The Raw Exposé: Special Edition - Hey Pretty Girls...The Revolution Is Being Televised (3-12-2018)

By: Keila Cash 

I’ve been blessed to have several platforms to speak my mind as a wrestling fan over the past five years. Whether it’s via my blog or podcast, it’s been an honor to connect with fans all over the world to talk about the craziness of WWE. Normally, I use this space to talk about the highs and lows of Monday Night Raw. However, a segment that aired tonight has some fans on social media pissed off and I wondered if their feelings were justifiable. Did they blow things out of proportion or is there something at work that needs to be addressed on a larger scale?

Before the segment in question took place, Asuka and Mickie James had a match that was pretty good for the most part. The in-ring action was clean and crisp, but the Detroit fans took it upon themselves to chant for Rusev and CM Punk. So much for a Women’s Revolution. Two women kicking ass and they get treated like shit. Where’s the outrage? Where’s the anger? Fans will be fans is what the consensus says. I don’t buy that. Despite the strides that have been made over the past couple of years, we still have a long way to go to ensure that the women are respected on the same level as the men.

Speaking of respect, this brings us to the main event. No, I’m not talking about Braun Strowman winning a Tag Team Battle Royal for no apparent reason. The main course is Nia Jax getting fat-shamed by Alexa Bliss and Mickie James on national television.

At first, I thought nothing of the segment because Bliss and James were using Jax for their own purposes. Bliss compared Jax to Shrek which elicited quite the response from some fans on social media. Once again, watching it unfold in real time didn’t bother me because the tea was being spilled for the world to see from a storyline standpoint.

Charly Caruso had to remind Alexa and Mickie that they were talking into a live boom mic which meant that everyone could hear their not-so-private conversation. Realizing that their hands were caught in the cookie jar, the Mean Girls decided to run for the hills before Jax caught up to them.

Nia stormed into the dressing room and tore shit up as the segment came to an end.

As a fan, I enjoyed the segment because Alexa got exposed for being a fake ass friend. Nia found out that her so-called bestie was a liar which sets up their Raw Women’s Championship Match at WrestleMania next month. Everyone played their part well which should make most fans excited to see Nia get her hands on Alexa next week in Dallas.

Usually, I refrain from reading social media during the show because I don’t want my judgment to be clouded. However, it’s good to test the temperature on the internet streets to see whether a certain segment was a hit or a miss.

The reaction ranged from comedic to dead ass serious. Some viewed it as Nia finally learning the truth to others calling out WWE for fat-shaming one of their stars. Most importantly, the people doing the bullying have been teased in the past about their weight in both the real and fictional sense.

Mickie James was the punchline in one of the most tasteless storylines in WWE history when Michelle McCool and Layla called her Piggie James over and over again during the late 2000s. There were visual graphics and other assorted nonsense that rubbed fans the wrong way. It was hard to watch because making fun of someone’s physical appearance is never cool and it seemed as if some people in upper management were getting their rocks off at James’ expense.

The storyline tainted the end of James’ first run in the company. She had a memorable tenure in TNA and is a future WWE Hall of Famer because she’s an awesome wrestler who rose above the bullshit while staying true to herself.

In Alexa Bliss’ case, she has been very public about her eating disorder over the past several years. Bliss never shied away from the subject which speaks to her bravery and ability to connect with fans that are dealing with their own weight issues. Seeing both ladies take part in a segment that hits a little too close to home is a hard pill to swallow in hindsight.

However, they are playing a role on television. If WWE is in the business of making movies every week, this was simply another scene being played out for the world to see. Is it classless? Is it a good enough reason to boycott the company because they’ve gone too far? If Triple H humping a mannequin didn’t kill my fandom, this storyline barely registers on the Richter scale.

Fat shaming is very common on social media these days. Whether you are famous or not, trolls will pick apart your imperfections because they have nothing better to do. Paige has defended herself against people who called her fat on Twitter and Instagram over the past couple of weeks. Paige has also been very open about her eating disorder over the past few months. Some fans were right to express their concern about her being too skinny. Now that she’s back to her normal weight, she is considered “too fat.” It’s a vicious cycle that never ends, but Paige is proud of her body and is not afraid to give people the middle finger because she is too blessed to be stressed.

Nia Jax was a plus-size model before joining WWE in 2013. Her curves put money in the bank, but she’s been ridiculed for her size as well. Over the past year, she has embraced every inch and curve on her body while enabling others to do the same. Jax has been presented as a badass since her call up to the main roster in 2016. She’s still green as a wrestler, but she has grown by leaps and bounds. Most importantly, the fans are starting to connect with her because she is a force of nature that you don’t want to mess with.

