This week's Raw was designated Championship Monday and the show started with a bang as Dolph Ziggler made his red brand debut and called out the current champion, setting up one of the main events for Extreme Rules.
From there, Nia Jax commandeered the ring until R-Truth wondered if she was really a ninja in disguise. The Raw tag team championships were defended between new friends and there were more title bouts to come. Seth Rollins had a message for Rey Mysterio and Ric Flair was going to present the greatest wrestler in the world tag to Randy Orton. Assuming, of course, unless the Rated-R Superstar or Big Show had something to say about it.
Here are your winners and losers for Raw, June 22, 2020:
Winner: Ziggler Debuts
Drew McIntyre came out and started Monday's Raw claiming it was going to be a special night. Before he could go any further, Dolph Ziggler trotted down to the ring and let everyone know he was now on Raw as part of the AJ Styles trade to SmackDown. Joining him down the road would be his current tag team partner Robert Roode.
Ziggler then told McIntyre he wouldn't be champion if it weren't for The Showoff helping Drew rise up the WWE ranks. He said he wants what he's owed and is looking for a shot at the WWE Championship. McIntyre claimed that Ziggler hasn't exactly torn it up since the two of them split as former tag team partners and added Ziggler has become what they used to despise, an entitled jack ass. "You think the world owes you something, but it doesn't."
Still, McIntyre did admit that he needed an opponent for Extreme Rules. But before accepting, McIntyre asked Dolph to imagine what he's capable of if he's trying to hold onto the title. Dolph nodded that he still wanted the bout and McIntyre proclaimed the match was official.
There were rumors Ziggler was being moved over and this match was bound to happen sooner than later. There's too much history not to address the elephant in the room and it's wise for WWE to put these two in a ring immediately and while Roode is out. This isn't a great sign for Ziggler, who will probably get run over by the Scottish Psychopath, but it should be fun to watch and Ziggler can do a lot to shine a light on his ability.
Loser: Nia Jax and Charlotte War of Words
Jax refused to the let show go on until she got a chance to air her grievances with Charlotte Flair. Fortunately, she was quickly interrupted by R-Truth who wasn't sure if Jax was really Jax or Akira Tozawa in disguise. After all, ninjas are masters of deception. When real Tozawa did finally show up, the two eventually ran off, leaving the opening for Charlotte to come down to the ring. She and Jax debated over who was better and more deserving of a title shot.
The talking didn't last long as things broke down and the officials couldn't keep the two separated. Charlotte then displayed that she might have hurt her left arm before having to go into a match with Asuka later in the night.
Jax is tough to watch on the mic but Truth was hilarious. That said, outside of Truth, this segment dragged on. There was probably a better way to get to a similar end result.
Winner: Street Profits vs Viking Raiders
It was nice to see an actual match after all the goofiness that has been the Viking Profits working together. Both teams met backstage prior to the match suggesting the time for talk, and all other fun and games, was over.
Outside of an unnecessary string of cartwheels that took away from the competitiveness of the match itself, and the fact the match wasn't long enough to justify the multi-week build with the silly skits, this contest was fast-paced and entertaining. The Street Profits picked up their first win over The Viking Raiders, successfully defending their titles. The two teams stood in the ring after the match and hugged it out.
The right booking choice was made as Angel Garza and Andrade then attacked The Street Profits after the match until The Raiders came back to help their buddies.
TBD: Rollins Sends Message to Rey
'Whatever comes to your son, that is on you' was the message Seth Rollins sent to Rey Mysterio. He added, "The greater good is coming for us all, and there's nothing YOU can do to stop it."
Winner: Asuka vs. Flair
Working with what might be a sore arm, the second title bout of the night was the Raw Women's Championship match, one that Jax was watching closely from backstage. It was an incredible match for how short it was. Charlotte sold the injury and Asuka stayed with the Asuka-lock to eventually retain her championship.
When asked for comment from Jax, she said noted "it would a real shame for someone to kick the queen while she's down", hinting that Jax would be targeting Charlotte far beyond this bout. She attacked Flair just minutes later backstage.
