WWE Monday Night Raw Review: 08/09

Linus O'Howell
Sep 9
4 min read

The Usos Start the Show, AJ Styles VS El Grande Americano

This week’s edition of Monday Night Raw started with The Usos, but it didn’t last long as Jimmy and Jey were interrupted by The Vision! This led to a back-and-forth promo segment, with The Usos eventually challenging Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed to a match at Wrestlepalooza! LA Knight then showed up to start a brawl with the Bron Brons, with Jey taking a hit as a result! This was totally fine, a very standard way to start the show!

Grade: C+

LA Knight made it clear backstage that he wants a match with one of the Brons tonight before AJ Styles took on El Grande Americano in the first match of the night! My biggest gripe with this is El Grande Americano has brand-new entrance music, and I don’t like it, mainly because I really liked his old one! Anyway, the match itself was pretty decent, both guys are talented, and we got another appearance from another one of El Grande’s goons! However, he got dealt with by Dragon Lee, opening the door for AJ to drop Americano with a Styles Clash to get the win! El Grande’s undefeated streak is now over, sad times!

Grade: B-

Lyra Valkyria VS Raquel Rodriguez, AJ Lee Returns to Raw

Adam Pearce told Iyo Sky that her contract signing with Stephanie Vaquer is now off, and this led to Asuka interrupting Iyo’s conversation with Nikki Bella! AJ Lee then got a video package before Lyra Valkyria took on Raquel Rodriguez! I thought this was good, Lyra’s very good in the ring, and Raquel’s on a good run this year! I actually wasn’t sure which way this was going to go, and I have to say, that powerbomb that Valkyria delivered was both amazing and scary! In the end, Lyra’s slight hesitation cost her, opening the door for Rodriguez to hit the Tejada Bomb to score the 3 count!

Grade: B-

Penta asked Adam Pearce for a shot at the Intercontinental Championship, but Rusev also wanted the same thing before Jey Uso made it clear to Jimmy Uso that he has no interest in helping LA Knight tonight! AJ Lee then came out to a massive ovation as she wanted to remind people who she is! AJ talked about her time in WWE, and more importantly, what followed afterwards, with plenty of talk about mental health and also writing (two things that are important to me too)! Lee was also wearing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, and this brought out Becky Lynch, who rightly wanted her Title back! Becky then brought out Seth “Freakin” Rollins, who tried his best to reclaim Lynch’s Title, but this just led to CM Punk coming out, scaring Rollins into agreeing to a Mixed Tag Team Match at Wrestlepalooza so all of this can come to an end! I thought AJ Lee was pretty good here, as were Seth and Becky, and that match is a pretty big deal!

Grade: B

Penta VS Rusev, Asuka VS Nikki Bella

Bayley was once again going crazy over what to do regarding Lyra Valkyria before Penta and Rusev collided in what I assumed was a Number 1 Contender’s match, although that was never confirmed! This match was alright, Rusev is on a good run right now, and the crowd enjoy Penta! The New Day and Grayson Waller showed up at ringside, and they actually proved key as they distracted Penta enough, opening the door for Rusev to nail his opponent with the Matcha Kick to get the victory! WWE are pushing Rusev, and I like that!

Grade: B-

After LA Knight made it clear to Jimmy Uso that he doesn’t want his help, Nikki Bella was back in the ring on Raw as she went one-on-one with Asuka! I was worried about this match because it’s one that Asuka needed to win, but I wasn’t sure which way it would go! The action itself was fine, Asuka used Kairi Sane as a shield at one point (which is important), but other than that, it was pretty missable! Thankfully, Bella did tap out in the Asuka Lock, so at least The Empress of Tomorrow won!

Grade: C+

Bronson Reed VS LA Knight

After Roxanne Perez said she’d go and talk to Dominik Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley backed up Nikki Bella against Asuka, it was Main Event time as Bronson Reed looked to take out LA Knight! This was a decent Main Event; it got a good 10 to 15 minutes, and the ending was also pretty cool as Bronson Reed delivered a different move to score the win! It makes total sense for Reed to have more than one finisher, so I liked this, and after Jimmy Uso failed to make the save, Jey Uso ran down to help out his Twin, with Knight eventually taking out The Vision with a steel chair! However, we then got another surprise moment as Jey Uso nailed LA Knight with a Spear to end the show, and that conversation with Roman Reigns has clearly gotten into Jey’s head!