WWE Raw Recap: Samoa Joe puts Paul Heyman to sleep as Brock Lesnar returns next week

The Big Takeaway: Samoa Joe put Paul Heyman to sleep with the Coquina Clutch as the WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar returns to Raw next week. Raw General Manager Kurt Angle received another text message. The Enzo Amore-Big Cass breakup tease continues as this week Big Cass was laid out backstage.

Monday Night Raw Results:

In-Ring Segment: Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns
Bray Wyatt opened the show and cut a usual spooky promo. He blamed Finn Balor, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Joe for not being the new number one contender. He said Balor, Joe, Reigns and Rollins were all guilty and vowed to punish them and it starts with Reigns. Reigns came out and grabbed the mic. The WWE Universe chanted “Let Go Roman and Roman Sucks!” He asked Wyatt if he knew what happened if he ran his mouth in his yard? Reigns punched Wyatt in the mouth which led to a match.

Roman Reigns def. Bray Wyatt
After a series of clothesline, Wyatt recovered by driving Reigns shoulder into the post and delivering a senton on the floor. Reigns battled back and delivered a Superman Punch but Wyatt kicked out. Reigns called for the spear but Wyatt rolled to the floor. Reigns delivered the Drive By but Wyatt recovered and delivered a huge clothesline. Wyatt went for Sister Abigail but Reigns countered with a schoolboy cradle for two. Finish came with “The Big Dog” delivering a Superman Punch and a huge Spear for the win.

• Pretty good match as the WWE Universe were into the action. Only nitpick would be Wyatt losing another big match. Fans still like Wyatt’s spooky promos and ring work but it will fade at some point if Wyatt keeps losing.

Backstage: Charly Caruso interviewing Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Enzo said he doesn’t know who jumped him the past two weeks and made fun of Corey Graves hair. Big Cass said he would never attack Enzo and has his back tonight against Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows.

WWE showed a photo of Bayley suffering more welts from her Kendo Stick on a Pole match against Alexa Bliss at Extreme Rules. Michael Cole said Bayley is at home recovering from her injuries.

Backstage: Alexa Bliss and Kurt Angle
Bliss walked into Angle’s office and wanted to know if Angle would congratulate her for her match against Bayley? Bliss proposed “Alexa Bliss, This Is My Life” Angle said it was a horrible idea and said last week’s “Bayley! This is Your Life” was one of the worst segments in Raw history. WWE Universe went wild and cheered loudly. Then reminded Bliss that she promised Nia Jax a match for the Raw Women’s Title and made the match. Angle and Bliss went back-and-forth saying “Seriously”

• This backstage segment was awesome because WWE flat-out said that the “Bayley! This is Your Life” Segment was just bad.

In-Ring Segment: Elias Samson and Dean Ambrose
Elias Samson was in the ring and asked the WWE Universe “Who wants to walk with Elias?” He strung his guitar and sang a song about Ambrose. WWE Universe booed. Ambrose came down attacked Samson with the microphone and threw him into the timekeepers area. Ambrose took the mic and called Miz out. Miz appeared on the screen saying he has planned a celebration for later tonight. Samson appeared from behind and delivered a swinging neckbreaker.

• Samson is awesome and is getting big time heat from the WWE Universe

Backstage: Dean Ambrose and Kurt Angle
Ambrose was pissed as he approached Angle and said he wanted to fight the Miz. Angle said the rematch won’t happen tonight. Ambrose said he will wait for Miz at his dressing room but Angle told Miz to leave the building.

In-Ring Segment: Samoa Joe and Paul Heyman
Joe came out and said he will face Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at Great Balls of Fire. WWE Universe chanted for Joe. Joe said he will look Lesnar in the eye and take the championship from him. Heyman came out to a huge reaction and cut a great promo as he built up the match. Heyman and Joe shook hands. But just as Heyman was about to leave, Joe cornered him in corner and whispered how he was going to apply the Coquina Clutch to Lesnar. Joe then applied the Coquina Clutch to Heyman as the WWE Universe booed and chanted “We want Brock” Joe took the mic and said “And so do I” and left.

• This segment was so awesome and I urge all WWE fans to watch his part of Raw. It’s been only one show and the build for the Lesnar vs. Joe match has been amazing.

Backstage: Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins
Angle asked Joe what’s wrong with him? Joe said he would takeout anyone who stands in his way. Angle and Joe had a brief staredown. Rollins interrupted as the WWE Universe cheered as he congratulated Joe for becoming number one contender. Rollins said he wasn’t Reigns or Balor. Rollins then cut a promo on Wyatt and challenged Joe to a match. Angle made the match.

Sheamus & Cesaro def. Heath Stather & Rhyno — Non Title Match
A quick match as the heels got the advantage early as Sheamus delivered a Brogue Kick to Slater for the win.

• Sheamus and Cesaro cut a heel promo on Matt and Jeff Hardy after the match. Saying “They just don’t set the bar, they are the bar”

Backstage: Neville and TJP
TJP said he solved the Austin Aries problem and asked when will he get his championship match? Neville said to handle his business against Mustafa Ali and he will talk to Angle about a match.

TJP def Mustafa Ali
Another really quick and short match as Ali went for the Inverted 450 but TJP kicked him off the rope and delivered the Detonation Kick for the win.

