Opening segment
- Randy Orton comes out to big boos following a good video package. He's reminded that Raw is in Winnipeg for the first time in 15 years and strolls down memory lane.
- He's truly sorry for what he did to Edge.
- Kevin Owens interrupts as the crowd chants his name. He wants Orton to just give them answers.
- Owens, who shouldn't really have a reason to give a shit, cuts an amazing promo about how much he liked Edge as a fan and a performer, and how Orton took away Edge's second chance. This was fantastic. He watched Edge return as a fan.
- Owens challenges Orton, and Orton accepts, but not right now.
- Why not? Lol.
Angel Garza (w/ Zelina) defeated Humberto Carrillo
6.75/10
- I love the direction with Angel Garza, and the pre-match interview. Zelina specifies the relationship is just business. Angel flirts with Charly Caruso, who loves it. This is how Garza should be.
- I really enjoy the chemistry Garza and Carrillo have in the ring. You can tell they're related, and it shines through in the work. It started off almost as two brothers showing off to one another.
- Some highlights include an upside-down slap off, and Garza doing a slingshot inverted suplex. Garza keeps catching Carrillo every time he tries to get too cute.
- This is by far Humberto's best showing on Raw, in my estimation.
- After a second commercial, Carrillo and Garza trade Spanish Flys before Garza rolls up Humberto.
- Any time Carrillo did something that didn't make sense, Garza would capitalize. They eliminated a lot of my issues with Humberto's work.
Ricochet defeated Luke Gallows (w/ The OC)
5/10
- This match is a foregone conclusion, but I'm okay with that. I haven't seen Ricochet wrestle Luke Gallows a million times.
- Gallows does a great fireman's carry backbreaker.
- Legit question -- can Ricochet lift Brock Lesnar? I think so.
- Ricochet wins with a Shooting Star Press. He's won with a 630 and a fireman's carry kick in past weeks. I like it.
- Backstage, AJ scolds the OC. They see Aleister Black and jump him.
Heyman and Lesnar
- "If Ricochet beat Brock Lesnar? If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle. But she doesn't and she's not. And Ricochet will not beat Brock Lesnar."- Heyman
- Heyman talks about how special Lesnar wrestling is.
- There's not a lot of substance to this honestly.
Aleister Black defeated Erick Rowan
5.75/10
- Aleister Black is limping to the ring after the beatdown. Considering the match shouldn't have even been booked, I'm glad they added another wrinkle.
- Erick Rowan kicks Aleister Black's ass for a long, long time. All the way through a comercial.
- Black mounts a comeback that involves a springboard moonsault. I'm conflicted on the story of this match, because it's very tedious. Rowan landed a good uranage earlier, too.
- Rowan also did a great modified powerslam.
- Black gets sent into the post with a powerbomb. Rowan is mad that his crate got knocked over.
- Black battles and wins with a Black Mass.
- Black tells AJ Styles they're going to fight next week. This was a really good callout, with Black playing off of some of the criticisms of him.
Drew
- Drew McIntyre did an interview with Charly Caruso and says he was promised a title shot long ago.
- He admits that he lost passion for wrestling, and was angry outside of WWE.
- He says he's been living on potential for too long.
Bobby Lashley (w/ Lana Lashley) defeated R-Truth
5/10 (short)
- For some reason, commentary pretended not to know R-Truth were out there even though he was in the ring.
- Why did commentary act like Truth calling it the winter premiere was ridiculous? It's fucking winter.
- Lana and Lashley are out to Rusev Day chants.
- R-Truth doesn't wanna wrestle Lashley and asks if he's watched Sonic the Hedgehog. Lana screams to ring the bell, which is funny.
- Truth does John Cena's offense, but gets speared.
Contract signing
- Lawler stumbles and Asuka cuts him off to do one of her great promos. She's mad Shayna Baszler isn't out there.
- Everyone goes to sign the contract and does, but then Baszler shows up.
- Asuka wants to fight Baszler, but Natalya attacks her, then Liv attacks Ruby Riott by leaping over the table, which was good.
- Becky Lynch hits the ring to attack Baszler, and officials break it up.
- The crowd wants them to fight.
Angelo Dawkins (w/ Montez Ford) defeated Buddy Murphy (w/ Seth Rollins) via DQ
Seth Rollins defeated Montez Ford
5.75/10
- Dawkins looks like he's winning with a spinebuster, but Rollins attacks for the DQ
- Montez makes a "dropped his first name" joke that fell flat.
- WHY IS COMMENTARY ACTING LIKE THEY'RE SURPRISED ABOUT THIS? THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THIS MATCH WAS GONNA HAPPEN. Rollins vs. Ford was already planned, Rollins didn't need to be goaded. What the hell?
- Rollins vs. Ford is back and forth, but I think this could have main evented Raw as a "first time ever" at some point.
- Rollins gets a buckle bomb and barricade bomb before a commercial.
- Back from break, Montez gets a jumping knee and a huracanrana.
- They should say Monday Night Pariah about ten more times to really hammer home just how COOL it is.
- Rollins teased a Pedigree, but gets DDTd. This was almost a three count.
- Ford counters a superplex with a Sunset Bomb, but misses a frog splash. The Stomp gets the win for Rollins.
Randy Orton defeated Kevin Owens
5.5/10
- Owens takes over, but the Disciples come out to distract him.
- After the commercial, Street Profits and Viking Raiders attack Disciples.
- Rollins causes a distraction and Orton takes over.
- There was a fast count after a draping DDT, and the new ref Jake Clemons does a fast count.
- Rollins wants Orton to take Owens out, but Owens gets a chair. Orton says sorry and leaves the ring.
- Clemons takes the chair, but gets chased down by Owens. The ref has a Messiah shirt on. Rollins says he has nothing to do with him.
- Owens hits a Stunner, and Rollins says that's a good human being. Owens puts the ref through a table.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
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