Sean Raw Sapp (2/6): RAW Podcast Notes, Samoa Joe Signs, Goldberg, Logic Holes

Opening Segment

• It was so different to see Samoa Joe and hear his music on the USA Network.
• Joe came out looking and sounding like a star. Full suit, great promo. 
• Roman Reigns comes out and introduces himself in another good promo. We'll see them face off tonight.

Nia Jax defeats Bayley

• There's a little segment before the match with Bayley hanging out with Cesaro and Sheamus that I liked.
• Michael Cole announced Nia Jax's weight, which is a very new thing. I don't have a problem with that if it gets her character over.
• Bayley is announced as having a title rematch next week. I get that she beat Charlotte in a tag match last week, but she got pinned clean 8 days ago. Ok.
• Nia Jax hits a slow looking Rainmaker. Why not, right?
• Jax is about to get counted out, but Charlotte causes a distraction. Jax gets a great looking Samoan Drop for the win. Nia runs all the way around Bayley's body to pin towards the hard camera. Weird.
• Bayley was made to look like a dumbass. Nothing makes me want to cheer babyfaces more than them looking stupid!

Braun Strowman kills jobbers

• I've missed these.
• Foley books Strowman vs. Reigns at FastLane.

Akira Tozawa defeated Drew Gulak

• I'm a fan of Tozawa's mouth guard. More wrestlers should wear them.
• Everyone does a suicide dive. They aren't special.
• Tozawa's screams are infectious.
• A snap German suplex finishes it. That'll get over. Sweet move.

Goldberg, JeriKO

• Jericho adds Tom Brady to the list. Heh.
• Jericho wants to face Owens title for title, but Owens shies away.
• Goldberg is out and makes the two top champs on Raw look like a joke. Okay.
• Goldberg challenges Owens at Fastlane, and Jericho accepts on his behalf.
• There was a funny spot where Goldberg added himself to Jericho's list. 
• I'd imagine Owens loses in under 45 seconds.
• So if Goldberg wins, Lesnar gets a title shot after being embarrassed twice.
• Like, why doesn't WWE show Lesnar wrecking Big Show at a live event?

WWE Raw Tag Team Championships
Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. Cesaro & Sheamus

• Enzo & Cass are ringside saying they want a tag title shot. Rusev and Jinder Mahal are the only team they've beaten on WWE TV since July 26.
• Sheamus and Cesaro had a really cool rolling senton into a double foot stomp.
• I would have enjoyed this match a lot more if not for stupid camera zooms. 
• This ends in a DQ when Enzo & Cass get involved at ringside. 

New Day (w/ Kofi Kingston) defeated Shining Stars

• New Day come out and cut a nice little promo.
• New Day win. Sure. Why not?

Backstage CRAPPENINGS!

• Not a lot of backstage crappenin' until almost two hours in!
• Jericho and Owens appear back on the same page. 

United States Championship
Chris Jericho (c) (w/ Kevin Owens) defeated Sami Zayn

• When these two got matched up, I didn't think it'd be anything phenomenal, but it has been both times.
• There are few wrestlers I've seen have better chemistry with Jericho than Zayn, and that's really saying something. I wonder how good it'd be if this were 15 years ago, or if this was the kind of Jericho that brings out the best in Zayn.
• Owens superkicks Zayn to give Jericho a win. Great stuff here.

Cedric Alexander, TJ Perkins and Jack Gallagher defeated Tony Nese, Neville & Noam Dar

• There's a terrible cruiserweight segment where they announce TJ Perkins, Noam Dar, Cedric Alexander, Tony Nese and Jack Gallagher in a top contender match on 205 Live.
• TJ Perkins is such a douche. He should be a heel.
• Alicia FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUX.
• This wasn't very good, but Cedric ended up looking nice out of it.

Samoa Joe defeated Roman Reigns

• Samoa Joe attacks Reigns before the bell and really patty cakes some strikes in there.
• All of Roman Reigns' clotheslines look bad.
• Samoa Joe really looks like he belongs in this spot
• I feel like this could have been a big PPV first time match, but when you need numbers, you gotta settle for Raw I guess. This happens way too much, though.
• Strowman came out and caused Reigns to lose, immediately making Joe a main event player, which is good.
• Strowman destroys, doing his ol' thang. I love the way they've built Strowman, but I feel like we're facing a dilemma. Lesnar can't cost Goldberg the title AND Undertaker cost Reigns a victory. It's one or the other. Uh oh.