WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for July 17
By Bryan Heaton
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Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss
Result: Bayley defeated Alexa Bliss via pinfall
Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
The first sixty seconds or so of the match were really good. Bayley acts a little dumb, gloating over last week’s victory. Alexa’s response? Slap the taste out of her mouth. It’s great. And it’s followed by aggression from both superstars, causing Alexa to regroup in the ropes.
It looks like @AlexaBliss_WWE might have brought some back-up for her one-on-one match with @itsBayleyWWE... #RAW @NiaJaxWWE pic.twitter.com/pCIrRC19d8
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
As the match went to commercial, Nia Jax came out, because pure singles matches aren’t allowed anymore, I guess. The friendship between Nia and Alexa is going to blow up sooner rather than later, I think. But for now, look at Alexa’s face when she realizes Nia’s coming to the ring:
#BestFriendGoals #RAW @AlexaBliss_WWE @NiaJaxWWE pic.twitter.com/o0EBKXWuw9
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2017
Beautiful. Back to the match: Bayley manages to withstand Alexa’s onslaught, but when the action went to the outside and Nia got involved, the tide turned. Sasha Banks made her way to the ring to even the score, and Bayley was thisclose to a second straight rollup victory over the Raw Women’s Champion.
BOUNCE goes #RAW #WomensChampion @AlexaBliss_WWE! Can @itsBayleyWWE keep the momentum going?! pic.twitter.com/IYGyS5P2LO
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
But this week, she got a legit victory with a Bayley to Belly. I will go down on this ship, but I hate hate hate that the only way to become a championship contender is to beat the champion. Step back from a smark point of view, and look at it pure kayfabe for a second: A champion is supposed to be the best of the best. That’s literally what champion means!
Here’s the deal: A victory over a champion should be a super rare thing. Those instances should be called “title changes.” That’s it! Build the rest of the division up so you can get to a point where a sustained winning streak gets you a championship opportunity. That helps everyone in the long run.
.@RealKurtAngle seems to be having second thoughts about revealing his private situation tonight on #RAW... @WWEGraves pic.twitter.com/hwymEA8anA
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
Cold Feet?
It seems waaaaaay too obvious that Corey Graves is behind this whole Angle angle. I really hope that he doesn’t become the “higher power” of this whole thing.
Titus Worldwide
It didn’t take Titus Worldwide to dip into the waters of playful racism, did it? “Twisted you up like origami”? Yeesh. Anyway, at least the superstars of 205 Live are getting to interact with the main roster on more occasions, and that helps solidify the “universe” WWE exists in. Plus, Ariya Daivari getting TV time can only be a good thing.