WWE Monday Night Raw aired from the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 18. The show featured a much-anticipated update from Naomi about her future. The Vision faction was on the show and looked to continue its dominance as Bron Breakker collided with Jey Uso. Penta was in action, and Becky Lynch defended her women’s IC Title. Let’s review the entire show and discuss WWE Raw August 18 Results.
The Vision kicked off
The show opened with The Vision. Paul Heyman said he’s god in this city of Philadelphia. Heyman said that he’s the GOAT and they should have a statue of him because of what he did for the industry on and off-screen. The Oracle introduced Bron Breakker as the Big Dog and the future of WrestleMania. Bronson Reed was called the Tribal Thief, the holder of Shoe-la Fala, and the master of Shoe-nami.
Coming to Seth Rollins, Heyman introduced him as the man who beat Roman Reigns twice at WrestleMania and the reigning, defending World Heavyweight Champion. Rollins was about to say some words, but Jey Uso interrupted. The YEET-Man entered through the crowd and stopped there for a few words. Jey said he’s frustrated with everyone trying to destroy his family. Uso said he tapped Gunther at WrestleMania 41 Saturday and would do worse to Rollins.
Uso called Breakker a puppy dog. Rollins fired Bron with some of his lines. Heyman mentioned ECW and multiple legends like Rob Van Dam, The Dudley Boyz, Sabu, and Tommy Dreamer. Heyman said that these guys used to settle their differences in a No Disqualification match. He suggested a stipulation for tonight’s Jey Uso vs Bron Breakker battle. Jey said it would be an Extreme Rules match.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a fun segment to kick off Raw in Philadelphia. It was an open mic for Paul Heyman where he talked about ECW and stuff. Also, it hyped the night’s main event, an Extreme Rules match. Bronson Reed had two pairs of Roman’s shoes, and watching him standing there is entertaining.
Iyo Sky vs Raquel Rodriguez
Backstage, Asuka apologized to Iyo Sky for last week. They came on good terms, and Iyo told them she needed no help in her match tonight. Raquel used her strength to throw Iyo around the ring in the match and delivered a scoop slam. Sky responded with a flying hurricanrana and a handspring dropkick. A little distraction from Roxanne Perez halted Sky’s momentum, and Rodriguez hit a big boot.
After the break, Iyo delivered a basement dropkick and a missile dropkick. Rodriguez bounced back with a Samoan Drop and a corkscrew elbow drop for a two-count. Raquel hit a clothesline, but Iyo fought back with a tornado DDT. Sky took out Perez at ringside with a suicide dive. Sky countered the Tejana Bomb into a hurricanrana and delivered a Bullet Train Attack. The Genius of the Sky landed an Over the Moonsault for the victory. The Judgment Day attacked after the match, but Rhea Ripley made the save.
Winner: Iyo Sky
Grades: B-
Analysis: This was a fine match, and the pace increased with time. Iyo Sky is fun to watch and makes every match interesting. Ripley and Sky can team up against Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. However, the plans will be shaped based on Naomi’s announcement later on the show.
Backstage
Jackie Redmond was interviewing LA Knight, where CM Punk appeared. Knight said that it’s not personal but business between him and Punk. CM Punk wanted them to be together to prevent attacks from The Vision. Knight didn’t like the plan and said it didn’t work that way last week on Raw. Elsewhere, Asuka wasn’t happy that Rhea Ripley helped Iyo Sky, but they weren’t allowed. Ripley and Asuka argued before Sky left, yelling in her language.
Penta vs Xavier Woods
Xavier Woods avoided a handstand slingshot dropkick and landed a superkick followed by a back suplex on the apron. Penta bounced back with a reverse Slingblade and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Penta landed a crossbody block on Woods and Grayson Waller at ringside. Back in the ring, Penta performed a handstand slingshot corner dropkick for a two-count.
Woods delivered an Inverted Vertical Suplex for a near fall. Penta bounced back with a Penta Driver for a close fall as Kofi put Xavier’s foot on the rope. While Woods was getting up, Penta used him as a stage to deliver a somersault plancha on Kingston. Back in the ring, Penta landed a Mexican Destroyer for the win.
Winner: Penta
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a decent match on the show. It looks ike WWE currently has no plans for Penta. He was a hot name since his debut, but it all vanished due to a lack of a proper story. The same can be said for New Day after the heel turn.
Finn Balor and JD McDonagh vs Dragon Lee and Mr. Iguana
Dragon Lee and JD McDonagh started the match. Finn Balor tried pulling at Lee’s mask from the apron, allowing McDonagh to take advantage with a takedown and stomps. Lee fired back with a double stomp and a dragon screw. Balor tagged in and landed some chops, but Lee responded with a slingshot dropkick before tagging in Mr. Iguana to a loud ovation. Iguana performed an ax handle, but Finn regained control with a suplex.
