6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (29 May - Results & Review)

2. Chopping The Giant Down

When Bronson Reed started running through Shinsuke Nakamura – literally – you couldn’t help but think that the big Aussie was going to run through the Japanese superstar en route to a big PLE match.

After all, Bronson wasn’t affected by Shinsuke’s attacks and was poised for a quick win. And then Nakamura started a comeback that was swatted down and brushed off at first, but then it started staggering Reed. After another couple of strikes, Nak pulled into contention, only to have his attempt at a Kinshasa turned into a Samoan Drop and then a senton. But when a Tsunami splash was missed moments later, Shinsuke got a second wind.

Nakamura battled back into the match, chopping away at Reed with strikes and a Kinshasa that sent Bronson to the outside. He nailed a second Kinshasa as Reed rolled back into the ring to secure a win and a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. In doing so, Reed was pretty decently protected, losing only after he had been repeatedly kicked and kneed in the head.

A big man being chopped down by an experienced striker like Nakamura isn’t as huge of an upset if say, Mustafa Ali pulled it off. A Nakamura or AJ Styles can credibly target and take out a much bigger opponent, and we got to see that kind of match here Monday night.