With Extreme Rules quickly coming up, WWE needs to use their time wisely from then until now to build up these storylines and create compelling television.
With each episode of Monday Night RAW, they have an opportunity to do that.
Recently, though, they’ve struggled to do so.
Did that change this week?
Read the recap of the July 2 edition of Monday Night RAW below!
Roman Reigns Kicks off the Show
Roman Reigns comes out and says he never thought he’d lose to The Revival and says that Bobby Lashley was the worst tag team partner he’s ever had.
Reigns continues to say that he’s tired of tagging with Lashley and would rather fight him. He also calls him “Bob” instead of “Bobby”.
He continues to say that 10 years ago Lashley couldn’t cut it as “the guy” and that Reigns is the guy now.
Then, Reigns is interrupted by Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre.
Ziggler chimes in first saying that Reigns is an egomaniac.
Ziggler continues to say that Reigns seems to think that everything needs to go through him.
Then McIntyre chimes in and mentions how Reigns felt the need to help Rollins last week.
McIntyre then says that since Reigns stuck his nose in their business that they’re going to return the favor. Then Reigns attacks McIntyre, but he and Ziggler quickly overpower Reigns.
Soon into the fight, Rollins comes out to help Reigns.
Rollins goes after Ziggler, but McIntyre quickly pulls him from under the ropes to safety.
Ziggler and McIntyre then retreat.
Analysis: OK, so we’re going to get a tag match later in the night I bet, huh?
Reigns and Rollins Backstage with Kurt Angle
Backstage, Rollins says to Angle that they want McIntyre and Ziggler.
Angle then says it’s fine, but the match is for next week.
Reigns then says they want the match tonight, but Angle says that Reigns already has a match against The Revival teaming with Lashley.
Then Angle gives in and says they can have the match.
Analysis: This was so scripted and cringeworthy. So I guess Reigns will be in two matches?
Matt Hardy vs. Curtis Axel
Prior to the start of the match, Curtis Axel is seen on the screen doing another parody of Hardy.
Then Bo Dallas comes on screen posing as Bray Wyatt.
They then start to sing “He’s got the whole world in his hands” while holding a watermelon.
Then they fade away from the screen and come to the ring.
Axel wins the match cleanly.
Analysis: Digging the parody stuff. Beating Hardy clean two weeks in a row, though? Hm. The commentary team also made sure to add that Wyatt was hurt over the weekend. Filler match to kill time, though.
Reigns, Rollins, Lashley Backstage
Reigns and Rollins talk about how Reigns has two matches tonight, and talk about Rollins’ Ironman Match at Extreme Rules that will be 30 minutes.
Lashley then confronts Reigns and says it was bold of him to call him an egomaniac and says that no one likes him.
Lashley then tells Reigns to check his ego at the door for the match tonight.
Reigns tells Lashley to hang out on the edge of the ring while Reigns takes care of the match.
The two then stare each other down until Lashley walks away.
Analysis: Not really much to say here. Something is going to happen again, I bet, resulting in another Revival win.
Bayley and Sasha Banks Counseling
The counseling session was done on a pre-tape.
While at the session, Bayley and Banks see each other in the waiting room at the counseling place. The two start arguing in the waiting room.
Then the two are greeted by Dr. Shelby and invite them into the “friend zone”.
Sitting on a red couch, Bayley and Banks listen to Dr. Shelby talk about different things they’re going to go over in the session.
Then we shift back to the arena for a match to begin.
Analysis: I’ll give them credit for threading this through the show to try to hold the audience. The doctor has appeared before, too, helping Daniel Bryan and Kane with anger management years ago.
Titus Worldwide vs. Authors of Pain
Authors of Pain squash Titus Worldwide.
Analysis: Building them up, but makes them look even sillier for retreating last week.
Reigns and Rollins Backstage Again
The two ask one another if they’re ready for tonight and head toward the ring for their match up next against Ziggler and McIntyre.
Analysis: N/A
Kevin Owens Showing Up to Arena
We are shown a clip of Kevin Owens arriving to the arena and locking up his car.
The valet then asks for Owens’ keys and he says no, then heads into the building trying to hide from Braun Strowman.
Analysis: Hey, at least they’re filming outside of the arena, right?
Reigns/Rollins vs. Ziggler/McIntyre
During the match, we’re given a quick shot of Lashley watching from backstage.
