RAW Flashbacks
On the last edition of Raw, Rey Mysterio became the #1 contender for Seth Rollins Universal Championship after winning a Fatal 5 Way elimination match by pinning Bobby Roode to gain the victory. On the women’s side of the show, Sasha Banks and Bayley (after systematically taking out Alexa Bliss the week prior) defeated the other half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, with Sasha tapping out Nikki Cross.
Announced for the season premiere edition of Monday Night Raw was the Universal Championship match between challenger Rey Mysterio and champion Seth Rollins, Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks, AJ Styles defending the United States Championship against Cedric Alexander, Heavy Machinery vs. Bobby Roode & Dolph Ziggler for the Raw Tag Titles, a Brock Lesnar appearance and Miz TV featuring special guests Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan. Raw took place from the Talking Stick Point Arena in Phoenix, AZ.
Rey Mysterio/Brock Lesnar Segment
The Raw premiere kicked off big with #1 contender Rey Mysterio starting off the show. Mysterio praised his son Dominic (sat in the front row) for telling him he’s still Rey Mysterio and believing in him to get a Universal Championship match. Mysterio would then be cut off by Brock Lesnar, who then brutally attacked Rey as the ‘Beast Incarnate’ hit multiple F5s, before even attacking Dominic by lifting Mysterio’s son out of the crowd and throwing him into the ring post before nailing another F5. The segment ended with Lesnar throwing Mysterio across the ring after attempting to help his son and Dominic being stretchered away with a neck brace.
Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks
In a singles match for the first time since being the final two competitors at Elimination Chamber 2018, two of the bigger names in the women’s division went head to head here. Becky Lynch came out to sit on commentary with the new Raw announce team of Vic Joseph and Dio Maddin from 205 Live and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Sasha started the match in control with two big forearms that sent Bliss to the outside, before countering an Alexa counter by hitting another forearm on Bliss as she was trying to escape the ring apron. Alexa would change the momentum with a slap/forearm combination, before a standing headscissors takedown put Banks in the corner. Sasha connected with a shining wizard for a two, but the finish saw Bliss (after failing with a DDT attempt) become distracted by Sasha shouting for Bayley, which led to Banks attacking the already-injured right leg of Bliss for the win. Post-match, Becky stormed to the ring, but Sasha dodged out and went into the crowd, happy to wait for this Sunday and their HIAC contest.
Raw Tag Team Championships Match
Booby Roode & Dolph Ziggler (C) vs. Heavy Machinery
Before the challengers made their entrance, Charly Caruso interviewed Seth Rollins over The Fiend attacking Braun Strowman and getting involved in the Universal Championship match. Rollins said that The Fiend crossed the line and that his focus was on him, but that he would still defend the Universal Championship tonight against an unnamed opponent.
This was the first of three title matches on the show tonight, with the in-form Heavy Machinery getting the tag title opportunity. Tucker took advantage early on with the strength advantage over Ziggler, before also showing his athleticism with a standing dropkick. Otis would also show his strength by shoulder tackling both Roode and Ziggler, before Heavy Machinery connected with a double suplex. Roode and Ziggler took advantage when they attacked Tucker on the outside, before Otis would clean house with a double elbow. The finish saw Heavy Machinery go for the Compactor, but Ziggler interfered hitting a Zig Zag on Tucker, and after removing Otis, Roode pinned Tucker with a Glorious DDT.
Miz TV w/ Ric Flair & Hulk Hogan
It wouldn’t be a huge episode of WWE without The Miz being in a highlight position, now, would it? Miz started the segment talking about the birth of his daughter Madison and that, if someone attacked his daughters in a similar way to Lesnar did to Dominic, there’d be hell to pay. Miz followed that up by introducing Hogan and Flair, with the two coming into instant conflict by hitting each other with their catchphrases. Miz would then announce for Crown Jewel a five-on-five match between Team Hogan and Team Flair. Seth Rollins and Randy Orton would each come out as captains of their respective teams. This would lead to Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton right now.
Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton
This match never officially started as King Corbin made an appearance, distracting Rollins and leading to a two-on-one beatdown until Rusev made the save for Rollins. This would seem to confirm the first two picks for both sides with Hogan, Rusev and Rollins posing at the top of the ramp.
Charly Caruso interviewed Rusev asking about what the Maria scandal does for Lana. Rusev claims his private life doesn’t matter to her and challenged Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship tonight.
