WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 25

The rosters were finalized, the championships were decided and WWE was coming off an acclaimed Battleground pay-per-view as Raw hit the USA Network airwaves.

Right out of the gate, Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley proved that this was a new Raw with a new look and feel.

Finn Balor followed them up by delivering the finest first-night performance in WWE history, winning a Fatal 4-Way match and then defeating Roman Reigns cleanly in the center of the ring to cash his ticket to SummerSlam. The rise of The Demon was only one of the night's great storylines.

Sasha Banks battled Charlotte for the Women's Championship, the result of her tag team victory on Sunday night. Could she wrest the gold away from her rival or would Charlotte continue her historic run?

That question and many more would be answered on Monday night.

Now you can find out all that went down on the July 25 episode with this in-depth look at the broadcast.

Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon Address the Raw Roster

Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and general manager Mick Foley addressed the Raw Superstars to kick off the show.

McMahon was furious with Reigns, blaming him for costing Raw a heavyweight championship. Foley responded with the announcement of a brand-new title: the WWE Universal Championship. He announced that two Fatal 4-Way matches would determine the Superstar to head to SummerSlam and battle Seth Rollins to crown the new champion.

Those eight Superstars were Sheamus, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns, Rusev and former NXT champion Finn Balor.

Foley put an exclamation point on the segment by revealing that Charlotte would defend her Women's Championship against Sasha Banks on Monday night.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was a quick, painless open that set up three huge matches for the night's show.

The new appearance of Raw helps differentiate it from SmackDown while also freshening up a stale look and feel of the product that have persisted for years.

Factor in some huge main event-caliber matches announced for the show, and you have a great start to a supposed New Era.

Finn Balor vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Rusev

The Demon made his Raw debut in the night's opening contest—a high-stakes Fatal 4-Way match—and walked away victorious, defeating three elite in-ring performers.

The action was nonstop throughout, with each Superstar taking turns getting their signature offense in.

Cesaro swung Rusev, Owens delivered a superkick that broke up a Sharpshooter and The Bulgarian Brute established dominance.

But it was Balor who delivered Coup de Grace to Rusev and scored the pinfall victory, advancing to the night's main event.

Result

Finn Balor defeated Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Rusev.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The opening match of the new Raw was nonstop action. There was never time to rest as two Superstars would pick up right where the other two left off.

There was a great deal of drama despite the winner being somewhat obvious.

Balor was the absolute right choice to win this. He made an instant impact and is set up perfectly to be one of the premier stars on Monday nights for years to come, regardless of the outcome later in the night.

Again, Cesaro and Owens delivered an outstanding performance but saw no real advancement of any sort. That is a major issue that must be addressed going forward. Otherwise, their placement on Raw will continue to make zero sense.

Nia Jax Debuts

Nia Jax made her in-ring debut on Raw against local competitor Britt Baker.

Predictably, she tore through the young woman and pinned her following her trademark legdrop.

Result

Nia Jax defeated Baker.

Grade

C 

Analysis

If you have ever seen a Nia Jax squash match in NXT, you saw this one.

With Sasha Banks and Charlotte engulfing the Women's Championship scene, the question becomes how long fans can expect to see Jax compete in these one-sided matches.

Whereas NXT can get by on squash matches, fans of Raw expect star vs. star action every week. Breaking from that pattern could do more damage than good.

Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho vs. Sheamus

The second of the Fatal 4-Way matches on Monday's show ended exactly as fans would suspect: Roman Reigns going over and cashing his ticket to the main event.

It would not be an easy victory by any means.

Sami Zayn impressed with a Blue Thunder Bomb that nearly scored the upset win over Reigns. Sheamus looked as motivated as he has in quite some time, making sure all three of his opponents felt his wrath. Jericho, the crafty veteran who has competed against the biggest stars the industry has ever known, found himself in the mix in the closing moments.

Yet despite a late attempt at a Codebreaker, it was Y2J who endured a Superman Punch and Spear as Reigns earned himself a huge opportunity later in the night. 

Result

Roman Reigns defeated Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho and Sheamus.

Grade

B

Analysis

With two Fatal 4-Way matches slated for this show, the second easily could have paled in comparison to the first and been plagued by a lack of original spots.

Instead, the four Superstars involved in match No. 2 played to their strong suits and never did anything outside their comfort zone.

The result was a focused match hurt only by a late botch by Jericho, who mistimed a Superman Punch.

Given the other choices in the match, Reigns was the right choice to go over. As the guy who was moments away from capturing the title, he had the most credibility among this pool of contenders. Plus, the idea of him squaring off with Finn Balor later in the night was mightily appealing.

The New Day Celebration

The New Day took to the squared circle to celebrate its historic WWE Tag Team Championship reign on Monday night, watching a video package dedicated to its run as rulers of the division.

After a lame attempt at humor with a fan/plant named "Sonny Boy," Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows hit the ring and attacked Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E.

The Club left the champions lying in a heap, igniting a program over the tag team gold.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The New Day's attempts at humor did not hit like they typically do. No harm, no foul, though, as the attack by Anderson and Gallows more than made up for it.

