WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Aug. 15

The penultimate stop on Raw's road to SummerSlam occurred Monday night, and the Superstars of the red brand attempted to establish dominance, with WWE Creative trying to convince fans to tune into the extravaganza.

By and large, the writing staff failed, delivering an up-and-down show that left fans with more head-scratching questions and curiosities than answers.

Finn Balor debuted his Demon King persona. On free television.

Rusev and Roman Reigns blew off their issues in the main event. On free television.

Both should have been saved for the more meaningful show on Sunday, but in this case, they were leaned on to draw what the company hopes is an inflated rating against Olympic coverage.

With Brock Lesnar also appearing, the show was star-studded, but was it enough to convince audiences to fire up the WWE Network on Aug. 21 to enjoy the company's latest pay-per-view offering?

Find out now with this look back at Monday's broadcast, including results, grades and analysis.

Rusev Kicks Off the Show

Following a brief promo from Seth Rollins to set up his showdown with Finn Balor later in the night, Rusev and Lana were in the ring to kick off the live portion of Monday's broadcast.

The Bulgarian Brute—and United States champion—was irate about the dishonoring of his wife from last week and called out Roman Reigns. Instead, Mick Foley answered. Rusev unloaded on his boss, telling the general manager that he sucks and then demanding Stephanie McMahon come talk to him.

The Billion Dollar Princess denounced Rusev's treatment of Foley, and Reigns made his presence felt.

An exchange of words was had, and a match for Lana's honor was booked for the night's main event.

Grade

C-

Analysis

The opening segment featured great mic work from Rusev, who has developed into one of the best overall characters in all of WWE. Unfortunately, all of it was undone by the ridiculous booking decision to present Reigns vs. Rusev just days before their pay-per-view clash.

Of course, that black cloud could evaporate if the "match" is merely the background for an angle. If that is true, it is a case of a bait-and-switch promotionbut one that is for the betterment of the SummerSlam card.

Sami Zayn vs. Sheamus

With Cesaro watching from the announcers' table, Sheamus took to the squared circle for a showdown with Sami Zayn.

The Celtic Warrior showed signs of the WWE champion competitor he once was, grounding Zayn and controlling the pace of the match. The Underdog from the Underground's resiliency allowed him to withstand the Irish Curse and answer with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two-count.

Sheamus set Zayn up for the Brogue Kick, but Cesaro hopped on the apron and provided a momentary distraction. The Montreal native responded with a Helluva Kick for the upset win.

Result

Sami Zayn defeated Sheamus.

Grade

C

Analysis

The match was solid but unspectacular—not the quality one would expect given the talent involved.

However, the match was just an excuse for Cesaro to interfere and set up Mick Foley's backstage announcement that The Swiss Superman and his Irish foe will battle in a best-of-seven series.

The New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz

Ahead of a WWE Tag Team Championship defense against The Club's Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods battled The Dudley Boyz.

Before the match, Anderson and Gallows cut another promo in which they made light of the injuries suffered by Big E, hoping to throw the champions off their game.

It failed.

Kingston and Woods tore through their future Hall of Fame opposition, scoring a pinfall win.

After the match, the champions addressed The Club. They refused to allow Gallows and Anderson to take their titles or touch their "New Day rocks" before standing tall to close out the segment.

Result

The New Day defeated The Dudley Boyz.

Grade

D

Analysis

The heat for Sunday's tag team title match is nonexistent, perhaps because the WWE Universe does not believe Anderson and Gallows can conceivably beat the most dominant team of this generation. No promo or penile humor can change that.

On a side note, any credibility Bubba Ray and D-Von had upon their return last fall is gone.

Nia Jax in Action

Nia Jax returned to the squared circle Monday night, squaring off with enhancement talent Rachel Levy.

The unsuspecting Levy discussed the Olympics and then took a gold medal-worthy ass-kicking.

Jax scored the pinfall victory and continued gaining momentum for herself.

Result

Nia Jax defeated Rachel Levy.

Grade

D+

Analysis

If you have seen one Jax squash, you have seen them all.

