After an atrocious filler-based pay per view in WWE Extreme Rules, there was finally movement on Monday night, as the Universal Championship picture became clearer at last.
In response to Kurt Angle's demands the night before, Paul Heyman made an appearance and two triple threat matches were set up to advance the storyline. Meanwhile, Ronda Rousey's plans also became clearer.
Brock Lesnar will defend his title at SummerSlam, ending once and for all any rumors to the contrary - but against who? And what will Braun Strowman do lugging the briefcase around?
Who came out the winners and who lost on this first important edition of Monday Night Raw in months?
See who is stunned by Hulk Hogan's words HERE
#1 Winner: Roman Reigns
![WWE Smackdown](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/d991e-1531827062-800.jpg 1920w)
The absolutely bizarre booking of Roman Reigns continues. After a massive loss the night before, he won a very good triple threat match to advance to next week's show and keep his dreams of winning the Universal Championship alive.
As it stands, the 2018 version of Roman Reigns is that he's a guy who wins matches on Monday nights, but has lost his big pay per view matches since his Elimination Chamber victory in February. It's truly a head scratcher.
It's really hard to know where the company intends to go with this angle. If Roman Reigns really is going to challenge Brock Lesnar again, why have him lose to Bobby Lashley at Extreme Rules?
It beggars belief. Nevertheless, they're making sure that Roman Reigns stays warm, which is something he needed following his loss against Lashley at Extreme Rules.
While Roman was the winner here, Drew McIntyre and Finn Balor came away from the contest looking good as well, hopefully setting up the Universal Championship picture to come following SummerSlam, when again hopefully, the title will finally return to television on a weekly basis.
#2 Losers: Sasha Banks and Bayley
![2017 WWE SummerSlam](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/b61a6-1531827279-800.jpg 1920w)
I knew they were still going to spin their wheels with this feud. Call it a sixth sense.
Shenanigans continued as the company still looks like it doesn't want to turn either Sasha Banks or Bayley heel, one of them (if not both) desperately needs to be turned. Instead we got a silly tag team match.
Are you sure you want to buy those rumors of them competing at SummerSlam? Because the company has only four weeks to heat these two up from being on permafrost.
#3 Winner: Ronda Rousey
![WrestleMania 31...](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/eac89-1531827472-800.jpg 1920w)
To a thunderous ovation, Ronda Rousey appeared despite her suspension, laid out Mickie James, and got a Raw Women's Championship match at SummerSlam.
This segment was perfect. In a rare case of consistently good booking, WWE is nailing Ronda Rousey's push so far. Her championship match at SummerSlam might just be the most anticipated to find its way on the card.
We might finally be in for a good feud on the main roster in 2018.
#4 Loser: Bobby Lashley
![WrestleMania 23](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/07/5dd8b-1531827637-800.jpg 1920w)
Bobby Lashley won his own triple threat match to set up a rematch with Roman Reigns for the #1 contender-ship next week.
Why is he a loser then? Because it's hard to think that 50/50 booking won't be in play here and that he'll lose against Roman Reigns, despite beating him on pay per view, and despite a Lashley vs Lesnar match being far more anticipated than yet another Lesnar vs Reigns rematch.
It's strange, it's bizarre. But that's WWE booking in 2018.