She’s powerful. She’s beautiful. She’s brave. She represents me and those who wish to live vicariously through her. WWE decided to go in a direction that is all too real, but it’s a great way to get her over as a star because Nia is going to do something to Alexa that’s long overdue. She is going to shut the Goddess up by unleashing holy hell on her former best friend. It’s a storyline that will make Nia a bigger star. Can she carry the division based on her wrestling alone? Time will tell, but she is going to be a player in the Women’s Division in 2018 because the fans want to cheer for her.

For those fans that think WWE is a classless organization for fat-shaming Jax, it should be noted that she was in a romantic storyline with He Who Shall Remain Nameless and some of the same fans wanted them to make out every time they were on-screen. There were no fat jokes or other snide remarks sprinkled in at her expense. Nia was presented as a desirable woman which should be the case for all women size 2 and up. If this was five years ago, the fat jokes would’ve been nonstop. However, the company has shown some progression which makes tonight’s fat-shaming segment a blimp on the radar compared to the Vickie Guerrero fat jokes that were a regular occurrence during the My Network TV/SYFY era of SmackDown in the early 2010s.

At the end of the day, Nia Jax is going to be the hero in this story. She is going to be the one to empower young men and women to embrace what the Most High gave them. There is a bigger endgame than WWE going the fat joke route for kicks and giggles. They are exposing a real-life issue that happens every day online. To say otherwise would be a lie. Were Alexa Bliss and Mickie James the right messengers to convey this point despite what they went through in reel/real life? They are characters playing a role on television. They are no different from actors and actresses telling similar stories on the small and big screen. While some fans are crying foul about tonight’s segment, I choose to take a different approach because I know what’s behind the third eye.

Lexi Kaufman (Alexa Bliss), Mickie James (Actual Government Name) and Savelina Fenene (Nia Jax) are driving around Detroit laughing their asses off because kayfabe is dead. How’s that for reality, ladies and gentleman.

On that note, I hope you enjoyed this special edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls! 

The Raw Exposé: Ghosting The Night Away - A Brock Lesnar Story (2-26-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Date: 2/26/2018

Location: Honda Center in Anaheim, California

Personal Mea Culpa: There was no SmackDown Files last week due to me being under the weather. I am doing better as the Cold 2.0 has been DELETED!

What Did The Five Fingers Say To The Face: Slap! Stephanie McMahon just dug her own grave when she slapped the baddest woman on the planet. We’re going to pray for her…

·        Raw kicked off with Alexa Bliss patting herself on the back after winning the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber match last night. Bliss thanked Mickie James for having her back despite their differences in the past. Bliss proceeded to run down her Chamber opponents before proclaiming that she was going to WrestleMania. She vowed to end Asuka’s streak and was thrilled that Nia Jax left the Empress of Tomorrow in dire straits after she rammed her through the barricade last night.

·        Asuka came out to confront Bliss which led to Nia Jax coming out moments later. Asuka attacked Bliss and James first, but Jax eventually laid her out. Jax hoisted Asuka up, but she countered with an armbar. James and Bliss broke things up as the triple beat down ensued until Bayley and Sasha Banks made the save.

·        Their efforts were quickly squashed when Jax nailed Bayley and Sasha with a double clothesline. Asuka tried to attack Jax with a series of strikes, but Bliss laid her out with a right hand as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a good way to start the show. Alexa Bliss is great on the mic when she has something meaningful to say. Bliss was given great material to work with which complimented her narcissistic character to a tee. It was a little surprising to see James aligned with Bliss, but it plays into their frenemies storyline which has been unfolding over the last couple of weeks.

·        Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Asuka defeated Mickie James, Nia Jax, and Alexa Bliss when Asuka made James tap out to the armbar. The six-woman tag team match was good, but the last three minutes were especially strong in terms of storytelling. Banks tried to make the hot tag to Bayley, but Bayley jumped off the ring apron and stared daggers at her so-called best friend. Sasha looked hurt, but she shouldn’t be surprised after putting the screws to Bayley at the last two PPVs.

·        Asuka eventually got the hot tag and cleaned house as she delivered a series of vicious strikes to James. Jax tried to get involved but, Asuka laid her out with the hip attack which set up the tap out finish moments later. All in all, this was a nice way to forward several storylines at once while putting the heat back on Asuka after Jax’s attack last night.

·        Meanwhile, Bayley coming to Asuka’s rescue but not Sasha’s was emphasized nicely by the announcers as they sold the rift between the besties. After a year, it appears that Sasha vs. Bayley is a go at WrestleMania. It should be great based on their storied history in the ring.

·        John Cena’s path to WrestleMania gets murkier by the day after his perplexing promo. Cena admitted that he failed to punch his ticket to Mania by failing to win at the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. He could wallow in his self-pity or pick himself up and find another route to the biggest show of the year.

