Quantcast
Published On: Tue, Jun 5th, 2018

Bowen’s Botches and Bodyslams: WWE RAW Results and Review June 4 2018

Tonight’s WWE RAW comes from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Tonight’s card features Braun Strowman facing Bobby Roode, and Finn Balor against Kevin Owens.

 

 

 

Show Opener with Elias In Ring

Elias starts in the ring with his guitar, riling up the crowd and goading Seth Rollins. Rollins eventually comes out and grabs a chair as Elias is holding his guitar as a weapon. Rollins gets in the ring and as the men clash Jinder Mahal enters and attacks Rollins from behind. Elias and Mahal attack Rollins, and Roman Reigns’ music hits. Roman runs out to save Rollins, and as they take control of the ring the music of General Manager Kurt Angle hits. Kurt Angle is making a tag team match with Elias and Jinder Mahal versus Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. And that match starts right now.

Bodyslam Elias is a great guitar wielding heel and he plays the crowd well. Bringing Rollins and Reigns together puts Roman where everyone likes him, as part of The Shield, even if it is incomplete. The singles feuds smolder and the questions surrounding Ambrose’s return remain.

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns vs. Elias and Jinder Mahal with Sunil Singh

Elias lands the Drift Away on Seth Rollins for the pinfall victory.

BodyslamGreat story, pretty good match. Elias and Rollins were definitely the strongest part of the match. Mahal and Reigns are both too predictable without much to offer that will come as a surprise. But as part of this match they fit in well. Elias getting the pin on Rollins has Intercontinental Championship match implications.

 

Curt Hawkins vs. James Harden

James Harden wins by Disqualification when Baron Corbin interferes and hits the End of Days on Harden.

BotchThis doesn’t make Baron Corbin look better, and certainly doesn’t help Hawkins. It’s some brief, cheap heat for Corbin that will be forgotten by the time we return from commercial break. And tacos were wasted, which is just unforgivable.

 

Kurt Angle Backstage

Baron Corbin approaches Kurt Angle and says that since he’s been getting passed over and not getting opportunities on RAW, he went straight to WWE Corporate and talked to Stephanie McMahon. He has an official message for Kurt from Stephanie, and Corbin is now the WWE RAW Constable, representing Stephanie as a checks and balances system. Kurt looks at the letter and his face says it is legitimate.

BodyslamKurt Angle is officially losing control now, and this storyline that has thus far stayed in the background just bigger.

Nia Jax (c) vs. Natalya Non-Title Match, Ronda Rousey on commentary

Nia Jax hits a Samoan Drop on Natalya for the pin and win.

BotchNia Jax pushing on Ronda Rousey while she’s tending to an injured Natalya just brings Jax back to being the bully, which still doesn’t make sense coming off of her last feud with Alexa Bliss. This whole angle has felt overly forced and this segment is no different. The match wasn’t the best example of what the Women’s Division can do either.

 

Bobby Roode Backstage Interview with Renee Young

BodyslamRoode is a natural, but his gimmick is better as a heel. He works the mic better when he’s not trying to stay in the fan’s good graces.

 

Bobby Roode vs. Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman smashes Bobby Roode with a Running Powerslam for the pinfall victory.

BodyslamBobby Roode looked great, as did Strowman. Both men worked well together and told a great story with the match. Roode showing his brain with the attempt at the ladder barricade was an example of bringing something unexpected. Strowman smashing through the ladder was perfectly played by both men. Two of the best attractions in WWE delivering the kind of performances that make fans love them.

 

Kevin Owens Backstage Interview

BodyslamKevin Owens always delivers when it comes to running his mouth. This was no different.

 

Natalya and Ronda Rousey Backstage

BotchStill forced, still uncomfortable. Natalya comes out looking best of all. Which is not the likely intention.

 

The Deleters of Worlds (Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt) In Ring Interview with Renee Young

BodyslamMatt Hardy and Bray Wyatt got a chance to play their characters, so that’s good. It wasn’t the best promo because they don’t really have a solid adversary to direct their energy toward, but it worked.

