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

Monday's WWE Raw was equal parts formulaic and refreshing.

Even new fans could predict what the show's main event would be after Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins battered Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens to close out Sunday's Roadblock: End of the Line pay-per-view. The setup for the night's eight-man tag team bout was something WWE has turned to time and time again.

And WWE went to the "challenger beats the champion in non-title action" well once more.

The show caught fire when it avoided this type of booking by the numbers, when it mixed unexpected elements together and let fresh faces be the stars.

Raw's high points came from surprising sources—Neville's dark side, Braun Strowman's rage and Nia Jax getting tired of Sasha Banks spilling her guts. These moments most grabbed the audience's attention and made an impact on what's to come for the red brand.

The cruiserweight division now has added momentum. Strowman stepped onto center stage. Banks has a new rival.  

Read on as we dive into those developments, breaking down where Monday's Raw hit a home run and where it swung and missed.

Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho Celebrate

Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho reveled in how Roadblock played out on Sunday. They talked about the strength of their friendship before embracing.

Raw general manager Mick Foley told the heels Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins would face them in a tag team match. Foley announced that Reigns would take on KO at the Royal Rumble with Jericho suspended in a shark cage. 

Foley locked Jericho in the cage and inadvertently signaled for the cage to be raised.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Owens to the fans: "Yeah, you should clap for that!"
• Jericho: "We're going to hand out payback and retribution like Santa Claus hands out coal."
• Owens: "I'm a national treasure!"
• Foley mistakenly refers to Columbus, Ohio, as Pittsburgh.
• Jericho to Foley: "What are you, an ugly Jon Snow?"

Grade

C

Analysis

As excellent as it is to see Owens and Jericho back to their old antics, this segment went on far too long. Their chemistry was excellent, but too much Santa Claus silliness sucked the life out of the scene.

Reigns getting another title shot makes sense, as he was cheated out of his last opportunity, but WWE can't just abandon the U.S. title. Reigns has to drop it or the company has to find a way to incorporate the title into this story.

And it's strange that WWE is turning to the shark cage card so soon after NXT TakeOver: Toronto. Must be part of an effort to sell more shark cage ring set toys.

Big Cass vs. Rusev

Enzo Amore and Big Cass spat their usual pre-match catchphrases before Rusev marched out.

Big Cass pounded The Bulgarian Brute with a flurry of strikes. He ignored the referee's warnings, and the official called off the match.

After the bell, Big Cass continued the beatdown. Rusev slipped away as his foe stared him down from the ring.

Result

Rusev wins via disqualification.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Corey Graves on Big Cass: "Get this guy under control!"

Grade

D

Analysis

WWE continues to get the babyface-heel roles reversed in this story. The good guy refused to follow the rules and assaulted the villain even after the match was over.

It's clear WWE is trying to show how angry Big Cass is about this rivalry, but Rusev ended up creating sympathy as a victim.

Besides, the story was rushed. The two hosses could have tapped into more drama had this taken a touch longer to play out. 

Sasha Banks Addresses Her Roadblock Loss

Sasha Banks limped to the ring wearing a knee brace and using crutches.

Tearful, she talked of how her loss against Charlotte Flair impacted her. Banks invited Flair to meet her in the ring so she could congratulate her.

Nia Jax emerged instead. The powerhouse insulted The Boss before pouncing on her. Jax beat down Banks before leaving her writhing in the ring.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Banks: "I don't feel like The Boss anymore."
• Jax: "You're weak. You're wounded. Above all else, you're just a little girl."
  

Grade

B+

Analysis

Banks vs. Jax is an excellent idea. The juxtaposition of their characters is intriguing. It's a fresh pairing that will allow both women to thrive. 

The Boss can either earn her way back to title contention via a tough test or Jax can move past her on the Raw ladder.

WWE seemed to be holding back with this attack, though. Had Jax beaten Banks with the crutch or tore at her leg more, the moment would have been far more powerful.

Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar

Cedric Alexander enjoyed an early advantage, flying around the ring to knock Noam Dar on his back. A Lumbar Check led to a quick win.

Dar congratulated Alexander while lying on the floor. He talked of his interest in Alicia Fox, saying she was the real prize.

