WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from October 19

With a bevy of legends in Dallas, the night still belonged to the young guns on the last WWE Raw before Hell in a Cell.

WWE misfired with its usage of Steve Austin, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. Having names like that on the show should have led to classic moments, not three underwhelming segments.  

Even with Hall of Famers at every turn, the discussion following the go-home Raw will be about the men who once comprised The Shield and the suddenly larger Wyatt Family. Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt's upcoming bout earned the spotlight, and the energy in American Airlines Arena when they went to battle in six-man action is an indication of how right that move was.

The Hell in Cell card was down one match by the end of the night. Randy Orton is injured (within the storyline at least), taking his bout off the event. Instead, fans are set to see John Cena defend the United States Championship in an open challenge at Hell in a Cell. 

How well did WWE do in advancing the narratives of that pay-per-view? How captivating was the violence and trash-talking that unfolded in Big D? The following is a look at those questions, complete with highlights and letter grades.

Undertaker and Brock Lesnar Face Off

Steve Austin stepped under the Raw spotlight for the first time in years, but it only lasted a few moments.

Stone Cold talked up his time in Dallas, plugged his podcast and introduced Undertaker. He slipped out as Undertaker approached through a blue-tinged fog.

The Deadman spent his mic time promising to hurt Brock Lesnar. He was not alone for long.

With Lesnar pacing beside him, Paul Heyman laid out the stakes of the upcoming Hell in a Cell bout, saying that Undertaker lusted for revenge. His client ignored his orders and headed to the ring for a staredown between two titans.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

"One last rally. One last gasp. A chance to avenge his loss at WrestleMania."—Michael Cole on Undertaker facing Lesnar. 

"Ladies and Deadman, my name is Paul Heyman."—Heyman.

"Both combatants enter the Hell in a Cell consumed by the thought of revenge."—Heyman.

"When you take everything from a man you leave him with nothing to lose."—Undertaker.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Giving Austin such a minimal role is an odd use of him. He was more spokesman than star here, and it felt like he was hurrying through his lines for some reason.

Once Lesnar and Undertaker faced off, they created strong tension between each other. Simplicity ruled here. It all boils down to revenge, to two big gladiators eager to cut each other down.

It's also a good move to only tease violence, saving the actual collision for Hell in a Cell.

Too bad WWE didn't do more prior to Monday leading up to the bout. This was not enough on its own.

The Dudley Boyz and John Cena vs. The New Day

Before the bout, The New Day made sure to insult the Dallas Cowboys and taunt The Dudley Boyz.

Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E took turns stomping John Cena in the chest. The tag champs toyed with Cena, but they had more trouble dealing with D-Von and Bubba Ray Dudley.

Even so, Woods found a way to steal a rollup win amid the chaos that unfolded at the match's end. The Dudley Boyz responded to the loss by beating up the heels and sending Woods through a table.

Result

The New Day wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

"You may as well call us unicorns because we have brought magic back to WWE."—Woods.

"Everything is booty in Texas."—Big E.

D-Von flips Kingston over with a big clothesline.

Cena dives out of the ring onto Big E.

D-Von and Cena assist Bubba Ray in hitting an avalanche powerbomb through a table.

Grade

B-

Analysis

The New Day have found an excellent mix of formidable and funny. It remains WWE's most entertaining act, and has now worked in more a sense that it's dangerous on top of that.

The short match wasn't anything special. WWE did well, though, to give The New Day some opportunities to look strong, both by beating down Cena and coming away with the win.

Having The Dudley Boyz keep putting Woods through a table takes away from the moment should the challengers do that on a bigger stage.  

Sasha Banks and Naomi vs. Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox

Team B.A.D. dominated early on, but its opponents took over during the commercial break. Nikki Bella and Alicia Fox roughed up Naomi for much of the match.

Sasha Banks had a brief flurry. Cheap shots and high-impact moves nullified that, though. Nikki used the Rack Attack to finish off Naomi.

Result

Team Bella wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Naomi leapfrogs over Banks to crash onto Fox.

Banks flings Naomi face first into the turnbuckle.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Despite its attitude, Team B.A.D. played the traditional babyface role in the matchup. The team members worked as the underdogs, gutting it out against the rule-breakers. 

WWE needs to decide what it wants that trio to be and stick with it.

The strength of the clash was that it showcased Nikki's power. She hammered Naomi several times over. She got the deciding pinfall and looked impressive leading up to that point.

That helps convince the audience that she's a threat to take back the Divas title at Hell in a Cell.

