Randy Orton and Rick Flair on Raw (WWE)
WWE Raw Results and Grades: WWE had already advertised a huge singles match between Asuka and Bayley which had SummerSlam implications.
If Asuka won, it would set up a title clash against Sasha Banks as the Japanese star tried to get her crown back.
However, we start off this WWE Raw results and grades piece with the Monday Night Messiah taking center stage:
Raw started with Seth Rollins and Dominik Mysterio signing the contract for their match at SummerSlam.
Rollins cut a brilliant promo of why he became who he is but allowed Dominik to use weapons in their match.
The Messiah was next in action against Humberto Carrillo with Dominik looking on. Rollins defeated Carrillo easily before Murphy and the Messiah attacked Dominik with kendo sticks.
Rollins beats Carrillo
Grade A
Rollins on the microphone was gold and allowing Dominik to use weapons was a genius move. Carrillo might have lost the match easily to Rollins and that was the only negative from this excellent start to Raw.
Zelina Vega was first out as she again confirmed she had nothing to do with Montez Ford’s poisoning last week.
Angelo Dawkins faced off against Andrade and Vega tried to cause a distraction. However, Belair caught hold of her rival which allowed Dawkins to beat Andrade.
Dawkins beats Andrade
This then turned into a match between the two women. While Vega got a few shots it, it was the EST of WWE who got the win thanks to a KOD.
Charly Caruso then interviewed Belair and Dawkins with Dawkins confirming that Ford would be back at SummerSlam.
Belair beats Vega
Grade B
Vega and Belair getting their hands on each other was great to see. However, it was too short a match as Vega has a lot of wrestling experience.
Belair adds something extra in this rivalry and it will be interesting to see how the tag match goes at SummerSlam.
MVP was unhappy with the lights from last week’s show and blamed Apollo Crews for causing them and ultimately losing their title clash.
Crews then destroyed the MVP Lounge and faced Shelton Benjamin. Bobby Lashley played his part to distract Crews and it was Benjamin who got the win.
MVP then tried to keep Crews fresh and told Lashley to back off, but the US Champion got a shot at MVP.
Benjamin beats Crews
Grade B
Crews coming out and destroying the set on his own was fun to see. However, the ending of the match wasn’t that great.
Why would MVP try to keep Crews fresh when Lashley can do a number on him, especially with the title on the line?
The Viking Raiders, Ricochet and Cedric Alexander took on Akira Tozawa and his ninjas, but one ninja decided not to fight. The Raiders easily defeated the Ninjas before it was revealed that the one non-fighting ninja was R-Truth.
Truth then rolled up Tozawa to win the 24/7 title for the 3547th time.
Viking Raiders win; Truth is the new 24/7 champion
Grade E
WWE always needs a comedy angle in a show and this one didn’t stick. Tozawa deserves better than this and even his ninja story isn’t clicking anymore.
Liv Morgan had Ruby Riott by her side as she faced off against Peyton Royce with Billie Kay by her side.
Morgan and Royce clashed by the referee tried to keep the other two women from interfering in the match.
Royce was able to then get the win over Morgan.
Royce beats Morgan
Grade C
Morgan was upset after the loss as Riott tried to explain things, and that was the only positive from this spot. WWE has underused all four stars in recent weeks, and continue to do the same.
Sasha Banks was by ring side to assist Bayley as the match started. Bayley took several shots at Asuka but it was the Empress who got the win as the Role Model tried to mock Kairi Sane.
Asuka beats Bayley
Grade A
The match between the two was excellent, as always, and it will be interesting to see how Banks vs Asuka goes at SummerSlam.
There were a ton of submission attempts between the pair and they put on an exhibition for all.
WWE faction Retribution also caused a ton of damage on this week’s show and flipped a car before we got more Raw Underground.
Riddick Moss defeated Cal Bloom on Raw Underground before Arturo Ruas also destroyed his opponent.
Dabbo-Kato also destroyed an opponent and Shayna Baszler then walked up to him. However, Shane McMahon stopped them from fighting.
Baszler then destroyed some female stars and got one to submit.
Grade E
WWE still doesn’t know what to do with Underground and this was another example. Some stars got valuable time on TV and looked dangerous, but it wasn’t enough to save this segment.
Randy Orton was to face Ric Flair and the Viper was accompanied by Ric Flair. Orton was able to get the win after an RKO out of nowhere.
However, he wasn’t done then. He called out Flair and claimed the legend would end up costing him in the future.
Flair wasn’t happy with all said and wanted Orton to break his record of 17 world title reigns. Orton and Flair hug it out but Orton hits the legend with a low blow.
He shares some words to Flair before punt kicking him as the lights went out. When the lights return, it was McIntyre who tried to make the save as Orton ran away with a smile on his face.
Grade A
The match between the two was great but the part after it was more interesting. Orton is now without any baggage as he becomes the best version of him. Flair was also protected a bit as the lights went out during the punt, but it will be interesting to see what is next.
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