Hits and Misses from this week's RAW and SmackDown Live (11-17 June 2018)

We are just a few days away from one of the most exciting pay-per-views in WWE, Money In the Bank. Now since it is a co-branded PPV and with two MITB ladder matches with Superstars from both RAW and SmackDown battling it out for the briefcases, it promises to be a thriller.

The aim of the shows this week would have been to clearly to get the fans hooked on to the PPV and the go home episodes of RAW and Smackdown hit the bullseye. Both the shows were excellent when it came to segments, confrontations and matches, so much so that I had to really scratch my head to find out what went wrong this week.

The Seth Rollins-Elias feud, Shinsuke Nakamura's heelish antics were certainly some of the highlights this week. But there was much more to this week.

Still, as a fan, I would have preferred some segments to have been better on both the shows as it would have certainly kept me eagerly waiting for this Sunday.

So let's dive into the hits and misses from this week's RAW and SmackDown Live.

Hit: Rusev vs Samoa Joe

Pancake Power surely reigned supreme this week

Once I saw that this match was being lined up for SmackDown Live, the prospect was so thrilling. Rusev and Samoa Joe are favourites for the WWE Universe and seeing them in the squared ring for the first time would have left any fan drooling.

But it was not just for the match that this enters this week's list. It also includes what transpired after the match. An interference by the Miz cost Joe the match, but then it was all about who gained the momentum going into Sunday. Rusev was clearly climbing to the top, till the Miz had other plans.

A skull crush finale later, the A-Lister seemed like he had surely got the upper hand and the briefcase in hand.

But Pancake Power had the last laugh as the New Day once again trumped the Miz and left us again wondering who will be coming into the mix this Sunday.

Well, guess we will have to just wait till Sunday to find out!

Miss: The Smackdown tag-team title picture

The Smackdown tag-team title division is going stale at the moment

After the RAW tag-team champions, the Deletors Of The World, sent a message to their challengers with their trademark bizarre promo, fans would have expected something to happen in the Blue brand as well.

But the WWE Universe were thoroughly disappointed as the tag-team title scene was just kept to a mention by the commentators. It would have been better for one of the members from the Bludgeon Brother and the duo of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to have had a singles match this week. And preferably, it should have been Erick Rowan and Gallows.

Or even better would have been a confrontation and one team getting the upper hand. It was the last chance to show it was a feud that was at its tipping point and about to explode at MITB.

The tag-team division on the blue brand clearly needs some rejuvenation as it has been stale for some time. And unless something drastic happens this Sunday, the stagnation seems set to continue.

Hit: Challengers for the Women's championships

Rousey surely made a strong statement this week

For weeks, I have been critical about the feud for the RAW Women's Championship as it was lacking any direction.

For the past few weeks, the situation between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax has been confusing. But this week's confrontation gave us probably a preview of what to expect this Sunday. Jax showed her heelish side and made sure that she would use hook or crook or even a headbutt to gain the upper hand.

For Rousey, she had to make a statement and what better way to show the world than applying the armbar on the champion and making her tap out.

Same goes for Asuka as well. Ever since her defeat to Charlotte at WrestleMania 34, she has hit a rough patch. Her win in the handicap match against Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville was marred by an attack by the champion Carmella.

But this week she did what Rousey did and made the champion tap out, securing victory for her team on SmackDown. Both the challengers have gained the all-important momentum going into their matches at MITB.

Miss: Zayn - Lashley Feud

This feud needs to end at MITB

This is one feud I personally don't want to see continuing after MITB. And no disrespect to Bobby Lashley and Sami Zayn as they are both skilled competitors. It's just that this angle is not helping both of them.

For the past few weeks, their segments have failed to hit the mark and the same happened this week as well. Even though it was a good idea to have the obstacle course, letting Zayn jump the gun and attack Lashley just made it feel like a filler segment.

Maybe they should have had Zayn also compete and then maybe have a brawl, but that didn't happen. The only thing that could save the feud is a phenomenal match at MITB, but even after that, the angle should be dropped and both the Superstars should go in different directions.

Hit: The RAW MITB competitors

The match was exceptional

Surely the biggest hit of this week has to be the participants from the red brand in the Money In The Bank ladder matches. They kicked off the show with an interesting confrontation on top of ladders. If you thought the war of words was exciting, what ensued after that in the show was just brilliant.

The Two fatal-four way matches were spot on when it came to action. It was back and forth and surely had the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats.

The planning and plotting of Kevin Owens to take out Braun Strowman was also exciting and culminated in an insane main-event match. Even though the Monster Among Men won the match, he was su pushed to the limit.

Well, it has surely set the tone for an exciting MITB, and whoever wins the briefcase at the moment seems to have deserved it.