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7 Takeaways From WWE RAW (6/4)

finn balor raw

Written by

Robert Lentini

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The June 4th episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Here are 7 takeaways from this week’s show:

Mahal & Elias Defeated Reigns & Rollins

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

RAW kicked off with an Elias performance. Elias asked the crowd “who wants to walk with Elias?” and the crowd cheered along. He referred to himself as WWE’s most valuable asset and vowed to become the next Intercontinental Champion at Money in the Bank.

Elias boasted about hitting Rollins with his guitar last week as footage of the attack was shown over and over again. Seth Rollins interrupted and hobbled his way down to the ring. Elias stood in the ring with the guitar and dared Rollins to get inside.

Seth circled the ring as the crowd chanted “lets go Rollins!”. Rollins grabbed a steel chair from under the ring and Elias slowly retreated towards the ropes as Seth hopped up to the ring apron. Rollins joined Elias in the ring for a standoff. The two circled each other and then took a swing at the same time.

Rollins hit the guitar out of Elias’ hand and Elias retreated to the corner. Jinder Mahal rushed the ring and attacked Rollins from behind. Roman Reigns came down for the save and beat the hell out of Jinder, Elias and Sunil Singh. RAW GM Kurt Angle came down to the entrance ramp and announced that Mahal & Elias will face Reigns & Rollins in a Tag Team Match right now.

Mahal and Rollins started off the match. Seth decked Jinder with a Dropkick and tagged in Roman. Reigns elbowed Mahal in the face and quickly tagged Seth back in. Mahal drove Seth to the corner, which allowed Elias to tag in and beatdown Rollins. Elias connected with a Clothesline and then applied a Headlock.

Seth eventually broke free, but Jinder was able to tag in and prevent him from tagging out. Rollins finally was able to tag out after throwing Mahal to the outside. Reigns blasted Elias off the ring apron and hit Jinder with a series of Clotheslines in the corner. Roman followed it up with a boot to the face and Elias tagged himself in.

Elias was greeted with a big boot from Reigns. Roman hit Mahal off the ring apron and then went for the Drive By on the ring apron. Sunil pulled Mahal out of the way and Elias connected with a Clothesline to Reigns. RAW went to a commercial break after Elias kneed Reigns in the head outside the ring.

When RAW returned, Elias had Reigns trapped in the corner. He connected with a couple of right hands and then tagged Mahal back in. Jinder delivered an elbow to the head, a knee to the back and then a Headlock. Mahal broke the hold to hit Reigns with a knee to the ribs before tagging Elias back into the match. Elias dropped Roman with an elbow to the face for a two count.

Mahal tagged back in and continued to beatdown Reigns. Jinder went back to the Headlock, but Reigns broke free this time and planted him with a Samoan Drop. Rollins tagged in and connected with a Slingblade to Elias. Seth followed it up with a Blockbuster off the second rope for a two count. Seth connected with the Falcon Arrow and went for the cover. Mahal leaped into the ring to break it up, but was then dropped with a Superman Punch.

Rollins geared up for the Curb Stomp but Sunil jumped up on the apron. Seth shoved him down and Reigns caught him. Mahal used the distraction and launched Roman into the steel steps. Jinder threw Reigns over the barricade, but turned around into a Suicide Dive from Rollins. Seth bashed his head/neck into the barricade during the move. Sunil grabbed a steel chair, but Rollins took it from him and brought it into the ring. Elias planted Rollins with a DDT onto the chair and then the Drift Away for the pinfall victory. Roman and Jinder brawled backstage later on the show.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1003796772697853953

Baron Corbin Ruined Taco Night & Is Now The Constable Of RAW

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Curt Hawkins came down to the ring with a table of tacos. Hawkins has lost his last 199 matches and vowed not to lose his 200th match. Hawkins said that if he wins tonight, he will give everyone a free taco. Hawkins opponent was “James Harden” from Houston.