·        Therefore, Cena decided to do something unconventional by challenging The Undertaker to a match at WM. The crowd popped huge for the announcement as Cena explained that both men have been a part of 39 Manias during their respective careers, but they’ve never wrestled against each other at the grandest stage of them all.

·        However, Cena stated that it’s impossible for the match to take place which pissed the crowd off to no end. Since he can’t face Taker, Cena is taking his talents to SmackDown Live to see if he can earn a spot on the Mania card as the segment came to an end.

·        I think WWE is playing a game of chicken when it comes to prolonging the inevitable announcement of John Cena vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Cena going to SD Live has been expected for some time because he’s scheduled to appear at the Fastlane PPV in a couple of weeks. I fully expect Taker to accept Cena’s challenge which should get the ball rolling on their Mania match.

·        Cena hemming and hawing about not having a path to the biggest show of the year is comical. The fans booed his pity party speech until he challenged The Dead Man. This appears to a match the people want to see despite Taker’s disappointing string of WM matches since his shocking loss to Brock Lesnar at WM XXX in 2014. Here’s hoping The Phenom is capable of having one more show-stealing match against Cena because he deserves to end his career on the highest of notes.

·        Bray Wyatt destroyed Heath Slater and Rhyno before challenging Matt Hardy to another match. Zzz…I am so done with Wyatt that I can’t find a reason to get mad anymore. He shall be forever known as the Killer of Feuds. No shade, just facts.

·        Seth Rollins defeated The Miz with a Frogsplash in a good match. Miz was more than halfway across the ring, but Rollins still managed to hit his target as Michael Cole sold the moment beautifully on commentary. The crowd was hot for everything Rollins did which pushed the match quality over the top.

·        Prior to the match, The Miz cut a fiery promo about Kurt Angle yanking his chain when it comes to his Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania. Angle informed Miz that he might find out who his Mania opponent is later tonight. Rollins’ win suggests that he’s earned a shot at the IC Title at WM. Before that idea could percolate further, Finn Bàlor came out to rain on Rollins’ parade. Hmm…

·        After the first match was thrown out due to interference from The Miztourage, the second time was the charm for Finn Bàlor when he defeated The Miz with the Coup De Grace in a solid match. It appears that Bàlor has also punched his ticket to WrestleMania, but Rollins criticized him for picking the bones he left behind. I smell a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Title at Mania. Just a hunch. I think…

·        The face-to-face confrontation between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns never took place as Lesnar left the show 30 minutes before their segment was scheduled to take place. Supposedly… Reigns proceeded to read Lesnar for filth by stating that he always showed up to live events no matter how big or small the crowd was. It didn’t matter what city WWE was in, he always kept his word. Reigns put over the locker room for busting their asses night in and night out while Lesnar was a self-titled piece of crap who showed up on his own time.

·        Reigns didn’t respect Lesnar because he wasn’t bred the wrestling business. He capped things off by calling The Beast a bitch before heading backstage to get chewed out by the Powers That Be. Allegedly…

·        This was Reigns’ best promo of his career. He spoke with passion and conviction as he read Lesnar for 40 days and 40 nights. It’s hard to determine if The Beast went ghost, but shit just got real in a hurry.

·        Sheamus and Ceasaro defeated Titus O’Neil and Apollo Crews in a 2-out-3 Falls match when Sheamus nailed O’Neil with the Brogue Kick to score the first fall within seconds. The second fall was a bit more competitive as Crews tried his best to keep his team alive, but it was to no avail as The Bar laid him out with the White Noise/Diving Neckbreaker combination for the win. The outcome was never in doubt, but the work rate was good for the most part.

·        Braun Strowman defeated Elias via disqualification when The Drifter sprayed a fire extinguisher in Strowman’s face. With Strowman temporarily blinded, Elias slammed him into the ring post before hitting him in the midsection with the extinguisher. Strowman fought back and nailed Elias with a right hand which sent him out of the ring.

·        Elias tried to run backstage, but Strowman caught him in mid-stride. Strowman attempted to powerslam The Drifter through the announce table, but he managed to escape.

·        Elias scampered backstage with Strowman not far behind. The chase was short-lived as a limo rolled up. Hmm…

·        Elias vs. Strowman was fine, but it was slotted in the 10:30 P.M. Lull Period of Death which did both men no favors.

·        The final segment of Raw featured Triple H and Stephanie McMahon trying to clear the air with Ronda Rousey after Kurt Angle dropped the dime on them last night. McMahon stated that Rousey was no longer in UFC and things worked differently in WWE when it came to respecting her superiors. Stephanie noted that Angle answers to her which means that Rousey ultimately answers to her as well. Steph claimed that Angle was suffering from Double Pneumonia which made him say crazy things last night. Therefore, she wanted to make amends and get everyone on the same page heading into WrestleMania season.

