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WWE Monday Night Raw Reaction (8/22)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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This week’s episode of Raw kicked off with Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley in the ring. They called down the WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor to the ring. Balor had his arm in a sling and addressed the WWE Universe. Balor thanked the fans and Seth Rollins for giving him the match of his life at Summerslam. Balor then stated that he had to relinquish the Universal Championship due to injury. The crowd chanted “you deserve it!” towards Finn Balor. As Balor was exiting the arena, Rollins’ music hit. Rollins walked right past Finn Balor laughing. Rollins seemed to assume that Foley and McMahon were just going to give him the title. Sami Zayn interrupted and came down to the ring. Zayn was then followed by Jericho, Kevin Owens, Enzo & Cass and Roman Reigns. Everyone was arguing about who should be champion when Mick Foley finally intervened. Foley announced that there would be a series of matches and that the new Universal Champion would be declared next week. The crowd booed loudly because there would be no new champion crowned tonight. It was then announced that the first match would be Sami Zayn versus Seth Rollins. Zayn was distracted by Kevin Owens trash talking him and Rollins attacked Zayn from behind before the match even started.

It was revealed that on next week’s Raw, there will be a Fatal 4-Way match to crown the new WWE Universal champion.

Universal Championship Tournament Match: Seth Rollins vs Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn bounced back from the pre-match attack by Rollins and controlled the match early. As the match progressed, Rollins regained control. Rollins seemed to be enjoying his work in the ring and took a breather to pose for the crowd. Sami Zayn appeared to have injured his ankle during the match and sold it for the rest of the contest. He flipped onto Rollins outside the ring but couldn’t capitalize on it due to his ankle injury. When Raw returned from a commercial break, Sami Zayn was still in control of the match. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick but could barely move to get to Rollins. This allowed Rollins enough time to recover and he kneed Zayn in the face. Rollins then applied a submission hold that targeted Zayn’s injured ankle but Zayn didn’t tap out. Zayn then went for a Suplex on one leg but couldn’t lift Rollins. It was at this point that Rollins countered the Suplex and hit Zayn with a Pedigree for the victory.

Winner and Advancing to the Fatal 4-Way Universal Championship Match Next Week: Seth Rollins

Reaction: Balor relinquishing the title the day after he won it pretty much capped off a disastrous Summerslam. It sucks for Balor because he is going to be out for a substantial amount of time and when he returns the odds are that he won’t immediately be thrust into the title picture. The WWE could potentially use the Rollins storyline in that Balor never lost his title. Sami Zayn and Rollins had a good match to open up the show. I’m not sure if Zayn was actually injured or if it was part of the storyline for the match. In one month, Sami Zayn has gone from defeating Kevin Owens in a match that many consider a classic to barely being on the Summerslam card and then eliminated in the first round of a championship tournament. Rollins advances in the tournament and his next opponent is unknown at this point.

WWE Universal Championship Tournament Match: Neville vs Kevin Owens

Chris Jericho was ringside for this match cheering Kevin Owens on. This was a back and forth match that had Jericho coming into play in the finish. Jericho distracted Neville while he was going for the Red Arrow. Kevin Owens then regained momentum and picked Neville up in the Torture Rack and hit him with a spinning Neckbreaker for the win.

Winner and Advancing to the Fatal 4-Way Universal Championship Match Next Week: Kevin Owens

Karl Anderson vs Big E

Before the match, The New Day cut a promo celebrating the fact that they were still the tag team champions. The Club came out and stated that they were owed a rematch. This led to a match between Big E and Anderson. Big E controlled most of this match but Gallows laid him out while the referee was distracted. It wound up not helping Anderson that much because shortly after Big E hit the Big Ending for the victory.

Winner: Big E

Titus O’Neil came down to the ring and cut a promo on Darren Young. Bob Backlund came out and put Titus in the Chicken Wing. Titus then got out of the hold and slammed Backlund down to the mat. Darren Young then came out to protect his life coach but instead fell victim to a Clash of the Titus.

Universal Championship Tournament Match: Big Cass vs Rusev

Rusev was nursing an “injury” from the Spear he received last night on Summerslam from Roman Reigns. Big Cass controlled this match from the beginning. Rusev kicked Enzo in the back of the head outside the ring. Rusev and Big Cass both hit each other with kicks, but Rusev seemed to have enough of this match. Rusev walked up the entrance ramp and got counted out.

