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After a wild night in Vegas, what can Raw in Phoenix offer us? Let’s think...
The Headliner
All eyes are on new WWE World Heavyweight champion Dean Ambrose. Yes, you read that right. The Lunatic Fringe has an amazing night at Money in the Bank, winning the ladder match then cashing in the briefcase to ruin Seth Rollins’ just like the Architect ruined The Shield.
While we, and probably the ruling duo of Stephanie & Shane McMahon, are wondering what Ambrose will do or say on his first night atop the WWE mountain, what must his former brothers be thinking? Not just Rollins, who learned about cold dishes of revenge, but also Roman Reigns, who suffered a clean loss to Seth and then could only watch while Dean became the third Shield-brother to win a title and the second to do so by cash-in.
Should be a very interesting night for all three members of one of the most dominant factions in wrestling history.
The Title Scene
Charlotte is still Women’s champ, even if the win at the June 19 pay-per-view (PPV) didn’t have anything to do with it. Whoever her next challenger is, it shouldn’t be Natalya or Becky Lynch, since they’ve proven they can’t beat the Nature Girl - no matter the circumstances. Of course, they’re probably pre-occupied right now, what with Natty’s teary-eyed attack on her tag partner from Sunday night.
The Intercontinental strap remains on vacation, but The Marine can’t take that long to film, so Miz might be back soon. Maybe right after the Cavs’ victory parade?
Who knows what was supposed to happen, but The New Day kept their tag title run - and quest for history - alive with a win in crazy Fatal 4Way over Enzo Amore & Big Cass, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows and The Vaudevillains.
Not only did Rusev make Titus O’Neil tap out in their United States championship match, he gloated about to the Dad of the Year’s kids.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- It was an eventful night for tag teams, with Golden Truth and Lucha Dragons picking up wins on the pre-show. Even Breezango and the Dudleyz presence reminded us just how many viable pairs there are on the main roster today - a fact as remarkable as it is exciting.
- A pair of recent NXT call-ups picked up big wins on the PPV, with Baron Corbin dominating Dolph Ziggler en route to a feud-ending win, and Apollo Crews sneaking out a victory despite being tossed around in a match that probably just marks the beginning of his program with Sheamus.
- Oh yeah! AJ Styles beat John Cena. Sure, it involved both a ref bump and interference from Gallows & Anderson, but, hey... better than he ever did against Reigns.
- Meanwhile, the brand split looms. Is tonight the night we get details? Might a NXT call-up emerge, or a legend from the past return? Who will follow Teddy Long and Kane as former authority figures asking for a job on SmackDown?
It’s the Fallout show for Money in the Bank!!
What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?