-It was a tale of two promos for me this week regarding CM Punk and Gunther. On one hand it worked. It checked boxes. Punk laid out a mission statement, Gunther got heat, and we’re on a path to a match now. Check, check, check. On the other hand, it was boring. Like, real boring. Punk is the pipe bomb throwing superstar isn’t he? Not last night. A Gunther vs. Punk match is fine, but the money is in the build. It’s the edge. The promos. The rivalry. None of that was present inside their encounter this week.
Underrated
-Rusev vs. Sheamus was a blast. Sheamus is an underrated TV wrestler. His hard-hitting style makes short matches on television pop. Collectively, he’s one of the best Raw match guys that WWE has. As for Sheamus beating Rusev? Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Rusev.
-I still get a kick out of the El Grande Americano character, but the psychology around him is changing. He’s becoming a beloved character, when he should be hated because of the disrespect he shows each week. That hatred isn’t there. He’s got to do more each week to be unlikable instead of the cult character he’s becoming now.
-LWO are number one contenders for the tag titles. Yay? On one hand, it’s nice to see a different team in the mix. On the other hand, The New Day looked like total goofs again. Not sure why the tag division has to have a take turns feel to it on Raw. More than one team can be featured and taken seriously at the same time. It would make for more compelling matches and television outside of tag title matches.
-Glad to see Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria get added stakes and a stipulation for Summerslam. The rivalry needed it and it should make the Summerslam match different from their previous matches.
-The Lyra and Bayley tag team match against Judgment Day was really good and once again, Lyra stole the show in the ring. She’s tremendous there and needs her character and personality to catch up.
Heel Bayley?
-How about Bayley? She was acting way too nice to Lyra given their past history together. WAY too nice. Something is up. Lookout for a heel turn for her at Summerslam based on what we saw tonight.
-And the Karrion Kross vs. Sami Zayn feud carries on. Look, Kross is getting a moment here and he isn’t exactly getting hits out there. The match was just ok and that’s hard to say when Sami Zayn is involved. Zayn will win this feud in the end and this could be the high point for Karrion Kross in WWE.
Just a hoot
-All the AJ Styles and Dominik Mysterio stuff this week on Raw was a hoot. Styles played it great and Dom sold perfectly. He got the last laugh, too. This was always going to end with Dom getting cleared for Summerslam and now that’s official.
-Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky was a good match and on it’s way to being great, but the interference halted that reality in it’s tracks. It’s going to be The Secret Hervice vs. Rhea Ripley, Vaquer, and Sky sometime soon, so that will be fun. At the same time, it’s ok to build to that match, while giving a finish to Vaquer vs. Sky. If fans don’t believe the matches on the show matter, nothing else WWE wants to do can work.
-Both Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman brought it in their talking segment this week. Reigns balanced his sometimes arrogant personality with a babyface message that resonated in a strong way. Heyman sold for Reigns on the microphone and they’re building to a physical moment between the two that will get a nice reaction.
A small Breakk
-Roman was obviously the focus of the segment, but was so was Bron Breakker. He got a chance to go at Reigns on the microphone and landed some soft punches. He said he was the “future Roman,” and face of the company, but he looked small — figuratively — opposite Reigns. Reigns has the presence and Breakker doesn’t quite yet.
What did you think of WWE Raw this week? Let us know in the comments!!
Subscribe to the Brass Ring Media YouTube channel HERE.
Become a Brass Ring Media member HERE.