Raw Review 09/05/2016

Image via WWE.com

Hello Misfits, it’s The Wrestling Classic here with this weeks Raw Review or should I say the first week of “The Kevin Owens Show”. It’s been a week since Raw crowned a new Universal Champion with that chaotic ending to the fatal four way main event. It left all of us in anticipation for this weeks episode to see what would come from Triple H’s return where he turned on Seth Rollins and helped Kevin Owens win the Universal Champion. The landscape of Raw changed last week and this feels like another reboot for the flagship show.

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WWE Raw comes to you live on the USA Network from the Spring Centre Arena in Kansas City, Kansas.

The show opens with highlights of last weeks Raw. They play up the drama of how last weeks Raw main event and closing moments went. The video seemed more based on Triple H’s return rather than than Owen’s winning but oh well, the big picture right? Hopefully, Owens still gets treated as a top guy and the Triple H storyline doesn’t intertwine with his push too much. I know it has to a bit but I don’t want Owens to be a pawn in Triple H’s storyline but having his own storyline’s while Triple H and him remaining on the same page.

Following that before we get to ringside, we go backstage to a backstage segment taped “earlier tonight” where Stephanie is backstage on the phone trying to organize Kevin Owens championship celebration.  Foley appears and indirectly accuses Stephanie being in cahoots with her husband and that Triple H made him look like a fool. He goes on saying that Stephanie was ignoring him and not returning any of his calls all week. Foley gets into a story, reminiscing that Stephanie used to have a shy smile and no matter how devious she got over the years, he always hoped she’d stay that way. Stephanie got emotional, saying she knew nothing about Triple H’s return or his plans. Stephanie claims it’s made life a lot more hard for her the past week than Foley even knows. Stephanie wanted Foley to believe her, claiming she’s still that girl with the shy smile and he said he had to because if not, she was a great lair and a horrible person.

1. Kevin Owens Celebration
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley are in the ring and they introduce the new Universal Champion. Kevin Owen makes his way down to the ring with all the pyro and balloons for celebratory reasons.Owens thanks Stephanie and Foley for the celebration. Stephanie says like the crowd is chanting, Owens deserves this. Owens says yes he does deserve it. What he doesn’t want is a crowd full of idiots trying to steal his moment. Owens says last week he beat three guys. He is willing to admit that Triple H came out and gave him the last nudge he needed to get over the hump. As of right now “Monday Night Raw” is “The Kevin Owens Show!”
Seth Rollins comes to the ring and tells Owen to shut up because this isn’t about him. Rollins yells at Stephanie asking how she could do this to him. Owens says Rollins is wrong, the show is all about him now. Rollins says he has no problem with Owens but if he doesn’t back up not even Triple H will save him. Rollins goes on saying that Owen’s has been Triple H’s guy and chosen one from the moment Owens showed up in NXT. Rollins says if they want to hitch their wagon to a guy like Owens he will be the one to burn this place to the ground.
Owens tells Rollins that ever since he’s been back he’s been lacking and that he is the architect of failure. Rollins attacks Owens. Stephanie tells Rollins that he is suspended indefinitely. Foley says no he isn’t. Foley says Rollins was wronged and he doesn’t deserve a suspension. Foley reminds Stephanie that he was granted the job of making matches when he chosen to be General Manger. Therefore, Foley says Rollins deserves a rematch. Rollins will face Owens for the Universal title at Clash of the Champions.
My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved the way Raw kicked off. Kevin Owen’s coming out in a suit rather than his regular shorts or sweats. I loved how when Foley tried to shake Owens hand he just looked him up and down and walked passed him. I love how he turned the you deserve it chants against the fans as he didnt want them to steal his moment. I love how he claimed that even though Triple H assisted him with the win he already did 98% of the work. I fucking love Kevin Owens and the Kevin Owens Show. Also, I think we’re finally seeing the seeds planted for Rollins babyface turn. Rollins gets better on the mic everyday and tonight showcased that. I love how Rollins still being a heel claimed he didn’t have an issue with Owens, but stealing Owens moment wasn’t something Kevin was going to stand for. I’m looking forward to this Owens and Rollins feud, as they’re two of my top five favourite guys right now. The fact that Owens is the champion and everything, just makes this all feel so fresh and new.  At the moment I don’t care about the tension between Stephanie and Foley, the real question is…where is Triple H?

