Live from Richmond, VA, the WWE continued their march on Monday Night RAW toward the Money in the Bank pay-per-view event.
Did this episode further any storylines? Were there any more matches booked for the event? What stuck out, if anything?
Check it out below as we recap this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW.
Strowman Start the Show Off
Starting the show off, Braun Strowman comes to the ring. While in the ring, he cuts a promo discussing what he would do if he won Money in the Bank, mentioning Brock Lesnar by name.
While cutting the promo, Finn Balor came out to the ring to address Strowman.
They also discussed last weeks match in which Strowman was victorious.
Balor says he gave everything he had to Strowman, to which Strowman responded that Balor did OK “for a little guy.”
Balor did not take kindly to this, ultimately slapping Strowman in the face, starting an altercation.
General manager Kurt Angle then came out to the ring and booked them in a match “right now.”
Analysis: These shows always seem to start this way and it’s getting kind of old. Just a lack of creativity
Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor
Coming back from commercial, Strowman and Balor’s match began.
However, Kevin Owens was on commentary.
All three of these men are in the Money in the Bank ladder match.
As Balor went up for his second coup de grace, Owens interfered, leading to an all-out brawl between the three.
Owens then escaped to the back.
Analysis: This was in an attempt to keep both Strowman and Balor strong while getting Owens more over as a heel. However, Strowman should, if this was a shoot fight, destroy Balor almost instantly. Dragged out to fill the three-hour timeframe.
Owens Backstage
After the brawl in the ring, Owens is found out back beckoning at a valet to get a car for him.
Before he can leave, Angle intercepts Owens letting him know he has a match against Bobby Roode—someone he trashed on while on commentary during Strowman and Balor’s matchup.
Analysis: Yawn.
Sasha Banks Selfie Promo
In the promo, Banks gets over the gauntlet match and talks about her being Miss Money in the Bank.
Analysis: These selfie promos are so cheesy. And lame.
Elias Concert
Elias comes out and cuts his usual promo trashing on the crowd and playing his guitar. As the segment unfolds, Seth Rollins, who was slated for an Intercontinental title defense in the next match, comes out and interrupts Elias.
Rollins throws Elias’ stool out of the ring and Elias leaves.
Analysis: It really doesn’t get any better than Elias. Should be in the main event picture.
Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal
Defending the Intercontinental championship, Rollins takes on Mahal after Mahal beat Rollins with a chair the week prior.
Rollins disqualifies himself after hitting Mahal with a chair of his own.
Mahal retreats backstage and Rollins celebrates by standing on the announce table.
However, Elias comes out and gets his revenge—he hit Rollins with his guitar and it forced Rollins to be stretchered out.
Analysis: This could be potentially setting up a feud between Rollins and Elias. While Elias belongs in the main event picture, at least a potential IC title run would be something for someone so under-utilized.
Nia Jax In-Ring with Jobber
Coming out the ring slated for a match, Nia Jax instead used her ring time to chat with Ronda Rousey who was scheduled for commentary during her match.
Instead, Jax beats up on the jobber in the ring to showcase what she will do to Rousey.
Rousey then comes in the ring and Jax mocks Rousey’s “intimidation look”, turns her back, and leaves the ring.
Analysis: Wait—I thought Jax was the one being bullied and she was anti-bullying? So instead she “bullies” Rousey and the jobber? In real life, Rousey would have gone after her. Not let her turn her back and leave. Ridiculous.
Deleters of Worlds vs. The Ascension
Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy win clean.
Analysis: Already knew the outcome before it started, but Hardy’s “Mower or Lawns” shirt popped me. That was good.
B-Team Wants Title Shot
The B-Team, consisting of Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas, is backstage requesting a title shot talking with Angle.
Angle says he can’t just give them a shot after just beating Breezango two weeks in a row.
The B-Team interprets this as they need the approval of the other tag teams and says they’re going to host them for a B-Team BBQ later in the night.
Analysis: Hey, at least they’re trying to be entertaining characters.
Riott Squad Selfie Promo
Again, talking about the gauntlet match.
Analysis: Don’t care.
Bobby Roode vs. Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens wins clean over Bobby Roode after Roode fails to roll him up and Owens sits on him.
Afterward, Strowman comes out and Strowman and Roode gang up on Owens.
Analysis: This was definitely a dig at Owens’ weight as Roode couldn’t kick out of just Owens sitting on him.
Sami Zayn Apology
After a dreadful segment last week involving Bobby Lashley’s “sisters”, Zayn came out to apologize.
In the background of the promo, you could hear fans chanting “last week sucked.”
Zayn used lines referencing the 30-year-old who was evicted by his parents and talking about how “highly rated” the segment was.
Lashley eventually comes out, thanks the troops and proposes they have a match at Money in the Bank.
Zayn accepts and then Lashley death grips Zayn’s hand.
Analysis: This had some entertaining moments to it for sure. However, I cannot get over Lashley and Zayn. What a mismatch. Jeez.
Mickie James Selfie Promo
Once again, discussing the gauntlet match.
Analysis: Still don’t care. But I love Mickie.
Drew McIntrye vs. Chad Gable
McIntyre over Gable clean after a claymore.
Analysis: McIntyre is an impressive specimen. He’s a big, big dude.
B-Team Cookout
The cookout consisted of the B-Team, Titus Worldwide, The Revival, Slater and Rhyno, Breezango and the Ascension.
They enjoyed the food and the B-Team asked for their blessing for a tag team title match. They all disagreed.
Titus dumped baked beans on Bo Dallas and Fandango dumped potato salad on Curtis Axel.
A food fight broke out culminating in Rhyno getting put through a table by the B-Team.
Analysis: There were some good moments to this. Rhyno just sitting there eating and Axel calling Bray Wyatt “Brian” Wyatt was funny. This was a much better comedy segment than last week.
B-Team Backstage
The B-Team demand a title shot after what they just went through to Angle.
Angle says they will settle it in the ring and books a tag team Battle Royal for next week.
Analysis: If you didn’t see this result from a mile away, I don’t know what to tell you. Axel hugging Angle with potato salad on him was pretty funny, though.
Gauntlet Match
Here’s how the matchups went:
Bayley vs. Liv Morgan
Bayley vs. Sarah Logan
Bayley vs. Ruby Riott
Ruby Riott vs. Mickie James
Ruby Riott vs. Sasha Banks
Banks victorious
Analysis: This was mind-numbingly boring, but hey, it helped eat up time. Banks is now in the women’s Money in the Bank match.
