WWE Raw Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Aug. 17

WWE returned to Buffalo's KeyBank Center for the August 17th episode of Raw on Netflix.

The tournament to determine the No. 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship and a date with Roman Reigns on September 14 in Mexico City continued, with AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix battling El Fiscal and Dragon Lee squaring off with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr..

Who emerged victoriously from those contests and what happened when The Usos and Jacob Fatu delivered Solo Sikoa to The Tribal Chief?

Find out in this recap, including grades and analysis for each of the night's matches and prominent segments.

Lineup

Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images

Announced in advance of Monday's show were:

• The Bloodline delivers Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns
• Intercontinental Championship Match: Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio
• No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal
• No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
• Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria

Stephanie Vaquer Kicked Off Raw

Melina Pizano/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Stephanie Vaquer lost to Liv Morgan (WrestleMania 42, April 18)

The Judgment Day's Roxanne Perez, Women's Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez, and Women's World Champion Liv Morgan reminded Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch that there is power in numbers to kick off Monday's show.

La Primera called out Morgan, who emerged from the back, flanked by her teammates. She said the criticisms facing her and her reign do not faze her because she is a champion for herself.

Vaquer, unimpressed, reiterated her demand for Morgan to come to the ring. A three-on-one beatdown ensued until Becky Lynch hit the ring to make the save. Together, they cleared the ring. When tension between them reared its head, the heels once again gained the upper hand, leaving both prospective No. 1 contenders lying and standing tall.

This was a solid segment to kick off the night's show, intensifying the heat on the heels while telling the story of two babyfaces who may not be able to overcome the Judgment Day if they fail to find and act on common ground. A three-way match is inevitable, presumably as soon as Money in the Bank in New Orleans. Until then, the story is Vaquer and Lynch putting their own issues aside to combat a common enemy.

Grade

B+

Top Takeaways

• Vaquer's aura and in-ring ability has helped her forge a connection while her promos have continuously improved. That she is over to the extent that she is in a company that values the ability to talk as much as WWE does is a testament to the performer.
• Morgan is such as delightfully unlikable heel. Her ability to rub it in the audience's face, and do so gleefully, helps enhance her effectiveness in her role that much better.

Je'Von Evans vs. JD McDonagh

Kevin Sebatis/WWE via Getty Images

Last Time in Action: Je'Von Evans defeated Ethan Page (Raw, August 3); JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio lost to Chad Gable and Penta (Raw, August 3)

In an impromptu match set up during the commercial break, Evans squared off with McDonagh in singles competition.

A showdown between two workhorses who have been responsible for some of the Raw brand's best in-ring outings over the last year, it saw the Irish Ace focus on the knee of his opponent, only for the Young OG to prove his resilience, stay in the fight, and finish off his opponent with the OG Cutter.

The celebration was cut short, though, as Big Cass attacked out of nowhere. As he made his way to the back, a defiant Evans asked the big man if that was all he had. Evans mounted one last offensive, but Cass again left him lying.

A solid match, coupled with some great fire from the babyface, made this an effective segment. At some point, though, we are going to need to see Cass back in the squared circle, where he will look to prove the growth he has made as a performer between the ropes.

Result

Evans defeated McDonagh

Grade

B

Top Takeaways

• Edginess was one element missing from the fun-loving Evans and this may be the feud that draws that out of him. If so, its success will be about much more than who wins and losses the inevitable match between him and Cass.
• Those who paid attention to Cass' work as W. Morrissey in TNA and Big Bill in AEW know that the big man can hang with Evans, if he is allowed to open up his in-ring performance be more than the destructive force of nature.