Extreme Rules 2020 was not the best show that WWE has put together this year, but I am glad to report that the episode of RAW that followed was significantly better. There were a lot of positive developments during the course of the show and each of them made WWE RAW enjoyable for the duration of the three hours.
I will be covering this week's edition of this article because Rohit Nath is unavailable, much like Billie Kay was on this week's edition of WWE RAW, in the fallout show after WWE Extreme Rules. One wonders if he is being recruited as one of the members of The IIconics.
So, what were some things that WWE subtly told us in the episode of RAW that followed after Extreme Rules 2020? I will tell you my list and I welcome you to chime in with your comments in the comments section below.
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#5 Mustafa Ali's return on the RAW after Extreme Rules could signal the end of a major WWE storyline
Mustafa Ali has returned to WWE RAW and he was part of a spectacular match, teaming up with Ricochet and Cedric Alexander. Unfortunately, it also does seem like it spells the end of the SmackDown hacker storyline. There were multiple reports in the past that indicated that Mustafa Ali was the SmackDown hacker.
I do not have an issue with seeing Mustafa Ali doing what he does best, stepping into the ring and putting on 5-star matches on free television. Unfortunately, it is another classic case of WWE putting the lid on a very promising storyline that had many in the wrestling fraternity intrigued. In fact, the hacker could have played a big part on RAW, leading to a split between Angel Garza and Andrade.
#4 Aleister Black becomes just another WWE Superstar on the RAW after Extreme Rules
There is no shame in losing to Seth Rollins, who is probably the biggest star in the pro wrestling world not named Brock Lesnar. However, it did seem like Aleister Black was a very special star on WWE RAW during his initial run and over time, it feels like he has slipped down the ranks to where he's just 'one of the guys' and little more.
I mean it was at WWE WrestleMania this year when Aleister Black defeated Bobby Lashley in one of the biggest matches of his life and it was very rare indeed to see him take a pin. He was one of the most protected stars in the WWE RAW roster but obviously the dream run has ended at this time, with him suffering a loss to Seth Rollins.
One can only hope that WWE realizes that they have a legitimate Superstar in their midst and they rebuild him to the point where he can be the Undertaker of this generation.
#3 Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka is bound to happen on WWE RAW sooner rather than later
One of the theories doing the rounds at the moment is that it will be Shayna Baszler who eventually sends Kairi Sane home to Japan. WWE RAW is in need of a strong heel in the women's division because with all due respect to The IIconics, and Natalya and Lana, they don't cut it just yet.
Enter Shayna Baszler, who was booked dominantly at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view but whose stock has fallen on WWE RAW since then because, unfortunately, she has never quite been the same since her loss to Becky Lynch at WrestleMania. She assured us on this week's episode of WWE RAW that she is a shark and I am intrigued to see how and when she enters the title picture.
I wouldn't even be surprised if Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka is the big program for the WWE RAW Women's Championship after SummerSlam 2020 based on how the card has lined up thus far in the roster.
#2 Major send-off match for a WWE RAW star for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WWE SummerSlam 2020?
When you pin the champion, you get a shot at him/her. That has been the philosophy that WWE has followed over the years and Kairi Sane's monumental win over Bayley on WWE RAW proves that she will be a part of the SmackDown Women's Championship picture, going forward. Because we know that Kairi Sane is on her way out of WWE very soon, I wonder if Bayley will be the one who sends her away permanently.
The rosters are very fluid at the moment and there isn't a legitimate contender for the SmackDown Women's Championship after Nikki Cross got pinned. So, we could very well see Kairi Sane make her way from WWE RAW to SmackDown to challenge the woman at the top of the food chain.
And Bayley could earn an incredible amount of heel heat by ending Kairi Sane's career in a brutal and vicious manner because Tom Colohue echoes the popular sentiment about Kairi Sane in the tweet above.
#1 Brock Lesnar isn't coming back to WWE RAW for a while
There was a lot of speculation regarding whether or not Brock Lesnar would be returning to WWE RAW for a match against Drew McIntyre at WWE SummerSlam.
I think it is pretty clear at this point that Dolph Ziggler will remain in the WWE Championship picture for a while, and even after that, it is unlikely that The Beast Incarnate will return to the proceedings, considering that it doesn't leave the company much time to build such an epic rematch. Brock Lesnar is from Canada and with travel restrictions being the way they are, it is not surprising that he's probably not coming back.
What we can confirm, however, is that Luke Gallows will be taking your questions on our Facebook page and YouTube channel not long from now. And the former WWE RAW Tag Team Champion is super high on momentum after his cameo during Slammiversary.
Do take a minute to check out the last session we conducted with WWE legend- Shane 'Hurricane' Helms on our Facebook channel.