WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Oct. 3

Sasha Banks and Charlotte capped off a strong WWE Raw with a grab-you-by-the-threat main event.

Women have rarely been asked to go on last as these two rivals did on Monday night, and both Banks and Charlotte maximized their moment in the sun. The Boss took down Charlotte once again to claim the Raw Women's Championship, thrilling the Los Angeles crowd in the process.

The victory reset the women's title picture, allowing Banks to pick up where she left off before concerns over a back injury derailed her title hopes at SummerSlam.

Monday's final bout will surely leave the WWE fanbase buzzing, but it was far from the only thing the company got right in L.A.

Seth Rollins made major progress in his slow transformation into a babyface. Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho verbally jousted with The New Day. And Braun Strowman's story is starting to finally take shape.

Raw's three hours weren't without their weak points (I'm looking at you, Ashton Kutcher!), but overall WWE moved its narrative along and delivered some good action. A number of items earned high grades throughout the night.

Roman Reigns Issues a Challenge to Rusev

Roman Reigns bragged about winning the United States Championship, but only briefly. Lana soon sauntered in to interrupt him.

The Ravishing Russian tried to convince Reigns to give Rusev a rematch for the U.S. title. After promising her husband would crush the champ, she stepped aside as Rusev charged in.

The two rivals brawled in and out of the ring. Rusev attacked the champion and took the United States Championship as his prize. Reigns snatched it back after clocking Rusev.

Reigns welcomed the rematch with The Bulgarian Brute, challenging him to a Hell in a Cell bout.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Life's a negotiation."—Lana.
• "Why don't you go to the back and deliver your husband his Bulgarian balls?"—Reigns.
• Rusev kicks Reigns over the security barricade.
• Reigns floors Rusev with a Superman Punch on the entrance ramp.

Grade

B-

Analysis

WWE can't seem to help itself with Reigns reverting to the same silly humor. The talk of his rival's testicles made him sound like an imitation John Cena.

Reigns is better off playing the snarling, angry warrior, as he he did later in the segment.

He will get to reprise that role when these meet inside the Hell in a Cell. He and Rusev promise to deliver a physical, intense collision inside the cage.

WWE has to flesh out the story more beforehand, however, to make fans care about all the violence. There has been little narrative development following the earliest stages of the rivalry.

T.J. Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick

T.J. Perkins used his speed to fluster Brian Kendrick early. The veteran, though, slowed the pace and issued a tortuous offense.

The champion flew around the ring to take control. Kendrick battled back, bashing Perkins' torso and then clamping on his signature submission hold for the win.

Result

Kendrick wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Perkins hits a springboard corkscrew plancha to Kendrick out on the floor.
• Kendrick bends Perkins' hand in the ring ropes.
• "TJP might feel his Cinderella story fading away."—Corey Graves.

Grade

B-

Analysis

The action was solid here, albeit a bit short. But it's a good sign when the audience wants to see wrestlers continue past the bell. 

The announcers did an excellent job of detailing these two men's history as friends, providing backstory for the newcomer Perkins. They played up Perkins' ability well, too.

His loss soon after all that hype undercut those efforts, however. WWE too often has champions lose in non-title action to set up a title bout. And it's really early in Perkins' career to have him drop a match by submission.

WWE is in danger of making this story too much a showcase for Kendrick and relegating Perkins to a supporting role.

Seth Rollins Interview

Michael Cole sat down with Seth Rollins in a taped interview, talking about his issues with Kevin Owens and the Universal Championship.

Rollins talked about how Triple H handed Owens the universal title, how the champ is just a teacher's pet to Raw's authority figures. He promised he has changed and sees things differently. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Kevin's the guy at the office who does half the work and gets all the promotions."—Rollins.
• "You can't replace Seth Rollins."—Rollins.
• "Seth Rollins is going to cancel The Kevin Owens Show."—Rollins.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The babyface turn is in full effect. Rollins' villainous aura was nowhere to be seen. He didn't cackle; he didn't whine. He instead came off as a man focused on a single goal.

This is the direction he needs to keep heading in.

