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WWE RAW put up an average show this week. There were good moments throughout the show, but the creative team also made a few questionable booking decisions. The show teased a potential clash of champions, a growing rift between a popular tag team and a five-time champion’s much-awaited return to the title picture.
Here, we look at the biggest flops and hits from WWE RAW this week. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
#5 Hit on WWE RAW: Xavier Woods steals the show in the Tag Team Turmoil Match
This week’s WWE RAW kickstarted with an epic Tag Team Turmoil Match to determine the No. 1 contenders for RK-Bro’s tag team titles. As expected, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods kickstarted the match and were beyond incredible with their performances tonight. While it was great to see Kingston back inside the ring, it was Woods who deserved every accolade for his resilient performance tonight.
They first faced The Viking Raiders in a grueling encounter that brought the best out of both the tag teams. Erik and Ivar looked strong, but The New Day defied all odds to win the first battle. They went on to face Jinder Mahal and Veer in an intense match that ended with another pinfall in their favor. The New Day also defeated the Lucha House Party to extend their impressive run in the match.
Following that, Kingston and Woods faced T-Bar and Mace in a promising encounter. It was excellent to see the former RETRIBUTION members get their deserved share of the spotlight, with both superstars put up an impressive performance. Unfortunately, T-Bar was taken aback by the referee’s fast counting in the final moments and ended up losing the match after Woods pinned him.
The New Day were supposed to face Mansoor and Mustafa Ali next, but T-Bar and Mace had different plans. They launched a vicious attack on Woods and Kingston, asserting their dominance in the tag team division. T-Bar and Mace also attacked Mansoor and Ali, forcing the match to halt on WWE RAW temporarily. Although the duo didn’t win tonight, they were booked really well.
Later in the night, The New Day walked out to continue their match against Mansoor and Mustafa Ali. Woods once again outshined both his opponents and took his team further into the match. Their next opponents were AJ Styles and Omos. As good as The New Day were, they couldn’t get past The Phenomenal One and his towering ally.
Styles and Omos ended The New Day’s winning streak before facing Bobby Lashley and MVP. Styles was excellent as always on WWE RAW, but it was gratifying to see Omos and Bobby Lashley involved in a standoff. The crowd rallied behind the world champion as he eventually defeated pinned Styles to win title opportunities against Randy Orton and Riddle.
Earlier in the show, The Viper had said that he would only face Lashley in a title match if the latter put his WWE Championship on the line. He is set to challenge Lashley for his title at Extreme Rules. It will be exciting to see what’s in store for a clash between the top title-holders on WWE RAW. Can this feud end with someone becoming a double champion?
#4 Flop on WWE RAW: Karrion Kross in an underwhelming match, again
Karrion Kross was in an underwhelming clash once again on WWE RAW. He faced John Morrison in a singles match this week after their conversation on Moist TV an unexpected turn.
While the match wasn't necessarily bad, the booking of this in-ring bout could have been much better. A little more time or a compelling narration could have helped both superstars showcase their respective strengths – an opportunity that they have not received in a long time.
John Morrison looked far from his usual self. Karrion Kross picked up an easy victory after forcing his opponent to give up quickly with the help of his signature submission maneuver. It could have been a good match on WWE RAW, but underwhelming booking decisions let both superstars down.
It is evident that the creative team wants to show Karrion Kross as a dominant superstar. But Kross cannot assert his supremacy if he is continuously forced into disappointing matches. It's also borderline criminal to book Morrison poorly after his split with The Miz. We hope that both superstars will face each other once again and are involved in better booking decisions moving forward.
#3 Hit on WWE RAW: Alexa Bliss confronts Charlotte Flair after title match, potential split teased
Tonight, Charlotte Flair put her WWE RAW Women's Championship on the line against Nia Jax. They delivered a good match with countless underlying subtleties hinting at the future of the women's division on the Red brand. Jax looked like a credible challenger and forced The Queen to bring out her A-game on the show.
At one point, Flair wanted to leave with her title but was blocked in her path by Shayna Baszler, who was present at ringside. It appeared that Baszler was there to support her tag team partner, but The Queen of Spades left the viewers in a lot of doubt when she eventually cost Nia Jax her title match on WWE RAW.
Are the former women's tag team champions heading towards a potential split? The brief confrontation between Flair and Baszler also hinted at the latter's possible entrance into the women's championship picture once again.
Alexa Bliss appeared alongside Lilly after the match and asked Charlotte Flair to visit them in the playground, but the champion refused. Bliss was determined to continue their conversation. She made a surprise appearance inside the ring and pointed to the WWE RAW Women's Championship, clarifying her intentions.
Flair agreed to give Bliss a shot at her title, and it will be interesting to see how the creative moves forward with this angle.
#2 Flop on WWE RAW: Top superstars undeservingly pushed into 24/7 Championship picture
Reggie has been enjoying the attention since becoming the 24/7 Championon WWE RAW. His creative high-flying moves and ongoing feud with R-Truth and Akira Tozawa often make for short yet entertaining segments. This is good for him as he can get more comfortable before eventually moving on to more serious feuds.
This week, he defended his title against Tozawa in a singles match. Soon after that, we saw several WWE RAW Superstars chase him, and that group shockingly included the likes of Jeff Hardy and Cedric Alexander. It would have been understandable if the writers wanted to create more seriousness surrounding the 24/7 Championship, but that is not the case.
Someone like Alexander should be feuding with Ricochet on WWE RAW, and Hardy would undoubtedly be better off in a compelling veteran-rookie storyline. Instead, they are undeservingly pushed into underwhelming segments that take a massive toll on their credibility.
The Charismatic Enigma chasing this title is straight-up disrespectful at this point. We hope that the creative team will involve them in good matches as we advance.
One good thing about this segment on WWE RAW was Drake Maverick’s return on the Red brand. He will make for an entertaining addition to the 24/7 title picture. If tonight’s episode was indeed WWE’s response to AEW’s flawless pay-per-view from Sunday night, it would be fair to say that the creative team needs to do much, much better.
#1 Hit on WWE RAW: Sheamus outperforms Drew McIntyre in an intense battle
Sheamus and Drew McIntyre have engaged in almost a dozen encounters on WWE RAW since the beginning of this year. Surprisingly, they have managed to deliver great matches every time they have faced each other inside the ring. Tonight was no different. The two former best friends turned foes competed tonight in a bid to become the No. 1 contender for Damian Priest’s United States Championship.
McIntyre started the match on a dominant note, but Sheamus soon balanced the equation on WWE RAW. They have known each other for a long time and used that to craft an excellent story-telling throughout their in-ring battle. McIntyre and Sheamus used each other’s popular maneuvers as mockery and kept the fight entertaining.
The former was brilliant as usual, but The Celtic Warrior deserves special credit for outperforming The Scottish Warrior on WWE RAW this week. Sheamus escaped the Claymore and used a surprise roll-up from behind to pin his opponent. It would have been an underwhelming end to a jaw-dropping match, but thankfully, the creative team had a better plan.
After his loss, McIntyre was furious with the sneaky move and hit Sheamus with the Claymore to make a strong statement. The crowd rose to its feet and chanted “This is Awesome” in unison to acknowledge both the superstars and their incredible performances.
Sheamus will now challenge Priest in a bid to reclaim his United States Championship, while Drew McIntyre will look for redemption after taking a pinfall for two consecutive weeks.
