-My ears are still ringing from the pop Oba Femi got to start the show this week. Damn. Look, if creative plans aren’t be refigured in WWE right now to accomodate and amplify Femi, what the hell are we even doing? Being a good booker includes knowing when to change course. These Oba Femi sized crowd reactions aren’t regular. They’re special. Time to lean the top of the card in his direction.
Appointment TV
-Femi vs. Dominik Mysterio in the King of the Ring semifinals is appointment television. Mysterio will bring out the best in Femi and will be the perfect chicken-shit heel opposite him. Psychology of the match will be Mysterio running from Femi and Femi finally catching him before destruction.
-WWE is flirting with Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns again. Look no further than all the Rollins backstage promos this week that featured The Usos, while legitimately calling out Reigns. This is a big match, but has an opportunity cost behind it. If they do this at SummerSlam, they can’t run Femi vs. Reigns. That would be a mistake. Rollins vs. Reigns works, but only if the timing is right.
-A very enjoyable first round Queen of the Ring match this week between Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, Chelsea Green, and Becky Lynch. Good action. Morgan trying to conquer both the Raw and SmackDown women’s divisions is a suitable story that provides Morgan with the right context to be in the tournament as a world champion already. It’s a shame she doesn’t have a real feud with a babyface to sink her teeth into right now, but this angle is better than zero television time at all.
-Sol Ruca hit the Sol Snatcher without issue this week. That’s twice in a row now on TV. Good for her. The move is incredibly cool, but only if it’s landed correctly. Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria was a nice match. Fun to see Ruca out of her comfort zone and mat wrestling a bit with Valkyria. As for Valkyria, she can go. She’s needs a lot of work on the character, but in the ring she’s nearly untouchable.
No yeet
-The LA Knight promo with The Usos overstayed it’s welcome a bit, but was entertaining. The Knight dynamic with Jey Uso is tense and it makes for intriguing television. The moment of the night was when Knight cut off the second yeet dance. Exactly what his character would do. Knight recognizing the positive crowd reaction for The Usos was also memorable. It’s always smart for babyfaces to call out and react to what the audience is actually seeing and doing.
-Penta vs. Rey Mysterio was magic. A fun ode to lucha libre with plenty of action, but also a match rooted in the storyline of respect. This needed an actual finish and it got it.
-As for the aftermath, Chad Gable truly respecting lucha libre culture after mocking it as El Grande Americano is chapter two of his story. Redemption time. Gable can convey emotions well, so this narrative is going to get over. Hey Roman Reigns! This is what an apology really looks like.
King Evans?
-Je’Von Evans advanced in the King of the Ring tournament. There was protection for the big stars in this, but when it came time to win, the audience was behind and bit on Evans being the guy to move on to the semifinals. The flashy move set and energy from Evans continue to be popular. The Vision getting involved and taking Rollins out continues that story, when Rollins firmly said his business with The Vision was over. Not so fast, Seth. Seth vs. Breakker 3 is on deck. Look for it to go down with a special stipulation at Night of Champions.
What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE Raw? Let us know in the comments!
Subscribe to the Brass Ring Media Newsletter HERE.
Follow Zack Heydorn on Bluesky @zackheydorn.bsky.social.