Rollins showed glimpses of his potential as a face in this solid promo. The Rollins-against-the-machine story promises to be stellar if done correctly.

Braun Strowman vs. Chase Silver

Chase Silver said he was chasing his dreams in Los Angeles.

Braun Strowman quickly crushed those dreams. The monster bowled over Silver, roaring in between power moves. Strowman slammed Silver to the mat for a three-count not long after the match began.

Strowman said Raw was wasting his talent and called for Mick Foley to send him someone better next week.

Result

Strowman wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Last night, I had a dream that I was going to beat Braun Strowman up."—Silver.
• "Braun Strowman is what nightmares are made of."—Corey Graves.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Strowman produced one of his best displays of destruction yet. He was a convincing predator and sadist as he made short work of Silver.

The powerhouse also compelled as he demanded competition and promised chaos. This was some of his best mic work to date.

WWE did well to get fans excited about what step Strowman will take next. It is certainly time to move on from jobbers and elevate his level of opposition. Devouring midcarders like R-Truth is the logical next step for Strowman's rise.

Kevin Owens Addresses Seth Rollins, Challenges The New Day

JP Yim/Getty Images

Kevin Owens mocked Seth Rollins' comments about their rivalry and dismissed Rollins' claims of unfairness during their title bout.

He and Chris Jericho palled around before talking about challenging The New Day for the tag team titles. Jericho wanted them to win gold, but Owens had his doubts.

The New Day sauntered in and goofed around as usual. The champs needled Jericho and Owens until the heels put them all on Jericho's "list." The New Day agreed to take on KO and Y2J later in the night.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I am the one who beat you, Seth. And tonight, I am the one in this ring holding the WWE Universal Championship."—Owens.
• Owens mocks fans for chanting "Stupid idiot!"
• "Jumped the shark? Look at yourself! When was the last time you jumped over anything?"—Woods.

Grade

A-

Analysis

WWE doesn't often do comedy right, but it sure did here.

The New Day has long been in need of rivals who can hang with the trio in trash-talking sessions. Jericho and Owens fit that bill and rocked it against the champs.

Jericho and Owens' chemistry is off the charts. It looks like they are having a blast out there each night. 

Add Owens' greed in seeking a second championship and the hint of Jericho and KO going after each other in the future and Raw had itself a hit.

Sami Zayn vs. Titus O'Neil

Titus O'Neil talked up becoming his own brand before heading into battle with Sami Zayn.

The powerhouse overwhelmed Zayn early, tossing him around the ring. A cocky O'Neil focused on the babyface's spine.

Zayn charged back, putting together a rally and knocking off O'Neil with the Helluva Kick.

Result

Zayn wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Everything is Titus, and Titus is everything."—O'Neil.
• O'Neil mocks Zayn's entrance theme.

Grade

C-

Analysis

WWE wisely gave O'Neil some character depth, painting him as a blowhard entrepreneur. Whether that's the ticket to O'Neil getting some traction remains to be seen.

As for Zayn, it's good to see him get a win, but this was a forgettable match. He has little direction at the moment, with WWE not moving forward with his feud against Chris Jericho after Clash of Champions.

The Golden Truth vs. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows

Backstage, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson promised to end all the ridiculousness in the tag team division. 

In the ring, they struggled against Goldust for a moment before pouncing on the veteran. Gallows and Anderson battered the bizarre veteran in their corner.

R-Truth offered some resistance, but The Club put him away with the Magic Killer.

The heels beat up on their foes after the match. They left both Goldust and R-Truth lying there. 

Result

Gallows and Anderson win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "We're the guys who are going to push that clown car off a cliff."—Gallows on the rest of the tag team division.

Grade

C+

Analysis

The match was a snoozer, but WWE is finally getting it right with Gallows and Anderson in terms of presentation. Their pre-match promo showed off the duos more serious, sadistic side. That's what they should have been all along.

WWE will have to rehab The Club after making them goofballs and booking them to lose so often. That process started well on Monday's Raw aside from The Golden Truth putting him too much of a fight against two supposedly dominant bruisers.

The New Day vs. Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens

Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens crossed paths with Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson backstage. The actors questioned the wrestlers' friendship. 

