WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 31

Just one week after Sting returned to WWE and made it known that he intends to challenge Seth Rollins for the world heavyweight championship at Night of Champions, The Icon returned to Monday Night Raw to confront The Architect.

What went down when the future Hall of Famer and The Authority's hand-picked golden boy shared the same arena for the first time since last week's broadcast?

The WWE Divas took center stage as Charlotte, Paige and Becky Lynch competed in a Beat the Clock Challenge aimed at crowning a top contender to the Divas title.

Which of the Team PCB members emerged with a guaranteed shot at ending Nikki Bella's title reign?

And in a rematch from SummerSlam, Dolph Ziggler and Rusev's personal rivalry escalated.

Who got the last laugh on this night, and how did Summer Rae and Lana factor into the proceedings?

Fans got their answers as Raw hit the USA Network airwaves Monday evening.

Sting Kicks Off the Show

A week after making his first televised appearance since WrestleMania, Sting kicked off Monday's show with an in-ring promo addressing Seth Rollins.

He took exception with the WWE World Heavyweight champion claiming he belongs in the same company as Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant and The Ultimate Warrior.

Sting recalled Triple H shaking his hand after beating him at WrestleMania, and shaking his hand, he then vowed to prove to the world that Rollins is not half the man the COO is.

Backstage, Rollins complained to Stephanie McMahon about Sting's words, to which the principal owner of WWE seemed unsympathetic.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was quick and painless, with Sting cutting a promo that helped sell his upcoming match with Rollins, and the champion retorting by complaining to Stephanie.

Rollins complaining about his statue seemingly sets up a scenario for later in the show involving it, Rollins and The Stinger.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev

Rusev took out weeks of frustration on Ziggler throughout the first half of the match, using his considerable strength to ground The Showoff as a concerned Lana watched from ringside. The former world champion's sleeper halted the Bulgarian Brute's momentum.

Late in the match, an exhausted Ziggler sent Rusev into the steps, leaving both lying outside the squared circle. The official counted to eight, and fans feared a second, consecutive double-count-out finish.

Despite controlling the majority of the bout, the Bulgarian Brute found himself down and out, about to be defeated by his main nemesis when Summer Rae interfered, drawing a disqualification victory for Ziggler.

Result

Dolph Ziggler defeated Rusev by disqualification.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The in-ring action here was very solid, as is almost always the case when Ziggler and Rusev square off. The storytelling was better than SummerSlam because this one built off what they delivered last time.

The double-count-out tease was fantastic, and the fact that the fans reacted the way they did proved that the workers had them in the palms of their hands.

Summer Rae interfering to cause the DQ was the right finish in that it keeps the rivalry going without delivering some convoluted finish involving the Divas.

It was a strong match with even better booking for a program that desperately needed it.

Beat the Clock Match: Becky Lynch vs. Alicia Fox

Nikki Bella insincerely discussed what an honor it is for her to serve as the Divas division's centerpiece prior to the first Beat the Clock Challenge match of the night, which was a showdown between Team Bella's Alicia Fox and PCB's Becky Lynch.

A former Divas champion in her own right, Fox proved a tough match for Lynch, using her feet to punish the Irish-born competitor. Showing great resiliency and being ever mindful of every passing second, Lynch fought back and applied the Disarmer for the submission victory.

Result

Becky Lynch defeated Alicia Fox via submission at 3:21.

Grade

C-

Analysis

As soon as the Beat the Clock Challenge was announced, this writer feared the entire ordeal would be rife with rushed matches that did not give the Divas the opportunity to showcase their skills.

One match in, that appeared to be the case as Lynch and Fox sprinted through a sloppy match that did neither any favors.

Lynch won the match with the armbar finisher, which was the right decision, and set the time to beat at 3:21. In doing so, though, she looked less-than-stellar.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Ryback vs. Big Show

The never-ending rivalry between Ryback and Big Show over the intercontinental belt continued Monday night, as The Big Guy defended his title against The World's Largest Athlete. Making matters even more stagnant was the fact that The Miz sat in on commentary.

Big Show dominated Ryback throughout the early portion of the bout, even taking the time to grab a microphone and chastise the same fans who had been calling for him to retire for months. He worked over the champion with a DDT, followed by a Cobra Clutch, much to the chagrin of the WWE Universe.

