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Welcome to this week's edition of things WWE subtly told us on RAW! It was a good episode that started well and ended in the most incredible way possible. While we'll get to that later, let's start with the things subtly told to us on RAW!
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#6 RETRIBUTION give us a closer look on RAW
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We haven't heard RETRIBUTION say a word - nor have we seen a logo. But that was up until the September 7th episode of RAW where they made their presence known. It wasn't via an attack - but they appeared on the screen and appeared to be a group of five. It seems like the numbers keep changing each week, but they may have finally decided on a number.
They spoke of their intention to wreak havoc to the system in what was predictably a very anti-establishment message. Then again, the intention is to present them as an anti-establishment group. We're not sure if we're getting closer to the unmasking of RETRIBUTION on RAW, but what we know for sure is that there seem to be a couple of visibly identifiable members.
A twitter user named @vancitycorner took the liberty of brightening up the image from RAW and it appears that a few of the members have been recognized such as Mia Yim, Dominik Dijakovic, and Dio Maddin, among others:
It's an interesting set of superstars. For all we know, things could change again but WWE was clever in ensuring that the room on RAW was dark enough to not be able to recognize them at first. Either way, we're getting closer to finding out more about RETRIBUTION. In the end, we hope that their overall motives go beyond just beating WWE superstars up and vandalizing property. WWE needs to invest more in this storyline.
#5 Could Riott Squad 2.0 topple the reigning tag team champions?
For some reason, RAW featured two 2-on-1 handicap matches. The first saw Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan take on Shayna Baszler while the second saw the duo take on Nia Jax.
The first match of the two handicap matches on RAW saw Nia Jax distract Shayna Baszler, allowing Riott and Morgan to score a win over Baszler. Nia Jax started laughing after the defeat and it was her turn next.
While Jax was close to being defeated, RETRIBUTION's signature light fade on RAW happened and they cut the promo that we mentioned in the previous page. With the overall lack of women's title challengers, it was a no-brainer that WWE went with Riott and Morgan as the next title challengers - which they earned last week after beating The IIconics.
Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan make a lot of sense to challenge for the titles and potentially even win the tag team championships in their first attempt as well. It's safe to assume that Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan will be a team that sticks around longer than Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax. Their title reign itself seems to be one where WWE wants to use it as a story to set up a feud.
#4 Cedric Alexander finally turns heel on RAW
It wasn't a surprise that WWE was building to a Cedric Alexander heel turn on RAW, but the way it happened was a bit surprising. Cedric Alexander was blindsided at first by The Hurt Business before assaulting Apollo Crews and Ricochet to join The Hurt Business.
There was suspicion at first - especially from Shelton Benjamin, who felt that Alexander may have had other intentions in mind on RAW. However, RAW featured the VIP lounge and Cedric Alexander was presented with his official Hurt Business shirt.
He won them the eight-man tag team match on RAW in controversial fashion since the referee counted to two, but the bigger story was the fact that Ivar suffered an injury by potentially breaking his ankle or twisting it. In an update, WWE confirmed that Ivar suffered a cervical injury:
As for Cedric Alexander, he's finally taken the first correct character step in years. It's been four years since his RAW debut and he's made a character change for the first time.
#3 Asuka and Mickie James reignite their rivalry ahead of the RAW Women's title clash
After her victory over Lana on RAW last week, Mickie James was poised to be the next RAW Women's title challenger to Asuka. And this week, it was confirmed as the two will go head-to-head for the first time in four years next week on RAW.
Before that, however, they had to face Lana and Natalya in a tag team match and they won with relative ease - or at least for Asuka. Mickie James did all the work and Asuka tagged in at the end to make Lana tap to the Asuka Lock while Mickie James held Natalya back.
It was a good bit of back-and-forth and it was tense as well. The two will finally face off on RAW, but we're a bit surprised that it isn't happening at Clash of Champions.
Perhaps their match next week on RAW is to set up a Clash of Champions match - or perhaps even a triple threat featuring Natalya.
#2 Drew McIntyre gets his vengeance on RAW
We love the intensity in rivalries and that's exactly what we seem to be getting with Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre on RAW. Randy Orton suggested that since Drew McIntyre wasn't medically cleared to compete at Clash of Champions just yet, the WWE title should be handed over to him.
Drew McIntyre made a dramatic return to RAW, emerging from an ambulance before giving a Claymore Kick. Adam Pearce demanded that the WWE Champion leave the premises and he obliged, but that wasn't the end of the night for him. He would interrupt Randy Orton's match against Keith Lee and cause a DQ by hitting another Claymore on Randy Orton.
Later backstage, Randy Orton was assaulted once again and in a mini-ring set-up, he ate yet another Claymore kick. It was vengeance for Drew McIntyre on RAW and it only amped up the intensity of the rivalry. What will happen on RAW next week? Will these two come face-to-face?
We're more excited about this feud than ever.
#1 The Mysterios strike back on RAW
The ending to RAW was as perfect as it could get. The 23-year-old Dominik Mysterio headlined the show just a few matches into his WWE career and he faced Murphy, who blamed the Mysterios for Seth Rollins berating and humiliating him the previous week.
It was a Street Fight and not only that, but the entire Mysterio family was ringside for the RAW main event. The numbers game would catch up and Dominik continued to prove how exceptional a talent he is - particularly with one spot where he slid under the bottom ropes and sent Murphy through the table with a well-timed Sunset Flip.
Ultimately, Dominik Mysterio's sister and mother helped him out in the RAW main event by untangling him and they ensured that Murphy was on the receiving end of a brutal beatdown via kendo sticks.
Not only did Dominik Mysterio unleash his fury on the Australian, but his entire family did as well. An incredible ending saw the Mysterios extract revenge while Rey Mysterio looked into the camera, indicating that Seth Rollins is next. The last shot of the show saw the family rain down with kendo stick shots on Murphy. It was as perfect as it could be.
