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10 Takeaways From WWE RAW (7/2)

Kevin Owens RAW

Written by

Robert Lentini

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The July 2nd, 2018 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Here are 10 takeaways from this week’s show:

Rollins Rescued Reigns

Roman Reigns came down to the ring and discussed losing to The Revival last week on RAW. Roman called Lashley the worst tag team partner of all time and doesn’t understand why RAW GM Kurt Angle wants them to team up again tonight. Reigns added that he doesn’t like “Bob” because Bob thinks he is “the guy”. Roman poked fun at Lashley and said that he couldn’t handle that role 10 years ago and he still cannot handle it now.

Reigns said that he is the guy and that this is his yard. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre interrupted and Dolph called Reigns and egomaniac. Ziggler boasted about being the new Intercontinental Champion and then the two got into the ring with Reigns. McIntyre scolded Roman for sticking his nose in their business last week when they were beating down Rollins.

Reigns punched McIntyre in the face but quickly got beat down by both Ziggler and McIntyre. Seth Rollins rushed the ring and launched McIntyre to the outside. Rollins started attacking Ziggler but McIntyre dragged him out of the ring. McIntyre and Ziggler then retreated as Reigns and Rollins stood tall in the ring.

Rollins and Reigns approached RAW GM Kurt Angle backstage and asked for a match against McIntyre & Ziggler. Angle said that he would make the match next week but that wasn’t good enough for Reigns. Roman wanted the match tonight even though he was scheduled to team up with Lashley against The Revival again. Angle caved and made the match official for tonight but Roman will still have to team up with Lashley against The Revival tonight as well.

Later on RAW, Lashley confronted Roman backstage and said that nobody likes Roman. Lashley told Roman to check his huge ego at the door and focus on their match tonight. Reigns told Lashley to shut up, stand on the apron, flash his phony smile and collect the victory. Roman vowed to start and finish the match himself. Lashley got pissed off and threatened Reigns before walking away.

Curtis Axel Defeated Matt Hardy Again

The B-Team once again impersonated Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy in a pre-taped promo. Curtis Axel then faced Matt Hardy for the second week in a row on tonight’s episode of RAW. Axel defeated Hardy last week on RAW by falling on him off of the top rope. Hardy called the victory a fluke and wanted a rematch. Hardy & Wyatt will defend their RAW Tag Team Championships against Axel & Dallas at Extreme Rules in less than two weeks.

Hardy controlled the beginning of the match and went for the Twist of Fate but Axel rolled escaped out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Axel connected with a Dropkick that knocked Hardy to the canvas. Axel posed in the ring before booting Matt in the face in the corner of the ring.

Axel hit Hardy with a Backbreaker for a two count. Hardy battled back and planted Axel with a Side Effect on the ring apron. Hardy then bounced Axel’s face off of each turnbuckle and followed it up with another Side Effect for a two count. Matt hit an Elbow Drop off the second rope for another near fall.

Hardy geared up for the Twist of Fate but Bo Dallas hopped up on the ring apron to distract Hardy. Axel slammed Hardy into the ring post and then connected with a Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory. Bo and Curtis then celebrated in the corner of the ring and then danced their way up the entrance ramp.

Dr. Shelby Returned

Bayley attacked Sasha Banks last week on RAW. Kurt Angle demanded that both Sasha Banks and Bayley attend counseling following the attack. Bayley and Sasha argued before the meeting and Dr. Shelby broke them up.

Shelby said that he was going to guide them through their friendship counseling together and invited them into the “friend zone”. Dr. Shelby showed them some flashcards with words like “respect” and “honesty” written on them.

Dr. Shelby asked Sasha how she thinks Bayley feels in a game of “Honesty Theater”. Sasha Banks then had to pretend to be Bayley and Dr. Shelby asked how she felt. Banks imitated Bayley by calling her a pushover and that she likes hugs.

Bayley then imitated Banks by saying that she is going to stab anyone in the back because I’m the legit boss and that her mailman’s cousin is Snoop Dogg. Bayley and Banks started arguing and Dr. Shelby shouted “enough!”.

Opinion: The crowd erupted last week when Bayley finally attacked Sasha Banks. WWE managed to ruin that momentum in one week with this absolutely brutal counseling segment. Apparently, it is going to continue next week too leading into Extreme Rules. Sasha Banks and Bayley should be trying to beat the hell out of each other every week on RAW, not poking fun at each other. Dr. Shelby is a funny character but this material was so bad that nobody would have been able to save it.

The Authors Of Pain Dominated Titus Worldwide

The Authors of Pain battled Titus O’Neill and Apollo Crews tonight on RAW. Rezar and Titus started off the match. Titus connected with a shoulder tackle that sent Rezar stumbling to the corner. Crews tagged in Rezar quickly brought him to the corner and tagged in Akam.