·        Rousey marched down to the ring to kill HHH and Steph on sight, but Angle managed to calm her down. Angle acted like a sad puppy as he told Rousey that he needed to keep his job. He claimed that everything he said last night was a lie. His “double pneumonia” made him delirious and apologized for his actions.

·        Rousey took Angle at his word, but she wanted Steph to apologize for the slap or she was going to rip her arm from her socket. Stephanie offered a mea culpa, but Triple H had the last unspoken word when he punched Angle in the face as Raw went off the air with Angle holding his jaw while Stephanie and Hunter headed backstage.

·        The show should’ve ended on a more explosive note, but Stephanie McMahon wasn’t dressed to fight based on her wardrobe choice. Ronda Rousey was much better on the mic tonight as she spoke with confidence while mean-mugging her ass off. She has a presence about her that stands out which will hush down any boo birds who try to throw her off mentally.

·        It appears that Angle and Rousey will team up to face Triple H and Stephanie in a Mixed Tag Team Match at WrestleMania. WWE has five weeks to milk this feud for all its worth. Here’s hoping they get the job done while getting over their newest acquisition at the same time. Fingers crossed!

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. The first two hours were very good, but the third hour hit a lull before the main event segment. That tends to be the case most weeks even though the show has been better from a wire to wire standpoint as of late.

·        WWE is slowly piecing together the WrestleMania card. The Universal Championship match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar is set in stone. Everything else is in limbo at the moment. The Fastlane PPV should provide more answers in a couple of weeks because I have a feeling that Asuka is going to challenge Charlotte for the SmackDown Women’s Title after The Queen defeats Ruby Riott.

·        Meanwhile, a desperate John Cena is trying to find a path to New Orleans. His Undertaker challenge was a swerve, but I still expect the match to happen. Cena being a Debbie Downer about the whole situation is unintentionally hilarious. The man has main evented WrestleMania FIVE times and been a part of WrestleMania 20-33 over the past FOURTEEN years. Hell, a rotator cuff injury didn’t prevent him from being part of WM 32 a couple of years ago. I’m sure the Wrestling Gods are on Cena’s side which should help everyone sleep easier at night. *Insert Sarcasm Here*

·        WWE has already announced a key match for next week’s show. Asuka will face Nia Jax in a rematch from the Elimination Chamber PPV. Asuka’s undefeated streak should remain intact, but I hope she is booked like a badass who doesn’t get beat up by Jax after she wins. If anything, Alexa Bliss and Mickie James should cost Jax the match which should set up the Raw Women’s Championship bout at WM minus Asuka.  

·        Most importantly, what is the status of Brock Lesnar? Did he walk out during a live broadcast or is this a straight up work to make Roman Reigns a beloved hero? WWE has gone down this rabbit hole too many times over the past four years. Is the fifth time the charm? We shall find out soon enough. In the meantime, the internet streets will be talking about Reigns’ blistering promo all week. To quote Eric Bischoff, “Controversy Creates Cash.”

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls! 

The Raw Exposé: WWE Presents - The Art Of Throwing Shade III Starring John Cena and Roman Reigns (8-28-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. Beach Ball Mania is behind us as Sasha Banks tries to successfully defend the Raw Women’s Championship for the first time against Alexa Bliss. Did The Boss end another streak or was she in store for more heartbreak? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s show in no particular order.

·        The Miz wanted Kurt Angle to put some respect on his name after being shunned over the past several weeks. Angle agreed and announced that Miz will defend the Intercontinental Championship at No Mercy.

·        The Disrespected One would also face the winner of a fifteen-man Battle in an IC Title match next week as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a fine way to start the show. The obligatory 20-minute talking segment was cut in half which is a positive in my book. Getting straight to the point is better than hearing long-winded promos that circle the drain unless the underlining message makes sense.

·        Jeff Hardy won the fifteen-man Battle Royal and will face The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship next week. It was a good match that featured nice bursts of wrestling action throughout.

·        Finn Bálor, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows joined forces to eliminate The Big Show which signaled a callback from their days in the Bullet Club during their tenure in New Japan. Before they could do the Too Sweet salute, Elias attacked Bálor from behind which ruined the moment.

·        Bálor recovered and laid out Elias and Jeff Hardy until Bray Wyatt appeared out of nowhere and tossed Bálor over the top rope. It was a clever way to forward the Wyatt-Bálor feud, but their matches haven’t set the world on fire which mutes my enthusiasm heading into next month’s PPV.

