RAW Review (24th of June)
We're removed from Stomping Grounds and now on the road to Extreme Rules! Last night's RAW was expected to be a good one since we got a match between AJ Styles and Ricochet. Also, coming off the PPV I expected to see some new rivalries to be built but apparently that's asking for too much. Did this RAW succeed in those expectations? Let's find out!
Show opened with Universal Champion Seth Rollins and RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch both talking about their victories at Stomping Grounds. Baron Corbin interrupts then out of nowhere, Lacey Evans attacks Becky from behind! Seth tries to break them up but Becky wanted to beat Lacey down. Corbin runs in and starts brawling with Rollins. Corbin and Evans then leaves but then they issue a challenge to the champions. Corbin and Lacey want a mix tag match at Extreme Rules and the champs accepted, adding that if Corbin and Lacey loses then they can't challenge for any of their titles as long as they're the champions. Corbin and Evans agreed to those terms. Corbin then requested that both titles would be on the line in a Winners Take All Tag Match! This match is officially set for the next PPV and I hope that this will end the rivalry between them once and for all.
Show opened with Universal Champion Seth Rollins and RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch both talking about their victories at Stomping Grounds. Baron Corbin interrupts then out of nowhere, Lacey Evans attacks Becky from behind! Seth tries to break them up but Becky wanted to beat Lacey down. Corbin runs in and starts brawling with Rollins. Corbin and Evans then leaves but then they issue a challenge to the champions. Corbin and Lacey want a mix tag match at Extreme Rules and the champs accepted, adding that if Corbin and Lacey loses then they can't challenge for any of their titles as long as they're the champions. Corbin and Evans agreed to those terms. Corbin then requested that both titles would be on the line in a Winners Take All Tag Match! This match is officially set for the next PPV and I hope that this will end the rivalry between them once and for all.
The New Day & The Usos Vs. The Revival, Daniel Bryan & Rowan
This match was fine for what it was until things got changed. Daniel Bryan had Xavier under control until he was accidentally Uppercutted by Dawson and Woods took this opportunity to roll Bryan up for the elimination! Almost immediately, Woods was then eliminated by Dash. They go to a commercial break then once coming back on the air, the match was suddenly changed to Usos vs Revival in a regular tag match. Like what the hell happened there? Usos took control for the rest of the match and Jey hits the Uso Splash onto Scott Dawson for the win for his team! Seriously how did this go from an Elimination Match to a regular tag match?
MizTV segment next featured guests Carmella and newly crowned 24/7 Champion R-Truth! R-Truth is now a 7 time 24/7 Champion and he's running the ball with it very well. They talk about Truth's recent victory over Drake Maverick at his own wedding and how Truth can't go to certain places without having someone chasing his title. Drake Maverick arrives and wants a rematch. Miz makes an announcement that via the McMahons, Truth will defend his title against Maverick with other superstars banned from ringside.
MizTV segment next featured guests Carmella and newly crowned 24/7 Champion R-Truth! R-Truth is now a 7 time 24/7 Champion and he's running the ball with it very well. They talk about Truth's recent victory over Drake Maverick at his own wedding and how Truth can't go to certain places without having someone chasing his title. Drake Maverick arrives and wants a rematch. Miz makes an announcement that via the McMahons, Truth will defend his title against Maverick with other superstars banned from ringside.
R-Truth (C) Vs. Drake Maverick (24/7 Championship)
After coming back from commerical break, Truth immediately hits the Lie Detector finisher for the win, retaining his title! Immediately, superstars came rushing out from the back and each of them attempted to pin Truth. Truth escapes and the other superstars continue to brawl through the crowd. Interviewer Charly Caruso attempts to talk to Drake, but he didn't say a word then walked to the back with his head down.
Roman Reigns Vs. Drew McIntyre & Shane McMahon
This was a match that absolutely didn't need to happen. "Why does it need to happen?" was the question going into this match. Boy did we find out for sure! Shane and Drew beat the crap out of Roman basically throughout the whole match. Both guys nail their finishing moves to him and almost had him down and done. Shane was preparing to hit the Coast to Coast when all of a sudden, GONG! The lights go out then came back on and we see The Undertaker!! Taker Chokeslams Shane and takes out McIntyre, helping Reigns! Match pretty much ended in a no contest but fans didn't give a single damn as they were in shock to see the Deadman!
After the commercial break, it was announced that Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre will face Roman Reigns and The Undertaker at Extreme Rules! I honestly have mixed feelings about this match but I won't get into that until the Extreme Rules Predictions before the PPV.
After the commercial break, it was announced that Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre will face Roman Reigns and The Undertaker at Extreme Rules! I honestly have mixed feelings about this match but I won't get into that until the Extreme Rules Predictions before the PPV.
Braun Strowman Vs. Bobby Lashley (Tug of War)
I knew there wasn't gonna be a decisive winner going into this and of course I was right lol. Both guys began pulling the ropes but before anything could really happen, Bobby said screw this and starts attacking Strowman, ending the Tug of War in a no contest. The two continued to brawl then Lashley spears Strowman to put him down.