Separating it from the rest was the bumping Levy did to make Jax look even more impressive than usual. She was game, handled her mic responsibilities well and left the greatest impression of the young competitors unlucky enough to feel the wrath of the newcomer.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman Preview SummerSlam; Heath Slater Interrupts

Brock Lesnar returned to Raw just days from his showdown with Randy Orton and stood idly by as Paul Heyman did the final sell job for the epic encounter.

Surprisingly enough, Heath Slater interrupted, reaffirming his desire for a contract with either Raw or SmackDown. He talked about his children and his responsibility as a family man.

He summoned up enough intestinal fortitude to come face-to-face with Lesnar, who feigned compassion as a fellow father, only to admit that he does not care about the family of wrestling's most lovable loser. He offered him a reprieve from pain and suffering, but Slater attacked.

His reward for his courage? An F-5.

Heyman had a few more words for Orton as the segment wrapped up.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Forget about selling Lesnar-Orton, this segment did more to get Slater over as someone fans can root for than anything the company has done with him over the last five years. In the span of one promo, he became the sympathetic father trying desperately to secure a job so he can provide for his family. If that meant confronting Lesnar, so be it.

Even if he got his ass handed to him, he still tried rather than walking away like a coward.

Heyman was his typically extraordinary self, even if the match between Lesnar and Orton is lacking the anticipation so many of The Beast's previous main event matches have benefited from.

Big Cass vs. Kevin Owens

Enzo Amore and Big Cass cut their ceremonial pre-match promo, but Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho were all business as they headed to the squared circle for The Prizefighter's battle with Cass.

The commercial break cut off the majority of the action, rendering the segment little more than an angle to add heat to the SummerSlam tag bout.

Jericho took Amore out at ringside, and the heels double-teamed Cass, leaving him lying in the center of the ring.

Result

Big Cass defeated Kevin Owens via disqualification.

Grade

C

Analysis

This was the most generic way to utilize four of the most charismatic stars in the entire company. The non-match did not show off the strengths of either Cass or Owens, and the beatdown was as lazily booked as imaginable.

Then there is the Jeri-KO name Michael Cole uttered more than once. That cannot continue, if only because it would be one of the worst in WWE history.

That covers a lot of ground.

Either way, this did nothing to make the audience want to see the big tag match Sunday night, which should have been goal No. 1 of the writing staff.

The Prime Time Players vs. The Shining Stars

Titus O'Neil and Darren Young appeared to put their differences aside Monday night as they battled The Shining Stars.

Unfortunately, it was a charade, as O'Neil showed his true colors, betraying Young and laying him out. Eager to seize the opportunity, Primo and Epico scored the victory to get back to their winning ways.

Bob Backlund checked on Young after the bout.

Result

The Shining Stars defeated The Prime Time Players.

Grade

D-

Analysis

So Titus O'Neil and Darren Young go from inexplicably feuding to inexplicably reuniting...only to inexplicably feud again, courtesy of O'Neil's betrayal.

The feud has been sluggish and uninteresting for weeks now, and nothing that happened Monday is enough to generate excitement. Both men work better together, so why bother forcing fans to watch another failed attempt at a singles run for either?

Neville vs. Jinder Mahal

One week after teaming with Sin Cara to defeat The Dudley Boyz, Neville found something even more redundant to do, squaring off with the returning Jinder Mahal.

After two minutes of action, Neville blasted Mahal with a kick to the face and delivered the Red Arrow for the pinfall victory.

Result

Neville defeated Jinder Mahal.

Grade

D-

Analysis

It was nice of WWE Creative to inform fans that Jinder Mahal's usefulness will be limited to that of an enhancement talent rather than spending weeks building him up, only to shove him to the background.

The continued misuse of Neville is startling. One of the most gifted athletes the company has ever seen, he has repeatedly proved himself between the ropes but cannot even sniff the midcard championships, let alone anything resembling a sustained push.

He is yet another Superstar better suited for SmackDown.

Seth Rollins Calls Out The Demon King

Seth Rollins took to the squared circle to call out The Demon King—Finn Balor's alter ego—days before competing for the WWE Universal Championship Sunday at SummerSlam.

