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If there is one word to describe this week's episode of WWE RAW, it is 'uncomfortable'. This discomfort came in both good and bad ways through the course of this week's WWE RAW episode and one has to say that there was certainly a lot more good than bad, overall.
What WWE RAW achieved is a pretty nice build for SummerSlam 2020 which is shaping up to be an event that people are interested to see. This was a week where the heels got the upper hand, and the WWE Universe will want to see the WWE RAW baddies get their due at SummerSlam 2020.
There is no mention of RAW Underground in this article because it was a by-the-numbers segment, which was neither good nor bad, but just another way to kill time on WWE RAW this week.
#1 Best: Randy Orton finally turns on Ric Flair on WWE RAW and gets very personal too
It is a well-known fact that Reid Flair, Ric Flair's son passed away long before his time, and who knows if he could have been just as prolific a star as his father or his sister? This week on WWE RAW, Randy Orton decided to get personal in his promo, as he brought up Ric Flair's deceased son as well as all the health issues that Flair has faced over the past few years, not mincing his words at all.
Ric Flair would cut a promo of his own on WWE RAW, and go toe-to-toe against Randy Orton. It was almost akin to watching a great guitarist and a great drummer come together to compose a fantastic song or a great director work with a skilled actor to create a fine piece of cinema.
#1 Worst: Apollo Crews loses a match on WWE RAW ahead of SummerSlam
You could make a million excuses about the loss that Apollo Crews suffered on this week's episode of WWE RAW but it is still a fact that a Champion went into the big match at SummerSlam with a loss. It is different from Asuka defeating Bayley on WWE RAW because she has a big match of her own at SummerSlam and also because she has always been portrayed as a bigger deal than Apollo Crews has, through the course of his WWE career until now.
And no, this is not a slight at Shelton Benjamin either, a man who has proved time and time again, that he is one of the best in the WWE RAW roster, then, now, and forever. It is just the placement of the loss that Apollo Crews incurred which will significantly derail a lot of the momentum that he has going into SummerSlam 2020 especially considering that until now, he's not exactly been the most strongly booked WWE Superstar in history.
#2 Best: Asuka and Bayley have the match of the night on WWE RAW
Asuka and Bayley had the best match of the night on WWE RAW and no, this wasn't just among the women but in the entire WWE RAW roster, truth be told. The two women would counter each other's submission maneuvers to such a degree that Samoa Joe would seem impressed at the commentary desk. Week after week, the women of WWE RAW and SmackDown are determined to overshadow the men and they do so with the utmost conviction.
And Sasha Banks would play her part to perfection at ringside as she would cheer for her tag team partner, and try to throw Asuka off her game against Bayley, as the action unfolded in the ring.
This weekly review often talks more about storyline progressions and angles as opposed to the actual wrestling on WWE RAW, but when the action is so good and so breathtaking, can one actually do a review without mentioning the clinic that Bayley and Asuka put on?
#2 Worst: Is Natalya the BOAT of WWE RAW?
Remember how this review began with us proclaiming that the 'uncomfortable' elements of WWE RAW this week were both good and bad? The fact that Natalya brought up Tiktok on WWE RAW in a segment that should have signaled the return of the legendary Mickie James must have made fans worldwide cringe with disgust. I get that this was the intended effect that they wished to produce but somehow when WWE RAW attempts comedy, the result is more often a 'miss' than a 'hit'.
The 'BOAT' comment was also a little cringy, and Natalya, for all of her in-ring prowess and skill has been reduced to little more than a comedy character.
Lana too could be like Zelina Vega, leading Natalya to gold and glory on WWE RAW, but for that to happen, one has to agree that this kind of comedy needs to be weeded out at once. Mickie James will remain a lower-mid card performer on the show unless she's pulled out of this feud and fast.
#3 Best/Worst: Did WWE RAW go overboard with the beatdown on Dominik?
Yes, the action we see on WWE RAW may be scripted but to say that it is 'fake' is a great disservice to the men and women who put their bodies on the line for our entertainment. Dominik Mysterio proved that he is his father's son on this week's episode of WWE RAW, where one has to admit that the beatdown did make one a little uncomfortable overall.
On the one hand, it gets a lot of heel heat on WWE RAW superstar Seth Rollins, as he goes up against a guy who will be competing in his very first match at SummerSlam. But on the other hand, I wonder if people actually switched off their TV sets because of the violence involved.
Which side of the coin do you represent, if you watched the action on WWE RAW this week?
Also, if you have a minute, do check out Stephanie Chase from Sportskeeda bringing you the hottest rumors from this week in wrestling.
How did Ric Flair spend $1500 at a pizza place? More details here
