WWE RAW
Episode 1320
#RAW
Original Air Date: September 10, 2018
Event Date: September 10, 2018 (aired live)
City: New Orleans, LA
Venue: Smoothie King Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Ring Area
Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, and Braun Strowman head to the ring. They are followed by Mojo Rawley, The Ascension, Authors of Pain, Drew Gulak, Jinder Mahal, Sunil Singh, Elias, and Kevin Owens who surround the ring. Ziggler and Strowman gloat about beating up The Shield last week. McIntyre suggests that we all watch their actions again, so a video package of the beginning and the ending of last week’s RAW plays.
Back in the ring, Strowman says Reigns is a coward who can’t handle business on his own. Strowman has his “dogs of war” now though, so The Shield’s strength in numbers has been negated. Ziggler tells the men surrounding the ring that they made the right choice by standing up to The Shield last week. McIntyre says the balance of power on RAW has shifted. Tonight, McIntyre, Ziggler, and Strowman will continue the carnage.
The Shield heads to the ring through the crowd. As they reach the barricade, The Shield is attacked by the men around the ring. Ambrose breaks out some wooden axe handles, and The Shield manages to take down everyone except Ziggler, McIntyre, and Strowman (because they excused themselves from the ring and watched everything from the stage as the brawl was happening).
Video
Earlier today, The Bella Twins found their locker room vandalized.
Backstage
The Shield argues with some police officers. Baron Corbin stops the arguing by telling The Shield they have to drop their weapons and leave the arena. Otherwise, they could go to jail for a very long time.
Match 1
Ruby Riott w/ Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan vs Nikki Bella w/ Brie Bella
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Nikki Bella wins via pinfall after Rack Attack 2.0
Time: 5:40 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Ruby Riott helped Nikki Bella look good throughout this match, though for her part Nikki doesn’t look to have much ring rust. I wasn’t thrilled with the result of the match though. I’m not sure how it builds interest in an eventual tag match at Evolution (which is where I assume this is headed).
Ring Area
On the stage, Big Show stands with some kids for Connor’s Cure.
Video
A video about Connor’s Cure.
Ring Area
Big Show introduces each of the Connor’s Cure kids: Super 4, Brayden The Punisher, Diva Supreme, Super Messiah, T-Vic The Skull Crusher, Charlie The Champ, The Quiet Storm, Lae Lae The Unstoppable.
Video
Clips from the confrontation between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker last week.
Backstage
Drake Maverick tells the Authors of Pain to channel their rage and make everyone remember the carnage they cause.
Match 2
Ronnie Ace & Nathan Bradley vs AoP w/ Drake Maverick
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Rezar pins Ronnie Ace after the Super Collider
Time: 1:23
Match Thoughts
Squash. Drake Maverick looked super happy about it though.
Video
Clips of the feud between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton.
Backstage
Triple H arrives in a limo.
Ring Area
Triple H heads to the ring. He understands that most people expect The Undertaker to beat him at Super Show-Down, and it doesn’t bother him. He was surprised that The Undertaker was so upset about Shawn Michaels picking Triple to win though. Seeing The Undertaker threaten Michaels made Triple H mad. After thinking about it, Triple H realized that The Undertaker has lost respect for himself.
Triple H says The Undertaker was never the same after his Wrestlemania matches with Michaels and Triple H. The mystique is gone, and the only thing left for The Undertaker is his reputation. Triple H thinks Undertaker blames Triple and Michaels for his demise. Undertaker has made this personal, and Triple H intends to put The Undertaker down.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, and Alicia Fox talk about stuff.
Match 3
RAW Tag Title Match
Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre (RAW Tag Champs) vs The B-Team
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Drew McIntyre pins Bo Dallas after a tandem Zig Zag and Claymore
Time: 5:48 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The B-Team had a little offense somewhere in the middle of the match, but this was mostly all Ziggler and McIntyre. It was a dominant performance from the champs. I’m fine with Ziggler and McIntyre as champs, I’m just a little annoyed at how they seemingly threw away the feud between The Revival and The B-Team in order to do it. This match sent the B-Team to the back of the line, and it doesn’t seem like The Revival is going to fare any better (if they even get a title shot). I’m not a fan of how RAW handles their tag division.
Ring Area
After the match, Rollins and Ambrose rush into the ring and attack Ziggler and McIntyre. After a small brawl, McIntyre and Ziggler get out of the ring and head up the ramp.
Video
A look back at the Hell in a Cell match between Mankind and The Undertaker from 1998.
Backstage
Baron Corbin tells Rollins and Ambrose that he said what would happen if The Shield came back to the arena tonight. Rollins and Ambrose said The Shield didn’t come back, just Rollins and Ambrose. Rollins also claims Corbin falsified his police report from last week, and he has a sheriff who is ready to arrest Corbin. Corbin tells everyone to leave, so the sheriff begins to arrest him. Corbin wants to discuss things in private, and Rollins agrees. Ambrose and the sheriff leave.
Backstage
Outside Corbin’s office, Ambrose discusses his recent speeding violation with the sheriff (whose name is also Ambrose). Seth Rollins walks out of Corbin’s office and informs the sheriff that they won’t be pressing charges tonight.
Ring Area
Tyler Breeze heads down to the ring for a match with Kevin Owens. Owens attacks Breeze before the match. The two men brawl for a while. Breeze gets some shots in, but Owens ends the fight with a powerbomb onto the edge of the apron.
