WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for August 14

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match

Akira Tozawa (w/ Titus O’Neil) vs. Neville (c)

Result: Akira Tozawa defeated Neville via pinfall to become the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

In the first of two SummerSlam matches getting bumped to what’s basically the pre-pre-show, the Cruiserweight Championship was on the line. It’s a shame, because these guys had a real chance to kill it on a huge stage this Sunday. I guess we know where the cruiserweight division sits in the pecking order, huh?

That said, wow, was this good or what? At the moment, no one in WWE has shown the same kind of dominance over a “division” like Neville has in recent months. But Tozawa has seemed like a man possessed for a while now, too. You knew a “real” match between these two was going to deliver, and of course it did, and the fact that it was bumped from a pay per view is really upsetting.

Everything about this was great. The comeback Tozawa needed after Neville took charge during the commercial break. The crisp, clean, and vicious looking pair of suicide dives from Tozawa – Ambrose and Rollins should never do a tope suicida again. The attempts to hit the senton, but Neville’s resilience and craftiness. Tozawa being smart enough to roll with the Rings of Saturn to avoid getting locked in. The missed Red Arrow leading to the finish. It was all wonderful.

While it’s a shame to see Neville’s terrific title reign come to an end, it’s great to see Tozawa get a chance to prove himself as champion. The celebration with Titus Worldwide was also pretty great to see – but who would have thought Akira Tozawa would hold WWE gold before Apollo Crews?

#GiveEmmaAChance

Wait, so now Emma started the Women’s Revolution? I’m so confused. Either way, Mickie James doesn’t take too kindly to a millennial being on her phone complaining all the time, so she challenges Emma to a match on Raw.