We’ve got new tag team champions! The Undertaker returns to Raw! But unfortunately so does
Kevin Owens, my man! I’m Oli Davis, give us a subscribe, press
the thumbs up button and click the ‘i’ above my head to vote for what you thought
of the show - where you can choose from In Awe, Cor, AVRAWGE, Poor and Bore - as I review
the 3rd September, 2018 edition of Monday Night Raw ...in about 4 minutes.
Dropping any shades of grey or complexity that his character possessed at the end of
last week’s show, Braun Strowman went from justified avenger to full-on smirking heel
flanked by heel cronies to kick off Raw. This brought out the Shield through the crowd
for a rather badass brawl with the entire locker room trying to keep everyone apart.
The Shield are so awesome, my nostalgia still so fresh, that I even cheered Roman Reigns.
Bad Oli! This ended with The Shield being arrested
and driven off in a police van. Because WWE brawls are illegal now.
WHY ARE THE BELLAS STILL HERE? Nikki and Brie made their return to the ring,
beating the Riott Squad with two botched dives. I’m not a fan of the Bellas. To me, they
still epitomise everything the current women’s division is trying to get away from. But I
must admit, they had their moments here.
Chad Gable and Bobby Roode, however, are the real tag team I never knew I wanted. It’s
sad, in a way, that both men’s singles runs have been booked into oblivion, but their
pairing together is inspired. Chad’s endearing goofiness and spectacular in-ring ability
makes any act better, and it’s promising for the overall tag division that more teams
are being established.
For the second week in a row, a prolonged Elias segment was just used to set up a Natalya
match, rather than give him an actual feud. Alexa Bliss beat Natalya with some interference
from Alicia Fox on the outside, causing Ronda Rousey to nearly rip her shoulder from its
socket! The Bellas came to see Ronda backstage afterwards,
saying if she ever needs help with anything - like wrestling training, running a company
outside WWE, her PPV make-up - come see them. BREAK THEIR ARMS, RONDA!
As the heels run Raw now, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler were able to beat up the Revival
and take their tag team championship shot against the B Team - which they won in a pretty
decent match.
And the tag division reboot continued with Drake Maverick announcing himself as the new
manager of Authors of Pain… while dressed like a Mini-Me version of them.
I love Drake Maverick and this act could be really strong. But not if he’s dressed like
this. Also, what was wrong with their original manager
Paul Ellering?!
Next up had the pre-announced return of Shawn Michaels to hype Undertaker vs Triple H at
Su-Su-Super ShowDown next month. While he got a great pop coming out, the content of
the promo dragged, being an awkwardly worded plug for a match a month away.
That all changed when the Undertaker’s massive dong hit, though, sending the crowd crazy
even though he didn’t have any Dick Druids. The two men then had a great back and forth,
with Michaels saying he stayed retired out of respect for Taker, for Taker to accuse
him of only stayed retired out of fear. If Shawn did return to the ring, he’d put him
down again, just like he’s going to do to Triple H.
Continuing the storyline of getting Dana Brooke ready for Evolution, she teamed with ‘still
without a storyline on the main roster’ Ember Moon against Bayley and Sasha Banks.
Titus Worldwide shouting advice distracted her for the loss, causing Dana to storm off.
Baron Corbin just gave Bobby Lashley a performance review, my man! And it said, my man, that
he’s got anger issues, my man. Presumably, because he suddenly has to say ‘my man’
three times a sentence. Lashley did a live meditation session with
Jinder Mah al in the ring to treat these anger issues, which was as lame as you’d expect
it to be, my man. But the real criminal part was having Kevin Owens return to beat Bobby
up with a powerbomb on the apron. One of the most intriguing storylines from last week’s
Raw - KO suddenly quitting the company - dropped after a week and wasted on a comedy segment
with Lashley. Owens should’ve been kept out at least until after Hell in a Cell.
Thankfully the 78th rematch between Finn Balor and Baron Corbin was replaced with Balor vs
Braun Strowman. The two work really well together, with Balor inventively countering Strowman’s
usual spots, but Braun hit a single powerslam for the win in the end - somewhat undermining
the two powerslam finish to their match several months ago.
But it was all to set up the Shield rather ridiculously returning to the arena in the
police van they were taken away in. Which was silly, but I kind of loved it. The ensuing
brawl was rather brutal too, with the heel locker room helping McDolphMan, and lawndarting
Seth into the police van window, potentially injuring Rollins when the glass smashed unexpectedly.
The Shield reunion curse continues. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take my eyes of
Owens here, out there like just another heel midcarder, assisting Strowman, the man that
made him quit the company just last week. I actually rather enjoyed this episode of
Raw, but the KO quitting follow-up was atrocious, and another depressing sign that he’s destined
for a particular slot on the roster for ever. Which means this week’s Raw is AvRAWge.
What’s the real reason WWE didn’t release Neville last year? Click the video onscreen
now to find out! And click the picture of me and Luke to become a WrestleTalk Patreon
today! I’ve been Oli Davis, and that was wrestling.