The Architect laughed off the idea of Balor's split personality, only to appear visibly shaken when the lights dimmed and Balor made his jaw-dropping entrance. Clad in black and white paint, Balor captivated the audience in what amounted to the WWE Universe's first glimpse of the persona that took NXT by storm.

Balor and Rollins engaged in a physical exchange that the former seized control of with a Pele Kick.

As he climbed the ropes for the Coup de Grace, Rollins bailed, leaving Balor to stand tall in the ring with his gaze on The Architect.

Grade

C+

Analysis

On a night when Raw should have been saving up big moments for pay-per-view, it delivered The Demon King in full makeup, sending Balor to brawl with Rollins ahead of Sunday's show.

The Rollins promo that preceded Balor's appearance was nowhere near as effective as last week's standout performance. That obnoxious laugh of his takes the viewer right out of the moment, and the fact WWE Creative took a supernatural approach with the Demon King character only diminished the seriousness of the moment.

A disappointment of sorts given the outstanding match the two will likely deliver in Brooklyn, New York.

The Golden Truth vs. The Club

Credit: WWE.com

Anderson and Gallows made their second appearances of the night, squaring off with The Golden Truth in tag team action.

The Club earned themselves a victory in two minutes of action, delivering the Magic Killer to Goldust for the pinfall victory.

After the match, The New Day hit the ring and attempted to do testicular damage with Francesca II to Anderson, but Gallows pulled him to safety.

Result

The Club defeated The Golden Truth.

Grade

D

Analysis

The entire tag team title feud has devolved into one giant penis joke.

That does no one any good. If anything, it kills the credibility of the heels and hurts the serious side of Woods and Kingston that WWE Creative has attempted to develop over the last two months. 

Alicia Fox vs. Charlotte

Prior to her match with Alicia Fox, Charlotte demeaned Dana Brooke and threatened to kick her to the curb after last week's embarrassing loss to Sasha Banks. The Boss sat in on commentary for the battle of former champions.

Fox was no match for Charlotte this week, and the second-generation Superstar finished her off with Natural Selection after just one minute.

After the match, Brooke made her presence felt, distracting Banks and allowing Charlotte to apply the Figure Eight. Upon the heel releasing the hold, Banks sold her knee, calling into question her health for Sunday's match.

Result

Charlotte defeated Alicia Fox.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Women's wrestling takes a backseat again this week, with Charlotte and Fox somehow receiving less time than the insulting two minutes Banks and Brooke got seven days ago.

The redeeming factor was the story advancement, which featured Charlotte and Brooke feigning dissension to lure Banks into a false sense of security, only to assault her. The injury to the champion's leg should play a key role in Sunday's match.

Considering the poor job the company did of advancing stories and creating interest, this segment actually accomplished something.

Roman Reigns vs. Rusev

Credit: WWE.com

The United States Championship may be on the line Sunday, but this night's main event was about something more prestigious: Lana's honor.

Or something like that.

Roman Reigns and Rusev locked horns in a heavyweight war of attrition that saw The Bulgarian Brute turn in one of the most dominant performances of his career. He had Reigns near defeat throughout the match, particularly after zeroing in on his injured left arm.

Commentators Corey Graves, Michael Cole and even Byron Saxton (yes, Saxton) did a fine job of discussing how such an injury could affect Reigns' arsenal.

Rusev had several opportunities to put his rival away, but the resilience of Reigns frustrated him, taking the heel's focus away from the task at hand.

Reigns was able to weather the storm and eventually finished Rusev with a thunderous Spear.

Result

Roman Reigns defeated Rusev.

Grade

A-

Analysis

Imagine how at home that match would have been on the SummerSlam card.

Reigns and Rusev turned in a great battle of big men, which was capped off with an explosive finish. Rusev looked great, and Reigns looked like a former world champion lucky to be able to overcome the onslaught of his opponent.

That is a story that can be told come Sunday, but the anticipation for their match is certain to be at a low point after WWE Creative inexplicably gave it away for free Monday night.