Tag Team Battle Royal for Number One Contendership – Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) vs. The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) vs. The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) vs. Titus Worldwide (Titus O’Neil and Apollo) vs. The B Team (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel) vs. The Show (Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre)

The B Team Wins when Heath Slater Accidentally Eliminates Rhyno.

BodyslamMore of a mess than a typical Battle Royal, but it was fun and had a great ending. The B Team remains undefeated and are going into Money In The Bank as the Number One Contenders to the RAW Tag Team Championships.

 

Bobby Lashley In Ring

BotchThis whole angle has been unbearable from the beginning, and hasn’t gotten better. Sami Zayn can’t save it, especially if he is left to ramble on for too long. Lashley’s strength is still not on the mic, and this is being used to fill far more time than it should. This feud cannot reach its culmination fast enough.

 

Jinder Mahal with Sunil Singh Backstage Interview with Renee Young

Roman Reigns is on another mic with Charley Caruso and responds when Jinder calls him out. He’s going to come face Jinder and tracks him down backstage. Jinder throws Sunil into Roman but Roman breaks through and the two men brawl until officals are able to stop them.

BodyslamThis is actually the best way for this feud to work, and it plays to the strengths of both men. This is probably the feud that will have the best story leading into the PPV with the most predictable match on the card. Jinder and Roman have the same biggest weakness, a thin repertoire of moves leading to predictable matches. Putting the two together in singles competition is not likely to produce anything that fires up the fans in favor of either man.

 

Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, and Ember Moon vs. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan)

Bayley hits the Bayley-to-Belly and pins Sarah Logan after Alexa Bliss left the match with an injury.

BodyslamSome of the best performers in the Women’s Division once again putting on an awesome show. Excellent execution of a great in-ring story.

 

Kurt Angle and Baron Corbin Backstage

Corbin chides Angle and tells him he needs to go break the news to the women that Bayley wasn’t in the match and this victory doesn’t count.

BodyslamThe new Constable is already exercising his power. Kurt has officially lost control of RAW.

 

Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Ember Moon Backstage

The women are celebrating and just as Bayley and Sasha are about to hug it out and reconcile, Angle comes in and delivers the bad news that Bayley wasn’t in the match and therefore The Riott Squad wins by disqualification. Sasha leaves Bayley with a glare, and Baron Corbin is then seen giving the referee from the match a hard time over his decision.

Bodyslam The long road in the upcoming feud between Sasha Banks and Bayley continues. Everyone came off smooth and natural. Sadly, that includes Kurt delivering bad news under duress.

 

Big Show Special Olympics Promo

BodyslamI typically wouldn’t include a segment like this for review, but it is Big Show’s first big appearance on television in his new Ambassador role. He looks great and is going to be a fantastic face for the company. This also leads into Finn Balor’s entrance, who is also a big supporter of the Special Olympics. Everyone joining his entrance was great.

 

Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens

Finn Balor Wins by Disqualification after Kevin Owens refused to stop attacking Balor in the ropes.

Owens landed a Frogsplash after the match, and then brought a ladder in the ring. Seemingly afraid of heights and unable to jump from the ladder onto Balor, Finn Balor then jumped up and took Kevin Owens down. Balor then hits the Coup de Grace on Kevin Owens from the second rung from the top of the ladder. Balor then ascends the ladder to take the Money In The Bank briefcase.

BodyslamJust an incredible match. These are both men that can make magic materialize in the ring. The competition between the competitors within the Money In The Bank match have been some of the best matchups RAW has. Many of these could be future feuds for the Universal Championship. If Brock Lesnar ever decides to bring it back to Earth.

On the DISPATCH: Headlines  Local  Opinion

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd ) [ALL INFO CONFIDENTIAL]

About the Author

- Greg Bowen is a writer, musician, DJ, political activist, and wrestling mark who still has Macho Madness to this day.

Leave a comment

XHTML: You can use these html tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

like_us_on_facebook

 

The Global Dispatch Facebook page- click here

Movie News Facebook page - click here

Television News Facebook page - click here

Weird News Facebook page - click here 

DISPATCH RADIO

dispatch_radio

THE BRANDON JONES SHOW

brandon_jones_show-logo

Archives