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The post-Backlash edition of WWE Raw began the buildup towards the Money In The Bank pay-per-view next month with a few qualifying matches for the two ladder matches set for the event.
Last night’s WWE Raw had a few standout moments including impressive in-ring work, but it did drag on at times as well with a few random moments that didn’t do much in the grand scheme of things.
Despite a few weaker moments, the show was vital for the Money In The Bank pay-per-view. With that being said, let’s take a look at five key takeaways from the May 7 edition of WWE Raw.
5. Jinder Mahal Gets Needed First Win Since Switch To Raw
A strong candidate for the most improved wrestler in the WWE over the past year has to be Jinder Mahal. The Modern Day Maharaja went from jobber to WWE Champion that was too quickly pushed, but now he has settled into his own and has shown noticeable improvement.
But since coming over to Raw in the superstar shakeup a few weeks ago, Mahal has yet to capture a win. He has had impressive moments since coming over, but that elusive first win on the red brand eluded him until last night when he battled Chad Gable in a rematch from a couple weeks ago when Gable upset Mahal.
The Modern Day Maharaja approached GM Kurt Angle about having a qualifying match for the Money in the Bank ladder match next month and Angle said if Mahal would be impressive in his match against Gable, he would consider it. And even though Gable pushed him to the brink of defeat again, Mahal was ultimately impressive and he got the win plus a post-match beatdown that probably did more harm to himself than it did Gable.
Even with the win, Angle refused to give Mahal a qualifying match. But outside of that storyline, Mahal needed a win and it should help get him back in a prominent role on Monday nights. It’s still conceivable that he could get a Money in the Bank qualifying match as well, so that’s something to keep in mind moving forward.
It took a minute, but The Modern Day Maharaja is back in the win column and it couldn’t come at a much better time than with the Money In The Bank pay-per-view looming.
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4. Ember Moon Is The Perfect Option For Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Last year marked the debut of the first-ever women’s Money in the Bank ladder match that saw Carmella ultimately capture the briefcase and go on to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The women of the WWE will get that opportunity again this year, but with four superstars from each brand involved.
The first superstar to join that match was determined last night when a Triple Threat Match between Sasha Banks, Ruby Riott, and Ember Moon took place with the winner going on to the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. All three women seemed like viable options and that helped the match out in the long run with an unpredictability factor involved.
But the match itself was very impressive as well with great action from start to finish. Everyone had their shining moments in the match, but in the end, an epic double Eclipse by Moon secured the hard-fought victory and a spot in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Moon might have seemed like the least likely winner to emerge from that Triple Threat Match, but when you really think about it, it makes a lot of sense.
Riott and Banks are entangled in feuds of their own, so having Moon sneak in a victory is fitting. And when thinking about what she could bring to a high-flying match like Money in the Bank, it’s exciting. Moon has incredible athleticism and offense that should result in a jaw-dropping moment or two next month at the Money In The Bank pay-per-view.
There will be a full moon in Chicago next month that could result in Moon’s breakthrough moment in her short time on the main roster.
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3. Braun Strowman Has His Most Compelling Match In Some Time
Has there been a superstar in recent memory to rise to superstardom as unexpectedly as Braun Strowman has? The case can be made and if you don’t agree with that case, you might get these hands like most of the WWE roster has gotten over the past year or so.
The Monster Among Men has developed into arguably the most over babyface in the WWE with his destructive, monstrous tendencies that the WWE universe has fallen in love with. He along with Bobby Lashley defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at Backlash, but last night saw Strowman get another shot at beating down Owens as the two tried to make their case to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
But unlike most of Strowman’s other matches, this match felt different. KO got more than his fair share of offense in and for the first time in a long time, Strowman was down for a pretty good portion of the match. And after Owens hit him with a frog splash, it even crossed your mind for a second that Strowman could lose. That wouldn’t pan out, however, and business got taken care of.
Strowman ended up getting the win and became the first man to enter the Money in the Bank ladder match. He should be a huge favorite in that match, but as far as last night’s match goes, it was important for Strowman. It showed a different side to his in-ring ability where he was down for way more time than he’s used to. That should go a long way in his still continuing to develop character and persona.
Owens felt the wrath of Strowman yet again and The Monster Among Men could be primed to become Mr. Money in the Bank.
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2. Seth Rollins Adding Prestige To Intercontinental Championship
Everyone knew how great Seth Rollins was prior to the past few months of his career. But just in case you might have forgotten, Rollins has been on a roll so great that it could very well be the best wave of momentum in his entire career.
No superstar has been as great as Rollins has been over the past few months. His performance in the huge gauntlet match prior to the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view was incredible, his WrestleMania 34 match arguably stole the show, his match with Finn Balor on the Raw before Backlash was outstanding, and his match with The Miz at Backlash is already a match of the year candidate.
But last night saw The Architect issue an open challenge for anyone to face him for the Intercontinental Championship. An unlikely response followed by Mojo Rawley, but it ended up being better than expected. It doesn’t matter who’s in the ring, Rollins can make the most out of any match and that happened last night as he made Rawley look like a million bucks.
Rollins fended off a game Rawley and retained his title in what was a very solid match. Not only is he having arguably the best run of his career right now, but he’s also adding a lot of prestige to the Intercontinental Championship that The Miz carried so proudly. It should be interesting to see where Rollins and the title go next.
The Architect has carved out excellence as of late and that trend should only continue as he carries the Intercontinental Championship to bigger heights.
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1. Finn Balor Moves One Step Closer To Potential Main Event Return
The main event picture has eluded Finn Balor ever since his return from injury last year after having to relinquish the Universal Championship the night after SummerSlam 2016. But Balor’s fortunes could finally be turning after last night’s development.
The main event of last night’s show was a big Triple Threat Match between Balor, Roman Reigns, and Sami Zayn with the winner going on to join the Money in the Bank ladder match next month. No superstar needed the win more than Balor after being unsuccessful to capture the Intercontinental Championship over the past month or so.
And as it turned out, Balor wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste. After a very solid Triple Threat Match, Balor took advantage after an interfering Jinder Mahal held up Reigns, which allowed Zayn to take Reigns out of the equation. Balor wasted little time to take advantage when he took out Zayn and picked up the huge win to join the Money in the Bank ladder match.
This could be the win Balor needs to finally get back to a main event level on Monday nights. He could be the perfect option to win the Money in the Bank briefcase and it could play perfectly into his defy the odds kind of persona. Of course, it doesn’t mean he’s for sure winning, but at least the opportunity is there and that’s more than what’s he had over the past year.
Next: WWE Raw Review For May 7 Show
The Demon King was money last night, but if he’s money next month, he could become a two-time Universal Champion down the road.