Money in the Bank is over (read the full review here), the Women’s briefcase has been cashed in, and Brock Lesnar is Mr Money in the Bank. Who saw that coming? So, now we wait to see when he’s going to cash in. Becky Lynch is still RAW Women’s Champion, but her business with Lacey Evans is unlikely to complete as Evans was a major factor in Lynch losing the SmackDown Live title. The big news of the night is an appearance from Mick Foley. He’ll be unveiling a mystery new title.

I’m Amanda and this is the RAW review.

Match Results

Braun Strowman def. Sami Zayn

Cesaro def Ricochet

The Revival def. The Usos

Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss def. The IIconics & Lacey Evans

Drew McIntyre def. The Miz

Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston def. Bobby Lashley & Baron Corbin

24/7 Championship changes – Titus O’Neil > Robert Roode > R-Truth

Brawl for the 24/7 championship
Credit: wwe.com

The Key Bits

» Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman opened the show, looking entirely too happy. Before the talking began, there was a bit of a recap of Sami Zayn being found hanging upside down backstage last night and some stills of the match, ending with Lesnar’s victory.

Paul Heyman introduced Lesnar, get used to the name Beast in the Bank, and talked about the various conspiracy theories surrounding Lesnar’s entry into the match, saying they give them too much credit. He also said Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston should be paranoid every time they step into the arena at a WWE event.

I like Paul Heyman, he’s the best bar none at what he does, but this review should take less than a full day to read, so I’ve given you the key points. Seth Rollins eventually appeared to make him stop.

Rollins said he should be happy because he was in the fight of his life last night and won. But he’s not in a good mood because he has to come out and see this. He’s not trying to be a Champion who inspires people he’s trying to be the champion Lesnar never had the guts to be. He can’t do that if Lesnar’s holding the contract over his head. He beat him at WrestleMania and he thinks he can beat him again, so he encouraged Lesnar to cash in immediately.

Heyman said no, Rollins has to wait until Lesnar feels like cashing it in. Rollins should be used to waiting, like waiting seven hours at WrestleMania for his girlfriend to main event the show he’s dreamed of main eventing. Rollins and Lesnar got nose to nose at that point, when Rollins went for Heyman, and Heyman asked what makes Rollins think he’s even worthy. Maybe Lesnar is going to cash in on Kofi Kingston.

Kingston came out to join them. He said he’s trying to cement his legacy, trying to prove he’s one of the best of all time. He can’t do that unless he beats the best, so he asked Lesnar to cash in on him instead.

Heyman pointed out they were both auditioning for matches against Lesnar. Brock Lesnar didn’t even have to come and find them. He also said he’d been told that both Rollins and Kingston have matches tonight, so Lesnar would be around too.

Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins stand up opposite Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar
Credit: wwe.com

Backstage, Rollins and Kingston spoke to Triple H who told them they are teaming up in the main event, against Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin.

Kofi Kingston & Seth Rollins vs Bobby Lashley & Baron Corbin somehow became a No Disqualification match. Corbin attacked Rollins on the stage, Lashley took out Kingston when he came to help. With Brock Lesnar on hand if either Champion sustained too much damage, it wasn’t the best start for them. The early part of the match was completely dominated by Corbin and Lashley. There was a brief moment when Kofi Kingston tagged in where he managed a little momentum, but it didn’t last and both Champions were crumpled against a barricade when we went to a break.

There wasn’t much difference after the break until Rollins introduced an equaliser in the form of a chair. Then Corbin and Lashley took a suicide dive from Rollins and a leap from the top from Kingston.

Kofi Kingston got the pin on Baron Corbin with Trouble in Paradise and immediately got speared by Lashley. Rollins took one too, then Lashley picked up a chair. As Rollins kicked the chair into Lashley, Lesnar’s music hit.

Lesnar circled the ring, got up on the apron, then got down again and left. As they were leaving Paul Heyman told him, ‘you’re in their heads’ and suggested they come back next week to announce who Lesnar would be cashing in on.

Bobby Lashley spears Kofi Kingston
Credit: wwe.com

» Mick Foley came out with the brand-new title. He said there was something missing from Monday Night RAW. It was time to make Monday nights “RAW” again. He talked about the meaning of a championship, calling it an obsession which consumes you 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Then he unveiled the 24/7 title. As the name suggests, it is to be defended any time any place, anywhere, the only condition being a ref on hand to count the fall.

The title is open to every superstar on every WWE roster, including RAW, SmackDown Live, NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live. Interestingly, he didn’t specify male superstars. The first cmChampion was to be decided by scramble, immediately.