The Viking Raiders vs The O.C.
Another match between the two powerhouse teams of the division since their first collision just before Clash Of Champions ended in a no-contest, and The Viking Raiders earned the win the last time these teams faced. The Viking Raiders took control early on with the power game on Karl Anderson, before Luke Gallows was able to take down Ibor. The O.C. advantage continued over onto Erik, until Ibor cleaned house by saving Erik from losing a match to a double-handed choke-bomb when he hit a suicide dive on Anderson and a splash on Gallows for the win.
Cesaro claimed to Charly Caruso that Brock Lesnar did “nothing illegal”, before Ricochet challenged the Swiss Cyborg to a match right now.
Ricochet vs. Cesaro
This match went off the power of Cesaro against the speed of Ricochet. Cesaro countered a headscissors into a powerbomb attempt and a crossbody off the top rope into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, with Ricochet connecting with a suicide dive. Cesaro would hit a modified GTS, but lost the match following a surprise West Coast Pop headscissors pin by Ricochet, a Rey Mysterio move.
Firefly Fun House
This segment would be all about the side characters worrying about what’s going to happen on Sunday, with Rambling Rabbit “gone” from fear. Bray Wyatt would assure that them that there’s nothing like Hell In A Cell, and that it’s a terrible place. Wyatt claimed that the Fiend “Can’t wait to hurt Seth”.
United States Championship Match
AJ Styles (C) vs. Cedric Alexander
In the second of three title matches on the show, Cedric Alexander was looking for the second time to defeat AJ Styles following an MSG win and to become United States Champion. Alexander as the challenger started the match off strong with a headscissors takedown, followed by a high dropkick on a seated United States Champion. AJ Styles was able to swing the momentum by catching Alexander for an Fireman’s Carry neckbreaker on the top rope, followed by a Phenomenal Forearm on the outside. Both Champion and challenger would come close to winning, with Alexander connecting with a Michinoku Driver after moving out of the way of the Phenomenal Forearm and AJ hitting a deadlift German. The finish saw AJ roll out of a Lumbar Check into a Styles Clash to retain the United States Championship.
The Street Profits promoted NXT and the rest of the show.
Lacey Evans vs. Natalya
After the last few weeks of TV in which Lacey has beat Natalya and subsequently beaten Dana Brooke and Ember Moon with the Sharpshooter, this match seemed to be where Natalya would get revenge. Natalya started the match in control before Lacey Evans capitalised on her surroundings by using the steel steps for an advantage. Following a swinging neckbreaker by Evans, Natalya connected with a discus clothesline, before a distracted referee did not see Evans rake the eyes of Natalya, leading to a rollup win for Evans. Post-match, Evans blindsided Natalya with the Women’s Right.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Paul Heyman, who claimed his client went too far but that it was Vince McMahon’s fault for getting Brock Lesnar in “Fight Mode”, and that Kofi Kingston had better be praying to God.
Sasha Banks interrupted a Maria Kanellis interview over Rusev (Maria noted that Rusev was not the father of her baby), claiming that she will make Becky tap and a “Man cannot beat the Boss”.
A limo then arrived with a mystery person who was not shown.
Universal Championship Match
Seth Rollins (C) vs. Rusev
It was then time for the main event and the third title match of the night; Baron Corbin and Randy Orton watched at the top of the ramp representing Team Flair, as the two members of Team Hogan went head to head. Rollins attempted a handshake at the start of the match, which Rusev countered into an Accolade attempt before Rollins went for the Stomp. Rusev would take control following a fallaway slam and bearhug, with Rollins getting relief through a Blockbuster. Rusev and Rollins would trade high impact moves, with the Bulgarian Brute coming close to winning following a Machka kick on a jumping Rollins. This led to a surprising return for Bobby Lashley, who brought out … LANA! The two would embrace as Lana kissed Lashley passionately. The match finished in a no-contest following this, with an appearance by The Fiend who attacked Rollins with the Mandible claw to close the show.
Overall, WWE Raw was a good show with three title matches, an expected Saudi build and the return of Bobby Lashley with Lana. The only real issue with the show is that no new matches were made for Hell In A Cell, with the card only having four matches as of this being reviewed. A lot of WWE.com exclusives are likely to be made when they have had weeks to plan.