WWE Raw – Sept 28th 2020: Results & Review

Welcome to this week’s Monday Night Raw review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and I’m gonna eat that Pokey Little Puppy! On this episode we’ve got Randy Orton…talking. There comes that money honey! We’ve got enough promos to shake a baby at, so crank-up Cinderella’s “Shake Me” and let’s kick some ass…and watch Raw.

Match #1: Asuka def. Zelina Vega – Raw Women’s Championship Match

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After a heated confrontation backstage prior to the bell, Zelina Vega came out of the gates furiously as she tried to prove herself once again against Raw Women’s Champion Asuka. Vega put in a solid effort, but The Empress of Tomorrow cinched in the Asuka Lock to earn the submission victory and retain her title.

My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – This was another good match from these two, with Asuka smacking ol’ Spanish Knickers around like she was a Mexicali basketball. This had a lot of spirit to it, which kept me focused on it from beginning ‘till end. It was no classic, but it was a nice start to the show all the same.

Match #2: Keith Lee def. Andrade

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

As his former manager Zelina Vega was helped to the backstage area, still feeling the effects of the Asuka Lock, Andrade gloated, declaring that both Vega and Angel Garza were weak links, holding him back from achieving his full potential, before daring anyone to face him. Andrade’s challenge was quickly answered by Keith Lee. Andrade temporarily stunned The Limitless One, but Lee recovered and put Andrade down for the three-count in decisive fashion after a thunderous Spirit Bomb.

My Opinion: 3.1 out of 5 – This is my audition for Chewbacca: I AM SPARTACUS! MY NIPPLES ARE POINTY! These two guys knocked the Laura Bell Bundy out of each other and I liked it. This was no technical feat or submission feast, but it was a sound fight between two of the best right now and that’s okay by me.

Match #3: Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke def. Natalya & Lana

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Natalya & Lana began their night demanding that Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler be stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles and that they be crowned champions. WWE official Adam Pearce arrived to let “The BOAT” and The Ravishing Russian know that would not be happening, but the two could prove themselves against the newest tag team on Raw – Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke. Lana welcomed the newcomers to Raw with a slap to The Golden Goddess’ face, which only infuriated Rose, who dropped The Ravishing Russian with a devastating knee strike to pick up the win.

My Opinion: 1.8 out of 5 – This went a minute or two and wasn’t very good. Natalya can only do so much.

Match #4: Kevin Owens def. Aleister Black (Disqualification)

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The heated rivalry between Kevin Owens and Aleister Black was renewed on Raw, as the two brutalized each other with bruising strikes. However, The Dutch Destroyer’s rage cost him. As he was unleashing a flurry of strikes on KO, Black inadvertently struck the official, who had no choice but to disqualify Black and award Owens the victory. Then, as Black argued with the referee, KO turned him around and dropped Black with a Stunner.

My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – You can expect a lot of smash-mouth brawling and striking, but this was not the match I was hoping for. It will get the job done, but for those of us who wanted more of an even contest between two of the best, then this match will disappoint. Still, this match was a nice appetizer to a meal that has yet to be brought to the table…like a wizard’s lizard gizzards.

Match #5: R-Truth def. Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa – Triple Threat Match For The WWE 24/7 Championship

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After their quick trading of the 24/7 Championship earlier in the night, R-Truth, Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak engaged in a more formal battle for the title inside the WWE ThunderDome. Despite a spirited effort from the challengers, Truth won with a thunderous AA to retain his title.

My Opinion: 2.4 out of 5 – This had some nice moves, but it was only a few minutes.

Match #6: Murphy def. Dominik Mysterio

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After the events of “The King’s Court,” Dominik Mysterio unleashed his rage on Murphy from the opening bell, not letting up on The Monday Night Messiah’s disciple. Mysterio went under the ring to grab a Kendo stick, which brought his sister, Aalyah, to ringside. She begged Dominik not to batter Murphy with it, insisting that he wasn’t like Seth Rollins. The distraction gave Murphy the opening to roll up Dominik for the three-count and escape before he could take too many Kendo stick lashes.

My Opinion: 2.9 out of 5 – This was stunted by the lack of time and the whole Aalyah angle, but when they worked, they worked hard.

Match #7: Mustafa Ali, Apollo Crews & Ricochet def. The Hurt Business

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Mustafa Ali, Apollo Crews & Ricochet had a game plan heading into this Six-Man Tag Team showdown: take out Bobby Lashley. The trio went right after the United States Champion and sought to neutralize him. Any counter The Hurt Business had in mind went out the window when the lights in the WWE ThunderDome began to flicker, seemingly signaling the arrival of RETRIBUTION. However, the rebels did not arrive, but the distraction may have thrown MVP, Lashley and Shelton Benjamin off their game, as Mustafa Ali crushed MVP with a 450 Splash to get the win for his team.

My Opinion: 2.7 out of 5 – This was a fun little match that never really went anywhere, but it did so in lively fashion.

Match #8: (Main Event) Drew McIntyre def. Robert Roode – WWE World Championship Match

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Confident as ever, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre awaited his challenger. When Dolph Ziggler arrived, McIntyre was frustrated, as he asked that someone he hadn’t faced before step up. But Ziggler was only here to herald the arrival of Robert Roode, who was making his first appearance on the red brand since being traded to Raw in June alongside The Showoff in exchange for AJ Styles. The Glorious One, a former NXT, United States and Raw Tag Team Champion, was ready as ever for his first crack at the WWE Championship. Roode brought the fight to McIntyre, grounding the WWE Champion with an agonizing Figure-Four Leglock that hobbled the titleholder and nearly captured the championship with the Glorious DDT, but there was no keeping McIntyre down. The WWE Champion fought through the pain and connected with a huge Claymore to retain his title.

My Opinion: 4 out of 5 – This was a real snappy match that was a contest competed by two fighters who were identical in technique. Drew and Bobby went hold for hold in a main event that really delivered the goods. I loved every-thing in this bout and I wish this was leading to a series between these two, but I bet that Randy Orton will be facing Drew for the rest of their lives…damn it. I’m glad we got this match and just as glad that it turned out great and with a clean finish.

News Of The Night:

1. Randy Orton ambushed Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Big Show & Christian.
2. Aleister Black now has a black contact in his eye…which he wroe while accusing Kevin Owens of being a fake.
3. Aalyah has the hots for Murphy.
4. Seth Rollins is more actively manipulating Murphy.
5. RETRIBUTION was not here, due to being in contact with some-one with COVID-19.
6. Dana Brooke has joined Mandy Rose on Raw as a tag team.
7. Andrade kicked Zelina Vega to the curb.
8. There was no Raw Underground.
9. There was no Cedric Alexander.

Final Verdict: 2.9/5

The main event made this show good…but just skip ahead to the main event.