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WWE revisited the past on Monday Night Raw as they put their SummerSlam build-up on hold to reunite their Hall of Fame stars and other legends and personalities of the past.
It was a move keeping their TV ratings in mind as Raw drew above three million viewers for the first time in a long time.
After a much improved WWE product on Raw and SmackDown Live recently, Raw was a bit of a letdown in truth, with memorable moments few and far between but SmackDown more than made up for it with a dynamic offering that set up much for the Biggest Party of the Summer.
Once more, a much wider variety of wrestlers were given the chance to shine and once more the Superstars made the most of the opportunity.
Without further delay, let's delve into the last week's television and see which WWE performers earned some vital momentum as the road to SummerSlam rumbled on.
Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below!
#5 Stone Cold Steve Austin
The July 22, 2019 Raw was not an episode of Raw that will live long in the memory despite its rating success. However, it did welcome the return of former six-time WWE Champion and WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin, who addressed the crowd in the main event segment of the show.
The live crowd in Tampa, Florida lapped it up too. The reason why Stone Cold has made this week's list is that his performance was atypical of his usual routine, marking this the freshest Austin has appeared on WWE television since 2001.
Stone Cold paid homage to his fellow legends and for once actually praised Hulk Hogan. In a nice touch, Austin stated that the pair had spent very little time together in the past but had shared some beers and hung out before the show and had a good time in doing so.
He also shared stories on Ric Flair and Ron Simmons and had the crowd in the palm of his hands like so few wrestling personalities are capable of doing.
It was the highlight of the show and demonstrated that Austin, even at the age of 54, still has it.
#4 Shinsuke Nakamura
The resurgence of Shinsuke Nakamura continued on this week's July 23, 2019 episode of SmackDown Live. After his back to back victories over Finn Balor last week, one of which earned him the Intercontinental Title, Nakamura continued his recent momentum to earn another win, this time over Apollo Crews.
It was a hell of a match too. One of Nakamura's very best on the main roster. Full of entertaining mat work and killer near falls, this was a stunner. Nakamura earned the clean pin following a Kinshasa.
Nakamura, unsatisfied with the victory, continued the assault on Crews post-match as he whipped the crowd up into a frenzy.
The IC Title win is taking the former Royal Rumble winner places. After a near 12 months in the wilderness, the Japanese legend is making this new opportunity count. Hopefully, he will land himself a featured spot on the SummerSlam card. His recent performances deserve that recognition.
#3 Bray Wyatt
This week's WWE television saw two appearances from Bray Wyatt. Two very different appearances, which makes this character so brilliant and exciting.
First, Wyatt interrupted Mick Foley at Raw Reunion on July 22, 2019. Foley was in the ring reminiscing about his personal favourite Raw moment when he won the WWE Championship for the first time versus The Rock on the January 4, 1999 episode of Raw.
However, the arena was plunged into darkness and in scenes reminiscent of the July 15, 2019 Raw, Wyatt appeared in the ring wearing the "Fiend" mask.
After taking out Finn Balor last week with Sister Abigail, Wyatt this time used Foley's own Mandible Claw finishing move on the Hardcore Legend.
That was a statement of intent.
On the July 23, 2019 episode of SmackDown Live, Balor was questioned on the Wyatt attack last week. Balor challenged Wyatt to a bout at SummerSlam which led to Wyatt appearing onscreen in his Funhouse persona. Interestingly, Wyatt in a James McAvoy in Split-type moment said that Balor was his friend, but not the "Fiend's."
The "Fiend" then appeared and accepted the SummerSlam challenge.
A very hot week for Wyatt and his momentum continues unabated right now.
#2 Kevin Owens
You can't keep a good Kevin Owens down. Whilst the anticipated passing of the torch moment between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Owens did not take place at Raw Reunion, Owen's momentum continued unabated on SmackDown.
Prior to the show, Owens had challenged Shane McMahon to a match at SummerSlam. McMahon accused Owens of hiding at Raw Reunion and accepted the challenge.
This brought out KO, who approached the ring, but Shane booked him in a bout with Roman Reigns before bailing.
That match took place in the main event. The deck was stacked Austin/McMahon style, with Shane's buddies in tow. Elias was the timekeeper whilst Drew McIntyre was the special referee. In the early going of the bout, Reigns and Owens went back and forth before turning on the Corporate team and teaming up to take out Elias, McIntyre and Shane himself, with a well-timed Stone Cold Stunner from KO.
The crowd went crazy as KO stunned Shane for a second time. Owens is on fire right now as he rolls into SummerSlam.
#1 Randy Orton
Wow. Randy Orton! The former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion cut his best interview in forever on this week's episode of SmackDown Live. It was a beauty.
Standing opposite the WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston, Orton brought up the pair's decade long history and took credit for the stalling of Kingston's headline career back in late 2009-2010 when he appeared to be the next breakout superstar.
Merging fact with fiction, Orton said he has main evented for the past decade and a half, while Kingston used a fake Jamaican accent and throws pancakes into the crowd.
Orton added that he will dethrone Kingston at SummerSlam and add a 14th World crown to his collection.
RKO then interjected himself into the Kingston/Samoa Joe match-up and prevented Kingston from obtaining victory.
Orton took out Joe with the RKO but fell to the WWE Champion's Trouble in Paradise. However, this was most certainly his week. The big question is, will he will make this list post-SummerSlam?
