source: WWE
Raw was full of excellent matches and an exciting relationship between Finn Bálor and Seth Rollins, but virtually no advancement in the Universal Championship situation.
Roman Reigns addresses the steel cage controversy
Roman comes out, saying he should have won in the controversial decision at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Jinder Mahal interrupts him, saying he wants to defeat Reigns like Brock did and Samoa Joe was going to. Montreal’s own Sami Zayn comes out to a huge pop, saying that he wants to face him as well. Zayn’s partner and fellow Montreal native, Kevin Owens, comes out and states that he wants to face him also.
KO holds a fan vote, and Jinder gets booed while Sami and Kevin get huge cheers. When Owens moves closer to Roman, he eats a punch, leading to a 4 on 1 attack by Kevin, Sami, Jinder, and Sunil Singh. Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman come to Reigns’ defense, evening the score. Braun tosses Singh over the ropes into the other three men, leaving the faces on top.
Opinion:
I love the idea of hometown guys all coming out in one segment. Not only did it lead to a monster 6-man tag match, but the show started with the three Canadians getting fans excited for the show. And, at the end, Braun trumps all three hometown guys, of course.
source: WWE
Elias vs. Bobby Roode
Winner: N/A
Highlights:
Elias holds a pre-match concert, reminding everyone of how much of a gift he is and rips on Bobby Roode
Roode delivers a spine buster to Elias
Bobby Roode drops Elias from the top turnbuckle with a head butt
Elias sends Roode throat first into the steel turnbuckle
Medics come out to tend to Roode’s throat and Elias grabs a microphone to announce himself as the winner
Opinion:
The turnbuckle to the neck looked really rough—he got him where there was no protection as the turnbuckle connected to the post, and Roode was thrown to the ground pretty hard too. Last week, I didn’t care much for this match (besides the fact that both guys are good), but Elias’ brutality has piqued my interest.
source: WWE
Authors of Pain vs. Jean Paul and Francois
Winners: Authors of Pain
Highlights:
Hometown heroes Jean Paul and Francois give a pre-match promo in half French, half English
Jean Paul punches Rezar a few times but Rezar doesn’t budge
Akam and Rezar hit the team with the super collider and the Last Chapter for the three count
AoP give a post-match promo about how there’s a chapter for each team and they will destroy them all
Opinion:
Shoutout to Canada’s own Jean Paul and Francois for not only getting names, but matching gear, a promo, and entrance! AoP looked as devastating as ever, of course.
source: WWE
Rollins and Bálor receive a proposition
After an extended ovation from fans, Rollins says that he wants to be a fighting champion, not a champion like Brock Lesnar. He’s interrupted by Finn Bálor, who says that they’re 2-2 on singles matches. He asks Rollins to show that he’s a fighting champion by putting the title on the line for tonight.
Rollins tells Bálor he has a title match against the Miz on Sunday, but leaves it up to the fans, who cheer. Miz’s AWESOME song hits and the Miztourage comes out, revealing their new shirts—ones with pictures of Finn, Seth, Curtis and Bo on them.
Dallas and Axel propose that they become the Four Horsemen of WWE, and Rollins and Bálor decline. The Miztourage attacks them, but they get the upper hand. Shortly after clearing the ring of the Miztourage, Finn floors Seth, telling him to “keep your eyes on Finn”.
Opinion:
I am more than excited for Finn vs. Seth. Two of WWE’s most well-rounded performers could easily put on a main event. I love that they’re best friends one second, but attacking each other the next.
source: WWE
Ruby Riott vs. Sasha Banks
Winner: Ruby Riott
Highlights:
Ruby knocks Sasha out of the ring, and Sasha takes out Sarah Logan
Riott slides out of the ring and Sasha jumps on her and takes her down
Ruby Riott sends Sasha Banks into the second turnbuckle
Sasha lands on Ruby with a lateral press from the top rope
Morgan and Logan interrupt a Bank Statement, saving Riott from submission
Sasha sends Riott into the steel post and jumps on Liv Morgan with her knees
Ruby hits the Riott Kick for the victory
Opinion:
This was a very good match, and I was sure there would be a false finish. It’s great that the Riott Squad gets a clean victory, as they haven’t gotten one in a while. It surprised me that Bayley didn’t interfere or anything.
source: WWE
Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Jinder Mahal vs. Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns
Winner: Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns
Highlights:
Roman delivers a simultaneous drive-by to Sami and Kevin
Lashley holds Sami in the air but KO interrupts, unloading on Lashley
Sunil Singh jumps onto the apron, distracting Roman from a superman punch and allowing Owens to tag in
Reigns delivers a superman punch to Owens
Strowman rags in and runs through Kevin and Sami twice after flooring Jinder
Mahal sends Braun shoulder first into the steel post
Roman spears Jinder and KO responds with a superkick
Braun delivers a running power slam to Owens for the pin
Opinion:
This was a very good match, and it made everyone look good. Braun never looks anything but dominant, and I love when he uses his little advantage to take out everyone on the other team. I wish fans would just get behind Reigns already.
The thing I don’t like about Roman’s appearance tonight is that due to the fact that Lesnar is not at the show (what a surprise), there is no closure after what happened at the GRR. Roman seems angry at first that he was cheated out of the title, but it wasn’t as big of a deal as it should have been. Hopefully they get to it more next week, because it seems unfinished and unfair.
source: WWE
Baron Corbin vs. No Way Jose
Winner: No Way Jose
Highlights:
Corbin gives a pre-match promo about how he isn’t here to joke around, calling out Titus O’Neil for being a joke at the GRR
Baron sends Jose into the steel post
Titus interrupts, and Apollo Crews and Dana Brooke make sure the floor isn’t slippery
Titus gets on the apron and tries to get in the ring, but falls
No Way Jose rolls Corbin up for the win
Opinion:
I love the way they’re capitalizing on Titus’ clout to give him a storyline. I feel bad because he’s literally the nicest guy ever, but a storyline of him being the Jerry Gergich (of Parks and Recreation) of WWE—constantly messing up and being made fun of but being happy and loving his job anyway—is a great way to go. I could not care less about No Way Jose. Baron Corbin is the most interesting he has ever been in this storyline, though, so if he needs to use Jose to do it, I guess that’s fine.
source: WWE
Mickie James vs. Natalya
Winner: Natalya
Highlights:
James sends Natalya face first into the turnbuckle
Ronda Rousey chases Alexa Bliss around the ring
Natalya catches Mickie in a roll up pin for the victory
Nia Jax comes out, scaring Alexa down the ramp
Jax gets in the ring and looks up and down at Rousey before raising her and Natalya’s hands
Opinion:
I’m continuing to like the storyline development with Nattie and Ronda. The brief interaction with Nia and Alexa paired with Alexa’s backstage promo earlier was perfect for right before their match at Backlash.
source: WWE
Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollins
Winner: Seth Rollins
Highlights:
Rollins gives Bálor a suicide dive
Bálor meets an attempt for a second suicide dive with a kick to the face
Seth superplexes Finn and Finn bounces back with a falcon arrow
Bálor jumps over the top rope and flips onto Rollins
Each man narrowly misses their finisher on each other
Rollins hits Bálor with the stomp and gets the win
Opinion:
What a match!! Rollins and Bálor can steal the show any time, whether they are the main event or not. I’m kind of disappointed that this match was given away on Raw and not in a longer version on a pay per view.