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The go home show of Monday Night Raw before the highly anticipated 2018 Money in the Bank pay-per-view was an episode that featured solid in-ring action but poor storytelling tropes in few instances. And for longtime fans of the product, this is nothing new as WWE has doubled down on their ability to construct a show that genuinely grips fans from beginning to end.
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However, this week on their flagship show, WWE did the best they could and laid out an episode that highlighted their strongest assets which in turn made for a more plausible show that wasn’t painfully boring to watch.
From frog splashes off the top of ladders to award-worthy solo performance, this week's episode of Raw did not necessarily get the WWE Universe pumped up for Money in the Bank this Sunday, but it did keep the masses somewhat entertained for its three-hour runtime even if the show struggled at times.
#1 A hot opening and a firm conclusion
The main reason why Raw has become unbearable to watch over the last few months is due to the actual wrestling on the show. Primarily because WWE kept on booking matches that would rarely excite their fanbase.
However, this week that all changed as the creative team used their skills for once and booked two of the best fatal four-way matches on Raw this year in Alexa Bliss vs. Ember Moon vs. Sasha Banks vs. Natalya and Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode. These two well put together matches that captivated audiences immensely.
Not only was the booking of the match exceptional, but the placing of the two bouts at the start and end of the show was also genius as the middle portion of the Raw tends to disappoint. WWE let fans witness two engaging matches that built excellent narratives for the Money in the Bank pay-per-view and gave a taste of what to expect at the show.
#2 McIntyre and Ziggler make their purpose known
There no two ways about it, Drew Mcintyre is a legitimate badass, from the way he walks to the way he talks, "the chosen one" has excelled in his newly profound heel role alongside fellow underused star Dolph Ziggler.
Over the past few weeks Ziggler and McIntyre have laid waste to the Raw tag team division, but last week, a small hiccup in the number one contender's battle royal for the Raw Tag Team Titles was spelling the end for this dynamite duo. Nevertheless, this week Ziggler and McIntyre put their grievances that behind them as they focused on their real goal ahead, and that is to destroy the tag team division and rebuild it with them as the champions.
It is so often in wrestling where a mishap by one's partner ultimately results in their alliance been broken, but here WWE took a logical route and had Ziggler and McIntyre regroup and deliver a truthful and impactful promo after they mauled Breezango in singles action.
Where WWE takes this story from here would be interesting as there are so many possibilities to advance this teams narrative, and it would be best for business if WWE continues to use every single segment to put McIntyre over as it feels he is being built for a big push in the future.
#3 An entertaining rivalry
The truth is that Elias vs. Rollins at Money in the Bank is nothing special, as there is no intriguing narrative or high stakes ultimatum attached to this match, and there is nothing wrong with that as many expect a good match and Rollins to retain his title. However, one thing that at least gives Rollins vs. Elias a bit of leverage to make it feel a bit important is that it is a fun feud to watch.
From broken guitars to memorable tunes, Elias and Rollins have done everything they possibly could to make this feud feel exciting even if WWE's generic material doesn’t allow them to transcend any boundaries. This week these two talented men put on another entertaining segment which featured comedy, realism, and ultimately another guitar was broken in half.
There nothing that can be said against Elias confidence on the mic and every week his performances keep getting better, as this time he hilariously questioned the contradictory nature of Rollins nicknames and rhythmically insulted the crowd.
While Mr. Monday Night Rollins delivered a more grounded promo asking Elias why he is attacking him every week, as Rollins has no real problem with the drifter, and then he broke his custom-made guitar for good measure. A little bit of fun never hurt anybody and this rivalry won't stand out as anything significant in a few months but it does one thing that is beneficial, it makes the flagship show watchable.
#4 The Riott Squad cause mayhem
It is hard to call Ruby Riott's "Riott Squad" a band of Superstars that are bent on causing mayhem and destruction where ever they go, as that is a concept so overdone In WWE that it has become beyond stale at this point. Furthermore, WWE did the group no favors by generically booking them over the last few months.
However, it seems things are starting to take shape for the former NXT Superstars as the creative team is trying to book these Superstars to stay true to their name and cause mayhem where ever they go. As on this week's edition of Raw, Riott and her cronies decided to send a message to rest of the Raw women's division.
Even though the 'sending a message' shtick has worn thin at this point, it was a refreshing change of pace to see the Riott Squad, a tea that should be a catalyst for destruction mess up backstage, cut a WWE employee tie and even paint their symbol on Bayley.
If WWE showcases this version of the Riott Squad on a weekly basis, they could morph them into a serious threat in the division, instead of another stable that won't be remembered in the history books.
#5 Strowman is the biggest challenge at Money in the Bank
Usually in previous Money in the Bank matches the biggest challenge for any superstar was climbing the ladder and retrieving the briefcase, this year WWE flipped the script and made a particular superstar that biggest challenge instead of the ladder.
This year that superstar is Braun Strowman, and the best thing about this decision is that Stroman is believable as the greatest obstacle in this Money in the Bank ladder match, as there is no other superstar in WWE today that more protected and dangerously impressive than "the monster among men."
This week on WWE’s flagship show, Strowman could not be immobilized by three World Champions in Bobby Roode, Kevin Owens and Finn Balor, which speak volumes. Therefore, the only nitpicky thing about to this scenario is if Strowman does not win then how will WWE rehabilitate him again.
Nevertheless, it is delightful to see WWE build up layers to this match as a superstar is looking to reclaim what he never lost, a Samoan badass looking to secure his first World Title and now an unstoppable monster that might run through the rest of the field at Money in the Bank.
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