Kutcher and Masterson then sat in on commentary for the match.

Jericho and Owens took out their frustrations on Xavier Woods. Big E danced as he took control for his team. The heels, though, cheated their way back on top.

Seth Rollins emerged to distract Owens and Jericho. That led to Big E and Woods teaming up on Y2J to score the win.

Owens retreated with his Universal Championship in hand as Rollins hit his best friend with a Pedigree.

Result

The New Day wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Masterson makes fun of Jericho for losing to Fandango at WrestleMania.
• Jericho's nose bleeds during the bout.
• "That was some Canadian tiger blood there!"—Kutcher.
• Woods flew out of the ring onto Owens out on the floor.

Grade

D

Analysis

Terrible commentary trampled all over this match. Kutcher and Masterson spent much of the action either sounding confused about the action or trashing Owens for his look.

The actors also got to plug their new show The Ranch.

This accomplished next to nothing for Owens, however. He was barely involved in the backstage interaction. And then he watched on as Rollins got the big moment of the segment.

Rich Swann vs. Tony Nese

Rich Swann danced as he clashed with Tony Nese.

Nese responded with a flurry of kicks and rapid-fire offense. He then grounded Swann, smashing him with hard strikes.

Swann managed to battle back, but Nese overpowered him. A pump-handle driver earned him the three-count.

Result

Nese wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Maybe I should just twerk like some second-rate Amber Rose."—Nese.
• Swann flings Nese off the top rope with a hurricanrana.
• Nese slams Swann face first into the ropes.

Grade

B

Analysis

Swann is the more popular of these two, but Nese was the clear star here. He looked superhuman at times, showing off his uncanny speed.

The crowd's minimal response to the excellent action, though, suggests WWE has work ahead in connecting the cruiserweights to the audience.

We only know a sliver of their stories. That has to change to introduce all these newcomers.

Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Raul White and Mark Carradine

On their way to the match, Cesaro and Sheamus bickered. They argued about everything from their driving habits to who should walk in front of whom backstage.

Their issues continued during the bout. They tried to show each other up as they took out Raul White and Mark Carradine.

Sheamus used the Brogue Kick to secure the win. Cesaro celebrated in emphatic fashion.

Result

Sheamus and Cesaro win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Cesaro leaps off Sheamus to land a DDT.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This odd-couple relationship has big potential. It just didn't maximize it on Monday night.

Cesaro and Sheamus' lack of unity can be played up far more in the ring. Kane and Daniel Bryan did that perfectly during their run as Team Hell No. Cesaro and Sheamus could easily get to that level of compelling disjointedness if their story is done right.

Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks (Women's Championship)

Charlotte and Sasha Banks both talked about the title match in backstage interviews. WWE aired a video package recapping these rivals' long feud.

Bayley and Dana Brooke brawled backstage, leaving Charlotte's protege too injured to accompany the champ to the ring.

Champion and challenger charged at each other from the opening bell. Charlotte zeroed in on The Boss' back, flinging her all around the ring. She bent Banks in half, and left her writhing.

Banks held on, evading The Queen and taking a ton of punishment.

The match's pace picked up before a back-and-forth battle came to its apex. Banks locked Charlotte in the Bank Statement to knock off the champ again.

Result

Banks wins via submission to become the two-time women's champion.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "Tonight, I'm going to make history when I dethrone that wannabe queen."—Banks.
• "She wants to talk about making history? After tonight, she's going to be history."—Charlotte.
• Banks hits Charlotte with a nasty suicide dive out on the floor.
• Charlotte hurled Banks into the security barricade.
• Charlotte hits a Skytwister Press.

Grade

A

Analysis

WWE wisely infused Banks and Charlotte's NXT history into the current narrative, helping to add depth to their story. That and all the hype the match received throughout the night led to this boasting the proverbial big-fight feel.

Say what you want about the wrestlers flubbing a few spots, the emotion here was undeniable.

Banks delivered another thrilling victory. Charlotte and The Boss proved themselves worthy of the main event. WWE put two stars on center stage, and it paid off.