RAW In A Nutshell: Road To SummerSlam Runs Through Tampa!

It’s that time of the week again, another RAW In A Nutshell! This week, the road to SummerSlam runs through Tampa!

SummerSlam is getting ever closer, after all.

The big summer event is coming at us a week from this Saturday.

So, this week, the road to SummerSlam and Nashville runs through Tampa.

We know we expect Logan Paul in the house, as he has challenged The Miz.

There is sure to be more friction between The Usos and Street Profits…and probably the Bloodline’s newest buddy, Omos.

Surely we can expect more teases from Theory, especially since there is no Lesnar or Reigns in sight.

We had a pretty solid week last week, with what I felt were strong editions of RAW and SmackDown…so hopefully that is giving us the start of something?

After all, as the road to SummerSlam runs through Tampa, the pressure on the Superstars is only getting amped up.

So, without any further delay, let’s get into…

RAW In A Nutshell: Road To SummerSlam Runs Through Tampa!

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and see what happens!

Best Match of the night:

I had no single “best” match tonight.

Bianca and Carmella were good.

The Paul-Miz segment was good too.

There are others…

Worst match of the night:

The six woman tag match.

Interrupted by the craziness that was like six new 24/7 Champions in a 2 minute span.

Otherwise, the match was filler. Sure, six women got on TV, but couldn’t they give them more time, and better stuff to do?

Crowd Chants of the Night:

USA

What

AJ Styles

Tiny balls

Star of the Night

Love him or hate him, his talent is undeniable.

With that said, Theory-and all who are working with him now-are doing a really good job of filling in top-tier content.

Did not get the main event spot, but Theory was gold.

Spot of the Night:

OK, it’s not the spot of the night, but this tweet was too good to not use.

I know how #Theory feels..

Those #AJStyles right hands hurt

My credit score still sucks cause I won’t pay the dentist bill Styles caused me #WWERaw

— James Ellsworth (@realellsworth) July 19, 2022

Jobber of the Night:

Any of the brief 24/7 Champions, perhaps?

Starting with Tozawa.

Upset of the Night:

Theory was upset that AJ Styles went at him and Dolph Ziggler is haunting him.

Fans (or just me) didn’t like Omos getting involved with the Bloodline either.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

We know that those ominous vignettes are for Edge.

There was another tonight, with Edge spelling out “I’m coming…”, but either no more was written, or I didn’t catch it.

We’ve heard rumors that Edge could be back next week when RAW hits Madison Square Garden for the first time in like 3 years.

Where’s this going?

Well, next week, as WWE announced, is Rey Mysterio’s 20th Anniversary party. Even if it would have made more sense for that to be in San Diego.

Judgement Day will be gunning for Rey, as part of their on-going feud. Could we see Edge return during that segment?

Botch of the night:

Not a traditional botch…but I feel as though, with Bianca and Becky cutting promos…Belair is coming off a wee bit more like a heel.

The boasting as the EST of WWE always felt like more of a heel thing to me, and maybe the fans are beginning to think that too?

And, against Becky, someone whom the WWE Universe pushed to the moon? I can see a double turn coming.

Wrestling wise? Doudrop went for a cross body on Alexa, during that whole 24/7 title chaos, and it looked like Alexa basically landed sitting down.

Not sure what happened there, but it looked awkward.

Commentary of the night:

Loved Graves asking out loud if folks knew where the Roadie was (sure, Corey…WWE fired him).

Also “Dynamite drop in Monte. Solid Major League reference.

LOL Moment of the night:

Someone get Riddle that Baja Blast!

Not my thing, tried it and didn’t like it…but that’s good stuff right there. Reminds me of someone wanting his ice cream bars…

“You know why I’m here. You promised me a Mountain Dew Baja Blast bro, so where is it?”

Should @FightOwensFight treat @SuperKingofBros to a Baja Blast after #WWERaw? pic.twitter.com/GiGu4ejVWs

— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2022

Noteworthy Moment:

Rey Mysterio is getting his big party. Even though WWE was just in San Diego…it will happen next week in NYC.

Riddle and Rollins looks great for SummerSlam.

Logan Paul and Miz are going to do battle in Nashville. If Paul can be as good as he was at WrestleMania…

Of course, Ciampa got involved in the fun tonight, so I do think we have a tag team, not a one on one match, coming to us.

I mean, fine, it’s been announced as a one on one…but with Ciampa lurking, there feels like more to come. Will Logan Paul have a guest in his corner?

Overall lowlights:

Titus does a lot of good things on behalf of WWE. I mean, a lot.

WWE did him wrong having him speak at the opening of RAW, saying things that conveniently ignore the bad moves.

Like, it’s covering up Vince’s issues. Overlooking the money WWE gobbles up from a backwards foreign government that despises what some WWE Superstars believe in or are.

It was an odd, PR-driven opening segment. Love seeing Titus, so it’s not a knock on him at all.

Purely a knock on WWE for trotting him out and putting him in a really weird spot.

Overall highlights:

Theory is learning and growing in front of us.

Working him with strong veterans like AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler will only benefit him.

For all the skepticism about Logan Paul earlier in the year, he delivered at WrestleMania and he seems to be all in now too.

Becky Lynch is bringing it, and her with Bianca is engaging. Bringing some other female Superstars along for the ride too, in a good way.

After the final bell:

I would say that last week’s RAW was a touch better, but this one was still pretty good.

After the last few weeks, it’s hard to not be invested in a few of the programs unfolding.

Judgement Day v. Mysterios.

Usos and Street Profits.

Bianca and Becky.

Theory versus the WWE.

Logan Paul and The Miz.

Probably missing something, but those right there, without even factoring in Lesnar and Reigns? SummerSlam is going to be good.