WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for October 23

Yes, that’s AJ Styles on Raw again. Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & AJ Styles vs. The Miz, Cesaro, & Sheamus

Result: Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, & AJ Styles defeated The Miz, Cesaro, & Sheamus via pinfall

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I could probably write OMG 250 times for this segment, and it wouldn’t properly convey how great some of these matchups are. Styles tearing it up with Cesaro? SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW.

But I’ll be a good critic and actually talk about what happened in the match. It’s ridiculous to segue from “I want my show to be the best” to “here’s a guy from the other show because he’s better than anyone we have,” but that’s how good Styles is. When he finally gets in the match (against Cesaro, which <3), it’s predictably great. Even Styles taking a beating is better than most other superstars.

But seeing Styles in the “Roman Reigns” role is crazy. Because he’s a much different type of wrestler, the triple team type moves the “Shield” can do tonight are way different than usual. A triple plancha to the outside? Sure, Reigns can probably do that, but it doesn’t fit. Here, it’s almost expected.

Ambrose did a great job of being face in peril for much of the match. Honestly, Dean has been great ever since reuniting with Rollins. That rebound lariat to Sheamus was nuts. In fact, the only issue I have with Ambrose is his mannerisms when he goes for a blocked Dirty Deeds. It just looks silly. But aside from that he’s better than he’s been in a long time.

The sequence leading into the second (!) commercial break was off the walls. The Miz has one of the best DDTs in WWE right now, and Rollins bumped for it like it was a literal killer move. It was all just so so good.

Speaking of good, a hot tag to AJ Freaking Styles? To go up against Cesaro again? Is it my birthday or something? Another bonkers sequence leading to the finish got us to a suicide dives in stereo from the tag champs, leaving Cesaro alone to eat a Phenomenal Forearm and a pinfall.

And just when everything was going so well, out comes Kane to ruin it. The Big Red Machine laid waste to the winners, no one knows why, and no one wants it.