Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 7.25.16

MONDAY NIGHT RAW 7.25.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Fatal Four-Way The WWE Universal Championship Qualifying Match: Finn Balor defeated Cesaro, Rusev and Kevin Owens @ 20:28 via pin [***½]
– Nia Jax defeated Britt Baker @ 1:20 via pin [NR]
– Fatal Four-Way The WWE Universal Championship Qualifying Match: Roman Reigns defeated Chris Jericho, Sami Zayn and Sheamus @ 17:21 via pin [***]
– Neville defeated Curtis Axel @ 3:30 via pin [*½]
– Women’s Title Match: Sasha Banks defeated Champion Charlotte @ 16:55 via submission [****]
– Braun Strowman defeated James Ellsworth @ 1:10 via pin [NR]
– Pokemon Go defeated The Shining Stars @ 1:54 via pin [NR]
– For the Right to Face Seth Rollins at Summerslam For The WWE Universal Championship: Finn Balor defeated Roman Reigns @ 13:56 via pin [***½]

– We got a new theme song, new intro, some new staging, with the announce table set back on the stage, red ropes and such to show off the new era. Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton are the announce team.

It’s Time to Talk!: So last night, Mick Foley spoke about wanting to make the show different, more about the performers and not all about the authority figures. So of course we start the show exactly the same way we do 99% of the time. I know they need to do it to set things up, but I just find it funny that “we’re going to change” and then they just do the same thing. But the point stands, Foley and Stephanie were placed in the ring as the focus and stars of the brand. Foley and Stephanie were in the ring, and brought out the entire raw roster (minus Lesnar) to the stage. I hope that this is where they proclaim Rusev the universal champion of Raw. Stephanie blamed Reigns for losing the title when Rollins had the title won. She then claimed the world demands a champion on Raw, and Foley announces two fatal four-way matches, with the winners facing off in the main event. Hat winner will face Seth Rollins at Summerslam for the new raw title. The title will be called the WWE Universal Championship. The competitors will be Sami Zayn, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Cesaro, Roman Reigns, Rusev, Kevin Owens and Finn Balor. Stephanie then praised Charlotte for being the champion, and then Foley announced Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for tonight. Overall I liked the segment, they set matches for tonight, answered the question abbot the “Raw world title” and also continued the favoring Rollins angle. The only thing that did not make sense was running down Reigns, and then, giving him a shot to win the title by putting him in the field of eight.

Fatal Four-Way The WWE Universal Championship Qualifying Match: Cesaro vs. Rusev vs. Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor: They did about 90-seconds of frantic brawling before wipeouts on the floor and then the commercial break. Post break, Rusev and Owens were in control and working over Balor, and then Cesaro. The only thing worse than Rusev and Owens brutalizing Balor was Owens delivering the banter while doing so. Owens and Rusev dominated, Balor fired up and tried to make a comeback, but when Owens cut him off and went for a pin, his partnership with Rusev was over. Cesaro then returned to take out Owens and Rusev with a high cross, and then it was uppercut time for everyone. Cesaro and Rusev would spill to the floor, Balor then cleared out Owens and hit a dive onto the pile. Balor and Cesaro went back and forth, with Balor getting a near fall before heading to another commercial break. The match has been solid so far, but has been too disjointed and lacking a really good flow. Hopefully that changes in the final stretch. Post break they busted out the tower of doom, which led to the signature move buffet. Owens would hit the frog splash on Balor, but Rusev made the save. Balor then ate the pop up powerbomb, and Cesaro made the save. Owens and Cesaro had some really nice back and forth and then Rusev broke things up and locked in the accolade but Cesaro stopped that with the deadlight suplex. They had some really well back and forth, with some good counters of their finishes. Cesaro finally got the swing, and then the sharp shooter but Owens broke that up. Balor finally returned, ran wild and hit the double stomp and pinned Rusev. They really reeled it in during the closing stretch and brought the match together nicely. The Balor win was great, they need to make guys now that they pulled the trigger on the brand split, and sending Balor all the way to Summerslam would be huge. Rusev, Owens and Cesaro need to feud now over the US Title, those boys have great chemistry. Also, commentary did a really nice job and so far Cole feels fresh and motivated working with Graves.

Nia Jax vs. Britt Baker: Yeah, local enhancement talent. Jax ran through some offense, and looked to have it won but pulled Baker up. She then punished her some more and finished her off with a leg drop. This is EXACTLY what it needed to be. Jax shows off trademark moves, destroys jobber without taking any offense or selling and look like a monster. This was effective; mission accomplished. Baker sold like a champ for her as well.

