-Pat McAfee and Michael Cole were nauseating this week and it can’t just be me that thought that. Right? I mean, there are plenty of hot angles to start the show with, but they start with a silly bet between those two goofs? McAfee and Cole are wrestling commentators. Talent, yes, but not THE talent. If you want to do bets and shenanigans like that, fine — good — just leave it off the pro wrestling show on television.
Agree with Sami Zayn
-I agree with Sami Zayn. It was nice to hear Punk finally give himself a championship mission statement. Punk was good to open the show, but I can always do without his crowd “isn’t it great to be alive in ‘X’ city” pandering. He’s still incredibly popular and this journey to a potential title is good for him and fans of his. Zayn aligning with Punk against a common evil in Seth Rollins, but then warning him about his aspirations as champion is strong storytelling between two babyfaces. They are aligned, even if a giant wedge is nearby in the form of a world championship.
-Stephanie Vaquer is a strong addition to WWE Raw and it felt like the company knew that. The carefully curated video hype package on her was excellent, but the real tell was that Vaquer won entry into the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Strong booking for her and she’ll be a bright spot on the show for many years.
-One more thing on Vaquer — the backstage run-in with Rhea Ripley? Well done. It didn’t give too much away, but teased a big money match properly.
The anti-bully
-Sheamus is the perfect anti-bully character and he cut a helluva promo on Rusev this week. Rusev did the same thing right back. WWE has done a nice job with this program. They’ve alluded to the history between both guys, but haven’t made the entire story strictly about that. This should be really good when it gets in the ring.
-A cool new entrance for Finn Balor and JD McDonagh as the Judgment Day this week. It was about time for a refresh and they got it.
-As for the Judgment Day match with The War Raiders, totally fine. Roxanne Perez and Finn Balor getting closer and closer each week is not something I had on the bingo card for Perez’s early run on the main roster, but so far it has worked because it’s been interesting to see play out.
-Drama continues within Judgment Day and my prediction stands … Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio turn babyface opposite Perez and Balor. Heard it here first!!
Babyface aggression
-Good to see Lyra Valkyria fine an aggressive tone of voice this week. She missed something last week, but being fired up helped her look relevant and credible with the crowd opposite a star like Becky Lynch. Lyra has come a long way within this feud, but if you listen to the crowd reactions to her and compare them with Becky, the Becky pops are much more passionate.
-Sami Zayn & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed was the match of the night this week, but featured such a lame finish. I mean who could have predicted Seth Rollins running out there and interfering? More on Rollins and his faction a little later and a lot of it was good this week, but there are more creative ways of getting to the same endpoint than a lazy interference.
-The Kairi Sane victories have been interesting to watch the last couple weeks. Tainted wins because of outside interference, but they are wins nonetheless. Setting up for a potential Sane vs. Iyo Sky title feud?
-Karrion Kross has some fan momentum, but it all exists outside of the WWE television shows. On TV, he’s the same muddy character he’s always been. No indication yet that WWE brass is ready or willing to reposition him on the roster at all.
-El Grande Americano in Money in the Bank ahead of CM Punk and AJ Styles? It was a good swerve, yes, but it hurts the overall star power of the match to have him in it instead of Punk. It also tips off the crowd on an almost certain Seth Rollins MITB win at this point.
The Rollins faction needs to matter
-As for Punk not being in the match, like Americano winning, it hurts that he isn’t involved. BUT. The Rollins faction causing that type of impact is good for that group and good for the show. They got heat for eliminating Punk from the match. That’s big. Showcasing how the group impacts things for Rollins will help continue to get that heat, but also highlight how good the guys in the group are ahead of future singles pushes way down the road.
What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE Raw? Let us know in the comments!
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