WWE had pressure from several angles not to mess up Raw, more so than normal, largely due to the fact that they were riding the excitement of Braun Strowman’s wrecking ball tendencies from one week prior. They've handled that big story fairly well and it would be great if they continued to do so. Thankfully, the follow-up was good.
Roman Reigns stayed home to sell his injuries from the previous week, which was a needed follow-up. Also, Strowman got plenty of screen time, including both the opening promo and the main event singles match.
There were also a few random beatdowns throughout the show but it’s the final move of the night that will keep everyone talking. Both Big Show and Braun created a highlight that will be played for a long time and it’s featured on this list. It was that outrageously good.
Outright botches didn’t really occur on this Monday night, so kudos to WWE for running a crisp show. So, this edition of this article series will mostly be focusing on the more outrageous moments of the night. First up on the countdown is that disturbing bump Enzo Amore took at the end of the tag match between him and Big Cass vs. The Club...
#5 Enzo’s flailing body
What’s going on here? This looked like a botched attempt to place Enzo Amore on the top rope that didn’t work out as planned. However, considering Karl Anderson moved straight into a pinfall attempt without hesitation to let the ref check on Enzo, this was probably the planned ending spot. That’s even more outrageous.
There’s so much recklessness here in how Enzo took this bump. Hopefully, this isn’t a recurring offensive move by Karl Anderson.
#4 Poor Kalisto
“Roman Reigns is garbage, and now you are too!”
Braun Strowman spoke those words just before lifting Kalisto into the air with ease, then dumping him into a container full of trash. The big botch here has to be the current state of the former Lucha Dragon’s career. Kalisto at one point was the recipient of a singles push with the historically significant United States Championship.
Speaking of old WCW belts, this sad moment for Kalisto shares one thing with the WCW Television Championship, which was trashed by Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. That belt was later found by a then-janitor Hacksaw Jim Duggan, who briefly claimed the title for himself.
If anybody noticed Jim walking backstage on Raw last night, please verify that he didn’t go home with any luchadors.
#3 Watch out, T.J.
The silliness of the dab continues, although it’s at least slightly more appropriate because former Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins is now a heel. It didn’t make sense when this former babyface taunt induced eye rolls. Now it’s okay because we’re supposed to not like him. However, that doesn’t give the Extraordinary Gentlemen a pass.
Jack Gallagher steals the taunt to try to gain some sort of psychological advantage here and to his credit, Perkins sells it when he’s forced to take a step backwards. We can only hope that TJ saw the move being done in front of him for the first time and wondered if that’s what it looked like when he did it.
Then, he could grant us some grace and immediately retire it. My fingers are crossed.
#2 Can’t escape the owls
This has to be WWE’s way of poking fun at the Impact Wrestling legal drama that’s still nagging at the Hardyz. As soon as this Jeff Hardy vs. Cesaro singles match began, this on-screen graphic popped up while Michael Cole discussed the benefits of this medication. Most notable from this is the drug Xyzal’s animal choice for marketing. That’s an owl.
One observation is that the Xyzal owl looks way more dignified than the Anthem Owl. The dapper suit is probably the reason for that. The choice to put that ad overlay specifically in front of the Hardyz seems far from coincidental.
#1 Giants broke the ring
How was WWE supposed to follow all of the calamity that was shown on last week’s Raw? Pulling out the classic Superplex/ring break spot was their answer and it was outrageously awesome.
The Ohio crowd kept suspiciously popping every time Big Show and Braun Strowman teased anything off of the top rope, which they did many times during this main event matchup. The anticipation for the big climax kept building and building until it finally delivered.
Big Braun rose to his feet as officials and the ring crew rushed to the ring. This makes two weeks in a row that Strowman has left a path of sheer destruction on Raw. Who knows what’ll happen next week – perhaps Braun will eat a luchador? He’s a giant that can literally do anything he wants and it’s great. WWE has a breakout star on their hands.
Also worthy of note in this outrageous spot is the bump referee John Cone took out of the ring. Zack Ryder even tweeted about this, writing “I keep watching John Cone fall out of the ring...over and over.” Me two, Zack.
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