Monday Night Raw Review By: Aidan Chacon

Braun Still Isn’t Finished

While Roman was cutting a fairly decent promo, the sound of an ambulance roared through the arena. At first I thought it was then reality hit me. Roman hesitantly approached the doors on the back of the ambulance. Reigns opened them and no one was found in the ambulance. Braun would viciously attack him from behind and launch him into the ambulance.

Grade: A Analysis: I thought Braun getting the upperhand on Roman two weeks in a row was an unexpected in a good way. Despite the fact Roman is probably going to win at Great Balls Of Fire, this got me excited for the match itself.

Hardyz and Finn Balor vs. Shesaro and Samson

Finn Balor pins clean with the Coup De Grace.

Grade: C I don’t think this match told me anything I didn’t already know. still look as strong as they did last week and the week before. Shesaro will continue to look weak on television until they most likely retain at Great Balls Of Fire. This match didn’t advance any storylines but just continued to build up the Hardyz. It didn’t do anything for me personally. But the match itself wasn’t bad which is why it’s getting the average grade of a C.

Goldust vs. R-Truth

The match never started due to Goldust beating up Truth before the match and R-Truth couldn’t continue.

Grade: D Analysis: This altercation is getting a low grade because Raw has already overdone the Goldust and R-Truth promos despite how entertaining they’ve been. Storyline-wise, they’ve gone on too long. Goldust himself builds the matchup between the two greatly. But when it was time to have a wrestling match, Goldust just beat up Truth before the match even started. The encounter between the two was very anticlimactic considering how good the promo were between the two men leading up to this.

Ball Family Comes To WWE

You have to see for yourself due to the fact that there is not much explaining what exactly happened. When you see for yourself, you’ll understand.

Grade: B Analysis: I’m aware that Lavar Ball butchered this segment as far as actual wrestling storylines go. That’s exactly why this segment isn’t getting an A. But, from Lavar Ball’s mannerisms to LaMelo saying an explicit term on national television, this was golden for entertaining television. Everything that happened between the Ball family in this segment outweighed the wrestling aspect by a large margin.

The Miztourage vs. Ambrose, Slater,

Curtis Axel got the rollup pin on Rhyno after a cheap shot.

Grade: B

Analysis: The match was lackluster but it did what it needed to. The terribly named Miztourage got the win in their first match together and gave the new faction some momentum.

Enzo tries to bring Cass back

Enzo cut arguably the best promo of his career as he tried to reunite with his “big brother”. It almost seemed as if it was actually going to happen. I legitimately thought they were going to reunite and WWE was going to go back on their previous booking decision due to the potential fear of losing merchandise money between the or some other reason. But instead, as the two men were celebrating their reunion and holding their hands up high , Cass clotheslined Enzo’s head off.

Grade: A Analysis: I’ve missed moments like these on WWE television. This is exactly what this specific feud needed to progress. Great work by WWE creative with this move.

Seth Rollins vs.

Seth Rollins squashed Hawkins. appeared on the titantron and delivered a promo.

Grade: F If you actually listen closely to what Wyatt is saying and take it into perspective, some if it actually makes sense. But this feud hasn’t made any real progress since it started for a bogus reason. It still has yet to make any real progress is the most boring thing on WWE television at the moment. This is worst feud of the year at the moment.

Samoa Joe Chokes Out The Beast

As was making his entrance after a Heyman promo, came from behind and attacked the beast. After about 30 seconds of defending himself, Brock had the Coquina Clutch locked in around his neck. Joe had choked out Lesnar.

Grade: A Analysis: I have a large feeling that WWE is doing this so that when Lesnar wins at the PPV, it won’t seem as bad. This booking of Joe will do the Joe character wonders for the future but I still feel that WWE won’t take the title off of Lesnar as much as I’d like them too. Nonetheless, this segment was amazing and Joe is on top of the world.

Lince Dorado vs. Neville

Neville beat Dorado by submission with the Rings of Saturn. sat ringside in style courtesy of Titus Brand. Tozawa came in the ring to confront Neville who had taunted him after his match. Titus came out to the ring to announce that he had finalized a deal to have a match at Great Balls Of Fire between Neville and Akira Tozawa for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Grade: C This doesn’t get an average grade because there was a bad thing about the segment and a good thing. It was simply just average in general. It doesn’t really build the feud between the two men but Titus appeared on television which was somewhat entertaining as it always is in recent weeks. It was just okay.

No. 1 Contenders Women’s Gauntlet Match

After mauled the whole women’s division (including in under two minutes in the first match) until the very last match. Jax had already been through four matches before it was time to face Banks. Sasha defeated a fatigued Jax via awkward Banks Statement. Bliss and Banks faced off to close off the show.

Grade: B Analysis: They handled everything right with Nia and told a good story, but this match doesn’t get a perfect A grade from me due to the intense butchering of the Bayley character. Week after week they make her look more and more stupid and continue to lose more money with everything she has to offer. Other than that, this was a great way to showcase the women’s division and they finally have some direction after a few weeks of directionless booking.

What did you think of Raw? Let me know at my Instagram page @most_over_babyface