'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE No Mercy is less than a week away, which means that this particular episode of Monday Night Raw is the official go home show for that pay-per-view. There were several matches that still needed more building toward and WWE, for the most part, did the work needed.
Jason Jordan earned his shot for the Miz's IC Title and we found out that a returning Bayley would be joining four other ladies in the Women's Championship Match. In addition to all of that, the Bobby Heenan tributes were touching and Braun Strowman's destruction of Enzo Amore was fantastic.
As for the other side of the show, there were plenty of strange and botchy moments worth highlighting. Gran Metalik showed far more of his own face than he wanted; Paul Heyman told a fib in regards to Braun Strowman's size, and former WWE employee Alex Riley became the hot take from Roman Reigns' big promo. Perhaps that's the point when WWE can tell themselves that they're a little too hung up on shoot promos.
Kicking off the botchiest and most outrageous moments from this Raw is Kurt Angle's baby boy having a little bit of trouble entering the ring.
#5 Slip up on the ring steps
Jason Jordan was fired up after The Miz made several below the belt verbal shots directed toward Kurt Angle's sub-par daddy skills. He was excited to step into the ring with five other wrestlers during the Raw main event for a chance to face The Intercontinental Champion at No Mercy on Sunday.
Perhaps he was too excited.
While attempting to enter the ring for this Number 1 Contender Match, Jordan did his best banana peel on the ground impression. He caught himself to avoid any real catastrophe and went on as if nothing happened. That's good for him because he went on to pin Curtis Axel and win the match. Hopefully, he fares better against Miz than he did in the post-match beatdown.
#4 Metalik's unmasking
A Luchador's mask is one of the most sacred pieces of their entire wrestling persona. Princesa Sugehit and Doctor Wagner Jr. were two notable Mexican wrestlers who caused a stir when they very recently put their masks on the line and lost. An unmasking is a huge moment and can serve as the finale to a storied career.
Knowing how important masks are for the Latin competitors in this sport, it's safe to say that Neville got a little carried away when he tried to rip Gran Metalik's mask open. For a moment, his entire face was on display for the whole world to see.
Right after this match that potentially saw the degradation of a Mexican wrestler's heritage, WWE next aired a video segment honouring a celebrity for Hispanic Heritage Month. That's some interesting timing.
#3 Not technically the biggest
Paul Heyman made some hefty claims during this split-screen promo between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman. Unfortunately, one of them simply wasn't true. He said that for the first time, his client is walking into a match where his opponent is bigger than him. Braun is 6'8'' and weights 385 lbs. Yes, he's bigger than Brock, but Brock has faced off against at least one more sizable foe.
The Big Show, a man Brock has faced several times inside the ring, is 7'0" and currently 383 lbs. It should be noted that Big Show is in possibly the best shape of his career right now. Show has always been taller than Braun and it's a safe bet that Lesnar has had matches with him when his weight was much higher than it is now.
As far as the subsequent claims of Braun being "stronger" and "badder," those are claims that still unverified. Ultimately, the real behemoth will be decided in the ring at No Mercy.
#2 The Bar's 3-D
Cesaro & Sheamus, better known as The Bar, have been working on a new tandem tag team manoeuvre on the house show circuit. Live footage has shown that the former Raw Tag Team Champions have been working on the 3-D, a Dudley Boy speciality. D-Von recently praised one execution of this move from the recent Australia tour.
In this three-team tag team match against Anderson & Gallows as well as the current Champions Rollins & Ambrose, they gave the move its televised debut. The form here isn't exactly on the level of the Dudleyz and it was noticeable to the originators of the move.
Shortly after this aired, Bully Ray took to Twitter to offer his two cents on The Bar's execution of the 3-D. He simply shared a gif of he and D-Von giving the move to Christian through a table along with the words, "When done correctly."
#1 Alex Riley name drop
Without John Cena's help this week, Roman Reigns continued their feud consisting of the shootiest of shoot promos all by his lonesome. It started out outrageous enough as The Big Dog expanded his non-PG vernacular to include the phrase "stupid s***." WWE was on top of their censor game, so the most taboo word in that promo did not actually make air.
As crazy as the s-word is, it was the mere mention of one of John Cena's favourite people that caused even more buzz. While the full details of the Riley/Cena tension have never been disclosed, it's been stated many times that John played a very direct role in derailing Alex's career. Roman surprisingly touched on that subject on this night. Riley, who goes by his real name Kevin Kiley Jr, on Twitter responded to these comments.
Unlike Cody Rhodes and his potential tag match at Starrcade with his brother, this probably isn't a signal that Alex is returning to WWE in the near future. However, you can never say never in professional wrestling.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
