WWE Raw News in Brief: June 4 2018

There was a new sheriff…or rather, constable…in town on Monday Night Raw last night. Here are the main happenings:

Elias began Raw with a derogatory song about Seth Rollins. The Ooooh Kingslayer arrived with a chair and smacked Elias’ guitar out of his hands but was then attacked by Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh to great heat. Roman Reigns then emerged from his hols to a loud choo (that’s a cross between a cheer and a boo) to even the odds. This led to a tag team match, playa!

Elias and Jinder Mahal beat Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins when Elias pinned the I-C Champ after a DDT on a chair and then the Drift Away. The chair was used right in front of the referee who didn’t call for a DQ. Bizarre.

Curt Hawkins came out. There was a table at ringside laid out with tacos. Hawkins said if he could end his losing streak tonight the crowd would all get tacos. The Universe loved this idea. Curt’s opponent was a jobber called James Harden. LOL. Curt had the match won until Baron Corbin came out, attacked Harden to get Hawkins disqualified, then dumped the table of tacos on Curt. The fans were furious. So Hawkins lost his 200th straight match.

Afterwards Corbin revealed to Kurt Angle that Stephanie McMahon had appointed him the new Constable of Raw. This makes him a heel counterpoint to Angle. I like this idea. Great use of the Lone Wolf. What was strange, though, was that Corbin informed the GM of Steph’s decision by handing him a handwritten message. Have these people never heard of email? Or Messenger? What’s next, carrier pigeon?

Nia Jax beat Ronda Rousey with a Samoan Drop in a non-title match. Ronda Rousey was on commentary. Again. She is starting to lose steam. Nia won after Natalya tweaked her knee. Afterwards the Raw Women’s Champ was remorseful. So she’s a face this week? But Rousey had her Caring Face on, and wouldn’t let Nia check on Nattie. Jax could have attacked them both from behind and got some real heel heat but instead watched with sadness as The Baddest Woman on the Planet helped Natalya out of the ring. Later the trio had a segment in the trainer’s room where again Rousey told a worried Jax to leave Nattie alone. Weird. Hopefully this will lead to a big go-home angle for Money in the Bank because this week was a step backwards in the build for this match.

Braun Strowman pinned Bobby Roode after a powerslam. Roode played heel, and was so much better at it. Strowman broke a ladder with his bare hands. That was a cool spot.

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt did an in-ring promo with Renee Young. It didn’t really go anywhere. I’m so disappointed at how they’ve downplayed Hardy by putting him with Wyatt in this humdrum team.

The B-Team won a tag team battle royal. Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler were eliminated first. WHAT? Dolph went over the top rope and an angry Drew responded by destroying everyone. The match ended when Heath Slater had Bo Dallas up for a slam and his feet knocked Rhyno off the apron to eliminate him. So The B Team won by accident. Cue another OTT Dallas and Axel celebration as they now earn a tag team title shot.

There was another interminable Bobby Lashley-Sami Zayn segment. At least it ended with a good line, as Zayn accused Lashley of lying about being in the army. Bobby, who had been laughing at Sami until then, didn’t take kindly to that.

Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon and Sasha Banks beat The Riott Squad. I have no idea why heel Bliss was teaming with faces Moon and Banks other than they’re all in the women’s MITB Match. During the match Alexa got injured but was clearly faking it, and left. Towards the end Bayley came running out and the ref allowed her to join the match. The officials had an absolute ‘mare on this show. Bayley quickly polished off Logan with a Bayley-to-Belly. There was a big pop for the finish, one of the biggest Bayley has had during her botched Raw tenure.

Afterwards Constable Corbin told Kurt Angle to do something about the result as the ref should never have allowed Bayley into the match. Just as Bayley and Sasha were about to hug backstage and bury the hatchet, Angle told them they’d actually lost the match by DQ. Sasha walked off, visibly upset at Bayley. This was a good angle as it was the first time I’ve actually cared about Sasha and Bayley’s on-off friendship since the storyline began in 1861.

Finn Balor beat Kevin Owens by DQ. Afterwards Balor did a Coup de Grace off the ladder onto Owens then grabbed the men’s MITB briefcase.

A decent, if at times puzzling show.

What did you think of Raw this week? Let us know by commenting below!

 

• James Harden
• The B Team
• Natalya
• rhyno
• Curt Hawkins
• ember moon
• Matt Hardy
• Alexa Bliss
• bo dallas
• renee young
• baron corbin
• bobby roode
• sarah logan
• elias
• Dolph Ziggler
• The Riott Squad
• Ronda Rousey
• Finn Balor
• nia jax
• Sami Zayn
• heath slater
• Seth Rollins
• sunil singh
• curtis axel
• Bray Wyatt
• bobby lashley
• Drew McIntyre
• Roman Reigns
• bayley
• Sasha Banks
• Jinder Mahal
• BRAUN STROWMAN
• KEVIN OWENS

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