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There was a lot to like and dislike about this week's episode of WWE RAW, from start to finish. I would say that in hindsight, I'd say that it was a pretty average episode. There was nothing particularly bad about the show, but it wasn't enough to hold your attention for three long hours. The WWE summer slump is officially underway.
The WWE roster just somehow slips into a lukewarm period in the summer months, following the craziness of WrestleMania every year. That seems to be the case this time as well, and the show just doesn't feel very important. I wonder if the really long duration between pay-per-views is making me feel this way.
Anyway, enough chit-chat. Let me begin my analysis of what worked and what did not in this week's episode of RAW.
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Feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts, views, and opinions as well.
#1 Best: Firefly Fun House
Many people were shocked last week when they saw Bray Wyatt's new persona and were both curious about how it will unfold and apprehensive about whether WWE will ruin it. I'm glad to report that at least in the first week, it wasn't a complete bust like I had feared. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it was the highlight of the whole show.
One of the new characters that was introduced on this week's show was Rambling Rabbit. He seems like the babyface among the cast of characters and was shown as being scared of Abby The Witch. This is so unconventional and unprecedented that I'm coming along for the ride.
The Firefly Fun House could be a big hit. It would also, by the same token, be a complete and utter bust as well.
#1 Worst: No Robert Roode on the show
I'd personally believed that Bobby Roode was repackaged as Robert Roode because he would be getting a singles push on WWE RAW. That was certainly not the case at all because Robert Roode did not even appear on the show this week, shockingly.
One would have assumed that he would be one of the men in the Money In The Bank ladder match, because of all his credentials. Well, if you think that he wasn't qualified enough, couldn't he have wrestled in a match this week, just to showcase his character?
All we know about the man at this juncture is that he used to be Bobby Roode and that he has a mustache now. Even a backstage promo where he gets to address the WWE Universe could have potentially worked for him.
Unfortunately, the Glorious One was nowhere to be seen!
#2 Best: Ricochet gets a big singles push
Ricochet was the only surprise with regard to the Money In The Bank contestants, at least in terms of the men. You had Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin, and these two men rightly deserve to be in the mix. Braun Strowman is a part of the proceedings too but I think we can all agree that for a change, nobody wants him to win the match.
I don't know if Ricochet will be the man who will go on to win the whole thing. If you ask me to bet on someone, I'd say that the odds are against him. But he has certainly been taken into the match for a very specific purpose and that is for him to do something extraordinary from atop a ladder.
I like that Ricochet is getting a singles push following his split with Black. He really deserves it!
#2 Worst: Same thing, different week
I hate to slot Sami Zayn in this section considering the fact that he's such a consistent performer and it's not his fault that WWE Creative keeps failing the man. I mean he always goes out and cuts a fantastic promo. He knows how to get under the skin of the WWE Universe and he works them like a master.
I'm just disappointed that Zayn has been doing the same thing every single week. I mean it was fantastic the first time he did it, it was okay the second time and by now it's absolutely tiresome, sadly. Can someone just come out and challenge the man?
Sami Zayn could have a variety of fantastic matches with top Superstars in the brand, and even help elevate overlooked babyfaces with his in-ring work. I really do hope that by next week, WWE books him in a significantly better role.
#3 Best: The contract signing segment
Contract signing segments in WWE only go one way. You knew that AJ Styles and Seth Rollins would come to blows by the end of it, but the way it happened was quite extraordinary indeed.
AJ Styles has come a long way on the microphone and he elaborated upon the similarities between the two men and the path they've taken to come to WWE. Seth Rollins reminded AJ Styles that SmackDown Live was his house, but, of course, RAW is Monday Night Rollins!
AJ Styles would hit Seth Rollins first and from the looks of it, he will go heel very soon. I think that the clearest indication of this is the fact that The Club has arrived on RAW, and it's looking likely that Styles may call upon his friends for backup.
We all know that WWE does not really believe in face vs. face programs anyway!
#3 Worst: Bobby Lashley's new gimmick
There are few people in the world that look like Bobby Lashley does. But at the same time, he was at his best back when Lio Rush was his mouthpiece.
Without Rush by his side, he was given a very strange gimmick. Much like The Rock had done in his heyday, Bobby Lashley has started speaking in the third person, without the charisma, of course, of one Mr. Dwayne Johnson.
Even if Lio Rush is in hot water with WWE, the company needs to find a manager for Lashley and more important, give him material that makes him seem like a monster. I mean this is a person who should be going toe to toe with Lesnar.
After all the damage that has been done to him and his character, will anyone even be excited for a potential match between the two men down the line?
#4 Best: Bliss' shoelaces
I'm guessing you guys think I'm biased. But if you look at it, anything Alexa Bliss does keeps you glued to the screen. There's something about her, beyond the obvious beauty, that makes you wake up and take notice even when the rest of the show has been otherwise quite unexciting.
Sometimes silliness works and Alexa Bliss losing the match against Naomi owing to her shoelaces was a pretty nice touch. I thought the same was the case with The Revival as well, and the 'shave your back' chants are a testament to the very same. You can be good between the ropes, but it's not enough to get over with fans.
I mean a clear case in point is Kurt Angle, perhaps the greatest ever to lace up a pair of boots (sorry, Alexa). He is remembered for the milk truck segment just as much as he is remembered for his extraordinary matches.
Here's another GIF:
