Home News 6 Takeaways From WWE RAW (7/9)

6 Takeaways From WWE RAW (7/9)

Robert Lentini
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6 Takeaways From WWE RAW (7/9)
Photo Credit: WWE.com

The July 9th, 2018 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE Extreme Rules this Sunday. During tonight’s show, it was announced that Kevin Owens will face Braun Strowman in a Steel Cage Match this Sunday at Extreme Rules. Sasha Banks and Bayley are still attending counseling and have to report back to RAW GM Kurt Angle next week. Mojo Rawley also defeated No Way Jose during tonight’s show.

Here are 6 takeaways from the final episode of RAW before Extreme Rules:

Reigns & Lashley Could Not Be Contained

RAW kicked off with Roman Reigns walking around backstage. Bobby Lashley confronted Reigns and Roman told him to get out of his way. Lashley suggested that Reigns go to the ring and call him out. Lashley added that if Roman does, he is coming down to the ring to tear Roman apart instead of talk. The crowd chanted “let’s go Celtics!” as the two Superstars were talking in front of a Celtics logo.

Roman made his way down to the ring to his usual mixed reaction from the crowd. Reigns walked around the ring for a minute without saying a word. Roman finally started talking and the crowd immediately booed.

Reigns spoke about the interaction he just had with Lashley and then told “Bob” to get his ass out here. Lashley made his way down to the ring and stared at Roman the entire time. RAW GM Kurt Angle interrupted and was joined by Constable Corbin on the entrance ramp.

Angle said the fight was not going to happen tonight and asked them to save it for Sunday. Reigns and Lashley ignored him and started brawling in the ring. Several Superstars from the RAW locker room came down to the ring and separated Reigns and Lashley.

Lashley broke free and charged at Roman in the corner. The two were separated once again and Reigns rolled out of the ring. Finn Balor sprinted to the ring and punched Corbin in the face. Balor joined the rest of the RAW locker room as they held Reigns and Lashley away from each other.

Bobby Lashley once again was able to escape and attack Roman outside the ring. Lashley was then dragged away to the entrance ramp but was able to escape for the third time. Lashley Clotheslined Reigns and beat him down some more against the barricade.

Lashley threw Reigns into the ring and was once again dragged to the entrance ramp. Roman got up, bounced off the rope and leaped onto everyone. Reigns then flexed on the entrance ramp as his theme played. Roman wasn’t done and sprinted down to the ramp. Roman hit Lashley one more time before the Superstars were separated once again.

Opinion: This would have been a lot more entertaining if they were actually fighting for something at Extreme Rules. Why is there a pull-apart brawl for a singles match with no stakes? Usually, the reason for a segment like this is because the RAW or SmackDown GM wants to “protect the big match”. I guess this is the “big match” for Extreme Rules on Sunday night, even though there is absolutely nothing on the line.

Alexa Bliss Attacked Nia Jax With A Kendo Stick

Photo Credit: WWE.com

Natalya and Nia Jax faced Alexa Bliss and Mickie James in a tag match tonight on RAW. Natalya started off the match on a roll and beat the hell out of Mickie James and Bliss outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Bliss was in control and had Natalya trapped in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Bliss broke the hold and bounced Natalya’s face off the turnbuckle. Mickie tagged in and charged at Natalya in the corner. Natalya dodged her and sent Mickie into the turnbuckle.

Nia tagged in and knocked Bliss off the ring apron. Jax launched Mickie into the corner and connected with a Splash. Nia headbutted Mickie to the canvas and followed it up with a Leg Drop for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Alexa Bliss brought a kendo stick in the ring and attacked Nia and Natalya from behind. Alexa had a smile on her face as she beatdown Nia in the corner with the kendo stick. Nia got out of the ring and grabbed the stick from Bliss.

Nia broke it in half and threw it at Alexa and Mickie as they retreated up the entrance ramp. Jax then exited in the ring and marched backstage. Alexa Bliss will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against Nia Jax this Sunday night at in an Extreme Rules match at the PPV.

Nia was then interviewed backstage and said that Alexa cannot break her. Jax vowed to snap Alexa in half at Extreme Rules and take her RAW Women’s Championship back.

