With WWE Hell in a Cell a little under a week away, Raw was centred around finalising the build for the three big matches for the PPV, as well as a few other bouts. Cesaro and Sheamus were finally on the same page.
Sasha Banks and Charlotte had a heated contract signing (with Mick Foley) that was the highlight of the night. Brock Lesnar’s big homecoming fell flat. Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins’ bad blood boiled in the main event and opening segment.
These segments and more were the focus of Raw, as Hell in a Cell approaches in six days’ time. Was it a solid final Raw before Hell in a Cell? Let’s find out, as I analyse and grade each segment from the October 24th edition of WWE Raw.
Chris Jericho demands his list be returned:
Grade: 6/10
As always, Jericho was very entertaining, albeit a bit more serious than usual. Despite his entertainment factor, this segment felt like a weak way to build to the main event, as the bad blood between Owens and Rollins was only briefly mentioned by Seth, rather than being the focus of the segment.
Stephanie McMahon had no reason to be out there either, and the majority of the segment being about The List of Jericho made the Owens-Rollins rivalry feel a little irrelevant.
Overall, a decent segment for what it was, but something that could have been used to play on the events that would transpire later in the night rather than focusing on Jericho and his List.
Enzo Amore vs Karl Anderson:
Grade: 6/10
A decent match for what it was, but another loss for Anderson continues to emphasise to fans that Gallows and Anderson are not as dangerous as they say they are. Enzo and Cass continuing their promo without a microphone were very entertaining, and the Minneapolis crowd ate it up with cheers.
Overall, though, this segment achieved little for either team, and Gallows and Anderson continue to look like chumps. Despite the short and somewhat lacking build to the now announced Enzo and Cass vs Gallows and Anderson bout at Hell in a Cell, expect it to be a splendid tag match.
Sheamus and Cesaro vs the New Day:
Grade: 8/10
In arguably the best match of the night, these two teams showed their evident chemistry in a fun tag team bout that had the crowd hot. Despite not being on the same page for weeks, Cesaro and Sheamus finally worked together to show their dominance as a team, beating the tag champs clean in a splendid bout.
In spite of the fun nature of the bout and the win for Sheamus and Cesaro, WWE made the mistake of showcasing a PPV match on the Raw before the PPV, taking away some of the anticipation for when the teams clash again at Hell in a Cell. Hopefully, the two teams can outdo their effort from tonight’s Raw on Sunday, and the fans will still be invested.
Bayley vs Dana Brooke (Arm Wrestling Match):
Grade: 4/10
Somehow, WWE made this feud go from decent to terrible in one segment. Bayley was brilliant as the babyface here, but the two women can’t do much when given an arm wrestling match to perform on a professional wrestling show.
The fans rejected this early, and even a Bayley to Belly Suplex to Brooke couldn’t save this terrible idea for a segment. There must have been a better way to continue the build for this rivalry. Instead, we got a ridiculous arm wrestling match on WWE TV. A weak segment that had the fans chanting ‘boring’. Shame on WWE.
Curtis Axel vs Bo Dallas:
Grade: 7/10
Curtis Axel looked great here, looking revitalised with a fresh babyface persona and fire we haven’t seen in ages. Despite not being the focus, he was the star here. Bo Dallas continues his aggressive demeanour, which is working for the time being.
A feud between the two men would do both good, as Axel can continue to showcase his new babyface fire, while Dallas crushes it down with aggression. Overall, a decent match and segment that benefited both men, with Axel hopefully being a bigger focus in coming weeks.
The Golden Truth vs The Shining Stars:
Grade: 5/10
There are so many glaring questions about these segments that they have no energy, and end up being pointless.
Why is Titus O’Neill paired up with the Shining Stars? Are Mark Henry and Titus O’Neill feuding? Why is the Golden Truth aligned with Mark Henry? The lack of noise from fans is a testament to the weakness of these matches, as these filler segments continue to be a major problem in Raw.
Sasha Banks and Charlotte’s contract signing (with Mick Foley):
Grade: 9/10
Finally, after weeks of saying they are looking to make history rather than destroy each other inside the cell, Banks and Charlotte highlighted the danger of the structure, with the significant help of Mick Foley. This segment did drag a little long, but the intensity shown by both women after witnessing Foley’s emotional speech on the Cell helped it remain stellar.
Hesitation finally showed (as it should), but the hatred between the women and the desire to be Women’s Champion drove both competitors to sign on the dotted line. A strong segment that continues to pile on the hype for this historic matchup, Charlotte and Banks will hopefully tear the house down on Sunday.
Brian Kendrick vs Rich Swann:
Grade: 6/10
Rich Swann looked great here, continuing to showcase high-octane energy that will lead to a sustained push in the future. It was nice to see him pick up the win, gaining some momentum rather than floundering.
Kendrick losing before his big match on Sunday plays up the idea of his loss of identity but does little to give him any momentum. Perkins was decent on commentary but is still a little bland compared to other babyfaces on the roster.
Overall, a decent match, with the Kendrick-Perkins storyline continuing heading into Hell in a Cell.
Sami Zayn faces off with Braun Strowman:
Grade: 8/10
WWE was smart to save this match for a later date, as the rivalry can further develop before a one-on-one bout. Strowman’s monstrous presence alongside Zayn’s underdog heart was key here and helped get the crowd behind him, as he attempted to take down the giant bully.
Strowman leaving Zayn lying and then walking away after Zayn gets back up was great, as the drama of this feud will continue to grow in the next few weeks. Overall, this was a well-done segment that allowed fans to be intrigued for what is next in this rivalry.
Brock Lesnar Responds to Goldberg:
Grade: 4/10
What a waste. WWE attempted to make Lesnar’s home of Minnesota cheer and chant for Goldberg when it was obvious the fans were invested in the Beast Incarnate. Even Paul Heyman couldn’t save this segment as he attempted to improvise the situation, and unfortunately, a Lesnar appearance was wasted for the sake of ratings.
What were Lesnar and Heyman supposed to say here anyway? Survivor Series is still a long time away, and Goldberg accepted Lesnar’s challenge, not challenging Brock himself, leaving Lesnar with nothing to say in response.
Overall, a poor segment that did little to further the Lesnar-Goldberg feud, as WWE looked to increase ratings with a Lesnar appearance, despite there being no purpose to it.
Kevin Owens vs Seth Rollins vs Chris Jericho:
Grade: 9/10
The triple threat match was solid enough, with JeriKO being upset by Rollins in a double pin, in turn giving Seth some big momentum. It was the events after the bell that was the story.
Rollins and Owens’ bad blood spilt in a hard-hitting brawl, as the personal tension of the rivalry boiled over in a wonderful fight. After Rollins seemed to have gained the most momentum heading into Sunday, Owens looked like a monster as he power-bombed Rollins onto the apron, injuring him before their HIAC bout.
Rollins will now have to fight with an injury on Sunday, which will generate a nice amount of babyface sympathy. Overall, a splendid match and a post-match brawl that generated some extra buzz for the Owens-Rollins rivalry heading into Hell in a Cell.
Overall Raw Grade: 7/10
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