'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Stomping Grounds delivered in a number of ways for WWE which included crowning a new United States Champion and planting some seeds for Extreme Rules. The build-up to July's pay-per-view began last night on Monday Night Raw with two matches already being announced and they are both tag team matches.
Lacey Evans will team with Baron Corbin as the duo take on WWE's power couple of Universal Champion Seth Rollins and Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch, whilst The Deadman makes his return to WWE to team with Roman Reigns in his personal feud against Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre.
Extreme Rules is already building into an interesting show, but whilst the build-up to the event began, some superstars on Monday Night Raw had issues with the direction they were given and made for some interesting botches this week.
#4 Wild Card Rule?
It's becoming pointless even mentioning this every week now since WWE has just lost sight of the Wild Card Rule that Vince McMahon laid down and now it appears that the brand split is just completely over. Last night on Raw was perhaps the worst it's ever been since sometimes the company only breaks the rule by one person, but there were eight SmackDown superstars on Raw last night.
Erick Rowan and Daniel Bryan came over to be part of an eight-man tag match that also included The New Day from SmackDown Live, there was also Kevin Owens, Kofi Kingston, Shane McMahon and Roman Reigns who appeared on Monday Night Raw this week when they usually ply their trade over on SmackDown Live.
It has reached the point now where WWE should just announce that the brand split is over and superstars are free to appear on either brand if they wish.
See WWE RAW Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE RAW Results page
#3 The Undertaker returns
Roman Reigns has been battling the odds ever since WrestleMania when he was able to defeat Drew McIntyre but then stepped into a feud with Shane McMahon when he was moved over to SmackDown Live as part of The Superstar Shakeup. Reigns has no backup now since Seth Rollins has moved onto his own Championship picture and Dean Ambrose left the company back in April which has left him as a sitting duck.
Reigns managed to overcome the threat of both men at Stomping Grounds this past weekend but was put into a handicap match on Raw where the numbers game took over and it was obvious that he needed help. The Undertaker was the man who appeared and not a moment too soon since this entire segment was a botch fest. McIntyre's Claymore was miles away from the target, Shane McMahon's kicks failed to land and then when Taker did appear McIntyre ran in and ruined his big boot. Doesn't give the WWE Universe a lot of hope for the upcoming tag team match at Extreme Rules.
#2 AJ Styles forgot the spot?
AJ Styles has been on the sidelines ever since Money in the Bank when he was defeated by Seth Rollins in his quest for the Universal Championship. It could be argued that the former WWE Champion had some ring rust as part of this week's Raw since it looked as though he forgot a spot mid-way through his main event match.
Ricochet had to gesture for The Phenomenal One to come over to him so that they could continue the sequence because it didn't seem as though AJ remembered what was next. Interestingly, it was Styles who came out on top despite the error and could now be seen as the number one contender for the United States Championship, which means that he will be crossing paths with Ricochet again in the near future.
#1 Referees had another shocking night
WWE basically invented the rules in the wrestling ring but the company rarely sticks to them. This week on Raw referees were once again having a shocking night since there were two major errors. The first error saw the referee fail to count whilst Kofi Kingston and Kevin Owens were on the outside but decided that Owens had been counted out as soon as Kingston made it back into the ring, despite being on the outside for almost a minute.
The second came in the women's tag team match where Alexa Bliss tagged in whilst Nikki Cross was in the corner with Natalya. The referee didn't count to tell Cross that she needed to get out because she was no longer the legal person and instead waited until after the neckbreaker to point out that there was a tag when Bliss and Cross were miles away from each other.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
