WWE Raw 19th September: Reading Between the Lines of Each Segment
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After the poor ratings for last week’s episode of Raw, WWE were looking to re-establish Raw as a must-see show, setting up two big matches in Seth Rollins vs Rusev and a rematch between Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns, with the match taking place in a steel cage.
Although the three-hour format of Raw is still too much to handle, and there were still minor issues in segments throughout the show, this was a decent go-home episode for Clash of Champions.
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Would Cesaro tie up the Best of Seven Series to 3-3? What would Rollins’ interactions with Kevin Owens be before their title match at Clash of Champions? These questions and more were answered in all the segments of this week’s show, as I Read Between the Lines of Each Segment from the 19th September edition of WWE Raw.
Opening Promo with Foley, Stephanie, Reigns and Owens:
This was only booked as a means of setting up the episode’s two big matches, with Rollins vs Rusev and Owens vs Reigns in a steel cage being announced by Foley. This did drag on too long, and the emphasis was on Foley and Stephanie rather than Reigns and Rusev’s rivalry, although Reigns vs Rusev was booked for Clash of Champions.
Kevin Owens didn’t do much here either, and the WWE Creative team would be better off booking a match to open the show rather than a promo every week. Although this set up several matches for the episode and Clash of Champions, this did little to entice fan interest.
Seth Rollins vs Rusev:
This was a solid bout that put over Rollins’ new babyface persona well, as the vicious Rusev targeted Seth’s lower back, encouraging the fans to chant “Let’s Go Rollins” a number of times. Rather than giving either man the loss, the match went to a double count-out.
That would normally be a negative, but with both men having big title matches at Clash of Champions, it kept both competitors protected. Rollins’ dive from the announce table off the stage was a nice touch, and popped the crowd rather than just having a predictable interference from one of the men’s rivals.
Overall, a solid opening match between two men who have rarely faced off before and yet had good chemistry.
Braun Strowman vs Sin Cara and Bo Dallas vs Gary Graham:
Strowman looked a lot better here by decimating a main roster superstar rather than a local competitor (jobber). Defeating Sin Cara soundly, expect WWE to book him in future matches with higher-profile Raw superstars.
Although the timing of this bout could have been better, as it took place right after a Hispanic Heritage Month tribute aired. WWE basically said “Hey, look at the great Hispanic superstars we have had in the WWE! Now watch one get destroyed!”.
Whether that was a booking mistake or a failed joke, WWE should plan their segments a little better than that.
This was yet another squash for Bo Dallas, and his aggression and tenacity here was great. I still think they should ditch the sign though, as it reminds fans of his past silly gimmick. But, what are WWE trying to achieve with these matches?
If Dallas isn’t making any further progress, why are they still happening? Hopefully WWE answers those questions in the coming weeks.
Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs Sasha Banks and Bayley:
This was another good match, and the involvement of Bayley in the title match at Clash of Champions was smart, as it allows the women’s title picture to feel a tad fresher. Charlotte and Dana Brooke’s relationship is on a slow build to imploding, as WWE make Charlotte either angry or approving of Brooke, depending on how she helps her.
A slow build towards Brooke’s eventual babyface turn is the better choice, and is a smarter option rather than rushing the angle. Bayley being pinned was a well booked dynamic as well, as she appears to be the underdog in the title bout.
The tension between Sasha and Bayley is enticing, as a possible feud between the two over the Women’s Championship is incredibly tantalising. Expect that tension to grow at Clash of Champions.
Sheamus vs Cesaro (Match Six of Best of Seven Series):
When you put Sheamus vs Cesaro on the card, you are guaranteed a great match. Somehow changing the style of their previous encounters once again, this bout felt fast-paced, intense and dramatic.
Despite the predictable result of Cesaro tying it up to 3-3, this was still a splendid match that had the crowd hot. With the series now at 3-3, expect Cesaro to clinch the underdog comeback and win the series 4-3 at Clash of Champions.
Let’s hope match number 7 is the best one yet, and is given enough time on the pay-per-view.
10 Man Tag Match (New Day, Zayn, Enzo and Cass vs Primo, Epico, Jericho, Gallows and Anderson):
This was a fun bout, with a number of nice spots like Kofi’s suicide dive. But, the involvement of three different feuds into one match did little to increase the intensity for any three, and the result was a crowded tag bout that was fun, yet pointless.
All three feuds (especially Zayn vs Jericho) deserved their own segment to shine in, and this was a showcase of WWE’s lack of logical booking once again. Although many fans would have enjoyed this bout for its entertainment value, the lack of extra intensity for all three rivalries will leave the three matches at Clash of Champions with a little less hype.
Cruiserweights Fatal 4-Way (Rich Swann vs Cedric Alexander vs Brian Kendrick vs Gran Metalik):
With this being the inaugural introduction of the Cruiserweight division on Raw in the ‘New Era’, the pressure was on the shoulders of the four competitors to deliver. If you have watched the CWC on the WWE network, you know they were always going to deliver.
In an excellent bout with high stakes (winner faces Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins at Clash of Champions), this was a brilliant introduction to casual fans of what the Cruiserweights can do. Rather than being a spotfest, this was a mix of submissions, chops, and of course, high flying.
Although it would have been better to have T.J. Perkins on commentary or at ringside, the stakes felt extremely high as the four men stole the show. Overall, an amazing introduction to the four wrestlers in the match and to the Cruiserweight division in general.
Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens (Steel Cage):
Seeing the awesome match these two had last week, expectations were high as the two men clashed again, this time in a steel cage. While not outdoing their bout from last week’s episode, Owens and Reigns once again wrestled a great match that had the fans excited.
Although Reigns kicking out of the pop-up powerbomb was a bad decision, as superstars rarely kick out of that move, this was still a splendid encounter between two of the best in-ring workers on Raw.
Reigns just beating Owens by a second was a well-made decision, as Owens barely lost, and only because of the stipulation rather than being pinned. Rusev attacking Reigns once again furthered their storyline, as he came across as a ruthless monster, locking his foe inside the cage.
Despite its predictability, Rollins coming out to save Reigns and attack Owens and Rusev was an awesome moment. His dive from the top of the cage onto both men was incredible, and popped the crowd huge to end the show.
Overall, a solid match that developed both feuds successfully, as well as featuring an amazing cage dive from Rollins.
