WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, and Grades for August 20, 2018

Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

UUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

It’s times like these when I remember that WWE is less a “wrestling” business today than it used to be. The company still touts itself as a “sports entertainment” promotion, but that’s not their business, either. WWE is all about moments.

There doesn’t need to be a reason for the moments, or any meaningful context. What WWE wants is enough footage to make sizzle reels until the end of time. If it can end up in a video package spliced together with fan reactions, it’s gold.

You can’t put an entire match in a highlight reel, but you can damn sure put Shane McMahon falling off the Hell in a Cell. You can’t put an entire, years-long Daniel Bryan feud with The Miz in a YouTube clip, but Ronda Rousey putting Triple H through a table is perfect.

So Stephanie is out here to try and set up another “moment,” nothing more. In fairness to Steph, this time it was all part of her gimmick as the evil heel boss. Ronda came out to put her in her place pretty quickly, but it doesn’t matter. If you ironically watch a TV show because you “hate it,” guess what — you’re still watching it.

So Steph tries to turn the entire Raw Women’s Division against Rousey, who immediately stands up for everyone else because she knows all of Stephanie’s games. When Steph doubles down, Ronda stands her ground, and then we get our “moments” — Rousey judo throwing Steph and locking in an armbar, and the babyfaces in the division all celebrating together.

Now put that in your highlight reels, WWE, and go back to booking feuds that lead to the moments organically, instead of this contrived nonsense.