Result

Alexander wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Dar to Fox: "Foxy baby, all I want for Christmas is you."

Grade

D

Analysis 

WWE scripting a secondary cruiserweight feud is a welcome sight, but it has to give these wrestlers more time to work. A commercial break ate up much of this match. This kind of blink-of-an-eye bout used to be what held the women's division back.

And it would be nice to see Fox be more than a silent object of desire. She has to showcase some character along the way.

A Tag Team Verbal Showdown

Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E lamented losing the Tag Team Championships. They talked of wanting to win back the gold.

Cesaro and Sheamus sauntered out wearing the new design of the tag belts. 

The champs bickered with each other. Sheamus proclaimed he could hang onto the championships for 20 years. 

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson interrupted, dissing both of their rival teams. The Shining Stars joined the fray. They offered everyone brochures for their Puerto Rican resort.

A brawl broke out between everyone.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Big E takes a jab at Charlotte Flair for winning and losing the women's title so many times already.
• Cesaro as Sheamus mocks The New Day's entrance routine: "Don't you dare, just don't."
• The crowd chants, "Shame! Shame!" to Sheamus.

Grade

C+

Analysis

The New Day and the new champs looked to be headed somewhere interesting when the dregs of the tag team division arrived. Gallows and Anderson have zero momentum. The Shining Stars' shtick has simply not worked. 

The division's lack of depth was on full display here.

WWE's options for whom The New Day takes on next and who steps up to Cesaro and Sheamus are limited. A call-up for The Revival is in order.

Cesaro, Sheamus, Big E and Kofi Kingston vs. The Shining Stars and The Club

The heels overwhelmed Kingston early on. Gallows led the charge as The Club and The Shining Stars grounded the high-flyer in their corner.

The Shining Stars flew out of the ring to attack Cesaro and Sheamus. Gallows clocked Big E off the ring apron.

Big E finally tagged in and went on an offensive flurry. Sheamus dished out his own punishment. Cesaro finished things off with a Sharpshooter on Primo.

Result

The New Day, Cesaro and Sheamus win via submission. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Epico and Primo hit suicide dives in stereo.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Solid, high-energy action livened up the crowd. It's never a bad thing to see Cesaro work his magic between the ropes.

His tenuous relationship with Sheamus continues to remain fresh, and the anticipation of an explosion between them will elevate their reign.

WWE wisely gave the new champs a win to kick off their reign. Unfortunately, it was in a match that was hard to invest in. The Shining Stars and The Club aren't threats in the least.

Neville and Rich Swann Face off

A snarling Neville addressed his actions at Roadblock. He said he was tired of being pitied and promised to destroy the cruiserweight division.

Rich Swann walked out, flashing his cruiserweight title. The Brian Kendrick came out to take Neville's side. The heels clobbered the champ, but Neville made sure he got in plenty of shots.

TJ Perkins tried to make the save only to take a kick to the jaw.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Byron Saxton: "Neville looks like a man transformed."
• Neville: "I don't need your pity. And I don't your sympathy." 
• Neville: "Where's the respect for the true king of the cruiserweights?" 

Grade

A-

Analysis

Neville looked tremendous here. He is already bringing fresh energy and depth to the cruiserweight division.

His reasoning for wanting to attack Swann and his peers is logical. It's also smart to infuse Neville and Swann's real-life history together into the storyline.

WWE is slowly starting to figure this whole cruiserweights thing out.

Enzo Amore Attends Sensitivity Training

Bo Dallas, Jinder Mahal, Darren Young and Bob Backlund sat awaiting sensitivity training. Amore showed up and took over the session.

Young and Backlund played a role-reversal exercise. Amore and Mahal argued. 

When the class wrapped up, everyone earned certificates. Amore flirted with the instructor before Mahal and Rusev ambushed him. Lana slapped The Certified G while The Bulgarian Brute held him down.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Amore: "I'm here today because I showed all my employees my Italian sausage."
• Amore pretending to be Mahal: "Hi, my name is Jinder and everyone swipes to the left when they see me on Tinder."
• Rusev slams Amore through a table.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Lana reverted back to her old self, ordering Rusev to crush Amore. We need to see more of that and less of the flirty, one-dimensional character she has become.

