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Monday Night RAW took place in Minnesota this week and we saw an exciting episode of the Red Brand. The flagship show carried the momentum from the past week and apart from some exciting segments, we also witnessed good matches.
The King of the Ring tournament began this week on RAW with two first round matches as Samoa Joe qualified for the next round by pinning Cesaro while Cedric Alexander defeated Sami Zayn. The other four King of the Ring competitors teamed up in a Tag Team Match when The Miz and Ricochet beat the team of Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre.
Additionally on the show, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross proved their worth as the Tag Team Champions as they overpowered Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. Most importantly, after missing out from RAW and SmackDown Live last week, The Fiend made his presence felt as he attacked Jerry 'The King' Lawler.
In the main event, a twist in the storyline saw the RAW Tag Team titles change hands and overall, the show had some astounding moments but there were a few segments which desired a lot more.
Let's find out two things WWE got right on RAW and two things that could be tagged as blunders from the show.
#2 Blunder: Dolph Ziggler lost another match
It's disappointing to see the current run of Dolph Ziggler in WWE. There is no denying that he is highly talented in the squared circle but he hasn't been utilized well. The Showoff faced Roman Reigns on RAW this week as the latter picked up a victory.
A couple of months ago, Ziggler returned to the company and attacked the WWE Champion Kofi Kingston. When he challenged for the most coveted prize of the Blue Brand, a large number of fans speculated a better run for Ziggler but his momentum was derailed.
After challenging Kingston twice, Ziggler was squashed by Kevin Owens at Extreme Rules. and was soon decimated by Goldberg at SummerSlam. Ziggler also lost to The Miz on RAW in what was an easy victory for the A-Lister.
This week, Ziggler fought Reigns and lost to the Big Dog. The match should not have taken place as Reigns is involved in a different storyline and in recent times, Ziggler has finished on the losing side in a number of clashes. Considering his proficiency in the ring, he certainly deserves better.
See WWE RAW Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE RAW Results page
#2 Got Right: The Fiend's appearance
The Fiend, who has been on a roll, appeared on RAW this week. The alter ego of Bray Wyatt made his in-ring debut at SummerSlam where he dismantled Finn Balor. With the impressive entrance and performance, The Fiend certainly made a great first impression in Toronto. While The Fiend didn't show up last week but he was present on the Red Brand this week.
Jerry Lawler was the special guest on RAW as Sasha Banks was supposed to appear on King's Court, however, it didn't happen. When Lawler was delivering a speech, the segment was cut short. Though Lawler escaped the ring, anticipating an in-ring attack from The Fiend, the latter still got the job done. The usage of the Mandible Claw took down Lawler and The Fiend made a gigantic statement.
This is not the first time that The Fiend has assaulted a legendary WWE Hall of Famer. While Mick Foley was his first victim, Kurt Angle was another notable legend who was taken down by the usage of the Mandible Claw.
Judging by the victims of The Fiend, a legendary Superstar could be next in line. There is no doubt that The Fiend has created a buzz and his appearance was one of the top moments of RAW this week.
#1 Blunder: Gallows and Anderson lost their titles after a short run
One of the biggest surprises of the show was when Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson lost the RAW Tag Team Titles in the main event of the night, against the unlikely team of Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman.
Despite interference from AJ Styles, Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman won the match, adding a lot more excitement to the storyline between the two stars in the leadup to the Clash of Champions.
Prior to the main event, Braun Strowman was scheduled to face AJ Styles for the United States Championship. The match didn't last long as the other two members of The OC interfered as the fans were certainly disappointed by the predictable ending of the match.
When The OC took down Strowman, he looked completely helpless until Seth Rollins came running out to rescue the Monster Among Men. Eventually, the duo teamed up to square off against Gallows and Anderson for the title.
The OC looked like a serious force and a large number of fans anticipated a lengthy run for them. Considering Rollins and Strowman are heading towards a battle for the Universal Championship, The OC might recapture the twin belts soon.
#1 Got right: The build-up between Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
There is little to no doubt that Sasha Banks' return has taken WWE by storm. The RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch faced Natalya at SummerSlam where she retained the belt. On the RAW episode after SummerSlam, Lynch found her next challenger and a tough one at that.
Banks interrupted Natalya on RAW last week as she made her long-awaited return after four months. Though she at first displayed her friendship with Natalya, the former immediately turned on the latter. Becky Lynch came out to rescue Natalya but The Man was also assaulted by The Boss.
While the rivalry was hinted at last week, it developed significantly this week. Even though Lynch and Banks didn't cross paths on RAW, they certainly hyped the rivalry. At the start of the show, Becky Lynch called out Sasha Banks, and moreover, took a savage shot at the four-time RAW Women's Champion.
Banks, on the other hand, is doing a fantastic job as a top level heel. She was supposed to be at King's court this week but it didn't happen and subsequently, she also refused to explain her actions from last week.
Towards the end of the show, Banks decimated an injured Natalya again, adding a lot more direction and excitement to her return as one of the biggest heels of the company.
