The Clash of Champions go home show of Raw was set to follow the terrific show put forth by Smackdown Live’s inaugural PPV Backlash and the stellar show on Tuesday. The theme the company’s following is that Smackdown and Raw are in a battle against each other. So, after weeks and weeks of overall great storytelling with some in depth character development, Smackdown is way ahead as far as giving a quality show is concerned. Raw, while better consistently than it was before the brand split, has still struggled to be coherent throughout its three-hour course.
But despite that, there were many great moments this week. Here are the 5 points to note.
5: Down to Business
The opening segment of Raw was the same but yet so different. Firstly, the pace was on point. Roman Reigns, Stephanie McMahon, Mick Foley- all of them walked out to settle some business or the other. And they interrupted each other in quite a brisk, no-nonsense fashion.
Secondly, it is great to note that while Shane and Stephanie McMahon are well-established authority figures, both the Mick Foley and Daniel Bryan seem powerful figures playing the General Manager. Foley was in command the entire time he was on camera. His trust on Stephanie is something that’s keeping the main event storyline tied well together.
The Raw kick off gave us two matches- Rollins vs Rusev and Kevin Owens Vs Roman Reigns in a steel cage.
4: Reunion, is it?
While Rusev is not Rollins mortal enemy, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion fought him like he had a major beef to settle. Even after their match was over, he performed a diving crossbody on the US Champion outside the ring.While Reigns won against Owens in the main event, Rusev was out to repeat what happened last week until Reigns put up a fight, which not many were expecting. Both the heels were set to demolish Reigns, locking cage until Rollins threw himself from the top of the cage with another diving crossbody at the heels.
There has been speculation that The Shield may reunite at either Survivor Series or Royal Rumble since that’s when Raw’s Reigns and Rollins can cross paths with Smackdown’s Ambrose.
But this moment established that Rollins is a babyface and he actually helped a brother out!
3: Dana, again!
Dana Brooke gave Mick Foley an idea that made Charlotte shove her away. The dynamic between these two women has escalated interestingly since this dominant and submissive side of the champion and her protégé respectively was introduced some weeks back.
Brooke commented on how Banks’ shoulders were down as well before she won by pinfall. So, Foley made a triple threat match between Charlotte, Banks and Bayley for the championship at Clash of Champions.
The champion was unimpressed.
Also, there’s news that one of Brooke’s great allies is on the verge of a return.
Be wary, Charlotte!
4:The Cruiserweights, confrontation after RAW
Mick Foley gave an endearing introduction the Cruiserweight Division with four superstars making their presence felt on Raw. And it included one Brian Kendrick who was released years ago. Yes, he’s great. And yes, he’s helped train Eva Marie.
He won the match against Cedric Alexander, Gran Metalik and Rich Swann to gain the right to face the TJ Perkins for the Cruiserweight Championship at Clash of Champions. Commentary also put forth the Cruiserweight Classic and Perkins journey to win the championship. This was a well-done introduction with Kendrick looking like the veteran facing the new face of the division.
1: Equal
The Cesaro Section can be relieved and celebrate finally. The predictable finally happened. Cesaro, who had been brilliantly selling his back injury and even cheated to win his match last week, won again this week. With the Neutralizer. Their last match in the best of seven series is set to happen at Clash of Champions. The winner will get a championship shot against Kevin Owens.
Cesaro put the wrestling world on notice soon after the brand split draft when he talked about how disappointed he was about being drafted so late and that too on Raw. The promo went viral and was much talked about. It would have been easy to think he may get into the doghouse. But this series put that thought to rest.
If Cesaro wins, it’ll be awesome to get his feud started with a man he has some great in- ring chemistry with.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
