This week’s RAW In A Nutshell hits a bit different, as we watch wicked business relationships formed among some unlikely entities.
As was alluded to earlier on Monday, the Bloodline and Judgement Day are poised to forge a wicked business relationship, at least temporarily.
With that wicked business relationship formed to kick off RAW, there should be some key figures a bit concerned.
After all, this means that the likes of Solo Sikoa will be picking apart the Latino World Order.
And, it gives Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle some other Superstars to toss around until the payoff.
It’s a wicked business relationship, but it has some potential. If nothing else, it makes for some interesting matches in the short term.
Long term, what with the upcoming draft? Who knows.
Now, it isn’t all about those two factions, wicked as they may be.
Backlash is around the corner, so expect more hype for that.
On top of that, there is a looming draft, so we may be seeing some Superstars work their last RAW matches for a while.
Wicked Business Relationships Formed: RAW In A Nutshell
It’s time to crack open this Nutshell and see how those relationships work out!
Best Match of the night:
Do you go with Seth Rollins and The Miz? I mean, the crowd was chanting “this is awesome” for it.
How about Bianca Belair and Dakota Kai?
That main event was crazy and chaotic and good. Not the best wrestling (that’s why we had the other 2), but entertaining.
Nice to see that many involved in, basically, the whole show and elevated.
Worst match of the night:
Austin Theory and Bobby Lashley.
The crowd seemed not very interested until we had Bronson Reed run in.
I think Lashley right now works better as a heel (hello, Hurt Business reunion please).
Theory has talent and the look, but there are other heels on RAW far more over than he is (looking at Dom for that).
Crowd Chants of the Night:
No chants…just digging the fans singing along-constantly-with Seth Rollins’ song.
While a lot of the title attention is now on Cody Rhodes…Rollins deserves another run, and soon.
This is one time I hate having one world title for two shows.
Star of the Night
Forget the usual suspects.
How about Miz and Rollins tonight?
Miz might be this generations most underrated guy. Sure, he’s got his Grand Slam and all…but he is so much better than he probably gets credit for.
Spot of the Night:
Sami’s sunset flip power bomb off the top on Dom. Looked like a stiff bump too.
Jobber of the Night:
All of the imported security staff brought in to keep Cody Rhodes busy.
Rhodes came out wanting Lesnar.
Adam Pearce came out, with plenty of guards, to keep them apart.
Lesnar came out, talked off mic for a bit and watched. One of his easier nights of work ever, probably.
I get it, it is smart to keep the two apart until Backlash…which is why Cody got to beat up on a bunch of fake security.
But, it’s entirely possible that in five or ten years, one of the security is a major WWE Superstar, and we look back upon their main roster debut.
Upset of the Night:
Lashley will be upset with Bronson Reed.
After all, Bobby Lashley very nearly took out the United States Champion…but Bronson Reed had something to say about that.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
The implications of Judgement Day and the Bloodline being on the same page are significant.
Wicked business relationships formed…but for how long?
And, to that end…could one of the factions turn babyface?
Probably not any time soon…but…maybe?
Botch of the night:
Less a botch, more a dud.
Trish owned up to what happened last week, as you’d expect.
It just…fell flat.
Honestly, here’s where a wrinkle would have been great. Like, yes I turned, but I had help (and then we get Damage CTRL or someone).
Commentary of the night:
As a Muppet fan, I dig Graves calling himself both Statler and Waldorf.
LOL Moment of the night:
Serious Kevin Owens working a promo with stoner Matt Riddle.
The Toe Bro…his answer to the Samoan Spike…funny stuff. But he did get serious too.
Tozawa was funny in his backstage moment.
Big love to Boogs. Called Elias the last pick of the draft…then Corbin got into it.
And…Tozawa said…”no one wants you”.
Noteworthy Moment:
Bad Bunny has been announced as returning to RAW next week. No doubt that should be to hype Backlash, and perhaps lock him into a big match.
We have our first two matches confirmed for Backlash. Cody Rhodes versus Brock Lesnar, as well as the expected six man clash.
That is, The Bloodline versus KO, Sami Zayn and Matt Riddle.
Overall lowlights:
Maybe it’s me, but Theory seems like he’s losing steam.
No one felt into Trish Stratus. The Hall of Famer wickedly botched the turn last week, and this promo was predictable and boring.
I absolutely get people respecting where she came from and what she did, and thinking Trish and Becky could be a huge match.
But after these last two weeks? Not seeing it.
Becky will have a lot of heavy lifting to do, I think.
Overall highlights:
Rhodes and Lesnar is going to be lit.
The Backlash six man should be too.
While I don’t want to really see another six man tag, I kind of hope that Bad Bunny and Rey get a 3rd to challenge Judgement Day. Bunny and Rey against Dom and Priest is missing something.
After the final bell:
Well, we had wicked business relationships formed to kick off RAW, as Judgement Day and the Bloodline decided to help each other out.
But…how did those agreements work out?
Well…Solo Sikoa did his part.
Judgement Day…not so much. Leading to a chaotic train wreck of an ending.
