WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Aug. 7

A busy, robust edition of WWE Raw heightened the energy surrounding SummerSlam.

Compelling chaos bookended Monday's show. Brock Lesnar kicked things off by flattening The Miz's crew, and Samoa Joe capped the night off by putting his imprint on the Last Man Standing Match between Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns.

Elsewhere on Raw, the SummerSlam card continued to take shape.

A shoulder injury has Bayley's SummerSlam spot up for grabs, and the latest Raw started the process of finding her replacement.

Sasha Banks moved closer to a championship clash with Raw women's titleholder Alexa Bliss by winning a Triple Threat match on Monday. Next week, she will face Nia Jax, who won a Triple Threat bout of her own, to determine the next No. 1 contender.

Big Cass and Big Show are now set to face each other, while Enzo Amore is suspended in a shark cage. WWE continued to tease Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose reuniting, while Finn Balor's bout with Bray Wyatt is now official. It also looks as if The Miz is closer to facing the general manager's son.

How did these stories resonate? What worked and what puttered out? 

Read on for a full breakdown of the red brand's trip to Toronto.

The Miz Meets Brock Lesnar

The Miz demanded to face off with Jason Jordan. Raw general manager Kurt Angle stepped out instead, informing him Jordan wouldn't be a part of Miz TV, Lesnar would.

The Miz mocked Paul Heyman and taunted Lesnar. He said he believed Reigns, Strowman and Joe were all more likely to exit SummerSlam as universal champ.

Heyman asked the audience to pretend The Miz and Miztourage were Lesnar's SummerSlam opponents before The Beast Incarnate laid out the heels.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fans chant "Suplex City!"
• "This is my show. So I run things around here."—The Miz.
• Lesnar F-5s Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas and The Miz in succession.

Grade

A-

Analysis

These melding of two feuds was a surprising, welcome move. 

Lesnar got to show off his destructive power and rev up the crowd by gobbling up the heels. The Miz got to be his egotist self in a fresh setting. Both Lesnar and The Miz's respective rivalries got some spotlight in the process.

Too often, The Beast Incarnate simply stands there as Heyman preaches. Not here. Lesnar kicked off Raw with some fun chaos. 

Seth Rollins vs. Sheamus

In a rematch from last week, Seth Rollins clashed with Sheamus in a match that started out with a furious pace.

The Kingslayer pounced on Sheamus, chased off Cesaro, and proved intense and focused against his opponent.

Rollins dominated, but Cesaro distracted him long enough for Sheamus to roll him up. 

After the bell, Rollins battled the tag team champs, a fight he quickly started to lose.

Backstage, he confronted Dean Ambrose. The Lunatic Fringe made it clear he still doesn't trust his old partner.

Result

Sheamus wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Sheamus hits Rollins with a backbreaker against the ring apron.
• Rollins nails Sheamus with a flurry of kicks to the side of the head.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Sheamus and Rollins' chemistry was good here once again. WWE is wisely only giving us glimpses of their battles, though, to leave some room for them to impress in future matches.

Ambrose not playing the cavalry here avoided the predictable route. It instantly complicated his and Rollins' tenuous alliance.

Jason Jordan vs. Jean-Pierre Goulet

Jordan was supposed to face Axel, but the beatdown from Lesnar had him out of commission. Jean-Pierre Goulet took his place.

Jordan overwhelmed his foe and suplexed him all over the ring. Things only worsened for the local talent when he angered Jordan.

The former tag team champ quickly finished off Goulet.

Result

Jordan wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fans chant "Let's go jobber!"
• Jordan suplexes Goulet on to his arm.
• "Goulet may want to start praying."—Corey Graves.

Grade

C

Analysis

The fans weren't into this brief showcase for Jordan. He charged across the canvas with a high-energy, high-impact style, but he couldn't win the crowd over. 

He showed some intriguing flashes as he smirked at the crowd's reaction and looked dead serious after Goulet slapped him. A more aggressive version of Jordan could be on the way. A heel turn isn't hard to imagine.

And if Angle keeps giving him easy competition, there's plenty of room for a story about nepotism to play with.

Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox vs. Emma

After WWE revealed Bayley couldn't compete at SummerSlam, she explained how emotional missing this opportunity was for her.

Banks came out after Bayley predicted she would be the one to go on to face Bliss at SummerSlam, and Bliss showed up soon after to sit in at the commentary desk. 

Emma took control, laying out The Boss and smashing Fox with right hands. Banks charged back. A Bank Statement on Emma secured her the win.

Result

Banks wins via submission.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Fans boo Bayley during her speech.
• "I don't have sympathy for weak people."—Bliss.
• Emma suplexes Banks on to the ring apron.
• Banks hits Emma with a nasty Shining Wizard.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Some great near-falls and hard-hitting offense made for an electric match.  

Emma was tremendous here and looked every bit like a legit contender. WWE must give her more opportunities like this. 

Banks, the clear favorite to face Bliss, also impressed. Her rivalry with Bliss hasn't been fully explored, but that could easily change now Bayley is out of the picture.

Enzo Amore and Big Show vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Enzo Amore welcomed Big Show to the ring after doing his usual pre-match routine. He called the two of them a dream team.

Big Show began to talk about Big Cass, but Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson interrupted, issuing a challenge.

The big man pushed the heels around, and they retreated. 

Anderson and Gallows gained control by beating down on Amore. 

Big Cass arrived which distracted Big Show. Anderson and Gallows kept on the attack and took down Amore for the win.

After the match, Big Cass attacked the babyfaces. He earned a knockout punch to the chin for his troubles.