Winner and Advancing to the Fatal 4-Way Universal Championship Match Next Week: Big Cass

Charlotte and Dana Brooke came down to the ring and Charlotte began to brag about her victory last night at Summerslam. Mick Foley interrupted and stated that Sasha Banks will get a rematch for the Women’s Championship when she returns from injury. Foley then stated that he had signed the hottest free agent in the Women’s Division, Bayley. Foley then claimed that Bayley will get a shot at Charlotte’s title but first she would have to face Dana Brooke.

Bayley vs Dana Brooke

Charlotte got involved in this match early by distracting Bayley. Dana Brooke had the momentum in this match for a brief moment but Bayley took over. Bayley hit the Belly to Bayley on Dana Brooke for the victory.

Winner: Bayley

Reaction: Finally, Bayley made her main roster debut. I was a bit surprised that Bayley joined the Raw roster instead of Smackdown but I’m glad that is the case. Bayley and Charlotte will no doubt have terrific matches in the near future. The Women’s Division on Raw will be packed with talent when Sasha Banks makes her return.

Braun Strowman vs Johnny Knockout

Strowman destroyed another indie wrestler. Nothing to see here. Before the match, Byron Saxton interviewed Johnny Knockout and asked him why he is fighting Strowman. Johnny Knockout claimed that he liked big and sweaty men.

https://twitter.com/MartyDeRosa/status/767912275525140480

The Dudley Boyz came down to the ring to announce their retirement. The crowd applauded loudly and chanted “Testify!” to send the Dudleys off. The Shining Stars came down to the ring and poked fun at the Dudley Boyz. They then gave the Dudleys two economy class tickets to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. The crowd in Brooklyn was chanting for the Dudley Boyz to get the tables and the Dudleys obliged. Before the Dudleys could put the Shining Stars through a table, The Club came out and attacked them. Gallows and Anderson hit the Magic Killer on Bubba Ray outside the ring. They then went into the ring and hit the Magic Killer on D-Von through a table.

Reaction: If this is the end for the Dudley Boyz in the WWE then this was a good way to go out. I know some people will disagree with that but it made sense to me. They got to say goodbye to the crowd and also helped get some more heat on The Club. Obviously it would have been better if their last match wasn’t on the Kickoff Show on Summerslam. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bubba Ray returns as Bully Ray in the near future.

WWE Universal Championship Tournament Match: Chris Jericho vs Roman Reigns

Jericho slapped Reigns across the face in the beginning of this match. This angered Reigns and he chased Jericho around the ring. Reigns dominated most of this match and the crowd was booing the heck out of him. Kevin Owens came down to the ring to try and help Jericho but Reigns punched Owens. Jericho then rolled Reigns up but Roman kicked out. Jericho locked in the Walls of Jericho but Reigns got to the bottom rope. Kevin Owens then hit Roman Reigns with a cheap shot and then Jericho followed it up with a Codebreaker. Predictably, Roman Reigns kicked out at two. Jericho then slapped Reigns a bunch of times and Reigns had a gigantic smile on his face. Kevin Owens once again tried to distract Reigns but it didn’t work and Reigns sent him flying. Reigns then hit the Spear on Jericho for the win.

Winner and Advancing to the Fatal 4-Way Universal Championship Match Next Week: Roman Reigns

Reaction: The crowd didn’t want to see Roman Reigns win but that is exactly what happened. I’m guessing this means the end of Reigns’ feud with Rusev. The Fatal 4-Way for the Universal Championship next week will be Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins vs Big Cass. Rollins and Reigns seem to be the favorites to win this match. I’d love to see Kevin Owens win it but I don’t see that happening. It would be shocking if Big Cass won the Universal Championship next week. Absolutely shocking. Overall, this was an okay episode of Raw. The highlight of the show was Bayley making her main roster debut. It was only a matter of time before Roman Reigns was back in the main event scene. Both the Raw and Smackdown rosters are so thin at the moment that Reigns is most likely there to stay and may even be crowned the Universal Champion next week.

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

 

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