'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAng//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAAAf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAiEAACAQMDBQEAAAAAAAAAAAACAwQFBiIAAWEHFBcjMkL/2gAIAQEAAT8AsewqI/pBMbclQciLIPvjWhIsfFMRwz5DLfgteGLpd7YE6nSoZ5JeNQEdmh+S+Nf/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAP/2gAIAQIBAT8AdEW//8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACA//aAAgBAwEBPwAwqhP/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With yet another RAW in the history books, WWE delivered a solid post – PPV show this week. After the Money in the Bank PPV, the fans wanted to see how WWE would follow up on RAW, and they did not disappoint. This week’s episode saw John Cena picking Daniel Bryan as his opponent for SummerSlam for the WWE championship, while Chris Jericho and Rob Van Dam put on a fantastic match. We also witnessed Brock Lesnar’s return to the WWE, as he brutalized the Second City Saint. CM Punk showed the after-effects of the brutal ladders match at the Money in the Bank PPV, and Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar took advantage of it, laying Punk out after a brutal assault. In this article, we pick the top 5 superstars from the show and give them our ratings.
5. Paul Heyman/Brock Lesnar
I couldn’t just choose Paul Heyman for this, as these two performers were involved in making this segment one of the best in the past decade. Heyman delivered an amazing promo to no one’s surprise, as he explained why he turned on Punk at the Money in the Bank PPV, while Punk retaliated saying he’d hurt Paul Heyman. This brought out the beast, and Lesnar destroyed CM Punk, throwing him around the ringside area, and assaulted him by using him as a battering ram to the steel ring post. The segment ended when Lesnar threw Punk over the announcer’s desk, as Punk tried to get up on his own and was helped to the back by the trainers.
Rating: ***
4. CM Punk
CM Punk came down at the top of the third hour, and asked Heyman to come out. Heyman obliged, and delivered a promo about how Punk turned on him. Punk then cut an intense promo about getting even with Heyman for what he did, and he swore on Heyman’s children that he will get his hands on his former mentor. Punk is one of the best talkers in the business, and his segment with Heyman was amazing. Brock Lesnar then came down and absolutely destroyed Punk, and this sets up their much anticipated match at SummerSlam. I cannot wait to see the two ‘Paul Heyman guys’ in the ring, as it can be one of the best things to happen this year.
Rating: *** ¼
3. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler was involved in yet another solid TV match this past week on RAW. Ziggler was just seconds away from beating Del Rio after nearly 13 minutes of action, but was distracted by AJ Lee, and ADR took advantage of it and kicked Ziggler in the head for the pinfall victory. Post match, AJ attacked Ziggler, and Big E delivered the Big Ending to end the segment. Ziggler is one of the best workers in the company, and I would have liked to see him as the World Heavyweight Champion, but I suppose we have to wait a bit longer for that to happen.
Rating: *** ½
2. Chris Jericho
After losing to Ryback on Sunday at the Money in the Bank PPV, Chris Jericho was involved in a match against the returning Rob Van Dam. The match went on for 22 minutes, and was one of the best TV matches this year, as RVD and Jericho showed the younger performers in the back just how to put on a great match. The back and forth action also gave the crowd a reason to chant ‘this is awesome’ on multiple occasions. Although Chris Jericho wasn’t successful in getting the victory, this match proves just why Chris Jericho is considered to be one of the greatest performers in the history of professional wrestling.
Rating: ****
1.Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam returned to the WWE on Sunday at the Money in the Bank PPV, and made his presence felt on RAW as he took on Jericho in an outstanding TV match. The crowd chanted ‘You still got it’ at RVD, who didn’t skip a beat in the ring. RVD was successful in beating Chris Jericho with the 5 star frog splash, and announced his return to the WWE with a top notch performance.
Rating: **** ¼
