Overall: This was a night filled with near countouts and rollups. It was entertaining but not the best Raw in recent weeks. It felt like there were mostly rematches although those rematches did advance storylines headed into Hell in a Cell. It will be interesting to see what MVP picks for the stipulation for Bobby Lashley and Omos’ next match, we’ll find out next week. Liv Morgan and AJ Styles unfortunately took another loss to the Judgement Day faction. Both Ripley and Priest are nearly unstoppable with Edge at ringside. Ezekiel picked up another victory over Chad Gable and now has a match coming up with Kevin Owens. Oh yeah, Becky Lynch has added herself to the Raw Women’s Championship match, which will now be a triple threat match at Hell in a Cell!
Preview: We have a fun Monday Night Raw coming up tonight as we are only a few weeks away from the Hell In The Cell premium live event. Bobby Lashley will take on his former mentor MVP in a match to decide the stipulation for his next encounter with the Colossus Omos. Riddle will return to action after RK-Bro lost their titles last week on Smackdown to the Usos. Judgement Day will be in a mixed tag match against AJ Styles and Liv Morgan, and in the main event Becky Lynch will have an opportunity to make the Raw Women’s Championship match a triple threat if she can defeat Asuka in a rematch from next week.
GREAT Riddle Promo: Riddle makes his entrance with a scooter but as soon as he’s in the ring he’s very serious. It turns out Randy has been working with a pretty significant injury recently. Riddle now turns his attention to Roman Reigns and The Bloodline. This is the most serious I’ve ever seen Riddle. He’s unsure of what the future is for RK-Bro, but ends the segment by starting an RK-Bro chant. The crowd was definitely behind Riddle here, and they loved all he had to say about Randy Orton.
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
GREAT Riddle and The Street Profits vs. Sami Zayn and The Usos: Riddle has his ribs taped up and appears to be moving slower than normal as he paces around the ring during the Street Profits’ entrance. The Usos cut a promo before they make their entrance to a huge chorus of boos. Sami Zayne dancing to the Usos entrance music is hilarious, but Riddle jumps them on the ramp and now both teams are fighting up by the stage. After a commercial break the match is officially underway. Dawkins and Zayn start for their teams, with Zayn grabbing an early headlock. It doesn’t last long as Montez Ford is tagged in and he uses his agility to out maneuver Sami Zayn. Ford brings in Riddle who goes right after the Usos but he takes his eye off of Sami. Zayne hits Riddle in his injured ribs and tags in Jey Uso. As soon as Riddle see’s Jey his entire demeanor changes and he finds a second wind. After another break Zayn is in the ring with Montez Ford and Sami has the upper hand. Ford connects with a backdrop that nearly allows him to make a tag but his partners the Usos use some underhanded tactics to attack Ford’s teammates on the apron. After a long back and forth between Ford and Zayne, Riddle is able to recover and he is brought in. Dawkins recovers and is able to double team the Usos with Ford on the outside. Riddle lands Randy Orton’s signature spike ddt in the ring and at this moment The Usos walk out on their partner Sami Zayn. Riddle scores on an RKO and that is the end of this one. Riddle and the Street Profits looked outstanding, so did the Usos, but Sami Zayn really stole the show in this match.
Result: Riddle and the Street Profits by Pinfall via RKO
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
GOOD Bobby Lashley Promo: Lashley calls MVP and Lashley down to the ring in order to lay down a challenge for Hell in a Cell. MVP begins to talk but Lashley cuts him off and he has been very good on the mic going back and forth here. Lashley wants a match tonight where the winner gets to pick the stipulation for him and Omos’ match at Hell in a Cell. His challenge is for a match with MVP tonight. Lashley pushes MVP’s buttons in order to get him to agree. It’ll be Lashley-MVP tonight and the winner will pick the stipulation. Before the segment ends Omos walks down to the ring with MVP but before MVP can use his cane to attack Lashley, Bobby knocks him off the apron. The segment ends with a staredown between the two.
Result: 3.00 Stars
Becky Lynch backstage promo: Lynch is asking Adam Pierce to strike her match from last week with Asuka from the record. Tonight she will have a rematch with Asuka, if Becky Lynch wins the match at Hell in a Cell will become a triple threat match form Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Title. Too short to rate.
GOOD Judgement Day promo: Priest starts by screaming at the fans. While there are boos the fans do eventually stand up. Damian calls the fans sheep and then passes things off to Rhea Ripley who calls out Liv Morgan. She attacks the fans as well but Morgan is her primary target. Edge takes over next and talks about how important of an opportunity it is for people to join the Judgement Day. He makes mention of some specific superstars as potential future members. The list includes, Tomasso Ciampa, Corey Graves, Alexa Bliss, Drew Mcintyre, Liv Morgan, Finn Balor and even AJ Styles himself. The list is quite interesting and more interesting than that he’s really targeting Styles. Liv Morgan’s music interrupts and the mixed tag team match is coming up next.
