RAW In A Nutshell: Who Returns To The Red Brand Tonight?

It’s time for another RAW in a Nutshell, and as we’ve been wondering of late…who returns to the red brand tonight?

Seriously, asking who returns to the red brand tonight is both lazy and fair.

Lazy, because if you’ve been watching the last few weeks, it’s been return after return.

Fair, because again…we’ve had quite a few Superstars come back.

And of course, last week saw a bit of a cliffhanger. We saw the shocking return of Dexter Lumis as the show went off air.

But…was Lumis behind the bizarre backstage happenings? And…whether he was or not…will they continue this week?

Lots of questions…maybe some answers this week.

What else do we get this week? How about Lashley and AJ Styles for the United States title?

There is also another first round match in the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.

And yet, we will be wondering…who returns to the red brand tonight?

Honestly…maybe no one. It’s not like we can get a return each and every show…right?

In any case…it is time for…

RAW In A Nutshell: Who Returns To The Red Brand Tonight?

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!

Best Match of the night:

I love this new era of WWE, because picking a best match is getting to be a challenge.

The tag match with Miz, Ciampa, Ali and Cedric Alexander was probably more fun than it should have been.

But…I think AJ versus Lashley takes the cake. That match gives Lashley two straight really strong title defenses.

Theory and Ziggler was good…but didn’t quite do it for me.

Also…I really cannot ignore Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens. But…damn, it’s been five years since Owens held gold?!

Worst match of the night:

Dakota Kai made Dana Brooke look…meh.

Or, Veer versus Beaux. Veer needs someone legit.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

Another good show, another hot crowd.

Tiny balls

AJ Styles

Bobby Lashley

This is awesome

And more.

Star of the Night

There was a lot of good efforts tonight.

For me, I will go with Bobby Lashley. I would have swapped the US title match with the actual main event.

Spot of the Night:

Not the fairy tale ending…but how about the knee on the dropping Ali before he ate that.

Jobber of the Night:

Beaux Keller.

Looked like he was channeling his inner 1-2-3 Kid at the onset…but it did not last.

Really was hoping for a big return there to finally give Veer some legit competition…but alas, no Braun.

Upset of the Night:

Some fans, because their main event was Theory versus Ziggler, and we got no surprise return or anything to make that better.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

For me, it was that we got Theory and Ziggler in the main event.

Initially, when this was lined up as the main event…was wondering how this morph into something.

Like, another return, the furthering of an angle…something.

Instead, we got nothing.

That is good and bad. Bad, because we are all waiting for someone else.

Good, because we cannot ALWAYS get that.

Botch of the night:

I have to ask, or wonder…if there was a botch when Drew flipped one Uso out on to the other.

Because it didn’t look like one knew the other was coming. It could have been dangerous.

Commentary of the night:

Not for nothing, but I loved Graves pointing out that Dakota Kai is far more a wrestling veteran than Dana Brooke.

LOL Moment of the night:

OK, now they are really just trolling us…

Okay, we see Ezekiel and Elias and Ernie Jr.

Name the rest.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/sLlzHnTd1B

— WWE (@WWE) August 16, 2022

Noteworthy Moment:

Maybe it’s nothing. Perhaps it is everything…or something.

Too many people caught this one to not share it.

Could it be #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/Ptr0c5ev3L

— (@wrestlelamia) August 16, 2022

Also, more backstage chaos. I remember seeing a burning garbage can for one…

And…Dexter came back sooner this show. Not sure if he’s gunning for Styles or Miz or anyone now.

But, he did jump the barrier during the United States title match, and you knew someone was getting involved the way a couple of the guards were sitting.

And compared to past fan incidents…man those guards jumped Lumis right quick.

Love the language restrictions being gone. Wrestlers can say wrestling on a wrestling show.

Overall lowlights:

Veer needs a legit feud for a change. Jobbers are not the answer, and neither Rey nor Dom was ever a formidable opponent.

Overall highlights:

The earliest returns on this show were not the returns we have been seeing…but they count.

Theory was back on the show for the first time in a while.

Riddle too.

Also, Veer…though they still have not gotten him into an actual program.

After the final bell:

Before I forget…next week already has two legit main event level matches.

Very curious to see which goes last, but my money is on Edge and Damian Priest.

Not a knock against the women’s semifinal from the RAW side, however. Kai/Sky versus Asuka/Bliss should be lit.

Overall, a strong show. Perhaps a notch down from the past few, but still good and entertaining.

Nice to see some strong wrestling, with some of talents just being given more time to work.