Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
The June 18 edition of WWE Raw followed up a successful Money In The Bank pay-per-view with a night filled with twists and turns that helped reshape the landscape of Monday nights.
The post-Money In The Bank edition of WWE Raw saw a shocking title change as well as an update on the future of the Universal Championship picture. Extreme Rules is nearly a month away, but the red brand has begun to focus on the event in some capacity already.
Last night’s show saw several important developments in other key angles as well. With that being said, let’s take a look at five key takeaways from the June 18 edition of WWE Raw.
5. The B-Team Keeps Getting Better
Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel have had a solid 2018 and it started with the two operating as lackeys for The Miz, dubbed The Miztourage. But since The Miz was sent to SmackDown during the superstar shakeup, many felt Dallas and Axel would go back to irrelevancy.
However, the two have made the most out of their opportunity to go on their own and thus, The B-Team was born. Dallas and Axel got a couple wins and eventually got an even bigger win to earn a Raw Tag Team Championship opportunity against Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, but last night was all about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.
Hardy and Wyatt took on Heath Slater and Rhyno, but just before the match started, Dallas and Axel were seen backstage dressed just like Hardy and Wyatt. Axel sounded and looked just like Hardy while Dallas sounded and looked just like Wyatt, his real-life brother. It was truly funny to see and The B-Team’s comedic relief has been stellar as of late.
There’s no sure-fire date as to when The B-Team will face The Deleters Of Worlds for the tag team titles, but the duo will have plenty of momentum heading into it. Perhaps it could come at Extreme Rules next month, but in the meantime, Dallas and Axel probably have more comedy up their collective sleeve.
The B-Team is the comedic and refreshing tag team that Monday nights need and that was apparent last night.
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
4. Sasha Banks and Bayley’s Tumultuous Friendship Reaches Its Climax
For weeks and even months, the WWE universe has seen the friendship between Sasha Banks and Bayley take many twists and turns. The two have been essential parts to the WWE’s women’s evolution and have been on-screen friends for years, but that has all began to change lately.
The two have seemingly been on the brink of a breakup for a long time now, but after last night’s development, it appears as if that has finally happened once and for all. It started with the two teaming together to face Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan of The Riott Squad in tag team action and as expected, not being on the same page would ultimately cost Banks and Bayley.
Bayley’s inadvertent distraction caused Banks to lose the upper hand and Logan and Morgan picked up the win to keep the momentum rolling for The Riott Squad. And after the match, Banks was heated and walked away from Bayley. The Hugger wasn’t done, however, and she approached Banks backstage. That wouldn’t turn out the greatest for either individual.
A brawl broke out and then later in the night, Bayley tried to reconcile as Banks was leaving in her car. However, Banks wanted no part of it and she said she was finished with Bayley. This seems to be the final nail in the coffin of the feud between these two and could lead to a payoff match sometime in the near future.
The Boss and The Hugger have teased it for weeks, but their friendship might have finally come to a screeching halt last night.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
3. Unpredictability Surrounding Brock Lesnar’s Next Challenger
The part-time Beast Incarnate and Universal Champion Brock Lesnar hasn’t been seen in the WWE since retaining his title at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in late-April amidst confusion surrounding the ending. But the WWE has begun the search for his next opponent at a date to be confirmed later.
Lesnar probably won’t defend his title until SummerSlam, but last night shined a light on how his next opponent would be determined. Kurt Angle announced that there would be a multi-man match at Extreme Rules to determine the number one contender for the Universal Championship. This led to the emergence of Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley, both wanting to get a piece of The Beast Incarnate.
Angle said they would both be in the match, but no other superstars were officially announced for the match. Reigns and Lashley went on to defeat The Revival in tag team action later in the night with Lashley one-upping Reigns at the end. We know these two will be in the match at Extreme Rules, but who else will join them?
Not only is that still unknown at this point, but nobody knows how many superstars will be in the match to begin with. There are several other superstars deserving of a shot, but if the match is only a Fatal 4-Way, there are only two other spots open. A Six-Pack Challenge might be the best way to go in order to get a fair amount of superstars in play.
Extreme Rules will see the new number one contender for Lesnar’s title crowned, but there are still unknowns surrounding the makeup of that match.
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2. Ronda Rousey Is The Rebel The Women’s Division Needs
The WWE has seen its fair share of rebellious superstars over the years. Many of them have gone on to become all-time great superstars, but not many have been women and not many have been women that have the reputation of Ronda Rousey.
Rousey has made a huge splash in the WWE since officially making her debut at the Royal Rumble. She went on to have a marquee performance at WrestleMania 34 and at Money In The Bank over the weekend, had another marquee performance against Nia Jax with the Raw Women’s Championship on the line.
However, thanks to Alexa Bliss and her subsequent cash-in, Rousey’s night ended on a sour note when it looked like she was primed to become the new champion. The Rowdy One wanted retribution last night and she was having no part of Bliss’s mouth. Rousey attacked her even as Kurt Angle tried to stop her, which proved to be Angle’s downfall at the same time.
Rousey went at Angle on a couple different occasions, but she really left a mark on Bliss when she put Bliss through the table set up in the ring. She also attacked several officials as well, ultimately leading Angle to suspend her for 30 days due to all of her actions. Rousey is a superstar that the women’s division needs and provides a rebellious spark like no other woman on the roster.
There’s no telling if this 30-day suspension will actually materialize, but The Rowdy One is getting even more rowdy and rebellious as time goes on.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
1. Dolph Ziggler’s Intercontinental Championship Win Comes Out Of Nowhere, But Could Be Beneficial
No superstar has performed at a higher level in the WWE in 2018 than Seth Rollins. The Architect has been on a run the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time in the WWE while carrying the Intercontinental Championship with pride, having great match after great match in the process.
Rollins had a successful title defense at Money In The Bank against Elias, but just 24 hours later, the fighting champion he is issued an open challenge for his title. The duo of Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre answered the challenge with Ziggler ultimately getting the nod to face Rollins for the title. And as expected, it was a very good match between two in-ring masters.
It didn’t seem like a Ziggler win was in the cards last night, but the WWE fooled everyone. Towards the end, a nonchalant roll-up by Rollins and a brief lack of focus with McIntyre gaining his attention on the outside led to Ziggler countering Rollins with a roll-up and he got the shocking win in the process. The Showoff is now a six-time Intercontinental Champion out of nowhere.
At first glance, having Ziggler dethrone the hottest champion on Monday nights seems like a bad idea. But Ziggler has proven how great he can be time and time again, so this time should be no different no matter how long or short his reign is. Not to mention, it opens the door for Rollins to return to the world title picture where he has been trending in the direction towards for months.
Next: WWE Raw Review For June 18 Show
The Showoff has the Intercontinental Championship, but even if Rollins doesn’t win the title back next week, there should be brighter days for The Architect.