– Stephanie and Foley are backstage arguing again. Stephanie is mad at Foley for going against her authority. Stephanie asks Foley how he can reward Rollins actions out there. Foley says he does care but he wants to get people talking. Owens walks up angry about the decision and since Owen’s was pissed off, Foley booked him in a match against Sami Zayn later tonight. Kevin Owen’s best friend Chris Jericho walks up telling Foley he has no right to do that to the longest reigning Universal Champion (LOL!) and this led to Stephanie backing up Foley booking Jericho against Rollins tonight. I really thought they’d hold off on Zayn vs. Owens for the Universal Title a little bit later down the road for a PPV rather then making them wrestle each other again on Raw, but then again, they have no direction for Zayn.

2. Bayley def. Charlotte w/ Dana Brooke
Before the match they show a clip from earlier tonight where Charlotte is telling Dana to take notes to see how Charlotte beats Bayley. Charlotte plaid the over powering heel bully and Bayley placed the sympathy resilient babyface. Charlotte worked on Bayleys knee most of the match. The finish came when Bayley misses a splash in the corner after Brooke pulls Charlotte out of the way. Charlotte rolls up Bayley, but Bayley kicks out and sends Charlotte flying into Brooke. Bayley hits the Bayley-to-Belly for the win.
My Thoughts:
This was a very good women’s match between two of the Four Horsewomen.  I’m a fan of both women but Charlotte’s heel antics had me rooting for her over Bayley. Plus, Bayley is always better when she’s trying to overcome the odds, so Charlotte winning would have put the odds against Bayley. The real question is, after weeks of building up a Bayley vs. Charlotte match for the Women’s Title at most likely Clash of Champions, why would they give this match away already. I mean it would be different if they’ve already wrestled each other a bunch of times on the main roster but this technically is their first encounter. I thought they would build more towards their first encounter. I know considering what happens later in the show, that their may have been some last minute changes, but still a singles match between these two on the main roster should have been made more of a bigger deal than it was in my mind. They could have had Bayley defeat another women on the roster such as Summer Rae or Charlotte could have beat up a jobber or something while Dana was taking notes. I don’t know.

– They air another Cruiserweight Division commercial. This time featuring featuring Gran Metalik, Jack Gallagher and Akira Tozawa.  Therefore in total we’ve seen Brian Kendrick, Noam Dar, Cedric Alexander Rich Swann, Johnny Gargano, Tomasso Ciampa, TJ Perkins, Gran Metallic, Jack Gallagher and Akira Tozawa all advertised to be a part of it. They arrive in two weeks on September 19th. How? I don’t have a clue.

– Charlotte yells at Brooke for getting in the way during her match. Brooke says she is sorry, but Charlotte slaps her and walks away. All I know is that I giggled when Charlotte referred to Bayley as a Sesame Street character.

3. Bo Dallas def. Kyle Roberts
Bo Dallas makes quick work of local talent Kyle Roberts. Dallas beat the crap out of Roberts before hitting the roll of the dice for the win.
My Thoughts:
Bo Dallas is back and he wants us to believe in BO. Its great to see Bo back and it looks like he’s getting the Braun Strowman/Nia Jax push, where he overcomes local independent talent is squash matches. I’d rather compare to Bo to Goldberg, because imagine he gets an actual streak going where he keeps track. Bo can make that comedic. I was hoping Nia Jax and Braun were moving on from their squash matches because just imagine three squash matches every Raw. Good lord, we don’t need that.

– Jericho and Owens are walking together backstage and Jericho is heading to the ring for his match. Jericho promises Owens that he going to make Rollins pay for ruining Kevin’s celebration and calling him names. I thought it was funny that Owen’s didnt mind being called Triple H’s chosen one and that Jericho continues to refer to him as the longest reigning Universal Champion. The title has only had two holders and one of them had to sacrifice the title the next night due to injury, and I just find it funny. They hugged because they are best friends, and agreed that Rollins would get… it.

