WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for August 21

John Cena Thinks He’s a Visigoth

In the worst-kept secret in recent memory, Kurt Angle announced he has brought John Cena back to Raw. It was just a matter of time since the whole “free agent” announcement, so whatever.

Right off the bat, Cena makes his intentions clear. He says he’s waited a long time to come to Raw so he can be face to face with “a certain WWE superstar.” And then Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring, and the long-rumored showdown is put in motion.

According to Michael Cole, these are “the two most polarizing figures in WWE.” Well, that’s putting it mildly. I believe that’s code for, “HOLY COW, WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO BOO THE GUYS WE WANT TO RUN THE PLACE?!?!?!?”

Getting into the meat of the segment, it’s exactly as cringe-worthy as you would expect – until The Miz comes down to save it. Imagine typing that before 2017 – The Miz saved a segment featuring the powerhouse of The Shield and a 16-time world champion.

And save it Miz did, because this was Talking Smack Miz. Spitting truth, showing more passion than I’ve ever seen on Monday nights. Miz wonders where his “moment” is, because Cena always makes everything about himself. Cena offers a tag match where he’ll team with Roman, and he gets the world’s most deadly side eye for that suggestion.

Eventually, Samoa Joe comes down to the ring and I don’t even know what to think anymore. Joe declares himself Miz’s tag team partner over the Miztourage, then runs down Reigns and attacks Cena to set off a brawl.

Throw in a Brooklyn crowd out to get themselves over (seriously, it was rough), and this was a trainwreck that somehow stayed on the rails and wasn’t all bad.