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

Bobby Roode watches his competition tear each other apart. Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

Finn Balor vs. Braun Strowman

Result: Finn Balor defeated Braun Strowman via disqualification

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

Kevin Owens joined the proceedings for commentary, which raises the odds of an interference finish from “maybe” to “it happened already and you just didn’t see it.” After last week’s terrific main event clash between Balor and Strowman, you just get that feeling that this week would be a schmozz finish.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1001258105936666624

As Braun just viciously assaulted Balor without mercy, Owens went on and on about how “there’s always someone to blame” when he falls short. On the one hand, I love that he’s playing the blame game, because it’s just good heel work. You shouldn’t want to cheer someone who whines like a baby when things don’t go his way, rather than accept his fate. But on the other hand, it makes the action in the ring secondary.

Still, Owens is a layered enough character to pull off everything required of him. He manages to keep some focus on the match, like when he just whipped out a crowd mic and taunted both superstars. And he stays true to his character throughout, too. He claims he doesn’t know what SmackDown superstars are in the MITB match because “I don’t watch SmackDown.” And why would he? He reminds the commentary team that he’s a “prizefighter” who’s been without a prize for far too long, too.

And of course, just as Balor gets going and looks like he may pull off an upset, there’s KO to prevent a second Coup de Grace, giving us the DQ finish that was as plain as the nose on your face. Strowman shows his displeasure with the whole thing by throwing a ladder about 20 feet up the ramp, which oh my god.

This week’s match wasn’t nearly as good as last week’s, because it was too derivative without adding anything to it. The DQ finish, though expected, also took away from the match. Still it wasn’t all bad, since Braun is a freak of nature and can throw people further than most can throw a baseball.