source: WWE
The annual Superstar Shake-Up is here! This episode of Monday Night Raw covers all of the superstars who made the transition from Smackdown to Raw this year.
source: WWE
Raw gets a Maharaja
Kurt Angle comes out, welcoming fans to this year’s Superstar Shake-Up when he’s interrupted by Sunil Singh, who introduces Raw’s newest member: Jinder Mahal. Mahal says that since he is solidifying Raw as the A show, he expects the same treatment as the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar.
Angle says that these things are settling in the ring, and Mahal will defend the US Championship right now against whoever wants the opportunity. Jeff Hardy runs out to the ring, and the match begins.
source: WWE
Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal
United States Championship Match
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Highlights:
Hardy runs across the apron, jumping off and onto Mahal
Jinder delivers a right hand to Jeff’s face and knocks him onto the apron
Hardy hits Mahal with a Whisper in the Wind
Jeff kicks Singh’s feet off the apron, knocking him to the floor
Hardy gives Mahal a Swanton Bomb for the win
Mahal chooses to invoke his rematch clause at the Greatest Royal Rumble
Opinion:
I’m glad the title is no longer on Mahal’s waist. I was confused when he won at WrestleMania, but this transition makes sense. Now that Jeff Hardy is champion, I’ll actually be interested in the US Championship picture. Bringing Jinder to Raw could mean that he’ll get lost in the shuffle, but the transition that could be what he needs to revitalize his career as he can face off with several superstars he hasn’t faced as his current character.
source: WWE
Bayley vs. Sasha Banks
Winner: N/A (double DQ)
Highlights:
Bayley slides through the ropes and gives Sasha a hurricanrana outside the ring
Sasha gives Bayley a knee to the face against the post on the apron
Bayley and Sasha exchange hands and unload on each other
Riott Squad attacks Sasha and Bayley, giving each of them their respective finishers
Opinion:
I’m so happy that this match didn’t have a clean finish. Bayley vs. Sasha is clearly a PPV—preferrably a big four PPV—match, and now one of them can go away to the other brand, allowing the rivalry to brew even more. Sasha and Bayley can take subtle jabs at one other from other shows, making their next face off even bigger.
Putting the Riott Squad on Raw can give them the chance to become more dominant, taking out the women’s roster of the red brand. With the assumption that Absolution is disbanding after Paige’s retirement, they won’t have huge team competition.
source: WWE
Authors of Pain vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Winners: Authors of Pain
Highlights:
Akam throws Heath Slater out of the ring
AoP delivers the Last Chapter to Rhyno for the victory
Opinion:
AoP is super scary, and matches like these will help show the more casual fans who don’t watch NXT just that. I hope that these things happen week after week for at least a month before they encounter real competition. Unlike the Bludgeon Brothers, AoP is proven to be a force to be reckoned with, and they seemingly have more to lose on TV.
source: WWE
MizTV welcomes Raw’s newest superstars
Miz says that the Riott Squad and Jinder Mahal have shaken up the roster, but his announcement will create a seismic shift. He announces that Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are Raw’s newest superstars, and Owens and Zayn come out to the ring.
Miz, Dallas, Axel, Kevin and Sami join in a jumping group hug, and Miz puts over how huge they all are together. Miz says they’re in control now and are putting the whole locker room on notice, and Kurt Angle comes out.
Angle says that KO and Sami lost their opportunity at being on Raw last week, prompting Zayn to pull out a pair of glasses and read an email from Stephanie McMahon that says that Angle makes emotionally charged decisions, and she is overruling his decision and rewarding them Raw contracts.
Kurt welcomes Owens and Zayn to Raw, but tells the Miz goodbye, as he is going to Smackdown at the request of former Smackdown Live GM Daniel Bryan. Angry, Miz says that Smackdown is now THE show with the addition of him and the Miztourage. Angle stops him, saying that Miztourage won’t be going to Smackdown with him.
Angle also announces that there will be a ten man tag match as tonight’s main event, and it contains a new Raw superstar.
source: WWE
The Revival vs. Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Winners: Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
Highlights:
Dash and Dawson double team Matt in the corner
Hardy hits Dawson with a Side Effect
Wyatt gives Wilder a urinagi
Bray hits the Sister Abigail on Dawson
Hardy and Wyatt work together to give Dawson a modified Twist of Fate, advancing to the Tag Team Championship match against the Bar at the Greatest Royal Rumble
After the match, Breezango runs into the Bar and gives them tickets for their atrocious outfits
Opinion:
I am happy that Hardy and Wyatt are finally clicking in their storyline. The Woken Universe is only good if it’s big, and keeping Hardy on the lower midcard just makes his story confusing and it’s hard to get into it.
