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From Dominik teaming up with Rey Mysterio in the main event to Keith Lee's much-awaited RAW debut, this week's edition of WWE RAW featured many contrasting moments.
As a whole, some moments failed to click during this particular episode, as WWE had to rush plot developments several days before their upcoming Payback event. Fans did get to witness the interesting aftermath from SummerSlam and it was a fine start for the first edition of RAW from WWE ThunderDome.
Let us know what you thought about this particular episode in the comments section below.
Here are the five biggest news stories from this week's episode of WWE RAW (August 24, 2020).
#5: Aleister Black returned and turned heel on the Kevin Owens Show
Aleister Black was touted to be one of the best characters in WWE when he made a mark on NXT. Since arriving on the main roster, Black has been through several ups and downs.
Recently, Black was reduced to playing second fiddle on the main roster to the top babyfaces in Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio's feud. Black was removed from WWE TV when Murphy shoved his head into the corner of the ring steps a month ago.
On this week's WWE RAW, Aleister Black returned and appeared with a grim look on his face during the KO Show. Kevin Owens tried to reiterate what Seth Rollins does to everyone and that both Owens and Black should be on the same page.
However, Black attacked Owens with a spinning elbow and a Black Mass to establish a solid heel turn.
Black is not the first person to receive an eye injury thanks to the consequences of Seth Rollins being on RAW. But the black eye patch certainly gives him a distinct look. It will be interesting to see where he goes from this point onwards.
#4: Dominik Mysterio's WWE RAW debut was interrupted by RETRIBUTION
Dominik Mysterio faced Seth Rollins in a Street Fight at WWE SummerSlam and in the eyes of most fans, it was certainly the match of the night.
Dominik has impressed the WWE Universe with his debut and on this week's RAW, he proved that it wasn't a fluke by any means. Dominik teamed up with his father, Rey Mysterio, to lay a beating on Seth Rollins & Murphy. Dominik performed some acrobatic maneuvers with ease and proved to be the heart of this match.
Out of nowhere, the lights started flickering to signal the arrival of RETRIBUTION, who for some reason did not appear at this year's WWE SummerSlam event. Rey and Dominik were far too outnumbered against this faction. And as far as Seth Rollins goes, he was happy that someone else did the dirty work for him this week.
RETRIBUTION has made their presence felt in some key feuds, so it was about time that they would do the same for the Mysterio family's rivalry against The Monday Night Messiah.
#3: Bobby Lashley lost an arm-wrestling contest but established his dominance on RAW Underground
MVP lost his shot at winning the United States Title after losing against Apollo Crews at SummerSlam. WWE made an obvious booking decision and put Bobby Lashley as the #1 contender for the same Championship this week.
As fans have witnessed in recent weeks, Lashley has proved time and time again that he is far more superior than other Superstars who are a part of WWE's mid-card.
Lashley is physically stronger than Apollo Crews. But he lost the arm-wrestling contest (hosted by Mark Henry) to the US Champion, who got the better of The All-Mighty by outsmarting him.
Arm-Wrestling contests are usually not the best gimmick segments in WWE, but Lashley redeemed himself in RAW Underground a few moments later. Dolph Ziggler was scheduled to face Ivar in Shane McMahon's Fight Club this week. However, The Hurt Business arrived to spoil those plans as they took over RAW Underground once again.
Lashley vs. Crews will happen at this Sunday's Payback event, and it will be interesting to see if the U.S. Champion can overcome one of the strongest specimens in WWE today.
#2: Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax formed an unusual alliance to face Bayley and Sasha Banks at WWE Payback
Shayna Baszler faced Bayley in singles competition on this week's WWE RAW, but Nia Jax interfered in between to lash out at The Queen of Spades.
Baszler and Jax have been involved in a secondary rivalry apart from the Championship feuds, and all roads pointed to both of these women facing each other at WWE Payback.
However, WWE booked a twist when both Baszler and Jax realized that they could dethrone The Golden Role Models from the top of the Women's Tag Team Division by teaming up together. The timing couldn't be any more perfect since Bayley and Sasha Banks are scheduled to defend those Women's Tag Team Titles at Payback.
Later, Baszler also proved to be a factor that prevented Sasha Banks from winning back her RAW Women's Title from Asuka in a Lumberjack Match. The Golden Role Models need to stick together now more than ever, because even heel Superstars in WWE have started opposing their reign at this point.
#1: Keith Lee directly involved himself in the middle of Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre's WWE Title feud
Keith Lee was advertised to make his WWE RAW debut before this episode aired on TV.
Out of all possibilities, a match with Randy Orton seemed like a good way to make some sort of impact. But as a consequence of Orton and McIntyre's feud, Lee's RAW debut was ruined when the WWE Champion interfered to lay his hands on The Viper.
A lot of WWE fans saw this development coming since Randy Orton ambushed Drew McIntyre at the beginning of the show.
Later, Orton returned the favor and punted McIntyre backstage, which resulted in the WWE Champion being rushed into an ambulance after suffering a possible skull fracture.
Lee will get a rematch against Orton at WWE Payback. But apart from that, fans on Twitter are clearly not happy with how the NXT star was slightly repackaged with a generic theme song.
Also, people who only follow RAW or SmackDown may not be quite familiar with Keith Lee's personality. And Lee's promo from last night's episode didn't make him stand out from other characters on the same show.
With that being said, all is not lost and there is still more room for development when it comes to Keith Lee's run on WWE's main roster.
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