Not only are they the logical choice for top contenders, but there is also prior history between The Club and The New Day, dating back to a series of SmackDown matches a few months back.

Like The Wyatt Family, the former New Japan Pro Wrestling stars have the potential to bring out a new side of the champions, continuing The New Day's evolution as a top act in WWE—and that is a great attribute to possess when working with such an established act.

Neville vs. Curtis Axel

Neville returned to the squared circle four months after breaking his ankle in the same Pittsburgh arena, battling Curtis Axel in singles competition.

Without his Social Outcasts teammates watching his back, Axel succumbed to the Red Arrow in just over three minutes.

Result

Neville defeated Curtis Axel.

Grade

C-

Analysis

It was nice to see Neville back in action on Monday night, but it would have been a bit more effective he had competed in the Fatal 4-Way matches. At least then it would have felt as if he was being given a more prominent role on the show rather than sliding right back into the undercard position he occupied prior to his injury.

The Man That Gravity Forgot has always been an impressive athlete. Now he is just waiting for that one opportunity to seize. Unfortunately, there is a logjam in front of him that may be difficult to overcome.

Women's Championship Match: Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte

One of the hottest rivalries in WWE culminated as Sasha Banks challenged Charlotte for the Women's Championship.

Utilizing the strategy of her idol Eddie Guerrero, The Boss ensured that Dana Brooke was removed from ringside, making her championship opportunity a one-on-one match.

Without outside interference to keep her and the title apart, Banks withstood the very best of her opponent—including a wicked moonsault from the top rope—to deliver the Backstabber and Bank Statement for the win and the title.

Result

Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte to win the Women's Championship.

Grade

A

Analysis

This was a coming-of-age story at its finest.

Banks grew up watching professional wrestling and was a huge fan of Eddie Guerrero. She had also watched the top prize in women's wrestling slip through her fingers courtesy of outside interference or other shenanigans.

On Monday, she brought those two experiences together and utilized them to her advantage, ensuring that no one would keep her from her holy grail.

The performances of each woman were outstanding, but particularly in Charlotte's case. The best workers can stand out regardless of whether or not they are going over on that given night. On Monday, she was extraordinary, waving goodbye to her title reign with a showing that demonstrated just how far she has come as an in-ring performer.

A series of rematches will surely follow, but this—for all purposes—was the blowoff to their program.

Braun Strowman vs. James Ellsworth

Poor James Ellsworth.

The unknown enhancement talent was so happy to have a match on Raw, then found out he was facing Braun Strowman and had his world turned upside down. Then sideways and finally, he ended up on his back.

Strowman, sporting a new look and even more dangerous demeanor, dismantled the outmatched competitor and scored his first win as a Raw-exclusive Superstar.

Result

Braun Strowman defeated James Ellsworth.

Grade

C-

Analysis

Strowman did little to change up his in-ring style as a repackaged singles competitor, but what he did do was impressive.

He pummeled the opposition, tossing him around the squared circle with reckless abandon.

His win means nothing in the long run, but whom he is paired with first does. A program with someone such as Cesaro or Neville could be just what Strowman needs to deliver consistently solid work while simultaneously learning from the best.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. The Shining Stars

Fresh off a victory over The Club at Battleground, Enzo Amore and Big Cass hit the ring and cut a brief promo. Unfortunately, The Shining Stars interrupted before Amore could spit any more rhymes from the 1990s, setting up a tag team match.

The short match was interrupted by The Golden Truth's quest for Pokemon before Big Cass delivered a crushing big boot to the face of Primo for the pinfall win.

Result

Big Cass and Enzo Amore defeated The Shining Stars.

Grade

D

Analysis

This was all over the place. 

First, Enzo and Big Cass are at a level far above The Shining Stars on the totem pole, so the outcome was never in doubt.

Second, the interference from Golden Truth seems to set up a program between it and the Stars going forward.

Third, would someone please keep Enzo and Cass as far away from Goldust and R-Truth as possible?

Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns

Finn Balor paid off a monumental first Monday night with a clean win over Roman Reigns that earned The Big Dog's respect.

Balor, having already competed for 20 minutes earlier in the night, went another dozen here. He overcame Reigns' trademark offense, his desire to make the biggest splash imaginable readily apparent as he kicked out of a Superman Punch.

Late in the match, Balor delivered the Sling Blade, his corner dropkick and finished an exhausted Reigns off with the Coup de Grace for the upset pinfall victory.

Reigns issued a statement after the match, telling the interviewer that he wanted Balor to go to SummerSlam and win the title because he wants another match.

Balor celebrated the win, on his birthday, as Raw went off the air.

Result

Finn Balor defeated Roman Reigns.

Grade

A

Analysis

Another stellar match on Monday night saw Balor withstand the onslaught of Reigns to score the win and set up a WWE Universal Championship match between him and Seth Rollins.

And the internet exploded.

Now with a title opportunity in his back pocket and the continued teases of Balor Club, the logo appearing overhead every time he entered the arena on Monday night, the Irishman made an extraordinary first impression.

Now, it is up to him to maintain the momentum he has created for himself and up to the writers to make the best decisions possible.