WWE RAW
Episode 1327
#RAW
Original Air Date: October 29, 2018
Event Date: October 29, 2018 (aired live)
City: Charlotte, NC
Venue: Spectrum Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Video
Last week, Roma Reigns relinquished the Universal Title after revealing that he has leukemia.
Ring Area
In the ring, Baron Corbin is holding the Universal Title. Corbin wishes Roman Reigns the best, but if Reigns comes back, Corbin hopes he doesn’t come back to RAW. Corbin continues talking, but he is interrupted when Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman head to the ring.
Corbin tries to give Lesnar an introduction, but Heyman stops him. Heyman says we live in historic times. Four days from now, Brock Lesnar will retake the Universal Title by defeating Braun Strowman. Heyman guarantees it. As Heyman finishes, Braun Strowman comes out and heads to the ring.
Strowman says he will become the new Universal Champ because Lesnar will get his hands. Strowman shoves Corbin out of the way, so Corbin attacks Strowman. Strowman hits Corbin with a powerslam as Lesnar puts the Universal Title over his own shoulder. After another powerslam to Corbin, Lesnar hits Strowman with an F5. Lesnar holds up the Universal Title before leaving the ring.
Match 1
Finn Balor vs Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Finn Balor wins via DQ when Lio Rush pushes Balor off the top turnbuckle
Time: 5:26 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Balor helps make Lashley interesting in the ring, and Rush helps makes Lashley someone you want to see lose. I think Lashley and Balor can definitely have better matches, but I think the match-up is fine.
Ring Area
After the match, Bobby Lashley attacks Finn Balor. Lashely puts Balor in a full nelson while Rush yells at and slaps Balor.
Backstage
Baron Corbin appreciates what Lashley has been doing to Finn Balor. With that in mind, Corbin tells Lashley that he will be taking John Cena’s place in the WWE World Cup at Crown Jewel.
Video
From last night at Evolution, Charly Caruso holds the mic as Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey congratulate each other on being champ.
Match 2
Lita & Trish Stratus & Natalya & Sasha Banks & Bayley vs Mickie James & Alicia Fox & The Riott Squad w/ Alexa Bliss
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Natalya forces Alicia Fox to submit to a Sharpshooter
Time: 9:21 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was fun. I’m still a little disappointed that the Riott Squad always seems to come up short, but this was a nice showcase for Lita, Trish, and their team. I think the six person tag at Evolution was better, but again, this was fun and I enjoyed it for what it was.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Nia Jax. Jax says she’ll be waiting for Ronda Rousey after she make Becky Lynch tap at Survivor Series. Braxton then welcomes Ember Moon (who got more eliminations than Jax in last night’s battle royal). Moon is still excited about last night, but Jax is getting a little tired of not being paid attention to. Moon says she respects Jax, but she wonders if Jax will respect her more if they compete tonight. Jax says she respects Moon, but she’s going to beat Moon.
Ring Area
In the ring, Elias is still happy about what he did to Baron Corbin last week, so much so that he shows footage of the guitar smash. Elias has a song for Baron Corbin, and he decides to go find Corbin backstage so he can play it for him directly.
Backstage
Elias knocks on Baron Corbin’s door. Corbin tells him to go away, so Elias just plays his song in front of Corbin’s office. Corbin emerges from his office, listens to another few lines of the song, then retreats back into his office. From behind, Jinder Mahal attacks Elias. Corbin comes back out and laughs at Elias.
Match 3
Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs Elias
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Elias wins via pinfall after Drift Away
Time: 4:04
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was kind of short and went about like you’d expect, but it was entertaining enough.
Video
A special look at Kurt Angle ahead of the WWE World Cup.
Selfie Promo
Kurt Angle challenges the idea that he is out of his mind if he thinks he can win the World Cup. He says that winning the World Cup would mean more to him than anything else he has ever accomplished.
Match 4
The Ascension vs Chad Gable & Bobby Roode vs AoP w/ Drake Maverick
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Bobby Roode pins Viktor after a tandem rolling German suplex (Gable) and neckbreaker (Roode)
Time: 1:08 (joined in progress)
Match Thoughts
This was pretty surprising. It was super short, but that worked well for the match. I liked the strategy involved. The Ascension and Roode & Gable attacked AoP before the match, and once the match started they tried to end things as quickly as possible. They did end things quickly, and that kept the match from being what I expected it would (which was a complete squash by AoP).
