(4) THE NEW DAY (w/Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston w/Big E) vs. A.J. STYLES & OMOS – Raw Tag Team Title match
Styles started the match, and Kofi and Xavier battled him for several minutes. Kofi blocked Styles from making a tag a few minutes in. He left the rin gand ran around to his side of the ring and tried to tag in Omos. Xavier blocked him, knocked him back to the floor, and kicked him. Saxton wondered if it’s possible Omos will never get to tag in. Xavier scored a two count on Omos. Xavier climbed to the top rope, and Styles sat up and smiled and leaped over to tag in Omos. Xavier screeched when he realized his miscalculation.
Xavier and Omos squared off. Xavier dropkicked Omos. Omos no-sold it and made a face. Kofi tagged in, but Omos blocked him and just flipped him over with ease with just a swing of his arm. Omos stood over him, and they used low camera angles to accentuate his size. He tossed New Day into opposite corners and then threw running elbows at both of htem. He then gave Xavier a backbreaker. He applied a claw to Xavier as he was bent backwards over his knee. He picked up Kofi with one arm and gave him a one-armed slam. Styles snuck in a flying Phenomenal Forearm on Kofi without legally tagging in. Omos lifted Kofi, had a few words for him, and then gave him a high double-arm slam. Omos put one foot on Kofi’s chest and pinned him. Cole called it one of the most incredible first-time performances in WWE history.
WINNERS: Styles & Omos in 9:00 to capture the Raw Tag Team Titles. (*3/4)
They must have big, big plans for Omos because that made a gigantic statement that size beats all. I’m glad they snuck in a Phenomenal Forearm so it wasn’t just Omos no-selling and decimating New Day single-handedly, but still. It’s difficult to star-rate a match like that which was built around some early good action with Styles, but the entire focus was always on Omos. Omos has good presence, but he didn’t do much. Running from one corner to another the most athletic thing he did. He had appropriate facial expressions and timing for what he was asked to do, and Kofi and Xavier were certainly good sports in selling for him like that to make him look like the Next Big Big Thing.
(5) BRAUN STROWMAN vs. SHANE MCMAHON
Shane danced out first to his music. Lawler defended Shane and said people are underestimating him. He was mainly on commentary to make jokes at Braun’s expense, it seemed. As Braun was about to enter the cage, Elias and Jackson Ryker attacked him with a chair, focusing on his leg. Then they threw Braun and Elias handed Shane the chair before the cage door was locked shut.
Shane bashed Braun with the chair for a minute until Braun blocked it. Shane pushed through, though. He called for the door to open and tried to leave early. Braun stopped him. Shane climbed up the cage. Braun grabbed him and pulled him down. He yelled he was “about to get these hands!” Shane kicked Braun’s leg and then danced around the ring. Braun limped around as Shane continued to kick away at him.
They battled back and forth for a few minutes. Shane landed the Coast to Coast. Ryder and Elias climbed the side of the cage to try to help Shane over the top. Braun charged and knocked Elias and Ryker off the side of the cage. Shane fell back into the ring.
Shane and Braun climbed to the top of the cage. Shane grabbed a tool box that was up there and smashed Braun in the head with it. Braun fell to the ground. Lawler asked, “How ironic was it that Shane McMahon used a tool box to hit that tool Braun Strowman. Shane climbed over the cage and began climbing down. He put his hand through a cage opening to taunt Braun. Braun grabbed Shane’s hand, then broke the wall of the cage, peeling it away. He pulled Shane back into the ring and pummeled his ribs.
Braun stood on top of the cage and grabbed Shane by his lapel. He threw Shane off the top. Shane flipped mid-air and landed hard. Cole said Braun just yelled, “Who’s stupid now?” Cole said Shane could be broken in half and he hasn’t moved. Braun got back down and yelled at Shane that this is for every person who has ever been called stupid. He then gave Shane his running powerslam for the win.
WINNER: Strowman. (**1/2)
That’s pretty much what you’d want out of this match. An unfair advantage for Shane early to explain him getting in any offense. Shane using a tool box to his advantage. Shane getting cocky. Braun using brains and brawn to stop Shane on the verge of victory. And then a big Shane bump followed by a clean win for Braun.
