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There are certain episodes of RAW that are so good, so heavy in content, and so happening, that we legitimately don't know how to unpack it sometimes. However, it's our job to do so, which is why we bring you a detailed and heavy edition of things WWE subtly told us on RAW.
Since we didn't cover every single segment, Nia Jax got suspended and shoved down producer Pat Buck, even challenging him for a match.
There was an odd segment involving vandalism (which we'll address briefly at the end). Either way, it was a great show for the second week in a row and we have a lot to get to, so without wasting much time, let's jump right into it!
#9. Dominik's SummerSlam challenge made on RAW
With his increasing appearances on RAW, we've been saying for a while now that it's only a matter of "when" and not "if" Dominik Mysterio makes his WWE debut. The way things have been progressing, it was clear that his debut was getting closer and closer.
And we seem to have an answer as to when he challenged Seth Rollins to a match at SummerSlam on RAW. Now, we can't be sure what exactly Rey Mysterio's WWE contract status is right now, but rumors seem to indicate that the WWE legend will be signing another contract.
This might be WWE's way of convincing Mysterio to stick around on RAW and it could just work. However, we wouldn't be surprised if it changes to a tag team match where father and son take on Seth Rollins and Murphy.
Dominik did state before that he wants his debut to be in a tag team match with his father, but that seems to have changed. In the second-last segment of the night, Dominik made another appearance and brilliantly chased away Rollins and Murphy.
Rollins accepted his SummerSlam challenge and Dominik's epic SummerSlam match is now official!
#8. The case of Montez Ford's poisoning on RAW
Andrade and Angel Garza were heavily featured again on RAW. Angel Garza was seen flirting with Demi Burnett from The Bachelor and Zelina Vega was quick to shut her down.
Their role was to take on The Street Profits in individual matches. Angelo Dawkins faced (and lost to) Angel Garza and Montez Ford faced Andrade. Ford was hyped up as usual but he abruptly collapsed mid-match, after which it was called off.
Charly Caruso, who also had a heavy presence on RAW this week, was backstage and tried to investigate what happened to Montez Ford. Angelo Dawkins revealed that while the doctor didn't know much, he indicated that it was poisoning. Bianca Belair, Montez Ford's wife, came out and confronted Zelina Vega, the "brains" behind the operation.
The EST of WWE Bianca Belair accused Zelina Vega of poisoning the RAW Tag Team Champion and it nearly led to a brawl, but Angelo Dawkins and Angel Garza did well to keep them apart. Did Zelina Vega do it?
#7. Is Samoa Joe ready to return to the ring on RAW?
Getting back to the second-last segment on RAW with Dominik, there was one important point we left out. The involvement of Samoa Joe. Last time Samoa Joe was on commentary late last year, it saw him getting involved with AoP and Seth Rollins.
The premise was simple at that time - they wanted Samoa Joe to leave the announcer's desk so they could use it. Joe refused to move and started a fight with AoP, who ended up beating him down.
It led to his return as an in-ring performer, where he was involved in Kevin Owens' battle against Seth Rollins and his faction. Something similar happened, but this time, Seth Rollins targeted the voice of Monday Night RAW - Tom Phillips.
He harassed him for "siding" with Dominik last week and cheering him on rather than doing his job and staying neutral. Rollins threatened to take Phillips away but Samoa Joe stood up to Rollins and teased his in-ring return. This eventually set up Dominik's appearance, but it was a major tease, indicating that Samoa Joe could be ready to return to the ring soon on RAW
#6. Apollo Crews vs Hurt Business isn't done yet despite a win on RAW
Apollo Crews and MVP kicked off the night with the United States title match that was originally supposed to take place at Extreme Rules 2020. However, Apollo Crews took over two weeks off from RAW and was back better than ever, as he defeated MVP to retain the United States Championship.
It was a solid and fun match and the initial implication seemed to be that Bobby Lashley would be the next in line to challenge (and possibly dethrone) Apollo Crews.
Instead, MVP demanded another rematch at SummerSlam, and Apollo Crews granted it to him - a bit of a surprising decision. Lashley vs Crews would be a far more entertaining feud on RAW, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a major title change happen.
It's certainly a big-enough stage for a title change, but we would prefer to see a Superstar like Bobby Lashley in that spot over MVP. MVP's role on RAW is to help other Superstars and that should be his role for Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam 2020.
#5. Kevin Owens' interesting redemption arc on RAW
Kevin Owens doesn't have a match at SummerSlam yet, but his role on RAW was quite an important one. He first hosted the KO show with Ruby Riott and that led to the return of Liv Morgan.