Hawkins connected with a massive Clothesline as the crowd chanted “we want tacos!”. Baron Corbin’s music hit and Corbin marched down to the ring. Corbin planted James Harden with End of Days and left the ring. Curt was then disqualified and lost his 200th match in a row.

After the match, Corbin hit Hawkins with a taco in the face and then flipped the table of tacos onto Hawkins. Baron then laughed his way up the entrance ramp and all the way backstage.

Corbin confronted RAW GM Kurt Angle backstage and said that he spoke to Stephanie McMahon recently. Stephanie appointed him the “Constable of RAW” and he will be assisting Angle going forward.

Opinion: There is absolutely nothing interesting on RAW right now. I’m not sure Baron Corbin as the “Constable of RAW” is going to solve that. Corbin reversed a decision later on the show tonight. Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss & Ember Moon battled The Riott Squad. Alexa Bliss abandoned her team and Bayley came down to the ring. Bayley hit the Bayley to Belly on Sarah Logan for the win. Corbin told Angle to reverse the decision because Bayley wasn’t in the match. Angle did what he was told and then Sasha Banks got mad at Bayley for getting involved. Welcome to The Authority, starring Baron Corbin and messages from Stephanie McMahon on RAW.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1003799303880626177

Ronda Didn’t Want Nia To Help Natalya

Natalya faced Nia Jax tonight on RAW. Ronda Rousey joined commentary for the match. Nia started off the match in control and leveled Natalya with a shoulder tackle that sent her tumbling out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Nia Jax was still in control and had Natalya in a Headlock. Natalya broke free with a Jawbreaker and then went for a Body Slam, but she was unable to lift Nia off the ground. Jax responded with a headbutt to the face that knocked Natalya to the corner of the ring.

Natalya connected with a Dropkick to Nia and then knocked her to the canvas with a Clothesline. Natalya’s knee gave out on her as she was running towards the ropes. Nia capitalized and hit the Samoan Drop for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Natalya took off her boot and slammed on the mat in pain. Rousey came down to the ring to check on her friend. Jax wanted to check on Natalya as well but Ronda wouldn’t let her. The two started trash talking for a moment and Rousey told her to leave. Ronda then helped Natalya to the back as Nia looked on from inside the ring.

Later on RAW, Nia Jax approached Natalya backstage. Rousey still wouldn’t let Nia Jax talk to her, even after Natalya said that she knew Nia didn’t hurt her on purpose. Ronda and Nia started arguing as Natalya tried to stop them. Natalya finally had enough and hobbled away after telling Jax and Rousey that she needed a minute to herself.

Opinion: This feud has been horrendous. I don’t know what Nia Jax’s character is supposed to be anymore. I’d rather a title match between Ronda Rousey & Nia Jax to not be about Natalya, but that is just me.

Braun Strowman Broke A Ladder In Half

Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman (Photo: Instagram @WWE)

Bobby Roode battled Braun Strowman tonight on RAW. Braun threw Roode across the ring to start off the match. Roode went after Strowman’s legs with a few kicks, but Braun shrugged them off and slammed Roode face-first to the canvas.

Roode connected with an elbow to the face and then dodged Strowman as he charged at him. Braun crashed shoulder-first into the ring post and then fell out of the ring. Roode grabbed a ladder from under the ring and set it up from the barricade to the ring apron.

Strowman chased Roode around the ring and then Bobby ducked under the ladder. Roode then taunted Strowman and Braun shut him up by smashing the ladder in half with his two hands. Braun then brought Roode back into the ring and planted him with a Running Powerslam for the pinfall victory.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1003807369321701376

The B-Team Earned A Title Shot

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

RAW Tag Team Champions Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy came down to the ring for an interview with Renee Young. Matt asked Renee if she felt like she was woken and Renee said “yep”. Matt asked for a standing ovation from the crowd and they obliged. Wyatt and Hardy then vowed to delete the team that wins the Battle Royal tonight to become the #1 contenders for the RAW Tag Team Championships.