4. Seth Rollins def. Chris Jericho
This was a lengthy but really good match. The finish came when Rollins surprises Jericho with a flipping enzguri, followed by a head kick for a two count. After struggling on the top rope, Rollins pushes Jericho off. Rollins misses a frog splash off the top. Jericho hits the lionsault, but Rollins kicks out at two. Rollins reverses a clothesline attempt into the Pedigree for the victory.
My Thoughts:
This was a really good match between two of the best guys on the Raw roster. Jericho is putting one good match after good match with whoever he ends up in the ring with. Everyone already knows how I feel about Seth Rollins and how he constantly delivers whether its on PPV or on a Raw. I know this is the Kevin Owens Show, but Raw felt incomplete without Rollins those months he was out with injury and Raw is Rollins still stands with me. I could see a match like this ending up on the “Best of 2016” DVD for September or something. I’m not saying it was a MOTY candidate or anything, but it was a VERY good Raw match. Also, I’m curious if Rollins is going to continue using the pedigree or are we destined to see Rollins come out with a new finisher somewhere down the road.

5. Best of Seven Series Match: Sheamus [3] def. Cesaro [0]
Cesaro and Sheamus meet in the third match of their best out of seven series where the winner gets a Universal Title opportunity. There were video highlights before the match focusing on Cesaro possibly injuring his back last week and a quick interview with Cesaro where he claims that Sheamus may be on a roll but it’ll only take one victory over Sheamus to kill his momentum. Cesaro comes at Sheamus quickly with quick pin attempts. Sheamus immediately attacks Cesaro’s back, and Cesaro continues trying to fight back. Sheamus repeatedly knees Cesaro in the back. Cesaro tries to hit the Swiss Death uppercut, but his back gives out. Sheamus hits four Irish curse backbreakers in a row followed by a Brogue kick and its over.
My Thoughts:
The next match of the series will be taking place in London. I discussed previously that for these series of matches to remain interesting the had to think of unique stories and finishes for each match. I loved how this match did exactly that while working off the result of previous matches. The viciousness of Sheamus attacking the back of Cesaro; the same back that he injured the week before was brilliant. It’s exactly what a smart heel would do. I am hoping that Cesaro is coming back with big babyface come back to win but only time can tell. I don’t care for Sheamus winning this as Cesaro has been the more intriguing of the two when its come to this storyline.

6. Shining Stars def. Enzo Amore & Big Cass
The Shining Stars were in the ring cutting a promo about Puerto Rico, basically having Summer all year long until they were cut off by Enzo and Cass. Enzo and Big Cass cut a promo about how listening to the Shining Stars made Enzo feel like he was in labour, because its Labour day, you get it? Enzo gives birth to an imaginary baby and all the regular catch phrases are hit. They are over as fuck. How you doing?
Anyway when it comes to the match the finish came when Primo misses dropkick in the corner and gets his foot caught in the top rope. Cass comes in and cleans house but after a distraction by Primo, Epico rolls Enzo up for the win.
My Thoughts:
The promo was funny and the crowd was eating it up. However, considering the rivalries Enzo and Cass were involved in the past few months and the fact that Big Cass was in the fatal four way to crown a new Universal Champion just last week, this rivalry and them losing to The Shining Stars almost seems like a punishment. Don’t get me wrong, Primo and Epico are two seasoned veterans in the WWE now and deserve any opportunity they get with the bullshit they had to deal in the past few years. I mean getting repackaged into new gimmicks, that don’t necessarily work but you do your best to make them work should give them some brownie points with those in charge. However, considering that they have done nothing in forever, get no reaction and that Enzo and Cass are over as fuck, it feels extremely questionable that they went over and this is the new rivalry they’re working towards.

– Sami Zayn is interviewed backstage. He discusses how when he defeated Owens at Battleground, he thought that was all he needed to do to move on with his career. He thought it would mean something. Yet now he’s a man with no direction, who has done nothing and Owens is the Universal Champion. Zayn being completely honest, says it bothers him a little. Owens appears throwing it in his face that it should bother him, like it bothered him when he got signed to WWE before him, won the NXT title before him and even just a couple of months ago got drafted to Raw before him. They talk about how their careers have basically been a race against each other. Sami promises that he will be Universal Champion one day and when he does it, he’ll win it a alon and he won’t need Triple H to hand it to him. Boy! I love these two feuding with each other but why give this match up on Raw. I guess we’re supposed to forget that they wrestled on this Raw in a couple of months, but thats stupid.

