WWE put the focus on in-ring action with this week’s Monday Night Raw, with Kofi Kingston, Cedric Alexander, Charlotte Flair and Riddle all getting the chance to shine.
After the company recently announced plans to get back on the road with live crowds this summer, there was a change of pace for one of its flagship shows as the actual wrestling dominated the three-hour programme.
The night opened with MVP welcoming Bobby Lashley – again flanked by beautiful women – as the WWE Champion points out his efforts in trying to move on from Drew McIntyre.
They bring up last week’s match with Kofi Kingston during which the Scotsman got involved again, which brings him out as he claims their business is his business, which is getting back his title.
He points out Lashley’s loss to the New Day man, and the All Mighty calls his rival desperate before Kingston himself comes out and stakes his claim for a championship match.
He pointed out he never got a rematch after losing the gold to Brock Lesnar in October 2019, so told Drew to get to the back of the line.
This led to Adam Pearce starting the show with Kofi vs. Drew, and the winner will go onto Hell In A Cell to face Lashley.
The match itself was fantastic, with both men getting plenty of time and making it work despite the good guy vs. good guy dynamic.
They worked really well together, including a great exchange when McIntyre reversed a flying crossbody into a Michinoku Driver.
In the end, MVP and Lashley got involved for a double DQ which led to a post-match brawl and Drew standing tall.
Later on, backstage, Pearce told Bobby and MVP that he will be suspended without pay for 90 days if they get involved in next week’s rematch.
Cedric Alexander shines, Shayna Baszler will face Reginald next week, Riddle hits RKO
Throughout the night, plenty of Raw superstars delivered promos about fans returning in July an Eva Marie teased more about her return – but by and large, the focus was on the in-ring action.
After a brief exchange, Nikki Cross confronted Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in the back and called one of them to fight her.
The latter accepted, and after comments made by the Queen, Nikki would beat the champion if she survived two minutes in a Beat the Clock challenge.
They had a fun – but very brief – exchange, with Cross making it to the time limit and drawing with Ripley, before Flair made her way to the ring after the bell for her own match as she battled old foe Asuka in a fantastic clash.
We’ve seen it before but it’s always a delight, with the ending coming as Charlotte reversed the Asuka lock into a pin.
Cedric Alexander verbally blasted Shelton Benjamin before their match, saying his former tag team partner is nearing the end of his career and missed plenty of opportunity, while he’s in his prime with the world at his feet.
They had a great bout with some cracking action before Alexander got a huge win.
Keeping up the great in-ring action last night, Riddle beat Xavier Woods with an RKO in a match that went above and beyond expectations.
Both men are incredibly talented and were bound to do well, but they got given more time than you’d expect to really show off, including a glorious Woods lifting the Original Bro into a suplex, and the latter hitting a middle rope German suplex.
Jaxson Ryker beat AJ Styles in a very short match after Elias interfered, which led to Omos beating the guitarist up after the bell.
We then moved onto Sheamus and Humberto Carrillo, as the Celtic Warrior won in a few minutes and beat him up after the bell before Ricochet made the save and they worked together to take the champ down.
The main event saw the Women’s Tag Team Titles on the line as Tamina and Natalya defended against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, who told Reginald to stay out of their way.
It wasn’t the best match of the night, but it was decent enough even if we got another distraction finish with flames going up on the stage after Reggie had been banished again.
Natalya won with an inside cradle, and Shayna checked on Reginald before grabbing him and challenging him to a match next week.
WWE Raw results and grades
- WWE Title Number One Contenders Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston ended in double count out (B+)
- Beat The Clock: Nikki Cross vs. Rhea Ripley was a time limit draw (C)
- Charlotte Flair pinned Asuka (A-)
- Cedric Alexander beat Shelton Benjamin (B)
- Riddle defeated Xavier Woods (A-)
- Jaxson Ryker beat AJ Styles (C-)
- Sheamus pinned Humberto Carrillo (B-)
- Women’s Tag Team Titles: Natalya and Tamina (c) defeated Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (C+)
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