RAW this week kicked off with the advertised mixed tag team match. The match involved RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch teaming with the Universal Champion Seth Rollins. They faced Zelina Vega and Andrade in a match with elimination rules.
A mixed tag team match has the rules where each gender can only face the same gender in the ring. The added rule of the elimination factor seemed to, unfortunately, confuse many viewers as well as Lynch herself. After she eliminated Vega from the match, Lynch continued to stand on the ring apron throughout the remainder of the match. The referee must have been confused also because he never made her get down.
Upon eliminating Vega, Lynch was also eliminated so she shouldn’t have been on the ring apron waiting to be tagged in. It is clear that this elimination aspect to the match was added for WWE to continue their “no wrestling” during commercial breaks. Although the point was obvious, it made the match confusing.
Lynch and Rollins ultimately pick up the win as Rollins pins Andrade. Lacey Evans and Baron Corbin attacked the power couple from behind while they were at the top of the ramp.
Bayley and Nikki Cross found themselves competing in separate Beat the Clock matches. Bayley defeated her opponent Sarah Logan in 4:32 giving Cross that time to beat. Cross had to defeat Dana Brooke in less time. If she was able to defeat Brooke in that time then Alexa Bliss could name the stipulation for her title match against Bayley at Extreme Rules.
Cross beat Brooke with 1:50 to spare. She then spoke for Bliss (who was not present) and declared the future title match to be a 2-On-1 Handicap match. Cross then let Bayley know that she should seek a friend as the odds are not in her favor.
Other women that appeared on RAW this week were: Carmella, Maria Kanellis, and Renee Michelle (who should really be signed).
The Winners & Losers from this weeks RAW are as follows:
WINNERS: Dana Brooke and Sarah Logan
Other female wrestlers finally exist on RAW, it is amazing. They both lost their respective matches, but at least they were utilized. What could have been done however is Natalya and Naomi could have been used for the Beat the Clock challenge.
Dana Brooke and Sarah Logan could have had their own match against each other to showcase what they have been doing on Main Event.
If done this way, this would have featured Naomi and Natalya on RAW and had a separate feud with Brooke and Logan. Logan’s character development has improved some, but why does she still have the Riott Squad entrance and Ruby Riott‘s music?
WINNER: Nikki Cross
Nikki Cross picked up a big win this week. She beat the clock and was able to pick the stipulation in the SmackDown Women’s Championship match for Extreme Rules. A 2-On-1 Handicap match was picked which can easily further her storyline with Alexa Bliss.
The matches between Bayley and Bliss/Cross haven’t been the best. This may be due to the fact that they aren’t given much time, however, the storytelling is keeping many invested.
LOSER: Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch winning her match this week did nothing for her going into Extreme Rules. WWE likes to think that the champions (unless you are The IIconics) can never lose a match. Zelina Vega and Andrade should have won that match, even if it was by disqualification.
If Lynch and Seth Rollins would have lost it would have made the upcoming Extreme Rules possibly less predictable. Sure, Lacey Evans and Baron Corbin attacked them afterwards and sure, Evans distracted Lynch when she was already eliminated from the match, but what did that prove?
Final Thoughts heading into Extreme Rules:
After Extreme Rules, there is hope for a reset for RAW and Becky Lynch. Lynch will more than likely move on from Lacey and have a new opponent. The opponent could be Sasha Banks returning, or Banks could very well be put on SmackDown to go against Bayley. Banks vs. Lynch at SummerSlam isn’t a bad idea, but personally, Banks going against Bayley may be better.
What did you think of this week’s RAW? Who were your Winners & Losers? Discuss your thoughts in the comment section!!
Check back with Diva Dirt later for this weeks SmackDown Winners & Losers.