The corny jokes and silly moments of the scene are an acquired taste, but WWE is better off misstepping while being creative than doing so-so while sticking to the same old stuff.

Mahal, Dallas and Young got some rare screen time. And Amore, even though he's coming off as a creep of late, earned some sympathy after suffering at Rusev's hands.

Braun Strowman Goes Berserk, Sin Cara vs. Titus O'Neil

Braun Strowman went on a rampage backstage. He bowled over employees and threw around equipment.

Foley tried to calm him down, but Strowman was seething over Sami Zayn lasting 10 minutes against him at Roadblock.

When Sin Cara and Titus O'Neil began to wrestle, Strowman marched out and clobbered both men. Foley came out to stop him, but Strowman began to destroy the Christmas decorations on the entrance ramp.

Medical staff attended to Sin Cara.

Result

Match ends in a no-contest.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Strowman powerslams O'Neil onto the floor.
• Saxton: "There is no one who can stop this man."
• Strowman throws Sin Cara into a Christmas tree.

Grade

A

Analysis

WWE has killed it with how it has booked Strowman of late. He came off as an absolute wrecking ball here.

Strowman should be impossible to control as he was here. He should be enraged and insatiable as this segment presented him. His feud with Zayn is increasingly intriguing from both sides.

And as a bonus, fans didn't have to sit through a Sin Cara vs. O'Neil match.

Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley

Flair gloated about her title win and how she left Banks hobbled. She claimed she could dominate everyone from Trish Stratus to The Fabulous Moolah.

Bayley skipped down the entrance ramp, seeking to congratulate the champion. She told Flair she wanted to start a rivalry between them.

The Queen accepted Bayley's challenge. 

The match saw each woman briefly gain control. The action stayed on the mat early on. Bayley goofed around mid-battle, and Flair responded with vicious offense.

After slamming Bayley into the ropes, Flair took over, howling as she beat on the babyface. Bayley, though, surprised her foe with a backslide for a three-count.

Result

Bayley wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Flair: "I beat the Boss out of Sasha Banks."
• Flair: "I am the queen of PPV."
  
• Flair: "I don't know why you even put on ring gear. You don't belong in the ring."
• Bayley laughs off a botched kip-up.
• Flair hits a moonsault from the top rope.

Grade

B+

Analysis

The playful, fun Bayley is the perfect foil for the disdainful Flair. This promises to be a great title feud.

This match was a fine addition to their ongoing series but a touch sloppy at times. The promo turned out to be better than the in-ring performance.

Flair's heel work is better each week. Varying inflection is still not Flair's forte, but attitude certainly is. Bayley had the crowd hooked with the mic in hand. 

Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho

An aggressive Owens floored Rollins before Jericho beat up on The Architect as well. 

Reigns entered the bout and slugged it out with the universal champ. Jeri-KO looked to escape the action, but the former members of The Shield hauled them back into the ring.

Teamwork allowed Jericho and Owens to ground Reigns. KO blasted Reigns with boots as Jericho cheered him on.

The match turned chaotic as the rivals fought outside the ring, and Rollins went flying all over the place. Strowman rushed out to make things worse. The big man ambushed Reigns and laid out Rollins while the heels ran off.

Result

Reigns and Rollins win via disqualification.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jericho calls himself a "sexy pinata."
• Owens to a ringside employee: "Take my title and protect it with everything you have."
• Owens to Jericho: "Yeah, Chris, slap his head! Watch out, though, you're gonna get conditioner on your hand."
• Rollins takes out both Jericho and Owens with a suicide dive.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Rollins is in limbo until his story with Triple H advances. His run as a babyface has been uninteresting in large part because of that. 

The Reigns-Owens feud hasn't been compelling. Reigns not defending or even talking about the U.S. title makes zero sense. He has to drop the belt.

KO's trash talk and Strowman's presence made this worth watching.

The latest round of destruction from Strowman put him in the main event spotlight, which was a welcome surprise. It was a shakeup of Raw's tired routine. And it left one wanting to see what will come of the monster and Zayn next week.

The Reigns-Owens feud didn't get that kind of cliffhanger, though.