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This week's episode of Monday Night Raw was a somewhat eventful show that managed to be way better than its previous installments, and the reason for that was the fact that the show benefitted from the decisions WWE took at Summerslam the night before. Raw had received a new Universal Champion in Roman Reigns, a new IC Champion in Seth Rollins and a new Women's Champion in Ronda Rousey.
So with all those changes, WWE had made to the landscape of Raw did the show succeed? The short answer is yeah, WWE took a different approach with the flagship show this week, and it paid off. From a huge Wolrd Title match to a white-hot babyface making his in-ring comeback, Raw was not an exceptional episode but a good one.
#1 The Riott Squad are on a roll
WWE has been building up the Riott Squad as a formidable force in the Raw women's division over the last few weeks, and that could only indicate that they are going to introduce WWE Women Tag Team Titles to the company.
And this week on Raw, Ruby Riott and her buddies took on the team of Sasha Banks and Bayley along with Ember Moon. While this was a match you have seen a hundred times; the fact that The Riott Squad continue to build on their momentum every week is some sort of indication WWE has a plan in place for Riott, Morgan, and Logan.
#2 Nostalgia
All the nitpicks aside of whether The Undertaker should wrestle one more time or not and whether the real reason WWE is booking this match is to sell tickets in their Australia show, the fact that the WWE Universe is getting to see freaking Triple H vs. The Undertaker one more time is reason enough to be excited.
Triple H came down to the ring on Raw this week to explain why he wanted to face The Undertaker one more time, and yeah while Triple H did not really come to a proper answer his presence on Raw always elevates the show in some shape or form, especially when he is not there as an Authority figure. The result of "the game's" presence- a fantastic promo and a reason to remind to remind longtime wrestling fans why we started watching wrestling because of legends like Triple H and The Undertaker.
#3 Ambrose impresses in his return match
This week on Raw Dean Ambrose made his in-ring return after almost a year away from action due to his injury, and his first opponent was none other than his Summerslam 2016 opponent, Dolph Ziggler.
Ziggler and Ambrose put on a way better match than their disappointing clash in New York almost two years ago, as Ambrose's new built muscle helped him change up his in-ring style a little more.
A power game approach from Ambrose was enough to get Michael Cole oddly a little bit too excited, and it was enough to finish off Ziggler with an awesome Dirty Deeds. A great return for Ambrose who should be in the World Title entire sooner rather than later.
#4 Finn Balor finally gets his title shot
After Roman Reigns had won the Universal Title from Brock Lesnar at Summerslam, his first order of business was to hand an opportunity out to the man that won the title for the first time, Finn Balor. And yeah Reigns playing the fair champion that hands out title shots to underutilized babyfaces is a method by WWE to get the new Universal Champion over the crowd, but it will result in some splendid matches every week. And it did as Balor and Reigns clashed over the Universal Championship in the main event in an excellent encounter. While Balor losing is a downer, at least we got see him receive his chance to reclaim his title.
#5 The Shield is back
The Shield made their return to Raw this week after shockingly helping Roman Reigns keep his Universal Championship after Braun Strowman had almost cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. While this was an odd move for WWE to make Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose look like heels by assaulting a babyface, it ended Raw on a high. And it left questions to be answered on next week's episode of Raw.