·        The distraction allowed Jason Jordan to eliminate Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel which elicited the biggest reaction of the match so far. Jordan followed things up by eliminating Elias, but Jeff Hardy came through in the clutch and tossed Jordan over the top rope to win the whole shebang.

·        Jeff Hardy has a chance to win the Intercontinental Title and re-assert himself in the upper mid-card scene. We shall see if Miz can match Jeff’s unorthodox style come next week.

·        Enzo Amore defeated Noam Dar with a variation of Eat Defeat in his debut match in the Cruiserweight Division. Dar outclassed Enzo in the ring, but the Certified G outsmarted him when it counted most. The match was fine, but Enzo’s star power can only go so far when it comes to improving the presentation of the Cruiserweight Division on Raw and 205 Live.

·        Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar came out to sing the praises of Braun Strowman and give credit where its due after Strowman monster handled Lesnar at SummerSlam and Raw last week. Despite his amazing feats of strength, Heyman warned the Monster Among Men that Lesnar is not the type of man to duck competition. The Beast will hunt down his prey and devour him for dinner.

·        As Heyman was about to make a declarative statement on behalf of his client, Lesnar grabbed the mic and said the following: “Suplex City, Bitch!” And with that, Lesnar dropped the mic and headed backstage as the segment came to an end.

·        This was an effective way to add tension between Lesnar and Strowman leading up to their Universal Championship match at No Mercy next month. WWE played it smart by letting Lesnar have the last word for a change. Strowman’s response should be interesting, to say the least.

·        Cesaro defeated Seth Rollins with a roll-up in a good match. Cesaro dominated the action early on with a couple of gut wrench suplexes and a series of European Uppercuts. Rollins regained control down the stretch as he laid Cesaro out with a Slingblade followed by the Blockbuster from the top rope and Buckle Bomb in the corner.

·        Sensing that his partner was in trouble, Sheamus tried to provide the distraction only for Dean Ambrose to attack him at ringside. The diversion worked as Cesaro nailed Rollins with an Uppercut for the win.

·        After the match was over, Sheamus announced that he was scheduled to face Ambrose in a match which spilled over into the commercial break.

·        Dean Ambrose defeated Sheamus with Dirty Deeds thanks to an assist from Seth Rollins. Cesaro tried to cause a distraction at ringside, but Rollins cut him off at the past. The action spilled over into the ring as Rollins nailed Sheamus with a flying knee while the referee was busy preventing Cesaro from interfering in the match.

·        Rollins laid out Cesaro with a suicide dive which led to the aforementioned finish.

·        This is a classic case of 50/50 booking, but it makes sense because Cesaro and Sheamus are in line for a rematch for the Raw Tag Team Championship. Plus, both matches told a nice story of how each team was willing to win by any means necessary. A little cheating does a body good from time to time. Within reason, of course…

·        Who fucked up Emma’s theme music? It sounds terrible…

·        Emma defeated Mickie James with a roll-up in a quick match. Afterward, she got on the mic and proclaimed that she started the Women’s Revolution. Oh, joy…

·        The real John Cena showed up and went off on Roman Reigns in an epic promo exchange to kick off the third hour of Raw. Cena claimed that Reigns was scared to fight him which caused Reigns to make his way down to the ring and stated that he was too unbothered to face Cena after retiring The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

·        Cena clapped back by saying that Reigns was nothing more than a cheap ass corporate John Cena bootleg who could never replace the real thing. Even though the fans boo and cheer him, at least the real recognized real.

·        Reigns stated that the fans boo Cena not because they want him to turn heel, but because he sucks. Reigns lost his train of thought for a moment which gave Cena ample ammo to fire an off the cuff remark about Reigns’ inability to cut a decent promo.

·        Reigns refocused and tore into Cena for being a fake ass bitch who turned into a part time fake ass bitch. He would not allow someone to take food off his table by flying in on his private jet from his hosting gig on the Today show to wrestling on Raw when it’s convenient for him. He refused to be buried by Cena and wasn’t going to lower himself by facing someone who couldn’t “see” him.

·        Cena commended Reigns for cutting a decent promo for the first time in five years. Cena found it comical that Reigns blamed him for everything. Cena noted that he is not out to bury anyone. In fact, he hasn’t main evented WrestleMania in five years and was the opening match at SummerSlam last Sunday.

·        Cena took things one step further by stating that he elevated the United States Championship two years ago which ushered in the debuts of Kevin Owens and AJ Styles. When Reigns won the US Title, it was a demotion due to a Wellness Policy violation. The reason Cena is a free agent is that Reigns sucks at his job. Therefore, he has to play the cleanup man because no one has been able to take his place in fifteen years.

·        Most importantly, Cena can do more as a part-timer than Reigns will ever do as a full-timer. Incensed, Reigns signed his name on the dotted line to make the match official before flipping over the table.

