(Segment 1) Kurt Angle Kicks Off Raw In Buffalo, NY: As Kurt began to talk Paul Heyman came out to interrupt him. They went back and forth for about 5 minutes and then Bobby Lashley came out to join the fun. After Bobby came out Drew, Seth, Elias, Balor, and Reigns came out. This caused Kurt to make two triple threat matches: Elias vs Rollins vs Lashley and Balor vs Reigns vs Drew. The winner of these 2 matches would face each other next week for the right to face Brock Lesnar at Summerslam.
(Segment 2) Finn Balor vs Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre: I expected this match to produce and have a lot of high spots. It was hard hitting and full of power because of Drew and Roman. Drew dominated for most of the match but it didn’t matter, he still showed what he can do. My favorite part of the match was when Drew flipped over the top rope onto Reigns. Reigns spears Balor and pins him for the win. This was a very good match and added a lot to the night. He will face the winner of the other triple threat next week.
(Segment 3) Dolph Ziggler Addresses His Iron Man Match: Dolph went on to gloat and build himself up. As he was getting really cocky, Bobby Roode comes out to say he wants the IC Title and make it glorious! As they were mouthing off at each other, they ended up creating a match between these two. That match ended up being right then and there.
(Segment 4) Dolph Ziggler vs Bobby Roode: This was a non-title match and was made off the fly. I expected a little more from these guys but I think they’re saving some for Summerslam maybe, for the title. I like these two and how they work together, they are two good veterans. A good back and forth match by these two definitely adds to this Raw. Zigglers ended up picking up the win after a superkick.
(Segment 5) Tyler Breeze vs Mojo Rawley: This was strictly a time killer and nothing more. I didn’t expect anything from this match at all. This match was given more time than it should have. Mojo ended up pinning Tyler Breeze after a running Alabama slam.
(Segment 6) Bayley and Sasha Banks vs Dana Brooke and Alicia Fox: If Sasha and Bayley didn’t get along then one of them would be shipped to Smackdown. I didn’t expect much of this match and knew it was going to be a time filler. It was a very short match after Sasha and Bayley got disqualified because Sasha wouldn’t stop beating up Fox and Brooke.
(Segment 7) B-Team vs Ascension: This is yet another time killer and didn’t add much to Raw. This match was to build the B-Team up even more and give them more momentum. The B-Team got the win, not a shocker. After they won Hardy and Wyatt went on the Titantron and announced they want their Raw Tag Title rematch next week.
(Segment 8) Alexa Bliss Addresses Her Title Win: Bliss was joined by Mickie James as she spoke. Alexa called out anyone in the locker room and then Ronda came out of the crowd. Rousey ended up beating up Alexa. Angle came out to announce Alexa vs Ronda at Summerslam for the Raw Women’s Title.
(Segment 9) Titus Worldwide vs AOP: This is another time killer and a squash match. I didn’t expect much from this match anyway. AOP gets the win after hitting The Last Chapter.
(Segment 10) Ember Moon vs Sarah Logan: This is yet another time killer and has nothing behind it. Logan was surprisingly in control most of the time. This match did end up getting more time than it should have. Logan ends up getting the surprise win over Moon.
(Segment 11) Bobby Lashley vs Elias vs Seth Rollins: The winner of this match would face Reigns next week, I think we all knew who was going to win. I did expect a lot from this match and they gave me that. This match got about 20 minutes, which gave them good time to shine. Bobby wins by destroying Elias with a spear. This was a great ending match to Raw.
Overall Raw Grade: B
