'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The latest episode of RAW served as the go-home show before the Crown Jewel 2024 Premium Live Event. WWE made a big deal of showing the belt and its case enter the building, but Cody Rhodes and Gunther did not do anything on the show.
The Bloodline Saga continued as Sami Zayn encountered The Usos backstage following an in-ring meeting between the twin brothers. The interactions did not go as everyone had hoped.
Seth Rollins met Bronson Reed in the parking lot for another destructive fight. While he initially stood his ground, the 38-year-old was put through some tables after a Death Valley Driver from the Australian star. Will The Visionary make it to Crown Jewel 2024?
Trending
With the Saudi Arabia show on the horizon, some things hit the mark while others did not. Below are the best and worst of the go-home show of RAW before Crown Jewel 2024.
A WWE Hall of Famer isn't a John Cena fan. More details HERE
#2. Best - The Miz never changes his stripes
The backstage segments on RAW are often just as good or better than the in-ring action. This week featured The Miz trying to reconcile with R-Truth after betraying him recently. Truth was talking with the Alpha Academy and was in his usual magnificent form.
He referenced that the group looked better without that "ugly little guy" and he also called Pete Dunne "Butch" when he walked by him. Truth initially accepted The Miz's apology but then decked him after.
It shows that The A-Lister is at his best as a vicious heel who will do anything to save his tail. Truth is not as naive or dumb as he is usually portrayed.
#2. Worst - Only one women's match on RAW
Monday Night RAW shifting to two hours has hurt a lot of superstars. After traditionally booking at least two or even three matches for the women, this week's show featured one bout for the female stars of the red brand.
The match pitted Ivy Nile against Zelina Vega, which essentially turned into another round in the Latino World Order vs. the American Made feud. Nile picked up the win after interference.
Seeing Vega featured is nice since she is one of the more underrated talents in the division. The problem was that Lyra Valkyria, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, Natalya, and others such as The Unholy Union disappeared over the last few weeks. The match was also average on the heels of two good showings at NXT Halloween Havoc 2024.
#2. Best/Worst - Damian Priest punishes The Judgment Day
Dominik Mysterio's "mystery former world champion" opponent was none other than Damian Priest. Dirty Dom only picked up the tainted win after copious amounts of interference from The Judgment Day.
Priest knew to expect outside distractions but still fell victim to the dreaded roll-up finish. The match should have been a dominant squash for The Archer of Infamy, but he got a measure of revenge following the defeat.
The 42-year-old star repeatedly blasted JD McDonagh, Carlito, and Dominik with chair shots and Chokeslams. Finn Balor was conspicuous by his absence, especially since he wanted another match with his former tag team partner.
#1. Best - Sami Zayn usually makes sense
Sami Zayn implored Jey Uso to stay out of The Bloodline drama since he had worked his tail off to stand on his own. The Yeet Master claimed that Solo Sikoa was a bigger threat than Roman Reigns and shrugged off Zayn's words. He also said that The Underdog from the Underground would not get it because he was not family.
Zayn had to work the hardest of all to prove his worth to The Bloodline during his time with the faction. Jey's head is all over the place but Sami has been the one person who always told him the truth no matter what.
A later segment showed Zayn talking with Sikoa in an SUV. The Usos quickly concluded he was a traitor, even though he tried to tell Jey to stand on his own. It is WWE's logic with how it books some of its top faces.
#1. Worst - Repetitive matches for The Celtic Warrior
Sheamus battled Ludwig Kaiser in what seems like a feud that will never end. Outside of a match with Bron Breakker, The Celtic Warrior has battled only three stars since July: Pete Dunne, Bronson Reed, and Kaiser.
The latest showdown on RAW was the fourth meeting between Kaiser and Sheamus since the summer. The action portion of the match was fine but the need to book another fight between the same opponents screams of a lack of ideas.
Sheamus might finally be headed for another match with Breakker over the Intercontinental Championship. He still could battle someone like Chad Gable and the American Made or The Final Testament instead of the same opponent.
#1. Best/Worst - Good action still prolongs a Judgment Day defense
WWE's booking of the World Tag Team Championship has been among the worst in recent memory. The Awesome Truth won the titles at WrestleMania XL but lost the belts to Finn Balor and JD McDonagh.
The Irish stars defended those titles once since winning them in June 2024. To remedy that fact, RAW General Manager Adam Pearce booked a tournament to determine the next challengers for the titles. Featuring all of RAW's teams is a good way to get them on-screen. However, the tournament only prolongs the next defense from The Judgment Day.
The War Raiders earned a title opportunity but could have been part of a Triple Threat Tag Team Match for the titles. The same angles could have been folded into that contest.