Crews connected with a Dropkick but Akam shrugged it off and tagged in Rezar. Rezar slammed Crews to the mat and then threw him across the ring for a two count.

Akam tagged in and teamed up with Rezar for a Powerbomb/Neckbreaker. Akam went for the cover but Titus broke it up.

AOP launched Titus out into the ring post and then Rezar tagged back in. AOP then hit the Last Chapter on Crews and Rezar covered him for the pinfall victory.

The Revival Attacked Roman Reigns

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns teamed up to battle Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler tonight on RAW. Ziggler and Rollins started off the match and locked up in the middle of the ring. Ziggler rolled up Rollins but Seth was able to kick out at two. Rollins connected with a Dropkick and Ziggler quickly tagged out.

McIntyre and Rollins then locked up in the middle of the ring. Drew got the upper hand and planted Rollins with a shoulder tackle. Rollins ducked under a Clothesline and made his way to the corner. Reigns asked to be tagged in and Seth obliged.

Reigns and McIntyre circled each other and Drew started trash talking. Dueling “lets go Roman!” and “Roman sucks!” chants broke out as McIntyre powered Reigns to the corner. McIntyre beat the hell out of Roman in the corner but Reigns shrugged it off and unloaded with a flurry of punches to McIntyre’s midsection.

Roman went for the Samoan Drop but McIntyre escaped. Reigns got distracted by Ziggler and McIntyre capitalized with a headbutt. Lashley was shown watching the backstage as McIntyre tagged Dolph Ziggler back into the match. Dolph connected with a Superkick for a two count.

McIntyre quickly tagged back in and connected with a Neckbreaker for a two count. Dolph tagged in and bounced Roman’s face off the top turnbuckle. Ziggler shouted at Rollins on the apron and turned around into a massive right hand from Roman Reigns.

Rollins tagged in and planted Ziggler with a Slingblade. Seth then hit McIntyre with a Suicide Dive as Reigns hit Ziggler with a Drive-By on the opposite side of the ring. Back in the ring, Rollins connected with a Frog Splash on Ziggler off the top rope. Rollins went for the cover but McIntyre broke it up.

Seth catapulted Dolph out of the ring and made his way to the top rope. Rollins connected with a Crossbody onto Ziggler and McIntyre as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Ziggler had Rollins trapped in a Sleeper Hold in the middle of the ring.

McIntyre tagged back in and hit Rollins with a chop to the chest. Seth battled back with a couple of chops of his own and then threw Drew out of the ring. Rollins dove across the ring to try to tag in Roman but McIntyre dragged Reigns off the apron.

Dolph got back into the match and threw Rollins to the outside. Seth launched Ziggler into the barricade and got then got back into the ring. McIntyre threw Ziggler into the ring and tagged himself in. Rollins hit McIntyre with a Superkick and then connected with a Buckle Bomb on Ziggler. Seth started crawling across the ring to make a tag but The Revival emerged from the crowd.

Dash and Dawson attacked Reigns as McIntyre and Ziggler beat down Seth Rollins. The Revival launched Reigns into the steel steps and then into the ring. Ziggler and McIntyre took out Rollins with the Claymore/ Zig Zag as The Revival continued their attack on Reigns. Dash and Dawson planted Reigns with the Shatter Machine before exiting the ring. The Revival will battle Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley later tonight.

Finn Balor Refused To Apologize To Constable Corbin

Constable Corbin came down to the ring to discuss what went down last week when he teamed up with Finn Balor. Corbin and Balor wound up losing to Owens and Strowman via count out because they were fighting on the entrance ramp. Corbin claimed that he brought Balor out of the ring to discuss strategy and that Finn attacked Corbin.

Corbin invited Balor down to the ring so that he can admit that he was wrong and to apologize. Balor came down to the ring and Corbin apologized that he forgot that he was bigger and tougher than Balor. Finn then jokingly apologized for making fun of Corbin’s vest.

Baron gave Finn another chance to apologize and Balor said Corbin was right about deserving an apology. Balor joked that Corbin deserved an apology from whoever gave him his haircut. Corbin got in Balor’s face and told him to “suck up his pride” and give him the respect he deserves by apologizing.

Finn said that Corbin stopped deserving any respect the day he became Stephanie McMahon’s stooge. Corbin hit Balor with a cheap shot but Balor battled back with a Slingblade. Balor followed it up with a Dropkick and knocked Corbin out of the ring. Finn climbed to the top rope but Corbin retreated up the entrance ramp.

Ember Moon Defeated Liv Morgan

Ember Moon faced Liv Morgan tonight on RAW. Sarah Logan accompanied Morgan down to the ring. Morgan started off the match in control and applied a Headlock to Moon. Ember broke free and planted Morgan with an Arm Drag for a two count.

Morgan connected with a big right hand and then went back to the Headlock. Ember once again broke free and connected with a springboard Crossbody for a near fall as RAW went to a commercial break.

