6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (3 June - Results & Review)

2. A Beautifully Ugly Fight

There is something captivating about Sheamus’ matches when he and his opponent get to cut loose and just tear into each other, an awful, beautiful frenzy of violence.

Monday night, Ludwig Kaiser was Sheamus’ dance partner, getting the opportunity to shine in a hard-hitting, strike-heavy fight on his own. Unlike so many WWE matches these days, which are agented to the point of having predictable transitions, heat segments, comebacks and finishing sequences that fans can identify from a kilometer away, Kaiser and Celtic Warrior had a brutal battle that was messy and awkward – in the best kind of way.

Both men continuously fought for control, swinging at the other even when they were being beaten down. They scrapped and scraped to get the advantage, with Ludwig viciously attacking Sheamus’ knee, and the Irishman looking for any opening to land a devastating chop or a surprise pump knee.

Despite firing himself up – yelling “Come on, you b***h!” at one point – Sehamus couldn’t hold his body together, and Kaiser capitalized and got the pin, knocking off the former world champion. This is something that will likely feed Ludwig’s ego, while also bruising Sheamus’. Good stuff all around.