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Finally, finally, WWE delivered an episode of Monday Night Raw that was worthy to its claim of being the premier pro wrestling organization on the planet. Aside from the "wild card" rearing its head, this was a dramatic step in the right direction, and it looks like Paul Heyman's influence might already be at work. There were still some other kinks, but hat's off.
Hopefully, this will be the norm going forward, and the "wild card" will be gone when Extreme Rules is over.
Who got the most and least out of last night's show? Let's take a look.
Winners: Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley
This match ended in a no-contest, so the feud is probably going to continue, but this, like Raw, was a dramatic step in the right direction for both of these guys. They had been engaging in arm wrestling contests just a week ago, on top of tug of wars and other such nonsense. They've felt directionless for months. Now they have new life. Now they look like forces to be reckoned with once again.
This brought back shades of the 2017 version of Braun Strowman which so endeared him to so many fans. Bobby Lashley looked more formidable than he has since he came back to WWE a year ago.
More of this, please.
Loser: Samoa Joe
Although this match was really good and sold the burgeoning rivalry between Joe and Kingston, WWE's usual booking tropes roared back to life here. Samoa Joe won with the Coquina Clutch on Kofi Kingston. Though he had no real chance anyway, it only reminds us that he's certainly not going to capture the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules.
It's a shame that Joe still has the glass ceiling hanging over his head, but he's always fun to watch.
Loser: The NXT Tag Team Division
Congratulations to the Street Profits, I suppose, but this almost certainly means that their run with the NXT tag team titles is going to be a short one. Undisputed Era is going to walk out of TakeOver: Toronto II with gold around their waists.
For the second time this year (in three months, in fact), the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions were called up to the main roster in the middle of their reign.
It's not quite the damage done when the Viking Raiders were called up in April since all the tapings to TakeOver: Toronto II are wrapped up, but it will hurt the division going forward.
Loser: Lacey Evans
Lacey Evans just looks more and more out of her element when she gets into the ring. This match, with Lacey Evans and Baron Corbin, littered all over the place, did very little to sell the audience on the coming mixed tag team match at Extreme Rules.
Lacey Evans has her moments, but she just hasn't put the pieces together yet.
The sooner these two are out of the title picture, the better.
Winners: Mike and Maria Kanellis
Didn't see that one coming. When was the last time these two got on TV? Two years ago?
I suppose WWE is rewarding them for signing a new contract?
Either way, any step in this direction is a good one for them, even though their defeat against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch was inevitable. We'll see what happens with them in the coming weeks.
Winner: Nikki Cross
After months of doing nothing, Nikki Cross' surprising surge continues, and this week was the most telling that the company might have bigger things in store for her soon.
Carmella defeated Alexa Bliss after pointing out just how dependent the former women's champion was on her new cohort. Then Nikki Cross defeated Carmella, making us all question why exactly Alexa Bliss is getting more spotlight on pay per view.
The breakup of this alliance should do Nikki Cross a lot of favors if WWE has her go over.
Winner: AJ Styles
After a fantastic match with Ricochet which he lost (I thought this would be on pay per view), AJ Styles reformed his team with Gallows and Anderson, formally. Raw now has a new dominant heel faction, which can only bring good things going forward.
Styles did his consensus best work in WWE as a heel from the summer of 2017 to WrestleMania 33. His second reign as WWE Champion was long and prosperous, but it felt a bit underwhelming.
"Turning heel" is too cliche in WWE, but with Raw lacking top heels other than Baron Corbin, who brings his own problems, turning Styles was the right choice both for him and the red brand. AJ Styles has already lost a title shot to Seth Rollins, but him getting another one for SummerSlam in this persona, and with Gallows and Anderson, wouldn't be resented by anyone.
And speaking of those two, perhaps this is a final hail mary in an attempt to get them to re-sign. Or perhaps they've already done so and are being rewarded. Either way, it's a big step up from what they were doing before.
