5 things WWE subtly told us on RAW (July 1st, 2019)

This was the penultimate episode of WWE RAW before Extreme Rules 2019 and for the second week in a row, we had a really solid episode. This particular episode had a lot of buzz and interest surrounding it because it was the first episode under Paul Heyman as executive director.

Within these three hours, WWE gave an entirely different look and presentation of the product. From start to finish, the show proved to be different from the weekly one, though it definitely wasn't perfect by any means.

Either way, we don't have too many complaints about the episode. The build to WWE Extreme Rules 2019 has been really promising so far and with one episode left, there might actually be a lot of interest in the PPV, which is the exact opposite of Stomping Grounds (though SG did deliver in its own right).

Here are a few messages from WWE that you may have possibly missed while watching RAW.

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#5 They're going to drag out Bray Wyatt's debut tease as long as they can

One appearance by mercy the buzzard Is all I need... this is fine... but it’s interesting how it’s miz yet again.... 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 #braywyatt #FireFlyFunHouse pic.twitter.com/M1NR46Bzcq

— 🖤☠️TheKingCamBlackman☠️🖤 (@KingCamBlackman) July 2, 2019

As the tweet says, it's quite interesting how for the second week in a row, the Bray Wyatt puppet popped up when The Miz was walking backstage. Granted, it was Abigail last week and this week it's Mercy The Buzzard.

All of them are making eerie backstage cameos and we're not going to lie - we absolutely love it. The burning question, however, is when will Bray Wyatt eventually make his debut and return to the ring?

We'd place a safe bet and assume that they're going to drag it out for another week or two. Perhaps the RAW after Extreme Rules would be ideal, or Extreme Rules itself would be a great place for Wyatt to make his big return to the ring.

#4 Mike Kanellis is the lowest on the WWE card

A humiliating night for Mike Kanellis

We're not going to lie. We're not exactly sure about Maria and Mike Kanellis and why they ended up re-signing with WWE. The contracts they signed are relatively lengthier ones too, so if they want to get out, the chances of getting a release request granted is very slim.

All that being said, what confuses us is how they were teasing and complaining on social media about their roles in WWE...only to re-sign? The decision to do that was made even more bewildering on the latest episode of RAW, when the couple took on WWE's Power Couple Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch.

Mike Kanellis was absolutely humiliated by his own wife, who said that he wasn't "man enough" to impregnate her and even announced her own pregnancy. It was made worse when he ended up tapping to Becky Lynch.

His humiliation confirmed that WWE views him as the lowest on the card.

#3 Nikki Cross is going to be in the SmackDown Women's title match at Extreme Rules

Nikki Cross is climbing the ranks

In the Latest WWE NEWS, Nikki Cross has been one of the more enjoyable parts of RAW since she began apparing frequently. Her alliance with Alexa Bliss has certainly helped make her relevant, especially after all the months of being ignored backstage.

The story going on now is that Nikki Cross is doing Alexa Bliss' dirty work and that she is the one who actually deserves the SmackDown Women's title shot. Why a RAW superstar would challenge for the SmackDown title, we have no idea. However, Nikki Cross has been on a roll.

On RAW, Carmella defeated Alexa Bliss within seconds and she then lost her second match to Nikki Cross. Backstage, Sarah Schreiber asked Cross what she thought of the WWE Universe feeling that she deserved a shot rather than Bliss. Bliss dragged her away after saying "no comment". It's clear that Nikki Cross will be added to Extreme Rules, making it a Triple Threat match.

#2 Braun Strowman's injury has been more or less confirmed

Written off TV?

Yesterday, there were rumors that emerged from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, revealing that Braun Strowman was working through an injury. It was stated that it was either a "leg or knee" injury and that he wouldn't be taking a hiatus.

The last part of that is something that is uncertain. Strowman faced Bobby Lashley in a "Falls Count Anywhere" match and it ended in absolute destruction, as Strowman bulldozed Lashley through the screen, causing a series of elecrtical bursts and even forcing Corey Graves to go non-PG and say "Holy s**t!" (and it wasn't even censored).

Strowman and Lashley were both stretchered out and it seems as though Braun Strowman was written out of television with that. It seems as though WWE confirmed his injury and wrote him off television. If so, that's certainly for the best and we wish The Monster Among Men a speedy recovery!

#1 AJ Styles will win the United States title at Extreme Rules

So close yet so far

AJ Styles technically won the United States Championship on RAW when he pinned Ricochet following a Phenomenal Forearm, but it was evident that Ricochet had his foot under the ropes.

While Styles was declared the new champion, another referee came in and reversed the decision. Restarting the match, Ricochet would pick up a quick and sneaky win over The Phenomenal One. While it seemed like there was going to be a show of respect, AJ Styles instead attacked him and got Gallows & Anderson to do the same, turning heel in the process.

We fully expect the match to be announced for Extreme Rules and we also fully expect AJ Styles to win the title now that he's a new heel again. We even expect this feud to go on till SummerSlam or a little after that.