I’m actually really excited to write this, both shows were superb this week.
As Extreme Rules draws closer and an increasing number of matches are being confirmed for that event, welcome to this week’s edition of WWE Raw vs. SmackDown!
As I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, this is where we compare both of this week’s shows and decide which was better in the interest of…
Competition. I guess.
Anyway, we do this by sectioning each show into three categories, those being the ‘Quality of Matches’, the ‘Storyline Progression/Pay-per-view Build’, and any ‘Fun’ moments that made us feel all happy inside because, as always, that’s what it’s all about.
Quality of Matches
This section is pretty self explanatory, we’re gonna review each match and decide which show did better overall.
Also note that in this section, we only account for what happens bell-to-bell, not considering pre-match or post-match beatdowns and the like.
Raw
The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson) defeated Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns
In a repeat of a match from last week, the self-professed ‘Top Guys’ took on a couple of Vince’s actual top guys.
From the early stages signs of non-cohesion between Lashley and Reigns were evident, with the former attempting an elbow but Reigns attempting a clothesline, which was a really nice, intricate touch.
The Revival worked over the ‘Dominator’ for a short while before Reigns came in off the ‘hot tag,’ but it wasn’t long until it was the ‘Big Dog’ on the defense.
Lashley then came in off the ‘hot tag’ and was revving up for a Spear, but like his partner did to him last week, Reigns tagged himself in, but only went for the Superman Punch.
The two then started bickering, allowing Wilder to roll-up Reigns for the win. A really nice twist on what happened last week. And the Revival won, which is a bonus.
Curtis Axel defeated Matt Hardy
The highlight of this match was the exchange between Cole and Coachman.
‘Coach’ rightfully found the B-Team’s prior parody of Hardy and Wyatt entertaining – which it was. But step-up Michael Cole to respond:
“You don’t get out much, do you Coach?”
MICHAEL COLE said that.
Anyway, Hardy attempted a Superplex, but slipped, allowing Axel to land on top of him and score the 1-2-3. ‘Twas fine.
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) defeated Rich and Rex Gibson
As you’d have expected, AOP squashed the two jobbers in next to no time.
Natalya defeated Alexa Bliss
Sorry everyone, I simply can’t enjoy a Natalya match. She just looks far too clunky and unnatural in the ring.
Bliss was working Nattie’s previously injured knee. Was it the right one? I haven’t got a clue because even Natalya doesn’t care enough to check, so why should I?
Mickie James was in Bliss’ corner, with Nia Jax in Natalya’s. James tried to get involved, but with the ref distracted it was actually Jax who tripped her Extreme Rules opponent, allowing the ‘Queen of Harts’ to lock in the Sharpshooter for the win.
Probably the weakest match of the show for what it was.
The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan) defeated Bayley, Ember Moon and Sasha Banks
There wasn’t much to the actual match worth writing home about, but there was a really nice Hurricanrana on the outside from Morgan.
Morgan distracted Banks to allow Riott the roll-up victory.
The match was nothing special, but we’ll get back to this later.
Braun Strowman and Kevin Owens defeated Constable Baron Corbin and Finn Bálor via Countout
This one was pretty enjoyable.
Corbin and Bálor struggled to coexist, whereas their opponents seemed oddly on the same page, despite the look of genuine fear on Owens’ face whenever Strowman came near him.
The ‘Monster Among Men’ did a lap of the ring mowing both his opponents down, and provoked Owens to do the same.
Only Owens was cut off by a brilliant looking clothesline from the Constable.
Bálor was the legal man and looked set to launch a comeback, but Corbin roughly tagged himself into the match. Bálor responded with a Pelé Kick, and they both battered each other down the ramp and got counted out.
It was quite fun and had a logical conclusion.
Seth Rollins defeated Dolph Ziggler (c) via Disqualification – WWE Intercontinental Championship
This one was immediately different to their match from last week because McIntyre was getting involved right from the outset. So much so, he got thrown backstage by the official.
I said last week that neither Ziggler or Rollins really showed us their true abilities, but this week everything seemed to be up a gear.
There was a really nice spot where Ziggler DDT’d the ‘Architect’ on the apron, only for Rollins to just make it back into the ring at the count of nine.
There followed a great sequence of nearfalls and counters, with Superkicks, Frog Splashes, ZigZags, and all the other textbook moves of these two men.
The conclusion came when Rollins landed a Superplex-into-a-Falcon-Arrow and went for the fall, but McIntyre reappeared and pulled the ref out the ring, before ambushing the challenger.
We’ll get more into what this means going forward later, but this was a good way to ensure Ziggler retained, without beating Rollins clean two weeks in a row.
Match of the Show
The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson) defeated Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns
Great storytelling between Reigns and Lashley, a rub for the Revival, a brilliant modified take on the finish from last week.
And the Revival won! Excellent all round.
6 years ago by Liam Winnard
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