Bo Dallas Defeated Matt Hardy

Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel came down to the ring dressed up like Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy. Matt and Bray appeared on the screen and announced that they were here. They then appeared behind Curtis and Bo.

Matt Hardy then battled Bo Dallas tonight on RAW. Matt started off the match in control and bounced Bo Dallas’ face off every turnbuckle. The Revival was shown backstage watching the match as Bo tried to fight back with some punches.

Hardy connected with an elbow to the face that knocked Bo out of the ring. Hardy planted Bo with a Suplex to the floor as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Bo and Matt were still battling outside the ring. Matt brought Bo back into the ring and planted him with a Side Effect. Curtis Axel distracted Matt Hardy for a moment and Bray Wyatt laid Axel out with a shoulder tackle. Bo Dallas then planted Hardy for the pinfall victory.

After the match, the lights went out in the arena went out for a moment. When they came back on, Wyatt and Hardy attacked Bo and Axel in the ring. Bray hit Axel with Sister Abigail as Hardy delivered Twist of Fate to Bo. Bray and Hardy will defend their RAW Tag Team Championships against the B-Team at Extreme Rules.

Ember Moon Picked Up Another Win Over Liv Morgan

Liv Morgan faced Ember Moon tonight on RAW. The two Superstars locked up to start off the match. Moon planted Morgan with an Arm Drag and followed it up with a boot to the face. Morgan regrouped with Sarah Logan in the corner for a moment but Moon charged at her. Morgan rolled out of the ring and the referee started counting. Moon went after Morgan once again as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned Liv Morgan was in control and had Moon in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Ember broke free and went for a Clothesline but Morgan ducked under it. Liv grabbed Ember by the hair and whipped her to the canvas. Moon battled back and launched Morgan into the turnbuckle.

Ember kneed Liv in the face a couple of times and then planted her with a Fallaway Slam. Sarah Logan hopped up on the ring apron and got a punch to the face for her troubles. Morgan went for a roll-up attempt but Moon countered into a pin of her own for the victory.

Corbin & Elias Defeated Balor & Roode

Elias teamed up with Constable Corbin to face Finn Balor and Bobby Roode tonight on RAW. Before the match, Elias performed a song and insulted the Boston crowd.

Corbin asked Elias if he wanted to perform a lullaby for Finn Balor. Corbin struggled with saying the word lullaby and the crowd booed him. They then performed “Itsy Bitsy Balor” before Finn interrupted.

Roode and Elias started off the match. Roode connected with an Atomic Drop and followed it up with a Russian Leg Sweep for a two count. Bobby brought Elias to the corner and connected with a couple of chops to his chest. Roode went for the Glorious DDT but Corbin got into the ring to distract him.

Elias connected with a knee to Roode’s face and then tagged in Corbin. Baron unloaded some punches to Roode and then taunted Balor on the apron. Corbin and Roode connected with a Clothesline at the same time and both Superstars fell to the canvas.

Balor and Elias tagged in and Finn dropped him with a Clothesline. Finn hit Elias with a Double Stomp and then hit Corbin with a chop in the corner of the ring. Corbin distracted Balor and Elias shoved Finn to the canvas as RAW went to a commercial break.

When RAW returned, Corbin hit Balor with a Clothesline for a two count. Elias tagged in and applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Balor escaped and tagged in Roode. Bobby came into the ring fired up and immediately hit Corbin with a Neckbreaker. Corbin responded with a Chokeslam Backbreaker for a two count.

Corbin then Clotheslined Balor on the ring apron and charged at Roode in the corner. Roode booted Corbin in the face and planted Corbin with a Blockbuster off the second rope. Balor pulled Elias off the ring apron before Corbin could tag him in. Corbin and Finn traded shots outside the ring. Balor got the upper-hand and sent Corbin back into the ring. Finn climbed to the top rope but Corbin got up and crotched him on the turnbuckle.

Corbin charged at Roode in the corner but Bobby was ready and launched Baron into the ring post. Elias then got into the ring and Roode greeted him with a Spinebuster. Corbin used the distraction to his advantage and snuck up behind Roode and planted him with End of Days for the pinfall victory.