EC3, Gallows, Anderson, Titus O’Neil, Eric Young, No Way Jose, Mojo Rawley, and Cedric Alexander were the superstars scrambling for the belt.

Gallows and Anderson got hold of the belt at the same time, but a shove from EC3 made them drop it. Drake Maverick tried to grab it and was thrown into everyone else by Titus O’Neil. O’Neil grabbed the belt and reigned until Robert Roode pinned him on the stage. Everyone chased Roode out the back.

Roode was still being chased after the break. He hid while everyone ran past him, then ran off in the opposite direction. Should be good for the cardio of all the superstars who would otherwise be hanging out in catering.

After the next match, Lashley and Corbin were bumped into by Robert Roode. He told them they hadn’t seen him then ran off, closely followed by everyone else, with a breathless Drake Maverick bringing up the rear.

Roode tried to get R-Truth to help him escape. Truth shut Roode in the trunk of a car, sent everyone else off in the wrong direction, then produced a ref from inside the car and pinned Roode. As soon as Truth was declared Champion he got in the car and left.

R-Truth pns Roode for the 24/7 championship
Credit: wwe.com

The Other Bits

» Sami Zayn was shown trying to persuade Bobby Lashley to help him in his match against Braun Strowman. Lashley declined. As Zayn made his entrance, commentary revealed he has a rib injury from the backstage beating he took. Sami Zayn vs Braun Strowman started with Sami Zayn fleeing the ring and Strowman chasing him backstage. Strowman came face to face with Lashley and Zayn punched him while he was distracted. While Zayn was crawling away, Strowman and Lashley had a quick staredown and Strowman told him he’d deal with him later before catching and carrying Zayn back to the ring.

As they got to ringside, Zayn slid off his back and shoved him into the ringpost. Strowman put Zayn into the barricade. They got into the ring, Zayn dodged a charge into the corner, Strowman went into it shoulder first, and the bell rang to start the match.

The match consisted of Strowman clotheslining Zayn in the ring, running through him at ringside, then throwing him back into the ring for the running powerslam and pin.

Braun Strowman flattens Sami Zayn
Credit: wwe.com

» Charly Caruso interviewed Lars Sullivan in the ring. She showed a video of his destroying people, then Lucha House Party arrived before Sullivan could speak, and she got the hell out of there. Between the three of them they got Sullivan out of the ring, but not off his feet. Then he destroyed them one by one.

» Ricochet vs Cesaro came about because Cesaro was being snarky in the trainer’s room about Ricochet having a sore back. Ricochet’s back was covered in tape, and he was clearly in a lot of pain going into the break after Cesaro bounced him spine first onto the apron. Ricochet never really recovered, although he got a couple of high-flying moves in. Cesaro caught him with an uppercut as he came off the top turnbuckle, delivered a backbreaker and finished him with a neutraliser.

Cesaro launches Ricochet into the barricade
Credit: wwe.com

» Charly Caruso asked AJ Styles where his defeat left him on RAW. Styles said back at square one. He’s got a lot of hard work ahead of him, but he likes hard work. He knows he can beat Seth Rollins, it just wasn’t last night.

Baron Corbin interrupted and berated Styles for the ‘maybe next time’ attitude. They argued. Corbin said Styles getting the opportunity over him was slap in the face. Styles said that wasn’t a slap in the face, but this is, and slapped him. Corbin told Styles he’d pay for that, and left.

» Roman Reigns was a Wild Card, again. Shane McMahon came out before Reigns had a chance to speak. McMahon wanted to talk about his own victory last night. He’s done with The Miz now, and he’s going for Reigns because of the superman punch to his dad. Reigns said he hates spoiled rich kids. McMahon is done with Miz, he’s done with Elias, so that works. Shane McMahon told Reigns that Elias isn’t done with him, but Reigns pointed out Elias wasn’t there and suggested they do it tonight. Shane faked out letting the audience decide if that should happen, then said no. Like all spoiled rich kids, he controls his destiny. And he’s the boos, he’s in control. To illustrate he brought out his new muscle, Drew McIntyre. He will fight Reigns though. It will be Shane McMahon versus Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown.

Backstage Shane McMahon was asked if he was insinuating he’s not coming alone to Super ShowDown. He didn’t get to answer properly because Miz arrived. Miz wanted to make it clear he wasn’t done with Shane. McIntyre wanted to make it clear he was so Miz is going to fight McIntyre to get back to Shane McMahon.