It's nice to see all the parties here move on to new feuds and perhaps Charlotte can make Jax look good in the ring after weeks of her earning a lot of heat for in-ring mistakes.
Winner: Rated-R Superstar Is Back
Saying Orton has woken up a side of Edge that will do whatever is necessary to get what he wants, Edge plans to embarrass Orton and emasculate him, Edge has his eyes set on Orton when he's able to return. Suggesting Orton's attack on Christian was unforgivable, Edge is going to infect his life and tear it apart brick-by-brick from the inside. "You have no idea what you've done. You woke up the evil, You woke up the Rated-R Supestar."
Orton responded by saying a snake will have to do what is has to when cornered. "I strike, sometimes blindly and wildly." Orton plans to do what he needs to do to survive. He said that as long he Edge and Christian stay far away from him, they'll live long, happy lives.
These two promos were absolutely terrific. Edge bringing back an old persona gives fans something to look forward to in his absence. Orton teasing he's willing to go to any length makes a third match between these two something fans should actually want.
Winner: Akira Wins 24/7 Title
When the ninjas, under the rule of Akira Tozawa showed up on the Raw following Backlash, the brief screen time that Tozawa and R-Truth was given hinted that these two could be gold together. That the ninjas keep returning and Tozawa has now won the 24/7 Championship, this partnership just works.
Ultimately, Truth will get the belt back and until he does, having these two work together should be a lot of fun. Sometimes making really talented wrestlers do their thing as a comedy act gets people insulted. Truth has done an amazing result with it. Tozawa is made from the same stuff.
Loser: Natalya vs. Liv Morgan
Other than to try and sell Natalya as a full-fledged heel, this match meant absolutely nothing. This Lana and Nattie partnership felt thrown together, even though Raw teased their alignment.
Winner: Big Show Calls Out Orton
There was nothing wrong with promo that saw Orton and Big Show at each other's throats, and while this might not be the feud everyone wants, the eventual match between Orton and Show is just a matter of not having an opponent for Orton with unexpected injuries changing plans. Credit where it's due, the two performers tried to sell the idea that this could be interesting.
Orton and Show is filler at best but it's not the worst filler in the world. Stuff like this would mean a lot more if Show wasn't often used in goofy comedy acts, switching from heel to babyface so often. It's hard to believe he's a man of principle now. Fans will just have to look past all that and realize Show is a utility tool at this point in his career.
Winner: Banks Teases Challenge To Bayley
After successfully defending the Women's Tag Titles against the Iiconics, Sasha Banks got everyone excited when she stood face-to-face with Bayley and said she was jealous her best friend was a two-title champion. She wanted some.
As the crowd cheered "Yes!", Banks then swerved everyone by challenging Auska for the Raw Women's Title. As Asuka came down to accept, Bayley blindsided the red brand champ and the tag champs left The Empress of Tomorrow laying.
This was a good tease that will eventually become reality. But, while WWE slow-plays that turn, they'll build up the anticipation for it. In the meantime, Banks vs. Asuka could be great with Banks and Bayley potentially holding four titles between them.
Winner/Loser: Crews vs Benjamin
MVP offered up his services to Apollo Crews again, this time being a bit more forceful wit his delivery. Crews claimed he didn't need MVP's group and he was able to prove it by getting the win over the challenger. His reward was getting attacked by Bobby Lashley.
Perhaps MVP pounds Crews down into finally agreeing to aligning himself with his group that now seems to consist of Benjamin and Lashley. Until that happens, Crews will get a chance to show his stuff against some pretty good in-ring talent with an excelled promo guy leading the way.
The only issue here is that is appears to remove Lashley from the main event scene. It was a short stay.
Winner: Dominik and Rey Pick a Fight
The closing segment of the show was chaotic, but didn't really go anywhere. There was no real message from Rollins, no swerve, and nothing new necessarily added to the storyline, other than teasing the idea that Rollins is prepared to do to Dominik what he did to Rey. It didn't pay off and there are now a lot of people involved here.
We'll have to give this time to see where it goes. The potential negative to all of this is how Aleister Black is now just another performer on Raw. That "special" quality seems to be leaving him quickly.