WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for July 17

Source: WWE.com (via Twitter)

Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe

Result: No contest due to interference by Braun Strowman

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

This match was really good, guys and gals.

Reigns has finally ascended to the title of “the guy” outside of just a catchphrase, in my opinion. It’s fashionable to hate on him, but the fact remains that he’s really good in the ring. Like, he totally gets it. And the crowd reaction is finally getting to John Cena circa 2010ish levels right now. Yeah, he gets a lot of boos, but so did Cena, right?

Talking up how good Samoa Joe is seems redundant. People have been saying it forever. Just check out the clothesline counter to Reigns’s Drive-By. Oh, man, that was fantastic.

But this main event was 20ish minutes of two very talented wrestlers just beating the tar out of each other. Neither man had any quit, and both were near their breaking points by the time business picked up.

Speaking of business picking up, a third man who is very good at what he does joined the fray. Braun Strowman returned a mere 8 days after being in a horrific ambulance crash – seemingly unscathed. And he put Reigns and Joe to shame with his beatdown of both. Watching Braun strike fear in the hearts of the security crew simply by taking a single step towards them? That’s my jam.

It would appear that by virtue of the no contest, Strowman is going to be inserted into the Universal Title picture at SummerSlam. And I welcome that with open arms.

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What did you think about this week’s episode of WWE Raw?