WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, and Grades for July 23, 2018

Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

Finn Bálor vs. Drew McIntyre (w/ Dolph Ziggler)

Result: Finn Bálor defeated Drew McIntyre via disqualification

Rating: uuuuuuugh, really? A DQ here? out of 5 stars

Prior to the match, Dolph and Drew cut a cellphone promo about how they’re doing exactly what they said they would, and Drew would be in Universal Championship contention tonight if not for Bálor. Hey, look, someone who’s trying to use continuity! It’ll never work.

Elias was back out to perform before the match, and now I’m thinking he doesn’t really want to plug his album. At this point, he has to know he’s getting interrupted. Also, it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that everyone who cut off Elias tonight besides the Authors of Pain have feuded with him. Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Finn Bálor.

Anyway, would anyone be surprised if I said this was a great match? Well, for almost all of it. Ziggler interfered to cause a DQ, which was a pretty big letdown after an awesome match. Seth Rollins ran in to make the save, and Kurt Angle contracted Teddy Long Disorder as he restarted the match as a tag team match, playa.

Finn Bálor & Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler

Result: Finn Bálor & Seth Rollins defeated Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler via pinfall

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

It didn’t take long for the match to continue being amazing. Four incredible talents at their absolute peaks right now, you’d be hard pressed to find a better collection of talent on the WWE roster.

I really think out of all four superstars, Finn Bálor did the most to impress in this one. McIntyre was no slouch, but Finn really stood out, first in the singles portion on offense, then in the tag match selling his rear end off. I feel like I talk about stop and start pushes a lot, but Finn is one of the most notable victims.

https://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/1021579420111273984

The only reason I say Seth Rollins wasn’t the most impressive is because this was business as usual for the Kingslayer. I really thought he was done after the reverse Alabama Slam by McIntyre, but we haven’t had a good “He’s pinned the Intercontinental Champion!” moment for a while.

Great match, regardless of my least favorite title match build in history.

Bob’s Listening to the Beastie Boys Again, Isn’t He?

“No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” is the lamest pun in regards to major wrestling shows in Barclays Center. I know this, because I’ve made it a million times, notably when Hideo Itami returned at TakeOver: Brooklyn II and hit Austin Aries with a GTS.