The Big Guy fought his way back into the match with a spinebuster, kicked out of a chokeslam and slammed Big Show off the top rope. The Miz's well-timed distraction allowed Ryback to deliver Shell Shocked on his massive opponent and successfully defend his title.

Result

Ryback defeated Big Show via pinfall.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Ryback and Big Show have a unique chemistry that allows them to work a very entertaining heavyweight style. The high-impact offense in spots kept the crowd invested, while the near-falls had fans on the edge of their seats.

The finish suggests that the three-way feud over the title is nowhere near finished, while one has to wonder why that would be the case. Ryback has beaten both of his top contenders on numerous occasions. He should be free to move on to a new, fresh feud, but instead he finds himself stuck working the same guys he has for the last two months.

The rivalry is beyond stale, and for all intents and purposes, it wrapped up at SummerSlam.

A good match helped this one earn a higher grade, but booking knocked it down a peg or two.

Beat the Clock Match: Charlotte vs. Brie Bella

The second of three Beat the Clock Challenge matches hit the ring as Charlotte squared off with Brie Bella in an attempt to best the 3:21 time Becky Lynch achieved earlier in the evening.

Brie repeatedly bailed out of the ring, watching as the seconds passed by and attempting to keep Charlotte from earning a title shot at Nikki Bella. She failed miserably, falling prey to a neckbreaker at 1:40.

Result

Charlotte defeated Brie Bella via pinfall at 1:40.

Grade

D+

Analysis

Consider the plus in the above grade a testament to the story told over the course of the match, which centered around Brie trying to avoid a beating in order to prevent Charlotte from beating the clock.

Otherwise, the match further cemented this writer's fear that each of the three matches would be robbed of time. There was nothing to this bout whatsoever. It closely resembled the same old Divas matches that drew fans' and critics' ire alike for so many years.

Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens

At SummerSlam, Kevin Owens defeated Cesaro in a hard-fought match between two guys jockeying for position in the overall picture in WWE. Monday night, they renewed their rivalry, proving that the annual August pay-per-view meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.

The Swiss Superman' big vertical suplex and double stomp helped him take control early. Determined to avenge the loss that threatened his momentum at SummerSlam, he pummeled Owens with stiff uppercuts, driving the air out of his opponent.

Showing great ring awareness, Owens dropped Cesaro back-first on the ring apron and wrestled control of the bout away from his opponent with a senton. The former NXT champion caught his opponent with the cannonball and worked a headlock as he continued to cut off the energy and momentum Cesaro brought to the early portion of the bout.

An exchange of open-hand palm strikes brought the crowd to life, and the crossface had Cesaro surging late. Unfortunately, the former United States champion was sent crashing off the ring apron and into the announce table, injuring his ribs and leading to Owens' Popup Powerbomb for the win.

Result

Kevin Owens defeated Cesaro via pinfall.

Grade

A

Analysis

Cesaro and Owens are two of the best workers in professional wrestling, and this was another bit of evidence to support that claim.

Both men looked phenomenal. The brutal collision with the announce table that doomed Cesaro looked every bit as nasty as it probably felt. Owens winning is the right decision because at this point, it is imperative that WWE builds its heels, especially considering the fact that Seth Rollins has carried the show on his back from the villain side of things for the last year.

A great wrestling match that made up for a so-so first two hours of Raw and continued Owens' rehabilitation following the Cena debacle.

Dean Ambrose vs. Braun Strowman

One week after making a memorable debut by tossing Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose around the squared circle, leaving The Shield brethren lying in a heap, Braun Strowman addressed the WWE Universe prior to his match with The Lunatic Fringe.

Faced with three members of the maniacal Wyatt Family, Ambrose was joined by Roman Reigns, who made his way through the crowd and to the ringside area.

Strowman manhandled Ambrose, tossing him around the squared circle while best friend Reigns was forced to watch from the floor. Every single shot the massive newcomer dealt struck Ambrose with the fury of a sledgehammer, crushing him.

After being provoked, Reigns attacked Strowman, drawing the disqualification. Proving indestructible, he fended off the babyfaces and left them lying on the mat without any assistance from Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper.

The Wyatt Family's founding members did make their presence felt to close out the segment, though, as Bray Wyatt delivered Sister Abigail to Reigns and posed over his fallen body.

Result

Braun Strowman defeated Dean Ambrose via disqualification.

