Monday Night RAW Highlights
#1 – Braun Strowman gets fired. Yes, that is the highlight because after General Manager Kurt Angle fired Strowman for his actions last week (see: throwing metal storage containers and using grappling hooks to pull down scaffolding onto two other people), the Monster Among Men went on an hour long rampage through the backstage of the AT&T Center. This culminated when Strowman pulled a semi-truck onto its side with his sheer, godlike strength and absolutely not a vehicle helping to pull on the other side that they wouldn’t show on camera.
#2 – Seth Rollins defeated Finn Balor in the main event picture with the best finisher he’s ever used. The curb-stomp made its way back to the WWE ring after years of being banned due to the possibility of real life injuries among children who may want to replicate WWE Superstars and their actions. Well, Rollins used it on Monday to win his match against Finn Balor. It is apparently likely that Rollins will continue to use this finisher.
#3 – Braun Strowman gets re-hired. After Strowman caused much destruction to the venue they were at, RAW Comissioner Stephanie McMahon called Kurt Angle and told him to re-hire Braun Strowman. Angle came out on stage to tell Strowman he was back and was still allowed his Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar and Kane at the Royal Rumble. After Angle left the stage, Strowman continued his carnage on Announcer Michael Cole, throwing him off the stage into a group of crew members.
SmackDown Live! Highlights
I’m going to do these highlights backward so it makes a little bit more sense and I won't spoil anything up top, but last night’s SmackDown was dominated by the United States Championship Tournament, originally supposed to culminate at the Royal Rumble, then next Tuesday, until it was finally ended last night.
#3 – Jinder Mahal defeated Xavier Woods of The New Day to advance to the finals of the U.S. Tournament. The Singh Brothers tried to interfere in this match, however Big E and Kofi Kingston chased them off.
#2 – Bobby Roode defeated Mojo Rawley to advance to the finals of the U.S. Tournament. Roode was ambushed by the Singh Brothers after the match but came forward to the mic to announce he wouldn’t wait until next week for the U.S. championship match – he wanted it then and there. We had a short break for a women’s match where the Riott Squad overcame Naomi, Becky Lynch, and SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, BUT
#1 – In our main event, where the Singh Brothers were banned from ringside, we saw our new U.S. Champion crowned… The Glorious Bobby Roode. This is also the first time since 2006 that the United States Championship has been won from a vacant state on SmackDown. With him as our U.S. Champion, it leaves a match open at the Royal Rumble for someone to step up to Roode.