Backlash 2018
Pre-Show:
Bayley vs Ruby Riot
Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
This is a clear indication of how weak the companies tag team division is especially for Monday Night Raw. Even though right now I do think that a tag match might be the best way for Strowman to stick out as he has a built in feud right there. I don't really think that at this point the WWE really know Strowman, but are really trying to keep him protected. However, they shouldn't be trying to protect either Lashley or Strowman at the expense of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. For this reason I think that Kevin & Sami need the win tonight and that's the reason they will get a fluke win.
WWE United States Championship:
(c) Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton
Recently, it has bene very clear that Randy Orton has hit a snag with his in ring skills and match quality even admitting that he would prefer being a heel. However, it does seem like he can hit his stride with the right opponent. Flipping things to the other side of the track with the champion he has simply showed how good he could still be a top level commodity. The one underlying thing that is also apart of this match is seeing if the booking of the United States title will finally change. Over the last few months the booking of the title has been incredibly poor and the title has been looked at as more a placeholder and less like something worth fighting for. I think the best place for the title though is with Jeff Hardy, because unlike Orton his quality of matches is still very high. Hardy retains.
Daniel Bryan vs Big Cass
I am still getting over the idea that Bryan is actually back in the ring at this point and even though some might be disappointed that he is feuding with Cass I am not one of them. I think there are ways to get through this match without having one of them look bad and I hope WWE handles it that way because they really need to. However, I think there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Bryan needs to win here in some form or fashion.
WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship:
(c) Carmella vs Charlotte
If anyone can get a good match out of Carmella it would be Charlotte not to say that Carmella hasn't come a long way since her time in NXT it's just that I don't know if she hit that next level just yet. Either way though keeping in mind the build through her holding onto the briefcase for as long as she did and then finally cashing in it would be pretty deflating for her to loose so soon. With that being said Carmella gets the win tonight and keeps the gold.
WWE Raw Women's Championship:
(c) Nia Jax vs Alexa Bliss
Insert the same logic I used in the previous match with this one, but you don't have to go back as far to find it. Because that same logic could be found in the build to their WrestleMania match. On the Road to WrestleMania they made Alexa out to be a bully and a mean one at that which made Nia's win at Mania all the more rewarding. To have Nia then loose so soon after winning it and having her moment would be an unneeded and in some cases unwanted turn of events. Nia retains tonight.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match:
(c) Seth Rollins vs The Miz
Even though in recent years nobody has done more for the IC title then the A-Lister basically single handily fixing the prestige of WWE's once second tier belt. However, with the ascension of Rollins in the picture for the title it's clear that Miz doesn't have to do it alone anymore and maybe we could see Miz move to a different title picture like the WWE title after Shinsuke Nakamura. Either way though this will be a great match between two of WWE's best and might be the highlight of the show. But I don't think there's a way that anyone other than Rollins gets the win tonight.
Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe
I don't know where this charisma has come from for the Samoan Submission Machine but week in and week out Joe has stolen the show with amazing promos and just his intense delivery. I think him moving to Smackdown was one of if not the best move from the Shake up this year and he will thrive on the Blue brand unlike the mixed up red brand. However, the golden boy has been on a cold streak and needs to begin his recovery, and even though I think letting Joe win is the right choice I think it would be crazy to think that way. Roman Reigns gets the win tonight.
WWE Championship Match:
(c) AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura
The "dream match" was more like a weak match and then things got a little better at the Greatest Royal Rumble Ever, but still not were it was. At this point I don't think they can reach the match they had in New Japan and I think there is a reason for that, but it wont be discussed here. Nakamura's run on the main roster has been a clear flop and even if he does win the title they will have to start from square in terms of not having Shinsuke end up looking worse then Jinder last year. Keeping that in mind I think that AJ Styles will likely get the win and keep his title for another month.
Pre-Show:
Bayley vs Ruby Riot
Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
This is a clear indication of how weak the companies tag team division is especially for Monday Night Raw. Even though right now I do think that a tag match might be the best way for Strowman to stick out as he has a built in feud right there. I don't really think that at this point the WWE really know Strowman, but are really trying to keep him protected. However, they shouldn't be trying to protect either Lashley or Strowman at the expense of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. For this reason I think that Kevin & Sami need the win tonight and that's the reason they will get a fluke win.
WWE United States Championship:
(c) Jeff Hardy vs Randy Orton
Recently, it has bene very clear that Randy Orton has hit a snag with his in ring skills and match quality even admitting that he would prefer being a heel. However, it does seem like he can hit his stride with the right opponent. Flipping things to the other side of the track with the champion he has simply showed how good he could still be a top level commodity. The one underlying thing that is also apart of this match is seeing if the booking of the United States title will finally change. Over the last few months the booking of the title has been incredibly poor and the title has been looked at as more a placeholder and less like something worth fighting for. I think the best place for the title though is with Jeff Hardy, because unlike Orton his quality of matches is still very high. Hardy retains.
Daniel Bryan vs Big Cass
I am still getting over the idea that Bryan is actually back in the ring at this point and even though some might be disappointed that he is feuding with Cass I am not one of them. I think there are ways to get through this match without having one of them look bad and I hope WWE handles it that way because they really need to. However, I think there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Bryan needs to win here in some form or fashion.
WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship:
(c) Carmella vs Charlotte
If anyone can get a good match out of Carmella it would be Charlotte not to say that Carmella hasn't come a long way since her time in NXT it's just that I don't know if she hit that next level just yet. Either way though keeping in mind the build through her holding onto the briefcase for as long as she did and then finally cashing in it would be pretty deflating for her to loose so soon. With that being said Carmella gets the win tonight and keeps the gold.
WWE Raw Women's Championship:
(c) Nia Jax vs Alexa Bliss
Insert the same logic I used in the previous match with this one, but you don't have to go back as far to find it. Because that same logic could be found in the build to their WrestleMania match. On the Road to WrestleMania they made Alexa out to be a bully and a mean one at that which made Nia's win at Mania all the more rewarding. To have Nia then loose so soon after winning it and having her moment would be an unneeded and in some cases unwanted turn of events. Nia retains tonight.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match:
(c) Seth Rollins vs The Miz
Even though in recent years nobody has done more for the IC title then the A-Lister basically single handily fixing the prestige of WWE's once second tier belt. However, with the ascension of Rollins in the picture for the title it's clear that Miz doesn't have to do it alone anymore and maybe we could see Miz move to a different title picture like the WWE title after Shinsuke Nakamura. Either way though this will be a great match between two of WWE's best and might be the highlight of the show. But I don't think there's a way that anyone other than Rollins gets the win tonight.
Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe
I don't know where this charisma has come from for the Samoan Submission Machine but week in and week out Joe has stolen the show with amazing promos and just his intense delivery. I think him moving to Smackdown was one of if not the best move from the Shake up this year and he will thrive on the Blue brand unlike the mixed up red brand. However, the golden boy has been on a cold streak and needs to begin his recovery, and even though I think letting Joe win is the right choice I think it would be crazy to think that way. Roman Reigns gets the win tonight.
WWE Championship Match:
(c) AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura
The "dream match" was more like a weak match and then things got a little better at the Greatest Royal Rumble Ever, but still not were it was. At this point I don't think they can reach the match they had in New Japan and I think there is a reason for that, but it wont be discussed here. Nakamura's run on the main roster has been a clear flop and even if he does win the title they will have to start from square in terms of not having Shinsuke end up looking worse then Jinder last year. Keeping that in mind I think that AJ Styles will likely get the win and keep his title for another month.
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