WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, and Grades for August 6, 2018

Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

Alicia Fox (w/ Alexa Bliss) vs. Ronda Rousey (w/ Natalya)

Result: Ronda Rousey defeated Alicia Fox via submission

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

With less than ten minutes remaining in the broadcast when the segment began, seeing Charly Caruso in the ring to interview Bliss and Fox got the conspiracy theory section of my brain working overtime. If there was such little time left, what kind of shenanigans were going to happen? A pre-match attack? A ridiculously quick squash? Or an insanely long overrun?

Rousey’s music hit at 11:03 p.m. ET — officially, two minutes before the end of the show, but there’s always an overrun. The match was given the type of introductions usually reserved for title matches — both competitors in the ring. Big fight feel.

More from Daily DDT

• It’s time for Adam Cole and MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles
• Tom Lawlor talks MLW return, AEW opportunity, CM Punk’s WWE return and more
• Eddie Kingston stands to gain the most from the AEW Continental Classic
• Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
• Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline

Once again, Rousey lived up to expectations, and then some. At some point, I’ll stop writing about Rousey being better than expected, but for someone who’s only had three matches, you’re still kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Her first match was a mixed tag, so it wasn’t on her to carry the whole match. When she had her first singles match, it was buried in the middle of a pay per view, even though it was for the Raw Women’s Championship.

Tonight, all eyes were on Rousey in the main event. Fox may be the most tenured member of the WWE women’s division, but she wasn’t the center of attention. This was a sink or swim moment for Ronda, and she paddled to shore without a worry.

There was a bit too much outside interference for my liking — Bliss got involved way too much, and it disrupted the flow of the match. But the ultimate goal, getting Rousey over, was accomplished, and now there’s another SummerSlam match that is must see.

The post-match interview was unnecessary, but it makes things feel more like the UFC, which makes Rousey feel at home. All in all, it was a very successful match for Rousey, Fox looked pretty good, and SummerSlam looks better than before the match. That’s a win in my book.

What did you think of WWE Raw this week?