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The final episode of WWE RAW before SummerSlam 2021 was pretty much an alright show. If you had to separate the good from the bad, the wheat from the chaff, it was around 50-50.
Let's be honest here. With John Cena vs. Roman Reigns and Edge vs. Seth Rollins, the SmackDown side of things for SummerSlam is a lot more exciting than what WWE RAW has to offer fans. That said, it's not all doom and gloom from the red brand either.
So, here's our opinion of what WWE RAW did right and what they did wrong. As always, if you feel differently, you can sound off in the comments.
Be sure to let us know your thoughts and views in the comments section below.
#3 Best/Worst: WWE RAW course corrects the Karrion Kross storyline at last
The world was outraged when Karrion Kross lost to Jeff Hardy during his WWE RAW debut. Since then he has been booked right, has gone from strength to strength, and genuinely seems to be moving up the ladder.
It's unlikely that he will be inserted into a title picture soon because all of the male Champions on WWE RAW, be it Bobby Lashley, Sheamus, AJ Styles, or Omos...are all heels. This could change at SummerSlam, but it makes sense to build him up one step at a time.
He could enter into a feud with a formidable WWE RAW babyface such as Ricochet or even Drew McIntyre. If McIntyre puts him over, then his career is made. That said, the practice of 50-50 booking where there is no trajectory for any of the participants needs to stop. This is a big problem on WWE RAW. It's one of the reasons why there are so few Superstars today.
#2 Best: The WWE RAW Tag Team Championship picture actually feels important
Who would have thought that the WWE RAW Tag Team Championship picture would be the most fun storyline heading into SummerSlam this year?
There is a narrative that Vince McMahon does not care about tag teams. While that may indeed be true, when four stars are involved in a tag team match, the Creative team gives it their all. For Riddle to earn Randy Orton's respect in the manner that he did was gripping, engaging, and entertaining.
#2 Worst: Nikki A.S.H. lost her match clean
The WWE RAW Women's Championship picture does not feel nearly as important as all the other storylines on the SummerSlam card. And this is because WWE RAW Women's Champion, Nikki A.S.H., has been booked in a dreadful manner. If Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair can both beat her clean shortly after she becomes Champion, why should anyone be invested in her?
Nikki's booking has really been A.S.H.toundingly bad!
Also, was Nia Jax the best 'surprise' partner WWE creative could get?
#1 Best: The promos for Elias
WWE RAW Superstar Elias is being repackaged and we're all for it. Even though the company receives a lot of flak for the way it books its top superstars, you cannot doubt the quality of WWE's video packages. They are top-notch. And one has to wonder what the next incarnation of the WWE RAW Superstar will look like.
#1 Worst: WWE RAW ends with the most atrocious looking spear ever
Goldberg is a beast of a human being, who is in prime physical condition even today. But the Spear that he hit at the end of WWE RAW wasn't good at all, and it just diminished a lot of the mystique he is known for.
One has to dread the Jackhammer he is likely to hit at SummerSlam because there's a chance that Bobby Lashley could land on his head. Let's hope that he was just rusty during the final WWE RAW segment, and he'll be in prime shape during the pay-per-view.
How excited are you for SummerSlam this weekend?
Did WWE RAW get you more hyped for the upcoming show?
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