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WWE RAW came to us this week from the Keybank Center in Buffalo. While the episode did deal with the fallout from Extreme Rules, it did not feel like a fallout episode. It is clear that in the weeks that follow, SummerSlam will be the central focus. This week's RAW had some hits and some misses.
A lot of the show just felt like filler. It felt like a top-heavy show where more emphasis was given to the main program and not the support characters and programs. It wasn't a particularly bad show, but there was some questionable booking.
I will elaborate on everything I've said in the review that follows in the following pages. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the show.
Was it a must-watch RAW episode or one you wish you had skipped instead?
#1 Best: Brock Lesnar confirmed for SummerSlam next month
It is not a fun experience when the top champion in your brand holds the championship hostage, be it in real life or in storyline. Brock Lesnar has not been on WWE seen since the Greatest Royal Rumble, and the show has felt hollow without the said championship, in my opinion. Kurt Angle threatened to strip Lesnar of the Championship at the top of the show.
Paul Heyman, Lesnar's mouthpiece, friend and advocate would interrupt proceedings and try to negotiate with Kurt Angle. Angle would have none of it and wanted Lesnar to wrestle at SummerSlam this year. While this was almost a given, it was great to see this match being set in stone.
This was the good bit. This decision also led to some questionable booking decisions.
#1 Worst: Undeserving challengers?
I can understand why Bobby Lashley or Finn Balor would qualify for the Number 1 Contender matches for Brock Lesnar's Championship. How does Seth Rollins qualify for the said Championship? Did he not lose to Dolph Ziggler? Did Roman Reigns not lose to Bobby Lashley?
The logic was atrocious this week. Angle justified Baron Corbin not being a part of the fray by saying he lost his Extreme Rules match. How did the two Shield brothers qualify for the matches then?
#2 Best: Two amazing matches
Whatever you may feel about the product right now, it's impossible to deny that WWE superstars work hard. We were promised two marquee triple threat matches on RAW, and both of them delivered and then some. There were exciting spots that the audience consistently came alive for.
Finn Balor and Seth Rollins were the standout performers. McIntyre also performed an over the top rope somersault that was quite fantastic to see. I guess that the men and women who bought tickets did get their money's worth.
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#2 Worst: Extreme Rules rematch
Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley will be battling it out on next week's show to determine who goes on to face Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. I'm sure the match itself will be quite solid. On the other hand, does it not render the match at Extreme Rules absolutely pointless?
Why did we watch the two men slug it out and Lashley score a pinfall, to have to see them do it again next week? In my opinion, the triple threats would only make sense were we getting a fresh match. How silly of WWE!
#3 Best: SummerSlam match confirmed
Alexa Bliss came to gloat in the ring, like she always does. And then, a familiar face would interrupt through the crowd. Ronda Rousey strode forth to chase the heels out of the ring at once. Kurt Angle then promised Rousey a match against Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam for the RAW Women's Championship, when Corbin was out of earshot.
This was the obvious direction WWE was heading in. It was still great to see this match get confirmed and also to watch the crowd popping for it!
#3 Worst: A lot of filler
It's hard to retain the audience's interest over three hours of programming. In my opinion, WWE faltered in this department on several occasions, this week. There were some matches that were probably building to future programs, but just seemed meaningless right now. Mojo Rawley vs. Tyler Breeze was a good example!
The same can be said about the Authors of Pain. They need a full-fledged program and they need it fast!
#4 Best/worst: Ziggler vs. Bobby Roode
Bobby Roode has not been booked strongly. Is it any wonder then, that the crowd did not care for him when he faced Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler in a non-title match this week? The match wasn't bad. The crowd just went dead!
I really wish they had built Roode strongly. Roode was fantastic in NXT as a heel. Remember his feud with Roderick Strong?
He's only been a shadow of that amazing character in the main roster. And if this keeps up, he may take Ziggler down with him.
Let's pray to the Goddess for better luck all around!