·        Both men were ready to go at it when Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows volunteered to put the nerds in their place. Kurt Angle booked Cena and Reigns in a tag team match against Anderson and Gallows which took place after the commercial break.

·        This was an outstanding segment from top to bottom. Roman Reigns cut the best promo of his career, but John Cena still carved him up like a Thanksgiving Day Turkey as he read him for filth.

·        Cena was present, passionate, and relentless as he threw shade for 40 days and 40 nights. As I mentioned last week, I wasn’t a fan of Cena feeding into the Beach Ball Frenzy in Brooklyn. However, he more than redeemed himself tonight as he cut another money promo that was spot on. He had the crowd eating out of his hand as he put Reigns in his place.

·        Reigns had a nice showing and delivered the best mic work of his career despite Cena crapping over his inability to cut a decent promo. He manned up and landed some jabs on Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, & Respect. Reigns should be unleashed more often because a fire was lit under his ass tonight. Here’s hoping there is more to come leading up to their epic match at No Mercy next month.

·        John Cena and Roman Reigns defeated Anderson and Gallows when Reigns nailed Anderson with a Spear for the win. The match was fine, but it served as a backdrop to forward tension between Cena and Reigns. It’s reminiscent of Cena and Shawn Michaels becoming reluctant tag partners leading up to their WWE Title match at WrestleMania 23 ten years ago. Here’s hoping history repeats itself with Reigns playing the role of Michaels in name only.

·        Elias serenaded the Memphis crowd with a beautiful ballad until he was interrupted by Jerry Lawler. Lawler introduced Pelvis Wesley (Heath Slater) from Southpaw Regional Wrestling to counter Elias’ terrible singing. To say his plan backfired would be an understatement.

·        Alexa Bliss defeated Sasha Banks with a DDT to become the new Raw Women’s Champion in a good main event match. Banks controlled the pace early on until Bliss slammed her back-first against the barricade before ramming her against the ring apron during the commercial break.

·        Banks willed herself back in the match as she locked in the Bank Statement only for Bliss to break the hold. Bliss laid out Banks with a Superplex from the top rope, but she was unable to make the cover. Banks went for the Bank Statement again, but Bliss countered with her finisher for the win.

·        Banks is now 0-4 when it comes to successfully defending the Raw Women’s Title. That is not a good streak to hang one’s hat on. It makes The Boss look weak and gives Bayley a run for her money when it comes to being the worst booked woman in WWE. It’s sad but true.

·        After the match was over, Nia Jax made her way to the ring to congratulate Bliss on her victory. Jax laid out Banks with a running avalanche to add insult to injury before hoisting Bliss on her shoulder.

·        As expected, the other shoe dropped when Jax dropped Bliss with an Electric Chair which popped the crowd something fierce. Jax grabbed the title belt and raised it high in the air as she inserted herself in the championship picture as Raw went off the air.

·        Rumors of Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss feuding over the Raw Women’s Title have been running rampant in recent months. It appears WWE is ready to pull the trigger and decided to use Sasha Banks as a stopgap in order push things in that direction.

·        Jax and Bliss are not the best wrestlers in the world, but I am sure they can pull off a solid match if it’s laid out properly. It should be interesting to see Jax as a babyface. The fans view her as a badass when she is destroying her opponents under the right circumstances. We shall see if they embrace her as a woman who should be feared and revered on the big stage.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was solid. The in-ring action ranged from decent to very good, but the show will be best remembered for the excellent John Cena-Roman Reigns verbal confrontation that kicked off their feud heading into the No Mercy PPV next month. Cena showed why he is the best promo in the business while Reigns held his own and earned some brownie points amongst his fiercest critics.

·        After a disappointing start last week, WWE has landed the one-two punch when it comes to booking the best double main event in recent memory with Cena vs. Reigns anchoring Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman for the Universal Championship. The company is locked and loaded heading into football season which is a nice change of pace.

·        The mid-card scene lacks the same sizzle and spice, but they should hold their own with rematches ranging from Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus and Cesaro for the Raw Tag Team Titles to another round of Finn Bálor vs. Bray Wyatt. Something tells me the former is more appetizing than the latter.

·        No Mercy is turning into a must-see show. It’s a B-PPV that is quickly approaching Grade A territory. The creative team reset the chess board and damn near hit check mate with four weeks to spare. However, there is more work to be done in order to push things over the top. With Labor Day taking place next Monday, now is not the time to ease the foot off the pedal. Let’s hope the Powers That Be continues to up the ante because things are on the come up in the best possible way. Fingers crossed!

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with another installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls! 

