TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – RAW 9/10: Roman Gets the Upper Hand, More Build for Triple H vs Taker, Kevin Owens Reboot

ROMAN GETS THE UPPER HAND…

Recap: The show opened with Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, and Dolph Ziggler coming to the ring. The ring was surrounded by the midcard heels who supported them last week. Braun verbally recapped the history of the past two weeks with the Shield, and showed a video package recap as well.

Dolph then thanked the heels surrounding the ring for their support last week in standing up to the bullying of the Shield. Drew asked the fans if they could feel the balance of power shifting away from the Shield and toward them.

The Shield then entered the arena through the crowd. They were overpowered due to being outnumbered initially, but quickly gained the advantage when they began using axe handles as weapons. Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre retreated.

Backstage, the Shield were arguing with New Orleans police. GM Baron Corbin attempted to be the voice of reason, asking the Shield to drop their weapons and vacate the premises so that they would not be arrested. Corbin also threatened to strip Reigns and Rollins of their titles if they did not comply. The Shield reluctantly left the arena.

Later, after Ziggler and McIntyre retained the tag titles in their rematch with the B Team, Rollins and Ambrose attacked them. Ziggler and McIntyre fled. The announcers wondered what repercussions would come from Baron Corbin.

Backstage, Baron Corbin angrily approached Seth and Dean about their attack. They said that the Shield was ordered to leave, but that they weren’t the Shield, they were just Seth and Dean. Seth said that in 25 years of Raw, no one had ever been arrested, and that Corbin had falsified a police report. Seth then produced the Sheriff of Orleans Parish, who read Corbin his rights. Corbin then asked Seth if they could meet in private. While Dean and the Sheriff conversed about “suggested speeds” vs. speed limits, Seth met with Corbin. Seth then appeared, looking happy, and told the Sheriff that no charges would be pressed.

Later, Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre approached Baron Corbin about punishment for the Shield. Corbin gave a nonsensical excuse about the Louisiana Napoleonic Code being complicated, and told the heels that Ziggler and McIntyre would be defending their tag titles against Rollins and Ambrose on Sunday. They were angry about the Shield being rewarded. Corbin said that Stephanie McMahon wants the PPV to be epic, and that the title match would be epic. He also said that Stephanie wanted Braun to take the title from Reigns. Braun said he was going Big Dog hunting.

During a later backstage interview with Charly Caruso, Strowman asked where Reigns was. Charly said she didn’t know, and suggested Braun go to the ring to call him out. Braun agreed that was a good idea.

In the closing segment, Braun came to the ring and called out Roman. He said that on Sunday, the Shield wouldn’t be able to help Roman, and that if special guest referee Mick Foley attempted to do so, he’d make Foley’s injuries from 1998 look like a paper cut. Roman’s music then hit, and he was standing on the announce table. Braun approached the stage to meet him, and they brawled. The segment ended with Roman hitting a Samoan Drop on Braun off the table through the stage.

Evaluation: In what was otherwise mostly a nothing show, this angle dominated the entire night. It was unfortunately somewhat predictable, as we knew the Shield would return after agreeing to leave. That storyline unfortunately has been done on Raw too many times before.

There was chatter online that the Sheriff’s name badge said “Ambrose” on it. I missed it, but that’s a fun Easter egg for those paying attention.

Forecast: After building Roman’s title victory so long, there is no way he loses so soon.

MORE BUILD FOR TRIPLE-H VS TAKER…

Recap: Triple H arrived in a stretch limo and made his way to the ring. He recounted how most legends, as well as most fans that were polled, predicted Undertaker to win in Australia. He said that at his level, those sorts of predictions don’t bother him. He claimed that’s why he was so surprised that Shawn Michaels’ prediction bothered the Undertaker so much. He said that initially, he believed the Undertaker’s actions showed a lack of respect for him and Shawn.

However, upon further reflection, Triple H said the Undertaker’s actions simply showed a lack of respect for the Undertaker himself. He said that Undertaker’s failure to confront him face to face proved that. He said the Undertaker was never the same after his matches with Triple H and Undertaker, and headed downhill from there, culminating in the end of his streak. He said all that’s left of Undertaker is his reputation, and vowed to put Undertaker down out of what little respect he had left for him.

Evaluation: This is solid, straightforward booking. Considering these guys obviously aren’t going to do physical angles to lead to the show, and Undertaker won’t appear every week, this is about the best one could expect.

Forecast: I’m sticking with last week’s forecast that Undertaker wins in Australia.

KEVIN OWENS REBOOT…

Recap: Kevin Owens came out for a match with Tyler Breeze. The match never happened, as Owens attacked Breeze before the bell and finished him with a power bomb to the apron.

Owens said that when he quit, he got a call from Baron Corbin begging him to return. He agreed to return only on the condition that he wouldn’t be held responsible for his actions. He said he can now do whatever he wants.

He said that he attacked the Shield last week because he is sick of them. He said he’s going after Bobby Lashley next, as revenge for Lashley injuring his best friend Sami Zayn.

In a bizarre segment backstage, Lio Rush acted as Lashley’s hype man while he did dumbbell curls.

Evaluation: While I think Owens was so damaged that he needed more time away, this explanation and destruction of Breeze at least made him look strong. The rationale for going after Lashley made total sense.

The Lio Rush thing made no sense as he is completely annoying, and a bad fit if Lashley is to be a face.

Forecast: For this angle to work at all, Owens has to beat Lashley when they finally have their match.

RANDOM THOUGHTS…

I have mixed feelings about WWE celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Mick Foley’s cage match with Undertaker. There’s nothing wrong with him being referee on Sunday, but his 1998 match changed the business for the worse in a lot of ways….

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – RAW 9/3: Braun Debuts a Stable, Undertaker Returns, New Tag Champions