This week, Monday Night Raw came to us from Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. We had a loud, raucous crowd that popped big for ‘important’ segments, and stayed quiet for the ‘unimportant’ ones. Two weeks ago, Raw had given us the best show in an eternity. The week after, because it was Labor Day Weekend, the quality of the programming was atrocious.
This week, following a fantastic Smackdown Live PPV, Raw delivered and delivered big. Most superstars stepped up their game. Sure it wasn’t as good as the Raw where Kevin Owens won the Universal Championship, but replicating that episode, week after week, is nigh impossible. Anyway, let’s discuss the peaks and the valleys from what was essentially an entertaining Monday Night Raw.
THE GOOD: We were treated to some great action this week
1- Pay Per View quality main event
The Prizefighter and The Guy had a showdown that even rivaled the A.J. Styles- Dean Ambrose encounter from last night. There were crazy spots, the work was incredible and there was enough drama (from Rollins and Rusev interfering, to the match being restarted by Mick Foley), to justify it being a legitimate ‘this is awesome’ main event.
The show was (sort of) beginning to drag by this point, and the main event just proved that Owens is world-class, and so is Reigns.
2- Great women’s Triple Threat encounter to start the show
Last night, Backlash began with a bang, thanks to 6 really skilled women. The Raw women decided to do one better and put on a show for the ages. We have to admit, this match was world class. Sasha Banks pinned Bayley to win a title opportunity at Clash of Champions. The real story here is the tease of a rift we’ve seen between Charlotte and Dana Brooke. Will fans accept a babyface Dana? Only time will tell.
3- Nia Jax looked unstoppable
Nia Jax had her first real match tonight. Last week, Alicia Fox threw a tantrum, and shortly after, threw a box of tissues at the female heel monster, when Nia Jax took out her best friend (yes, it’s apparently a thing now in WWE).
Nia Jax dominated Foxy like she was a jobber all through the match. In fact, there was one point during this contest, where Jax grabbed Foxy by her hair and swung her into the barricade. We wonder who Nia Jax will feud with next. Will she go for the Women’s title after this?
4- The gift of Jericho
An explosive match was announced for Clash of Champions following the Chris Jericho-Sami Zayn ‘Talk is Jericho’ segment. The two of them will square off in what should be an encounter that’ll tear the roof off. Jericho was in fine form backstage with Phillipe, as well as inside the ring, talking about his best friend.
Is this the best work he’s done in his entire Hall of Fame worthy career? One interesting thing we noted is how Sami Zayn left out Chris Benoit when he mentioned the names of his idols – Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and even the man with the ‘it’ factor- Chris Jericho.
5- No Darren Young or Titus O’Neil
Titus O’Neil and Darren Young stayed off television this week. And hence, we’re mentioning their absence as a positive in this countdown, instead of in the negatives section. Please please never return, guys.
THE BAD: Of course, there was enough on the show that made us cringe
1- Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal’s gimmick (of a man of peace from India) is not working. And not only is it not working, it made what was a tolerable show until that point, sink straight to the depths of no return. We wonder if Mahal is worse or Darren Young and Bob Backlund?
2- Enzo vs Epico
We understand it, Vince. Big Cass cannot take the fall because he’s 7 foot tall (hey guys, that rhymes). But does that mean that one-half of the hottest tag team in the company loses week after week after week? And that too, loses to a team that has absolutely no momentum?
Sometimes WWE makes no sense.
3- Where does Triple H fit in?
We have so many unanswered questions with regard to Triple H. But WWE has a tendency to drop angles which are hot, and not pick them up again until they are ice cold and unexciting. We saw this with The Miz and Daniel Bryan. Let’s hope Triple H comes back before people totally forget.
Overall it was a solid 7/10 show
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