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So, Stomping Grounds was an interesting show in a lot of ways. I thought that in terms of quality it was a solid show, but I don't really think that it was a commercial success, as ticket sales were poor.
The RAW that followed was a pretty interesting show with surprises, title changes, and more. I daresay that the three hours flew by pretty fast, and I could have watched another hour because of how solid they were.
WWE has put on two good shows on two consecutive nights and I hope that this is a trend that continues all the way to WWE Extreme Rules. I know that not everyone in the WWE Universe is happy right now, but you can't have the Attitude Era back overnight...you need to take baby steps in the right direction with every single episode.
In any case, I want to hear your thoughts as well, with regard to whether or not you liked the show.
#1 Best: The extraordinary main event
This was just two babyfaces fighting it out to determine who was superior in the ring. I know that a lot of you will complain about Ricochet losing the match after winning a prestigious United States Championship, but in my books losing to a top star is never a big problem.
It was a back and forth match with a lot of drama, with Styles sending Gallows and Anderson to the back. And because Styles won the contest, I'm sure that this is the first of many matches between the men. And if this is just the beginning, I wonder how much more they'll amp it up in the matches that will follow.
A lot of people say that the main roster waters Superstars down. Once in a while, we get great contests like these.
See WWE Smackdown Live Updates, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown updates page
#1 Worst: Kofi Kingston on both shows
Maybe I'm a little old fashioned like that, but I honestly think that each world champion should only be confined to his own brand. I mean I'd be okay with Finn Balor getting time on RAW because he hasn't been seen in quite a while.
Kofi Kingston put on two great performances against Sami Zayn and later Kevin Owens. I have no qualms about the quality of his performance but I am not very happy with the fact that we get to see so much of him, every single week.
I just hope that they don't burn KofiMania out. There is also the matter of there being two World Champions because there are two different brands, but if both men are showing up on both shows, it makes the whole two world champion rule meaningless.
Do you guys agree with me or think I'm overreacting?
#2 Best: Abby makes a cameo behind The Miz
I thought Miz TV this week was great, with R-Truth playing on the words 'consummation' and 'constipation', even getting a chant going. Miz TV is always fantastic, but with R-Truth and Carmella in the mix, it was a really fun edition. And yet, that did not even make it to this week's list for one very creepy reason.
The biggest talking point with regard to The Miz was how Sister Abigail's newest avatar, 'Abby the Witch' was seen stalking him as he made his way out to the ringside area for the segment. It is clear that The Miz could be the first sacrifice for 'The Fiend' when the character finally makes its debut.
And then, there was one more instance of where Kofi Kingston was flanked by Mercy The Buzzard. My colleague Anirban has done an extensive piece on this.
#2 Worst: EC3 and Cedric Alexander in the 24X7 Championship picture
I will admit that I always chuckle when I see the 24X7 segments, but I'm a little uncomfortable with some of the stars that are included in these segments because they deserve much better. One of these stars is EC3, a man we've seen rise against all odds to make it back to WWE with much fanfare.
The other one is Cedric Alexander, someone I think deserves much better than to be stuck in a brand doing comedy skits. The fact of the matter is that with actual alternatives in the market, these men could potentially leave for greener pastures down the line.
Someone like Drake Maverick is ideal for the 24X7 Championship because he is meant for these cheesy segments. But with some of the more serious competitors, I really think they should be used in a much more 'professional wrestling' manner.
#3 Best: The Undertaker makes an unannounced return
When Roman Reigns was getting beaten up by Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre, I knew that someone would make the save. I did not, however, know that it would be The Undertaker who would return to action once again.
I mean I'm sure that The Undertaker wants to make us forget about the entire botch fest that he had with Goldberg at WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia. But when the gong struck it took all of us by surprise because nobody really expected The Undertaker to be in attendance on WWE RAW.
I don't know how the match is going to turn out. But I have to give this segment a thumbs up because it took me completely by surprise, and thankfully, it was quite a pleasant surprise.
I wonder what kayfabe reason will be given for The Undertaker's big return.
#3 Worst: A boring tug of war
Braun Strowman was once in contention to become the new Universal Champion and also, the face of RAW. Now, he's just booked as a freak of nature who can perform incredible feats of strength on RAW.
I thought that the idea of a tug of war was different, but the way it was executed was not very exciting and the crowd didn't seem to buy into it. Braun Strowman had no trouble in winning the contest after which Bobby Lashley laid him out with a flurry of blows.
Even Lashley seems to have lost a bit of momentum ever since his pairing with Lio Rush came to an end. This was an okay segment for the show, but it was the weakest part of what was an otherwise good show.
What did you guys think of this week's segment featuring Lashley and Strowman?
#4 Best/worst: The mixed tag match
I know that WWE is going to milk the idea of Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins as a couple for the foreseeable future because the two of them are fan favorites. I know that a few members of the WWE Universe are beginning to tire of them already, because of the way it's being pushed down our throats. More importantly, I think that being Seth Rollins' girlfriend just undermines the character of 'The Man'.
Plus, I'm just not sure that I want to see them tussle with Corbin and Lacey Evans. I mean this is the program that we've been watching for months on end. I would have preferred to see them mix it up with someone fresher, even Triple H and Stephanie McMahon would do, ideally.
But I keep going back to Johnny and Taya from Impact. I've seen how power couples as Champions always make for compelling storylines.
Which is why this is both a best and a worst, and yet doesn't explain why there's an amazingly awesome Alexa Bliss video at the very end of this article.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
