5 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw: Day 1 (Results & Review)

1. Jax Has Working Boots On

Who could have predicted that since returning Nia Jax would be one of the most impressive superstars on the roster?

Before being released two years ago, Jax was rightly derided for her questionable work – both in terms of quality and safety. She was poorly booked and simply wasn’t worth fans’ time when onscreen. But upon returning to WWE last year, Nia has become the catalyst for a Raw women’s division shakeup, first providing focus by being the villain everyone could focus on, and now as Becky Lynch’s great white whale.

Monday, Jax and Lynch finally had their long overdue one-on-one match, and it did not disappoint. The two threw haymakers at each other from the opening bell, with Lynch busting out a Diamond Dust and a Molly-Go-Round, while Nia used her size – but not in a slow, plodding way like one might imagine.

The final quarter of the match – beginning when Jax punched the ring post and missed a cannonball into the barricade – was tremendous stuff, with Becky desperately trying to get a Disarm-Her and Jax powering out twice, then countering an Avalanche Manhandle Slam with an Avalanche Samoan Drop… for a two count.

Finally, it was Jax landing that fabled punch, bloodying Becky, and dropping her with an Annihilator that gave Nia the elusive win. Great stuff from both, and it sets Jax up for a title match, and it forces Lynch to regroup before WrestleMania season.