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Welcome to this week's edition of things WWE subtly told us on RAW: In Your Face! We'll skip the bits about the Champion vs Champion Tag Team title match, Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott's quick victory, and RAW Underground, where Braun Strowman made an impact. Let's jump right into the core angles of RAW:
#6 The Keith Lee-Drew McIntyre friendly rivalry disappears on RAW
While Keith Lee and Drew McIntyre starting with a friendly rivalry, all of that changed throughout the night. Drew McIntyre's constant Claymore kicks to Randy Orton last week rendered him potentially out of Clash of Champions 2020.
As a result, it was announced that Keith Lee would face Drew McIntyre in the main event of RAW and if he won, he would replace Randy Orton at Clash of Champions 2020. Now we know that no replacement is happening.
However, WWE put the 'friendly rivalry' between two babyfaces on RAW aside. Keith Lee was already upset at Drew McIntyre for constantly interfering in his matches against Randy Orton.
Drew McIntyre, who spoke quite well for someone with a broken jaw, was provoked in a backstage confrontation and it led to not only a brawl but a threat of cancelation for the Clash of Champions 2020 main event.
RETRIBUTION interrupted the main event (after already making one appearance on-screen) and it was a no-contest. We'll get back to the aftermath of it, but the finish seems to be a way to protect both men.
WWE can't always protect Keith Lee on RAW, but this might just be a clever tactic of inserting him into the WWE title match at Clash of Champions. It will be an Ambulance match and if ends up being a Triple threat, it's the perfect excuse to take the title off Drew McIntyre and put it on Randy Orton, who looks poised to become a 14-time World Champion.
#5 Did WWE quietly hire a General Manager for RAW and SmackDown?
WWE Producer Adam Pearce has had an increasingly important role on both RAW and SmackDown this past month. His busiest episode was the SmackDown before Payback, where he had to enter the Firefly Fun House as a mailman, convince Braun Strowman and then Roman Reigns to sign their Payback 2020 contract.
Adam Pearce has been just as busy on RAW and from the look of things, he seems to be making the on-screen executive decisions. Though he doesn't have a specific on-screen role assigned dto him, he's still the only person with real authority around there.
It appears as though WWE quietly hired Adam Pearce as the RAW and SmackDown General Manager. Adam Pearce had an extremely busy episode of RAW where he first had a negotiation with The Hurt Business over protection from RETRIBUTION and he also threatened to cancel Drew McIntyre's WWE title defense following his brawl against Keith Lee.
Adam Pearce is doing well in his role and we hope it stays that way.
#4 Zelina Vega as the next RAW Women's title challenger?
There's a lot to unpack from this, so let's go at it sequence by sequence. Zelina Vega reached her breaking point after she stopped Angel Garza from flirting with Lana before he ended up brawling with Andrade - his fellow-faction member.
Mickie James faced Asuka for the RAW Women's title in what was a short but solid match. The legend felt that it may have been her last chance at the title. The finish itself was a bit bizarre as Mickie James didn't even tap out.
However, Zelina Vega came to confront Asuka after the match and she could be the surprising RAW women's title challenger at Clash of Champions 2020. It's safe to assume that she will be a filler opponent for Asuka and Charly Caruso even implied that backstage on RAW, calling another title challenge "realistic unlike Zelina Vega".
It should be a good match, but we wonder if this will be the end of the run for the Mexican duo, who were so close to winning the RAW Tag team titles.
#3 Kevin Owens gets one over Aleister Black on RAW
While this isn't the most significant feud on RAW, it still remains important. Kevin Owens didn't seem to understand why Aleister Black targeted him, but at this point, he didn't seem to care as much either.
This week on RAW, they would have a legitimate match outside the RAW Underground setting and it was quick but close as Kevin Owens ended up getting a big win over Aleister Black.
Somehow, we feel like this feud on RAW is far from over. Kevin Owens' victory was big for him and in all likeliness, it was to continue the storyline. Don't be surprised to see Aleister Black pick up a win or two over Kevin Owens later on.
We do, however, wish that such matches were saved for PPVs. Aleister Black vs Kevin Owens is legitimate enough a match to put on the Clash of Champions 2020 card. Does this truly mean the end of their rivalry? If so, it was far too short-lived. The feud needs to end when it's beneficial to both men on RAW.
#2 The Hurt Business has a star-making night on RAW
The Hurt Business added Cedric Alexander to their arsenal and business is truly booming for them on RAW. MVP also confirmed that Bobby Lashley is the "CEO" of The Hurt Business while he is merely a mouthpiece.
In reality, he's far more than that. MVP is responsible for elevating three men who haven't been properly utilized in years. It was a good night on RAW for The Hurt Business as Cedric Alexander defeated Ricochet, Bobby Lashley defeated Erik from The Viking Raiders, and to top it all off - MVP approached Adam Pearce and ridiculed his security - offering to take care of RETRIBUTION themselves.
It was an intriguing proposal and in the main event of RAW, The Hurt Business came out to stop RETRIBUTION before Keith Lee and Drew McIntyre took everybody out with a dive over the top ropes.
It was the best that The Hurt Business has looked so far and despite being heels, they didn't back down - something that's refreshing in WWE. Hurt Business vs RETRIBUTION is something we can get behind!
#1 The end of a rivalry on RAW?
The match of the night on RAW It's hard to say something about Dominik Mysterio that already hasn't been said. Simply put, the 23-year-old is a special talent and without a shadow of a doubt, he already belongs among the best in WWE.
In what was the third match against Seth Rollins since SummerSlam 2020, Dominik Mysterio would fall short in an incredible effort on RAW. The bigger story, however, was Murphy, who accidentally slammed the door against Seth Rollins' head, thinking he was doing so to Dominik Mysterio.
While he still ultimately played a role in Seth Rollins' victory on RAW, the post-match angle saw The Monday Night Messiah completely eject the Australian, assaulting him before leaving. Seth Rollins even made a sly dig towards Angie, looking at Aaliyah and saying that he hoped she was better than Dominik Mysterio. Aaliyah even went to take a look at Murphy out of concern.
It appears to be the end of the rivalry between Seth Rollins and the Mysterio family and perhaps the start of a Rollins-Murphy feud on RAW. The big question, however, is what's next for Dominik Mysterio?
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