WWE: Superstar Ratings for August 5th RAW

This week’s episode of RAW fell flat, without any solid matches on the card. With SummerSlam right around the corner, WWE has to shift its gears and further the storylines before we reach the PPV.

Although all the major feuds are set in stone, performers like Rob Van Dam still have no feud going into the second biggest PPV of the year. One has to imagine that within the next one and half weeks, WWE will announce yet another match or two for the SummerSlam card.

This week’s show played around the corporate makeover of Daniel Bryan and the return of “The Beast”, Brock Lesnar. So who were the superstars that made the most impact? Let’s find out.

5. Randy Orton

At number 5 is the Viper, Randy Orton. Orton has the Money in the Bank briefcase, which guarantees him a shot at the WWE championship at any time he chooses within the next year.

This week, Orton interrupted Cena and made his intentions clear about cashing it in at any opportunistic moment. Orton was then placed in the main event, as he teamed up with Cena and Bryan to take on The Shield.

As the match concluded, Orton delivered an RKO to Daniel Bryan, and then to John Cena, and thought about cashing-in his Money in the Bank contract.

But before he could do so, The Shield spoiled his plans when they came out once again. Orton then left Cena and Bryan lying in the ring and made his way back to the locker room area.

This certainly makes things interesting, as Orton can cash-in his contract at SummerSlam after the WWE championship match!

Rating: **

4. Curtis Axel

Curtis Axel faced CM Punk this week on RAW, but it was evident that it wasn’t about Axel. Axel is the proverbial third wheel in the Punk-Lesnar/Heyman feud, but he had a decent match with Punk which went for over 10 minutes.

Axel is a talented, gifted superstar who has a bright future in the business, but most of the times WWE portrays him as just an “extra” in a feud, whether it was during the initial Heyman/Brock-Triple H feud or when Heyman turned on Punk, which doesn’t speak too well about Axel’s spot on the roster.

Either way, Axel needs a good feud going into SummerSlam, and we can only hope that Heyman works his magic on Axel after the Punk-Lesnar feud ends.

Rating: **½

3. Brock Lesnar

The Beast incarnate made sure his presence was felt when he attacked CM Punk yet again, and delivered an F5 to the Second City Saint.

The Punk-Lesnar feud has to be one of the best booked feuds in a long time, and it makes the feud feel important. With Punk looking to get his hands on his former mentor and friend Paul Heyman, he first has to go through Brock Lesnar.

Their build up to SummerSlam has been nothing short of phenomenal, and we now wait and see how Punk responds next week on RAW.

Rating: ***

2. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan has been the hottest superstar in the organization for quite a while, and going into this week’s show, the main story was the corporate makeover of Daniel Bryan.

With Vince McMahon telling Stephanie and Triple H that Daniel Bryan needs to look like a WWE champion, Daniel Bryan was made to wear a suit, but when Vince told Bryan to get rid of his beard, that’s when things took a turn for the worse and Bryan told Vince that he will be the WWE champion at SummerSlam.

Bryan delivered a great promo, voicing his frustrations which were similar to what Punk said in 2011. Will Daniel Bryan win the WWE championship come SummerSlam? We can only wait and find out in less than two weeks.

Rating: *** ¼

1. CM Punk

Daniel Bryan wasn’t the star of the show however, as CM Punk took part in the match of the night and was also involved in a great segment with Brock Lesnar.

Punk and Lesnar went at it again, and Lesnar once again came out on top. With SummerSlam just around the corner, will the Straight Edge Saviour get his revenge on Lesnar? What will Heyman’s role be during the bout? Will Punk finally deliver the GTS to Heyman after being taunted for weeks?

SummerSlam is shaping up to be a great event, and will be a must-watch PPV.

Rating: *** ½