I’m also glad that Breezango have been “transferred to a new precinct”. They’ve barely been on TV in recent weeks, and being moved means that they’ll at least be on Raw for the next couple weeks (I hope).
source: WWE
Ember Moon vs. Mickie James
Winner: Ember Moon
Highlights:
Before the match, Ronda Rousey talks to Angle backstage and Angle introduces her to Raw’s newest superstar, Natalya
Alexa Bliss was supposed to be on commentary with Nia, but she doesn’t show
Backstage, Alexa says that she doesn’t want to be bullied by Nia after lsoing the Women’s championship to her
Moon delivers a running elbow to the face of James
Ember hits the Eclipse on Mickie for the three count
Opinion:
I am a little worried about Ember Moon’s talent being overshadowed by the feud between Alexa and Nia. If Moon wasn’t so insanely talented in the ring, she would certainly become Nia’s sidekick and not be able to develop her own personal character on the main roster.
That being said, Ember Moon looks ridiculous when she steps in the ring. The way Mickie James sold her Eclipse was amazing, and I would be genuinely terrified to take that move.
source: WWE
Dolph Ziggler is back, and he didn't come alone
Dolph Ziggler comes out to the record scratch theme song, announcing that Raw hasn’t changed since he left. It isn’t long until Titus Worldwide interrupts, campaigning for Ziggler to join them. Ziggler tells him that he didn’t come alone—Drew McIntyre attacks Titus and Apollo
McIntyre and Ziggler attack Titus and Apollo, sending Titus soulder-first into the post and giving him a superkick against the turnbuckle. Drew and Dolph Ziggler deliver their respective Claymore and Zig Zag finishers to Apollo at the same time, creating an awesome double team move.
Opinion:
I wasn’t thrilled when Ziggler came out with his record scratch silence and then theme song, as I hope every time that they’ll abandon that. I knew he wasn’t going to join Titus Worldwide, but I was a little afraid that he would fall to a lower spot on the card since Titus interrupted him.
Drew McIntyre’s debut was fantastic. Since he’s been injured so long in NXT, I admittedly forgot about him and hardly considered a main roster call-up. I think a partner in McIntyre is just what Ziggler needs for a successful new chapter in his career. Also, that double finisher was beautiful.
source: WWE
Samoa Joe confronts Roman Reigns
Reigns comes out to the ring, saying that again, Lesnar isn’t here. While he talks, he’s hounded by boos, and after saying he will return from Saudi Arabia as a full-time Universal Champion, he’s cut off by Samoa Joe.
Joe calls Roman out for not getting the job done. He says he’s not gonna learn his place in this business until someone puts him out for good. Joe reminds Roman of what Brock has done to him, and Reigns responds by asking what Joe can do.
Joe walks down the ramp, but stops short of the ring and walks back up the ramp, vowing to beat him up on his own time.
Opinion:
I just wish fans would get over their hatred for Roman Reigns. He’s saying all the right things, but is still getting castrated by the fans. Joe should easily be the bad guy, but the WWE universe can’t get over Roman’s early push from 3 years ago, and it’s annoying to me.
source: WWE
Mandy Rose vs. Natalya
Winner: Natalya
Highlights:
Mandy slaps Natalya in the face
Nattie locks in the Sharpshooter and wins the match
Sonya Deville attacks Natalya from behind after the match
Ronda Rousey comes out to the ring, saving her friend and forcing Absolution to retreat from the ring
Sonya gets back in the ring, but Rousey wins the face-off and hits her with a takedown and a hard right hand
Opinion:
It was cool to get a taste of a possible match between the two former MMA stars in Ronda Rousey and Sonya Deville. Natalya’s introduction to Raw was sort of short, but it left us wondering if she’ll be teaming up with Ronda Rousey more in the future.
source: WWE
Breezango vs. The Bar
Winners: Breezango
Highlights:
Fandango puts on Cesaro’s jacket and wears it during the match
Cesaro hits Fandango with an upper cut
Fandango sweeps Sheamus legs before Cesaro tags him in
Tyler Breeze gets the roll-up pin on Cesaro
Opinion:
I’m so happy that Breezango got the victory! I thought that against the former tag champions, they would secure their place as the resident jobber tag team on Raw. Thankfully, this could mean that they are in the tag title picture.
source: WWE
The Miz, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins and Bobby Roode
Winners: Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins and Bobby Roode
Highlights:
Bobby Roode is revealed as the fifth member of his team and Raw’s newest member
Rollins jumps over the top rope and takes out Owens
Lashey holds Zayn in the air for over 10 seconds before delivering a vertical suplex to him
Bobby picks up Miz and tosses him over the top rope into KO, Dallas, and Axel
Miz hits Rollins with the it kicks
The Miztourage take Lashley and Roode off the apron when Rollins is looking for a tag
Braun Strowman chases Miz around the ring, knocking over KO, Sami, and then Miz
Seth Rollins gives Curtis Axel a suicide dive
Strowman dropkicks Miz
Miz goes to tag in Bo and Curtis, but they both drop from the apron and walk out on him
Braun delivers a running power slam to Miz for the victory
Opinion:
The Miz’s self-proclaimed finale on Raw was great—we got to see Roode’s debut on Raw and a sampling of what each man can do. Lashley looked awesome, and I hope how long he can hold someone vertically in the air before suplexing him becomes a thing.
Axel and Dallas work really well as a team, and I’m sad to see them part from Miz. It made for a great moment as Miz went out on his back, and I hope they find a place on Raw without him.
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