WWE Monday Night Raw results and observations (6/12/17): Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar? Take my money now!

After putting forth an outing that received a mostly positive reception from fans and pundits, Raw reverted back to its normal form of being a show that was very tough to sit through for three hours this week.

Outside of one segment, there were not many positives to take away from this week's episode of Raw. Raw is always tough to sit through because of its length, but it was even tougher this week with an entertaining final game to the NBA Finals happening at the same time.

Positive or not, I do have some takeaways from the show, but before I get into them here are the full match results from the Cajundome in Lafayette, La.:

- Elias Samson def. Dean Ambrose

- Cedric Alexander def. Noam Dar

- Apollo Crews def. Kalisto

- Mickie James, Sasha Banks & Dana Brooke vs. Alexa Bliss. Emma & Nia Jax

- Heath Slater & Rhyno def. The Miz & A bear

- Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson def. Enzo Amore & Big Cass

- WWE Raw Tag Team championship (2 out of 3 falls) – Sheamus & Cesaro vs. The Hardy Boyz ended in a double count out

Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar? Take my money right now!

In an effort to avoid the Warriors-Cavaliers game, WWE put Brock Lesnar's appearance on Raw in the very first segment, which I thought was a smart decision on the company's part.

The company looked even smarter when it booked Samoa Joe to interrupt the reigning Universal champion and go face-to-face with him.

Joe then showed the world that he really doesn't fear Lesnar by attacking the champion, which forced Raw general manager Kurt Angle to send a fleet of security guards to the ring to separate the two.

As is typically the case in professional wrestling, the puny security force didn't stand a chance at keeping Joe and Lesnar away from each other, which forced Angle to send out a good chunk of the Raw roster to break up the brawl.

The wrestlers fared a little better, but Joe was still able to deliver a kick to Lesnar that looked like it caught him flush in the face.

This was awesome. The only thing that would have made this better was if Angle ripped off his sports coat and began suplexing everyone in sight.

It was that good.

We have seen plenty of brawls over the years in wrestling, especially ones that involve Lesnar, but this one felt different because it was someone he has no history with in Joe. The fact that Joe got in so much against the champion was also a plus in my book..

Lesnar usually dominates any of the current stars, including Roman Reigns, but Joe was allowed to hold his own against the beast.

At the end of the day, this segment accomplished its goal, which was to sell the fans on the match between Lesnar and Joe at Great Balls of Fire. I was sold already on the match, but I think anyone that wasn't for whatever reason had to have bought in after the segment Monday night.

Kind of a weak finish to tag title match

While the show began at a torrid pace, it ended on a kind of a whimper with the tag title match between the Hardy Boyz and Sheamus/Cesaro.

The match was built up all night as essentially the culmination of the long-running feud between the two teams. And with the match being 2 out of 3 falls, I expected not only a quality match but a decisive finish.

We got the first part, as both teams are capable putting together quality matches in the ring, but the double count out finish left a lot to be desired considering how it was built up throughout the show Monday night.

I don't even have an issue with indecisive finishes, especially on television, but I do take issue when it feels like the match represents the end of a long story.

The Miz teamed with a bear

I realized this week's episode of Raw had gone off the deep end at about the point, as I saw a man in a bear costume ride a tricycle to the ring for a wrestling match that featured the WWE Intercontinental champion.

The segment with the bear costume was funny last week, but bringing it back this week — and for a match no less — was going a little too far in the silly direction, which WWE does quite often.

The match itself was nothing to remember. It was merely a means to an end. That end was getting Ambrose in another disguise so he could attack an unsuspecting Miz.

What is worse is all of the dissension amongst The Miz and his wife Maryse. I understand Maryse being upset with The Miz after destroying the grandfather clock she bought for him last week, but it looks like Maryse's issues with her husband will live on another week after The Miz accidentally knocked her off the ring apron.

I understand that Maryse not being in lockstep with The Miz is a new wrinkle in the seemingly never-ending story between the champion and Ambrose, but I sincerely hope this does not last much longer than the duration of this feud.

The Miz and Maryse are fantastic together on screen and the pairing of the couple helped elevate The Miz back into a prominent position on WWE's roster.

Big Cass is the jealous type

For the 52nd week in a row either Amore or Big Cass were attacked backstage. This week, it appeared someone did a number on Big Cass before he teamed with Amore for a match against Anderson and Gallows.

While Amore and officials tended to Big Cass backstage, The Revival could be seen strolling along in the background before exiting the frame.

If Big Cass simply watched Raw this week, he could see The Revival back there. Instead, he turned into the jealous type when Big Show showed up to save Amore from another attack from Anderson and Gallows.

Big Cass' paranoia of Big Show has even seeped over to Amore, who questioned Big Show backstage about the recent attacks. Big Show was offended by Amore questioning him and denied that he had any involvement in the attacks.

Big Show then said that Big Cass was being "sawft" for thinking that he was behind the ambushes. I still love these mystery angles on Raw.

John Cena's apparently a free agent

Up until this point, Cena has been the exclusive property of Smackdown Live, but on Monday, the video package hyping his return to the blue brand July 4 referred to him as a free agent.

There was no explanation given as to why Cena is suddenly considered a free agent, but WWE made sure that we all knew he should be considered one by putting on a graphic at the end of his video package.

This looks like WWE's way of allowing for Cena to appear on both Raw and Smackdown Live.

If that is the case, I'm fine with that, but only if WWE gives us a logical explanation as to why Cena became a free agent after being on Smackdown Live exclusively for nearly a year.

Vaughn Johnson has a podcast with Nick Piccone called the Straight Shooters on WildfireRadio.com. Check it out here HERE.