Shawn Michaels Meets Seth Rollins

Shawn Michaels goofed around with the fans en route to the ring. He recalled his time inside Hell in a Cell before promoting both Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt.

Seth Rollins didn't appreciate Michaels saying those bouts would tear the house down. He got into The Heartbreak Kid's face, saying he needed to talk about the champ. Rollins claimed he was better than Michaels.

They bickered before The Architect tried to storm off. Michaels informed him, however, that he had a match coming up with Ryback.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Michaels takes a bite of a kid's pizza.

Fans chant "One more match!" as Rollins and Michaels face off. 

"It never once occurred to me ever to ever be the second coming of anybody."—Michaels.

I think you're a little jealous because I had a moment that eclipsed every moment you ever had in your entire career."—Rollins.

Grade

D+

Analysis

The Heartbreak Kid's silly tone didn't fit the moment. He didn't seem to be taking the WWE title match or the man holding the gold seriously.

Why WWE would have a segment that revolved around the idea that Rollins is not as good as Michaels is hard to understand. This should have been a way to make Rollins seem like he's on his way to becoming legendary. This could have seen Rollins garner some serious heat by threatening Michaels more or getting the upper hand verbally.

Rollins strong mic work couldn't save this from being another chapter in his poorly booked title reign.

Seth Rollins vs. Ryback

Ryback leaned on his power; Seth Rollins leaned on his craftiness. 

The Big Guy's best asset won out at first, with the powerhouse having the champ reeling. Rollins, though, focused on Ryback's midsection. He attacked his lower back with strikes and submissions, continually picking at the wound.

Rollins finished Ryback off with a Pedigree after a kick in the ribs.

Result

Rollins wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Rollins' suicide dive sends Ryback crashing into the announce table. 

Grade

B

Analysis

Why don't we see more of Rollins being cunning? Despite the big guy flinging him around, the champ came out looking the best, having outsmarted a larger opponent.

The ending came suddenly after a match that didn't last long.  

Going with someone not set to challenge for the Intercontinental Championship as his victim would have been smarter, though. Why not have Rollins do the same thing to a guy lower on the food chain, like Jack Swagger, so that the No. 1 contender to the IC title doesn't lose momentum right before Hell in a Cell?

Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro and Neville vs. King Barrett, Sheamus and Rusev

Neville darted around the ring with his usual high-flying offense. It didn't prevent him from taking a beating for the majority of the match.

Rusev clobbered him. Sheamus took some cheap shots. The Man That Gravity Forgot looked to just survive.

Cesaro and Dolph Ziggler each went on a tear to mount a comeback. The match turned chaotic at this point, with fists, boots and elbows flying. A Brogue Kick from the outside stunned Ziggler enough to allow Barrett to get the three-count.

Result

Barrett, Rusev and Sheamus win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Neville lands on his feet after a fallaway slam attempt from Rusev.

Rusev pushes Neville onto the announce table. 

"This is the Uppercut Express!"—Michael Cole as Cesaro went on an uppercut barrage. 

Neville springboard-somersaults onto Rusev outside the ring, but he hits Cesaro as well.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This match featured a collection of guys WWE just doesn't know what to do with right now. 

None of them have a strong story to work with. None of them have a spot on the Hell in a Cell card.

So despite the high-quality action they delivered and the good in-ring psychology from the heels, this match didn't feel as significant as it would if these Superstars weren't all running in place creatively.

Putting Sheamus and Barrett in the tag team division for real is a smart idea. He can still stalk the champion with the Money in the Bank briefcase in hand, but he can bolster the tag division as he and Barrett form a brawling duo.

Plus, he and Barrett can clearly bring it in this format.

Ric Flair in the Ring with Roman Reigns

After name-dropping The Von Erichs and The Freebirds, Ric Flair talked up WrestleMania 32. 

Roman Reigns soon came out to greet him. The Wyatt Family followed with Erick Rowan in place of Luke Harper. Reigns brought out two chairs, sat in one and invited Bray Wyatt to come sit with him.

The enemies soon sat inches from each other, Reigns talking about Wyatt being afraid of him. Conversation turned to chaos as Reigns attacked the group with chairs.

Dean Ambrose came to assist, grabbing a chair of his own. They sent the monsters retreating. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

"You surround yourself by the mountains because you're scared to be alone."—Reigns to Wyatt.

Grade

D+

Analysis

This was not Flair putting Reigns over; this was The Nature Boy just saying Reigns' name followed by "Woo!" WWE wasn't nearly creative enough in using Flair here.

Why bring him out just to slip away right after Reigns arrives?