Drew McIntyre Will Be Ringside For The IC Title Match At Extreme Rules

Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal had a conversation backstage. Mahal told Rollins that life is beautiful if you just find inner peace. Mahal tried to show Rollins but Seth snuck away and made his way to the ring.

Seth stated that he hated being called former Intercontinental Champion and that he has an opportunity to change that at Extreme Rules in a 30 minute Iron Man Match for the IC Title.

Rollins added that he thrives on facing the best and that he knows that Dolph Ziggler is going to bring it Sunday night. Seth stated that the problem is that Ziggler is also going to bring Drew McIntyre as well.

Ziggler and McIntyre interrupted and came down to the entrance ramp. Ziggler held up the Intercontinental Championship and guaranteed that he was walking out of Extreme Rules still the champion.

McIntyre said that they were the future of RAW. Ziggler said that Rollins is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever set foot in a WWE ring but he is no Dolph Ziggler. Dolph messed up a line and the crowd booed him. Ziggler boasted his amateur wrestling background and Rollins asked if McIntyre helped him win all those matches.

Drew got pissed off and Rollins asked why McIntyre was taking orders from Ziggler. Seth then said Dolph must know Drew’s secrets and wondered if Dolph has photos of McIntyre with sheep. McIntyre then challenged Rollins to a match and Seth accepted. Rollins made a sheep noise towards McIntyre and Drew charged the ring. Seth escaped and laughed on the entrance ramp.

Seth Rollins then battled Drew McIntyre in the main event of this week’s RAW. If Rollins won the match, Drew McIntyre would be banned from the Iron Man Match for the IC Title at Extreme Rules.

Seth hit McIntyre with a few jabs to the face to start off the match. Rollins applied a Headlock and tried to bring McIntyre to the canvas. McIntyre broke free and leveled Rollins with a shoulder tackle. McIntyre then applied a Headlock to Rollins as Ziggler cheered him on from ringside.

Seth battled to his feet and hit McIntyre with a couple of chops to the chest. McIntyre responded with a boot to the midsection and then a Suplex for a two count. McIntyre brought Rollins to the corner and smashed his head off the top turnbuckle. Drew followed it up with a chop to Rollins’ chest and then locked in an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring.

Rollins broke free but McIntyre knocked him back to the mat with another Clothesline. McIntyre locked in an Abdominal Stretch as the crowd chanted “burn it down!” to get behind Rollins. Seth battled to his feet but was knocked back down again by another Clothesline from McIntyre. Seth knocked McIntyre out of the ring and went for a Suicide Dive. McIntyre caught him and slammed him onto the ring apron as RAW went to a commercial break.

McIntyre was still in control when RAW returned from the break. Rollins finally was able to fight back and dropped McIntyre with a Slingblade. McIntyre rolled out of the ring and Seth connected with two Suicide Dives in a row.

The action returned to the ring and Rollins connected with a Blockbuster off the second rope for a near fall. McIntyre slammed Rollins face-first to the mat for a two count. McIntyre ducked under a kick and planted Rollins with a Powerbomb for another near fall.

Rollins crotched McIntyre on the top turnbuckle and then delivered an Enziguri to the face and Drew got his foot caught in the ropes. Rollins climbed to the top rope but McIntyre grabbed him by the neck and slung him back to the middle of the ring. McIntyre went for the Claymore but Rollins was ready and countered with a Superkick to the face.

Seth planted McIntyre with the Falcon Arrow and then went for the cover but McIntyre kicked out at two. McIntyre dropped Rollins with a headbutt for another two count. Drew lifted Rollins up onto his shoulders and made his way up to the second rope. Rollins escaped and planted McIntyre with a Buckle Bomb.

Rollins climbed to the top rope and Ziggler hopped up on the apron. Rollins booted Ziggler in the face and then hit McIntyre with a Crossbody off the top rope. Seth then hit Ziggler with the Curb Stomp but turned around into a Claymore from Drew McIntyre. McIntyre picked up the pinfall victory and will be allowed ringside for the Intercontinental Championship Iron Man Match at Extreme Rules this Sunday.

Opinion: Aside from the main event, there really wasn’t anything entertaining on RAW this week. There are a few matches I am looking forward to at Extreme Rules, but RAW has been quite boring as of late. I’m hoping the show will get better as the build towards SummerSlam begins next week.

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

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