5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Raw (Sept 26)

1. Winner: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens wasn’t in the best spot heading into Raw last night. Triple H’s interference is the only reason he’s WWE Universal Champion in the first place, and after losing to Roman Reigns on last week’s show, his momentum had nosedived. He beat Seth Rollins at Clash, sure, but not without Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon’s involvement, leaving him one of the weakest “top champions” in recent memory.

With the Universal Title still building its reputation, this kind of booking is exactly what WWE should’ve avoided. KO has looked limp and ineffective with the belt, and another bad week might have been his credibility’s deathknell.

Fortunately, Owens was able to rebound. He gained ground on Seth Rollins when security thwarted The Architect’s attempts at invading the Highlight Reel, which was an enjoyable segment in itself. From there, Owens secured a decisive pinfall victory over Enzo Amore in the night’s tag team main event, presenting him as a genuine winner for the first time in weeks, and ending the show on a positive note.

WWE must pull away from the mud if they’re to make Kevin Owens a credible Universal Champion. The title’s in its infancy, and it needs a strong custodian if fans are ever to be expected to take Raw’s main event scene seriously. Owens isn’t The Miz, and he can’t afford to pass through adversity by the skin of his teeth much longer.

For now, he must be assertive and decisive in his victories, and protected in his losses.