Before the KO show, The IIconics offered to be on his show but he said that he already had guests. The IIconics made their presence known anyway and even ended up slapping Owens before he told Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan to help him out.
Owens' promos seemed to indicate just how aware he was of his ruthlessness in the past - something that cost him friendships and more. He's turning into a full-fledged babyface and his conversation with Ric Flair was certainly an interesting one.
He spoke ill of Randy Orton, who Ric Flair corners. Kevin Owens even told Ric Flair to set up a match against Randy Orton - which was confirmed and will happen on RAW next week.
While we don't expect Kevin Owens to win, it's going to be an important match. If Randy Orton doesn't beat Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam, then this is the perfect feud for him.
#4. The Riott Squad is back on RAW
Liv Morgan has been absent from RAW for a while, but Ruby Riott has made her return and only found success in one singles match against Peyton Royce. We like that they acknowledged her lack of success on TV and Kevin Owens introduced Liv Morgan, who returned for the first time since her boat trip.
The IIconics interfered as mentioned and even slapped Kevin Owens, who asked for help from 2/3rds of The Riott Squad. He didn't shy away from mentioning the recently-released Sarah Logan, who is now in a different stage of her life after recently revealing that she's pregnant.
However, RAW has another female tag team again and the Riott Squad reunited to face The IIconics and defeated them. Although we feel both women have tremendous potential as singles stars, it appears as though we'll be seeing them go in a tag team direction on RAW. At this point, it might be beneficial for both of them to stick around each other.
#3. Asuka is out for retribution
The RAW Women's title direction for SummerSlam seems to be a trilogy match between Asuka and Sasha Banks, though it technically isn't confirmed yet. Sasha Banks and Shayna Baszler had a confrontation backstage where The Queen of Spades shoved down the RAW Women's Champion Sasha Banks.
It led to a match between the two that was seemingly ruled as a no-contest once Asuka interfered. While she was able to chase the RAW Women's Champion Sasha Banks away, the Japanese star had an interesting confrontation with Shayna Baszler.
Baszler felt that her opportunities at the title were being taken away and she told Asuka that she's rooting for her to regain the RAW Women's title so she can take it off her hands.
Sasha Banks told Asuka that if she can beat Bayley again next week on RAW, she'll earn a #1 contender's spot at SummerSlam. Bayley was understandably upset at the decision.
Baszler vs Banks was another heel vs heel match and it's proven one thing - Becky Lynch's absence has left a massive hole in the Women's division. There's a general lack of female babyfaces and that could be problematic in the long run. WWE needs to start turning a few Superstars the other way to even it out.
#2. The Drew McIntyre-Randy Orton segment on RAW
This was a segment on RAW that we surprisingly found to be the most uneventful one of the night. Don't get us wrong, we're still excited about the SummerSlam clash between the two and fully expect it to be a great match. But given how great the episode of RAW was, this was the only segment that really felt put-together and somewhat sub-par.
It wasn't bad by any means - it just didn't live up to the overall standard of the episode. Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton stood on the opposite sides of the stage and they had a verbal back-and-forth, with Drew McIntyre admitting that he deserved to be fired in 2014 and looked at Randy Orton, who got chance after chance after chance and was never a leader by any means.
He brought in the whole nepotism argument and it went on before Drew McIntyre had the last word. The two need to get more physically involved to build up more anticipation. Randy Orton faces Kevin Owens next week on RAW in what's likely to be the main event.
#1. RAW Underground and the incidents surrounding it
Shane McMahon's return to RAW caused a sudden buzz among WWE fans on social media. As it turns out, his role on RAW wasn't an in-ring one - but it was to introduce a new concept called RAW Underground. It features an underground, murky setting and a ring with no ropes.
It's implied that it's shoot fighting - or at least a style of shoot wrestling. It was something out of Fight Club and something quite different as well. We saw developmental trainees such as Babatunde brutalize his opponents and even Erik from The Viking Raiders had a good showing.
Dolph Ziggler had a submission victory as well, but after an interview with Charly Caruso where she told The Hurt Business that they were having a bad night, she unintentionally revealed the location of RAW Underground.
The trio went in and all three members had their turn to beat some poor people up. The show ended with MVP saying "We're the Hurt Business. And Business is booming". It was a solid way to end the show.
On another note, there was a "vandalism" incident outside of the Performance Center. We're not sure whether that relates to RAW Underground or not, but we suspect that it might be a different storyline. Either way, we had to bring it up before wrapping up this edition because it could lead to something big. See you for the next edition on SmackDown!
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