Iguana hit a pair of arm drags and a dropkick that sends Balor out of the ring. McDonagh got tossed out as well. Lee and Iguana landed stereo somersault sentons onto The Judgment Day at ringside. Back inside, Lee delivered a snap back suplex to McDonagh, who fired back with a poisonrana. Lee quickly answered with a Liger Bomb. Iguana and Balor tagged in, and Iguana landed a hurricanrana. Iguana swung La Yesca, his puppet, before hitting a diving crossbody on JD to the floor.
Finn hit a falling elbow drop on Dragon. JD took out Iguana with an Asai Moonsault. Ultimately, McDonagh distracted the referee long enough for Dominik Mysterio to trip Lee from the outside. Balor took advantage and landed the Woo Dropkick and a Coup de Grace for the victory. Judgment Day launched a post-match attack. El Hijo del Vikingo came in for a save, but in vain. Mysterio blasted Vikingo with the AAA Mega Championship before finishing him with a Frog Splash. Mysterio raised both titles in the air.
Winners: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and JD McDonagh)
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun match and post-match angle. The use of AAA stars has been great so far. Mr. Iguana is a must-watch. Vikingo defeated Dominik Mysterio thanks to an assist from AJ Styles at TripleMania. The fans didn’t receive the decision well, but WWE can right the wrong at the upcoming World Collide event. The two titles looked good on Mysterio.
Becky Lynch (c) vs Natalya – WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Natalya planted Becky face-first on the mat before hitting a German suplex. Natalya landed a baseball slide at ringisde. The champion gained control when she drove the challenger shoulder-first into the ring post. Lynch applied a cross armbreaker and a triangle choke, but Natalya powered out with a slam. Natalya hit a discus clothesline for a two-count.
In the end, The Man targeted both Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri before submitting Natalya with a Dis-Arm-Her. Lynch’s assault continued after the match as she locked in the Dis-Arm-Her on Dupri. Nikki Bella stormed down to make the save. Bella delivered the Rack Attack 2.0, sending a clear message to the champion.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Grades: C
Analysis: It was not a good match. The crowd was silent for the most part. Lynch and Bella can be a program to watch. It looks like the battle is coming for the Clash in Paris for the women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Backstage
Sheamus was backstage, where Rusev also appeared. Before things got heated, they were separated by WWE Officials. Raw GM Adam Pearce made a Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook Match between the two at Clash in Paris. In another angle, Jey Uso was preparing for his upcoming match against Bron Breakker. CM Punk approached him and offered help. Uso refused and said he didn’t want to owe any favors to someone.
Naomi’s big announcement
Adam Pearce welcomed the Women’s World Champion Naomi to the ring. Naomi came out and was visibly emotional. She drew everyone’s attention to the screen where a video appeared. It was from Stephanie McMahon’s podcast where Jimmy Uso and Naomi announced that they are having a baby. The crowd cheered, and Pearce congratulated the champion. Naomi shifted to her heel side and didn’t hand the title to the Raw GM. Naomi left the title in the ring and warned everyone that she’d be back for her championship.
Grades: A+
Analysis: It was a wholesome segment. The rumors were true, and Naomi has relinquished the Women’s World Championship due to pregnancy. She’s leaving when she was on top of her game, but the baby is a happy diversion.
Jey Uso vs Bronn Breakker – Extreme Rules Match
In a tribute to the late New Jack, an ECW legend, a cart full of weapons was at ringside. Uso sent Breakker to the outside with a clothesline and later hit a suicide dive. Bron attacked Jey with a chair and a trash can lid. Breakker landed a dive from the apron with a trash can in hand, sending him over the commentary desk. Back in the ring, Bron landed a Frankensteiner for a two-count. Breakker was fired up, but Uso tore his momentum with a Spear for a close fall. Jey delivered multiple chair shots before hitting another spear and a Uso splash.
Just when victory seemed certain, Bronson Reed yanked the referee out of the ring. Reed laid out Uso with a cannonball and Death Valley Driver. LA Knight stormed to the ring and drove Bronson into the steel steps. Seth Rollins blindsided Knight and nailed Uso with a Pedigree. CM Punk arrived, and Rollins armed himself with a steel chain. Knight knocked down Reed with a baseball slide. Rollins avoided GTS and pushed Punk into Knight. This led to Knight being crashed through a table.
Punk chased Rollins through the crowd. Breakker set up a table inside the ring, but Uso superkicked him. Reed interrupted again. Roman Reigns appeared and speared Breakker before hitting Reed with a Superman Punch. Uso capitalized, blasting Breakker with a superkick and finishing him with a Uso Splash through the table for the victory. After the match, Reigns confronted Reed, who left with two pairs of Reigns’ shoes. Paul Heyman held Reed back as the show came to an end.
Winner: “Main Event” Jey Uso
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a star-studded segment in the main event of Raw. The stipulation already predicted a lot of interruptions. Luckily, we got ourselves a winner here in the end. It looks like it will be The Tribal Chief vs The Tribal Thief at Clash in Paris.
What are your thoughts on WWE Raw August 18 Results?