– Goldust and Truth played Piketon Go as Sasha cut a promo about winning the women’s title tonight.

– Brock Lesnar returns next week on Raw.

Fatal Four-Way The WWE Universal Championship Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Sheamus vs. Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns: Reigns is sporting the blacked out outfit, no color trim at all. Jericho and Sheamus attacked Reigns right away as Zayn watched on. And just when you think was abut to help Reigns, he joined in the attack. Jericho and Sheamus worked together early and did well. Reigns fired up and started to fight everyone, sending Jericho and Sheamus to the floor and working over Zayn. It broke down, every one got some shit in and then Reigns cleared the ring and hit the big dive to send us to a commercial break. Jericho and Sheamus worked over Reigns post break, but it didn’t last long at all as Jericho attacked. Reigns fought back and isolated Sheamus, and then also beat on Jericho. Zayn returned and scored the blue thunder bomb for a good near fall on Reigns. Reigns then scored with the blackout powerbomb for a great near fall. we broke into some signature moves and near falls, which really got the crowd into the match. Jericho finally got the walls on Zayn, Sheamus then broke it up and worked over Zayn but then Reigns returned to take everyone out, but Zayn got a great near fall off of a cradle. Reigns and Jericho were left; they had this completely awful exchange where Jericho fell down because he sold too early…

Jericho selling before getting hit.. pic.twitter.com/sIs6O1t1uI

— DTAM (@DeathToAllMarks) July 26, 2016

They recovered from that and Jericho countered the spear and hit the code breaker for another good near fall. Reigns then hot the spear and picked up the win. This was a good match, but didn’t quite have the energy of flow of the first four-way.

New Day Celebrates Their Sort of Real But Fake Record: They are celebrating the bullshit numbers based off of the tag titles that were established in 2002. Demolition holds the real record at 478 days. Anyway, they played a vide package and celebrated the fact that BootyOs are a real cereal now. They made some dick jokes and then said they would pick a member of the crowd to be an honorary member of New Day for the night. They did a way too long segment on the guy’s name, which was “Sonny Boy.” THANKFULLY Doc and Karl (The Club) arrived and kicked the shit out of new Day. They hit the magic killer on Big E and stood tall. That was not a good segment, I love New Day, but that was really flat and just did not connect like most of their stuff. The “Sonny Boy” deal got tired REALLY fast, and while the Club run in helped, it didn’t save it.

– The Steve Austin podcast returns on August 8th with guest Dean Ambrose

– One thing I like is that they have done a couple of shots at the announce table, at the start of the show and just now, where the announcers are standing at the table. They have done this on the CWC, and it feels like a UFC or MNF; it’s a more real sports feel. It’s a little thing, but I like it.

Neville vs. Curtis Axel: JoJo actually announced Axel as “Mr. Irrelevant,” because he was drafted last. Neville controlled for the first 90-seconds or so, and then Axel actually got some offense in. Well, it was a dropkick and a chinlock, but that’s a lot for him. Axel worked his heat as they changed the camera angle 7 times in 5 seconds; I shit you not. BAD Kevin Dunn, bad! Neville fought back, hit the deadlift German and then hit the ref arrow for the win. This honestly was not very good, and WWE made a mistake here in how they booked Neville’s return. Neville just returned from injury and this was basically a re-introduction, and they should have brought in a local guy or an NXT guy under a hood for Neville to hit all of his shit and look impressive. Instead, they tell you Axel is irrelevant, he goes 50-50 with Neville and no one looks good.

– Young and Backlund have a meeting about last night’s match. Goldust and Truth arrive, playing more Pokemon Go. Backlund snaps.

– We get a video package for Finn Balor.

– We get an interview with Charlotte and Dana Brooke. Charlotte says Sasha had a partner last night, but now she is alone. Charlotte thrives on pressure and has been leading the division Sasha can keep dreaming, and she will bow down to the queen.

