Money in the Bank focus
In a rather random opening, Raw kicks off with all of the Money in the Bank participants standing on ladders. Kevin Owens throws a jab at Sami Zayn as Chris Jericho interrupts. Kevin Owens takes the mic back and plugs the WWE Network. He claims that he'll win the match, and the title, and he'll defend against everyone from the Nation of Domination to Waylon Mercy. Sami Zayn interrupts, Dean Ambrose interrupts (claiming he'll fight a polar bear, as Alberto Del Rio interrupts). Jericho and Cesaro talk.
Jericho claims to have won a money in the bank match when he obviously hasn't. Everyone except Jericho slowly climbs down as Ambrose knocks him off the ladder. A fight between everyone breaks out...as Teddy Long comes out? Jericho insults Teddy and Stephanie McMahon comes out and confronts Teddy Long. Stephanie mentions that Teddy isn't GM and he asked for Shane. Shane isn't in the arena. Teddy leaves as Stephanie announces THREE blockbuster matches between all six participants. Jericho v Cesaro is impromptu. Jericho submits to the sharpshooter.
The United States Championship
We come back from a commercial with an advertisement for Seth Rollins v Roman Reigns. Lana introduces The United States Champion, Rusev as he competes against Jack Swagger, as Titus O'Neill joins the announce booth. Rusev shoves Swagger into Titus. Titus and Swagger do the We the People. The U.S. title picture is odd as we speak because of Swagger's involvement. The WWE, however, wouldn't be stupid enough to put him back into the fold....or would they?
Why did AJ Styles turn heel?
We come back from break with the 15-time World Champion, John Cena, who has only been back a week and is already the most interesting story on the show. Cena compares AJ Styles to The Rock. Cena calls out AJ Styles asking for an explanation. AJ is joined by The Club. AJ Styles explains why...he had a plan that worked. Styles claims that Cena insults him whenever the bell rings and it burns John Cena up inside that he can't beat AJ Styles. Cena calls Styles a bust. Styles claims that the Club is his insurance policy so that he doesn't get buried by Cena's politics. Just when it seems that the Club will take out Cena, The New Day make the save.
Tag Team action
We get the "badaboom, realist guys in the room," Enzo and Cass. Colin Cassady quotes Muhammad Ali. They do their shtick, claiming that the Vaudevillians are "Sawft." This is the first tag team match between the teams since Amore's whiplash. Aiden English attempts to "injure" Enzo the same way, as Cass gets them DQ'ed. Teddy mentions a tag team fatal four-way match at Money in the Bank. It will be the New Day defending against the Club, The Vaudevillians and Enzo and Cass.
Del Rio makes quick work of Sami Zayn. After a fantastic match, Dean Ambrose pins Kevin Owens off of a Dirty Deeds.
Women's action
Next is Charlotte (The Women's Champion) and Dana Brooke. Charlotte claims that she only means he's dead to him professionally. Natalya and Becky Lynch interrupt. Charlotte's mention of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart was amazing. Charlotte and Dana Brooke attack Natalya and Becky Lynch. Dana hits the Samoan Driver on Lynch as Natalya passes out to the rear-naked choke.
This is followed by another pointless Golden Truth-Breezedango filler. Teddy Long switches it from one-on-one to a tag team match. Stephanie lets Teddy out of the building saying she will run Smackdown.
Main Event
The Main Event is The Club (AJ Styles included) taking on The New Day. The match never began and AJ Styles took out Xavier Woods with a Styles Clash on the floor. Though the New Day end up with the control win the bell rings (in a 3-on-2 handicap match), Gallows and Styles take out Big E and the Club takes control. AJ Styles pins Kofi Kingston off of the phenomenal forearm as they attack the New Day. John Cena comes out for the save as the Club retreat. Styles attacks Cena from behind. The New Day return the favor as Cena and the New Day stand tall.
Author's Notes: The Money in the Bank opening segment seemed like it dragged on. However, Teddy Long was a big mark-out moment (at least for this writer). Cesaro and Jericho put on a decent match. The Walls into the Cesaro swing was amazing, and from there into the sharpshooter.
Vince probably hired AJ and brought back Shane to troll the IWC and portray them on TV. Using Enzo's injury as heat was fantastic.
Becky needs to be quiet until she has a character. It's bugging because Sasha's character feels complete and Charlotte's does. Becky's does not, it's missing something. No matter how great she can be in the ring, she'll never get far. This Natalya-Charlotte feud needs to end now. It was old after Extreme Rules and let Charlotte face Paige or somebody other than one of the two.
Overall rating: 7.5.