RAW In A Nutshell: Red Brand Back At It After Backlash!

It’s another RAW In A Nutshell, and the red brand is back at it after Backlash!

Sunday night was an interesting show, and in many ways probably surpassed expectations. But, it’s over and done with.

WrestleMania Backlash is in the past, and the red brand is back at it after the event.

So what can we expect? Well…one big match, at a minimum.

Cody Rhodes versus Theory, with the United States Championship on the line.

How’s that for the red brand getting back at it after Backlash? Pretty big match, right?

Even though I am calling it now, that one screams outside interference. Can’t see them letting Theory lose clean so soon.

Beyond that, now that we are certainly more looking at SummerSlam off in the distance…tonight should be all about what’s next.

Do we see some returns? New feuds starting?

There may be some lingering ones, of course…because before the summer gets hot, we’ve got Hell In A Cell next month.

For now though, it’s time to see how things go, so let’s get into another…

RAW In A Nutshell: Red Brand Back At It After Backlash!

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and see how things unfold!

Best Match of the night:

That tag title match. Seriously, it seems like it wasn’t that long ago where we could absolutely trash the tag division, that the titles were an afterthought.

And while perhaps another company has better talent up and down the depth chart (maybe…not having that debate now though)…lately the top of the WWE tag team scene is on a whole new level.

Hands down, match of the night.

Worst match of the night:

Alexa Bliss versus Sonya Deville. Upside is Bliss is back and it was a short squash.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

He has triplets.

A nice chant for Frank Loman, and a wee bit of a nod to Heath Slater.

Star of the Night

I give love to Orton and Riddle…probably a few other nods, but they won the best match of the evening.

Spot of the Night:

Curb stomp by Seth Rollins, on the table, to Cody Rhodes.

Why, @WWERollins, WHY?#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/g1RuagSvj1

— WWE (@WWE) May 10, 2022

Once the match was announced…and then once Rhodes said he considered the chapter closed…it was telegraphed.

Now….knowing Hell In A Cell is less than a month away…Rhodes-Rollins III from the Cell?

Jobber of the Night:

Sonya Deville. In like, two minutes, she got terminated as a WWE official and then lost to a returning Alexa Bliss.

And, there is also Frank Loman, Hartford’s own…jobbing to Veer. Can’t help but think…he looked a little like Wardlow?

Upset of the Night:

Well…Sonya Deville was upset. Actually, she was beside herself, losing one of her titles and then a match in short order.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

In like, one big shot, Sonya Deville is fired as a WWE official (long overdue)…and she was then summarily squashed by Alexa Bliss, who has finally come back to RAW.

Botch of the night:

I mean, sure, it was planned and all…but I hate the special guest referee, when it’s The Miz and you know he is going to screw over Ali.

LOL Moment of the night:

Ken Owens…’nuff said.

Noteworthy Moment:

It’s been a while, and I am pretty sure WWE did this before…but they didn’t just announce Cody versus Theory. They set it to happen at 10PM eastern.

Now, without going crazy on the research, I know that RAW is up against an NBA playoff game or two. Plus hockey…but not sure what would be prompting the specificity.

Meaning…it wasn’t like the timing was right against say…kick off for Monday Night Football.

Wait..I thought Lacy Evans was coming back to SmackDown? Now her vignettes are on RAW?

Did WWE pivot and move her to the red brand after Backlash? Or something else?

Overall lowlights:

The Miz as ref…well it was supposed to annoy…and it did. I guess they are going for an eventual Miz/Ali match.

Becky’s eyewear or whatever that was…was hideous.

Overall highlights:

You saw the outside interference coming a mile away, didn’t you? And it worked.

It made sense (can’t see Theory being pushed so hard, only to lose clean so soon), and it ensures one more match at least between Rhodes and Rollins.

Judgement Day is here…and things are getting interesting. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone, WWE aligns with Styles and Finn Balor here (or do they just roll with Liv?).

This is the new reality.#TheJudgmentDay is here. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/vRh49RsWwj

— WWE (@WWE) May 10, 2022

After the final bell:

The red brand got back at it after Backlash in a hurry, didn’t they?

I mean, right out of the gate, match of the night. And while it wasn’t 100 miles per hour for the entire show…it was a busy show.

Action packed.

Meaning the red brand got back into the groove after Backlash in a hurry.

And, now all eyes begin to turn to Hell In A Cell. With the matches we are already seeing take shape…there’s a lot to be excited for.