The main event of July's Raw-exclusive Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view offers the kind of can't-miss physicality -- WWE universal champion Brock Lesnar will face Samoa Joe -- that removes the need for a red-hot build in order to create excitement. 

So consider the fact that we got one anyway, beginning with Monday's episode of Raw, as a strong omen to just how good the next four weeks have the potential to be heading into the July 9 card.  

Joe made sure to get Lesnar's attention in a big way by applying his Coquina Clutch to advocate Paul Heyman in fantastic segment which served as the anchor to what was a sizzling and loaded episode of Raw.  

Along with the launch of a new feud between Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins, Raw featured new chapters in the ongoing "whodunnit" surrounding the mysterious attacks against Enzo Amore (and now Big Cass). It also showcased an entertaining turn in the feud between new Intercontinental champion The Miz and Dean Ambrose.  

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WWE Raw results 

In the ring -- Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns: Despite being denied a chance "to slay the Beast and save you all from damnation," Wyatt said he's still every bit the God he always has been. He also said he's here to cast judgment on all those who are guilty -- namely the four other participants in Sunday's Extreme Rules main event. Out came Reigns to confront him. "You want to know what happens when you run your mouth in my yard?" Reigns asked before knocking Wyatt out of the ring with one right hand.  

Roman Reigns def. Bray Wyatt via pinfall: Good physicality from both during this three-segment, nearly 30-minute match to open the show. After a handful of near falls that had the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, crowd popping big, Reigns combined a Superman punch and spear to get the 1-2-3.  

While I'm not against two big-name superstars putting forth a high-energy match to open Raw, this one felt too much like a blatant ratings grab. Without putting anything at stake during the match or establishing any depth to the storyline during the brief dialogue segment to open the show, the match felt pointless (aside from WWE's goal of getting Reigns a high-profile win after his Extreme Rules loss). It's hard to take Wyatt's promos seriously when he is continuously set up to lose.

Backstage -- Enzo Amore and Big Cass: A flirtatious Amore told Charly Caruso that if she's looking for a scoop regarding his attackers, "Why don't you take some of that gelato off of Corey Graves' head?" Cass took offense to being considered a suspect in Amore's beatings and said he'll be watching Amore's back at all times, including during their upcoming match. Back at the announce table, Graves cautiously told Michael Cole he's going to stay out of it.

Backstage -- Alexa Bliss and Kurt Angle: Bliss told the Raw general manager she's done with Bayley and wants to celebrate with a segment called "Alexa Bliss: This is my life." After Angle shot her down by admitting last week's segment was one of the worst in Raw history, he booked a title match against Nia Jax for tonight.  

In the ring -- Elias Samson and Dean Ambrose: Samson drew heat from the crowd by playing guitar and singing about Wilkes-Barre's lack of hope. Ambrose came out to interrupt and knocked him down by hitting him with the mic. After Ambrose called for an immediate rematch for the intercontinental title, The Miz appeared on the video screen from backstage, announcing his comeback tour will have a Kickoff Celebration tonight. Samson attacked Ambrose from behind and landed his swinging neckbreaker. Shortly after, Angle shot down Ambrose's attempts to secure a rematch backstage, saying, "I didn't ask you, I'm telling you. Leave the building and take the night off." 

In the ring -- Samoa Joe and Paul Heyman: Joe said he doesn't fear Brock Lesnar because he's too envious of what he possesses, including a flexible schedule; the fear of every man; Heyman as an advocate, negotiator and errand boy; and the universal championship. That brought out Heyman, who said Joe is the worst-case scenario for Lesnar "because you don't give a damn." But after Heyman shook his hand and agreed to the match, Joe pulled Heyman to the corner off microphone and whispered a message meant for Lesnar. Joe described in painstaking detail what a Coquina Clutch will feel like before applying the move on Heyman. Angle angrily approached Joe backstage and, after an interruption from Seth Rollins, booked a match between the two for tonight. 

This is how you build a hot program. Having Joe need multiple referees to free Heyman from the hold was the perfect way to legitimize his toughness. No one talks trash on the main roster with the believability of Joe and seeing Heyman play the compromised victim was the perfect launch of Lesnar's subtle turn back into a babyface for this feud.