What followed was underwhelming as well. Giving Reigns all the speaking parts and not offering a word to Wyatt isn't wise. Wyatt also didn't show a hint of his power.

Charlotte vs. Brie Bella

With Paige watching on from backstage, Charlotte took charge of Brie Bella. It took Nikki Bella distracting and taunting the champ by stealing her title to give Brie the edge.

Brie took full advantage of that opening and began to choke, twist and kick the champion.

Charlotte rallied back, though. She bowled over Brie and then forced her to tap with the Figure Eight. 

Renee Young asked Paige whether she attacked Natalya last week on SmackDown. Paige evaded the question, throwing out the possibility that Lita or Kaitlyn could have done it. She insulted Young before making her exit.

Result

Charlotte wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

"Let's go, sweetheart."—Charlotte to Brie.

"You are barely Erin Andrews. And you're not as cute."—Paige.

Grade

C+

Analysis

Paige's strong heel work was the star here. Brie and Charlotte were fine.

Brie is the least talented performer of all the women featured in the Divas Revolution. It showed here. Charlotte's not at the level yet to be able to carry a match, and so she and Brie failed to create much spark.

It's good to see Charlotte get a win, though. WWE has too often had its champions, Charlotte included, lose in non-title action.

Kevin Owens vs. Mark Henry

JP Yim/Getty Images

Kevin Owens mocked Mark Henry for saluting Texas and found himself in trouble for just the briefest of moments. Owens then tagged the big man with right hands.

Showboating cost the intercontinental champ as Henry pounced, showing an aggressive side. Owens withstood the flurry, kicked his way out of trouble and landed his signature moves on the Goliath.

After the bell, Ryback charged out. Owens' retreat failed, thanks to Henry tossing him in the ring. The Big Guy delivered a thunderous powerbomb to leave the champ lying.

Result

Owens wins via pinfall. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

"That's why I'm the champ!"—Owens.

"I've been a bully for 19 years!"—Henry.

Owens hits a power-up powerbomb on Henry.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Smart, simple booking for Owens here. Henry served as a tough warm-up opponent for Owens, a means to test the champ some, but then show off how nasty and fearsome he is.

Hitting the pop-up powerbomb on the big man creates a lasting image.

And juxtaposing that with Owens retreating from Ryback is classic heel booking. Seth Rollins is too often just the coward without also getting a chance to do some damage as Owens did here.

WWE hasn't put a lot of heart in this feud, but both Ryback and Owens are doing their best to make it feel like a vital part of the card.

The Wyatt Family vs. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns

JP Yim/Getty Images

Early in the night, WWE revealed that Randy Orton wasn't around. Speculation emerged that The Wyatt Family was responsible. That left Dean Ambrose alone, but not for long. Roman Reigns agreed to fight alongside him, and eventually The Authority chose Seth Rollins as the third man, setting up a reunion of sorts for The Shield.

Rollins and his teammates bickered early on as the champ issued orders. 

The babyfaces beat up on Erick Rowan, but didn't fare as well against Braun Strowman. The monster steamrolled over Ambrose, Wyatt and Rowan ready to take their shots afterward as well. 

The Lunatic Fringe battled back, but he couldn't make a tag. Reigns was out, courtesy of Strowman. Rollins feigned a knee injury and backpedaled back into the locker room.

Reigns soon returned to action, finding himself in Strowman's sea monster-like grip. Ambrose grabbed a Kendo stick, ending the match, but kicking off a wild brawl.

Result

The Wyatt Family wins via disqualification.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

"You can call this a challenge. You can call it career suicide, but I've got a fight to pick with Luke Harper and Braun Strowman."—Ambrose.

Fans chant "This is awesome!" before the match begins.

"I'm the champion of the world. I start this thing."—Rollins.

Strowman flings Reigns into the guardrail. 

Strowman breaks a Kendo stick across his knee. 

Reigns flies over the top rope onto The Wyatt Family.

Grade

A

Analysis

WWE went back to its most recent runaway success: The Shield and The Wyatt Family squaring off. This time around offered a compelling dynamic, thanks to Rollins' changed attitude. 

The match wasn't as great as their previous battles, but it was still electric—still the best thing Monday's Raw delivered.

Rollins got to add some heat by abandoning his brothers. The Reigns-Wyatt feud got some extra juice with a whirlwind of violence happening during and after the matchup.

And kudos to WWE for realizing that the Kane vs. Rollins bout isn't drawing folks in. It's far smarter to focus on the younger guys, play up their Hell in a Cell bout as a semi-main event and give the audience a breather from the Kane shtick.