6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (Sept 19)

1. Bayley Defies Hometown Jinx

You know how you know that we’re no longer in the Vince McMahon era of WWE? A wrestler won a match in their hometown Monday night.

Bayley acknowledged her homecoming to San Jose, California on Raw, and then went on to wrestle Alexa Bliss in the main event, where she eventually dropped the Goddess with a Rose Plant to continue her winning ways. The victory wasn’t without a bit of assistance from the rest of Damage CTRL, but she still managed to get the pin, which is far better than many superstars have fared in their hometowns.

For years, WWE has seemingly reveled in beating superstars when they’re in their hometown, embarrassing them in front of fans who want to get amped and celebrate a local hero or heroine. It happened so often that it became a running gag for years, and when a wrestler won in their place of birth/residence, it was almost a shock.

The match itself was fine, and Damage CTRL laying out Bliss, Asuka and Bianca Belair was a nice coda to the show, with Bayley finally declaring that she wants the Raw Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. This sets the table nicely for that show, as that title match should be a good one.