The Battle Royal started out with a brawl between all the teams as Ziggler and McIntyre chuckled on the ring apron. Tyler Breeze eliminated Dolph Ziggler, which meant that McIntyre had to leave the ring too. Dolph and Drew then hit Bo Dallas with a Claymore/Zig Zag as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, The Ascension and Breezango were eliminated by The Revival. Rhyno eliminated Dash Wilder and The Revival were eliminated. Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel teamed up to try to get Rhyno out of the ring. Heath Slater got back up and connected with a knee to Axel’s face.

Heath then lifted up Bo, but accidentally swung him into Rhyno. Rhyno then fell to the floor and The B-Team won the Battle Royal. Axel & Dallas will now face Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy for the RAW Tag Team Championships at WWE Money in the Bank.

Opinion: I don’t get the point of having Ziggler and McIntyre eliminated first, but it happened. This Battle Royal was a train wreck. The only good part of the entire match was Axel’s belly flop celebration after The B-Team won.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1003816148956217349

Sami Zayn & Bobby Lashley Had Another Embarrassing Promo

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Bobby Lashley came down to the ring and challenged Sami Zayn to join him. Sami’s music hit but Zayn didn’t come out from backstage. Zayn appeared in the crowd and said that there wasn’t a chance that was going to happen.

Zayn noted that the last time he got into a ring with Lashley, Bobby assaulted him by squeezing his hand hard. Sami said that he couldn’t even open his fridge to get the organic tofu steaks that were inside there.

Sami added that he is such a genius performer because he never stops scouting his opponents. Zayn then showed some photos that Lashley posted on Instagram with inspirational quotes on them. Zayn poked fun at the posts and claimed to log into one of his anonymous Instagram accounts to pose as a Lashley fan.

Zayn claimed that Lashley sent him a link to his fan club and of course there was merchandise available to purchase there. Zayn rambled on and on, until he said that maybe Lashley was lying about serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Some of the crowd chanted “USA!” as Lashley tried his best to look angry in the ring.

Opinion: This was so embarrassing for Lashley and Zayn. Lashley cannot even do reacting well in promos. It is not entertaining television in any way. It is not so bad that it is good. It is just trash and I feel bad for Lashley and Zayn that they are stuck in this feud.

Finn Balor Hit A Coup De Grace Off A Ladder

Photo Credit: WWE.com

Kevin Owens faced Finn Balor tonight on RAW. Owens got out of the ring in the beginning of the match to try and avoid Balor. Owens then pretended he had an injury and asked the referee to keep Finn away from him. Owens used the distraction to attack Balor and apply a Headlock.

Finn broke free and connected with a boot to the face from the apron. Balor climbed to the top rope, but Owens once again rolled out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Balor was back in control and he flipped onto Owens outside the ring.

Balor brought Owens back into the ring, but once again Owens tried to escape to the outside. Finn prevented Owens from escaping, but Owens was able to lock in an Arm Bar. Finn broke free and delivered a stomp to Owens’ midsection.

Finn connected with the Slingblade and then a Dropkick that sent Owens flying into the turnbuckle. Balor climbed to the top rope, but Owens shook the ropes and Balor fell crotch-first on the top turnbuckle. Owens stomped on Finn Balor for too long in the corner and the referee disqualified him.

After the match, Owens hit Balor with a Frog Splash off the top rope. Owens grabbed a ladder and brought it into the ring. He set up the ladder and climbed to the top. Owens was going to hit another Frog Splash but climbed down a couple of rungs because he thought he was too high. Balor then got up and dragged Owens down.

Finn Dropkicked Owens to the corner and then hit a massive Coup de Grace off the ladder. Balor then grabbed the MITB briefcase from above the ring and posed with it as RAW went off the air.

Opinion: The main event was short and ended in a DQ. That kind of sums up this entire show. At least the Coup de Grace off the ladder took me back to NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

This week’s episode of RAW was actually worse than last week’s show. RAW has nothing going for it at all right now. The crowd was dead after the first 30 minutes of the show and next week is the final RAW before WWE Money in the Bank. I don’t expect these storylines to magically become interesting.

What did you think of this week’s episode of RAW? Let us know in the comments below.

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