Raw General Manager Kurt Angle’s show was in shambles in London – but did it make for a compelling show?
Who’s Deserving?
The sky must be falling because I was a fan of nearly everything Reigns did on this show. Whether you agree or disagree with Reigns’ argument about deserving another shot at Brock Lesnar, you have to admit that it at least makes sense from his point of view. Sure, he lost once again, but he was so close. A referee’s decision is the only reason he is not our current Universal Champion.
Angle interrupted Reigns to start the show and his words were particularly intriguing. While it’s not explicitly shown on television, Stephanie McMahon is pressing her thumb onto Angle after his role in losing Ronda Rousey for the Authority. It was evidenced when Angle used the phrase “best for business” multiple times on this show as well as when Kevin Owens directly challenged Angle’s power.
When Angle refused to provide Reigns another chance at qualifying for Money in the Bank, Reigns didn’t get angry at the General Manager. He gets it.
But good luck stopping him from completely annihilating Jinder Mahal.
And it wasn’t the fact that he attacked Mahal that I liked, but how he did it. Reigns was a cold, calculating assassin about it, working clinically and leaving nothing to chance. He put Mahal in the training room at the start of the show where Mahal iced his ribs for the better part of three hours. When he left to go to his qualifying match, Reigns appeared once again to Spear Mahal through a wall.
I cackled like an idiot.
WWE followed that delightful bit of booking with another great decision. Reigns has been asking for one more opportunity, right?
Well, Owens got two huge opportunities on the night and his third in two weeks.
Owens was in Angle’s face earlier in the show and pulled his phone out to call Stephanie McMahon. McMahon delivered and forced Angle’s hand in the main event. The Authority backed the same man that they once made Universal Champion and got him another qualifying match.
That’s great, y’all; we obviously know that WWE wants Reigns as their guy, and I’m squeamish on another Reigns/Lesnar match, but I can’t hate on a good story.
Owens got further help from Sami Zayn, too, appearing to further a feud with Bobby Lashley. A Frog Splash to Elias allowed Owens to qualify for Money in the Bank.
I loved this. I know Reigns’ pal is the one with the “Burn it Down” catchphrase, but I think that would be a wonderful direction for Reigns moving forward. Go root out the corruption, Reigns.
Rollins vs. Owens
Speaking of Reigns’ good pal, let’s check in on Seth Rollins.
Yep. Still on fire. Can this man have a bad match?
This was the only singles match of the show, funnily enough, and it only made the match stand out more. In recent weeks, Rollins has gotten mic time to prop up his status as the Intercontinental Champion, but this week was all about the wrestling. I loved commentary voicing his pot shot at Lesnar too because it’s precisely how the crowd feels.
The match was nuts. Falcon Arrow on the apron? Nuts. Rollins’ ridiculous DDT sells? Nuts. Owens breaking out all his crazy moves for this one? Yep, you guessed it - nuts.
Rollins was able to roll out of the ring to save his championship after Owens hit him with that ridiculous Fisherman Buster off the top rope and caught Owens on a Blackout as Owens was rolling back into the ring.
Another day, another burner from the Architect. I hope we get a proper Open Challenge next week since they announced this one in advance, but who can really complain?
“GET UP, YOU’RE FINE!”
I’ve pretty much raved about the previous two segments, but this show felt a bit lifeless halfway through. Don’t get me wrong – the show was fine; it just needed a dash of something new.
Ah. Braun Strowman and Finn Balor vs. the new team of Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. There we go.
How awesome does that matchup look on a screen? Ziggler and McIntrye had a promo early where they continued flaying into the roster for being soft and entitled. They called Balor and Strowman the worst of the bunch. Balor, they criticized, was all smoke and mirrors. Strowman pulled cheap tricks like flipping cars – both shortcuts to the top.
The match is a dynamic mix of size and styles. Sign me up.
It quickly became apparent that Strowman and McIntyre were having one of those manly man moments where they were both posturing and puffing themselves up. Balor tagged Strowman in to face McIntyre to the approval of the crowd, but McIntyre merely walked around Strowman and tagged back out.
And honestly, I’m not sure WWE’s booked a better tease for a feud in months. The only time Strowman and McIntyre got physical was in the final moments of the match. Strowman ran McIntyre over outside the ring, knocking the Scot into Strowman’s Greatest Royal Rumble trophy and breaking it.
In the ensuing chaos, Balor got crotched on the top turnbuckle and rolled up by Ziggler. It seems all the ol’ Club members have a weakness in their bullets.
This was a fantastic booking. Brilliant, really. It gives Ziggler and McIntyre a huge victory, teases tension between two men who will be in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and laid groundwork for what’s sure to be a phenomenal feud between Strowman and McIntyre in due time.
And how awesome was it when Strowman just hoisted Balor up and used him as a weapon? I’m still chuckling. Although, do you remember how Strowman refused to have a tag partner for WrestleMania and now he’s been in tag matches for a month straight?
Continuity? What’s that?
Best of the Rest
Ronda Rousey Earns a Title Shot – Notice I said “earned.” She’s the biggest mainstream star in WWE; yes, she earned this opportunity. This is absolutely the right call by WWE and I’m proud of them for not hesitating.
My only issue with this is Rousey’s “oh are you sure, Nia?” routine. Cageside, let me ask you something. When someone in your life offers you an amazing opportunity, do you ever turn it down? Do you let someone else have that opportunity instead because “gee, they’re great too?”
Didn’t think so. Get real, Rousey.
Bobby Roode Qualifies for Money in the Bank – This result was pretty obvious, considering Baron Corbin and No Way Jose’s ongoing feud. They laid the ground work for that feud to continue when Jose was pinned; I’m sure Corbin will blame him.
The crowd chanted a bit for No Way Jose and did Roode’s “Glorious” bit, but they pretty much sat on their hands for this one. Not great.
The B Team def. The Fashion Police - Is it true that Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel have never won a tag match? Can someone stat check that? That can’t be true, right?
Well they picked up a win in London, homemade merch and all. Anytime the Fashion Police lose it makes me sad, though. They want the Raw Tag Team Champions and this angle is…fun? I think it’s actually fun.
Natalya, Ember Moon, and Sasha Banks def. The Riott Squad – Awfully interesting that Natalya is picking up a big win just as her friend is getting a title shot, isn’t it?
Yes…awfully interesting. This was a fun match, by the way. They exceeded expectations in my book.
Deleter of Worlds def. The Revival – They came. They applauded. They deleted.
Bobby Lashley is Wearing Sami Zayn’s Hat – Zayn doesn’t look like royalty, folks. No…the British royalty looks like him. By the way, how dare you overlook the toll it took on Zayn to suffer a routine vertical suplex! He got vertigo from it, you heathens!
Anyway, Zayn messaged Lashley’s sisters on Facebook. What a heel.
Alexa Bliss Qualifies for Money in the Bank – After Sasha Banks came up short last week, it was Bayley’s turn to miss on another opportunity. Despite Banks wishing her rival luck before the match, I imagine this feud will (attempt) to heat up as we near Money in the Bank. The match itself was just kind of there on this show.
The midcard and undercard of Raw are still pretty worrying, but I can’t complain much when the top stories and performers hit on all cylinders like this. I do have one complaint that I think is justified, though. We need more than one proper storyline for the women’s division. I hope they advance the Banks/Bayley tension next week.
Grade: B+
This was a good show and a pleasant surprise while I’ve been feeling under the weather.
What say you, Cagesiders?