WWE RAW Results and Review October 15 2018 : Bowen’s Botches and Bodyslams
Tonight’s WWE Monday Night RAW is from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The card features WWE World Cup Qualifying matches with Dean Ambrose facing Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins facing Drew McIntyre. Ronda Rousey is looking for answers from The Bella Twins as well.
Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, and Drew McIntyre In Ring
.@DMcIntyreWWE, @HEELZiggler & @BraunStrowman are CONVINCED they shattered #TheShield on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/BwgAgtToyu
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
WWE World Cup Qualifying Match
Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
Seth Rollins wins by Countout
Ember Moon and Nia Jax vs. Dana Brooke and Tamina
Ember Moon hits the Eclipse on Dana Brooke and scores the Pinfall victory.
Ronda Rousey In Ring
.@RondaRousey is NOT having it with the @BellaTwins on #Raw. pic.twitter.com/jj0ljtrxPx
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
WWE World Cup Qualifying Match
Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler hits Dean Ambrose with a Superkick and wins by Pinfall victory. Drew McIntyre came down to interfere but Seth Rollins followed to stop him. Ambrose attacked McIntyre and pushed off Rollins before walking into the finisher. Rollins wanted an explanation and Ambrose pushed through him and tried to leave. Rollins gave chase and demanded answers. As the two men were about to start fighting, Roman Reigns arrived to calm them down. Acting General Manager Baron Corbin then came out and put them in a rematch from last week against Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, and Drew McIntyre tonight.
Finn Balor with Bayley vs. Jinder Mahal with Alicia Fox and Samir and Sunil Singh
Finn Balor delivers the Coup de Grace and scores the Pinfall victory.
Bobby Lashley with Lio Rush vs. Tyler Breeze
Bobby Lashley lands the Dominator and the Pinfall victory.
Trish Stratus and Lita In Ring
.@AlexaBliss_WWE & @MickieJames are doing their best imitations of @trishstratuscom & Lita @AmyDumas on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/JQ5WPd4ueD
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
The Conquistador (Kurt Angle) vs. Authors of Pain with Drake Maverick
Akam scores the Pinfall victory after a Power Bomb Neckbreaker double team move. After the match AoP unmasked the Conquistador to reveal it was not Kurt Angle. Angle then hits the Angle Slam on Baron Corbin who was watching from the stage.
Natalya with Bayley and Sasha Banks vs. Ruby Riott with Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan
Natalya wins by Disqualification when Sarah Logan interferes to break up the Sharpshooter. All six women fight afterward with Natalya, Bayley, and Sasha holding the ring in the end.
Elias In Ring
Apparently, this is what happens when you interrupt @IAmEliasWWE on #Raw. pic.twitter.com/WUaXPjlDYx
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
The SHIELD (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns) vs. Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, and Drew McIntyre
Dean Ambrose scores the Pinfall victory on Dolph Ziggler after the Triple Power Bomb from the SHIELD. Braun Strowman attacked Dolph Ziggler after the match with a Running Power Bomb, and Drew McIntyre retaliated with a Claymore on Braun Strowman.
Botches
- The opening segment was strange and fell flat. This World Cup at Crown Jewel is superfluous and has made the championships forgotten props. Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler’s promo could have stood an addition of “We’re already the Tag Team Champions, and at Crown Jewel it will be one of us proving who the best in the world is.” Alas, nothing. Seth Rollins made no mention of his Intercontinental Championship either. The belts really are just accessories now.
- Ember Moon’s alliance with Tamina to turn on her tag team partner was odd. Then Tamina’s tag team partner, Dana Brooke, attacks them both. It was all just to lead into the Battle Royal at Evolution, and didn’t really make sense until the commentary explained it. The live audience didn’t have the benefit of commentary, and seemed confused by all of it.
- As much of a fan of Apollo Crews as I am, I have to admit that the crowd was not receptive to him. He was in the position to win over the crowd by attacking the heel who was insulting them and their city. But after Apollo cleared Elias from the ring, the crowd went mild. I think he should have done his Standing Shooting Star Press before the Press Slam to get some flash into the segment, and maybe the crowd would have appreciated what he was doing a little more. I’m hoping this isn’t his only chance to get over on his own, because I want more Apollo Crews.
- The third televised event for the RAW roster in a row where The SHIELD faces Braun, Dolph, and Drew. After the ending tonight we may finally get to move on from this repetitive feud.
Bodyslams
- Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre was incredible. These two are masters of their craft and put on a great match. They put on a great match that made a countout ending satisfying. That is not an easy task.
- The segment with The Bella Twins and Ronda Rousey started off wonky, but it picked up by the end. It had a few great moments, and Rousey got the biggest pops of the night.
- The tension with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins was good this week. The teased breakup between the SHIELD was so forced, but it finally felt like it made sense this week. Giving Dean the chance to carry his part in the story helped.
This World Cup at Crown Jewel is throwing WWE into disarray. Ridiculous matches, like last week’s Battle Royal, and sidelining the championships makes a roster that’s already struggling to find rhythm in its storytelling keep tripping up. The only championship getting any significant attention is the Women’s Championship. The rest are irrelevant, because we’re having a tournament to see who the best in the world is. The men’s titles don’t mean anything it would seem. Apparently the Saudi royal family is paying well enough for Vince to devalue his championships.
Things are getting CHIPPY in the #WWEWorldCup Qualifying Match between @DMcIntyreWWE & @WWERollins on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/2TAQepTmX3
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
.@TaminaSnuka is back and showing off her INSANE strength on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/tPiLGkCrGR
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
Will it be @TheDeanAmbrose or @HEELZiggler who qualifies for #WWEWorldCup?? #Raw pic.twitter.com/n18mkfrRGW
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
.@FinnBalor is bringing the FIGHT to @JinderMahal on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/Us1zHNgUmw
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
With encouragement from @itsLioRush, @fightbobby is laying WASTE to @MmmGorgeous on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/1GlayupfFZ
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
It can’t be fun to be The Conquistador right now on #Raw… pic.twitter.com/Xk5y60SlJi
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
.@NatbyNature isn’t coming to the ring alone! @itsBayleyWWE & @SashaBanksWWE are here to even the odds on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/sKBXM0NwgP
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018
Can #TheShield put aside their differences to defeat the team of @BraunStrowman, @HEELZiggler & @DMcIntyreWWE on #Raw? pic.twitter.com/NHBhyNnVkd
— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2018