Liv Morgan was back in control when RAW returned. Ember briefly got Morgan in an Ankle Lock but Morgan broke free and connected with an Enziguri for a two count. Liv hit several forearms to the face in a row and then shouted that Ember was nothing. Moon blasted Morgan in the midsection and then followed it up with the Eclipse for the pinfall victory. Sarah Logan tried to attack Moon after the match but Ember was able to escape just in time.

Roman Reigns Refused To Tag Lashley

Roman Reigns and Lashley battled The Revival in the third hour of this week’s episode of RAW. Reigns controlled the match early and refused to tag in Lashley. Dash and Dawson battled back and Wilder hit Reigns with a Dropkick. Dash Wilder stomped on Reigns several times before tagging Dawson in.

Dawson drove his elbow into Reigns’ midsection a few times and then applied a Chin Lock. Wilder tagged in and continued the beat down as Lashley rolled his eyes on the ring apron. Roman finally battled back and took out Wilder with a Clothesline for a two count.

Lashley got into the ring and planted Dawson with a Spinebuster before getting back on the ring apron. Lashley begged for a tag and Reigns refused. Roman geared up in the corner but Dawson grabbed his foot. The Revival then attacked Reigns in the corner of the ring and the referee disqualified them. Lashley walked away as The Revival hit Reigns with another Shatter Machine. Wilder followed it up with a Splash off the top rope as Lashley went backstage.

It was then announced that Bobby Lashley will face Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules. Lashley was interviewed later on the show and said that the only reason that Reigns is “the guy” is because he hasn’t been here for the past 10 years. Lashley added that if he were here, Reigns’ yard would be nothing more than a “concrete patch in a trailer park”.

Opinion: I’m surprised Kurt Angle just didn’t send Lashley and Reigns to counseling. I guess there is always next week to do that or put them in another pointless match against The Revival. Personally, I find it impossible to look forward to a match between Reigns and Lashley. An interesting storyline would have helped but we certainly aren’t getting that here.

Nia Jax Picked Up Some Momentum Heading Into Extreme Rules

Mickie James battled Nia Jax tonight on RAW. Alexa Bliss accompanied Mickie to the ring. Before the match, Nia Jax cut a promo and said that she thought she was finished with Bliss at WrestleMania but she was wrong. She boasted about squashing Bliss like a bug at Backlash. Jax announced that the RAW Women’s Championship match at the PPV will be an Extreme Rules match and Ronda Rousey will be sitting ringside. Natalya then came down to the ring to even the odds for the match.

Mickie attacked Nia from behind to start off the match as Alexa cheered her on. Jax quickly battled back and hurled Mickie across the ring. Nia knocked Mickie to the mat with a shoulder tackle and then Mickie rolled out of the ring. Jax followed her and caught her on the ring apron. Nia lifted Mickie onto her shoulders but Alexa dragged her off as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Mickie James was in control and was targetting Nia’s legs. Mickie unloaded a series of kicks to Nia’s leg outside the ring and hoped to win via a count out. Jax got back into the ring in time but Mickie remained on the attack. Mickie connected with a Dropkick to Nia’s knee and then slammed it on the ring apron.

Jax battled back with a Clothesline and then lifted Mickie up for a Powerbomb. Mickie escaped and booted Nia in the knee. Mickie went for the Mick Kick but Jax caught her and planted her with a Powerbomb. Alexa hopped up on the ring apron but Natalya tripped her and Bliss fell face-first onto the apron. Jax then connected with the Samoan Drop on Mickie for the pinfall victory.

Strowman Shoved Owens Off The Stage While He Was Trapped Inside Of A Portable Toilet

Kevin Owens suggested that RAW GM Kurt Angle fire or suspend Braun Strowman for flipping his cover over last week. Angle decided to put Owens in a match against Strowman instead. Owens spent the night trying to get out of the match but was unsuccessful. Owens was interviewed backstage right before the match and claimed that he was thrilled to face Strowman. He then found some tranquility with Jinder Mahal before the match.

Braun threw Owens across the ring to start things off. Owens rolled out of the ring and then ran away as Strowman stood in the ring. Owens was counted out and Braun Strowman sprinted backstage. Owens was shown trying to get into his car but couldn’t find his keys.

Owens then hid in a porta-potty next to the car. Strowman arrived and started looking around. Braun was about to head back into the arena but noticed the porta potty. Braun knocked on the door and said “anybody in there” in a woman’s voice. Braun grabbed some tape and taped the door shut. Braun then dragged the portable toilet to the entrance ramp.

Strowman then smiled and shoved the porta-potty off the entrance ramp as the crowd chanted “holy sh*t!”. Braun was then announced as the winner of the match.

I guess this was a fitting way to end a crappy episode of RAW. What did you think of this week’s show? Let us know in the comments below.

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