caused Bob Backlund to lose his mind and scream at Goldust and R-Truth. It appears that Monday Night Raw has also drafted horrifically unfunny and incredibly awkward promos to their roster as well.
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Sasha Banks vs Charlotte (c)
Sasha Banks controlled most of the beginning of this match. The only time Charlotte got in any offense was when Dana Brooke grabbed Sasha’s leg from outside the ring and Charlotte took advantage. Eventually, Charlotte got in some offense and the action spilled outside the ring. Charlotte taunted Sasha Banks with the title and screamed “you don’t deserve this!” while pointing at Championship. Sasha responded with a kick in the face that sent Charlotte flying. Sasha Banks then did a tribute to Eddie Guerrero and pretended that Dana Brooke attacked her. This caused the referee to remove Dana Brooke from ringside.
Sasha Banks dove onto Charlotte outside the ring but it was botched Sasha had a rough landing. Charlotte then hit an incredible Moonsault onto Sasha outside the ring from the top rope. Charlotte then hit the Natural Selection inside the ring but Sasha grabbed the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. Charlotte locked in the Figure Eight but Sasha Banks was able to escape the hold. Sasha Banks locked in the Bank Statement but Charlotte was able to get her foot under the ropes to break the hold. However, Sasha Banks locked in the Bank Statement again and this time it was in the middle of the ring. Charlotte had no choice but to tap out. After the match, Banks was overcome with emotion. Byron Saxton was trying to interview her but the crowd was loudly chanting “you deserve it!”. Sasha Banks stated that her becoming the Women’s Champion proves that she is the best. Sasha Banks then promised that every single week she will show everyone that their is only one “Boss” in the WWE.
Winner and New WWE Women’s Champion: Sasha Banks
Reaction: This was a terrific match and an awesome moment Sasha Banks. Hopefully this feud between Charlotte and Sasha Banks continues because this was a very good match.
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Braun Strowman vs James Elsworth
Much like the Nia Jax match earlier tonight, this was an enhancement match. Strowman came out with new music and a new look. He then proceeded to destroy local wrestler James Elsworth. Strowman got the victory in short order after hitting a massive Reverse Chokeslam.
Enzo and Big Cass vs the Shining Stars
The match started off with Epico and Enzo in the ring. The Shining Stars were taking it to Enzo early but the momentum changed with Big Cass was tagged in. The ring was cleared and Primo was the only one left in the ring. R-Truth and Goldust showed up in the ring and were still hunting pokemon. Primo was distracted by this and it allowed Big Cass to lay him out with a big boot for the victory.
Winners: Enzo and Big Cass
Universal Championship #1 Contender Match: Roman Reigns vs Finn Balor
Roman Reigns dominated the match early by launching Finn Balor all over the ring. Roman Reigns had a massive size advantage over Balor in this match and was using it to overpower him. However, Balor was able to use his quickness and land some kicks on Reigns out of nowhere. However, Balor’s momentum was short-lived as Reigns pummeled Balor in the corner of the ring. The action spilled outside the ring and Balor slammed Reigns into the barricade. When Raw returned from commercial break, Reigns had recaptured control the match. Reigns was favoring his leg because during the break Balor had focused his attack on it. Reigns was knocked out the ring and Balor hit him with a running knee. The two Superstars then worked back into the ring and Balor had all of the momentum but Reigns was kicking out of everything. Reigns then hit Balor with a Superman Punch out of nowhere, but Balor kicked out at two. This frustrated Roman Reigns and he began talking to himself in the corner. Reigns went for the Razor’s Edge but Falor countered it into a roll-up but Reigns kicked out. Reigns went for the Spear but Balor countered and laid Reigns out. Balor then hit the Coup De Grace on Reigns for the victory. After the match, Roman Reigns stated that he hopes Balor beats Rollins at Summerslam. Reigns also stated that he wants to fight Balor again.
Winner and #1 Contender for the Universal Championship: Finn Balor
Reaction: Another great match and another awesome result. It will be Seth Rollins versus Finn Balor for the Universal Championship at Summerslam. Overall, this was a great way to kickoff the new era of Monday Night Raw. Smackdown has a tough act to follow tomorrow night.
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What did you think of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw? Let us know in the comments below.