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
GOOD Liv Morgan and AJ Styles vs. Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest: Styles and Priest lock up in the ring and then get us going with a classic chain wrestling start. Edge watches on intently and his presence at ringside seems to always give Judgement Day an advantage. Priest tags in Ripley but Morgan is ready and starts quickly with a springboard attack. Ripley is able to use her strength to regain the advantage for her side. She almost hits a stalling suplex but Liv Morgan is able to reverse it into a backstabber. Morgan follows that with a tope suicida on Ripley while Styles delivers a running kick to Priest. Just when Morgan and Styles seem in control Ripley comes to her senses and connects with a massive boot. Morgan fights back though and gets the tag to her partner Styles. AJ is all over Priest but Edge causes a distraction giving Priest the chance to score with snake eyes on the apron. After a commercial Styles is in the ring and he hits a pele kick before tagging in Liv Morgan. She hits a huge enziguri and then a shotgun dropkick off the second rope. She follows that with the double knee facebreaker but Edge puts Ripley’s foot on the rope to break the count which the referee cannot see. Morgan tries to hit Ripley against the rope and once again Edge interferes giving Ripley the chance to roll Liv up for the win. This was a solid Mixed Tag match but nothing too special. The storytelling was quite good as far as Edge’s outside interferences. After the match Edge, Ripley and Priest attack both Styles and Morgan who are left laying in the center of the ring.
Result: Rhea Ripley by Pinfall via Roll Up
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
Miz backstage interview: Miz will be taking on Cody Rhodes tonight, and he makes an early neck tattoo joke. He calls Cody’s ego out of control, he is so funny on the microphone, this is a great backstage interview. Too short to rate
AVERAGE King’s Court with Veer Mahan: For some reason Jerry The King Lawler has decided to hold a King’s Court with Veer Mahan. A recap of his Raw debut where he decimated the Mysterios, as well as their return last week. King starts by asking what the secret to Veer’s success has been. Mahan does not answer the question, he only stares at Lawler. The follow up question is about why he has targeted the Mysterio’s. Veer doesn’t have an answer for that either. Lawler starts to make fun of Veer Mahan and he finally has Veer’s attention. He speaks and begins to make fun of Lawler, this is one of the most awkward in ring interview segments I’ve seen in a while. Veer threatens Lawler but is interrupted by the Mysterios who look to double team the big man. This time, unlike last week, he’s prepared. Successive dropkicks seem to briefly turn Mahan the other direction and he leaves the ring incredibly upset over not being able to out muscle the Mysterio’s.
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 2.25 Stars
Alexa Bliss backstage interview: Alexa Bliss is holding Lily but she’s acting much more normal character wise. It’s interesting to see her still carry Lilly but without the character that brought us the doll in the first place. Too short to rate.
ABOVE AVERAGE Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki ASH: Nikki is accompanied by Doudrop who is clearly still advising her to ditch the superhero stuff and be more serious. ASH is much more aggressive than normal in the beginning of this match but Bliss quickly turns things around and is fired up herself. Alexa connects with Twisted Bliss and is able to pick up the relatively quick victory. It was a fine match for what it was and it definitely advanced the storyline between Nikki ASH and Doudrop.
Results: Alexa Bliss by Pinfall via Twisted Bliss
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 2.50 Stars
Seth Rollins backstage interview: Rollins is addressing Cody and he is talking about how people used to sing his song and now all people do is chant for Cody. He says it makes him physically ill to hear his name before mocking the countdown clock. Needless to say Seth Rollins is excited about Hell in a Cell. Too Short to rate.
Asuka backstage promo: Asuka mocks Becky Lynch for her whining and crying. She then makes it clear she is ready for the re-match in the main event tonight. Too Short to rate.
GOOD Cody Rhodes vs. The Miz: Cody gets the same huge reaction he has been getting in recent weeks. The Miz looks around in disbelief as the fans chant Cody’s name. Cody has the early edge but is caught with a back elbow which gives Miz a chance to catch his breath. Rhodes uses a stalling suplex to regain his advantage and then employs a surfboard lock but Miz is able to reverse it for a roll up. Cody kicks out and then Miz attempts a very awkward sunset flip. After a near fall attempt Rhodes is knocked to the outside by a big boot. We head to commercial break with The Miz in the driver’s seat. Rhodes scores on a powerslam out of the break and then a Cody Cutter. He tries for a figure 4 leg lock and The Miz is locked up in the center of the ring. He’s barely able to get to the rope to break the hold, Cody climbs to the top rope but is knocked off by Seth Rollins. The Miz will lose the match by DQ but with the numbers game on their side he and Rollins stomp all over Cody Rhodes on the outside. Rhodes is thrown into the steel steps. On his way to the back Rollins steals the weight belt that Cody Rhodes had given to a kid in the front row before the match. Rollins uses the belt to lash Cody straight across the back before leaving. Cody manages to return the weight belt to the kid on the way to the back of the arena.