Owens gets on the mic and says Corbin begged him to come back after he quit two weeks ago. Owens says he agreed to come back on the condition that he wouldn’t be held accountable for his actions against his opponents. Hurting Tyler Breeze is just part of his job. Attacking The Shield is just part of his job.
Owens says he can’t be blamed for his actions, but Bobby Lashley can be blamed for Owens coming back to RAW. Owens is furious that Lashley intentionally injured his best friend Sami Zayn. From now on everyone can expect anarchy, agony, and destruction from Owens, and it’s all Lashley’s fault.
Video
Clips of the feud between AJ Styles and Samoa Joe.
Match 4
Chad Gable & Bobby Roode vs The Ascension
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Chad Gable pins Viktor with a bridging roll-through German suplex
Time: 3:16
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was similar to last week’s match where Gable was a bit too enthusiastic. He tagged himself in a couple of times and was very eager to impress Roode. Gable suplexed The Ascension a lot which was fun (The Ascension was just a prop in this match). Roode seems to be happy with Gable and the success he’s having right now, but I expect Gable’s over-enthusiasm to wear on him. At least I hope it does.
Backstage
Natalya and Ronda Rousey warm up next to each other.
Backstage
Dolph Ziggler wonders why The Shield is back in the building. Baron Corbin walks up and mentions something about Louisiana’s Napoleonic Code. He also tells Ziggler and McIntyre that they’ll be defending their titles against Rollins and Ambrose at Hell in a Cell. McIntyre and Ziggler are furious, but Corbin says he has a good reason for making the match (though he won’t say what it is other than it will be a big match). Corbin then tells Strowman that Stephanie want’s him to take the Universal Title from Reigns. Strowman says “good,” but tonight he’s going “big dog hunting.”
Match 5
Alexa Bliss & Mickie James w/ Alicia Fox vs Natalya & Ronda Rousey
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Ronda Rousey forces Mickie James to submit to an arm bar
Time: 10:41 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. I liked this, though part of the last few minutes felt slightly odd. As expected, Rousey wasn’t in the match much until over halfway through. Natalya took a bit of a beating which allowed Rousey to clean up (I did like the Hart Attack by Rousey and Natalya). Rousey went outside the ring late in the match and got taken advantage of by Alexa Bliss. Bliss slammed Rousey into the ring apron a few times which made Rousey vulnerable when she got back into the ring. I liked all this quite a bit, but there was an awkward moment where it looked like they were teasing a tag from Rousey to Natalya, but it seemed like communication broke down. Rousey made a move towards her corner but hesitated, then moved again before Mickie stepped in the way. The finish came soon after, and that made the match feel a little strange, but it was a minor thing. This was pretty good overall.
Video
Clips of the feud between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.
Backstage
Elias spits tea in the face of a backstage guy. Meanwhile, Braun Strowman yells at everyone as he searches for Roman Reigns.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Rondo Rousey about her ribs. Rousey says she’s fine. Even if she were injured, on her worst day she’s still the best.
Ring Area
In the ring, Elias plays his guitar. Afterwards, he says something feels off about tonight. Regardless, he presses on and begins to play a new song. Mick Foley interrupts as he heads to the ring.
Foley appreciates Elias’ voice and guitar skills, but he thinks Elias is an insincere lyricist. Elias tells Foley that he was in the crowd when Foley was thrown from (and through) the Hell in a Cell. But that was then. Elias calls Foley a “broken man” who has been singing the same sad song for twenty years. Foley says Elias is right, but Foley is not here to talk about the past, he’s here to talk about the future. In six days, Foley is going to be the referee for Reigns versus Strowman.
Foley begins to leave, but Elias stops him. Elias tells Foley to shut his mouth and leave. Foley walks back up to Elias and informs him that Elias will be facing Finn Balor. Right now.
Backstage
Braun Strowman is still looking for Reigns.
Match 6
Elias vs Finn Balor
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Finn Balor wins via pinfall with a small package
Time: 6:59 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It could have been longer, but this was entertaining. Renee Young was talking about how Finn Balor needed a win, and I suppose she’s right. He shouldn’t need a win right now, especially after bringing back the Demon at Summer Slam, but the whole thing about Corbin continuing their feud and getting a win back on Balor pushed back Balor’s momentum. Also, giving Balor a title match was nice, but he was forgotten as soon as the final bell rang in that match and he’s seemingly been pushed all the way out of the title picture at this point. So yeah, he needed a win.
Video
Earlier today, Lio Rush attempted to motivate Bobby Lashley as he worked out. I’m not sure if it worked, but it was very cool to see Lio on RAW.
Backstage
Braun Strowman asks Charly Caruso where Roman Reigns is. Caruso doesn’t know, but she suggests he go to the ring. That way Reigns can find him.
Ring Area
Braun Strowman heads to the ring. Strowman calls for Reigns to come out and face him like a man. Reigns doesn’t come out, so Strowman talks about how no one can help Reigns on Sunday.
Reigns’ music plays, and Strowman finds Reigns on the stage. The two brawl, and Strowman sets Reigns up on the announce table. Reigns counters by getting Strowman in a Samoan drop from the announce table through the side of the stage.
Show Impressions
I think this pre-PPV show was better than last month’s RAW before Summer Slam, but it was certainly light on wrestling. There were six matches, but they were all fairly short with the exception of the women’s tag match. The story stuff on this RAW was alright, but a lot of it felt like more of the same we see most weeks.
Match of the Night
Elias vs Finn Balor
This was the best match from start to finish.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2018-09-10