The Revival come out and attack Reigns and Rollins during the match, resulting in a disqualification.
Analysis: I just can’t take anything The Revival do seriously.
Owens and Angle Backstage
Owens approaches Angle and tells him that Strowman needs to stop doing things like tipping his car over and tells him he needs to do something about it.
Angle then books a match of Owens versus Strowman.
Analysis: OK.
Constable Corbin Comes to the Ring
After the commercial break, Corbin says that he’s in his role to help.
Corbin says that Stephanie McMahon made him Constable to make Angle a better general manager.
Corbin then recaps his match last week when he tag teamed with Finn Balor and invites Balor out to apologize to him.
Balor then comes to the ring and then Corbin waits for his apology. However, after Balor doesn’t initially apologize, Corbin then sarcastically apologizes to him then asks for Balor to.
Then Balor says he’s sorry he got him fired from TGIFriday’s and then Corbin continues to make references to him being bigger than Balor.
Balor then makes fun of Corbin being bald.
Corbin then raises his voice and demands Balor apologize.
Balor then says that Corbin stopped getting respect from anyone when he became Stephanie McMahon’s stooge.
Then Corbin cheap shots Balor only for Balor to sling blade him afterward. Then Balor gets him out of the ring and Corbin retreats.
Analysis: I just don’t get the appeal of Balor whatsoever. Corbin sounds really scripted, but I am a fan of his.
Elias Backstage
Backstage, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan approach Elias and ask him if he’s performing tonight. He says no, then says he will for them.
When Elias starts, the two girls start throwing stuff around.
Analysis: Were they trying to start a mosh pit?
Liv Morgan vs. Ember Moon
Commentary addresses that Ruby Riott was injured over the weekend during a Live event.
Ember Moon wins.
Analysis: Don’t care.
Back to Counseling
Banks says she wants to leave because it’s not working.
Dr. Shelby then says they want to play emotional theater.
Banks acts like Bayley in a condescending way. Bayley does the same, but acting like Banks.
They eventually continue to bicker and argue until Dr. Shelby yells “ENOUGH!”.
Analysis: These girls cannot act.
The Revival vs. Lashley/Reigns
The Revival get disqualified after both Revival members assault Reigns after referee demanded they stop.
Lashley walked away when the assault began.
Analysis: This is so unrealistic. I can’t.
Reigns and Angle Backstage
Angle books Reigns vs. Lashley at Extreme Rules.
Analysis: Wonderful
No Way Jose vs. Mojo Rawley
For the second week in a row, Rawley attacks Jose and then brutalizes one of the conga line members, resulting in no match.
Then, Jose comes after Rawley, only for Rawley to take out Jose.
Analysis: I’m warming up to Mojo. Wish he had a different name. And he had a great tackle.
Renee Young Interviews Ronda Rousey
Rousey says she’ll be at Extreme Rules as a fan.
Analysis: Something is going to happen
Mickie James vs. Nia Jax
Before the match, Jax comes out and cuts a promo on Alexa Bliss talking about how she thought she was done with Bliss after Wrestlemania and recaps their match at Backlash.
Jax then says that at Extreme Rules their match is going to be an Extreme Rules Match, according to Angle.
Natalya then comes out to assist Jax.
Jax beats James.
Analysis: Wonderful. Really not a lot to say there.
Owens Backstage with Jinder Mahal
Mahal is instructing Owens to breathe prior to his match with Strowman.
Charley Caruso then approaches and interviews Owens.
Caruso thinks he’s shaken up and Owens says he is not. Owens says he’s glad he’s facing Strowman.
Owens says he’s going to beat Strowman.
Analysis: So Mahal goes from WWE Champion to some backstage reject? Wow.
Bobby Lashley Backstage
Young talks about his match with Reigns at Extreme Rules.
Lashley said he enjoyed watching Reigns get beat up by The Revival.
Lashley says that because he was gone, Reigns became the guy. Now that Lashley is back, that is going to change.
Analysis: Nothing to add.
Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman
The match starts and Owens takes off running out of the arena and is counted out, thus losing the match.
Owens finds his car backstage (which is not the same car as earlier).
Owens then retreats into a porta-potty and Strowman finds him, taping it up and dragging it to the main ramp.
Strowman gets it in place and charges after it, knocking it off the ramp onto the floor with Owens inside.
EMT’s then rush to Owens who is covered in, well, “feces”.
Analysis: That’s a real s***** situation.