Ring Area
After the match, AoP attacks everyone. Gable and Roode take the Super Collider, and AoP stands tall.
Video
Some Connor’s Cure kids have some well-wishes for Roman Reigns.
Ring Area
Seth Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins begins by saying “thank you” on behalf of Roman Reigns for the love and support people have shown him. He feels good about that, and he also feels good about being a tag champ for the third time. He feels sad as well though, because Dean Ambrose turned his back on everyone last week.
Rollins has wondered if it’s his own fault that Ambrose lashed out. He doesn’t know for sure, and the only person who can answer that question is Dean Ambrose. As a friend and brother, Rollins invites Ambrose to the ring to explain his actions.
Ambrose’s music plays, but Ambrose does not appear. After the music stops, Ambrose can be seen walking around in the crowd. Rollins begins to get angry and again invites Ambrose to the ring. From the crowd, Ambrose says nothing. Rollins gets angrier. Rollins says he is focused on Ambrose and is going to make his life a living hell. If Ambrose doesn’t want to come to the ring, Rollins is going to head out into the crowd to get him. With that, Ambrose walks away.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Bobby Lashley what it would mean for him to win the WWE World Cup. Lio Rush answers, saying Lashley has done it all. Lashley is money, and it is a foregone conclusion that he is the best in the world.
Video
Clips of the buildup to D-Generation X versus the Brothers of Destruction at Crown Jewel.
Match 5
Nia Jax vs Ember Moon
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Nia Jax wins via pinfall after a running leg drop (and a distraction from Tamina)
Time: 3:25
Match Thoughts
Pretty good, but short. I think the distraction at the end was unnecessary. No surprises here, but the action was fine.
Ring Area
After the match, Tamina enters the ring and stares at Nia Jax. Tamina backs away and leaves the ring.
Match 6
The Revival vs Lince Dorado & Kalisto w/ Gran Metalik
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Kalisto pins Scott Dawson after Salida Del Sol
Time: 3:19
Match Thoughts
Good match. I wish it had been about three times longer, but this was fun. It was great seeing Lucha House Party on RAW, and they and The Revival both had a lot of energy.
Ring Area
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre head to the ring. McIntyre is looking forward to seeing who becomes the new Universal Champ and Crown Jewel. Ziggler says that makes sense, because whoever wins is going to have a Claymore Kick in their future.
Ziggler goes on to talk about how much he looked up to Kurt Angle. Angle is not Ziggler though, and Ziggler is going to beat Angle on his way to cementing his legacy. Ziggler claims to be the best ever in a WWE ring and the best thing to ever happen to this business.
Match 7
Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre vs Apollo Crews
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Dolph Ziggler wins via pinfall after a superkick
Time: 2:57 (joined in progress)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Again, this was a short match, but I liked how it felt like Ziggler had to work to overcome Crews’ attack. This could have easily been a squash headed into Crown Jewel, but I don’t think this hurt Crews and his recent momentum. I really liked the finish as well.
Ring Area
Kane and Undertaker head to the ring. Undertaker says that when the reaper calls, it’s your time to go. DX will be taken to Hell for the first and last time at Crown Jewel. It will be slow, agonizing pain. But right now, Kane and Undertaker summon DX to the ring.
DX’s music plays, and Triple H comes out to the stage. Kane leaves the ring and starts to walk up the ramp. Shawn Michaels sneaks up on Undertaker in the ring and hits him with a superkick. Kane reenters the ring, but Michaels escapes. Undertaker sits up, and he and Kane stare at DX as the show ends.
Show Impressions
I think this was a pretty average show. The matches were all short and, for the most part, were fairly unsurprising. I did like seeing Lucha House Party though. Beyond that, as the last RAW before Crown Jewel, it didn’t do anything to make me want to watch it any more or less.
Match of the Night
Lucha House Party vs The Revival
This was a nice surprise, and it was fun.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2018-10-29