Grade

A+

Analysis

This was meant to be nothing more than a way to put over Strowman, and on that front, it worked to perfection. Strowman looked like an absolute monster, tearing through two of the company's top babyfaces. It is a simple formula that worked for years, and now, in the era of Hollywood writers, it still works because it's a tried-and-true wrestling angle.

Strowman benefits from the booking now, but, ultimately, whoever finally knocks him off will be a massive star. That is Booking 101, it was a nice change of pace on a show that oftentimes tries to be more convoluted and smarter than it has to be.

Beat the Clock Match: Paige vs. Sasha Banks

The third and final Beat the Clock match pitted Paige against Sasha Banks in a contest that the so-called Divas Revolution should be built around. Instead, it was a throwaway match on an episode of Raw that no one will remember two days from now.

Paige erupted after the first minute of the bout, delivering a series of knees and the Ram-Paige. Banks, the former NXT Women's champion and arguably the best women's wrestler working today, was vulnerable extremely quickly and looked poised to lose to the PTO when the time ran out.

When Charlotte was announced as the No. 1 contender, the Bella Twins appeared to stare down the competition. 

Result

no-contest

Grade

D+

Analysis

Vince McMahon and WWE Creative will never understand women's wrestling if they think this is the kind of thing that constitutes a Divas Revolution.

A match featuring two extraordinary female workers that lasts less than two minutes and features no finish is never going to help those involved, or any other Diva, get over with the fans.

Charlotte winning was a given, but it never felt like the fans were all that enthusiastic about that outcome. Despite being the "Genetically Superior" Diva, she may be the least over of the three main roster newcomers.

Sasha Banks was wasted here, as she has been since being called up to Raw and SmackDown. Her placement in the ice-cold Team B.A.D. trio does her no favors.

The Dudley Boyz vs. The New Day

Credit: WWE.com

The New Day continued its crusade to save the tables from the newly returned Dudley Boyz Monday night, but found itself engaged in a very important non-title war with the brothers from different mothers.

Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods (looking very much like a character from Thundercats) used their numbers advantage to gain the upper hand and isolate D-Von from his partner. A hot tag late in the match, though, allowed Bubba Ray to unleash on the opposition.

Shortly thereafter, the 3D finished off Kingston and scored the win for the all-time great team.

After the match, the Dudleys threatened to put Big E through a table, but Woods intervened and pulled his teammate to safety.

Result

The Dudley Boyz defeated The New Day by pinfall.

Grade

C+ 

Analysis

The bit at the beginning of the match is exactly what fans should be concerned about when it comes to The New Day. The team has gotten as over as it has to this point because of its ability to entertain with goofy humor. When WWE Creative tries to manufacture said humor rather than letting the guys be themselves, it comes off as forced. It does not work nearly as well, and that was the case Monday night.

The match itself was fine, and the outcome was the right one, but one has to wonder how wise it is to have The Prime Time Players sit in on commentary and look like complete afterthoughts when they are supposed to be right in the thick of the title hunt.

Seth Rollins Calls Out Sting

Credit: WWE.com

In search of his statue, Seth Rollins hit the ring and called Sting to the ring. However, Stephanie McMahon, who did not take kindly to The Architect referring to himself as potentially being better than Triple H, interrupted him. The Billion Dollar Princess warned Rollins that it was all part of Sting's mind game; it was an attempt to tear The Authority apart from the inside.

John Cena would appear and attempt to do just that, reminding Rollins of everyone who sided with The Game, only to experience his wrath when the time came.

He told the WWE World Heavyweight and United States champion that if his associates were really concerned about him, they would not allow him to exercise his rematch clause, thus forcing Rollins to defend the U.S. title on the same night that he must defend the top prize in wrestling against Sting.

Stephanie awarded Cena the match, leaving Rollins enraged to close out the program. 

Grade

B+ 

Analysis

And with that, the seeds were planted for the demise of the Seth Rollins-Authority relationship as we know it.

Cena and Sting coming together to show Rollins just how two-faced his associates are was a brilliant bit of storytelling and a fine way to bring The Architect's story full circle. That Stephanie was used in this instance was fantastic because she is the puppet master behind The Authority. She is the most hated personality on WWE programming, and thus, she's the one person capable of helping turn Rollins at this point.

While Night of Champions figures to be the Rollins-Triple H saga's launching point, this was a fantastic way to conclude a very focused, very solid episode of Raw.