-Not a bad promo to open the show for Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, LA Knight, and Jey Uso. It just felt like a carbon copy of the one they did a couple weeks ago, except CM Punk was out there instead of Jey. Breakker and Reed vs. Knight and Uso is a strong main event, but isn’t perceived as such because it looks so similar to previous Raw main events.
No bark
-Breakker and Reed were serviceable on the microphone without Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman next to them. Great? No, but they hit the talking points on got some real heat in spots. I say it every week, but I’ll say it again — Breakker would be better served dropping the barking schtick with the fans.
-WWE did a nice job selling the Roman Reigns attack at Clash in Paris. It was a major angle and they treated it as such.
-A fine tag team match between The Kabuki Warriors and Judgment Day. It had strong action, but highlighted just how strange of a spot The Kabuki Warriors are in right now. They are technically still babyfaces, but because they are so unlikable in their overprotection of Iyo Sky, the crowd reacts to them like heels. The match suffered because of that. It behooves WWE to officially have Sane and Asuka turn on Sky sooner than later to alleviate that awkwardness.
-Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer is the exact match WWE should do to crown a new WWE Women’s World Champion. Glad it’s happening and glad it wasn’t rushed onto the WWE Clash in Paris card. WWE Wrestlepalooza is a smart spot for this.
Priorities
-Dragon Lee vs. Finn Balor was a strong match with a predictable outcome given that Lee won a match just last week. He still is what he is and Balor along with Judgment Day are priorities for Triple H and the company.
-Anyone else ready to pull the plug on this Grayson Waller and New Day partnership? How about the New Day heel run? Anyone?
-Someone find Lyra Valkyria a personality. Quick! She’s floundering because she’s stuck in backstage segments that highlight her flaws. In-ring or bust for her right now. How can Triple H not see that yet?
-Hell yeah. Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles was a blast. They work very well together and the audience was extra excited to see a legacy star like Styles. Thumbs way up.
More follow-up on Rusev
-Not enough follow-up on the Rusev win over Sheamus at WWE Clash in Paris. He got a little vignette, but it wasn’t anything different or notable compared to what we’ve already seen. Michael Cole treated that win as a big moment on Sunday. Not so much on Monday.
-The CM Punk and Becky Lynch promo segment was full of compelling stuff. Lynch came across as a true heel with Punk and enhanced the ability of Seth Rollins to actually get heat inside his character. Punk is going to bring back AJ Lee right? If so, that’s a massive mixed tag team match and a really fun chapter in the Rollins and Punk story. A fun chapter in what could be a memorable Lynch vs. Lee feud too.
#Brothers
-Fun main event. WWE has to make Breakker and Reed look strong and that’s exactly what they did. In my head, it doesn’t feel like it’s been all that long since Jimmy and Jey teamed up, but I guess it kind has been. The Usos vs. Breakker and Reed is a nice match for the first Wrestlepalooza.
What did you think of this week’s WWE Raw? Let us know in the comments!
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