WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for August 28

Source: WWE.com

Raw Women’s Championship Match

Sasha Banks (c) vs. Alexa Bliss

Result: Alexa Bliss defeated Sasha Banks via pinfall to become the new Raw Women’s Champion

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

The first portion of the match was perfectly paced. As the announcers – and the competitors themselves – have told us all night, Sasha has never successfully defended the Raw Women’s Championship. Her plan: keep things slow and methodical, and wear down Alexa’s limbs. Obviously, she’s aiming to make the Banks Statement more devastating.

But during the commercial, Bliss took over with some vicious tackles into the barricade and LED board on the apron. Bliss’s gameplan is solid, too – Sasha has well documented neck and back injuries in her past, so that’s her focus. When was the last time you saw Alexa Bliss use a bow and arrow submission hold? Anything that works the back was fair game.

Then things got a little scrappy and a lot stiff. Sasha looked like she spiked Alexa a bit on her sunset flip, and in retaliation Bliss hit a nasty looking forearm to the jaw. Like, we’re talking Jinder Mahal on Finn Balor back in April kind of forearm. As if that wasn’t enough, Alexa Bliss pulling out a Yoshi Tonic? WHAT IS HAPPENING ON RAW THIS WEEK?

Sasha looked like she was en route to breaking the curse, locking in the Banks Statement, but Alexa reversed it into a pin attempt. Sasha released the hold to kick out, but couldn’t lock it in again. Bliss hit the DDT for a – somewhat surprising – victory to regain the title in the best match of the night by far.

After the match, Nia Jax came out to apparently celebrate with her friend Alexa, but after taking out Sasha, Nia took out Alexa. After posing with the title belt, Nia left, but clearly we’re headed towards Nia vs. Alexa at No Mercy.

Next: WWE No Mercy 2017 Match Card Predictions

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