The Miz vs Drew McIntyre was apparently a first time ever match. It was surprisingly long and brutal considering the matches both men had last night, Miz threw everything at McIntyre in his attempt to get back to Shane McMahon. McIntyre didn’t just keep getting back up, he kept flattening Miz when he did so. Shane McMahon interfered with a slap to Miz after McIntyre kicked him into the ropes, but it wasn’t enough to tip the balance. Miz nearly got a win with a figure four after working McIntyre’s leg for a while, but McIntyre chopped Miz until he let go.

At ringside, Miz allowed himself to be distracted by Shane McMahon but wised up before McIntyre could capitalise. McIntyre got back in the ring but Shane attacked Miz as he tried to follow then threw him back into the ring in time for a Claymore.

After the match, Shane told Miz he’d said he was done, but he had one last parting gift. He got McIntyre to hold him in the corner and set up for a coast to coast. Roman Reigns ran in before he could deliver it, Superman-punched McIntyre, and Shane McMahon ran away before he could get one too.

Miz is distracted at ringside by Shane McMahon
Credit: wwe.com

» The Usos vs The Revival finally evolved from prank show to match this week. Dash Wilder attacked The Usos while Jimmy was still taking his jacket off, knocked Jey off the apron and double-teamed Jimmy. The Usos were just getting back into it as we went for a break. It settled into a really very good tag team match, which is exactly what you’d expect from arguably the two best teams in WWE. Jey Uso took a lot of punishment, The Revival are experts in isolating their opponents. Jey Uso was taken out by a tornado DDT on the outside from Dash Wilder. Wilder was taken out by a suicide dive from Jimmy Uso. Jimmy Uso failed to put keep Scott Dawson down while they were alone, and Uso dealing with Wilder’s return led to Dawson rolling him up with a handful of tights for the win. Happy for that to go another few rounds.

Dash Wilder kicks Jimmy Uso while Scott Dawson watches
Credit: wwe.com

» Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House had a new creepy song this week. It was accompanied by pictures of increasingly unhappy children, with the last few displaying the message, ‘Let Him In’, and finished with the monster. Congratulations to Bray Wyatt and Jojo who welcomed a son this week.

» Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross chatted backstage. Bliss berated her for not winning and was trying to say something ‘to cheer her up’ when The Revival crashed the conversation and told Bliss she should have them on her show.

Bliss brought Cross out with her for Moment of Bliss and moaned about not having been given coffee before she brought out Becky Lynch. Before she spoke to Lynch, Bliss kept moving Cross further away from her chair. Eventually, Bliss asked how it felt to no longer be Becky Two Belts.

Lynch didn’t get to answer because The IIconics came out to make fun of Lynch until she told them to shut up. Lynch pointed out she defended her titles more last night than they had since WrestleMania and threatened to take the tag titles off them singlehanded.

Lacey Evans came out and said she’s the reason Lynch is no longer Becky Two Belts. Lynch said Evans couldn’t beat her when she only had half her attention, but now she’s cost her the SmackDown Live  title she can smack her around full-time on RAW. In fact, she could smack the heads off all three of them right now.

When Peyton Royce laughed, Nikki Cross offered to be Lynch’s partner. Bliss was reluctantly pressed into service, being told she just had to ‘stand there and look pretty, The Man will take care of the rest’.

Becky Lynch, Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss vs The IIconics & Lacey Evans was a fun match. Bliss stood next to the ring drinking her coffee while Nikki Cross did the early work and Becky Lynch came in to get the pin on Billie Kay. Lynch raised Nikki Cross’ hand after the match, but refused to do the same for Bliss who did nothing. Nikki Cross raised Bliss’ hand after Lynch left. It’s going to be fun when Cross admits Bliss is using her.

Becky Lynch snubs Alexa Bliss post-match
Credit: wwe.com

» After a recap of the dodgy pin on Samoa Joe at Money in the Bank, Samoa Joe, with a very swollen nose, said that everyone witnessed what happened, his shoulders weren’t on the mat, so he was never pinned and never lost, but somehow Rey Mysterio has his title. Mistakes were made and it’s water under the bridge. He knows Mysterio is an honourable man, so Joe is giving him the opportunity to hand the title back. There was a not so veiled threat against both Mysterio and Dominik if he doesn’t.

Lucha House Party triple-dropkick Lars Sullivan
Credit: wwe.com

That was a busy three hours of television. The new belt is truly ugly, but it might be a fun use of some of the Superstars who currently get little or no screen time. Time will tell, but it’s not useful to immediately trash it as a bad idea.

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