Women’s Title Match: Champion Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks: They worked a basic back and forth, with Dana getting involved, allowing Charlotte to get in a cheap shot. Banks then hit the back stabber and rolled into a necktie. Charlotte escaped, but Banks got the Banks statement for a bit until Charlotte got the ropes. To the floor, where Banks hit meteora and then tossed Charlotte back in, and the cover got 2. Charlotte missed the knees in the corner and Charlotte hit a neck breaker to take control back and send her to the floor. Charlotte then kicked Banks to the barricade and posed with the title in front of her. Banks kicked it into her face, and then tossed the title to Dana and pulled an Eddie Guerrero and the ref tossed Dana to the back as we took a commercial break. Post break, Charlotte was in control, but Banks fought back with a pop up version of meteora and both ladies were down. They fought to their feet; traded strikes and Banks fired up and hit the knees in the corner for a near fall. Charlotte battled back, went up top and landed on her feet on the moonsault attempt and then Banks sent her to the floor. Banks hot a dive, overshot a bit and bent herself in half. Back in, Banks covered for a near fall. They then battled up top; Charlotte hit the gut buster on the ropes and then followed with the moonsault to the floor. That led to a near fall back in the ring. Banks got a roll up for 2, but Charlotte hit natural selection, but Banks got the ropes. Charlotte went for the figure four, Banks fought and they traded slaps and then Charlotte rolled under the ropes and held on for a bit before breaking. The crowd is really into this now, Banks countered a rollup into the Banks statement, Charlotte rolled but Banks held on and Charlotte got the ropes. They have worked in some great callbacks to their previous matches. Charlotte then charged Banks, back stabber, Banks statement and Charlotte taps! GREAT pop for Sasha’s victory here. Sasha sold the win like it meant everything to her, and Charlotte was equally as pissed about losing. This was great, they worked a smart match, they worked hard and kept intensifying the energy the entire time and they got the crowd into it big time to the point that it felt like an NXT atmosphere, and that’s a complement because that’s been hard to achieve on the main roster. This was a great match, and a great moment because of how Banks reacted to the win and how the crowd celebrated her accomplishment. I do wonder why they changed direction, I would guess because they wanted something to kick off the new era, but it feels odd as the direction as seemingly been for the Summerslam title change. That’s not a criticism, I just wonder is all.

– Byron Saxton interviewed Banks post match as the crowd chanted, “you deserve it.” She said this has been her dream since age 10, she said she was the best and now this proves it. She said it was an era of change, the ea of the boss and she will prove she’s the best week in and out.

Braun Strowman vs. James Ellsworth: Byron talks to the jobber, who says getting a Raw match is a dream come true. He’s afraid, but if he can pull the upset, it can be huge for his career. Byron said he hoped he had a career after this. Amazing. The little man tried to attack, but hurt his hand punching Strowman. Strowman then tossed him around and hit a face first chokeslam for the win. Much like the Jax match, this was an effective squash match to re-introduce Strowman as a singles performer.

– We get a Roman Reigns video package.

– Truth and Goldust played more Pokemon Go.

– Enzo and Cass made their way to the ring, and they had words for us. Things are getting more raw around here, and Cass said he likes eggs, cookie dough, fish and other things raw. The Shining Stars are still alive, and mocked Pittsburgh and we have a match.

Enzo and Cass vs. The Shining Stars: Enzo started off well, but the Stars double teamed him and took control. Enzo was quickly able to get a tag, Cass cleaned house and got a near fall before it broke down. Truth and Goldust then appeared looking for Pokemon, Cass killed Promo with a boot and picked up the win. THAT WAS FUCKING STUPID. If you’re going to have Enzo and Cass win with ease, have them win with ease. The Truth and Goldust bullshit was not needed, at all. This is the shit they really need to avoid.

– Finn and Roman exchanged words backstage.

For the Right to Face Seth Rollins at Summerslam For The WWE Universal Championship: Finn Balor vs. Roan Reigns: Reigns attacked at the bell, tossing Balor around and using his size and power; Balor kept fighting back with kicks and trying to use his speed to counter. This was a really good opening stretch, as they went to the floor where Balor sent Reigns to the barricade with a shotgun dropkick to send us to the break. Post break Reigns was in control, but was favoring his leg, which Balor attacked during the break. Balor fought back wit forearms, but Reigns hit the single armed powerbomb for a near fall. Reigns went for the Superman, missed and Balor then sent him to the floor and then hit a basement dropkick and a soccer kick from the apron. Balor up top, double stomp to the back of Reigns’ head and he scored the near fall. Slingblade connected for Balor, but Reigns then hit the Superman punch for a near fall. Reigns was frustrated here, went for the blackout but Balor countered into a roll up for 2. Reigns then hit two powerbombs, but Balor survived! Reigns set for the spear, but Balor hit slingblade and the shotgun dropkick. Balor up top… DOUBLE STOMP and BALOR WINS CLEAN AS A SHEET! HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY FINN! That was a really good match, with the story that Balor overcame and won clean. I always talk about making stars, and that if you WANT to make a guy you can, and they did so in one night. On top of that, Rollins vs. Balor is a fresh main event match that the company needed.

– They tried to interview Reigns post match, he wants Balor to beat Rollins and wants another shot, he respects Balor.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”