7. Nia Jax def, Ann Esposito
This next local talent is supposedly a friend of Alicia Fox, and Fox got her this opportunity to debut on Raw. Jax grabs Esposito by the face and tosses her head first into the corner. Esposito hits a few leg kicks. Esposito hops on Jax’s back and locks in a sleeper hold. Jax flicks Esposito off her like a fly. Esposito crawls to the corner. Jax hip attacks her over and over again. Jax hits a Samoan drop slam for the pin fall.
My Thoughts:
Graves questioned why Alicia Fox would get her friend a debut match on Raw against Nia Jax, and I wondered the exact same thing. It’s like she doesnt even watch the show weekly or seen Jax dominating nobodies for the past couple of months. Anyway, its wrestling and logic doesnt matter. This might just be a way to get Jax to progress from squash matches to an actual feud….with Alica Fox. This isn’t going to end well for Fox.

8. The Old Day w/ Anderson & Gallows
Anderson says they are going to offer The New Day their retirement services. Gallows welcomes The Old Day. Three guys dressed up as New day in gray wigs come to the ring. The New Day come to the ring. Woods, Big E., and Kingston question The Old Day to see if they are really their future selves. The New Day charge the ring to attack Anderson and Gallows, but Anderson and Gallows bolt. The New Day start to dance but one of the Old Day members tries to attack Big E. The New Day beat the crap out of The Old  Day as Gallows and Anderson look on from the top of the ramp.
My Thoughts:
This segment was whatever. It was funny, I guess. Im tired of this feud being about skits, testicles and now retirement. I want Gallows and Anderson to go back to being badasses who are here to whoop some ass. I like the New Day guys and I get they’re over as fuck, but I’m getting over their act. Although, I could care less for this feud because the writing for it, I still want Gallows and Anderson to win the tag titles at Clash of Champions.

9. Darren Young w/ Bob Backlund def. Jinder Mahal
Titus O Neil is on commentary. Mahal has the upper hand at first but gets caught with a swinging neck breaker to kill his momentum. Titus tries to come down to interrupt the match, but Young still is able to hit the gut check for the win. Following the match Young and Titus brawl until they’re broken up by WWE officials. Backhand and Young celebrate in the ring after.
My Thoughts:
Titus wasnt that bad on commentary and his mic work was better than last week and so on. It sucks that Jinder Mahal was brought back to be a mid card jobber. I love how Titus keeps bringing up how stupid this “Make Darren Great Again” gimmick is because he was never great to begin with. I thought the same thing when the video vignettes first started airing. There was a point where it looked like Titus legit lost balance and fell during the brawl, that was good live television.

– Alicia Fox came from checking on Ann Esposito. Nia Jax arrived and reminded Fox that this is not a reality show. Fox then went crazy and threw shit, and Jax shoved her away and left.

10. Braun Stroman def. Sin Cara
According to an interview prior to the match, Sin Cara challenged Braun because Braun disgraced the traditions and beliefs of the Lucha Culture when he took Amrico’s mask off last week after defeating him.  The match comes to a finish when Sin Cara lands multiple enzguris. Strowman tosses Sin Cara into the barricade. Strowman gets back in the ring to beat the count. Sin Cara has been counted out.
My Thoughts:
This is the first time since Braun got drafted to Raw that he didn’t win by dominating his opponent and getting the pinfall victory. Similar to Nia Jax, it looks like they’re trying to move forward from the Braun Strowman squash matches to an actual storyline. I guess Bo Dallas will be the only one playing the Goldberg role from here on forward crushing talent. I can’t help but wonder if there is going to be some thing where Braun hates cruiser-weights somewhere down the road.