The Raw Exposé: The Big Baller Brand Blockbuster Bonanza Edition (6-26-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. WWE usually puts on a good show for the LA fans which should give the company an extra boost heading into the July PPV That Shall Remain Nameless Unless Absolutely Necessary in a couple of weeks.

Also, Brock Lesnar AND LaVar Ball are under the same roof. With two of the biggest personalities on planet Earth within close proximity of each other, expect ample amounts of mayhem to ensue. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of Raw in no particular order.

·        Roman Reigns agreed to face Braun Strowman in an Ambulance Match at the July PPV That Shall Remain Nameless Unless Absolutely Necessary. Reigns vowed to win the match and drive Strowman straight to hell as an ambulance rolled into the arena.

·        Reigns decided to investigate the situation by creeping towards the vehicle. He opened the doors, but no one was there. Moments later, Strowman ambushed Reigns from behind and rammed his head against the railing as the fans cheered him on.

·        Strowman tossed Reigns on the stage to do more damage, but Reigns countered with a right hand. Reigns was about to nail Strowman with a Superman Punch, but Strowman caught Reigns and tossed him against the side of the ambulance in a great spot.

·        Strowman threw Reigns in the back of the ambulance as the opening segment came to an end with Strowman doing his signature roar and pose on the stage while Reigns was driven out of the arena.

·        This was a hot way to start the show. Strowman destroying Reigns has become appointment television over the past few months. Each attack is violent, yet beautiful at the same time. Considering how quickly Stroman put Reigns in the ambulance, let’s hope their actual match has a bit more drama and intrigue leading up to the finish.

·        The Hardy Boyz and Finn Bálor defeated Sheamus, Cesaro, and Elias Samson when Bálor pinned Cesaro with the Coup De Grace in a very good six-man tag team match. The heels dominated the action early on, but Bálor provided the offensive flurry down the stretch as he nailed Samson with a kick to the face before laying out Cesaro and Sheamus with a flip dive on the outside.

·        He tossed Cesaro back in the ring and hit him with the Slingblade/Running Dropkick combo as Matt laid out Sheamus with a Twist of Fate on the floor. Jeff took out Samson which gave Bálor enough time to set up his finisher.

·        All in all, this was a fun match that had great crowd heat throughout. Josh Duhamel did a decent job putting over the action in the ring while shilling his television/film projects at the same time. That’s what I call a multitasker.

·        Goldust vs. R-Truth never got underway as Goldust attacked Truth before the match started. The Golden One had his personal cameraman film the beat down which will be screened at a later day. I think it’s safe to assume that Goldust and Truth will have their day in the limelight at the July PPV That Shall Remain Nameless Unless Absolutely Necessary in a couple of weeks.

·        LaVar Ball showed up and showed out on Miz TV. It’s hard to describe what happened, but I will try my best.

·        Miz gave LaVar props for correctly predicting that his son Lonzo would be drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers. Miz wanted to join the Big Baller Brand, but LaVar shot him down because Miz wasn’t on his level.

·        Miz asked LaVar and Lonzo how many championships they’ve won. They threw out some numbers while Miz wondered if UCLA won the NCAA Championship this year which drew some audible oohs and ahs.

·        LaVar and Miz traded insults which culminated with LaVar taking off his shirt and challenging the A-Lister to a fight.

·        Before things got even crazier, Dean Ambrose appeared on the stage wearing a Big Baller Brand shirt and challenged Miz to a tag team match as the segment came to a close.

·        This will go down as the batshit craziest edition of Miz TV in history. LaVar Ball was a hot ass mess, but that’s how the founder of the Big Baller Brand rolls. It’s safe to say that his appearance on Raw will be the talk of the sports world come tomorrow morning. If WWE is looking for their next heel manager, Ball is their guy. No megaphone or big ass cell phone required.

·        The Miz, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas defeated Heath Slater, Rhyno, and Dean Ambrose when Bo Dallas pinned Rhyno with a roll-up thanks to a cheap shot from Axel. The match was fine, but it never got past a certain level. Seeing another multi-man match screams repetitive booking in the worst possible way. No shade, just facts.

·        Big Cass hates Enzo Amore so much that he still uses his theme music.

·        Just went it appeared that Enzo and Big Cass’ friendship was on the mend, Big Cass clotheslined their brotherhood to the point of no return. Cass flung Enzo down the ramp as the crowd showered him with boos.

·        Enzo cut an impassioned promo, but it wasn’t the epic performance I was expecting from him on the mic. Big Cass said a lot with his eyes which was a great way to sell the intent of Enzo’s promo. Cass’ apology seemed genuine, but it was too saccharine to believe at face value. Therefore, the bait and switch worked which gives Cass more ammunition to work with as a heel. Here’s hoping Enzo cuts the promo of his life on next week’s show because his friendship with Cass is deader than dead.

