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

C’mon, Seth, it’s not that bad. Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

Kevin Owens & Jinder Mahal (w/ Sunil Singh) vs. Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins

Result: Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins defeated Kevin Owens & Jinder Mahal via pinfall

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

If there was any doubt that the first hour of WWE Raw tonight was labeled as “GET ROMAN OVER” on the script, the finish of his singles match with Owens and the start of the tag match should remove that doubt. Let’s take a look at everything that happened since the show kicked off:

• Stephanie McMahon returns and makes it clear she’s not on Roman’s side
• Kevin Owens, ostensibly a heel, sarcastically talks about how much he likes Roman Reigns
• Even foreign heel Jinder Mahal costs Reigns a victory by interfering in the match
• Hottest talent on Raw, Seth Rollins, runs in to make the save
• Reigns is placed in a second consecutive match, this time teaming with hottest talent on Raw Seth Rollins

If this guy can’t hold on to some of the cheers he’s getting tonight, he doesn’t deserve to be the top guy. I don’t care how much certain parts of the WWE Universe are trying to sabotage his push with unfounded boos. The company is making butt tons of money, especially after the new TV deals go into effect. The guy is getting pushed regardless of what the “die-hards” want. But Reigns needs to keep the more casual, laid-back fans on his side to justify things.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/998727132959264768

Honestly, the only negative about this tag match is that it most likely eliminates this week’s Intercontinental Championship Open Challenge. But holy cow, was he awesome off the hot tag in this match, or what? The whole suicide dive sequence was ridiculous, some of the moves he took looked brutal with a capital B, and the Blackout off the almost reversal was beautiful.

Jinder’s post-match assault with the steel chair was the perfect punctuation to this match. It keeps the Jinder/Roman story going, it opens the possibility of a future Rollins feud, and it continues the trend of the first hour — get Reigns cheered. Mission accomplished.