Results: Cody Rhodes by DQ via Seth Rollins Interference
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
GOOD Ezekiel vs. Chad Gable: Kevin Owens is ringside and Chad Gable is already in the ring as Ezekiel makes his entrance. Owens is screaming about Ezekiel actually being Elias. Zeke is all over Gable to start. Chad eventually starts to work on Ezekiel’s left leg, and he is in control for much of the middle parts of the match. Ezekiel lands a big splash in the corner and then is hit by Otis on the apron who is ejected from ringside. KO is then caught trying to interfere in the match and he is ejected as well! Ezekiel rolls up Chad Gable and he is the winner. He high tails it out through the crowd who celebrate with him! Kevin Owens grabs a microphone and he’s still infuriated and he wants a match against Ezekiel at Hell in a Cell.
Results: Ezekiel by Pinfall via Jackknife Roll Up
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
Cody Rhodes backstage interview: As Rhodes exits the trainers room he is stopped for an interview and he feels even after the attack that he’s ready for Seth Rollins at Hell in a Cell. Too short to rate.
ABOVE AVERAGE Bobby Lashley vs. MVP: The winner will get to pick the stipulation for the match between Omos and Lashley at the Hell in a Cell premium live event. Bobby enters first before MVP enters second. MVP is clearly afraid of Bobby Lashley but he is able to use his ring savvy to gain a brief advantage. This only infuriates The Almighty and MVP is smashed with a flatliner. He’s then clotheslined outside the ring where Lashley drives him into the ringpost. Somehow MVP is able to outsmart Lashley to win by countout. Bobby puts him in the Hurt Lock but unfortunately MVP will be able to pick the stipulation for Lashley’s match with Omos.
Result: MVP by Countout
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 2.50 Stars
Lacey Evans’ In Ring Return is advertised for next week.
GOOD Asuka vs. Becky Lynch: Bianca Belair joins commentary for this rematch. Asuka lands early strikes and a shoulder block to take control of the action before Lynch gets her with a rollup. Asuka starts to work on Lynch’s arm including a Dis-Arm-Her attempt. Right before commercial break Becky Lynch is able to evade a kick and send Asuka into the ringpost. As we return from break Asuka is barely able to make it back in the ring to beat the referee’s count. Lynch then drives her back out of the ring again and this time shoulder first into the barricade. Asuka barely beats the count once again and for a third time now is thrown to the outside by Lynch. This time she brings her back in the ring though in order to connect with a leg drop. They land clotheslines simultaneously and now both women are down in the center of the ring. When they make it back to their feet they trade right hands and Asuka gets the best of the exchange. She follows with a hip attack in the corner and then a running kick for a near fall. Becky Lynch rolls Asuka up though and uses the ropes for a near fall attempt of her own. Asuka locks in a cross armbar but Lynch is able to find the ropes. After Lynch kicks out of a superplex she is able to recover but the action spills outside the ring. Lynch is knocked into Belair and when Asuka tries to kick Becky she gets Bianca instead. Back in the ring Lynch rolls Asuka up and this will now be a triple threat match! This was a solid ending to the show, it wasn’t the best match between Asuka and Becky but it was a really good one. This triple threat main event should be a fun one.
Results: Becky Lynch by Pinfall via Roll Up
Clark Taylor WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Overall: This was a night filled with near countouts and rollups. It was entertaining but not the best Raw in recent weeks. It felt like there were mostly rematches although those rematches did advance storylines headed into Hell in a Cell. It will be interesting to see what MVP picks for the stipulation for Bobby Lashley and Omos’ next match, we’ll find out next week. Liv Morgan and AJ Styles unfortunately took another loss to the Judgement Day faction. Both Ripley and Priest are nearly unstoppable with Edge at ringside. Ezekiel picked up another victory over Chad Gable and now has a match coming up with Kevin Owens. Oh yeah, Becky Lynch has added herself to the Raw Women’s Championship match, which will now be a triple threat match at Hell in a Cell!
Matches: 0.50/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.50/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.50/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.50/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 2.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