11. Sasha Banks Announcement
Sasha Banks makes her way to the ring and with speculation that she may be forced to retire, she kicks off her promo by saying there is an end to every story. Banks says that when Stephanie McMahon introduced the NXT Women to the WWE Universe it was the start of a revolution. No more bra and panties matches, no more stupid butterfly title. They earned the right to be called Superstars. Banks says that every time she steps into the ring, it’s for all of the little girls and for everyone that dreams of being more. Sasha adds that it’s been her dream to be in the WWE and every time she is in this ring it means everything to her. At SummerSlam, she was pushed to her limit. Earlier today she met with her doctor and she has some bad news. Dana Brooke interrupts and says she is going to finish what Charlotte started at Summerslam. Brooke swings at Sasha, but Sasha ducks and locks Brooke in the Banks Statement. Sasha grabs the mic and tells Brooke that the bad news was for Charlotte because at Clash of Champions the title is coming back to Sasha.
My Thoughts:
Sasha sent out a cryptic tweet earlier today, saying she was going to be on Raw tonight and with bad news. Therefore, there was a lot of speculation for this segment. Many people thought Sasha was going to announce her forced retirement or word that she was going to be out of action for longer than she expected. Of course, there were those handful of people on social media that think the cause of all female wrestlers problems is the fact that they got pregnant but I knew that wouldn’t be it. Sasha swerved us and made us believe right off the bat that it was going to be bad news about her, but really it was bad news for Charlotte. Its bad news for the current Women’s Champion she’s been cleared to wrestle and she’s coming back for her Women’s Title at Clash of Champions. I’m as big of a Sasha Banks fan as you can find, but I’ve recently felt her mic work as a babyface has not been good but tonight her promo skills were great and I was hanging off her every word. Maybe it was because 99% of what she was saying she really meant, she was passionate about, and wasn’t in the Boss gimmick.
This also makes me ponder if thats why they gave away Charlotte vs. Bayley tonight because they called Bayley up thinking Sasha was going to be out for longer but she got cleared faster than they thought. I wonder where that leaves Bayley or if the match at Clash of Champions gets turned into a Triple Threat. I hope it doesn’t, because I would want to have more time to build that triple threat. Also, I wonder if they would have kept the title on Sasha if they knew shed be back that fast. It was a shocking turn of events, and Sasha did great with this segment, but there are still tons of questions unanswered. Overall, I’m glad the Boss is back.

12. Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn
These two are destined to fight forever and that means they know each other very well. As soon as the bell rings Zayn and Owens unload on each other. This was a very back and forth match where both guys were getting the better of each other. The finish came when Zayn set up a top rope arm drag, but Owens moves out of the way causing Zayn to land awkwardly on his previously injured ankle. Zayn rolls to the outside of the ring and Owens follows him to attempt a power bomb to Zayn on the apron. Zayn reverses it and half nelson suplexes Owens on the outside of the ring. Zayn rolls Owens back in the ring. Zayn calls for the Helluva kick, but he can’t run across the ring, slowing down midway through due to his ankle. Owens reacts to Zayn slowing down and super kicks him, followed by a power bomb for the victory.
My Thoughts:
These two have amazing chemistry, and this was straight out fight at first that turned into a great wrestling match. Zayn wasn’t going over but he still put on an amazing match. I love how he continues to sell the ankle injury from a couple weeks back to work the finish for this match. Owen’s beating Zayn clean is a good thing to get heat on Owen’s as a bad guy because he won clean over the ever lovable Sami Zayn. I really believe to this very day, Cesaro and Zayn are two guys who would have benefited being on Smackdown Live. Owens continues proving why this is the Kevin Owens show.

– Following the match Roman Reigns comes out, starring down Owens. Jericho comes out to aid his best friend. Now before anything can happen, Foley comes out and announces that next week Reigns will face Owens and if Reigns wins, he’s added to the championship match at Clash of Champions, since he got screwed out of the title last week too by Triple H. I love how even with Foley, Rollins get handed title shots but Reigns has to earn it. Owen’s is livid and Jericho tries attacking Rollins but is met with a spear.

Final Thoughts
This was a very entertaining Raw. I don’t remember losing attention or zoning out until either the Nia Jax match or the New Day/Club segment. Prior to that, the show was moving smoothly and Raw is really figuring out their stars characters. The moment the Raw creative understand the characters they have on Raw, they have the potential to sky rocket in popularity. They have the talent and enough young, hungry charismatic guys to make wrestling cool again on Raw, but they had to understand their characters they have. That means telling them what to say or do specifically but letting them know what they need to do and leaving the rest up to them so it feels more organic. I felt that raw and organic feeling a few times throughout this episode. I don’t think this Raw made me feel or mark out like last weeks though, but it was still really good. There was good wrestling, storyline progression and everything felt fresh and new. However, there were the dull parts and there was filler stuff you knew wouldn’t be on the show if it was a 2 hour show like Smackdown where every segment has a purpose. I’m looking forward to next week but first I’m looking forward to Smackdown Live and Backlash for the rest of this ring. Overall, for tonights edition of Raw, I’d like to say I’m a fan of this new Kevin Owens Show. Dig It?!
Final TWC Rating – 8/10
Last Weeks RAW TWC Rating – 9.5/10

That is it for this weeks Monday Night Raw Review. I hope you guys enjoyed it and leave your feedback, opinions and ideas about Raw below.