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This week's episode of RAW had its moments for sure, but it wasn't the same level of quality we've come to expect from Paul Heyman. It meandered along and I'm guessing that while it wasn't a bad show, it didn't feel like a go-home show.
As always, it's time to identify the good and the bad from this week's program and list it all out here for your reading benefit. Feel free to voice your thoughts and comments in the section below.
There are multiple matches at SummerSlam that I'm keen on watching at the moment. There are also multiple intriguing aspects of the show that have me hooked.
But then again, something about this show was just slow, plodding, and quite uninteresting...
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#1 Best: The 24/7 Championship picture
I genuinely laughed out loud when Mike Kanellis pinned his wife during a check-up to become the 24/7 Champion. I laughed even louder when it was revealed that R-Truth was in the waiting room, and he pinned Kanellis to become Champion again.
I know that a lot of people feel that these segments make a mockery of pro wrestling and that the product presented should be serious, much like a lot of wrestling in NJPW is. However, comedy, when done in the right way can be a very good thing and I honestly like this kind of humor far more than the 'Being The Elite' segments, by a mile.
Just like Mike Kanellis had his moment, and R-Truth regained the title, I really hope that Truth is able to elevate other members of the roster who are not getting any screen time right now. Maybe someone like Titus O'Neil could actually get to show his comic timing when it comes to this title.
See WWE RAW Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE RAW Results page
#1 Worst: Booking Seth Rollins like a chump
Until last week, I was pretty big on Brock Lesnar coming in and destroying Seth Rollins in what was a beatdown that had several fans talking. What I did not enjoy was how Seth Rollins came out to get another beatdown at the hands of Brock Lesnar.
I know that the purpose may have been to get babyface sympathy for Seth Rollins and the promo that he cut at the end of the segment was quite brilliant. However, I just did not understand why someone who has a big match coming up this weekend would want to risk such an injury.
It just seemed unwise of the top guy in the company to do something like this. Even the crowd does not enjoy seeing white-meat babyfaces like Rollins is being portrayed at this very moment.
Expect them to turn on him very soon indeed.
#2 Best: If not Samoa Joe, then who is it?
Samoa Joe started off RAW in an interesting fashion, pretty much stating that he was innocent of the allegations that he was behind the attack on Reigns. He would confront Reigns in the parking area later, where a rather shocking hit-and-run incident took place. But then we would see that Joe wasn't really involved in the crash.
There are various theories circulating over the internet with regard to who wants to hurt Roman Reigns so bad. Some have said that it could be Buddy Murphy while others are stating that Daniel Bryan is the likeliest suspect at the moment. And moreover, Samoa Joe has been showing signs of becoming a babyface as well.
I love storylines that keep you guessing with regard to what comes next like the current one is. They are the best kind of WWE storylines, in my personal opinion.
#2 Worst: No Braun Strowman on the show (or the SummerSlam card)
I really have no issue with Goldberg or Trish Stratus returning to WWE. I think that RAW Reunion proved that the big names from the past still have a massive amount of recall value in the roster, especially if you consider how much the ratings shot up that particular week. I just think that when you have someone like Braun Strowman, you do not keep him off TV.
I won't mention names like EC3 and Rusev who should be on the show, but WWE does not have a spot for them. But Strowman is exactly the kind of WWE Superstar that Vince McMahon is known to like and if there's no spot for him, there's a problem. You can even justify The Revival being off the show, but not the 'Monster Among Men' because he ticks all the boxes.
#3 Best: Bray Wyatt takes out Kurt Angle
Bray Wyatt has become the most compelling thing on either show, with his terrifying mask and his surprise attacks on WWE legends.
This week, it was Kurt Angle who had to swallow a mandible claw as the Eater of Worlds made him writhe in pain.
I am guessing that Wyatt has taken on the 'legend killer' gimmick that Randy Orton was known for, and while he is part of an ongoing feud with Finn Balor, this is something he will continue doing.
Both Mick Foley and Kurt Angle are integral members of the wrestling fraternity, and it's great that both men decided to put Wyatt over.
I wonder if this is leading to a showdown with a WWE legend somewhere down the line. I also wonder if someone like The Undertaker or Kane will face him at the next big show, to put him over.
#3 Worst: Continuing to fight jobbers every week
I put over the Bray Wyatt segment because of just how unpredictable it was, how sudden! I am going to bury this segment in much the same manner because you could switch off your TV, take a power nap, and wake up, and you'd still know the results of the contest.
For some strange reason, The Viking Raiders are taking on makeshift enhancement talent tag teams every single week, and dominating them in the same way, week after week. This is the time that two teams like The Revival and The Usos could have taken to put on a great match.
I know it's all building to something, but I'd rather see it done in a different manner. After all, we've seen far too many squashes and we know the drill already, WWE!
I can't believe that someone like Paul Heyman is okay with this.
#4 Best/worst: New Champions crowned
I know that a lot of people are upset that Kairi Sane and Asuka did not win the Women's Tag Team Championships this week. That is pretty much the only reason it's in this section. Overall, I think it was a good call to put the titles on Bliss and Cross.
They are the only women's tag team with any kind of storyline going and this dynamic can be explored through the title reign. What this does is potentially give the title the kind of eyeballs it has been lacking, because The IIconics did not get any real TV time at all.
I conducted an interview with Alexa Bliss not long ago and I can't wait to write it up. Stay tuned to find out what I got to ask her, by following my profile.
Congratulations to the newly crowned Women's Tag Team Champions, Bliss and Cross!
