'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE RAW this week delivered a better show than usual. While there were no invasions to build up Survivor Series, we now know all the five members of both the men’s and women’s teams that will represent the Red brand at the upcoming pay-per-view.
In addition to that, WWE also confirmed a huge title match for next week. On the go-home episode of WWE RAW before Survivor Series, Randy Orton will defend his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. This week, we saw the return of RETRIBUTION, but ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt was nowhere to be seen.
In this article, we will take a look at Superstars who flopped and those who impressed us this week on WWE RAW. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
#3 Impressed on WWE RAW: Men’s Survivor Series team
In the first match of this week’s WWE RAW, Riddle defeated Jeff Hardy and Elias in a convincing manner to become the fifth and final member of the men’s Survivor Series team. Later in the night, he joined AJ Styles, Keith Lee, Sheamus, and Braun Strowman to deliver the most entertaining segment on the Red brand’s show.
The self-proclaimed leader of the WWE RAW Survivor Series team – AJ Styles, tried his best to bring all his teammates onto the same page. But it would be safe to say that the rest of the Superstars, except Riddle, are not on board with the idea. Anyway, Styles booked a tag team match between all the four members. This led to Riddle and Lee teaming up to take on Strowman and Sheamus. No points for guessing that all hell broke loose while AJ Styles nailed his role as the special referee.
There were a few spots in the match during which each of the other four members ended up hitting The Phenomenal One by mistake. But the latter stuck with his team-building exercise and motivated others to carry on with their job. Despite being a heel, Styles has been brilliant in this self-assigned role of a ‘leader’. Not to forget, he has been outright hilarious.
The match ended with Lee and Riddle’s victory. Although all the Superstars in the match ended up attacking each other at some point, it appeared that the tension among them has slightly eased. Riddle’s nicknames for each of his WWE RAW team members, a frustrated Sheamus, an arrogant Strowman, and a gentlemanly Lee have all been great together alongside AJ Styles. If you are planning to skip WWE RAW this week and only want to watch the highlights, then this is the only segment that you might want to watch.
#2 Flopped on WWE RAW: Nia Jax
Nia Jax made an appearance during two matches on WWE RAW this week. First, she accompanied her tag team partner Shayna Baszler when the latter took on Lana. Following that, Nia Jax locked horns with the WWE RAW Women’s Champion Asuka. While Jax wanted to make a statement tonight, her in-ring performance did not compliment her intention.
We could probably cut her some slack as it appeared that Jax was more interested in what would follow after her match. But that was too evident, and it affected her completely inside the ring. Given the fact that her match against Asuka ended in another disqualification, it didn’t do much to establish Jax as a dominant force. After the match, she put Lana through the table for the eighth time on WWE RAW.
On the contrary, Baszler was able to do more with her match against Lana. To her credit, this match actually ended up making Lana look much stronger inside the ring. Jax should also adopt a similar style because picking up on someone who is much, much weaker than her does nothing to make her look strong. Instead, it ends up undermining her entire credibility on WWE RAW.
#2 Impressed on WWE RAW: Ricochet
It had been very long since Ricochet looked like his best self on WWE RAW. Even when he was winning most of his matches, Ricochet appeared to be far from his usual brilliance and charisma inside the ring. But things changed for the resident superhero of the promotion this week, thanks to his ongoing storyline with Mustafa Ali and RETRIBUTION.
Tonight, on WWE RAW, Ali and Ricochet locked horns in a brilliant encounter that once again showed the fans a glimpse of their in-ring prowess. They were both equally good inside the ring. But special props to Ricochet for putting up a good fight against Ali and his entire faction. He went back to his creative high-flying manoeuvres that surely amazed a lot of viewers.
WWE RAW creative should continue this feud between Ricochet and Ali. After what transpired between The Hurt Business and RETRIBUTION, the latter are in dire need of good storylines. Ricochet is a promising talent, and he can carry a storyline for a long period of time, especially alongside Ali. Now, all they need is creative to recognise their potential and book a compelling narration involving both the Superstars.
#1 Flopped on WWE RAW: Tucker
WWE RAW Superstar Tucker had several fans gasping in disbelief when he betrayed Otis at Hell in a Cell and helped Miz in winning the Money in the Bank contract. The two former tag team partners were drafted to two different brands, but this shocking betrayal from Tucker officially confirmed their split. Following that, Tucker cut a good promo that led many into believing that the newly turned singles Superstar has a bright career ahead.
Unfortunately for him, that was not the case. Last week, he got squashed by Ricochet within a few seconds and lost that match. Following that, he was attacked by RETRIBUTION as Mustafa Ali wanted to avenge the wrong done towards Otis. While the latter part of it all made sense, it was weird to see him lose to Ricochet in under a minute and not work as a heel on WWE RAW.
Not a lot changed for Tucker this week. He was one of the seven men who competed for the 24/7 Championship on WWE RAW. Lucky for him, Tucker managed to win the title but the reading time for this slide is still a lot longer than his championship reign. Following Hell in a Cell, Tucker seemed to have made a promising heel turn, but that just seems like a far-fetched dream in just two weeks’ time.
#1 Impressed on WWE RAW: Drew McIntyre
In the opening segment of WWE RAW this week, The New Day got into an altercation with Miz and Morrison. Randy Orton then decided to interfere, and he started attacking Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. At this point, Drew McIntyre arrived to even things out, and all the six men were booked in a match for the main event.
The final match of this week’s WWE RAW then saw McIntyre emerge as the strongest Superstar amidst all those who were involved in the main event. At one point, he was dominating both Miz and Morrison all by himself and didn’t even flinch when the two teamed up to attack him. Kingston and Woods also complimented McIntyre very well inside the ring.
In the final moments of the show, Randy Orton left his teammates and started walking backstage. Miz and Morrison were helpless, and they were ultimately defeated by McIntyre. The latter also walked out of the show with an opportunity to challenge Orton for the WWE Championship next week. McIntyre is clearly the biggest babyface on WWE RAW, and if he wins the title next Monday, it will be interesting to see what will transpire when he locks horns with Roman Reigns at Survivor Series.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