·        Seth Rollins defeated Curt Hawkins with a knee to the face in a match that lacked crowd heat until Rollins took over down the stretch.

·        After the match was over, Bray Wyatt appeared on the Titantron and told Rollins to embrace his true nature at the Fire of Great Balls PPV or he will burn. The threat was nice, but their feud lacks bite because Wyatt vowed to punish the four men that cost him a chance at the Universal Championship at Extreme Rules only for Roman Reigns to beat him clean in the ring. Wyatt’s proclamations of doom and gloom are falling on deaf ears at this point. It’s sad but true.

·        Paul Heyman called Samoa Joe a Samoan Dumbass for not fearing Brock Lesnar. Joe proved that he was no such thing when he attacked Lesnar from behind during The Beast’s signature entrance.

·        The Samoan Badass put Lesnar in the Coquina Clutch only for Lesnar to break the hold by pushing Joe into the LED Board. Joe locked in the submission hold again only for Lesnar to power out. Joe tried one more time to put The Beast to sleep and it appeared that he was about to do so when The Revival and WWE officials broke things up. Joe headed backstage while Lesnar tried to catch his breath as the segment came to end.

·        Samoa Joe continues to look strong heading into his Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar at the Great Fire of Balls PPV in a couple of weeks. Lesnar looks vulnerable heading into his first title defense which might cause Paul Heyman to re-think his strategy when it comes to playing mind games with Joe. The final hard sell for their title bout should be a good one come next week.

·        Neville defeated Lince Dorado when he made Dorado tap out to the Rings of Saturn in a decent match. It was pretty one-sided outside of Dorado having a few hope spots to keep things somewhat competitive.

·        Only Paul Heyman can pull off saying “Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire” while keeping his integrity intact. Heyman cut a great backstage promo about how Brock Lesnar was in for a fight at the Great Balls of Fire PPV because Samoa Joe was going to put him through the ringer. However, Lesnar would eventually take Joe on a trip to Suplex City before laying him out with an F5 for the win. The outcome is almost a foregone conclusion, but the match being a smash mouth masterpiece is a nice consolation prize.

·        Sasha Banks defeated Nia Jax when she made Jax tap out to The Bank Statement in a good main event match.

·        Jax had her best showing since debuting on the main roster last year when she almost ran the table during the gauntlet match to determine the number one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship.

·        Jax defeated Bayley, Mickie James, Dana Brooke, and Emma in dominating fashion. The fans actually cheered her because she was putting on a clinic as she defeated her opponents with ease. If she’s booked this strongly on a consistent basis, WWE might have a new star on their hands. Jax is still green in the ring, but her power can be finessed to cover up her shortcomings between the ropes.

·        Banks vs. Jax was slow in spots, but both ladies worked hard and got the crowd involved towards the end.

·        Banks finding multiple ways to lock in her submission hold speaks to her ability to adapt on a whim while Jax tried to finish the match by hitting the Samoan Drop only for Banks to roll towards the ring apron to avoid getting pinned.

·        The finish was great as Jax tried her best not to pass out to The Bank Statement only to tap out in the end.

·        Kurt Angle came out to congratulate Banks until Alexa Bliss made her way to the ring. Bliss got in her face, but Banks laid her out with a dropkick before grabbing the title and holding it high in the air as Raw went off the air with The Boss standing tall.

·        Sasha Banks is back in the championship fold as she will face Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Title at the July PPV That Shall Remain Nameless Unless Absolutely Necessary in two weeks. This is a fresh matchup that should have good heat if both ladies of given enough time to shine. In any event, this was a nice way to cap off the show with the women’s division spotlighted in a positive way for the first time since WrestleMania season.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw was decent at best. The show started off hot with Braun Strowman attacking Roman Reigns for the nth time while the six-man tag team match featuring The Hardy Boyz and Finn Bálor vs. Sheamus, Cesaro, and Elias Samson popped the crowd something fierce.

·        The show briefly fell off the rails when LaVar Ball appeared on Miz TV, but the third hour recovered nicely with Samoa Joe choking out Brock Lesnar and the women’s gauntlet match ending the broadcast on a high note.

·        Raw is slowly getting back on track which is good to see because it has been a struggle to watch over the past couple of months. The Fire of Great Balls PPV is shaping up to be a good one, but the booking is key. As I mentioned last week, WWE is 0-4 when it comes to producing solid brand exclusive PPVs since WrestleMania. The company has a great chance of righting the ship two weeks from Sunday by delivering a stellar show sans the cheesy name. The go-home show should push things over the top if everything is executed properly. Let’s hope the creative team can get the job done. Fingers crossed!

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with a brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls!