7/9 WWE Raw HOLT Report: On-site notes from Boston including pre-Raw matches and dark main event with Braun and Owens

WWE RAW HOLT REPORT (Happenings Off Live TV)
JULY 9, 2018
BOSTON, MASS. AT TD ARENA
REPORT BY JON-MICHAEL ELDER, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT

If you attend a live event, please send us a report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com

PRE-RAW “MAIN EVENT” TV MATCHES

(1) Authors of Pain defeated Titus Worldwide (w/Dana Brooke) in an opening dark match. Titus was pinned after a doubleteam move by A.O.P. The crowd had a decent pop for AOP, and were surprised to see them.

(2) Chad Gable defeated Curt Hawkins. The crowd was really behind Hawkins, but dead for Gable. The crowd knew the outcome was a forgone conclusion which took any excitement from it.

OTHER NOTES

-The crowd filled all available seats. Half of the balcony section (not including the section behind the stage area) was blocked off, though.

-There was palpable disappointment with Ronda Rousey not making an appearance, as she was advertised when tickets went on sale. A lack of Braun Strowman appearance also took from the fun during the TV portion.

-The biggest pops of the night by far went to Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. The crowd surprisingly enjoyed the Seth Rollins-Drew McIntyre/Dolph Ziggler banter.

-Roman Reign-Bobby Lashley did not generate real interest. The crowd popped for the excitement of everyone rushing the ring area. And Reigns’s suicide dive was great for a spot. But the crowd doesn’t care about their feud.

-The main event was a really fun back and forth, but only 80 percent of the crowd remained for the shows final hour, which is really unfortunate. The Finn Balor & Bobby Roode vs. Elias & Constable Corbin match was the second best match of the night with the crowd LOVING Balor and Elias getting great heat. Corbin’s crowd response was flat. The crowd pops for Roode, but not nearly at the level of Balor or Rollins.

-During a commercial, they announced a “WWE Super Show” for Sumday, Oct. 21 at the TD Garden in Boston. This was the suspected date of TLC, which has long been suspected of taking place in Boston. So I don’t know what to make of that. Is there no TLC this year? This is the date/place that it was supposed to take place. The add for the event stated that it will be Ronda Rousey’s first WWE appearance in Boston. It was after this add played around 10pmthat a decent chunk of the crowd left for the night.

DARK MATCH

(1) Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman beat Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre & Kevin Owens when Braun pinned Ziggler after Ziggler took finishers from all three babyfaces. Before the match Angle came out and said Owens was medically cleared to compete so he’d join Ziggler and Drew. KO didn’t come out at first. Angle went backstage and brought him out. KO refused to walk to the ring, so Braun walked up to him and dragged him to the ring.

[Thanks also to Jeff Fitzpatrick.]

If you attend a live event, please send us a report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com.

NOW CHECK OUT THIS REPORT: TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – RAW 7/9: Reigns vs Lashley Boils Over, McIntire Faces Rollins, Braun & Owens