5 surprising moments from Raw this week (26th June 2018)

This week on WWE's flagship show, the creative team progressed many narratives that were ongoing for weeks and others that reached its breaking point after years’ worth of build. While those certain moments were not enough to make Raw a thoroughly enjoyable ride for its three-hour runtime, it did highlight the importance of the episode.

Follow Sportskeeda for the latest WWE news, rumors and all other wrestling news.

From friends turning into foes to the main event that would have a special place in the red brand's history books, Monday Night Raw had its usual tropes, standard matches, and a fair share of surprising moments that set up a perfect continuation for these narratives next week on Raw.

---

#1 Reigns can cut a believable promo

Reigns showed intensity.

Roman Reigns might be the most hated man on the Raw roster due to his consistent presence in the limelight, and for the all the hate the man receives about his in-ring skills and mic work, WWE is taking measures to improve that as Reigns promos have gotten consistently better when his points are conveyed across properly.

And this week on Raw, Reigns point was precise and clear, Bobby Lashley doesn’t deserve to face Brock Lesnar as Lashley’s biggest match at WrestleMania 23 was a bust.

While Reigns throwing Lashley under the bus was kind of contradictory, as Reigns has wasted many opportunities in the past to prove himself as "the big dog", it was the correct representation of his character, a smug, arrogant man that boasts about main eventing four WrestleManias in a row.

And while Lashley had a few good comebacks such as people being tired of seeing Roman's face and that Reigns could not beat Lesnar in the five times he faced him, Lashley was overpowered in this segment by an intense Reigns that made it clear this is his yard, and as corny as that sounds Reigns made it sound believable for the first time since he echoed it after WrestleMania 33.

#2 The Revival pin "The Big Dog"

Dash and Dawson pick up much-needed momentum.

After losing quite easily to Reigns and Lashley last week on Raw in a tag team match, The Revival set out to challenge the powerhouse duo once again. This time, instead of predictably losing via spear from Reigns or Lashley, Dash and Dawson picked up the shocking win. Furthermore, that win came from a roll up on Reigns himself, as the expected partner do not get along' angle was on full display between Bobby and Roman.

While most say that the distraction gave The Revival the win, it is surprising that it was actually Reigns who was pinned instead of Lashley, as WWE's protection of Reigns is on full display every week. Now could this signal a change of plans of who is going to challenger Lesnar? Maybe not. But the fact that The Revival picked up the most important win of their main roster career's perhaps shows that the creative team has a push in place for them, but in the world of WWE only time would tell.

#3 Strowman and Owens: A start of something new

It looks like Owens is starting to gain an unlikely ally.

For weeks on end, Braun Strowman used Kevin Owens body as a crash test dummy, as "the Monster Among Men" destroyed "the prize-fighter" whenever the opportunity presented itself. From being sent through a barricade to choke slammed off a ladder, Owens and Strowman were looking to feud with each other until Strowman finally got his hands-on Brock Lesnar. However, for the past few weeks, WWE have been building a clever storyline of Owens extending a hand of friendship to Mr Money in the Bank but being denied every time.

And this week on Raw, Strowman himself requested GM Kurt Angle to pair him up with Owens to take on the oddball team of Baron Corbin and Finn Balor. While the match was not anything special, as Constable Corbin being a 2.0 version of Corporate Kane is ridiculous, the foreseen betrayal of Corbin and Balor and the win for Owens and Strowman felt reasonably predictable.

But the chemistry between Owens and Stroman was welcoming, as the chase that ensued afterwards was comedic gold and surprisingly enough could indicate a partnership between the unlikely duo.

#4 A 5-star main event

These men are awesome.

Dolph Ziggler becoming a six-time IC Champion of on Raw was one of the best decisions the WWE creative made in a long time, as "the show-off’s" career was in constant limbo. While most fans hated the fact that decision meant that the former champ Seth Rollins would not be able to add any more prestige to the title as he already did in abundance.

But if one thought that Ziggler vs. Rollins last week was a show stealer, their rematch was a sure-fire classic, as these two men showed WWE why they are some of the best wrestlers the world today. From counter after counter to finisher after finisher, Ziggler and Rollins left it all in the ring and deserved a standing ovation for their efforts.

Sure, the match was halted due to Drew McIntyre’s timely involvement, but it that to set up a pretty exciting narrative down the road involving McIntyre and Roman Reigns who appeared to save his Shield buddy from a beatdown.

McIntyre vs. Reigns feels like a main event feud that should be for the Universal Title as both men are on top of their game and are matched in intensity, motivation and most of all good booking from the creative team. While Ziggler and Rollins can continue to tear the house down on any show they perform.

#5 Bayley finally snaps

The Bayley and Banks narrative can finally kick off.

When WWE decided to keep the Bayley and Sasha Banks storyline ongoing for an exponentially extended period, fans got frustrated, bored and uninterested, but the creative team made the correct decision for the first time in a long time, as the long-term narrative paid off spectacularly on Raw this week.

WWE prolonged the blow off between these two stars to make fans experience the frustration these two former friends had for each other, as once the animosity reached its breaking point, Bayley showed a side of her no one has ever seen before.

There were no hugs and generic babyface sympathy on display here as unrelenting fists, tugs and kicks were echoing throughout the arena, as the former huggable one transformed from PG era babyface to a superstar tired of playing by the rules anymore.

Furthermore, Kurt Angle ordered Banks and Bayley to attend therapy to sort out their issues with one another, and while that won’t work out for any such reason, this was a great moment for the Raw women's division, as Banks vs. Bayley is the best narrative running at the moment.

---

Send us news tips at [email protected].