• Neville came out after the match said he had some bad news about the match. TJP thought he wasn’t getting match and walked to the back. Neville attacked him from behind and rammed his head on the ramp. Neville said he got his match tomorrow on 205 Live.

Backstage: Goldust Promo
Goldust cut another old school promo on R-Truth

Backstage: Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, Mickey James and Dana Brooke
Bliss walked in the women’s dressing room and said hello. Banks waved her hair back and said “No” Bliss tried to convince Brooke and James in her match. Brooke said no and will be ringside watching the match.

Announcers Segment: Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Booker T
The announcers were in middle of a segment but Angle walked in and pulled Graves aside after receiving another text message.

Backstage: Kurt Angle and Mike Rome
Angle was looking at his phone backstage as Mike Rome asked what’s going on? Angle said it’s a private matter and left the building. Ambrose snuck back in. Oh yeah the Revival were in the background chatting.

Kalisto def. Titus O’Neil (w/Apollo Crews)
Cole asked what the deal was? Graves quickly changed the topic to Kalisto who came out. Akira Tozawa was watching the match backstage so he could learn more about the “Titus Brand” Quick match as Kalisto won by grabbing a handful of tights.

Backstage: Big Cass laid out?
Miz and Mayrse left their dressing room and saw Big Cass laid out. Enzo rushed up and asked if he’s okay? Cass was completely out it but Enzo asssited that he competes in his match. Doctors said no. So Enzo needs to find a new partner.

• I liked this as WWE is keeping everyone guessing who’s behind the attacks

In-Ring Segment: The Miz and Maryse
Maryse introduced the Miz who came out. WWE Universe chanted “You Deserve It” Miz said the chant doesn’t mean anything because the WWE Universe chants it at most title changes. Miz was delighted that Maryse got a bear for the celebration. Maryse said she didn’t invite the bear. Miz attacked the Bear by delivering a Skull Crushing Finale. Someone came down with huge box and Miz thought Ambrose might be inside so he attacked and delivered elbow drops to the box. Maryse said stop because it was a Grandfather Clock that Maryse got for him. Maryse was upset and cried to the back. Inside the ring, Ambrose appeared as he was dressed up as a camera man and delivered the Dirty Deeds to the A-Lister.

• I liked this segment because the Miz and Maryse are awesome and they can pull a segment like this off with ease. 

The Big Show & Enzo Amore def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Enzo came out and revealed Big Show as his mystery partner. Enzo cut his usual promo. Big Show tried but did a terrible job playing the role of Big Cass and spelling of S-A-W-F-T! Luckily the WWE Universe chanted along.
Big Show got the hot tag, delivered a shoulder block and a chokeslam to Anderson. Show tagged in Amore to set up for the “Bada Boom Shakalaka. But instead Big Show pressed Amore into the air and tossed him onto Anderson for the pin.

• Anderson and Gallows have won the Raw Tag Team Championship but they have really cooled off since splitting up with A.J. Styles during the WWE Draft. Don’t know if or when it will happen but would like to see Anderson and Gallows join forces with Balor and recreate the “Balor Club”

Backstage: Enzo Amore, Big Cass and Big Show
Enzo and Big Show were celebrating backstage when Cass approached them. Cass wondered if Big Show jumped them because he hasn’t been seen on Raw. Cass and Enzo walked away as Big Show stared at them.

Backstage: R-Truth Promo
R-Truth cut a promo on Goldust as WWE is building up this feud slowly.

Backstage: Mike Rome interviewing Alexa Bliss
Bliss seemed worried about her match with Jax and said everyone is jealous of her and she should be treated better.

Alexa Bliss def. Nia Jax by DQ to retain the Raw Women’s Title
Jax dominated most of the match as she tossed Bliss around and delivered multiple elbow drops. Bliss rolled to the floor where Brooke and James were standing. Bliss pushed them as both ladies punched Bliss and the ref called for the bell.

• Bliss smiled as she outsmarted Jax who was pissed as she splashed James in the corner and delivered a Samoan Drop to Brooke. Short but strange match to book. Unless WWE wants turn either Bliss or Jax face?

Backstage: Paul Heyman on the phone with Brock Lesnar
Heyman was getting worked on in the trainer’s room when Lesnar called. Heyman recommended that Lesnar show up next week and unleash the beast on Joe.

Samoa Joe def. Seth Rollins
Joe’s took control early and his offence was rather stiff in the match as this was WWE way of saying that the match with Lesnar at “Great Balls of Fire” will be fight and Joe is fighting a former UFC World Championship. Rollins recovered and his comeback included a hat trick of topes a sling blade and a blockbuster. Rollins then delivered a flying clothesline and a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Rollins delivered a superkick and then went to the top rope but Wyatt’s video popped up. This quick distraction led to Joe applying the Coquina Clutch as Rollins passed out.

• A good match as WWE did a very good job throughout the show making Joe feel like the biggest heel on the main roster.

Overall:
Raw was a pretty enjoyable show that didn’t drag. The build for the Lesnar vs. Joe match has been excellent so far and hopefully WWE can keep this up. Also like how WWE is keeping the Angle/Graves and Enzo/Big Cass storyline going and not rushing to conclusion.

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