The Viking Raiders Vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Gallows and Anderson continue on their quest to prove to AJ Styles that they can be serious again. They looked good in the first half of the match but couldn't overcome the Raiders. Raiders hit the Viking Experience finisher for the win! AJ Styles looked on from backstage in disappointment.
Heath Slater and Mojo Rawley prepare to have a match until R-Truth came from out of the crowd as he was running away from other superstars. Superstars chase him and they brawl outside of the ring when Slater hits a Neckbreaker on Truth for the win, capturing the 24/7 Championship! Fans actually popped big for Slater. He now starts running away from others until Truth catches him with the Lie Detector to become an 8 time 24/7 Champion! Cedric Alexander comes out and hits the Lumbar Check to become the new 24/7 Champion! Cedric now runs away but gets caught in a Headlock Takedown from EC3 and this was enough for him to become the new 24/7 Champion! He's celebrating then Carmella grabs the title from him for the distraction as Truth comes from behind and rolls up EC3 to become a 9 TIME 24/7 Champion!
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston comes out for an interview but gets immediately interrupted by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. My goodness, I thought Kofi was done with these two but NOPE! They announce that they're having an impromptu KO and Sami Zayn Show then they start trash talking Kofi as usual. Kofi rebuttals and states that neither of them could take his moment from him, and that he will always be WWE Champion. Basic stuff here and I was not a fan of this segment honestly. Too much talking and the fact that these guys are still feuding just ruined it for me.
Heath Slater and Mojo Rawley prepare to have a match until R-Truth came from out of the crowd as he was running away from other superstars. Superstars chase him and they brawl outside of the ring when Slater hits a Neckbreaker on Truth for the win, capturing the 24/7 Championship! Fans actually popped big for Slater. He now starts running away from others until Truth catches him with the Lie Detector to become an 8 time 24/7 Champion! Cedric Alexander comes out and hits the Lumbar Check to become the new 24/7 Champion! Cedric now runs away but gets caught in a Headlock Takedown from EC3 and this was enough for him to become the new 24/7 Champion! He's celebrating then Carmella grabs the title from him for the distraction as Truth comes from behind and rolls up EC3 to become a 9 TIME 24/7 Champion!
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston comes out for an interview but gets immediately interrupted by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. My goodness, I thought Kofi was done with these two but NOPE! They announce that they're having an impromptu KO and Sami Zayn Show then they start trash talking Kofi as usual. Kofi rebuttals and states that neither of them could take his moment from him, and that he will always be WWE Champion. Basic stuff here and I was not a fan of this segment honestly. Too much talking and the fact that these guys are still feuding just ruined it for me.
Kofi Kingston Vs. Sami Zayn
These guys have yet another one on one match. The match was fine especially the fact that the crowd was behind Kofi here. Sami had the match won a couple of times with a few near falls but Kofi showed his endurance by fighting back. Kofi rolls up Zayn for the win and this pisses KO off enough for him to challenge Kofi to a match right then and there, which Kofi would accept.
Kofi Kingston Vs. Kevin Owens
I thought this match was gonna be a quick one but they fought for quite a minute here. Both guys were outside of the ring by the entrance ramp where Kofi would deliver the S.O.S to KO on the floor. This was enough for Kofi to return to the ring in time as the referee counted out KO so Kofi picked up another win. Unfortunately, KO and Sami were losers YET AGAIN! Kofi's on his way to the back until Samoa Joe came out and attacks Kofi! Joe beats the crap out of him and leaves him laying. Referees help pick up Kofi but Joe comes back out and applies the Sleeper Hold to finally put Kofi down.
Alexa Bliss Vs. Naomi
Boring match I must admit. Naomi accidentally hits Nikki Cross but Nikki tried to get involved so it's not shocking at all. Alexa hits Naomi with the DDT to pick up the win then attacks her afterwards. She then pressures Nikki to hit Naomi but Nikki pushes her instead. Natayla comes out and suddenly this was turned into a Tag match.
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross Vs. Naomi & Natalya
This match was alright but was unnecessary to have. Naomi was worked over the most until she made the tag to Natayla then she had momentum for a bit. Nikki did most of the work for her team but that's what Alexa had planned. Alexa eventually tags Nikki but it was a blind tag as Nikki hits Natayla with a Swinging Neck Breaker then Alexa hops on Natayla for the win.
AJ Styles Vs. Ricochet
This match was the main event of RAW! The Main event! Before the match could start, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson arrive to be in AJ's corner, but AJ wasn't having it. He gets in their faces and tells them that the match won't happen unless they go to the back. They obliged, and the match continues. The match itself was really good as expected. Both guys delivered in that they wanted to put on a main event caliber match and they did just that. Ricochet displaying his athleticism while Styles wrestles like he only could! AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm for the win and afterwards he celebrates with Ricochet by raising the man's hand, praising him!
With the return of The Undertaker and a very good main event, this episode of RAW was an okay one. Extreme Rules is on the way so hopefully the buildup won't be as underwhelming as the buildup to Stomping Grounds. That's all I ask for honestly.
Show Rating: 6.8/10
With the return of The Undertaker and a very good main event, this episode of RAW was an okay one. Extreme Rules is on the way so hopefully the buildup won't be as underwhelming as the buildup to Stomping Grounds. That's all I ask for honestly.
Show Rating: 6.8/10