Cesaro & Sheamus def. Heath Slater & Rhyno via pinfall: Quick squash match that did well to put over the heel aggression of the new Raw tag team champions. Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on Slater to set up the pin.  

TJ Perkins def. Mustafa Ali via pinfall: Before the match, TJP approached Neville backstage looking for the title shot he was promised. Neville said he's be a man of his word and talk to Angle if Perkins defeated Ali first. TJP went on to do just that, landing his Detonation Kick to score the pin. As TJP exited, he was startled by Neville's fireworks. The champion attacked TJP before announcing a title bout on Tuesday's 205 Live episode.  

Vignettes -- Goldust and R-Truth: He continued to use movie references in his old-school promo to tease an eventual feud with R-Truth that has still yet to get off the ground. Truth responded later with one of his own, just as he did last week.

Backstage -- Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, Mickie James & Dana Brooke: Bliss proved unsuccessful in using flattery to trick her fellow Raw women into being insulted that Jax cut the line to get a title shot. James and Brooke decided to watch from ringside as Bliss deals with her "Nia Jax problem" all by herself.   

Announce table -- Kurt Angle and Corey Graves: Angle interrupted Graves's preview of the women's title match to show him something on his cell phone. Shortly after, Angle refused a backstage interview about what happened; as he exited the arena while looking at his phone, Ambrose snuck in the back door.  

Kalisto def. Titus O'Neil via pinfall: With Akira Tozawa watching on a monitor backstage after O'Neil attemtped to recruit him to the Titus Brand, Kalisto used a handful of tights to steal the victory.

Backstage -- Enzo Amore & Big Cass: The 7-foot-tall Cass was found knocked out and beaten under a big steel rod. When Amore arrived to wake him up, Cass handed Amore his own broken chain. Amore instantly denied he had anything to do with the attack. An attending referee told Amore to look for a new tag team partner. 

Kickoff Celebration -- The Miz & Maryse: The ring decorated for a party, complete with someone dressed in a bear costume and balloons spelling out "M-I-Z." But after finding out Maryse didn't order the bear, a suspicious Miz attacked him and landed his Skull Crushing Finale. He pulled off the bear's mask to find out it was just an actor. Then while ignoring Maryse's instruction not to do so, an incensed Miz destroyed a giant boxed gift that was wheeled to the ring, breaking the grandfather clock she bought for him. Maryse pushed the mic into Miz'schest and angrily walked off before Ambrose emerged as an undercover camera man, landing his Dirty Deeds before celebrating with champagne.  

Everything about this segment was absolute gold and a reminder of just how great The Miz has become. Putting the title back around his waist was a smart move.  

Enzo Amore & Big Show def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson via pinfall: After being revealed as Amore's surprise partner, Big Show tried his best to (unsuccessfully) keep up with Amore comedically by adopting a bad Italian accent. The duo made quick work of the heels in this one, with Show launching Amore onto Anderson for the Badaboomshakalaka and the 1-2-3. After the match, Amore was forced to play peacemaker backstage after Cass accused Show of having a hand in the attacks.

Raw Women's Championship -- Alexa Bliss def. Nia Jax via disqualification to retain the title: After Bliss cried she deserved better than the division treats her during a backstage interview, forced outside interference from James and Brooke  -- Bliss hit them first -- led to a quick DQ finish. Bliss escaped the angry wrath of Jax but the other two weren't so lucky.

Backstage -- Paul Heyman: While being attended to by a trainer, Heyman received a cell phone call from Lesnar. The advocate told him it's time to return to Raw next week "to instill fear into Joe that he doesn't have," saying it's time they unleashed the Beast.  

Samoa Joe def. Seth Rollins via submission: Good energy in this two-segment main event. After Rollins could only get at two count following a Falcon Arrow, he climbed to the top rope before the lights went off. Wyatt's video package briefly played but Bray was nowhere to be found once action resumed. Joe took advantage of the distraction by sinking in his Coquina Clutch to force the tap.  

Strong booking here in terms of providing a natural ending to the Joe-Rollins feud by starting something fresh with Wyatt. Cole did well to remind the audience of Rollins' "false prophet" comments concerning Wyatt during his earlier backstage segment with Joe. If the next month of Raw heading into Great Balls of Fire features big-time feuds involving Lesnar-Joe, Rollins-Wyatt and (wait for it …) Reigns-Balor, things could be a lot worse.