WWE Raw results: John Cena and Roman Reigns continue war of words while Braun Strowman gets the better of Brock Lesnar again
There’s work to do for WWE to build anticipation for the No Mercy show in two weeks time
WWE is two weeks away from No Mercy, where Brock Lesnar battles Braun Strowman and John Cena takes on Roman Reigns.
But the rest of Raw is looking uneven – meaning there’s work to do for WWE to build anticipation for the big show.
Here are five things we learnt from Raw last night.
Nothing is off limits for Cena v Reigns
John Cena and Roman Reigns’ war of words got even closer to the bone last night after Reigns defeated Jason Jordan.
Cena came out for another showdown, criticising Reigns for almost losing to rookie Jordan – the same thing Reigns blasted Cena for last week.
Reigns replied by telling Cena he’d had more great matches in two years than Cena has managed his entire career.
Reigns then mocked Cena for struggling to break Hollywood (“If you need help, I know a guy,” said Roman, referring to The Rock).
But Cena had the final word, bringing up Reigns’ drug suspension last year. Cena said: “Consider me like a drug test… you ain’t getting past me.”
Braun Strowman is ready for Brock Lesnar
Lesnar and Paul Heyman came to ring, where Heyman cut a typically sizzling promo on Brock’s upcoming match with Strowman
Mimicking the UFC referees, he asked Brock: “Are you ready?” then turned towards the entrance ramp to ask Braun the same.
But he soon wished he hadn’t when Braun charged to the ring for a fight.
Lesnar caught Braun with his trademark suplex, but Braun sprang straight back to his feet – then annihilated The Beast with a chokeslam and running powerbomb.
WWE is throwing away big money matches
In its desperate bid to fill hours upon hours of television, WWE rushed John Cena and Braun Strowman into a match last – which should be an epic pay-per-view collision.
After their respective segments with Reigns and Lesnar, Cena or Strowman didn’t need to do anything else last to get over.
But WWE booked the match anyway and had Braun DQ’d after he power slammed Cena onto the steel steps.
(That doesn’t bode well for Strowman – Super Cena’s sure to even the score later on.)
It just goes to show that the the Network era, when WWE already has the fans’ money, big PPV-calibre matches don’t have the value they used to.
Miz & Maryse are expecting their first baby
WWE’s A-list couple made their big announcement in the ring (where else?) but were quickly interrupted by Enzo Amore.
Wasn’t Enzo supposed to be part of the cruiserweight division now? Whatever the case, Enzo has certainly upset someone backstage.
Having an impromptu match with the Miz, Enzo said Miz should ask “Who’s the daddy?” which prompted the father-to-be to humiliate him with a savage beating.
So is Enzo now contending for the Intercontinental Championship? After supposedly joining 205 Live? And after weeks of being destroyed by Big Cass?
Asuka is coming to Raw
WWE ran a promo package confirming the big news. Asuka – the hottest free agent in sports-entertainment – will be joining Raw’s women division.
She had to give up the NXT Women’s Championship after being sidelined with a collarbone injury – but her two-year undefeated streak remains intact.
It’s disappointing that she’ll be joining Raw instead of SmackDown, which has the better women’s division by far.
Can the “Empress of Tomorrow” save the floundering Raw division?
Or will she get bogged down in the same booking that’s killed the star power of fellow NXT alumni Bayley and Sasha Banks?