Result

Gallows and Anderson wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "How did this derelict get across the border?"—Graves on Amore.
• Amore called The Club Dr. Evil and Mini-Me.
• Gallows knocks Big Show off the ring apron.

Grade

D+

Analysis

This story has disappointed thus far.

The Big Show-Big Cass part of the feud hasn't generated many sparks. The Amore element boasts more emotion, but he can't offer his old partner a challenge.

Big Cass getting knocked out two weeks in succession is an odd move as WWE seemed to be trying to sell him as a dominant monster.

Finn Balor Crosses Paths with Bray Wyatt Again

Finn Balor recalled his recent confrontation with Bray Wyatt. He urged Wyatt to come at him, to continue their rivalry.

Wyatt appeared in the ring. Balor blasted him, but the lights went out and The Eater of Worlds disappeared. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "When fear comes knocking, you stand up and kick fear in the face."—Balor.
• "After I rip you from the heavens, they will all fall down with you."—Wyatt.

Grade

B-

Analysis

What this feud is all about remains unclear, but these recent mind games have been pretty fun. Balor not being impressed with Wyatt's teleportation and even being ready for it is a nice touch.

Balor felt like a star here. He's going to make his hunt for his enemy entertaining, even if the narrative foundation of their story is skeletal.

This feud is the perfect place to bring out Balor's demon alter ego, but WWE can make that moment more powerful if it's earned and not just thrown in there.

Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro

Ambrose and Cesaro traded momentum early on. 

The Swiss Cyborg pounded Ambrose with strikes. Ambrose fired back with a wild offense. Sheamus distracted The Lunatic Fringe to allow the heel to take control, though.

Ambrose survived Cesaro's relentless offense, even when his opponent left his midsection hurting. He was able to roll up Cesaro when Sheamus' distraction attempt failed. 

In the post-match fray, Rollins rushed in and fought off the tag champs.

Ambrose made it clear he was willing to reunite, but Rollins shook it off and left the ring.

Result

Ambrose wins via pinfall. 

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Cesaro teases a superplex to the outside before Ambrose can counter.
• Cesaro twice deadlifts Ambrose off the mat.
• Cesaro counters a suicide dive with a big European uppercut.
• "If you dream it up, Cesaro can pull it off."—Graves.
• Ambrose offers up his fist The Shield-style.

Grade

B

Analysis

The announcers drifted from the action too often early during this match. 

Cesaro vs. Ambrose built up to a high-energy climax. Cesaro was stunning here, pulling out creative, electric offense. 

The tease of the partial reunion of The Shield was one of the most powerful moments of the night. WWE is smart to drag this out. It seems to recognize the emotional weight that story wields. 

Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari

Titus O'Neil joined the commentary team as his client took on Ariya Daivari. 

Akira Tozawa tried to chop his foe down, but Daivari wore him out with a mat-based offense.

Tozawa fought back and finished off the heel with a diving senton.

Result

Tozawa wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• O'Neil gives Booker T a "Titus Worldwide" T-shirt.
• Tozawa floors Daivari with a suicide dive.

Grade

D

Analysis

A short, forgettable match was far from Tozawa and Daivari's best effort. The No. 1 contender for the Cruiserweight Championship got another win, adding to his recent streak.

This would have been a good spot to insert a different opponent for Tozawa. The cruiserweight division sure knows how to wring the energy out of a matchup by way of repetition. 

On the plus side, the Titus Worldwide faction is growing in chemistry, feeling like more of a cohesive unit.

Nia Jax vs. Mickie James vs. Dana Brooke

Credit: WWE.com

Jax dominated the opening moments of the bout. An errant charge into the corner left her out of the action as Mickie James and Dana Brooke slap each other around. 

Jax barrelled back into the ring and overpowered her foes.

Result

Jax wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jax hurls James into Brooke.
• Jax steamrolls Brooke with a running clothesline.
• "Dana Brooke will remember this match."—Michael Cole.

Grade

C

Analysis

While the first Triple Threat Match was a back-and-forth affair with convincing near-falls, this was a glorified squash match. Jax dominated a predictable bout.

The announcers did well to sell her as a formidable force.

Had WWE better explored Jax and Bliss' alliance beforehand, the possibility of them battling at SummerSlam would be a much bigger deal. As it stands, their story would have to be a forced, hurried one.

Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Last Man Standing)

Credit: WWE.com

Reigns and Strowman fought outside the ring to kick things off. The Monster Among Men soon took control, battering his opponent with a methodical offense.

The slugfest later saw ring steps and a table get turned into weapons. The physicality increased as both men were left reeling.  

Reigns and Strowman moved the battle to the entrance ramp where the latter smashed The Big Dog against the LED screen.

Samoa Joe ambushed Reigns, choked him out and left him out cold on the floor. That allowed Strowman to steal the win. 

Result

Strowman wins when Reigns can't stand after a 10-count.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• "I like hurting Roman Reigns."—Strowman.
• "When I'm around, The Big Dog is nothing more than a puppy."—Strowman.
• Strowman shoulder blocks Reigns out of the ring.
• Reigns smashes Strowman with the ring steps.
• Reigns sends Strowman through a table with a Samoan Drop.
• Strowman hurls a chair into Reigns' face.
• Reigns charges downs the entrance ramp before spearing Strowman off his feet. 

Grade

A+

Analysis

Strowman and Reigns put on a pay-per-view worthy match, perhaps the best in their series. The bout showcased Strowman's ferocity and Reigns' warrior ways. The highlights were plentiful. 

Capping off Raw with this wild, brutal collision made it clear things have picked up en route to SummerSlam.

As a bonus, WWE continued to present Joe as a ruthless predator. His attack furthered the animosity between him and Reigns. That all-hoss Fatal 4-Way is going to be something special.