WWE Championship
Bobby Lashley (c) (w/ MVP) defeated The Miz (w/ John Morrison)
SQUASH
Lashley says after 16 years, he's not letting anyone take his title from him. He has a badass new entrance too. The Miz talks for what feels like a really long time. It fits the profile of his character, but there was no explanation of why he's getting this title shot. Did I miss an explanation of why Miz got a title rematch? Nope.They just didn't do it.
Miz keeps trying to avoid Lashley, but he gets caught and destroyed every time. Lashley takes longer to win this one, but still dominates from start to finish. We see the ring post helicopter spot, and Lashley submits Miz with The Hurt Lock. Drew McIntyre was watching along the way.
No DQ Match
Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus
7.5/10
Drew McIntyre is livid about the series of events that led to Lashley getting the title. Usually babyfaces complaining isn't a babyface thing at all, but I thought Drew laid it out perfect with his path compared to Lashley's to the title. Sheamus attacks, and Drew demands a No DQ match, which he gets.
Drew attacks Sheamus on the ramp and kicks the living shit out of him. This continues the first few minutes, to the point I thought it was going to be a squash for a while. Eventually Sheamus comes back with a kendo stick and they have the same kind of awesome match that they had last week, that got the attention of Vince McMahon. There's a particularly high velocity superplex. A chairshot and a Future Shock on the chair, THEN Sheamus getting ran into the chair led to a Claymore that sent Sheamus flying.
Both men get taken out when running stairs into each other. A great match, and what I thought was a fun, violent finish. I'm into this feud, even if I know Drew McIntyre is going to emerge from it.
APOLOGIZE TO BRAUN
Braun Strowman cuts a rather good promo about Shane McMahon owing him an apology. Even though he knows he could break Shane's neck, he's not trying to get fired. Shane comes out and apologizes and leaves. He teases saying something else, but doesn't. Color me intrigued.
Shane McMahon has Braun Strowman come out to the ring later and pretends the microphone doesn't work. How have they not told Shane McMahon to nose exhale directly into the mic yet? It's been five years! Shane is killing time and trolling Braun, who isn't happy. This is painfully long. Shane McMahon finally calls Braun dumb and runs away. He makes Braun think that he's driven away.
One of the things that made me like Braun Strowman in 2017 was that it didn't really matter if you were smarter than him. He was going to throw you off a loading dock or toss over a Titantron on you or toss a semi truck at you.
Xavier Woods (w/ Kofi Kingston) defeated Shelton Benjamin (w/ Cedric Alexander)
5/10
This is really hard hitting, and pretty short. Xavier Woods picks up the cradle win off of a DISTRACTION when Benjamin was talking trash. These two teams have a tag team title match coming up. Makes sense to me. New Day have been winning lately.
Riddle says he doesn't know where to park his scooter because he got a ticket last week, and Ali would break it. Kofi takes it for him.
Riddle defeated Slapjack (w/ Mustafa Ali)
5.5/10
So happy they've calmed down the crazy camera during Retribution's entrance. Mustafa Ali and Riddle have a United States Title match next week. In the mean time, Riddle and Slapjack had a bad ass, quick match. I don't think Riddle has had a bad match on the main roster, either. His knees are on point. Riddle wins with Bro Derek.
I'm also ready to see Slapjack do more. I would really like to see a Slapjack and T-Bar tag team push.
WWE Women's Tag Team Titles
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (c) (w/ Reginald) defeated Lana & Naomi
5/10
Wonder why they didn't announce this women's tag title match. I really liked the entrance with Lana and Naomi. Reginald is with Nia and Shayna, and ends up costing the babyfaces the match. There was a great Naomi corkscrew dive along the way. Nia Jax carries Reginald out after the match.
Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke say they want in the Raw Women's Title picture, but Charlotte does too, so take that!
AJ Styles (w/ Omos) defeated Randy Orton
5.5/10
Randy Orton and AJ Styles have words backstage,and Orton challenges Styles to a match. Styles accepts, which I love. Neither one of these guys should be cowering. I think Randy Orton should consider a restraining order against Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss.
This is a good match, same as most AJ Styles matches, but you know there will be some Alexa Bliss/Bray Wyatt integration somehow. Deep into the match, Styles applies the Calf Crusher for a long period. Then you know what happens. Alexa Bliss pops up ont he screen, some pyro goes off and Randy Orton spits some shit up. Phenomenal Forearm gets the win. Well, okay I guess.
AJ Styles has won 13 of his last 14 one on one matches, and hasn't been pinned in one since October 2. That's good at least.
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!