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We are well and truly on the road to the first major PPV in WWE's calendar year, SummerSlam, and the journey started with Extreme Rules. Last Sunday provided the WWE Universe with a mixed bag PPV as there were some matches that stood out, while a few were not up to the mark.
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Who could forget the gruelling and intense Iron Man match between Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler that left the WWE Universe wanting more as the Intercontinental title headlined a show after a long time?
The fallout from the show was important, especially since many questions remained unsolved. And what the fans got this week was absolute gold.
The WWE Universe got the guarantee from Paul Heyman that the Universal title will be defended at SummerSlam, an incredible bout between AJ Styles and Andrade 'Cien' Almas, where the former NXT champion took the Phenomenal One to the absolute limit and the return of a certain apex predator who has been vicious and deadly with his attacks.
So without further ado, let's jump into this week's hits and misses from RAW and SmackDown Live.
Hit: Randy Orton
When Randy Orton returned at Extreme Rules everyone expected him to help Jeff Hardy and square off with Shinsuke Nakamura. The Artist used his heelish methods once again and won the gold from the Charismatic Enigma in a match that just lasted six seconds.
But Orton took the spotlight, as he came into the ring and attacked Hardy, which left even Nakamura confused. And this week, he just went a step further.
At a crucial juncture in the match, when the Charismatic Enigma looked poised to win back his title, The Viper struck and assaulted Hardy in a very brutal fashion.
Orton has certainly gone back to being a heel, a persona in which he thrived for many years. He seems to be ruthless and coiled to strike at the moment you least expect it to happen.
This sets up an interesting few weeks in terms of the United States Championship and who could face Nakamura at SummerSlam. Wouldn't be surprised if we see a triple threat for the title between these three competitors and I wouldn't be one who would be complaining about it.
Miss: SmackDown Live tag-team division
This is a painful sight. There is no way to sugarcoat the situation regarding the SmackDown Live Tag-team division. And it doesn't seem to improve at all.
The Bludgeon brothers have been on a roll, defeating all their challengers, even the great Team Hell No last Sunday. But this week, the titles were not even mentioned and no one looked set to challenge Luke Harper and Erick Rowan for the gold.
SaNity looks to be strong at the moment, but they are involved in a feud with the New Day. The Usos, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows didn't even appear on the show. The Bar has been on a hiatus for a long time and they would be thinking that staying at RAW would have been a better option for them.
It remains to be seen as to what direction will be taken by these teams and what the future holds for these titles. But for the moment, it's a sure miss!
Hit: Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch has been on an absolute roll at the moment. Ever since her tremendous performance at the Money In The Bank ladder match and the weeks leading to it, the Lasskicker has put in tremendous performances and the WWE Universe seems to approve of it.
This week, she once again made a Superstar tap out and made sure that everyone took notice, including the General Manager Paige and Women's Champion Carmella.
With a match set between the Princess Of Staten Island and Lynch next week and a huge stipulation added to it, one can expect the Lasskicker to challenge for the title at SummerSlam.
The WWE Universe and a few Hall Of Famers in the form of Bubba Rey Dudley and Jim Ross have pinned high hopes on Lynch and I am one who feels the first ever SmackDown Live Women's champion is surely on the right path for achieving greatness.
Miss: Sasha Banks and Bayley situation
It's so disappointing that WWE are still beating around the bush with Sasha Banks and Bayley.
This week was no different as they were again put in a tag-team match which ended in chaos yet again, but this time, Banks helped save Bayley from Dana Brooke and Alicia Fox.
What followed was confusing, to say the least. Banks supposedly proclaimed her love for Bayley and just stormed off leaving the fans wondering why can't there be a match between these two to settle it once and for all.
Even the RAW General Manager Kurt Angle said to Bayley that differences are settled in the ring and yet, the friction between these two still exists.
As a fan, I would like to see them square off at SummerSlam. And a stipulation could also be added with the loser being traded to SmackDown Live. With the stakes high and tension boiling, Banks and Bayley would certainly put on a masterclass for the fans, something that would make us go down memory lane with that incredible IronWoman match for the NXT title.
We can hope that this is what could be going on in the creative team's mind at the moment and an announcement regarding the situation would come out next week.
Hit: The Triple threat matches on RAW
If you are a WWE fan, you would have been disappointed with the fact that Brock Lesnar rarely defends the title and doesn't even appear full-time on TV.
The Ultimatum was laid down by Angle that the Beast Incarnate would have to budge otherwise he would be stripped of the championship. In came Paul Heyman trying to solve the situation, but the final outcome of the opening segment of RAW was two top-class triple threat matches. The winners would square-off next week and that match would determine the challenger for Lesnar.
The first match saw Roman Reigns, Finn Balor and Drew McIntyre face each other and it was some entertaining action. The three Superstars put on a treat for the fans and it was really difficult to pick a winner as the momentum kept on shifting between the three.
The second match was a bit subdued compared to the first, in my opinion, but with Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins and Elias squaring off, it was sure to be a hit.
In the end, it was Reigns and Lashley who won the matches respectively and will face-off next week. While there would mixed opinions on the competitors squaring-off in the No.1 contenders match, the WWE Universe would be happy that the top prize on the red brand could be finally leaving the Beast Incarnate.
Lesnar's reign has been boring, to say the least, and now with him looking for a way back into UFC, we could finally see a new champion be crowned at SummerSlam.
Do you think we will have a new Universal Champion at Summerslam? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
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