WWE RAW: Watch highlights from the show as a Shield break-up is hinted

RAW this week turned into The Shield, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman show – with lots of air time for these guys and everything else just feeling like a bit of filler. The bulk of the show felt like it contained some combination of these six men, and it’s clear the red brand will be putting their eggs in this basket for the coming weeks. The tease that has been set in motion is Ambrose could be tempted into turning his back on Reigns and Rollins, but there were a few twists as time went on. Here are the best bits from Monday night The seeds of doubt The show kicked off with Baron Corbin getting something of a flea in his ear from Stephanie McMahon (Happy Birthday Steph), about how he is running RAW – and how he should find himself a couple of partners for tonight as he would be facing The Shield – the first time we have seen them in action together for quite some time. With the Hounds in the ring and Corbin on the ramp, Dolph, Drew and Braun emerged to continue their ongoing feud with the men in black. Their line of attack this time round? Whether Ambrose would walk away from his brothers and join the dark side. Video Playback Not Supported The thought of Ambrose turning is an interesting one – but surely it’s too early to break up a group that has not long been reunited? However, the thought of Drew McIntyre joining forces with them – now that’s something I can get on board with, and so can Seth Rollins…. Video Playback Not Supported With McIntyre and Ambrose both left to mull over the interesting offers….. Video Playback Not Supported Meanwhile McIntyre and Ziggler put their tag team gold on the line against The Revival – told you they were on a lot. Now, this is a tricky one because the very state of the tag team division on RAW makes this almost a zero in term of how appealing it is. But The Revival have that old-school tag team charm, the genuine team mentality, the tactics and strategy – everything points to WWE striking a little bit of gold with them. Except it doesn’t quite work. A little lacking in charisma, something just doesn’t quite connect with the Universe – and it’s a shame. Back to the match, and it was perfectly good – there was no surprise in McIntyre and Ziggler retaining – they need the gold to stay in a position of power in their battle with the Shield. Video Playback Not Supported Then we reach the main event. The Shield v Baron Corbin and two partners of his choice. His pick? AOP. From squashing jobbers one week, to main eventers the next. Go figure. With Ziggler, McIntyre and Strowman (yup, there are here again), watching from the ramp this was another predicable battle of big guys versus plucky faces (plus a big guy). The action was nothing to write home about, and ended with a Shield win, but Ambrose sat between the two camps. He obviously went back to his buddies and that ended the show. The best of the rest…… Finn Balor took on Jinder Mahal in a little tease of the Mixed Match Challenge, with Bayely and Alicia Fox at ringside. Finn is such a good worker he would make the proverbial broom handle look good, and while Mahal is better than that these days he was still clearly the lesser light here. If only we could go back to the days of Balor v Rollins v Miz. Heady stuff. Video Playback Not Supported Right in the mush – Natalya and the Bellas v The Riott Squad Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes……ooooooh. That’s the sound of a bunch of clean Yes Kicks followed by a swift one to the face. I fell kind of bad highlighting this, but it what the Universe is talking about. Brie Bella, who suffered a couple of botched suicide dives only a couple of weeks ago, laid out Liv Morgan with a swift boot to the chops that had her pretty much out cold and almost unresponsive. Look, these things occasionally happen and it’s not great when they do, and questions will immediately be aimed at Brie. Given the dive botches her confidence must be at an all-time low, and that’s not good. Video Playback Not Supported Did Liv drop her head, probably, but you still have to think Brie takes the brunt of the blame. Kudos to Morgan for being able to just about get a tag – and reentering for a triple suplex spot – and hopefully she makes a swift recovery. In truth it all detracted from what should have been a great night for the Riott Squad – they are red hot at the moment and we should be talking about them for all the right reasons. Hopefully Liv won’t be on the shelf too long and the threesome can continue on their push through the women’s division. And the rest……… The rather odd Bobby Roode/Chad Gable bromance continues – losses against Konnor won’t help this though. The KO show was a bit of a damp squib once Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley entered the fray. Nia Jax continued her comeback beating Alicia Fox. And finally, Triple H has another message for the Undertaker. One week to go.

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